Sylvia's Ordeal (1)

Sylvia thought it over. She really did. The reason Jack had taken an elf as his girlfriend. The reason he had brought that elf to the Academy.

Hmph… He must have been lonely.

It made sense. Looking back… it was obvious. Jack had already thrown himself at them dozens of times… no, hundreds… no, thousands. I like you. Go out with me. Let's become one. He had poured out confessions without end. And every single one had been rejected.

Anyone would get tired of that.

Anyone who received that kind of treatment would burn out. Jack was no different. He must have wondered if he was just unpopular, if he was ugly. It wouldn't have been strange if he had sunk into resignation and decided he would take any girlfriend at all.

And the result of that… is making an elf his girlfriend?

Elves had no freedom. They were slaves. Even if you forced one to become your girlfriend, she was in no position to refuse. Using that to make himself a girlfriend… haha. What a ridiculous guy Jack was.

In that case, I just have to show him. That taking a woman you don't even care about as a girlfriend will only leave you empty. I'll show him how amazing I am. I'll make him realize all over again that what he truly wanted was me.

That was it. Sylvia's goal was to crush the elf mercilessly right in front of Jack and flaunt her own presence. Then, she believed, Jack would come back to her.

"Draw your sword, elf."

"Huh…? I don't have a sword, though?"

"Instructor."

"I'll lend you mine."

"Ehh…? W-we're really fighting?"

Instructor Grid handed the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword at his waist to Misha. She took it in an awkward, half-crouched stance and faced Sylvia with stiff unease. For a moment, Sylvia smiled sweetly.

Watch closely, Jack… I'll make you see that a woman like her is nowhere near good enough for you. I'll make you realize once more that the one you truly like is me. With this match. With this single stroke!!

Sylvia charged.

"Yaaaaah! An elf like you has no place butting in! I'll teach you your place!"

"Eek!!"

Everyone thought it would end in Sylvia's easy victory. And why wouldn't they? The elf named Misha couldn't even properly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠look at the charging Sylvia.

But then—

The next moment—

The sight of Sylvia being flung to the ground unfolded before every eye.

"…Huh?"

The elf had simply swung her hand, and as if timed perfectly to that motion, Sylvia was lifted and toppled. The attack ended in empty futility.

"What was… that just now?"

"A technique… maybe?"

"She didn't even use the sword."

"Was Sylvia always that weak?"

"It must have been a fluke."

The unexpected turn set the students murmuring. Sylvia rose as if nothing had happened and spoke.

"My feet must have gotten tangled. Luck saved you. But there won't be a second time!"

"Eek!!!"

"I won't let this go!"

At first she had only meant to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rough the elf up a little. But after being humiliated in front of everyone, her mind changed. She would break a bone or two. With that resolve she poured her full strength into her sword and charged again—only to be stopped once more.

"Eek!!"

With that cry, Misha flailed her sword wildly, and the blade carved a wretched line across Sylvia's abdomen. A wet rip sounded as Sylvia's skin tore open. Blood poured out in a gush, and right then Grid stepped in and halted the match.

"It's over! The elf wins! Sylvia, go get treatment!"

"I-Instructor… I'm fine… this much is… cough!"

"I'll give that will of yours high marks. A splendid fighting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spirit, unlike you. But the match is already decided."

"I-I can't end it like this… not like this…"

Sylvia forced her closing eyes open and frantically searched for one person. Her gaze finally locked onto Jack Slave. How had he seen this match? The usual him would have rushed over at once to ask if she was all right. He had always overflowed with interest in her, after all.

Jack… I'm hurt. You should be worrying about me right now… right? Huh…? What are you doing…?

Jack's expression twisted. Not with sorrow—with boredom.

"Hwaaaah~"

He was—yawning, as if thoroughly bored.

That was the last thing Sylvia saw before she blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the Academy's infirmary.

"Ugh…"

"You've come to, Sylvia."

"Instructor…"

"You may call me Master here. It's only the two of us."

Instructor Grid Great. The teacher who had guided Sylvia since she was small sat by her bedside. His expression was extremely serious, like a man about to ask something of great importance.

"You showed fighting spirit truly unlike yourself this time. The usual you wouldn't have tried to keep fighting after taking a wound like that. Was there some reason?"

"Master… it's nothing, really…"

"Speak honestly. Lately you've looked full of worries. Or is it a secret you can't even tell me?"

"A secret…"

"It would be better for you to just lay it all out. The you I know isn't the kind of child who can endure hugging a secret alone."

Grid's words were completely right. Sylvia had no choice but to spill everything. Grid was someone she could trust, the closest person to her after her family.

"…Jack… Jack has a skill. It's called After-school Tea Time… a skill that nullifies mental damage and keeps your emotions stable. Thanks to it I was able to overcome my weakness in real combat. Jack was always by my side, so the skill's effect was constantly active. But a little while ago Jack started acting strange. He said he got a girlfriend and left my side. I was so angry… that's why I pushed myself today."

"I see. I had a vague sense of it. You suddenly started acting like a different person… so that was what happened. After-school Tea Time, is it. A rather unusual ability. But once you start relying on a power like that, it becomes even more dangerous. Without it you end up reduced to someone who can do nothing. In my opinion, it would be better for you to distance yourself from Jack. You need to practice living without After-school Tea Time."

"Would that… be better? I… if Jack would just come back to me…"

"That kind of obsession can torment you. With the results you've already achieved, you can graduate from the Academy with excellent marks and find a fine position. You can keep your count's title as well… isn't that enough to have accomplished what you wanted? There's no need to feel any more burden."

"But… without him I'm… helpless in real combat."

"Then step away from real combat. It would be best to leave Teo's party as well. There's not much of the semester left, after all. That will be fine. You've worked hard enough until now."

"Is that… so. Then… is the fighting over now."

Sylvia murmured blankly, staring at the ceiling. The moment she decided to let go, her heart felt much lighter. She decided to write a letter to her father.

Once she had poured it all out, everything felt so much easier. She slept more peacefully than she had in a long time. Jack, her family, the pressure—she set it all down and grew calm. She concluded that from now on she only needed to think about herself.

When her body had mostly recovered, Sylvia went looking for her comrades to say goodbye. As it happened, Teo, Christine, and Scarlet were all gathered in the same place. Sylvia was about to greet them first when Teo spotted her and his face lit up in surprise.

"Sylvia! Where have you been! Get over here quick!"

"What's wrong? I have something to say."

"We've got something to say too! Great Sage Minerva summoned us! Something huge is about to happen!"

"What…? The Great Sage?"

The Great Sage was the Chancellor of the Academy. No one could refuse her summons.

What on earth is going on? For the Great Sage to call ordinary students…

It felt a little ominous, but she decided her own business could wait and climbed all the way to the top of the Magic Tower. Great Sage Minerva, whom she had only ever seen from afar at important events like the entrance ceremony. Meeting the girl who looked about ten years old right up close was a truly strange experience. Teo's Hero Party entered Minerva's private chambers and lined up. Teo spoke as their representative.

"It is the highest honor to stand before the Great Sage. May I ask for what reason you have summoned us today?"

"Teo. And Christine, Scarlet, and Sylvia. You have achieved truly outstanding results. One could call you the finest party in our Academy without shame. And so… the Empire has also evaluated your achievements. The Emperor himself has selected you, Teo, as the next Hero Party."

"What?!"

Teo's face showed rare excitement. Christine and Scarlet flushed as well. The Hero Party! That was the greatest honor in the Empire!

"From this moment you are officially a true Hero Party. You will be sent to the Demon Continent on an expedition to save the world. For reference, this is an imperial decree, so refusal is impossible. You will be sent to the harshest battlefield of all… well, of course no one would refuse such tremendous glory… hm?"

Minerva suddenly noticed that one person's expression alone had gone strangely dark and asked,

"What is it, Sylvia? Why have you gone pale? Don't tell me… you dislike it?"

Sylvia trembled as if she had swallowed poison.