Chapter 240: Clash (1)
Chapter 240: Clash (1)
"Mister, can't you go any faster?"
"I could, but I've already racked up quite a few penalty points, you see. Are you in a hurry for something?"
I was currently riding in a levitating box that was probably not a taxi, but functioned like one. I asked the driver because it felt like we were going to be late, and that was his reply.
...Penalty points?
That ominous term bothered me, but honestly, there were more important things to worry about, so I pushed the thought aside.
"Ah, we have to get to the Central Memorial Park... something? We need to be there by noon."
"To be precise, it's the Central Memorial Park Annex," Al’shel corrected me.
Honestly, looking at the name 'Annex,' it’s probably right next to the Memorial Park anyway, so it’s basically the same thing.
"Hmm? Customer, that place is under lockdown today. A notice came down saying the military needs to use it."
Huh? What?
Was this an official event?
"Un-ho, did you hear anything about this?"
"If I had heard anything, wouldn't you have known too, Lee Ha-ram?"
True.
For the past few days, Un-ho and I had been doing nothing but eating and sleeping, eating and sleeping, eating, eating, and eating together.
Perhaps he was fed up with the two of us. I heard a sigh from Al’shel, who had grown gaunt from staying up late recently.
"...Did you not even watch the news? There was a massive announcement that it would be closed due to the military elections. Of course, the reason wasn't made public, but anyone with a modicum of common sense would figure it out instantly."
The news? I watched it for a few days, but it got boring, so I switched to dramas.
Seeing animals that didn't fit the vibe of a trashy soap opera at all slapping each other's cheeks became quite intriguing once I got used to it.
"Ah, right, that was it. Customer, so we can't go that way. What would you like to do?"
Well, we're the ones involved in that event.
With that thought, I grabbed Un-ho by the scruff of his neck and shook him in front of the driver.
"You see this kid?"
"Hello."
Un-ho greeted him nonchalantly while dangling from my hand.
"Hmm. He looks familiar. I can't quite place who he is, though."
The taxi driver, who claimed to have racked up penalty points, didn't even look at the road as he drove, keeping his eyes fixed on Un-ho.
I can see exactly why those points piled up.
"He's the soldier running in that election. That's why we have to go there."
"Hmm? Really?"
"Yes, it's true. Poyo."
"He doesn't look like a politician or a soldier, though."
"You think so too, mister? I don't know how my life ended up like this either. I guess I shouldn't have gone to Central Headquarters for that examination. Poyo."
That's because your life was doomed from the start, Un-ho.
What's the point of regretting enlisting instead of getting an exemption now?
"Regardless of what happened to his life, we need to get there. If we run into trouble on the way, just show them this kid and it'll be fine."
"Hmm."
The taxi driver seemed to contemplate for a moment, still driving without looking forward, letting out a long, throaty sound.
"Let's see, you said you had to be there by noon, right?"
He asked back in a calm voice.
"Yes, exactly at noon. At the... Annex park."
"That Annex is a bit out of the way, and the roads are quite congested right now, so it might be difficult."
Well, it seems he's willing to go.
Then it's fine if we're a little late. That pig Ronia was a bit late during the tripartite talks, too.
"Well, being a little late is fi—"
Before I could even finish my sentence.
"Understood. Then hold on tight! I'm going at maximum speed!"
With that shout, the taxi driver detonated his mana.
The box, which had been hovering slightly above the ground, suddenly took to the skies.
* * *
It was about five minutes past noon.
From what I'd gathered by binge-watching television here, to be precise, this world has 28 hours in a day and an hour is about 40 minutes—there's a conceptual difference, but anyway.
The flying taxi was shot down and crashed by fairies who looked like the Air Force, decked out in all sorts of gear.
We managed to reach the meeting place safely.
"...You're late."
As soon as the taxi crashed, we tumbled out and rolled across the ground, only to be greeted by Lieutenant General Par’s short remark.
"Ah... things happened. Sorry."
As I said that and stood up, brushing the dirt off my clothes.
"Oho. I'd like to hear an explanation for those 'things' that happened."
An angry-sounding voice came from behind.
"Ah. Commander Ronia, sorry we're late."
I offered an apology that lacked even a shred of sincerity.
"...I'm sure there are plenty of other things you should be apologizing for."
I turned my head, and the face of Commander Ronia that entered my sight had transformed into something quite violent.
If the Commander Ronia I had seen until now resembled a stylized pig from a fairy tale or a piggy bank, now he looked like a ferocious Wild Boar.
His bulk had increased, his eyes were slanted and sharp, and thick bristles sprouted from his pink skin. The sound of his huffing breath... he looked exactly like the wild boars I used to hunt and eat back in Siberia.
Lieutenant General Par did say that the people of this world decide their own appearance. So, is that Ronia’s combat form?
He looked fiercer than a pink pig, but I still thought the fundamental problem was the combination of white wings and a pig.
More importantly.
"Things to apologize for?"
Nothing came to mind.
"...Utterly shameless. I've never seen such a method of retaliation in my life."
I really couldn't remember what he was talking about, but Commander Ronia seemed to grow even angrier, his body swelling further as he exhaled deeply.
However, that heavy breathing and rage were quickly reined in, leaving behind only a muscular Wild Boar.
"Our enemy is Lieutenant General Par, so the bombardment will be focused there, but who knows? A stray bomb might just fall. So, try your best to dodge."
He brushed past me, delivering a threat that anyone could recognize as such.
Normally, I should have been angry, but my heart, bolstered by the 'greasing' of the past few days, was full of peace, and no anger rose. Instead, something else occurred to me.
"Ah. Ronia. There's something I want to ask."
"...What is it?"
Did he not like the fact that I spoke to him so familiarly even after he threatened me?
Ronia’s eyes began to twitch violently, but I half-ignored it and spoke.
"That... taxi? I wonder if this translates correctly. That gentleman's livelihood was completely wrecked because he was transporting us. Will the military cover the costs for that?"
Right on cue with my question.
"Aaaah! Mister, wake up! Poyo!"
Un-ho screamed as he dragged the unconscious taxi driver out of the burning levitating box.
Meanwhile, Al’shel was staring blankly at the distant sky with hollow eyes as if everything was futile, but well, he'll be fine.
"...Lieutenant General Par is one thing, but you too. Do you have a hobby of causing trouble for civilians?"
No, I didn't do it.
I just asked him to go a bit faster, and that crazy taxi driver was the one who went out of control.
"Whew. I'll settle that man's losses out of my own pocket. So, can we proceed now?"
"...Ten minutes have already passed. Let's proceed quickly."
Lieutenant General Par, who was always like a block of wood, stepped forward as if they had been waiting for those words, having watched our conversation in silence from behind.
The burning box and the taxi driver were dragged out of sight by animal soldiers who appeared from somewhere.
Un-ho, watching them worriedly, approached us.
"Uuu... The taxi driver will be okay, right? Poyo."
Well, a taxi driver like that would probably be fine anywhere.
He's living proof that the mascots of the Magic Kingdom have collectively lost their minds.
I've had experience bringing down planes before.
But at least that was me crashing into a monster; it wasn't the pilot suddenly crashing because he thought it would be a shortcut.
While I was reflecting on this shocking experience.
"Finally, the three of us are gathered. Let's proceed."
Commander Ronia clapped his thick hands together, drawing everyone's attention.
"Now that the three of us are here, we must first decide on the combat method..."
Just as Commander Ronia was about to naturally take charge and stop the chaos to proceed.
"Deathmatch. The team with the last person standing wins. However, the use of intentional lethal magic is prohibited. This should suffice."
Lieutenant General Par cut in, laying out a satisfactory set of rules.
Since we didn't have any major complaints about that method either.
"We agree to that method as well."
We cast our vote of approval.
Lieutenant General Par and I stared intently at the remaining person.
"...I also agree to those rules, but that wasn't what I was trying to say."
"Then what is it? Now that we're here, is there anything else needed besides confirming the combat rules and the participants?"
"We only have three people on our side, so I think only you two need to confirm your participants."
Ronia’s vague answer met Par’s sharp question.
I added a sarcastic remark to Ronia’s response.
"I see. Now that the rules are set, I shall oversee this battle."
The moment a terrifyingly cold voice rang out.
Everything froze.
"..."
The sensation of the world being crushed.
I had felt this before.
The presence of an Avatar.
Dam (淡).
Because of that.
I immediately drew my hammer.
I released all my limiters.
The memories within me forced me to act, but.
"Magical Girl. Please withdraw that power. The basic principle of this battle is non-lethality. If you intend to break that rule, I will have no choice but to intervene."
The drawn hammer and the mana about to go berserk.
Everything froze because someone hopped onto my shoulder.
Not frozen by cold, but by sheer pressure.
"...Who are you?"
I looked at the person perched on my left shoulder.
"Ah. My apologies for the late introduction. I am Lina of the Guardian Corps, here to oversee this battle. It is a pleasure to meet you."
A female-type fairy in a neat suit, looking exactly like someone I knew, entered my vision.
"...Lin?"
"You must be talking about my younger sister. I heard she was dispatched somewhere; it seems you've met her. Of course, even with such an acquaintance, I am here representing The Queen. I will not be showing any favoritism toward the Magical Girl in this battle."
I had only uttered Lin's name, but the fairy sitting on my shoulder prattled on, answering things I hadn't even asked.
The tension eased slightly at that, but.
Even so, it was only my mind that found some breathing room. The pressure crushing the surroundings did not disappear.
"...That's how it is. When I asked the Election Committee to send someone to notarize the results of this battle, the Guardian Corps themselves showed up."
However, it seemed I was the only one feeling that pressure.
Commander Ronia spoke with his usual greasy tone.
"I see. If the Guardian Corps is overseeing, no one will break the rules."
Lieutenant General Par spoke while glaring at Commander Ronia as usual.
What was the difference?
Was it because I was someone who didn't belong to this world?
Such a guess crossed my mind.
But even if I figured out the reason for the pressure, it wouldn't make the pressure applied to me any weaker.
Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, I reached out toward Lina, who was sitting on my shoulder.
"Hmm?"
I expected her to dodge or react in some way, but Lina stayed still and let me grab her.
I pulled her off my shoulder and put some distance between us.
"We don't need to confirm our participants, so we'll be resting over there."
"I see. Brigadier General Un-ho, Magical Girl Lee Ha-ram, Al’shel of the Star Race. There seem to be no issues with the participants. Then, please compose your minds until the battle begins."
Lina also seemed to agree with my words, nodding as she spoke.
I was able to move away from her.
"...Al’shel."
"...Did you feel it too, Lee Ha-ram?"
"Huh? What is it? Poyo?"
As soon as we were away from her, the three of us spoke immediately.
Un-ho didn't seem to have felt the pressure, so only the two of us who shared the sensation looked at each other and spoke.
"That thing... is a monster."
"Yes, a monster indeed. I thought the story about her taking down an Avatar single-handedly was an exaggeration, but if it's her, it's possible."
I had thought it was an exaggeration too.
I thought 'taking it down single-handedly' meant the Guardian Corps could stand against it while the army provided fire support.
But no.
She is an Avatar-class existence all on her own.
The pressure I felt, the twisting of the world.
I don't know why the form is so similar.
I'm glad I listened to Un-ho.
If we had charged into the Royal Palace...
The three of us would surely have died right then and there.