episode_0018

I was loitering in front of a hospital room in the treatment center within the academy grounds.

But at that time, I had no intention of actually going in, and was just fiddling with the fruit basket in my hand.

“What’s wrong? You’re not going in?”

Aria, who had popped out right next to me, asked with sparkling eyes as if curious.

‘… Could you please give me a little notice and come in?’

Lately, I’ve been getting chills with her behavior, which has suddenly disappeared.

He shook his head slightly, not showing any sign of it on the outside.

“I wonder if it is okay for the person who made you stay in the hospital to openly visit you.”

“What’s the problem? You said that the whole thing started because you brought it up first.”

“That’s true, but… I could have adjusted my strength appropriately. I feel bad. You didn’t have to get hurt for no reason, but you got hurt because of me.”

Aria then stared into my eyes, then sighed and muttered softly as if she couldn’t stop me.

“… Anyway, even if you like someone, it’s a problem if you like them too much.”

Then suddenly he ran ahead of me and opened the door to the hospital room.

“Huh? Who is it? Who opened the hospital room door so loudly?”

Of course, the owner of the hospital room, Supervisor Kundel, looked at me with a look of absurdity.

“Hmm? You!”

“Ah… I heard from the Academy that you came to your senses, so I came to visit you.”

In the end, it was just spilled milk, so I strode into the hospital room and said hello.

The appearance of Kundel that I encountered like that could not be described as good even in empty words.

Because his whole body was wrapped tightly in white bandages, and his arms were wrapped in particularly thick plaster bandages.

I said, placing the basket of fruit I had brought on the bedside table.

“That, what is it, I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What are you sorry about? Oh, this? Don’t worry about it.”

I bow my head, feeling guilty for making the old man I know today look like that.

Soon, Kundel waved his cast-wrapped arm as if nothing had happened.

“Didn’t I say I would take responsibility in the first place? I don’t particularly blame you, and I’m actually really grateful.”

“Yes… ?”

“That last blow. It was really the best. If he had died like that… Ah, that guy Kundell would have been called a work of art even when he left.”

All I could give back to Kundel, who was giggling and saying those words, was neither denial nor sympathy, but an awkward laugh.

‘I don’t know if he has a cool personality or an eccentric personality.’

Still, I felt a little relieved when the patient said he was okay.

“Huh? By the way, who is the mature lady next to you?”

Only then did Kundel’s gaze reach Aria, who had been obscured by my size.

‘I wish Julian had come too… but he said he had some personal matters that needed to be taken care of urgently, so there’s nothing I can do.’

What better way to introduce it?

Because it was my first time introducing Aria to someone I wasn’t close with.

On her part, there was absolutely no such thing as introducing me to anyone.

“Ah, this one is… What should I call it, acquaintance? Friend? Anyway, something like that… .”

“Hello. I’m so glad you look healthy. I’m the fiancée of the person here.”

Aria’s fiancée declaration comes out of nowhere again without warning.

‘Normally, I would feel embarrassed at this point… but I don’t know why my head feels so dizzy.’

At this, Kundel opened his eyes wide and looked at us one after another.

‘You won’t believe it. That a guy like me and a beauty like Aria would get involved like that.’

But Kundel’s reaction upon his return was the complete opposite of what I had imagined.

“Haha, I see. This is a really good pair.”

“… … Yes?”

Director Kundel… I thought you had exceptionally good eyesight, but wasn’t that the case?

If you got hit by me and your eyesight was damaged, it would be a big problem… .

“Hehehe, thank you. Supervisor? Instructor? What should I call you?”

“Hehe, just call me Grandpa. I like this big guy quite a bit. I’ll have to be nice to his fiancée too!”

Aria and Inspector Kundel, who have been fighting each other for a while, are now partners.

As I looked at those two people with cold eyes, I couldn’t help but think.

‘No, what on earth is the inspiration…?’

If someone saw him, they would think he was really my grandfather.

“But, the saintess cured me?”

“Oh, yes. You happened to be in the audience. I don’t know why you were there.”

I pictured a girl with green hair in my head.

In a situation where chaos arose because of my attack, she revealed herself as the saint of the sect and leisurely healed people.

She came toward me after finishing her work, leading a group of priests who appeared from nowhere.

-Looking at it up close, it looks bigger. It doesn’t look like it’s injured, right?

-… Yes, please look after others before me.

-That’s what I was thinking from the beginning. But more than that, we… are old acquaintances?

Is it a sphere?

The saint is known for living in the innermost part of the cult, which is usually considered the safest place on the continent.

On the contrary, I have lived in the North where every day is a continuation of war.

That means there is absolutely no chance that she and I, who have lived in completely opposite environments, will ever meet or have any conflicts.

So let’s tell her that we are not okay.

-Hmm… Is that so? When I say no, it seems like no, but on the other hand, it doesn’t seem like no. Well, I get it. I guess we’ll find out if we wait a little longer.

The saintess left the place, leaving only such a strange remark behind.

“What a hazy expression. Why? Is the saint so pretty?”

“Yes, what… Wait, what did you just say?”

When that question came up while I was recalling what had happened with the saint, I blurted out the thoughts that had come to mind without me realizing it.

‘No, but what can I do, it was really pretty.’

The saint was probably the first beauty I ever thought was as beautiful as Aria.

“Kkulkul! Look at that guy’s expression softening with his fiancée right next to him.”

Then Kundel smiled sinisterly and mentioned Aria’s existence… .

I felt like a cold knife was flying and piercing my heart.

“… … Eugene?”

Never, ever look aside now.

“She was pretty…? That woman called the saint was that pretty…?”

I trusted my intuition, which had been honed over a long period of time, and hurriedly spoke to Kundell.

“That, that! The academy officials asked me to come for an interview today. What happened? If I pass the exam, I will pass, right?”

“Hmm, an interview… I guess it’s just a rite of passage.”

“… You don’t need me anymore? You’re going to throw me away like an old pair of shoes and go to a new woman? ”

I desperately ignored the words coming from next to me.

Right now, there is only me and Mr. Kundel in this space.

“A rite of passage? Could you please speak a little longer, a little longer?”

“… Okay, since you did what I asked you to do during the sparring session, I’ll match your rhythm this time. Just think about it.”

“There’s no way the kind Eugene would do that…? Right? Huh?”

Someone kept pulling at my sleeve… but it must have been my imagination, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

“Simply? What are you talking about?”

“If the test is to transparently see the applicant’s qualifications and abilities, then the interview is to take off that anonymity and meet face to face. It’s a simple interview format that asks about things like the goals you want to achieve at the academy.”

He then boasted that there was no way he would fail the interview since he had passed the exam.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll see you again next time.”

“Okay, what’s your name? Since the test is over, you can tell me.”

Is that so? That must be what the Academy instructor said. There’s no reason to hide it.

“Oh, it’s Eugene Everhart.”

“Eberhart…? Oh, I see, that’s why he came and said that.”

Kundel opened his eyes wide upon hearing my name, or more precisely, my family name, and then showed a look of understanding.

“You… You might have a fun time during the interview.”

“Yes?”

“Go ahead. Maybe it’ll be time for the interview soon?”

Finally, I left the hospital room, leaving Kundel behind, who was smiling meaningfully.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Of course, he was there next to me.

“Hey, Aria.”

I mustered up my courage and turned my head.

There was Aria, looking up at me with an expression like a puppy on the verge of being abandoned by its owner.

“… … Why are you ignoring me? Don’t ignore me. If you do that, Eugene will be too hurt.”

“No, that’s…sorry.”

“… You’ve never told me I was pretty before.”

Was it like that?

But I held myself back because there was a time when Aria got scared and hated it when I praised her.

“Tell me honestly. Who is prettier between me and that saint woman…?”

It was a difficult question to answer.

Because in my opinion, it seemed difficult to determine which side was superior.

… One, the answer I will give in the current situation is almost a given.

“Of course Aria, you’re prettier. I’ve been keeping quiet all this time because it’d be painful to talk about it.”

“… Really?”

“… Of course!”

“Ehehehe… .”

Covering her cheeks, which were starting to turn red on her skin as white as snow, with both hands.

Aria twists her body as if she doesn’t know what to do.

Looking at that sight, I couldn’t help but close my eyes tightly.

‘I’m sorry, unknown saint.’

A cowardly warrior who put his own safety ahead of the honor of others.

Afterwards, I, who had become a so-called coward, was barely able to escape and go to the interview room.

***

“Failed.”

No, Mr. Kundel said I would definitely pass.

Was the funniest thing that happened during the interview the notification that I was rejected?

“Let me offer you some heartfelt words of comfort.”

… It seems that he was punished by heaven for abandoning the saint.