Chapter 59

The morning after the One Year War ended.

"---Well, Rea, I'm going out for a bit."

Allen, who had changed from his usual uniform into the casual clothes given to him by Pola, said this after getting ready.

"…Huh? A, ah, y-yes… See you later."

Surprised by the sudden announcement, she gave a stiff smile and waved her hand slightly.

"Yep, see you later."

With that, he slowly closed the door.

And so, Rea, left alone in the large dormitory,

"…That's strange."

She was overwhelmed by a strong sense of unease and a bad feeling in her chest.

Looking around, Allen's sword was still leaning against the side of the desk.

"…It's definitely strange."

He, who always carried his sword with him, had left it behind today.

"He always told me where he was going… Why not today…?"

Several 'abnormalities' evolved into a significant worry, weighing heavily on her shoulders.

And then,

"…Could it be a girl?"

She reached a single conclusion.

"N-no, no, no! There's no way that shy Allen would do something like that!"

She waved her hands widely from side to side, strongly negating her own thoughts.

Allen's shyness was something Rea knew better than anyone else.

After all, they had been living together for four months, and he had shown no signs of making a move.

However,

"…There's no way Allen would do something like that… right?"

She couldn't say for sure that it was impossible.

"Even if Allen is shy… If he were cornered by a more aggressive girl…"

After simulating several scenarios in her mind,

"…This might be bad."

She turned pale.

She had already heard from the secret information exchange sessions with Rose that Allen was popular with the opposite sex.

"Allen is kind… more like, very soft on people…"

There was a possibility that his kindness and softness could be exploited.

(…It's dangerous.)

She made this judgment and said,

"I, I can't just stand by…!"

She quickly changed from her uniform into casual clothes and rushed out of the dormitory.

After that,

"I'm sorry, Allen… I'm not doubting you… I'm just trying to protect you…"

She muttered to herself as if making an excuse to someone else—Rea followed Allen.

She continued to tail him, hiding in the shadows for fifteen minutes.

"Such… a thing…?"

At the end of her line of sight, a despairing scene unfolded.

"Allen-kun! Over here, over here!"

"---Sorry, did you wait long?"

"No, I just got here too, so it's fine."

To her shock, her trusted Allen had joined up with the Student Council President, Shii-Arkstria.

Moreover, there were no other Student Council members—Lilim or Felis—around.

It was a complete one-on-one.

From any angle, it looked like a perfect 'date'.

"A, Allen…?"

Stunned, she stumbled towards him.

At that moment,

"What are you doing, Rea?"

Rose, who happened to pass by, lightly tapped Rea on the shoulder.

"Ah!?"

Surprised, she let out a high-pitched scream and jumped.

When Rea quickly turned around, there stood Rose in casual clothes.

"Hey, don't scare me like that! Rose!"

"I just called out to you normally…"

Surprised by her unexpected reaction, Rose was a bit confused, but then,

"More importantly, what are you doing here!?"

Rea, who had mistakenly thought that Rose was secretly dating Allen, sternly questioned her.

"What do you mean…? I just came here to get the latest ice cream."

Rose pointed to an ice cream shop that looked like a small castle.

"That's… good."

At least she wasn't an enemy.

Rea heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, what are you doing hiding here, Rea?"

This time, Rose asked a straightforward question.

"…Look at that."

Rea pointed to where Allen and Shii were talking affectionately.

"Is that… the President!?"

"Is that… a date!?"

"To confirm that, I'm currently tailing them."

"Got it… I'll join you…!"

Thus, the two of them began to tail Allen and Shii.

■

Allen and Shii entered the ice cream shop in front of them.

Rea and Rose carefully joined the long queue to avoid being noticed.

"Excuse me. Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate banana, lemonade, matcha, milk coffee, caramel syrup, and cream nuts… Oh, and the summer special tangerine, please… All in large sizes."

"…As usual. I'll have a regular size summer tangerine."

"Understood!"

The energetic shop assistant quickly served them ice cream in cute, ball-shaped cups.

After that, they hurriedly moved to a two-person table inside and resumed their surveillance.

"Why do they look so happy…? …Oh, this is delicious!"

"Ugh, my chest is tingling…! …Wow, it's as good as they say!"

They continued to tail Allen and Shii, who were enjoying various shops, with a mix of envy and frustration.

Before they knew it, it was already dusk.

As the sunset illuminated Oriana Street, Allen and Shii walked side by side in silence.

"Ugh… They have such a good vibe…!"

"…This is bad."

Rea and Rose, hiding behind a trash can, gritted their teeth.

Suddenly, Allen and Shii stopped in front of a beautiful fountain.

Shii, with a serious expression, said something that made Allen visibly flustered.

"…Could it be… a confession!?"

At that moment, Rea and Rose's faces turned pale.

"---Princess Rea of the Vesteria Kingdom, Rea Vesteria, right?"

A man in a black cloak suddenly descended from the sky.

"!?"

Rea and Rose, surprised by the sudden appearance, quickly put some distance between themselves and the man.

"…Didn't you learn that you should introduce yourself first before asking someone's name?"

Rea, ready to deploy the "Primordial Dragon King," observed the man in front of her.

Short, crimson hair.

A towering figure about two meters tall, with well-built muscles.

He looked to be in his mid-thirties.

Deep-set, sharp features.

His deep, gravelly voice exuded a strong sense of confidence.

(This guy… is incredibly strong…!)

She instinctively recognized his strength and maintained a sharp, unwavering gaze.

"Hahaha! You're a feisty one—good! I'm Zak Bonbarr! Now, tell me your name—"

Just as Zak was about to ask for Rea's name,

"---Deploy your Soul Armament, Rea!"

Rose's short, urgent voice rang out.

"Conquer—Primordial Dragon King!"

Reacting to this, Rea immediately manifested her Soul Armament.

"Do you know this man, Rose!?"

Rose had already deployed the "Crimson Cold Cherry" and was directing intense hostility towards Zak.

"Zak Bonbarr… Also known as 'Zak the Scorched'… He has been attacking various Holy Knight branches without reason, turning everything into scorched earth… He is currently internationally wanted, with a high bounty on his head…"

"Hahaha! So my face and name are known! I've become quite famous!"

Zak shrugged and laughed jovially.

"For the past few years, I hadn't heard any rumors about you… I didn't expect you to join the Black Organization…"

Rose immediately deduced his connection to the Black Organization from his black attire.

"Ah… Well, things just happened that way. There's a lot going on here…"

Zak scratched his head roughly.

"Anyway… I won't take your life, so don't worry!"

"…!?"

"…He's coming, don't let your guard down!"

And then,

"Roar—Scourge of the Conflagration!"

"What!?"

"Wh-what…!?"

The moment Zak manifested his Soul Armament, a massive explosion of flames engulfed Rea and Rose.

■

When the President suddenly asked me, "Would you consider joining the government side?" I was internally very confused.

"‘Government side’… What do you mean?"

"To be blunt, it's a headhunting offer. If Allen is willing, I can talk to my father right away—"

Just as the serious-looking President was about to elaborate,

A massive pillar of fire suddenly erupted.

"!?"

The sudden event threw the surrounding people into a panic.

"What the…? Is it a fire!?"

"There's a thug on the loose! Call the Holy Knights quickly!"

"Hey, come on, not on my day off…!"

The fire pillar was close—only about ten meters from where we were.

"Allen!"

"Let's go!"

We hurried to the scene and found a man with a charred, massive sword on his shoulder.

"---Hahaha! The famous Primordial Dragon King is just this much! What a letdown!"

At his feet lay Rea and Rose, sprawled on the ground.

"Rea! Rose too!?"

"You… What did you do to them…!"

I clenched my injured right arm and glared fiercely at the man in front of me.