Chapter 134

R̈ẽäd̀ ́õñ ́​K̈ãt̀R̀éâd́ĩn̈​g̈Ĉáf̀è

I returned to the dormitory with a light heart.

I barely made it back in time for curfew.

If it wasn’t for Carlos, I would’ve definitely been late.

Then again, he was the one who brought me there…

Still, what an excellent after-service.

Can I use it again next time?

“Lu-Lucia, ah, miss!”

As I muttered a silly joke and opened the dormitory door, a small figure leaped into my arms.

Only one person had a key to my room.

Practically, it was only Alice, who lived in the same room with me.

When I quietly lowered my head, I saw Alice’s adorable face, on the verge of tears.

“I, I was, worried, about, you.”

It was an overreaction for just being out a little late.

But I could understand how Alice felt.

Even though I insisted I’d be fine and she had no choice but to let me go, Alice had been against me following Carlos from the start.

Class D had a notorious reputation.

Rumors tend to get exaggerated as they spread from mouth to mouth.

The stories about the three troublemakers were more fiction than truth.

I knew that, but for Alice, it was hard to distinguish fact from fiction.

She must have been anxiously worrying if something might have happened to me, and I didn’t even call to let her know I’d be late. 

I could’ve at least called to say I’d be late. But I was having so much fun playing with the kids at the orphanage that I completely forgot. I’m a failure as a guardian (self-proclaimed)…

“I’m sorry. I was out too late, wasn’t I? Don’t worry. Nothing happened.”

Feeling remorseful, I looked down at Alice, who was clinging tightly to my waist.

She looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.

Her big eyes were already glistening with moisture.

Even without super regeneration like Lucia, Alice’s hair was always surprisingly soft.

I absentmindedly stroked it, as if it was a habit.

Carefully wiping away Alice’s tears, I said,

“Hey, Frey.”

“Ye, yes…?”

“Why are you pretending to be Alice?”

“Wh, what are you, talking about…?”

“Your pronunciation is clearer than Alice’s. You’re not dragging out the ends of your words.”

Alice blinked her eyes.

She stared up at me in a daze.

The expression that seemed ready to burst into tears was gradually painted over with a different emotion.

Pouting her lips, she said,

“…You caught me.”

Alice—no, Frey—made a somewhat awkward expression.

She clicked her tongue, muttering that she didn’t expect to be caught so quickly.

After peeking at me, she buried her face in my chest again.

“…You could tell just from that?”

Frey’s breath tickled my chest, making it itch.

I chuckled and hugged Frey tightly.

Yeah, Frey’s (Alice’s) warmth always feels reassuring.

It was similar to, yet different from, the high body temperature of children.

“Of course I could tell. We’re close, aren’t we?”

“…I guess so.”

“Yeah, we’re best friends!”

Unlike Eugene, who is a best friend (in the making), Alice (Frey) is Lucia’s closest friend.

I don’t know how our relationship will change in the future, but right now, she’s the most important person to me.

She’s the first friend I made after becoming Lucia.

To both ‘me’ and ‘Lucia’, Alice (Frey) is the most special person.

There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize her.

If I couldn’t tell Alice and Frey apart, I wouldn’t be worthy of being called her best friend.

Actually, I was just bluffing because I was confused… but, well, who cares? I got it right, so it’s fine!

“Se, see? I, I told you, Lucia, would, figure it out, right away…”

“Ah, it’s really Alice.”

I exclaimed cheerfully.

Then a cold voice replied.

“It’s still me, dummy.”

“Eek!”

“I tried removing the energy from my voice and dragging it out like you said… but you fell for it right away?”

“Uh, uhehe…”

“Who was it that said they’d definitely know?”

I just confidently said that, and now I feel embarrassed…

Frey looked indifferent but smug.

I awkwardly laughed and carefully changed the subject.

“Um, so why were you pretending to be Alice?”

“…Wouldn’t you be worried if your friend, who followed a notorious delinquent, didn’t come back until late? Huh? What do you think?”

“Uh, hehe…”

“If someone’s heart is burning with worry while you’re smiling like an idiot, wouldn’t you feel like being a little mean?”

“Ye, yes…”

I, I’ll reflect deeply on this…

Should I take off my clothes as an apology?

I, I’ve done it before, so I can do it well.

I can even wag my butt like a tail and bark.

Huh? Isn’t that too vulgar?

That’s right. It’s vulgar.

It’s not something a girl in the prime of her youth should do.

Really, Lucia doesn’t live up to her looks.

Who would’ve thought such a radiant beauty could have such a vulgar interior?

Huhu, as I’ve mentioned before.

One of Lucia’s future aspirations is to become a golden retriever.

She wants to build a small doghouse in a wide yard and live there.

She wants to be treated not as a human, but as a mere creature, cruelly deprived of human rights…

If Frey wants, I can even lick her toes and declare myself unfit to be human right now…

Well, just kidding.

But the image of Carlos fetching the ball keeps popping into my head.

Now’s not the time to get lost in delusions.

Lucia, are you really reflecting?

“Lu, Lucia, miss…”

Frey’s cold expression instantly crumbled into a pout.

This time, it’s really Alice. Yeah, definitely.

“Yo, you’re, okay, right? Wh, what, took, you, so, long?”

“It seems nothing happened. I’m curious too. Tell me, what happened?”

“Yeah, I have so much to tell you!”

I need to clear up the misunderstandings about Carlos and explain what happened at the orphanage.

Hehe, I should ask her to come to the orphanage with me next time.

◈

A few days had passed since my visit to the orphanage with Carlos.

Nothing much had happened since then.

Eugene and Leo were still hospitalized.

Alice’s reflection paper had been successfully submitted.

The incident at the academy’s affiliated hospital was by no means a trivial matter.

Yet, it was resolved with just a single reflection paper.

The first reason was likely Eugene’s defense as the victim.

The second reason was the protection of teacher Angelica.

And the third reason was Alice’s 20-page reflection paper, which was practically a thesis.

Lastly, her actions during the cherry blossom festival were likely the decisive factor.

Whatever the reason, it was a huge relief that Alice managed to avoid disciplinary action.

I found out later that on the day I followed Carlos.

Arin and Anastasia had been trailing me.

If Alice hadn’t confessed, I would’ve never known.

The two of them didn’t seem to want to bring it up, so I decided to let it slide.

It didn’t bother me, after all.

It was because of Class D’s notorious reputation that they were worried about Lucia.

Everyone’s wearing such tinted glasses.

Even though the three troublemakers of Class D caused trouble in the past, they’re not beyond redemption.

They just made and sold drugs, manipulated people (unintentionally) with hypnosis, and were raised as assassins for a family, leading to attempted murder.

…That’s serious.

Wait, actually, they’re all dangerous…?

Ah, no. What am I doing?

As a reader of “The Dawn of the Sword”, I know all the ins and outs of Class D.

Even if others don’t, I shouldn’t look at the three troublemakers of Class D with prejudice.

I already made the mistake of suspecting them without trying to understand them properly.

I can’t repeat the same mistake twice. Yeah, reflection upon reflection.

“Lucia, do you have a moment?”

Huh, déjà vu?

I feel like we met at this time and place before.

Early morning on the way to school.

The gray-haired boy suddenly blocked my path and spoke.

This is the second time, so I’m getting used to it.

“Hi, Carlos.”

Now that we’re acquainted, I greeted him with a smile.

When I waved, Carlos nodded a couple of times.

Alice subtly stepped forward.

She positioned herself between me and Carlos.

Regardless, Carlos didn’t pay attention to Alice.

To be precise, he glanced at her once and then immediately looked away.

At first glance, it might seem like he’s ignoring her, but that’s probably not the case given Carlos’s personality.

Maybe he greeted her in his mind.

Don’t just think your greetings, say them out loud.

“What’s up?”

“Weekend. Anna wants to meet.”

For Carlos, the sentence was surprisingly natural.

But there’s still some awkwardness, so let’s interpret it appropriately.

Weekend (are you free?). Anna wants to meet.

…That’s probably what he meant.

“Of course, I’m free.”

I answered immediately.

I already promised to visit again, after all.

Lucia is also a student at the academy, so she’s busy honing her abilities… but yeah, there’s plenty of time. Skipping one day won’t cause any problems. 

Ignoring a child’s expectations? Lucia isn’t that cruel. Actually, it’s just that I want to meet them.

Right now, I have the time, but there’s a high chance I won’t in the future.

The devils are already stirring, and the world is steadily becoming harsher.

The media is busy criticizing the Celestial Corps.

The raids from monsters of the other world are escalating.

When the real incidents start happening, it’s clear that accidents and events will pour in one after another.

That’s how it was in the novel, so it’s highly likely to happen in reality too.

So, let’s meet the kids at the orphanage while we still have the chance.

At least for now, it’s peaceful.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Bang!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
It’s very easy to plan a flag, you know?