Chapter 31

### Chapter 31: Recollection (2)

* * *

#5

It had been a while since I wore casual clothes instead of a uniform.

With an old wine-colored scarf Miu had bought me long ago wrapped around my neck, I walked out into the autumn breeze.

I was in a shopping district. It was a weekend, and it was noon, so the streets were quite bustling except for the area around the store I had just visited. The vibrant energy of the market was incredibly uncomfortable. The loud calls of the vendors were also extremely noisy.

The place where I was supposed to meet Miu was about an hour's walk from here. I had come quite a distance.

But it was the closest custom-made jewelry shop, so I had no choice.

Still, I won't be late.

We agreed to meet around 1 PM, so if I keep walking at this pace, I should arrive right on time.

I fiddled with the box in my pocket.

The surface of the case was rough but soft. Just by touching it, I could tell it was a high-quality item. Well, I paid a lot of money for it, so it should be worth it. I had also thoroughly checked to make sure I wasn't scammed.

Will Miu like my gift?

Miu definitely will.

Imagining Miu jumping up and down with joy after receiving the gift, I couldn't help but smile.

Miu's unique and vibrant laughter was completely different from the energy I felt from the people in the market. It didn't make me feel uncomfortable. Just seeing her smile made me happy too.

So...

I do like Miu.

Now, it was time to make a decision.

If I take one step forward from here, there will be no turning back. I had been using the excuse of being cautious to hide my indecisiveness.

Anyway, I haven't really talked to Rubia since then. We do run into each other a few times in the same academy, but that's all.

Of course, Rubia seemed to want to talk to me, but she didn't force it. I didn't want to completely exclude Rubia from my life, but, well, I had Miu as my partner now.

...Still foolishly and reluctantly, I couldn't let Rubia go. I thought it would be the worst thing to do to Miu, of all people, to rebuild a clumsy relationship with Rubia.

If I could have a normal conversation with Rubia, it would be after I had completely let go of her in my heart.

That might be...

Today.

“...”

I had already left the shopping district.

The noise and the crowd had diminished.

I slightly lowered the scarf covering my mouth and retraced my steps.

If I go this way, I should arrive right on time at 1 PM.

While thinking this, I glanced to the side.

There was a sloping path leading to a more secluded area. Beyond it, I could see vegetation and a thicket.

From experience, it would probably take about 40 minutes to get there. I had been there a couple of times before.

It would be fine as long as I don't arrive late to the meeting place... but, well, Miu is the type who arrives much earlier than the agreed time. She might be waiting for me right now.

I knew this well, so I thought, "If we're going to meet, it's better to meet sooner," and turned my feet towards a slightly bumpy path instead of the flat one.

#6

“Ah, ah. I remember. There were probably about three particularly impatient and cute little brats there. It just so happened that they caught sight of us... Your friend must have had really bad luck, right?”

#7

Saturday, November 19.

12:13 PM.

Under the leaves shimmering in the noon sunlight.

“Even though we’re not here to play, Rubia.”

“Yes, senpai.”

Shuriel and Rubia, carrying a large and beautiful bag of goods for the magic department students to purchase food supplies, were walking through the dense forest, the sound of the old wooden staff jingling.

“Sometimes it’s fine to eat at a restaurant, but the idea of dividing into groups and cooking at the dorm... Honestly, I think it’s more like a camp. But, well, without such enjoyment, the spirit would definitely wane. As someone who experienced it last year, I understand.”

“Ahaha... Still, it sounds fun. Gathering in one place with classmates from the same class and cooking together... It’s kind of exciting.”

Shuriel smiled.

“Right? I think so too. It was definitely fun last year. Of course, from our perspective, buying food supplies isn’t a particularly pleasant task...”

With the number of third-year students in the magic department, there were a mountain of mouths to feed. Although there was plenty of money, there were at least ten stores to visit. Shuriel shook his head.

Originally, five people should have come to share the load, but there was a reason why only Shuriel and Rubia were responsible for procuring the food supplies.

It was because Rubia was the only one who could finely use spatial magic, which was like an a-space (???).

Although the Lorson Academy might have an a-space artifact that is as valuable as its name suggests, unfortunately, someone had already borrowed it for a short period before the field trip.

Therefore, Rubia, the only spatial magic user, had to step in as a substitute for the artifact.

Spatial magic, which might interfere with dimensions, was not a type of magic that anyone could easily handle. Shuriel, aware of its dangers, chose to specialize in a different field of magic.

However, Rubia was different.

She had mastered the basics of spatial magic on her own without any guidance since her sixth grade in elementary school.

Indeed, she was praised as a magic genius with unprecedented talent since the founding of the Lorson Academy. Shuriel recognized her outstanding talent.

She was so superior in magic that even he had to admit it. Rubia had a level of excellence that no one could match.

Considering that she was a commoner from a remote rural village, not a noble, it was even more astonishing.

Of course, as the excellent eldest son of the Lafarte family of the Solar Empire, Shuriel had a noble character and did not discriminate against commoners. He never envied Rubia’s talent or bullied her outside of class.

Rather, he might have had a favorable attitude.

Although Shuriel spoke calmly, the slight tremor in his voice at the end was something only his mother might have noticed...

With the chirping of birds as a background, Shuriel suddenly spoke to Rubia on his left.

“Soon, you’ll graduate, Rubia.”

“Yes, that’s right...”

“How do you feel about it?”

“Hmm...”

After a moment of thought, Rubia answered.

“A little bittersweet. I’ve put a lot of effort into the academy... It’s hard to believe it’s real. It feels like I just started, and now I’m graduating... Hehe, I really don’t know.”

“I understand. I’ve been away from the academy for about a year now, but I still sometimes miss those days.”

“Is that so... Oh, right. How’s life there?”

“Hmm? Akasha’s Star?”

“Yes.”

“Well... I’m the youngest and a junior magician there. I help with some chores and receive guidance from senior magicians.”

“Shuriel senpai... doing chores...? Heeek.”

“Being the top graduate, I was just the biggest fish in a small pond. As you know, the hierarchy of magicians in Akasha’s Star easily surpasses the fifth level (Pente).”

Shuriel’s current magic level was Pente (5). To bear the title of being affiliated with Akasha’s Star, he still had one more level to go.

That’s why, although he was recognized for his talent and entered the giant magic tower early, he hadn’t yet delved into formal research.

“Rubia, are you at Pente now too?”

“Yes, at the beginning of this year...”

Shuriel raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“The beginning of this year? ...I see. You achieved such rapid progress just a few months after I graduated... Indeed, it’s you, Rubia.”

“No, no. It’s all thanks to the guidance I received while you were a student. I didn’t do much myself.”

“Teaching you one thing and having you discover ten on your own... I was the one who wondered what I could teach you. Rubia, you are better than me. While humility is good, in the world of magicians, excessive humility can be a source of trouble. It’s best to keep that in mind.”

“Yes, yes... I’m sorry...”

“That’s not what I meant, but anyway.”

Shuriel slowed his pace for a moment.

Then,

“Rubia.”

“Yes, senpai.”

“Where do you plan to go after graduation?”

“...After graduation?”

“Yes.”

Shuriel spoke without looking at Rubia.

His throat felt a bit dry. He wanted to drink some water, but he hadn’t brought a water flask. He thought he would buy one when they entered the shopping district.

Tap, tap.

“Akasha’s Star is always welcoming promising and talented new magicians. Of course, the conditions are extremely strict, but you, Rubia, will definitely pass. ...Or, they might have approached you first. Your talent is truly special.”

“...”

“Most importantly, Rubia, you can easily determine your career path there. Akasha’s Star was born by absorbing three schools of magic. Especially in the difficult field of spatial magic, Akasha’s Star has achieved the most. If you want to specialize in that area, Akasha’s Star will be a very suitable home for you.”

“...”

“Don’t feel too pressured by what I said. I’m just stating the facts. Your exceptional talent in magic is too valuable to waste anywhere. It’s better to achieve something at the continent’s top magic tower, Akasha’s Star.”

“...”

“...If you really don’t want to join, that’s your freedom. I have no right to decide your future. But, personally, I hope you consider it. Most importantly, it would be convenient for me to have a junior take over the chores, hahaha...”

“...”

“...Was the joke bad? I’m sorry. I’m not good at this. If it made you feel bad, I apologize.”

“...”

“Hmm, no. Let’s just forget the suggestion. It was a bit sudden. You should take your time to think about it. So...”

“...”

Just as they finished talking.

—Thud.

“...”

Shuriel suddenly stopped walking.

And,

Tap, tap.

...Thud.

—Again, once.

Tap, tap.

...Thud.

“...”

The sound of footsteps.

Only his own existed.

...Since when?

“...Rubia?”

When Shuriel turned around, there was.

Whoosh...

Only a sharp wind passing over the empty slope.

#8

“Those guys, their tastes are really bad, you know. He had a decent amount of divinity, but he was eliminated from the candidates just because he was a man. Of course, it was partly because only one person could be brought into the barrier. Huhu...”

#9

The weather was good. The wind was cool.

It was such a perfect day for enjoying the outdoors that it felt like today was the best day for it.

It was such a good day. Today seemed like it would be a particularly enjoyable time.

“♪­♬”

With light steps, I entered the slope.

The chirping of birds and the fresh scent of grass that gently tickled my nose as it blew through the leaves. It was very pleasant. Indeed, such a place was much more comfortable and enjoyable than the bustling streets and shopping district.

Habitually fiddling with the item in my pocket,

After walking down the slope for about 5 minutes.

“...Huh?”

...

The chirping of birds suddenly stopped.

The sun, which was still shining brightly in the high sky, seemed to have slightly lowered the surrounding temperature. It was a bit cold.

It wasn’t that the wind was cold.

An inexplicable chill began to cover my shoulders and back. It was a very eerie sensation.

What is this, I thought, while pressing the scarf tightly.

Thus,

Just as I took one step, ignoring the sudden strange phenomenon—

“...Huh?”

That one step.

One step changed the entire environment around me.

Swoosh...

“...!”

The hair on my