234. Gulliver's Travels (3)
234. Gulliver's Travels (3)
'Feels like my physical performance got way better...'
Standing with my sword to Instructor Elena's throat, I thought to myself.
'I mean, Chairwoman Rina's Library Quest is a fairly high-grade mission...'
Sure, she wasn't a real enemy.
At best, she was nothing more than a trash mob.
Still, I'd expected to exchange at least two or three moves.
But I'd managed to subdue her without our blades even touching once.
After taking down the Fire Dragon this time and hitting 3-Star, bringing my Swordsmanship rank to SS—
right after I got back to the academy, I'd more or less assessed my skills with help from my Master and the training ground.
But don't my movements feel way more natural now than I confirmed back then?
'Is it because I took the Fire Dragon Elixir before entering here?'
Except. That had only raised my Mana by 1. Sure, a rise was a rise, even if it was only 1, so it must have had some influence. But even allowing for that, the difference I felt was bigger.
'Ah, no way. Is it because it burned away all the impurities accumulated in my blood pathways?'
I hadn't taken the Fire Dragon Elixir directly as Mana.
I'd burned out the impurities in my blood pathways first, then absorbed only the remaining energy.
'The elixir naturally tried to burn the impurities, so I just let it happen.'
Hummmmm—
Sure enough, once I circulated my Mana, the flow felt far smoother than before.
Like, switching from driving on a local road to speeding down a highway, I guess.
In that case, there was no reason to feel disappointed that my Mana had risen by only 1.
Because it meant I'd achieved qualitative growth, not quantitative.
I was examining my body like that when—
"D-Do it again..."
Instructor Elena spoke in a small, crawling voice.
"I-I underestimated you... So, just one more round."
'Hm, seems like you're still underestimating me...'
I'd already been through this kind of situation countless times.
'How many times does this person need to be broken before she'll admit it?'
I let out a short sigh and pulled my sword away from her neck.
"Yes, I'll humor you until you're satisfied."
* * *
And so, Jin Yu-ha and Elena's sparring began again.
"J-Just one more round..."
"A-Again!"
"Just one more time...!"
Sparring that repeated over and over.
Little by little, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Elena, the instructor who'd been an object of fear and terror on the training ground.
She was losing again and again to a mere trainee, a man no less, without ever managing to swing her spear properly.
Tah!
Once more, Elena lunged.
Swick.
And once more, Jin Yu-ha's sword touched her throat.
"E-Elena! D-Defeat!"
At that, the instructor serving as referee stammered and shouted.
The trainees watching their fight couldn't help but question what they saw.
"...How on earth? Why is the instructor losing?"
Jin Yu-ha's movements were extremely simple.
He just dodged the spear shooting toward his body and thrust his sword through the opening.
Even though the movement was that plainly visible, Elena couldn't block even a single strike.
"What is that..."
"Why can't she dodge it?"
"Why can't she... when the sword is that obvious?"
At first, could Elena be joking around?
The trainees who'd thought that soon shut their mouths.
Because her expression told them.
That this defeat wasn't some kind of joke.
"..."
Now, Elena's pride—and everything else—was completely shattered; she bit her lip, her whole body trembling.
Words asking for another round wouldn't leave her mouth anymore.
Gulp.
Watching that sight, one of the trainees slowly opened her mouth.
"...Does it make any sense for a male trainee to beat an instructor like this?"
Starting with her remark.
The trainees around her started chiming in one after another.
"Come to think of it, isn't it a bit weird she can't dodge such an obvious sword?"
"Yeah, seriously weird."
"...Could that man be one of the demon's minions?"
At the word demon, everyone's eyes turned toward Jin Yu-ha.
Elena must have heard it too, because she looked at me and opened her mouth.
"A minion... of the demon?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere started shifting in a strange direction.
Once more, a development triggering past PTSD.
'Ah, fuck.'
I cursed internally.
Back when I'd first entered the academy, hadn't I already been suspected of being a Demonized Human after showing off my skills in this male body?
The era and backdrop were different, but it was exactly the same situation, practically a copy-paste.
'Ha, only this time the setting's medieval. So, what, is this a witch hunt?'
My head spun at the thought of once again having to prove I wasn't a demon's minion.
'But, do they have an artifact like the Demonized Human Detector here? Tch, medieval witch hunts were usually just shrug-and-burn-at-the-stake, weren't they...'
"A demon's minion..."
"No wonder, they say demon minions often have exceptionally good looks..."
"L-Look at Instructor Elena, getting beaten like that without offering any resistance. That's not normal! He's definitely using some kind of trick to hex her!"
The claim that I was a demon's minion was gradually gaining traction, and the atmosphere around me was heating up.
The instructor right in front of me apparently thought so too; her eyes had transformed into the stare of someone facing a life-or-death mortal enemy.
I swallowed down the sigh rising in me and looked around, gauging the odds.
'Roughly two hundred of them...? Hm, judging from the instructor's skill, winning would be simple enough, but...'
But if I did that, I couldn't avoid becoming a wanted fugitive of the kingdom, labeled a demon's minion.
That wouldn't be good.
I meant, the story would get seriously fucked up.
'First, let's get out of this spot and figure things out.'
Just as I was calming my eyes and putting strength into my hand gripping the wooden sword—
"That's enough."
A small voice intruded upon the silence.
Everyone flinched in surprise and turned their heads.
And I could see her too.
A familiar face.
Utopia's Special. It was Ichika.
'Ichika!'
She was wearing a flowing, deep-purple robe and a wide-brimmed pointed hat.
With her appearance, the atmosphere instantly froze solid.
Thud.
Suddenly, Elena put down the spear in her hand, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head to her.
"M-Minister of Magic."
"I watched everything from the back."
Ichika looked down at the back of her head and spat in an emotionless voice.
"Pathetic."
"...Pardon?"
"Refusing to accept your loss, struggling pathetically to the bitter end—it's really pathetic."
At that, Elena pointed her finger at me, her face full of indignation, and shouted.
"B-But! For a m-man's body to do that...! There truly is a possibility he's a demon's minion...!"
But under Ichika's flat, unwavering gaze, Elena had no choice but to shut her mouth mid-protest.
Then, Ichika's languid eyes turned toward me.
"You. Are you really a demon's minion?"
"...No, I'm not."
"Yeah, I know."
At that, the trainees who'd been insisting I was a demon's minion also kept their mouths firmly shut.
She was the core of the nation's power.
The Minister of Magic.
Since a person of her stature had delivered a definitive statement, who could dare raise their voice before her?
"But I'll still confirm it myself. So, you. Follow me."
Because of that, even as Jin Yu-ha was leisurely walking out of the training ground, no one was able to block his path.
* * *
Step.
Step.
Following Ichika without a word, I thought to myself.
'Ichika's the Minister of Magic...'
This is a jackpot gacha pull.
My reason for picking Ga-eul sunbae as a member for this quest was simple.
A character who starts as a ruler.
Plus, she's the only one from the country with a giant.
Every other character besides her starts in an enemy nation from the faction attacking that kingdom.
So, why'd I pick Ichika?
It was because of her ability!
In this quest, the ability to attack mid-air is essential.
Shin Se-hee, who uses magic, or Sofia, who shoots a bow, could've been candidates.
But as Damage Dealers, the two of them just can't match her firepower.
On top of that, since I had to be a fixed member among the participating characters, Ichika was the best choice.
And now, the Ichika I'd picked purely for her ability turns out to be the Minister of Magic!
You could basically say my life here was set.
Step. Step. Step.
Gradually, Ichika's footsteps started quickening.
Creeeak— thud.
She opened a certain dazzling door and stepped inside the room, shutting it immediately.
And then.
Sliiip.
Out of nowhere, Ichika came and snuggled into my arms.
"...?"
"Recharging."
Flustered for a moment, I let out a small laugh and stroked Ichika's head.
"Puuuuurrrr..."
Just like a cat, Ichika purred and relished the feel of my hand.
"It hasn't even been that long since we split up. What's with you?"
"...Unfamiliar places are stress. And there are too many unfamiliar people."
Ichika grumbled as she nuzzled her head against my chest.
"Still, it must've been disorienting. You tracked me down pretty quickly though."
"Yeah, I used my shadows. Also, I'm the Minister of Magic. I can protect my benefactor."
"So, did you happen to get a read on how things are going right now?"
At that, Ichika tilted her head up just slightly from where she was nestled.
"...Looks like we're about to go to war. With the Lilliput Kingdom."
'War with the Lilliput Kingdom.'
The kingdom we would soon be going to war with was the very place where Ga-eul sunbae had become ruler.
'Hm, but no way. Ga-eul sunbae wouldn't just up and declare she'd kill the giant, right? The giant isn't one of Rina's sealed monsters.'
I was mulling over stuff about the Lilliput Kingdom when the thought suddenly hit me.
'Nah, no way that'd happen.'
The Ga-eul sunbae I knew was someone with the Receptivity (?) to embrace everyone and a gentle disposition (?).
At the very least, she'd listen to what the giant had to say and give it some thought.
I shook my head vigorously and chased away the vague unease creeping up on me.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Lilliput Kingdom.
Im Ga-eul was sitting on the throne with her legs crossed, chin resting on her hand with a bored expression.
She listened to a detailed explanation of the situation from her ministers.
"Hmmmmm, so the giant is that much of a problem..."
She nodded decisively.
"Very well, I suppose we must kill it."
"...Your Majesty!! A magnificent, sagacious judgment!!!"
At that, all the vassals lowered themselves and cried out in voices full of emotion.
From Jin Yu-ha's perspective, the worst possible scenario.
"However, simply killing it would be a waste. I must see it with my own eyes first."
It had almost come to ppppppppppass....