Annoying Attention
Is being the Sword of Light really such a prestigious position?
Even the Headmistress, and even Mullin, had changed their expressions. Kaits, meanwhile, was still grinning, seemingly oblivious to the shift in atmosphere.
......
I want to slap that cheek just once. I want to see if he’d keep that same expression...!!
Anyway. From what I recall, the Sword of Light is the highest-ranking title among the Hero’s lackeys. If the Hero is the face of the company, the Sword of Light feels like the department head who has to do all the dirty work.
Hmm....
I really, really don’t want to do this...?
It screams "overworked middle management." Gold claimed it was a position equal to the Hero, but....
"I told you, I don't want to."
"I will submit the application, but will you be alright with it?"
"I said no, you son of a bitch."
He makes me want to curse. I felt the Headmistress’s gaze after the profanity slipped out, but she was still staring at us with a grave expression.
"...Since we are inside the academy, I will omit the honorifics. Kaits."
"Yes, of course, Headmistress."
The Headmistress let out a long sigh.
"You are aware of what that implies, aren't you?"
"Yes. I understand."
"And you know what will happen to your position if this fails?"
"Of course."
Suddenly, Mullin let out a scoff.
"So you weren't just a clown after all."
What the hell are you nerds talking about? Let me in on it, too. But as if my confusion didn't matter, no one bothered to explain. Mullin stared at Kaits while reaching for her drink, and this time, the Headmistress didn't stop her.
"Gulp. Gulp..."
"..."
Mullin slammed her bottle onto the table with enough force to shatter it and glared at Kaits. Her eyes were much sharper than before.
"What’s your scheme?"
"There is no such thing. I simply thought that to face the future demons, or evil, Instructor Drae’s power is indispensable."
Mullin narrowed her eyes and stared at Kaits for a long time. Then, she curled her lips into a sneer—a look of pure mockery.
"Even if it means losing your precious status as the Hero?"
"Yes."
Losing the status of the Hero?
"Even if the probability is low, if Nanar..."
"Mullin."
At the Headmistress’s soft, worried voice, Mullin paused for a moment before continuing.
"...If the Light descends and denies your words, you'll be branded a heretic that very day."
"Yes. I am aware."
"Do you think the academy will protect you? Isn't Pruynar Academy a place that you, who are supported by the Holy Kingdom, should be rejecting? There are already plenty of people who want to kick you out, given your already ambiguous position."
"Even so, I must do what I must. The Lord is omnipotent, but not omniscient."
Mullin seemed even more shocked by the strange remark. But soon, she gnashed her teeth, looking as if she couldn't trust him.
"A Hero insulting the Light? What are you going to do if someone hears that?"
"I find it hard to believe that anyone here would go around talking about this conversation."
I roughly get the picture. Kaits wants to make me the "Sword of Light" or whatever, but if Nanar descends and says "don't do that" via a revelation, Kaits loses his Hero status. But why?
Nanar isn't constantly residing in this world, and couldn't his underlings misinterpret his intentions? You get kicked out of a high-ranking position like the Hero just for one mistake?
It's a guess, but I have an inkling. The Hero trying to make someone the Sword of Light isn't the problem itself; the problem arises if the person being chosen is the issue.
In other words, I'm the problem. And looking at how Mullin keeps bringing up the academy to mess with Kaits, it seems the Holy Kingdom and Pruynar Academy aren't on the best of terms. And hearing Mullin's next words, my thoughts seemed correct.
"An instructor at Pruynar Academy, an outsider, and a guy with a foul temper at that—you want to make *him* the Sword of Light?"
As expected, it's me and the academy. Being an outsider is a minus, too. And... is she naturally insulting me right now??
"What was that, you brat? Foul temper?"
"Huh?"
I growled back at Mullin as she turned to glare at me. Unexpectedly, Mullin looked away first and sighed.
"*Sigh*, I know this guy is excellent when it comes to combat. That incomprehensible power of his sword strikes could be a trump card against the monsters."
"Yes. I think so, too."
"But you know it too, right? Setting aside the will of the Light, you know how much dignity the position of the Sword of Light demands."
Mullin glanced at me and continued.
"It’s not a seat for a lunatic who just attacks whoever he wants because he’s in a bad mood."
It pissed me off, but it sounded true, so I stayed quiet. That crazy woman, fighting dirty with facts.
"I believe Instructor Drae is a good person. At least he knows the concept of rewarding good and punishing evil."
"Rewarding good and punishing evil?"
Mullin burst into laughter, genuinely amused. I wanted to turn that laughter into the sound of her coughing up blood.
"Not punishing evil and rewarding good?"
"......"
"I don't know why he acts like that, but should I tell you what I feel?"
Go ahead. I'm curious, too.
"That guy is a devious bastard. I don't know why he acts like an idiot, but his intentions are never good."
"I see."
"It's not 'I see.' That guy is definitely not a good person. It's a bit hard to call him 'evil'... but his tendencies are close to it."
She picked up her bottle and chugged it again. The Headmistress looked confused, but Mullin didn't care and drank until the end before turning to me.
"Why? Got anything to say in your defense?"
...I was a bit surprised. I just thought she was a fallen nun, but she has a sharp eye. Because I'm certainly not a good person.
"...Then let me ask one thing."
"Sure. Go ahead."
I looked away from the cackling Mullin and spoke.
"Is the relationship between the Holy Kingdom and the academy not very good? I don't really know about those things."
"...Is this really the time to be asking that?"
Her voice was full of disdain. Even the Headmistress frowned.
"Instructor Drae really is different from other outsiders in many ways."
There was a sting in her words. Love Heart, I miss you. I want to hit someone.
"Perhaps it's historical, as there are overlapping parts in our origins."
Kaits said with a bitter smile. A bitter smile? I want to flick his forehead. I suppressed my urge to use violence and spoke.
"If you mean origins, are you talking about the Ten Heroes and the True Demon King?"
"Instructor Drae. If I may be so bold, I ask that you not mention the True Demon King carelessly in front of others."
Why? Is he "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or something? Actually, I did feel the others flinch the moment the True Demon King's name came up.
"Yes. Drae is correct. There is the fact that the history of the Holy Kingdom's beginning and the academy's beginning are quite similar, but..."
"The academy is more historic. Do you think a few decades is a small difference?"
The Headmistress interrupted with an uncharacteristically emotional voice. Kaits smoothly moved past it with a "Yes, of course," and continued.
"Since it is the place where the God directly performed miracles, and the largest force serving Him, there is, knowingly or unknowingly, a power struggle over who is closer to the origin."
"It's a fierce struggle, not 'knowingly or unknowingly'."
Mullin clicked her tongue and said.
"Still, on the surface, we maintain a friendly relationship. Sending clergy here as a place of learning, and the fact that someone who was a candidate for Saintess is here, is proof of that."
From the moment the words "Saintess candidate" were mentioned, Mullin’s face turned vicious.
"Hey. Shut the fuck up."
"I have made a slip of the tongue. My apologies."
Kaits, who apologized quickly, looked at me again.
"This era needs reform."
"Reform?"
At my question, he nodded.
"If we continue this power struggle, we cannot subjugate the evil ones, the Demon Kings. Furthermore, we must eliminate the Eight Monster Kings, who are hostile to humans and make the demons stronger just by existing."
His voice was passionate. Even knowing it was acting, it was enough to give me goosebumps. Is he using some kind of skill...? Kaits, clenching his fists as if frustrated, looked at me with eyes so hot they were burdensome.
"Therefore, Instructor Drae, who played a major role in preventing the descent of one of the Eight Monster Kings and eliminating a Demon King, is special. That is why I desperately want you to take the seat of the Sword of Light."
"I am a bit special, aren't I?"
I mocked him, but he didn't seem to care at all. Even if it's acting, this level of performance is worthy of admiration.
"If someone as outstanding as you, Drae, becomes a bridge connecting the academy and the Holy Kingdom and starts producing results... I believe we, humanity, will be able to take a step forward."
To summarize, Kaits's goal, on the surface, is to make me the Sword of Light—even at the risk of being branded a heretic by those who keep him in check—to smooth out the relationship between the Holy Kingdom and the academy, ensuring there are no obstacles to fighting the demons in the future.
What is his real scheme?
While I was looking at him suspiciously, the Headmistress opened her mouth.
"Even if, as a result, you are looked down upon by the Holy Kingdom and lose all the wealth and honor you have gained so far?"
At the Headmistress's words, Kaits nodded.
"Even if the high priests of the Holy Kingdom look at me with disdain, and even if the Lord takes back the name He bestowed upon me, I want the practical results. I want the vision to save the people."
At Kaits's answer, the two women wore expressions I couldn't read. If you only listen to his words, it's a noble cause.
However, perhaps because I haven't properly experienced the demons or the Demon King, the idea of an enemy that must be destroyed doesn't really hit home.
The Eight Monster Kings—I understand they are a threat after seeing Prostia's power, but honestly, I think we’ve been fine so far, so I wonder if we really need to fight them. But this guy isn't an idiot, so there must be a reason.
So I said.
"Yes. I don't want to."
The room fell into silence for a moment. I am dominating the emotions of the people!! I feel proud.
"As Instructor Drae knows, the Eight Monster Kings are sealed in vast territories, and those seals will eventually be broken."
Thanks for the explanation. I didn't really feel the part about them making demons stronger, but I understand the story about dealing with monsters that might break free at any time beforehand.
"If the seals are broken and we are attacked while unprepared, the damage will be immense. Furthermore, there is a reason why we must prepare for the Eight Monster Kings starting now. The reason I told you about, Drae."
"And that reason is?"
At the Headmistress's question, Kaits's face darkened. Why the suspense, you bastard.
"...The seal of Askatloph will be broken in two months."
The Headmistress stood up from her seat. Her eyes were trembling.
"Wait, wait a minute... So, you're saying the seal of the Indestructible Verdure, Askatloph, will be... broken in two months?"
"That is correct."
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely serious.
"Wasn't the subjugation supposed to be about going to the Forest of Demon Stones, his sealing ground, and subjugating him there?"
"That place is where Askatloph has stayed for thousands of years. It is that monster's territory. The risk is too great to fight in the Monster King's domain."
"Wait... wait... How do you know this information? Where is the source?"
"It is a revelation."
The Headmistress couldn't continue, and Mullin clicked her tongue.
"The Light told you? That shouldn't be possible?"
"It is possible. As you know, what He likes is..."
Kaits said something to Mullin with just his lips, and I frowned at the word.
'Chaos.'
That doesn't sound like something the God of Light would like? Chaos and Light. ......Hmm. I guess they might go together.
"You sanitized that quite well."
Mullin said, as if spitting it out.
Sanitized? What he just said was sanitized? What exactly do Kaits and Mullin know about fanaticism?
"Therefore, I want to have Instructor Drae, who has the potential to wound Askatloph's powerful armor, as the Sword of Light and fight together. Also, if we achieve the historic feat of subjugating one of the Eight Monster Kings, no one will be able to argue about the position of the Sword of Light."
"I see."
I thought for a moment and asked.
"That guy Askatloph. Is he that strong?"
"Are you asking that as a question?"
"Shut the fuck up."
As soon as I rebuked Mullin, who was picking a fight, Kaits nodded.
"You said you faced Prostia's incomplete descent before."
"I did."
"It will be clearly, several times more powerful than that. In the first place, if you can't wound that armor, it won't matter how many of you there are, so the danger level will rise even further."
I guess he has great defense. I nodded.
"Fine."
"Really?!"
"I'll participate in the Askatloph subjugation battle, so get lost with the Sword of Light talk."
"Instructor Drae."
Stop talking to me like you're lecturing me, I'll kill you. Kaits looked troubled, as if he were trying to persuade me, and opened his mouth.
"In the first place, I fucking hate the Lord Nanar."
"!"
"Uh, uh? Dr, Drae? What did you just say..."
The Headmistress groaned, a rare occurrence. Was what I said that shocking?
"Yes. That is why I want you as the Sword of Light."
"Eh...?"
The Headmistress's reaction was so cute that Kaits's story wasn't entering my head properly.
"It is because you hate the Lord Nanar and refuse even His revelations that I covet you."
"Why? Shouldn't it be the opposite?"
"...I am in the position of an apostle of the God of Light, but I do not fully follow His will; I follow my own definition of justice."
Now the Headmistress's jaw was almost hitting the floor, and Mullin... was expressionless to a strange degree.
"However, I am not in a position to refuse revelations, and therefore I need someone to replace me in case of an emergency."
"Yes. I'll think about it."
The conversation won't end like this. I decided to leave.
"Headmistress. May I go now?"
"No, wait... think about it."
"If I need to come back, I'll see you in the afternoon."
"I'm going back, too."
Mullin said, as if spitting it out.
"You need me for the Askatloph subjugation battle? Now that I see it, it was because of the Light."
Kaits smiled apologetically at the fallen nun's vicious laugh. I don't know what they're talking about, but I'm not particularly curious.
The Headmistress, who had been groaning with her eyes closed until then, finally let out a sigh as if she had given up.
"...*Sigh*. Yes. I need time to organize my thoughts. Everything has been so peaceful for so long, and suddenly, what is this..."
Watching the Headmistress hold her head as if she had a headache, I left the room without looking back. Then, someone followed me.
"I said no, you son of a bitch Kaits."
"What did you say? You son of a bitch?"
Ah. It's Mullin.
"I hate you too, you alcoholic nun."
"I hate you too."
Mullin grumbled. When I ignored her and tried to walk away, Mullin said urgently.
"You. Is it true that you rebelled against Nanar?"
"...?"
The feeling of discomfort I'd had for a while. Setting aside the fact that the woman who was a Saintess candidate has a rotten personality, she doesn't seem to respect her god at all. No, she's actually hostile.
"Rebelled... 'Rebelled' sounds too mild, so I don't like it, but yes, it's true."
"......Is there a way to prove it?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Then, I'll fix the arm of the person named Blan."
"...?"
Mullin's eyes looked desperate. So, I scoffed.
"If the situation arises, I'll prove it. If you don't like it, do whatever you want."
"......"
I am curious why Mullin is acting like this, but I'm not desperately curious. Usually, the one who needs something loses. Since she tried to pull rank on me first, I'll do the same to her. I started walking. A sharp gaze didn't leave my back, but I never looked back.
I walked toward the floating elevator to go down to the ground. But, I don't think that bastard Kaits will give up so easily. Nine times out of ten, he'll come back and whine. So, I wasn't surprised at all to see the handsome bastard waiting in front of the floating elevator.
"You're persistent."
"......"
"I said I don't want to be the Sword of Light or whatever. It’s obviously going to be annoying, so why would I do it?"
"Is that so."
Ah. Finally, his original tone. His "nice guy" act gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
"Yeah. I'm busy as it is. Don't be annoying."
"Is that busyness for the sake of returning to your original world?"
"..."
I stopped and glared at him. This guy... what was he thinking when he said that?
"I heard there is something you want to do in your original world."
"So?"
"Grant me one favor. Then, I will teach you how to return to your original world and cooperate with you."
"What a load of bullshit."
But yeah. Unfortunately, I'm the one who needs something. If I went back and used certain methods, I could find out if the Shin-jin-pa and 'that guy' were hiding somewhere in the original world, or if they really came to Elynar. Also, there were plenty of people to meet and things to resolve there.
Things I would have done sooner or later if I hadn't come to this world. So I suppressed my anger and spoke.
"Tell me the method."
"Can I assume you have accepted my proposal?"
"No."
"...?"
"If you tell me, I'll give you one of the futures. Yeah... for example, information comparable to the Abyss Demon Palace or the 'True Demon King'."
"......!!"
Kaits's eyes widened like saucers. Information is met with information. With high-level information that even a regressor wouldn't know.
"...How do you know those words?"
"Because I'm a prophet?"
"Don't make me laugh. At best, you can only see the near future... No. I guess this Q&A is meaningless."
Kaits closed his eyes. Seeing this reaction, I thought the one holding the knife now was me... but that was the moment.
"I want to see your past."
"...?"
The past? Not the Sword of Light or whatever? ...What kind of bullshit is this out of the blue?
"Yeodre."
Kaits opened his eyes. Those eyes were, for some reason, gleaming dangerously.
"Show me what kind of life you have lived. That is my request."