An Unwelcome Reunion
Mumyeongwi was a fiend who had received power from the Demon King through a contract. Therefore, his sheer danger level was undeniable. But in the end, Mumyeongwi was still a mage. A magical duel was one thing, but his close-quarters combat was amateurish at best.
That was why I had assumed Eleonore would easily overpower him in melee combat—and since they were both at the 5th Circle, she wouldn't fall behind in a magical duel either.
'But even so, this is way too fast!'
This wasn't just a slight miscalculation. It was a speed absolutely impossible with the strength she should possess at this point in time. The Valencia family's Primordial Flame burned away evil. Thus, it could incinerate any form of demonic power, including a fiend's magic.
However, at this point in her life, her mastery over it should have been severely lacking. In other words, there was only one logical conclusion...
'Eleonore von Valencia is a regressor.'
Whether she had bypassed all the spells placed on the passenger car or dispelled them in an instant, it was something the Valencia of the past I knew could never have done. Not unless she was a regressor.
This was the conclusion my life flashing before my eyes had brought me to in a single second. But what did it matter? I was dead anyway.
'Yeah. If I have to walk that path all over again, maybe it's better to just die by her hand right here.'
Given the nature of Valencia's flames and her personality, death would at least be clean. She wouldn't turn me into a brain in a vat, at least. But unfortunately... it seemed the bystander known as God did not wish for me to die just yet.
Crash! A heavy, deafening roar echoed. The black-haired boy had leaped in, intercepting Valencia's sword.
"Ugh!"
The boy groaned and was pushed back by a monstrous strength that defied imagination. Honestly, it was a miracle he hadn't lost consciousness on the spot. She had probably reined in her power the moment she realized the boy had intervened. Even with her parents' murderer right before her eyes, she still possessed that much restraint.
The flames that had flared up as if to incinerate the entire world flickered and died. But in that brief moment, I heard it clearly.
"...Tsk."
A blatant click of her tongue. She seemed deeply disappointed that her strike hadn't claimed my life.
At first, I wondered if I should play dumb. Given her personality, she wouldn't kill an innocent bystander who knew nothing. But it didn't take long for me to realize how foolish that thought was. Just look at Mumyeongwi.
'In the original timeline, Mumyeongwi survived for quite a long time. Long enough to fight in the Black Hill War five years from now.'
Furthermore, going by my past life, there was only one person on this train capable of taking down Mumyeongwi.
Yet, before she could even make her move, Mumyeongwi was already dead, and sitting right in front of him was me—the sworn enemy who had slaughtered her parents and destroyed her family.
She wasn't stupid enough to overlook such a massive discrepancy, even if the past had been completely derailed.
"..."
"...You."
"Wait! Calm down! We already took care of the mastermind behind the train attack! We're not your enemies!"
Her hesitation didn't last long. Valencia let out a short sigh and sheathed her sword. Looks like I won't be dying today. I stopped paying attention to her. Even if she had figured things out to some extent, it wasn't like we were on friendly speaking terms.
After glaring at me for a moment, Valencia turned away and approached the boy, who was kneeling on one knee.
"Are you alright?"
"He needs help more than I do. His arms were broken while fighting that monster..."
"He can take care of himself. Let me look at your injuries first."
"..."
Excuse me. My arms aren't just broken; they're completely shattered. Could you maybe separate your personal feelings from your professional duties?
But despite my silent plea, Valencia only treated the black-haired boy before immediately leaving the compartment. The boy tried to look after me, but Valencia casually brushed him off. And just like that, I was left all alone.
"Sigh... You could have at least tried to act. Being that obvious, even a stranger would notice."
Sighing, I managed to move my broken left arm and rest it over my shattered right arm. Nothing else for it. I'd have to handle this myself.
Soon, a soft white mana began to flow from my hand, starting to mend the wounds. White Magic. Along with divine power, it was one of the only two arts dedicated entirely to healing wounds, neutralizing poisons, and saving lives.
"...At least this will serve as first aid."
Of course, white magic wasn't exactly my specialty, so it was only good enough to put out the immediate fire—but aside from that minor drawback, it was perfect.
The continent was thrown into an uproar. The Crown Train, which transported new students to the academy every year, had been attacked by mysterious assailants.
The reason this incident caused such a massive controversy was that it was the first time since the academy's founding that its security had ever been breached.
"The Crown Train is always under heavy guard and surveillance. Not to mention, the defensive magic on it is no joke. But all of that security was bypassed, so of course everyone is panicking."
"Well, look who it is. If it isn't the great hero who abandoned his severely injured comrade and ran away all by himself?"
"...W-Who said I abandoned you?"
He denied it, but his face was as red as a beet as he avoided my gaze, looking so pitiful it was almost painful. Thanks to him, I was able to genuinely laugh for the first time in a very long while. How should I put it? He was just fun to tease.
Of course, my own current state was far more ridiculous. The sight of both my arms tightly bound in thick bandages was the absolute peak of comedy.
'Hospitalized for over a month. And I have so much to do.'
Thanks to my injuries, I missed the entrance ceremony entirely and was dragged straight to the infirmary to be hospitalized. The healer's sheer horror had been quite a sight.
My left arm was in bad shape, but my right arm was so utterly ruined that it made the left look pristine. They said if I hadn't performed first aid, or if I had arrived even a little later, they might have had to amputate it.
"Y-You must absolutely rest for a whole month! And white magic treatment three times a day... a-and the potions I made, too!!"
'Well, at least it was nice to see her face again after so long. The healer hasn't changed a bit.'
Even though it was a one-sided reunion... seeing her usual clumsy, flustered self still brought a smile to my face.
As I sat there grinning to myself, picturing her trembling as she brought in an armful of potions and ointments, the black-haired boy peeling fruit right next to me clicked his tongue in disapproval. This little punk.
"You can actually laugh in that state?"
"There are reasons, kid. More importantly, how was the entrance ceremony?"
"It was just ordinary."
"Be honest. The principal's speech was boring as hell, wasn't it?"
"...Ahem! Putting that aside, there are many things I want to ask you."
Unable to deny it, the black-haired boy cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. I wanted to tease him a bit more, but I decided to let it slide for today. He clearly had a lot on his mind. When I remained silent, letting him take the lead, the boy nodded and spoke.
"Do you... have some kind of history with Lady Valencia?"
"...That's a bit unexpected. I thought you'd ask about something else."
"It's not that I don't have questions about Mumyeongwi or the flesh golems. But..."
"But?"
"I've decided to let those go. I don't think you're a bad person. But Lady Valencia seems to think otherwise."
If my arms had been fine, I would have facepalmed. Seriously, Eleonore, you could have at least tried to act. Her hostility was so blatant that even a third party like this kid could pick up on it.
No wonder he was asking so cautiously. I fell silent for a moment, organizing my thoughts. How could I answer this to brush it off as smoothly as possible?
"Well, you see... Huh?"
"We have no relation whatsoever."
"What do you mean? If you have no relation, there's no way she would react like—"
The boy's face froze like stone. He had realized instantly that the voice that just spoke didn't belong to me. Unfortunately, there was no help I could offer him. I was in the exact same boat.
A crimson ponytail tied back long. Beneath it, burning red eyes quietly stared down at me. Sensing the heavy, suffocating atmosphere, the boy glanced nervously between us and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Um, well... should I step out for a moment?"
"If it's not too much trouble, please."
'Are you kidding me, you little punk?!'
On the train, he had been so desperate to save lives, yet he abandoned his brother-in-arms this easily? While I was still reeling from the boy's sheer hypocrisy, he slipped out of the room, and Valencia snapped her fingers.
Instantly, the air grew heavy, pressing down on my shoulders as if I had suddenly plunged underwater. Clicking my tongue, I spoke.
"A soundproofing barrier? You really came prepared."
"That depends entirely on how you answer, Van Kreuz. Or should I say..."
...humanity's greatest traitor?