Chapter 63: The First Letter (63)
Chapter 63: The First Letter (63)
The Hunting Festival was dangerous. This was true even without considering the contents of the letter from the future. After all, it was a festival centered around hunting demonic beasts.
On that day, not only the beasts native to the forest but also those captured from the outside would be released. And demonic beasts were, by nature, creatures hostile to humanity.
Naturally, the beasts wouldn't give the Academy students any special treatment. The Hunting Festival was a perilous event where injuries were common, and fatalities occurred every few years.
Despite this, the festival was crowded with participants every year. Even with hundreds of people scattered across the vast forest, they barely made a dent in the landscape, yet it was a significant number for a festival where one had to risk their life.
Furthermore, most students from the Department of Commerce or the Humanities Department couldn't even participate; it was restricted largely to combat-related faculties.
In other words, even after excluding half the student body, hundreds still signed up annually. This was partly due to the lavish prizes, but it was also a phenomenon rooted in the nature of the Academy itself.
The Academy was both an educational and a training institution. Whether in the Swordsmanship Department or the Magic Department, students had to survive intense competition, and from their third year, they were even dispatched to actual combat zones.
Even without the Hunting Festival, there were plenty of occasions where one had to risk their life to graduate. If anything, a festival held within Academy grounds under proper supervision was considered safer. It was only natural that the students felt less resistance toward it.
That was why I initially expected that gathering teammates for the festival wouldn't be difficult. Seria was an excellent swordsman, and I had friends like Celine and Reto whom I could trust with my life. I only needed four people, after all.
What I thought would be a simple journey had somehow turned into a series of hardships to reach this point. Of course, I did manage to gather four people. It was just that the atmosphere wasn't exactly great.
First of all, Celine and Seria weren't even speaking to each other properly.
Perhaps because she was conscious of me, Celine was the first to bow her head to Seria.
"……I'm sorry."
Seria looked at Celine with a hint of surprise in her eyes. Celine let out a deep sigh and bowed even lower.
"I've said bad things about you in the past. My friends might have hated you even more because of that. It's all my fault. I apologize."
For Celine, this must have been a humiliating act, enough to make her bite her lip. She was prideful, and she especially never bowed to high-ranking nobles.
Since she had to navigate social circles, she sometimes showed a softer attitude toward high nobility. However, she had always adamantly refused to actually bow her head. Yet here she was, Celine, bowing to a member of the Yurdina family.
I could only guess that this was a decision she had made with great effort. Even so, I didn't go out of my way to defend her.
Forgiveness was the victim's right. I had no right to interfere. I simply watched Seria in silence.
She remained quiet for a while. After staring at the bowing Celine, Seria eventually let out a faint sigh.
Her gaze was still cold. However, the words that left her mouth were different.
"……It's fine."
Celine’s body flinched. Based on the words alone, one might misunderstand—it could sound like Seria had no intention of forgiving her. But I knew better.
I could sense a subtle warmth in that voice. No one else would have noticed, but I shook my head with a bitter smile.
She really needed to fix that habit of speaking in a way that invited misunderstanding. Seria still had a long way to go.
"I don't mind such things. It's always been that way, and even so, it's not necessarily your fault alone. It is true that I often say things that lead to misunderstandings."
Celine raised her head slightly. In her amber eyes, confusion and anticipation were mixed in equal measure.
Her gaze seemed to ask, 'Why is the rude brat of Yurdina acting like this?' But the version of Seria she was seeing now was actually closer to the 'real' Seria.
By nature, she didn't dwell on most slights. She rarely held grudges, and she certainly didn't go around hating people.
Being hated was something she was far too used to. That was why Seria could respond to Celine's apology as if it were no big deal.
"I accept your apology. From now on, as teammates, let's… hah, let's work together."
Perhaps embarrassed by her final words, Seria turned her head away, her cheeks flushing slightly. Celine watched her for a moment in silence before letting out a short, soft laugh.
She straightened her back and reached out her hand. It was a picture-perfect scene of reconciliation.
Yes, this is what the Academy should be. Reconciliation, friendship, and youth!
I had been living in such a nerve-wracking atmosphere lately. This was how an Academy, where so many youths mingled, was supposed to be. It shouldn't be about harsh words and sword fights.
When Celine extended her hand, Seria looked at her with wide eyes, as if it were the first time in her life she had been asked for a handshake. Celine didn't withdraw her hand.
"I look forward to working with you, Seria. At least until the Hunting Festival is over."
"Ye… Yes……."
It was a heartwarming sight. As I watched Celine and Seria with a warm gaze, I suddenly felt a presence beside me.
Turning my head, I saw exactly who I expected. A large pointed hat, brown hair, and blue eyes that resembled blue sapphires.
Her small stature and delicate features made her look like a living doll. She was a girl of remarkable beauty.
If the second-year Swordsmanship Department had its two flowers, the fourth year also had beautiful women of equal renown. Among them, if there was a 'flower with poison,' it could only be this girl.
Elsie Lainella, the young lady of the Count Lainella family, a prestigious magic house of the Empire.
A combat magician who specialized in lightning magic, she had already achieved distinguished military service in numerous real battles. Rumor had it that she had five circles surrounding her heart; she was a genius who had reached the 5th Circle, the rank of a high mage, before even graduating.
Each circle surrounding the heart was essentially a spell formula tool. In other words, this tiny girl could overlap five spell formulas at once.
And as the number of overlapping formulas increased, they triggered a resonance phenomenon that caused destructive power to increase exponentially. If Senior Elsie chanted a spell with her full power, even a named-class demonic beast wouldn't escape unscathed.
In a sense, she was my secret weapon. Initially, I had thought about bringing Reto, but thinking about it now, it was right to be with Senior Elsie in many ways.
A magician's primary role is to pour out powerful firepower while being protected by the vanguard. With her rich combat experience and outstanding skills, Senior Elsie would be a great help when facing named-class demonic beasts.
As I looked at Senior Elsie with pride, a cold smile that didn't match her lovely appearance caught my eye. Her dainty lips parted in the next moment.
"Look at this bullshit, just look at it. Sigh, making such a fuss over a little backstabbing… If you're going to bully someone, you should at least pull their hair out so they can't show their face the next day. Or, I don't know, corner them in some empty lot and beat them up. Tsk, tsk."
Senior Elsie clicked her tongue, clearly displeased with Celine and Seria's display. The gap between her appearance and the words coming out of her mouth was staggering. Even I was momentarily dazed.
Senior Elsie didn't stop there; she even turned to me for agreement.
"Hey, you think so too, right? Honestly, backstabbing isn't even something you need to apol—Hieeeek?! I-I'm sorry!"
Instead of answering, I subtly showed her the hand axe at my waist.
I simply couldn't bear to hear any more of the words flowing from Senior Elsie's mouth. Seeing her spit out such foul language with that cute face made my head spin.
The effect was immediate. Senior Elsie immediately pulled her pointed hat down low and began to tremble violently.
"P-please spare me… I-I won't be arrogant ever again……."
Her voice trembled piteously. I acted out a stern voice and asked.
"……Can you promise that?"
"Ye-yes… hic!"
Only then did I cover my waist with my cloak again. Then, I placed my hand firmly on top of her pointed hat.
Senior Elsie stiffened for a moment, but as I gently stroked her head, her expression soon became dazed. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
I leaned my upper body down slightly, until my whisper could reach her ear.
"Keep being a good girl."
"……U-uh-huh."
Though embarrassed, Senior Elsie didn't reject my hand. In fact, she even leaned her head into my palm, as if wanting to be stroked more.
Good, Senior Elsie was handled. Now all that remained were Celine and Seria. Just a moment ago, the two of them had been creating a somewhat shy atmosphere of reconciliation.
However, when I turned my gaze back, Celine was whispering something into Seria's ear, and immediately after, Seria's eyes turned cold.
Celine wore a provocative smile. Seria hadn't let go of Celine's hand yet, but it was clear the atmosphere had turned icy once again.
While I stood there bewildered, having missed the content of the whisper, Celine made a bold declaration.
"So, let's get along until then."
"……Fine, my goal is to win the Hunting Festival anyway."
The atmosphere was frigid. As someone who had hoped Seria might make a second friend, it was a headache. Were Celine and Seria just fundamentally incompatible?
I could only click my tongue. Around that time, I withdrew my hand from stroking Senior Elsie.
Senior Elsie looked at my hand with regretful eyes, like a puppy chasing a toy. But perhaps she still had enough pride left not to grab my hand again, so she cleared her throat to get my attention.
My eyes naturally turned toward her. With the blush still on her cheeks, Senior Elsie asked me.
"By the way, do you have a plan?"
"A plan for what?"
When I asked as if I didn't know what she meant, Senior Elsie immediately looked frustrated and stamped her feet.
"We need to train! The Hunting Festival is real combat, and if we want to win, we obviously have to coordinate! That bitch Delphine will be coming out with people she's been training with for ages!"
"Ah," I let out a small exclamation. Indeed, Senior Elsie's point was spot on.
There was only about a week left. Training to coordinate our movements before participating in the Hunting Festival was essential. Otherwise, we might end up in a situation where we were worse off than if we hadn't teamed up at all.
But it wasn't as if I hadn't thought about that. I replied to Senior Elsie as if to tell her not to worry.
"I've invited someone special, so don't worry too much."
"Someone special? Hmph, what could a lower noble with no proper connections possibly……."
Senior Elsie just snorted at my boast, clearly unconvinced. Her attitude was a bit arrogant, and just as I was considering showing her the hand axe one more time—
Boom! An impact wave echoed out. Then, a cloud of dust erupted.
The ground shook from the impact. Senior Elsie let out a shriek and grabbed my collar. Even so, the fact that lightning began to flicker in her hands in preparation for an emergency showed that her combat experience was indeed formidable.
Celine and Seria were the same. Though they seemed to stumble on the shaking ground, they immediately regained their balance and reached for their waists, glaring through the rising dust with wary eyes.
Out of the four of us, I was the only one not surprised. After all, I was the one who had called him.
I didn't expect him to appear like this, but then again, no matter how he appeared, it wouldn't have been particularly surprising.
The dust slowly settled, revealing a middle-aged man boasting muscles like steel.
Celine and Seria's eyes widened. He was a face they knew all too well.
"Is it you lot? The arrogant brats Ian mentioned who want to follow the path of a demonic beast hunter."
His burning red hair and beard, and a gaze that hadn't dulled despite being long retired, testified that his skills were still very much alive.
Derek, the legendary demonic beast hunter.
I had made a special request to him, who was also a professor in the Swordsmanship Department. Fortunately, Professor Derek, who had been keeping an eye on me lately, had willingly agreed to help with our training.
Since the training was intended for hunting demonic beasts, there was no expert greater than Professor Derek.
Senior Elsie, who wasn't very familiar with Professor Derek's reputation, just stood there with a dumbfounded expression. Regardless, I bowed my head.
"Yes, we look forward to your guidance, Professor Derek."
"Hmm, fine. Since you're students who might become demonic beast hunters, I'll personally invest some time in you."
Of course, there was some resistance. At the words 'demonic beast hunter,' Senior Elsie immediately flared up and shouted.
"Demonic beast hunter?! This Elsie of the Lainella family, living that rootless, fly-by-night life… Hieeeek?! I-I'll do it! I'll be a demonic beast hunter! So p-please, spare me!"
Well, the rebellion was suppressed just by showing the hand axe for a moment.
For the next week, hellish training followed.
Yes, literally hellish.
It was so bad that even Seria looked at me with a resentful expression.
I mean, I didn't know we'd be training while smeared with demonic beast manure either.
For the record, Senior Elsie looked completely soul-crushed after that training. Her eyes seemed to be begging for death.
On the day of the Hunting Festival, the morning was filled with the heat of the festivities. Even though it was dawn, crowds were already gathering, and the air was warm with the heat of the people.
I silently checked my supplies. Beside me stood the comrades who would participate in the festival with me. One of them, Senior Elsie, still looked as if her soul had left her body, the light gone from her eyes.
Leaving Senior Elsie, who was letting out lifeless groans, I asked Seria and Celine.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah, somehow……."
Celine answered in a weak voice, and Seria simply nodded silently. Both looked exhausted.
The week of training seemed to have taken a heavy toll. Honestly, looking back, there were many horrific training sessions. Even I felt a shiver run down my spine.
But we were going to face a named demonic beast. It was better for the training to be difficult. That would only increase our chances of survival.
I still vividly remembered the expressions Celine and Seria made when they saw me asking Professor Derek for even higher intensity training.
The look one gives a madman.
Senior Elsie had almost had a seizure. If I hadn't pulled out the hand axe from my waist then, a major catastrophe might have occurred.
Seeing the brilliant sunlight reflecting off the axe blade, Senior Elsie seemed to regain her senses and immediately curled up on the spot, trembling.
She might have even wet herself. It was hard to tell because of the smell of the demonic beast manure, but since she vehemently denied it, I decided to let it go. Those memories were fresh in my mind.
Those were the good days—Professor Derek being impressed by my will and becoming even more proactive in his training.
The fruits of that tear-soaked journey were set to be harvested today. I steeled my heart. Come to think of it, Reto said he would come to say goodbye.
It was then that my body suddenly stiffened. From somewhere, I felt a sharp sense of hostility.
My nerves, sensitized to the limit, immediately drew a hypothetical trajectory before my eyes. My hand went to my waist. For a sword? No, it had to be shorter.
The surprise attack was that fast. The hand axe immediately soared, drawing a silver line through the air.
Clang! The sound of metal clashing rang out.
It was a dagger. Yet the power behind it was formidable. My hand axe, which parried it, felt slightly pushed back. The blade spun through the air, narrowly grazing past me.
On that blade, a golden aura was flickering. As soon as I saw it, I knew instantly.
I knew exactly who had thrown this dagger.
Before my startled companions could even react, my gaze turned toward the direction the dagger had come from.
Burning golden hair, and crimson eyes dripping with a honey-like lethargy.
Fair skin, a face that would make anyone gasp in admiration, and above all, armor that revealed the curves of her body as if to display her arrogant confidence.
She was a woman who referred to her own body as a 'work of art.' Naturally, even when covered in armor, there was no reason for her not to reveal those curves.
The woman, boasting a beauty like the sun, smiled as soon as our eyes met. A mysterious smile whose intention was impossible to read.
"It's been a while, Hand Axe Young Master."
Delphine Yurdina. It was her.