Field Practice (3)
'Hello, senior!'
'Hey, hey! Don't greet that senior for no reason…! You'll die…!'
'No way, what are you talking about. Such a cute senior.'
Despite her friend's warnings, Iruka bowed her head without hesitation toward the senior right in front of her.
Die? Who'd die?
Blue hair like the captured sea.
Dazzlingly beautiful blue eyes that shone just from looking at them.
A small, petite frame, and for some odd reason, lying in the middle of the grass with a pillow and blanket spread out.
'I'm Iruka, who just enrolled in the academy this year… Huh?'
A burning sensation stung her cheek.
Why?
The senior was a few steps away, just staring this way without moving.
Iruka tremblingly touched her cheek.
Red blood trickled down, proof of life.
'She's crazy.'
The white-haired man next to Iruka immediately drew his sword.
In this hair-trigger moment, a man with a smile like sunshine hurriedly stepped between them.
'E-everyone, calm down! Iruka, Lucian! Let's go, quick!'
Guide.
The handsome guy who had guided her when she first arrived at the academy.
Iruka nodded.
'Let go. Iruka. Today, I have to settle this life-or-death duel with that bitch—'
'I don't want this to blow up any bigger, Lucian. Let's back off for now, yeah?'
'…If you say so.'
The two followed Guide's lead and left the area.
Walking behind Guide, Iruka asked.
'But is that senior always like that? Don't you know anything, Guide?'
'Ahaha… I don't really know.'
'Lucian, don't you know something?'
'…I just enrolled this year too. How would I know?'
'Come on, Lucian, you always have weirdly tons of info. If you know something, can't you tell me?'
Iruka smiled.
…Lucian, who had devoted everything to the empire and vowed to live his life as its shadow, felt an inexplicable heat rising to his face.
He had definitely had his emotions excised for the empire, yet strangely, in front of Iruka, he felt truly alive.
What if he refused to answer?
Would Iruka be disappointed?
Make a sad face?
—Throb.
His heart ached.
To the point where he wished he never had to see that expression.
Feeling the emotions the empire had ripped from him returning, Lucian reluctantly opened his mouth.
'Take it with a grain of salt—it's just rumors, so don't believe them too deeply. Feel free to let it go in one ear and out the other.'
'Yeah! Of course!'
'I heard it from a senior I know, but there was an incident a year ago where the academy's vice-director went missing.'
'…Why bring that up now?'
'Hear me out. The academy's investigation concluded it was just a simple runaway due to a change of heart, but there's this rumor going around campus.'
'What is it?'
'Iruka, that senior… killed the academy's vice-director.'
Iruka froze.
…Damn. Shouldn't have said anything.
Lucian couldn't bring himself to look at Iruka's face.
He was afraid of what expression she'd have.
But thankfully, Lucian's worries turned out to be unfounded.
'Pfft, it's just a rumor.'
'Is it?'
'Even I, from some rural village, know who Vice-Director Adolf is. Excluding the academy director, he's the only modern 9th Circle mage! How could a student beat someone like that?'
'…Yeah. That's why I said to take it lightly.'
'Ahaha. Even I wouldn't believe such an absurd rumor.'
'Hey~! Iruka! Hurry up! Next class is starting soon!'
'Oh, Lucian, you have swordsmanship class, right? I'll head out first!'
'…Good luck. Iruka.'
Lucian gave a small wave to Iruka's retreating back.
Once Iruka was gone, Lucian's face turned ice-cold.
'So, she really just dismisses it as a rumor, huh.'
The empire's intelligence division collects all information on the continent.
Thus, Lucian—called a masterpiece among them—knew even the deep secrets.
'…Iruka. A woman far more dangerous than imagined.'
Recalling Iruka with blood trickling from her cheek, Lucian clenched his fist.
The empire was already convinced Iruka was the one who made Adolf disappear.
Even more crucial was that there was someone above Iruka.
Someone who served the person who neutralized Adolf.
How monstrous must they be?
'…Thought it was a normal mission, but this is no ordinary one.'
Lucian, tasked with finding rebels within the academy, broke out in cold sweat.
▶
I recalled the original story's events.
In the original, Iruka makes Adolf in front of her disappear and becomes Abel's subordinate.
'Missing, my ass—Adolf reappears later as one of Abel's underlings.'
Did she become Abel's subordinate to take down Adolf?
Or did she take him down and join Abel to silence him?
I didn't know the right answer.
What mattered was I absolutely couldn't let Iruka become Abel's subordinate. Or this Adolf grandpa, for that matter.
'Right now, Iruka is my lifeline.'
She was my lifeline, and if she gained more subordinates, problems would pile up.
Especially once a 9th Circle mage and someone on par with him fell into Abel's hands—there'd be nothing I could do.
I'd just dance in Abel's palm until the end and end up as her dog.
"Please step back."
'…Not even funny anymore.'
For that reason alone, I couldn't let Adolf contact Iruka.
The original didn't detail it, but avid readers could tell Iruka and Adolf's relationship was anything but ordinary.
The moment they connected, some unknown storyline from the original would unfold.
That much I was sure of.
Our gazes crossed under the moonlight.
…What if he really charges?
He was a 9th Circle archmage—realistically, no chance I'd win.
I was just holding my ground with spirit, suppressing my shaking legs through sheer willpower.
"…Why fight this hard?"
Adolf wrapped mana around his fingertips.
Mana like a miniature storm, incomparable to my pathetic stuff.
Oh shit.
He's really gearing up to fight.
Not even a fight, really—just me getting swept in unilateral violence.
"I have no intention of letting you meet Iruka."
"A weakling barks so boldly. Fine. I'll just brush you aside and do what I came for."
Adolf was fully intent on battle now.
Oh shit.
Would he let it slide if I backed off now?
I'd tried my best, but at this rate, I'd die here.
I had to do something, so I hurriedly gathered mana on my palm.
Iruka's familiar spell materialized above my hand.
"That’s…?!"
Adolf's eyes widened at the spell on my hand.
What, why?
First time seeing this badass cleaning spell?
"…No way, that guy's… Heh, so that's how it is."
Adolf muttered something incomprehensible to himself.
Then he dispersed his mana into the air.
—Boom!
Even just scattering the gathered mana made dozens of nearby trees topple simultaneously—a jaw-dropping sight.
"I've seen something good, so I'll withdraw for today."
"…Have a good night."
"But teacher, I gave you my name, so it's only polite you give yours."
…I already did.
This senile old geezer. Adolf probably hadn't even listened to my introduction.
"Otto Becker."
"Right. I'll remember you, Teacher Becker. See you again soon."
See you again, my ass, you crazy old coot.
The storm-like old man left traces of his whirlwind around me and vanished.
Only minutes after Adolf left could I collapse to the ground.
"…Nearly died there."
Couldn't do that twice.
After sitting on the ground recovering for a while, I dusted off my butt and stood.
Time to head back to the old school building.
▶
The old school building I returned to wasn't exactly welcoming…
Honestly, here or there, it was the same—places where I had to guard my life.
I headed straight for the staff room to sleep, but maybe because I'd nearly died, sleep wouldn't come, so I went to the rooftop instead.
Didn't want to go out, but wanted some fresh air.
Perfect spot for that: the rooftop.
"…Iruka?"
"Otto."
Opening the rooftop door, there was Iruka perched on the railing, gazing up at the sky.
…Bad thoughts flashed—wanted to dash out and drag her in—but knowing she wouldn't get hurt even if she fell, I leaned against the wall beside her instead of pulling her back.
"What are you doing so late?"
"…Looking at the stars."
I followed Iruka's gaze up to the sky.
Definitely, this world's sky was vast and clear, unlike Earth's.
Seeing the stars embedded like jewels, even I let out an involuntary "whoa"—though I held it in to maintain dignity in front of a student.
"Otto, where'd you go?"
"…Just took a walk."
"Lying is bad."
Iruka stated firmly.
But I didn't want to talk about Adolf, so I chose silence over responding.
Iruka didn't press further either.
We quietly gazed at the sky.
Turning my head slightly to look at her, Iruka was staring up as if she'd be sucked in.
Then, Iruka spoke.
"You know, I came to the academy to find a 'star'."
"A star?"
"Yeah. My big sis back in the village said I'd find it if I came to the academy."
"That's why you're staying?"
"Yeah. Haven't found it yet."
The sky was full of stars—what exactly was she looking for?
I looked up at the night sky again.
"Iruka, the star you're looking for…"
"…Nnah. Gonna sleep now."
Iruka cut me off and headed inside.
Yeah, guess that's as far as she'd open up.
Still, I instinctively knew: that word "star" was deeply embedded in her heart.
For now, progress was going pretty well.
"Good night, Iruka."
My soliloquy on the empty rooftop scattered into the air.