Chapter 71

71. The Third Place (13)

Daiyu's treatment was already complete.

Although his injuries were severe and required a high-grade potion, it wasn't enough to empty Teron's pockets.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I can move right now."

"Alright, but let's think about the next match. Can you win next time?"

"...Yes."

Teron frowned.

Daiyu had hesitated for a moment.

Others might not have noticed, but Teron did. He knew Daiyu had hesitated.

"Have you been getting complacent lately?"

"No, I haven't."

"Do you really think so? Are you lying to your master now?"

"...I'm sorry."

Teron knew.

Even though Daiyu didn't actively socialize with his peers, he did talk to them to some extent.

He would occasionally show a small smile.

'He must have loosened up without realizing it.'

And it was the same for himself.

When Zero suddenly appeared and defeated Daiyu, he should have considered that possibility.

His satisfaction with academy life had definitely made him complacent.

"Daiyu."

"Yes."

"Think back to when we were in the estate. Compared to then, this is heaven, isn't it?"

Teron spoke in a friendly tone, not the stiff formal language.

This allowed Daiyu to recall the events before coming to the estate.

Just thinking about it made his body shiver.

And it was the same for Teron.

'Probably by tomorrow, the report will reach the family.'

The little rats planted by the family.

The report will likely state a draw, but his father will notice.

That both he and Daiyu lost.

Teron slightly distanced himself from Daiyu and adjusted his posture.

They were back to their original relationship. The relationship between a hunting dog and its master.

"We need to change our strategy."

"Please tell me."

"Zero won't join any faction. So, there's no need to rush."

Build rapport and approach slowly.

Maintain a close relationship.

Not close enough to join him, but not distant enough to join Yuridia.

'Just that level of relationship is good.'

Continuously build strength and pressure Yuridia until she collapses.

Occasionally fulfill Zero's requests to keep him from being wary.

"Don't provoke him. Not until you're confident you can win."

"Understood."

"Only strike Zero when you're confident. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Teron knows Daiyu better than anyone.

His innate talent, his hard work.

Even his dreams.

They might be lagging now, but the moment Zero lets his guard down, they can strike.

"For now, the midterm exams are the problem."

The upcoming midterm exams.

They will be the decisive battle and the stage for redemption.

"Win the top spot again in the exams. Then this incident will be nothing."

As Teron tried to steady his trembling hands, Yuridia called out.

"Teron."

"...What is it, Yuridia?"

Yuridia looked around. No one else was there.

"Are you going to tell?"

"Tell what?"

"About the technique Zero used."

Teron recalled Zero's appearance.

From the preparation to the execution, it was a perfect one-hit kill.

"I swore I wouldn't tell."

"But... it's the sword technique used by the traitor family, isn't it?"

"...Yes."

Teron smiled.

"Yuridia, let me give you some advice."

"Advice?"

"Don't meddle in other people's affairs. It will only get you and those around you in trouble. Especially with the traitor family."

"But we have the duty to protect the royal family...!"

"What? Duty?"

Teron chuckled.

It was a bizarre laugh that made him feel bad.

"Now I see, you're just a naive girl."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"Just pretend you didn't see anything. Forget what happened today. I'm giving you this advice sincerely, so please follow it."

Teron seemed to know something.

Yuridia wanted to ask more, but she couldn't.

Two children approached.

"Miss Yuridia?"

"What is it?"

"Mr. Teron?"

"Speak your business instead of calling my name! You frustrating brats!"

A child from Yuridia's faction and one from Teron's faction.

The two, who had been hesitating, slowly spoke.

"Um... what do we do about the ceiling?"

"The other areas have been restored, but the ceiling is impossible to fix!"

Yuridia and Teron exchanged glances.

They remembered that Zero had destroyed the ceiling.

Not only using the arena improperly but also destroying it.

"..."

"..."

There was a more pressing issue than thinking about the traitor family.

* * *

Thud!

Luna's speed was no joke.

She really ran fast. The scenery flew by continuously.

'No one is chasing us.'

He lightly patted Luna's back.

"Luna."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Let's treat your injuries first."

He got off Luna's back and reached into his subspace pocket.

It was a healing potion made from artificial herbs.

It should be able to heal even torn wounds.

He had bought it from a general store in the academy.

'Prices double from C-grade, so I bought D-grade.'

It was enough to heal Luna's wounds.

As he applied the potion to Luna's various injuries, the torn wounds quickly healed.

"Thanks."

"Hehe, I'll get it back from you later."

"Sure. Now that you're healed, let's go."

Luna knelt and offered her back.

It meant she wanted him to get back on.

"Hehe, there's no need for that."

"Get on. I just want to do it."

"If you insist, I won't refuse."

He got back on Luna's back. This time, they didn't run.

They walked slowly, chatting.

The night sky was full of stars.

"Hehe, you're so small, like Luna."

"Want to die? You mean as small as your eyes."

While they were chatting, Yuridia asked:

"Zero, can I ask you one thing?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"How can you use a one-hit kill?"

Hmm, this could be a problematic question.

Well, I prepared three versions for this situation.

'You saved Luna's arm. So, I'll tell the truth.'

I escaped the danger I knew.

This means I can continue until the end of the game.

Most importantly, it seems Luna won't betray me.

'A future companion. So, it's better to tell the truth.'

If I suddenly use something like Rodelin's [Sky Splitter], she might be shocked.

So, I'll tell her about [God's Imitation].

Of course, I'll mix in some lies since it's a skill.

"It's a secret technique of my family."

"Secret technique?"

"Yes, a secret technique that can imitate other families' secret techniques."

"What, what!?"

My waist bent backward.

Luna was so shocked that she almost dropped me.

Ugh, a man's waist is his life.

'This level of excuse should be enough.'

A family with a powerful secret technique that was wiped out by other families who feared it.

He entered the academy to seek revenge.

'Turns out those families were the ones who wiped out Luna's family. This story should allow us to stay together. Right?'

A perfect excuse. But then,

Luna suddenly started crying.

* * *

Luna was shocked by Zero's words.

'A secret technique that can imitate other families' secret techniques!'

She had never heard of such a technique, but seeing it in front of her, she couldn't help but believe it.

'It's no wonder they were wiped out.'

Maybe they were hunted.

It was that threatening.

Suddenly, she remembered what Zero said during the entrance exam when he was struggling with the transparent slime.

-My power is too flashy, so it draws attention.

At the same time, all of Zero's strange actions made sense.

The reason he had been hiding his true strength.

It was dangerous.

There couldn't be many beings who could imitate other families' secret techniques.

If someone who knew the secret found Zero, they would immediately start hunting him.

'He was so careful, but because of me...'

He used a secret technique in front of the children.

He risked his safety to protect her.

Not only that.

The current Lester family's sword technique is from a traitor family.

'Using it in front of everyone...'

The people who wiped out the Lester family would now target Zero.

All because of her poor judgment.

How could she not cry?

"I'm fine, so please don't cry."

"Sniff... Ah, I won't cry."

"That's good. It looks like it's raining from the sky."

After chatting, they arrived in front of the dormitory.

Of course, it was the boys' dormitory.

Luna scratched her head and asked:

"I feel a bit disappointed. Can we talk a bit more?"

"No, I'll go in now."

"R-Really? Are you too tired? I'm sorry. I didn't consider your feelings."

"That's not it. A quick goodbye is better. And..."

Zero gently stroked her head.

"We'll meet again tomorrow, right?"

Luna bowed her head deeply.

Zero is a good kid. A kid who is too good for her.

She couldn't just let it go like this.

Luna bent her waist deeply.

"I'm sorry!"

"Yes?"

Zero told her they would meet again tomorrow.

A major event over two days.

He wanted to act as if nothing happened and continue as usual.

He was willing to overlook all her mistakes.

'That's not right.'

Over the two days they were apart, she had many thoughts.

She had done many wrong things to Zero.

This couldn't be brushed off easily.

She needed to apologize properly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to treat a friend."

It was her first time having a friend.

"I won't bite you anymore."

She didn't know how to show interest in a friend.

"I won't stalk you anymore."

She didn't know what to do without a friend.

"And... more..."

"Stop."

Zero interrupted her.

She still had a lot to apologize for. Was he still angry?

"Luna, look at me."

She slowly raised her head to look at Zero.

He was smiling.

Well, he always did.

"If this is how you treat a friend, it's fine to continue. Just..."

Just?

"Gradually reduce it. To a normal level. Until then, it's fine to continue as you are."

Tears streamed down Luna's face.

Zero was accepting her as she was.

She tried not to cry. She promised not to cry until he accepted her apology.

"Sniff, sniff, Haaaaa!"

Her first friend.

Was definitely the best friend in the world.