Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: For Tomorrow☆ (3)
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Returning to the Golden District with my juniors for the first time in a month.
The chaotic atmosphere caused by the [Priest of Conflict] and the Eastern Federation had settled, replaced by the leisurely, optimistic mood unique to summer vacation.
“…”
I pulled a wide-brimmed hat down to hide my hair color and glanced around.
‘It used to be just students from elite schools, but it seems a lot of outsiders have come in, probably for the reconstruction work…’
Though the aftermath of the battle had passed, all sorts of rumors could be heard wafting through the streets, which still maintained their elegant ambiance.
*Whisper, whisper.*
*Murmur, murmur.*
Girls sipped cool drinks under the midday sun. The rumors they shared varied slightly, but they all revolved around the same theme.
A sweet, forbidden love story.
A love story between a princess and a beggar.
‘Normally, I’d be perking my ears like a rabbit to catch all the gossip…’
…but it was a shame that the main characters were Hilde and me.
The fallout from Hilde’s public confession had grown beyond control.
A long-winded confession, dropped without warning a few days ago. I’d tried calling Hilde to ask about its true meaning… but she seemed too busy preparing for the meeting to answer.
‘I get that you’re busy… but why would you post a major announcement like that in the public notices…’
I groaned, clutching my dizzy head. Each time I did, my juniors would offer a wry smile and pat my back.
“Hey, guys, have you heard?”
In front of cafes and dessert shops, every time I heard those words, I found myself flinching.
But no matter where I went on the streets,
it was filled with students who began their stories with flushed faces.
“So, did you hear about it?”
“‘It’? Yeah, I heard.”
“But about that thing…”
“Ah… *that*?”
A pink-hued anticipation flooded the city.
Other people’s love lives are always more interesting than your own.
And what if both people involved are famous?
What if one of them is the strongest person in the Academy City?
You can’t resist.
You start simulating immediately.
“…So, after becoming [The Faded Spiral], Clara was wallowing in a sense of loss when President Brynhildr personally sought her out to comfort her. And in the process, Clara realized she couldn’t live without the president and asked her to be her girlfriend, right?”
“Hehe, wallowing in loss, soaking her pillow with tears… I wonder what else she soaked…”
“Oh my, how vulgar… It’s the best. So what happened next?”
In the dim corners of alleyways, clandestine transactions were even taking place.
“A-Are you… p-perhaps interested in a piece of fiction I wrote?”
“Let’s see… , <silver threads="" fall="" upon="" the="" pink="" carpet="">…?! <the hem="" of="" her="" clothes,="" lifted="" for="" a="" can="" food="">—?! What is this lewd and filthy novel?! I’ll take them all—!!”
“Th-Thank you…”
The general flow of the story went something like this.
Do you know who [The Faded Spiral] is?
She was the famous [Pink Spiral] from first year.
They say [The Pink Spiral] and [The Azure-White Lightning Spear] did this and that.
They say [The Lightning Spear]’s [Lightning Spear] and [The Spiral]’s [Spiral] intertwined and got everything wet.
They say when [The Lightning Spear] rubbed against [The Spiral], the World Tree was so shocked it burst into flames.
They say from those ashes, a pink-and-silver baby was born.
They say that baby became the guardian of lilies and flew away like a phoenix.
And so on…
All sorts of stories were making the rounds.
Honestly, I couldn’t even understand what the latter parts were about.
‘Just hearing the rumors, they’re so different from the truth, but they all have their own basis, which makes it funny…’
Before I knew it, a lewd and sticky romance between the fictional villainess ‘Hilde’ and the wounded beggar girl ‘Lara’ had been fully fleshed out.
‘This isn’t some founding myth… how can two women have a baby…’
…
Or can they?
Honestly, I couldn’t be sure about that part.
‘A world where a giant tree determines [Fate] and humans shoot energy beams from their hands doesn’t make sense either…’
If the all-powerful energy, Aether, can spew fire and water, who’s to say it can’t spew the energy of love?
‘If it’s really possible, then someday Hilde might…’
I hastily stopped that line of thought.
“…!”
No.
The moment I think it, it’ll become real.
I’m already losing my grip on the situation as it is.
“…”
Anyway…
I squeezed out all my strength, trying to erase my presence. Hiding in the shadows of buildings, I avoided the countless gazes.
*Swoosh—*
*Swoosh—*
Just by slipping out of everyone’s line of sight, the number of people paying attention to me dropped exponentially.
True ninja movements. The girls from Haze Girls’ High School would be astonished if they saw me.
*Swoosh—*
*Swoosh—*
With the delicate control of my [Unique Aether (Scheduled for Recovery)], I cut through the crowd, moving as swiftly as a ninja.
‘Ah, I’m glad this world doesn’t have paparazzi.’
Watching me, Kara tilted her head and spoke.
“I thought you liked being the center of attention, Comrade Senior. I guess this isn’t the kind of attention you like?”
*Twitch—*
At her words, Lotha’s orange cat ears moved.
“That’s not attention, it’s just baseless rumors… I feel so bad for her… I wonder how hurt someone as kind as Senior must be…”
“Well, but I also heard a rumor that Comrade Senior Clara was the one who hit on her first…”
“What! Kara, you! Are you doubting our dear, sisterly senior?!”
“No, that’s not it… I was just stating the facts…!”
“Hiss—!”
“Alright! Alright! I was just saying I heard it too! Stop scratching my arm! It’s already itchy from a mosquito bite!”
“Hmph!”
Lotha fiercely scratched Kara’s mosquito bite with her sharp, beastkin claws. Kara writhed from the sudden, overwhelming itchiness.
“Gahhh—! This is too much!”
As I crept along in the shadow of the wall, I silently apologized to Kara.
Actually…
I did make the first move…
Sorry your senior is a pink-haired flirt.
‘Did you think I knew I’d turn out like this…’
*
Inside the grand, solemnly closed meeting hall of the United Student Council, three of the strongest students in the Academy City were already waiting.
[The Crimson Trajectory], Eir.
[The Violet Spindle], Freyja.
[The Verdant Greatbow], Anna.
The moment they saw me arrive with Alvitt, they began to clap.
*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.*
What is this?
Such a fervent welcome?
‘Is this the thunderous applause I’ve only heard about in rumors?’
While I stood there, momentarily stunned,
Eir spoke, her feet propped up on the large, circular table of the meeting hall.
“Huh? Congrats, [Spiral]! Pop out lots of strong babies and make some human weapons—!”
“Uh, huh…? What are you talking about—☆”
“Strength is beauty! That is the truth! Hyaah—!”
“I really don’t know what she’s saying—☆”
Next, Freyja, looking more haggard than she had a month ago, approached and spoke.
“C-Congratulations… B-But who really confessed first?”
“…Hilde.”
“So, you’re the female…”
“Hilde is?”
“N-No, you are…”
“…Says the female cat♪”
“I-I’m not the bottom.”
“…Is that all you have to say after not seeing me for so long—☆”
“W-What more is there to say… between us…”
So prickly.
So grumpy.
This girl really sticks to her concept.
‘Or maybe she’s just trying not to show how much she’s struggling.’
Anna, dressed in comfortable farmer’s clothes, also walked over to me without hesitation.
“Clara! It’s been a while! Wow! Really, it’s been so long! And congratulations! Should I send you a box of potatoes as a gift?”
“Uh, um? No, it’s okay…☆”
We had come by aether train, so we couldn’t carry such a large piece of luggage.
“What a waste…”
Alvitt quietly expressed her disappointment, but what couldn’t be helped, couldn’t be helped.
Anna looked at Alvitt and cheerfully told her to keep her spirits up.
“…”
…What is this heartwarming reunion?
‘It’s actually awkward…’
Meeting old classmates who held no resentment about [The Pink Spiral]’s disappearance was incredibly awkward.
‘What on earth were all my previous reunions like…?’
The yearning Hilde.
The bloodthirsty Eir.
The prickly Freyja.
Every reunion had been complicated by misunderstandings and conflict.
Regardless.
Anna put her hands on her hips and grumbled as if she were disappointed.
“What’s this~? I was going to share some potatoes I worked so hard to harvest… We had a strange surplus this year, so getting rid of them has been a headache.”
“Ooh, then can I take some of the leftovers to Scarlet Academy? Our kids eat a ton.”
“As much as you want! How about you, ‘Pissing Cat’?”
“W-Wait a minute!! Wh-Why did that nickname have to come up again?! You ruffian—!! Wh-When did you spread that?!”
Freyja shouted, looking at me.
Anna tilted her head in response.
*Twitch—*
Her large, elven ears wiggled.
“Huh? Wasn’t that your nickname? I heard it when we were first-years! Ah… come to think of it, even back then, Clara was always stuck to Brynhildr’s side…! Ah, the memories~! I’ve spent all my time just farming!”
“Khaha! It’s true they were always together back then. I never thought they’d actually end up dating.”
“…”
The atmosphere had turned into something of a class reunion.
I sat in an empty seat and made appropriate responses, while Alvitt, unable to join in the third-year seniors’ trip down memory lane, just darted her eyes around awkwardly.
“…?”
Wait a minute.
Why isn’t anyone reacting to Eir’s comment about having healthy babies?
I especially expected Freyja to mock her for being an idiot…
‘Don’t tell me… it’s true…?’
Just then, I sensed a presence approaching from behind.
*Swoosh—*
“…Lara.”
“…Yeah?”
“You must be tired from your long journey.”
As I reeled from the shock, Hilde appeared behind me.
She placed a hand on my shoulder, a smile on her face.
“My Lara, let us be blessed before everyone.”
“…That letter, did you write it, Hilde?”
“Hehe, I was struggling with the literary composition… so I enlisted Secretary Vel’s help. She is certainly skilled at drafting documents.”
“…!”
That little role-playing brat, Vel…!
“For now, let this suffice.”
Hilde leaned in and kissed my cheek. The others whistled or clapped in response.
‘Hey, cut it out with the fuss…!’
Separate from the seniors’ antics, Alvitt was completely frozen, witnessing the live display of affection.
“S-Senior…”
“…Hmph.”
Hilde glanced at Alvitt with a small smile, then leaned close to my face and whispered.
“…Ratatoskr, you fight rumors with rumors.”
“…!”
Ah, I see…!
“Hilde…!”
I couldn’t help but be amazed.
‘So this was a way to prevent the Prophet from quickly discovering my true identity—by spreading so many rumors that the truth itself becomes obscured…!’
By unleashing a flood of massive rumors, she would make people doubt the authenticity of the stories about [The Faded Spiral] and [The Pink Spiral].
This was a method only Hilde could employ.
‘As expected… Hilde is amazing!’
The ever-honorable [Azure-White Lightning Spear] would never resort to such a vicious method of using rumors to pressure an opponent and bind them to her.
‘My friend, my love! I understand… your true intentions!’
I nodded, conveying these feelings.
“Mhm♪”
“Hehe…”
Hilde’s eyes met mine, and she smiled brightly.
*
Afterward, the representatives from Mimir Industrial High School and Svart Industrial High School arrived.
Mimir’s representative was, of course, Student Council President Skadi. However, as she also held de facto administrative responsibility for Svart, she sat with an aura of imposing dignity.
‘Maya said Mimir seized control of the eastern industrial schools, so they’ve been getting pretty arrogant lately…’
In contrast,
the second-year dark elf student, Katrin, who was attending in place of the deposed president Andrea, kept casting anxious glances toward Skadi.
And…
in the seat for Hel Annex High School’s representative sat a lone knight in black armor. She remained silent, emitting a sound like a villain from a space movie from behind her helmet.
*Shhhk— Hooo—*
“…”
Now, only one seat remained empty.
The seat for Haze Girls’ High School.
“…”
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence.
Hilde checked the time and finally decided to begin the meeting.
“Then, we will now begin the first joint council meeting…”
It was at that moment.
[Hmph—!! Hohoho!! To start the meeting without me, how insolent—!!]
*Hiss—!!*
The grand meeting hall filled with a thick, yellow mist of [Unique Aether].
“Wh-What’s happening?!”
Alvitt looked around in a panic, but the other school representatives, including myself, simply held our heads with expressions of utter exasperation.
The sound of heels echoed through the hall.
*Click.*
*Clack.*
The dense yellow mist slowly receded, revealing a blonde vampire girl in a mystical dress.
“Hohoho! The noblest incarnation of the night has descended upon this golden land—! Mortals! Rise and praise me at once!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
But no one reacted.