Ο
Ο
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It seems like the time to talk about the end of the 8 Years’ War has arrived.
Like I said before, it was a war of influence. A battle where we disrupted, controlled, deceived, and stole from the opponent’s faction. A game of territory conquest that unfolded not on a Go board, but with the entire school as the background. It didn’t matter whether our ally was an idiot or the opponent was an upright person. At the age of 15, there was an incident involving Shin Eunji that occurred. At the age of 16, I shattered the mid-boss of Chanmi’s faction, Eun Minseon, and destabilized their group. And, at the age of 17⎯⎯⎯ crossing over to high school, followed by another year, that blazing summer that felt like everything was going to melt when I was 18-years-old.
We finally reached the full stop once I was elected as school president and Joo Chanmi, who was pushed back in votes, miserably became the vice-president. The Joo Chanmi at the time, appeared as if she were empty.
[Yujin, ain’t your head really good?]
If it’s the story, then indeed, it would have ended here, but.
[This······uh, for you to think of me whenever I’m not around.]
This time, I couldn’t put down the period at the end of the sentence.
Forcefully continued the story. Disgraceful and cruel unnecessary comments. ······I, started the purge.
I started fiddling with the personages at the very bottom of Chanmi’s faction. Bullying, slander, defamation, execution. Each time I crushed one person under my feet, I spoke to Chanmi. Joo Chanmi. Minhee, give back, Minhee. You used people and broke her. You broke her to the point where she’s now beyond retrieval. That girl is now living while depending on a machine. You did this. Didn’t you break her? Then you should be able to undo it. You should be able to fix it. That’s right.
You can’t be unable to do this.
However, even after Chanmi’s clique was completely shattered, and only Chanmi remained, the occurrence where Minhee opened her eyes never occurred.
I couldn’t accept it.
Why?
Why, is it?
Why won’t, Minhee, wake up?
Minhee, Cha Minhee. My Goddess whose hair fluttered like flames. Why won’t you open your eyes? Why won’t you tell me? I overcame it. I overcame being bullied and treated like an outcast. If anything, I gathered my own faction and crushed the bastard who ruined you and stepped on me. This was possible because you were there. Because you transferred to our school on that day. Because you were there. I’m great, right? Isn’t the current me admirable? My savior.
Minhee. Ah, Minhee.
But, why? Why, is it?
Ah.
Ah, ah.
Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah, aaah. Ah. Ah.
Is that it, Chanmi? Is it because you’re alive? Is it because I didn’t put my hands on you? I see. They say that you have to solve the problem that you yourself created. So as long as you’re around, Minhee won’t be able to return. If that’s so, then I have no more reason to let you go. I’ll give you special treatment.
I won’t let you live.
I dragged her to Minhee’s hospital room. This was a type of ritual. I declared it as so. In the hospital room that’s covered in darkness, with the sound of Minhee sleeping as the background, beside her, Joo Chanmi, you, will die here. That is your fate. The sound of liquid dripping in Minhee’s IV, th
e noisy chirping of a starling that gave me a headache, a ringing sound in my ear. The white hands that were choking Chanmi’s neck.
My, hands.
The reason I stopped,
was because of the one line Chanmi uttered, before passing out.
‘I’m, sorry.’
My hands trembled. I stared into her eyes because I couldn’t believe it. It would be a different case if someone else were to say it, but I couldn’t trust it when this person was the one. However, that really was Joo Chanmi. Chanmi spoke using Chanmi’s voice.
‘So,rry. I’m, so,rry. Yu,jin, I’m, so,rry.’
Sorry, Yujin.
Sorry.
I shouted.
Don’t beg for forgiveness. I didn’t want to hear those words from you. ‘So,rry.’ Shut up. Only you aren’t allowed to say those words. You absolutely cannot. ‘Sorry······ I’m sorry, Yujin.’ Shut up. Fucking, shut up. ‘Sorry······ I’m sorry, Yujin. Sorry. It was my fault. It was my, yeah, my fault······. Yujin······.’ Shut uuuuup! Chanmi didn’t listen. That prodigy girl, with her neck released, cried. She was weeping, like a child, collapsed next to Minhee, who was laying down like a vegetable. I was also crying. My tears, felt like they were magma piercing through the face of the earth. The unrecoverable generosity that flowed down the paved path.
It was then, that I realized.
There’s a limit, to everything. There are things you can’t get back, in the world.
Even the prodigy girl of a conglomerate, and even myself who had broken that girl, there are things that are impossible even for us in this world.
Therefore,
Therefore,
Therefore, in the first place
In order for it to not break
In order to not lose it
I should have, worked harder.
Ο
Everyone was young at the time······ thus no one knew.
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Ο
The fifth day, I organized the occurrences that happened so far.
Ο
First, I was kidnapped by a lunatic from another world.
Second, I ended up in a situation where I was supporting that lunatic politically • intellectually.
Third, among those affairs, the first trouble was something that involved a group called the Fedchants, so I advised her to resolve it by using the Black Dragon Street, but······.
Ο
“Did it not turn out well?”
“Mm? Mr. Yujin, why do you think that’s so, Mr. Yujin?”
“Well, that’s because you abruptly knocked me down onto the ground, and now you’re stepping on my face.”
“I’m washing your face! I’m making Mr. Yujin’s face clean!”
“What world’s method is that?”
“It goes without saying, it’s an old tradition that’s been passed down in the world of heavens.”
“Why is it the heaven that I ridiculously dislike······?”
“As for proof, look. If I do the same thing to this angel, then···.”
Additionally, although it seems as if, after great mid-progress, Miss Earl of the Silver Lion has acknowledged that I was a ‘human’, it didn’t apply to the other beings.
Sorry, other beings. I’m busy trying to live.
“Putting that aside, what happened? Tell me already.”
“Ehem. Gia? Explain.”
Gia let out a sigh and scratched her blue hair.
“It didn’t turn out well.”
“And I didn’t say out loud that if you told me it didn’t turn out well when I asked the first time, then we could have saved a lot of time.”
“Gia let out a groan and had an angry expression on her face. However, she soon responded like this.”
I was natural! instead of saying this, I slowly made my way into the main topic······ Ah, that was dangerous. I almost said this out loud as well. This isn’t even my style and yet it feels as if I’m going to go along with her pace. This happens whenever I have to deal with her.
Anyway, the main point.
“So how? I don’t think it was a situation where it wouldn’t work.”
Gia turned to glance at the Earl. However, since the Earl was still stepping on my face while not showing any sign of interest, Gia continued.
“There’s another reason why that didn’t work.”
“What is it?”
“This time, it’s the Black Dragon Street’s fault for the written request and receipt being passed over to the Fedchants. The Black Dragon Street admitted this completely, however, they voiced their concerns that if they passed the Fedchant’s receipt to us as well, or if they forged them for us, then that will just upsize the problem. ‘Our other customers will be anxious if receipts and written requests are being passed around recklessly.’, is what they said. ‘Furthermore, since it’s our fault, we will take responsibility, but even if we do so, if we do something that’s disadvantageous for the Fedchants, then wouldn’t they also request for us to take the same responsibility?’ they said that as well.”
“Though I get what they’re saying, that’s ridiculous. In the first place, didn’t the executive run away with the documents because they received money from the Fedchants?”
“It’s not certain.”
“Is it not certain, or is it because there’s no evidence.”
“The latter. Though I believe, that it’s most likely the Fedchant’s deed.”
“Hm. In conclusion, if I narrow it down, then the Black Dragon Street doesn’t want to start any trouble with the Fedchants.”
“Since the Fedchant is a huge organization, after all.”
“I see.”
“Do you have another idea?”
I stared straight at Gia.
“Not yet. I need a little more time to think.”
Gia had a clear disappointed look on her face.
“Is that so.” She then soon recovered. “Your Excellency, how about doing what I suggested yesterday?”
Meanwhile, the Earl had finally taken her foot off of my face, and had stepped up onto my chest and was tapping her feet.
······Spare me. I’m a human being, you know?
“Hm? What you said yesterday, Gia?”
“Requesting for the Mage Tower to mediate.”
“······I told you, I don’t, waaaant to.”
Gia had a bothered look on her face.
“Your Excellency, I’m more than aware that you feel pain. It must hurt to make a request to those people. However, there are times in your life when something will come to bite you in the back when you fail to do something when it’s required.”
“I don’t think right now is that time, thoough?”
“It’s now. You can’t incline to the Fedchants, right? If you end up getting entangled rashly, then there’s a chance that the entire Earl’s House will get pulled in as well. Your Excellency should already be aware of that danger.”
Gia hesitantly stroked her own stomach and gave a sidelong scowl. The Earl was silent for a moment before speaking.
“And in contrast, what will happen if I request for the Mage Tower to mediate?”
“Summon the thing the Mage Tower wants and send it to them, that’s it. isn’t it? You don’t have to lower your head to the Fedchants, and you can prevent your citizens from going through pain······.”
“Ooh? Would the Mage Tower help out that much?”
“I’ll talk with them properly.”
“Hmph. For someone like you, you’re rather confident.”
“Damn it······ Your Excellency!”
I, who had his hands in his pocket and was fumbling with his smartphone, and even the Earl, froze and stared at Gia. In that spot, there wasn’t a woman who indulged in BL or a fool who enthusiastically made bad jokes, but a female knight who was lowering her head in embarrassment.
“I messed things up.”
A silence flowed.
“Yes. I’m the one who ruined everything. If I only hadn’t used the check signed under the Earl’s House. Even if the request and receipt were passed onto the Fedchants, it should have been meaningless. I understand. It was my mistake. That’s why, I.”
“Gia.”
“Won’t let Your Excellency lower your head to someone like the Fedchants······.”
Gia didn’t finish her sentence. The Earl was gazing at her knight who was lowering her head.
There was another silence.
Thud! She then suddenly kicked my chin.
What, are you doing? when I looked up at her with those words written on my face, she stepped on my nose. ······No, it hurts. Seriously.
“What are you doing?”
I was kicked again without receiving an answer. Since it really hurt, I grabbed her ankle.
“It hurts.”
“You’re grabbing meeee? Graaaabbing? Hm, what hurts? You should just obediently get hit. You dirty otherworldly being.”
“I’ll get hit after I know the reason.”
“No, well, I felt annoyed.”
An incredibly sullen face said those words. For some reason, it truly felt like the expression of a normal 16-year-old girl. A girl who was getting mad at the world because things weren’t going right.
“Do you normally kick people when that happens?”
“It’s a massage, so you’ll be able to use your head more.”
“I’ll be able to do that quite well, when I’m being treated like this.”
If it were just yesterday, then she would have already snapped and moved me to the torture rack by now, but the current Earl just gave me a sharp glare instead.
And then.
“You, should I send you home?”
She spoke the words which I never expected to hear.
It seems Gia was surprised by her words as well. Her mouth was agape. I was shocked. However, while ignoring all of our responses, the Earl, without meeting any of our eyes, spat out.
“Think of a good method. A method where I won’t have to incline to either the Mage Tower or the Fedchants. It’s fine for you to think about it.”
At this point, I didn’t question her about what she meant by ‘think about it’, and ‘send you home’, to be exact, I didn’t have the time to do so. Before I could say anything else, the Earl was already dusting her coat and arranging her clothes.
“······Hmph.”
And then, the Earl puffed up her cheeks and marched up the stairs. She had basically tossed aside both Gia and I so we could only watch as the Earl’s figure disappeared.
Ο
Ο
A stillness continued to flow. A female knight who was biting her lips in guilt, and myself, who was used as a floor mat and covered in dust.
In the end, I was the first person to speak.
“Gia.”
Gia didn’t respond. I let out a sigh.
“Gia, are you alright?”
No answer.
“Young Master Sion is really cute. I like him, too.”
“You think so, as well!?”
“Yeah, and you?”
“Mm, I like the savage butler. However, he can only display his worth when there’s another person. No matter how much technique one has, a catcher is needed for a pitcher to shine, and······.”
I stayed silent while I watched the hopeless BL-stained blue haired female knight(18) who was born in another world, raised in another world, and properly serving her lord. Gia Batsand must have realized what she was doing as she had let out an ‘ah’.
“Of course, I also like the situations where a pitcher is struggling on their own when a catcher isn’t around. Something like this, a long time after a pitcher and a catcher gets into a relationship. The catcher has to leave the pitcher’s side for a while because of a school trip or something. So every day, the pitcher, who’s left by himself, on the bed, with his loneliness······.”
There was an otherworldly blue haired female knight(18), who became even more ecstatic after becoming self-aware of her situation, standing here.
······Let’s stop, please.
“Gia.”
Gia closed her mouth. A bitter smile spread across her lips.
“It was a joke.”
“It doesn’t seem like a joke when you’re talking about BL······.”
“I know that feeling.”
“So you’re aware?”
“Of course. Regardless, it can’t be helped. I was made to like BL. This is most likely a problem in my genes.”
“Haa.”
“Perhaps that’s why, when you analyze a selfish gene, you get the ‘ah’ feeling that there’s a pitcher gene and a catcher gene. If you look at it like that, then whether you’re a catcher or a pitcher is determined before you’re born, so it’s a genetical issue. Natural Born Attack. Natural Born······ uh······ mm.”
“Why did you betray the Earl?”
Silence.
“Ah, right. It was Natural Born Defense.
“It’s not that defense. Why did you betray the Earl?”
“Natural Born Number.”
(Tl note: ‘Defense’ and ‘Number’ uses the same letter.)
“It’s not that defense either. I asked you why you betrayed the Earl.”
Gia looked down at me with her head slightly turned. I met that gaze silently while holding my prayer beads.
Silence.
Gia, spoke. While once again, turning her head, until it creaked.
“What, do you mean?”
“I mean just that. Why, did you, betray, the Earl, Gia, Batsand? I’m asking you that. Should I say it again?”
Gia didn’t want that. She clenched her fist.
“Why do you say that? Even if it’s you, Yujin, I can’t let that slide.”
“If I explain it to you calmly, then will you tell me?”
“Go ahead.”
If that’s the case. I nodded my head.
“The first time I thought it was strange, was when I found out that you were the one who gave the check that was signed by the House of the Earl’s name to the Black Dragon Street.”
“That’s because, I’m an idiot.”
“There’s a limit to stupidity. And an idiot can’t become a knight. Every time you open your mouth you’re thinking about the Earl. For the knight, who’s always thinking of the Earl and was accusing herself that much earlier, to go into the cave of thieves and make a transaction with a check from the Earl’s House? No matter how much of an idiot you are, I don’t believe that could ever happen.”
“Anyone can make a mistake.”
“Let’s say that’s the case, then what about after that? Today as well, you’re the one who went to make a trade with the Black Dragon Street, right? Even while possessing a good proposition, you didn’t push it, but instead, returned after having lost. It’s obvious. Because you didn’t have the intention to win.”
“That’s out of my hands. I’m a knight, and there are times when I don’t win arguments, and there are also times when I’m unable to make proper negotiations.”
“Hmm, a conditional problem?”
“Adding to that, the Black Dragon Street didn’t want to start friction with the Fedchants, and because of that they were especially belligerent with me······.”
“You probably wanted it to appear like that.”
Silence.
“What, are, you saying?”
“Gia. Look at the image as a whole.” I let out a sigh and stretched my body. “Honestly, it isn’t only one or two things that were strange.”
“I’m telling you that isn’t the case.”
“That’s right, it was strange when I heard that the Fedchants were obtaining land with that sort of method. At first, I thought they were treating your Earl like an idiot. However, regardless of whether they treated her like a fool or not, the earl is still the earl, and she’s also one of the twelve existing Sky Barriers in your world. There’s no need to pick a fight when you’re trying to obtain the land of a person like that.”
“That’s what you think, but since the Fedchant’s judgment is different······.”
“Listen. What I mean by ‘no need to pick a fight’, is that ‘there’s no need to take over the land of 10 people by stealing and stamping their seals, a method that’s strange no matter who looks at it.’.”
“Tell me in easy terms.”
“It’s like this. The Fedchant, is literally a place where almost every single merchant is a part of, right? Your current Pharmaceutical Association, or rather, the Alchemy Fortress, has a vaccine for almost every single disease in your world because they share information among one another. Then wouldn’t it be the same for the Fedchants, as well? The place where almost every single merchant in your world is a part of, how many incredible knowhows do they have accumulated? Even I can’t fathom it. If they used only a couple of their knowhows, then honestly, they can easily obtain something like land. However, why did those ‘Fedchants’ do something weird like that? That’s problem number 1.”
Gia was now glaring at me in silence.
With her blue eyes.
This girl, I’ve felt this since the first time I was summoned here by the Earl, but she possesses, an incredibly befitting,
tremendously⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯frigid, and cold face.
“Now then, Gia? The Fedchants behaved like that towards the Earl as if they wanted to start a fight. A method that’s so obvious that anyone who glanced at it would realize what they’re up to, and they fostered that while obstinately causing discord. Just like a fraud ring trying to receive compensation money for something minor, to the Earl, it was as if they were asking her to hit them once. If the Earl was fooled by that, then that’s that. It may have also been over if she didn’t get fooled by it, either. In any case, the Earl, who was going through a lot of stress, was fooled by it. ······Though for this part, I was one of the major reasons for that stress.”
If I didn’t needlessly give her tips, then the incident wouldn’t have become as large as this. Although I’m upset at the earl, I was planning to accept that it couldn’t be helped. If I thought like that, then ‘Didn’t I fail because of your unnecessary piece of advice?’ that fellow came and complained to me. In the end, she was right.
“Therefore, second. The Earl screwed with the Fedchants just like that. But a day after that, no, not even two days, a betrayal occurred unexpectedly within the Black Dragon Street? And out of all things, they passed over the Earl’s written request and recipe to the Fedchants? This can’t be explained by coincidence, right?”
“That’s why, probably.”
Gia opened her mouth. Gia, aah, Gia.
You aren’t supposed to open your mouth right now. I’m not denouncing you, but I’m talking about the weirdness of the situation. But why are you protecting that situation? That itself is a mistake. I didn’t explain to her that right now was the timing to keep her mouth shut······ without a word, I just listened to what Gia had to say.
“The Fedchants⎯⎯⎯⎯ probably bribed, the executive from the Black Dragon Street. Since they were humiliated by our earl, in order to get her back⎯⎯⎯⎯ they, utilized that immense funding of theirs, and used the executive from the Black Dragon Street.”
“And made him betray them?”
“That’s it.”
“Wrong.”
Gia looked at me as if questioning how someone who’s never been outside could be so sure of himself. If you look at it in reverse, then that meant I’d be able to affirm it if I were outside.
“Time is the problem.”
I said that and continued.
“The Black Dragon Street, you see, is still quite the big organization, right? No matter how much money you offer, would someone like an executive betray their group in a moment’s notice? Before even a day or two could pass, at that? Furthermore, in that case, wouldn’t that mean the Black Dragon Street was screwed over by the Fedchants? Then wouldn’t the Black Dragon Street want to deal a blow to the Fedchants? But when you went to them, you said that the Black Dragon Street would deal a blow to the Fedchants, so they didn’t want to do what the Earl asked.”
“I’ve told you this several times now, but the Black Dragon Street doesn’t want friction with the Fedchants······.”
“There’s a better answer.”
“······What is it?”
“The chance that both groups are plotting together. Though, it’s something I brought up yesterday, as well.”
Silence.
“If the two were plotting together with the sole purpose of screwing over the Earl, then the weird taunt from the Fedchants, the suspiciously quick betrayal of the Black Dragon Street executive, it would explain it all. Ah, in truth, another element needs to go in here as well.”
Silence.
“Now then. Next. Let’s say the two are indeed plotting together. Then who would benefit? The Black Dragon Street? The Fedchants? The Earl? No. Have you played mahjong before? Go-Stop? Either way, it’s a game with 4 players. If there are two players that are scheming together and one easy mark, then there’ll be one skillful player. A role that comfortably takes the money, and wipes their mouth without coming off as weird. A role where the player just has to be there. Tycoons usually take that role in a fraudulent gambling game. If that’s the case, then in this situation, where’s the magnate faction?”
Silence.
“Earlier, I said that another element needs to be added to the quick betrayal by the Black Dragon Street’s executive. Obviously. Be it the Black Dragon Street or the Fedchants, they’re both large organizations. But would things go so harmoniously in such a short amount of time? Using mahjong as an example again, no matter how much the two players planned to scheme together at first, the decoy, a fellow giving the signals to inform the others about what tiles the easy mark has, is required. That way they can decide whether they should pass the tile or receive a tile. You kang, pong, and ron, that’s how you do it. That’s right⎯⎯⎯⎯one decoy, is essential. A person who sticks right next to the Earl and reports all of her movements, allowing the others to respond swiftly.”
If you think along those lines and go through the information again.
“Since yesterday, the person who kept insisting for the Mage Tower to mediate, despite the fact that their lord despised the idea.”
If I were to make a guess, then.
“At the very beginning, the idea of screwing over the Fedchants was something that came out from my head, the person who came from another world. It’s information that was shared between only three people. Me, you, and the Earl. Other people couldn’t have possibly been involved since the Earl asserted that she couldn’t believe something like other people. Then that means it’s just us three. First, it’s not the Earl.”
She has no reason to.
“It’s not me, either.”
I don’t have the method to.
“Then that means you’re the only one remaining. ······1 plus 1 is 2.”
And then⎯⎯⎯⎯there was a silence.
Ο
Ο
Gia Batsand was expressionless. That face was eerily cold.
Although it felt like that void face would continue, she then let out a sigh and erased it. She shook her head as if she were lamenting.
“If I hear that much, then denying any more than this is impossible.”
“Would it be fine to take that as you agreeing with my words?”
“That’s right, Yujin. You, what are you exactly?”
“I told you before. A normal male student who overcame bullying.”
Gia Batsand smirked.
However, that really is all there is to me. I don’t have something like a special ability. The only thing I’m capable of is calmly looking at a situation and organizing it.
Although my inner words most likely didn’t transfer onto her, Gia let out another sigh.
“Well, at least I feel relieved. If everything is revealed so refreshingly, then, if anything, my mind feels cooled off. I give you my thanks in that regard.”
“Though I’m thankful that you think like that, but why?”
To say it again : Why did you try to make the Earl become indebted towards the Mage Tower?
Gia shrugged her shoulders. I gripped my beads.
“Tell me. You even admitted to it a second ago, anyway. Then it’s only right for you to teach me.”
“An obligation, is it?”
“That’s right. I don’t understand. Didn’t you say it a few days ago? That the Earl was detained in the 7th branch office of the Mage Tower, and that they’re one of the major reasons as to why the Earl has become this broken? Of course, that 7th branch office of the Mage Tower has already been destroyed, but if it were a place that one of the Twelve Sky Barriers led at the time, then there’s no way that the upper echelon of the Mage Tower wouldn’t be aware of it. Even the repulsion that the Earl possesses towards the Mage Tower is because she doesn’t want to be in debt towards the people who detained her before.”
I gazed at Gia.
“But you, deliberately, tried to make your lord do that.”
“······.”
“What is it, Gia, Batsand? Were you only pretending to support the Earl at first?”
“Just because you’re talking away doesn’t mean you’re right, Yujin.”
“Then teach me the reason.”
Gia bit her lips. But not for a long time.
“It’s about Her Excellency the Earl’s ability, and the reason behind why Her Excellency was detained at the 7th branch office of the Mage Tower. It’s also the reason why the Mage Tower still has their interest leaning towards Her Excellency, but······.”
For now, like that, Gia Batsand started talking.
“Yujin. What do you think is the most outstanding part of the Earl’s ability?”
“The usage? For starters, I can narrow it down to 4 things.”
“Tell me them.”
“Tracker and rescuer. Say there’s a missing person. As long as she has that missing person’s belonging, then with the piece of life······catalsyt······it feels like I’m talking about ‘DNA’ here, but, in any case, she can search that object and bring the missing person directly in front of her.”
“That’s one method.”
“Next, teleporter and carrier. By summoning a person who’s living in a certain city, she can stick to that person and cancel the summon, resulting in her teleporting along with them. Though it’s limited, it’s possible to use it as a teleportation ability. Furthermore, since clothing, and the things they’re carrying can be teleported as well, if used properly, then moving a lot of items over a long distance should be possible, right? In any case, it’s much faster than walking or riding on a boat. It also doesn’t cost any fuel.”
“That’s another method.”
“Third, a black hole that can suck in an indefinite amount of otherworldly beings······is another, but what should I say. Since the number of worlds that the Earl can meddle in is 12, and her ability is limited to a certain number of uses during a set cycle, I’ve deemed that as impossible.”
“So you knew?”
“The Earl herself was the one who told me about the number of worlds she can meddle in being 12. The limited number of uses······ is because I can boast my observation skill and composure.”
“······You, you keep saying that you’re a normal student. You’ve only been here for 5 days, you know?”
I smiled bitterly while putting more strength into my grip.
“Since earlier, it feels like you’ve been trying to make me into something that’s not a ‘normal student’.”
If I weren’t⎯⎯⎯⎯a ‘normal student’ like that.
“If I really wasn’t, then I wouldn’t hope for anything more.”
If I had the strength Gia has, then I wouldn’t have been tormented like I was when I was young, and if I had a power like the Earl’s, then Minhee wouldn’t have had to end up like that.
However, that wasn’t the case. I lost things. I made mistakes. I regretted things. I became aware of my situation after I had already lost many, many precious things to me. Consequently, I eventually fell into despair by the fact that I couldn’t turn anything back, and could only scream as I was locked away in my inescapable inner asylum.
“For someone like me, what could I possibly be besides a normal student with a slightly good head?”
Gia didn’t reply.
I shook my head.
“Anyway, finally, the fourth usage. I believe that this is, probably, what you’re talking about.”
“Say it.”
“This very moment. The fact that we’re talking in Korean. The fact that you’re into BL. The fact that the Earl has an otaku-like hobby. ⎯⎯⎯⎯The fact that you can actually bring the knowledge and items from another world, at no cost, to this world, this is probably it.”
Gia Batsand laughed. She was looking at me with eyes as if she were looking at a monster.
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“Gia, put those away. I don’t like, that type of gaze.”
She didn’t shift her gaze so I got upset.
“I’m just looking at a situation calmly. If there’s someone with the ability to ‘summon beings from another world’, then it’s natural to consider what that person can do and what other subsidiary things become possible. Also, I’m not some prophet or a pioneer. If there’s something that I can think about, then it’d be a situation where the research for it, all the way down to its core, has already been finished. That’s it. There’s nothing outside of that, there’s nothing above that, and there’s nothing below that.”
“You.”
“Anyway, I’m correct, right? The thing the Mage Tower is aiming for. The thing that the so-called Sky Prison fellow wanted while confining the Earl. The knowledge from other worlds······ That’s right. Since you said that the Korean language is at the level of a third-world country, then our world probably doesn’t have that high of a priority at the moment. Regardless, if I use our Earth as an example to understand it easier, if you summon some of the famous scientists in Korea right now, and extract useful techniques from them through torture, then. Yeah, it’s something that comes out often in SF films, ‘obtain new technology after torturing an alien.’⎯⎯⎯⎯, it’s a stale cliche.”
How many failures did mankind have to go through in order to invent the concept known as the steam engine? How many people fell on their knees and disappeared in order to complete the very first computer? How many mathematicians, who collapsed without having left behind their name, were needed in order to reach Euler’s formula?
But, if you were able to obtain those easily?
Something like the language of another world, like how the Earl and Gia are able to do it right now, it’s something that can be easily learned with time. I can imagine it. The sight of the people of this world learning Korean, English, Japanese, and German. The sight of the scientists, who were summoned by the Earl, being tied up in a row and being tortured. And then suddenly, due to that, steam engines and computers being added to this world. Pythagoras’ theorem, E=MC², and the theory of relativity being added. Quantum mechanics, nuclear fusion, airplanes, rocket technology, rifles······ the things that were done by others, the achievements of other worlds⎯⎯⎯⎯ can be brought. They can simply take the fruits that originally required thousands of geniuses to achieve.
That’s truly something so terrifying that it gives me goosebumps.
“Gia.”
I bit my lips because of the imagery that flashed in my head, the sight that could make one shudder.
“You, did you want that?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I don’t know how the people from the Mage Tower convinced you. However, is that what you want? You’re also interested in the technology of other worlds? The free technology that you can gain through torture and not diplomacy? Or what. Is there something else?” I shook my head and came to the conclusion. “Regardless of what it is, the truth is that you, the Earl of the Silver Lion’s Sword, went over to their side.”
At the same time as the momentary silence,
Gia showed a strange smile⎯⎯⎯⎯as if something was splitting apart. It was truly a ghastly and dark smile.
“You’re right.”
She then started giving her explanation.
“It’s actually been quite a long time since I was won over. It was a short while after Her Excellency had destroyed the 7th branch office of the Mage Tower, so it’s truly a long time ago. However, the upper executives of the Mage Tower who came in contact with me didn’t have a radical view like the 7th branch office did, of course. They wanted a more moderate inducement. They told me that I didn’t have to betray the Earl. All I had to do was, like right now, this very day, induce her very slightly. They said that was all I had to do.”
The tinge of guilt which she showed earlier had reappeared on Gia’s face while she was saying those words. ······If that’s the case, then that means her earlier appearance wasn’t an act, but truly, she couldn’t raise her head because she was embarrassed by how the situation had ended up like this.
“Perhaps, my thoughts were shallow. Since my head is bad. But despite that, the terms didn’t appear that bad. That’s why I, tried to induce her like that, but······ the Earl’s situation⎯⎯⎯⎯.”
“Wasn’t that normal?”
“That’s⎯⎯⎯⎯right. The Earl, was a bit, broken······ so it was difficult for that kind of inducement to work, it was that kind of situation.”
······I thought about it.
If you think about it now, the fact that the Earl at the time had destroyed the 7th branch office.
She willingly fastened the catalysts of 12 otherworldly gods to her body and made herself into a nuclear bomb.
The fact that she had become a psychopath like this, and refused contact with anyone while living as a blood-covered savage of a girl.
By all these facts, how much of a saving grace were these otherworldly beings to her?
Of course, something like this is laughable. I had no other choice but to feel something in particular towards the otherworldly creatures that the Earl had killed, especially the Koreans.
However······ even if that was the case.
“The thing you said to me, that you want me to help the Earl. Gia Batsand. Did you mean that the Earl, for starters, needs to have at least some of her emotions returned to normal?”
Gia let out a chuckle as if what I said was going too far.
“I told you, it wasn’t something as calculative as that. But, who knows······ it might have slightly been like that.”
“What do you mean by slightly. The Earl.”
Believes in you without even the slightest bit of doubt.
That’s right⎯⎯⎯⎯ trust.
Before she left, the Earl said this to me, 〈Think of a good method. A method where I won’t have to incline to either the Mage Tower or the Fedchants.〉 if I did so then she’ll consider sending me home. It’s obvious. That fellow, who’s unable to read the inner workings of a situation, wouldn’t have been able to realize the truth that Gia had used the check signed under the Earl’s House on purpose and that she had also returned after having purposely failed in the talks with the Black Dragon street.
Simply because she didn’t want to see the sight of the subordinate she trusts, Gia who’s like a sibling to her, blame herself. Because she believed that whether she becomes in debt to the Mage Tower, or lowers her head to the Fedchants, Gia will be hurt either way.
On the other hand, for me, since the Earl was already aware that my head was good. She wanted me to work harder by giving me a sense of purpose.
Are you telling me that this sort of easily readable bundle of text hasn’t been read by her already?
“I’m not sure.” Gia now had a tired smile on her face. “Lately, even my head hurts.”
“Your head?”
“Wearing a mask is difficult. It’s also difficult for someone like me, who has never been proficient in schemes in the first place, to do something like inducing someone and acting like a spy. Think about it. Why would I have requested someone like you to correct Her Excellency?”
“Someone like me, huh?”
“That’s right. Yujin, I can’t correct the Earl. Even if I’ve been working that hard for the Earl, and believed that I was something similar to the Earl’s sibling, despite all that, I failed at changing the Earl even slightly. But you were different. You achieved that while in a situation where everything was hostile against you, and within a few days since being summoned, at that. ······Do you know what I thought while I was watching that?”
Normally,
I believed that people, intelligent life-forms, must be treated like equal beings,
Therefore, I believed that I shouldn’t behave sarcastically or belittle the other party, but······.
“How would I know something like a fool’s thought?”
Gia let out a hearty laugh.
“Ahaha. A fool······ a fool, huh. I see······. Yeah. You’re right. I’m a fool. An idiot who has only trained with a sword until now, a blue haired gorilla whose brain even consists of muscles. That me, until now, has continued, contin–ued, to do spy stuff that I’ve never been used to. I sent the information that I gained from talking to the people who get summoned from other worlds to the Mage Tower, I induced the Earl towards a direction where she’ll become in debt to the Mage Tower······ and the Earl didn’t change······ I was reaching my limit······ and while I was in that state, you appeared.”
The hearty laugh started to change into a bitter one. I wordlessly gazed at the spy of the Mage Tower who the Earl trusted.
The stillness was flowing.
The silence broke.
“Gia.”
“Hm?”
“From now on, I need you to move as I tell you to.”
“What?”
The blue haired and blue eyed female knight looked at me with a dumbfounded gaze. I spoke.
“For starters, I need you to stop, being a spy for the Mage Tower.”
“······What?”
“Also, before you quit, go back to the Black Dragon Street while pretending to still be a spy. Say whatever you can and bring back evidence that the Fedchants had forged the documents. Say something like 〈We can put her in an even bigger trap like this〉 and it should work.
A cold glint was shining in Gia’s blue eyes.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll inform the Earl of your identity. I’ll tell her that you, the person who went around saying that you’re like a sibling to her, was actually secretly communicating with the Earl’s enemies. In that moment, even you should know what the Earl of the Silver Lion would do. Don’t forget it. The fact that you’re serving a lord with an ability that you can’t possibly run away from.”
“You’re going to threaten me in this situation? If I had to say that I’m impressed, then I am, Yujin.”
“It’s a threat that you have no other choice but to follow.”
“That’s interesting. If there wasn’t a single misunderstanding about your words, then I really would have obeyed without a complaint.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Gia nodded her head and lowered her body slightly towards me.
“Do you think, Her Excellency the Earl, will trust your words?”
Silence.
“Are you not misunderstanding your place, Yujin? To Her Excellency, you’re nothing more than an otherworldly being who has been around for merely 5 days. But I’m no different than the Earl’s sibling. Even if you were able to slightly change the Earl, an act which I wasn’t able to achieve, that fact doesn’t change. If perhaps, you and I were to get into an argument, then the Earl will obviously lean towards my side.”
That was a type of declaration. She had an unwavering expression on her face as if she were speaking a mountainous truth. I was quite deeply moved by the fact that I was able to witness that expression, which I’ve seen several times in Korea, here in this world. Moreover, it must be true that the fact was actually unwavering.
That’s why, it was okay.
Since that was the truth⎯⎯⎯⎯ I, could say this.
“I think so as well.”
“What?”
“Since the Earl will believe your words······ the blackmail is established.”
I took out my smartphone from my pocket. iPhone6. I showed to Gia Batsand, the thing that had recorded our entire conversation.
Gia’s smile shattered.
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Her smile broke apart and revealed a stunned expression.
“Smartphone?”
Yeah, a smartphone.
“Re······corded?”
Of course.
“Don’t make me lau······ That doesn’t make sen······ wait. Something like a smartphone······ 5 days has passed, right? There’s no way, there’ll be any battery left. Adding to that, there’s no cell tower here to connect to. It shouldn’t have been able to last even two days since it would have automatically sent out signals in order to find a cell tower.”
Battery, huh. The fact that a knight from another world could point that out was frightening.
Also, to comment that ‘it should have automatically sent out signals in order to find a cell tower’, was an eerily accurate remark.
However.
“It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that you can turn the power off on a smartphone.”
Gia Batsand had an expression on her face that appeared like her heart was shattering.
“I kept it off. And, when I was being stepped on by the Earl, I turned it back on. Of course, it still lets out discharge even when it’s off, but something like trying to find a cell tower, like you mentioned, doesn’t happen. Moreover, thanks to the needlessly advanced technical skill in my world, smartphones can hold out for 5 days and barely lose any battery.”
“You, bastard······!!”
“Now then, you understand the situation now, right? Will you do as I ask? Go to the Black Dragon Street. Make proof that can be used to refute against the Fedchants. After that, the situation will be resolved once you betray the Mage Tower, Black Dragon Street, and the Fedchants. Referentially, this isn’t a threat, but an order.”
An immense murderous intent exploded out from Gia.
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Gia’s tone sank down quietly.
“Since earlier, Yujin, you’ve been saying this and that while putting on airs······.”
Her glaring eyes felt like fangs.
“It goes without saying, I did say with my own mouth that I’m an idiot, but no matter how much that may be the case.”
A noise that sounded like something was scraping bones, resonated.
“Why are you trying to ignore the fact that I also have a choice of my own?”
That sword, was raised while severing the darkness. That wretched, smile.
“Take your life and take that smartphone. If I just do that, then everything will be over, right? Yujin, you idiot. For someone who can’t even subdue me in a time of emergency, if you blab your mouth that much then the side that’ll end up dying is yours. You’ve prattled on about this and that, but in the end, strength······!!”
The reason why Gia Batsand’s words were cut off in such a weird place, was because I had escaped towards the hallway. “Eeeng!?” I didn’t give any particular response and passed through the door that led to the hall. “Huh······ that, hey!? Hey, hey!” I refreshingly ignored something like the sound that was coming from behind me.
I ran out into the hall.
Shortly after, as I predicted, Gia Batsand ran through the doorway as well. The sound of metal colliding with each other emanated from her body.
She was slow. By the looks of it, since I was wearing casual clothes, I was faster than her because she was equipped with armor. As I planned earlier, I entered the cell, B-7, the room that could be opened and closed and also had something similar to a Korean’s remains and a coffin laying inside of it. After that, I quickly closed the door. Belatedly, Gia Batsand, who was chasing after me, kicked the door.
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Bang······!!
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It’s obvious, but it didn’t open. No matter how much you kick a pull door, do you think it’ll open?
“Yujin!! You, Tero······!! Open, the door!”
Am I insane? Why would I open the door?
I’m just a normal male student.
How could I possibly win against a knight like you in a frontal assault? Thinking logically.
“This bastard······!!”
Say what you want. Since even talking would be a waste of time at this point, I won’t do it.
Calmly, after stroking my prayer beads once.
I pulled out the ropes from under my clothes. The tools I found in the torture room. For reference, Gia, as long as you don’t immediately try to pull open the door, I didn’t plan to give you any more opportunities to open it. I hastily tied the rope around the door handle and pulled on it until it made an audible sound. It was around then that Gia tried to pull open the door, but this side as well, while keeping to the knot tying method, had desperately pulled and fastened the rope to the coffin.
Indeed, investigating the hallway, torture chamber, and the cells beforehand was the right idea. A match is always decided by the difference in information one side has.
Bang! Bang! Since it didn’t work after pulling, Gia started kicking the door again. Was she upset? If you kick like that, then only your leg will hurt.
“Eeegh······ Yujin, you······ is that it? I understand what you’re thinking.”
What I’m thinking?
“Do you plan to Girte······ make a deal, with me?”
Why a deal?
“You plan to keep shutting yourself away in there, right? If you do that, then the winner won’t be decided, so you’ll wait until either Her Excellency comes down here herself, summons me, or summons you, right, Yujin!?”
The hell is she talking about?
“That’s why, before that happens⎯⎯⎯⎯kneel, Is that what you’re trying to say? Ha! You coward.”
Ah, damn it.
In any case, this girl really is amusing. She keeps making me want to give her a rebuttal.
“This Gia Batsand, no matter how big of a weakness of hers is being seized⎯⎯⎯⎯ not only do I have no intention of submitting to someone who’s weaker than me but”
I want to give her a reply, but I’m busy with my preparations.
“Also, because of that pathetic calculation of yours, you’ll die in there pitifully.”
Wait wait. I’m almost done······.
“The fact that you’ll meet your end by the same skill that saved you from the guillotine yesterday. That is,”
Almost······.“
“The irony of contradiction!”
“You want to make bad jokes even in this kind of situation⎯⎯⎯⎯!?!”
Hah.
This kind of things isn’t my preference.
Ah, it was the same yesterday and the same today. I end up unintentionally······ really.
“Till the very end, we had a good talk.”
“What are you talking about!? It was good for you alone!”
“It’ll be difficult from now on, to meet another tsukkomer like you.”
“You made a weird word······!?”
“Perhaps you may have been my last chance, Gia says regretfully as Gia looks up at the sunset.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t here that one just now! In the first place, there’s no sunset here!”
“Is that blazing sunset not contained within, the chest of that gentlemen?”
“How hot is that chest supposed to be!?!”
And then, a sudden⎯⎯⎯⎯silence.
Shortly after.
“Kuroso–Extro 〈絶大切斷 / Great Rending Slice〉”
A white diagonal line formed on the iron door before my eyes.
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Fla⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ash······!!
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Clang······!! Craaaaaaash······!! A flash of light that felt as if it were going insane. A line of ruin that caused the door to twist, whirl, and collapse. It felt as if space itself was being torn, crushed, and collapsing in on itself. Bang······!! The door fell in an unamusing manner, and Gia Batsand was standing in her sword swinging posture on the opposite side of that door while trying to catch her breathe.
The problem is, Gia.
That technique, you showed it to me yesterday.
And.
At that time, I already realized that the cooldown for it is severe.
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That’s why.
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Right before the door fell,
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Something like the lamp bottle that I threw,
You being unable to deflect it
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Is obvious
right?
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Clash······!!
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“······!!!??”
The lamp bottle shattered and the liquid that was inside of it got all over Gia. She flailed about in the air. I didn’t ask her if she wanted to dance.
Rather, she threw me a question first.
“What’s······ this?”
What do you think?
It’s sticky and has viscosity.
The thing you and your perverted master kept saying was delicious······.
“H-Heaven Brand······ Milk?”
Plus blood and organs.
Momentarily sorting out the situation : Do you remember the lamp bottle I discovered in the prison guard room? I figured I could put something in it and use it in a time of emergency. But there was no liquid inside of it. I could barely afford to drink the limited water supply I had, so that was out of the question, and urine lacked viscosity. Compared to those, there’s a sense of weight to the blood and organs, and if you get it all over the opposition, then you can blind them temporarily, however, it can dry up and harden, so in order to prevent that solidifying, I had poured in some Heaven Brand Milk. That’s the story.
“You······ you said you didn’t like things that were too stimulating.”
Towards the girl who couldn’t see in front of herself so she was flailing around.
“Gia, the irony of contradiction.”
I rushed towards her.
“Is something like this.”
······At that instant.
The Gia, who had her eyes sealed and was flailing around, regained her posture instantly. It was literally an expert’s master, an astonishment’s surprise. She then, put her blade in order, and towards the approaching shadow, the shape of the body,
(TL note: Same phrasing as the poem mentioned in a previous chapter. ‘Expert’s expert, surprise’s surprise’.)
“Don’t make me laugh, I’m······!!”
Flash······!!
“The Silver Lion Royal Guaaard······!!”
The glint of her blade, roared out rampageously.
“Did you think······ to some cheap brawl like this······.”
The sound of something being sliced.
“That I’d lose······!?!”
The body fell after being sliced into two pieces,
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the thing that originally existed
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······here in B-7
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⌈The remains⌋
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“Gia Batsand, if you really want me to give you a tackle that much, then······!!”
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I didn’t offer any silent prayer, but instead, I stepped and crushed those remains, and rushed towards Gia’s body.
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“I’ll become that tackle······!!”
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Bang······!!
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Along with a somewhat dangerous line, I threw out my⎯⎯⎯⎯ desperate, body tackle.
She couldn’t focus her gaze, her posture was broken because she had just swung her blade, and the ground was slippery because of the Heaven Brand Milk, organs, and blood.
This is the critical strike······!! Telling her to not fall down was impossible now. An impossible situation!
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Thud······!!
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The Silver Lion Royal Guard, The Earl of the S