Chapter 284

“Yawn.”

A girl sprawled on a bench, yawning lazily.

She had pale skin, delicate features, and black hair that framed her sickly complexion.

It was Riviera, the Blood Witch.

She was a master of lazing around, second to none.

And today, she was indulging in her specialty, whiling away the time.

But there was something different about her expression today.

She seemed lost in thought.

“Not the sky…”

Riviera looked up at the sky and then rolled onto her side.

“Not the ground…”

She flipped over onto her stomach.

“Not the underground either. Where the hell is it?”

She grumbled.

It was understandable.

Ever since she had transferred to the academy undercover, she had been relentlessly searching for the true secret library, the one hidden within the academy.

As she had grumbled, she had searched everywhere, from the sky to the ground.

But she couldn’t find a single trace of it.

“Hmm, I’m not stupid. I’m smart.”

She shook her head, muttering to herself as if refuting her own thoughts.

Anyone who saw her would have thought she was losing her mind.

…Well, she was far from normal, to begin with.

“Someone smarter than me must have hidden it really well. That’s it.”

She nodded repeatedly, reaching a conclusion on her own.

She was good at entertaining herself.

“Yawn.”

Riviera yawned again and rolled around on the bench.

She was like a lazy caterpillar.

And then,

She suddenly sat up.

Her expression changed, as if she had realized something.

Her eyes widened, blinking like a goldfish.

“…There’s another one. There was another one. Am I really that stupid?”

*Thump.*

She punched herself in the head.

Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain, but she resolutely (?) jumped off the bench.

And then,

She flew off, gliding through the air like a swift breeze.

* * *

Lake Ariara.

The lakeshore was deserted, perhaps due to the cold weather and the fact that it was still vacation time.

The surface of the lake was frozen solid.

Riviera stepped onto the frozen lake without hesitation.

And then she crouched down.

“The water. I didn’t check the water properly.”

She muttered, her hand glowing with a crimson light.

She slammed her glowing hand onto the frozen surface.

*Crack!*

The ice shattered, creating a hole large enough for a person to enter.

She could see the water flowing beneath.

“Let’s go.”

She jumped into the hole without hesitation.

*Splash.*

The freezing water pierced her skin, sending chills down her spine.

Her eyes felt like they were freezing, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

But she continued diving deeper.

She was like a seal.

*Bubbles.*

Bubbles rose from her mouth.

She wasn’t drowning, she was breathing.

She had cast an underwater breathing spell.

How long had she been diving?

Riviera’s eyes narrowed.

She had sensed something.

A strange, unnatural sensation.

It was faint, but she didn’t miss it.

She swam towards it.

A wall of rock.

Riviera realized that it was artificial.

‘Hmm, an illusionary wall.’

She muttered to herself and slammed into the wall.

*Thud.*

Her body was stopped.

It was a high-level illusionary spell with physical properties.

The solution was simple.

Break through it with force.

Riviera’s body glowed with a crimson aura.

She charged at the wall again.

*Boom!*

This time, she broke through.

A new space appeared before her eyes.

A strange underwater cave.

She swam into the cave.

* * *

“Heh heh, as expected.”

Riviera celebrated her discovery of the true secret library, her smile and tone lacking enthusiasm.

She was happy.

Of course she was happy.

But her expression was strangely complex.

She had achieved her objective.

She had fulfilled the purpose of her undercover mission at the academy.

There was no reason for her to stay any longer.

If it had been the old her, the her who had first set foot in this academy, she would have left without hesitation.

But.

“…”

Riviera fell silent, lost in thought.

She remained in that state for a long time.

* * *

Mount Harkin.

It was a place filled with memories for me now.

And it was probably the same for her.

*Munch, munch.*

Hiresia was eating slowly today.

It was unusual for her, the elf who usually devoured her food with gusto.

She looked like a sick chicken.

What was wrong with her today?

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“I am unwell.”

“Huh? Where does it hurt?”

“My heart.”

“…”

Had she eaten something strange today?

Why was she acting so weird?

…Did elves get the winter blues instead of the autumn blues?

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

“Because the days we can spend like this are numbered.”

“…”

I finally understood how she was feeling.

She was a fourth-year student, and spring was approaching.

She would graduate soon.

She would have to leave the academy, whether she liked it or not.

It was understandable for her to feel sentimental.

She had made many memories here, and she had formed strong bonds with the people here.

But.

“Don’t talk like we’ll never see each other again. We’re not that kind of couple.”

I said, feeling a pang of sadness.

Hiresia and I were in a committed relationship now.

After resolving the incident in the Forgotten Forest, there were no more obstacles between us.

She hadn’t fallen into darkness, and she had been a great help during the various dangerous incidents in the second semester, even if she hadn’t realized it.

It was something that had never happened before.

It was a clear result of clearing her character route.

And I intended to continue enjoying the benefits of that achievement.

She didn’t have to leave Holy City just because she was graduating.

So why was she suddenly saying such depressing things…?

“Yes, of course. But…”

“Yes?”

“I’m planning to leave your side for a while after graduation.”

“What?!”

*Boom!*

Her unexpected announcement hit me like a bombshell.

I was speechless, my mind reeling from the shock.

After a while, I managed to gather my thoughts and asked in a trembling voice, “W-What do you mean?”

I had heard it from the Saint herself.

That the academy was where the last piece of the Dark God was sealed.

It was an incredibly important place.

Knowing that, I couldn’t let Hiresia leave the academy.

She was someone who could be of great help in a crisis.

…So what the hell was going on?

“Hmm, you seem quite shocked.”

“Of course I am!”

“Honestly, it was a difficult decision for me as well. But I believe it’s the right decision for the future.”

“But why?”

“Because I don’t think I can become stronger by your side.”

“Huh?”

My eyes widened in surprise at her unexpected reason.

Hiresia looked at me intently.

“I realized it clearly after the incident in my mother’s forest and the series of unsettling events that followed. This world is in grave danger. So I need to become stronger. So I can protect you.”

“…”

My heart ached.

Her words were filled with sincerity.

She wanted to become stronger to protect me, her lover.

It was a touching sentiment.

But…

She was already a monster, was there even room for her to become stronger?

“…I understand, Hiresia. And I’m grateful for your feelings.”

I bowed my head sincerely and continued, “But… Are you sure you can become stronger? Even stronger than you are now?”

“You think I can’t? That dark elf?”

Hiresia rolled up her left sleeve, revealing a scar.

A sword scar.

A reminder of her battle with Natasha.

My eyes widened.

“At that level, becoming stronger is…”

“No, I will become stronger. I have to become stronger as well.”

Hiresia’s voice was filled with conviction.

An unshakeable conviction.

“I’m going back to my mother. The answer lies there.”

Hiresia’s mother was the World Tree.

The Primordial Tree that I had protected for the first time in this playthrough.

It was a supernatural being.

Something beyond human comprehension.

‘If it’s the World Tree…’

Hiresia’s power came from the World Tree.

Perhaps it was possible.

No, it was definitely possible.

If she was this determined.

‘I have no choice.’

I had to respect her decision.

She wasn’t just a heroine, she was a special heroine.

Her decision could have significant consequences in the future.

“I understand. I’m a bit sad, but I’ll respect your choice and wait for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

We smiled at each other.

Our smiles conveyed our feelings better than words ever could.

“I’m relieved that I was able to teach you everything I know.”

It was true.

Silent Shot, Soundless Shot, even Multi-Shot.

She had taught me all of her advanced skills.

It was only possible thanks to the hidden trait, Hero’s Growth.

Of course, even with all those skills, my archery skills would never be on par with hers, the elf who possessed the unique trait of the Divine Archer.

“It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching.”

I smiled.

“Were you here?”

“Gah?!”

I jumped in surprise, startled by the sudden appearance of an unexpected guest.

“W-What?”

My eyes widened in shock.

Riviera stood there, drenched from head to toe.

She looked like she had been caught in a downpour, even though the weather was dry.

What the hell…?

“C-Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

Hiresia coughed nervously behind me.

She had been so focused on our conversation that she hadn’t noticed Riviera’s arrival either.

And there was meat here…

“W-W-W-Why is the meat here? Ah, y-you ate it, right? Y-You ate it all, right? I-I’ll clean it up.”

…You’re acting even weirder now, Hiresia.

*Sprinkle, sprinkle.*

Hiresia covered the meat with dirt.

She was clearly not in her right mind.

Fortunately, Riviera didn’t seem interested in her bizarre behavior.

I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

She was a four-dimensional being, after all.

A normal person wouldn’t appear looking like a drowned rat.

“W-Why? Why?”

I asked quickly, trying to gauge her mental state.

“Hmm, are you on a dinner date?”

“No, no, we were just doing some hunting training.”

I quickly picked up the bow that was lying nearby.

“And I ate it all by myself.”

It was a desperate attempt to protect Hiresia’s secret.

*Shiver, shiver.*

I could feel Hiresia trembling behind me.

…She seemed to know what would happen if Riviera found out about her weakness.

“Are you busy?”

“H-Huh?”

Thankfully, Riviera was acting normal today.

…Too normal, it was strange.

“No, not really. We just finished our training.”

I abruptly ended the training session.

Separating my elf senior and my four-dimensional classmate was my top priority.

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yeah, but why?”

“I have a question.”

“A question? What is it?”

I looked at her curiously.

And then,

Riviera asked the most absurd question.

“Do you want me to leave?”

…What was with everyone today?

Why was she acting like this?