Chapter 55 - Contact (2)
“My lady. Are you alright?”
“Yes. I'm fine.”
She answered maturely on the outside, but.
‘If it were you, would you be okay?’
That was the thought that immediately came to Chang Meirin's mind as soon as her attendant said those words.
I feel like throwing up. I want to go home. I want to eat snacks with tea. I found an interesting drama recently, I want to laze around all weekend and binge-watch it.
“As expected of my lady. To have such a graceful demeanor in such a dangerous place... You are truly a noble person on whom the fate of all of China rests.”
Right, stop that.
It's making me nauseous.
In the first place, 'all of China' was easy to say, but when converted from words to numbers, it was a level that would make one break out in a cold sweat.
‘If only I wasn't the granddaughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader...’
Of course, it wasn't a real Righteous Faction Martial Arts Alliance from a wuxia novel, but nevertheless, the fact that the guild was named ‘Martial Arts Alliance’ meant a great deal.
Only a giant guild that received the expectations and support of all Chinese people could bear such a tremendous title.
And, coincidentally, Meirin was the granddaughter of the person who had established such a place.
For her, who was born ordinary and aspired to a small-citizen, lazing-around life, that environment was already enough to make her head explode.
Well, fine.
Let's say, for argument's sake, that much was acceptable.
But.
‘Of all people, why... there are so many other people besides me...’
Why, among so many people, was she a ‘Mana aptitude holder’?
It was a matter of course that a person who could become a Climber had to be able to handle Mana, and that meant it was practically impossible for someone who wasn't a Mana aptitude holder to obtain a Climber's license.
And, China had an overwhelmingly last-place ratio of Mana aptitude holders in the whole world.
The fact that the number of Climbers was faster to count from the bottom, despite its huge population, proved it.
‘...Sigh.’
And in a situation where the various goods pouring out of the Tower were being traded for astronomical amounts of money, and there were talks about national power being determined by how many Climbers one possessed.
Such a situation was an overwhelming demerit that could only narrow the country's position even within the Asian region.
That meant, in the end.
Regardless of her will, anyone who was a Mana aptitude holder was bound to be pushed to become a Climber.
‘Meirin. The future of our people is on your shoulders.’
Those were the words her grandfather, who had never spoken to her before she was judged to be a Mana aptitude holder, had said to her as soon as she was judged to be able to handle Mana.
It was around then that she had received training in weapons and combat, things she had thought she would never have a connection with in her life until a few years ago.
They were hellish days, but she somehow endured.
No, it wasn't that she had some grand cause or determination.
It was just that she wasn't brave enough to run away, feigning ignorance of the crazy expectations being poured onto her.
Just, as people demanded of her.
Always maintaining her grace, with a smiling face, aloof, and confident.
All she had to do was show the ‘image’ of a ‘next-generation stalwart who will lead China's Climber world’, someone who would never be ashamed to be presented before anyone else.
Yes. In the first place, she had already been judged to have clear limits in combat. It would be fine as long as who she was and what her skills were, were not revealed to the public.
Even this first expedition she was dragged out to had top-notch Climbers from all over China attached as her escorts, so she could just suck her thumb and return appropriately.
“D-damn it! It's an ambush! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Protect the lady! The lady first... Kugh!”
“...”
Meirin looked up at the sky and let out a deep sigh.
“Ah.”
Life is fucked up.
Such a mutter that she couldn't let out lingered at the corner of her mouth.
***
“I have a question.”
“What a coincidence. So do I.”
“What?”
I sighed and replied to Seo Ah-in, who was tilting her head as if asking what I meant.
“Are you being shy with me right now?”
It was good that we were ambushing together on a suitable high ground nearby.
But this one was at least 3 meters away from me.
I felt an aura rising from her body that said she would not allow any approach.
And it felt like that was getting stronger as soon as she heard my question.
“No, I just feel like I'll get into some kind of trouble again if I get close to you.”
“...”
Come to think of it, this one had been thrown out first by me particularly often.
It wasn't that I didn't understand why she was reacting this way.
“So, what are you waiting for? We have to save them quickly!”
Seo Ah-in said, pointing to the members of the Martial Arts Alliance guild who were currently being attacked.
It was inevitable to be caught in a battle once they were outside the Wolf's Village, which was treated as a safe field, but the opponents those guys were fighting now were not Demonic Beasts but fellow humans.
Judging by the mana waves, they were of a similar level and of a similar type. They were probably Climbers from China as well.
‘The fights are always more intense in the lower ranks...’
One might think that since the number of Chinese Climbers was small, the number of guilds would also be small, so they could all get along.
But that situation was actually more dangerous.
In neighboring countries like Korea or Japan, the balance of power between the giant guilds was perfectly aligned, so conflicts didn't happen often.
Because if one side started a fight, it would spread into a big fight in a 'if you die, I die too' manner.
In that respect.
Due to the nature of the Climber market, where monopolistic guilds could easily gain enormous power, there was nothing as tempting as the motive, 'If I just get rid of that guy, I can monopolize the entire pie'.
It would be different if the person who was the guild leader of the Martial Arts Alliance was a bit more flexible and had good social skills, but according to the game's setting, that person was so stubborn that it was hard to find someone similar.
He was also a person who would never let go of what he had.
Yes, for example.
To the point where you couldn't even talk to him unless you did him a favor on the level of saving his 'granddaughter'.
“By the way, Ms. Meirin is also being pushed back a lot. She's quite calm, though. The fact that her expression doesn't change shows she's no ordinary big shot, right?”
“...Is that so?”
Well, fine.
It could be seen that way.
Though the ‘setting’ I knew was a little different.
“Anyway, we didn't come here to just suck our thumbs and watch them die.”
I said, stroking the small stone I had received from the Blue Wolf.
It was the ‘tool’ he had given me.
I had to try it out here.
“...Why that expression?”
“No, just from your words, it seems like you're going to save them warmly. But from the atmosphere you're giving off, it looks like you're loading up another trick...”
“...”
It felt like the more she hung out with me, the less filter she had in her word choice.
But, in the grand scheme of things, she wasn't wrong.
“I'll save them, but. Just saving them is a bit... you know?”
“...What exactly is wrong with that?”
“There's no impact, is there.”
I planned to use her as a pretext to get various things from the Martial Arts Alliance.
Their own power was nothing special, but the synergy that could be obtained when I and them got involved was truly enormous.
And what was needed for that honey pot.
“Presentation is what's important in everything, presentation.”
To Chang Meirin, the granddaughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
I would give her an intense, practical experience of a ‘situation’ where I felt like the one and only savior in her life.
***
“...Why, are you doing this among compatriots...!”
Chang Meirin said in a passionate voice.
To an outsider, it would look like she was genuinely sad that such a tragedy was happening.
The opponent's reaction also proved that fact.
“Hmph. Is it because you're the granddaughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader? To not be scared even when pushed this far.”
In fact.
It was more that she became like that from trying to hold in the feeling of about to pee herself.
Not scared my ass. I'm scared to death.
I don't want to die. Save me.
“The Chinese continent... is far behind the other powers. In a situation where it's not enough even if we all work together to overcome difficulties, to stab a fellow countryman in the back...!”
So, this was a typical ‘appeal to emotion’ strategy.
She thought there wouldn't be an idiot who would fall for this in an era where everyone was busy taking care of their own share, talking about nation or ethnicity, but shouldn't she buy time by saying whatever she could?
“...Kuh. Indeed. The attitude of discussing a great cause is a formality not shameful for your position.”
“...”
Correction.
Apparently, there were quite a few guys who lived and died by this kind of thing.
“But the Martial Arts Alliance is not a vessel to support this wide sky. Only the leader of the Blood Alliance I belong to-”
Right, right.
The Central Plains, whatever, do whatever you want.
Even while the opponent was chattering on, Meirin began to roll her eyes furiously.
Hmm. Her escorts were being pushed back one by one.
Just how well had they prepared, that even the top-notch Climbers from all over China who were attached as her escorts were being suppressed without being able to do anything?
At this rate, she would die.
She hated that more than anything.
Yes, really.
Then the most efficient action in this situation was.
“...Everyone. Please stop.”
She said quietly, dropping her sword to the ground.
In fact, she had never swung it properly until now.
But now, expressing her lack of will to resist, it was an action filled with tremendous conviction.
“The purpose is me anyway, right. Please leave my escorts alone.”
“My lady...!”
One of the escorts said in a sorrowful voice, but Meirin nodded as if to say it was okay.
“Why would you go so far for us...!”
No, honestly. I'm really okay.
The other side were people with thoughts too.
Considering her symbolism and various other things, they would calculate that it was more efficient to keep her alive in this place and use her as a negotiation card or for propaganda.
This was a hundred times better than dying while resisting.
“Hoh... a courage that cannot be but admired. To throw away your own life like a piece of straw.”
“...?”
Huh.
What was he saying now.
Maybe they were crazy people who didn't even think of calculating.
“Fine. In consideration of that pride, I will let all your subordinates go. Granddaughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. I highly regard that spirit.”
No.
No, that's not it.
To be honest, my life is more important than theirs.
Such thoughts were racing through Chang Meirin's mind, though her expression remained blank on the outside.
But regardless of whether she was breaking out in a cold sweat inwardly, the opponent mercilessly raised his sword.
“I will send you off with as little pain as possible. It's my mercy!”
“No, that's not it, wait a mome-”
But before she could make any excuses, the slash was flying fiercely towards her neck.
It was an attack so intense that she couldn't even react with her eyes wide open, but.
“Honestly.”
Someone's voice suddenly cut in.
“Why are the guys who got their licenses to catch Demonic Beasts always stabbing the wrong people?”
And.
A thunderbolt struck.