Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Episode 43: Monster Festival (5)

Episode 43: Monster Festival (5)

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【Herac Leonhardt】

Gender : Male

Age : 21

Status : Olympia Academy, 2nd Year

※ STATUS

Strength : 2.76

Stamina : 2.70

Agility : 2.73

Mana Capacity : 10

Mana Efficiency : 10

Mana Sensitivity : 0

※ UNIQUE

【Ultimate Physique】

【Twelve Constellation Fist】

【Howling】

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‘They’ve gone up a lot.’

Strength, Stamina, and Agility are nearing the 3 point mark already.

Considering I haven’t been able to train while bedridden, the duel with Apollo must have been a huge help.

Stats going up an average of 0.2 each shows just how intense that battle was.

At this level, I won’t get easily steamrolled by the Act 1 boss.

The stats are still lacking, but my body-cheat is boosting them.

At least enough to make up for the female leads’ lack of DPS. Definitely.

Going to the secret chamber was a brilliant decision, after all.

Getting 【Howling】 there means I can break the Act 1 boss’ CC.

I’ve finished all the preparations I can make.

‘Hah.’

I’m shaking.

But I absolutely can’t lose my nerve.

Even if *I* don’t matter, the guy next to me is in danger.

“Hmm. A circus troupe, huh. I thought they’d just be performing, but they also sell some weird stuff~.”

They’re munching with happy noises on the skewers.

Princess Helene is holding my hand, skipping along beside me.

In her other hand, she clutches a drake skewer she just bought at a stall, and it seems like she’s really enjoying it.

“Is it to your liking?”

“Oh, yes~! At the palace, I’m only ever given things that are good for the body, you know. So, having something greasy and stimulating like this is such a refreshing experience.”

True to her word, Helene’s cheeks are puffed out as she stuffs the skewer into her mouth.

Well, she’s been raised with care, after all.

It’s only natural she’d be curious about this kind of street food.

Yet, her hand, clasped firmly in mine, doesn’t loosen its grip for a moment.

Her fingers are intertwined, gently but undeniably strong, and it’s clear she doesn’t intend to let go.

I kind of figured that out when she asked me to be her escort…

‘This is something else.’

It’s not just Penelope, but now Helene’s also showing this subtle affection, and it’s making things difficult.

I’m not in the mood for romance right now.

But it’d be a shame to just push them away, so this is really tough.

“Munch munch… What time is it now? We should get to the ‘Nemean Lion’ show, too.”

“There’s still about an hour left. Why don’t you enjoy yourself in the meantime?”

“Hehe, should we~? Let’s see…”

Helene tosses the skewer into the trash and her eyes light up.

It seems like some game has caught her eye, and she starts pulling me towards it.

Her small, fern-like fingers point at the spot.

“Herak, Herak. Shall we try that~?”

“You mean the wind gun shooting range?”

“Yep~.”

The wind gun shooting range.

It’s similar to the game where you win prizes by shooting at a target at the festivals back in my past life.

Except here, instead of the usual targets, they have wind guns for the shooting.

I approach the shooting range with Helene, escorting her.

There, on a shelf, several teddy bears are placed.

Each teddy bear is specially made with different levels of durability, and if you hit their belly button with a wind gun, they spit out a prize from their mouths.

The peculiar thing, though, is that Helene lacks any personal strength.

What need would she have for power, having been raised so delicately as a princess?

The reason she entered Olympia as an independent is also because she hadn’t developed any special abilities.

The Wind Gun is impossible for her.

Therefore… the reason Helene brought me here is clear.

She wants me to draw it.

“P-Princess?!”

The circus performer running the shop loses all color in his face.

He’s sweating bullets as he bows, but Helene just waves a hand dismissively.

“Oh. Don’t mind me~. I’m just a student now.”

“Y-yes, ma’am…”

“How does this work~?”

The circus performer explains as simply and thoroughly as he can.

Helene listens, her eyes sparkling with keen interest.

Once the explanation is over, she turns her gaze to me.

“Heracles-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“You understand?”

“Yes.”

“Will you?”

“…….”

Well, that’s that.

I had a feeling she intended to have me get her this gift.

Not that I have any reason to refuse.

And no need to turn her down when she’s looking this expectant.

“Student, you’ve learned the Wind Gun?”

“I’ve got the basics.”

I answer the circus performer’s question casually.

Of course, I’ve only learned it, not that I can actually use it.

What I do is merely a flick of the finger, not magic.

That guy probably doesn’t know it.

“What can I get for you?”

“Hmm~. That one looks the best. That one over there, the bear with the ring prize.”

“Understood.”

A ring.

He brings his hand close to the desired bear, as instructed.

Spreads three fingers, bringing the thumb and index finger together.

As he finishes preparing to unleash the finger flick, a circus member beside him voices a question.

“Hey, kid. Is that a wind gun? It’s really different from the stance I know.”

“It’s a variation. I’m just doing what I learned at the academy.”

“O-oh, well if that’s the case….”

He brushes it off, and focuses.

The bear with the ring is the highest difficulty.

How stiff they made its belly, if he just used moderate force it wouldn’t cough up the ring.

It was clearly a refined ring to target the tastes of female students, so they probably upped the difficulty on purpose.

Well, even so.

It’s not like I can’t do it.

THWaaaSH!

The moment his finger flicks, a huge air-splitting sound echoes.

“Eek?!”

The circus member, startled, lets out a scream.

Helene, who knows the power of my finger flick, just giggles.

SQUAWK!

The bear, hit directly in the belly, regurgitates its insides.

The ring inside is ejected, and I snatch it with my hand.

A refined ring made of pure gold.

A flower sculpted in platinum adorns the top, and it’s rather beautiful.

“W-Wait, wait a minute!”

Just as I offer the ring to Helene, the circus member intervenes.

He stares at me with a rather suspicious gaze, and asks.

“Hey kid, is that a wind gun? The wind guns I know can’t put out that kind of power?”

“I’m just pretty good at it.”

“Even still…”

He starts to say something more but then shuts his mouth.

The look in Helene’s eyes beside me was unsettling.

Her face all smiles, the image of a woman so very beautiful.

But her gaze was so razor sharp the circus performer couldn’t dare say another word.

Yeah, Helene was telling him without words.

*’Don’t you dare step out of line.’*

“Ha, the kid’s right. Yeah. That’s possible, sure…”

…In the end, the circus performer couldn’t go against the princess’s mood and retreated, admitting defeat.

I had a slightly guilty feeling for what I’d done, but what could I do?

This was the imperial authority at play.

Anyway, it was settled, and Helene, looking utterly elated, accepted the ring.

She fiddled with it in her hands, seeming very pleased that she’d gotten it from me.

“Hehe, what should I do with this~?”

She teased with the ring, rolling it between her fingers.

Then, she idly slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand and asked me.

“Hehe. How about I put it here? Herak-ssi?”

“……”

The ring finger on her left hand.

A spot that implies marriage.

What was her intention, asking me that?

There was no need to think about it.

I let out a deep sigh and refused.

“It’s not good.”

“Why not~?”

“At least it’s not a decision we should make right now.”

“Hehehe, ‘right now’~? Got it~.”

I turned Penel down, and now I can’t even look up, having fallen for Helene’s wiles.

Even if I end up with Helene, it’s not something I can decide on now.

The original story isn’t even finished yet, anyway.

I wonder how she took what I said.

Helene took the ring off her left ring finger and tucked it away.

I guess that means she’s letting it slide for now.

“I look forward to seeing how things change later~.”

“……”

Her words were terribly sharp.

*

The hall where the ‘Nemean Lion’ viewing show is taking place.

Helene and I arrived there and stopped at the entrance.

A circus member managing the show, heh, stopped me in my tracks.

“Hold on. Student, aren’t you a second-year?”

“Yes.”

“Second-years aren’t allowed in here. Only first-years can enter.”

Even in ＜Song of Swords and Magic＞, the boss battles themselves are only for first-years.

Sure, second-years can fight monsters that run wild all over the Academy, but this place is an exception.

In a way, it’s a device meant to highlight the main characters, I guess.

So, originally, as a second-year, I wouldn’t be allowed inside…

“I gave my permission.”

“……”

When Princess Helene, a first-year, says something like that, the circus member is speechless.

What’s the point of saying only first-years are allowed?

Especially when the Princess herself has given her permission.

“…Um. I’ll make a special exception for just you, student.”

“Thank you.”

I pass through the entrance and step inside.

The hall’s interior was set up like a performance venue.

A massive cage, hidden by a tarp, sat on the semi-circular stage, with seating arranged in front of it.

A swarm of first-year cadets chirped and chattered like a bunch of chicks.

Maybe it’s because they’re still young, but seeing this always makes me think of my high school days in a past life.

—Wow. I’m so hyped. How tough do you think it’ll look?

—I heard it was incredibly difficult to capture. How did they even manage it?

—Monsteez must be a big deal. The Nemean Lion is supposed to be a named monster.

It seems like the reason they’re only showing it to the first-years is working too.

To sway them, these young kids, all they need to do is show they can handle powerful monsters.

That’s how they’ll get them to join, I bet.

‘Well, it’s impossible anyway.’

However, in the original story, they ultimately lose control and an accident happens.

Knowing that, I wanted to prevent it, but what I say won’t matter anyway.

Even if I said the lion would break free, I wouldn’t be trusted because I wouldn’t have proof, and I’d just get cursed out.

It’s better to just prepare for the situation.

“Alright, alright. Have a seat here~”

The very front.

I sit next to Helene, who’s in a great spot where she can see the stage at a glance.

Looking at the cage beyond, I feel like a heavy weight of lead is pressing down on my chest.

‘Strong.’

Even though it’s locked in a cage and hidden by a tarp, I can feel it.

It’s strong.

It’s sure to be a tough fight.

“Greetings. Senior.”

“Hey.”

Then, I heard a familiar voice next to me.

A silver ponytail, crimson twin tails.

Isolette and Irina were sitting together, greeting me.

‘Just as I thought.’

The most key figures in defeating the first act boss in ＜Song of Sword and Magic＞.

The two heroines are also waiting for the show in the front row.

“Hey, you’re a second-year, why are you here? This is only for first-years.”

“Her Highness herself gave permission. Irina, you got a problem with that?”

“……No.”

Irina, who’d been bristling, immediately shuts her mouth.

Hell, Helene herself gave the go-ahead, what can she even say?

Irina goes quiet, and Isoleth watches her, chuckling softly.

‘They’ve gotten close.’

I’d felt it during my last sick visit too, but somehow they’ve grown closer.

In the original story, it took them a long time to get close because they were different genders.

Guess it’s a good thing they’re the same s*x then.

But… I can’t help but complain about the fact they’re the same gender when it comes to the Act 1 boss fight.

The female leads just don’t have enough DPS to deal with the Act 1 boss.

[Now, we will begin the ‘Nemean Lion’ spectacle. Students of Olympia Academy, please be seated and quiet…]

The circus performer’s voice cuts through the air.

At the same time, the ringmaster, Borisov, and the other performers step onto the stage to prepare the show.

Act 1 boss fight.

It’s about to begin.