Chapter 113: Aftermath - 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Aftermath - 2
The first condition for rock-paper-scissors to become a psychological battle: when someone tries to read their opponent's moves first.
The Regressor hesitated for a moment, trying to gauge my intentions.
What's this? A mind game? Hmph, what a pathetic trick.
"Then I guess I'll play paper."
"I knew it. Look at you, being all indecisive."
"What?"
Before the Regressor could snap, I quickly shouted.
"Here we go! A match to decide Nabi's fate! What will the outcome be!"
The second condition: when the stakes are incredibly high.
Psychological warfare and desperation combine, changing the very genre of rock-paper-scissors.
Dogs and cats are the animals closest to humans, and the ones with the most beastkin. If these two are stabilized, the calamities of the future will be far less severe.
The Regressor's eyes widened as she focused on the match.
But the moment you started thinking, your defeat was sealed. I smirked inwardly and shouted.
"If you don't play, you lose! Ready, scis—!"
He said he'd play rock, so I should play paper... No, this could be a ploy where he says that but plays scissors. In that case, I should... feint with scissors, then switch back to paper!
Just as I thought, she's taking the bait. And she even chose the indecisive option, paper. Tsk, tsk. I could've beaten you even without my mind-reading.
Don't blame me too much, Regressor. The outcome was decided the moment you agreed to a game of rock-paper-scissors against a mind-reader.
"Rock—!"
Huh? Wait a minute. There's no way he'd fight fair, is there? Why did I assume this would be a fair fight?
Kekekeke. Of course it's not a fair fight. It's too late to realize that now. In rock-paper-scissors, with my advantage as a mind-reader, I am guaranteed to win...
"Paper!"
I almost fell for it again! Good. I won't play by his rules! I'll throw paper, then change my move after I see what he plays!
Huh?
What did she say?
Wait, you crazy Regressor. Why are you changing the fundamental premise of rock-paper-scissors? This isn't changing the genre of the game; you're turning it into a contest of reflexes!
Heavenly Counter Domain, Counter Form! Assume the winning move against whatever the opponent plays!
You're even using Qi Arts?
Worse, the Heavenly Counter Domain reflexively executes pre-programmed movements. It detects the opponent's actions using Qi spread throughout the body, making the gap between perception and reaction infinitesimally small.
At this rate, I'll lose. I have to stop. But the Regressor and I have already thrown our hands.
Dammit. Since the Regressor said she'd play paper, I'll subtly change my move mid-throw and play scis—
Rock.
Fine. You win.
The result of our rock-paper-scissors: I played scissors. The Regressor played rock.
According to the great law of rock-paper-scissors, I lost. A defeat made all the more bitter because I was so sure I would win.
Dammit. To think I lost. And of all things, at rock-paper-scissors.
I wouldn't even feel this wronged if she had just changed her mind on a whim, but I was winning before that cowardly Regressor decided to flip the whole game on its head!
The Regressor looked at the result, her eyes widening.
"...Huh? What? I won?"
"So it seems. Wow. A victory for Shei-ssi. Thanks to you, Nabi gets to live."
What? He didn't use any tricks? Was he really just trying to play a normal game of rock-paper-scissors?
Rock-paper-scissors is rock-paper-scissors. What in the world is "normal" rock-paper-scissors? Why does such a simple game need the qualifier "normal"?
I shot a resentful glare at the Regressor, who had cowardly dragged this into a physical contest and stolen my victory.
The ill-tempered Regressor enjoyed my glare and sneered.
"Heheh. I won, didn't I? What's this? You said a man plays rock, but you played scissors?"
"I suppose so. It seems I am far lacking compared to a true man like you, Shei-ssi. I admit defeat. Your manliness is greater than mine."
...Wait. Why doesn't this feel good at all?
While the Regressor tilted her head in confusion, Tyr, who had been watching the match from afar, quietly sent me a signal.
Tyr's blood-red eyes glinted with a warmth reserved only for me.
"Hu... If you wish it."
It was an offer to take care of Nabi herself, even at the risk of conflict with the Regressor.
But I immediately shook my head.
"No. Rock-paper-scissors is a sacred contest. I must abide by the result."
It is the most peaceful pact created by humans to resolve minor conflicts. Even in defeat, its sanctity remains.
A winning gambler must know how to accept the occasional loss. It makes victory all the more valuable.
In that case, there's only one thing for me to do. I have to make sure it's safe for the drug-addled Nabi to be out and about.
Sigh. Just my luck.
"Azzy. Go lick her."
"Woof? Her?"
Azzy tilted her head, looked at me, then let out a low growl at Nabi. I heaved a deep sigh and stroked Azzy's head.
"What can we do? Since we're saving her, we might as well start the treatment now."
"Woof... I don't want to. She's annoying."
"It's okay. I'll make sure she doesn't attack people. If she doesn't attack, she'll be a good friend to you."
"Woof."
After some more coaxing, Azzy reluctantly agreed. As Azzy stood over Nabi, the terrified cat let out a pitiful "Meeow~."
Azzy looked at the wounds on the groveling cat, gave a small bark, and immediately lowered her head to start licking them.
Nabi, who had curled up thinking she was about to be bitten, realized it wasn't an attack and accepted the grooming without resistance.
"Woof woof."
Azzy's small tongue began to methodically lap at Nabi's ankle. The bite marks from Azzy's teeth started to heal slowly, at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Looks like she didn't get rabies. Well, Azzy licked her, so she should be fine now."
The curse of one's own bite is cured by one's own saliva.
It wouldn't be a complete cure, but it would stop the wounds from getting worse. After finishing with the calf, Azzy gradually moved up toward the thigh. Her tongue was so small that it took quite a while just to lick one of Nabi's calves.
It can't be good for her to smell so much blood. Should I ask Tyr to wipe away the blood with her Bloodcraft...? The Beast King is a divine being; would it even work on her blood? While I was pondering this...
"Hu."
"Yes?"
Tyr called out to me.
When I turned, Tyr, looking somewhat anxious, grabbed my sleeve and began to lead me out of the classroom.
"Leave."
"Huh?"
Tug, tug. The pull on my sleeve was unusually strong. I was dragged along helplessly.
"It is an indecent sight. You should not be watching. Quickly now."
"But... it's just grooming."
"...Must I truly use force?"
"However, the air in this room does feel incredibly heavy. I think I'll go for a walk outside."
Besides, in the warden's office at the end of the hall, Callis was continuing her blitz operation. There was no point in staying here and listening to the Undying's anguish, so I decided to make my exit.
The Regressor saw me and scoffed.
"Hmph. Now you see, don't you? I'm not the weird one. You, who thinks nothing of this scene, are the strange..."
"Shut up and come with me, Strong Fist Shei."
"W-what? Why... Ah!"
That's right! I'm disguised as a man!
I wish she'd get her head on straight. What does she plan to accomplish in this state?
Tsk. No, it's a good thing she's a bad actor. If her ego were weak, could she have maintained her sanity through all those regressions? Yes, I'm glad it's you.
"We have things to discuss. Hurry up and come out. I'll teach you how to roll mana herbs."
"I don't smoke mana herbs."
The Regressor's refusal was firm. Her response was so reflexive I suspected she might have used the Heavenly Counter Domain.
If I rely on things like that, my will weakens with every regression.
So diligent.
"I'm not telling you to smoke them. Just follow me."
I glanced around and saw that Tyr had summoned a thick darkness and was watching me warily. The darkness was so complete that nothing was visible, yet her red eyes continued to follow me.
Why is she being so defensive? This is so unfair. Even if they look human, an animal is an animal...
"...What are you looking at? Be on your way."
The blood-red eyes that were once warm only for me now held a strictness reserved only for me.
Right, no reason to stand around watching animals groom each other. I left the classroom as if I'd been chased out.
Tch. I'm in a bad mood. I'll just go mess with the Regressor.
Leading the Regressor toward my room, I brought up the topic.
"You heard the gist of it, right? The Cat King is currently addicted to drugs. A special blend of mana herbs made from catnip and World Tree leaves."
"Yeah. I never imagined that would be the way to control the Cat King."
"You won't be able to get mana herbs in the Abyss. What was your plan?"
"...Can't she just quit?"
"So you had no plan. Understood."
Kh...! I admit I hadn't thought of a method...! But!
The Regressor shamelessly made an excuse.
"She can't get drugs in the Abyss anyway. So she'll have no choice but to endure it, right?"
"Think about it logically. Do you think an addict just sits still when they don't have their fix?"
"If things get bad, I can just restrain her by force..."
"How are you any different from the Human Regime? Forget it, just follow me."
Looking dejected, the Regressor clamped her mouth shut and followed me.
As we walked, I took out the mana herbs I had on me. They were Nabi's special catnip mana herbs, scraped together from the pockets of the lieutenant colonel and the colonel.
"These are the six special mana herbs for Nabi, taken from the colonel and the lieutenant general. If we just give these to her, how many days do you think they'll last?"
"There are six, so if she's careful and smokes one every three days... eighteen days?"
"One day. It's the nature of an addict to burn through their entire stash in a single day, no matter how much they have."
How could someone who's never done drugs understand the mind of an addict?
Letting out a sigh, I entered my room and opened a drawer. Inside were the eleven mana herbs Callis had supplied me with. I took them out, laid them on the table, and spoke seriously.
"No matter how carefully we ration them, it'll be difficult to go below one a day. So, what do we do?"
The leaf wrapped around the cigar was made from the imperial juniper tree, which excels at absorbing fragrances.
I tore the outer wrapping of the mana herb cigar. As soon as the leaf ripped, a refreshing, sharp aroma wafted out, awakening my senses. The faint mana spread throughout my body reacted to the herb, coursing through my veins.
Enjoying the cool sensation, as if a window had been opened in my head, I said.
"Simple. We need to increase the quantity of the mana herbs."
"Is that possible?"
"Nothing is impossible. In fact, the higher the quality of the mana herb, the easier it is to stretch the supply. To be precise, you can subtly infuse something else with its scent to trick the user into thinking it's a high-quality product. And since Nabi's special catnip mana herbs contain trace amounts of World Tree leaves..."
The Saintess of Origin, always mentioned in the scriptures of the Sanctum, was said to have performed a miracle, feeding a thousand people with a single sheep.
Right now, I am just like her.
I spread out a piece of paper and scattered the dried mana herb leaves. Using the standard-issue mana herbs as a base, I coated them with the catnip mana herbs that contained World Tree leaves. Then I rolled it all up tightly, folding the end to seal it.
When the distribution was complete.
"Ta-da! I mixed two standard-issue mana herbs with one of Nabi's special catnip ones, distributed them appropriately, and what do you know? We now have five of Nabi's special catnip mana herbs! What do you think?"
This is magic. This is a miracle.
The cigars had multiplied as if they were breeding. Feeling a sense of pride, I brought one of them to my lips.
"Hey. What are you doing, smoking it yourself?"
"Oops. My body moved on its own."
Dammit. If I sold these on the outside, I could've made at least 100 Alke each. And I have to give them to a cat?
My hand trembled. I barely managed to pull back my fingers, which kept trying to stick to the cigar.
As I unwrapped another mana herb to continue my work, the Regressor stared at the increased supply and made a suggestion.
"If I give you some World Tree leaves, could you make more?"
"You have more World Tree leaves?"
"Yeah."
"One or two won't be enough. How many?"
The Regressor immediately created a fracture in the air and stuck her right arm into the pocket dimension. After frowning and rummaging around a few times, she pulled her arm back out. In her hand was a small branch from a ginkgo tree, covered in lush leaves.
It was a branch from the World Tree. Covered in leaves.
"How about this much?"
This is absurd. The guardians of the World Tree might sell the leaves, but they never, ever sell the branches. How in the world did she get this?
"What in the world do you keep in there?"
"Pretty much everything I need."
"Not just leaves, but an entire branch..."
"Here, take it."
The Regressor handed it over without a second thought. I couldn't tell if her sense of money was warped, or if she just didn't care because she was going to regress anyway.
World Tree leaves are imbued with pure vital essence. When mixed well, they have the ability to multiply the efficacy of any herb. With no side effects.
In other words, rolling them with mana herbs would create a cigar with several times the effect.
World Tree leaves don't dry by normal means, so I had to touch each one and use an Aqus spell to draw out the moisture. As I tore the dried leaves into long strips, I tilted my head.
"This isn't a cheap knockoff anymore, is it...?"
For someone like me, who stuffs things with cheap materials to make a profit, filling them with even more expensive ingredients felt completely alien.
Is this the mindset of the ultra-rich? Have I been living too much like a commoner?
In the end, I had made a total of sixty mana herbs. Far from being addictive, it felt like smoking them would actually make you healthier.
"Mana herbs made with World Tree leaves... Hey, can I try smoking just one?"
Each one was a precious item that could prevent Nabi from going berserk, but for a connoisseur, the temptation was unbearable. If I passed this up, I could never again claim to be a mana herb smoker.
The problem was the Regressor.
"Go ahead."
Surprisingly, she agreed readily.
What's gotten into her? I quickly picked up a mana herb and said.
"I'm going to smoke, so get out."
"Huh? Why? I said you could."
"I don't want to blow smoke in front of a kid. Now, hurry."
"What? A kid?"
The little brat, all brawn and no brain, snapped at my words, snatched a mana herb from the table, and shouted.
"I can smoke things like mana herbs too! What, you want me to prove it?"
Sigh. Of course. I put the mana herb back down. Who smokes in a confined space like this anyway?
Besides, they were expensive, and each one was basically the Cat King's life. Even if I took one, I'd just have to give it up when Nabi's supply ran out. It was a shame, but I decided to set aside my connoisseur self for a while.
If there are any left after we escape, I'll steal one and smoke it then.
"Ah, forget it. An adult should set a good example."
"I said you could smoke it!"
Leaving the noisy, chattering Regressor behind, I trudged out of the room.
This timeline... I came here intending to throw it away, putting everything else on hold, but now I can't.
I've secured the Cat King, and the Dog King is fine. Tyrkanzyaka is stable. I even thwarted the Human Regime's attempt. I'm still not sure what's changed from the last timeline... but now, I have to find out.
Just how far this timeline can go. How much further it can advance.