Chapter 2 Part 1
Chapter 2 – The Folklore of ‘My Lord’s People‘
“Please let me get this straight.”
Things have become quite confusing.
── Princess Iris is Alice’s reincarnation.
── Rhodelia Koofy from the ‘Grail Trading Company’ is a descendant of the villagers of ‘Feela Village’.
── The villagers were expecting Alice and me to meet and had made preparations for it.
All this information came at once.
“At any rate, I understand that Princess Iris is Alice’s reincarnation.”
I stopped using honorifics. After discussing it, I decided to speak in the shoes of my previous life.
“Yes. And Yuuki-sama is the reincarnation of ‘My Lord’, right?”
“That’s right, but…”
Lyle, Remilia, and Alice… what have they done? It is impossible that they had Alice reincarnated a year after my death. That is just not normal.
“I wonder if Alice was not in pain, I hope not.”
“…Eh?”
“To reincarnate, you must pierce your body with the Holy Sword, right? I wonder if it didn’t hurt.”
“Well, that’s…”
Princess Iris placed her hand on her chest as if searching for her memories.
“…I think it probably hurt.”
“I thought so.”
“But compared to the pain in my chest when I discovered that ‘My Lord’ had died, it was nothing.”
Saying that, Iris held my hand again. Rhodelia was watching us while kneeling, with a pleased expression on her face.
“I remembered. If your surname is Koofy, then you must be the descendant of the craftsman, Gates Koofy.”
“As expected of My Lord. Thank you for remembering my ancestor.”
“I will never forget about my family. Oh, that’s right, he was good at calculations. He must have passed that on to his descendants and created a company like this.”
Gates, you’re amazing. You were strong and quick-witted. From my perspective, you were an easy-to-deal-with child, but you have created a company like this… I wish I could have seen that process. I wanted to praise you.
“Can I praise you instead of Gates, Rhodelia?”
“I-It’s an honor.”
“Can I pat your head?”
“To your heart’s content.”
“Good job. You did well protecting his company.”
I patted Rhodelia on the head. Gates used to be pleased when I did this.
He was smart, but he was also weak-willed. When Lyle took Remilia from him, he came crying to me.
“Iris, do you remember what happened after I died?”
“Yes, for Alice, it’s the closest memory.”
“Then, Rhodelia too. Please tell me what happened after Alice used the Holy Sword.”
“Yes, understood.”
“All right.”
I removed my jacket and used it as a cushion to sit on the basement floor. I then motioned for Rhodelia to sit as well. Iris also took off her robe and tried to ──
“Are you trying to sit on my lap!? I don’t think that’s a good idea, though!?”
“I-I’m sorry!?”
Princess Iris quickly stood up with a bright red face.
“E-Ehhh? That’s weird. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Are you being influenced by Alice’s memories, perhaps?”
“Y-Yes, my body moved on its own.”
“……Okay, I don’t mind, but what should we do?”
“……I-I’ll just sit normally!”
said Iris as she sat down next to me.
It is kind of unsettling to think that Iris is the reincarnation of Alice, as Alice would always sit on my lap all the time.
“Rhodelia-sama, you know this from your ancestors’ traditions, right?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness. So I only know rough details.”
Rhodelia then looked in my direction.
“But my parents have taught me about My Lord since childhood.”
“I see.”
“My family’s old tale begins with, ‘Once upon a time, there was a great man called My Lord’. The story ends with, ‘The Koofy family is actually My Lord’s vassal’. That’s one set of the story.”
“…Don’t make other people’s lives into old tales.”
“I also want to hear that tale.”
“Before that, can you tell me what happened after I died, Iris?”
I turned to Iris and said so.
“Yes, My Lord. I’ll tell you.”
Iris straightened her posture, placing a hand over her chest. She then began to talk about her memories from her previous life ──
After My Lord died, I could not get up for a while. It was not a symptom of the ‘Death Crest Disease’. It was because I stopped eating after hearing that my father had killed My Lord.
Eh? Don’t be reckless, you say…?
…Yes, you’re right. But at the time, I did not know that My Lord had been reincarnated. So I intended to follow in My Lord’s footsteps.
…I knew that it was not my father’s fault. He had no choice but to kill My Lord with his own hands to save the village from the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. I also knew that it was My Lord’s will. However… my body would not listen to me.
When I woke up in the morning and realized that My Lord was no longer there, I could not handle it. It was like I had already died, and my body just kept going on living ── that was what those days were like.
The situation changed when my father, Lyle, was appointed as a ‘Hero’ by the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. My father was granted the Holy Sword as a reward for defeating My Lord. After that, my parents, Lyle and Remilia, cooperated to conduct research on the Holy Sword.
These were what they told me,
‘Will you help us with the research?’
‘If our hypothesis is correct…’
‘You might be able to meet My Lord again.’
It all started with My Lord’s last words, “See you again”.
My Lord never lied to us. Since you said that, we thought there must be a way, so my parents decided to infiltrate the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ to find out.
After hearing the story, I jumped out of bed. I started eating again. Of course, as My Lord instructed me after the illness, I chewed slowly and swallowed little by little. As soon as my body recovered, I began to help with the research.
Thanks to My Lord, my blood had become closer to ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’. With that, I was able to assist with their research efficiently.
And so, my parents discovered the secrets of the Holy Sword.
── The Holy Sword has the power to reincarnate the ‘righteous one’.
── There is one more use of this power left.
── Alice can be reincarnated at the same time as My Lord.
My parents asked me,
‘What would you do if you could meet My Lord?’
And I answered,
‘I will see him no matter what it takes.’
My parents allowed me to use the Holy Sword. I think they had no choice. They had watched over me, who had stopped eating anything after My Lord’s death.
Afterward, a second outbreak of the ‘Death Crest Disease’ occurred, so we were slightly delayed. But I, Alice Carmine, was able to use the Holy Sword safely.
And now, I am sitting next to Yuuki-sama… My Lord. Oh yes, my little sister was born safely. Were you worried, My Lord? The ‘Death Crest Disease’ was rampant at the time. You were concerned if the baby in my mother’s stomach would be born safely, right? She was a little infected, but we did something using my blood and the power of the ‘Purification’ spell that my parents learned from My Lord. Her name was Mia. She was a cute little girl.
When my parents sent me off, they told me to visit the crest with a bat and an old castle if I ever meet My Lord in the future.
I did not understand the meaning at the time, but it turned out to be something like this.
── The people of the village created a company and left it for the future.
── Thus, the village’s legacy is passed on to My Lord.
The crest with a bat and an old castle was needed as a marker for that.
After that, I received a message from my parents to deliver to My Lord.
From my father, Lyle ── Um, I’m sorry for the foul language…
“Don’t mess around, you damn old man. You planted the trauma of killing a family member in someone’s mind. Take responsibility and take care of my daughter. She’s not going to marry anyone but you anyway!”
From my mother, Remilia…
“…Fufufu. The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, huh? Because of them, My Lord had to go through that… I’ll never forgive them. Never. I won’t leave the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ to the time when My Lord and Alice are reincarnated. While I’m still alive, I’ll erase them completely without leaving any trace.”
I’m sorry, but my mother also loved My Lord.
That’s about all I can remember now.
Lastly… Yuuki-sama… My Lord. I’m still a little confused about whether I’m Iris… or Alice. But this feeling is real. I wanted to see you… so much… I really missed you. My Lord… Yuuki-sama… Dean-sama… My Lord.
…My Lord… My Lord, you idiot.
…You died without my permission… do you know how much I cried!? You idiot, My Lord is an idiot… I missed you so much… I really missed you… I wanted to see you……!
Chapter 2 Part 6
☆★☆★☆★
── In the faculty dorm at night. I knocked on the door of the education officer’s room.
“Is Maria there, or is it Anastasia?”
The doorknob clicked.
“Hehe, I can be a nice guy if you listen to me, you know? You’re wearing the sexy underwear I told you to, right ── GUKYAA!“
As soon as the door opened, the education officer was punched in the nose. It felt like his nose bone broke… Damn, that was gross. My fist is covered in blood.
“Er… as a rule of the jock system, when pointing out a senior’s mistake, do it secretly later so as not to embarrass them, right?”
I kicked the education officer’s stomach as he rolled on the floor.
“GUGYOHA!”, with a strange sound, he vomited blood and stomach acid on the spot.
“Well, as you requested, I came here secretly without pointing it out on the spot so as not to embarrass you, didn’t I?”
“Y-You… brat…!”
Oh? It seems that he did not learn anything in the training room. He is starting to cast attack magic.
“Level 4: Crushing Wind Formation, Dead Pressure!”
“That’s a very sloppy use of magic power.”
When I snapped my fingers, the education officer’s magic power dispersed.
The education officer, whose spell had been forcibly dispelled midway through, tilted his head in disbelief and opened his eyes wide.
“Huh? What? Who are you, really? Why doesn’t my magic work ── Level 4: Crushing Wind Formation, Dead Pressure!”
An attack out of nowhere in the middle of a conversation… another surprise attack. When I snapped my fingers, the education officer’s magic power, once again, dispersed.
“Unfortunately, but your magic doesn’t work on me.”
The education officer then gasped, “That’s a lie!”
“Such a thing, such a thing…! To dispel magic just by snapping your fingers… such a thing is impossible, even for Headmaster Merlin!”
“Unfortunately, I’m beyond Merlin.”
“That’s impossible…?”
“It’s like training a poorly behaved dog. Merlin told me that it’s okay to beat you up if you play rough.”
“What are you talking about..?”
“Until now, you’ve been skillfully covering up criminal acts against students, haven’t you? Oh, and it seems like the magic academy is an extraterritorial institution. They have the authority to use force and administer punishment, apparently.”
“W-Wh-What… does it matter? Even so, there’s no way a mere student has the power to enforce punishment ──”
And so, I stepped on the thigh of the crawling education officer.
“GUKYAA!”
“Merlin and I have some circumstances. She asked me to train the dog, you know? That means I can do whatever I want as long as I don’t kill you.”
I stepped on the other thigh.
“HIGIIII!!”
“I’ll tell you the reason for this punishment. I confirmed several charges myself. First is the abuse of students in mock battles. Second, you used level 4 magic in the mock battles, which is considered a dangerous act, and attempted to inflict serious injury.”
“AAAARRRGGGHHHH!”
I stepped on his back immediately.
“EEK!!”
“Next is the attempted indecent assault on female students…”
I kicked his head like a soccer ball.
“GYAAGGHHIII!!”
“Only two days, and this is what you’ve done. You must have been hiding it well until now… Good grief, why someone like you is an education officer is beyond my understanding. Well, anyway, you’ll get a nice scolding from Merlin later.”
I stepped on his head and pressed hard against the ground.
“GUKYAA…!”
“Oh, by the way, when you speak with that dirty mouth of yours, make sure to start with ‘May I speak?’ and end with ‘That’s all’.”
“Y-Yes…”
“It’s supposed to be ‘May I speak?’, isn’t it!?”
I kicked him in the side, and he made a funny noise.
“From now on, you only have one job for the next month during the training camp. Just sit at the teacher’s desk in the classroom. I can’t trust you, so I’ll create lesson plans for Anastasia and Maria.”
“…M-Ma… May I speak?”
“What is it?”
“I understand your orders… That’s all.”
“Good,” I nodded.
Finally, it seemed that this guy clearly understood his situation. Once you teach this kind of person about hierarchy and fear, they become completely obedient… In a way, they’re easy to handle.
“Don’t waste my time on training a dog, okay?”
As I tried to leave the room, I turned back as if I had forgotten something.
“From now on, you don’t need to say, ‘May I speak?’ or ‘That’s all’ anymore.”
“Eh…? Why… is that so?”
Then I grinned and said,
“Obviously, it’s because it’s frankly troublesome and makes the conversation longer.”
The education officer drooped his head and muttered weakly, “I understand,” in response to my words.
I thought the matter was settled and began heading back to my room, but I ran into a bothersome guy.
“Oh…? It’s you. Can we talk for a bit?”
“…It’s late, and I must return to my room. If you have something to say, we can talk tomorrow… Now, if you will excuse me.”
As I tried to leave without further discussion, Sasha chuckled.
“My midnight is your daytime, and this body isn’t suited for the logic of the human world… Oh well.”
As I tried to pass by Sasha and return to my room, he grabbed my arm.
“Wait a minute. I didn’t notice it before, but…”
“What is it?”
“Why is a ferocious tiger hiding among the fledglings?”
“…I’m having trouble understanding the intent behind your words?”
“How about it? Want to come to the training room with me? There hasn’t been anyone to spar with me seriously for four hundred years… you seem quite interesting.”
Sasha’s golden eyes shone, and cold sweat ran down my back. I then decided to shift my focus on myself and move away from the situation as quickly as possible. He probably sensed my presence and approached me.
“I really can’t figure out your intentions?”
Then Sasha tilted his head.
“Are you really a fledgling, after all…? Hahaha, sorry, sorry. It’s not like there’s a tiger lurking around here. My eyesight has been getting worse lately.”
“Well then, excuse me.”
“By the way, young one? I think you have some kind of split personality, but you’re the child prodigy Merlin was talking about, right? I was invited to this training camp because I heard I could see something interesting.”
What an annoying person. Anyway, it is not mentally healthy to deal with someone like this.
“So, shall we have a match, young one?”
I am in trouble now. What should I do? It is too much for Sasha to handle me as Ephthal.
“………”
When I stayed silent, Sasha laughed and continued down the hallway.
“That said, it’s already midnight. Growing children need their sleep… It’s not good to be disturbed. I’ll back off for today, but this training camp seems like it will be quite enjoyable. I’ll personally teach you some moves when the time is right.”
“Please go easy on me when that happens.”
With that, I retreated to my room. When I finally got back to my room, my shirt was soaked through and through.
“I really can’t stand that person, after all…”
I slumped down, feeling dejected.
Chapter 2 Part 2
And so, we entered the forest and searched for raspberries, dividing ourselves into teams. However, when we said we were entering the forest, we only went as far as the outer edge of the forest and did not go any further, as it could be dangerous if we got lost.
If we went a little further, there would be a river flowing, but it was decided that we would not go there until we were older.
“I found raspberries!”
Marie shouted. I hurried over to where Marie was and saw many raspberries growing. Nikola and Luke also came running, their eyes shining. Nikola looked mature but seemed like a child and was cute in these situations.
“Let’s pick them. Marie, I brought a hemp bag, so let’s put them in here.”
“Okay! Thank you, Big Brother. I’m glad there are so many.”
“Yeah, let’s do our best to pick them and give some to Mother and Father, too.”
“Okay!”
Marie is working hard to pick the raspberries with her small hands. I also started picking with her. It seems like Nikola and Luke have also started doing the same on the opposite side. There are quite a lot of raspberries, so it is tough.
But in Leon’s memories of this world, there are basically no sweets, and the only memory of eating fruits is from picking them in the forest, so these raspberries are quite valuable. Let’s do our best to pick them.
After that, we silently picked raspberries and filled the hemp bag with them.
“Let’s call it a day, shall we? The bag is already full.”
“Yeah! It’s full!”
“We’ve picked quite a bit over here too, so it should be enough.”
“I picked a lot!”
Everyone is sparkling with delight at the amount of raspberries they have harvested.
“Shall we take a break and have some?”
“Yay~! Let’s eat!”
“Then, let’s all sit on that rock over there.”
“Okay!”
We all sat on a rock that was just high enough to sit on and decided to eat the raspberries. The color is rich and looks delicious, but what about the taste? Crunch… It’s sour!! What is this!? It’s incredibly sour! There’s definitely some sweetness too, but the overpowering sourness is so strong that I can hardly taste the sweetness.
Can everyone else eat this? I wondered and looked at Marie next to me. She was eating the raspberries with a smile and seemed to enjoy them.
“Marie? Isn’t it sour?”
“Why? It’s sweet and delicious!”
“Really? How about Nikola and Luke?”
“It’s sweet and delicious!”
“It’s so delicious! Raspberries are the best!”
Everyone seems to be enjoying it. Why? When I think of raspberries, I think of something sweeter and juicier…
Oh, right. Maybe because I have eaten a lot of sweet things in Japan, so it tastes sour to me. Come to think of it, even though my body is supposed to be Leon’s, my sense of taste has not changed from when I was Ryosuke Ichigaya. The soup tasted bland, too…
If I had been born and raised with only forest fruits as my only source of sweetness, maybe this would be my definition of something sweet. But while everyone else might be content with this, I already know of so many sweet and delicious things. I want to eat sweet fruits, cakes, cookies, and chocolate… just thinking about it makes me crave them.
If I have sugar, I could easily make some simple sweets. Finding sugar is urgent now. While I was thinking about that, stopping myself from eating after only one bite of the raspberries, everyone finished their break and stood up.
“We haven’t been here for that long today, so let’s pick up some firewood and go home.”
“Yeah. I’ll pick up the most!”
“I’ll be the one who picks up the most!”
The three of them had that kind of conversation and started picking up firewood. Although it was just picking up fallen branches on the ground, carrying them home was quite a heavy and laborious task.
The reason why we pick up firewood and bring it home is so that we can get pocket money for it. Since we run a restaurant, we consume a lot of firewood. We usually buy it, but it costs a lot of money, so we go to the forest to pick up branches and use them as firewood to save some money.
Many other families seem to do the same thing, picking up branches from the forest to save money. Nikola and Luke’s family probably does it, too.
“Big Brother, pick some up quickly!”
“Sorry, sorry, I’ll do it now.”
I started picking up firewood too, but the basket on my back was getting heavier, and it was difficult to crouch down. But since Marie and Luke were doing it without complaining, I, as the oldest, could not complain.
Children in this world are strong. My body is still that of Leon’s, so I should be able to do it like everyone else, but it isn’t easy. The children in this world must have strong hearts. I continued picking up firewood, thinking I had to do my best.
“It’s getting late, so let’s go back.”
Nikola said that, and we started getting ready to go back. There are no clocks in this world, so we do not know the exact time, but apparently, we can tell the approximate time by the sun’s position.
“Alright, is everyone fine?”
“Yeah, I’m fine!”
“I can still walk!”
“Yeah, me too. Let’s go back.”
After that, we silently walked back home together. And then, taking a little more time than it took us to get there, we finally arrived at our houses.
“We’re home!”
We first visited Nikola and Luke’s house because Marie wanted to see Uncle.
“Welcome back.”
“Marie said she wants to meet Uncle.”
I said it with a wry smile.
“Is Uncle here? I miss him!”
Marie fidgeted as she could not wait.
“Just wait a moment, I’ll call him now.”
Auntie stood up from her chair, opened the door, and called out to the back of the shop.
“Ben~! Marie-chan and Leon are here.”
As Auntie called out, the sound of footsteps could be heard from the back of the shop, and a well-built uncle appeared. He is still young though, despite being called an uncle. People get married early in this world, so even parents of children our age are in their twenties.
“So, Marie is here! You’re always so cute!”
said Uncle, lifting Marie easily. Marie laughed happily. It seems that Marie was happy to be lifted high. Indeed, our father is not tall or well-built. Come on, Father. You can do it! I secretly cheered him on.
“Leon is here, too! Good, you’re growing up nicely.”
Uncle approached me with Marie in his arms and messed with my hair.
“Whoa~, Uncle! You’re messing up my hair!”
“Don’t worry about it You’re a boy, you know?”
I did not understand what he meant by that. But maybe this kind of carefree attitude is what people like about him. He smiled and looked at us kindly.
I felt like I understood why Marie liked Uncle. Perhaps she had a good eye for people. But I could not relax because of it. I have to be cautious of any man who comes near Marie! With renewed determination, I pumped myself up to protect Marie, but she had already been put down and was ready to leave.
Wow, that was fast! Marie, don’t leave your big brother behind. With that thought, I hurried to catch up with Marie.
“Bye, Auntie and Uncle. See you again. Bye, Nikola and Luke.”
“Okay, see you again soon.”
“Marie, wait a second! Don’t leave your Big Brother behind!”
Saying this, Marie stopped in front of the door and stared at me.
“Because Big Brother has been absent-minded lately. You don’t listen even when I talk to you.”
said Marie, looking straight at me. O-Oh no, did she notice that I have been lost in thought? But she should not have realized that I am not Leon, right…?
“That’s not true! I’m listening properly. I just tend to space out a lot! I’ll be more careful from now on.”
As I hastily made excuses, Marie looked at my face suspiciously for a while before speaking.
“If that’s the case, it’s fine. But listen properly to me next time, okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll listen properly. Sorry about that.”
“Well, it’s okay. Let’s go home, then.”
“Yeah.”
Marie seemed satisfied, so she opened the door and went inside. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched her go in. I need to be more careful from now on.
Chapter 1 Part 3
3
At a quick pace, Steano and I headed toward the academy building.
“We’re going too slow!”
I nodded lightly at his voice. We ran through the streets with all our might despite being out of breath. Wiping the sweat off my face, I kept moving my feet single-mindedly and entered a familiar section of the streets. I could see the academy, and at the same time, I could hear a clear voice echoing all the way to where I am at.
“Hey, Aldia, Steano! You guys are late~.”
When we reached the front of the academy gate, there were familiar faces waiting for us. I felt like everything had really been reset. It was nostalgic, but I also wanted to curse myself for being unable to keep them away from their mortal fate. Waiting for Steano, who was a little late, we approached our friends who were waiting for us.
“We’ve been waiting forever. We promised to meet up early yesterday, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, sorry… something came up.”
“Haa, Steano aside, Aldia, it’s rare for you to be late.”
I lowered my head at the complaint mixed with a sigh.
“Well, my bad.”
“Seriously. Reflect on it.”
Petra Farban, a classmate and model student who was always with us. She has beautiful bright blond hair and deep green eyes. With a strong posture, she never hesitated to speak her mind to anyone. It was unclear why she was with us, but looking back now, I can recognize that her presence was an essential part of our group.
“Sorry about that.”
“Do you think an apology will make up for being late on such an important day? It’s really unacceptable!”
She is pretty angry, especially with Steano.
Yeah, it was always like this… I feel nostalgic just having this exchange.
Steano shrank back. I was surprised by how significant her presence was, and at the same time, it made me feel nostalgic.
“Petra, it’s always normal for these two to be a little absent-minded. Don’t get so worked up.”
“Haa…”
“On the contrary, wouldn’t it be strange if Steano was being responsible?”
Hearty laughter was heard as we followed along.
The huge guy next to Petra is Ambros. He is also a classmate. He has short reddish-brown hair and strong brown eyes that seem to harbor a firm will.
Unconsciously, scenes from the previous life came to mind, and he was just as reliable as he looked.
He was a strong man, strong enough to become the Kingdom’s Fortress Commander. Even when wearing heavy equipment, he was a monster in terms of endurance, capable of fighting for long periods of time.
“Ambros, nice assist!”
“Steano? What’s up with you getting carried away even though you were late?”
“Ugh…! D-Don’t glare at me like that. It ruins your beauty.”
Steano tried to join in with Ambros, but when Petra glared at him again, he hunched his back like a small animal and hid behind me.
“Hey, Al. Petra is really scary… she can kill someone with just her eyes.”
“That’s your own fault… you know that, right?”
“No, but you’re just as guilty for being late, right? Why do I have to be the only one Petra glares at?”
“It’s about your attitude… at least show some remorse.”
I think pinpointing her dislikes is Steano’s weakness.
Even though it was before the graduation ceremony, there was an electrifying atmosphere that lacked tension. Amidst all that, a fluffy atmosphere came from the side.
“Seriously~ Petra, don’t be so tense. Like Bros said, it’s about Steano, so he probably just overslept. Forgive him.”
That was Mia, showing her white teeth with a grin. She was poking Steano’s back with her finger, shaking her distinctive blue hair.
“I did not oversleep.”
“Heh~, it’s definitely oversleeping. Steano has bed hair, you know?”
“What, really!?”
“It was a lie~.”
Mia was having fun teasing Steano.
“Hey, Mia, let’s talk seriously…”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? We should enjoy the graduation ceremony, right?”
Petra’s unwavering courage in the face of Mia’s words was genuinely impressive. I wonder how the world looks through her jewel-like azure eyes. It piqued my curiosity a bit.
In the past, I had only met Petra once on the battlefield. I remember feeling immense despair and sadness when I witnessed her death.
“Hey, Al, you think so too, right?”
“Me?”
“Yeah! It’s better to have fun, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I think Mia is right.”
She was from the Vulcan Empire. I had no idea what she would do after graduation, but I think there will probably be a future where we fight together in this life. She was a troublemaker from the beginning of her enrollment, but by the time graduation came around, she had top-class skills in close-quarters combat and archery. I feel conflicted because she is excellent, but that was probably why she was sent to the battlefield. However, I would not abandon Mia this time.
“…Mm? What’s wrong, Al?”
Her blue eyes stared at me intently.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, really? I thought you might have fallen for me, Al!”
Unpleasant memories resurface, but I should just put that aside for now because nothing tragic has happened yet. While smiling wryly at Mia’s teasing, I avert my gaze from her.
“Petra-senpai, please don’t scold Al-senpai. It’s only been about a minute since the original meeting time.”
This time my junior, Addy, spoke up in my defense.
When I first met him, I thought he had a cool personality, but I was shocked when I later learned he was just shy. He now speaks more confidently in this group.
However, Petra waves her golden hair and dismisses Addy’s words.
“A minute late is still late. Addy becomes so sweet when it comes to Aldia… What? Do you like him or something?”
“N-No, it’s not like that! I just respect him!”
“Well, if two guys do that, it’s just creepy and disgusting.”
“T-That’s terrible, Petra-senpai!”
Addy turns away from Petra, looking embarrassed.
“Addy.”
“Al-senpai…”
“Thank you for standing up for me.”
I did not realize before how much Addy was attached to me. I had a junior who admired me. I felt that I should have paid more attention to him. Addy looks delighted and raises his voice toward Petra as if to provide further support.
“I mean, Al-senpai was definitely accompanying Steano-senpai, who overslept! Yes, that’s definitely it!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“That’s disrespectful to your senpai! And Petra, don’t agree with him!”
Somehow, they were a compatible group. Just as Steano made a perfect retort, Petra’s gaze shifted to the shade of a tree. She had been hearing the sound of rustling leaves and grass for a while now.
“…So, what about Tredia-chan, who’s been hiding in the shade all this time?
The girl, sneaking behind a big tree near the academy gate, flinched when Petra called out to her. When everyone’s attention turned to her, she slowly shook her head from side to side.
“A-Are you… talking to me?”
Tredia is my junior, who is two years younger than me. She is a shy, introverted girl who prefers not to be in the spotlight. Even when she was with us and involved in activities, I have memories of her hiding behind someone’s back or lurking in the shadows. Every time I saw her, it seemed like she was hiding from something.
“That’s right. So, what do you think?”
“E-Er… um…”
“Being late is not good, right?”
“Um… I think it’s… um… Steano-senpai’s fault.”
Tredia replied hesitantly with tears in her eyes.
I could not help but feel sorry for Tredia, who was fidgeting around and seeking help from those around her.
And as expected, Steano’s handling is sloppy.
“Haa…”
When I sighed, Petra pursed her lips in response. Suddenly, all the gazes that were directed toward Tredia swiftly shifted toward me.
“Aldia? Do you have something to say?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
I don’t really have any complaints about Petra’s words and actions. Having gone through so much suffering and having their life taken away, it was amazing to be able to see their familiar faces again in this situation. Petra’s unchanging nostalgic attitude was what made me feel that the most.
“No, it’s really nothing.”
“―――― ?”
“It’s just that I felt a bit sad thinking that we are graduating, that’s all.”
This sigh was not out of frustration with anyone. It was just something that came out involuntarily as the current situation in front of me moved me.
My lips curl into a smile, and I cannot help but feel happy. But that is just how much I am enjoying myself. I was genuinely overjoyed to meet with my friends again, whom I had wished to see one more time.
“Maybe it is. Graduation… is truly a bit sad.”
“Yeah… that’s right.”
It was the last page of my youth that I had sent off. I believe it was probably a very beautiful memory.
Chapter 4 Part 3
◇
Several tens of minutes have passed since Reid and the others entered the ‘designated danger zone’ where magical beasts run rampant. They were making good progress.
“―――― Take this!”
When a magical beast pounced on him, Reid delivered a kick and a shout. In that instant, the magical beast was blown away without even a chance to scream, crashing into a tree and coming to a halt.
“Hmm, the magical beasts themselves are not that strong.”
“The opinion of someone who can blow them away with their bare hands without using magic is not really helpful, though…”
“When you actually witness it like this, the abnormality of Reid stands out even more.”
The two who were waiting behind him voiced their impressions.
Although small in size, the magical beasts are no bigger than a human.
The wildcat-like magical beast that Reid had kicked away earlier was clearly larger than a human, and fighting it empty-handed would normally be an act of suicide.
“I’m holding back even with this. If I hit it with all my strength, there would be collateral damage, and I wouldn’t want to be covered in its blood.”
“Magical beasts become ferocious and have bloodlust from the moment they mutate. If other magical beasts gather in response to the smell of blood, it will be difficult to move forward.”
“Well, I don’t want to walk around with Reid-san covered in blood either…”
As they were moving forward, Millis suddenly spoke up.
“…Will Elria-sama be fine? Even though she’s strong, she’s still alone.”
“No problem. Even if a thousand or so magical beasts jump at her from all directions, she can handle them all with just first tier magic.”
Mages have a diverse roster of fighting methods.
The basics of combat for a mage is to cast magic from medium to long range, but if there are many enemies, it would be difficult to keep up and might get attacked unexpectedly. At such times, ‘close-quarters combat magic’ is to be used.
By storing magic in the magic circuit incorporated in the magic equipment, the time required for chanting and deployment is shortened to the utmost limit, allowing for effective use in rapidly changing battle situations, high-speed combat in close quarters, and even one-on-one combat.
Not only did it involve general body strengthening, but it could also take on various tactics depending on the magic stored in the magic equipment, such as evocation magic that deploys flames like a sword, barrier magic that forms a safe space instantly, or defensive magic that repels attacks from opponents.
In close-quarters combat, tactics are more important than power, so even lower tier magic could overwhelm the opponent if used correctly.
And its creator, Elria, is also known as the ‘Sage’.
She has her own unique method of shortening chants and magic deployments without relying on magic equipment, but it seems to be difficult for ordinary people. And it is said that she created it so that anyone can handle it.
Moreover, she has mastered various martial arts to verify her theory. She has used these techniques in close-quarters combat with Reid in the past, but not for her own benefit. She works hard so that others can use them, and her spirit of dedication is admirable.
“If it’s against an ordinary person, Elria can completely dominate them with pure martial prowess without using magic.”
“No way! That slender and cute Elria-sama? Under normal conditions, she would lose if she fought without using magic.”
‘Hahaha’, Millis laughs casually and waves her hand.
It is probably because magic combat is highly specialized now to the point that many martial arts and swordsmanship that were common a thousand years ago are now almost gone.
“However… now that you mention it, Reid’s movements are quite unique compared to other mages. As for me, that’s also quite intriguing.”
“Oh, then let’s give it a shot next time. Wiesel is also more inclined towards close-quarters combat with magic equipment, so it will be useful in case of a one-on-one combat situation.”
“That would be great. I’ll definitely receive your guidance.”
“Ehh… I’m not good at hitting or kicking people, though…”
“You might want to ask Elria about that. She knows more about it. Just knowing some simple self-defense techniques or how to move your body can make a difference.”
As they walk and exchange such conversations, Wiesel suddenly squints his eyes.
“It’s too late to mention this, but… Reid and Elria seem to know a lot about strange things, huh?”
“Oh… Well, you see, the Caldwen family has been around for about a thousand years, so they have many ancient texts and documents. That’s why we know about it.”
“But you were originally from the countryside, right?”
“Come to think of it… we seem to get along well despite not being old acquaintances, it means that you must have lived in the countryside for a long time… So, when did you two get engaged?”
“…Well, we got engaged about two months ago.”
“Two months… but despite that, you both seem to trust each other and have a very good relationship… It’s not like you have known each other for a long time, right?”
Under the questioning of the two, Reid stumbles on his words a little. He had spent a lot of time with them, even during class, and he trusted them. So he ended up talking more than he intended to.
“Well, I’ll tell you all about it with Elria next time.”
After brushing it off, Reid contemplated.
(…I’ll talk it over with Elria about all that stuff next time.)
Telling others about their reincarnation situation requires much deliberation.
According to the notes left by his former subordinate, someone has erased information about the ‘Hero’. Therefore, there is a possibility that harm could come to those who know about it.
There are too many unknowns at the moment.
Why were the ‘Sage’ and the ‘Hero’ reincarnated a thousand years later?
Why has the existence of the ‘Hero’ been erased, and only a part of it remained incomplete?
Why does Reid have a power that is different from ordinary humans?
If it is not just magic power, what kind of power is it? What kind of effect does it have on the surroundings, not just on himself? And does it have something to do with reincarnation?
And ――
―― Why did Elria Caldwen die?
According to texts, it was reported that she died of illness. Elria herself had no doubts about her own death. If it were a disease unique to the elves that Reid did not know about, it would not be strange if Elria mentioned it. And if it were an assassination, Elria would have had questions about her own death.
However, there is no longer anyone who knows the details of her death. Over a thousand years, that memory had been lost. There was a sense of incongruity scattered throughout. They could not continue to ignore them.
While he was thinking vaguely about it… suddenly, Wiesel stopped in his tracks.
“Wait, I see something over there.”
“M-Maybe it’s a magical beast?”
“No… it’s a cave. It’s probably natural.”
Wiesel lightly tapped his glasses and turned his face towards it.
It was a magic tool that he had used during Elria and Alma’s mock battle, and it was very helpful in this examination as it could detect traces of magic that could not be seen and detect heat emitted by organisms. It could also scout places from afar by changing the magnification.
“Wiesel, are there any magical beasts around?”
“No… I don’t see any in the surrounding area.”
“Then that’s a hit. There’s definitely a doll in the cave.”
“What? How can you be so sure?”
“If you were injured while escaping from a magical beast, you would seek refuge in a safe place. Since there are no dolls lying around, it is safe to assume that they were placed with some intention and consideration of the situation.”
In fact, they had not seen any dolls along the way, so it is reasonable to assume that they were not randomly placed.
“Anyway, I’ll go ahead. Wiesel will keep watch, and Millis will assist you.”
“Understood.”
“Y-Yes!”
Reid led the two of them into the cave. He searched for any signs of life inside the cave, but there were none. Then ―― he saw a figure in the darkness.
“Wiesel, please confirm.”
“It’s the same as what Kanos-sensei showed us. As for the number… there are five of them.”
“Huh!? There are that many!?”
“Well, I guess the setting is that they all escaped together as a group. I don’t want to touch them and risk breaking them, so I’ll leave it to you two from here on out.”
Reid kept watch outside the cave for any magical beasts, while Wiesel and Millis began working inside.
“This magic circuit… detects multiple heat sources. It’s probably designed to deactivate when two or more people approach it.”
“Ohh… it’s just as Reid said.”
“Lady Millis, what about the other dolls?”
“Um, I think they’re all the same ――”
said Millis as she reached out to touch one of the dolls.
Suddenly, the doll let out a loud noise and shook violently.
“UWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!?”
“Hey! What’s the matter!?”
“It’s okay! It’s probably a mechanism triggered by the doll!!”
Wiesel grimaced at the echoing sound and looked at the doll’s thigh.
“This… It seems to be responding to magic power and activating a timer.”
“W-What does that mean…?”
“Judging by the decreasing numbers, it seems like a time limit…”
“Could it be that… it’s the time limit for the doll to die from its injuries…?”
“…That’s a high possibility. If it’s an injured person, we have to treat them before we can move them.”
“T-Then let’s heal them right away! Elria-sama herself has taught me all the basic healing magic, and I’ve also received her seal of approval!!”
Millis confidently deployed her magic equipment and lightly swung her wand toward the doll.
At that moment, a faint light enveloped the doll ―― and a loud sound rang out.
“UWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!”
“What’s the matter this time!?”
“Don’t scream right next to me, Lady Millis! My eardrums will burst!!”
Wiesel hit her on the head with a bang in response to Millis’s scream, which was louder than the doll’s.
While rubbing her head with teary eyes, Millis looked at the doll.
“D-Didn’t you say that it would be undone if we cast healing magic on it!?”
“Well, I’m sure we did something right since it reacted, but…”
Hearing the conversation between the two, Reid called out from a distance,
“Hey, could it be that the emergency treatment order is also important?”
“…Order?”
“Even if you close the wound with healing magic right away, there are cases where you can still get infected depending on the condition of the wound. So first, check the condition of the injury.”
“I-It’s just a doll… it can’t be injured!!”
“Well… maybe they consider the position of the magic circuit as the injured area. Besides magic detection, there are also pressure sensors in the vicinity.”
“B-But… we only have five minutes left!!”
When Reid focused his gaze, the number displayed on the doll’s thigh showed that they had less than five minutes left. If they did not take appropriate measures by then, the doll would die.
“E-Emergency treatment… err, I think the first thing to do is…!!”
“Calm down, Millis. I’ll give you instructions, so take it slowly. Wiesel, check if the magic circuit has been undone.”
Reid instructed them, then lowered his voice to calm Millis down.
“First, apply detoxification magic around the wound… the magic circuit.”
“Y-Yes!”
Following Reid’s instructions, Millis cast detoxification magic on the doll, but no warning sound was heard this time.
“…Good, part of the circuit has been undone.”
“S-Should we put pressure on the wound next?”
“Before that, gag the mouth with a cloth or something. Considering that it’s injured and exhausted, it might be in a state where it is prepared to die. Some people may bite their tongues and commit suicide during treatment.”
“I-I understand!!”
Millis tied a handkerchief around the doll’s mouth, and Reid continued giving instructions.
“Next, put pressure on the wound and lay the injured doll down. If the injured area is the thigh, raise it higher than the heart and stop the bleeding to some extent before checking on the wound again.”
With a serious expression, Millis followed Reid’s instructions and carried out the treatment. Each time, they confirmed with Wiesel and proceeded to the next treatment and healing.
“I-It ―― should be fine now!!”
And the moment Millis finally cast her healing magic that failed previously, the timer displayed on the doll stopped.
“I-Is it okay now…!?”
“Yeah… all the mechanisms have been undone. Judging from the fact that the magic circuits of other dolls have also stopped, helping this doll was also a condition.”
While Wiesel was checking the other dolls, Millis sat down weakly on the spot.
“Pheeewww… I’m so glaaaadddd…!”
“Yeah, you did a good job.”
“Thank you sooo muchhh, Reid…!!”
Millis expressed her gratitude in a tearful voice, perhaps because she was very nervous and felt the weight of the responsibility of saving someone’s life in a rescue operation within a time limit. It must have been a considerable burden for Millis, who was in charge of the treatment.
As Reid watched Millis, who was relieved, Wiesel approached them.
“You did well too, Wiesel.”
“…No, I was just checking the magic circuit. This is Lady Millis’s achievement.”
“It’s not like that. You need to check the patient’s condition while performing the treatment, and it just so happens that it was a magic circuit this time. It’s also necessary to talk and distract the patient to avoid anxiety while observing the treatment, so your role is also important.”
“…I’m grateful to hear you say that.”
Wiesel smiled happily, which was rare for him. However, after adjusting his expression, Wiesel lowered his voice and asked,
“Reid, have you ever seen a dying person before?”
“Oh? What’s this all of a sudden?”
“Well… your instructions were so precise, and you seemed to be explaining it as if you had actually seen a dying person.”
Wiesel asked with a trembling voice.
That was why Reid answered while avoiding eye contact.
“Yeah… I’ve seen some people on the verge of death before, and some I couldn’t save. So even though it was with a doll this time, what you guys did was admirable.”
Reid thought of the scenes where people fell on the battlefield and died, full of regret. In that situation, friend or foe did not matter. When someone died, those who knew them would grieve as well. He had seen that kind of scene many times.
“That’s why ―― thank you for saving the dolls.”
Reid said those words to the two of them with a wry smile.
“Reid, you ――”
Wiesel was about to ask something, but then…
“UWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!”
“Hey, stop screaming every time something happens!!”
“No, look! Someone’s coming this way!!”
Seeing her pointing at the cave entrance, Reid and Wiesel turned around.
Three figures were running from across the forest.
They recognized the figures.
“Is that… Faregh the Kid and his two followers?”
“N-No way… they’re not planning to steal the dolls, are they!?”
“No… something seems off.”
Wiesel observed the three of them while adjusting his glasses.
At the sight of it, Wiesel’s eyes widened.
“Reid! Call those three over here right now!! There are injured people!!”
The moment he heard that, Reid immediately jumped out of the cave. He then rushed over to Faregh and the others.
Seeing Reid’s approach, Faregh lifted his head in surprise.
“You are the Caldwen’s ――”
“…What happened to them?”
Faregh was supporting the other two with his shoulders.
The two had injuries all over their bodies, with one arm hanging limply and the other’s leg bending in an unnatural direction.
After confirming that they were not in a life-threatening condition, Reid helped carry them up.
“Anyway, let’s head to the cave. It’s safe there without any magical beasts.”
The moment Faregh heard the word ‘magical beasts’, he shuddered in fear. His eyes were vacant and lacked any spirit. His face also had turned pale.
While questioning his behavior, Reid led them into the cave.
“Millis! Take care of the two injured!!”
“EEEHHHH!? You want me to take care of them right away!?”
“From what I can tell, it seems like they only have broken bones and aren’t in any life-threatening condition. But make sure to check them properly. I need to talk to this guy.”
While saying that, Reid turned his gaze to Faregh.
“Hey, kid. Explain what happened to them. Were they attacked by magical beasts?”
“Magical beasts…”
After hearing those words, Faregh sat on the ground and trembled.
“I don’t know… I don’t know…!!”
“…What do you mean?”
“There’s no doubt that it’s a magical beast… but I’ve never seen that kind of magical beast before…!! I never thought that kind of monster could exist…!!”
As Faregh continued to mutter while shaking, Wiesel, who was keeping an eye on the outside, spoke up.
“…Reid, this might be a little bad.”
“What did you see?”
“I haven’t confirmed its appearance yet… but there’s something moving in the forest.”
Wiesel’s voice was trembling slightly.
“At the very least… it’s not small or medium-sized. There is a presence in the forest that is clearly different from the magical beasts we’ve seen so far.”
And then ―― there was movement in the forest before them. Trees are falling over and over. A black figure became visible among the dense trees.
It was ‘Armor’. A jet-black outer shell that radiated a metallic luster. The massive body covered in that armor-like outer shell pushed back the trees, causing them to fall. And from between the tall trees, a neck slowly lifted up.
It was a ‘Dragon’. A long neck covered in glittering black scales. A rectangular face covered like a helmet by a sturdy outer shell. But its mouth reveals a myriad of white fangs and a slightly open red oral cavity. Its twisted head moved as if it were looking around for something… and eventually, it stopped at the sight of the cave.
As its blood-red eyes looked at Reid and the others inside the cave ――
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ――― !!
A deafening roar reverberated through the trees.
Chapter 4 Part 2
◇
There are two examinations at the Vegalta Royal Magic Academy.
To determine the magic ability and skills of aspiring mages, and to evaluate whether they are suitable to use the powerful force of magic to protect the peace of the people and carry on the legacy of the Sage’s magic for future generations, the evaluations must be conducted strictly and fairly.
And one of the two examinations is ――
“―― Well then, let me explain the ‘Conditional Examination’ again.”
Alma announces to the students in a stern voice.
However, it was not just the voice that was different. The setting this time is not in the familiar classroom of the academy, but at the entrance to a vast forest with towering mountains in the background.
“As previously explained, you will be entering the ‘designated danger zone’ where magical beasts reside. Please be aware that there is a considerable risk to your lives.”
Magical beasts are entities that have undergone evolution different from ordinary animals. They have experienced sudden mutations due to the influence of magic power that arises from nature and has grown larger than usual. This is Reid’s understanding of them.
However, over the course of a thousand years, changes have occurred in the ecology of magical beasts. They now breed with other beasts and give birth to offspring that are also magical beasts. As a result, the number and variety of magical beasts have increased significantly compared to before, gradually expanding their habitats.
Therefore, areas with abundant natural magic power, where magical beasts are likely to be born, are ‘designated danger zones’, where entry is prohibited for non-mages.
And so, mages are stationed in areas where magical beasts are likely to appear. They patrol the perimeter of the ‘designated danger zones’ to subdue any magical beasts that stray into human habitat. They also regularly reduce the excessive number of magical beasts that have settled in the area.
“This exercise is the lowest E-rank within the ‘designated danger zones’. All the magical beasts that will appear are limited to small and medium-sized ones. The medium-sized magical beasts that we saw during our inspection yesterday were already taken care of by our academy’s personnel. So, there should be no significant danger unless something unexpected happens.”
However, Alma continued,
“That said, injuries can still occur due to carelessness and overconfidence, leading to dangerous situations and even death. You must never forget that.”
Upon hearing Alma’s warning, the students nodded with serious expressions.
After observing their reactions, Alma continues with her explanation.
“Now, let me explain the details of this ‘Conditional Examination’. The scenario we are simulating is, ‘the rescue of civilians who have accidentally entered a designated danger zone’.”
Saying that, Alma took a doll out of thin air.
“Multiple dummy dolls will be placed within the zone, and the objective is to locate, retrieve, transport them out, and return to the assembly point within the time limit. Naturally, the more dolls you retrieve, the higher your evaluation will be.”
While explaining, one of the students raised their hand.
“I have a question. We were told that the ‘Conditional Examination’ is linked to individual evaluations, but if we prioritize our evaluations, should we act individually?”
“I can only say ‘it depends’. While it’s true that doing everything alone would lead to a higher evaluation, achieving the objective is the most important aspect of this examination. That means it’s much easier to succeed with multiple people than alone.”
In other words, while succeeding alone would lead to a high evaluation, failure would result in no evaluation at all.
“All right, that’s it for my explanation! We’ll depart in thirty minutes, so please prepare your magic equipment and hold any necessary discussions among yourselves.”
As soon as she finished, the students split up into their respective groups.
Similarly, Reid and his companions gathered to discuss their plan.
“Now then… let’s decide what to do.”
“On that note… we’ll undoubtedly be a hindrance. Considering that it will affect our individual evaluations, wouldn’t it be better for Reid and Elria to go alone?”
“That’s true… Thanks to Alma-sensei’s training, we’ve improved a bit, but there’s still a significant difference in skill between us, so it might be best for me to team up with Wiesel-san.”
However, Reid shook his head and denied their proposal.
“No, as for Elria, that may be true, but I need you two, especially in my case.”
“…’Need’ is an interesting choice of words.”
“The objective of this examination is to ‘rescue’, and the rescue targets are ‘immobile dolls’. Based on that, what kind of people do you think require rescuing?”
“If they’re immobile… perhaps they are people who are frightened?”
“So, it means they are injured and can’t move?”
Reid nodded in response to Wiesel’s words.
“Both answers are correct. We need to calm down frightened people, provide medical treatment for the injured, and then transport them out of the zone… It’s difficult to accomplish all of that alone. Especially since I can’t use magic, it’s impossible for me to use healing magic on the dolls. That’s why I need you two.”
“Hmm… That dummy doll was definitely a type of magic tool. So there’s a high possibility that some sort of mechanism is built into it.”
“Meaning that there’s a possibility that it won’t react unless multiple people find it or that it can’t be transported without healing magic?”
“Yeah. That’s why I think dealing with the magical beasts should be my job, Wiesel should handle the transport of the dolls using multiple magic tools, and Millis should deal with the mechanisms on the dolls.”
Reid had almost complete confidence in this idea.
Considering that Alma had recommended working in a team, and added the word ‘transport’ along with locating and retrieval, it indicated that achieving the objective is crucial.
If the ‘Conditional Examination’ simulated actual scenarios, then it is safe to say that it recreated any possible variables that could actually occur.
The examination is designed in a way that prioritizes evaluation, so there is a high possibility of failure if one acts alone, but if one does not forget, they can surely get a good evaluation.
It could be said that it is content suitable for the first examination.
“But in that case, wouldn’t it be better if Elria-sama is with us, too?”
“Mm… I’m told that I must do it alone.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Yeah. The headmaster told me that if I work with others, it will be difficult to evaluate their performance. So she wants me to take the examination alone if possible.”
“Ah, that certainly makes sense…”
Millis nodded in agreement, perhaps because she had seen Elria’s magic up close before.
Although the headmaster restricts Elria from using magic beyond the fifth tier, the quality of her magic, such as its power, speed, and range, surpasses that of an average mage.
As a result, it becomes difficult to determine whether the results obtained by a team taking the examination together are based on their collective efforts or Elria’s abilities.
“But Reid’s proposal makes sense. If it were just transporting the dolls, it wouldn’t be enough to make it an examination, so some sort of ingenuity must have been applied.”
“Considering that, it could even be a part of the examination if we are not careful.”
“…Both of you have thought things through so quickly in such a short time.”
“I just thought I would retrieve the dolls normally…”
“”I had a feeling it would be something like this.””
The two answered calmly in unison in response to Wiesel and Millis’s words.
After all, Reid and Elria have experience in rescuing injured people on the battlefield and rescuing allies stranded in enemy territory.
As Reid and the others were deciding on a course of action ――
“―― Hah! It seems that you two understand nothing!!”
Such a commanding voice could be heard from behind.
Turning around, there was Faregh with a smug smile on his face.
“What’s up, kid? You’re looking lively today.”
“Stop calling me that!! Our ages aren’t that different, are they!?”
As soon as Reid replied with those words, Faregh spluttered with outrage. Perhaps due to the incident the other day, the nickname ‘Kid’ had become firmly established.
“So, do you have any other ideas?”
“Of course, I do! I think this examination has other objectives besides just rescue.”
“…Other objectives?”
“Yes, that’s right. Although Alma-sensei stated earlier that there are no medium-sized magical beasts, she didn’t say a word about there being no large magical beasts!!”
Faregh spoke loudly with such a misguided idea.
“There is likely to be only one large magical beast in the zone! Whoever defeats it will receive a great evaluation ――”
“Well, that’s unlikely.”
“I am not done talking, you know!?”
“An apprentice who hasn’t even become a mage is more likely to die than just get injured when facing a large magical beast. If the academy prepares something like that, it would be a problem.”
“If you want to think that way, then go ahead. I have the power to subjugate even a large magical beast!!”
With confidence, Faregh raised his magic equipment up in the air. It seemed that his magic equipment, which he had sent for repairs, had been fixed, making him feel invigorated today.
“Now that my magic equipment is back, it’s the perfect opportunity for me to use my full power ――”
“Hey, doesn’t your magic equipment look shorter than before?”
“That’s because you broke it!! Even the magic equipment engineer employed by the Welminan family said it couldn’t be repaired, but I had it forcibly cut and fixed!!”
“Good thing you have a skilled engineer. Don’t get too carried away just because you can use magic.”
“How dare you…!! You will definitely be sorry for this!!”
After spitting out those words, Faregh left with his followers.
Watching them leave, Millis scratched her cheek apologetically.
“Ahaha… I’m sorry, it’s kind of my fault…”
“Don’t worry about it. He’s been eyeing me since the beginning, and I think he has a lot of gall to come at me after being humiliated in front of so many people and having his magic equipment broken.”
“Ah… when I hear you say that, it makes that noble seem pitiful…”
Millis looked at Faregh as he walked away with a sympathetic look. Faregh probably did not think he would get pitied like that.
“Well… let’s go then.”
“Mm, please be careful.”
“Yeah, you too. You’re alone, so be careful.”
After patting Elria’s head, Reid leaned forward slightly. Elria then reached out and put her hand on his head.
Watching the two of them ――
“…Those two are already flirting even before the examination.”
“Just think of it as the leeway of the strong. If we get influenced by them, our senses will be disturbed.”
“You’re right… since we’re in danger, let’s keep our guard up.”
Wiesel and Millis nodded in agreement while looking at the two of them.