Jenella's Secret Duty
Days flew by as I studied during the week and played on weekends.
"This is what normal school life is all about!"
"No way in hell it is...."
"Who the hell has a normal school life where they beat the crap out of their classmates like that...!"
"Hey, anyone hearing this might get the wrong idea. We only played dodgeball, okay?"
Just as the professor said, I enjoyed what I could, studied when I had to, and piled up memories along the way!
Of course, whenever I had time, I visited the professor to check on how much intel he'd gathered and how ready we were.
My current job might be student, but I was a priest of the War God in my past life. Can't forget my real profession.
"What I'm enjoying now is just to hide my identity. Yeah, that's right."
-You're enjoying it way too much for that.
"Wanna turn into a ball again?"
-No sir!
But the professor, who was even more enthusiastic about preparing than I was, still wasn't quite done.
-It's not time yet. Give me a little more time to prepare.
I was tempted to just ask for the rough location and call it a day, but seeing him prepare all sorts of gear, fake identities, and intel... I couldn't bring myself to say no.
He's too damn passionate!
About two weeks later, he showed up looking a bit more hollow-eyed under those dark circles and handed me several items.
-I've narrowed down the location. If you're really planning to move, now might be a good time. I'm 'still' not too busy.
Saying that, he fiddled with the fake Arishion family crest and stepped into my dorm room.
Now what...? Should I just sneak in alone and flip the place upside down?
That's when someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
"?"
Who's that?
Anyone supposed to come by?
...He wouldn't have caught me trying to sneak out, right?
Like Ashy or Adria, for example.
Those two would flip out if they knew I was planning to go alone.
Especially Ashy!
She'd probably insist on tagging along no matter what.
......I work better alone.
So I decided to play dumb and not answer.
Knock knock knock!
I figured pretending to be asleep might make them leave, but they knocked again.
Knock knock knock knock!!
"......If you don't open up, I'm gonna kill you, you bastard?"
-......Told ya?
"Okay. Rock-paper-scissors. Loser opens the door."
-Okay. Deal.
"Rock-paper-scissors!"
-Paper!
I lost.
How the hell did I lose?
"Where'd you even get a hand from?"
-Of course I can do this much.
"......Your snacks for the day are confiscated."
-What? Hey!! That's cheating... Ack!
I chucked the cheating(?) Eodukshini onto the bed and opened the door.
Standing there wasn't Ashy, but Jenella.
Her hair was tied back tightly, she was in comfy clothes, and she held chocolate milk and banana milk in both hands.
"Can I come in?"
"Huh? Yeah. Sure, come on in."
Why's she here?
I was puzzled, but I let her into the room anyway.
To be honest, Jenella and I weren't exactly super close.
Our first meeting was kinda like that.
She actually got along better with Adria than with me.
"Banana milk or strawberry milk—which one you want?"
"I prefer chocolate milk."
"......Should I go buy some more?"
See? She takes it in stride, so it makes me wanna tease her sometimes.
I waved it off and took the banana milk.
"Nah, just kidding. Come in and sit."
"Uh, okay...."
What the hell is she so nervous about?
I couldn't figure it out, but I sat her on the bed and took the desk chair.
Dating advice...? Nah, probably not.
No way she'd ask a total virgin like me.
Squish.
As Jenella sat, something squished under her.
She jumped up in panic.
Under her was the Eodukshini I'd tossed earlier, flattened.
"Ack?"
-Guhhh....
"Just leave it. It's not gonna die from that."
-P-Prize, heuuung....
"What the hell are you even saying, you lunatic."
I shoved the babbling Eodukshini into my pocket and turned to the super tense Jenella.
"So, what's up?"
"......Uh, yeah, well..."
"Heads up: I don't do relationship advice."
I said it dead serious.
"I'm a virgin."
"......It's not relationship advice."
"Oh? Good, then."
Whew, dodged a bullet there.
"So, what's going on?"
Jenella hesitated forever before finally speaking carefully.
"......I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Tell me who was behind last week's Black Forest incident."
"?"
I blinked at the unexpected request.
"Why?"
"I...... need to stop it. The illegal experiments strengthening or modifying monsters...... I have to stop that."
"What about legal experiments?"
"......"
The air suddenly turned icy.
Did I screw up the joke?
I waved my hands frantically.
"I'm just curious for real. You said you have to stop illegal strengthening or modifying, right? Doesn't that mean legal ones are fine?"
"......I have to stop them. But how can I stop legal ones? What power do I even have? That's why I'm going after the illegal stuff."
Such a realistic reason.
I nodded in understanding.
"Fair enough. But why do you have to stop it?"
"......It's my duty."
"What duty?"
"......I can't say."
"Alright, then nothing I can do."
I capped the banana milk.
"I'll tell you."
"!"
She looked shocked that I'd agreed so easily, her eyes going wide.
Like she was asking why?
I shrugged.
"You can't tell me, right?"
"Y-Yeah, yeah."
"Then it's out of my hands. Of course, I can't just spill it for free."
I pulled a sheet of mana contract paper from my desk.
"I'd like all the info you know in return. I won't ask how you know it."
She examined the contract closely, then nodded slowly and signed.
"......Okay."
"Good. Here's the deal."
I told her everything I'd dug up last week.
As the story went on, her face drained of color.
Maybe the scale was bigger than she thought—her hands were trembling.
"Born human... how could they do something so vile...!"
After venting briefly, she quickly calmed down.
She let out a short breath and opened her eyes.
They looked the same as always, but...... today they felt different somehow.
"......I have to stop them."
"You have some idea what those bastards are up to?"
"...Yeah."
She's going?
I'd just asked casually, but got a real answer.
"......They're probably trying to artificially create 'ancient monsters'."
What, like Mechagodzilla?
"What's that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like—monsters that have existed since ancient times. There aren't many, but each one has the power of a high knight or more. If one shows up, the city gets quarantined immediately, and imperial knights clash with it."
Imperial knights.
The elite unit only elite high knights who master advanced swordsmanship can join.
If they mobilize, that means the threat level is insane.
"And they're making those artificially?"
"Yeah. That monster you fought last week...... it was very faint, but it had traits of an ancient monster."
"What do they even do with them?"
"Raw power. Ancient monsters are massive forces just by existing. Depending on the situation, they might be more useful than high knights. If it's a full adult, it'd be beyond high knight level. They're trying to control them, or maybe......"
Jenella paused, looking conflicted.
I waited without pushing.
After a moment, she seemed to sort her thoughts and spoke carefully.
"Use the unknown powers unique to ancient monsters to boost their own strength."
"......!"
"And I have a duty to stop that."
For a split second, the word 'Calamity' flashed in my mind.
I don't know exactly what Calamity is.
Black mages? Human greed? No clue.
Is this connected somehow?
If so.
Then I have a duty to stop it too.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"......What?"
Jenella shook her head firmly, flustered.
"No. It's too dangerous."
"You're the one in more danger. And I'm stronger than you."
"......That's true, but. I have specialized abilities against those monsters."
"What about humans? You don't think it's just monsters there, do you?"
"......"
I stared at Jenella, who went dead silent like her mouth was glued shut.
Hey. You don't seriously think...?
"......Even so. It's dangerous. I'm specialized against monsters, but humans can still kill me."
"Humans are way easier for me."
Most wars are between humans.
So my 'War God's Blessing' was specialized more for fighting people than monsters.
"Didn't you see last week?"
"You were getting pushed a bit."
"Pushed? Ha! Me? You just couldn't appreciate these muscles."
I flexed my arm, making a bicep.
It didn't bulge much.
"......"
"......"
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Plus, going alone is suicide. You need at least three people."
I could handle solo, but Jenella? She's a mage, not a knight—clear limits.
"Three people?"
"One to watch your back. From what I saw, even a low knight could kill you. I'd love to bring Adria too, but... her status complicates things."
Jenella and I are commoners. Worst case, we're just criminals.
But Adria's a princess. That title helps, but it can also be a leash.
Ashy should be fine.
Honestly, I'd prefer going with Professor Nipella. What if we get wrecked there? Die?
I haven't done much large-scale protecting yet. Normally I'd charge in without worry, but...
This time's different. Unknown territory. No clue what's there, who the power players are, or their forces.
But.
Bzzz, bzzz—
My instincts were screaming.
She'd definitely be helpful.
As if backing that up, my sword hummed faintly.
"Alright. We leave tomorrow."
"Got it. Don't bring anyone else tomorrow. Ashy......"
"I'll bring her."
"...Sorry for asking like this out of nowhere."
"Nah. No big deal."
"Can I ask one thing?"
"?"
She looked even more hesitant now, so I tensed up a bit.
What the hell's she gonna ask?
"...You said you're a priest, right?"
"Yeah."
"...Can you tell me who your god is?"
I thought it over.
Should I say it?
But we're already bound by a mana contract. After agonizing a bit, I spoke.
"Arcana, the War God."
And then I saw it.
Her stumbling back!
"......You're not gonna kill me to silence me now, right?"
"......"