Another Promise
Emil's head flew off. Malcolm realized it only after his wooden sword had already struck the side of Emil's head.
'Huh...?'
Gazing at the slowing scenery, Malcolm wore a dazed expression. The flames of anger and displeasure that had burned so fiercely in his heart just moments ago extinguished in an instant.
BAM!
By the time his mind cooled and he grasped the situation, Emil's airborne body crashed to the ground with a thunderous noise.
"E-Emil! Are you okay?!"
The professor, who had been standing at a distance, rushed past Malcolm in a panic. And following right behind...
"Emil—!!"
Marie came running with a face drained of all color.
'What the...'
Amid the chaos, Malcolm kept questioning himself in his mind.
'Why did Emil take a hit from the wooden sword?'
Just moments ago, Emil had parried every single one of his strikes. Sure, his face had shown strain, but he'd blocked them all without a single gap. It was a level of skill that even surprised Malcolm, who had trained in swordsmanship since childhood.
That was why Malcolm had swung with full sincerity—a strike that would injure Emil even if he blocked it.
But for some reason, at that crucial moment, Emil's sharp defense crumbled, and he took the decisive blow straight to the head.
"Emil!! Emil!! Come on, wake up!! Emil—!!"
"Damn it...! Blood...! Everyone, stand by!! I'm taking Emil to the priestess!!"
"Emil—!!"
Before Malcolm could find answers to his questions, he snapped back to reality at the sound of the professor hoisting Emil onto his back and bolting away, and Marie desperately calling Emil's name.
And then he met her gaze.
"......"
"......"
Marie's eyes, staring at him from where she sat slumped on the ground.
"......N-No, Marie, this is."
Even for Malcolm, who had spent so much time with her, this was the first time he'd seen eyes like those. And the first time they'd been directed at him.
That was why.
"M-Marie..."
For the first time, Malcolm felt a faint crack form in his relationship with Marie. She was looking at him like an enemy now. Glaring at the one who had done this to Emil, filled with resentment.
He had always been by her side, so this was the first time he'd stood on the opposite side and faced her raw resentment head-on.
It hurts...
His chest ached. The gaze of the person who had always taken his side throughout their lives, now seeing him as the enemy—it was more painful than any suffering he'd ever felt.
⋯
⋯
Swish...
"Mm..."
I felt the soft texture of the bed and opened my eyes. The ceiling I saw immediately upon waking was one I'd glimpsed several times before—the infirmary ceiling, where I'd ended up after getting beaten by the male leads in previous loops.
"Awake already?"
Someone noticed I'd only just opened my eyes and spoke to me. I propped myself up and looked toward the voice.
"How long was I out?"
She was the priestess hired by Revel Academy for emergencies—Lydia. She had been sipping steaming coffee and reading a book, but she looked at me with an incredulous expression at my question.
"Hehe, the first thing you say after nearly dying is 'How long was I out?' Sounds like something a battle-hardened mercenary would say. Or do you not remember?"
"No, I remember... but."
Nearly dying... Of course, I'd instinctively known that Malcolm's strike had been lethal. But it wasn't fatal enough to kill me. I'd staged this show precisely because I'd factored in the presence of this skilled priestess. And having died five times before, my body remembered the brink of death.
But to Lydia, who didn't know that, I must have looked like some weirdo student.
"So, how long was it?"
"Hmm... A bit over an hour?"
Right after Lydia answered...
Ding—
Ding—
The bell signaling the end of class rang perfectly timed throughout the academy.
"Hehe, more like thirty minutes. Lunchtime now—gonna stay lying down?"
"......Yeah."
I hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"Alright, rest up and head back when you're ready. All your wounds are healed."
Lydia explained, then drew the curtain around my bed. After that, I lay back comfortably and stared at the ceiling.
...Lunchtime—she should be coming soon.
The reason I hadn't left was that I was waiting for someone.
And that someone was...
Creak...
"Oh, what brings you here?"
"U-Um...! Is Emil okay?"
"Ah, a friend. He's fine. He just woke up—come on in."
"...Yes!"
Right on cue, the person I was waiting for opened the infirmary door and entered. The curtain rustled once, and Marie slipped through, appearing before me.
"Emil..."
"Marie, what happened?"
I feigned surprise, acting as if I hadn't expected her to come, and greeted her.
⋯
⋯
Marie had been fidgeting anxiously throughout the rest of class. Her face pale, she hugged her knees and trembled.
"Marie... Emil will be fine."
Sierra, her partner, comforted her from the side.
"B-But... Emil just got hit in the head... What do I do."
Marie no longer cared if Sierra noticed her feelings. She simply trembled with anxiety, openly showing her worry for Emil.
At that moment, her mind was filled only with the impulse to rush to him.
Time passed briefly, and the professor returned from the infirmary, reporting that Emil was safe. Only then could Marie finally relax and calm her heart.
But the urge to go to Emil didn't fade. If anything, her relief made her want to see him unharmed even more urgently.
"Ah... Given the accident today, class ends here. Everyone return to the classroom and wait until the final bell."
The professor conveniently wrapped up early amid the awkward situation. Hearing that, Marie headed straight for the infirmary.
"M-Marie!"
She thought she heard Malcolm's voice from behind, but Marie didn't even turn her head—she just kept going forward.
I want to see Emil. See him and calm my heart for sure.
His collapsed form was still vivid in her mind.
And then.
Ding—
Ding—
Creak...
Marie arrived at the infirmary almost exactly as lunchtime began.
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"...You okay?"
"Yeah, the priestess is so skilled it doesn't hurt at all."
"That's a relief..."
Marie silently thanked Lydia in her heart, who had just stepped out for lunch. Thanks to her, Emil seemed completely fine, without a scratch.
"But this is unexpected."
"...Huh? What is?"
Emil, sitting on the bed facing her, smiled shyly and spoke.
"I didn't think you'd come running right away like this."
"Eek..."
Only then did Marie realize what kind of state she'd been in all this time.
You... you showed it all too openly...
She felt heat rising to her face. Her cheeks were probably flushed enough for Emil to notice.
Regardless of the blush, anyone seeing Marie bow her head and avert her eyes would recognize it as the picture of a shy girl.
What do I do...?
Marie fell into momentary anguish. Having confirmed with her own eyes that Emil was safe and calmed her heart, her previous worries resurfaced.
It was about Emil and Sierra's relationship.
"...Marie?"
Marie glanced at Emil, who was looking at her questioningly in her silence.
What should she say to him?
...I was worried, so of course?
...Malcolm did it, so I'm here to apologize?
Either way felt off. The first sounded like they were lovers, the second like she was Malcolm's guardian.
"U-Um..."
"Yeah?"
After agonizing...
Marie ultimately chose the direct approach.
"D-Do you... like Sierra...?"
"......"
Thump, thump.
No turning back now.
Eek... I feel like I'm going crazy...
With her face fully flushed, Marie stared seriously at Emil.
His words—"I didn't think you'd come running right away"—had prompted her response: "Do you like Sierra?" It was practically declaring that she cared about him.
So Marie grew even more tense.
What if he says he doesn't like me? What if he says he actually likes Sierra? What if he asks why I'm even asking?
Hypotheticals yet to happen shot through her mind like arrows, piercing her heart. With each one, her back straightened rigidly, and her shoulders trembled faintly.
But.
"Haha."
As if to make her tension seem foolish.
"What are you talking about? Sierra's just a friend."
He answered Marie nonchalantly.
"......Just a friend?"
"Yeah. What else would she be?"
"......R-Right."
Relief washed over her. Marie couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from curving up slightly.
Good...
If anything, she felt more at ease than when she'd heard Emil was safe.
And with that relief came realization.
"More importantly, it's lunchtime—aren't you gonna eat, Marie?"
"Huh? Oh... Yeah, I should head back."
"Wanna eat together since we're here?"
"Huh? Really?"
It wasn't just simple worry. I really...
Thump, thump.
As their conversation flowed naturally like always, thanks to Emil's casual response, Marie gazed at his smile, feeling her heart race.
"Alright, let's go."
"...That quick? Rest a bit more."
"Nah, I'm really fine."
She couldn't tear her eyes from him. She wanted to keep seeing that smile. From the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she fell asleep. If possible, even in her dreams. And right now, watching him.
Marie felt the desire to be with Emil.
I really... like Emil...
She couldn't pretend not to know this feeling anymore. Even if it was her first time experiencing it, her heart was clearly telling her the answer.
I... like Emil...
A feeling different from affection for her brother. Different from reliance on a longtime friend.
That tender emotion—she realized it clearly in this moment.
So.
"E-Emil...!"
"Yeah?"
While walking the hallway together, Marie stopped in place for a moment and called out to Emil, who had gone ahead.
I'm scared... but still...
This feeling she could no longer hold back—she confronted him honestly.
"C-Can you... give me private lessons?!"
"Private lessons?"
"Yeah! Separate from the study group...! Oh, t-time doesn't matter... Um... just the two of us... separately..."
Though she'd steeled herself, her trembling heart made her words trail off more and more. Her bold gestures shrank, fingers fidgeting. She even averted her eyes from Emil.
It felt like she'd cry if he refused.
And then.
"Sure. For midterms, right? I'll help if you're okay with me."
"......"
His ready agreement. That bright smile.
Thump.
Marie realized her feelings once more.
"Thank you..."
She hid her trembling emotions deep in her chest and smiled at Emil, filled with affection.
The heart that had quivered with worry and fear began to turn to happiness.
"Shall we go? Where do you wanna eat lunch?"
"Ah, the rooftop sounds good. ...Wonder if it's open."
"It is. The rooftop maintenance here sucks."
"Hehe, true."
Walking beside Emil as if nothing had happened, Marie chatted happily with him like always.
Meanwhile, in her heart, she resolved another goal.
If I get good grades on the midterms...
It was another promise, separate from the one with her brother—a promise to herself.
I'll confess to Emil...
Clutching that swelling emotion, Marie walked by Emil's side.