Departure

“Now I’ll be able to eat hearty meals.”

The morning after receiving my leave pass, following the meeting with Lustet that could be considered the most tense in recent times, I muttered while stretching in the sunlight.

[Bern Bank Account]

The bankbook containing the 10,000 dena I received as a reward for the best performance in the joint training always brought a satisfying joy whenever I looked at it.

It was there when I arrived at my room.

It was as Lustet said. When I returned to my quarters after finishing the conversation with him, this document was placed conspicuously on the bed.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Although I had expected to receive it anyway, seeing the five-digit number actually written in the account made the corners of my mouth twitch repeatedly.

From now on, I won’t have to worry about not being able to buy snacks due to lack of money. If previously I was in a position of getting food from Erika, now I had the ability to buy for her.

I should repay her with a delicious meal when I get the chance.

Wasn’t it thanks to Erika’s contribution that I was able to receive an award despite dropping out midway through the joint training? In a way, this money is partly hers.

I was willing to treat her to even the most expensive steak in the military academy. Isn’t that the friendship of willingly helping each other?

Click─!

I stroked the paper stamped with the bank seal as if handling a precious child, then finished buttoning up the coat I was wearing.

I should get going soon.

As I said, today was the day to receive the leave pass. There was a promised time with Lustet, so I had to finish preparing quickly. That way I could depart normally tomorrow.

It would take about a day for the pass to be processed after submitting it to the entry management officer, so I needed to submit it early to be comfortable.

Creak──!

After tying my hair back with the string Erika had given me as a gift, I put on my cap and headed straight for the main building of the military academy.

“Shall we go to the park?”

“Let’s eat and move from the morning.”

Perhaps because it was a holiday with no particular education schedule, there were few people around. Most of the students who were out were heading to leisure facilities or restaurants.

And I liked that.

I preferred this peacefulness where only the occasional birdsong could be heard, rather than bustling crowds.

“Haah…”

I took a deep breath of the freshness arising from the quietness and followed the path with lighter steps than usual.

Thud, thud

How many minutes had passed as I walked towards my destination like that?

“Yena Freud.”

“Hm?”

I stopped my legs at the thin voice that suddenly rang out from behind my head.

“Helena?”

And when I turned around, Helena, well-known as the princess’s head maid, was standing there.

“What brings you here?”

I took half a step back at her sudden appearance. I had been walking without any particular thought, and because there was no threatening aura, I hadn’t detected her mana.

It seemed she had waited until we reached an alley difficult for others to see before speaking, though I didn’t know how long she had been waiting.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Haha, if it’s about the deal, it should have been resolved well, right?”

“…You’re shameless.”

When I shrugged my shoulders, Helena clenched her jaw and gritted her teeth.

“When are you going to make the third request?”

Then she continued, showing cat-like eyes.

“Ah─”

Only then did I nod in agreement and rub my head alone. Among the proposals I had put forward with the princess’s well-being as a condition, I hadn’t yet mentioned the last, third request.

She seems anxious about what I’ll ask for.

I had been watching for the right timing since there was no need to rush things, but I didn’t expect her to come looking for me like this suddenly.

Is it because of Wolf?

I could guess roughly. Not long after I asked her to investigate Wolf’s background, that guy was severely injured, almost to death, and thrown in prison, right?

From Helena’s perspective, a guy she couldn’t get any information on even when tailing him had suddenly eliminated a political opponent.

How frightening must it be? She probably couldn’t sit still, wondering if the princess would follow Wolf’s path once her usefulness decreased.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure not a hair on Rina’s head is harmed.”

“…”

“I’ll contact you when the time comes. It’s fine since I’ll be staying at the military academy anyway, with no plans to go elsewhere, right?”

Then I should reassure her.

“I’m a person who always keeps my word once I say something, Helena. I haven’t forgotten how cooperative you were in Sevirpol.”

Pat pat─

When I patted her shoulder, Helena flinched and clenched her fist tightly. I opened her curled fingers, grasped that hand firmly, and lowered the corners of my eyes gently.

“As you know, Rina and I have resolved our conflict, right? Why would I harm her?”

“I’ve seen your chilling inner self…”

“I’m just an ordinary cadet who grew up under good parents and built up my skills excellently under the name of a commoner, not a crazy person like you imagine.”

However, I didn’t reveal anything about the last request until the end.

It’s not time yet.

I didn’t want to waste carelessly the request I had obtained after a long tug-of-war with her. I should use it rationally at the right time to be good fertilizer for the future.

“…”

Helena couldn’t answer and just stared intently. I let go of the hand I had been holding as if delivering a final blow, and opened my mouth one last time as I took a step.

“I won’t make unreasonable demands. If you just keep the terms of the deal well, there won’t be any unfortunate incidents you’re worried about.”

I passed by Helena, who was standing still, and left the alley.

---

“Yena, you mustn’t get hurt!”

“I got it.”

“Promise!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to die. They’re just sending me to rest a bit away from the military academy.”

“B-but still.”

Erika cried out, clutching my sleeve with teary eyes. Anyone who saw would think it was a scene of someone leaving for a battlefield, but it was actually just a farewell before going on leave.

Of course, I didn’t fully understand Erika’s behavior. She must have felt a lot of guilt from the previous individual duel.

“I’ll buy you something delicious.”

“…Have a safe trip.”

I was able to make Erika let go of my clothes only by tempting her with food, as she was reluctant to let me go until the end. I wondered if she was just sensitive or if she was like this only with me.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Alright, take this opportunity to rest well.”

After breaking free from Erika, I saluted respectfully to Gartel, who had been waiting silently beside us.

The day to enter the Empire had finally arrived.

Thump, thump, thump!

When I placed my hand on my chest, my heart beat irregularly fast. It was very exciting as it was the first time I was going out into the world outside the Federation since possessing this body.

Even though I had occasionally checked how the world was going through newspapers, it felt new to face it directly.

After all, isn’t Bern the center of all culture and the political focal point of the Empire? If things go according to plan, I’ll be able to meet those guys who rule the Empire.

And I’ll form new relationships and encounter other pleasant events. In that sense, I was grateful to Erika and Gartel.

They’re sending me off on my last journey. Gartel is even investing part of his class time here.

In a way, they are the two who made an absolute contribution to me earning the qualification to go to the capital, so it seemed heartwarming that they were decorating both the beginning and the end.

Ah, there’s one more person.

“I didn’t expect you to come.”

“…It’s just a brief greeting.”

I looked up at Rina, who answered with her arms crossed and in a prim tone.

I didn’t expect the princess to say goodbye. She was cold at the entrance ceremony, after all. It was a moment when I felt how much my relationship with her had changed.

“The vehicle has arrived.”

“I’ll send her off soon, stand by.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Escort her to the airfield without any problems. If the Federation army happens to inspect, respond as we’ve trained. Pay extra attention as this is a special outing.”

“I’ll do my best.”

As the transport to the Federation capital had finally arrived, Gartel sent away the administrator who had come running from somewhere to relay the message, then pointed me towards the main gate.

“Do you remember where the truck stopped at the entrance ceremony?”

“Ah, I remember.”

“There will be a truck waiting there. Take that to the capital, then board an airship. They’ll give you detailed instructions there, but that should get you to Bern.”

Thud─

Gartel, as if truly sending me off now, lowered his knees to match my eye level and patted near my elbow.

“If anyone asks about your identity, generally tell them you’re affiliated with the Imperial Army. Make sure not to reveal your status.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to send any other cadet due to anxiety, but the principal specially allowed it because it’s you, Yena. Take care of yourself, and you can go now.”

He waved his hand after finishing the long conversation. I saluted the instructor once more, and

“Have a good trip, Yena!”

With the image of Erika waving her arms wide open as the last thing I saw, I boarded the car.

“We’re departing.”

And I set off.

To Bern.

To the capital of the Empire.