Military Base Visit with the Class President
The Monster Scream magic I was developing for Yu Daye was still incomplete. It could only slow the monster's erosion; completely purging it remained impossible. When I asked if that would still be enough, she told me to go ahead anyway. I said that if I came to Korea, I'd drop by whenever I had time. My only real combat experience was with Yu Daye. The purification magic I'd created was made specifically for her, so I had no idea how it would affect anyone else. I slipped in secretly to examine the patient's condition first and figure out the best approach, but I'd completely forgotten that the person in question was the son of a chairman from an incredibly powerful corporation.
"Ah... well, you see..." Inside, I spotted the heavily armed security guards stationed there in case the nurse, doctor, or the Infected took a turn for the worse.
"Hello." The moment I spoke after slipping in through the window, the guard pointing his gun at me tensed up. I quickly added, "I heard you came all the way to Korea to meet me... so I thought maybe I could just take a quick look at his condition? That's why I came like this... Would it be better if I announced myself properly and came through the front gate?"
As I spoke, my eyes fell on the person lying in the bed. "The monster is mutating his body, trying to break out."
"It might get a little... dangerous?"
"..." The bodyguard radioed someone. I hurried to say, "Can't we keep this quiet? Think of it as preliminary reconnaissance before a formal meeting. You know~! Right?"
Everyone paused to consider it. The guard who seemed to be in charge finally spoke. "You must not harm the young master."
"Understood." I turned my gaze to the chairman's son. I'd thought I understood Infected pretty well after dealing with Yu Daye. But seeing one in person was completely different. His real name was obscured and nothing showed up. His skin was covered in dark spots from the monster's corruption. He was breathing, but only with the help of an oxygen respirator. The monster inside him was brimming with energy, like it was about to hatch any second.
"Whoa, this is bad... yabai, as they'd say in Japanese..." The moment I laid my hand on him, the monsters seemed to sense danger and began thrashing even harder, making the son's body convulse. The doctor rushed forward, but I stared at the creature inside and commanded, "Stay still."
Was it my magic power? Or did these things just behave around me? The violent struggling suddenly stopped. (In reality, I'm forcibly restraining it with my magic.) I hadn't needed to do this with Yu Daye. But was it really okay to pour my power in so recklessly? It should be fine... right? I worried for a moment.
The chairman's son was in far worse shape than Yu Daye. He looked like he could transform into a monster with a dramatic "ta-da!" at any moment. There was no time to take it slow like I had with her.
"Yeeeees, so... ugh, whatever." The instant I cast the Monster Purification magic I'd developed, the monster inside began to struggle wildly. "Are you going to keep bothering me? If you're a bug, know your place and stay quiet like one."
I'd been talking to the monster, not the patient, but everyone in the room stared at me. Ugh, that wasn't what I meant at all. The monsters seemed to understand my words, so I'd only said those cringey chuunibyou lines to intimidate them. This is so embarrassing.
I focused on suppressing the monster with the purification magic. After several minutes, I'd killed off enough of it that the egg preparing to hatch sensed the threat and retreated deeper inside.
"This should buy us some time..." After thinking it over, I said, "The rest might work if I do it with my older brother?"
"Your older brother?" So far, the male Haru had been the one performing the purification magic. In this female body, my role was to suppress and stabilize rampaging monsters that had fused with humans. My brother would then carefully remove the stabilized monsters bit by bit and purify the area back into normal human flesh.
"There's a process like that..." But it would cause problems if people learned my brother could use magic, so I glossed over it and placed the crystal orb I'd created beside the bed.
"This should keep the monster energy inside suppressed. It lasts one week. You must get it refilled before then."
For some reason, my magic power always calmed the monsters inside Yu Daye. Since it seemed to work on this one too, I figured an orb containing my power would be safe. That's what I told them.
"I might come back in a week, or maybe even sooner. The materials are just really hard to get..."
"If you tell the chairman, he'll secure them for you."
"Yes... I did say this isn't something money can buy..." These were magic stones—crystals left behind by monsters that had been purified using Serena Union technology. They were extremely rare, and because of the danger involved, they weren't circulated to the human side.
"You'd have to obtain them from the Union. Though I did mention I could make them if necessary."
Both Daisy and Sorcia had said making these was incredibly difficult. So why did they think I could do it? If I brought them a crystal, how exactly was I supposed to process it?
"Ah... well, it's because I have a lot of things to handle~ Not on the human side, but the other side." Petting cute little Hunya. Cooking for Nagase Yohiko and Daisy. Showing my gratitude to Sorcia, who wakes up early every morning to make snacks or stew just for me. And most importantly, taking care of my precious little sister Yu Daye. So.
"Bye bye~" I leaped out the window the same way I'd come.
The next day.
"Um..." Nagase Yohiko, who always spoke to Haru the male in a friendly way but never approached me when I was Primrose, unexpectedly greeted me first.
"Miss Primrose... Hello."
"Hello. Is something the matter?"
"The Unit chairman... wants to see you."
"Unit? You mean the company run by the chairman whose son asked for help last time?"
"Yes... He originally said he'd come here, but... the two of them didn't like that idea."
"They probably hate having people intrude on their private space..."
"So... would it be possible?"
"I'd like to help, but..." Creating it would require the male Haru. Unfortunately, next week was the mandatory military camp that every Korean citizen had to attend twice a year. There simply wasn't time.
"I have other commitments right now, so it's impossible."
The moment I refused, she turned to the easier target. "Haru!"
"Help me out!" The request was the same as what she'd told Primrose. After thinking it over, I decided to be honest since Yohiko already knew I could use magic.
"You can do it yourself... Besides, I'm your wife! Isn't it common sense for a husband to help his wife when she needs it?"
"But you said the wife thing was just a contract."
"You let that super idol touch your chest!"
"I never touched it!" As a man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. I wanted to squeeze those perfectly proportioned breasts and gasp, So this is what a top-tier active idol feels like...! But doing that would clearly get my life logged out immediately. Crushing my instincts with reason, I desperately shook my head.
"No way, no way... You're not aiming for something even further, are you! Like... a kiss! Are you after the first kiss of super beautiful girl idol Yohiko!"
"As if that would happen!"
"Then help me!"
What was this logic? "If you don't want to, then instead... tie me up with rope!" Why was rope suddenly part of the conversation!
But just like mandatory military service, the high school military camp was a [sacred duty] required by law. I'd assumed it would be postponed, but Unit had somehow made it unnecessary for me to go.
"How is that even possible?" Later Yohiko explained that they'd reported a [substitute activity] I hadn't actually done, exempting me from attendance. Since they'd gone this far, it would be wrong not to help the Unit chairman's son. I was willing to try, but the magic stone materials were the real issue. Even Sorcia said it was hard for her to obtain them.
"The drop rate is abysmal. After obtaining the crystal, you have only one hour to finish processing it."
Sigh... The sigh came out on its own. In any case, to make a magic stone I first needed a crystal, so I decided to hunt some monsters. It just so happened that monsters had been appearing in our city's contaminated zone. Maybe I should hunt them myself? But reality wasn't a game. In a place with no restart button, even a tiny mistake meant death. Real lives were on the line here.
I have to do it. The problem was that the entire area was under strict military guard. I was wondering how to get inside when I overheard the class president angrily answering her phone.
"Ah, you insane brother. You want me to bring my friend to the military? Do you think we have time to spare? Are you crazy? Who would willingly go to a military base run by someone like you? Stop saying 'somehow' and don't talk nonsense. There's absolutely no way we're going, so shut up and quietly wait until your discharge!!"
The call ended. I, currently in Primrose's body and listening nearby, spoke up. "Can I go to the military base?"
My sudden offer startled the class president. She looked at me and spoke carefully, the same way she did with Sorcia or Daisy.
"Miss Primrose, suddenly suggesting something like..."
"Ah... I can understand human culture too... And it just so happens my older brother needs to visit the military base for personal reasons."
"Ah. Haru is a bit... you know..."
"Yes?"
"He's really strong. You can just use him as a porter."
"Still... physiologically it's a little..." It seemed Haru's image had already fallen to the level of irredeemable trash that couldn't even be recycled.
"Originally it's only allowed for family or close family friends..." She looked at me. "But if Miss Rose comes along, they'll welcome you with open arms. They'll probably overlook an older brother tagging along."
The unit where the class president's brother served was a frontline force guarding the boundary of the city's contaminated zone. Since it was that kind of unit, I figured there might be an opening to sneak in a [hunt]. When we arrived at the meeting place, the class president looked unusually radiant. Seeing her usual stiff demeanor gone, her eyes sparkling with life behind her glasses, it struck me all over again: Ah, the class president really is a girl.