Chapter 133: Practical Combat 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 133: Practical Combat 2
After finishing my patrol and showering at the dormitory, I made my way across the academy campus toward the Special Class.
Whispers followed me as I passed, but fortunately, no one tried to strike up a conversation. Once word got out that I was the Emperor’s disciple, I had been swamped by people trying to curry favor. After I’d turned them all down repeatedly, they eventually gave up.
With Johanna’s encouragement from earlier still fresh in my mind, I walked with a renewed determination to land a solid blow on Professor Elicia today. That was when I spotted a familiar shade of pink.
Spirits of fire, water, earth, and wind were perched on her shoulders, and a small bird had taken up residence on top of her head. In this academy—no, on this entire continent—there was only one person who looked like that.
"Miss Sepia!"
I called out, my voice rising in excitement. Though it drew stares from the surrounding students, I ignored them and lengthened my stride to catch up to her.
"Pushover."
"Yes, that’s me. Though I’m not actually a pushover. Why don’t you try calling me by my name for once?"
Sepia let out a small chuckle. "No. No matter how much I think about it, 'Pushover' suits you best."
I didn't recall ever doing anything particularly pathetic, but somehow, I had already been branded with the nickname.
"Anyway, we ran into each other again. It’s quite the amazing coincidence, don’t you think?"
It had been a month since I started "coincidentally" running into Sepia on the way to class like this.
"I-I suppose so."
To an outsider, it might look intentional, but it truly felt like a coincidence. If Sepia were doing it on purpose, there wouldn't be days where I spotted her first and others where she spotted me.
I guess our commute times just happen to overlap, I thought, deciding not to overthink it. Walking to class alone was boring anyway; having Sepia as a companion was much better.
—Chirp! Cheep!
Among the spirits on Sepia’s shoulders, the water and wind spirits hopped over to mine. Even Chirpy, who usually kept its distance, fluttered its tiny wings and moved from Sepia’s head to mine.
Now accustomed to the routine, we walked toward the Special Class together.
"Miss Sepia, did you try calling Chirpy by a different name again?"
"No matter how much I think about it, 'Chirpy' is just too tacky."
It seemed Sepia still hadn't given up on the name 'Lightning Thunder,' as she occasionally tried to address the bird that way. Every time she did, Chirpy would abandon her to sit on my head.
"Don't you think it's natural for Chirpy to prefer a wonderful name like 'Chirpy' over something like Light— pfft! —Lightning Thunder?"
"Don't laugh!"
—Chirp!
Sepia huffed at my remark, and Chirpy flapped its wings as if in agreement.
As we walked side by side, matching our paces, Sepia began to sidle closer to me. She seemed to think she was being subtle, but it was so obvious from my perspective that I had to struggle to keep from laughing.
At first, I hadn't understood what she was doing. But after seeing it every day, I realized she was checking to see if I had applied my perfume properly.
I could just tell her if she asked, I thought. But since it was amusing to watch, I had no intention of saying anything. The satisfied expression she made when she thought she’d successfully caught the scent was the best part.
After catching a whiff and flashing a small smile, Sepia began to fidget with her fingers, clearly having something on her mind. I knew exactly what she wanted to ask. Now that the special training was over, she wanted to know where Betzdo was.
I wanted to tell her right away, but we were on our way to class. I had almost been late last time because I was chatting with her; if we started talking about Betzdo now, we would definitely miss the bell.
"I'll tell you what you're curious about after school. Let's meet in the forest in a little while."
"Okay."
I didn't specify a time, but Sepia didn't ask. We didn't need to.
* * *
The Academy Forest—the place where they had trained for a month.
After classes ended, Loki and Sepia met among the trees. Until now, they had met for training, but today’s meeting wasn't for practice. It was the beginning of a reckoning.
The smile Sepia had worn this morning was gone, replaced by a hardened expression. She knew all too well that getting emotional or resentful wouldn't solve anything. That was why she had intentionally avoided thinking about it, focusing solely on her training.
But now that the moment of revenge was at hand, the memories returned with vivid clarity.
A village filled with laughter. Kind neighbors who shared food. Friends who made every day an adventure. And her parents, who were her entire world.
How wonderful would it have been if those were the only things she remembered? If that were the case, she wouldn't have minded reliving them a thousand times.
But the memories were stained. The village was filled with screams. The neighbors and friends were cold, lifeless husks. And her parents had died right before her eyes.
There was only one cause for all of it.
Betzdo.
"Miss Sepia..."
Loki looked at her, a bitter smile hidden behind his mask. He knew that if she couldn't have her revenge, she would never be able to let go of the emotions trapped in her heart.
"I will tell you about the person who knows where Betzdo is. But before that, there is something I must say."
It was a warning he felt obligated to give.
"The probability of you successfully getting revenge on Betzdo right now is 50%."
Even that 50% was a generous estimate, possible only because Sepia had memorized all of Betzdo's attack patterns. If it had been the Sepia from before the training, she would have failed and died, just like in the game.
In terms of raw talent, Sepia far surpassed Betzdo. However, there was a massive wall standing between them.
Time.
Through his guidance, Loki had managed to chip away at that wall, but it had only been a month. It was impossible to bridge the gap of hundreds of years of experience in such a short time. It wasn't that Sepia lacked talent or effort; the problem was simply that her opponent was a necromancer who had lived for centuries.
"If you prepared for another year... no, even just half a year, you would be able to succeed without a single scratch."
"..."
Sepia listened in silence. The Pushover was asking her a question: If you train for just half a year more, victory is guaranteed. But if you fight now, you might get hurt, or you might die. Even so, must you have your revenge right now?
She closed her eyes and thought.
If it had been me from a month ago...
She probably would have screamed at him to tell her immediately. Back then, she had thought of nothing but vengeance; she had lived only for it.
But things were different now.
In the past, revenge was everything. Now, other important things had entered her life. She used to think she wouldn't care if she died as long as she killed him, but now there were so many things she wanted to do while alive.
It had taken only a month to save her from the ten years she had spent drowning in hatred. Not for the sake of the past, but to escape from it, Sepia spoke.
"I can't wait any longer."
Suddenly, she wondered what it would be like if their positions were reversed. If the Pushover had said he was going to gamble on a 50% chance when waiting half a year would guarantee success, wouldn't she have called him an idiot?
"I'm not saying this because I'm blinded by rage."
But the Pushover didn't call her choice foolish. He simply listened.
"Half a year... my life is too precious to spend another six months thinking about revenge. Don't you think so too?"
"If waiting is too difficult, I could fight alongside you. Then, without having to wait, we could easily—"
Loki cut himself off when he saw the look in Sepia's eyes. He let out a long sigh.
"Sigh..."
Right. The final chapter of a revenge story had to be written by one's own hand. He had been the same way.
"You really are stubborn," Loki said, placing a hand on Sepia's head.
To be honest, he had known what her answer would be from the start. The reason he kept pushing was likely a selfish desire for her to take the easier path. Well, if Sepia couldn't kill Betzdo, he would just grab her and run. They could always try again later.
"I'm proud of you. Yes, I'm very impressed."
Loki stroked her hair, and Sepia pouted at the patronizing, child-like treatment.
"Who are you calling stubborn...?"
"I'll say just one last thing."
Loki offered the words he truly wanted her to hear.
"I believe you will win."
Sepia tried to say "Of course," but the words caught in her throat. It was because of the unidentifiable emotion vibrating in Loki's voice.
"And I don't consider mutual destruction a victory. Because the value of your life and Betzdo's life are as different as heaven and earth."