198 – Appointment
I don’t consider myself a great gourmet, but I do think I’m good enough to recommend dishes that suit the public’s taste. When Eunice said she wanted to eat seafood, I decided on seafood paella.
Paella, which exists between risotto and fried rice, is Spain’s signature dish. Funny enough, Spanish cuisine appears in this fantastic place. It was because the cooking setting was comfortably similar to modern times. For that reason, Japanese-style curry is often served in restaurants, but unfortunately, kimchi does not appear as a side dish like a fantasy.
I once thought of setting up a kimchi artisan in the north as a joke, but I discarded it because I thought it was irrational and unsuitable for fantasy. As in the case of Estelle, the discarded setting may be revived, and there may be a kimchi master somewhere in the north who still makes kimchi. Later, I plan to use Modist to put him on my must-recruit list.
Anyway, while I was waiting for the seafood paella I ordered, Eunice asked me what I was curious about.
“Why did you do that? You know that triathlons are broadcast all over the continent. No matter how good your intentions are… Even if time goes by, it will remain as a bad image to all of the continent. Look, even now, the gazes around you aren’t pretty.”
Like Eunice said, I could feel a buzz at the tables around me as they glanced at me. I scratched my eyebrows and drank some water. It is cold water with ice in it.
“I know. At the time, I thought it was the best. Now I know that was the wrong way to think of myself.”
I added with a sigh at Eunice’s stare at me.
“You didn’t forget our school you heard about yesterday, did you?”
“School song?”
“The order here is the order of the world.”
I brought an ice cube from the cup into my mouth. I rolled the ice with my tongue and moistened my lips at the sight of Eunice waiting for my words to follow.
“Thirty years. The years when your academy was used as a loser by the Emperor’s tricks. Such a vicious cycle is taken for granted. Isn’t it strange Everyone turns their eyes to the wrong order created by the emperor, claiming that the order here is the order of the world, and when pointed out, they deny it and evade it. Even though the world itself defines you as losers. They say it’s a fair competition.”
It’s not that I don’t understand people who bow their heads to injustice. He is a mad emperor who drives even his own children to the precipice of death. He couldn’t stand to see him trying to ruin his farce. Rather, the emperor would have been waiting for the local nobility to rise up. Even the local nobility knew this, so the winner of the triathlon has not changed for 30 years.
I lowered my voice a little more and spoke in a whisper.
“I can also guess why the academy was united this year, not last year, which was a monumental 30 years for triathlon.”
Eunice’s shoulders shook. No way, I didn’t think I would know that. But I have no choice but to know. Because it was I who designed the most important story in the world.
“What kind of guess, can you hear me?”
Aware of Eunice’s cautious attitude, I answered with a no-nonsense attitude, conscious of the gazes around me.
“Because the emperor didn’t show up at last year’s triathlon.”
Eunice’s eyes widened slightly. He tried to hide his expression, but he couldn’t seem to control his reflexes.
The Emperor is currently unconscious. Only the emperor’s closest aides knew that fact. Even Bella, the crown princess, does not know this fact. He barely keeps himself alive with medication, and is only awake for an hour a week. She uses her double in situations where it is unavoidable, but she never leaves the imperial palace even for that, just in case.
The triathlon’s joint academy alliance is nothing more than a local academy’s rebellion against the emperor’s farce. The real purpose was to see the reaction of the emperor, who has not been seen anywhere since last year, with the co-winner of this triathlon. Under the plan of the academy union, such a political trick was hidden secretly. That became the trigger that led to the nobles’ rebellion, and I prevented it.
“You….”
Eunice was about to say something, but a pot full of seafood paella came onto the table.
A delectable paella with shrimp, squid, clams and a side garnished with lemon. After politely refilling Eunice’s plate, Eunice sighed and took a lemon, perhaps regretting that the conversation had stopped. After squeezing lemon juice into the bowl, Eunice twitched slightly as she tasted the paella with a spoon.
Fortunately, this is a satisfactory response. I also picked up a spoon and tasted the paella. The taste is great. The texture, like goseul-bap, is mixed with the unique aroma of seafood and the taste of vegetables, creating a perfect harmony. The salty taste followed by the sour lemon taste and spicy scent even had the effect of awakening the taste buds on the tongue at once.
The conversation was interrupted for a moment. Eunice, who was eagerly emptying the bowl, asked me as I was diligently tearing off the shrimp heads.
“… Was it all planned from the beginning?”
Somehow, in an atmosphere where people seemed to misunderstand me, I said it clearly.
“I’m not that great. Transcendence’s inclusion in the last joint win was more of an impromptu plan. It was a gamble with a high possibility of leaving it to the luck of Roel.”
“Still, it was a successful gamble, right? Because everyone is happy except for you.”
Eunis said with a playful laugh. Without thinking, I put the shrimp on the spoon and answered.
“Not really? I’ve never felt particularly unhappy. Rather, I consider myself lucky. It was a bit of a flimsy plan, but the results are good.”
The seasonings in the flesh of the shrimp gave it a rich flavor. It’s good. Satisfaction was high as they chose good food.
“… Results are good. It doesn’t.”
Eunice, who was scratching the bottom of the bowl with her spoon, looked up at me blankly. Eunice asked, putting the spoon down as she seemed to be too focused on eating.
“Are you dreaming of becoming a hero?”
I answered that question immediately without hesitation.
“No, not at all.”
Eunice’s eyes lit up at my quick reply. It’s like a detective looking at my contradiction.
“Really? The name of the club is also Messiah, and when you see that you are putting yourself forward as a common enemy for everyone… Does anyone look like a self-sacrificing hero?”
I once promised to become a hero. However, even if my actions look like a self-sacrificing hero in Eunice’s eyes, it is far from my truth.
“… Usually heroes don’t put their own interests first. This job is only for my benefit.”
Break the vicious cycle of triathlon and prevent rebellion. It was just acting for that goal. If breaking the vicious cycle would harm Roel, I would have acted somehow to maintain the vicious cycle.
Therefore, there is no justice anywhere in my actions. He was just a foolish immature child who only thought of his own gain.
“Is it good to be hated by people?”
Eunice, who doesn’t know the truth, doesn’t seem to believe me, but she can’t help it. Eunice is not a bookstore for me yet. After drinking the water without saying anything, Eunice grinned and muttered.
“Shy.”
Think freely. Looking at her with that expression, Eunice began to focus on emptying her bowl again. Towards the end of the meal, I asked a question.
“What do you plan to do next?”
At my question, Eunice put down her spoon and stretched.
“I have to prepare for the next triathlon. Because it seems like I have to start thinking about how to win against the transcendent.”
It’s an expression of no worries. It shows the confidence to find a way to win somehow. The thick, oily lips glistened and caught my eye involuntarily.
“Are you not giving up? The opponent is a transcendent. They are monsters who live in a world different from ours.”
“Never give up under any circumstances is the most important virtue for a bookkeeper. Don’t give up Even with overwhelming force, I will definitely find a way.”
I smiled unconsciously at Eunice’s confident answer. It was the moment when the thought of having to bring Eunice turned into conviction. I said straight forward.
“Eunis, join the Messiah Club. I need you.”
Eunice tilted her head with a stupid expression. The round eyes were cute.
“What, what are you talking about? You haven’t forgotten that I’m a student at Elasium Academy, right?”
“I know. That’s why I’m thinking of helping you get a special transfer to Transcendence Academy. I am offering to join our club.”
Unexpectedly, Eunice trembled. Somehow, everyone I meet seems to have a good reaction.
“Special, exceptional transfer… ?”
I nodded to Eunice who asked back with a trembling voice.
“It is possible to transfer from another academy, just like I entered the school with special exception. Especially since you have good grades and you did well in the triathlon, I won’t refuse.”
“Do you think I will betray Elasium?!”
Eunice’s voice grew louder. Thanks to this, the eyes of the surrounding tables were drawn, and I spoke in a low voice.
“You don’t have to be obsessed with triathlon. Your talent is not enough for that. Your talents are elsewhere. That place is our messiah club.”
It is a look that goes beyond bewilderment and is close to absurdity. I spoke in a low voice so that the people around me couldn’t hear it.
“Just as I know the truth about the joint championship, I also know the emperor’s plans. Sacrificing countless lives to obtain an immortal body. Self-sacrifice or whatever, I intend to stop that mad plan with the Messiah crew.”
I added to Eunice who was making an expression of disbelief.
“As I said before, I acted thinking my way was the best. What seemed like an act of self-sacrifice in your eyes was the only option for me.”
Eunice’s eyes flickered as she looked at me. Looking straight at it, I asked with sincerity.
“Help me. Come by my side and show me a new path so that I can save the world in a better way than now.”