Courage
I was walking the academy grounds after parting ways with Lapis.
I had left a letter for Elly, who was still asleep:
"I'll go first, since it might get scolded by the dorm mother if I'm too late."
I held two pouches I had received from Lapis.
One was filled with money.
The other contained various small accessories enchanted with magic: rings, necklaces, and the like.
"These are gifts to commemorate becoming partners. They're not particularly expensive, so don't worry about it."
Lapis said that and handed them to me.
"…… This isn't expensive."
Among our currency, the coin purses looked like they were worth tens of millions.
Moreover, the ring and necklace appeared very valuable. I returned to the dormitory carefully, making sure not to get caught by the dorm mother.
Since I had left once secretly, entering was easy.
After that, luckily, I received the morning roll call without being late and was surrounded by the girls asking what had happened with Elly, but somehow I managed to escape and went to find Haru.
Haru was yawning in her pajamas, as if she had just woken up.
"Um, hello. Therese."
"Hello …… I slept with Elly yesterday."
"What? Really?"
After saying that, I regretted it, but luckily Haru didn't seem to misunderstand.
"How was it?"
"It was good. I slept really well. I wanted to sleep again."
I answered with the thought that this conversation might have misunderstanding elements.
I wanted to say it more plainly, but what could I do? I was too tired.
After that, I talked to Haru about the wonders of the special dormitory for a while.
Then, when I yawned "haam," Haru looked at me and said,
"You look tired. How about taking a nap?"
"No, just not fully awake."
I was a bit tired because I woke up in the middle of the night and slipped out.
The reason I came to Haru was because I had a favor to ask.
I said it while making myself look as ordinary as possible.
"Haru, if Elly comes looking for me, tell her I was called to the professor."
"What? Did you do something wrong again?"
"Again? Making me look like a delinquent."
Haru asked as if she had never heard before.
"And 'again' what wrong did you do? I don't think I'm that kind of delinquent."
"Just, that, because it's counseling time~."
"Really?"
Haru had a skeptical expression.
"These days, Therese, there's a lot suspicious about you."
"Is that so?"
"Always making that expression and hiding it, and later you can tell me, right?"
Haru seems timid because of her complex about her abilities and fear of noble with power. Originally, her personality is bright, and surprisingly, she has no back.
In other words, this interrogating Haru is a bit troublesome.
I waved my hand at the interrogating Haru and escaped from the dormitory as if running away.
Anyway, I succeeded in leaving Elly with Haru.
For a while, Haru and Elly can play together.
Since they were always together with three, Haru might feel burdened, but since she's been friends for three years, she'll be fine.
I nodded with optimistic thoughts.
I took out a small bell card from one of the things Lapis gave.
According to Lapis, it's a card that allows free entry and exit from the academy anytime.
If you're a high noble, you can go out without it, and if not, you can explain the situation, but I received it to use in urgent situations.
It seemed like I received quite a bit of help considering I said I couldn't help.
Especially the ring, the moment I put it on, it felt overflowing with power, so it seemed like an amazing accessory.
"After all, Princess."
I muttered and headed out of the academy.
Outside the academy in uniform.
I walked around the place located in the middle of the kingdom.
"There aren't many people to ask for help. You have friends, and the Saint. If not, using the money I gave to hire mercenaries isn't bad. If I can't find anyone, I'll arrange people for you."
Lapis gave me coin purses with those words, and I was troubled what to do.
Elly? Elly definitely can't. She's already anxious, and if I say I'm going to investigate by dragging Elly around, she'll definitely refuse.
Then, the second candidate that comes to mind is Haru, but she can't either. There might be dangerous things, and how could Haru, who is not familiar with fighting, get involved.
Then, the last candidate that comes to mind is only one person.
But is it okay even then?
If I drag her in unnecessarily and she gets hurt.
But if I do nothing, more people will die and get hurt.
I was walking the royal road, worrying and worrying again.
A young clerk gardening flowers in a flower shop.
An unknown woman bowing her head with a smile as I passed by and our eyes met.
An old woman holding the hands of children who look like grandchildren.
It was a peaceful landscape.
This landscape would collapse like a lie in three weeks.
In an instant, the street would be filled with death and screams, a future that seemed like a hallucination.
"……… Uhm."
I staggered a bit.
If I were a hero, I could save anyone, right.
Why isn't the hero showing up at all.
I was about to move my feet with a frustrated heart, but I couldn't stop.
Because there was a crowd of people in front of me.
From the murmuring, it seemed like they gathered to watch something happening.
But I didn't want to watch and didn't want to get involved.
'Should I turn back.'
At the moment I was about to move my feet like that.
"…… Sorry!! Please stop now!"
From the young voice asking for help, I had to stop and look back.
"Help! Anyone!! Please... Opah!"
A shrill high-pitched voice and a split voice.
I hesitated for a moment.
With so many people in front, wouldn't someone save her?
That selfish thought passed through my head.
How could I just pass by hearing that?
"I'll go. Excuse me."
I forcibly pushed through the crowd halfway.
Then, what I saw was a boy lying on the ground bleeding from his head, and a girl blocking him.
And a man with messy beard holding a broken bottle.
The situation was clear at a glance.
"What? Watching? Get out of here?!"
He was swinging a bottle in one hand and a knife in the other.
When he swung the knife, people took small steps back with small screams.
Shouldn't we intervene? You intervene. Call the security. Did you call? He looks like a poor kid. Isn't it his fault?
Etc.
Many words in sound came into my ears.
With so many people, why isn't even one person coming forward?
I clicked my teeth quietly.
No strength? Fear?
Or because I don't know the situation?
But if I worry about that, the boy bleeding from his head might die.
At the moment my thoughts reached that far.
I unconsciously stepped forward.
"Stop it."
"What?"
My body had a trembling voice that anyone could tell.
Arms trembled.
Legs trembled.
"What, the girl doesn't matter, get out."
To the drunk man, whether I was male or female, student or not, noble or not, it didn't matter.
Just that I made him feel unpleasant right now.
"Hah, no way."
I twisted my lips and smiled. To look as bad as possible.
I hope it looked that way.
I don't know why my body is trembling so much.
I've done sparring so far. I trained to death with Ophelie.
I fought terrifying Elements.
Compared to that, this man was nothing.
Just a drunk with no mana or strength.
Then why was I scared.
The man heard my words, his expression twisted.
And he walked towards me with the knife.
"What?"
A low voice.
I realized by looking at the knife he extended.
Until I reincarnated into this world, I had never fought in real combat.
Even when there was something I didn't like, I always smiled and groaned inwardly.
Even when I didn't like or was angry, I didn't step forward.
So it was natural to be scared.
Not a prank between kids, but real enmity with killing intent.
I met the eyes of the girl in trouble behind the man pushing the knife.
In those eyes: joy, hope, and worry.
Even the girl in trouble now, is she worried because I look anxious.
I exhaled very slightly. In that breath, there was a smile.
To step forward for someone.
"Can't hear…"
Kwack!
I grabbed his arm that was shouting, and slammed it to the ground as is.
Just that alone makes courage a bit more.
Because even that small worry is enough power to overcome hesitation.
"You seem too dependent on magic, that's the problem. A magician without martial arts will have a hard time surviving. So I'll show you myself. Come here."
"Ah, no, wait..."
Throwing.
It was a technique I had learned dozens, hundreds of times from her and mastered.
He fell with foam in his mouth.
"Hah... huh..."
It really works.
I took a rough breath. It wasn't physically hard, but due to excessive tension.
My surroundings were enveloped in silence.
Everyone had their mouths open. Even the girl who asked for help.
Then, seeing the blood flowing from the fallen boy, she came to her senses.
"O... Opah! Blood... there. Sister. My brother."
The girl, perhaps because the tension was released, looked up at me with a teary face.
"It's okay."
I approached the boy bleeding.
Luckily, the wound didn't seem large compared to the blood loss. I extended my hand, drew a circuit in my mind, and cast magic.
Thanks to Elly, I could do emergency treatment for wounds.
After emergency care here, send to the church.
The amount of blood coming from the boy's head slowly decreased.
The spectators watched me treating the wound as if it was fortunate.
"There, who..."
Can you call some soldiers?
Just as I was about to say that, I froze with surprise.
Seeing an unexpected person in my eyes.
"I watched from beginning to end."
The academy's white uniform.
Appropriately short skirt.
Twin tails with red hair.
A face with an always dignified expression without disarray.
"I saw it again."
The last person who is skilled in fighting, has a sense of justice, and is friendly with me. The last person I can ask for help.
Ophelie Marlene.
On her face was a cool smile that I hadn't seen before.