episode_0061

Grace and Ena’s relationship wasn’t very deep. They had been on the battlefield together many times, but that was the extent of it. They didn’t get along closely, nor did they have many private conversations. They simply treated each other as comrades belonging to the same unit.

At that time, it was a natural thing. The battlefield is a place where a comrade who was next to you just moments ago can die in the blink of an eye. Rather than building unnecessary attachments and becoming mentally exhausted, it was better for everyone to remain in a professional relationship. Both Grace and Ena were practically experts in that regard.

However, the two were slightly different.

Grace didn’t readily talk to others besides Asel first. She would only say what was necessary and leave. On the other hand, while not giving affection to others, Ena would persistently inquire about things she was curious about.

Asel was one of those targets.

-You. How do you cut magic? And how did you twist the formulas with a sword?

-……I just did it because I could.

-What kind of talk is that? Explain it so I can understand.

-I don’t know what you’re talking about, coming here out of the blue, but that’s all I explained. It’s not like a person calculates how much air is around them before breathing and how much they’ll inhale before taking a breath; I just did what I could based on instinct.

-So you mean you’re a genius.

-…….

Their conversation ended with Asel’s silence. After that, the two never conversed again. This was because Ena died in the battle that occurred immediately afterward.

In a situation where everything was at a disadvantage, she alone held off the large army, delaying destruction.

That’s why Grace had a somewhat good feeling towards Ena. If you didn’t think well of a hero who sacrificed herself, who would you think well of?

It was also why she felt relieved after learning that Asel had become Ena’s disciple. She could be trusted and was remarkably skilled, so she would be able to polish the gem that was Asel well.

“……”

But she didn’t anticipate this.

“Who are all these kids?”

“They are my friends I made at the academy.”

Inside Asel’s dormitory room. Grace, Ellen, and Elena sat on a large sofa, and Asel and Ena sat opposite them. In a configuration that felt like a standoff, Grace swallowed hard.

While she briefly organized her thoughts under Ena’s expressionless gaze, Asel, who had returned with the two, had instantly created this situation. It was fortunate that he didn’t seem to be in pain, but because of Ena standing firmly beside him, she couldn’t just celebrate his safe return.

She wanted to use every means possible to check his condition, but she had to back down at Ena’s expression, which seemed to say she would bite if she came closer.

Maybe before the regression, but the current Grace couldn’t even reach Ena’s toes. If they fought, she would turn to ashes and be scattered by the wind before even drawing her sword. Grace knew her place very well.

“Friends……”

While Grace was lost in complicated thoughts, Ena also narrowed her eyes and looked at the three people sitting opposite her. One blonde woman with a sharp impression, one vampire girl who looked like a puppy, and one woman with red hair.

Each of them possessed extraordinary auras. Although they hadn’t yet unleashed their potential due to their age, they were talents capable of explosive growth given the right trigger. It wasn’t for nothing that they were admitted to the academy. They were certainly worthy of being recognized as Asel’s friends.

However, there was one major problem.

‘Why are they all girls?’

Ena didn’t know much about the creature called ‘male’. But she knew that the beings they called ‘friends’ usually referred to other males. While there were occasionally people who made female friends, generally their number didn’t exceed that of same-sex friends.

But… the people right before her eyes were all girls. For some reason, that grated on Ena’s nerves. The excitement she had felt moments ago instantly settled, and something murky began to creep up.

But she didn’t show it. Even if she didn’t like it, they were Asel’s friends for now. It was right not to do anything that would make him dislike her.

“……Ena Renatus. Asel’s teacher.”

She introduced herself with an indifferent expression. In response, the three also revealed their identities.

“I am Ellen Hargelin. I’ve been with Asel since the entrance exam and as the eldest daughter of the Hargelin family, I’ve volunteered for labyrinth explorations several times. I plan to participate again this upcoming vacation.”

“E-Elena von Valdemia! I’m the princess of the Valdemia Principality, and um… I can use… he-hemostasis!”

“……I am Grace Baidel. I use the Space Sword.”

“Space Sword?”

Ena reacted to Grace’s words. She let out a sound of contemplation once, then pursed her lips as if recalling something.

“Baidel… Ah, I remember. The family founded by that eccentric who incorporated spatial manipulation power into swordsmanship. I think the surname he received was Baidel.”

“That is correct. Currently, the swordsmanship is only passed down through bloodline transmission.”

“I see.”

Ena glanced at the sword leaning diagonally beside Grace, then lost interest and wore a nonchalant expression again.

There are only two ways to manipulate space. By using formulas to interfere with the laws of the world, or by tearing it apart with sheer force.

The Baidel family chose the latter. They interfere with the points, lines, and planes that make up space through aura, and directly cut it to ignore physical laws.

It was impossible without innate mana sensitivity, spatial perception ability, and the unique chaotic mana flowing through their blood. That’s why only the Baidel family could use the Space Sword.

Of course, not everyone with the Baidel surname could handle the Space Sword. Only a few among them, whose talent allowed it, could cut space with a sword.

Ignoring the distance to the opponent and launching a slash, or a sword strike falling in a completely different place from the trajectory of the swung sword, etc. Their swordsmanship, characterized by irregularity and disorder, was quite tricky for the opponent.

But Ena didn’t particularly like Baidel’s swordsmanship. Manipulating space could be done with magic, and directly tearing it apart was a highly inefficient method. She wondered if there was any need to insist on such a crude method.

Perhaps if the amount of aura consumed could be controlled, but well. She didn’t think mere warriors could perform such high-difficulty techniques. Even if they could, they’d have to be at least a Master.

Thinking that, Ena leaned her body against Asel’s shoulder. Asel, without thinking, tilted his body slightly to make it easier for her to lean. Grace, witnessing that scene firsthand, widened her eyes.

“……Huh?”

Extreme cognitive dissonance raced through her brain. That Ena, who had a strong aversion to men, was holding Asel’s hand directly and placing it on her head. She looked like a cat begging to be stroked. From her slightly melted expression, Grace could fully feel her pleasure.

Looking at her from any angle, she seemed like a female animal…

‘…No way, surely not.’

Grace erased the thought that had suddenly surfaced and forced a smile.

Ena couldn’t possibly be like that. She was a woman who avoided physical contact as much as possible, regardless of gender. Showing even more dislike towards men was a given.

Such a woman, no matter how much he was her disciple, would never enjoy Asel’s touch.

No wayㅡ

“Do it stronger.”

“You’ll fall asleep then.”

“Then just carry me to bed.”

The conversation she overheard tore deeply into Grace’s chest. Doubt quickly turned into certainty, and something murky within her heart awoke. The emotion she had deliberately suppressed since returning flooded in instantly, like a dam breaking.

Once she became aware, she started noticing things. The shirt Ena was wearing. Looking closely, it wasn’t her size. It was too big for her small frame, exposing one shoulder, and the bottom of the shirt reached up to her upper thigh, covering her underwear.

She didn’t need to think whose shirt it was. Grace’s lips twitched as she looked back and forth between Asel and Ena. She read something strange flowing between them.

Elena and Ellen were the same. The two exchanged glances, then awkwardly smiled and stood up.

“Besides, it’s gotten quite late. We’ll be leaving now. It was a pleasure talking, Sir GaeByeok.”

“It, it was fun! We’ll be going first!”

“Okay.”

Ena vaguely waved her hand towards the two who were greeting her, replying. The two also said goodbye to Asel, saying they’d see him tomorrow, and hurried out of the room. After that, only three people remained in the room.

Asel, waiting impatiently for midnight to pass so Aleph could become active again, and Ena, who simply enjoyed his touch. And Grace, who was trying to control her murky emotions. They were in the same place, but their thoughts were all different.

Not long after that state, Grace stood up. She looked down at the two with an expressionless face, then smiled faintly and fastened the sword she had put down back onto her waist.

“I’ll be going too. It was good to see your face after a long time, Asel. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow, Grace.”

Asel replied with a smile. Grace also offered a polite farewell to Ena and left the dormitory. The dark corridor greeted her.

“Huu……”

Grace exhaled deeply and looked out the window. The dark forest glowed subtly in the moonlight, and the constellations in the sky twinkled beautifully. She looked at that scene and thought.

Frankly, in this cycle, she hadn’t intended to obsess over Asel as she had in the previous cycles. She had somehow suppressed her greed and forcefully controlled the desires that kept welling up. When unhealthy thoughts occasionally arose, she would tell herself she wouldn’t do it this time, using self-hypnosis to control her emotions.

All of this was possible because there were no competitors. Grace finally realized that now. She also clearly realized how arrogant that thought was. From the start, she had been wearing clothes that didn’t suit her.

‘There are already many women around Asel.’

Once she realized it, things became clear. In a situation where not only Ena but also potential threats were scattered everywhere, she couldn’t afford to be indecisive.

Then she would be abandoned. Asel would laugh and chat happily with other girls and go to get matching rings, while she would have to suck her fingers and writhe in agony.

She would decline that. She’d rather die.

So, this time too, she had to be the one who smiled in the end, no matter how things played out, just like in the previous cycle. The process could be base and dirty; it didn’t matter. It was fine as long as she was the one who smiled in the very end.

Fortunately, she had experience. So, pushing away and eliminating the bitches who gathered around Asel wouldn’t be that difficult. Just recalling the things she had done in the past was enough.

Thinking that, she turned her head with an expressionless face.

“……This time too, I’m the one who wins.”

It was a voice thick with sticky emotion.