Chapter 216: A Tale of the Past, The Pied Piper of Hamelin - 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 216: A Tale of the Past, The Pied Piper of Hamelin - 2
Historia thinks I'm a kind fool, the type who can't even bring himself to abandon a single straggler.
Lankart believed I was a cold-blooded man who calculated even that into his actions.
Do they know? That what they see in me is the world they wish to see. In a way, I'm a mirror reflecting their desires.
So, what am I? A fool? Or a cold-blooded man?
Well. If I had to choose, I'd say I'm both.
I've always been the type who can't easily refuse a request. The fact that I'm a mind reader... is probably the biggest reason why.
If it's a desire they'd risk their life to achieve, I can't help but want to cheer them on.
If it's a child pretending not to know where they hid their candy in their own secret spot, I want to smile and play along.
If it's someone projecting their past self onto another with great expectations, I want to live up to them.
...Even if that person is older than me.
"So, Historia participated in the log run."
Summoned before Chief Instructor Nicholas, I answered politely with my hands behind my back.
"Yes, Chief Instructor Nicholas."
"Well done, Huey."
Nicholas, the Chief Instructor of Hamelin, nodded deeply and gave a gentle smile.
"Historia... that child. She's a truly blessed talent. A stroke of luck for Hamelin, and for the Military State itself. To master the Gam Qi Art and develop her own martial style at her age... such talent is rare even in the Empire."
His thoughts naturally shifted to Lankart. The smile on his lips widened.
"Lankart, too. It's true that each person's Unique Magic is different, but its scale depends on the will behind it. Lankart's Unique Magic is at least strategic-grade, powerful enough to change the tide of battle on its own. If he finds the right catalyst... becoming a full-fledged mage isn't just a dream."
Even though these two students were destined to become far greater than him, their Chief Instructor, Nicholas's heart was filled with nothing but joy.
Colonel Nicholas. A soldier who was strict yet kind to his students, loyal to the Military State, and devoted in his service. He might not be a legendary soldier, but he was an officer with the qualities of an outstanding educator. He was living proof that the State's personnel choices weren't all bad.
This soldier, more loyal and patriotic than anyone, rejoiced as he pictured the brilliant future of the Military State.
"I'm counting on you, Huey. You're the only one who can speak with Historia and Lankart as an equal and give them direction."
"...I can't give Historia orders. I can only make requests."
"What's the difference? If they do as you say, it's an order, a request, a command—it's all the same."
However, he was a soldier, through and through. He wouldn't waste his concern on a lottery ticket that had already been scratched off to reveal a loss.
"You can stop being the class president. It's not like you have anything left to learn from them anyway."
"I appreciate the thought, but we're third-years now. Since I've come this far, I'd like to see it through to the end."
"I heard something similar last year, and the year before that. Not stopping you then is my greatest regret."
"Haha."
Nicholas looked at me with pity as I laughed it off vaguely.
"In my opinion, you try to take on too much. Qi Art, magic, ballistics, tactics, Arcane Dissection, alchemy, medicine, smithing... You've dabbled in this and that, trying to find your talent, and you've achieved some results in each field. But you haven't truly mastered any of them."
It's not that I achieved results. I just read their minds to grasp the main points and roughly followed along. So of course I never mastered anything.
But Nicholas, unaware of this, believed I had wasted my time and talent.
"You were too exceptional. I thought you'd be fine on your own, so I stopped paying close attention for a while. That is my regret, my failure. I should have realized you were still young and didn't know your own talent."
I could feel his earnestness and regret.
It was the kind of devastating, broken feeling you'd get from scratching a lottery ticket that needed six matching numbers, only to find the last one was off because of your own mistake.
In truth, I knew I was never the type of person who could master anything, but even so, I couldn't bring myself to be cynical after reading his desperate emotions.
"It's like that for everyone. It's not something that only happened to me. The other kids are probably in the same boat."
"...Ah. Right. The other kids."
Nicholas only agreed because, at his core, he was an educator. Any other soldier would have yelled at me not to change the subject.
No, they would have forcibly separated me from them before my first year was even over.
'Huey is the type to pour a lot of his time and attention into others. That's how he got close to Historia and Lankart, but it has its side effects. He gives his attention even to those who will just become regular soldiers. I let it be, wondering if another Historia or Lankart might emerge, but I shouldn't have put Huey with them in the first place. If only I had separated them from the start.'
Nicholas, who cherished even a discarded lottery ticket as a resource of the Military State, was the closest thing to a true educator here. Still, he couldn't escape the limitations of being part of the State.
Nicholas spoke, not hiding his dismal feelings.
"...Still, it's not over yet. You still have the Advanced Military Academy. You'll meet instructors there who are more skilled than I am."
"I might meet instructors with a higher rank than you, Chief Instructor, but I doubt I'll find a better teacher."
"There's no need for flattery. I've already failed."
He said it self-deprecatingly, but my flattery had clearly cheered him up a little. I saluted, then turned and left.
As I stepped out and closed the door, Nicholas, now alone inside, let out a deep sigh and pulled a confidential document from a pile of papers. Reading it with an even more conflicted expression, he squeezed his eyes shut and muttered.
"...Perhaps I can undo my mistake. If his concern for his peers is that great..."
Unaware that I was reading his mind from outside the door, Nicholas continued to read the words on the confidential document.
Hamelin was built on the foundation of an academy from the old kingdom era. The data from that time remained intact, so Arcane Dissectors and State researchers were frequent visitors.
Among the materials, there was one that someone had passed to him. It should have been destroyed, but Nicholas had stopped them and accepted the document.
-Type 1 Anathema, Gluttony.
Nicholas's eyes gradually deepened.
*
"Ah, that's refreshing!"
"Guuuhhhh..."
Historia stretched her back with a refreshed look on her face. In contrast, I, having been beaten relentlessly, was groaning on the ground. My arms and legs ached from being hit countless times.
Her friend was groaning in pain, but despite my pathetic state, Historia still looked pleased.
"Doesn't it feel great to move around after so long? Right, Huey?"
"If you were the one getting beaten... I doubt you'd feel so great..."
"If you get strong enough to hit me, I'll gladly take it."
"That's a roundabout way of saying you'll never get hit..."
Ugh. I groaned softly and rolled over. Wiping away her sweat, Historia laughed cheerfully.
This was a spar where Historia didn't use her Qi Art. Naturally, you'd think I, with my larger frame, would have the advantage... but you'd be wrong.
Those who learn Qi Art can exert great power. At first, their bodies are thrown around by that strength, but over time, they adapt. Eventually, their bodies become far more robust than that of an ordinary person.
In other words, Historia was now so strong that I couldn't beat her even if I used my own Qi Art!
"Why are you sparring with me... There's Springfield, the salutatorian, or the combat instructors..."
"It's no fun."
Historia replied while stretching her long arms and legs, apparently still full of energy.
"If I use my Qi Art, I win."
"Must be nice. And if you don't?"
"If I don't use it, they just try to overpower me with brute force. They don't even think about reading my moves or exploiting openings. It's no help at all."
"Easy for you to say... If I had your strength, I'd overpower them in a heartbeat."
"You're welcome to overpower me anytime, so go get some more Qi from somewhere."
"If it were that easy, I would have already."
Sighing, I took a paper packet from my pocket. I flicked open the top. Inside was a single, roundly rolled mana herb.
One left? Now even the mana herbs are pushing me into a corner.
Mana herbs are a Level 3 luxury good, something an ordinary military school student—not even a cadet—could never obtain. But what did it matter? A mana herb doesn't care who you are or what time it is. Stick it in your mouth and light it up, and its sweet smoke will whisper comforts to you, regardless of the situation.
Just as I was having a secret rendezvous with the smoke, Historia approached.
"A mana herb? You smoke those things?"
Before Historia could start nagging, I scowled and spoke first.
"Ria. What if I had just a little more Qi or mana?"
"That would be perfect."
At the mention of Qi Art, Historia came closer, ignoring the smoke.
"Your control over your Qi Art is so natural. You're able to perfectly utilize all the power you have. Your written exam scores prove how well you understand it."
"That's only because I have a speck of Qi. It's easier to handle a single cup than to move a whole bathtub."
"Lies. When I couldn't control my overflowing Qi and kept breaking swords and spears, you were the one who suggested I use a gun to find my balance. And you're still going to say you don't understand it well enough?"
No, Chief Instructor Nicholas had the idea but dismissed it because of the negative perception of guns. I just read his mind and passed it off as my own.
I couldn't tell her the truth, so I just trailed off.
"...And because of that, you always come to me for sparring. The biggest mistake of my life."
"Hehe. And the greatest stroke of luck in mine."
Her bright smile radiated pure joy. She had already achieved so much, possessed the strength to move forward, and had a brilliant future awaiting her. All she had to do was look ahead.
The only thing Historia lacked was a friend to walk beside her when she got too far ahead, but with Lankart and me around, even that need was met.
All that was left for her was to advance.
For Historia.
"But why the sudden gloom? Wait. You, don't tell me?"
'Huey was summoned by Nicholas earlier, wasn't he? Why? Could it be?'
Her intuition was sharp. Realizing something, Historia urgently leaned in and studied my face.
"If Nicholas, or maybe State Command, offers to increase your Qi, accept it without a second thought, Huey!"
"How can they increase my Qi?"
"You could take tonics or elixirs!"
"Easier said than done. Where would they get something like that? And even if they did, would they give it to a mere student like me? There's no guarantee it would even increase my Qi."
"No, I think it's possible! If the Military State has any eyes at all, there's no way they'd just let you be!"
It was nonsense. If the State was the type to give out such special treatment, it wouldn't have named itself the Military State.
But Historia's face, her eyes sparkling, was so full of hope that I couldn't bring myself to crush it.
Sorry, Historia. What the Military State has prepared for me isn't some elixir or tonic.
It's something far worse.
Though, it's not just for me.
"Sigh. Pffft."
With nothing else to say, I blew a puff of smoke right in Historia's face. Inhaling it, she recoiled, startled by the pungent smell.
"Cough. Isn't this basically poison? Why on earth would you smoke something like this?"
"Hmph. You wouldn't understand. Sometimes, in life, you have days where you feel like pouring poison down your throat. Don't you ever smoke these."
"You're the same age as me, but you're so pretentious."
Tsk, tsk. Only someone who hasn't been through it would call this pretentious. I took the mana herb from my lips and waved it around. As if it were some kind of barrier, Historia just turned her head from side to side to avoid it.
"Looks like I'm being pretentious? Then why don't you try it?"
"You think I can't?"
Smack. Historia snatched the mana herb from my hand. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the half-smoked herb, then glanced between me and my lips before putting it decisively in her mouth. The moment she did, her face turned bright red.
Anyone would think she was being smoked like a piece of meat. I muttered in disbelief.
"I dared you to take it, and you actually did."
"Cough. You, told me, cough, to!"
"Hey, it's burning out. If you can't smoke it, give it back. I had to beg to get that thing."
"Hah, cough. I'll... cough... finish it!"
Her face was beet red, but Historia kept dodging my hand until the entire mana herb had burned away.
That was my last one.