I got into school for nothing - 160
*****************************************************
****************************************************
I got into school for nothing (160)
Lesson 32. The Pace is Too Fast - 4
[No matter how I look at it, I think I'm prettier than this one.]
Lilyth, who had been rolling around inside the spaceship assigned to Team Rebellion, measuring everything in sight, said this in a voice that was both artificial and beautiful, like a woman's.
Where was it artificial? In the overly clear quality of her voice, the subtly odd accent, or the faint static that made it sound less like a voice and more like a recording being played back.
After finishing all the coordinate checks, Ban Yuwon, who had been staring at the space visible outside the window, replied with an incredulous tone.
“Pretty? What’s your standard, exactly?”
That was a profound realm even Ban Yuwon didn't fully understand yet.
It seemed to be a criterion only Lilyth, a vassal created by Ban Yuwon and sharing a portion of his Authority, could comprehend.
[Anyway, I'm prettier than this old junk! I wish Master had ridden me instead.]
“Special activities are always done with spaceships registered to the Academy. So, let’s do your test drive later.”
Ban Yuwon repeated the explanation he’d given earlier, examining the concepts within her.
Lilyth [Demonic Machine 1,000, Life 1,000, Demonic Thunder Power 880, Soul 750, Myriad Changes 100, Space Transcendence 200, Resonance 128]
The core keywords that now comprised Lilyth were none other than ‘Demonic’ (妖) and ‘Machine’ (機).
Perhaps Lilyth was a mechanical lifeform that had reached the pinnacle of machine-type monsters, like the armored insects that appeared in the Tower.
The depth of that core concept was exactly 1,000, no more, no less.
Considering that Eve’s phantom beast form, which had grown quite diligently, had a core concept of Life at 650, Lilyth had surpassed her in one fell swoop this time.
But this wasn't just a simple evolution; it was a result of devouring precious artifacts Ban Yuwon had acquired. No wonder Eve was furious.
That was also why Eve was currently wrapped tightly around Ban Yuwon’s arm.
She was sulking and wanted to be appeased.
[Although I caused Master some trouble during my hatching process, I'm sure it'll be fine if I just prove more useful to Master than big sister Eve, right?!]
“You call her ‘big sister’ now.”
[Of course! Big sister Eve was born first, after all.]
That wasn’t quite the point he’d wanted to make.
For reference, Lilyth’s current form was a round metal sphere, small enough to be held in both hands... or rather, it resembled the magic orb Aire carried around.
Having swallowed "Myriad Changes" had its benefits; like Eve, she could now absorb most concepts and transform.
“Still, it doesn’t seem like there’s much difference between you and Eve, so how are you talking?”
[Big sister Eve can talk too, you know?]
Ban Yuwon’s head snapped around at Lilyth’s innocent-sounding reply.
However, Eve, wrapped around Ban Yuwon’s arm, merely feigned ignorance and yawned.
Lilyth rolled smoothly through the air, chattering away.
[“Myriad Changes” opens up all possibilities. Even insignificant monsters can communicate, so why couldn’t we?]
“Now that you mention it...”
If one could transform into anything, imitating human vocal cords wouldn't be difficult.
He already knew that the intelligence of all his vassals, including Eve and Lilyth—no, Tikke and Livi—was above that of an average human, so they only needed a way to communicate in human language.
However, Eve, even now, a considerable time after acquiring "Myriad Changes," still didn't speak.
Then there must be a reason.
Ban Yuwon stroked Eve’s head, which was still turned away, feigning ignorance.
“Ban Yuwon, is it enjoyable talking to that tin can?”
“Quite enjoyable, actually.”
[Tin can?! To call such a beautiful and sophisticated lady by such a rude derogatory term!]
Dokgo Yeon, who had been with Rucell until now, approached him and spoke.
He looked at Rucell and saw her sitting quietly with her head bowed, lost in thought.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
“Not at all. That woman is still worrying about you, not her own dimension.”
Rucell had been in that state ever since the dimension for the special activity was decided yesterday.
It was almost certain that outside interference would meddle with this special activity.
And of all places, it was happening in Rucell’s home dimension.
She was worried that she might inadvertently cause trouble for Ban Yuwon because of herself.
“You’re supposed to comfort her. Whatever happens where we’re going, it’s not Rucell’s fault.”
“I know. I tried to comfort her, but it didn’t work well.”
“And you call yourself a man, unable to even comfort a woman’s heart.”
Dokgo Yeon tutted and said.
“It would be better to just... knock her over...”
“Hm?”
“......”
If he just knocked her over, such worries would become trivial.
Dokgo Yeon, who had been about to say that, stopped mid-sentence as if something had caught in her throat.
“Ugh...!”
Seeing her face suddenly turn pale as she clutched her chest with one hand, Ban Yuwon quickly stood up.
“What’s wrong, Dokgo Yeon? Are you okay?”
“......I’m fine. Just pay attention to *that* woman, not me.”
“Are you really okay?”
“If you ask again, I’ll get angry.”
Usually, when someone replies like that, they’re not actually okay.
Ban Yuwon looked between Rucell, who was still slumped with her head down over there, and Dokgo Yeon, who was unnecessarily getting angry at him, then sighed and said.
“Both of you, let’s have some hot chocolate and calm down. We still have a long way to go until our destination.”
“I do like that, but lately, you have a habit of pulling it out whenever you’re in trouble.”
“You’ll drink it anyway, won’t you? Rucell, you come here too. If you keep looking so gloomy, I’ll just hug you tight.”
“......!”
Rucell’s ears twitched, though her head was still bowed.
She tried to get up but flinched, then sat back down, apparently more interested in something else than the hot chocolate.
Her transparent actions were rather cute.
Ban Yuwon decided to resolve her dilemma.
“Come here now, and I’ll hug you.”
“!”
As soon as she heard those words, Rucell ran to him as if she’d been waiting.
Right, if words didn’t work, using other means was the way to go.
Ban Yuwon chuckled softly and took out a thermos filled with hot chocolate from his inventory.
“......”
“No, Dokgo Yeon, why are you suddenly glaring at me? It’s scary...”
As the three of them amicably drank hot chocolate, Ban Yuwon suddenly thought of As Light.
Would he be okay right now?
What if Lyu Cheolmyeong had gone to his dimension?
What if he turned the spaceship around right now and headed to As Light’s home...
‘No.’
He firmly shook his head at the preposterous thought that had suddenly occurred to him.
Rucell was worried about Ban Yuwon, but Ban Yuwon was just as worried about Rucell.
He had also heard about the concerns she harbored.
Though Rucell called him "Master" and served him without compensation, how could a human relationship be so one-sided?
Naturally, Ban Yuwon also wanted to save Rucell and her home dimension.
So, as the Chancellor had said, this was the best course of action.
Still, he couldn't help but worry about As Light.
Although unintentionally, both Rucell and As Light were in difficult situations, and he had, in effect, chosen Rucell.
‘As Light... if you get hurt, you’re really going to get it.’
He would be fine.
Lyu Cheolmyeong’s objective was Ban Yuwon, Dokgo Yeon, and Rucell, rather than As Light.
So he had to be okay.
He hoped so.
* * *
When As Light emerged from the Tower and returned to his dimension with Yumina’s help.
The first thing he saw were airships filling the sky.
“Your Highness, you’ve returned!”
“It’s a disaster! The Dimensional Defense Alliance has betrayed us...!”
“It’s an Exodus invasion, Your Highness! Exodus has colluded with a part of the Defense Alliance...!”
Knights and nobles of the kingdom, confirming As Light’s return, rushed from all directions, grabbing at his clothes and whining.
They had always been so weak and dependent.
It had been this way ever since As Light had wielded the Holy Sword and rushed out, shouting to protect the kingdom.
“Betrayal by the Defense Alliance? Internal strife has always been a constant, hasn’t it?”
The enjoyable time he’d spent climbing the Tower with like-minded companions felt like a lie.
Undeniable weariness laced As Light’s voice as he replied to his vassals.
“Your Highness? But your appearance is somewhat...”
“And your voice, too.”
“No, that’s not what’s important right now! Your Highness, we will report the current situation. Quickly, inside! Your Highness’s aid is urgently needed!”
“Y-yes, that’s right! Quickly, quickly, escort him!”
“His Majesty has risen from his illness! He intends to issue a direct royal command to Your Highness...!”
“Really? Father, the King, has.”
As Light crossed the palace with a faint sigh.
Although it had been less than half a year, As Light had matured considerably mentally, and he was no longer a person swayed by every word his vassals spoke.
But there was one exception to this.
The one who had commanded him to wield the Holy Sword... the King.
“You’ve come, ‘Prince’.”
How did it feel for the father who begot him to call him "Prince"?
How did it feel?
As Light bit his lip, desperately suppressing a growing impulse that had surged within him lately.
And he bowed to the highest man in the kingdom.
“Have you been well, Father?”
“An envoy from Exodus mentioned your name.”
The King’s cold voice shook his very being.
“It seems you’ve been doing noticeable things at the Academy.”
“Are you implying this invasion is because of me?”
“No. But it’s not without influence.”
And that, the King added, was irrelevant to the current situation.
“Our army is insufficient. As Light, prove your qualifications as the master of the Holy Sword and protect this nation.”
“Father, I can no longer wield the Holy Sword...”
“The Holy Sword?”
With the nation in crisis, he couldn’t possibly reply that he couldn’t wield the Holy Sword because he feared its side effects.
Yet.
From the perspective of one who keenly realized how much effort Ban Yuwon and the others had put into As Light’s ‘treatment,’ he simply couldn’t let it go unsaid.
“I am strong... even without wielding the Holy Sword, Father.”
“Yes, it seems you haven’t wielded the Holy Sword for a while. It’s plainly visible from your weakened face.”
“Is that... how I appear?”
*Grind*, his teeth grated.
Seeing his expression turn fierce, the King likely guessed what he wanted to say, and a bitter smile touched his stern face as he spoke.
“It’s a joke. You are my son, and I know your talent and strength better than anyone.”
“Then――”
“But the current situation is not suitable for exchanging jokes.”
Ah.
As Light recalled the moment he first wielded the Holy Sword.
Without anyone telling him what he would have to endure.
Just that moment he held the sword with an excited heart.
“Draw the Holy Sword, As Light. You must protect this nation with the great power inherited from our ancestors.”
“......”
Perhaps the King wasn’t wrong.
The nation’s current situation was dire—so much so that the thunder of battle could be heard even here, where the royal palace stood.
He couldn’t *not* draw the Holy Sword.
The fate of the nation rested on As Light’s shoulders.
It had always been this way before he enrolled in the Academy.
Now, it felt like he was putting on his own clothes again.
Clothes that everyone in the kingdom said suited him well.
Such utterly tiresome and sickening clothes.
The Protector’s Garb.
“Father.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“Do you remember my name?”
“As Light, I told you to stop with the jokes.”
“My real name, I mean.”
The King flinched at As Light’s voice, tinged with a hint of sorrow.
But the silence didn't last long.
“The war situation demands haste. Hurry, As Light.”
“......Understood, Your Majesty.”
As Light turned and left the royal palace.
He abandoned himself and wielded the Holy Sword once more.
He did not let go of the Holy Sword until the end of the break.
Comments