First Day in the Piros Autonomous Region (2)
As they moved to the corner, three people were waiting. A monk with a ponytail and his eyes covered by cloth, a man leaning against the wall wearing a helmet like a medieval knight, and... 'A priest of the Goddess Church?' A priest in white robes sat there.
Looking around, everyone in the auditorium—dozens of people—had been grouped into teams with others from the same places. Naturally, the priests from the Papal Court were together too. Yet this one priest had been assigned to Z Team alone. His preconceived notion solidified.
'They all seem pretty solid. Two of the ones I eyed up are here.' Separately from that, an extraordinary aura emanated from them at first glance. They were all formidable.
He approached them with Alice in tow.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Han Seongjin from Noble Academy."
"Likewise. This humble monk is Juwon from the distant Yeon Kingdom beyond the seas."
The monk, who had been standing with hands clasped, stepped forward to greet him. The first person he'd noticed upon entering the hall. Even through his robes, solidly built muscles were visible. He exuded considerable inner power. But...
'...Why does he look so familiar?' He strikingly resembled a character from some online game back in his original world.
"Hello. Um... could you maybe say 'Iku~!' just once?"
"...? I must have misheard."
"Sorry. Even I know that's not right."
He snapped out of it. What the hell was he doing? He'd committed a faux pas without thinking because of the resemblance.
As the monk eyed him strangely, the priest approached from behind.
"Greetings, Brother Han Seongjin. I am Ryan, a 5th-class priest of Philia from the Philia Theocracy, serving the great Goddess."
"Ah, yeah. Hi."
"Brother, what do you believe is the most important thing in battle?"
"Pardon?"
An out-of-left-field question. The most important thing in battle?
"...Maximizing efficiency with minimal force, I'd say—"
"No! Wrong!"
The priest shook his head vigorously, cutting him off.
"The most important thing in battle is firepower! The overwhelming power to sweep all enemies away in one shot!!"
"...Firepower?"
"Yes, firepower alone. Firepower is the answer! Battles inevitably bring sacrifices, so ending them swiftly is only natural. Overwhelming firepower is thus essential—the most critical element!"
The priest shouted with a mad grin.
"Sweep enemies away in one blow with overwhelming firepower and minimize innocent casualties. Doesn't this align perfectly with the Goddess's teaching to 'protect the people'?!"
"Ah, sure..."
He had no idea about firepower, but he now perfectly understood why this guy had been singled out. A firepower supremacist priest, of all things.
The monk, who'd been watching their exchange, chimed in.
"Priest Ryan, battles involve countless overlapping situations. How can one-shot annihilation be the only solution?"
"Then what does Brother Juwon think?"
The monk clasped his hands once and spoke.
"Clashing with all one's might against the foe using every method at hand—that total commitment is the essence of battle, is it not? Focusing only on offense leaves one vulnerable to the enemy's tricks. The true charm lies in the fair, frontal clash where both savor each other's strikes with their entire bodies."
Ah. Even the monk he'd thought was normal had betrayed him. Sure, he liked fighting too... but 'not that rigidly.'
"...Professor, are these people okay..?"
"...Probably."
Ignoring Alice's dumbfounded expression, he turned to the priest and monk.
"#"^@&₩!#"
"%@%×#@!"
They started spouting nonsense and emitting mana. ...They might not be okay after all.
He bypassed the old-school monk and firepower zealot priest, heading to the silent man slouched at the far back. A helmeted guy leaning against the wall with arms crossed.
"Nice to meet you. Han Seongjin. Cool helmet."
"Piss off."
"......Pardon?"
He doubted his ears. What was this guy's problem?
"Come on, at least introduce your—"
"I said piss off."
"......"
With a sigh, he turned away. Up front, the arguing pair had amped up their mana for a stare-down. They looked ready to throw down any second.
Old-school monk, firepower fanatic zealot priest, and now a total asocial jerk. Not a normal person in sight.
'Damn group project. This is why I roll solo.'
The moment Z Team was mentioned separately, one thought had flashed in his mind.
'Z Team's just a dumping ground for rejects.'
The staffer's dubious glance at Alice at the info desk fit too. No hard proof, but based on his senses and experience, a reasonable suspicion.
He'd brushed it off thinking they wouldn't, but... it was real.
"...Professor. What do we do?"
"Beats me."
Something told him this journey would be a handful.
Near the Kargas Volcano zone stood a resort. The administration had prepared this top-tier lodging to welcome the support forces who'd traveled far.
Vast grounds with pools, spas, theme parks, malls—every amenity. Rooms filled with luxury furniture, emerald seas visible through windows, and a massive buffet downstairs. A paradise on earth.
—Or it should have been. The mood around Z Team's table felt like a ticking bomb in the center.
Over a spread of gourmet dishes, self-introductions—read: power flexes—continued.
"This monk's fists shatter boulders and reverse rivers. Only a honed body leads to truth."
"Brother, that's so outdated! My holy bullets would pulverize that rock. Behold this radiant mana convergence!"
While Juwon, now sans eyepatch, and Ryan waved forks in heated debate, Seongjin silently sliced his steak. Beside him, Alice poked at her pasta on the verge of tears.
"Alright, enough. Our turn now—listen up."
As Seongjin shifted the topic, all eyes turned to Alice. Even the helmeted man's icy stare from the corner made her shoulders visibly shrink.
"Um... I... I can summon spirits. I commune with the ones marked on my wrist... and borrow their power."
Alice drew up mana with trembling hands.
—Shimmer. The air rippled as a tiny bird-shaped wind spirit and a squishy dolphin-shaped water spirit appeared.
[Tweet!]
The bird wind spirit hid behind Alice the moment it spotted Seongjin.
"Ah, Windy! Professor won't hurt you, okay? There, there—come here."
Alice hugged the green bird, stroking its head. At her gentle touch, it let out a relaxed 'cheep...'
"Ho, spirits. Such pure, wondrous energy. A refined aura."
"Lacking in firepower, but decent support."
As Juwon and Ryan chimed in at the heartwarming sight of the pretty girl tending her little bird—
—Boom!
The table shook violently. The distant helmeted man had risen and closed in on Alice's face.
"......!"
Alice froze, unable to scream. The helmeted man glared piercingly at Blue, the water spirit swimming near her.
"This."
A gravelly voice leaked from the man.
"Where'd you get this water spirit?"
"Pardon? Oh, just a contract..."
"Don't lie."
The man reached to seize Alice's wrist.
—Crack!
Seongjin's hand clamped the man's wrist hard.
"Hey."
His face twisted demonically.
"The fuck you doing?"
The low, oppressive tone chilled the air.
"Let go. Need to check."
"Checking, huh? Then why pull mana?"
"None of your business."
"...You little shit."
"Got a problem? Bring it."
"Oh yeah?"
Seongjin tilted his head at the man's words.
"P-Professor, I'm fine, don't worry..."
He ignored her.
—Bam!
A punch too fast for eyes struck the man's gut. His body slid back from the impact.
"You've pissed me off since earlier. Get beat, asshole."
"Pathetic."
The man lunged, eyes flashing through his visor. Seongjin kicked off too.
They collided, shockwaves erupting. Dishes shattered, chairs flew.
"Kyaa! S-stop fighting!"
Alice tried calming them with Windy's gusts, but no dice. Water spirits shredded before reaching them. A shrimp caught in whale fights.
Frantic, Alice glanced at Juwon and Ryan—arms crossed, spectating.
"A-aren't you gonna stop them? They might get hurt..."
"Interrupting a bout is rude. Come here, miss—you're in danger."
"True. Perfect timing for the helmeted one's intro too."
"Spar and introduce—one stone, two birds."
"Huh...?"
What were these people saying? Alice's mind blanked.
"No worries. They're holding back."
"Exactly. No abilities yet. If serious, we wouldn't be chatting."
"R-really...?"
—Bam! Boom!
...Not serious? She'd foam at the mouth if those hits landed on her.
Shivering unwittingly, Alice hid behind Juwon and Ryan. And so they spectated the brawl.
—Whoosh! Seongjin ducked the incoming fist, countering instantly. In that split-second gap, the helmeted man twisted his head. The hit connected but felt soft.
Seongjin caught the man's kick, surged forward, elbow to the face.
—Crunch!
The helmet dented slightly. Downed by kick catch and counter, Seongjin mounted and rained punches.
—Bam! Bam! Boom!
The man raised arms to guard. Seongjin struck through gaps. The helmet crumpled and flew off, revealing his face.
"Ngh!"
A young man with blue hair, blue eyes. Notably, fin-like flaps near his ears.
Juwon exclaimed in surprise.
"A merman! First real one I've seen."
"Explains the helmet. Merfolk are exceedingly rare."
"Heh, keep it secret."
—Crack!
Seongjin elbow-smashed his face. Nosebleed erupted. Punches kept flying.
—Thud! Thwack! Crunch!
"Grrgh!"
Suddenly, the man bear-hugged Seongjin close, denying distance. Then twisted with hips and shoulders.
—Crash!
They rolled. From behind, the man cinched Seongjin's waist, suplexing him backward. Vision inverted, body airborne—then slammed.
—Boom!
The buffet floor shattered from the suplex.
—Whirl! Seongjin spun free, locked the man's neck with an arm. Slid the other under armpit, gripped wrist—triangle choke. Rolled over, dragging him down.
—Grind.
"Gahhh!"
The man thrashed desperately, wedging an arm in, arching waist and legs to escape.
—Pop!
Sweat and blood slicked him free. Rising, he unleashed a full-power punch. Seongjin dodged, countering to the face.
"Urk!"
The man flew back. Clutching jaw, he reset stance, glaring fiercely. Seongjin beckoned with fingers.
Veins bulged on the man's forehead simultaneously.
"Human scum, forcing my hand at last."
"If that was your all, I'd be disappointed."
The man drew mana. Blue mana flowed like liquid, gathering in his hand.
—Hummm.
A blue trident materialized.
—Shing!
Seongjin deployed bio-armor on both arms.
"This getting dangerous? Using abilities."
"Watch a bit longer."
At the shift, Juwon and Ryan prepped to rise. Seongjin versus merman.
—Whoosh!
They glared, then charged. Air screamed from speed. Collision imminent—
—Clash!
"......!"
"......?"
Just before armored fist met trident, a massive shadow blocked the space. Attacks halted midway.
Hands gripped Seongjin's fist and the merman's trident.
Dust cleared, revealing a giant at least 2.5 meters tall. Bronze skin, scar-riddled face. He grinned, eyeing them alternately.
"Hot-blooded's fine, but save it for tomorrow's demon beasts! Don't tire yourselves here."
"Who're you?"
Seongjin retracted his armor, asking.
The giant pulled a tag from his pocket instead.
[Z]
"...Another Z Team?"
The giant nodded at Seongjin's mutter.
"Name's Beowulf. I'm commanding you ragtag bunch! Let's get along from here on out!"