Chapter 8

After the intense battle between Eren and Zen was interrupted, the rest of the third period self-study time passed without any particular issues, and it ended peacefully.

Since today was the first day of school and the enrollment ceremony, classes were only held in the morning.

The students of Class 1-A returned to the classroom and were attending the after-school homeroom.

"---I am very sorry to everyone. The principal's speech was unexpectedly long... However, I didn't think we wouldn't be able to return to the third period class. As an apology, the 'penalty' of running ten laps around the school after class is canceled."

Upon hearing this announcement, the students who had lost were delighted, while those who had won pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Well... since there are no other announcements, the after-school homeroom is now over. Everyone, please be careful on your way home."

As Dahl dismissed the class, a warm atmosphere filled the room.

"Hey, hey, want to check out the snack bar?"

"Oh, that's a good idea! I heard the yakisoba bread here is really delicious!"

"Hey, hey. Since it's only morning classes today, why don't we go out and play in the town a bit?"

"Okay. I've been wanting to go to a certain place too."

The classmates chatted happily, making plans for meals and shopping—while Eren quickly gathered his belongings and headed straight back to his dorm.

(Well, the meeting is at 3:00, so... yeah, I still have some time.)

He had a plan to go to the main store of 'Magical Tool Arnold' with Char to see the 'Blue Path Magical Tools' that were supposed to be released today.

To be honest, he didn't really want to make plans on the day of the enrollment ceremony...

About a week ago—

"---Look, Eren! At these wonderful Blue Path Magical Tools...!"

Char, with sparkling eyes, handed a flyer from a certain store to Eren.

"Magical Tool Arnold...? Isn't this a famous magical tool store?"

"Yes, it's one of the oldest! This store releases new products of each attribute every season! This time, it's 'Blue Path Magical Tools'! Look, look, this sword, for example! Wow, it's so cool!"

She said this, bouncing up and down like a little child.

"Hmm, let me see... Ah, the 'Secret Holy Water Sword'... It's quite expensive, but what kind of magical functions does it have?"

"Hehehe, you asked a good question! This sword has a small button on the hilt. When you press it, it does...!"

"It does...?"

"Water sprays out from the tip of the sword!"

"...What?"

"It's to blind the enemy! Oh, Arnold, the master of magical tool making... What a brilliant idea, 'Who would have thought of that!?'"

"...Is it really...?"

Eren smiled wryly at the rather dubious function.

"Hey, hey, Eren, why don't we go to Arnold's main store next week? If you know Blue Path and Blue Path Magical Tools, you'll be invincible! It's part of your training!"

Char said this, tugging at Eren's sleeve.

(Hmm... I wanted to keep that day free because of the enrollment ceremony and the first class... but, it's fine.)

Because she looked so happy, Eren decided to go shopping with her.

As he recalled this past conversation, he realized that he was already in front of the main store of Magical Tool Arnold.

(Char... probably hasn't arrived yet.)

He looked around, but there was no sign of her.

It was only 1:30 PM, and they were supposed to meet at 3:00, so he still had over an hour to wait.

(I arrived a bit too early. ...Since I'm here, why don't I take a leisurely walk around the town?)

For a while, he wandered aimlessly through the town.

People can maintain a surprisingly clear mind when they have something to do or think about... but when that suddenly disappears and they have nothing to do, they tend to recall negative experiences like past mistakes or failures.

Naturally, this applied to Eren as well.

(...Sigh, I messed up...)

What came to mind was the duel with Zen during the third period, which resulted in a penalty and a reflection essay assigned by Vice Principal Reiss McGregor.

(...What should I write in the reflection essay...?)

As Eren walked down the main street, dejected, he noticed a ten-year-old girl walking slowly toward him with her eyes closed.

(...Is she blind...?)

She was holding what looked like a gift in her left hand and tapping the ground with a white cane in her right.

(If she bumps into something, it could be dangerous. I'll walk a bit to the side.)

Just as Eren thought this, four men came out of a bar on the street.

Immediately, the girl's white cane hit one of the drunk men's feet.

"Ouch, hey...! Where are you looking when you walk!?"

"Kyaa!?"

Startled by the sudden loud scolding, she stumbled and fell on her bottom.

"S-Sorry... I can't see... so, I... I'm really sorry..."

She clutched her white cane and the important gift, repeating her apologies.

The men, realizing she was blind, grinned maliciously.

"Oh, this is bad. My leg is broken!"

"This is a case for compensation!"

"How much for medical expenses?"

"Hehe, I'd say about 30 million."

"Thirty million...? That's... so much..."

The men laughed crudely, while the girl despaired. The surrounding passersby ignored the scene, hurrying past.

(...Big brother... please help...)

Tears welled up in the girl's eyes just as—

"---Ganging up on a girl alone, isn't that a bit cruel?"

Eren, the magician, rushed to her side.

"What, you...? Are you with this kid?"

"No, not really... But, you're going too far. She's already apologizing, isn't she?"

"Aha, yeah, yeah... Sometimes you get these self-righteous 'heroes' who get it wrong, you know!"

The man, sneering, suddenly threw a right punch. It was a cheap, surprise attack, but...

(...Much slower than Titta.)

To Eren, who had trained daily to match the speed of beastmen, it seemed to move in slow motion.

He took half a step to the left, easily dodging the clumsy punch.

"Hmm. To dodge my punch, you're not as you look, are you...? But, how about this?"

In the next moment, the man whistled lightly and alternately threw right, left, and right punches—Eren dodged them with minimal movement.

"Hey, aim properly!"

"Where are you looking when you throw your punches? Want to take over?"

"Hey, hic...? That uniform... I've seen it somewhere before...?"

Encouraged by his friends, the man's aggression grew.

"Don't you dare dodge like that, you little sprout...!"

With a red face, he threw a large, amateurish high kick. Eren easily dodged by crouching and then lightly swept the man's unsteady supporting leg.

As a result, the man flipped over and hit the back of his head on the ground.

"Ah, g... This brat, you're mocking adults...!"

He shouted in rage, pulling a dagger from his pocket.

At that moment, one of his friends panicked and tried to stop him.

"Hey, stop it! Look closely at that uniform, it's from 'Third'...!"

"'Third'...? What's that!?"

"Royal Third Magic Academy! It's a den of powerful magicians... If we pull out a knife first, they'll use self-defense as an excuse to kill us!"

The man's face drained of color instantly.

"Eh, really...?"

"...Want to check my student ID?"

Eren said this, pulling out his student ID from his pocket. The Royal Third Magic Academy emblem was clearly visible.

"Hehehe... You're a real trickster... If you're such a powerful magician, you could have said so earlier..."

The man, who had been aggressive a moment ago, now smiled nervously and rubbed his hands together.

"Anyway, I'm sorry... I was a bit drunk. I apologize deeply—please forgive me..."

He prostrated himself on the ground, bowing deeply to Eren and the girl.

"Hmm... I understand. Don't do such cruel things again. And, if you keep picking fights with everyone, you'll end up in real trouble. There are plenty of hot-headed magicians around here..."

Eren, thinking of a certain black mage, gave a friendly warning.

"I got it, I'll remember that. We'll be going now..."

The man said this and disappeared into the crowd, fleeing.

Eren, having successfully driven off the drunkards, approached the girl, who was trembling at the side of the road.

"It's okay now. Are you hurt?"

"No... Thank you so much for helping me in such a dangerous situation."

"It was just a coincidence that I passed by. Don't worry about it. But, are you alone now?"

"Well, yes... I usually don't go out alone, but today is a 'special day,' so I sneaked out..."

She said this, hugging the gift tightly.

"I see... If that's the case, I can take you to your family or friends. If you're okay with it, I have some free time. Besides, those guys might still be lurking around. Would you let me take you to a safe place?"

The girl nodded slightly.

"Thank you so much. Then, may I ask you to take me home?"

"Sure, of course."

After that, they introduced themselves to each other.

The girl's name was Sylph, and she was ten years old. She had long, silky black hair, was 130 cm tall, and had a cute face appropriate for her age.

"Wow, Sylph has an older brother?"

"Yes. My big brother is amazing! He's good at studies, sports, cooking, sewing, and drawing... and most of all, he's very kind. He always reads to me before bed."

"Wow, he sounds like a great brother."

"Hehe. Eren and my big brother have a similar vibe, so I think they would get along well."

"Hehe, that sounds fun."

After a moment, Eren decided to ask about something that had been on his mind.

"By the way, the gift in your left hand... Is it for your brother?"

"My big brother always works hard for me, so I wanted to do something in return... That's why I sneaked out of the house today."

"I see... Then you should get home quickly and reassure your brother."

"Okay."

As Eren and Sylph were talking, a man with heavy breathing ran up and stopped in front of them.

"Huff, huff... Sylph... I told you not to leave the house alone...!"

The next moment, his face twisted with anger.

"Zeno...? So, you're Sylph's brother?"

"Eren... So, you're the one who took my sister out...!"

Just as Zeno, who had a huge misunderstanding, was emitting a terrifying aura, Sylph interjected.

"Big brother, it's not like that! Eren is a very kind person! He even helped me just now...!"

Suddenly, she crouched down, clutching her chest in pain.

"Sylph!?"

"Damn, an attack now...!"

Zeno quickly ran to Sylph, gently picking her up.

On the other hand, Eren said,

"---Red Path Level 3: Firefly, White Path Level 2: Holy Wind"

He cast a mixed spell of Red Path and White Path, creating a warm, soft air membrane that gently enveloped Sylph's entire body.

"What are you doing...?"

"I created a protective barrier using the shape-changing abilities of Red Path and White Path. Inside this, the shock of running and the cold wind will be mitigated."

"Damn, still using your tricks... but well done! The medicine is this way, follow me! Don't stop that weird magic, even if you die!"

"Okay!"

Zeno, carrying Sylph, ran off, and Eren followed behind.

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