Volume 4
Chapter 2
Nozomu and the others were walking along the main street leading to the academy. Around them, other students heading to school were chatting, engrossed in their own conversations.
Their white uniforms stood
out quite a bit on this street bustling with various people, but even among
them, Irisdina and her group still stood out remarkably.
Passersby would turn
their gaze towards them every time they passed, and then direct glances filled
with jealousy and curiosity towards Nozomu and Mars. It felt as though there
were more glances directed at Nozomu, but it was understandable.
Mars's appearance
wasn't actually bad at all. Although his eyes were a bit sharp, he was tall and
rather handsome. Considering that his sister Ena was also a beautiful girl full
of vitality, his appearance was convincing.
Until now, he had
always frowned and exuded a dangerous and tense aura, so he hadn't stood out.
But now that he was calmer, his original good looks were more prominent.
(Well, I'm certainly
the most ordinary one among them...)
Nozomu, on the other
hand, had a completely ordinary appearance. He looked like someone whose face
was simply taken from a person walking down the street and pasted on, and his
height was also average. Naturally, he was subjected to more jealous glances
than Mars.
(Come to think of it,
the talisman I found behind the school building before. I understood it was a
scrying art from an Eastern technique, but I never found out who used it...)
Nozomu suddenly
recalled the talisman he had found behind the school building.
He still had the
talisman he found that day, and after researching it in the library, he learned
that it was one of the scrying arts called "Eye of Interconnection,"
but he couldn't figure out who had used it.
This was due to
Nozomu's limited social circle and his lack of knowledge about students in
other classes.
Considering that the
talisman was found in the direction where he felt the gaze and that Mars had
been lured out, it immediately occurred to him that the owner of the talisman
was the culprit.
(...Iris or Tima-san
might know.)
"Speaking of
which, Iris and Tima-san, there's something I'd like to ask you, if that's
okay?"
"Hmm, what is
it?"
"Eh, it's fine...
what is it?"
Nozomu took out the
talisman he had recovered from behind the school building.
"Do you know what
this is?"
The first to react to
the talisman Nozomu showed was Tima. As expected of someone who had received a
gifted education as a mage, her reaction was swift.
"This is a
talisman, right? It's used as a medium for magic in the East."
"Yes. Have you
seen this before?"
She narrowed her eyes
and stared at the talisman Nozomu held, but her expression wasn't good.
"Hmm. I can tell
it's one of the scrying arts, but…………"
"I haven't seen
it either. In the first place, there are hardly any people who practice Eastern
techniques at this academy. People from that country rarely leave their
borders. At least there shouldn't have been any in the third rank or higher."
Irisdina, who was
watching beside Tima, also said she hadn't seen it. At the same time, she
wondered why Nozomu had such a talisman. She knew that Nozomu couldn't use
magic or other ki techniques.
"…………By the way,
Nozomu. Where did you get this talisman?"
"Eh! Um, that
is…………"
Nozomu hesitated at
Irisdina's sudden question.
In fact, Nozomu hadn't
told Irisdina and the others that he had been dragged behind the school
building. He didn't want to cause them unnecessary worry, and originally, they weren't
at fault for him being dragged behind the school building. It was Nozomu's
classmates who had caused the commotion, and they had simply come to invite
their friend to eat.
Nozomu had heard that
Mars had been intentionally separated from Nozomu, and he thought it would be
better to tell Irisdina and the others after finding the culprit and resolving
everything, but...
"………………Are you
hiding something?"
"……Is that
so?" "Is that right?"
Nozomu's hesitation
made Irisdina and the others keenly sense that he was hiding something.
They probably felt
that they were also somehow involved in the reason. Irisdina's gaze sharpened,
and Nozomu felt a strange sense of breathlessness.
"Um—"
"This guy, after you all came to our class the other day, he was dragged
behind the school building." "Wait! Mars!!"
"…………What do you
mean?"
"Nozomu-kun..."
"Nozomu-san..."
Nozomu tried to find
an excuse, but Irisdina and the others pressed him, suppressing him with gazes
from three directions that said, "No lies."
Irisdina's voice
deepened, changing to a strangely intimidating tone. Her eyes became even
sharper, piercing Nozomu with a stabbing gaze.
Tima and Somia's faces
also hardened as they stared at Nozomu, and Nozomu could even hear the sound of
their piercing gazes: "Stareeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
"…Um. So
that's—" "You're going to tell us, aren't you?"
"…………Yes."
In the end, Nozomu
couldn't withstand the three gazes and spilled everything about what happened
behind the school building.
Upon hearing it,
Irisdina was furious. Her beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, and her deep black
eyes trembled with anger. Her anger was directed at the students who had
assaulted one person in a group, but there was also anger towards Nozomu for
hiding it.
"…Why didn't you
tell us?"
"Well, it's not
like you guys were at fault in the first place. And I thought it would be
better to tell you after it was resolved..."
"That's not the
point!! Seriously, you!"
"That's right,
Nozomu-san! The problem is that you didn't tell us!!"
"That's right!
It's painful that our friend went through something terrible, but it's even
sadder that you didn't tell us!!"
Nozomu was scolded by
the three girls. What he said wasn't entirely incomprehensible, but for them,
they couldn't ignore it since they were involved to some extent, and no matter
how much he was trying to be considerate, the fact that it was hidden was the
saddest thing of all.
"Heh heh! Well,
Nozomu's at fault this time."
Mars muttered as if it
were someone else's problem, watching Nozomu being pressed by the three. Even
though he was also involved, Mars had somehow shifted to the side of a third
party. His cheeks were relaxed, and he was clearly enjoying watching Nozomu
flustered.
However, Irisdina
hadn't forgotten about him either.
"………………Speaking
of which, Mars-kun knew about it too. And he hid it."
"Ah!"
"…………That's
right. In this case, Mars-san is also guilty, isn't he?"
"…Mars-kun."
"…………Um. Ah,
that's right! I was on duty today..."
Mars, realizing that
Irisdina and the others' anger was now directed at him, made an obvious lie and
tried to leave the scene. However, as Mars ran off, he was grabbed by the
collar of his uniform from behind and pulled back. It was Irisdina who pulled
Mars back. She had a very beautiful smile on her face but exuded an
intimidating aura like a Hannya. Somia and Tima also similarly exuded an aura
that didn't suit their delicate frames.
"Now, it's sermon
time."
Nozomu and Mars had no
choice but to surrender quickly to these three.
In the end, the three
girls' sermon to Nozomu and Mars continued all the way to the central park in
front of the academy, and until they reached the spot where they would part
ways with Somia, who attended Ecros.
"Nozomu, from now
on, no more hiding things like that."
"You hear that,
Nozomu-san!?"
"Mars-kun... you
too."
"Ah, yeah."
"…I-I
understand…"
Both Nozomu and Mars
had slumped shoulders and pale faces. They seemed to have been thoroughly
lectured on the way there.
Somia, still a child,
was adorably puffing out her cheeks and pouting in anger, but Irisdina, unlike
her usual calm self, had raised her voice loudly.
Nozomu, perhaps not
expecting her to be that angry, could only apologize repeatedly in a flustered
state.
As for Tima, she just
stared at Mars with a sad expression, but if a delicate, beautiful girl kept
staring at a normal man with a sad expression, he would probably feel an
immense sense of guilt.
Mars himself was no
exception. At first, he just looked away with an awkward expression, but
gradually he started to groan "Ugh" or "Mmm," and
eventually, he apologized in a small voice, "Sorry."
"Oh! Isn't that
the young lady from that time!?"
At the sudden voice,
Nozomu and the others looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man
with white hair and a white beard approaching them. It was Zonne, the perverted
old man who had been touching Irisdina so much during their date a few days
ago.
"…………Why is that
old man here?"
When Nozomu questioned
Zonne, the old man began to answer cheerfully.
"Oh, a fragrant
scent wafted over from this direction. I thought there must be quite a few
beautiful flowers here, and to meet the young lady again... I feel it's
fate!"
(Scent, huh... Should
I call the military police? Or a doctor?)
As usual, the old
man's brain seemed to be filled only with pink thoughts, but the fact that he
could discern beautiful girls by scent felt quite disturbing. Nozomu was
half-seriously considering handing him over to the military police as soon as
possible and throwing him into a cell filled with only men.
"What! There are
other beautiful young ladies here! How about it! Would you like to have some
tea with me?!"
"Eh, me?"
"…Eh!"
Zonne noticed Somia
and Tima, who were next to Irisdina, and began to hit on them without regard
for time or place. Since this location was near the academy's main gate, many
students on their way to school and people heading to work would naturally see
them. In fact, the people around them were staring, wondering what was
happening, but Zonne himself didn't seem to care at all.
"Indeed! There's
a good shop nearby! And you're so lovely, like a white lily!"
Zonne aggressively
approached Tima and Somia. He had approached Irisdina before, and now he was
trying to hit on her best friends right in front of her, showing absolutely no
discretion.
"Ah, um... ahhh,
but we have class now..."
Somia didn't seem to
fully understand, but the problem was Tima, who was originally uncomfortable
around men. Zonne had approached so aggressively that she was completely overwhelmed
by his momentum.
"What, don't
worry about it! The most important thing is meeting here and now! Human
encounters are once in a lifetime. You might never meet the person you meet
here again in your life. Therefore, this encounter is more valuable than any
jewel! So, young ladies. Let's go on a date right away—" "Enough
already!!!" "Bleh!!"
Nozomu and Mars's
descending fists directly hit Zonne's head. The two perfectly synchronized
fists slammed the perverted Zonne's head into the stone pavement, and the old
man let out a pathetic groan, his face taking a heavy blow.
"W-what are you
doing!"
"That's our line,
you perverted geezer! If you don't stop, we'll roll you up in a mat and hand
you over to the military police!!"
Zonne, who had been
slammed to the ground and had a bright red, swollen face, continued to say
selfish things as usual. Nozomu had no intention of holding back against this
old man anymore, so he had no hesitation in taking physical measures to stop
him.
However, the next
words he heard left Nozomu bewildered.
"...No, there's
no need for that. Let's just cut him down now..."
"…Eh!"
It was Mars who made
the incredibly dangerous suggestion. He already had his hand on the greatsword
strapped to his back, looking as if he was about to cut Zonne down at any
moment.
Looking closely, his
eyes were completely bloodshot, and he seemed to have lost himself in anger.
"Hey, you! What
are you trying to do here!!"
"It's obvious!!
I'm gonna teach that obnoxious old man a lesson!!"
Mars revealed the
blade of his greatsword from its scabbard. Tima and Somia, perhaps realizing
the danger, hurriedly stepped between the two.
"Wait! No,
Mars-san!!"
"W-wait,
Mars-kun! That's going too far!!"
"H-help
meee~~!!"
"Ah! Hey, wait!
You damn old man!!"
Tima and Somia pushed
back Mars, who was trying to lunge at Zonne. The old man, the source of the
trouble, perhaps sensing the danger to his life from Mars's overwhelming anger,
fled like a scared rabbit.
(He's fast! What kind
of body does that old man have...?)
Zonne was clearly
escaping at a speed that didn't seem like an old man's. His figure had already
moved to the entrance of the central park, and he certainly didn't look like
someone with little time left.
However, upon
reflection, Nozomu's master was also clearly not someone who could be called an
old person. Considering her outrageousness, Nozomu would be convinced if she
were said to be a single species called "Shino."
Meeting such rare
creatures consecutively might normally be a cause for joy, but considering the
other party was Shino, it might be understandable for Nozomu to feel dejected
instead.
"You won't
escape! Wait for me!!"
"C-calm down,
Mars-kun!"
"Onee-sama and
Nozomu-san!! Don't just watch, help us~~"
(Ah, I forgot about
Mars and the others...)
Nozomu, brought back
to his senses by Somia's words, hurriedly ran to stop Mars.
***
Nozomu and Mars parted
ways with Irisdina and the others and walked towards the 10th-rank classroom.
Mars was still
irritated, perhaps unable to quell his anger towards Zonne from earlier.
"Damn that old
man..."
My anger towards that
old man still hadn't subsided, and I found myself muttering complaints. In the
end, that old man Zonne retreated, and they weren't injured, but a fire of
anger I couldn't understand was swirling in my chest.
"Well, I can't
sympathize with that old man... Mars, are you still angry?"
"...Hmph!"
Nozomu called out to
me, who was still fuming, but with blood still rushing to my head, I only let
out a dismissive sound.
Why was I so angry in
the first place?
When that old man
approached Tima, an anger I had never felt before welled up inside me. Unlike
all the times I had lashed out at others, there was a sense of urgency, as if
my heart had been instantly gripped.
In an instant, I recognized
the old man in front of me as an enemy and tried to eliminate him from my sight
as quickly as possible. I immediately felt that I was going too far, but the
urgency that had welled up in my chest pushed aside my reason, and before I
knew it, my hand was on my sword.
(What's wrong with me,
I wonder...?)
My best friend in
front of me looked at me worriedly, seeing my unusual state, but I didn't
notice it.
***
Nozomu sighed, seeing
Mars still out of sorts. At this rate, he might not even notice when they
arrive at the classroom.
Just then, a male
student suddenly jumped out in front of them.
"Whoa,
there," "Oh!"
He tried to avoid him
in a hurry but couldn't completely, and their shoulders collided. Nozomu
immediately regained his balance, then checked the person who had just appeared
in front of him, and was surprised.
A slender, lean
physique, eyes so narrow he couldn't tell if they were even open, but a
refined, sweet face and shining golden hair. Perhaps if he were to call out to
most women with that face, they might instantly fall for him. What caught
Nozomu's eye most of all was the golden tail, the same color as his hair,
growing from the student's rear.
"Ah, my
apologies. I was in a hurry. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine,
but... are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm actually quite well-trained, despite how I look."
Saying that, the male
student put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. It was a slightly
childish gesture, but there was no negative emotion like malice or irritation,
rather, there was a childlike purity, yet Nozomu felt a strange sense of
familiarity with his aura.
"Oh, my name is
Feo Lizitsa. I'm in the 3rd year, 2nd rank."
"Oh, I'm Nozomu
Bountis. 3rd year, 10th rank."
"Hmm. So you're
'that' Nozomu Bountis, eh?"
"Yeah..."
Feo, having heard
Nozomu's name, narrowed his thin eyes further and stared at Nozomu. Nozomu
tried to dig into his memories, prompted by the stronger sense of familiarity
and his prying gaze.
Clang, clang
Just then, the morning
assembly bell rang.
"Ah, dang it.
I'll be marked late at this rate. See ya, Nozomu!"
Feo said goodbye
unilaterally and left. Nozomu, unable to shake off the sense of unease
lingering in his heart, reluctantly began to walk towards the classroom.
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