147. Advance Entry (4)
I need to head to the Valua Kingdom ASAP.
Yushin relayed the news to Alonne as well. Having heard the full story, she nodded bravely in agreement.
"I'm fine. I've got confidence overflowing already. Instructor Liana's told me a hundred times that passing is a done deal... Even if I fail, I'll just become your bride, Master, so it doesn't matter."
Living life carefree without a care for prying eyes. That was Alonne's dream future.
It was far too pathetic for a noble high elf lady to aspire to.
If her sister heard that, she'd spin her little sister through a full-course hell ride.
"Passing the graduation exam would make me a fresh-faced newbie in society... Honestly, there's no way a shut-in like me could survive the cutthroat real world. Big Sis will handle the Valencia family anyway, so as the little sister, I can just slack off, right?"
"Ardena would cry bloody tears if she heard that."
"Before that, I'd make her cry bloody tears?"
Could this hazy girl with no clear life plan really pass the graduation exam?
Yushin genuinely questioned it after hearing Alonne declare she wanted to slack off forever.
All those diligent days teaching her suddenly felt wasted.
"But I will pass!"
Alonne shouted, then flashed her pearly whites in a grin.
"You taught me, Master! I don't want to tarnish your reputation. As your first elf disciple, I'll ace that exam in one go!"
Hee hee hit.
Yushin chuckled back at Alonne's beaming smile.
"Even wielding a Mana Blade—something I thought impossible forever—feels natural now. All thanks to you, Master."
This man had saved her, a hopeless halfwit who couldn't overcome her innate mana insensitivity.
That's why she wanted to repay the favor.
To prove those days together weren't wasted.
So even while whining "I don't wanna join society!" she resolved to face the graduation exam head-on.
"Then I guess your proud master owes you some brutal special training."
Yushin raised his wooden sword.
Seeing his sister-level seriousness, Alonne took a step back.
"Sh-Shouldn't you hug your disciple tight for saying something sweet and confess your love right now?"
"You said you'd definitely pass. So to make sure my star pupil does, I'll repay you with bone-crushing drills."
"Ugh, come on!"
As Yushin charged with a wooden sword swing, Alonne grumbled but joined the training.
She swung her own wooden sword in response.
Parrying his strikes, she unleashed rapid counterattacks.
Her small, petite frame danced with fierce, relentless offense.
Linking strikes into complete sword forms, the high elf girl assaulted with gale-like sharpness, showing her master every bit of progress she'd made.
* * *
After Alonne, Ardena heard the full story from Yushin and nodded in agreement.
Of course, her heart wasn't at ease.
It involved returning to the kingdom because of Allen Rocksfield.
Ardena masked her discomfort and readily accepted Yushin's request.
"I understand. Don't worry about Alonne. I'll teach her personally for the remaining time. And the Santander lady too—I can handle her."
"Thanks."
Ardena smiled and nodded at his gratitude.
Her teaching personally.
Alonne would be horrified; Leticia, overjoyed.
"So the goal of this trip is to rescue Allen Rocksfield's mother?"
"Yeah."
"……."
Saving someone you're connected to from peril was only natural.
Only natural.
Definitely natural... but.
Seeing Yushin personally mobilize for something tied to Allen Rocksfield irked her.
Jealousy.
Ardena realized the turmoil churning her heart stemmed from jealousy.
She couldn't show such an ugly side before her love, so she tried not to let it show.
"It shouldn't be too dangerous. I'll keep my identity hidden the whole time."
"The Valua Kingdom right now is a lawless zone where order and security have completely collapsed. It can't not be dangerous."
"Well, yeah."
So the kingdom's done for too.
Yushin felt a pang of regret for the kingdom he'd once served.
But that was it.
Regretful, but not mournful.
As one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords, he knew the rot and corruption the kingdom had hidden all along.
"Feels like yesterday I was griping 'when's this damn country gonna fall?' and now it's actually crumbling. Guess that's why they say words have power."
Yushin shrugged with a joking grin, but Ardena caught the bitterness beneath.
"Sorry, at a time like this."
"No need to apologize. I get it."
Ardena turned away with a smile at his apology.
Her heart still wasn't settled.
The thought of him heading off to Valua alone with Allen gnawed at her.
She wanted to go too.
But she had to cover his duties training Alonne and Leticia—no room for petty selfishness.
Yushin! Yushiin!!
Watching Yushin's back as he headed to the castle basement for the warp gate to explain to Leticia, Ardena slipped into delusion.
The high elf dashed frantically.
Chasing a wedding carriage.
Inside, Yushin laughed merrily with Allen.
Yu, Yushin... Ah, aaaah!
Her foot tangled; she tumbled flat.
Impossible in reality—this delusion-born world of despair and fear allowed it.
Clutching her ankle: an ID card stamped with Liberia Elf Kingdom's seal, personal details including birthdate.
A 320-year-old spinster high elf's mark of shame.
Yushin, don't go! Yushiin...!
The precious ring he'd given her fell.
Delusion-Ardena stretched both arms, desperately searching the ground, but the ring vanished.
Phew, mission success.
Delusion-Yushin, reveling in steamy intimacy with Allen, sneered at the receding 320-year-old spinster high elf.
And just like that, Ardena snapped out of it.
"Yushin's just going to Valua to save a benefactor! Th-that was just my delusion...."
She slapped her cheeks to shake off the delusion's sorrow and refocus.
But melancholy returned swiftly.
What if he went to the kingdom and never came back? Anxiety flooded her, clouding her heart.
But what if he doesn't return...
Yushin might not come back.
Doubt ensnared Ardena.
She thought she trusted him more than anyone... yet picturing him off with that vixen tore at her heart.
* * *
Leticia, hearing the full explanation from Yushin, nodded readily.
She even seemed pleased.
Thrilled at receiving direct instruction from her idol.
The Santander heiress, her admiration blooming into reverence, blushed as she anticipated time with Ardena.
Yushin nearly shed bloody tears at the sight.
"You seem awfully happy about this."
"Ah. S-Sorry... But I'm just so thrilled..."
"Getting taught by someone you admire is worth celebrating. If you're happy, that's what matters."
"Yes!"
The red-haired high elf maiden smiled sweetly in reply.
No complaints—quite the opposite, overflowing joy.
Leticia said her father would approve of Ardena the warrior captain teaching her.
"The graduation exam judges will be Maherith's Royal Guard knights. Some probably trained under Captain Ardena herself, hee hee hee."
The Santander lady smirked slyly, hinting at ulterior motives.
Classic Leticia.
True to the "Golden Santander" lineage.
"Oh, and Teacher."
Remembering something, Leticia stepped closer, locking eyes with Yushin.
Her ample bosom hovered perilously near his chest.
Marigold scent wafted from her.
"I've got a great business idea. Could you take a look?"
"Not a hassle, but..."
Is she planning to profit off me?
Leticia's eyes sparkled with intense interest, like a merchant spotting a mega-deal.
"I brainstormed it with your subordinates."
"My subordinates...?"
"Yes!"
"Definitely some insane idea, then."
"B-But if this works, we'll be the richest in the Liberia Elf Kingdom for sure!"
Yushin skipped details on the business pitch—his head already ached imagining it.
Unlike flunk-prone Alonne, Leticia was Bria Academy's top student, so he trusted her.
"Teacher, no matter how I think about it, heading to Valua Kingdom seems way too risky. I heard the news too—fierce civil war between the royal army and citizen militias. Though nothing could threaten the Diablo Slayer, of course..."
"Thanks for worrying."
"Hee hee, of course."
Leticia beamed at his words.
"Where are the subordinates? Got something to discuss."
"Waiting in the reception room."
"Thanks."
Yushin planned to meet the subordinates who'd followed him into battle and gauge their intentions.
Last chance to return home.
He wanted to confirm if they wished to go back.
And explain Valua's chaos firsthand.
They'd heard rumors, but as their captain, he'd brief them properly.