The Conquest Resumes
"Who did this to you...?"
"......"
At Marie's question, I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat. Lately, I'd been overwhelmed by women's gazes more often than not. Of course, most of that was down to Chris. When I met her sharp, icy eyes—especially yesterday, when I'd touched on her sore spot—I was swept up in pure terror.
But.
"Huh? Come on, Emil. Who did this...?"
With Marie right now, I felt a fear even more dizzying than what Chris stirred in me.
What the hell is this...?
Empty eyes. Those pupils that had sparkled so beautifully with pink just moments ago now seemed like an abyss, sucking in all light. Meeting that gaze filled me with a primal dread, as if I'd be pulled right into it.
"I-it's nothing. Just something from my recent training."
The fear made me realize instinctively: telling the truth would be dangerous. So I flashed a natural smile and brushed it off.
"Liar."
But Marie wasn't buying it so easily. She stepped closer, placing her hand lightly on my chest.
"Who beat you up?"
"......"
She smiled sweetly as she said it.
"It's okay, Emil. You can tell me."
"Why...?"
"Because I'll help you."
Help me? I almost blurted it out. But I couldn't. Her sweet smile looked unnervingly off to me.
Help me? With what, exactly...?
As doubt flooded my mind at her words, another question flashed through my head.
Come to think of it... Malcolm...
I suddenly remembered that Malcolm hadn't shown up at the academy lately. Why had he popped into my mind here?
...Obviously, because I'd gotten beaten by him before. Seeing Marie ask about my bruises naturally brought him to mind.
"Hey? It's fine, Emil. I'm always on your side."
While I was lost in thought, Marie drew even closer. Now her hand slid up my arm, her chest brushing softly against me. I hoped some other student would pass by and break the mood.
But we were at the end of the hallway. No one came, so Marie grew bolder.
"I told you."
She leaned in and whispered softly.
"I'd do anything for you. I'll take care of everything. Okay? So tell me."
Her beautifully glistening lips uttered cold words in a cute voice.
"Who hurt you...?"
"......"
Of course, I had no intention of answering.
"Enough, Marie."
"......"
She froze at my firm tone, her tempting advance halting. The smile on her face hardened slightly as she stared blankly at me.
I forced myself to meet her gaze with cold resolve.
"I told you. I just want to be friends."
"......"
"So... I don't want you doing anything for me."
Honestly, I didn't want to hurt her anymore. I'd settled all my grudges by rejecting her confession. Mission accomplished—our ties were cut. No more resentment, no lingering affection. Her advances like this were anything but welcome.
I gently pushed her away with both hands, forcing myself to stare straight into those terrifying eyes.
"Don't make me hate you anymore, Marie."
"E...?"
I hated hurting her, but in this moment, being firm was the right call. My words hit her like a shock, her face twisting in disbelief.
"N-no, Emil, th-that's not...! I don't want you to hate me...!"
"I know. That's why it's fine. ...As long as you do nothing, I won't hate you."
"Ugh......"
Her dark eyes began to glisten at my words. But it wasn't the pure, innocent sparkle of the old Marie. It was the wet shimmer of tears born from sorrow.
"Hic, sorry, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. Sniff, don't hate me... Sob, please don't hate me...!"
"It's okay. I told you before—you're not a bad person. So I don't hate you."
"Hic, uwaaah...!"
I soothed her as she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. But I kept my distance—no head pats or hugs. No room for more misunderstandings.
"I'll get going then. ...See you later."
"......Yeah."
I left her still sniffling behind me and hurried down the hall toward the classroom. She didn't follow. Seeing her just stand there, I felt a wave of relief.
...No way.
As I walked, my mind filled not with Marie, but someone else.
Malcolm's absence...
It was almost a wild hunch. But my instincts screamed it was true, and I couldn't shake it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After that little drama with Marie, I kept mulling over why Malcolm had vanished. But no answers came, so I shelved it and focused on my current goal.
"Hah—!!"
Whoosh—!
Clack!
"Ngh...!"
My wooden sword clashed perilously against Chris's, barely blocked.
The bet: land five hits on Chris. It had been three days already.
I'd pushed Malcolm from my mind to concentrate solely on beating her.
Though now, before sparring, I always scanned the area. Just in case Marie was lurking...
"Hup—!"
While I was distracted, Chris thrust at my opening.
Swoosh!
I dodged, the tip grazing my cheek. Even mid-thought in combat, three days in had made me familiar with her moves. I slipped the surprise thrust by a hair.
And in that evasion—
My chance.
"Hyah—!!"
Whoosh—!
I ducked the thrust and swung at her now-exposed midsection.
The tables turned; Chris's eyes widened in shock. No dodging this.
Thwack!
"Guhk...!"
She barely blocked with her left arm—but it still counted.
Tap-tap!
"Hoo..."
Three hits down already. Chris stepped back a few paces, glaring at me with a serious expression.
"Haha, just two more to go?"
"......It's not over yet. Focus."
Serious Chris, grinning me. Ironically, the dusty one was me, the one laughing. We'd traded countless blows before I landed those three. I'd taken over twenty hits from her sword to get here.
In a real fight, I'd have lost instantly—dead on the first strike. But this was a bet.
So I smiled through the full-body ache, pressing her sharper.
Whoosh—!!
Clack—!!
"Ngh, you undead freak—!"
Three days of sparring had earned me a nickname from Chris: undead. Day one, she'd pummeled me mercilessly after I fell for her taunts. But days two and three? She dubbed me that for charging in, unhealed and relentless.
"...Just teach me swordsmanship, and this ends."
"Shut up! You think I'd let that slide now?!"
Whoosh—!
Her swings grew wild with frustration and rage—bigger arcs, more predictable. Threatening, but easy to evade.
Now...!
"Gahk...!"
Thwack—!
The thrust I'd nearly eaten earlier—I turned it on her. Her excited state left her shoulder open to my hit.
Not a deep wound—my skill wasn't there yet—but.
"One more left."
"......"
My goal wasn't to disable her, just five clean hits.
I can do this.
Feeling victory near, I gripped my sword tighter, smiling.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Ughhh... Gonna die..."
"......"
I collapsed, savoring the relief amid full-body pain. Dirt clung to my sweat-soaked body; I didn't care. Just rest.
After catching my breath, inhaling fresh air, I glanced at Chris.
"Tch..."
She clicked her tongue with a wronged look, rubbing her left wrist from the final hit.
"So... you'll teach me swordsmanship now?"
"......"
No answer, but no refusal either. That meant yes.
"I did it...!"
I laughed joyfully, head back on the training ground dirt, basking in sweet victory.
Just three days...!
Elation swelled in my chest. In the fourth loop, a month wouldn't have sufficed.
This was all thanks to the Blossoming Talent perk.
Stealing Chris's techniques mid-spar? Unbelievable.
First real showcase of the perk. Midterms? I'd aced those before without it—Easy Mode perks alone sufficed.
But beating Chris at swordplay? Me, with zero talent? Insane results, revealing the perk's cheat-level power.
Three days: I analyzed her patterns, mimicked her strikes. That's how I landed five hits.
"Emil."
As I relished the win during our break, Chris—still standing fresh—called quietly.
I propped myself up to look at her.
"......I lost this time."
She averted her eyes, looking peeved, and continued softly.
"...This loss is just my skill slipping. ...Not because my master is no good."
"Ah..."
Then it hit me—why she seemed so aggrieved.
Not the bet. My taunt right before.
Three days ago, to goad her into the bet, I'd trashed her foster mother who taught her swordsmanship.
Her dark mood? Protecting her master's honor.
"Sorry. I should've apologized first instead of gloating."
"......What?"
I brushed off the dirt, stood, dropped my grin, and faced her seriously.
"I take back what I said about the person who taught you being lousy."
"......"
"It was just to rile you up. Not serious. ...Sorry."
I bowed carefully, then met her eyes. She blinked in surprise, then...
"Haha..."
Smiled softly at me.
"Guess I totally fell for it."
"Took you long enough...?"
"Quiet. Her honor means more than my life to me."
Her words were gruff, but the smile stayed. Relief, probably. Our mood lightened nicely.
"So, after school here from now on?"
With her expression bright, I casually asked about the schedule.
She nodded readily.
"Yeah. ...But no holding back, since we agreed."
"Yeah, figured..."
Her chilling promise dredged up fourth-loop memories: daily beatings till exhaustion, wooden sword hell. The harshest physical loop of them all.
But... I made it through anyway.
Now, Chris's conquest could truly begin. I focused on that, smiling faintly.
Then.
"Wow, what a heart-swelling moment."
"......Edric."
A familiar voice from behind. Chris murmured the name in surprise.
"Hey, Chris. Was watching for a bit. You were so into it, didn't notice me. Haha."
I turned to see a tall man leaning on the fence, smiling amiably. Short black sports cut.
Edric Valpour.
First meeting this loop, but I knew him well. Chris's fiancé, one of Sierra's male leads.
And the bastard who'd stolen Chris from me.