Chapter 25 – Baaang!
First, let’s summarize briefly.
She is tall.
She suddenly appeared by opening the door of the hospital room; she is an elf, one of the races that form the foundation of the empire and has had the longest relationship with the human race. In terms of numbers within the empire, they can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
If we were to point out the differences in appearance, we could mention their pointed ears and beautiful appearance, but I think it’s a waste to distinguish her from the human race based solely on these differences.
I want to see her as an individual, not just as a member of her race.
Baaang.
Let me emphasize that it’s not onomatopoeia, it’s a sound.
There’s really no other way to describe it except as baaang. It’s a moment that reaches the pinnacle of life, revealing her overwhelming presence without any restraint.
Regardless of race, gender, or age, the gazes of those who see her converge in one place.
But I want to make it clear that this is never due to base desires or intentional malice.
Let’s take the example of encountering something unknown that contradicts one’s fixed ideas. Just as anyone would turn their head if a giant over 3 meters tall passed by, when she walks by, everyone’s gaze naturally focuses on “that place” first.
This is the result of a highly idealized evolution developed by all races to identify the “alien” in its natural state, not just humans and elves, but all other races as well.
So, the point is, her chest is just that large. She is gigantic. She is enormous.
I’ll introduce her again now that I’m back to my senses.
Her name is Ejees,
Anyway, she has a big heart.
In school, she’s called “Mamang Ejees,” “Ejees Mamang,” and the like,
She really has a big heart.
Even the students who call her Mamang to the professor,
Her heart is really big.
Mamang… Mamang… Ke-eung… Wow… That’s a weapon. It can kill people and save them.
I want to die there and be born there.
She might have been a woman who could have been my mother.
“Professor Freiya~ Even if you have children, you should separate time and place~”
“Professor Ejees… Please don’t do that, even though my body is a woman, my mind is mixed with memories of a past life as a man…”
As Freiya sat on the floor, murmuring sadly, Ejees, who was sitting beside her, gave her a comforting smile.
“Huhu, I’m sorry, I noticed that I misunderstood when I saw the rumors and teased you because I was looking forward to Professor Freiya’s reaction~♩”
“Rumors…? Have the rumors spread already?”
“Of course~ How small is the school~♩ The students are all discussing how much Professor Freiya has become a female… Oh, I misspoke. They are debating whether she has abandoned her former identity and ‘fallen.'”
“Oh… What am I going to do for the next class… I don’t want to go… I just want to die…”
As Freiya cried out and collapsed, Ejees looked back at me this time. A predatory gaze. I couldn’t just quietly look at that pure mischief.
“By the way, Professor Eugene seems to be in good spirits too~”
“What?”
“Cecilia has become so close with the student already. It seems much closer than when she received treatment last time. It’s nice to see~♩”
“hahahaha, being loved by students is truly a joyful thing.”
“hehehe, it might be a bit different from the usual meaning of love, but well, it’s okay~”
Wow… my heart… no, snap out of it. I turned my head, pretending to cough.
Then, I heard Cecilia’s soft voice as she leaned her face against my knee.
“…Teacher, you’re really good at lying.”
“Huh? Out of the blue? I don’t lie.”
“‘Height over 170, Imperial standard intelligence test score over 135, chest size snugly between C and D, not too small to escape notice, but not too big to attract too much attention from other men.'”
Oh my, how absurd.
Who on earth would say such things?
More importantly, why would anyone bother memorizing that?
“You… lied…?”
I couldn’t bring myself to meet Cecilia’s eyes.
I cleared my throat.
With a voice so low it overflowed with dignity, I gently touched Cecilia’s ear and said, portraying the teacher’s dignity.
“Cecilia, listen well.”
“Yes, teacher.”
“As we live in this world, there comes a time when ‘compromise’ is necessary. Not just isolated incidents, but a crucial crossroads that establishes a significant ideology throughout life. We are given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for choices and agonies. Some may say there are no limits for humans, but that’s nothing more than a source of vitality and a lubricant for a lifetime, nothing more than empty words. Living entangled in the unattainable ideal, unable to accept oneself for not realizing dreams, leads only to self-deception and self-righteousness. Sometimes compromise is a way beneficial to mental health.”
“So, are you saying you gave up on love?”
“hehehe, giving up. What an interesting thing to say. Compromising is knowing oneself and regressing to a reasonable level, not an act of abandoning everything.”
“I understand.”
“For example, let’s say you find yourself in a situation where you have to propose something… Let’s see, where was it…”
“Is it about money?”
“Well, having a good salary would be nice. Even though I don’t know what kind of member of society you’ll become in the future, let’s say you enter a certain profession and propose your desired annual salary. What would you want in return for your labor?”
“A teacher.”
“Hmm.”
“A teacher…”
Cecilia tilted her head for a moment, as if realizing the essence of my words. She perked up her ears and languidly continued speaking.
“Can’t I have everything?”
“Well, yes. That’s true.”
“Then, for now, let’s divide the class…”
Who?
Me?
Split in half?
With a knife?
How?
Our good student, I’m not a cake~
“… Anyway, having dreams and hopes is nice, but sometimes compromise is necessary.”
“Is the heart the salary?”
“I just gave an example. Don’t compare the heart to a mere salary.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“…Is that so.”
Cecilia murmured while gazing down at her own chest.
“Even Mom was bigger than this… it’s still… yeah… it’ll be okay.”
Ah, talking about your mother, isn’t that a bit complicated?
“…?”
Lynn, with eyes widened in confusion, glanced back and forth at us.
Eegis, who had been covering Lynn’s ears, calmly intervened.
“Lynn shouldn’t hear these things yet~♩”
“Oh, really? Yes! Thank… you…?”
“Child, be good~♩ If you wait just hmm… five more years, I, Teacher Eegis, will teach you everything from start to finish~♩”
“Oh, yes! Yes!”
Lynn vigorously nodded, unaware of what was being said.
Don’t teach such things to an innocent child.
“hehehe, came to deliver supplements and ended up having an interesting experience~”
“Ugh… even if the classroom dies, I can’t go in. Someone kill me…. pleease…”
Beside them, Freya was slowly withering away.
***
On the way back, the sunset was already fading in the sky.
As Freya, lost in thought while walking, felt the day ending like this, she suddenly opened her mouth.
“Lynn… have you ever heard of Brisingga?”
When Freya cautiously asked, Lin stood there, looking at us with a frightened expression.
As if finally the moment had arrived, seeing Lin struggling to speak, Freya instead shrank back. It would have been better if she had confidently broached the subject.
“Brisingamen. It’s the form of a necklace, also an artifact. The Vanir tribe chooses a representative among themselves and wears that artifact around their neck. They’re called the Brisingamen bearers.”
In the end, it was me, the unexpected one, who spoke up. Cecilia, quick to catch on, threw in a question.
“Is it a mere honorary position?”
“It’s not that, Cecilia. You know the Vanir tribe is also known as the enchanting race, right? Here, enchantment doesn’t just end at being fascinating. Some possess a kind of innate magic, as if they’re imbued with a captivating power.”
“An innate magical quality, you say.”
“Oh, Brisingamen are bestowed upon the Vanir born with the strongest and most pervasive enchantment. It’s given, or rather forced upon them. It’s nominally linked to a connection with the goddess, but it’s not always the case.”
“What’s the significance of wearing the necklace? …Is it an artifact?”
“It absorbs the power of enchantment.”
Lin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
“Absorbing the power of enchantment, exploiting it, and accumulating it within the Brisingamen. That’s why those who wear Brisingamen among the Vanir end up looking far uglier than their original selves. It’s the theft of enchantment.”
“Why on earth would that happen…?”
“…To trade the accumulated power with their kin.”
Freya added to Lin’s response.
“The Vanir’s enchantment. The most intense enchantment possessed by certain individuals isn’t easily defined by mere biological charm. It’s like a passive magic akin to hallucination, always cast upon them. If that’s accumulated… it would be immensely helpful for casting large-scale hallucinations, for instance.”
As Freya smirked, Lin muttered hesitantly.
“For some reason, the kinfolk are paying a hefty sum to borrow the Brisingamen with accumulated enchantment. The Vanir probably couldn’t just let that go.”
At the mention of “kinfolk,” Cecilia stared at me intently. I swallowed my response.
Lin slouched, looking dejected.
“Are you planning to let the clan know that my sister and I are here…?”
“Me…? Why would I?”
Freya shrugged her shoulders.
“Like Eugene mentioned last time, I left the divine tribe. I have no intention of contacting them, and even if they want to reach out, I have no interest.”
“Our Grand Breezingamen ambassador told us that you abandoned our Baneer divine tribe and went far away.”
“…”
“So, one day, the adults suddenly said that my sister and I are suitable, took us away, claiming this is Breezingamen… and then said they would enhance the power of fascination, looking at Ran’s eyes….”
As expected.
I furrowed my brows. It was exactly when Freya was staring blankly at the ground.
“Professor Nepherna~♩”
Someone started running from afar.
Something familiar swayed.
… Like a pair of melons repeating pendulum motion, escaping the control of gravity. No, maybe watermelons.
My heart aches.
Not the physical heart, but the emotional one.
Professor Aegis wiped the sweat on his forehead, swallowing his breath.
“Haah… Haah… it’s tough.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but you don’t have to run like that, Professor Aegis. Damage to the national treasure is the empire’s loss soon.”
“What? Oh, I just left my wallet~♩ hehehe.”
“What? Your wallet?”
Cecilia’s piercing gaze and, ignoring Freyja’s reproachful remark, Professor Aegis accepted the wallet handed to him.
… Huh? Wait a moment. This isn’t a wallet?
As I made a perplexed expression,
“It’s a summon order~♩ Take note~”
After whispering briefly in my ear, Professor Aegis disappeared.
A small note. Since others had already turned and started leaving one by one, I unfolded it discreetly.
The note read as follows:
ㅡEmergency Summon Order Notice for Freyja Adoration Battalion
Yesterday. An incident occurred near the right entrance of the school garden involving Professors Fernandez and Nepherna.
Freyja’s 5-minute standby is considered an emergency situation. Alert level, ‘Fifth Wing’ deployment.
Officials who have received the news are requested to attend the Round Table Conference immediately.
*This notice contains information sent to the sender and receiver, and is treated as confidential in accordance with the rules of the Freyja Adoration Battalion. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please destroy it immediately.