episode_0071

1.

As I looked around, I saw Kariel being held by a girl.

The girl’s body is turned towards Kariel, while Kariel is only looking straight ahead.

“Kariel. Do you happen to know where Srenia is?”

“I’ll stay in the student council room. Oh, I finished requesting supplies. I guess they’re being a little lenient because it’s a new club.”

“Good~ Remember, I can’t spar after school today.”

“Yeah, I see. Go.”

“Kariel~ Let’s eat dinner together~ If you don’t train, you’ll have time to spare!”

“Isn’t it too early to eat dinner now, sir?”

“Aye! It’s okay to walk around here and there before dinner~ Huh? Huh? ”

Kariel is used to being approached by pretty women, and he is keeping a straight face while dealing with their gazes.

‘You envious little bastard.’

Kariel ignored it for the time being and went out to find Srenya first.

To complete a hastily put together follow-up plan.

…

“I think I can solve this problem.”

He pushed his face in confidently.

Srenya’s expression has not been bright lately.

The reason for this was simple.

‘We know this isn’t just a rumor.’

I, too, entered this novel and contemplated suicide dozens of times while recuperating.

Why did you have to come into a world like this?

I even lamented to the heavens, wondering how I could stop the Demon King by myself.

But only after going through the five stages of denial, anger, compromise, depression, and acceptance did I feel like I could fulfill my duty as a warrior.

It’s strange that he can shake off such a big task and feel refreshed in just a week.

I would like to lighten the burden of Srenya, who seems so gloomy.

“That’s the rumor.”

“… Rumor has it that the Demon King lives in the Academy?”

“It started in the student council.”

Srenya opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Of course I knew that because I spread it myself… but I expressed it as if I had no idea.

“I was wondering if you spread it.”

…but I’m the one who spread it.

“What, what!? No! Different!!! I didn’t spread it…!”

“Calm down for a minute. What I’m trying to say is, I hope you spread it.”

“What…?”

After much thought, I wondered how Srenya knew about the Demon King’s existence.

The prophecy of the world tree, a setting covered in the free version.

And Srenia, the third princess of the Iphisia Kingdom and a renowned spirit magician who is close to the World Tree.

Srenya concluded that she had heard a prophecy from the World Tree.

‘It doesn’t make sense unless it’s this.’

But the problem is how to get Srenya’s cooperation.

It’s simpler than you think.

“I believe this rumor is true.”

“…Why?”

“If it’s fake, that’s good, but if it’s real, we might die. So we’re fully prepared.”

“Oh, I see…”

Srenya is hesitating.

Because I can’t keep my gaze fixed on one spot while biting my lips.

“I’ll do my best to stop the Demon King. Well, I admit it seems childish. But I think there should be at least one person like me.”

What I want is for Srenya to convey the information of the prophecy to me.

Rumors spread faster than expected and seeped into the kids’ lives, but unwanted, strange stories were also circulating.

It’s so different from the prophecy.

We need clean and accurate resources.

“If you happen to know the origin or source of that rumor, I came here because I need to investigate it in detail.”

“…!!!”

Srenya is agitated.

Srenya is kind-hearted and upright.

Whether it’s the content of the speech I heard during the student body president election that was moving or the classy nature of his daily behavior, I feel that way.

How could such a Srenya not feel uneasy upon hearing the prophecy containing the existence of the Demon King?

‘I feel shaken no matter what. And I want to rely on it.’

What about me?

Even if I endured the transfer to another world with the mindset that it would be over if I committed suicide.

To Srenya, she is the only one who has her own world, friends, and world tree.

The Demon King who can destroy it all will remain in a corner of your heart and weigh you down.

“If it started in the student council room, I wonder if you know anything.”

Apply pressure gently.

I’m the one who created this situation… I feel guilty, but I can’t help it because it’s for the greater good.

Even if you tell them to give you a bottle and medicine, you have to give them medicine.

“If you knew, you might be able to solve this rumor.”

“……Hmm.”

Srenya swallowed her sigh and fell into deep thought.

In the ambiguous wording of deliberately resolving the rumor, Srenya will think about resolving the problem of the Demon King.

You might think that this means that the prophecy is spread like this.

‘Just a little more, just a little more…!’

Looking at those quivering lips, I feel like he’s really going to talk.

When I feel sad, I think I need to apply a little more pressure.

“Spreading the rumor, yeah. I think it was me…”

“What.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry I made a mistake… I didn’t know it would end up like this…”

“Now, wait, what does that mean?”

Do you feel responsible and guilty about yourself?

But nothing happened!

“I can hear prophecies.”

ah.

‘Do you think that your work as a prophecy ultimately created this division?’

This was a part that showed how much psychological pressure he must have been under.

And also the sense of responsibility that I think is the cause of all this.

“Using spirit magic like Casselina… Oh, I guess you’ve never heard of it. Anyway, I heard the World Tree’s prophecy. This is where the rumor started.”

“…Yeah.”

I couldn’t help but keep my mouth shut as if it was the first time I had heard the story.

“But… But someone heard me muttering and the rumor spread…”

“Wait a minute.”

I cut him off before the mood turned gloomy.

“What’s important isn’t the plot.”

“Then?”

“Anyway, you heard the prophecy, and I’m trying to prepare for the Demon King.”

There is no need to go through the process of emotional heightening after the story unfolds.

What I need is a prophecy.

It’s a prophecy that seems to have a more important effect than I thought.

“What was the original text of the prophecy?”

“Uh, uh… In the Academy. There’s a Demon King. This is the prophecy. I heard the whispers of the ancient spirits with my own ears. I heard them, yeah. I heard them right. It had to be whispers”

Srenya said, pointing to my ear.

The pointed triangular ear shape of an elf.

“There’s a demon king in the academy…”

The content of the prophecy is similar to the novel I was reading, The Demon King Lives in Academy.

“Has the prophecy ever come to you like this?”

“No. This is my first time.”

“You may or may not hear from me in the future?”

“…Yeah. Right.”

Srenya seemed hesitant, but eventually opened her mouth.

He clenched his hands as if he had made a firm decision.

“But I don’t know why…”

“Huh?”

“I think we’ll hear prophecies quite often in the future.”

“…Did you hear something strange?”

I muttered something in disbelief, but Srenya answered me seriously.

“That might be true. The World Tree is the connection between this world and God. Since I was connected to the World Tree for a moment… I feel like it gave me something vague.”

“Then the prophecy will continue in the future?”

“Yeah. It may or may not be true, but… it’s more likely.”

“If you ever hear the prophecy again, please let me know.”

“What can you do with just a prophecy?”

I took a moment to catch my breath and then somehow managed to open my mouth.

If prophecy is a truth given by God, I think I can use it in some way.

“I have to do something.”

I said the best I could.

“Hoooo… Okay…”

Srenya’s face looked much more relaxed.

I wonder if you feel fortunate because the worries you have been secretly suffering from have been resolved and you can now help in a better direction.

‘I heard you felt a strong sense of guilt about the rumors that spread throughout the academy.’

I felt a little uncomfortable because it seemed like I was harassing Srenya.

Anyway, I was just proud that I was able to help that much, if not more.

‘Is this how you connect with heroines?’

I thought to myself, adding my fantasy to it.

I have some contact with Taina, Ignis, and Yuni through club activities, but Srenia was the problem.

Even now, I still feel a little awkward.

I’m starting to think maybe I took the wrong original route.

But it continues in an unexpected way…

‘Is it a main character buff?’

I couldn’t help but think that.

It was a class that left the student council room without realizing that it wasn’t a very good way of thinking.

2.

The matter of prophecy has been settled.

The sun has set and a cool breeze has begun to blow into the evening.

Is it because the thing that was weighing me down just disappeared now?

I feel an empty, hollow feeling in my heart.

“…Why is it like this.”

I came to Kai’s cabin without even the dessert box I usually brought with me.

It was getting late, so I guess I should have just come without thinking.

I’m just out of my mind.

-dripping

Knock on a door that has not yet been fixed.

A warm atmosphere can be felt through the gap in the door that opens naturally with a small shock.

Orange lights and warm smells.

“Huh? Looks like Srenya is here. Kai, you go out.”

“Okay.”

And the sound of Kai and Yuli having a conversation.

Although not much time has passed, the atmosphere is more comfortable than anything else.

“Are you here? You’re a little late. Let’s eat dinner right away. I was waiting for you.”

“…Yes.”

Normally, such a short answer wouldn’t have come out.

Kai glanced at me and pulled out a chair for me.

-Bubble bubble…

“Kai, I need to explain how to eat it.”

“Oh, I was thinking about that. This dish is called Samgyetang. Is this your first time seeing it?”

“Yes.”

What was in front of me was a bowl filled with chicken, ginseng, and various other ingredients.

Kai’s bowl was black and steaming hot.

“I only added a small amount of garlic and green onions because they might not taste good. Think of it as chicken soup boiled with young chicken and various ingredients.”

And he took my samgyetang and cut the chicken into several pieces, including the chicken legs.

When I cut open the stomach, grains of rice popped out.

It was my first time seeing this food, and I had no appetite, perhaps because I was tired.

“…gulp.”

I swallowed without realizing it.

Warm steam rises and the savory smell of chicken, not gamey, lingers.

It is overall white, but the red color of the jujube blends well with it.

The refreshing taste of ginseng will be gently released, creating a variety of flavors.

“In my hometown, we used to eat chicken like this in early summer. To avoid the heat and stay healthy during the summer.”

Kai continued talking while preparing my samgyetang.

“I made this earlier than usual because you haven’t looked so good lately.”

“…!”

“I was worried something was wrong. Are you okay, Srenya?”

As soon as I heard those words.

It felt like my heavy shoulders were lifted in one breath.

Because I’ve been living for a whole week hiding my expression.

Because wherever she went in the academy, she lived a life of pretense and hypocrisy as a noble princess, spirit sorcerer, and student council president.

Normally it would be fine, but last week was hell.

Every time I see the faces of my friends who are bright and maintaining their usual expressions.

I was afraid that the Demon King, who would even burn the World Tree, would take away their smiles.

When I wanted to close my ears and forget about the future for a moment, I couldn’t forget because of the rumors I heard around me.

I had to act as usual while thinking about the Demon King and the end of the world.

It was hellishly hard to keep my appearance intact while my heart was breaking.

“Well, if it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to say anything. But if talking is all you need to do, I can make it like a bamboo forest.”

But come into this cabin.

The loose door of the cabin closed.

As dinnertime arrived and Kai’s food was right in front of me, it felt like the strings that had been holding me back were snapping.

There is no need to continue the pretense that has been followed since the Academy.

It seemed as if it was okay to show its true form, as if it were the beginning.

“…What is a bamboo forest?”

“Oh, isn’t there something like that here?”

“It seems like there’s nothing there.”

“Anyway, since you’re an adult I can rely on, I’ll listen to anything you ask me.”

I realized that I no longer needed to do that in front of Kai oppa.

Now that I feel like I’m finally done with the suffering I’ve been feeling.

“Heeeing…..”

Tears poured out that I had never shown to anyone.