EP.175 The Extremes of Cheon-ui Mubong
District 1 of the Military Nation.
Everything that should rightfully exist in a capital is there.
The Defense Command Headquarters, which oversees the capital's defense, made entirely from high-level alchemy steel from its framework to its armor plating, looking anomalously stiff even in the middle of a concrete city.
The Communications Headquarters, looking as if entwined by the vines of the World Tree, plastered with bud-shaped antennas and vine-like mana transmission lines on its outer walls.
The Amitengrad Government Building, built with an extremely efficient structure—that is, built squarely—managing the big and small affairs of Amitengrad.
District 1, the heart of the Military Nation's capital, where stepping foot in the district is not even permitted unless one is a Level 2 citizen.
If one were to think of the Military Nation as a single giant monster, this district is where its internal organs are packed tightly.
There was one bizarre building that could only be described as a building wearing clothes.
The captain, riding in a carriage drawn by real horses, muttered as she passed through the main gate draped with curtains instead of steel doors.
"Pillar Company, Cheon-ui Mubong..."
The five private companies that are the pillars of the Military Nation.
Even in the Military Nation where the state manages everything, the owners of the five technologies whose technical prowess the state-led efforts could not catch up with, thus allowing them autonomous operation.
Among them, the origin of the clothing packet technology most closely related to the lives of the Military Nation's citizens, and the only person capable of creating a new Archi Avatar.
The 3rd President of Cheon-ui Mubong, the Weaver Sepier Vakia.
The captain looked at me and asked with a trembling voice.
"How did you... her...?"
"I will answer that slowly, Captain."
"But."
"Our conversation isn't something worth letting others hear, so wouldn't it be better to go inside and talk comfortably without worrying about someone listening?"
Sepier's voice was soft yet stern. Explained in a good sense, it was like a parent scolding a child; in a bad sense, it was a way of speaking that crushed the opponent by utilizing an overwhelmingly advantageous position.
Since it was a valid point for the time being, the captain couldn't say anything more. In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the door of the mansion.
Getting off the carriage, I muttered as I looked at the horse shaking its mane.
"Good horse."
"It's called a Lion Horse. It has a red mane that flutters in the wind, and when horses run in a herd, it's said to look like flames covering a field, so it was called a Fire Horse."
"You bought such a precious thing well. It's so rare it probably isn't even on the luxury goods list."
To raise a horse, a wide yard and a lot of personnel to manage it are needed. In other words, it is virtually impossible in a cramped place where land is hard to come by, like Amitengrad.
But to the richest person in the Military Nation, virtually impossible is just a fake impossibility. If you have enough money, you can distinguish between real impossibility and fake impossibility.
"It's not a luxury good. This Lion Horse, yes. If I had to classify it, I could say it's for experimentation."
"For experimentation?"
"Yes, Teacher. Recently, I've been researching taking the molds of animals."
Taking the mold means making an Archi Avatar that is also applicable to animals. It's probably a project commissioned by the Military Nation.
If they make an Archi Avatar for horses, those wretched horses of the Military Nation would become a bit more useful.
"Of course, if you need it, Teacher, I will give it to you right away."
"Wow, really?"
Sepier questioned my words.
"When have I ever spared anything from you, Teacher? I don't hesitate to spend money on my people."
'You swiftly take everything I give you all this time. Your habit of pretending to hesitate is still the same.'
Did she build up a lot of resentment while I was away? I keep hearing negative thoughts.
Just in case, I asked again.
"Can I really take it?"
Sepier answered readily without a hint of regret.
"I'll give you a harness and a whip on your way out, so please take them. Take as much feed as you want, and if there's anything lacking, contact my side. I'll send all the necessary supplies via courier."
'I hope you didn't just exchange it for money. What's the deal with secretly pocketing things you want and selling them to a fence? Do you even know how I feel having to buy them back from the fence at a markup? If you're going to do that, you might as well just ask for cash.'
...Whatever. I'm just not going to take it.
It's definitely not because the thoughts are scary. It's because I'm not confident I can raise it well. If I raise it in that fist-sized room, the horse will be pitiful.
"It's a bit burdensome for me. I'll decline today."
"You thought well. Horses take too much effort for you to manage directly, Teacher. I'll raise it well, so come borrow it whenever you need it."
'How well could a person who can't even take care of themselves raise a horse. They'll probably sell it off to somewhere again. It's better to just use the horse as an excuse to call them to the mansion. At least I can check whether they're dead or alive periodically.'
So that's how you've been looking at me.... Still, aren't I pretty diligent for my level? I mean, instead of holding out my hand when I lack money, I earn it with my own hands.
"Thanks for caring."
"You're welcome. Now, shall we go in?"
When Sepier snapped her fingers, the red-painted mansion door opened by itself. The highly tense captain stuck closely behind me and began following me with stiff footsteps.
The reason this mansion looks unique isn't just because it's in the middle of a concrete city. Looking anywhere on the continent, it would be hard to find a building that looks like it's wearing clothes.
Setting everything else aside and looking only at the architectural style, it clearly resembled the large tents mainly used by the prairie tribes.
Except for being 3 stories high, having a loft structure, and being square.
The lining was delicately woven, soft and warm fabric, and the outside was high-level alchemy cloth that could even deflect cannons.
Thread tougher and sturdier than any ordinary steel held this giant garment together. A castle literally woven from fabric, possible only because of the stronger and more powerful thread and fabric than concrete and rebar.
"Welcome, Teacher. And... the new disciple. Welcome to my mansion and workshop, the Castle of Fabric."
The floor was wood covered with carpet. Thanks to the sound-absorbing carpet, even heavy footsteps didn't echo at all. The inner walls with warm colors were as warm as their colors.
"Question. Weaver, isn't your mansion a security zone?"
"It's fine if I permit it. This is my private residence. If that's not enough, I'll issue a temporary pass with my authority."
Sepier, who immediately cut off the captain's words, guided us to the dining room.
When the black curtains were drawn aside, the dining room appeared. Inside, an exclusive chef was carrying out food. Perhaps the fact that guests were coming had been relayed in advance, three plates were prepared side by side.
When the plate lids were opened, a perfect raw meat steak, unseen in any restaurant, appeared. Sepier lightly pointed at the plates.
"Please eat. Since I invited you to my house, everyone must be treated as guests."
The brown-grilled steak had a magic that instinctively made one salivate. On top of it was a sauce made from boiled bones, and various colored spices and grilled vegetables decorated the sides.
Meanwhile, the captain frowned seeing the small yellowish-green beans in front of her.
"...What is this?"
The captain's feeling looking at the tiny beans, which looked like miniature Chimera Beans, was similar to the wonder of a person encountering a dwarf for the first time.
Sepier didn't answer. Instead, I gave the answer.
"Ah. Fresh beans! Wow, they're hard to find anything other than Chimera Beans in the Military Nation, where did you get them this time?"
Sepier skillfully cut the steak with a knife and answered.
"Teacher, you said last time you wanted to eat traditional beans."
"Did I say that? My memory is..."
Oops. Did I say the wrong thing? I stealthily checked Sepier's complexion. Sepier thought without changing her expression.
'I went through the trouble of getting fresh beans just because of that one word, and you don't even remember. This is why they say you shouldn't take in a beast with bad memory.'
Yeah, I said the wrong thing. It's been a while, so I'm not used to it.
Meanwhile, the captain scooped only the beans with a spoon and put them in her mouth. As soon as the soft and elastic beans stuck to the inside of her mouth, the captain's eyes widened, and she seemed to see a hallucination like lightning striking in her head.
'...These beans?! How can they taste like this! They're definitely beans, but...!'
So you're a bean gourmet. I lightly tapped the captain's plate and said.
"Looks like you like it."
"Affirmative...! I'm tasting it for the first time, but it's a familiar yet amazing taste...!"
"It's because they're fresh beans. They're a product of nature, not Chimera Beans developed for fertilizer. Can I have some more beans here?"
"No problem. Chef, the remaining beans."
'They keep giving away to others what I put there for them to eat. It's no different from a bottomless jug. No matter how much I give, there's no feeling of accumulation. Really, how did I end up with such a wretched teacher.'
The captain, who was awkwardly cutting the steak, put down her knife seeing the newly added beans. I pointed at the steak the captain had left and asked.
"How's the steak?"
"...It seems delicious, but the texture is strange. It feels like chewing fabric."
If you cook canned meat that has been heavily soaked in water, it loses the unique texture of meat and becomes soft. Instead, the quantity increases, making you feel like you've gained an advantage.
The captain, who had eaten canned meat like that all this time, was feeling a sense of alienness from the texture of raw meat.
Does this child know the taste of meat....
"Now you're slowly getting it."
Clack.
Sepier, who set down her knife with a sound, elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
Without a single stain on her luxurious suit, Sepier, who finished her meal neatly, clasped her hands together as soon as the chef took the plates away. Immediately after, all the doors surrounding the dining room closed, and this dining room transformed into a perfect sealed room.
"Captain, you are a pitiful person. I think I know why my Teacher chose you."
The captain flinched.
She wanted to retort something, but the opponent was the president of a pillar company and a monster who had deeply set foot in the quartermaster corps as well. Although not affiliated with the military, her citizen level was Level 5 due to her influence.
If Sepier were to disappear right now, the production of Archi Avatars, which are essential for making clothing packets, would stop. Along with that, problems would arise in the performance improvement of the Military Nation's special weapons, the Military Uniforms.
Not knowing how to treat Sepier, who wielded powerful influence in both the military and civilian sectors, the captain hesitated.
I let out a small sigh and pointed out her attitude.
"You don't call a person pitiful, Sepier. It's rude."
"I'm really sorry about that. But, apart from my attitude. Isn't that the reason why you chose her, Teacher?"
Sepier asked sharply.
It's not like I chose her, we just ended up coming together because our paths crossed.... Tsk. I have nothing to say. I actually moved with her feeling like I was helping an unfortunate neighbor.
'See. Even you think so, yet you keep pointing out my attitude. This is the pot calling the kettle black. Do you know that you, who brought her here with that thought, are acting more rudely than me, who pointed it out?'
Did this child drink the Military Nation's water and get a sharp edge to her mind?
Sepier spoke as if piercing through my mind.
"Teacher, you always went around looking for someone who lost something, or a lacking child. Anton, who wanted recognition, was like that, and the residents of the Old Kingdom who lost the splendor of the Kingdom era were like that."
While speaking, Sepier lightly touched her left wrist. Then, her coat and scarf turned into blue alchemy thread and were sucked into the bio-terminal.
Returning to just wearing a red shirt through a natural clothing transformation as if handling her own body, she pointed at herself.
"The young me was the representative case of that. Now you even pity a captain of the Military Nation, I can't even grasp how wide your defensive range is. To the point where it feels unfair to be lectured on conduct by such a person."
Isn't she being too harsh to her Teacher? It seems like her inner thoughts and the words she spits out have slightly swapped.
'In the meantime, you even went to the Abyss and came back... I pray you didn't get tangled up in some insane event just because you were trapped in the Abyss. I can't even imagine how much the Teacher, who throws everything in the world into chaos, stirred up the Abyss.'
Oh, it wasn't. Her words were more intact than I thought. Sorry for doubting.
But why is she suddenly bringing up the Abyss? What did I do regarding the Abyss....
'...Perhaps, those who came out of the Abyss didn't chase the Teacher all the way to Amitengrad, did they. Even if it's the Teacher, they probably couldn't handle the monsters inside the Abyss.... But I can't shake off the suspicion. The fact that I can't assert that for sure is what scares me the most. What on earth did I take in as my Teacher?'
What do you mean? Don't treat me like a plague....
Wait. What? People who came out of the Abyss came to Amitengrad? To the capital of the Military Nation, which is far away from there?
Why? They couldn't have come just to find me. Are they trying to destroy the Military Nation?
Is the Military Nation going to fall this playthrough? Is the country finally closing its doors?
Damn it, then the attempt to clean up the shadows is meaningless. I don't know how they'll ruin the country, but where is the time to manage shadows or whatever.
This won't do.
"Sepier. Wait a second. Can I use something here?"
"Of course. Anything here. It's the same as yours, Teacher."
'They're going to use my property like their own again, right? Sigh. It can't be helped, but... Will I be able to hear a single word of thanks this time?'
The discrepancy between her thoughts and actions is gradually becoming scary. I think she was pretty straightforward a long time ago, but who made her like this.
If you want it that much, I can't not do it for you.
They say a single word can pay off a thousand nyang of debt, but words are intangible assets, so their value fluctuates wildly. It's the law that you must pay them back steadily when you can.
"Thank you, Sepier. As expected, I do have an eye for picking disciples."
It was just a very simple compliment tossed out, but Sepier's brows and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.
'Even a bottomless jug has some reward. Really, such a hard person to please.'
As Sepier readily nodded, she raised one finger from her black-gloved hand.
"However, may I also ask one favor of you, Teacher?"
A favor? Well, fine.
She's the Sepier who provided me with a house to live in and supported me with funds. If something comes, something must go. I'll grant one favor within reasonable limits.
"What is it?"
"Please let me take your mold."
Taking a mold, huh. What could that mean.
'It's just a matter of going into the mold made of soft alchemy steel naked and enduring the heat for just 1 minute, but if I say it now, they'll be reluctant. I have to somehow coax them into just going in front of the mold. Then I'll get a Body Avatar that perfectly replicates the Teacher's Archi Avatar. Hehe, with that toy, I can play a fun dress-up game.'
This won't do. I'm not a great being, but this has the potential to hurt my dignity.
"Haha. You're taking the joke too far. There's no way Sepier, who studied under me, would make such a bizarre request."
"Hehe. You're sharp, Teacher. To see through my joke so easily... Tch."
Hey. You put a clicking tongue sound at the end.
As I implicitly refused, Sepier instead pointed at the captain with her black hand. The pointed-at captain flinched.
"Then instead, could you lend me this person a bit?"
"Why? To take a mold?"
"I don't intend to, but if I feel like it."
'A mold?! Did you say taking my mold? What on earth does that mean?'
You'll know when you experience it. For the record, I don't know, so I'd appreciate it if you could tell me your impressions after experiencing it.
I also readily agreed.
"I'll lend her to you a lot. You can even hug her to sleep today."
"...?! Sir? What does that mean again?!"
"Then it's a deal. It's a bit of a shame, but it was a satisfying negotiation, Teacher."
"What? If it's a request like this, I'll grant it as many times as you want."
"Are you planning to sell this officer off again and again...! Warning! This officer's free will has not been considered in this negotiation!"
Communication soldiers these days talk about free will. Even parts talk back.
"Please use her well and return her."
"It's Teacher's belonging, so of course."
"Denial! This officer is a soldier of the Military Nation, not someone's property...!"
Leaving the terrified captain behind, I pulled back the fabric covering the dining room. As I closed the black fabric that swallowed not only sound but even smell, the captain's scream-like voice from inside was abruptly cut off.
Now. Shall we get started slowly.