episode_0169

“Hello, everyone.”

“Ooooh- Narias!”

“How have you been, Narias-nim?”

Time flowed swiftly thereafter, like a stream.

The academy continued to run smoothly, as it always had, and everyone went about their daily lives as usual.

Thanks to a sufficiently long and well-deserved rest, most people experienced changes, big or small.

“Hehe… We’ve decided to date.”

“That’s great. I thought you two would be a good match.”

“Ugh- We agreed not to say anything…♡”

The leader of the unthinking Nari fan club and the de facto leader of the 1-A male cadets had tanned his skin completely black within just a month.

Similarly, the pure-image girl with glasses who always read books in the corner of the classroom shed her glasses, her defining feature, and unleashed the power she had been hiding (large breasts).

Whether love brought about the change, or the changed appearance led to love, it’s unclear.

What’s certain is that both changed into more honest versions of themselves after experiencing the hot summer.

Before the greatest power in this world, love, any principles or rules are easily shattered.

Nari knew this very well and decided to bless their future together.

Meanwhile, with couples sprouting up in 1-A like mushrooms after a rain, it was common to see men and women paired up.

Among them were some couples who had been together for a surprisingly long time.

“So, you… stress-ate?”

“It’s not like that, you idiot-!”

Nari tapped her forehead and pondered.

If her stomach is already bulging… how many months ago did they start having sex?

Certainly, until the moment classes ended, there was only a subtle current between them; outwardly, they were simply good friends.

And then she remembered.

The sight of two men and women at the academy who would bicker with each other, only to have their eyes roll into the back of their heads at the dormitory, becoming lovers who consume each other.

The image alone was enough for a pure love story, so Nari quickly opened her subspace storage in between her legs to prevent a mountain from rising above her skirt.

“Right. You two are prepared?”

“Yes… No matter what happens, we’ll definitely give birth and raise them beautifully.”

“To protect the child and the mother, I need to become stronger too.”

Without any need for worry, they were already proper parents.

Nari blessed their future and promised to help actively if anything happened.

The myriad things in this world all undergo change, but not all changes are good.

Like the universe fairly mixing good changes and bad changes together.

Not everyone in 1-A was reunited on this day.

“Jane… sadly, has left the academy.”

Nari refrained from unnecessary truths, only speaking what must be said.

Jane was a noble lady from the Empire, and she had to leave the academy due to personal reasons.

It’s best to avoid the urge to even say goodbye.

Even if a highly clandestine meeting was to take place, this small piece of information alone could attract Moriarty’s pursuit.

Jane Phryne Darius must be considered dead that day.

Without completely erasing all unnecessary connections, there’s no meaning in giving her a new life.

“Narias, that…”

In the end, are feelings conveyed in words?

Having experienced the academy incident firsthand, and with the implication that Jane could not be seen again…

Most cadets came to assume her death.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“But…”

The impact of the death of someone with whom they shared precious time, even if short, was not easy for these fresh young people to bear.

Sniffles were heard from various places.

Nari had no choice but to add a word.

“Someday, we’ll definitely meet again.”

Very ambiguous words.

For some, it would sound like an optimistic plea grasping at a vain hope.

For others, it would sound like a sentimental wish hinting at the distant future of the afterlife.

However, for Nari, it was neither a plea nor sentiment.

When enough time passes, and the threat to her life from Moriarty disappears.

It was a firm declaration that she will make it possible to meet Jane again.

The meaning was sufficiently conveyed.

Even if they felt Nari’s words were false, no one would criticize her by picking holes in her remarks.

“Yeah… We should definitely meet again someday.”

“Until then, I should become a better person.”

Nari smiled faintly.

Because the anxiety and pessimism seen in the first semester were no longer present on their faces.

Whether it was pregnancy or a first experience, everyone went through their own things during the summer, and their growth was clearly visible.

As a result, she could only feel proud of everyone’s positive changes.

However.

One thing, a feeling that cannot be expressed in words, welled up in her heart.

A look that seemingly had changed, and yet had not.

The relaxed and bright expression returned to what it had been in the beginning of the first semester, the pale, stiff face of a girl.

As if she had no interest in what anyone else was doing.

Resting her chin on her hand, staring out the window, her light blue hair gently cascading down.

It was because of Eve, who smelled of Magi.

. . .

Tap- tap-

Early morning.

These days, there’s a place Aspie visits every day right after starting work.

There is no particular reason.

It’s simply because a certain cadet who used to train there always comes to mind, leading him to habitually show his face.

Initially, it was jealousy over his friendship with Nari.

Compared to Nari’s other wives, Aspie had spent relatively less time with her.

The absolute time was also short.

With only the determination to become her knight, he had devoted himself to solitary training for over ten years, so his reunion with her was relatively recent.

Therefore, although he didn’t show it outwardly, he secretly felt jealous of those around Nari.

Therefore, Eve became a target as well.

Then, curiosity arose.

What kind of life had she lived to wield such a bizarre sword?

She appears to wield it correctly, but up close it wobbles subtly as if she were drunk.

The difference is imperceptible even to many people.

Because Aspie, having the second-best perception immediately after Nari, was also likely more skilled in swordsmanship, a physical aspect.

What became apparent was her inability to fully concentrate her spirit in her sword.

After seeing all of this, what remained was empathy.

Having recently developed an ability to sense other people’s expressions and feelings, Eve was like a blank sheet of white paper to Aspie

An emotionless expression, like a corpse.

Because he didn’t really know her, he could not figure out what she was thinking at all.

But he looked at the tip of her sword.

He saw the sword tip trembling, shaking, struggling in pain and fear, trying to escape from it.

It didn’t move him to the point of heartbrokenness.

He wasn’t close enough to Eve for that to happen.

However, his thoughts lingered.

Even after finishing work he felt a bitter feeling and even lying down felt heavy.

Ultimately, every morning, at the same time he visited the academy’s training ground.

Whirrr—

“During the holidays… did something happen?”

It was a wasted trip.

Eve’s appearance, like the unchanged picture every day during the same time, the same location, could no longer be found.

Although it wasn’t necessarily to confront her again, Nari had given him a new sword, so maybe this could serve as an experiment

Having no other choice, Aspie swung his sword alone.

Woosh- whoosh—

He cut through the air with his sword, and lightly infused it with mana, creating sword strikes in midair.

After spending a considerable amount of time training alone like this.

It was a newfound realization.

“…It’s too lonely.”

Loneliness is simply a form of suffering.

. . .

“…I understand. Thank you for being honest with me.”

“It’s alright. I was also worried…”

That night, Aspie had talked with Nari.

The topic, naturally, was Eve, a problem that even Nari, the mental pillar of 1-A, was struggling with.

“The one worrying the most is you, isn’t it?”

Even Nari, who had always been steadfast, showed cracks in her facade.

Sometimes her eyes were not clear, and she would often stare blankly into the distance during lectures.

She too, though not expressing it verbally, seemed to be constantly worrying about this.

In place of an answer, she gave a slightly bitter smile and hugged Aspie closely.

“…Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Don’t agonize alone let’s worry together. That’s why we’re here, you know.”

“Yes, I will.”

Nari’s smiling eyes were somewhat hazy, but strong and steady.

After shedding her heavy clothes, tired from the day, she quietly lay on the bed and patted the space beside her.

“Let’s sleep together tonight.”

“…Okay.”

Nari realized sometimes larger and firmer attachment dolls are acceptable as well.

Although they spent a comfortable night’s rest, their worries didn’t easily disappear.

Nari and her companions receive an answer from an unexpected person.