Pick Me Up!

Vol 1. Chapter 2: Side Story – Aaron – Interlude Episode 2

“I know! I know, okay?!”

In a secluded back alley of the city—

Iolka yelled, her words slurring, as she sat beside a flickering campfire.

“That things aren’t like before!”

Before they knew it, night had fallen over the city.

There {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} was no natural day or night cycle in the Boundary Realm, but by some arcane law, the sun now rose and the moon followed it.

“Ugh, I don’t care anymore!”

Gulp, gulp.

She downed the contents of her glass.

A golden liquid—beer.

“Unni, are you alright?”

“Oh, come on. People will think I’m drunk or something. I’m perfectly fine. Perfectly.”

Iolka wiped the foam from her lips.

Beer.

In Valhalla, it was ridiculously expensive.

To get just a few glasses’ worth, they had to scrape together their emergency funds.

“You know, the money you spent on that booze could’ve gotten us an inn.”

“Oh, shut it! You drink some too! Let’s just spend! Splash, splash, splurge!”

“She’s lost it... So it’s another night of sleeping outside, huh.”

“Seems that way. Unni’s really heartbroken.”

“I said I know.”

Iolka spoke again.

The Grand Plaza had been flooded with people.

There was no way he could’ve acknowledged her in front of everyone.

But those eyes...

They were the eyes of someone looking at a complete stranger.

Iolka felt like her insides were boiling over.

Things aren’t like before.

Back in Townia, they had crossed countless battlefields together. But now? It was different.

She was a nobody in Valhalla—someone who had failed to make a name for herself.

That man was being praised as a king or whatever.

This isn’t what I came here for.

Back when she was a court mage—

Everyone praised her for her talents.

Even pompous nobles bowed their heads just to borrow her magical power. And yet here, she was nothing but dirt.

What the hell is this place?

The problem was this world itself.

It was crawling with all the strongest people from all over Möbius.

All of them had been called geniuses, prodigies, hailed in their own realms.

Was my talent just... lacking?

Tremble.

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

No—that couldn’t be true. The situation was just messed up! It was the world’s fault for not giving her a chance!

“Exactly! If he’s gonna lord over everyone like a king, he should at least build a better system! A world where only the early arrivals get all the perks! Where latecomers like me get their ladders kicked out from under them!”

Just give me a chance!

Iolka finished the beer and flailed her arms.

“Mage, you look pathetic.”

“Hmph, you’re no different! We’re all the same. Dust! Maggots! Worms! Just a bunch of worthless trash!”

She saw the hem of her dress out of the corner of her eye.

It was magically treated, so it usually stayed clean even in rough conditions.

But now, it was filthy. It looked exactly how she felt inside. Iolka almost teared up.

“Still, they should’ve arrived by now.”

Jena scratched her cheek.

“Arrived? Who? The grim future? Are we gonna end up as beggars on the street now?! I don’t wanna! I don’t want that!”

“Is she drunk?”

“Hrk! Cough!”

She hacked and coughed multiple times.

Iolka really couldn’t hold her liquor.

That heady heat surged up from her stomach.

“Damn it, so he looked down on me. I’m not letting it end like this. I’ll prove how amazing I am—!”

“God, I hope so.”

“Hmph, I will prove it. You know who I am? I’m—huh?”

“Before that, maybe sober up first.”

“What, are you mocking me now? I can clear a hangover in one shot with magic, thank you very much. I’m... huh?”𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Iolka squinted to the side.

Through her blurry vision, someone was standing nearby.

The person’s voice was cloaked in a long black cape.

“Oh, Oppa. You’re here?”

Jena waved at the cloaked figure.

“You’re late, Senior. Look at this mage. What a disgrace.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. I didn’t expect much anyway.”

Didn’t expect much...?

Iolka blinked slowly.

The figure pulled off the cloak draped across his back.

That sharp gaze. That black hair.

“Pfft!”

Iolka spat out the beer still in her mouth.

“Y-you’re...!”

“What’s with that look?”

“N-no, I mean... huh?”

Han Israt clicked his tongue.

“You’ve been drinking right up to the meeting time?”

“Meeting time? What’re you talking about...?”

Iolka spun around to glare at Jena.

Jena smiled innocently.

“Ahaha. I guess I forgot to mention it.”

“Huh?”

“You left early, so you didn’t know. After the ceremony, a messenger came. Oppa said to meet up tonight.”

“......”

“I meant to tell you, but I couldn’t find the right timing.”

Silence.

“Ahem.”

Iolka cleared her throat a couple times and set her beer glass down.

She dusted the dirt off her dress and stood up.

Then she started checking her outfit for wrinkles.

“...What’s she doing?”

Belkist tilted his head.

Iolka tidied her messy hair, pulled a fan from her chest pocket, and covered her mouth with it as she smiled.

“Oh hohohoho...”

It was one of the most awkward laughs imaginable.

Han saw her and let out a small chuckle.

“It’s been a while, Iolka.”

“Y-you too.”

“Didn’t think you’d make it all the way here.”

“T-that’s just how I am! Mind your business.”

“Well, fair enough. Whatever you do is your call.”

Han wore plain, dark clothes instead of the flashy parade uniform from earlier.

Then he got straight to the point.

“I have something to say.”

“W-what is it?”

“About back then. I’m sorry.”

Iolka’s eyes went wide, like they were about to pop out.

“You died back there because of my mistake. I wanted to apologize if we ever met again.”

“H-huh...?”

An apology?

From him?

Iolka fumbled like a fish, her lips opening and closing.

“So—your response?”

“Huh? What?”

“When someone apologizes, it’s proper to accept it, isn’t it?”

“I-I...”

“Unni.”

Jena nudged Iolka in the ribs with her elbow.

Iolka flinched and came back to her senses.

Snap!

She opened her fan and smiled.

“H-huhu! Fine. You’re very polite. I’ll accept your apology.”

“Good. Then that matter’s settled.”

“Huh? Settled?”

“I apologized. You accepted. That’s the end.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

What was this...

This weird feeling of losing?

Iolka froze in place, fan still open.

“So Oppa, it’s been a while! How have you been?”

“More or less.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“Hard to say.”

Jena and Han exchanged greetings.

Even though it had been a long time in terms of real-world time, there wasn’t a trace of awkwardness or tension between them.

“You, I knew you’d show up.”

Han’s gaze shifted to Belkist.

Belkist shrugged.

“Sorry I couldn’t betray your expectations, Senior.”

“Hm.”

Han closed his eyes.

“But I’m not going to apologize for finding you here like this.”

“We get it, Oppa.”

“Then that’s enough. We were taught this till we were sick of it, right? The Townia way.”

“If it’s unfair, get stronger.”

Belkist answered with a grin.

Han opened his eyes.

“Still, there’s clearly a problem with the fairness of opportunities.”

Han rested his chin on his hand, as if thinking.

“It’s true—the current system doesn’t do enough for newcomers. Stagnant water always starts to rot. Looks like it’s time for a proper overhaul.”

“Does that mean we’ll get a chance too?”

“That’s right. And I’ll make sure you’re the first ones invited when that chance comes.”

“Then we... we can get stronger too?”

Jena’s eyes sparkled.

Han smiled.

“That depends on how well you do. But you know, right? The days of following me around are over. I’m not there anymore. You’ve gotta make it on your own now.”

“I know, Oppa. We just have to do our best, right?”

“Yeah.”

Han replied.

“That’s why—this will be the first and last time I meet you unofficially.”

“Last time?!”

Iolka jumped in surprise.

“Why?”

“Come on, don’t be dramatic...”

“What, you want this to be some social club we meet at once a month? What is this, a reunion?”

Jena added with a smile.

“Today’s meeting? Oppa really pushed himself to make it happen. It’s not easy for him to sneak away like this. If he’s that important here, then every single person he meets becomes a big deal.”

Every person he meets becomes a big deal—

In other words, if the King of Valhalla personally met with powerless, low-ranking heroes, it could stir up complaints about favoritism.

“That’s why I’m saying—this will be the last unofficial meeting.”

“In that case...”

“I’ll give you a chance.”

Han looked between the three of them and said,

“Climb up. To where I stand. So there’s no longer any need to meet unofficially. That chance is coming to you soon.”

“Tch, Senior, you’re late. So it’s only starting now?”

“I’ve been buried in work.”

“Good! That means the real thing starts now!”

The two men nodded together in unison.

Iolka just stared blankly at them.

“Unni? Unni?”

“...?”

“Say something.”

Iolka flinched and jolted back to life.

“W-wahaha! I see. A chance—you’re talking about a chance. I’ve been waiting. A battlefield where I can prove my talents!”

So all the hardship until now... it had just been the waiting period for this.

Her hands clenched tight with resolve.

“...But that guy’s not here.”

Belkist glanced to Han’s side.

“You mean Aaron?”

“Yes. He’s from the same place as us. I thought he’d come too.”

“Oh, right! Aaron Oppa isn’t here. And we finally held the first official Townia gathering!”

“So he’s cut ties completely with Niflheim, then?”

“He can’t do that! They’re our rivals, remember!”

“Rivals?”

Iolka blinked.

She remembered the heroes who had stood behind Han during the victory parade.

The Five Knights of Valhalla—famous and renowned.

All of them, save one, were from Niflheim.

That meant they were the elite among elites.

“They’re our rivals?”

“That’s right, Unni. We’re chasing after them. They took Oppa away from us!”

“‘Took him’?”

“Exactly!”

Jena clenched her fist.

“We’re gonna get stronger and take Oppa back from them!”

“C-can we really do that?”

“Of course!”

Han smiled.

“If you think you can, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

“Wahaha! Just you watch. And Aaron Oppa?”

“That guy... lost something. He needs time.”

“Lost something? What?”

“Don’t worry too much. He’ll get it back soon. Yeah—when we hold our next official gathering, I’ll make sure Aaron’s there too.”

Official gathering.

Jena’s eyes sparkled.

If they got strong enough—so strong that no one could ignore them—then even an official gathering of Townia survivors wouldn’t be questioned.

“I see. Just as I thought.”

Belkist let out a thin smile.

“Taking something feels way better than being the one who gets it taken.”

“We’ll take the seats of those arrogant people! The spot beside Oppa is ours!”

“Huh?”

For some reason, it felt like no one was asking Iolka for her opinion.

Yeah.

If it’s like that...

Then we could fight side by side again—just like before.

“But if that’s the plan, then Aaron Oppa becomes important, doesn’t he? If he comes to our side, it’ll be four versus four.”

“He’ll make his own decision. All he has to do is get stronger.”

“...I see.”

Iolka murmured dreamily.

Then her grip on her fan tightened.

Before long, her usual confidence had returned to her face and to her eyes.

“These people... they were just afraid of my talent. That’s why they didn’t give me a chance! Wahaha! So petty!”

Iolka smiled brightly.

“Fine then. I’ll show them. My true ability!”

“She’s back.”

“Simple types are easy to handle.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Hmph.

Iolka snorted at Belkist’s comment.

Then she snapped her fan open and pointed it at Han.

“Just you wait. I’ll make you regret this!”

“Regret what, exactly?”

“T-that’s... um... anyway! You’ll regret it!”

Declaration.

Yes.

This was a declaration of war.

A personal revenge against the man who had failed to recognize her worth and left her behind in this place.

Hmph. Just give me the chance, and I’ll prove it to you.

Only now did she finally realize the reason she had come to Valhalla—

To prove her worth.

That she was the strongest mage in the universe!

Those so-called vanguards? Please. It’s not like they’re anything special.

Talent wins in the end.

Hehehe. Iolka grinned wickedly.

“Well then. I’ll be off.”

“Huh, already?”

“I said what I came to say, didn’t I?”

“Well... that’s true.”

Han drew his cloak over his shoulders again.

His figure blended into the darkness of the night.

Before leaving—

“Don’t,”

Han said,

“Make me wait too long.”

The three of them could only stare wide-eyed.

“Whoa!”

Jena shivered, goosebumps rising all over her arms.

“Those bastards really made Senior go soft.”

Belkist’s gaze turned icy.

“...?”

Iolka didn’t understand a thing.

In any case, the alley fell silent again after the brief whirlwind had passed.

Crackle. Pop.

The firelight pushed the shadows away.

That sobered me right up.

The hangover was gone like it never existed.

Only one feeling burned in her heart now.

“Tomorrow’s the real beginning!”

“No. It starts now. I’ll go on ahead.”

Belkist disappeared down the alleyway.

He was probably heading off to find a proper training ground.

“What do you think, Unni?”

“Me?”

The two girls huddled close to the fire for warmth.

The glow lit up Jena’s cheeks.

“Do you think coming here was the right choice? You were a court mage. If you’d stayed, you could’ve lived comfortably.”

“I told you. It was boring there.”

A true genius always rises in times of chaos.

In a world that peaceful, no heroes could emerge.

Iolka murmured silently to herself.

But... was it really the right choice?

She asked herself that question.

Do I regret coming here?

Of course—

“I don’t regret it. Not one bit.”

“Really?”

“Wahaha! You said there’s a mage among those subordinates, right? How good are they? How much of a genius? I’ll leap right past them for the whole world to see. Don’t fall behind, you hear?”

“I won’t!”

The two of them laughed together.

“I’ll make sure everyone in this place knows exactly who I am!”

“Then I’ll show them my name too!”

“We don’t need to tell them that clueless guy’s name!”

“Aw, why you gotta make Bel Oppa the pitiful one...”

“Anyway! Wahaha, this is great. It’s perfect! We’ll start first thing tomorrow!”

Iolka burst into loud laughter.

Jena watched her quietly.

Happiness...

Long ago—

Jena remembered something her father once told her.

Happiness means living each day to the fullest.

If you do that, you’ll find light anywhere—no matter where you are.

So it begins tomorrow.

The real life in Valhalla.

The archer girl steeled her heart once more.

If those people slack off even a little... we really might catch up.

And so, the three of them made their vow—quietly, but firmly.