Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: After the Trials
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“Haa.”
The situation itself didn’t drag on for too long, but waiting for the knights that Heine called and then going through the investigation took far more time than expected.
Thanks to that, it was already past midnight, into the early dawn hours.
If the Dean hadn’t said we could skip classes tomorrow, I would’ve just played hooky.
The kids who’d only fought had already gone home, but as key people involved, May and I had stayed until the very end to give our statements, so we were the last ones out.
Of course, just in case, the knights were escorting us back.
“Why’s she like that?”
“Who?”
Earlier, when I’d saved her, she’d been curled up like a squirrel, but now she seemed completely fine, back to her usual self—May.
She scratched her head and rolled her eyes.
“Rin. She kept saying she’d wait. Are you two dating or something?”
“No... She’s got her own reasons, apparently.”
“Reasons? What kind?”
I wondered why she was being so persistent, but I couldn’t just spill Rin’s personal feelings, so I shut my mouth.
May pouted with a “tch,” like it was no fun, and I chuckled at the sight.
“We good now?”
Up until today, she’d been avoiding me and not even talking to me, so that’s why I asked. She looked embarrassed and averted her gaze.
“Good? What do you mean ‘good’? I just... wasn’t ready to apologize yet.”
“What?”
I’d assumed she couldn’t forgive me for using her, but suddenly an apology?
“I was the one who messed up first and threw a tantrum. I think I got what I deserved as punishment. If anything, I’m sorry for trying to get you expelled when you were just standing there.”
“...Who are you?”
“Huh?”
“No, seriously, what’s with her? Did the thugs drug her or something? Knight sir! This girl’s acting weird!”
I urgently squished her cheeks with both hands and looked around dramatically.
The knights walking in front and behind us hurried over, thinking something was wrong, but May flushed red and shoved me away.
“Forget it! No apology! Ptoo! Take it back!”
“Heh.”
There we go. That’s more like May.
The knights shrugged it off as nothing and resumed walking. I shoved my hands in my pockets as we went, and May slyly glanced at the stars while asking,
“Our class is probably in full swing with festival prep by now, huh.”
It was now May.
The season when preparations for Aios Academy’s festival, the Thanksgiving Festival, were in full swing.
I’d heard through the grapevine that clubs with a lot to do or those needing time had already started.
“Know what your class is doing?”
“How should I? It hasn’t even come up yet.”
I wondered why she was suddenly bringing up the festival, but she rolled her eyes around, then bowed her head and quietly asked,
“Then I’ll use my wish coupon.”
“...Huh?”
“Walk around the festival with me.”
“...”
What was I supposed to say here?
I might be completely clueless about romance, but between Eris’s proposal and Rin’s confession, I’d picked up some instincts.
And this felt just like those.
“Kids, head on in now.”
“Good work today. Must’ve been tough.”
While I stood there speechless, we’d arrived at the dorm. The knights told us to go in carefully and left.
Me and May, standing in front of the dorm.
Not knowing what to say.
She stood silently, lips pressed tight, staring at me without looking away—clear and resolute.
“Look...”
I scratched the back of my head and finally forced my mouth open.
What I had to say was clear.
“I have someone I like.”
“...”
May showed no change in expression, like she’d expected it.
“So I can’t date you.”
“Rin?”
It was a reasonable guess, but I shook my head.
“No. Um, someone not at the academy.”
“Are you dating?”
“...No, not exactly.”
“One-sided crush, then?”
“Well, you could say that, but it’s not quite...”
I had been proposed to, after all.
Sure, it was a past life, but I had feelings for her too, and I planned to meet her again and make it work.
Thinking about it, right now, it did feel like a one-sided crush.
May snorted.
“Fine, got it. The wish coupon still stands. Walk with me at the festival. It’s four days long—stick by my side the whole time one of those days.”
“...Did I word that wrong?”
I’d clearly given a polite rejection by saying I liked someone.
May acted like it was no big deal, rummaging in her pocket for candy—but of course, a kidnapping victim wouldn’t have any.
She just brushed the empty pocket once.
She smacked her lips and replied,
“You’re not gonna try to make it work with your crush?”
“...I am.”
I planned to appeal to Eris properly when I saw her.
May nodded boldly.
“Me too?”
“...”
“You get to, but I don’t? Total double standard.”
“No, it’s not like that...”
What was this?
For the first time, I felt pushed back by May, a strange annoyance bubbling up, but I couldn’t give a proper answer.
She seemed to sense it too, grinning mischievously as she stepped closer.
“You know...”
I instinctively stepped back, and her smile turned even more playful.
“You’re weak to stuff like this, huh?”
“What?”
“Normally, you act like you own the world, all mister tough guy, and you’re insane in a fight, but when it comes to romance? Total zero.”
“...”
What could I do?
I’d spent a solid ten years in the forest battling beasts. I hadn’t even noticed Eris’s feelings until the very end.
As she took another step, I felt oddly anxious and backed up, hands out.
“Stop! Don’t come closer!”
I warned her, but she grabbed my wrists, spread them apart, and slipped right in between.
I was a bit taller, looking down—and our noses were almost touching.
I panicked and turned my head, but she leaned in closer, whispering secretively in my ear.
“Who told you to play hero and save me so cool like that?”
She let go and dashed into the dorm.
I fanned my burning face and let out a breath.
I’d always brushed it off as kid stuff before, but when she pushed that aggressively, my heart raced without me meaning it to.
Embarrassing.
I’d clearly rejected her, so why’d it end up like this? I sighed—
—when a bleached-white-haired girl bounced down from the fourth floor: Sen.
I knew today had been pretty dicey, but we’d survived, no injuries. That was a relief.
“What’s up?”
I crossed my arms casually and asked. Sen went from blank-faced to sniffing once.
She’d probably seen the whole thing.
“...Pretend you didn’t see.”
I warned her subtly, and she shrugged without answering.
“Thanks for today. I heard you took the lead and solved it.”
“Saving you was pure luck. I’d have been too late alone. Thank Ares—he moved first.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell him and everyone else.”
She slowly raised her bowed head and met my eyes.
“Can I ask one thing?”
“No, I’m going to bed.”
I was exhausted already.
The Dean let us skip classes tomorrow, but I just wanted to shower quick and crash.
She ignored me and spoke anyway.
“How are you that strong?”
“Didn’t I say don’t ask?”
“As you know, I’m from the Extermination Squad. We’ve trained since age four. I think I’m pretty strong for my age on the continent.”
“Yeah, sure.”
In fact, name the top students in Aios Academy’s third years, and Sen was definitely top five.
“But you’re on another level. Like you’ve lived your whole life for battle. Like you reached somewhere we can’t at our age long ago.”
“...”
She wasn’t wrong.
My strength came from this body’s intense training, sure, but mostly from past experiences.
“...”
I’d said I wouldn’t answer, so I ignored her, brushed past, and entered the dorm. She didn’t stop me.
I got to my room and took a quick shower.
The hot water soothed my body after a hectic day, bringing a natural smile.
“This is happiness.”
I’d rushed in without grabbing clothes, so I toweled off roughly and stepped out to change.
Was about to flop into bed, but wait.
The blanket was bulging up.
Like someone was under it.
“...”
Suspicious, I grabbed my sword quietly and flipped the blanket.
“Snooore.”
Rin was curled up, fast asleep.
First, Rin’s investigation wrapped up early. She insisted on waiting for Daniel, but he refused flat-out, so she ended up heading back to the dorm with Ares and his harem crew.
“Rin, you hurt anywhere?”
“Nah, I just cast spells from the back, so no major injuries.”
“Good.”
Ares being extra nice to her felt off.
He was a good childhood friend with Daniel, but something had started bugging her lately.
She hadn’t felt it as a little kid, but at some point, it started grating, though she never showed it.
Good thing Ares didn’t notice.
“...Tch.”
“Ahem.”
The redhead trailing behind, Arni Duratan, clicked her tongue, while mage Adriana coughed awkwardly, shooting a look.
Meaning, Why only Rin? But then why weren’t Sen or Hayun—who liked the same guy—reacting?
Sen, usually so expressive, stood silent and blank-faced, which felt weird, so Rin didn’t bother her and asked Hayun,
“You okay?”
“You look more at ease.”
Hayun smiled faintly at Arni and Adriana’s words.
“I decided to drop it.”
“Hmm.”
“Really?”
Not bad for the two.
If a strong rival like Hayun bowed out voluntarily, no need to stop her.
They had history together, so she wouldn’t cut ties suddenly, but they’d hang around Ares less as a group.
“Elise didn’t come, huh?”
Hayun glanced back casually.
No sign of the blonde who always exuded that old-fashioned elegance.
Adriana smiled awkwardly, and Arni ground her teeth.
“That noble miss said she didn’t want to get involved in dirty business and refused.”
“Oh?”
“Whatever. Even if she’d come, doubt we’d have won.”
Not just Arni—every student here except Rin felt today’s defeat as a shock beyond words.
Even teaming up, they—considered strong at the academy—lost to a single thug boss.
It was humiliation, not just shock.
Especially for Arni Duratan, eldest daughter of a swordsmanship clan.
“Got plans for the academy festival?”
“Hm? Not yet, but...”
She sighed watching Ares approach Rin so eagerly from behind.
Back at the dorm.
As Rin reached for her fourth-floor room door, something hit her.
“...Maybe evidence?”
Daniel said he liked someone else.
But he’d said nothing about her.
Not name, age, looks—nothing.
What if something about her was in his room?
Figuring out a crush’s type was basic.
Rin cast a sound-muffling spell and snuck to the third-floor boys’ area, stopping at Daniel’s door.
“Shadow.”
A black shadow extended from her fingertip, slipped through the door crack—click—and it opened.
“Just a quick peek. Really quick.”
Plenty of time before Daniel got back.
Thinking that, she entered—and her heart started pounding.
Her tired body surged with energy, a faint smile on her lips.
Daniel lived so simply, barely any stuff, so she checked fast—but nothing.
“Bummer.”
Failure sank in, rationality returned, and she realized what a huge thing she’d done.
She flailed to escape, but tripped and fell onto Daniel’s bed.
Ah, Daniel’s scent.
Then something magical happened.
Lying there, his smell surrounded her; eyes closed, it felt like he was beside her.
Pull the blanket over—it’s like he’s hugging me!
Yelling Eureka inwardly, Rin wrapped herself tight and savored it all unconsciously.
Good times fly, as they say.
A blink for her—but the door opened, Daniel entered.
Luckily, exhausted, he didn’t check and headed straight to the shower.
R-Run!
She tried, but didn’t want to move.
Reason screamed escape; emotion whispered, A bit longer till he’s out of the shower...
While they battled inside her—
Daniel, eager for bed, finished quick and came out.
We’re screwed.
Emotion won the delay, but for Rin, it was defeat.
What now?
Maybe he’d leave? She peeked under the blanket.
“...!”
He was buck-naked, rummaging for clothes right there!
Ah...
Blood rushed to her nose; Rin gave up.
Stopped thinking, left it to the gods, and cast ‘Sleep’ on herself.
Thanks for the feast.
Replaying that scene.