Ch.139End of Term Ceremony

After the Tower Masters took away the Elder Lich with eyes shining like children receiving their desired Christmas presents, time flowed smoothly.

There were no unusual events or incidents. The final exams that I had struggled to prepare for also concluded safely. From beginning to end, it was a textbook-perfect final examination period.

From my perspective, it was more like “I guess something happened” level of awareness. The results were essentially predetermined anyway.

Of course, some students expressed dissatisfaction after hearing about me, but they quickly disappeared once the official announcement came that the Chairman, all Tower Masters, and the Sword Saint had vouched for my abilities.

Instead, I received looks that said, “Who is this madman and why is he here?” Since it was an irrefutable argument, I had to quietly endure it.

“I’m sorry, Aria. Because of me…”

“It’s okay. Leona, you came back safely. That’s enough to make me happy.”

There was one minor incident, though. Aria missed second place by a narrow margin because she was worried about Leona, who had been dispatched to subjugate the undead.

Leona felt responsible and apologized profusely, but Aria insisted it was her own responsibility to have worked harder and gently embraced Leona.

It was a perfectly normal hug between friends, without any trace of the peculiar yuri atmosphere that supposedly characterized their embraces in the original work.

“I met an undead that looked like the Demon King. It was even carrying a demon sword. It must have been fake. At first, I was trembling thinking it was real, but strangely, when I thought of you, Mira, I knew it was fake.”

Later, Leona pulled me aside to tell me about encountering an undead that mimicked the Demon King. She explained how thinking of me gave her courage to realize it was fake and defeat it.

When I praised her and patted her head, Leona smiled sheepishly—in a completely different mood than when she was hugging Aria—then suddenly gasped and ran away.

As a bonus, Aria came looking for me shortly after, asking what I had done to make Leona grin from ear to ear.

“It seems many people are disappointed about the canceled duels with Master. That’s all everyone is talking about.”

“I’m not disappointed at all.”

“Not in the slightest.”

“They only say that because they haven’t experienced it yet.”

“I’d rather not have another duel with the Sword Saint…”

“M-me neither…”

When Karna mentioned that many were disappointed about the cancellation of the plan allowing the top ten students from each year to duel with the Sword Saint, everyone except Rosaria—who wouldn’t have to fight anyway—visibly recoiled.

It was unavoidable since the Sword Saint was too busy dealing with the aftermath of the undead invasion. Death Knights were still rampaging across various frontlines.

Various events that should have been held around this time to celebrate the end of the semester were also canceled. The damage to the frontlines was so severe that most students seemed to understand.

“She appears when asked for blessings but never responds to me no matter what.”

“Should we try dipping it in mud? That might make it come out.”

“…Let’s try that if nothing else works.”

Once, Rosaria performed the role of a saint. When she pretended to bestow blessings on priests who visited the academy, light actually descended from the sky.

I was dumbfounded watching this. She constantly avoided my requests to talk, yet appeared without fail at times like this.

Moreover, she even approached Leona first, promising to explain everything later. It was clearly deliberate. I seriously considered dunking the holy sword in a mud puddle.

“Tomorrow is finally the closing ceremony. Time really flies.”

“Mira, what are you going to do after the semester… is that the right term? Anyway, what are your plans after school ends?”

The final week—originally reserved for events but effectively turned into vacation due to cancellations—was almost over, and Friday had arrived.

My first semester at Bellium Academy was coming to an end.

“…With this, I officially declare this semester concluded. I would like to express my appreciation for everyone’s hard work.”

As the speech ended, thunderous applause erupted. Even at Bellium Academy, which gathered only the elite of the elite, students apparently loved vacations.

I joined in the applause leisurely. Though there had been many twists and turns from the beginning, and at some point I spent more time outside the academy dealing with incidents than inside, I had successfully completed a semester.

‘I’ve also achieved my purpose for coming here.’

Above all, escaping Beatrice’s overprotection was an excellent achievement. Now, even if I returned home, I wouldn’t have to suffer through all those health examinations like before.

I still planned to continue attending the academy, though.

Until I enrolled here, I had been fully prepared to quit as soon as my parents and Beatrice acknowledged I was fine, but now I had built too many relationships to just walk away.

“From today until the next semester begins, you are free to do as you please. However, if you wish to remain at the academy, don’t forget to submit the necessary paperwork. That’s how you’ll continue receiving meals. Of course, if you prefer to purchase your own food, I won’t stop you.”

With those words, the Chairman descended from the podium. As he passed, he flashed a smile directly at me before disappearing behind the curtain. It sent chills down my spine, reminding me of recent events.

The students gathered in the auditorium began to disperse. Some returned alone through dimensional gates, others were escorted to carriages by what appeared to be servants, and some headed to the dormitories.

We naturally gathered at the club room—four possessed individuals, the two protagonists from the original work, and Beatrice and Nika who wouldn’t have appeared in the original story.

Karna had already left, saying he needed to assist the Sword Saint, and Io still hadn’t shown his face. I wondered if he had actually quit after earning enough money.

“What are your vacation plans? Got anything in mind?”

When Beatrice asked while sipping the tea she had brewed, Laura responded with a grimace.

“I must prepare for succession. This is my final semester.”

“That’s right. Your Highness the Crown Prince is a third-year, correct?”

“Why that reaction, Brunhild?”

“No reason. It’s just… since we’ve been meeting frequently here, you somehow feel different from before. The atmosphere, your gaze… just various things.”

She’s right about the difference. If the previous Laura was the Crown Prince who had triumphed in a bloody succession war, the current one is merely someone who has lived as a character in a romance fantasy novel for a long time.

Since she herself detested acting like the Crown Princess from the original work, no matter how hard she tried to avoid creating dissonance, she inevitably appeared much more mellow than the previous Laura.

“You all played a significant role in that.”

“Um… our role?”

“Having lived alone all this time, interacting with you all as equals has changed my heart.”

A stifled laugh escaped from Rosaria. Laura glared at her briefly. Rosaria tactfully averted her gaze, saying she needed to be at the cathedral.

“I’m going back to my family home. I’ll probably have to stay there for a while. Since my sister has been punished and is gone, I need to continue the family line now.”

Priscilla spoke in a dejected voice, perhaps because she would have to be apart from me for a while.

Gloria had completely transformed into a succubus. Having been held captive by a succubus for too long, she was half-crazed with pleasure, but apparently that wouldn’t interfere with her role performance.

When Priscilla heard the explanation, she smiled brightly, saying they could still reach a happy ending.

“I will remain at the academy. I have nowhere else to go. I considered staying at your mansion, but I doubt the others would allow it.”

Elysier, or rather Ciel, chose to stay at the academy. It made sense, as she couldn’t return to the demon realm and had no separate home, assets, or family.

Initially, I had planned to let her stay at my house, but Priscilla, Rosaria, and Laura vehemently opposed the idea, claiming it would be unfair.

“Had you come to the imperial palace, I could have provided you with a room. A pity, especially since Mira vouched for you.”

“I have no need for that.”

This meant the five possessed individuals would be separated for a while unless someone specifically gathered them or I visited them individually. Though I suspected we’d all end up together again soon enough anyway.

Leona and Aria were the last to share their plans. All eyes turned to them. Leona spoke up with an awkward expression.

“We’re going to our hometown. It’s been a while since we left, so we should make an appearance.”

“We need to see our parents and greet the townspeople. When else could we visit if not during vacation?”

I had heard about Leona and Aria’s hometown from Priscilla. Apparently, it featured episodes that created a yuri romance fantasy atmosphere between the two.

Walking around town holding hands, leaning on each other’s shoulders, embracing, and finally almost kissing while Priscilla pretended to sleep as the mood became increasingly intimate.

But the traditional cliché activated—an incident occurring just as their lips were about to meet—causing them to ultimately fail.

“I see. Have a good trip. Will you be there the entire vacation?”

“Hmm… probably just for about two weeks? Honestly, it might have been fine before, but now there’s not much to do there.”

“We’re really just going to show our faces, not because we have anything specific to do. I feel bad saying this about our parents, but I think I’d get bored staying there too long…”

The two smiled awkwardly. Their relationship had changed from the original work, which seemed to have altered their attitude toward their hometown as well.

“Oh, right. Speaking of which, Mira, would you like to come with us?”

Leona’s expression brightened as if she’d just had a great idea.

“Come with you? To your hometown?”

“Yes! I want to introduce you to my mom and dad!”

Suddenly, silence fell over the club room. Priscilla, Rosaria, Laura, and Elysier stared at Leona, while Aria repeatedly blinked with wide eyes.

“…Oh, no. That’s not what I meant… really not what I meant…”

Leona frantically tried to explain as she realized how her words had sounded, but it was too late.