episode_0069

A morning when the night air recedes and warm sunlight begins to shine down.

After seeing off Senior Perzena, a boy who was handing out thin newspapers ran next to me as I was walking down the street toward the academy at a slower pace than usual.

“Extra!”

“Um… ”

I picked up the newspaper the boy had tossed at my feet and passed by, and checked the news printed on the front page as large as a door.

“… As expected.”

As expected, there was an aerial photo of the ruined square, along with the words, “Large-scale destruction discovered in Academy Square. Who is responsible?”

I saw it with my own eyes yesterday, but looking at the photos taken from afar, the state of the square was truly miserable.

A road with countless large black marks carved all over it, and bricks completely peeled away and swept away by the shock wave.

In the flower beds, there were no plants standing upright except for grass, and dozens of street trees had been cut down to their trunks, exposing their growth rings.

The traces of the battle that occurred on such a large scale were so clear that it was hard to imagine that it was just two people fighting.

If the Academy had not been located in a remote area surrounded by mountains, the loud noise and flash of light from there would have already caused someone, either the Knights or the fire department, to arrive to investigate the situation.

Perhaps the residents living closest to the Academy could have heard the commotion that echoed through the night.

However, it must have just passed by without much thought, thinking it was just a festival or the sound of fireworks.

It was late at night, but not so late in the morning when everyone was asleep, and it would have been loud enough to be buried in the other noises of the city.

Anyway, judging from the state of the newspaper article, it seems that the fact that it was me and Duracal who destroyed the square was not discovered.

Since there were no witnesses, it would be difficult to identify the culprit, and in the first place, if it was discovered that Durakal had done such a thing, it would have been a nuisance to society, so there is a high probability that he concealed any clues or information.

However, I think the people around me were quite worried because they knew that I would remain at the academy until that time.

Moreover, since he is late, it is the perfect condition for causing misunderstandings.

“… Let’s go quickly.”

I put magic into my steps and started running through the air towards the academy.

The later it gets, the more frightening Lucica and Heidiera’s nagging will become.

*

As we entered the academy grounds, we saw workers with construction equipment inspecting the destroyed plaza.

It was a scene that made one feel like Durakal was trying to quickly repair the square and cover up the commotion.

I ignored the workers and walked up the hill, past the main academy building and the dormitories, and quietly entered the podium where morning training was in full swing.

The inside of the podium was filled with hundreds of students gathered for training, perhaps due to the state of the plaza that had caused the cancellation of the academic schedule.

From the entrance, I could feel the noisy atmosphere of them gathered in groups of three or four, talking through my skin.

The students were just pretending to do the drills roughly and talking to those around them about the mess they had seen that morning.

“Erto!”

“Leto Ball!”

As I was moving to the edge to avoid being noticed at the entrance, I saw girls approaching me through the crowd of students, calling out my name.

“Lucica! Heidiera!”

I stood behind the trees at the corner of the podium so as not to attract the attention of other students, and called out the names of the two girls who had caught my eye and were running towards me.

“Thank goodness! I thought something happened when you didn’t come on time! You idiot!”

Lucica, who had been running towards me with her cherry-colored twintails fluttering, ran into my arms with that momentum.

“Sorry, sorry.”

Heidiera, who followed Lucica, also let out a sigh of relief and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Lord Lotto, why are you so late? If you didn’t come even after waiting a little longer, I was going to go look for you at home.”

“Ah… That’s… ”

I pulled the two of them under the shadow of the street trees and quietly explained to them the whole story of what had happened yesterday so that the other students wouldn’t hear.

*

“Duracal That guy is really out of his mind now?”

After all the explanations were over, Lucica opened her mouth in disbelief and said,

I nodded in agreement with her opinion.

“I didn’t know that guy would do something so reckless. I had a feeling it would happen to some extent… But now I think I need to come up with some more practical measures.”

Heidiera, who had been quietly listening to those words, let out a heavy breath.

“Hmm… This isn’t just a matter of Durakal’s personal revenge against the small people. It seems like the Durakal family is planning to rebel against the country in the near future. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, if everything you said is true… It seems that the Durakal family has been building up its power for a long time to take over this country. Now, they are nearing the critical point.”

Durakal, who has been deeply involved in the power structure of this country for several generations by using the curse of charm.

With the axis of evil now absorbing the power of the greatest wizard ever produced by the House of Brood, it was clear that the time for a coup was just around the corner.

“If we delay too long, it is clear that an uncontrollable situation will occur. It is time to think about what we can do against this great evil… how we can stop their rebellion. Schoolwork is not the issue right now.”

I nodded heavily at Heidiera’s words.

Regarding the curse of charm used on Tirisia, only the people here, Seldianne, and Senior Perzena know the secret of the Durakal family.

In a situation where the opponent’s power and authority are unknown, the number of allies to stop them is woefully inadequate.

In order to turn the tide of the war, corner Duracal, and prevent a rebellion, it seemed necessary to first increase our size.

“In the end, there’s no choice but to reveal that bastard’s secret to society and cause a huge stir.”

“Now, if we use the memories Erto Nega experienced yesterday and Seldi’s mirror, the evidence will be clear.”

Lucica said with a smile as if calling the check.

“Yes, now we have a way to prove what kind of plot Duracal is plotting. Thankfully, he confessed everything with his own mouth. Now we have a card to exploit our opponent’s weakness.”

As I nodded to her words, Heidiera added while wiggling her fingers next to me.

“However, you must also be careful about moving from this side. If you move without sufficient planning and groundwork, Duracal will immediately use force to attack everyone.”

“That’s right… If we don’t cut off the plan in one breath, no one knows what kind of damage will occur. Right now, even Durakal isn’t moving openly… But if they’re cornered and really go crazy, there will definitely be casualties.”

“How can I catch Durakal while minimizing the damage…?”

I smiled bitterly and patted her head as Lucica pouted her lips in thought.

“First of all, I think it would be better to stay silent and not provoke Duracal until we find the method. Lucica.”

“Huh? So… Are you saying that I should pretend not to know anything and go to the academy like I usually do?”

Lucica asked back with a disgruntled expression, but it was the best option she could make in the current situation.

Heidiera also nodded heavily, looking at the floor as if she understood it.

“It’s frustrating, but this is an issue that requires thorough countermeasures. Until the victory is certain, it would be better to not make any moves on our part, which would make the opponent even more let down their guard.”

“Yeah… So we should continue our Academy life as usual, and when we’re ready, we should turn the tables in an instant without giving Durakal a chance to respond. The Academy is basically right in the middle of enemy territory… But it’ll be harder for Durakal to touch us if we’re stuck among the students. If we’re alone in a place where no one is around like I was yesterday, there’s a risk of being attacked… ”

“Hmm, okay, I understand for now.”

Lucica agreed with me, and I put my hands on her and Heidiera’s shoulders and said,

“From today, let’s all move together when going to and from the Academy. I’ll take you home. For now, Durakal said he wouldn’t touch us… But I think that will put my mind at ease.”

“Haha, I’m feeling good. I’m spending more time with Erto.”

Lucica smiled brightly and linked arms with me.

Seeing that relaxed look, Heidi also felt a little relieved, and she quietly came closer to me and held my hand.

“I am most worried about Lord Leto. Please make sure that your own safety is also your top priority. Do you understand?”

“Okay, I got it.”

After sorting out the situation with the two people, we ended the conversation by going about our daily lives as usual until something concrete came up.

*

And the next day.

Ttukbuk-

Ttukbuk-

After finishing my academy schedule and dropping Lucica and Heidiera off at home, and even finishing my after-school training at a nearby park, I was walking down the street at night, which had already gotten dark.

Of course, I had learned a lesson the day before yesterday, so I was not left alone on this dark night road.

“You worked hard today too, disciple.”

Right now, there was my senior Perjena, who had been sitting next to me since after school.

“Thank you for staying by my side until the end of training, Senior.”

To prevent a possible second attack by Durakal, my senior was openly showing up next to me while I was training until night.

“No, this is my hobby. Now I can watch my student sweating right next to me without worrying about what others think, so it’s good for me.”

“Now it’s time to take you home, senior. Let’s go together, senior.”

“I’d like to see you go home and then go back alone… But Erto, you wouldn’t allow that, right?”

“Yes.”

I absolutely could not accept the situation where I was the one being seen off by Senior Perzena.

As I nodded firmly, my senior smiled and walked with me, arms linked, clinging close to me.

“Then there’s no choice. Take me, Erto.”

“Of course.”

As I was walking down a quiet street with her, breathing in the cool night air,

“Have you ever talked to the kids about it?”

The senior asked a question in a cautious tone.

“Confession… Are you talking?”

“Yeah. I know it’s too hasty to ask this already, but I’m just curious.”

I smiled and shook my head at my senior, who was scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, senior. I haven’t been able to bring that up to the kids yet. Just talking about dealing with Durakal makes me feel uneasy… Please wait a little longer.”

“Kuhuhu, what the heck, I never thought it would be resolved in two days. I’m not rushing you, so don’t worry about it.”

“But that’s an important issue too… I’ll make sure to resolve it quickly.”

“Okay, but until then, can I use your free-use ticket?”

“That much is fine.”

I readily offered my arm to my senior and felt the weight of my body half-leaning on it.

If others saw you walking like this, they might mistake you for a couple, but since you’re making your senior wait, I guess I have to accept that to some extent.

It was when two people, entangled in a single shadow under the rising moonlight, were walking down an empty road.

Ttukbuk-

Ttukbuk-

“―!”

Feeling the familiar aura of magical power from the front, my senior and I simultaneously opened our eyes sharply and grabbed the handles of our swords.

In the shadow of the building in front, which was like a curtain,

A man was seen walking out with slow steps.

“Open―”

A large man appeared with a relaxed posture, his hands in his pockets.

Kelg Durakal smiled and greeted us.

“What, did you come here to look for me?”

Senior Perjena immediately gritted her teeth and took a step forward.

Then, Durakal spread out both his hands and smiled cheerfully.

“Wow, calm down. I didn’t come here to fight.”

In fact, he was not equipped with the large sword he usually carried on his back.

Of course, given that he had the magical power of Tirisia, he would be strong enough to fight bare-handed, but the fact that he stood before the two of us without a sword meant that victory was not guaranteed.

I placed a hand on my senior’s shoulder to calm him down, and asked Durakal.

“Didn’t we decide not to touch it anymore? Why did you show up again? On such a dark night.”

“If I show you my face again, I told you I’ll take the beads first, right? Huh?”

Senior Perzena shouted, clutching his sword tightly as if he was about to draw it at any moment.

Durakal looked at the sight and answered with a bitter smile.

“Ah, I meant it when I said I wouldn’t attack you anymore. I meant it. Do you think I came here to fight you both at the same time without a sword?”

“Then what are you doing here! Get out now!”

The senior growled with a blue light shining from his eyes, but Durakal spread his arms and laughed mockingly at her.

“Heh heh… Well, it doesn’t really matter if I don’t get involved with you guys anymore, but I feel like I have to tell you this.”

“What kind of nonsense are you going to do now?”

“Not you, but to that Erto boy.”

“Ha… ?”

The senior asked again with a frown, and Durakal’s black gaze was fixed on me.

“What is that?”

When I asked quietly, he laughed, running his hands through his hair as if mocking prey caught in a trap.

“Seeing him sticking to the woman next to him without even knowing what kind of person she is… Honestly, I feel a little sorry for him.”

“… What on earth are you talking about?”

When I asked him again because I couldn’t understand his words, Duracal answered with a cracking sound from his neck.

“This duracal is trying its best to protect your right to know so that you won’t be fooled any longer. ”

The one who suddenly turned cold in response to those words was Senior Perjena, who was standing next to him.

“Hey… Hey… You son of a bitch… What the hell are you talking about… ”

Paying no attention to the grumbling, Durakal pointed to her face with his index finger.

“Would you like me to tell you what that bitch who confessed her love to you actually did?”

“… ”

I quietly listened to his next words.

“That girl… ”

The moment Durakal opens his mouth again,

“Shut up!”

bang!

Senior Perzena ran towards him and struck him with a claymore over his head.

The ground cracked and debris flew up,

[… Heh heh]

Durakal’s appearance had already disappeared from there.

“… !”

The two of us who sensed his magic turned around,

Duracal, who had moved to the rear, continued his interrupted speech in a bitter voice.

“That girl… ”

And the words that came out of his mouth were―

“The person who helped me charm my ex-girlfriend.”

Something I couldn’t even imagine,

It was such a shocking story.