Chapter 125 - The Basement
"Ugh, uwaaa..."
Fierce, ferocious birds gripped my shoulders from both sides, dragging me off somewhere.
"Gugu!!"
"...Sigh."
The owl was one thing, but getting hauled around by a pigeon too? Just how weak had I become?
"Kania, help me out here."
Lost in such thoughts as I let myself be pulled along blankly, I had no choice but to call out to Kania, who was quietly following behind me. No matter how beneficial it was for the empire's top scoundrel to lose face as much as possible, I didn't want anyone else seeing me get dragged around by birds.
"...Understood."
Hearing me, Kania approached the birds with a noticeably tense expression.
"P-Please leave the young master alone."
She poked at the owl's side and spoke in a timid voice.
Does Kania have a phobia of birds?
It might just be my imagination, but Kania seemed scared of the owl for some reason.
"Kku."
"...Eek."
It wasn't my imagination. As the owl let out a low hoot, Kania started breaking out in cold sweat.
In her current state, she could handle even an upper-grade monster with ease. So why was she freaking out over a single owl?
"Hey, sorry, but I'm kinda out of breath right now. Can we take a quick break?"
Having failed at getting help, I pleaded desperately with the two birds as stairs appeared before us.
"...Kkuu."
"Gu gu."
The two birds, who had been flapping steadily onward, finally stopped and perched on my shoulders.
"Young master, are you alright?"
"...More or less."
I wasn't hurt or anything, but my pride stung a bit from having been dragged around by birds, even briefly. Still, I couldn't let it show, so I forced a calm expression and spoke up.
"So, where are you trying to take me?"
The two birds immediately raised their wings, pointing somewhere in unison.
"...Huh?"
I tilted my head for a moment before following where they pointed—and hit a wall.
Swish!
At that instant, they twisted their wings to point sideways.
...What the hell are these things, really?
I felt a twinge of suspicion toward the suspiciously intelligent birds but soon hardened my expression and followed their guidance.
"...I hope they didn't get into a fight."
I muttered with considerable worry.
"Are you concerned that the two of them might have fought?"
Kania, who had been sticking close by my side, asked.
"At this point, there's no reason for them to fight. It'd make more sense to assume some threat to their safety, wouldn't it?"
I smirked and replied.
"For a threat to emerge with those two together, the Demon King would have to show up."
"...Ah."
Serena could subdue anyone stronger than her with a single finger, and Perloché was the strongest in one-on-one combat. So if something had gone wrong with both of them present... it had to be trouble between them.
Only Serena and I knew that Perloché was hiding something at this stage. And since the birds were dragging me somewhere, whatever happened was likely inside the academy.
So, no matter what it was, if I hurried there, I could stop it...
"You're really worried, aren't you?"
Kania stared at me blankly and said.
"Lately, you seem to know me too well, Kania."
"Thank you for the compliment."
I stared right back at her, but the birds glared at me sharply, so I sighed and quickened my pace.
......
"This is...?"
"The entrance to the academy's basement."
After trudging along for what felt like forever, we arrived at the entrance to the academy basement.
Why guide me here?
The academy basement, where no sunlight ever reached, was a rather intriguing place. It was usually empty and deserted, but it doubled as a training ground for mock battles now and then, and the events that occurred there were always weighty.
If you didn't take the Villain's Path, a personal event with Perloché would trigger here in your first year. The Prophecy Book described it as quite a ticklish affair, but of course, that was a luxury I couldn't afford now.
During the academy siege event in your second year, this place became the students' forward base. And if I survived to my third year, I'd get to spend some intimate time here with one of the heroines.
Beyond that, all sorts of miscellaneous events popped up here. Unassuming as it seemed, the basement was a pretty important location.
"Guess... we have to go in."
So, what could have happened in this event factory of a basement to make the birds react like this? I had no idea, but there was only one way to find out.
"...Hoo."
Taking a deep breath with my nerves on edge, I slowly pushed open the basement door.
Creeeak...
The old, rusted door swung open with a grating screech that echoed everywhere.
"...Huh?"
I swallowed hard as I stared, then gaped at the sight that filled my vision.
"What the hell is all this...?"
Everything was a mess. The few remaining pieces of furniture—rusted or rotting—were smashed to bits. Massive cracks and craters scarred the floor. The air around the basement brimmed with thick concentrations of lunar mana and such intense divine power that Kania, unable to bear the prickling sensation, hid behind me.
"........."
And right in the center stood Serena, coldly glaring at Perloché over her fan, and Perloché, hands raised, glaring back at Serena.
"What the..."
The shock of it all short-circuited my brain for a moment.
"...Did you two really fight?"
I muttered in horror. Serena's pose was the one she took when mentally simulating a fight with the opponent before her, and Perloché's was the stance she assumed right before smashing something.
"No, seriously, why...?"
I was seriously debating whether to bolt from the basement or risk my life to intervene when...
"...Frey?"
"Ah! You!!"
They both turned to me at once, their faces lighting up with delight.
"I've missed you."
"You really came here! I knew you would!"
Perplexed, I stepped back hesitantly as the two women smiled and started chatting away.
What the hell?
"You two... were fighting?"
"Yes, we were fighting."
Flustered by the sudden shift in atmosphere, I asked awkwardly, and Serena replied with a gentle smile.
"Of course, it was just training."
"...Training?"
I tilted my head, and Perloché jumped in with her usual vacant, idiotic grin.
"Serena trained me!"
"She trained you?"
"Yes! Serena's such a kind per—wait, more importantly, why are you here?!"
"These guys dragged me here."
I shot an incredulous look at the birds on my shoulders.
Flutter flutter!!
They took off in unison and returned to their owners' shoulders.
"...Kku."
"...Gu?"
The owl quietly averted its gaze, while the pigeon cocked its head as if asking what the problem was.
I glared at them in disbelief before sighing and getting to the point.
"So, why were you two here?"
"I told you—we were training..."
"Did you have to train here of all places?"
Even if Sunrise Academy was rotten with corruption, it was still a prestigious institution with a thousand years of history, complete with proper training grounds. There was zero reason to train in this dark, musty basement instead of a spacious, well-equipped one.
"You're right, Frey."
As I eyed them suspiciously, Serena smiled with her eyes and explained.
"But the training we were doing was a bit special."
"A bit special?"
"Yes, training to 'overcome the darkness.'"
Serena glanced at Perloché, who was still beaming vacantly beside her.
"You know Perloché fears the dark, right? That's why we needed to train in a pitch-black place like this."
"...Exactly! I never know when you might exploit my weakness, Frey! It's special training just for that!"
I stared blankly at Perloché, who was cheerfully spilling her insecurities despite fearing I'd exploit them. Then I sighed and spoke.
"But why Serena as your partner? Aren't you closer to Clana?"
"Clana's flames are too bright! It defeats the purpose of training! And..."
Perloché glanced at Serena mid-sentence before finishing with a bright smile.
"Serena said she's the smartest and best-suited to spar with me!"
"...I didn't put it quite that bluntly."
Fair enough. To train one-on-one with Perloché, you'd need someone on Serena's level. She had the Solar God's Blessing, making her virtually unbeatable in single combat, and you had to actively adapt to her unpredictable movements. If that was true, Serena could naturally investigate Perloché in the process.
"...Alright, got it. Looks like we're done here."
Finishing my thoughts, I put on a bored expression.
"Next time, keep your pets in check so this doesn't happen again."
"Yes."
"Don't blame Gugu! He's in the middle of a growth spurt!"
After my half-serious advice, as I headed for the exit amid Perloché's indignant protests...
"Ah, Frey."
"...Yeah?"
Serena grabbed me and...
Smack.
".....!"
...twined her tongue with mine.
"...Farewell."
After that eternal instant passed, Serena licked away the saliva linking our lips.
"I should have good news for you soon."
She whispered softly into my ear.
"Frey!!! What are you doing to Serena?!"
"...See you."
"Oh, did you get my letter!? If you did, please reply...!!!"
As Perloché yelled, Serena pulled away from me with an eye smile and waved.
"...Urk."
"Kania?"
I turned toward the exit in a daze when I noticed Kania suddenly dry-heaving beside me and tilted my head.
"...You okay?"
"N-No, I'm fine."
"Rest if you're not feeling well. Especially with the slave market liberation mission coming up in a few days."
"...Yes."
Worried about her, I patted her back. Her expression softened instantly, and we headed back to the dormitory together.
The slave market mission was right around the corner—I needed to make sure we both got plenty of rest.
......
"...Hmph."
As Frey left with Kania, Serena's smiling expression froze cold.
"What are you?"
"......."
Perloché, sprawled in a chair on the floor, came into view. Gone was her usual pure, bright face.
"One moment you're passing out and thrashing around."
She wore a decadent, hollow gaze.
"The next, you're fine the instant Frey shows up."
"What... are you, really?"
Serena's wary question went ignored.
"...The next trial is the key."
As she walked out of the basement, Perloché muttered coldly.
"That's when I tell him the truth."
By then, her face had returned to its innocent smile.