293 – Culture Shock (1)

How many moments in your life do you want to go home?

First of all, from my experience, when I was in the military, I really wanted to go home.

After completing the college entrance exam, I lived a trashy life, enjoyed my youth, and then suddenly joined the military.

Let’s imagine that you enjoyed ‘freedom’ at best, but then you are controlled again. I don’t want to experience this again.

“I want to go home.”

And today, that feeling seems to come back to life.

The desire to return home is the same, but this time it is different.

If before, I felt like a salmon swimming up the river, now I just feel very bad.

When you do something you don’t want to do but are forced to do it. It is not even under someone’s control like the military.

“No. You can’t go now.”

“I want to go home.”

“I said I couldn’t do it.”

Kara flirted and teased me. The weather was getting quite cold, so she was wearing thick winter clothes.

Kara is wearing a fur hat like Frozen, who is famous for the intense cold. Except for the skin color, the clothes are similar to Eastern European ones.

“See it over there? You have to dance there now. I’m looking forward to it.”

Kara said to me, pointing to a place. Even though she had her gloves on, I could tell where she was going.

When she turned her head, a large stage was set up in the square. Of course, it is a stage for an anniversary.

There, various bands and theater companies will put on great performances. We are still slowly preparing.

And after that, many people will perform their own performances. Including me.

“I’m going home. Goodbye.”

The desire to go home was slowly building up. I said I would do it, but I just couldn’t do it.

First of all, there was a huge crowd of people. From what I heard, academy students also performed.

It is also said that they sometimes scout academy students with outstanding artistry. It’s a story I’ve never heard of.

“Uh huh. Once a man says something, he has to keep it.”

Kara forcibly caught me as I tried to run away.

He hugged her from behind to prevent her from running away.

Is it because they both wore thick clothes? I didn’t feel the unique coziness.

So I was able to come to my senses. I grumbled a little.

“I was forced to spit it out.”

“So you don’t want to? Are you the only one who can do it?”

“··· ···”

If you say that much, I really have nothing to say. I resented the world.

Strictly speaking, I resented the being who sent me to this world. It seems like all kinds of dark history is being created.

In the end, I had no choice but to obey Kara’s words. The good news is that there is still a lot of time left.

The fateful day had arrived, but it was still only morning. The real performance starts in the evening.

‘Should I just commit suicide?’

I was so disturbed that I had extreme thoughts. As the time approached, my heart could not calm down.

[Faith declines!]

However, our Chaos told us to throw away our negative mindset.

Even if it’s a waste of faith, you have to think positively. Aside from being disturbing.

“It was here.”

It was almost time to prepare for the performance. A familiar voice came between us.

When we turned our heads, we were greeted by a road wearing a unique winter outfit.

If the collar is traditional Eastern European winter clothing, the rod is clothing that a hunter would wear.

Not a demon hunter, but a real hunter. Don’t you have the image of someone carrying a shotgun?

“What kind of clothes are those again? They look unusual.”

“It’s made of bearskin. It’s very warm.”

I also made clothes like that out of leather in the winter. It was closer to a cape than clothes.

Although I was good with my hands, my ability to make clothes was limited because I did not have thread and needles. Still, it was quite warm.

“You are a famous swordsman and the president, but aren’t you dressed too dignifiedly?”

“And you, the princess of Tartar, dress so informally?”

“Tatars pursue practicality more than formality.”

“Me too.”

Oddly enough, the two seem to fit well together. For reference, I brought and wore an appropriate coat.

It is a form in which clothes for the performance are worn in advance and then added on top. It’s still very warm like this.

“Where is the saint?”

“It will arrive soon.”

“We are here.”

Not long after Rod said that, Rize appeared. Not only Rize but also Erica.

Erica stumbled as if she had heard another sound before she came. Or maybe it’s because they look at me.

Still, the one that stands out the most is Rize. Even in this cold weather, she was wearing a nun’s uniform.

I wonder if it’s a nun’s uniform that dissipates heat, but she’s probably just covering it with her bare body.

“Is everyone ready?”

“Yes. For now. Although it doesn’t really hit home.”

Kara still didn’t seem to realize it. It’s worth it because she’s prepared so far.

Rize seemed to understand her feelings and gave her a warm smile. She then told me not to worry.

“You don’t have to worry too much. We’ve prepared well, and it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t happen. It would be better.”

“I feel reassured when the saint says that. By the way, what about Luna?”

“I’m sure you’re with other people by now. They’ll be coming to see the performance soon.”

Most people will come to see the performance. In particular, Ellie will come with Porori.

Porori is Ellie’s guardian and is tasked with protecting her until she is safe.

This applies not only to Porori but also to other pets. It was decided that Porori would take charge of beings that were not helpful in battle.

The rest, well, as you know, is all about stopping the monsters that will come. But before that, there is the most important part.

‘We have to stop it before it goes crazy.’

The truly scary thing about the Academy collapse is not the monster onslaught. It’s a so-called ‘frenzy’ situation where people are killing each other.

The devil’s magic circle that the devil had planted everywhere. It is a medium that amplifies the frenzy and an obstacle to communication.

If a frenzy breaks out, the difficulty level will rise rapidly. There won’t be an uproar if people kill each other.

‘Something will probably break out in the middle of the performance.’

I turned my head and looked at the other side, not at the stage. The monument stands tall.

The true beginning begins when that monument is neutralized. Many people will probably have questions here.

She is a saint, a saint of authority, and even a saint of swords, so she can’t prevent her from being neutralized. I wonder if we are being treated too helplessly.

The answer can be sharply stated as ‘impossible’. The neutralization of the monument itself can never be prevented.

Weee!

It was when I was looking at the monument. A deafening noise echoed throughout the square.

At the same time, the magic circle engraved on the monument began to glow. As soon as I saw it, I moved my gaze to the sky.

[Keeek!!]

[Kkiik! Sigh!]

Two flying monsters were gliding in the clear sky. It’s probably because of that.

-Quaa!

Soon, a blue beam of light was fired from the monument, and the flying monster was hit, and the situation came to an end.

People talked about the direction from which the beam was fired and the monster that turned into ashes and scattered around.

“This kind of thing keeps happening lately. Is it because our anniversary is approaching?”

“I heard it happens often during this time.”

As people say, this happens often in winter. A flying monster being destroyed by anti-aircraft magic.

The reason is very simple and straightforward, but flying monsters also have the so-called ‘migratory’ temperament.

This is the habit of heading to warm areas at certain times. That’s why I said it happens often.

‘I’m just unlucky.’

In some ways, it can be said to be pitiful, but there is nothing we can do for safety reasons.

Moreover, gliding that low means there is something there. People don’t really know.

The fact that the monument will be disabled in the future is also related to that. It’s similar to sensitivity to safety.

“Looking at it like this, I guess it was a good idea to confiscate those boots. Sivar almost ended up like that.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that? What did Sivar do?”

“Last time, I flew through the sky using boots that a certain woman invented.”

Are you talking about an overheating situation at that time? At the time, I flew without thinking, but in reality, it was dangerous.

Even if it were me, I would have suffered quite severe injuries if I had been hit directly by that high-powered beam. At least go to the hospital.

“Grandpa. Did you give it back?”

“Of course I returned it. They said it would be confiscated for a week, not for life.”

It was even before I could say anything.

“I just said that if I lend it to you, Sivar, it will be confiscated again.”

“······I didn’t say anything?”

“It’s written on the face.”

How can you know me so well? It’s been almost a year since I met you, but you know me so well.

As I stuttered my face, Rod laughed and patted my shoulder. The attitude is to not care.

“Shivar!”

“?”

“Other people were here too.”

Soon everyone, including Eli, gathered together. Each person is wearing clothes that suit their personality.

Grace wears quite sophisticated winter clothes, perhaps because she is an aristocrat. Still, it doesn’t change that it’s thick.

Above all, the most impressive thing is Porori. I blinked and looked at Porori’s ‘clothes’.

“··· ···”

“··· ···”

“What.”

As I stared intently, Porori uttered one word. It looks like he held back and spit it out.

Porori is wearing clothes. It’s hand-knitted clothing that a pet would wear.

A squirrel the size of a large dog wearing clothes. It’s so precious that I might only see it once in my life.

“I made it myself. What do you think? Isn’t it cute?”

“······Have you gained more weight?”

“It’s because I really gained weight.”

At this level, it’s not a squirrel, but a groundhog. Also a fat groundhog.

Later, I will stand on my own two legs and ahhh!! I think I will shout.

‘Can I fight properly if I do this?’

The Avengers’ Thor gained weight and became a fat Thor. It wasn’t very trustworthy.

Normal humans would take care of themselves, but Porori is an animal with strong instincts. You may be weak in appetite.

However, he is the one who sacrificed acorns to kill me. I thought I just couldn’t kick the habit.

“Oh, Mr. Sivar.”

“Huh?”

“The hat Mr. Sivar mentioned. It’s here.”

It was a time when I was just talking with Porori with my eyes without saying a word. Grace handed me something.

What she handed me was none other than a hat, a black hat with a brim.

It is commonly referred to as a fedora or fedora. The decorative band was wrapped with white cloth.

“This will be okay, right?”

“Yes. Just right.”

A fedora is a hat often worn by ordinary men, especially nobles.

In the past, men mostly wore hats because they thought only women used things like umbrellas.

Therefore, it is not strange that there are fedoras in this world. It is also an essential item for my future performances.

‘It would be nice to have an exciting song, but…’

It’s a luxury up to that point. Classical music would be enough.

I heard that the troupe even played a performance during the performance. This is enough.

“Oh. And there’s something else I’ve prepared for you.”

“Have you prepared anything?”

“Yes. This is it.”

Grace showed me something else than a hat. It is a green colored bead.

For a moment, I wondered what it was for, but I couldn’t help but be shocked by the story Grace told with her smiling face.

“It’s a recording communication bead. I worked hard to get it.”

“······For recording?”

“Yes. I’m planning to record Mr. Shivar’s performance.”

I immediately reached out and attempted to snatch his marbles. If nothing else, the recording of black history will definitely be prevented.

But here now, there were two people who knew me very well.

Hehe. No, no, no.”

“Be patient, Mr. Sivar.”

Even stronger than me. Rod and Rize forcibly blocked my outstretched arm.

They both had smiling faces, so they seemed to have predicted this situation in advance. I looked at them in turn with an expression of disbelief.

“It can’t be two people… Right?”

“··· ···”

“··· ···”

Instead of answering, they welcomed us with smiling faces.

I wriggled my face and let out all the anger inside me.

“Bad people.”

I couldn’t swear, so I purified myself as much as possible.

“So, from now on, I can see it without asking Sivar?”

“Do you want to see Luna too?”

“I want to imitate you.”

Luna, I hate you more.

[Faith rises!]