Chapter 2: The Arcana Executive
Back when I was in my chuunibyou phase,
I used to think, “Man, what’s wrong with you?”
I was struggling with my role as a “Proxy.”
The moment I made my entrance, the performance felt off!
I was playing the part of a chuunibyou guy, spouting lines like, “Everything is according to the One’s will……” but my entrance lacked impact! If I was going to act under such a grandiose title like “Proxy,” I wanted a cooler entrance!
Sure, emerging from the shadows is cool, but it’s a bit plain.
“Hello! Myself here to speak for God!” Something over-the-top like that would have more impact.
But if I lose the mysterious vibe, it wouldn’t be cool. I can’t go full high-energy, but I still want to make an impression.
Then, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
The BGM! The entrance BGM! Whether it’s anime, games, or theater, the BGM is always crucial. That’s why my entrance felt flat—I didn’t have a BGM!
With that realization, I went on a quest to secure an entrance BGM. And I found it—a crow that could play music.
This is another world, after all. Here, there are crows that can play music. I guess they’re like parrots, but parrots aren’t cool. Since ancient times, chuunibyou dictates that men must be cloaked in black. The crows of this world are perfect.
Moreover, they possess a lot of magical power, and with proper training, they can even use teleportation magic. This allows them to appear suddenly when they sense my magic and play the “Dark Smile BGM” (a name I came up with) during my entrance.
[Luu-luu, luu-lu-lu-luu~]
With an orchestra of crows playing the “Dark Smile BGM,” my entrance becomes even cooler. I can even make some of them shed feathers to create a rain of black feathers.
“When the Proxy appears, a rain of black feathers falls.”
Heh, way too cool. Has there ever been anyone with such an extravagant entrance? Nah, it’s just me.
I also taught the crows a few other BGMs. They can play them randomly or switch depending on the intensity of my magical aura.
For stronger enemies, I can have them play a BGM that hints at the true power of the Proxy (though I’m not entirely sure what that would sound like).
“As the Proxy, my performance has reached its peak. Chuunibyou-style theatrics are the best!”
But… even this kind of performance loses its charm after a while. The crows are so well-trained that they automatically start singing the “Dark Smile BGM” whenever I release my magic.
So, in my normal state, I can’t use magic and have to play the role of a failure. At first, I thought that was cool too. The “seemingly weak but actually strong” trope is something everyone loves, and it’s a path I had to walk.
But now, I’m over my chuunibyou phase, so I don’t need it anymore. I even have shoes that make a cool clack-clack-clack sound when I walk, but honestly, I don’t need them either.
“Zero sama, the meeting is about to start.”
“My stomach hurts… My throat hurts too. Maybe it’s the flu!?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll give you a hug later to comfort you. This cute maid will take care of it. By the way, what’s flu?”
“Never mind. And I don’t need that.”
“I’ll spill the truth.”
“Stop threatening your boss.”
With no other choice, I changed into my priest outfit, fixed my hair, and left the house with my Proxy smile plastered on my face.
Today, I’m meeting with the executives of the “Arcadia Revolutionary Army,” a dangerous group I created based on the urban legend I took too seriously. We’re supposed to discuss the Six Great Gods. Apparently, our enemies aim to resurrect the gods, but let’s be honest, gods don’t exist, right? I wish they’d just give up already. But since I’m the one who encouraged them to join, I can’t say that out loud.
“Hohoho, Lord Leader, it’s been a while.”
“Jean, long time no see.”
After leaving the house, the one who spoke to me as I walked through the forest was Jean, who had been granted the title of 【Grand Order: Star】. He looked like a frail old man with a beard, white hair, and glasses—seemingly weak. However, he was actually a master swordsman and had once held the high rank of Holy Knight.
“Lord Leader, my grandchild Lean has been wanting to see you. Please play together again sometime.”
“Of course. I’m not so desperate that I’d refuse a request from such an excellent comrade.”
“Hohoho, Lean will be delighted.”
Jean had abandoned his high status as a Holy Knight to join me. Hmm, I can’t possibly tell him the truth.
Even now, he believes in what’s essentially an urban legend and continues to act on it. Yep, I’m really sorry!
“I’m looking forward to the Arcana meeting. I’ll see you at the venue later.”
“Ah, see you then.”
Whew. I’ll just leave the meeting to Reina.
“Zero sama, are you okay?”
“I might be in trouble. I think I’m running a fever.”
“Let me check…”
Reina pressed her forehead against mine. She’s undeniably beautiful, with silver hair that reaches her waist and blue eyes as clear as mine, if not more so. She’s about 180 cm tall, with a strikingly well-proportioned figure.
That said, I don’t have any romantic feelings for her. She’s more like family.
“No fever.”
“Cough, cough.”
“Please stop with the fake coughing.”
“ReiReimon! Help me out here! Make the meeting disappear!”
tlnote: doraemon
“Honestly, Zero sama… You’re already dressed as a priest, and you’ve come this far. Just go.”
“You’re so upbeat. I like that.”
“Fufufu, I’m your maid, after all.”
Somehow, she’s really reliable.
“Don’t you feel like getting married?”
“Nah, I prefer someone with black hair and black eyes, like a Yamato Nadeshiko.”
“……”
By the way, the next day, Reina suddenly dyed her hair black and wore black contacts. This girl, she does weird things sometimes.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
—
I was once a dead man.
As a magic knight, I worked for many years, serving the country. I even attained the high rank of Holy Knight. I got married, had a grandchild, raised her, and when she had a child, I was happy just to see my grandchild’s face.
My grandchild, like her mother, died young from illness. Her husband, also a knight, died in battle.
Only my lonely grandchild remained, and I decided to take her in. She’s a smart and good kid, always trying to smile despite her loneliness.
I was determined to protect and raise her no matter what.
──But that resolve was shattered.
“Batlit, what is the meaning of this?”
“Jean… I don’t know what to say.”
“Who exactly are you working for? The number of children has been decreasing unnaturally, and what are you doing with the bodies of knights?”
“Impressive that you’ve investigated this far. I’m impressed.”
Batlit, my longtime partner. We had promised to master the way of the sword together. Yet, he was involved in illegal human trafficking, selling kidnapped children and the bodies of knights. At first, I couldn’t believe it, but Batlit’s strange increase in magical power, the disappearance of knights… Connecting the dots, I realized he was involved in something sinister.
“Hey, Jean. Why don’t we fulfill that promise we made?”
“Promise, you say?”
“We said we’d master the sword, didn’t we? But we don’t have much time. Humans have their limits when it comes to growth.”
“That’s only natural. It’s the way of the world.”
“But, but, I’ve recently realized that might not be the case. I can’t go into details, but even my magical power, which had been stagnant for so long, has increased! You too can achieve greater heights.”
“……At the cost of many lives.”
“That’s right. The lives of the weak are better spent serving the strong like us.”
“I see… Batlit. Tell me everything—who you’ve captured and everyone involved.”
“That’s a shame, Jean. To lose one of the strong who could’ve grown even stronger…”
We both drew our swords. It pained me to fight my former comrade like this, but I couldn’t compromise my pride. My sword was meant to protect someone.
“──As expected of Jean, the one who attained the rank of Holy Knight.”
I won. Against my former friend. I pointed my sword at him. If he didn’t answer my questions…
“Jean. It’s a shame. Really… Look over there.”
“……!?”
“G-Grandpa!!”
My grandchild, Lean, was being held captive by a man in a black robe. In that moment of distraction, I was stabbed in the abdomen.
“B-Batlit…”
“I’m sorry, Jean. Really. Let me ask you one last time, my friend. Will you come with me?”
“……”
“You can refuse, but…”
I had no choice. If I were killed here, Lean’s life would be in danger too.
“G-Grandpa…”
“L-Lean…”
The wound throbbed. Blood poured out, and my consciousness began to fade. No matter how I looked at it, my path was about to end. I was faced with two choices: offer my life to the devil or die as a human.
[Luu-luu, lu-lu-lu-luu~]
Black birds let out eerie cries as they flew through the air. Not just one, but two, even more. Shedding black feathers, they sang as if playing music.
Yes, as if blessing something.
Clack, clack, clack. The sound of footsteps grew clear. Someone was approaching. Amid the crows’ cries, like a jet-black angel, that person appeared.
“Apologies for interrupting this lively scene, but would you listen to myself for a moment?”
Blonde hair, priest’s attire, a mask. There were many distinctive features, but what was truly astonishing was the flow of his magical power. It was as smooth and beautiful as pure holy water.
“You… Who are you?”
“One who speaks the true will of God. Though it’s an exaggeration, I’m just a priest, nothing more.”
“I see… You’re the Proxy.”
“You can call me that if you like, but it doesn’t bother me.”
He wasn’t very tall, about the same age as Lean, I realized. At the same time, I was astonished. Just his stance alone exuded the aura of a true powerhouse.
“Ah, I see, I see. So you’re a foolish being who opposes the Heavenly Realm. I didn’t expect it to be such a small child. But even as a child, you’ve sided with the foolish god. There’s no path for you but death.”
“It’s true that Myself still a child. But Myself the one who carries out The One’s will. Myself can’t let you underestimate me like this.”
“You’ve got quite the sharp tongue, don’t you? Then show me with your actions!!”
Batlit thrusts his sword toward the Proxy. The speed of his sword strike is so fast that even an adult would struggle to dodge it.
However, the moment of evasion didn’t even register in my eyes. Before I knew it, the Proxy was standing beside me, having already cast a healing spell on me.
“H-Healing magic?! The type that heals others is supposed to be an ultra-high-level spell?!”
“Take a moment to rest. Your grandchild is already under the protection of my crows.”
“What?!”
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