༺ Clearing the Aftermath – 2 ༻
The first condition for rock-paper-scissors to beco a psychological battle: when soone initiates strategic mind play.
The regressor paused briefly, assessing my intention.
｢What’s this? Trying mind gas? Hmph, how unremarkable.｣
“Then I should just go with paper.”
“I figured you’d say that. Just as vague as expected.”
“What?”
I swiftly raised my voice before the regressor could get worked up.
“Alright, here we go! The match that determines whether Nabi lives or dies! Let’s see how it unfolds!”
The second condition: when the stakes are incredibly high.
The fusion of mind play and urgency alters the very genre of rock-paper-scissors.
｢Dogs and cats are on the line here, the creatures closest to humans who also possess the highest number of beastkin. Once these two are in stable condition, the future calamity will be much weaker.｣
The regressor widened her eyes to focus on this match, but I sneered inwardly. Her defeat was set in stone from the mont she started thinking.
I loudly comnced the ga.
“You play or you lose! Now, rock!”
｢He declared his choice as rock, so I should choose paper… no, this could be a bait to let him go scissors. Then I’ll… pretend to throw scissors, and switch back to paper!｣
I knew she’d get lost in the mont. She even made the uncertain choice of going with paper. Tut-tut. I would’ve beaten her even without mind reading.
I hoped she wouldn’t bla too much. The outco was already decided from the mont she accepted the challenge against soone of my ability.
“Paper!”
｢Huh? Wait a second. Isn’t it impossible that he’d compete properly? Why did I assu he’d engage in a fair fight?｣
That prompted a mad giggle inside . Of course it wasn’t a fair fight, and it was too late to realize that now. In rock-paper-scissors, victory was certain with my advantage as a mind—
“Scissors!”
｢I almost got caught up again! Alright. Don’t fight on his terms! I’ll show paper first and then switch based on his play!｣
Eh? What’d you? Hold up, you nutjob of a regressor. Why are you changing the fundantal premise of the ga? This isn’t just altering the genre, you’re outright transforming it into a reaction contest!
｢Heavenly Counter Domain, Adaptive Kata! I’ll take the action that counters his move!｣
She’d even use Qi Art? And of all arts, it was the Heavenly Counter Domain, which reproduced ingrained movents reflexively. The gap between perception and response was tiny thanks to the use of Qi coursing through the body, capturing the opponents’ motions.
I’d lose at this rate. I had to stop… but we had already revealed our hands.
Damn it. Since she’s intending to start with paper, I’ll slightly change my move midway and throw sci—
｢Rock.｣
Fine. Just have your win then.
The outco of the rock-paper-scissors match: I chose scissors, while the regressor opted for rock. According to the great laws of the ga, I was defeated. And a particularly bitter defeat it was, given my belief in victory.
I cursed inwardly. How could I lose? And of all things, in a ga of rock-paper-scissors?
I wouldn’t have felt so indignant if it were just a whimsical switch, but the match was supposed to be mine before that cheating regressor overturned the ga itself!
The regressor checked the result and grew wide-eyed.
“… Eh? What? I won?”
“So you did. Wow. It’s Mr. Shei’s victory. Looks like Nabi’s life is saved thanks to you.”
｢Huh. So he didn’t use any tricks? He was really trying to play an ordinary ga of rock-paper-scissors?｣
Where in the world could anyone find an ordinary ga of rock-paper-scissors? It was just rock-paper-scissors. Why did such a simple ga need the adjective “ordinary” attached?
I shot a resentful gaze toward the dastardly regressor who stole my victory by forcing the match into a physical contest.
The nasty girl reveled in my glare, smirking with delight.
“Heheh. I won? Huh. You said n are all about rock, yet you played scissors?”
“So it seems. Turns out I fall far short of the true man that you are, Mr. Shei. I admit defeat. Your manliness is beyond .”
｢…Wait. None of this feels remotely satisfying sohow.｣
While the regressor tilted her head confusedly for a mont, Tyr, observing the fight from afar, sent a quiet signal. Her blood-red eyes glimred with a warmth reserved solely for .
“Hu… If, perhaps, you wish it…”
She was offering to deal with Nabi even if it ant enduring conflict with the regressor, if that’s what I wanted. However, I imdiately shook my head.
“No. Rock-paper-scissors is a sacred duel. We should abide by the outco.”
This was the most peaceful promise humans devised to settle minor disputes. Though I had lost, the sanctity of the promise held.
A winning gambler had to be willing to acknowledge an occasional loss, as this further elevated the value of victory.
That being the case, there was one thing left for to do. I had to ensure that junkie Nabi beca safe enough to go wandering about.
Ugh, destined to suffer I am.
“Azzy girl, lick that one for would you?”
“Woof? That one?”
She shot a confused look, then let out a low grow in Nabi’s direction. I heaved a sigh and patted her head.
“No way around it. Since we’re saving her, we ought to at least start treating her now.”
“Woof… Don’t wanna. She’s annoying.”
“It’s okay, we won’t let her attack anyone. And if she doesn’t attack, she’ll beco your good friend.”
“Woof.”
Despite her dissatisfied barks, Azzy eventually gave way to my persuasion, albeit reluctantly. As she stood beside Nabi, the latter wled in fright.
Azzy briefly gazed at the cat submissively pleading for rcy, then bent over with a short woof and began to lick her wounds. Nabi had curled up, anticipating a bite, but upon realizing that it was no attack, she accepted the grooming without resistance.
“Woof-woof.”
Azzy’s little tongue steadily began its work from Nabi’s ankle. The Azzy’s bite marks started to fade at a slow but visible speed.
“Looks like she didn’t get rabies. Well, Azzy’s licking probably fixed that.”
It only made sense that her saliva would be the cure to the curse inflicted by her fangs. I doubted Nabi would fully recover from this, but her condition wouldn’t worsen further.
Once Azzy finished cleaning Nabi’s calf wounds, she gradually moved up towards the thighs. Even one thigh took quite an effort to groom due to her small tongue.
I worried about her slling too much blood, though. I debated asking Tyr to clear off just the blood with her bloodcraft… but then I wondered if it would work on Beast Kings, given their divine nature.
“Hu.”
That’s when Tyr called out to .
“Yes?”
As I turned around, Tyr grasped my sleeve, seeming antsy about sothing, and began to lead out of the classroom.
“Leave.”
“What?”
The strength of her pulling was formidable, and I was dragged off helplessly.
“It is an improper sight, is it not? You must not look. Quickly now.”
“I an, that’s just grooming.”
“…Must I resort to force?”
“But the air in this room feels strangely heavy. I should go outside for a walk.”
Coincidentally, Callis was continuing her assault maneuver in the warden’s office at the corridor’s end. Since I had nothing to gain from staying in a place where I could sense the undying’s distress, I decided to withdraw.
The regressor sneered at my predicant.
“Hmph. Now you also get it, don’t you? I’m not weird. You’re the odd one for accepting this scene so nonchalant—”
“Shut up and co with, Strong Fist Shei.”
“W-what? Why… Ah!”
｢Right! I’m cross-dressing!｣
I wish she’d get a grip. What’s she even trying to accomplish with that mindset? Tsk.
Then again, her bad acting made glad. Would she have maintained sanity throughout those regressions if her ego were weak? Yes, it was a relief to have her as the regressor instead of anyone else.
“Don’t we have sothing to do? Co out quickly. I’ll teach you how to roll a mana cigar.”
“I don’t smoke those.”
Her firm declination ca so reflexively that I wondered if she had employed her Heavenly Counter Domain.
｢Relying on sothing like that will break my will each ti I regress.｣
Well, wasn’t she a soul of integrity.
“They’re not for you to smoke, so just co along for now.”
I discreetly shifted my gaze and found Tyr had conjured a fog of darkness. She stared in my direction, as if to keep in check. Her red eyes remained fixed, even though it was too dark for to see anything anyway.
I an, did she have to be so defensive? How seriously unfair. They were just animals in the end, even if they were in human form…
“…What are you eyeing? Hurry up.”
Those blood-red eyes that radiated warmth solely for now held nothing but sternness.
Admitting that there was no real reason to watch a couple of beasts grooming, I left the classroom as if driven out.
Gah, this sucks. May as well vent on the regressor.
I started talking while leading her to my room.
“You heard the gist of the story, yes? The Cat King is currently addicted to drugs. Specifically, special mana cigars made from catnip and world tree leaves.”
“Uh-huh. I never thought that would be the way to control the Cat King.”
“What was your solution in mind, considering it’s impossible to procure mana herbs in the abyss?”
“…Can’t you just quit using them?”
“So you had zero ideas. I hear you crystal clear.”
｢Argh…! Okay, so I didn’t exactly have a plan…! But still!｣
The regressor shalessly tried to justify herself.
“You can’t find dicine here anyway, so there’s no choice but to endure, right?”
“Think rationally. Would an addict just sit still when their stash runs dry?”
“We could control her by force if necessary…”
“Is there any difference between you and the Human Regi? Whatever, just co along.”
Crestfallen, the regressor pressed her lips shut and followed behind .
As I walked, I took out the mana cigars I had collected. They were the catnip-infused versions custom-made for Nabi, acquired from searching the lieutenant general and the colonel.
“Six Nabi-exclusive mana cigars, obtained from the colonel and the lieutenant general. If I simply handed these to Nabi, how many days would they last?”
“There are six, so if we use them very sparingly, say one every three days… 18 days?”
“One day. It’s an addict’s nature to consu everything they have in a single day, regardless of quantity.”
How could soone who never indulged in drugs comprehend?
With that lanting thought, I entered my room and opened a drawer. There, I found the 11 mana cigars Callis had supplied, still unused. Arranging them on the table in my room, I continued in a serious tone.
“No matter how sparingly we ration them, it’ll be hard to use less than one per day. So what should we do about this?”
The cigar wrappings were composed of leaves from the imperial juniper tree, known for absorbing scents. I tore the outer layer of a mana cigar, releasing a crisp, refreshing aroma that woke my senses. The faint mana within responded to the stimulus, beginning to course through my veins.
I explained further while savoring the cool sensation akin to opening a window in my head.
“The answer is… to increase the number of mana cigars.”
“Is that possible?”
“Nothing in the world is impossible. Higher-quality mana cigars, in particular, are easier to replicate. More precisely, we can subtly infuse its fragrance to give the illusion of a premium product. And since these Nabi-exclusive cigars contain world tree leaves, albeit in small amounts…”
At this mont, I felt like I was the famous Saintess of Origin from the bibles of Sanctum, who was said to have perford the miracle of feeding a thousand with a single sheep.
I unfolded a piece of paper and sprinkled so withered mana herb from a standard mana cigar. Next, I added a coating of the special catnip and world tree leaf blend to the standard base. After that, I rolled up the paper and folded the ends slightly to seal them.
Once I was done distributing them…
“Tada. After so mixing and portioning of two standard mana cigars and one Nabi-exclusive version—can you believe it—we have five Nabi-exclusive mana cigars! How about that!”
Now this was what I called magic and a miracle; the cigars had increased as if they had children. Feeling proud, I brought one of them to my lips.
“Hey. What are you thinking, smoking it yourself?”
“Ack. My body just did it on its own.”
Darn it. I would’ve made at least 100 alkeis a piece if I sold these outside, yet I had to give them to a cat?
My hands trembled violently, and my fingers kept trying to stick to the cigar. I barely managed to peel them off.
As I proceeded to tear more mana cigars to continue my work, the regressor montarily stared at the newly crafted goods before making a suggestion.
“Could you make more if I provided world tree leaves?”
“You have more of those leaves?”
“Mhm.”
“Just one or two won’t do. How many?”
The regressor promptly tore open a rift in midair and plunged her right arm into that dinsional pocket. With a furrowed brow, she moved her arm around a few tis before pulling it out, holding a lush branch of a maidenhair tree.
It was a world tree branch. With a bunch of leaves on it.
“About this much?”
I just, I couldn’t believe this. The guardians of the world trees might sell leaves, but they never parted with branches. How the heck had she managed this?
“What on earth do you carry around in there?”
“When it cos to necessities? Pretty much everything.”
“Co on, we’re talking about a whole branch, not just leaves…”
“Here, take it.”
The regressor readily handed the thing over. I couldn’t tell if her sense of money was skewed or if she just didn’t care because she was going to regress.
World tree leaves were saturated with vital essence itself, and when properly blended, they could amplify the efficacy of any herb. Completely without side effects.
In other words, when combined with mana cigars, they produced cigars of manifold potency compared to before.
World tree leaves didn’t dry out through conventional ans, so it was necessary to cast Aqus to extract all the moisture.
As I tore the dried leaves into long strips, I tilted my head, wondering aloud.
“Doesn’t this an I’m not making the cheap stuff…?”
As soone who’d use cheap fillings for profit, using more expensive ingredients felt way off. Was this the mindset of the wealthy? Had I lived too much like a commoner?
In the end, I had a total of 60 mana cigars. Forget addiction, I had a feeling smoking these would only promote health.
“Mana cigars made from world tree leaves… Uh, could I try just one of these?”
Each one was a precious item that could prevent Nabi from going berserk, but the temptation was irresistible for a cigar enthusiast like . Holding back ant I couldn’t consider myself a true mana cigar smoker anywhere.
The only obstacle was the regressor, but…
“Go for it.”
To my surprise, she easily gave permission. That made wonder what had co over her.
I swiftly picked up a cigar before warning her.
“I’m going to smoke this, so step outside.”
“Mm? Why? Just smoke it.”
“I don’t want to blow smoke in front of a kid. Co on.”
“Excuse ? Kid?”
The all-brawn brat flared up at my remark and picked up one of the cigars on the table, shouting.
“I can smoke sothing like this too! How about it, wanna see?”
Ugh, well of course.
I placed the cigar down again. It was my fault for wanting to smoke these in this isolated place. Besides, they were expensive, and each one was practically worth the Cat King’s life. Even if I kept any, I’d have to return them when Nabi’s supply ran out.
It was a sha, but I decided to let go of my inner smoker for the ti being. If any remained after we escaped, I’d steal one for myself then.
“Ah, forget it. Adults should set a good example.”
“Smoke it already!”
Leaving behind the shrieking regressor, I plodded my way outside.
* * *
‘I ca here with the intention of discarding this cycle, at the cost of setting other matters aside… but I can’t abandon it now. We have the Cat King, the Dog King’s fine, and even Tyrkanzyaka’s condition is normal. Moreover, we’ve foiled the Human Regi’s sche. I’m still not sure what exactly changed from the previous cycle… but now, I have to make sure. See how far this lifeti can continue, and confirm the progress that can be made.’
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