Chapter 77
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 77
I rode Silphid out of headquarters, intending to circle the outskirts of Agenka. As I guided the horse through the city streets, a general store with its wares displayed on a stand caught my eye. Among the items on display, something seized my attention.
I reflexively brought the horse to a halt. The hesitation was brief. In the end, I purchased the hand mirror from the stand—an object I had never owned before, let alone carried with me in all my life.
I rode beyond the city walls and stopped in the fields outside Agenka. Leaning against a low tree, I examined the mirror I had just bought with careful attention. It was my own face, one I saw every day, yet it felt unfamiliar when viewed in such a small mirror. I lifted the corners of my mouth and attempted a smile. It felt awkward and stiff. I composed my expression and tried again. Still awkward.
[What are you doing right now?]
Rangiosa asked in a weary voice. I touched the corners of my mouth as I answered.
"I became curious about what my smile looks like."
[Why on earth would you be curious about that?]
"Because whenever I smile, she relaxes. It seems she likes my smiling face."
[...I swear, living this long means I see every sort of nonsense.]
The Holy Sword clicked its tongue openly. I paid no attention to its words. I lifted the mirror and smiled a few more times, then muttered vacantly.
"It's not working well. It just feels awkward."
[Are you now practicing how to smile?]
"If I could smile better, wouldn't she smile back at me?"
[...sigh.]
"It seemed easier to smile in front of her."
[It's ruined. Completely ruined.]
"What's ruined?"
[Seeing you lose your senses like this, I think the situation has already become irreversible.]
"Speak plainly."
[Never mind. It's better if I stay silent on this matter.]
The Holy Sword grumbled and said nothing more. I let it be and gazed into the mirror again. I practiced smiling with considerable seriousness.
* * *
The next day, I could not concentrate on my duties all morning. The sword work during morning training had been manageable enough, but once I began the paperwork, my mind kept wandering. I kept thinking that Echinacea Loaz and Baraha Islaf must be together right now.
Because of this, I had not finished even half the documents that needed reviewing by the time afternoon arrived. Normally, I would have completed the paperwork by morning and had time for practical duties like overseeing the knights' training. I struggled to focus on the documents, but eventually I cast the papers aside and rose from my seat. I felt like throwing a gauntlet at my past self for having maneuvered Baraha into becoming her handler.
[Surely you're not going to the Demonic Sword Owner again?]
As I left the Squad Leader's Office, the Holy Sword spoke to me with exasperation. I made an excuse.
"I cannot concentrate, so I'm going out for a walk."
[You call that an excuse?]
"I'll just take a quick look and return."
[You're completely losing your senses. Please, I'm begging you—don't let this go wrong.]
"Go wrong? What do you mean?"
[I mean don't commit a crime. I'd prefer you remain my master for as long as possible.]
"That's absurd."
[I wish this were an absurd worry.]
The Holy Sword grumbled in displeasure. I left its needless concerns behind and hurried toward the Stable. They said they would be handling horses today, so they should be there. But I sensed no presence inside the Stable. I stopped abruptly where the entrance was visible. Neither Baraha nor Echinacea was there.
'Where did they go?'
I extended my senses as far as I could, wondering if they might be nearby. I quickly located Echinacea. She was conversing with someone at the Water Fountain Area close by. I turned in that direction and listened to their voices.
"He said he wanted to meet me and apologize? To me, Bred said that?"
"Yes. If you have no intention of forgiving him, you can refuse. Just because he wants to apologize doesn't mean you're obligated to accept it."
Had she done something worthy of an apology? Yurien's brow furrowed. The conversation itself grated on him, but the person she was speaking with irritated him far more. Ian Peletro. Even without reading his intentions, it was obvious the man brimmed with malice so palpable it seemed to ripple in the air. He quickened his pace.
"When would you like to meet?"
"If possible, perhaps this evening—"
Ian noticed him and trailed off mid-sentence, hastily offering a greeting.
"Ar Sebattiem. I greet you, Squad Leader."
Echinacea Loaz turned to look back only then. Her complexion bore a subtle weariness. On the surface she appeared fine, yet something was amiss—the slight sluggishness in her turning motion, the dimness in her gaze that seemed duller than usual.
'Is she unwell?'
I recognized it instinctively. For a Master-class superhuman who had devoted all his attention to observing someone over a long period, such discernment was inevitable. I had witnessed her bearing injuries, enduring poison, suffering from sleeplessness, and moving through exhaustion too many times to mistake the signs.
I turned my gaze toward Ian and opened my senses fully.
"An apology? What do you mean?"
"...There was a dispute between cadets."
From Ian emanated a malice so dark it bordered on crimson, writhing and undulating as though ready to burst forth at any moment. I had witnessed this particular form of malice before—it manifested this way when evil had completed its preparations to transform into action.
The target of that malice was obvious. Ian Peletro dared to direct his animosity toward Echinacea Loaz in my very presence. I wanted to kill him where he stood. As such thoughts consumed me, I looked down at Ian. The Holy Sword, sensing my intent, restrained me.
[Calm yourself. You have no evidence, and you still don't know precisely what scheme he's plotting. Have you forgotten why you've been investigating that wretch all this time? Without catching him in the act, punishment without due process is not justice.]
Even without Rangiosa's nagging, I understood this well enough. I simply found it difficult to suppress my rage for even a moment. I tore my gaze from Ian and looked toward Echinacea. The moment I shifted from observing that writhing malice to beholding her radiant presence—like pure sunlight—my senses felt cleansed. Yet the desire to see her face grew so strong that I closed my eyes.
"What sort of dispute, Cadet Echinacea Loaz?"
"It's a personal matter, Squad Leader."
Echinacea offered no opening. It would be stranger still if she sought my help. I smiled bitterly to myself and examined her complexion carefully.
'She doesn't appear to be injured.'
Why did she look so fatigued? Countless possibilities swirled through my mind. Among them surfaced a report I'd received from one of my direct informants embedded among the Military Academy's staff—that Echinacea had returned to the dormitory drenched in sweat alongside her roommate. It was suspected they had sparred together.
Considering her hands bore no calluses, if she had wielded a sword so intensely as to drench herself in perspiration, she would almost certainly be suffering from muscle soreness. Unlike before the regression, her body remained that of an untrained noblewoman. Upon reconsidering with this assumption in mind, I was certain—she had muscle soreness. There was fever in her eyes.
Here she was, moving about with an ailing body when the Freshman Ranking Tournament was tomorrow. She undoubtedly considered this trivial and was enduring it in silence. She wouldn't have thought to tell anyone. She had grown far too accustomed to overcoming everything alone.
I spoke to Ian.
"Cadet Representative. Do you have anything else to say to Cadet Echinacea Loaz?"
"Pardon? I... well..."
As Ian fumbled for words, Echinacea interjected smoothly.
"If you wish to apologize, come find me directly, Senior."
"...Understood. I'll relay that."
"If we're finished, you may go. I have matters to discuss with Cadet Echinacea Loaz."
I dismissed Ian while resolving to investigate this matter of an apology. The density of his malice made it certain he was plotting something.
Once Ian had departed, Echinacea lowered her head. She wouldn't meet my eyes. I gazed at the pink hair that had fallen across her face and opened my mouth.
"There is something..."
I began but hesitated. Would she, who grew tense and reluctant in my presence, welcome my assistance?
"...Perhaps I might be of help to you..."
Could I help her? Whether it was Ian's irritating interference or simply being at her side while she suffered. Unlike when I had merely watched her gather Giosa alone, now I could extend my hand to her. I could help her. I wished she would lean on me, even slightly.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't quite catch that, Squad Leader."
"...No, never mind."
But she wouldn't want that. Perhaps what she most desired now was for me never to appear before her again. A bitter smile escaped me, and I hastily covered my lips.
I could simply pretend ignorance and leave, but I didn't want to. If I couldn't remain at her side, I at least wanted to ensure she had medicine. Echinacea would likely continue moving about in her current state, dismissing it as manageable. At best, she'd probably think a good night's sleep would cure it and do nothing but rest.
"Come with me, Cadet Echinacea Loaz."
Yurien de Harden Kirie led her toward the Knights Headquarters. He had her wait briefly while he rushed up to the Squad Leader's Office. The members and clerks within the headquarters witnessed the rare sight of their usually composed leader bounding up the stairs two or three steps at a time, their jaws dropping in astonishment.
He paid no mind to their reactions and quickly reached the Squad Leader's Office. Inside was a medical supply box. He opened it and retrieved a blue salve known for its effectiveness against muscle soreness, then grabbed a red salve for wounds just in case.
After extracting an antibiotic syrup, he placed everything into a paper bag and glanced around to see if there was anything else that might help. A glass bottle sitting on the table beside a tea set suddenly caught his eye—homemade ginger tea that Baron had given him recently, mentioning his wife had made it.
'Good for colds and fatigue, he said.'
He placed the entire bottle into the bag. Even then, reluctance lingered, and he scanned the Squad Leader's Office once more. He wanted to gather more, even trivial things. In his heart, he wished to remain by her side and care for her. The impossibility of it weighed heavily on him.
"Should I send a physician and the High Priest...?"
[Stop it.]
The Holy Sword responded to his murmur with a tone of exasperation. He felt somewhat melancholy as he picked up the paper bag and descended the stairs.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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