EP.209 Class Reunion
The Demon General, the pride of the Military Nation, was a majestic heroine. Prelevior, a model soldier respected by all citizens, spinning in mid-air emitting light was quite a comical sight.
However, since her status was high and the situation was urgent, no one thought to laugh. Except for one person.
"Haha! Grandma! Is your strength failing so your stream is weak? It's scattering everywhere!"
Patrakcion laughed raucously, almost rudely. The generals running beside him couldn't laugh for a different reason—it was too low-class a joke to join in on.
The loud voice reached Prelevior as well. Prelevior's stern face contorted fiercely.
"Shut up! Instead of being noisy, come quickly and help your elders!"
"Just wait a bit! Almost there! Hey! Gand! Spear!"
"Here it is!"
Receiving a spare spear from his adjutant, Patrakcion planted his right foot firmly and stopped upright. Tendons bulged from his shoulders. Pulling his arm back, he loaded the running momentum directly into the spear and threw it.
Whoosh. The spear shot heavily. Just before Patrakcion's fingertips released the spear.
"Hup!"
His strength-filled fingers gripped the spear shaft again. Simultaneously straightening his bent knee, he kicked off the ground with his foot. Patrakcion hung onto the spear he threw and flew through the air.
Landing in the middle of the battlefield after flying in a parabolic arc, he drove the spear into the ground and rose up, charging valiantly.
The Absolute Spear joined the battle. The returner leaped up and shouted.
"Tirkanjaka! Handle the Absolute Spear!"
"Just wait a moment. I need to teach that insolent one a lesson..."
"Handle them quickly and go help him!"
Tir glanced at me, pressed her lips tightly, and followed the order. Turning away from the Demon General, Tir moved to deal with the Absolute Spear and the following generals.
"Shijo! Your opponent is..."
"It's me! I'll be your opponent!"
"Hah. Such a young whelp...!"
"Why does everyone always make an issue of age, it's annoying either way! Do you know how complicated I'm feeling?!"
"Even your manners are foul!"
Prelevior admonished while gathering her magic.
Though she had used up all her stored light, flames produce heat besides light. Heat has the power to turn air into wind. Ugongisan directly recycles the accumulated heat to push wind. The cloak laden with wind spread fully.
"Preset, Pascal!"
The wind lifted Prelevior's body high. Even heavy containers rolled helplessly on the ground from the violence of the north wind. It was a torrent of power comparable to a waterfall rather than wind.
Within that, the returner raised Cheon'aeng.
"Hmph. Sorry, but wind isn't only yours!"
Cheon'aeng is a treasure possessing the power of heaven. Containing space itself, it has the ability to freely manipulate wind and clouds.
Cheongeomgi is a demon sword technique that draws out that power using magic and qi. The returner swung Cheon'aeng, cutting through the pouring wind.
Heavenly Sword Art, Wave Cut.
"This is... magic!"
The returner advanced while slicing through the raging storm with a single stroke. Witnessing the wind being split by the sword strike, Prelevior cried out in outrage.
"At that age, having learned not only magic but also qi cultivation, why...! These so-called geniuses, why are they all so self-willed!"
"...Thanks for the compliment, but I don't feel anything when I hear the word genius anymore!"
"I cannot forgive this any longer! Having received such talent, you should be grateful before thinking of wielding it! I will no longer allow you to behave like a thunderstruck fool on the nation's land!"
Prelevior's angry voice rang loudly.
Compared to the fierce battle over there, nothing passed between me and Ria. No attacks, no accusations, no shouts, nothing—we only briefly exchanged glances.
But we can't stay like this forever. Setting down the box I carried on my back at my feet, I took out a mana cigarette and offered it to Historia.
"Want a smoke?"
Historia stared at me before accepting the mana cigarette. When she put it in her mouth, as if promised, I raised my finger to the tip of the cigarette.
"Set, Li. Fahrenheit."
Flames rose from the tip of the gauntlet. As Historia inhaled, the hot flame was drawn into the cigarette, and it burned slowly, thoroughly infused with the heat.
A big drag. Historia's face, having tasted the smoke, relaxed for a moment.
'The taste... is oddly good. What is it? Because he lit it...?'
"Good, right? It's not even enough to call it premium. I heard they used World Tree leaves."
'...That can't be right. It's just that the cigarette is good.'
Mana cigarettes have a calming effect. Among them, this one was a special product using World Tree leaves. Thanks to the quality matching its high grade, Historia's excitement subsided considerably.
Smoking really does take priority over school ties. Now that I've made her smoke, shall I emphasize our connection and stall for some time?
"Being like this reminds me of the old days. Right? You were clumsy with formal magic, so you always borrowed someone else's fire when smoking."
I spoke of old memories to stall for time, but Historia didn't indulge in any more small talk.
"What's with that ugly armor? All armed up. Trying to beat me?"
"There's no way I could beat you. This is just for self-defense. I wore it so I wouldn't get swept away in fierce battles."
"Is that all?"
"Of course. What good would wearing armor do?"
Historia exhaled smoke as if agreeing with my words. Maybe because I was facing the wind, the smoke blew toward me. Even though I quit a while ago, the fragrance lingering at the tip of my nose was refreshing.
Is it because the cigarette is premium that I want another one? Or because I've met a smoking buddy after so long?
"If you have no intention of fighting."
Historia caught the chain with her fingertips. The long chain returned to her hand like a well-trained animal. She clanked the chain threateningly and commanded me.
"Put out your arm. I'm going to restrain you and take you to the Public Security Bureau."
"Just me?"
"You first."
"What's the charge?"
"You decide. What should I charge you with?"
'Murder, perjury, treason, fraud, and obstruction of official duty. You can tack on any charge you want. If you killed 161 people in Hameln like that, charges are meaningless anymore.'
It seems she still firmly believes that what happened that day is my fault. How should I resolve this misunderstanding?
No, should I resolve it?
Anyway, not getting caught is the priority. I took the most harmless gesture possible.
"Ria. You know. I didn't do it."
"I'll hear the details in the interrogation room, Hui. You won't be able to leave until you spit out every truth."
'Even if I do spit it out, there's no guarantee I'll be let out. But she won't let me wag my tongue freely.'
It's scary when an old acquaintance becomes an enemy. She knows me so well that she tries to restrain me first without much conversation.
Since she's someone I've teased countless times in the past, she probably won't easily engage in psychological warfare either. In that case.
I didn't want to do this, but let me dig into her guilt.
"Why are you blaming me? The one who needs to spit out the truth is you."
I grabbed and lifted the mask with my hand. My bare face was revealed. My eyes sting from the wind blowing in my face.
Yet with both eyes wide open, filling every expression with resentment.
I blamed the other party.
"You were the one who did wrong first."
"...."
"If you had saved me in time, this wouldn't have happened. Why did you ignore me at the last moment?"
I drove the final wedge into the silent Historia with a sharp cry.
"What's different about you from them?"
Actually, I know. Both then and now, I've read Historia's thoughts, so there's no need to interrogate her. That's why I faked my death and headed to the capital without any lingering feelings.
The reason I'm being clingy now is entirely to stimulate the other's guilt.
But Historia was much firmer than I expected.
"There's no difference."
She had too much to say and hear from me. And she wasn't someone who would miss an opportunity over a little guilt.
Historia's lips released the cigarette. The ember held its breath briefly, then produced clear smoke as if skipping.
"So, surrender. While I'm still the Six-Star General."
'While I'm the daughter of the Military Nation, and a faithful soldier. If it gets later, or if you become a more dangerous figure... I won't be able to save you either.'
If that's the case, she could have just not tried to catch me from the start, I think. Why did she continue to track me, thinking I was alive, even becoming a Six-Star General.
If she had turned a blind eye, I would have lived well on my own.
For a moment I glared resentfully, then Historia held out the half-smoked mana cigarette to me. As amicably as possible.
In the days when mana cigarettes were hard to come by, we used to share even a single one. It seemed she wanted to give me at least minimal trust through that action we used to do.
If I get caught like this, I could survive if I play my cards right. I'm willing to faithfully spill all the information I have to save my life, and perhaps the Military Nation would believe my words and forgive me. Above all, my motive is a Six-Star General, so there's that backing too.
But in the first place, if I don't get caught, that's that, isn't it? Why should I roll into a more dangerous place trusting only one lifeline?
And before that.
"Ah. I didn't mention this."
Though the refreshing scent of the mana cigarette tickled the tip of my nose, I deliberately averted my gaze and shrugged.
"I quit smoking."
The silence that fell was heavy. It became so quiet all around that for a moment I thought the wind had stopped.
Historia muttered half a beat late.
"...Is that so?"
At the same time, Historia dropped the mana cigarette. Her military boots fiercely trampled the fallen ember. Having steadied her mind with that, Historia glared at me with fierce eyes.
"I'll solve this with force, Hui. You might lose consciousness, so grit your teeth."
"Wait. Before that. There's one more gift."
Just before Historia approached, I opened the box lid with my foot. The lock released, and the tightly closed surprise box shed its veil. Pure white smoke billowed out from inside.
As if expecting it, Historia heightened her vigilance and prepared to fight.
'As expected. You wouldn't come bare-handed. But, Hui. This time, just surprising me won't be enough.'
In the tense atmosphere. The first thing to appear from the thick smoke was a drawn-out voice as if overjoyed.
"Nyaaah-. Nya. Huh?"
Along with the cat's cry, this rich yet refreshing fragrance. Historia frowned upon smelling it.
'Wait, this smoke is, from that mana cigarette just now?'
"You liked smoking and you liked cats, right? Here, a gift. This surprise box is, a smoking cat. A gift you'll like twice as much!"
Nabi, who had been sleeping peacefully in the box full of happy smoke. However, when the fierce wind swirling above the belt whipped around, the smoke scattered instantly. Nabi reached out her hand to try to catch the dispersing smoke with cloudy eyes.
But what she felt was only the fierce, cold wind.
Nabi opened her eyes. Nabi, who had been vainly pawing through the wind, realized once again how fiercely the wind was blowing where she was.
"Nyaaaaaaaaah!"
And she became enraged at the wind that had stolen her happiness. To express that rage, she leaped out of the box and looked around.
Naturally, for a beast, a human-shaped form is easier to direct hostility toward than a steel mannequin.
Especially if there's a half-smoked mana cigarette at that person's feet.
"Hui, you crazy bastard...!"
Historia began her second round against the rampaging cat king.