Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Weekend (5)
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Late Sunday night,
as the golden sunset faded and the beautifully shining night sky descended,
"Let me ask you properly, Libia Clawit."
I extended Camillas's sword toward her—one of the fortuitous encounters I'd gained from the library—and continued.
"Help me stop the world's destruction with this sword."
As I said those words, I looked straight into her eyes.
Libia Clawit.
I was asking her to help me with your brilliantly shining talent,
to stop the destruction together.
A brief silence followed my words,
but I wasn't anxious.
Libia's eyes, having heard me, showed no hesitation even now,
those unwavering crimson eyes meeting mine squarely.
She took the sword I offered and replied,
"Gladly!"
The resolve in her eyes as she accepted my request melted away the tension gripping my body, and a natural smile spread across my face.
"I like your bold answer! I'm looking forward to it, future Sword Saint."
Buoyed by the released tension, I tossed a playful remark her way,
and she burst out laughing in response.
"Pfft! What’s with that cringey title!"
"Alright! I'll do my best to live up to your expectations, Aden!"
Seeing her like that put my mind at ease.
"And don't push yourself too hard again."
She didn't seem likely to overdo it anymore, but just in case, I gave her a word laced with concern.
If she tried to push herself again, I'd force her to rest this time,
I didn't want to see her anxious and worried like today ever again.
"I won't anymore! And even if I do, you'll drag me out again, right, Aden?"
She turned to me with those words, flashing a confident smile.
That smile drew a faint one from me in return.
The worries I'd held until moments ago seemed to vanish.
So I answered her smile with one of my own.
"Gladly."
At my response, her smile grew even brighter.
The radiant smile on her face, illuminated by the midnight moonlight,
what can I say...
'It's brilliant...'
Like a star shining in the night sky,
utterly brilliant.
After finishing our rest together and handing over Camillas's sword,
I realized how late it was and was heading back to the academy.
Libia's Slump
{Unfazed by Sudden Events!}
A sudden unexpected situation arose.
However, you resolved it brilliantly with your wisdom and strength!
You feel smarter!
Intelligence +5
Reward settlement completed.
Libia Clawit's growth speed accelerates.
A translucent window popped up on my way back to the academy, notifying me of the cleared urgent event, achievement, and rewards.
But before I could dwell on it, I glanced sideways at her walking beside me toward the academy.
'She seemed more worn out today than I expected...'
Today's rest itinerary had been filled entirely with things Libia Clawit enjoyed,
yet even amid the relaxation, seeing her occasionally gripped by worry and anxiety showed just how much was weighing on her heart.
Libia Clawit grabs the hem of her skirt when swept up in emotions.
It was a trivial trivia bit from the game setting book that I'd glossed over,
but during this rest, those little details and habits from the settings helped me notice her anxiety and worries.
Fortunately, the Libia walking right beside me now showed no signs of worry or anxiety.
She probably wouldn't suddenly overexert herself for a while.
As I thought that, she spoke up from my side.
"Elective classes start tomorrow... What did you sign up for, Aden?"
"Imperial Swordsmanship on Mondays, Dungeon Practice on Wednesdays, and Alchemy on Fridays—three classes. You?"
"Oh! Imperial Swordsmanship and Dungeon Practice overlap! Last one for me is Demon Swordsmanship..."
"Then we can take two together. Nice."
She'd signed up for the same elective days as in the game.
Demon Swordsmanship... The name didn't suit her at first glance, but it wasn't entirely off.
Demon Swordsmanship was a class that helped improve mana manipulation skills,
so while I, starting at max level thanks to the Pioneer's action assist, didn't need it, it was popular among many swordsmen and mages alike.
It would surely help her swordsmanship too.
After asking about my electives, she kept up the light chatter.
"Aden! What's your hobby?"
My hobbies...
"What's your favorite food, Aden?"
Favorite foods...
"Then, what's your ideal type?"
Ideal type...
'Feels like I'm being interrogated...'
Why was she so curious about everything regarding me? She peppered me with questions all the way back to the academy.
'Not that I mind.'
But I didn't dislike it.
They weren't hard questions to answer,
and walking while chatting like this was quite enjoyable.
As we strolled along chatting about this and that,
we'd arrived in the academy courtyard before I knew it.
Reaching the dormitory entrance, a regretful voice slipped from her lips.
"Ah... We're already here... I wanted to talk more..."
"It's late, so let's call it a night, Libia. We'll see each other tomorrow."
"Yeah... We'll see each other tomorrow...!"
Shaking off her reluctance at my words, she continued.
"Today was fun! Aden!"
She'd looked so drained this morning, but now she seemed fully recharged.
"It was fun for me too, Libia."
It wasn't a lie.
Every moment today had been truly enjoyable for me.
The food we ate together was delicious,
the games we played,
the places we visited,
at some point I was smiling and having fun myself.
And that brilliant sight at the end,
an utterly joyful day.
"Guess I'll head in too."
Confirming she was heading to her dorm, I started toward mine.
"Better get to bed soon..."
A bit early for sleep,
but to prepare for the electives starting tomorrow, I decided to turn in early.
Monday morning,
the soft sunlight filtering through the window cracks woke me.
I rose to greet it,
but realizing it was Monday soured my mood right away.
Maybe because of yesterday's fun memories,
I really didn't want to go to school today.
"Haa... Still gotta go."
Suppressing the urge to stay in bed, I headed to the bathroom, washed up, and cleared my head.
Today's first elective: Imperial Swordsmanship.
Among the electives, it was notably free of sudden incidents.
With a somewhat lighter heart, I donned the academy uniform,
left the dorm, and headed to the classroom.
Creak—
Opening the door to the academy lecture hall and stepping in,
I spotted familiar faces.
As I took them in, now used to the sight, and moved to my seat,
"Aden—!"
A bright, joyful voice—Libia's—rang out loud enough to draw every eye in the room.
Seemingly surprised by her own volume, her face flushed with embarrassment as she bowed her head.
"Full of energy this morning, Libia..."
"Libia, you're embarrassing..."
Our words hit like a critical strike,
her slightly flushed face now beet red as she slammed it onto her desk.
Thud—
'Oof...'
The painful sound echoed softly through the classroom.
"Libia's an idiot..."
Libia's body twitched at Isabel's words.
Having taken a three-hit combo first thing in the morning, she kept her head down for a while.
Thus began our unusually hectic Monday morning,
when the classroom door opened and Elina entered.
"It's been a while, everyone."
Soon after Elina arrived, Libia, who had been face-down beside me, slowly lifted her head.
Elina gave a simple greeting upon entering and continued.
'She's gotten surprisingly human-like...'
Might be rude to think it, but what can I say... If the old Elina was a robot stiff from speech to emotions,
now she just felt like a blunt person.
'It started right after I told her I'm a regressor...'
Some change of heart, maybe...
As I pondered Elina's shift, she wrapped up and prepared to leave.
"Since today is the first elective lecture day, everyone focus. See you later in Practical Combat."
With that, Elina stepped out.
Probably heading to the auditorium for another class's Practical Combat lecture...
"Shall we go?"
I suggested to Libia and Isabel.
Next was magic class,
time to head to Raon's lecture hall.
'Though it's just theory anyway...'
Academy mandatory classes, barring Practical Combat, were mostly theory.
Essential for note-taking in upcoming midterms, truly mandatory,
but for me with Piercing Eyes, skipping midterm prep made them dreadfully boring.
Still, I couldn't skip, so
chatting lightly with Isabel and Libia, we headed to the magic lecture hall.