episode_0046

*****

“So you finally accepted it?”

“Yes. I decided to start next week.”

Now it’s time for the physical examination, which feels like an annual event. I have now become accustomed to remaining still with electrodes attached to my entire body. There is just one thing that is different from usual, but we will talk about it later.

“But doesn’t this look very suspicious just by looking at it? The association is just leaving it alone.”

“Umm. Although it is definitely suspicious.”

Sia slightly twisted her head to one side, expressing half agreement and half disagreement with my question. Of course, all the details have already been discussed.

“It’s already been nearly 10 years since the national emergency declaration was lifted. Nowadays, the association is just a rather powerful organization.”

“That’s strong enough.”

“Why did you guys make this happen when you have a company that is doing well? You can’t argue with me.”

No one knows what’s going on inside. Saying that, Sia smiled. Looking down from above, it was clearly a mockery.

“If you hate it that much, you could tell me not to join the company. I can do that much.”

“So it’s a problem, senior. I would rather have my senior join a suitable company.”

What does this mean? You’ve been showing off your dislike for companies so much, but now you’re asking me to join them? … Are you dissing this by any chance?

As I was making a subtle expression of anxiety, Sia’s hand reached out from below. Little by little, the enlarged cheeks ruin the entire expression.

“Mushun Didiya.”

“Cook Cook. It’s so obvious what my senior is thinking. Without realizing it, inadvertently.”

“Then don’t talk in such a meaningful tone.”

The reason the latter’s pronunciation was fine was because he shook Sia’s hand by shaking his cheek. Sia’s hand, which had fallen, went up to her shoulder as if she were stretching.

“But think about it seriously, senior. Aren’t corporate heroes okay? All I have to do is deal with cracks in moderation and receive a regular salary. Holidays are guaranteed, and sometimes you can even take paid vacation when you want. There isn’t much risk to your life. Opportunities like this are rare?”

Sia said that if you ask aspiring heroes passing by, nine out of ten will welcome this life with open hands. Certainly, as I continue to live in school these days, I realize how valuable such an ‘ordinary happy life’ is. Maybe if I wanted that kind of life, it wouldn’t be difficult to get it.

Of course, I have no intention of living such a boring life.

“When you return from work, your family welcomes you at home. It is the happiness itself of many men. After all, I am that family──”

“No more nonsense. Now that the test is over, get up.”

The doctor was coming this way holding a piece of printed paper. No matter how close you are, the doctor is working sincerely. It would be rude to greet someone lying down.

This was also something different from the usual things I talked about earlier.

“Are you saying that you can’t do for me what you did for Hwain?”

“I heard that before. That’s why you’ve been working hard to provide a knee pillow until now.”

How did he know that Hwain used a knee pillow? I didn’t bother to ask because it was obvious that if I did, I’d be vague.

Even though I was just sitting still during the test, I was embarrassed to give a knee pillow in front of others, especially to a woman, so I refused at first. Then I said, ‘Wow, senior, you do this to men but not to women. Isn’t it usually the opposite? ‘Senior, do you like men?’ And he was so fussy. In the end, I surrendered and lent my knees.

However, it was unreasonable to use a knee pillow until the test was over and I spoke to the doctor because it was embarrassing to my opposite sex. As I said before, it is also against etiquette.

I somehow managed to get Sia up, and she had a scowling expression on her face. Do you like knee pillows that much? He said that if he liked it that much, he would give her a lap pillow again when there were only two people in the house.

“What do you not know, senior? It’s worth doing when your senior doesn’t like it.”

“Let’s see if they give me a lap pillow or something like that again.”

I coldly pushed Sia, who was crying and clinging to me, and faced the doctor. The doctor smiled wryly, but did not comment much on the argument just now.

However, the story didn’t last that long. The biggest reason was that my body showed no significant changes after the monster attack.

Considering that my body started menstruating after that change, I think it would be better not to change. However, looking at the fact that I can now use Dragon Fear, I think I might be able to use something like Breath in the future, so I think it would be better to change in that regard.

Which one is actually preferable? When I asked the doctor that, he tilted his head and said this.

“Hmm, honestly, I’m not sure. Ah, but if the physical changes increase, permission for dissection may be granted at least once, so I’m looking forward to that.”

It was the brightest smile on the Doctor’s face that I’ve ever seen. Let’s not bring this up in front of the doctor again.

“Still, I think it is necessary to understand the cause of the change. I think we need some kind of opportunity rather than time… . The last time you were able to use Dragon Fear was through awakening in a critical situation during battle, right?”

I nodded my head calmly in response to the doctor’s question. Because I actually explained it that way to other people.

I was able to write after being patted on the head by a classmate. Can you say the same thing?

I don’t know if it’s just the doctor, but if that story gets into Sia’s ears, it’s obvious that she’ll make him do all sorts of strange things as a test. I have no intention of dying of shame.

“It is too risky to recreate a crisis situation intentionally.”

“There’s no need to raise the percentage of change right now anyway, right? Rather than that, let’s talk about something else.”

It was a somewhat forced transition, but the doctor said, “Come to think of it,” and went along with my transition. Of course, since he is a doctor, I think he was just driven by curiosity rather than consideration for others.

“You two were talking about something just now.”

“About the internship?”

“Yes. To hear it from someone close to me, it sounded like an incredibly amazing story. Raising the power of members is enormous at the guild level, but if you go up to the national level, the efficiency is ridiculous, right? In that case, I think there is a law to force an investigation even if it is suspicious.”

Certainly, if you just listen to what Sia and I said, you might see it that way. Sia and I smiled wryly at the doctor’s story.

“Oh, sorry doctor. It’s not that I’m laughing at it or anything, I just thought it would be great if it were true.”

“Actually, both my senior and the association can clearly see the general situation.”

“What are the circumstances?”

Approximate reinforcement for multiple others. Anything that can do this usually falls into the category of potential or magic. Any other method would be too inefficient, and if it were otherworldly power such as demonic energy or divine power, it would have been felt by some people like me. However, after asking Rabbit about this and that during the consultation, we were able to rule out magic as a suspect.

When it comes to magic, ancient magic is generally known to be effective, and modern magic, like a computer program, has somewhat consistent effects. However, the strengthening items and numbers of the members were all different.

“What remains is either unknown ancient magic or individual potential. Running a guild like that with unknown ancient magic is an extravagance beyond waste. So, 99% of that is a phenomenon caused by individual potential.”

“However, as a result of my research, there was no awakened person with that ability among the HS teams. So, this may be an awakened person without awareness or an awakened person who intentionally refused to register, but either way, the limits of individual power are obvious. So, the association didn’t pay any more attention than that.”

“Aha. If you intentionally refused to register there, you said it was suspicious because we don’t know your intention.”

That’s the way it is. No matter how much I think about it, I have a subtle feeling that in the end, the answer is to find out by experiencing it myself.

“Still, I was a little surprised. I thought that if you were a senior, you would focus on raising Hwain for the time being.”

“That’s it──”

I was about to answer, “Because I was concerned about the emotions in Mr. Rabbit’s eyes,” but I hastily swallowed my words. The authenticity and cause of the emotion have not yet been revealed. You should refrain from confusing people with useless information.

“──I think this will also be a good experience. And I’m not worried, but for kids, things like qualifications are important, right? I chose it because it seemed good that way.”

“The hero service is definitely famous.”

I tried to come up with different reasons, and the doctor agreed with me. Sia also tilted her head for a moment, but did not say anything. It seems like HS or something is definitely a famous place.

“Now that the test is over, would you like to go out to dinner together?”

“I am welcome. Well then, good luck, doctor!”

“You both are too much… .”

The day’s inspection ended with me leaving the doctor, who still had a lot of work left to do, and coming out.

Okay, it’s been a while since I had meat today!

***

Have you been safe so far? Hello, this is everyone’s hero Mare. Let’s begin our hero life today by defeating bad villains!

… No, you can’t just start it! Cancel, cancel what I just did! Ah, I’ve been making too many self-suggestions lately, so my mind is a mess. If this continues, won’t I really become a hero?

Even a passing dog would laugh at the thought of a suggestor being consumed by his own suggestions. Usually, when a suggestion magician casts a self-suggestion, they put something like a save point to prevent the suggestion from being used.

I didn’t set up any save points like that. After all, I am a separate body. This is because, even if you use self-suggestion, if it is not possible, you can recover the record engraved on your soul from the main body and restore it.

But what is the situation now? I am locked into a contract and cannot interact with the console in any way. Of course, exchanging marriage letters is impossible. It’s completely blocked, this one.

First of all, I created a temporary save point for emergency purposes, but it’s not very cool because I’ve been relying on the main unit. If things continue like this, I will be eaten by suggestions… .

“Are you okay, Bobbin? My complexion is not good.”

“If you’re not feeling well, would you like to rest for today?”

“No, you’re completely fine? Now, look, hot two, hot two!”

In response to the concerns of the two pretty girls, Ami and Marie, I appealed to my health by doing sit-ups while sitting down. Although it was a bit exaggerated, the two people nodded and agreed to my appeal, as if it was effective.

Wow, it’s been 10 years. If it’s Marie, it’s second to none, but if it’s Ami, if they decide I’m not feeling well, they can force me into the nurse’s room. I can’t throw away this long-awaited opportunity on the bed in the nurse’s office.

Now, what is that opportunity? You may already know about the situation I am in through the records above. That’s right, my only organ and the meaning of my existence, the art of suggestion, has been half-sealed away! A truly indescribable outrage! I would like to punish the Queen of Slaughter, the subject of the contract, someday. Mainly on the bed!

… Big. I’m a little lost in desire, but the key to resolving the contract is the little girl in front of me, Ami. My current goal is to become friendly with ARMY, who holds the key that limits my abilities, and seize the opportunity to somehow hint to her.

I don’t think it would be that difficult for this kid who looks somewhat simpler than the other two. Additionally, in terms of my desire, I would be quite happy to be close to this child. This kills two birds with one stone, kills two birds with one stone, kills two birds with one stone!

However, contrary to such enthusiasm, things did not go very well. First of all, the biggest obstacle was that I didn’t have as many opportunities to get to know ARMY as I thought.

When this kid plays at school, he always plays with boys, and when he talks to girls, it feels like he’s building a wall somewhere in his heart. Being unfamiliar with a woman is a great strike for taste, but it’s just a problem for the purpose of getting to know her.

In addition, the operation is experiencing great difficulties due to the fact that we have not been able to meet at all for several days due to Chuseok and other things, and even after Chuseok, we have not been able to talk properly due to special training and other things.

But did you say Ansaengjisa Saeongjima? While I was worrying so much, Ami approached me and said she had something to talk about alone. Is this green light? Is this an OK sign that allows me to go straight to the school nurse’s bed?

‘It’s nothing else, it’s because our team is doing an internship this time. If possible… . Oh, what? ‘Sorry, did I say something strange?’

It wasn’t. I was so heartbroken that I inadvertently made an expression as if I had lost my country, but the story Ami brought was something I really needed.

The question was whether they would participate in the internship they were participating in. They said there was room for applicants, so they could bring in any students they wanted.

The internship itself wasn’t very interesting to me because I was good at evaluating myself as a hero, but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to increase Army’s favorability, so I readily accepted. When asked to tell the story to our team members, they nodded without hesitation.

Actually, it’s better for me to go in alone. Am I feeling awkward alone? Then, given ARMY’s personality, they will try to take more care of me. If all goes well, by the end of the internship, you may be in a relationship for the future. There is no basis.

But it’s also difficult to find out that I didn’t tell you for no reason, and more than anything, who are my team members? They are a group of outsiders who would outsmart Genesis if it were an individual game. There was no way I could go to a group event like this, and in fact, Boksu-gwi refused to participate, saying he was not interested in an internship or something like that.

Expectations have been wrong since Marie’s time.

‘… Hwa-in too, are you going?’

The reddened cheeks visible under the hood are most likely a hallucination. haha. I had no idea that the side effects of self-suggestion would be this severe. Even if it seems like nothing, this nonsense… .

… Surtur, you bastard, I will never forgive you!

I nodded for now, but I think I should seriously consider not attending. We also need to think of ways to block his access in the future… .

While I was thinking about that, my sleeve was pulled. Mari came closer and looked up at me and said this.

‘It’s been a really long time since I heard we should do something together.’

‘thank you.’

Yes, thank you too. Let’s get married.

… Wow, I lost consciousness for a moment. Isn’t it foul to look up and say something like that?

Of course, I thought, ‘That can’t be done.’ ‘Let’s cancel.’ Since there was no way the same could be said, Marie also participated.

Well, well, it’s not like this can’t be said to be the expected range. If Mari comes, all you have to do is take the simultaneous attack route, right? I can do it, no, I will try it!

I was so confident that I could not have predicted what would happen next.

‘Internship? Am I crazy enough to go for it? You guys take care of it.’

Sure enough, the trainer cut him off like that as soon as he could say anything. It was great! Good job you idiot! Just for today, I’ll be happy with that old attitude, haha!

‘But wait a minute. ‘Who suggested where to go?’

‘Ami, so I’m going with Fafnir’s suggestion. I heard it’s a new team in the hero service?’

‘What is this kid’s suggestion?’

Uh, wait a minute. Why do you look like you’re contemplating? Why ‘Tsk, why go that way…’ .’ Are you saying the same meaningful thing!? Why are you grinning like you made a decision?

‘I guess that’s okay sometimes. Tell them I’m participating too.’

‘… yes?’

‘What you heard is correct. Why did all the seats suddenly fill up?’

I feel like nodding a lot. But we’re already under a lot of control these days, so if you nod here, you’ll get double or triple roasted. No, it would be better if it ended with stir-frying, but they would probably go directly to ARMY and ask if they could participate. Of course ARMY will agree.

… Ah, really!

In this way, three people, excluding Bok Suk-gwi, became involved in the internship. It’s strange, since when did our team have such good teamwork? If possible, I wish it had been like this since the beginning of this year!

Of course, the reason for the change is obvious. Ami Kim, Hero Fafnir. Ever since this horned girl came, it feels like things are getting busier around here.

Of course, the changes are not limited to our team.

“Awesome… .”

Mari is mumbling somewhere absent-mindedly. But I can understand that feeling.

The fact that Surt was able to withstand a strong attack from a steel ball for a long time in yesterday’s mock sparring became quite a hot topic within the class. No, judging from the fact that there was an unfamiliar face in the class, it might be becoming a hot topic throughout the grade. Even so, it won’t go all the way to the school level.

But if the scene before our eyes were shown to other people, the whole school would definitely be in an uproar.

“… I lost.”

That’s because it’s Steelball that’s talking, not Surtr.

“Puh-haa!”

Heo-eok, heo-eok. Surtur’s breathing can be heard far away. A situation where the winner falls down and is panting, while the loser stands still and watches. But no one can deny his victory.

The remains of ‘burned’ iron balls are scattered everywhere.

“Thank you for your hard work… !”

“Thank you for your hard work. What, did you even look after me yesterday? The difference in results is too drastic?”

“That thing, no… .”

“Okay, take a breath. Sheesh, what is that strange ability in the first place? Why do alloy beads burn rather than melt?”

Raon and Ami cling to the fallen Surtur and take care of him. When he sees Marie twitching her hands next to him, he wants to go along and take care of her, but is he hesitant because he is embarrassed? I like it because it’s cute, but I hope the popular guy explodes.

At this point, I wonder if there is any need to explain. Anyway, now Marie, I, and the trainer are at the Surtur team’s special training location. As I was finishing up the story about interns, the topic of special training came up, so I went to see it, and I ended up seeing something bigger than I expected.

“You had some spare energy left anyway, right?”

“Fafnir, you know that those words don’t mean much. I thought I could deal with this level of power, and after dealing with it like that, I was defeated. If this is not practice but actual combat and there are no other round objects around, then I am now defenseless. ”

A steel ball slitting its own throat. I’m not sure if he was actually at full strength or not, but it’s clear that he’s no match for me based on his current level of fighting.

Seeing the opponent I thought I could somehow defeat until a few weeks ago is far away makes me feel somewhat bitter, even though combat is not my main focus.

“Can I say this is the end of my wish? I’m telling you, you can’t raise your practice level any higher than this. If it goes any further than this, I have to use my trump card.”

“I don’t want to go that far, but I would like to participate in special training a few more times in the future. I will find a way to increase the difficulty separately.”

“Aren’t you trying too hard on a bet?”

Come to think of it, on the first day Ami transferred to the school, there was a bet with Steelball. At the time, I thought it was all in vain, but from what I heard, it looks like he’s been using it well as a practice partner for the past few days.

“I’m sick of pitching machines now.”

As he said, Steelball also sat down and began to think, as if he had something to think about. It’s good to be able to learn from defeat. It may not be long before he grows into a reliable hero.

… No, that means I’m a villain!?

“Bobbin, can I ask you something?”

As I was worrying about my self-identity, Ami came up to me and hesitantly said that. Of course, there is no option to refuse. If you, as a man, want to know about women’s bodies, you can always rely on this!

“I’m talking about your ability, the ability to suggest. Can you make the subject remember a difficult situation?”

Of course not. sullen.

“Yes, it is possible. However, casting that kind of hint requires quite delicate manipulation, so it would probably be difficult during battle.”

“It’s okay. Because once you use it, you fight.”

After writing it… . ah. indeed. I guess that’s what increasing the difficulty meant.

“Is it okay to do that? This must be very difficult. Since I can’t decide which situation is difficult, it may end up being much more difficult than I expected.”

“It’s a good thing because I actually like it better.”

… So, you’re saying they’re intentionally applying a mental debuff and then training them to jump into the full-range telekinetic attack of the steel ball we just saw?

Crazy, crazy. If it were me, I could never do it. It’s training so you won’t die, but it will hurt a lot. In fact, Surtur is still down and unable to move.

“It’s okay if you like ARMY… .”

“Then I will ask you a favor.”

I have no reason to refuse. If I do it well, I might be able to find a clue to leave another hint to Surtur, and even if not, it means that I can at least temporarily lift the restrictions on my use of magic during training. Even so, it would be unreasonable to hint during training, but we might be able to lay the foundation for that.

“Yes! Because it’s a favor from a friend!”

Something like this.

Kuuk. Tiny arms are buried between breasts. Even so, I am confident in my body. Maybe ARMY is being attacked by a softer texture than a marshmallow.

“… what is it. I say this every time, but you have too much skinship.”

“ARMY cares too much. They say this level of skinship is normal between girls.”

“But I──”

“Ah, that’s right. Ami was a man. Still, I like showing friendliness in this way. Does Ami not like me showing friendliness…? ?”

“Ugh.”

This is important. The basic bass is said with regret and sadness, and with a charm that you can’t even feel a drop of. If you lower your head and look like you’re about to cry, many men will feel weak. Of course, the innocent Ami also blushes and doesn’t know what to do. If you do well, today will be a success… ?

“It’s not like that, but after all, I’m a bit… .”

“Snap,” Ami’s arm slips away. Ah, what a waste. Still, the rejection is getting weaker than last time. If things continue like this, wouldn’t we be able to stick around if we take three or four more chances?

It may seem detailed, but these efforts become the foundation of the suggestion. Especially with skinship, as the physical distance becomes closer, the mental distance also becomes closer. Familiarity with the suggester is the most important factor in the success of suggestion, so it cannot be neglected.

If we can use a little bit of magic for this basic work, we can make progress faster. As expected, it was a good thing I participated in the internship or something!

“Using hints?”

Ugh. A scream escapes my mouth without me realizing it. The trainer who had been watching Surtur just a moment ago had suddenly come towards us.

This is really the problem. I’m a bit of a devil myself, so I can sense demonic energy to some extent, but this man, every time I try to use his abilities, he tries to scan my images with demonic energy!? The checks are too severe. Please lower the difficulty level.

“Do you have to do that every time? I don’t like it because my horns sting when I use magic energy.”

“Think of it as insurance. Normal people wouldn’t be able to feel demon energy anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, right?”

I can feel it!! Please dry Ami a little harder too!

Of course, I only shout it in my heart. I was already suspected of being a spy, but if I were to say that I could even sense demonic energy, the shackles would only become heavier. In the end, I ended up being searched like this again today.

Demonic energy flows from the captured arm. The self-suggestion process has been repeated over the past few days until it spreads. I am a hero, I am a hero, I am… , a hero!

“Hmm, no problem, ”

Okay, I passed today safely. If it’s natural, it’s natural. No matter how versatile a trainer may be, there is no way he or she can read minds at the level of holding a hand. It’s just like a more accurate lie detector.

In the first place, I’m a hero, so I don’t have to worry about anything!

“Then I will ask you right away. Hwain seems to have recovered slowly too. Today, let’s simply check the effect of suggestion.”

“Yes!”

If it’s a colleague’s problem, I have to raise my arms and take action. Now, let’s start living our hero life today!

Aza Aza Fighting!

*****