Ch.154153. New Semester (3)

# 153. New Semester (3)

After my somewhat modest conversation with Luna ended, I headed to the dueling arena where they always gathered.

As expected, they were conducting mock battles in the arena, and it seemed the first round had already finished as everyone was sitting on benches taking a break.

“They’re doing well even without us now, huh?”

Both I and she had missed today due to work, but they appeared to have conducted high-level mock battles regardless.

The combat experience they gained during the break by participating in real battles seemed to have helped tremendously.

‘Especially that one wants to do more.’

Raycle, who had been so cheerful it was almost concerning, still wanted to continue with mock battles despite being exhausted.

It was clear that although she didn’t show it outwardly, she was extremely focused on the inside.

“That’s all thanks to me.”

“Why are you still fine?”

Allin with her confident expression.

And from her emanated an aura of a completely different dimension than before, powerful enough to make even her back down.

Allin pointed to her heart with a rather satisfied expression.

“Thanks to this.”

“Ah… come to think of it, are you okay? That looked really painful.”

“It was painful, but I had to endure it.”

That statement was certainly correct.

Since she was obtaining the top-tier skill [Dragon’s Heart], it was only natural to endure that level of pain.

“But you seem satisfied?”

“Of course! Honestly, in my current state, I think I could even go toe-to-toe with you.”

“That’s not true.”

While it was true that the skill had incredible performance, I had such skills too.

Moreover, mine had even been strengthened recently.

“You need to pick your battles. You couldn’t beat me even if you died and came back to life.”

“Really… would it kill you to be a little encouraging?”

“Yep.”

Of course, that was just that, and it was clear that Allin had grown through this experience.

Her most fatal weakness, the lack of magical power, had been resolved.

She was already exceptional, but now she would be considered absolutely untouchable within her grade.

“I definitely think I’m second place now, what about you?”

“What about Luna?”

When that name left my mouth, not only Allin but all the other kids perked up their ears.

“Does that sister… use magic?”

“She’s an elf.”

Of course, just because elven magic is superior doesn’t mean the entire elven race consists of mages.

In fact, it would be a stretch to simply call Luna a ‘mage.’

“She uses magic too.”

“Too?”

“Have you ever heard of magic swordsmen?”

“Is that… really a thing?”

“Of course.”

The position of magic swordsman is rare because they use magic while wielding a sword for close combat, requiring mastery of both magic and swordsmanship.

“Is that sister strong?”

“At least stronger than you.”

Of course, she wouldn’t be that strong.

She’s relatively young among elves, and she probably doesn’t have much experience in combat against people.

Still, her magic would be better than Allin’s, and her swordsmanship would be better than Reina’s.

“But her magic can’t be better than mine, right?”

“She’s probably better than you? Definitely.”

“Eh? Really?”

“Yeah, she’s definitely better than you.”

Allin pouted as if her pride was hurt, and not wanting to hear any more, she quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, what were you doing until just now? You would have come right away normally.”

“Ah… well.”

Allin’s face looked like she already knew, and the party members were focusing on our conversation.

It was quite an awkward situation.

I had anticipated this would happen eventually, but it seemed to have come too quickly.

‘And sis isn’t even here…’

To be honest, there was no reason for me to bring up that topic in this situation.

So I wanted to make an excuse and slip away.

“We didn’t talk about much. I just told her she could ask you if she could join the mock battles like we’re doing now.”

“Why would she ask you specifically?”

“Because we’re already acquainted.”

“I’m acquainted with her too.”

Allin was persistently continuing the conversation.

I frowned as I continued.

“You’re in a different class.”

“That’s true, but is that really all?”

“Of course, what else would there be?”

“So what did you tell her?”

“I told her to get permission from sis, not me.”

By now, she would have had enough time to get Luna’s contact information through Riel and contact her directly.

And with Luna’s level of initiative, she would have done just that.

‘She probably really did…’

As I was worrying about this, an aura equal to Allin’s with her [Dragon’s Heart] appeared.

And not just one person, but three.

I turned around to confirm their identities.

“You came rather quickly?”

“It ended much faster than I expected too.”

An emergency meeting had been called because of the dark elf who had tried to kill Luna, and she had participated in that meeting.

Given the nature of the matter, it seemed like it would take quite a long time, but it appeared to have concluded faster than we thought.

I looked at Luna, who was standing quietly next to her and watching cautiously, and spoke.

“But… you came together?”

“Yes, we happened to meet on the way. Right?”

“Yes! And Albert, I got permission to join this mock battle thing too!”

“Really? That’s great.”

She had granted Luna permission to participate in the mock battles as I had expected.

However, she didn’t seem to be happy about it.

‘Her expression looks… a bit off.’

And she called me aside with a pouty expression.

As if she had something to say that others shouldn’t hear.

“What’s this about?”

“I have something to tell you.”

She looked at Luna, who was standing far away, and continued.

“I heard this at the meeting just now, though Albert probably already knows, but you’re aware that the princess is in quite a dangerous situation, right?”

“Of course. Considering what happened before, and not just demons, there are probably many humans targeting Luna as well.”

She opened and closed her mouth after hearing my words.

I wasn’t sure what it was, but she seemed to be contemplating something.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah… well… sigh…”

She sighed briefly.

Then she composed herself and continued.

“Albert, you’re in the same class as Luna, right?”

“Yes.”

“So… please take good care of her. We don’t know what might happen.”

Hearing that, I understood why she had been hesitating.

Her expression clearly showed she didn’t want to say such things.

I continued our conversation with a bright smile.

“That’s very unlike you, sis?”

“I can’t help it… I can’t just leave her alone either, and you’re mine anyway. So it doesn’t matter…”

She said it didn’t matter, but her expression said otherwise.

“Hearing those words and seeing your face, I feel a disconnect.”

“Come to think of it, I noticed you two were speaking informally… How did that happen? Didn’t you use formal speech with each other before?”

“Oh!? Now that you mention it, that’s true!”

The other party had responded so naturally that I hadn’t even realized I had switched to informal speech.

She let out a disbelieving laugh and asked me.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t realize until just now?”

“Yes… but how did you know?”

“Of course she told me first. She was absolutely thrilled about it.”

Absolutely thrilled…

In my case, I hadn’t particularly felt that Luna was that happy about it.

But it seemed different from her perspective.

She asked me with a slightly sulky face.

“When are you going to speak informally with me?”

“That… is that okay?”

“Of course!”

If she had spoken informally to me first, I would have done the same, but since she continued to use formal speech, I matched her.

But seeing her reaction, it seemed that was no longer necessary.

‘Informal speech…’

It’s something I’m doing with her for almost the first time.

From the moment I met her, she had always been above me, so I always used formal speech.

But now I had risen to an equal position with her.

After realizing this moving fact, I looked at her and said.

“Then can I call you Alli too?”

“What..? Y-yes…!?”

Hearing those words, her face and even her ears turned bright red, and she immediately turned her head to hide her face.

Then she stammered as if flustered.

“T-that’s a bit… e-embarrassing…”

Her expression and tone made me smile involuntarily.

I barely managed to pull down the corners of my mouth that were rising on their own.

“Alright, I’ll just keep calling you sis.”

“Okay…”

“But why did you tell me to speak informally while you keep using formal speech?”

“W-well… I just can’t do it…”

Indeed, for someone who had always used formal speech with everyone, suddenly switching to informal speech would be nearly impossible.

I spoke to her as she tried to use informal speech.

“Then take your time, that’s fine too.”

“How are you… so good at this, Albert?”

“Well… there’s no special reason, I’ve just been waiting for this all along.”

It was disappointing not to hear her informal speech, but this was enough for now.

Today too, I spent a happy time with my lovely girlfriend.

‘I hope this life… lasts a long time.’