Volume 6
Chapter 17
A huge stack of papers was piled up like a mountain on a shiny black office desk. Buried in such a mountain of documents, a single large man was hunched over, frantically scribbling with a pen.
Jihad, who was busy
with the aftermath of the mock battle in his office, sighed at the mountain of
documents piled up in front of him and muttered to the woman next to him.
"Ms. Inda, I
think I'm almost finished..."
"No, you're not.
After you confirm the repair plan and the estimate, the repair work will begin
as soon as the payment is approved. After that, to save the trouble of
confirmation work, you will also supervise the construction."
A declaration as cold
as ice, completely devoid of warmth, pierced Jihad's ears. She was usually a
woman who would show a little warmth even in her flat tone, but recently, her
attitude had been frozen like a glacier.
"Isn't my
workload strangely increasing? Normally, I would only confirm the plan and the
estimate, not supervise the construction..."
Jihad said, protesting
subtly while gauging Inda's expression, but she just gave him a businesslike
reply with a poker face.
"It's just a
precaution. Since Jihad-dono was in charge of the class in the Martial Arts
Garden this time, it's only right that you take care of the aftermath of the
damage. Besides, the Martial Arts Garden was scheduled to be used by the
4th-grade students in the future. I believe it's necessary to complete the work
quickly to ensure the class proceeds smoothly. Don't worry, all the necessary
documents will be taken to the Martial Arts Garden, and a desk will also be
prepared for you to work."
It seemed that Inda
was telling him to do his usual work while also supervising the construction.
The sight of an adult desperately writing documents at a desk that had been put
outside would surely be met with a snicker. While saying that it was just an
efficient choice, Inda's declaration was, in a sense, a death sentence. If a
student were to see him in such a state, his life as a teacher would
undoubtedly be over. Even before that, he would probably be too pathetic as a
man to ever recover.
"I am, in a way,
your superior..."
"Jihad-dono,
you're not done yet, are you?"
Inda impatiently urged
Jihad, who was slumping his shoulders, to "get back to work." With a
big sigh of "good grief," Jihad turned to face Inda. Inda's
expression was nonchalant, but the sharp eyes behind her silver-rimmed glasses
glared at Jihad. It seemed that she was quite upset about him getting carried
away during the mock battle the other day. But Jihad, despite being met with
such a piercing gaze, curled his lips into a grin.
"Don't be so
angry. It's ruining your beautiful face, you know?"
"I don't care
even if you think I'm beautiful! Just get back to work!"
Inda shouted at Jihad,
who was teasing her. Looking at her, Jihad laughed heartily, holding his
stomach, as if he was truly enjoying himself. He was so carefree that it was
hard to believe he was the same person who had shown such dignity in the mock
battle a few days ago.
But suddenly, Jihad's
grinning face became serious. Inda's eyes also widened in surprise at the
sudden change in Jihad's demeanor.
"Besides, I have
an urgent matter to attend to today. I need to spare a little time for
it."
"An urgent
matter? What kind of..."
"I haven't heard
anything about this..." Inda was about to continue, when the door of the
office was knocked on. Inda's face showed confusion, wondering who it was, but
Jihad, unlike her, said in a flat tone, "Come in," to the person
waiting behind the door.
When she saw the
person who had entered the office, Inda's eyes immediately became serious.
"Hello~. Sorry to
keep you waiting~."
The person who had
entered was Anri Var, who was the complete opposite of Inda, like the moon and
the sun, with a slow, drawn-out voice and a sunny smile. And timidly entering
the office from behind her was the person who was the talk of the academy,
Nozomu Bountis.
***
After school, Nozomu
was about to meet up with Irisdina and the others with Mars. At this time, he
was excited on the inside. According to Mars, he was going to treat him to
dinner at "Ox-Head Pavilion" to celebrate his discharge from the
hospital. He had only eaten soup for breakfast today, and he hadn't eaten
anything substantial for the past few days. The food at "Ox-Head Pavilion"
was undeniably delicious, and for Nozomu, a struggling student with a growing
appetite, it was an exciting prospect.
However, just as they
were about to leave the classroom, Nozomu and the others were stopped by Anri's
voice. She told them that Jihad had something to discuss with Nozomu, and then
she took only Nozomu to this office. Nozomu wondered what he wanted, but for
now, he apologized to Mars and had him wait in front of the main gate.
"Sorry for
calling you here so suddenly..."
"No, it's
nothing..."
Nozomu and Jihad sat
across from each other on high-quality sofas. It was their first meeting in
several days. When Nozomu leaned back, he felt a soft, enveloping sensation.
Thinking, "This must be expensive," for no reason, Nozomu once again
straightened his posture and listened to Jihad.
"R-right... So
Jihad-sensei. I heard you have something to discuss with me?"
"Yes, I was
curious about where you learned your katana techniques..."
There were no teachers
who taught katana techniques at Solminati Academy. This was because there was
almost no cultural exchange between that country and the Arkmel continent. This
was not for political reasons. The sea between the eastern country and this
continent was rough for almost the entire year, and even large ships could not
guarantee a safe voyage. There was a time when the sea would become calm for
about a month, once every six months, and during that time, they would continue
their limited diplomatic relations. Furthermore, even during that one month,
the weather and sea conditions were only calmer compared to other seasons, and
it was by no means a safe voyage. Given the situation where large-scale
diplomatic relations were difficult, it was natural that there were few people
who would come to teach katana techniques. It was only natural that Jihad would
be curious about what kind of person was able to teach Nozomu such a high level
of katana techniques.
Nozomu also had no
reason to hide his Master, so he began to answer Jihad's question with a light
heart. However, there was another reason why Jihad was curious.
"Her name was
Shino, an old lady. She lived in the forest on the outskirts of town until a
little while ago. She passed away recently..."
"Hmm... Shino,
you say..."
The moment Jihad heard
the name Shino, he frowned and started thinking. Nozomu tilted his head,
wondering if there was something he was curious about, and waited for Jihad's
words.
"Your Master...
is it certain that the woman named Shino was from the East?"
"Yes, my Master
said that she was kicked out of her family due to a family dispute and came to
this continent. She was about 80 years old, so she came to this continent about
60 years ago, and since then, she's been living alone, avoiding people."
Nozomu didn't know the
specifics of how old Shino was when she came to this continent. But considering
that there was talk of an arranged marriage and such, it was safe to assume
that she was in the prime of her life. Jihad, who was listening to Nozomu's
story, was stroking his goatee and occasionally nodding as if he understood.
"Hmm, so the
katana you have was inherited from your Master?"
"Yes, my Master
passed away recently from a sleeping sickness. This was entrusted to me at that
time."
Inda, who had been
listening by Jihad's side, widened her eyes when she heard that she had passed
away. Nozomu didn't know what she was thinking, but there seemed to be a hint
of confusion in her eyes. On the other hand, Jihad frowned for a moment when he
heard about Nozomu's Master's death, but his gaze was fixed on the katana
Nozomu was carrying.
"...May I see
it?"
"Yes, you can,
but..."
Nozomu was confused by
the strange attention his beloved katana was getting, but he slowly took it off
his belt and handed it to Jihad. Jihad bowed, received Nozomu's katana, snipped
the koiguchi, and revealed the blade.
The faint light of the setting sun from the window made the blade shine. As
Jihad slowly drew the katana, a bell-like sound, "Sharin...", spread
through the office like a ripple. The blade, which at first glance seemed to be
an ordinary one, was emitting something that attracted people like a lure. Inda
couldn't help but hold her breath at its presence. Jihad, who had been
squinting, also turned an even sharper gaze toward the blade.
"...I see.
Nozomu-kun, do you know the name of this katana?"
Jihad quietly sheathed
the katana and handed it back to Nozomu, and then casually asked for the name
of the katana. Nozomu slowly shook his head while putting it back on his belt.
"No, my Master
never told me the name of this katana, and there was no inscription on
it."
"I see..."
Jihad muttered a
single word in response to Nozomu's answer and fell into deep thought. His
appearance, with wrinkles around his mouth as he thought deeply, showed that
there was some kind of story behind it.
"Um, do you know
anything about this katana, Jihad-sensei?"
It was the beloved
katana of a Master who had such skill. Nozomu himself fully understood that its
quality was far superior to the two katanas he had used until now. That was why
he had felt a question about the lack of an inscription on the katana, but for
him, the feelings imbued in the katana were far more important than the katana
itself. So he didn't care about the name of the katana, but from the way Jihad
was acting, it seemed that this katana had some kind of history.
"I'm not an
expert on katanas, so I can't say for sure, but there's only one thing that
comes to my mind for a katana of this quality that has no name. The name of
this katana is probably 'Mumei'."
"Mumei? But
that's..."
Nozomu muttered like a
parrot, but the sound of a question was clearly audible in his voice. Mumei, or
"no name," was a katana that a swordsmith had not inscribed his name
on. It usually meant that it was a defective product that wasn't worthy of a name.
But Nozomu's katana, regardless of its appearance, was clearly of a quality far
beyond that of a mass-produced one. Even if Nozomu's skill was excellent, it
had no problems taking Jihad's sword strikes during the mock battle.
"It's true that
Mumei katanas are generally not of very good quality. But this name has another
meaning in that country."
Jihad once again
glanced at the katana that was placed next to Nozomu, and slowly spoke in a
heavy tone.
"It means... that
it is a katana of a certain swordsmith's lineage."
According to Jihad,
this swordsmith's skill was undoubtedly one of the best in the history of the
continent, but he was said to have been a very misanthropic and eccentric
person. His philosophy was, "This
world is always impermanent, and there is nothing that is unchanging. Money,
love, and friendship are all dust before time. Therefore, there is no need for
a name on a katana whose appearance and quality will also change over time!"
He didn't inscribe his name on the katanas he made because he believed they
would also be weathered by the flow of time and disappear from this world.
"It seems that
the concept of 'impermanence' was incorporated into the katanas he made. And
the nature of the katana would change depending on the history it carved."
The history it carved.
In other words, its quality would change significantly depending on the user it
was passed on to. If it was passed on to a swordsman who could manipulate fire,
its blade would beat red like scorching lava, and if it was passed on to a cold-hearted
leader, it would emit a cold light like a beheading sword.
"But even without
that, the quality of the katana was undoubtedly the highest, and many swordsmen
sought this katana and shed blood for it. And each time, this katana would
absorb the blood of its victims and drive even more people insane."
It was a vicious cycle
caused by the characteristic of "changing the nature of the katana."
Because of that, the katanas of this swordsmith's lineage, the
"Mumei," are now feared as a dangerous type of cursed katana in the
eastern country.
To be honest, Nozomu
had never imagined that the katana he was using was such a terrifying cursed
sword. He had indeed felt that it was a very fine blade, but he hadn't felt any
signs of such a curse.
"The one who was
able to master such a cursed sword was Shino Mikagura. She was your Master and
the master of the Mikagura style. And she was hailed as a genius since the
founder, and was a child prodigy of katana techniques. It seems she gathered
many 'Mumei' and subdued them one after another."
"Mikagura..."
"Hmm? You didn't
know the name of your style?"
"Uh, no. My
Master never told me the name, and I never cared about it..."
What Nozomu needed at
that time was a place to escape to and an excuse to turn away from reality. He
had immersed himself in Shino's katana techniques for that, but Nozomu, who was
running away by just continuing to train, had only thought about learning the
techniques, not the name of the style. Shino herself hadn't fully opened up to
Nozomu at that time, and she might have still had complex feelings about her
family and her family's katana techniques.
Putting aside the fact
that Nozomu didn't know the name of his style, according to Jihad, the
"Mumei" that Shino had subdued were still owned by the Mikagura
family. But when Shino had left her home, several of her favorite katanas had
gone missing.
(Could it be that the
katana I've been using...)
Nozomu felt a chill
run down his spine, thinking that he had been using a cursed sword that had
wreaked havoc in the eastern country, even though its curse had already been
broken.
Without knowing what
was on Nozomu's mind, Jihad continued to talk.
"I have never met
her in person, but I know her name well. The sword princess of the East. Not
only was she a possessor of an exceptional katana technique, but because of her
beautiful looks, she was also compared to a black pearl here."
"A black
pearl...? That senile old lady... I mean, my Master?"
Nozomu's face showed
doubt at the words "black pearl." What came to his mind was an old
lady with a childish smile, stuffing her mouth with snacks. And the figure of a
yaksha, smiling in a way that would send chills down his spine, swinging her
katana. A pearl was a stone that was said to have the connotations of chastity
and purity, as well as the power to ward off evil. Nozomu couldn't think of any
way that it would suit the figure of his Master, who was the embodiment of
violence and unreasonableness.
By the way, stones
that have black have the meaning of "having all colors," and many of
them have especially strong powers. It could also be said that they are very
unique. If he thought of her as being "pure" like a child, in reality,
it was a stone that suited his Master quite well. And the feelings she had for
a certain disciple could also be called "unwavering." However, Nozomu
had too many memories of being bullied during his training to be able to
honestly agree with that.
"I see... So you
don't know much about your Master?"
"Yeah, my Master
didn't talk much about herself."
Nozomu had heard a few
things about Shino's life through casual conversations, and he had been taught
her techniques strictly, but he had never heard about her accomplishments in
her hometown. Shino herself didn't want to talk about it much, and at that
time, Nozomu also had parts of his life he couldn't bring himself to ask about.
The same went for Shino. In the end, they had accepted each other's feelings
with their whole bodies, but they didn't have enough time to talk about their
entire lives.
"I see... That's
all I wanted to ask for now. I'm sorry for taking up your time."
"No, I'm glad I
could learn about my Master."
It seemed they were
done talking, and Jihad got up from the sofa. Nozomu also stood up to follow
him.
"Then, please
excuse me."
Nozomu bowed to Jihad
and the others and disappeared behind the door. Anri also left the room after
him. After seeing the two of them off, Jihad let out a big sigh. He looked up
at the ceiling and leaned his back deeply into the sofa, relaxing his shoulders
as if he was satisfied.
"I see, so he was
a direct disciple of that sword princess... And since he inherited his Master's
katana, I should assume that he has already mastered the katana
techniques."
"No way... To
master it in only about two years..."
Jihad, who had his
arms crossed, looked satisfied, while Inda was still unable to hide her
surprise. She herself had never imagined that Nozomu Bountis, whom she had
deemed a failure, was a direct disciple of a master swordsman whose name had
echoed even on this distant continent.
"But if you
consider his refined katana techniques, it makes sense. Although there is a
difference between a sword and a katana, his skill is already not far from
mine. In fact, he might even surpass me in some aspects, such as Ki
control."
"...Is that
alright? The 'Mumei' and him... there are too many uncertain factors about
him."
His katana, the
"Mumei." And his style, the Mikagura style. To be honest, these were
elements that had never existed in Arcazam before. Moreover, the fact that he
inherited his Master's katana meant that Shino Mikagura had acknowledged him as
her rightful successor. What kind of reaction would that get from within the
academy and from the outside? Inda's opinion was that she had no idea.
"And there's also
the matter with the Triclops the other day. Now that the opposition is making a
fuss about the Abyss Grief incident..."
Inda was still letting
out a heavy voice with a worried expression. But contrary to her bitter
expression, Jihad's face was calm, as if to say that it was an unnecessary
worry.
"Well, it's true
that we'll have to deal with some delicate topics. But the matter with the
Triclops was undoubtedly done by either Nozomu Bountis or Shino Mikagura."
Jihad, who had
actually confirmed the Triclops' bodies at the scene, answered with conviction.
The killing power of the Mikagura style Ki techniques, which he had experienced
firsthand in the mock battle. It made sense that the Triclops' bodies were so
damaged if that Ki technique could easily cut and crush a steel shield.
"Considering that
he has 'Ability Suppression,' the possibility is high that it was Shino Mikagura,
but in either case, the possibility that it was done by the opposition is
almost zero. We need to confirm it, but neither of them has any reason to harm
this city."
It would have been a
different story for Nozomu, whose abilities were limited by Ability
Suppression, but Jihad judged that Shino Mikagura would have easily slaughtered
enemies of that level. To be honest, Shino Mikagura's existence was completely
unknown, but she hadn't appeared on the public stage at all since she had left
her hometown. The story that she had become a recluse was probably true. It was
too long for her to have been in hiding, and even if she was, the time she came
to this continent and the time Arcazam was built were completely different.
As Inda said, a person
who was burdened with a position and responsibility could not be completely
unguarded. However, regarding the Triclops incident, they had been forced to be
excessively cautious because the identity of the person who had defeated these
giants was completely unknown. But now that they knew who it was, there was no
need for excessive caution. They just needed to put in the necessary amount of
effort where it was needed. In that sense, Jihad's worries were alleviated.
"And the fact
that he fought so well in the mock battle could be a huge plus for this
academy."
But besides that,
Nozomu Bountis's existence held the potential to become a big deal in this
academy.
"The academy's
goal is to train people who can stand against a great invasion. I believe that
a cloud has been cast over that path in the past few years."
The Solminati
Academy's goal was to train people who could support those who were on the
verge of collapsing in a desperate situation. That person needed a strong will
that would not falter even when they were surrounded by enemies and in a
desperate situation. Jihad and the others had continued to operate with a
meritocracy in mind, preparing for the great invasion that might happen again.
But the quality of the students in the past few years was starting to become
far from the kind of person the academy was aiming for.
"I'm sure you've
noticed it too, Inda. This academy is on the verge of being caught in a certain
kind of 'rank mentality'."
This academy
categorized students into classes based on their skill. However, after almost
10 years since the Solminati Academy was founded, the students were starting to
become trapped in that categorization. As a result, they were training people
who could only demonstrate a certain amount of skill in a certain situation.
Standardized fighting forces might be useful as soldiers because it's easy to
allocate their power, but it was by no means suitable for "training people
who can overcome a difficulty like a great invasion."
However, the students
of the academy now relied on their rank, and they didn't seem to have the
motivation to try and escape from it. In other words, the idea that they
couldn't win against those in the higher ranks had spread among the students in
a way that was close to indoctrination, and as a result, it had become a
difficult environment to train people who had the strong will to lead others.
"But Nozomu Bountis's
hard work dispelled that atmosphere... is that what you mean?"
Jihad quietly nodded
at Inda's words. In that sense, Nozomu Bountis's hard work in the mock battle
was an unexpected stroke of luck for Jihad. A person from the 10th-class,
who was shackled by Ability Suppression, had approached one of the leading
swordsmen on the continent with his skill and willpower. The impact of that was
great enough to shatter the fixed mindset that had been created by the class
system. In fact, its effects were already beginning to appear in the 1st grade,
who were new to this academy.
Considering that, the
fact that the Martial Arts Garden was unusable for a week was a minor
inconvenience.
"......I
understand. I will follow your decision, Jihad-dono."
Inda, who had been
thinking about it seriously, finally looked at him and nodded. Jihad's face
also broke into a smile at that.
"What's left to
worry about is that katana. We must pay close attention to how that katana,
which changes its nature depending on the user, will change."
Inda silently nodded
in agreement with Jihad's words. But the moment she heard his next words, a
cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
"As part of his training,
I'll have Nozomu-kun have a mock battle with me regularly. That way, I can
observe him and the state of his katana."
"...Um. Are you
serious?"
Inda was silent for a
moment, but she somehow managed to continue her words. Was she putting her
finger between her eyebrows because she had a headache?
"It's fine, I'll
hold back properly. I won't do anything that would send him to the hospital
like last time."
"That's not it!
Well, that's also true, but... if you're going to do it, please do it in the
forest or the outer rim! I'm not going to tolerate daily explosions, and for us
to be in a situation where we're not able to manage it and have a continuous stream
of victims! If you cause such a large amount of damage again, we'll all kick
you out of the academy!"
"............"
It seemed that Inda,
who had been stressed out from the aftermath of the Martial Arts Garden
incident, had finally lost her temper. Jihad was speechless, exposed to a
torrent of abuse she would never normally say. Inda, who was still fuming,
roughly piled a stack of papers on his office desk, saying, "These are
additional documents!" There was no hint of politeness or consideration in
her hands as she piled up the mountain of documents. Jihad, who couldn't handle
the reinforcements that were added every time he finished one, finally hunched
his back and buried his face in his desk. Only the towering mountain of
documents looked down on him, as if mocking him.
***
Meanwhile, Nozomu and
Anri, who were on the other side of the door and were completely unaware of the
miserable situation that had befallen Jihad, parted ways.
"Mumei, huh... I
thought it was a masterpiece, but it seems to have a story behind it."
Nozomu said that to
himself, tapping the hilt of the katana on his waist while walking down the
deserted corridor. He had felt that it was a katana that mysteriously attracted
him, but it seemed that this katana also had a troublesome origin.
That being said,
nothing had changed. He thought that since his Master had apparently subdued it
and he didn't feel any signs of it being a cursed sword, nothing would happen
immediately. More than anything, Nozomu had no intention of letting go of this
katana. It was the only katana he had, and it was a katana filled with his
Master's feelings. Even if they piled money up to the ceiling, Nozomu would not
hand it over.
"Well, there's no
point in worrying about it. I have no intention of letting you go now..."
He gently stroked the
hilt of the katana, and a cool, pleasant sensation was transmitted to his hand.
The touch was strangely comforting. It felt as if it were the
"Mumei's" reply, and a smile naturally appeared on Nozomu's face.
"So it's the Mikagura
style, huh..."
To be honest, Nozomu
had never cared what the name of his katana technique was. Until now, it had
just been a place for him to escape to. However, when he heard the name with
his own ears, he suddenly became curious. Shino was from one of the leading
noble families in the eastern country. What did this katana technique mean in
that country? Such questions welled up in his heart.
"...I wonder if I
should look into it?"
Thinking that he
should look into it in the library sometime, Nozomu slowly started walking
toward the main gate to meet up with his friends. Nozomu was about to turn the
corner of the corridor. But at the corner, a crimson veil suddenly spread in
his vision.
"...Huh?"
Nozomu let out a dazed
voice. Standing in front of him was a person he had not expected at all. She
was looking away from Nozomu, who was frozen in surprise, and was standing
there with her head down. Nozomu was also caught off guard, and his thoughts
had completely stopped. Why was she here? This was the building where the
instructors' rooms were, and students normally wouldn't visit this area unless
they had a reason. Furthermore, on this floor was the office of the Chief
Instructor, Jihad. There was no one who would visit so casually.
Ignoring the
dumbfounded Nozomu, Lisa Hounds muttered in a voice so faint it sounded like it
was disappearing.
"You've been discharged..."
A cold, yet somewhat
faint tone rang in Nozomu's ears. Perhaps brought back to his senses by her
words, Nozomu replied with a stutter.
"O-oh, yeah, my
injuries and exhaustion were bad, but Irisdina and the others treated me
quickly."
Nozomu scratched his
head to fill the silence, looking at the bandages that were still wrapped
around his body. Lisa, who had been looking away, was now staring at Nozomu
with an expressionless face. Her gaze traveled from his arms to his legs, and
then back up his body, as if to confirm his physical condition.
"I see..."
But the words that
came out of her mouth were very distant. Lisa, who was showing no emotion at
all, and Nozomu, who was still shaken by the unexpected event. They stared at
each other in silence, and only time passed.
"............"
"............"
The silence was so
loud it was like a ringing in his ears, and Lisa was staring at him intently.
And Nozomu was silently receiving her gaze. Eventually, Nozomu, who thought
this was getting nowhere, was the first to speak.
"Hey, Lisa, why
are you here...?"
"It's a
coincidence."
Before Nozomu could
finish his sentence, Lisa cut him off with her own words. Lisa, who had been so
flustered when he had called out to her before, was now speaking in a cold,
distant tone. Nozomu couldn't tell what was in Lisa's heart from her cold
expression. But to Nozomu, the depths of Lisa's eyes, which were coldly
piercing him, seemed to be wavering slightly.
"......I
see."
With just that one
word, a smile naturally appeared on Nozomu's face. No matter the reason, he was
happy that Lisa had spoken to him. Lisa, who saw Nozomu's smile, had her face
twist in a grimace. At the same time, an indescribable, furious gaze was
pressed against Nozomu from her. It was a lump of emotions being thrown at him.
It was like a choppy wave, showing a rise and fall of her heart that would
break and swell. Nozomu couldn't tell at all if the emotions in her eyes were
anger, loneliness, or sorrow.
To Nozomu, it made him
keenly feel the distance between him and Lisa now. When they were dating, he
could tell what she was thinking just by looking into her eyes. The smiles she
gave him would easily enter his heart, and he would return a smile without even
realizing it. But the current Nozomu couldn't tell what the current Lisa was
thinking. Even when he felt the passion in her gaze, he couldn't read her
emotions. The time and distance that had passed between them was a great chasm.
But he couldn't just
stay silent. Feeling a tingling pain in his chest, Nozomu opened his mouth.
Their relationship had been separated and broken. As Tiamat said, he and Lisa
were already broken, but he wanted to confirm at least this one thing.
"Hey, Lisa, are
you still chasing your dream?"
It was the premise of
Nozomu's escape when he was at rock bottom, and it was still stuck in the
depths of his chest.
Lisa being
able to chase her dream.
That was the reason
Nozomu had come to this town. No matter how much he denied it, it was a feeling
he couldn't completely deny at the beginning. Did he want to confirm it, or did
he want to believe it? Nozomu swallowed the feeling that was in the depths of
his chest and waited for Lisa's answer.
"......It's none
of your business."
As if to escape from
Nozomu's gaze, Lisa looked away and was about to leave.
"Lisa, wait a
minute."
Nozomu reached out his
hand as if to stop Lisa, who was turning her back on him as if to run away. But
his hand was stopped by a voice that suddenly came from behind him.
"Nozomu, are you
done talking with Jihad-sensei?"
Nozomu was surprised
by the sudden voice and looked back, and the figures of his friends, who were
supposed to be waiting in front of the main gate, came into his eyes. Lisa, who
saw Irisdina and the others out of the corner of her eye, quietly and calmly
walked away as if to run away. By the time Nozomu, who had been focused on
Irisdina and the others, noticed, Lisa had already turned the corner of the
corridor and was out of sight, and he had missed his chance to chase her.
"Nozomu? Is
something wrong?"
Irisdina must have
been unable to see Lisa's figure, who was hidden by Nozomu's back. She asked
Nozomu, who was standing there in a daze, with a puzzled look.
"......Lisa was
here until a moment ago."
"I see... Did you
talk to her?"
"No, I couldn't
talk to her much."
Was he regretting
missing the opportunity, or was he bothered by the look in Lisa's eyes at the
end? Nozomu's voice sounded somewhat lonely.
"......Sorry, I
should have given you more time."
Irisdina's voice was a
little subdued, as if she felt sorry for having called out to him at a bad
time. Nozomu shook his head as if to deny her words.
"No, it's not
your fault, Irisdina. From the way things were, I don't think Lisa and I would
have been able to talk much."
It was the first time
in a long time that Lisa had spoken to him. But right after that, he felt an
intense, furious gaze. In Lisa's heart, Nozomu might still be the person who
had betrayed her. However, it didn't seem that she only felt anger toward
Nozomu. It was because other emotions could be seen peeking out from within her
angry gaze. But what was more important than that was her reaction to the words
Nozomu had said to her in the end.
"And I also found
something out."
Her attitude and words
clearly avoided answering Nozomu's question. It was the words Camilla had said
before.
...Lisa hasn't
been able to move forward since that day.
Those words came back
to Nozomu's mind. If that was the case, the current Lisa was still...
"Nozomu-kun?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm
fine."
Shina peered into
Nozomu's face. Nozomu, who was surprised by Shina's sudden appearance, was at a
loss for words, but Lisa was no longer in sight, and even if he tried to talk
to her more, she would probably reject him. He could tell that from the way she
had avoided answering his words. He probably wouldn't be able to catch up to
her even if he chased her now.
"Hah...
alright!"
Nozomu sighed, but he
slapped his cheeks to change his mood. His friends were celebrating his
discharge from the hospital. He couldn't be making a gloomy face here.
"Alright, let's
go. I've been eating bland hospital food since yesterday, so I want something rich
and heavy."
"Alright! Mars,
you're treating us today, right?"
Feo happily squinted
his narrow eyes and put his arm around Mars's shoulder, following Nozomu, who
had gotten his energy back. The fact that he was being vague about
"who" was treating them showed that his intentions were clouded by
greed.
"No, Nozomu is
one thing, but the rest of you are paying your own way. Especially you, you're
paying 20% more than the others."
But Mars, who had seen
through Feo's intentions, cut off his words as he tried to get him to commit.
"Why?! That's not
fair!?"
"The repair costs
for the store you broke before. You still haven't finished paying for them,
have you?"
Mars accurately
brought up the damage that Feo had caused to Ox-Head Pavilion before, to Feo,
who was complaining. Feo, who was trying to get away from the accusing gaze of
Mars, who was still holding his shoulder, looked in a different direction.
"......Ah, I just
remembered I have something to do."
Feo then quietly
pulled away and tried to leave. But unfortunately, he was now in a headlock
with a debt collector. There was no way he could escape in that state. He was
immediately grabbed by the collar by Mars and pulled back. He was then put in a
headlock with Mars's arm around his neck.
"Come on, let's
go. It seems Feo is treating us today."
Was this payback for
the way he had tried to trick him earlier? Mars declared that, but had switched
the "who." At the same time, the eyes of their friends around them
lit up.
"Then! We'll
happily accept your treat~!"
"We'll take
it~!"
The first to speak
were Mimuru and Somia. Was the reason Somia, who was raised as a young lady,
was so lively due to the influence of the wildcat girl she had become friends
with recently? While Nozomu was thinking that he hoped she wouldn't be a bad
influence on the innocent Somia, Shina and Tom followed Mimuru and the others,
tapping Feo on the shoulder and saying, "We'll be counting on you."
"Hey! I didn't
say anything!"
Feo frantically raised
his voice in the face of the merciless declarations one after another, but his
friends around him didn't show any signs of hearing him. Along with that, Feo's
face was getting bluer and bluer. Feo had been having financial problems recently,
but it seemed he had crossed the "dead line" for survival in the city. At this rate, a dried fox might
be ready in a few days.
Feo, who was cornered,
stared at Nozomu as if to entrust him with his last hope.
"Nozomu! You're
on my side..."
"I'll have the
deluxe version of the hole rabbit steak."
But contrary to his
pleading, a merciless reply was thrown at him. Feo, whose last friend had
turned against him, went berserk in despair, but he was no match for Mars in
terms of strength. The young fox-tailed man was dragged away like a criminal
being taken to prison. At first, he resisted with all his might, but his voice
gradually weakened, and in the end, he was pleading with real tears. His
appearance was so pitiful that his friends, who thought it was getting a little
too sad, decided to split the bill again. It goes without saying that there was
not a single trace of cuteness or lovableness in Feo's pleading appearance.
***
While Nozomu was
heading home with his friends, Lisa was walking alone in the corridor of the
academy. The dim light of the setting sun was streaming in from the window, and
her back had a hint of melancholy. The students had already gone home long ago,
and there was no sign of anyone in the corridor.
Just as she was about
to go home with Ken and the others after class was over, the figure of Nozomu
came into her sight. Seeing him after several days, accompanied by Anri-sensei,
made her feel an indescribable passion and impatience. The feeling of a lump in
her chest that she had been feeling recently. And the trembling that was
attacking her entire body.
However, while her
body was trembling with a chill that was similar to a sense of emptiness, she
found herself making an excuse to Ken and the others that she had something to
do, and she followed Nozomu. What came back to Lisa's mind as she followed him
was the story Nozomu had told her the day before the joint class: that the
rumor from two years ago was a complete lie.
Did she want to
confirm it, or did she want to deny it? She followed him, not knowing what she
wanted to do herself, wasted time without being able to say anything when she
finally saw him face to face, and then she turned her back on him.
"Lisa."
When she was suddenly
called out to, Lisa slowly turned around, and there stood Camilla, her best
friend who was supposed to have gone home. She was probably looking for her,
wondering why Lisa had suddenly said she had something to do.
"Were you with
Nozomu?"
Her voice was not her
usual cheerful and lively self, but somewhat hesitant. She was also one of the
people who had heard Nozomu's story that night, and she was one of the people
who understood Lisa's turmoil better than anyone else. Maybe it was thanks to
her that Lisa was still able to maintain a certain level of composure.
"It was just a
coincidence..."
Lisa denied Camilla's
words, trying not to let her know about the turmoil in her heart. But her
answer was clearly just a way to get by. Camilla also knew very well about
Lisa's turmoil. Especially until she heard that "he" had been
discharged from the hospital today, Lisa's mind had been elsewhere, whether she
was at the academy or in the dormitory. She would just stare blankly even when
her friends and underclassmen talked to her, and she would only snap out of it
when Ken or Camilla spoke to her. So Camilla had a good idea what Lisa's
"something to do" was.
"I see."
Camilla muttered a
single word and started walking next to Lisa. She was also in the same boat,
unable to make a judgment about the story Nozomu had told them. Until now, she
had unconditionally concluded that Nozomu was the root cause of everything.
Are you still
chasing your dream?
However, now that they
had heard Nozomu's story and Irisdina and the others' words, their words were
spreading a slow doubt in their hearts, like ink dropped on a white cloth.
"......What is
it?"
"No, it's
nothing."
Camilla had been
tilting her head at Ken's attitude toward Nozomu, which had changed drastically
recently, but she had also felt that his demeanor had become even stranger
after the joint class. The faint, dark shadow that had started to mix into his
smile, even as he smiled at Lisa as usual.
In the academy, the
underclassmen were excitedly talking about Nozomu's and Jihad's mock battle,
but there was a time when Ken had glared at them with a stern gaze when he
heard them talking. Lisa also seemed to have sensitively sensed Ken's change,
and she would sometimes tremble her shoulders a little when she was with him
recently.
Camilla glanced at her
best friend's face as they walked next to each other.
"Hey,
Camilla..."
"......W-what?"
Lisa suddenly called
out to her while looking straight ahead. Camilla, who had been lost in thought,
showed a little fluster and waited for Lisa's words. She opened her mouth as if
to say something.
"......No, it's
nothing."
But she couldn't say
anything and fell silent. Camilla also didn't know what to talk about, and in
the end, the two of them continued to walk in silence. The school building was
illuminated by the twilight. The corridor ahead, where the curtains of night
were beginning to fall, was eerily dim.
At the end of the
corridor, which was about to be enveloped in darkness, a single shadow was
watching the two girls walk away. A grinding sound came from his tightly
clenched back teeth.
"Tch! That
Nozomu..."
The voice that was let
out as if to suppress it was gloomy and had a centipede-like eeriness to it. To
be honest, the shadow had not been able to predict this outcome at all. The
person he thought he had completely crushed. The person he thought would leave
the academy in despair after a while was, for some reason, still in the
academy. Not only that, but he had gathered many friends, including the
outstanding Irisdina Francilt and the elf, who were at the top of the 3rd grade
in terms of looks, skill, and personality.
But what had shaken
the shadow the most was the fact that he had approached Jihad Raundel, who was
a special kind of figure in this academy. The shadow's original reason for
wanting to drive Nozomu out was, "Nozomu
Bountis cannot protect Lisa Hounds." He couldn't hide his turmoil and
anger at the content that completely denied that.
To the shadow, Nozomu Bountis's
existence was now something that should not exist. He had to get rid of him
somehow.
With that thought, the
shadow started to think of a way to get rid of Nozomu. However, it had already
become difficult to corner Nozomu himself and make him withdraw from the
academy on his own. He was on good terms with the influential people of the 3rd
grade, such as Irisdina, and the underclassmen who had seen that mock battle
with their own eyes already believed that the rumor was a lie. The 3rd and 4th
graders were still skeptical, but more importantly, Lisa herself had started to
follow Nozomu with her eyes.
"Damn it..."
In the corridor that
was already dyed in darkness, the shadow, alone, had his hands on his face and
was groaning with resentment. The flames of jealousy that had been raging in
the depths of his chest ever since Lisa had chosen Nozomu at that time were
once again lighting a dark, murky light in the shadow's eyes.
He didn't notice. That
the purpose and the means to protect the person he loved had already been
switched. He didn't notice. That even if he polished his sword skills and
magical ability, his twisted nature and feelings were taking him further and
further away from the person he loved.
And in his narrow,
closed-off world, he dreamed of an insane way to get rid of the obstacle and a
happiness that he would never be able to get.
His face twisted in an
ugly grimace in the darkness, and the shadow, Ken Notice, slowly disappeared
into the darkness.
-----
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