Chapter 60: The Freya Ducal House 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60: The Freya Ducal House 2
I made my way toward the Special Class, chatting with Sepia along the way.
"Did anything interesting happen while I was out yesterday?"
I already knew the events that were supposed to unfold, but the future was always subject to change. I couldn't afford to miss even the slightest deviation.
"Interesting? Not really. Everything was the same as usual," Sepia replied, twirling a strand of her pink hair around her finger.
Fortunately, it seemed nothing had happened in my absence.
"Hmm, I see. So you were incredibly bored yesterday because I wasn't there, Sepia."
I nodded knowingly.
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Of course. Every word."
"Naturally. How could I ever forget you telling me how handsome I am?"
"When did I ever say that?!" Sepia barked at me, huffing as she quickened her pace and stomped ahead.
"Hmm. I'm not entirely sure why she's angry, but I suppose I should follow her, right?"
I spoke to the spirits that had settled on my shoulders at some point. They tugged at my collar as if urging me to hurry up.
"Everyone, please continue to take good care of our Sepia."
[Kyu-kyu!]
I stroked the spirits as I spoke, and they rubbed their tiny bodies against my hand in response.
"What do you mean, 'our'! Stop saying weird things and get over here! And you guys, stop sitting on Loki's shoulders and come to me!"
"Coming!"
[Kyu-kyu!]
I mused to myself as I ran to catch up with her.
The Necromancer responsible for Sepia’s death was Betzdo, Rank 10 of Death Heaven. During her confrontation with him, Sepia would undergo an Awakening and manage to drive him back, but she would ultimately lose her life.
Preventing her death was simple: I just had to stop her from fighting Betzdo.
"What are you doing? Hurry up."
"I'm coming."
But it wouldn't be easy. How could I tell Sepia, who had lost her family to Betzdo, not to fight him?
* * *
"Good morning, everyone! Full of energy, I see!"
I threw open the door to the Special Class and greeted them loudly, as I always did. Usually, everyone would be in their seats waving back, but today was different.
"Loki!"
"Why weren't you here yesterday?"
According to Sepia, Professor Elicia had told them I couldn't make it due to personal circumstances. That was likely why everyone was so worried.
"Ahaha, it was nothing major. Seeing so many people worried about me really gives me strength."
I gave everyone the same excuse I gave Sepia—that I had caught a cold. After finishing my rounds with the others, I approached the one person I hadn't spoken to yet.
"Clara, a very energetic morning to you!"
Clara scanned me from head to toe before handing me a small bottle. Inside was a blue liquid.
"What is this?" I asked, taking the bottle.
Clara kept her answer brief. "Cold medicine. Take it, just in case."
"Did you bring this specifically for me? I'm so moved I think I might cry. Sniff."
"Don't be dramatic. How was I supposed to know you were sick? I just happened to have it on me."
Clara turned her gaze back to her book. While the crying was an exaggeration, the fact that I was touched was the truth.
"Um..."
"No need for thanks. I only gave it to you so you wouldn't pass your germs to me," Clara cut me off.
I had intended to thank her, but her dismissive tone made me want to tease her instead.
"No, it's not that. I was just wondering what it tastes like. I'm not a big fan of bitter things."
"...Ugh! Give it back!"
Embarrassed, Clara reached for the bottle, her face flushing red.
"Haha! I'm joking. I'll make good use of it. Thank you."
I pulled my hand back, dodging her white fingers, and downed the medicine in one go.
"Mmm, I feel healthier already! Since it's a gift from you, Clara, the effect must be even stronger."
"...I told you to stop being dramatic."
The medicine... was incredibly bitter.
And it was the middle of summer.
* * *
Boom!
Professor Elicia’s fist cut through the air, the force of the blow creating a sound like a sonic boom.
"Hmm?" She let out a sound of surprise when I dodged the punch.
"Eh?"
To be honest, I was surprised too. The punch Professor Elicia just threw was one I shouldn't have been able to dodge. Was it because I read the Shadow Step skill book yesterday?
'No, that's definitely not it.'
It was true that I used Shadow Step to dodge, but I had been using that skill regularly.
'Ah, right.'
I realized why I was able to move like that.
'I took three elixirs.'
Two before entering the sewers, and one this morning. One was a high-grade elixir, but the other two were highest-grade elixirs given to me directly by the Emperor. It would be weirder if I hadn't gotten stronger after consuming all three.
"..............."
The other Special Class students stared at me with wide eyes, but since I knew what their final forms looked like, this didn't feel like much of an achievement to me.
"Loki, since you weren't here yesterday, I'll focus on you today."
Professor Elicia, however, seemed to feel differently. Leaving those words behind, she lunged at the other students.
Boom! Crash! Thud!
The Special Class students had become much stronger than before, but Professor Elicia still knocked them unconscious in no time.
"Professor, this kind of attention is a bit burdensome, don't you think?"
Professor Elicia kicked off the ground and charged at me.
Boom!
"You're being...!"
Crash!
"Much...!"
Boom! Bang!
"Faster than when you were fighting the others!"
Boom! Crash! Bang!
"Is it just my imagination?"
"It's your imagination," Professor Elicia replied curtly to my strained words.
Imagination, my foot. She was actually picking up speed.
She continued to accelerate, raining attacks down on me. It was difficult to dodge, but thanks to her, I was able to gauge exactly how much stronger I had become.
"Professor, what does it mean to 'move like a shadow'?"
As I dodged her attacks, it occurred to me that she might know, so I asked.
Grab.
"Where did that come from all of a sudden?" As she spoke, she easily caught the dagger I had thrown.
"The person teaching me said I'd get stronger if I understood that phrase!"
Technically, it was written in a book, but close enough.
Grab.
"Even if I knew, I doubt telling you would make you any stronger."
"I suppose you're right."
Just as she said, it only had meaning if I realized it for myself.
Pow!
I tilted my head back to dodge a punch.
'Was it a feint?'
As my head tilted back, Professor Elicia's palm entered my field of vision.
Slam!
I was driven into the ground and lost consciousness. The last thing I saw before blacking out was Professor Elicia wearing a satisfied smile.
* * *
After all the Academy classes were over, I stood with Johanna in front of a luxurious carriage, ready to head to the Freya Ducal Estate.
"It has been a long time, My Lady."
"Yes."
The man who appeared to be the coachman greeted Johanna.
"........Shall we get in, then?"
"Yes!"
After some time in the carriage, I noticed that because it belonged to a Ducal family, I couldn't feel any bumps even on rough roads. However, there was something else on my mind.
"Senior?"
"..........Yes."
"Isn't it normal to sit across from each other in a carriage?"
I was currently sitting right next to Johanna. The seats across from us were completely empty. Our shoulders and bodies repeatedly brushed against each other. Every time we touched, I could smell her scent.
"........The mask."
Johanna, seemingly oblivious to my inner turmoil, spoke out of the blue.
"Yes? What about the mask?"
"Could you... take it off?"
Johanna's voice trembled. It was a sudden request.
"Huh? Well, if that's all."
It was unexpected, but not a difficult favor, so I took off the mask. I had already shown her my face before; showing it a second time wasn't hard.
"Gasp!"
As soon as I took off the mask, Johanna inhaled sharply and then slowly exhaled. What was with her?
"Senior, is something wrong...?"
I tried to turn my head toward her, but Johanna blocked my face with her hand.
"Your head! .......Don't turn it."
"Okay..."
Is something really wrong? I couldn't see her, but I could feel it. Johanna would lower her head for a moment, then raise it, then lower it again to catch her breath. She repeated this several times.
After a while, she spoke.
"You're uncomfortable, aren't you?" she asked.
It was a bit distracting, but I wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
"No, I'm fi—"
"You're uncomfortable, aren't you?"
Johanna's voice was slightly louder than before. I got the feeling that saying I was fine was the wrong answer here.
"Ah! Now that you mention it, I guess I am a little uncomfortable."
"Right? Then stay like this."
Johanna took hold of my head and pulled it down onto her lap. Then, she began to stroke my face and hair.
"Senior?"
"Eek!"
When I rolled my eyes up to look at her, Johanna let out a strange squeak and hurriedly averted her gaze.
"......Do you hate it?" Johanna asked in a dejected voice, still not meeting my eyes.
"No. It feels good."
Hearing her sad tone, the answer slipped out of me instinctively.
"Really? Then stay like this."
And so, I let Johanna stroke my head for quite a while. I'm not sure how much time passed after that.
"Senior, I think we've arrived."
The carriage had stopped moving. I put my mask back on.
"Ah..."
Johanna let out a disappointed sound when the mask went back on. Just as I was about to lift my head from her lap...
"Sister! I missed you—!"
Someone swung the carriage door wide open. The person who opened it was a woman with the same hair as Johanna.
"Oh my, oh my!"
"......................."
Beside her, a woman who appeared to be Johanna's mother covered her mouth in shock.
And standing right behind them was the Empire's Greatest Swordsman, Duke Freya—already drawing his sword.
Hahaha. Such is life, I suppose.