Episode 26 Preparation (1)
My eyes opened automatically to the musty smell of medicine that stung my nasal passages.
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. I turned my head slightly to see a ringer needle deeply stabbed into my right forearm, and old-fashioned, pure cotton curtains were fluttering in the wind coming in through the window.
‘Is this a hospital?’
I barely managed to straighten my upper body, wiping away my tingling chest. Then, suddenly, I slowly turned my gaze and looked around the room.
Unlike the hospital room I first entered after entering the academy, the interior was very luxurious and sophisticated. It was similar to Knox’s hospital room that I had seen before.
‘Joaquin Academy Hospital VIP Room.’
The smell of money vibrated in the white furniture that gleamed like marble. As far as I could remember, the VIP ward was reserved for the nobility. I scratched my chin and supported my head with both hands as I sank back into the bed.
I didn’t want to think about such mundane details in detail.
Regardless of the circumstances of my being admitted to the VIP ward, I decided to be satisfied with being alive for now.
‘Are you sure they’re going to go later and claim the hospital bill?’
I shook my head to shake off my worries. No matter how outrageous the prices at the Academy were, they weren’t that inhumane.
… But if I really do charge, should I run away in the middle of the night?
I stared blankly at the ceiling, then suddenly stretched out one arm and opened my hand. The light from the hospital room shone through my fingers.
I opened my hand wide and clenched it again. For some reason, I opened my fist with all my strength, and my fingernails left a mark on my palm like a stamp.
‘You’re alive.’
I can’t be happier to be alive. There was a time when I entered the academy and almost died unintentionally.
But now, all of those things can be dismissed as mere coincidences. Compared to the magic that the Mine Mermaid wielded, Auditore’s genius and even Nox’s swordplay seemed like a child’s whining antics.
‘Mine… … .’
The skin was slicing with a crunchy sound, the flesh was tough when cut, and the sensation of the bones breaking was very different from that of a human.
Above all, the magic ball that the Mermaid shot before she died. It flew towards me, emitting a creepy magical energy.
It was an attack that I absolutely could not avoid. But for some reason, I threw myself into it without hesitation even in that situation.
Because I could see the red lines engraved on the round blue sphere, I felt hot blood flowing through my body and my muscles swelling.
Is this what intuition is? I instinctively extended the sashimi, and the blade passed across the line. The round thing split in two and burst like a water balloon, and the magic changed into a sudden downpour.
It was definitely water. But the taste of it being cut still lingers clearly in my hand.
What was that feeling? It felt like ripples in a clear water stream without a single drop of water falling.
There was no other way to explain it. After the protection of the swordsman was manifested, it was full of sensations that were difficult to describe.
I scratched the back of my head as if trying to clear my head of complicated thoughts. Then, I raised my body slightly and opened the status window while lying down halfway.
Paat-
== ==
[Protection of the Sword God]
If you cut it, it will be cut.
◎ Flesh level: 7 ▷ The sword standard is relaxed.
◎Spiritual level: (3▶4) ▷ There is a sense of oppression in words and actions.
◎Armament level: 1 ▷ Unlocking conditions have not been met.
☆Embrace Rate: 6.8▶7.2% ▷ 【NEW! Unlocking conditions have been met.】
★【？？？】
[※ The protection is only activated when the sword is less than 36 cm in length and less than 9 cm in width.]
== ==
A mental level that has risen one level. I remembered the mechanical voice that I heard when I manifested the protection, saying, ‘Your mental level has risen by demonstrating your spirit.’
I’m guessing that the reason he wasn’t scared when he first saw Mine and rushed at it was because of his mental ability, which is called Spirituality. Thanks to that, his body didn’t stiffen up and he was able to move freely.
I thought it was a useless ability, but it turns out it’s most useful in emergency situations.
Bravery and determination are only a hair’s breadth apart, but if I had shaken my body like castanets like my teammates back then, we would have gone to hell on good terms.
People are so unpredictable. I scratched my cheek awkwardly and looked down.
‘at las.’
The phrase that sparkles and shines on the retina. The fairy tale rate that had been the unlocking condition for 7% had already been exceeded, and the unlocking condition had been met.
Personally, this was the number I was most curious about after the question mark in ‘Protection of the Sword God’. I was excited at the thought that I might be able to find the clue. I stretched out my index finger and tapped the phrase.
Paat-
== ==
☆Education rate: 7.2% ▷ The line (1) of 【？？？】 is readable.
[When the assimilation rate reaches 15%, the following unlock conditions are met.]
== ==
‘I can see a line.’
The meaning of the phrase itself was easy to understand. It was the red line drawn by the mermaid’s magic. There couldn’t be anything else.
… But the important thing is.
‘No, what the heck is 【？？？】?’
I thought I might be able to find some clues to the mystery that had been bothering me, but instead, I ended up knowing even less. It was as if they were intentionally hiding the information.
They just throw out bait like loaches that slip through the gaps between fingers.
It’s probably the same concept as the question marks under the fairy tale rate. It’s crazy and makes you jump around because there are only three question marks, so it’s hard to even infer information.
“ha…….”
A sigh escaped my lips. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. It had only been a short time since I opened my eyes. There was no point in getting emotional.
But if we think about it positively, there is one thing we have gained. The number ‘1’ in parentheses. As the assimilation rate increases, that number will also increase.
Here, the world of ‘Miracle Protection M’ is basically a game, so it’s not hard to guess that it would be like that normally.
It would be better if someone could clearly define what kind of line it is, but it feels like someone is playing a trick by throwing me puzzle pieces without any outline and asking me to fit them together.
I don’t know for sure, but he must be some shameless bastard who threw me into this world.
I gave a short snort and closed the status window mercilessly. I clasped my hands together and stretched my arms, and a cool bone-crunching sound rang out.
Knock, knock
There was a knock on the door. The door was pushed aside.
“Hey, Sword Maiden! You’re awake!”
“… … !”
At the same time, Media hugged me tightly with light footsteps.
“Our Sword Horse, if something had gone wrong, I was going to fire all the instructors I inspected in advance! I’m glad you came to your senses, Sword Horse.”
Media spoke with a trembling voice as if they had not seen each other for 20 years.
“Ouch, principal, I, I can’t breathe.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m just too happy.”
Media apologized, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. I coughed awkwardly and turned my gaze toward the door.
Another presence was felt beyond the sickroom. Even though it was blocked by an iron door, the overwhelming sense of oppression could not be hidden.
As I stared silently at the door, Media shrugged her shoulders and raised her voice toward the door.
“Hey, tsk tsk! Are you shy as a grown man? Are you on a blind date? Come in quickly!”
“Mediah, don’t I always tell you to stop calling me that?”
Siegfried, the swordsman, came inside, grumbling in displeasure.
He stood next to Media, crossed his arms and looked at me with a measured expression.
A sight that feels strangely eerie.
The first people to visit me after I was admitted to the hospital on the day of my entrance ceremony were the director and the inspector.
It was quite burdensome for me that two of the Seven Star Heroes would show up every time an academy cadet was hospitalized.
“What’s going on with the principal and inspector?”
When I spoke in a trembling manner, Media smiled brightly and patted my head.
“I heard the whole story from your crew. Our swordsman is amazing.”
Media said softly. She stood up and took a few steps away from the bed.
Then she bowed her head to me. Then the swordsman standing next to her uncrossed his arms. My eyes widened at the sight.
“I apologize on behalf of Joaquin Academy. The unfortunate events that occurred during this midterm exam were all the fault of our Academy. Because of that, the lives of Geomma and your group, and almost all of the first-year cadets on Scopuli Island, were in danger. I, Media Poison, swear that I will reveal the reason for the appearance of the mines on the honor of the headmaster of Joaquin Academy.”
Media’s behavior of bowing down to me, who was nothing more than a lump of blood to them, seemed more mature than anyone else. The sword master added with a determined expression.
“You saved the cadets.”
The Seven Sage Heroes, known as the hope of mankind.
Just by looking at Media and Siegfried, you can see why they are called Hope. Their words and actions were imbued with noble dignity.
“I did it because I could.”
I rubbed my nose with a flushed heart and said, Then Media lifted her head. The corners of her eyes were slightly flushed than before.
Then suddenly a gloom came over her face. Media sat down next to me and hesitated before moving her lips.
“Your actions are truly amazing, Geomma, but… I think we should keep this incident a secret for the time being until the truth is revealed. It may be funny for me, the headmaster, to say this, but this incident seems to be an issue within the academy. I’m truly sorry, Geomma. I couldn’t care less about it.”
It is a situation where a mine suddenly appeared on an island that was supposedly surveyed. Based on the current situation, it would be correct to conclude that way.
Besides, I wasn’t particularly honored or disgraced, and honestly, if I could just let it go quietly, that would have been enough, so there was no need for her to feel so sorry.
“All right.”
“… You too, Geomma. Even a child can act up and act like a fool.”
Media that makes people laugh out loud.
“Oh, that’s right!”
Then, as if remembering something, he clapped his hands loudly and took something out of his robe pocket. It was a coin purse that the old ladies in the neighborhood used to carry around.
‘Can’t you lie about your age?’
As I looked at her with gloomy eyes, Media’s lips twisted.
She spoke in a sharp, hysterical tone.
“Sword Demon, you must have thought I looked old to you right now!!”
… How do you not know? I’ve felt this way for a while now, but this woman seems to be using mind control. Although Media vaguely says it’s a woman’s intuition.
In front of her, you must not only be careful with your words, but you must also not think carelessly.
When I waved my hand in denial, Media pouts and snorts.
“I don’t know what you were imagining, but this is a subspace pocket.”
“That’s it!?”
“What, you know about subspace pockets?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Subspace pocket.
An item that can hold everything regardless of volume or mass. It is an all-purpose item that was traded at the highest price in the auction house even during gameplay.
… But that too, apart from its performance, has a very similar appearance to the Speed Weapon recorder.
Media put her hands deep into her pockets. Then, a long piece of iron came out of her hand. With momentum, Media pulled it out with a cheerful feeling.
What Media held in her hand was a single-edged sword.
A worn-out rope was wrapped around the handle of the sword. The marks of pickling embroidered on the blade flowed like clouds.
Class B weapon. A sword covered in dew, Murasame.
“Originally, I should have given it to you officially, but given the circumstances, I decided to give it to you privately. I hope you like it, Geomma.”
Media handed me the sword. I took it, holding my breath. The rough handle felt in my hand. I ran my fingertips down the blade.
Kiririn.
The chilling sound of the sword spread through my ears like a ringing sound.
‘however…….’
I’m definitely excited about my new weapons, but something feels a bit lacking.
I felt so suffocated and anxious.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
A bright smile appeared on Media’s face. I scratched my cheek and said.
“Can I leave this to the blacksmith?”
“Oh, it’s possible, but why?”
Media asked curiously. I answered with a smile and muttered quietly.
“Strengthening arms.”
