Volume 7
Chapter 8
Upon receiving the
report that Nozomu had awakened, Jihad and Inda immediately headed to the
Gloaurum Institute.
When they entered his
hospital room, they found not only Irisdina's group but also Mars's group
inside.
Nozomu had undergone a
detailed examination by the female doctor as soon as he awoke and was just
about to be told the results. Concerned about the outcome, everyone's
expression was tense.
"So, what about
his physical condition?"
"Yes. He is in
perfect health. His muscle strength has decreased somewhat, but that should
return quickly with training."
No problems. The
moment they heard those words, everyone let out a sigh of relief, their
shoulders relaxing.
After a full
explanation, the female doctor left the room, and Mars grumbled as he lightly
tapped Nozomu's head.
"Jeez. You sleep
too much."
"Well, I didn't
expect to be out for this long either..."
"So you were
expecting to be carried into a hospital, then?"
"Well, I figured
as long as I didn't die, it would be fine, I guess..."
As Nozomu gave a wry
smile while holding his tapped head, a gaze as sharp as a spear pierced him
from the side.
He flinched, his
shoulders trembling, and when he peeked sideways, he saw the two black-haired
sisters and the elf girl with ferocious expressions on their faces, their
eyebrows raised.
"Ah, well. Um...
I'm sorry..."
Nozomu bowed his head
repeatedly in a flustered manner, but the gazes of the girls with their
puffed-out cheeks did not change.
Considering their
feelings, it was understandable. After worrying so much, nursing him
desperately, and praying for his speedy recovery, the person in question was
acting as if nothing had happened.
They were happy that
he was safe, but the backlash from having worried so much naturally made them
take a harsh attitude.
Nozomu himself was
aware that he had been reckless, so all he could do was bow his head
repeatedly.
"I mean, I wasn't
thinking about anything that complicated. I was just filled with the thought
that I had to stop Ken somehow."
Nozomu spoke to
himself as he looked up at the white ceiling.
In fact, that was
probably all there was to it.
At that time, what was
driving Nozomu was only the desire to save Lisa and to stop the rampaging Ken.
Therefore, this was
nothing more than the result of him acting recklessly.
This time, Feo, with
his hands clasped behind his head, spoke in a nonchalant manner.
"Well, it's true,
considering Nozomu's personality, that's probably all there was to it."
The other comrades
also seemed to understand Nozomu's personality, as they gave wry smiles in
agreement.
Of course, the gazes
of a certain few girls did not change.
"But as Mars
said, you definitely slept a bit too long. Unlike with the corpse dragon, you
weren't really injured that much~"
"So, did
something happen when you entered that demonic beast's Predation Barrier?"
As if prompted by Feo's
words, Tom stated a vague speculation.
In fact, the opinion
that Abyss Grief had interfered with Nozomu in some way had been raised quite a
bit.
Nozomu himself clearly
remembered entering Abyss Grief's Predation Barrier, so he gave a small nod to
Tom's question.
"Yeah, probably.
But strangely enough, it doesn't seem like there are any lingering
effects."
Nozomu stated this
casually while opening and closing his fist.
It was true that his
head was fuzzy from oversleeping, and a sense of fatigue enveloped his entire
body, but he didn't feel any particular discomfort.
In Nozomu's vision as
he stared at his own hand, the invisible chains wrapped around his body floated
dimly.
What had happened to
him at that time?
The moment the chains
that had been binding him until now suddenly flew out and wrapped around the
Ken who had fused with Abyss Grief, Ken and the others had suddenly started to
suffer.
At that time, it had
seemed to Nozomu that these invisible chains had suppressed the power of that
demonic beast.
But he had never heard
of such a thing. After this ability had manifested, Nozomu had looked into it
in the library and other places, but there was not a single mention of such a
thing.
Nozomu, squinting as
he looked at his own hand. Inda was watching him with a complicated expression.
Given the fact that
Abyss Grief had been resurrected by parasitizing one of the military police,
she was momentarily seized by the anxiety that Nozomu might also be under some
kind of influence.
At the same time, she
shook her head slightly, as if to admonish herself for thinking in such a way.
"Is that related
to you being a dragonslayer?"
On the other hand,
Jihad, who had been told of Nozomu's situation in detail by Zonne, was not
particularly surprised.
However, since he had
been admonished by that old man, he questioned Nozomu in a confirming tone, so
as not to be noticed by those around him.
"I'm not sure...
but wait, you knew too, Jihad-sensei?"
"Yes, I heard the
general story from them. Including that, I'd like to hear it directly from
you..."
Jihad glanced at
Irisdina and the others, and they looked at Nozomu with apologetic expressions.
"I see..."
They probably felt
guilty for having revealed Nozomu's secret without his permission.
Nozomu gave a wry
smile and waved his hand lightly, as if to say, "Don't worry about
it."
The power that was
released when he had released his ability suppression was far beyond the scope
of a human.
The vast amount of ki
that had erupted, and the five-colored light that was mixed in with it. The
"Phantom - Flash -" that Nozomu had released was firmly imbued with
the five-colored elemental essence, which was neither ki nor magic power.
After showing
something like that, it would have been impossible for them to talk their way
out of it. It was better to tell them the circumstances and bring them over to
their side as allies.
Nozomu shrugged his
shoulders, took a deep breath, and turned to face Jihad again.
Once more, Nozomu
spoke of his secret: the Tiamat he had taken in, and the circumstances
surrounding it.
Irisdina and the
others had probably already explained the basics, but he felt it was his duty
to tell them himself as well.
"So, what will
happen to me?"
After finishing
telling all his secrets, Nozomu looked straight at Jihad and, in turn, returned
the question head-on. There was no sign of particular agitation in his tone.
It was true that in
the worst-case scenario, he could be imprisoned. However, the fact that he was
able to meet with outsiders like Irisdina and Mars and the others negated the
worst-case scenario that had floated in Nozomu's mind.
Perhaps understanding
Nozomu's thoughts, Jihad also began to explain the current situation in a calm,
emotionless tone.
"The only people
who know that you are a dragonslayer are the ones present here. I have no
intention of making it public either. It is not something that can be
carelessly made public.
However, for now, it
is uncertain what will happen in the future."
The future was
uncertain. Nozomu was not particularly agitated by this.
Although there was no
way to prove that only the people present knew, it was easy enough to predict
that the information about Nozomu was being kept highly restricted.
"After all, it's
the appearance of a dragonslayer for the first time in several hundred years.
It's easy to see that various countries will become noisy, demanding you be
handed over. If not that, they will surely make a fuss, demanding to examine
your body and be given the data."
Well, that was to be
expected. It was unlikely that they would openly say, "Do human
experiments!", but since Arcazam was run with the support of various
countries, it was easy to see them trying to push through unreasonable demands
with a high-handed attitude.
"For now, you
will continue to attend the academy as usual, but if any country tries to force
through inhumane demands such as human experimentation, we will have to
consider making your existence known throughout the continent.
Of course, in that
case, your life would become quite restricted..."
However, it seemed
they had countermeasures for that in mind.
As Jihad said, the
method of making him a public figure was one of them.
Of course, if that
were to happen, it was easy to see that various restrictions would be placed on
Nozomu's life...
"But even in that
case, it is clear that various countries will try to use your power under some
pretext. That is why, for now, I would like you to keep the dragon's power
unreleased and behave yourself..."
"I have no
intention of showing off this power in the first place. For me, it's a
double-edged sword. But either way, it's best to be quiet for now..."
Although Nozomu
himself had anticipated this to some extent, hearing it from someone else's
mouth was a depressing story that made his body feel heavy.
However, Nozomu also
had no desire to be suddenly made a public figure or treated like a guinea pig.
In the worst-case
scenario, he intended to resist with all his might.
As for Jihad, he
couldn't have Nozomu rampaging.
It was not certain how
long he could keep his power released. But if they were to clash, there was no
one other than Jihad who could stop him, and in the worst-case scenario, a lot
of pointless blood would be shed.
"That's right.
However, it seems you haven't completely mastered the dragon's power. That is
also a point of concern.
Therefore, we will
have to talk with you in various ways and work things out. Let's see, for starters,
control training for 'that power' you've taken in, and magic training for your
weak points..."
"Anri-sensei and
I will cooperate on that. In that case, we will have to establish a strict
system so that it doesn't leak to the outside. Anri-sensei..."
"I'll be in
charge of selecting the necessary tools and locations~. Inda-sensei is better
at magic-related things~, so I'll be helping out~."
Inda and Norn also
joined in Jihad's conversation.
In the first place,
Nozomu was now a student of Solminati Academy.
Since he had decided
to protect this academy and its students, for Jihad, Nozomu was a subject of
protection.
Of course, Jihad
himself was not omnipotent, and he had his own constraints. But to remove
Nozomu's anxieties as much as possible was something that Jihad absolutely had
to do.
"Umm..."
At the teachers who
were pushing the conversation forward, Nozomu couldn't help but scratch his
cheek.
It was true that the
dragon's power Nozomu had taken in was immense. The danger was also high. But
more than that, Jihad valued Nozomu, who had rescued Lisa while suppressing his
own resentment and anger.
If you fight while
being consumed by hatred, you will only increase the number of those who die in
vain.
Even if you knew it in
your head, just how many people could follow through with it?
"You have already
obtained a great power.
And I'm not just
talking about the dragon's power. You have mastered the sword art of that Shino
Mikagura, and your skill has already been proven.
Even in the special
comprehensive exercise, you fought well against an opponent who was superior in
strength, and you survived an encounter with a corpse dragon. To be frank,
there are many countries that would want you. That's why..."
After saying that
much, Jihad made a pause as if to emphasize.
Jihad's sharp gaze
pierced him. In the face of a strong will so similar to his master's, Nozomu
was overwhelmed.
"You will
eventually have to decide your own path."
To decide his own
path. At those heavy words that seemed to echo in the pit of his stomach,
Nozomu swallowed hard.
For a while, a silence
flowed between the two.
"Well, it's not
like it has to be right away. Even after you graduate, you can still remain at
this academy. Your sword art is worth that much. However, I want you to keep it
in mind."
Jihad's cheeks
immediately relaxed, and he tapped Nozomu's shoulder in a light tone. But even
though it was a light tap, that hand felt strangely heavy to Nozomu.
"Um, what
happened to Lisa...?"
"She has no
physical problems. She is back to her studies for now. I'll let her know that
you've woken up, just in case."
Since he had lost
consciousness before confirming Lisa's safety, Nozomu let out a sigh of relief
after confirming that she was safe.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you.
It was because of your efforts that the casualties were kept to a minimum at
that time. As the guardian of this city, I am grateful.
Rather, I would like
to apologize here for our own shortcomings. I'm sorry."
Nozomu was surprised
by the sudden thanks and apology. To be honest, he had not expected to receive
an apology face-to-face in this manner.
Ignoring Nozomu's
state of mind, Inda, who was waiting behind Jihad, also bowed her head deeply.
"I'm sorry for
everything until now. Um, for various things..."
"N-No. I'm just
embarrassed to be bowed to like this..."
To be honest, that was
Nozomu's frank thought.
Although there were
various things concerning Ken, Nozomu himself was well aware that his own shortcomings
were also a part of the cause.
He couldn't bring
himself to denounce others when he himself was also at fault.
"But a line must
be drawn. If you need any help, just say so. I will lend you my strength,
regardless of the being within you."
"Um... thank
you."
But as for Jihad, if
he didn't draw a line in some form, he couldn't be satisfied.
It might be
self-satisfaction. Still, Jihad was filled with vexation at having been unable
to do anything for a student who truly needed help, and as a result, having
pushed everything onto him.
However, the situation
of having his superiors bowing to him was a bit awkward for the commoner
Nozomu.
"Um, what
happened to Ken?"
Nozomu asked about his
other childhood friend, partly to change the subject.
The next moment,
Jihad's and Inda's expressions clouded over.
Jihad glanced at Inda
for a moment, then let out a deep breath, and with a heavy atmosphere as if he
were carrying lead in his stomach, he slowly opened his mouth.
"He is alive. But
whether you can call that being alive..."
"His body itself
is alive, but his condition is the same as yours until just now, a deep
comatose state. However, since he himself was taken in by that demonic beast,
the highest level of caution and sealing has been applied.
This is a decision by
the city's council, and there is nothing we can do about it. I'm sorry..."
"...I see."
According to Inda's
story, which continued from Jihad's words, Ken was currently sealed in the
lowest level of the Gloaurum Institute.
Both powerful physical
and magical means were used for the sealing, and he was in a state where he
couldn't even move an inch.
However, unlike
Nozomu, his will and ego were extremely weakened, and he was literally just
"alive."
Of course, he could
not be visited. The authority regarding this sealing was held by the council
and was no longer under Jihad's jurisdiction.
Feeling dizzy at the
overly tragic state of his former best friend, Nozomu's body swayed.
"...Nozomu, are
you okay?"
His surrounding
comrades let out worried voices and tried to support his body.
Nozomu held up his
hand to block his comrades and said, "I'm fine," but his lips were
bitten so hard it looked painful.
So this was the end,
Nozomu looked up at the ceiling.
It was true that he
had been set up by him. Ken had, as a result, destroyed the dream of an
important person. Nozomu had brought about that end with his own hands.
He didn't think he had
made a mistake. He had drawn his sword because he didn't want to regret it.
There was no lie in that feeling.
Still, the depths of
his chest continued to ache.
The only salvation was
the fact that he had been able to hear that Lisa was safe.
"In any case, for
now, rest well. When you're able to return to school, let's talk about various
things."
"Since the physical
examination has been cleared, anyone can freely visit from now on. You probably
have a lot to talk about, so please take your time. Well then, see you at the
academy..."
Jihad and Inda, after
showing their concern for the heartbroken Nozomu in a gentle tone, glanced at
Irisdina and the others as if to prompt them, and left the hospital room.
After the two of them
had left the room, the comrades who had been watching the course of events from
behind gathered around Nozomu.
"Everyone. Sorry
for making you worry."
"You really did.
Making us worry so much..."
"Ehehe. But I'm
relieved that you've woken up!"
At Nozomu, who bowed
his head, everyone returned a smile of relief. They probably also intended to
cheer up the depressed Nozomu after hearing about Ken's current situation just
now.
His chest still hurt.
But at the smiles of his comrades that he had finally seen, Nozomu's cheeks
naturally relaxed.
"I was having a
dream."
"A dream?"
"Yeah. A dream of
that dragon..."
At Nozomu's words, which
alluded to Tiamat, a tension ran through the comrades who were present.
"Did it try to
take you over again?"
Mars frowned. Nozomu
thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"No, it's true
that at the end, I was showered with angry roars and almost killed as usual,
but it didn't feel like that. And..."
"And...?"
The scene that floated
in Nozomu's mind. The figure of Tiamat, shedding tears of blood and raising a
cry of resentment to the heavens.
What in the world had
happened to that dragon? Most of the documents from 5000 years ago have not
been found, and much is still shrouded in mystery.
And in the tone of
Tiamat's voice as she shouted in the dream, besides the madness he had felt
since their first meeting, he could clearly feel a deep sorrow.
Thinking that far,
Nozomu shook his head.
"Hmm. There are
still a lot of things I don't understand. But I think that dragon has a much
more complicated situation than we think."
He didn't know a
single crucial thing.
But Nozomu was
beginning to feel a somehow similar impression from Tiamat as he did from
himself.
"Is that a
certainty?"
"Yeah.
...Ugh!"
The moment he gave a
small nod to Shina's question, Nozomu's body swayed. It seemed it was true that
his body was still weak from just having woken up.
"You're not back
to your best yet, are you? You should rest for a while."
"Yeah, I'll do
that."
Looking out from the
hospital room, the sun had already completely set into the cityscape, and only
the faint light of twilight was scorching the sky.
To be honest, Mars and
the others were quite worried about Nozomu, but seeing him give a clear reply,
their anxiety had considerably lessened.
Staying in the
hospital room any longer might also be a burden on him. Thinking so, his
comrades began to prepare to leave.
"Nozomu-kun~.
I'll have the remedial lessons all ready for you, so get well soon,
okay~!"
"Ah, thank you,
Anri-sensei. But please be gentle with me..."
At Anri-sensei, who
was making muscles with both her hands, Nozomu returned a wry smile.
But what was this
special menu?
At Anri's strangely
spirited enthusiasm, Nozomu had nothing but a bad feeling.
"Well, just give
up. It's your fault for oversleeping."
"I can't say
anything back to that..."
"Well, what's the
harm? Private lessons from a teacher... It might get interesting again..."
Nozomu shrugged his
shoulders at Mars's criticism, while Feo was secretly plotting some kind of
mischievous scheme.
Tom and Somia, who
were listening to the conversation of the three, were tilting their heads in
unison.
"Private
lessons?"
"Is it different
from remedial lessons? Do you know, Tima-chan?"
"I-I think it's
still too early for Somia-chan..."
Tima dodged the innocent
Somia's question, her face bright red.
On the other hand,
Mimuru, whose ears had perked up at those words, jumped at Tom and purred.
"I'll give you
private lessons, Tom! Ah, or rather, you could teach me..."
"Eh?"
"Alright, that's
enough!"
She wouldn't let her
say it all in front of a child. With that determination radiating from her, Shina
grabbed Mimuru by the scruff of her neck and pulled her away from Tom.
Letting out a croak
like a squashed frog, Mimuru's eyes rolled back.
"Honestly, this
girl... Well then, Nozomu-kun, we're leaving now. Good night."
At the smiling Shina,
Nozomu also returned a smile.
A smile from Shina
that warmed his chest. Nozomu didn't know what had happened, but he felt a
softness that she hadn't had before.
"Thank you, Shina.
Good night."
Nozomu nodded at Shina's
words and began to wriggle into bed.
At his reply, Shina
smiled and gave a small nod, then left the hospital room, dragging Mimuru with
her.
There were a mountain
of things he was curious about. But for now, he would rest his body.
His comrades also
exchanged goodbyes with Nozomu as they left, and one by one, they left the
hospital room.
Finally, when Irisdina
put her hand on the door, as if she had remembered something, she suddenly
turned around.
"Good night,
Nozomu. And... I'm so glad you woke up..."
"Iris..."
Even with her eyes
swollen bright red, she wore a broad smile on her face.
For a moment, Nozomu's
heart skipped a beat.
But at that moment,
Irisdina's face suddenly clouded over.
"I know you're
pushing yourself because of Lisa-kun, but... Still..."
"Eh?"
"S-Sorry! It's
nothing! Well then, take care... Don't push yourself, okay?"
Before Nozomu could
ask, Irisdina disappeared beyond the door.
The worried face she
had shown, as if enduring something. Why had she made such an expression?
She had suddenly
brought up Lisa's name. What in the world...
Before he could come
up with an answer, a wave of sleepiness assaulted Nozomu's entire body. His
spirit, more than his body, still needed rest.
The matter of Lisa,
whom he had not yet been able to meet, the sealed Ken, the past of Tiamat that
he had glimpsed, and the smiles of relief and worried faces of Irisdina and the
others. They all swirled in his mind.
However, unable to
resist the rapidly approaching sleepiness, Nozomu's consciousness was drawn
into sleep, and he soon began to breathe regularly.
After a while, the
door to the hospital room was quietly opened. From the slowly opened door,
Lisa, with her crimson hair flowing, quietly stepped into the hospital room.
She approached the
breathing Nozomu and let out a smile of relief.
However, that smile
quickly disappeared and was replaced by a pained expression.
"Nozomu..."
The girl's voice did
not reach the once again sleeping Nozomu. But she had heard that Nozomu had
woken up, and she had also been able to confirm it directly.
Lisa had learned of
Nozomu's awakening when she had entered this medical facility. She had happened
to meet Jihad and the others coming out of the facility and had been told that
Nozomu had woken up.
Hearing of Nozomu's
awakening, she had rushed to his hospital room. But before she could open the
door to Nozomu's room, she had overheard his conversation with his comrades.
The moment she heard
Nozomu's bright, cheerful voice, Lisa's body had frozen like a statue, and she
had been unable to open the door.
Eventually, it was
time for his comrades to leave.
Lisa had hurriedly
hidden in the adjacent empty room and had entered his hospital room at the
moment Nozomu had fallen asleep.
She could have entered
the room while his comrades were there. She could have met him before he fell
asleep.
After talking with Shina
and witnessing her pure feelings, she didn't want to disregard Nozomu's will,
and had put her hand on the door to face him again...
But the coward in the
depths of her heart could not take that final step.
She didn't have the
courage to appear before Nozomu. She couldn't accept the pained emotion that
Irisdina had directed at her.
"I'm sorry."
Lisa bit her lip at
her own patheticness and spoke words of apology.
Her voice did not
reach the sleeping Nozomu. Still, once she spoke to Nozomu, the words came
flooding out as if a dam had broken.
"...Thank you,
for saving me. For staying at the academy all this time."
Along with her words,
tears naturally welled up, and she could not stop them.
Her guilt towards
Nozomu, her patheticness at her own cowardice, and above all, her heart was
full of his feelings, who had confronted her and Ken's distorted relationship
head-on.
Right in front of her
was Nozomu's sleeping face, wearing a gentle expression. She was seized by an
impulse to touch his cheek.
She slowly pulled back
the hand she had instinctively reached out.
She did not think she
was worthy of touching him yet.
She had done nothing.
She had not atoned. She had given him nothing back.
Her chest still ached.
Her guilt and hesitation towards Nozomu made even her fingertips tremble just
by standing before him while he was sleeping.
Still...
"...Good night,
Nozomu. Get well soon."
After sending only
those words to Nozomu, she stood up from her seat and slowly left the hospital
room, as if reluctant to leave.
***
By the time Lisa
returned to the central park, which had become completely dark, Camilla was
waiting for her with a worried look on her face.
"Lisa. How was
Nozomu?"
"Yeah... His body
is fine, it seems."
"From the looks
of it, you couldn't talk to him face-to-face, could you..."
At the downcast Lisa,
Camilla let out a sigh.
Well, Camilla had
anticipated this to some extent. Although their two years of misunderstanding
had finally been resolved, there was no way she could suddenly talk to Nozomu
so casually.
In the first place,
there was also the matter of the recent attempted assault. Considering the
magnitude of the shock she had received, it was understandable that hesitation
would win out.
However, that was
precisely why Camilla had wanted Lisa to talk to Nozomu. Because she thought
that Nozomu would be able to blow away Lisa's hesitation.
At the same time,
Camilla gritted her teeth at her own powerlessness to support her.
She herself was as
guilty as Lisa. If possible, she had wanted to help Lisa get back on her feet
with her own hands.
But while Nozomu was
bedridden, no matter what Camilla said, she could not help Lisa get back on her
feet.
What occupied Lisa's
heart was Nozomu.
Then, at the very
least, she would stay by her side so that Lisa would not be crushed by guilt.
Until she could properly face Nozomu one day. That was one of Camilla's forms
of atonement.
On the other hand,
perhaps because her self-reproach had increased from having left Nozomu, Lisa's
expression clouded over.
"Hey, Camilla.
What should I do...?"
"Well, if I had
to think of something, I can only think of doing what's necessary for Nozomu...
But honestly, we don't know much about the current Nozomu..."
In Camilla's mind, the
figure of Nozomu crossing blades with Ken floated up.
Two years ago, Nozomu
couldn't win a single mock battle against Ken.
Such a Nozomu had
grown to the point where he could fight well against that Jihad Raundel and
snatch victory from a full-powered Ken who had even used his trump card.
And to top it all off,
he had also accomplished the difficult task of rescuing the Lisa who had been
taken in by that black demonic beast at that time.
His abilities were
clearly far removed from the Nozomu they had known. Perhaps because of that,
while she rejoiced at Nozomu's feelings, she also felt that he was very
distant.
But at the same time,
while feeling that Nozomu was distant, Lisa also had a different impression
from Camilla.
"But..."
"Hmm?"
"There were parts
of him that hadn't changed..."
The voice that had
barely escaped Lisa's throat. Those words did not even reach her own ears and
were carried away by the gentle breeze and disappeared.
To speak those words
with her chest held high, Lisa's heart was still hard and shrunken.
It was true that Lisa
and the others did not know the current Nozomu.
Where had he learned
such a sword art? How had he saved her when she had been taken in by that
monster?
And above all, what
was the bond that connected Irisdina and the others with Nozomu?
Faced with the truth
she had not been trying to see, and with her cloudy eyes now clear, while being
tormented by guilt and regret, Lisa was witnessing one new discovery after
another.
But when she thought
back on it, the eyes of Nozomu that were directed at the Lisa who had been
rejecting him with a raised voice were no different from the him she had loved.
He was still the same
pure, gentle him.
It was just that she
had not been trying to notice it.
"...That's
right."
Camilla probably also
noticed that in her heart. Even if it did not reach her ears, she had somehow
sensed Lisa's words that had been carried away by the gentle breeze.
"Well, in the
end, you have to talk properly with Nozomu at least once..."
It all came down to
that. She had to properly settle the two years of misunderstanding.
If she didn't, neither
Lisa nor Nozomu would be able to move forward in the true sense.
"Y...Yeah.
Th-That's right... About that... kyan!"
Lisa, who was still
stuttering, unable to stand before Nozomu, suddenly let out a cute scream.
A sensation of
something rustling and crawling ran over her buttocks.
What she saw when she
turned around with a feeling of discomfort that made the hair on her entire
body stand on end was a suspicious person with a white beard wrapped in a robe.
"Hohoho, what a
fine behind. It has a tautness like a peach... I can't help but be
entranced~~"
"K-Kyaaaaaah!"
"Gugyaaaah!"
Without confirming who
the other person was, Lisa's palm swung at the suspicious person with all her
might.
She must have
reflexively applied magic enhancement as well. The old man, who was hit with a
powerful slap, flew through the air with a thunderous BOOM! and then plunged
into the park's bushes.
To Camilla's eyes, it
seemed as if the neck of the slapped old man had been twisted in an unnatural
direction, but she tried her best not to think about that.
"Wh-Who?"
"Ho-ho-ho! A fine
slap. Truly a whip from a goddess! No, thank you very much!"
"Hik!"
But the old man jumped
out of the bushes as if nothing had happened.
Perhaps it was an
extremely powerful blow, as the old man's cheek was swollen like an octopus,
and blood was flowing from his nostrils.
Despite that, he was
breathing heavily and uttering words that would make one's hair stand on end,
so his creepiness was all the greater.
"Y-You. I think I
remember you from that time..."
"C-Camilla, do
you know him?"
"Yeah. He looks
like the old man who helped when Lisa was taken in by Ken..."
Indeed, Camilla
remembered the old man who was grinning sloppily in front of her.
Yes, the person who
had intervened in the previous incident when Lisa had been taken in by the
black demonic beast. It was Zonne.
"Pleased to meet
you, young ladies. My name is Zonne. A humble fortune teller in the commercial
district and a beautiful hero (for women only)!"
Along with an impact
so strong that you could almost hear a sound effect, the old man extended his
hand in a cheesy manner. At the third-rate acting that was painful to watch,
the surrounding time and space stopped.
In short... it was
incredibly "cringe."
"Umm... I think
he was supposed to be a super strong old man, but... huh?"
Somehow pushing
through the frozen air, Camilla let out a trembling voice. But a question mark
was flying around in her head.
Indeed, Camilla remembered
the old man who was grinning sloppily in front of her.
A powerhouse who
possessed knowledge about that black demonic beast that she had never heard of,
and who didn't even let Jihad sense his presence... or so he was supposed to
be.
"Oh, young lady
over there. You know of me, do you!? My, to be fallen for by such a young
lady~. As always, I am a sinful man~!"
But then again, was he
this kind of person?
The pink-colored gaze,
clouded with lust and delusion, was strangely infuriating...
"I wonder how you
leaped to that conclusion..."
"Rather, he's
annoying and gross..."
Both Lisa and Camilla
were on maximum alert against the criminal old geezer who had suddenly
appeared.
The gaze they directed
at the old man was endlessly cold.
However, it was also
an undeniable fact that the old man in front of them, who called himself Zonne,
was a person of extraordinary ability.
This might be an act.
The old man's lust-pink gaze did not look like a deception in any way, but
Camilla thought so and forcibly convinced herself.
"So, what do you
want? I can't imagine a person like you would have business with us..."
"Yes, well,
that's right. My business is with the red-haired young lady over there."
"W-With
me...?"
"Umu, since
you're a person who has a deep connection with that brat, I wanted to talk to
you a little. That's why I was about to greet you just now, but I was so
captivated by your beautiful behind... and, well, my hand just reached
out..."
Correction. He was,
without a shadow of a doubt, a pervert.
"...Lisa, let's
go to Jihad-sensei's place. Let's have this old man arrested right away."
"Hey! Wait a
minute! That was just a little prank just now, but this story is for
real!"
"The groping was
the part that was for real, wasn't it? Rather than handing you over to
Jihad-sensei, maybe I should just crush you right here."
"Wh-Where do you
plan on crushing me!"
"...Your
privates?"
Camilla directed all
the coldness she could muster at a specific part of Zonne. She didn't say
where, but it was a weak spot common to all men in the world. It might not be
effective on some special men, but...
A piercing cold
stabbed at his lower body, and Zonne's hips flinched.
"Ahem, ahem! Now
then, young lady. You don't know what you should do right now, do you? But even
if you want to do something, you know too little about the brat as he is
now."
As if to escape from
the absolute zero gaze directed at him from Camilla, Zonne suddenly put on a
serious face.
Camilla's sidelong
glance became even sharper at the blatant change of topic, but Nozomu's name
dulled her pursuit.
In Camilla's mind, the
image of Zonne from when he had intervened in the previous incident revived.
This old man was
clearly well-versed in matters concerning Nozomu. And concerning that black
demonic beast as well.
"The secret of
the brat that those black-haired young ladies know, but you do not. Don't you
want to know?"
At Zonne's words,
which seemed to be luring them in, Camilla's wariness increased at once.
"You, what's your
objective?"
"To watch over
that brat. Therefore, I am in this city.
To see whether the
brat will be consumed by the power he has taken into himself, or whether he
will be swayed by his own hatred. In that sense, one of my worries has been
eliminated..."
Camilla glared at the
old man as if growling, but Zonne just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, as
if to dismiss her.
"The power...
Nozomu took in."
On the other hand,
Lisa was repeating Zonne's words as if to confirm them.
Before she knew it,
her hands were clenched tightly, and her heart was beginning to beat rapidly.
She had intuitively
understood that this was probably what separated her and Nozomu.
"...Why did you
come to talk to us? If you were going to talk, wouldn't Irisdina-san and the
others be better..."
"They already
know. They've experienced its danger firsthand. Still, those young ladies seem
to have decided to stay by the brat's side."
"..."
Irisdina and the
others already knew Nozomu's secret. At that fact, Lisa was momentarily at a
loss for words and fell silent. And at the same time, she was also convinced.
That that was the bond between Nozomu and Irisdina and the others.
Zonne, while glancing
at such a Lisa, did not try to stop speaking.
"What about you?
The brat is involved in a situation that, regardless of his own will, could,
depending on the circumstances, affect the future of the Arkmel continent. To
be by the brat's side requires a corresponding resolve and courage.
But can you accept him?
You, who are even afraid to face the brat now..."
"I..."
The bond of Irisdina
and the others, conveyed by a third party. Although she had somehow sensed it,
being confronted with it again like this, she felt as if her vision was turning
completely dark.
She had known. It was
her own fault.
She was the one who couldn't
believe in him until the end. Contrary to the fighting skills she had polished,
her heart was so weak.
The reality she was
confronted with once again pierced Lisa's body, and began to erode even the
small warmth that had been lit.
Without even realizing
it herself, Lisa swallowed hard.
Next to her, Camilla
was looking at Lisa with concern, but she too could not say anything back to
Zonne's words. Because they had been confronted with the fact that they were
just on the outside.
At that moment, Zonne,
who had been looking at Lisa with a stern gaze, suddenly softened his
expression.
At the same time, the
tense cold in the surroundings dissipated.
"But... it's not
as if you can do nothing."
"Eh?"
A suddenly changed,
gentle tone.
While giving a gentle
smile like a doting grandfather to the bewildered Lisa and the others, Zonne
continued to speak calmly.
Eyes as gentle as a
sunny spot. In them, a slight color of pity and regret was mixed.
"The young lady
still has time. There are things you can do. Above all, although you are
hesitating to confront your own sin, this time you are not looking away. That
is why..."
"I've found you,
Grandfather."
At that moment, a cold
voice echoed from behind the old man who called himself Zonne.
The three of them turned
their eyes to the darkness to see who it was, and a girl wrapped in a robe
appeared.
White hair illuminated
by the moonlight, and cobalt blue eyes. A doll-like, well-featured face. Yes,
the girl who had bumped into Mars in the central park before.
A beautiful girl that
even Lisa herself would stare at. But what remained most in Lisa's ears was the
single word she had said to Zonne.
""Grandfather?""
"Wh-Wh..."
On the other hand,
Zonne was staring at the girl in front of him with his eyes wide open.
"A-Azel! Why are
you here!?"
"That's my line.
To think you would suddenly disappear from the village, what are you
doing?"
To Zonne, who was
shouting while trembling in astonishment, the girl called Azel retorted with an
exasperated look.
The dignity that Zonne
had been wrapped in until just now had completely dissipated, and he now had a
somewhat awkward expression on his face.
On the other hand, the
girl, with Lisa and the others who were stunned behind Zonne completely out of
her sight, narrowed her eyes and continued to speak nonchalantly.
"It's a delicate
time as it is. In a situation where we must find and dispose of that calamity
as soon as possible, what in the world were you doing?"
"Various things.
Various..."
The girl's strong tone
was filled with condemnation for Zonne. At Zonne, who was whistling with an
indifferent face, the girl's gaze gradually sharpened.
At that moment, the
girl's eyes finally noticed Lisa and the others behind Zonne.
"Grandfather, is
something the matter with those people?"
Although she was
asking about Lisa and the others, her cold tone showed no interest in them at
all.
The question was
directed at Zonne. The emotion in the girl's gaze towards Lisa and the others
was completely colorless.
"Well~. As you
can see, she's a rather promising young lady, isn't she? That's why I was
thinking of taking her to that tavern over there..."
"You, of all
people... Seriously, it's about time you considered your own position!"
Although she had no
interest or concern for Lisa and the others, she was strangely worked up about
Zonne.
On the other hand,
Zonne, who had witnessed Azel's tantrum, looked away awkwardly and suddenly
turned on his heel.
"Ah! I just
remembered something I have to do! Well then, young ladies. It's a shame, but
let's continue this another time..."
"Ah! Wait a
minute!"
The girl hurriedly
chased after Zonne, who had suddenly started to walk away.
Zonne, ignoring the
girl who was scattering some kind of complaint, disappeared into the city.
But at that moment,
Zonne, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around.
"Oh, that's
right. If you've made up your mind, you should come to my shop. I'll tell you
all sorts of things!"
Leaving only that sentences,
Zonne ran off like a scared rabbit and disappeared into the darkness. The girl
called Azel hurriedly chased after him.
"What in the
world..."
Unable to even speak
at the sudden event, Lisa and Camilla stood there in a daze for a while.
"A fortune-teller
in the commercial district..."
If she went there,
would she be able to know? The current Nozomu.
He was an obviously
suspicious old man. Normally, she would never go.
But Lisa's heart was
fiercely wavering with the temptation of being able to know Nozomu's secret.
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