Early Release!!
=================
Chapter 6 Part 17
Translator : PolterGlast
A
big pile of papers stood like a mountain range on his desk. Buried in the pile
of papers was a large man with his back hunched over, while frantically working
with a pen.
Jihad,
who was busy in his office after cleaning up the mess from the previous Combat
Training, sighed at the pile of papers in front of him and muttered to the
woman beside him.
"Ms.
Inda, I think we're almost done..."
"No,
not yet. You need to check the restoration plan and estimation. As soon as the
payment is made, we will start the restoration work. After that, you will also
supervise the construction work to save us the trouble of confirmation
work."
Her
words pierced Jihad's ears like ice and snow, with not a trace of warmth.
She
was a woman who usually had a hint of warmth in her flat tone, but lately, her
attitude had been cold as a glacier.
"...
Isn't my work strangely increasing? Normally, I would only check the plans and
estimations, not oversee the construction..."
Jihad
looked at Ms. Inda's face and tried to protest, but she kept her expression
blank and slapped him with a lecturing word.
"Just
for the record, sir. It was Jihad-dono who was in charge of the combat training
class at the Martial Arts Garden this time, so it was only logical that you
should be the one to clean up the damage.
Besides,
the Martial Arts Garden was scheduled to be used by the 4th year students. In
order to keep the classes running smoothly, we need to complete the work as
soon as possible. Rest assured, I'll bring all the necessary documents to the
Martial Arts Garden, and I'll even prepare a desk for you to work at."
Apparently,
Inda was going to help him in supervising and she would do her regular work as
well.
The
sight of an adult frantically scratching papers at a desk would definitely become
a laughing matter outside.
Even
though she said she was just making an efficient choice, Inda's sentence was in
a sense equivalent to a death sentence. If Jihad's students were to see him
like this, his life as a teacher would definitely be doomed. But even before
that, as a man, he would feel so miserable that it would be difficult to
recover."
"Even
though I'm your boss ..."
"Jihad-dono,
are you finished yet?"
As
Jihad's shoulders slumped, Inda rushed him to get back to work.
With
a big sigh, Jihad turned his face to Inda.
While
Inda's expression was nonchalant, the slit eyes behind her silver-rimmed
glasses glared at Jihad. It seemed that she was quite in a bad mood since the
combat training in which Jihad got carried away.
However,
despite the stinging glare directed at him, Jihad grinned and lifted his mouth.
"Don't
be so angry. You're ruining your beautiful face."
"I
don't think myself as beautiful! So please, just get to work!"
Inda
yelled to Jihad, who made fun of her.
While
looking at her, Jihad began to laugh heartily with his hands on his stomach.
What
he said was bold, without thinking, and unrestrained. It was hard to believe
that this was the same man who had shown his power in combat training a few
days ago.
Suddenly,
however, Jihad tightened the grin on his face.
Inda's
eyes widened at the sudden change in Jihad's atmosphere, wondering what was
going on.
"Also,
I've got some urgent business to attend to today. I need to take some time
off."
"Business?
What kind of business is that?"
She
haven't heard anything about that, but ... just as Inda was about to continue
asking, there was a knock on the office door.
Unlike
Inda, who still had a puzzled expression on her face, Jihad urged the person
waiting behind the door to enter.
The
person entered the office. When she recognized the figure, Inda's eyes suddenly
became serious.
"Hello~.
Have I kept you waiting?~."
The
person who came in was the opposite of Inda, with a carefree and slow-paced
voice. They were like the moon and the sun. Anri Var came in with a sunny smile
on her face.
And
coming into the office from behind her was the person who is now the talk of
the school, Nozomu Bountis.
================================
After
school, Nozomu and Mars were about to meet up with Irisdina and the others
along. He was feeling inwardly excited.
According
to Mars, he was going to buy him dinner at Ushitotei to celebrate his discharge
from the hospital.
This
morning's meal had been nothing but digestible soup, and he hadn't eaten
anything satisfying in the past few days.
The
food at Ushitotei was unquestionably delicious, and as a hard-working student
with a large appetite, it sounded like something Nozomu would be excited about.
However,
when they were about to leave the classroom, Nozomu and Mars were stopped by
Anri's voice.
She
told them that Jihad had business with Nozomu, and brought only Nozomu to this
office.
Nozomu
was wondering what it was for, but he apologized to Mars and asked him to wait
at the main gate.
"Sorry,
I called you here on such short notice..."
"No,
I don't mind..."
Nozomu
and Jihad face each other as they sit down on a good-quality sofa. It had been
a few days since they had met.
When
Nozomu put his weight on his back, he felt a soft, enveloping touch.
"It
must be expensive", Nozomu thought meaninglessly as he once again
straightened his posture and listened to Jihad's story.
"Ha,
haa... So, Jihad-sensei. I heard you wanted to talk to me."
"Yeah,
I was wondering where you learned that katana technique..."
There
were no teachers who teach the katana technique at Solminati Academy. This was
due to the fact that there was very little interaction between this country and
the Arcmill continent.
This
is not due to political reasons. The sea between the eastern country and this
continent is rough almost all year round, and even large ships cannot guarantee
a safe voyage.
Once
every six months, the sea is calm for a month or so, and during that time,
diplomatic relations continue in a modest way.
And
even during that one month, just because the weather and sea conditions are
calmer than in other seasons, a safe voyage couldn't really be guaranteed.
As
it was difficult to establish diplomatic relations on a large scale, there were
naturally few people who would pass on the art of katana technique.
In
such a situation, how many people could have taught Nozomu so many katana
techniques? It was understandable that Jihad was curious.
There
was no need for Nozomu to keep his master a secret, so he began answering
Jihad's questions with a light heart.
However,
there were other reasons for jihad to be so curious.
"She
is an old woman named Shino. She used to live in the forest in the suburbs of
the city until a while ago. She passed away recently..."
"Hmm...
Shino..."
The
moment he heard Shino's name, Jihad frowned and began to think.
Nozomu
wondered if there was something on his mind but waited patiently for Jihad's
words.
"About
your master... a woman named Shino, are you sure that she is from the east?
"Yes,
Shishō said that she came to this continent after being kicked out of her
parents' home due to her family problem. She was about eighty years old, so she
came to this continent about sixty years ago, and since then she has been
living alone in seclusion."
Nozomu
did not know how old Shino was when she came to this continent.
However,
considering the fact that there had been at least some talk of an engagement,
it could be expected that she was in her prime.
Jihad,
who had been listening to Nozomu's story, occasionally nodded from time to time
with his hand on his beard.
"Hmm,
so, you inherited your katana from your master?"
"Yes, Shishō recently passed away from a fatal disease. This was entrusted to me at
that time."
When
she heard that Nozomu's master had died, Inda, who had been listening to the
conversation beside Jihad, opened her eyes. Nozomu didn't know what she was
thinking, but there seemed to be a hint of perplexion in the depths of her
eyes.
In
the meantime, Jihad frowned for a moment when he heard of the death of Nozomu's
master, but his gaze was fixed on the katana that Nozomu was holding.
"...
Do you mind if I take a look at it?"
"Yes,
I don't mind, but ..."
Despite
being puzzled by the strange attention his beloved katana was receiving, Nozomu
slowly removed his katana from his belt and handed it to Jihad.
Jihad
bowed and took Nozomu's katana, then pulled the blade from the sheath's mouth
and let the blade peek out.
The
western sun shining through the window made the blade glow. As soon as Jihad
pulled out the katana, the sound of a ringing bell spread throughout the office
like ripples.
At
first glance, the blade looked ordinary, but there was something about it that
attracted people like a moth to a flame.
Inda
gulped at its majesty. Jihad, who had been squinting his eyes, also turned his
even sharper gaze towards the blade.
"...
I see. Do you know the name of this katana, Nozomu-kun?"
As
Jihad quietly sheathed the katana and returned it to Nozomu, he inquired about
the name of the katana.
Nozomu
put it back beside him and slowly shook his head.
"No,
Shishō did not tell me the name of this sword, nor was there any inscription
engraved on it."
"I
see..."
In
response to Nozomu's reply, Jihad mumbled a few words and became lost in
thought.
The
way he wrinkled his mouth and pondered, he looked just like he had some sort of
problem.
"Um,
does Jihad-sensei know about this katana?"
This
was the beloved katana of a master with such a great ability.
Nozomu
knew that the quality of the katana was much better than the two he had used in
the past.
That
was why he had doubts about the lack of an inscription on the katana, but for
him, the feelings that went along with it were far more important than the
katana itself.
Therefore,
the name of the katana itself was of secondary importance to him, but looking
at Jihad, it seemed that the katana had some kind of history.
"I'm
not familiar with katana, so I can't say for sure, but I can only think of one
katana of this caliber that doesn't have a name. Perhaps the name of this
katana is [Mumei]."
Tl
note : Mumei means Nameless.
"Nameless?
But that's ..."
He
muttered to himself, but the tone in his voice contained doubt.
A
nameless katana is one that has not been engraved with a name by the maker.
This could mean that the katana was not worthy of a name, and is usually
inferior.
However,
regardless of its appearance, the quality of Nozomu's katana was clearly quite
different from the usual nameless katana. No matter how good Nozomu's skills
were, it would be hard to take Jihad's blow if he were to use ordinary katana,
but he had no problem taking Jihad's blows during the combat training.
"Sure,
many nameless katanas are not very well made in general. But this name has
another meaning in that country."
Once
again, Jihad looked at the katana beside Nozomu and slowly opened his heavy
mouth.
"That
is ... a katana from the genealogy created by a certain swordsmith."
According
to Jihad, this swordsmith's skill was undoubtedly one of the best in the
history of the continent, but he was severely misanthropic and eccentric.
His
thought was.
(This
world has always been impermanent, and nothing is permanent. Money, love, and
friendship are nothing but dust before time. Therefore, there is no need to
give a name to a katana that changes its shape and quality!)
It
was said that he did not engrave his name at all on the katanas he made because
they too would fade away with the passage of time and disappear from the world.
"It
seems that the katanas he made have this concept of impermanence built into it.
It seems that the nature of this katana changes depending on the history it has
carved out."
The
history that it has carved out. In other words, the quality of the katana
changed drastically depending on the wielder who passed it.
If
it was in the hands of a fire-wielding swordsman, the blade would pulse red
like burning lava, and if it was in the hands of a cold-hearted leader, it
would emit a cold glow like a decapitation blade.
"But
even without it, the quality of the katana is undoubtedly the best, and many
swordsmen have shed their blood to obtain it, and every time it sucked the
blood of its victims, it would drive more and more people crazy.
This
is a vicious cycle caused by the characteristic of "changing the nature of
the katana".
Because
of this, the swordsmith's "nameless" genealogy of katana was now
feared in the east as a kind of dangerous demon sword.
Honestly,
Nozomu had no idea that the katana he was using was such a ridiculously cursed
sword.
He
certainly felt it was quite a work of art, but there was no sign that it would
harbor such a curse.
"The
one who has mastered the use of such a legendary katana is Shino Mikagura. She
is your master and the head of the Mikagura School and has been called the
greatest genius ever since it was founded. It is said that she has collected
many "Nameless" katanas and subdued them one after another."
"Mikagura
..."
"Hmm?
You didn't know the name of your own school?"
"Y-yeah.
I had never heard that name from Shishō, and I never cared for it
either..."
What
Nozomu needed at that time was a place to escape and an excuse to turn away
from the facts.
This
was the reason why he absorbed Shino's swordsmanship, but as he was running
away by continuing his training, he was more interested in learning the art of
katana technique than the name of the school itself.
Shino
herself had not yet acknowledged Nozomu at the time, and perhaps she still had
mixed feelings about her family and the katana technique of her household.
Aside
from the fact that Nozomu didn't know the name of his own school, Jihad said
that the "nameless" katanas that Shino had subdued were still in the
possession of the Mikagura family.
However,
when Shino ran away, several of them went missing.
(Could
it be that the katana that I've been using is......)
Even
though the curse had already been lifted, the fact that he was using the katana
that had once been so powerful in the east sent a chill down his spine.
Without
knowing what was going through Nozomu's mind, Jihad continued to talk.
"I
don't know her personally, but I am familiar with her name. She is the sword
princess who lives in the east. Not only is she the owner of a unique katana
technique, but because of her beautiful appearance, her beauty was often
compared to a black pearl. "
"Black
pearl...? That old woman...? Shishō?"
The
word "black pearl" brought suspicion to Nozomu's face.
What
came to his mind was an old woman with a childlike smile on her face and a
mouth full of tea confectionery. And then he remembered when she was in the
form of Yasha, raising her katana with a spine-tingling smile on her face.
Pearl
is a stone that is said to represent chastity, purity, and to have the power to
ward off evil.
However,
no matter how Nozomu thought about it, he could not imagine that a pearl would
suit the figure of his master, who was the embodiment of violence.
Many
stones that are black have particularly strong power, meaning that they have
all the colors. It can be said that they are very unique.
When
Nozomu thought of it as “pure” like a child, it was actually a stone that was
very suitable for his master. Her love for one of her students can also be
described as "earnest".
However,
Nozomu's memories of being bullied during his training were too strong, so he
couldn't nod his head in agreement.
"Oh, you don't
know much about your master?"
"Yes, she didn't
tell me much about herself."
Nozomu had listened to
Shino talk about herself in casual talk and had been rigorously taught to
master her techniques, but he had never heard of the achievements she had done
in her hometown
Shino herself didn't
want to talk about it, and at the time, Nozomu himself hadn't been able to pry
about it.
It was the same for
Shino.
In the end, they
accepted each other's feelings as they were, but there was not enough time for
them to tell each other everything about their lives.
"Is that so ...
Well, that's all I want to ask about. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of
your time."
"No, I'm glad to
hear about Shishō."
Jihad raised himself
up from the sofa as if this was the end of the conversation. Nozomu stood up to
follow him.
"Now if you'll
excuse me."
Nozomu bowed to Jihad
and Inda then disappeared behind the door. He was followed by Anri, who also
left the room.
After seeing them off,
Jihad let out a deep breath.
Looking up at the
ceiling, he leaned back against the sofa and relaxed his shoulders as if he was
convinced.
"I see. So he's
the direct disciple of that sword princess ... and the fact that he inherited
his master's katana, we should assume that he has already mastered the katana
technique."
"Such a thing...
It's only been two years..."
Jihad crossed his arms
and looked convinced, while Inda still couldn't hide her surprise.
She had no idea that
Nozomu Bountis, whom she had marked as a dropout, was a direct disciple of a
swordsman whose name had once been famous even on this distant continent.
"But considering
his refined katana technique, it makes sense. Despite the difference between
katanas and swords, his skill level isn't much different from mine already.
Rather, he surpasses me in some areas such as Qi control."
"Are you sure to
let him go ...? There are too many uncertainties, especially that
[Nameless]."
His katana,
[Nameless], and his school, the Mikagura School, were elements that honestly
did not exist in Arcazam at all.
Moreover, the fact
that he inherited his master's katana meant that Shino Mikagura recognized him
as her legitimate successor.
What kind of reaction
will there be, both inside and outside the school?
Inda honestly conveyed
her thoughts that she didn't know what was going to happen.
"There's the
matter about the previous Triclops. Also, now that the opposition is making a
lot of noise about Abyss Grief, maybe it's ......"
With an anxious
expression on her face, Inda's voice sounded heavy.
However, despite her
bitter expression, Jihad's expression was calm, as if to say that her fears
were unfounded.
"Well, about the
opposition matter, such a delicate thing will happen again and again in the
future. However, about the Triclopes matter, it was definitely Nozomu Bountis
or Shino Mikagura."
Jihad, who had
confirmed the body of the Triclopes at the scene, answered with certainty.
He also experienced it
firsthand in the combat training the killing power of Mikagura's Qi techniques.
It was understandable
that the bodies of the Triclopes and Cyclopes were so badly damaged by that
technique, which can easily cut through a steel shield and shatter it.
"Considering that
he has "Ability Suppression," the most likely culprit would be Shino
Mikagura. Either way, the possibility of her being a member of the opposition
is nearly impossible. I'd have to check, but neither of them has any reason to
be enemies of this city."
Nozomu's abilities
were limited by Ability Suppression, while Shino Mikagura would be able to
slaughter enemies of that caliber without difficulty. Jihad decided so.
To be honest, the
existence of Shino Mikagura was not known at all, but she had not appeared in
the public at all since she ran away from her hometown. It was probably true
that she had become a recluse.
It was too long for
her to be in hiding, and even if she was, the time when she came to this continent
and the time when Arcazam was built was completely different.
As Inda said, they
couldn't completely lower their vigilance, they were burdened with their
positions and responsibilities.
However, in the case
of the Triclops, they were forced to be overly cautious because the existence
who defeated the giants was completely unknown.
However, now that the
existence of the other party was known, there was no need to be overly
cautious. They only need to devote the necessary amount of effort to the
necessary areas.
In that sense, it
could be said that Jihad's worries had been alleviated.
"Besides, the
fact that he put up a good fight in the combat training could be a very big
plus for this school."
However, other than
that, the existence of Nozomu Bountis had the potential to become influential
in this school.
"The school is
trying to develop human resources to be able to counter the great invasion. In
the past few years, there has been a dark cloud drifting along that path."
What Solminati Academy
is trying to nurture is people who can support those who are about to collapse
in a desperate situation. These people need to have strong willpower to never
give up, even when they are under siege and surrounded by enemies from all
directions.
Jihad had run
Solminati Academy based on meritocracy in preparation for another great
invasion that may happen again.
However, in the past
few years, the quality of the students had begun to deviate from the kind of
people the school had been aiming for.
"As I'm sure Ms.
Inda is aware, this school is trapped in a sort of "rank
mentality"."
This school adopted
the framework of ranks based on the ability of the students.
However, nearly ten
years have passed since the founding of Solminati Academy, and the students
have come to be trapped in these classifications.
As a result, what is
being nurtured is students that can only demonstrate a certain ability in a
certain situation.
Such standardized
forces may be useful as soldiers, as they are easy to distribute, but they are
not suitable in the sense of "nurturing people who can overcome the
difficulties of a great invasion.
However, the current
students of the school have their own ranks as their base, and there is no
sense of enthusiasm to break free from it.
In other words, the
idea that they of lower ranks are no match for those in higher ranks has become
ingrained in the students' minds, and as a result, it has become difficult to
nurture people who have the willpower to lead those around them.
"But Nozomu Bountis'
struggle has dispelled that atmosphere... Is that what you wanted to
say?""
Jihad nodded quietly
at Inda's words.
In that sense, Nozomu
Bountis' effort in this combat training was an unexpected stroke of luck for
Jihad.
In the 10th class, a
man who had been shackled by Ability Suppression was able to approach one of
the greatest swordsmen on the continent with his skill and willpower. The
impact of this was enough to destroy the mindset that had taken root due to
ranking classifications.
In fact, the effects
were already beginning to be felt in the first year which had only been at the
school for a short time.
Considering that, the
fact that the Martial Arts Garden was out of service for a week or so is
insignificant.
"... I understand. I will follow Jihad-dono's
decision."
Inda was pondering
with a difficult expression, but in the end, she looked at him firmly in the
eye and nodded. Jihad's face relaxed at her appearance.
"Actually, what
I'm worried about is that katana. I'll have to keep a close eye on that katana
to see how it transforms depending on the wielder."
Inda silently nodded
her head in agreement with Jihad's words.
But as soon as she
heard the following words, cold sweat appeared on Inda's forehead.
"I'll have Nozomu
do a combat training with me on a regular basis as part of his guidance so that
he and his katana can be observed."
"... Umm. Are you
serious?"
Although she was
silent for a moment, Inda managed to continue speaking. She put her finger
between her eyebrows, perhaps because she had a headache.
"Don't worry, I
will go easy on him. I'm not going to send him to the hospital like last
time."
"Not that! Wait,
that's true... but if you're going to do it, please do it in the forest or the
outer edge of the city! I don't want people to get caught up in it and have a
bunch of people get hurt because of it! The next time you cause such a huge
mess, I'll have all the teachers lock you out of the school!"
“…………”
It seemed that Inda,
who had been under a lot of stress from cleaning up the mess at the martial
arts garden, had lost her patience.
Jihad was at a loss
for words as he was subjected to a barrage of abusive language that she would
never normally use.
A very angry Inda
said, "These are the additional documents!".
She piled up a bunch
of papers on his desk in a rough manner. As she piled up the papers, there was
no hint of restraint or consideration in her hands.
Perhaps unable to bear
the additional documents that were being added, Jihad finally slumped down on his
desk. Only a towering pile of papers looked down on him as if to mock him.
==================================
Meanwhile, Nozomu and
Anri parted ways, completely unaware of the devastation that had befallen Jihad
behind the door they had just come out of.
"Nameless ... I
know it's an excellent katana, but it looks like it has some sort of
history."
Nozomu thought to
himself as he walked down the empty hallway while tapping the hilt of the
katana on his hip.
He had always found
the katana mysteriously attractive, but it seemed that the katana also had a
rather troublesome origin.
But that didn't mean
anything would change. Considering that his master had subdued it and there was
no indication that it was a demon sword, Nozomu thought that something wouldn't
happen.
Above all, Nozomu
could not bring himself to part with the katana.
There is no other
katana like it, and it is filled with the feelings of his master. Even if he
was given a pile of money piled up to the ceiling, Nozomu would not give it
away.
"Well, It's no
use worrying about it, though. I'm not going to let you go..."
As he gently stroked
the hilt of the katana, he felt a cool and comfortable touch.
The touch was
mysteriously soothing.
It was as if [Mumei]
responded, and a smile naturally appeared on Nozomu's face.
"Nevertheless,
Mikagura Style ..."
To be honest, Nozomu
had never really cared what his katana technique was called.
Until now, it had only
been a place for him to escape to.
However, when he heard
the name firmly with his own ears, he became strangely curious.
Shino once came from
one of the most prominent families in the East.
What on earth did this
katana technique mean in that country?
Such a question arose
in his mind.
"... Maybe I
should look it up."
Thinking that he
should look it up in the library next time, Nozomu started walking slowly
towards the main gate to meet his friends.
Nozomu was about to
turn on a corner of the corridor. But just as he turned around, a crimson veil
suddenly spread across his vision.
"……Eh?"
Nozomu let out a
dumbfounded voice.
Standing in front of
him now was a person that Nozomu had not expected at all.
She looked away from
Nozomu, who was frozen in surprise, and stood there with her head down.
Nozomu was also taken
by surprise and had completely stopped thinking.
He wondered why she
was here.
This is the building
where the teachers' rooms are located, and students don't usually visit this
area unless they have something to do.
On top of that, on
this floor is Jihad's office, the headmaster. No one would casually walk
through there.
While Nozomu was
stunned, Lisa Hounds muttered in a muffled tone of voice.
"So you've been
discharged from hospital..."
Lisa Hounds muttered
in a hoarse, fading voice.
The tone of her voice,
which reminded Nozomu of a dull color, echoed in his ears.
Nozomu replied in a
choked voice.
"Y-yeah. I was
badly injured and debilitated, but Iris and the others immediately took care of
me."
Nozomu scratched his
head as he looked at the bandages that were still wrapped around his body.
Lisa, who had been
looking away, stared at Nozomu with a blank expression.
Her gaze crept
Nozomu's body, from his arms to his legs and then up. It was as if she was
examining his body.
"Is that
so..."
However, the words
that came out of their mouth felt too distant.
Lisa, who showed no
emotion at all, and Nozomu, who was still shaken due to the unexpected
occurence. They stared at each other in silence, and only time passed.
“…………”
“…………”
Lisa stared at him in
silence that made their ears ring. And then there was Nozomu, who quietly
received her gaze.
Eventually, it was Nozomu
who opened his mouth first, probably he realized that it was getting nowhere.
"Hey Lisa, why
are you ..."
"A
coincidence."
Before Nozomu could
finish his words, Lisa cut off his voice with her own words.
When she approached
him earlier, Lisa was very agitated, but now she used her usual dismissive tone
of voice.
Nozomu had no idea
what was going through Lisa's mind as she such wore a cold facial expression.
But to Nozomu, the
depths of Lisa's eyes, which were piercing him coldly, seemed to waver slightly.
"……I see"
A smile naturally
appeared on Nozomu's face as he muttered just a few words.
Whatever the reason,
he was happy that Lisa had called out to him.
When Lisa saw Nozomu
smiling, she crumpled and distorted her face. At the same time, she pressed
against Nozomu with a gaze filled with rage and indescribable feeling.
A mass of emotions
slammed into him.
It was like a surging
wave, a manifestation of the ups and downs of a heart that was rising and
collapsing.
Nozomu couldn't tell
whether the thoughts in her eyes were rage, desolation, or pity.
For Nozomu, this was a
true reminder of the distance between himself and Lisa now.
When they were dating,
he could look into Lisa's eyes and know what she was thinking. When she smiled
at him, he found himself smiling back at her.
But now Nozomu
couldn't understand what Lisa was thinking at all. Even though he could feel
the passion in her gaze, he could not read her thoughts. The time and distance
that had passed between the two of them now lay wide open.
But he couldn't remain
silent like this.
While feeling a
prickling pain in his chest, Nozomu opened his mouth.
Their relationship had
been broken apart. As Tiamat said, their relationship already came to nothing,
but at least he wanted to confirm something.
"Hey Lisa, are
you still chasing your dreams?"
After hitting rock
bottom, Nozomu used it as an excuse to run away, but it was still stuck in the
depths of his mind.
(Lisa can pursue her
dreams)
That was the reason
why Nozomu came to this city. The feeling that started it all, that no matter
how much he denied it, he couldn't deny it.
Whether he wanted to
confirm it or he wanted to believe it.
He swallowed the
feeling that was building up in his chest and waited patiently for Lisa's
answer.
"It has nothing
to do with you ..."
She turned away as if
to escape from Nozomu's gaze and tried to walk away.
"Lisa, wait a
minute"
She turned her back as
if to flee, and Nozomu reached out his hand as if to stop her. But Nozomu's
hand was stopped by a sudden voice coming from behind him.
"Nozomu, have you
finished your talk with Jihad-sensei?"
Nozomu was startled by
the sudden call and looked behind him to see his friends who were supposed to
be waiting for him in front of the main gate.
When Lisa saw Irisdina
and the others behind Nozomu, she quickly and quietly walked away as if she was
running away.
By the time Nozomu,
who had been focused on Irisdina and the others, noticed Lisa, she had already
turned on the corner of the corridor and was out of sight, so he missed his
chance to chase after her.
"Nozomu? What's
wrong?"
Irisdina couldn't see
Lisa, probably her figure hidden behind Nozomu's figure.
Irisdina called out to
Nozomu, who was standing there in a daze.
"... Lisa was
here a minute ago."
"I see... Did you
talk to her?
"No, I didn't
have much to say."
Whether he was
regretting that he missed the opportunity, or he was worried about the look in
Lisa's eyes at the end, but there was a hint of sadness in Nozomu's voice.
"... I'm sorry, I
should have given you a little more time."
Irisdina's voice sank
slightly as if she felt bad for having called out to him at the wrong time.
Nozomu shook his head
as if to deny her words.
"No, it's not
Iris's fault. From the start, I don't think Lisa and I had much to talk about.
This time, for the
first time in a really long time, Lisa called out to him.
However, he still felt
the furious expression that slammed into him immediately afterward. In Lisa's
mind, Nozomu might still be the person who betrayed her.
However, it seemed
that she was not only angry with Nozomu now. There were other emotions hidden
in the angry glare she was giving him.
But what was more
important was her reaction to Nozomu's last words.
"Also, I found
out something."
Her attitude and words
clearly avoided answering Nozomu's question.
And about what Camilla
had said to him before.
(... Lisa hasn't been
able to move forward since that time.)
Those words came back
to Nozomu's mind.
(If that's the case,
then the current Lisa is still ...)
"Nozomu-kun?"
"Y-yes. It's all
right."
Shīna looked into
Nozomu's face.
Surprised by Shīna's
sudden appearance in front of him, Nozomu was at a loss for a response.
Lisa was already out
of sight, and even if he tried to ask her any more questions, she would
probably refuse.
The fact that she
didn't want to answer Nozomu's question showed that. It was also not possible
to catch up with her even if he chase after her now.
"Haa...
alright!"
While sighing, Nozomu
clapped his cheeks to change his mind.
His friends were
celebrating his discharge from the hospital. It was no good to make such a
gloomy expression in such a place.
"Come, let's go.
I've been eating a lot of tasteless hospital food since yesterday and I want to
eat something delicious."
"Alright! Mars,
you're going to buy me a drink today, right?"
As if to follow
Nozomu's renewed enthusiasm, Feo shouted happily and put his hand around Mars'
shoulder.
The fact that he was
so casual about who would pay for him showed that his intentions were clouded
by greed.
"Aside from
Nozomu, we're going to split the bill between us. Especially you, you have to
pay 20% more than the others."
However, Mars must
have seen through Feo's intentions, he cut off Feo's words in one fell swoop.
"Why!? Isn't that
unfair?"
"It was the
repair fee for the store you smashed up before. You haven't finished paying us
back yet."
When Feo complained,
Mars accurately pointed out the damage Feo had previously caused to Ushitotei.
As if to escape from
the reproachful gazes he was receiving at such a close range, Feo turned his
gaze in another direction while his hand was still linked to Mars' shoulder.
"... Aa, I just
remembered there's something I have to do."
Feo tried to talk his
way out of it.
But unfortunately,
he's now linking shoulders with a debt collector. There is no way he can escape
in such a situation.
He was immediately
caught by Mars by the collar and got pulled back.
Mars put his arms
around Feo's neck and held him in a headlock.
"Alright, let's
go. It seems Feo will treat us today."
Mars declared so.
Looked like it was payback for trying to set him up earlier. At the same time,
the eyes of the others around them lit up.
"Well then! I
won't hold back~!"
"Me too~!"
Mimuru and Somia were
the first to speak up. Somia, who was supposed to have been raised as a young
lady, was strangely cheerful, perhaps due to the influence of the Wildcat she
had recently befriended.
As Nozomu pondered
whether or not the innocent girl was being affected by the Wildcat tribe she
had recently befriended, Shīna, Tom, and the others followed Mimuru's lead and
tapped Feo on the shoulder.
"Wait! I didn't
say a word about it!"
Feo hurriedly raised
his voice in the face of one heartless sentence after another, but his friends
around him showed no sign of listening to him.
Along with this, Feo's
face grew increasingly pale. Feo had been suffering from a lack of money
lately, but it seemed that he would not be able to survive in this city
anymore. At this rate, he might become a dry fox in a few days.
The cornered Feo
stared at Nozomu as if he was entrusting his last hope on him.
"Nozomu! Be on my
side ..."
"I-, I'll have
the deluxe version of the rabbit steak."
However, despite his
pleas, he was met with heartless and piercing words in return.
Feo, whose hope had
been running out when his last friend turned against him, lashed out in
desperation, but he was no match for Mars in terms of strength.
A young man of the Fox
Tribe was dragged away like a criminal.
At first, he resisted
as much as he could, but gradually his voice faded, and finally, he cried out
in earnest, begging for help.
The sight of him made
the others feel as guilty as if they had abandoned a kitten. In the end,
feeling sorry for him, they decided to split the bill.
By the way, it goes
without saying that Feo's pleading appearance was not in the slightest bit cute
and lovable like a kitten.
===============================
While Nozomu was
leaving school with his friends, Lisa was walking alone down the corridor of
the school.
The dim sunlight shone
through the window, and her back was illuminated with a hint of melancholy.
There was no sign of
people in the corridor as if the students had already left the school.
Previously, when class
was over and she was about to leave with Ken and Camilla, Nozomu's figure
jumped in front of her eyes.
She hadn't seen him in
a few days, and the sight of him, accompanied by Anri, made Lisa feel an
inexplicable rush of emotion and frustration.
She felt a clogging
sensation in her chest that she had been feeling for a while. And a shiver ran
through her whole body.
However, while
trembling in the chills that were akin to emptiness, she told Ken and Camilla
that she had business to attend to, and found herself following after Nozomu
What revived in Lisa's
mind as she followed him were the things Nozomu told her just the day before
the joint class that the rumors two years ago were lies.
(Do I want to confirm
or deny it?)
Unsure of what she
wanted to do, she followed him, wasted time without being able to say anything
in front of his face, and then turned away.
"Lisa?"
Suddenly called out,
Lisa slowly turned around, and there was the appearance of her best friend,
Camilla, who was supposed to have left.
She was probably
looking for Lisa, who had suddenly said she had something to do.
"Did you meet
Nozomu?"
The tone of her voice
was somewhat reserved, which was unlike Camilla, who was usually very cheerful
and open-minded.
She was one of the
people who had heard Nozomu's story that night, and she was one of the people
who understood Lisa's feelings better than anyone else.
Perhaps it was thanks
to her that Lisa was still able to maintain a little of her composure.
"We just met by
chance..."
Lisa tried to deny
Camilla's words, hoping that Camilla wouldn't realize how agitated her heart
was.
However, her answer
was clearly forced.
Camilla was well aware
of Lisa's agitation.
Especially today,
after she heard that "he" had been discharged from the hospital, Lisa
had been absent-minded both at the school and in the dormitory.
She remained
absent-minded even when her friends and juniors spoke to her and only noticed
when Ken and Camilla spoke to her.
So Camilla had an idea
of what Lisa's business was when she suddenly rushed out.
"……I see."
Camilla muttered so
and started walking side by side with Lisa.
She was having a hard
time judging what Nozomu had told her.
Until now, she had
concluded that Nozomu was the cause of everything without any room for doubt.
(Are you still chasing
your dreams?)
But now that Nozomu
had told them the story and they had heard words from Irisdina and the others,
their words were like ink dabbed on a white cloth, spreading doubts in their
minds.
"……What's
wrong?"
"No, it's
nothing."
Camilla had been
wondering why Ken's attitude toward Nozomu had changed so drastically recently,
but she had also sensed that his behavior had become even stranger since the
joint class.
He was indeed smiling
at Lisa as usual, but there was a shadow that was beginning to blend in with
his smile.
In the school, the
underclassmen were excitedly talking about the combat training between Nozomu
and Jihad, but when Ken heard about it, he had glared at the underclassmen with
a stern expression.
Lisa was also
sensitive to such a change in Ken, and lately, there were times when her
shoulders somewhat trembled because of Ken.
Camilla peeked
sideways at her best friend walking next to her.
"Hey, Camilla
..."
"... What's
wrong?"
While facing ahead,
Lisa suddenly called out to Camilla.
Camilla, who had been lost
in thought, was somewhat startled but waited for Lisa's next words.
Lisa opened her mouth
as if to try telling Camilla something.
"...
N-nothing"
However, Lisa couldn't
say anything and fell silent.
Camilla didn't know
what to say either, and in the end, the two of them continued walking with
their mouth closed.
==============================
The school building
was illuminated by twilight.
It was eerily dark at
the end of the corridor as the night began to fall.
At the end of the
corridor surrounded by darkness, a shadow was watching the two girls as they
left.
His teeth clenched
tightly together and rattled.
"~! Nozomu, that
bastard ..."
The voice that came
out of his mouth was dark and horrifying.
To be honest, the
shadow could not have predicted this development at all.
He had thought that he
had completely crushed his opponent. The person he thought would disappear from
the school eventually, but somehow he was still here.
Not only that, but
many of his friends, such as Irisdina Francilt and the elf girl, who were
outstanding in appearance, ability, and personality among the students, had
come to gather beside him.
However, what
irritated the shadow the most was the fact that he was able to get close to
Jihad Roundel, an exceptional figure even in this school.
The original reason
why the shadow wanted to expel Nozomu was that "Nozomu Bountis could not
protect Lisa Hounds".
He couldn't hide his
agitation and anger at the outright denial of this fact.
For the shadow, the
existence of Nozomu Bountis should no longer exist.
He had to get rid of
him somehow.
With this thought in
mind, the shadow pondered whether there was any way to get rid of Nozomu.
However, it had
already become difficult to corner Nozomu and force him to leave school voluntarily.
The fact that he was
close to Irisdina and other influential people in the third year, as well as
the underclassmen who had witnessed the combat training firsthand, made them
believe that the rumors were lies.
The third and
fourth-year students were still skeptical about it, but more than anything,
Lisa herself had begun to follow Nozomu's figure with her own will.
"Fuck……"
In the corridor that
was already enveloped with darkness, the shadow was alone, groaning grudgingly
with his hands on his face.
The flames of jealousy
that had been raging deep in his chest since that time when Lisa had chosen
Nozomu once again lit up the shadow's eyes with a black light.
He didn't notice. The
original purpose and the means to protect his precious one have already been
replaced by hatred.
He didn't notice. Even
if he were to polish his sword skills and magic prowess, his distorted nature
and feelings were significantly kept him away from his beloved one.
And so, within his own
small and closed world, he dreamed of unattainable happiness and outrageous
ways of eliminating those who stood in his way.
The shadow, Ken Notis,
slowly disappeared into the darkness while his face distorted ugly in the dark.
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