Episode 84: Good Progress is All That Matters
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“How’s the progress?”
Snail, having visited a military-owned building, asked the soldier stationed there.
It was a question without a subject, but since the building itself was being used for a single purpose, the question was sufficient.
“Yes! Well, that is…”
“What is it? Is there some kind of problem?”
Snail frowned at the soldier’s hesitant words, but the soldier, after saying “no,” began to speak with a look of disgust on his face.
“The other day, a female soldier came for Supply Procurement… He showed an abnormal reaction to her, and since then, the training has been progressing well.”
Snail was utterly dumbfounded by the soldier’s response.
However, he decided that if the training was progressing, regardless of the process or reason, then that was all that mattered.
“I see. Then, perhaps we should assign more female soldiers to motivate him further.”
As soon as Snail said that, the soldier shook his head violently.
“P-Please don’t! If you do that, he’ll become infatuated with the female soldiers, and the training will undoubtedly stall!”
“I-Is it that bad?”
“It is! Even now, every time training ends, he searches for that female soldier and wanders around the building!”
“…Where does his desire for women come from…?”
The soldier’s report was unbelievable to Snail.
He had never seen such a person before.
There were men who liked women among both the Demon Tribe and the Human Tribe, but almost none of them flaunted it.
Snail despised Ota for not hiding his love of women and shamelessly pursuing them, but he also felt a certain admiration.
“If he likes women that much, wouldn’t the goal of saving Princess Meileen be a motivation?”
“That’s what it should be…”
The soldier couldn’t understand Ota, who was supposed to be motivated by the goal of rescuing the princess, but still pursued women.
Snail, who also didn’t understand, decided that it was fine as long as the progress was being made.
“So. How far along is he currently?”
“…Honestly, I envy that Summoner’s specs. He can use stronger magic than us regular soldiers after only a few months of training.”
“! Is that so?”
“Yes. Kenta Maya is also a Summoner like him, right? And he’s several times more serious than him. Then, I can understand why His Majesty was defeated. That’s cheating.”
Snail agreed with the soldier, who seemed frustrated but acknowledged Kenta.
Snail had once faced Kenta on the battlefield.
His combat, which combined overwhelming Magic Power and physical ability, was the ideal warrior that people of this world, both Demon Tribe and Human Tribe, aspired to be.
That was the figure of a Summoner who had trained seriously.
Snail began to think that it might have been better that Ota was unserious.
“Well, he probably won’t be able to beat Kenta Maya anyway, but he’ll be enough to stall him.”
At Snail’s words, the soldier looked a little worried and asked Snail a question.
“However… he’s from the same hometown as Kenta Maya. Could he be won over by him?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“? Why are you so sure?”
The soldier looked suspiciously at Snail, who had stated it without any hesitation.
“I can say it for sure. Besides, far from being won over, he might unilaterally see Kenta Maya as an enemy.”
“What do you mean?”
“That is…”
The soldier was astonished by Snail’s words, but he was convinced that Ota would not be won over by Kenta.
However, another concern was born behind that.
“Well, at this rate, it looks like we’ll be able to execute the plan soon. I’ll come again to see the progress.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
The soldier saluted and watched Snail’s back as he left.
And, while watching, he voiced the concern he had earlier.
“…Does that mean we have to eliminate not only Kenta Maya, but also Princess Meileen’s child?”
Imagining the heavy order that would probably be given, the soldier was aware that his heart was sinking into darkness.