Reflections in the Spring Dawn
The spring air carried a surprisingly sharp chill at dawn. It was exactly the kind of weather that could leave you nursing a cold if you weren't careful. The long winter had finally ended; snow melted into the earth, and nature slowly reclaimed the face it wore before the frost. Fallen leaves budded again, the ground that had been frozen solid softened, and rivers began to flow once more. If there was ever a season made for fresh starts, I would choose spring without hesitation.
Spring… Yes, spring. Yet when I thought of it, only fragmented memories rose to the surface. Graduating elementary school and entering middle school. After winter passed once, twice, three times, spring would arrive and I'd find myself in yet another new school. There I'd meet new people, make new friends. The season of renewal. But I didn't have many memories of it left. Most of my recollections of spring had faded, but one thing remained clear: spring had always felt warm to me.
That warmth, however, would never return. I would keep moving forward, and spring would eventually pass, as seasons do. Still, I wondered if I could truly walk the right path in Bern's body. No matter how I began or how far I pushed ahead, it would all end soon enough. I was an outsider. A visitor who needed to go home. There were moments when I wanted to simply give up. I feared losing the bonds I would form here. I was terrified I might never make it back.
Even so, I had no intention of surrendering. I'd been dropped into the world of a game I once played. There was no way I would die easily. I would survive without becoming the mid-boss, reach the ending, and find my way home. A positive mindset was crucial.
But lately my dreams had been restless, leaving me exhausted. These days, whenever I slept, strange visions came to me. They felt trivial, yet at the same time important. The moment I woke, every detail slipped away. The only thing that remained was the nagging certainty that I had forgotten something vital.
'It's frustrating not knowing what it is, but I can figure it out slowly.'
The sky, once a deep indigo, had now filled completely with bright blue. It was time to start moving. Ron and Lloyd had wandered off a short distance to chat before dozing off as well. Staying here any longer wouldn't help; it would be better to return to the academy and rest properly. The only problem was that Elin and Elisha needed to wake up first.
Both of them slept deeply, showing no signs of stirring. I hesitated to wake them. Their faces looked so peaceful that it felt wrong to disturb them. Elisha was still leaning against my shoulder. She must have been carrying a heavy load. The broken engagement, the nobles who constantly pestered her, practical training, midterm preparations… she was probably grinding through an exhausting schedule. Unlike the loner Vern, she maintained wide connections across the school and had to keep those relationships healthy. Between academics and family matters, her head must feel ready to burst.
That was why I felt especially sorry toward her. Perhaps because of that guilt, I couldn't treat her casually. Of course, the very idea of acting casual after breaking our engagement was ridiculous. Still, watching her struggle made my chest tighten with regret. Once her family problems were resolved, I would apologize properly. Not to rekindle the engagement—just… a genuine apology.
With those thoughts, I gazed at the sky. It was quiet. Almost unnaturally still, as if no one else existed in this forest. When I lowered my head, I saw Elin breathing softly in her sleep and Elisha still resting against my shoulder. She had been leaning there for a while; it looked uncomfortable. As I tried to think of a way to make her position easier, Elisha stirred, rubbing her eyes.
"...Mmm?"
"You're awake."
"Did… did I fall asleep?"
"Yes. You were sleeping so deeply I didn't want to wake you."
"Th-thank you. And, Vern…"
Elisha's face, pale as white jade, had turned a faint shade of pink. She was wearing a robe, but maybe the outside air was colder than I thought. Or perhaps…
Ugh. Ugh…!!
While I was exchanging a few words with Elisha, Elin stretched beside us and slowly sat up. More importantly, it seemed like Elisha had been about to say something else.
"Elin, you're up too."
"V-Vern…? Is this your uniform? Thank you… You didn't have to go to the trouble…"
"It's nearly morning. We'll head out soon. Everyone, wake up properly. It's time to return to the academy."
I stood and walked over to the dozing mage-and-swordsman duo. Elin and Elisha would probably need a little more time to shake off their drowsiness, so I quietly gave them some space.
....
'So embarrassing…!'
I had only meant to rest for a moment, but I'd fallen asleep. On Vern's shoulder, no less! The thought alone made my face burn. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Yet when I looked at Vern after waking, his expression was the same as always—completely indifferent, blank. Seeing that, I knew he was still the Vern I remembered. Brusque. Expressionless. But even his curtness couldn't hide the gentle warmth that surrounded him. After so long, I could feel that warmth again.
The old Vern had seemed like cold steel, devoid of emotion. But the recent Vern felt different. He was still curt, yet something had changed. According to what Elin told me yesterday, he had even received punishment for stepping in to help her when she was being bullied. No one knew better than I did that Vern was the family's troublemaker and problem child. Yet the more I watched him lately, the less certain I became. Was there a reason behind his behavior? Had I been wrong all along? Had I misunderstood him?
Still, the things he had done to me couldn't simply vanish. Even so… if, somehow, he returned to the kind Vern from before…
In the midst of all this confusion, I hadn't yet told my family about the broken engagement. Strangely, I felt that was for the best. I needed to investigate Vern's background more thoroughly.
....
"Someone's talking about me."
"What was that, Vern?"
"Nothing."
Roughly an hour after waking Ron and Lloyd, regrouping with Elin and Elisha, and beginning our descent, the sky had brightened completely. Another hour of walking brought us down the mountain and through the forest. Before long we reached the original gathering point.
Once we arrived at base camp, we were led to different stations. I underwent a physical examination first to ensure there were no lingering issues. My clothes had been shredded and soaked with blood from the chimera fight, so I changed into a shirt supplied by the academy. They had also agreed to cover all injuries and replace damaged personal items, which meant I wouldn't have to spend money on new clothes or a sword.
After the exam and changing, I had to give a separate report as the one who directly eliminated the chimera. It didn't take long. A few simple questions, straightforward answers, and the matter ended with the academy stating they would reward me for risking my life to protect the students. At first the staff refused to believe I had handled the chimera alone, but thanks to testimony from Ron, Lloyd, Elin, and Elisha, the investigation concluded smoothly.
No matter how terrible Vern's reputation had become, I hadn't expected it to be this bad. At this point, I almost felt sorry for him. Pitiful, even.
In any case, the massive incident that occurred during the second-year practical training had finally been wrapped up. The academy offered to present me with a medal, but I firmly declined. I had no interest in empty formalities. No one would believe I'd earned it anyway; they'd only hurl more insults. Besides, it sounded like a hassle. I just wanted to rest.
Of course, I was already resting—lying in bed right now, in fact. Requiem's attack had forced the academy to close for several days while they strengthened security. That left me with more free time than I knew what to do with. So here I was, staring at the ceiling.
Up we go. Now what?
There was nothing to do until classes resumed. 'No events are triggering either.' Not a single one. I couldn't even leave the academy grounds. Ah, this was boring. I'd already finished my daily exercise quota. My longsword was broken and I hadn't replaced it yet, so sword practice was out. I'd done so much magic training and mana circulation practice that I was sick of it. I'd even used the skill that restored stamina and mana once per day, pushing my body to its limit before collapsing here. There was literally nothing left.
So bored. I'm so bored. No fun places nearby, no friends to talk to. The boredom was driving me insane. Without even a phone, it felt like being trapped in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
That's right. The academy had mentioned a reward. I never heard what it was. Could I claim it now if I went? Maybe I should visit my homeroom teacher. I was actually a little excited to see what they'd give me. Coins? A weapon? After events like this, the game usually handed the protagonist powerful early-game rewards that remained useful even in the late stages.
It was time to go collect my reward.