Volume 8
Chapter 4
A scene Nozomu had seen while dozing.
A raging cold wave and
a heatwave. The opposing weather patterns took turns ravaging the land, robbing
the few people living there of their vitality.
The seeds they had
planted would freeze along with the ground overnight, and the buds that had
finally appeared would wither in an instant with the hot wind.
Furthermore, the
attacks of hungry demonic beasts would plunge the beaten people into further
hell.
There was no hope, and
hunger and resignation were completely robbing the people of their spirit.
She was watching such
a scene from the sky.
"How
terrible..."
That was the first
thought Tiamat had when she saw that scene.
In an environment that
she herself could do nothing about, all possibilities were being plucked away.
Although she had been
shunned by her own kind from birth, their environment looked far more tragic
than her own.
An ordinary person
would probably just lament their own powerlessness and surrender themselves to
the approaching death.
But fortunately, she
had power. She may have been a failure as a dragon, but compared to a human,
she had a far greater power.
So she had offered a
little help.
Using her own elemental
essence, she had temporarily changed the direction of the raging nature.
She suppressed the
scorching sun with the power of darkness and transferred her own life force to
the withered plants. Furthermore, she sent the darkness that had stored heat
during the day high into the sky at night and made it rain.
As a result, the
withered buds came back to life, and the barren land was instantly transformed
into a green grassland.
Although she had made
a few mistakes in the amount of power and had created forests here and there, thanks
to her, the people who lived in that land were able to survive.
For her, it was just a
trivial whim.
However, the words of
the people that were directed at the dragon at that time had strongly struck
her heart.
"Thank
you."
The first words she
had ever received, from a small, small existence. They had brought her a
sensation she had never tasted before.
A sense of
fulfillment, a sense of satisfaction, a sense of contentment, a sense of
accomplishment.
From then on, she had
gradually begun to lend her power to the humans.
The wind gently, the
sunlight healthily, the land fertilely.
The things she could
do as a black dragon were limited, but the simple-hearted had shown their deep
gratitude to her each time.
And for her, the
people who lived there had also become irreplaceable beings.
The beasts that had
been ravaged by hunger also became quiet, and eventually, there were even those
who began to coexist with humans.
Eventually, that land,
with the addition of her comrades, would grow into a large country.
Alharant. A utopia
where spirits, beasts, and humans lived together.
***
"Was that her
memory...?"
Nozomu, who had woken
up to the light of the morning sun coming in from his room's window, was
mulling over the scene he had just seen.
The memory of Tiamat
that he had been getting glimpses of from time to time. However, he had almost
never seen it in such a clear form.
Except for when he had
synchronized with Tiamat during the previous incident...
"A sudden
synchronization? But the Soul-Sealing Shackles aren't broken..."
Just in case, Nozomu
got out of bed and checked his own body, but he did not feel anything wrong.
There was no pain that
seemed to be eating away at his entire body, and the invisible chains were
still wrapped around him.
"I should
probably ask the old master, just in case."
It might be fine for
now, but it would be better to be safe than sorry.
For the time being,
Nozomu, who had thought so, decided to confirm with Zonne today, and after
taking the katana that had been placed by his bed, he left his room and headed
for the dormitory's garden.
In the dormitory's
garden, there were several students who were working on their training, just
like Nozomu.
They glanced at the
arrived Nozomu, but they immediately focused on their own training.
Nozomu also quietly
drew his katana from its scabbard and began to swing it as if to confirm.
From a diagonal slash
to a reverse diagonal slash, from a right sweep to a left sweep.
He swung slowly and
without waste, as if to confirm his form.
A flowing, curved
performance. The blade of the katana danced lightly, receiving the light of the
morning sun.
As for himself, it was
a confirmation work that did not even count as training. However, it had a
fluency that would make those who saw it captivated in spite of themselves.
In fact, the gazes of
the students who had been doing their own training around him were once again
focused on Nozomu.
"Come to think of
it, I was in trouble if I didn't do something about the party..."
On the other hand,
Nozomu, while swinging his katana, was racking his brain about the opening
festival party.
Yesterday, after
Nozomu had realized that he was a party participant, he had immediately gone to
the office and had obtained a guide for the participants.
After that, he had
received a certain amount of explanation from the office staff, and had
furthermore thoroughly read the guide he had obtained in his room last night.
Nozomu, who was from a
commoner background, did not know much about party etiquette, but according to the
office staff, it was fine to participate in the party in his uniform.
However, since the
impression he made at the party could also be directly linked to his future,
most students seemed to obtain a decent set of clothes and participate.
A large number of
formal wear for parties was also secured at the academy, and it was also okay
to participate by borrowing them.
However, Nozomu did
not have to worry much about that. Because he had been given formal wear as a
gift from Victor when he had been invited to his mansion before.
"Could it be that
that person knew about this and gave me those clothes?"
While remembering the
face of Victor, who had said, "You
should have at least one good item," Nozomu remembered the content of
the guide he had read last night.
"By the way,
about dancing... What should I do?"
Nozomu had never cared
about whether he was good at dancing or not. Because he had thought that it was
something that had absolutely no connection to him.
However, if he thought
about it carefully, those who could graduate from this academy, to varying
degrees, had a good chance of obtaining a reasonably high position.
If so, they would
inevitably have opportunities to interact with the upper class. Then, it was
also necessary to acquire the skills necessary for that.
In that regard, it had
to be said that Nozomu's thinking was undoubtedly naive.
According to the
office staff, it seemed that the teachers would hold special lectures for
students who were participating in a party for the first time, but the
application period for that was until the day before yesterday, and Nozomu's
application had not been in time.
Incidentally, it
seemed that Mars, who, like Nozomu, had no experience participating in a party,
had already neatly completed his application.
"I have no
experience at all. There's no way I can dance. Is it okay to just do a 'Wheel of Reincarnation'? No, it's
probably not..."
Of course. What would
he do if he beat his dance partner to a pulp?
This man, his head was
still in a panic.
Nozomu stopped his
hands once, took a deep breath, and calmed his agitated heart.
"Should I just
become a wallflower..."
As for Nozomu, he felt
that it was not a bad idea.
It would also take
time to practice dancing.
As Irisdina and the
others said, a connection with influential people might also be necessary.
However, as for Nozomu, he wanted to prioritize his training with Zonne above
all else.
To completely control
the power of Tiamat. He thought that that was what he should be doing above all
else.
And perhaps because he
was lost in thought, Nozomu did not notice the presence that was approaching
from behind him.
"Hey..."
At the voice that had
called out from behind, Nozomu turned around.
What was there was a
silver-haired and tailed classmate of the silver wolf tribe.
"Kevin. What do
you want?"
Kevin Ardinal.
Irisdina's classmate,
and a student who was said to be the most skilled in close combat among the
third years.
However, since the
mock battle between Nozomu and Jihad, Nozomu's name was at the top of that list
at the academy.
Had he also been doing
his morning training?
Beads of sweat were
shining on his skin, and his hair was also soaked.
"I hear you're
also going to the opening festival..."
"Well, it seems I
have to participate. So, what in the world do you want?"
"..."
Nozomu heightened his
sense of tension, all while looking suspiciously at Kevin, who was glaring at
him in silence.
Kevin had a high sense
of pride, and before, he had one-sidedly despised the underperforming Nozomu.
During the special comprehensive exercise, he had been hit with a clear
hostility.
As for Nozomu, Kevin
was not a very pleasant person.
An intimidating
presence, as if their skin were being pulled taut, flowed between the two.
At that moment, a suddenly
called out voice blew away the tense atmosphere between the two.
"Ah, Nozomu. So
you were here."
"Ah, Iris? Why
are you here so early in the morning..."
"..."
The one who had
appeared was the uniformed Irisdina.
Kevin, who had seen
her figure, withdrew the hostility he had been directing at Nozomu and turned
on his heel and left in silence.
Irisdina, who had
confirmed Kevin's retreating figure, had a grave expression.
"...Did something
happen?"
Irisdina, who knew
Kevin's personality well, asked Nozomu with her eyes narrowed.
"No, he didn't
say anything... S-So, do you need something? To come to the boys' dormitory so
early in the morning."
"Ah, yes. I have
some business. Is that okay?"
Irisdina's sharp
presence disappeared as if it were a lie, and she began to peek at Nozomu's
expression with a faltering look.
Her cheeks, as she
looked up at Nozomu's face, seemed to be faintly tinged with red.
"U-Um. You don't
have any experience with dancing, right, Nozomu? Then, would you like to
practice a little?"
"Practice?"
"Ah, yes. My
house has a place, and since it's large, we won't be bothering anyone. H-How
about it..."
At Irisdina's
proposal, Nozomu had an awkward expression. Because he had just been thinking
of giving up on practicing dancing.
He knew very well that
Irisdina was proposing it out of concern for him. But as for him, he felt an
aversion to appearing on the public stage right now.
"But won't it be
a bother? And considering my training with the old master, I think it will get
quite late. Won't Victor-san also not be very happy about it..."
"It's not a
problem. I am the master of that mansion. And even if it gets late, there's no
curfew at the dormitory, right? I'll treat you to dinner. How about it?"
"I'm happy with
Iris's proposal, but I'm..."
He was happy with
Irisdina's words that she would help him practice. But it was still too soon
for him now. When he thought so, Nozomu could not readily accept her proposal.
After much thought, Nozomu
decided to refuse Irisdina's proposal.
When he thought of
her, who was thinking of him with all her might, Nozomu's chest ached as if it
were being squeezed.
Nozomu swallowed that
pain along with his saliva, while covering the pain that ran through his chest,
thinking that controlling Tiamat's power was what he should be prioritizing
above all else.
At the very least, he
would not refuse with an excuse-like line, but with firm, sincere words.
Believing that that was the proper etiquette towards her, Nozomu opened his
mouth.
"I see..."
But before Nozomu
could reply, a shadow crossed the expression of Irisdina, who was staring at
his face.
Since she was so
quick-witted, she had probably immediately realized what Nozomu's reply would
be.
At her expression,
which was seeping with desolation, a crack ran through the ice that had been
creaking in the depths of Nozomu's chest.
"I... want to
dance with you, though..."
The words that she had
murmured with a lonely look fell into Nozomu's chest with a thud.
At that moment, the
ice in the depths of his chest, which had been creaking until just before,
crumbled with a clatter.
At the same time,
Nozomu felt an indescribable anger at himself.
"What am
I doing? I asked for training with Zonne because I didn't want them to make
such a face," he thought.
Nozomu, as if to scold
himself for trying to make an excuse, slapped his own cheeks with both his
hands.
At Nozomu's sudden
action, Irisdina trembled and was blinking her eyes.
"Iris, I'll ask
you to practice dancing with me. To be honest, I was thinking that I had to do
something about it."
While looking her
straight in the eyes, Nozomu asked for her to practice dancing with him.
Her face, which had
been frozen in surprise, gradually relaxed and turned into a broad smile.
"I-I see! Then,
after school today. I'll be waiting at the main gate, so after your training
with Zonne-dono is over, let's go to my house!"
Irisdina shook
Nozomu's hand with an elated look and rattled on.
And after quickly
letting go of Nozomu's hand, she ran towards the main gate of the dormitory.
"Okay! It's a
promise! You'd better come!"
"Yeah, it's a
promise!"
To the waving
Irisdina, who was looking back, Nozomu also answered by waving his hand.
His training time
would be reduced, and Zonne might not be happy about it. Still, Nozomu was
convinced from the bottom of his heart that this was for the best.
The sun had already
completely risen from the horizon. However, the wind was still biting cold.
Nozomu's body trembled
from the cold. But inside his chest, it was warmer than ever.
Incidentally, the
conversation between the two was spread throughout the boys' dormitory in an
instant by the students who were doing their morning training, and Nozomu ended
up being exposed to countless murderous gazes from the morning.
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