The Pure White Garden
The school trip for the Guardians of Purity proceeded autonomously. There was no fixed schedule imposed by the academy. All we had to do was wander the vast island with our group members. Is this normal...? Is this what school trips are usually like? Just dumping students on a massive uninhabited island and letting them figure out how to entertain themselves? I wouldn't know. I'd have to have actually gone on one to tell.
Whenever my classmates went on school trips, I was stuck in the training hall, passing the time alone. Of course, that had been my father's will as well.
"......"
Thinking about it now, that man really did take so much from me. A complicated feeling welled up inside me, and I let out a heavy sigh.
"Haa......"
"What? Why the sudden sigh?"
At that, the idiot beside me turned his gaze my way. I shoved away his milk-chocolate-colored face as he leaned in close and muttered, "It's nothing. Back off a little."
"Come on... I wasn't even that close..."
Gold Tae-yang pouted at my disgusted reaction. I smirked at the sight and slowly turned my head, taking in the scenery around us.
Beneath the clear sky stretched an endless expanse of vivid blue. Wisps of clouds drifted across it, crisp and distinct. Warm sunlight bathed the wide, open grasslands, and the pale green earth rolled on without end. We were walking through a scene straight out of a fairy tale—picturesque and serene.
"Wow... The view is so beautiful! Don't you think so, Violet?"
"Hic... Y-Yes, yes! I think so too!"
From beside us came the voices of Maharet and Violet chatting amiably. Maharet was using her natural charm to fawn over Violet, who looked a little overwhelmed... but it should be fine. It's not like she's going to get eaten.
"By the way~ There's more to see here than I expected."
"Yeah. Not bad."
I nodded in agreement with Gold Tae-yang's words. It made sense why this place had been chosen as a destination. The island held rare natural landscapes you couldn't find in the capital, along with an atmosphere all its own. It was quite beautiful. I wondered if the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve once lived, had looked something like this.
—Chirp, chirp, chirp...
The cheerful songs of birds echoed in my ears. The gentle breeze sweeping across the grasslands carried a fresh, clean scent. I drew in a deep breath, letting the autumn air fill my lungs. It felt as though my throat, always clogged with worry and anxiety, had suddenly cleared.
Peaceful.
Murmuring that to myself, I rummaged through my pocket. After a few moments of searching, my fingers brushed against a small, smooth box. The case containing the extinction grass. I pulled out a single stick, placed it between my lips, and lit it with a mana lighter.
—Click, hiss...!
A red flame flared at the tip. Thick smoke seeped into my lungs. I exhaled slowly, letting the dense cloud drift into the sky, then flicked the ash from the end of the stick.
"Haaa..."
This is nice. The hazy effect of the extinction grass mingled with the fresh scent of grass, creating an entirely new sensation.
"Ugh... You smoke?"
"It's not tobacco."
I answered Gold Tae-yang as he slowly edged away from me, then took another drag. Come to think of it... I must be completely addicted now. I found myself reaching for the extinction grass even when I wasn't particularly depressed.
"Tae-yang! Shall we go over there?"
Maharet suddenly turned toward us and called out to Gold Tae-yang. ...She clearly saw me too, yet she didn't call my name.
"Yes, my lady. Where are you referring to?"
"Over that hill! There's a group of students gathered there!"
In the direction Maharet pointed, about twenty students had clustered together, as if watching something. Gold Tae-yang tilted his head.
"What is it? Is there something over there?"
"Hmm... The map says it's called the 'Pure White Garden.' There's no other explanation."
"There must be something worth seeing. Let's go check it out."
"Yes! Violet, you're fine with that too, right?"
"Y-Yes...! I'm fine with it!"
The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked off. I was left behind, staring blankly at their retreating backs.
Guys... You're not going to ask me...?
...
"What, are you sulking?"
"No."
As I walked with a sullen expression, Gold Tae-yang poked me repeatedly in the side and asked. A smug smile was plastered across his face.
"Look at you. You're obviously upset because we tried to go without you earlier."
"......Nonsense."
"How petty. Is this the magnanimity of the academy's S-rank super-bastard?"
—Smack!
I finally swung my hand and struck the back of his head. He let out a pained scream and twisted his entire body, as if he hadn't just been teasing me a second ago.
"Aaaagh!"
"I told you to stop messing around."
"You crazy bastard! You hit me over nothing!"
"You only ever do things that deserve hitting."
Come to think of it, this guy was pretty crazy too. What kind of person would act so casually toward the eldest son of a ducal house? Even the academy students who badmouthed me behind my back broke out in cold sweats the moment they stood in front of me. Did this guy have two lives or something?
I sighed deeply and smacked the back of his head again.
—Smack!
"Aagh! Why again!!"
"No one in the empire disrespects the Lisite family as much as you do."
"I've never disrespected the Lisite family? Though I have disrespected you."
"......"
This bastard was beyond saving.
—Smack!
"Aaaagh!! Why, why, why!!!"
"Because you don't know any better, that's why you get hit."
—Smack! Smack!
"Uwaaah! You crazy bastard!!"
"Haa... Just keep getting hit."
"Uwaaaagh!!!"
***
While Raiden played a steady rhythm on the back of Gold Tae-yang's head, the rest of the group arrived at the 'Pure White Garden' Maharet had mentioned. Just as they had seen earlier, quite a few students were milling about. Maharet muttered as she looked at them.
"Hmm... What kind of place is this that everyone's gathered to see?"
"W-Well... 'Pure White Garden'—just from the name, it's hard to..."
At first glance, it looked no different from an ordinary meadow. The group members glanced around, searching for anything interesting. While they were still looking around in confusion, Gold Tae-yang suddenly shouted.
"Oh, over there, over there! There's something!"
"What is that?"
"My god, that's......"
Following Gold Tae-yang's gaze, the group members saw several horses with pure white coats. The only difference from ordinary horses was the golden horns protruding from their foreheads.
"......Unicorns?"
Maharet's soft voice captured their identity. Their white fur gave off a faint glow, and their horns stood tall and proud. They carried a mystical, almost spiritual aura. The legendary creatures known as the Guardians of Purity walked majestically across the grassland—beings they had only ever read about in books.
"Whoa... I've never seen one in person before."
"Same here. To think such rare unicorns would be in a place like this... It's incredible."
The students watched the unicorns snorting softly, each expressing their amazement. These were noble creatures on the brink of extinction, protected by imperial law, now standing right before their eyes.
***
"Ugh..."
I leaned against one of the trees at the center of the garden and sat down. The others had gotten excited after seeing the unicorns and run off to get a closer look. Violet had been half-dragged along by Maharet, but... well, at least I wasn't the one being dragged.
I savored the autumn scent brushing past my nose and leaned back, letting my body relax completely. As my gaze drifted toward the sky, I saw the branches swaying gently in the breeze. The leaves had turned a deep red with the changing season. The cool shade above me softly caressed my forehead. Behind me, I could feel the rough texture of the tree trunk.
"......"
Enjoying the leisurely comfort, I let all the strength drain from my body. Perhaps because of the fatigue accumulated from my insomnia, my eyelids began to close on their own. I let out a small groan and forced my eyes open. I shouldn't fall asleep here. My mouth might end up crooked. No... with this cold weather, maybe it wouldn't.
"Haaam..."
I tried to stay awake, but a deep yawn escaped my lips. A heavy drowsiness pressed down on me, as if the gravity around me had suddenly increased fivefold. Come to think of it... I'd stayed up all night on the ship yesterday too... I was dead tired. Still, I couldn't actually fall asleep...
"Mmm......"
Just as I was struggling against the sandman, my arms flailing weakly, I sensed a presence right beside me.
—Rustle...
"......?"
At first I thought it was Gold Tae-yang, but on second thought, it didn't seem likely. If it were him, he wouldn't have approached so quietly—he would've made a huge fuss and come running. I lifted my heavy eyelids and turned my head.
The moment I opened my eyes, I saw a pure white coat and a golden horn.
"What the... A unicorn?"
—Neigh, neigh!
—Prrr...
One of the unicorns that had been running across the meadow moments ago now stood before me. It let out a few soft cries and pushed its face toward me. Its brilliantly shining horn was pointed threateningly in my direction. I flinched and tried to calm it down.
"Hey, aren't you guys supposed to be gentle with virgins...? I'm a virgin too, so don't attack me, okay...?"
The unicorn's other name was the Guardian of Purity. They embraced the untainted and punished the impure. Whether as Kim Naru or as Raiden, I had no reason to earn their hostility. Even knowing that, the reason I was scared was because of that smooth, radiant horn. What would happen if I got stabbed by that...? It looked like it would ventilate my body pretty well.
—Neigh!
While I was shrinking back from the sight of its menacing horn, the unicorn lowered its head and began rubbing its face against my body.
"......?"
—Prrr!
A soft, warm sensation brushed against my cheek. I squinted at the ticklish feeling.
"W-What...? What's wrong with you?"
I couldn't hide my bewilderment at the creature suddenly acting like a well-trained puppy. The unicorn paid no mind and simply kept making pleased little sounds.
"Uh, uh..."
Flustered, I instinctively reached out and began stroking its back. Did unicorns always get along with people this well? Seeing one in person after only reading about them in books left me completely confused. Still dazed, I ran my hand along the unicorn's neck. Its soft fur gently wrapped around my fingertips. The unicorn panted happily and licked my hand. I stared at it blankly for a moment before murmuring quietly.
"......Cute."
It felt like petting a large white dog. Without realizing it, a smile spread across my lips. While I was absentmindedly stroking the creature with a rather undignified expression, Gold Tae-yang's voice came from behind me.
"Whoa www Bastard! Everyone else is looking at the unicorns, and you're over here acting like a loner... Huh?"
Gold Tae-yang, who had been swaggering toward me, froze the moment he saw the unicorn beside me. He stared at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
"H-How...!?"
"What?"
"How is there a unicorn with you...? W-Wait... Were you a virgin this whole time?!"
Gold Tae-yang pointed at the unicorn with a trembling hand. I frowned and replied, "Didn't I tell you last time?"
"Shit, I just assumed you were lying."
"What do you take people's words for..."
Even as I said that, I understood. Given the rumors floating around the academy, his reaction wasn't exactly surprising.
"Anyway, why'd you come here?"
"Why else~ I was worried our bastard young master might be lonely."
"Then sit down. What are you standing there staring for?"
"Ahaha... Well, you see..."
Gold Tae-yang suddenly scratched his head with an awkward laugh. His gaze was fixed on the unicorn beside me. I let out a small chuckle and stood up.
"Come to think of it... You said you were a virgin too, didn't you?"
"Uh, uh... Yeah, I did?"
"Want to test that?"
"What do you mean... Huh? Hey?!"
I strode over to Gold Tae-yang and grabbed him by the collar. He struggled in panic, trying to break free. I smiled faintly and dragged him toward the unicorn.
"Alright, time for the truth."
"L-Let go...!!"
I took his hand and guided it toward the unicorn. If he'd been lying to me, his palm would probably end up with a nice ventilation hole. I grinned and said, "Prove it. Prove your purity."
Gold Tae-yang's blue eyes trembled.