Chapter 26

The day after the joint exercise…

As I arrived at school after finishing my daily run, Elysia passed me in the hallway and suddenly dragged me out to the courtyard.

“Tweight. I’ve done it… It’s all done.”

With that short sentence, I knew everything. Elysia killed Robert yesterday, but I didn’t need to be told that.

“I bet. I can tell by looking at those dark circles on your face.”

When I answered, Elysia rolled her eyes for a moment, but then immediately smiled. She was aware that she looked terrible. The dark circles around Elysia’s eyes were clearly visible. If it was only due to lack of sleep, it wouldn’t be that bad. The mental strain must also be affecting her.

“How does it feel to have your revenge?”

“Right after I killed him… I was so happy I could soar. But now I only feel a strange emptiness. I don’t feel like I’m…alive.”

“No wonder. As I said two days ago, I honestly expected that you would not make it out alive. …Perhaps you got quite a bit of luck. By some slim chance, you got the best conditions.”

“I’m sure you are right. I was lucky. I survived because of…just that.”

“Luck is also a skill. Once you’ve survived, you just have to accept the reality of it.”

You can’t beg for what you don’t have, and vice versa. If you are alive, you should think about living.

“Hey, Tweight…”

“What?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do from now on.”

I thought about it for a while and then answered, “I think you should head to the infirmary. You’re going to attract a lot of attention with that face.”

“…That’s right.”

She looked disappointed. I guess the answer was not what she was expecting.

“You can take your time, think slowly about the future.”

Elysia, who was about to head to the infirmary, turned around.

“How much time will I have from now on?”

“From now on, you’ll have all the time in the world, right?”

“…Thank you, Tweight.”

With a small thank you, Elysia made her way to the infirmary.

◆

At the end of the lunch break, Elysia returned to the classroom. The dark circles in her eyes were still not completely gone, but she seemed to have calmed down and was returning to her original state before the joint exercise. The teacher was relieved to see Elysia taking the class with a serious attitude after a long time of being absent.

After school, when we were on our way back to the dormitory, “You’ve been acting weird lately, but it seems like you’ve been back to normal.”

“Please take it easy. If there’s anything I can do to help you, I’ll do my best.”

Glan and Mize each told Elysia.

“Yes…Thank you both.”

Elysia must have been aware of the fact that she was worrying them, but the expression on her face as she apologized was radiant. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

“Oh, excuse me. I have some business to attend to today.”

Mize said suddenly, stopping on her way to the dormitory. Glan tilted his head at Mize, who was about to walk out of the academy.

“What is your business?”

“I’m thinking of signing up for the Adventurer’s Guild. I’m aware that I’m not strong enough, but I wanted to get closer to my goal.”

Glan and I were impressed by Mize’s somewhat embarrassed confession.

Originally, Mize had entered the Bildarz Academy with the intention of becoming an adventurer, but she had only been here for a month. She must have a very strong desire to become an adventurer because she wants to register with the guild at this busy time of year when classes were in full swing.

“As I recall, your dream is to become an adventurer and travel the world, right?” Elysia asked.

“Yes. I think that being an adventurer is the freest profession in the world. Of course, it’s also an uncertain occupation because you can’t see what’s going to happen next. I feel… like that kind of life is not so bad.”

“Well, it sure makes you feel alive, doesn’t it?”

Glan nodded at Mize’s words.

“Freedom, right…?”

Elysia muttered quietly at the sight of the two of them.

“An adventurer, maybe I should try to become one.”

“Are you sure!?”

Elysia’s murmur was met with an exaggerated reaction from Mize.

“Oh, um… well then, why don’t you join me and go to the guild now!? It’s free to just register, and I’ll give you all the basics along the way!”

Mize said, looking more excited than ever. Elysia nodded in surprise at the momentum.

“Then, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes!”

Mize rejoiced with a big smile on her face.

“Tweight, since we’re here, why don’t we go too?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

I took Glan’s suggestion. We followed the happy Mize out of school.

“Tweight. I’m so glad I’m alive.”

Elysia said as she looked at Mize, who was smiling happily.

“It’s nice to be able to think about the future.”

“…you’re finally getting it,” He said with a sigh.

It seems that Elysia had now realized how wonderful it was to have a future. Feeling that, she would be okay. From now on, she would not throw her life away so easily.

“―Elysia Millicitan.”

At that moment, a man wearing a black cloak stepped in front of us. The man’s face and physique were hidden, so it was impossible to detect his true identity, at least by appearance. The man was just staring at Elysia.

“That’s right, but―” Elysia affirmed.

A moment later, the man approached Elysia and drew his sword from his cloak. My body reflexively moved. I immediately created a dagger with《Materialization》and sidestepped the man’s blade as it closed in on Elysia’s neck. I couldn’t deflect the force, and a cracking sound rang out. Everything went silent. Passersby stopped and were astonished at the sudden attack.

“Tweight!?”

“…It’s fine.”

I responded briefly to Elysia’s voice, however, my gaze never wandered from the assailant in front of me.

He is a skilled man.

He had the speed to instantly reach her neck, and his movements to draw his sword were minimal and efficient. If I hadn’t prevented it, Elysia would have had her head chopped off before she could comprehend the situation. As a swordsman, this man was at a very high level.

“Who are you?”

“I have no use for you.”

The assailant then thrust one hand into his cloak. What he took out of it was a different kind of sword. The blade of the sword was covered with blood that had turned reddish-black. A sword that had been left unattended after slaying people. I often saw such swords on the battlefield.

“What the―?”

Elysia’s shoulders jumped up in astonishment at the sight of the sword.

“It was found in the gardens of the royal castle last night. Elysia Millicitan… Do you recognize this sword?”

“….Ah, aaa…ah.”

Elysia’s eyes widened and she backed away in a half-crazed manner. Seeing that, I understood what I needed to do.

“Elysia.”

I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible as her body shook.

“Let’s get out of here.”