The Closing Ceremony

Saturday evening, after finishing my training, I dragged my exhausted body toward the dormitory.

"Come to think of it, Kain was acting strange today."

His eyes, which had always lacked motivation and resembled rotten pollack, were now blazing with an indescribable emotion. It was purely my own speculation, but perhaps this attack had allowed him to find some clue about the necromancer. If we trace back to the Dark Cult, we would eventually reach that Apostle. I just hoped this incident wouldn't change the future.

"Well, it'll work out somehow."

Since worrying wouldn't change anything, I decided to focus on the present for now. Setting aside my doubts, I arrived at the dormitory and heard unexpected news from the dorm supervisor.

"Pardon? My sister is here?"

"That's right. Isis Priuli is waiting for you in Reception Room 1. Go see her right away."

"...Understood. Thank you."

After bowing my head to the supervisor, I quickly ran to Reception Room 1. When I knocked and opened the door, Isis was examining a letter with a serious expression.

Her jet-black hair, darker than the night sky, was as soft as silk, and her delicate features filled her small face with a refreshing clarity. Her silver eyes, scanning the letter, were sharp yet steadfast, inspiring reverence. And her figure? Even wrapped in her academy uniform, the breathtaking curves were impossible to miss. Her ample breasts that would fill a hand and her wide hips made her not just a respectable vice student council president, but an attractive woman as well.

But the true highlight was something else. It was the other side of her that only showed when facing me.

"Luan, you're here."

Her face now held a gentle smile, as if it had never been stern. The fact that the always cool-headed and thorough vice student council president occasionally showed me a sloppy, vulnerable side gave me considerable satisfaction. If I were her real younger brother and not a troublemaker, I might have fallen in love with her long ago.

I slowly took a seat across from her and asked about her business.

"What brings you here, Sister?"

"Ah, right. Actually, a letter just arrived from Father. There's something I need to tell you."

"From Father?"

"That's right. Want to read it?"

Judging that showing it directly would be better than a long explanation, Isis handed me the letter.

He really was a stiff man. The content was so dry that it was hard to believe it was a letter to his only daughter. I didn't expect him to send one to me anyway. If it were the old me that Ian knew, I probably wouldn't have even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠read it and would have thrown it straight in the trash.

When I folded the letter and looked up, Isis added an explanation.

"Actually, I was planning to come next week. There was that serious incident, after all. Father wanted to give me time to rest. But the schedule changed a bit."

"The schedule changed?"

"Yes. Because of what happened, the academy took quite a hit. There were student casualties, and several buildings collapsed. To handle the aftermath, they've decided to hold the closing ceremony right on Monday."

"Hmm..."

I understood what she meant. If she had come on the day itself to deliver this news, she probably figured my personality might cause some kind of scene, so she wanted to give herself time to persuade me in advance.

'This is troublesome.'

I had planned to go get the elixir during the break, but stopping by Priouli Territory would make the timing tight. It wasn't enough to just obtain the elixir—I needed to consume it before the second semester started, so I'd have to change my plans.

When I remained silent, Isis, interpreting it negatively, tried to persuade me.

"Luan. I know you're not on good terms with Father. But shouldn't you at least show your face? Father wants to see you."

"Father does? No way."

"It's true. Father cares about you."

Isis had a desperate look on her face. Was it because of my bad personality that I wanted to torment her, the one who only showed her weak side to me? I refuted her words.

"If that were the case, he wouldn't have ordered you to monitor me."

"What? H-how did you...?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? There's no way you'd do something like surveillance when you knew I'd hate it. Especially not by using the family's knights."

At first, I had been too anxious about my identity being exposed to think deeply about it, but when I slowly pieced it together, there were more than one or two strange things. After making my best guess, I reached the conclusion that she was acting on someone's orders. Fortunately, my prediction was correct.

"Luan. That's..."

"I'm not trying to interrogate you. I understand. You probably just wanted to prevent a troublemaker who doesn't help the family from causing trouble. But don't lie and say Father cares about me."

"I... I..."

Unable to continue, Isis eventually lowered her head and apologized.

"...I'm sorry."

I stood up from the sofa, leaving her there.

"For now, I understand what you're saying. So we hold the closing ceremony on Monday ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and leave right after?"

"...Yes. Let's meet at the main gate after lunch. We'll use the teleport gate to move to a nearby city, then take a carriage that's already waiting and pass through the snowy mountains to reach Priouli Territory."

"Understood. I'll see you on Monday, then."

I wasn't angry at all right now. After all, I planned to return to Earth once I saw the ending, so all conflicts would be resolved anyway. Fighting over nothing before that would just be a waste of energy.

'Come to think of it, the snowy mountains...'

There was a usable elixir there as well. Although the usage conditions were tricky and it would be a bit of a hassle, if I used some tricks, it should work out somehow. I should probably stop by there.

*

[Now then, let us commence the closing ceremony.]

Waaah!

Early Monday morning, all the students gathered in the grand auditorium for the final event of the first semester. I let all the sounds around me fade into one ear as I checked my status window.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Not bad. No, it was excellent. After breaking through level 100, my stat efficiency had doubled, causing all my physical abilities to surge, and I had even gained a unique skill. The problem was that very unique skill.

'I expected it, but what kind of skill is this?'

This time, there was no insane penalty, but the basic conditions were so bizarre that I doubted whether it would ever be useful. If I told an injured woman I'd heal her if she had sex with me, I might get stabbed. Of course, since this grants the healing effect to the semen itself, I could use it on myself as well. In dangerous situations it might be necessary, but otherwise I'd have to grab some random woman and rape her.

'But surely I don't have to drink it?'

It would be fortunate if the structure allowed it to simply be applied to wounds, but if ingestion was required, that would be a big problem. Even if it was my own semen, I had no desire to swallow that pale liquid. Just imagining it made me want to vomit.

Just then, the conversation of two female students sitting behind me reached my ears.

"Hey, did you hear about that?"

"Why? What is it?"

"You don't know yet? It's just a rumor, but apparently during the attack, the masked man fought and defeated a dark elf who uses sword aura!"

There was conviction in the female student's voice. No one had witnessed the fight, and all traces had been cleanly erased, so there was no evidence left behind—yet I had no idea how such a rumor had spread. Unfortunately, the two didn't answer my question.

"Really? But wasn't he said to be a first-year? Defeating an opponent who uses sword aura means he's at least on the same level, right? He'd have to be among the top second-years at minimum."

"Exactly! Maybe he's still hiding his true power."

"Nah, that's a lie! He's not some hero or anything. That can't be true!"

"How can you be so sure? It might actually be true."

The female students squealed in excitement. Eventually, their conversation escalated to the point of speculating whether the masked man was actually the reincarnation of the hero who had sealed the immortal beast Levios. Perhaps the rumor about him defeating Shakra had been exaggerated in a similar way.

'Still, at least there are no rumors about my identity.'

On the contrary, the candidates being mentioned were all people far removed from me, giving me confidence that I would never be exposed for the time being. Relieved, I tuned out of the conversation.

The next thing that came to mind was Abel.

'Is it okay to just leave him be?'

Now that the Dark Cult had started targeting him in earnest, I had no idea what might happen during the break. Part of me wanted to accompany him, but if I kept interfering in every little thing like this, not only would my identity as a possessor be exposed, but I wouldn't be able to grow either. And if I fell behind in growth, even staying by Abel's side wouldn't help when danger struck.

After some deliberation, I decided to think simply.

'The Cult will handle it.'

The Cult side was probably taking the situation seriously as well, so they would either secretly assign holy knights or prepare countermeasures. It might not be the case, but for now, it seemed wise to let it go at this level.

[That concludes what I wished to say. Then, students, I hope you all have a pleasant summer break.]

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

While I was lost in various thoughts, the headmaster's address had already ended. Immediately after, the school song began playing from the speakers.

'Faster than I expected.'

Headmaster Gion Cruise had finished his address in a hurry and disappeared, probably to guard the heart of the immortal beast Levios. I heard he had fought against the magic sword Callisto during this attack, but he didn't seem to have any serious injuries. Not long after, once the school song was finished, the closing ceremony came to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an end.

'Should I go see Kain?'

Since I'd be away for about two weeks, it would be good to at least say goodbye before leaving. Just as I was about to exit the auditorium—

"Hey, buddy!"

"Luan!"

Along with familiar voices, Yas came over and threw an arm around my shoulder. When I glanced behind him, Abel, Alissa, Yuni, and Pernia were gathered there. The women all had displeased expressions.

'If they hate it so much, why did they come?'

I muttered my complaints while glancing toward the noisy direction. Deborah was over there. Currently, she was completely hidden by the crowd that had gathered because the Grey Magic Tower's master had personally come to find her—not even a single strand of her hair was visible.

Meanwhile, Abel approached without a care and asked a question.

"Luan, what are you doing for the break?"

"Me? Didn't I mention it? I'm going to my family home. With my sister."

"Your sister? You mean the vice student council president? When are you coming back?"

"Who knows. Probably won't take more than two weeks. Why, are you coming then too?"

From my memory, Abel would head home with Yuni, then get into a conflict with Viscount Scotty, who ran a slave market, on the way back. It was a development where the crown prince, who had been inspecting the area, barely appeared in time to save them. I recalled that he returned to the academy just before the closing ceremony ended.

Abel shook his head with an awkward smile at my question.

"No, I'll be staying for a while. But I'll probably return about a week before the new semester starts?"

"I see. You're going with Yuni, right?"

"Yeah! Since we're childhood friends."

"Well, good luck then."

"Thanks! You take care too, Luan."

We exchanged smiles while wishing each other well, when suddenly Yas shook my shoulder.

"Hey! Why are you two only talking to each other? Luan, why aren't you asking me?"

"You're obviously going back to your desert tribe. Do I really need to ask something like that?"

"H-huh? Whoa, how did you know? As expected of a friend, you really get it. That's right! I'll probably have a hell of a time if I go home this time, so I'm worried."

The guy I shared a room with every day was still rambling on and whining as if he had so much to say. If it were a pretty girl, maybe, but listening to the whining of a literally pitch-black guy was unpleasant. I pushed his cheek away to make him fall back.

"Just go and suffer a bit. Take this chance to do some training too. Got it?"

"Oh come on! How dare you look down on me? Just you wait! I'll learn sword aura and come back."

Yas burned with competitive spirit. He knew that I had attained enlightenment. I hadn't told him first, but the guy who lived with me every day had noticed that my presence had become more refined. Then, for whatever reason, he had patted my shoulder and said that I hadn't been slacking off either.

Anyway, just as I was about to leave the auditorium after exchanging appropriate greetings with the group, a familiar hand tapped my shoulder.