Chirp Chirp!

Youth.

It was the word that a boy had read most attentively among the contents of a book he found in a junkyard.

The time when new buds sprout green in spring would surely be the most valuable time in life.

In the content dealing with such a shining period, a space called ‘school’ always appeared, and the boy felt his longing for that place growing from a corner of his heart.

Yes, if he goes to the surface, the first place he should visit is school.

If grades are guaranteed, scholarships are also available, so if he studies hard, he could maintain a stable life on his own.

‘Hehe, I hope I can make many friends.’

The journey towards the academy that began with the pure purpose of making friends.

What awaited the boy who succeeded in achieving the top score in the entrance exam was days of joyful youth that he couldn’t experience underground…

“Shut up, you worthless commoner!”

…was not it.

It was a harsh treatment he had never experienced even underground.

“How dare you set foot in this place? I didn’t apply to this school to breathe the same air as a worthless person like you!”

There are classes in surface society, and these classes sometimes become unreasonable hostility towards someone.

It took quite some time to accept this realization.

After all, in the underground where he had lived, there were not only no classes, but also no clearly defined rules at all.

“If the class is low, should I not speak to them?”

Of course, even if he accepted it, he still couldn’t understand.

If he had lived in a normal society, he might have conformed to such a system, but coincidentally, the boy had always asked “why?” to things he hadn’t learned.

So if there’s something he doesn’t know, he asks first.

Such ignorant behavior always tended to surprise those who yelled at him.

“Wh-what?”

“Well, according to school rules, all students are equal, aren’t they?”

In fact, Maris is an extraterritorial area not subject to the laws of any country.

As the class system based on each student’s origin is not maintained, all students are treated equally, so the boy’s question could be considered valid.

If there was no proper reason from the other side.

“Ha! You have no sense at all.”

“Sense?”

“Yes, low-level people like you should just bow your heads to those higher than you, that’s all!”

“But the school rules…”

“This stupid guy can’t understand even when told, live your whole life being that dull!!”

The nobles who left, expressing frustration at the boy who still couldn’t understand.

The boy still felt doubtful about their unreasonableness, but separately from that, he could clearly understand one thing.

“Is that the kid?”

But separately from that, he could clearly understand one thing.

Apart from the concept of class, at some point, he had been recognized as a ‘dangerous existence’ to them.

“Yeah, that’s right, the one who broke the window.”

“They say he shattered with his bare hands a window that wouldn’t break even with lethal magic.”

“He’s a complete monster.”

Yes, whatever it is, if they put him below them, he wouldn’t threaten them.

The system commonly called the survival of the fittest was one of the concepts most often glimpsed in the boy’s hometown.

“I just want to get along with everyone.”

But regardless of that, it was a very unfortunate situation for the boy who came to school dreaming of youth.

He even felt disappointed in his classmates who didn’t understand his heart, but nevertheless, the boy repeatedly made his best efforts within what he could do.

Although they were harsh, not everyone was like that.

‘Good job. My first disciple.’

Although it was just a momentary encounter, still…

The kindness he received at that moment remained in the boy’s memory, coming as a strength to endure hardships even now.

‘…Let’s work hard.’

The ring with a red cross pattern still worn on his finger even after that day’s encounter.

That alone was becoming the boy’s only support in his tough school life.

---

And, about a month after leaving her care.

[Maris Academy Junior High School 1st Year 1st Semester, Midterm Exam (Written) Rankings]

1st – Dale Enberton (100 points)

2nd – Binz Jogret (97 points)

3rd – Sylvia Esprit (82 points)

.

.

.

The moment he saw the ranking list posted on the school bulletin board, the boy couldn’t contain his excitement and shouted at the top of his lungs.

‘I did it!! I really did it!!’

It was a cry that arose from pure joy, in stark contrast to the glares he had been receiving all along.

Although it was just a written test, not a practical one, still.

It proved that his top score in the entrance exam was by no means just a fluke.

But what made him happiest was that he had gained an opportunity to meet his mentor again.

‘Now I can go thank the teacher!’

It would be rude to visit just because things were tough, but if he had achieved results like this, it would surely be okay to visit.

To express his gratitude that he was able to achieve this far because of her presence.

‘Teacher! I’m here! It’s Dale!’

So the boy ran towards the infirmary wearing the ring she had given him, and prepared to step inside as he flung the door wide open.

To face his teacher who would still be staying there.

-Drip.

But what the boy encountered as he stepped in was an ominous colored liquid filling the floor of the infirmary…

‘Huh?’

An exclamation escaped his lips.

And at that moment, the air that entered through his opened mouth began to spread the smell of iron throughout his mouth.

It’s a pungent smell.

He felt his mind becoming dizzy from it, but even so, the boy couldn’t take his eyes off the scene unfolding before him.

‘Tea…cher?’

A haggard-looking woman wearing a white gown.

Yes, the one sitting alone in this room was certainly his mentor.

What was flowing on this floor had certainly come from her body.

‘Teacher, are you hur…’

‘It’s okay.’

Yet she doesn’t complain of pain.

Although her complexion is poor and cold sweat is flowing, there’s still a smile on her face as she looks at him.

‘It’s okay, Dale. There’s no problem at all.’

‘Teacher, why…’

‘Stay right there quietly.’

The conversation ended there.

After that, she quietly stood up and began to move to the opposite side, turning her back on him.

Into the deep, deep darkness that existed beyond the infirmary.

Countless blades were stuck all over her back, which was gradually being hidden.

Like shards of broken glass.

‘No.’

At the moment when the blood gushing from there became even thicker.

The boy felt his heart sink.

What on earth had happened?

Why is she trying to leave this place in such a state?

‘Don’t go, teacher… Teacher!’

Rational judgment was impossible.

Just the thought that if left like this, something irreversible might happen.

He reflexively took a step forward with that thought, but even that sank down as soon as he stepped on the liquid pooled on the floor.

‘Teacher, teacher, teacher!!! Please…’

At the moment when the floor full of blood gradually changed like a swamp.

Even as he sank into it, the boy didn’t feel the threat to his own safety.

He just desperately called out to the one leaving into the darkness even at this moment.

‘Please don’t go, Teacher Seine!!!!’

Only screams echoed at the scene.

Despite the desperation, everything the boy could see was eventually buried and disappeared into the darkness.

And then…

---

-Thud!!

With a loud noise, his vision cleared.

When Dale came to his senses, what he saw were the familiar ceiling and his lower body hanging over the bed, having rolled off it.

A hard sensation felt at the back of his head, and a dull pain.

“…Ugh?”

Dale, clutching his throbbing head, carefully looked around to grasp the situation.

What he saw when he came to his senses was the interior of a familiar room. It was the old dormitory where he had stayed for a month since coming to the academy.

Just by looking around, he could realize.

“A dream…?”

Yes, it was a dream.

And a terribly bad nightmare at that.

-Chirp!

The chirping of a bird heard the moment he realized it.

Dale’s gaze, after hastily adjusting his clothes, slowly turned towards the window following that sound.

The warm sunlight shining through the window of the old dormitory.

What was outside were sparrows chirping on the tree branches that had grown up to the window.

-Chirp.

-Chirp chirp! Chirp!

A concert of small birds crying out in harmony.

Dale, listening to their cries, unconsciously blurted out the thought that came to his dazed mind.

“Is it sparks because there are many chirps…?”

-Chirp!

The male sparrow mounted on top of the female cried out vigorously.