Volume 6
Chapter 5
After school, Anri walked down the hallway, carrying so many documents that she couldn't see what was in front of her. She had borrowed these materials from the library and reference room to compile teaching materials for her classes, but after borrowing more and more, the amount had swelled to an abnormal degree. Stumbling precariously, Anri made her way down the hallway, intending to return the borrowed materials. The stack of documents in her hands was about as tall as her upper body, and the top swayed erratically, threatening to collapse at any moment.
"A-ara? Arararara?"
As expected, the top
of the piled documents began to wobble precariously. Anri tried to regain her
balance somehow, but once the perfectly balanced stack of documents began to
collapse, it tumbled down like an avalanche.
"Fueee~~"
Anri's drawn-out,
pained cry echoed through the wide hallway. A mountain of documents scattered
across the floor. Amidst the rustling sounds, there was also a hard, clattering
noise, indicating that she wasn't just carrying books. Looking at the floor,
old books, parchments with various writings, and even unknown mineral lumps lay
scattered, items whose purpose was utterly unclear. They lacked any uniformity
and at first glance looked like mere trash, but they were probably quite
valuable. Anri, teary-eyed, frantically began gathering the scattered
documents.
"Boo hoo~~ I'm
going to get scolded~~"
Anri fussed about
anxiously. Just then, a hand reached out from the side and began picking up the
documents that had fallen to the floor.
"Huh?"
Anri let out a silly
sound as she looked at the owner of the hand that was picking up the documents.
Standing there was a middle-aged man in white silver armor.
"Goodness. Are
you alright, Anri-sensei?"
"Jihad-sensei~.
Thank you~."
Jihad seemed to have
coincidentally witnessed the somewhat silly scene, for an adult, that had just
occurred. Anri's face instantly broke into a smile when she saw his wry
expression. After gathering all the fallen documents, Jihad, holding the
retrieved documents, asked Anri where they needed to go.
"So, where should
I take these documents?"
"Eh? Is that
alright~?"
Anri wondered if it
was okay to have her superior, who was one of the central figures of this
academy, carry the documents she had dropped, but Jihad himself didn't seem to
mind.
"Yeah, I don't
mind."
"Thank you~.
That's a great help~."
Thanking Jihad, Anri
carefully clutched the now-halved stack of documents, making sure not to drop
them this time. The two, separated by a generational gap, walked down the
hallway. Their first destination was the reference room. Anri, with her
easygoing personality, didn't walk fast, so Jihad matched her pace.
"Anri-sensei, I
have a few questions, if you don't mind?"
"Yes, of
course~."
Jihad seemed to have
something on his mind, asking Anri hesitantly. In truth, Jihad had wanted to
ask Anri about that particular party, which was currently a topic of discussion
regarding the recent special comprehensive training exercise, but he had a
somewhat troublesome matter to deal with afterward. Coincidentally finding her
at that moment, he decided to take the opportunity to ask her about him.
"Ms. Anri, are
you aware of the results of the recent special comprehensive training
exercise?"
"Yes~. I was
surprised~."
Anri's exclamation of
admiration echoed in Jihad's ears, without any hidden meaning. It was a
completely straightforward, honest statement. She was genuinely happy that her
students had made a progress.
"Honestly, these
results were unexpected. A 10th Class student achieving results comparable to a
1st Class student. The academy's history is short, but this is an unprecedented
event."
Solminati Academy had
a short history, but it had still produced a considerable number of excellent
individuals for various countries. Its complete meritocracy and the dense
academy life in all aspects made this possible. Solminati Academy was
originally founded with the purpose of discovering talented individuals hidden
in the wilderness. It wasn't that there were no students who suddenly blossomed
their talents during their rigorous academy life and rose to prominence. Not
only within this academy life, but Jihad himself had also met a few such
individuals. However, such individuals were truly very few. That's why Jihad
was curious about that boy.
"Are you talking
about Nozomu-kun~?"
Anri, sensing what
Jihad wanted to ask, prompted him to speak. Jihad nodded honestly at Anri's
words.
"Regarding these
results, my prediction is that he was the driving force. They fought you, was
driven into a corner, and one of their comrades was eliminated, but they still
defeated you, who were a special target. Honestly, it would be impossible not
to be interested."
Jihad first heard
Nozomu's name from the incident with the black demonic beast. The male student
who acted as rearguard to save his comrades and escaped from that demonic
beast. At first, he thought it was luck, but from the results of this exercise,
Jihad felt that Nozomu, the male student, possessed something more than just
luck.
"Yes~. He's an
honest and good boy~. Though he can be a bit reckless at times~, I think he has
excellent judgment and combat skills in real battles~. If he plays his cards
right, I think he can even compete with top-ranking students~."
Jihad narrowed his
eyes at those words. He could certainly agree that his judgment was excellent.
To find a way out against Anri, who possessed top-tier abilities even among
A-ranks, simply pushing forward with brute force would be difficult. He would
need to fully grasp the strengths of his comrades present and devise a feasible
plan. The fact that he was able to do that demonstrated Nozomu Bountis's high
judgment ability.
"...Then, what
about his academic performance at this academy?"
"Due to
Nozomu-kun's characteristics, he can't fully demonstrate his abilities within
the academy. In that sense, an external examination like this special
comprehensive exercise might have been an opportunity for him to demonstrate
his true abilities."
"Hmm, ability
suppression, then..."
Jihad concluded that
it was his characteristic, ability suppression. Indeed, if his ki, magic power,
and physical abilities were restricted, it would be difficult for him to
achieve good grades in individual practical exams. As a result, he thought that
he had honed skills that could be demonstrated outside of individual combat,
such as judgment and tactics. In reality, his judgment skills were incidentally
acquired through training with Shino, and his tactics were the result of
desperate efforts to score as many points as possible in written exams. Besides
that, Nozomu's self-control in not using offensive ki techniques, including Phantom
Void, was also a significant factor. As they walked, Jihad elicited the details
of how Nozomu and his team fought Anri.
"I see, a victory
by destroying the pendant, which is proof of exercise participation. That's
certainly a good way to win against a superior opponent."
"Yes~."
Hearing the specific
details, Jihad nodded slightly. The disqualification conditions in the exercise
were a certain amount of accumulated damage or the loss of the participation
badge. Nozomu Bountis and his team, who encountered an opponent superior to themselves,
probably made a good judgment by immediately choosing to destroy the pendant.
For Nozomu, who originally had low endurance, destroying the pendant or aiming
for a vital spot was the quickest way to secure victory in one hit.
Furthermore, the process leading up to that result was also highly commendable.
Blowing away a Mage who could deploy a magic barrier and slamming them into
their opponent to incapacitate them was not something one would normally think
of. Although it was a somewhat reckless and rough plan, it had more than enough
impact to surprise the opponent. It was an encounter battle where they didn't
know who they would face, and furthermore, they had just fought a 4th Class
party before fighting Anri. Being able to do this much in a sudden battle was
probably enough.
"Hmm... Then what
about that rumor? From what I've heard, he doesn't seem to be the kind of student
Ms. Anri describes..."
In that case, what
concerned Jihad was that rumor. The story of him becoming isolated.
"Rumors are just
rumors, after all~. They're complete nonsense~."
"Hmm..."
Jihad fell silent,
contemplating. Various thoughts floated and disappeared in his mind. Anri
looked at the middle-aged warrior, who was looking up and contemplating, with a
beaming smile. As he looked up like that, Jihad's eyes caught sight of a room
with a sign for the reference room. It seemed they had reached their
destination while talking. He opened the door to the reference room and placed
the stack of documents he was holding on the desk before him. Clapping his
hands, Jihad turned to Anri.
"Thank you,
Anri-sensei. I've heard quite a good story."
"Not at
all."
Anri also placed her
documents on the desk and began organizing them, just like Jihad. Even as she
continued organizing, Jihad remained deep in thought, hand on his chin. As she
glanced at the middle-aged swordsman, an idea suddenly sparked in Anri's mind.
"Oh, that's
right, Jihad-sensei~. If you want to see Nozomu-kun's true abilities, I have a
good idea~."
"A good
idea?"
"Yes,
Nozomu-kun's ability, which can't be fully grasped from reports alone. His
original fighting style, which he can't easily demonstrate within the
academy~."
Jihad frowned at
Anri's words. From their previous conversation, Jihad had formed an impression of
Nozomu Bountis as a strategist-type student skilled in tactics. However,
considering her current statement, it seemed that wasn't entirely the case.
Come to think of it, when they received a report from Nozomu and the others
about that demonic beast incident, he also had a katana at his hip. If he were
a strategist or a commander, his position would naturally be in the rear,
overlooking the battlefield, and his weapon would be something with a wide
range, like a bow. However, what he held was a difficult-to-handle katana,
which was hardly circulated on this continent. Even if he inevitably needed to
engage in close combat due to the rumors spreading at the academy that
prevented him from finding comrades, it was still strange. In that case, he
would probably have an easy-to-handle longsword or a portable dagger, or a
spear to maintain distance, and he wouldn't deliberately choose katana
techniques that required a lot of effort and time to master. The strange
inconsistency concerning Nozomu Bountis. Anri, standing before him, probably
knew something about it. Honestly, Jihad felt like bait was being dangled in
front of him.
"Don't you want
to know~?"
Anri smiled broadly at
Jihad. Jihad tried to discern what she was thinking from her expression and
actions. She was Anri, who cared so much about her students that Inda sometimes
called it excessive. Her proposal was undoubtedly made with Nozomu Bountis in mind.
Jihad himself had become even more interested in Nozomu after hearing Anri's
story.
"I'll
listen."
His decision was
quick. Jihad, with many important matters to attend to, didn't have much time,
but he could at least listen. Anri smiled contentedly at Jihad's answer and
slowly opened her mouth.
***
While Anri was having
Jihad help her carry documents, Nozomu was waiting in front of the guild in the
commercial district for Irisdina and the others to arrive. He was there to help
with a request she had asked him for during lunch break. In front of Nozomu
stood a three-story building made of cut stone, and various people entered and
exited through its wide-open doors. Warriors with the glossy fur characteristic
of beastmen, hooded Mages. Students in Solminati Academy uniforms and
townspeople who seemed to be there to make requests passed through the open
gates. The students in Solminati Academy uniforms, upon seeing Nozomu leaning
against the guild wall, showed startled expressions, then began to whisper something
in low voices. This area faced the main street of the commercial district, so
more people than just those visiting the guild came and went. The commotion was
so loud that Nozomu couldn't make out what they were saying, but the
conversation was probably about the results of the special comprehensive
training exercise announced today.
Today, Nozomu's keen
senses had detected numerous gazes directed at him while he was at the academy.
In the corridors and in front of the main gate, where many students came and
went, the gazes directed at him were particularly numerous, but most of them
were filled with suspicion, and some students still glared at him with
hostility and contempt. Let alone Nozomu's own classmates, even the students
peeking from within the crowd were now casting suspicious glances his way. It
was understandable, considering that they hadn't seen Nozomu fight and only
knew him from rumors. Nozomu sighed, thinking it couldn't be helped. Given his
past, being looked at with suspicion was still better. Nozomu himself had
developed some tolerance for such gazes, and since he was outside the academy,
not many gazes were directed at him. Nevertheless, he felt a slight mental
fatigue from being constantly watched from a distance while he was at the
academy.
" I wish Iris and Feo would come soon..."
Murmuring to himself,
Nozomu gazed around for a while, listening to the commotion. The footsteps of a
merchant running in a panic, having forgotten an important product. The voices
of adventurers talking as they confirmed requests they had accepted while
walking. The military police patrolling the city with regular footsteps. The
variety of goods displayed on the roadside, such as exquisitely crafted pottery
and colorful fabrics, was immense, and the items gathered from all directions
of the compass felt like a microcosm of this continent. Each of those
commotions felt like the breath of this city to Nozomu. A city built for the
sake of Solminati Academy. However, this city offered a glimpse of a wider
world, separate from the academy, and the countless items displayed on the
roadside seemed like entrances to that world.
"I wonder if Lisa
saw scenery like this when she was traveling with her father?"
Nozomu gazed at the city's
commotion with such thoughts. How should he deal with his relationship with
Lisa and Ken? He had anger towards Ken, and complex feelings towards Lisa. But
Nozomu was no longer imprisoned by that anger. To be precise, he was able to
remain calm despite carrying anger. The reason for that, the confession of Ken,
who tried to set him up, and his rampage against the Triclops, was ironic in a
way. Nozomu and his friends hadn't truly become one. Then, what should he
do...? Finally able to look forward again, Nozomu re-examined his current
situation and his own feelings. There were mountains of things to consider.
Many memories and feelings passed through Nozomu's mind. His unfulfilled
promise with Lisa and his oath with Ken. His feelings for Irisdina and the
others who helped him. His own future, having lost his goal, and the problem of
Tiamat he carried. If he wanted to face Lisa, he first needed her to listen to
him, but that would be difficult as long as she completely believed Ken's
story. Considering her past behavior, she didn't seem likely to listen
honestly. He also considered gathering evidence and trying to resolve it that
way, but was there any physical evidence? He had told Irisdina and the others
to give him some time to think, but when he actually started thinking, there
was too much to think about, and his head became muddled. Nozomu shook his head
to stop thinking for a moment. He stretched his back and took a deep breath to
clear his mind.
" First of all, what do I want to become with Lisa and the
others...?"
He thought that their
relationship as it was now wasn't good. But what kind of relationship did he
desire with them? Nozomu simply thought. He tried to find the answer deep
within his heart, so absorbed that he didn't even notice the voices and sounds
of people passing by, or the scorching sunlight. There was anger. There was
hatred. Sadness, grief, and the feeling that he had loved her. His exhaled
breath was swallowed by the early summer wind and vanished. The street was
still bustling with many people, full of commotion.
But suddenly, the flow
of the commotion was disrupted. With a rustle of commotion, the air around them
completely changed. The gazes of the always noisy and busy people on the street
were directed at a single point. Wondering what was happening, Nozomu followed
their gazes and saw a single girl. She had long, lustrous black hair like ebony
swaying in the wind, and she walked gracefully with her head held high,
completely unconcerned by the countless gazes directed at her. As if drawn by
the scent of the girl who passed by, the gazes of men and women, young and old,
followed her. The gracefully walking girl came in front of the guild and began
to look around as if searching for someone. Eventually, when Nozomu's and the girl's
gazes met, she smiled faintly as if she had found what she was looking for and
walked towards him.
"Nozomu, sorry to
keep you waiting."
"Ah, oh, yeah.
D-don't worry about it..."
A momentary silence in
the city's commotion. Within it, a bell-like voice calling Nozomu's name
echoed. While captivating the gazes of many people around, the girl's gaze was
fixed only on Nozomu. The girl still seemed completely unconcerned about how
much attention she was drawing.
"Feo-kun... doesn't
seem to be here yet."
"Ah. It seems
so..."
"Then, shall we
go ahead and do the party registration process?"
Nozomu, who normally
couldn't accept requests that involved entering the forest due to his low rank,
could accept such requests if he formed a party with high-ranking students or
gathered a certain number of people. The procedure Irisdina was currently
performing was to inform the guild issuing the request that they were forming a
party. This information was also shared with the academy, allowing for quick
response if students went missing or encountered unexpected situations.
"Well then, shall
we go?"
"Ah..."
With a casual voice,
as if going just nearby, Irisdina took Nozomu's hand and then pulled him into
the guild. Stunned by his hand suddenly being held, Nozomu could only follow,
led by her soft hand.
***
Inside the guild, the
stifling heat of the bustling crowd lingered. Irisdina walked briskly, pulling
Nozomu's hand, through the intertwined throng of people. Irisdina skillfully
weaved through the gaps between people coming and going from all directions.
Nozomu, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of her, bumping shoulders
and arms, and getting squeezed between people. Normally, Nozomu would also be
able to skillfully weave through the crowd. However, the warmth of her hand he
felt seemed to have robbed Nozomu's body of its freedom.
"Hey, Iris, my
hand... Whoa! Mugyu!"
He was being pulled
and jostled, but Nozomu strangely didn't want to let go of her hand.
" C-Come to think of it, back then too..."
The scene of him
walking through the city with her for the first time flashed through Nozomu's
mind. During their first date, Nozomu was also walking around the city like
this, being pulled along.
"Ugh..."
The same warmth as
back then flowed into his hand, and Nozomu involuntarily let out a muffled
sound. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest. His body stiffened as if wrapped
in wire, and his feet almost stumbled. Still, Nozomu desperately moved his
feet, trying not to fall.
"Well then, let's
get this done quickly."
Before he knew it,
Nozomu found himself at the reception desk. Basically, to accept a request, one
had to bring the request form posted on the bulletin board to the reception
desk and complete the procedure. But Irisdina had already accepted the request,
so this time they only needed to register the party members.
"Excuse me. I'd
like to register new members."
Irisdina released
Nozomu's hand and spoke to the young man at the reception, handing him the
request form she was holding. The good-natured young man stared at Irisdina's
face, frozen in a daze. Irisdina, meanwhile, simply looked puzzled at the
frozen receptionist.
"? Excuse me. For
member registration..."
"Hah!... Yes.
Understood!"
The startled
receptionist hastily accepted the request form and proceeded with the
paperwork. The young man received Irisdina's and Nozomu's student IDs and
skillfully completed the procedures. The receptionist's cheeks were slightly
flushed, and he kept glancing sideways at Irisdina. His gaze first lingered on
her sculpted features, like a masterpiece by a master craftsman, her long
lustrous hair, her beautifully curved limbs, and finally settled on Nozomu, who
was beside her. And he would make such a face: "Why is someone like this
with her?" Nozomu, aware of the difference in their appearances, could
only give a wry smile at such a gaze. The receptionist, who had been captivated
by Irisdina, glared at Nozomu beside her and disappeared into the back to
complete the procedures. Just then, the two were suddenly called from behind.
"Oh, isn't that
Senior Irisdina!"
Irisdina and Nozomu
looked in the direction of the voice and saw four boys and girls. They were
clad in brand-new white uniforms, just like Nozomu and his friends. But judging
by the color of their badges, they seemed to be first-year students. The
student who seemed to have called out stepped forward. His features were handsome,
and his brown hair, which almost reached his shoulders, was well-kept, but he
didn't tie it back and let it flow casually. He carried a sword at his hip, but
his uniform chest was unbuttoned sloppily, and he wore many clanking
accessories. His appearance was not that of a diligent student, to say the
least. Behind him were two female students, one with a staff and one with a
bow, and one male student with a spear.
"You're
Eldor-kun, right?"
The male student
called Eldor approached Irisdina with a frivolous smile pasted on his face.
"Senior, did you
come to accept a request too?"
"Ah, yes."
"If you don't
mind, why don't we go together? We're also planning to accept a request in the
forest."
Eldor tried to invite
Irisdina, but Irisdina frowned upon hearing his words.
"But you're
first-years, aren't you? I think it's still too early..."
"It's alright.
We're all D-rank, you see."
Eldor puffed out his
chest proudly. Indeed, it was impressive that they had reached D-rank right
after enrolling, showing a glimpse of their talent. However, his attitude
showed an obsequiousness stemming from excessive confidence. Irisdina's
expression stiffened for a moment when she heard his words, which stemmed from
his excessive confidence.
"Um, Senior Irisdina,
what about him?"
"He is Nozomu
Bountis. A classmate who will be joining my party today."
"Eh?"
Eldor's eyes widened
the moment he heard Nozomu's name. Then, he looked at Nozomu with a somewhat
triumphant expression and asked.
"Nozomu-senpai,
what's your rank?"
"D-minus."
Upon hearing Nozomu's
rank, Eldor put on a scornful smile. He must have felt a sense of superiority
hearing that Nozomu's rank was lower than his own.
"Senior Irisdina,
perhaps we should go together after all? Our rank is higher, you know."
And the student named
Eldor invited Irisdina again. He probably wanted to say that since his rank was
higher than Nozomu's, he would be more useful.
"I'll decline.
Today, I have a promise to form a party with him."
However, Irisdina
flatly refused Eldor's invitation.
"But, this
person, he's that rumored..."
"Besides, I don't
want to team up with someone who acts so rudely."
Eldor still tried to
persuade Irisdina by bringing up Nozomu's rumor. But she rejected Eldor with an
even stronger tone. A clear expression of disgust could be seen on her face.
Irisdina was usually kind and showed no discrimination, but perhaps because she
refused him in a stern tone uncharacteristic of her, not only Eldor but also
the juniors behind him widened their eyes in surprise. At that moment, the
receptionist returned the request form, stating that the procedure was
complete.
"Nozomu, let's
go."
"O-oi."
Irisdina took the
request form handed by the receptionist and pulled Nozomu's hand, trying to
leave the place. Eldor seemed about to say something, but she ignored his
attempt to call out to her and headed for the exit.
"Iris, was that
alright? He's a junior, isn't he?"
"Yeah, don't
worry about it. He's somewhat capable, but at the very least, I don't want to
team up with him."
"I see..."
Nozomu and Irisdina
stepped out of the guild building and took a breath. Freed from the crowd, and
with their shoulders relaxed, Nozomu asked Irisdina about the junior from
earlier.
"Do you know
him?"
"Well, yes. He
confessed to me before, asking me to go out with him."
Nozomu was surprised
for a moment at those words, but then immediately understood. It was Irisdina,
faultless in both appearance and personality. Indeed, there was no end to the
students who confessed to her. There were even rumors of confessions from
female students. The truth was uncertain, but considering that many female
students were attracted to the strong and reliable Irisdina, it might not be
entirely wrong.
"But I turned him
down. I myself can't respond if I'm not interested..."
Irisdina took a deep
breath, then glanced at the boy beside her. An ordinary appearance, like anyone
else. But just looking at him made a burning heat well up from deep within her
chest.
"!"
The heat welling up
from deep within her chest immediately spread throughout her body. Her heart
pounded like a rapid bell, her fingers gripping his hand flushed, and she
involuntarily averted her face. Even with her face averted, Irisdina's hand
remained clasped in Nozomu's. If she didn't let go, he might notice, but she
couldn't let go.
"??"
A questioning aura
emanated from him, but Irisdina couldn't turn around. Irisdina couldn't look
him in the eye. But she couldn't let go of his hand either.
"Besides..."
Irisdina hesitated,
exuding a meaningful atmosphere. But at that moment, Nozomu cried out,
"Ah!"
"Nozomu?"
Irisdina turned around
with a puzzled expression at the cry she heard. Nozomu, beside her, was looking
somewhere else, not at her. Following his gaze, she saw a fox-tailed youth with
golden fur and perked-up ears.
"Hmm~~. Oh, don't
mind me. Please continue... I'm just like a roadside stone, you see."
The question of when
he arrived suddenly came to Nozomu's mind. Thanks to Irisdina, the number of
gazes from those around them was extraordinarily high, and Nozomu hadn't
noticed his presence at all. Feo observed Nozomu and Irisdina with a grinning
smile on his face.
"Feo, how long
have you been here?"
"Hm? I saw you
two enter the guild together, so I thought, 'Oh, what a good sight!' and
followed... If you want, there's a love hotel with good service over
there..."
"Well then,
Nozomu, shall we go?"
"O-oi,
Iris..."
It seemed Feo had been
watching everything from the beginning. Nozomu was about to sigh in
exasperation, but Irisdina tried to leave Feo behind and head for the forest.
By the way, her hand was still holding Nozomu's.
"Hey, wait! It
was just a joke!"
"Nozomu, I'm
counting on you today."
Feo rushed over,
making excuses. But Irisdina only spoke to Nozomu and smiled, completely
ignoring Feo.
"Ignoring me!?
Are you ignoring me!? Princess, wait a minute! Nozomu, say something!"
Feo clung to Irisdina,
who didn't slow her pace at all. But when he realized it was fruitless, he
clung to Nozomu instead. However, even if he did that, there was nothing Nozomu
could do. Nozomu's sigh vanished into the city of Arcazam. How much trouble had
there been today alone? And he had a feeling that the troubles would only
increase. Feeling his heart pound a little from the warmth of Irisdina's hand,
and a headache from the troublesome fox clinging to him, Nozomu prayed that he
could get through today safely.
***
For Lisa Hounds,
thinking about Nozomu Bountis always brought a feeling as if her chest was
being torn. She had a dream. And someone who supported that dream. He was once
someone who said he would be with her, but she, believing she was betrayed, now
hurled as much hatred at him as the feelings she once held in her heart. When
she saw Nozomu, what appeared in her eyes was always the scene of his betrayal.
His figure leaning close to someone else, not her. And herself, clutching her
knees in a room where no one came.
"............"
Lisa walked down the commercial
district street in silence. Beside her were her childhood friend and best
friend who had supported her.
"Lisa? What's
wrong?"
"Are you okay?
You seem to be spacing out a lot lately..."
Camila, walking beside
her, looked at Lisa with a puzzled expression. Ken also watched Lisa with
concern.
"I-I'm fine!
Sorry, I just haven't been able to sleep lately..."
"If you're not
feeling well, do you want to go back to the dorm?"
"No, don't worry,
I was just thinking about something."
Lisa smiled, waving
her hand. She acted cheerful so as not to worry them, but inwardly, she felt a
ripple in her heart. She began to feel this sensation after the special
comprehensive exercise, when she heard that Nozomu Bountis, who fought the
Corpse Dragon, was seriously injured. Since then, every time she thought of her
former beloved, she was struck by this strange sensation. At first, Lisa
thought it was hatred towards Nozomu. However, it wasn't the same gut-wrenching
feeling she had felt when thinking about him until now. Nor was it as if she
was secretly scoffing at him, who had betrayed her. What could it be...? With
such thoughts, Lisa looked at Ken, who was walking beside her.
"Hm? What's
wrong?"
Ken smiled at Lisa as
usual. The same smile as when they were together in Oire Village. But for some
reason, every time she saw that smile, the ripples in the depths of her chest
began to rage, as if crying out.
"Ah?"
At that moment, Lisa
saw Nozomu being pulled by Irisdina near the guild building. He was being led
by her black-haired classmate. The next moment, the ripples in Lisa's heart
churned. The lingering feelings she had felt in the depths of her chest this
morning swelled rapidly, striking her heart like a high wave. The scene flashed
back before her eyes. It was his back, standing before the Corpse Dragon.
"Lisa...?"
Her best friend's
voice, who should have been beside her, seemed distant. Lisa could only stare
blankly at his back as he disappeared into the guild.
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