Chapter 230: Politicians are always the problem. Ugh.
Chapter 230: Politicians are always the problem. Ugh.
Everything flowed peacefully after Un-ho declared his candidacy.
Captain Af, who had been trying to exile us just moments ago, now led the way, announcing the news of Un-ho’s run for office. Thanks to her, we were able to traverse the military base as if it were our own home.
Not only that.
“I agree that efficiency is important in magic, but your magic is too mechanical. It leaves no room for further development…”
“Individual development is an act required only after one has obtained a certain level of knowledge. The magic we use as a military can be considered a form of compulsory education. Refinement, research, and individuality come after one has mastered the basics. In terms of a curriculum, after one has reached the university level, that is quite enough.”
“The development of an individual’s magic is like a tree. The first magic one uses becomes the seed from which they grow. But if that first magic is so inorganic, everyone will simply become the exact same tree.”
“That is a point not even worth discussing. We also allow our children to develop their magic freely. Do you think we are ignorant of what you know?”
“I see, I understand now. You teach your unique magic system, which maximizes efficiency, once they reach a certain age. However, that raises a question. The Mascots I’ve seen all used magic that was quite far removed from yours, Captain Af.”
“Mascots… you mean those who have been dispatched. They are individuals who have already mastered efficient magic beyond a certain level. Therefore, it is only natural for them to develop their own magic. Our Military Magic cannot reach for the heavens, after all.”
“Then, Captain Af, why do you not do the same?”
“Because I have no interest in the development of individual magic. You said the individuality of magic is important? Then extreme efficiency is the very individuality of my magic. I find beauty in it, and I simply hone it.”
“I see. That inorganic magic is your individuality. Indeed, an interesting perspective. It seems it could even become a school of its own. However, there is one thing I am curious about.”
“What is it?”
“I have observed other Mascots using one or two of the spells you use. I suppose I could consider it standard equipment. However, Lee Ha-ram’s Mascot—that is, Un-ho—I have never seen him use such efficient magic. Is that also a matter of simple preference?”
“I cannot speak on that matter. I will only say that Brigadier General Un-ho is cut from a different cloth than the average soldier…”
What the hell are they even talking about?
Listen, you two, you were at each other's throats just a moment ago.
Why are you suddenly on the same wavelength and talking non-stop?
A headache began to throb, so I had no choice but to speak to the only other person available.
“Un-ho.”
“Yes?”
“Do you understand any of that?”
“Yeah. Isn't it about the efficient magic that I failed at in boot camp?”
“…”
Everyone, this is a Brigadier General of the Magic Kingdom!
The man who is about to run for The Council to become your representative!
This is going to be a disaster.
Regardless of Un-ho’s qualifications, we left the military base with the chatter of those magic geeks as our background music.
Leaving behind Captain Af, who saw us off with her usual stoic expression, we stepped out onto the streets.
* * *
The streets we walked after leaving the military base weren't actually that different from our world.
However, the buildings and the ground were polished smooth without a single crack or bump.
Not a speck of trash could be seen, and the beings wandering about were just animals and fairies much smaller than us.
Also, the means of transportation on the roads were… somewhat magical.
…What exactly is a flying plank with handlebars supposed to be?
Is it like a motorcycle?
Another strange thing was that they were definitely short.
Perhaps because there were so many different kinds of beings, some were large enough to be only a head shorter than me.
And some, like Un-ho, only came up to my knees even when standing tall.
But generally, compared to humans, they were much smaller in size.
In the first place, even I, compared to other people… Grit.
I ground my teeth just thinking about it.
…Even though I’m on the shorter side.
Even taking that into account, the beings of this world were even smaller.
And yet, the size of the city was similar to our world.
Doors were about two meters high and wider than a person’s shoulders.
Sidewalks were wide enough for three or four people to walk abreast.
And even the street trees, though their leaves were blue and a bit different in color, were similar in size to those in our world.
It was an incomprehensible phenomenon.
This is their own residence, so why did they make everything so much larger than themselves and invite such inconvenience?
I wanted to ask, but I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention on the street. So, I threw a question to Un-ho, who was walking ahead of us.
“Where are we going now?”
Ideally, I wanted somewhere we could rest and talk quietly.
Like your house.
“I dunno? I’m just going wherever, poyo.”
…Huh?
“Weren't we going to your house?”
“I don't have a house! When I lived in the Magic Kingdom, I lived in the military barracks, poyo.”
“…Then where are we going?”
I asked back, completely dumbfounded.
“Oh, I was just walking. Hmm? I think I said that already, poyo.”
Fine. Let’s just kill him.
That thought flashed through my mind.
But I exercised endless patience.
This was Un-ho’s hometown, after all.
Even now, Mascots were glancing at us.
‘Oh, guests.’
‘What is that tentacled creature?’
If I were to squeeze the life out of Un-ho while they were watching, I might be caught red-handed for violence and have to go through another ordeal.
Sigh.
I let out a sigh and offered the next option.
“Let’s go into a restaurant or something and talk.”
“Sure thing, how about that restaurant over there, poyo?”
The restaurant Un-ho pointed to was a franchise that looked clean at a glance. It sold a variety of foods but didn't seem specialized in anything.
Honestly, as long as we had a place to talk, I didn't really care, so I agreed.
“Al’shel, you okay with that too?”
I asked for the opinion of our final companion.
“I do not mind. It is not as if we have a plan anyway.”
Al’shel also agreed in a way that suggested it didn't matter.
The restaurant we walked into still had a strange layout.
I thought that no matter how large the building was, the interior structure would be small, but I was only half right.
While there were many small tables and chairs, the counter where orders were taken and the tables in the center were human-sized by our world's standards.
…What is this crazy world?
Inevitably, when we sat at a table in the center, eyes briefly turned toward us.
But soon, the denizens of the Magic Kingdom looked away and went back to their business.
As if this were a common occurrence.
…I’ll have to ask about this too.
There’s more than one or two things I need to ask Un-ho right now.
So, after ordering food and receiving water glasses…
…After witnessing the bizarre phenomenon where even water glasses existed in both human-sized and Mascot-sized versions, I finally asked the question.
“What is with this world?”
I had intended for the first question to be about politics, but this strange sense of dissonance overrode it.
“In what way, poyo? Is it because it’s peaceful and clean?”
No, not that.
“Why is everything so big?”
“Hmm? It’s a similar size to your world, Lee Ha-ram, poyo.”
“No, I mean, it is for me, but it’s big for you guys.”
“It’s fine because we have magic, poyo.”
You blockhead!
Is that what I was asking?
“I mean, magic or not, it’s still weird, isn't it? Is it more comfortable for you to use magic? Or your hands?”
“Magic, poyo.”
Hmm. I didn't expect that.
I didn't know because Un-ho always handles things physically, but it seems magic occupies a position similar to hands and feet for them.
Perhaps in this world, they don't celebrate a child’s first steps, but their first time levitating.
…No, that’s not it.
“Still, you can't solve things like chairs or tables with magic. Just look around, people are sitting on them.”
“That’s true. Well, staying afloat all the time is… I saw it on a video site, like a transparent chair pose? It feels like doing that, poyo.”
It really is treated like hands and feet. Anyway.
“Then why are there these big tables? There’s no need for them.”
“Oh, that’s based on the size of The Queen and the universal human species of the Otherworld, poyo. Of course, there are some large fairies too. You saw them on the street earlier, right?”
Huh?
“Wait, what does your Queen look like?”
“She looks similar to a human from your world, poyo.”
“???????????”
What the hell.
“Why is only The Queen a completely different species?”
“Because this world was created by The Queen, poyo.”
“…A Creator God?”
“Yes! She is a great being. It is said that a long, long time ago, she created this world and the primordial races. Oh, she’s not a god, poyo.”
This is driving me crazy.
It feels like my logic is drifting off to a far-off world.
“Then, let’s summarize. The reason you maintain this large scale is partly because of The Queen, and partly because magic is so integrated into your daily lives that you don't feel much inconvenience?”
“Yes! That’s right, poyo. Though I’m an exception since I’m not good at general magic. Oh! There are also guests like you, Lee Ha-ram, or defectors, poyo.”
I wish Un-ho would just drop dead.
It’s shocking enough that this mess of a scale is all because of one Queen, but I also clearly understand that Un-ho is a true exception.
I really have no idea how Un-ho managed to become a general.
And I want to ask what the hell that Queen is, or why they still have to cater to her, but…
Since it’s clear that such questions won't lead to a satisfying answer, and I realized there’s no point in meddling in someone else’s culture, I moved on to the next question.
“What’s the deal with the election?”
“Uh… an act where those with the right to vote elect someone to represent them… poyo?”
You’re not Un-ho, are you?
No, seeing as you’re giving a textbook answer to a different question, you must be Un-ho.
“That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking what kind of election is happening in your world right now.”
“Uh… I’m not sure where to start explaining… but basically, it’s to elect those who will participate in The Council that rules the world on behalf of The Queen, poyo.”
“Right, I get that. But you suddenly being okayed to run, and the issue with exiling a general just because he returned from a mission—what’s the problem there?”
What kind of vote is it that it’s affected by the number of generals?
“It’s been a long time since I was in school… Hmm. I know it, but it’s hard to explain accurately. Uuuugh…”
Un-ho began to writhe and do strange things as if he were thinking hard.
I waited for about a minute, drinking water to cool my darkening mood.
“10% of The Council. Wait, was it 5%?”
Un-ho finally spoke.
“How should I know?”
Don't ask me.
“Well, the numbers aren't important, poyo! Anyway, a certain number of Council members are selected from among the generals. And the right to vote for those members is held only by the generals. Hmm? Or was it that Colonels were included too?”
Wow! A military-only vote!
Wow! Military participation in politics!
This really is a total mess of an army.
However, I still didn't understand.
Even if a general returns, at most, it only adds one candidate or one voter. So why was there a need to go as far as exiling him?
There’s something more. A reason why even one more person cannot be allowed.
“Something’s fishy. The System seems weird to me, but you guys have plenty of weird things, and that alone isn't enough reason to exile us.”
“Oh, about that, poyo.”
The moment Un-ho opened his mouth to answer my question.
BOOM!
With an explosion, the restaurant’s windows and doors were blown away.
I immediately flipped the table, hiding behind it to create a barricade.
“What the fuck, I’m trying to eat here and things are blowing up?”
Peace, my ass. This world is insane.
Just as I was about to peek my head out to see what was happening, fuming with rage…
“…Um, Lee Ha-ram.”
Al’shel, who had been quietly drinking water, spoke for the first time.
“What?”
“That election you were talking about with Un-ho just now.”
“What about it?”
“I think this mess is happening because of that.”
Huh?
Startled, I paused my movements.
“Attention. Brigadier General Un-ho, listen up.”
A voice came through immediately.
A voice mixed with a bizarre bass, as if amplified by a megaphone or magic.
“The fact that you have registered as a candidate has been notified to the entire military. Therefore, we, the faction of Lieutenant General Par, shall ask you.”
Holy shit. Don't tell me.
“Will you come under our command and serve in the campaign, or will you be neutralized here and now and stripped of your voting rights until the Election Season is over? Choose. You have 30 seconds.”
This is a civil war, damn it!
“What kind of election is this?!”
You crazy, godforsaken soldiers!