Ch.160160. Broken Past (2)

At the beginning of the semester, Levrant was relatively quiet due to the faction battles that included evaluation scores.

Somewhere there, swords clashed against each other.

It was a sparring match between a senior and junior.

However, it was far from satisfactory.

The true purpose of sparring is to check each other’s skills, identify strengths and weaknesses, and point out what to enhance and what to improve.

This sparring showed less of that intent and more of someone being chased by something.

Eventually, the junior who had been crossing swords with the senior adjusted her stance.

‘If this continues, it will be problematic.’

Although there hadn’t been much interaction between them, based on what she had heard, the current state of her opponent was disappointing.

-Clang!

“!!”

Senia’s sword, which had been flipped upward, fell and stuck into the ground some distance away.

Her sparring partner silently sheathed his sword.

“Let’s end the sparring here.”

“What? I can still go on. We’ve only clashed a few times.”

But he firmly refused to draw his sword again.

“Your mind is scattered, isn’t it? I don’t think you can have a proper sparring match in that state.”

“…”

“When one vanguard in a team falters and falls, the retreat rate of that battle increases by 40%. If you’re approaching this thinking it’s fine because it’s just sparring with me, I’m ready to leave right now.”

Stung by the sharp criticism, Senia came to her senses.

It was an undeniable fact.

If what stood before her right now were a magical beast instead of a person, she would have been torn apart.

‘This is maddening. What am I doing after calling someone here?’

This sparring session wasn’t actually arranged by Senia.

Senia was a vanguard. Unlike others, she needed to focus more on physical and martial arts rather than magic.

If there were people who regularly crossed swords with her, it would be Goden or Cain from Tembris, but now Cain was too busy taking care of Lumia, and Goden had too many responsibilities as the party leader.

In the end, since Senia’s growth couldn’t be halted, Goden had called someone for her.

That person was her current sparring partner, Ronelion.

“I was the one who asked for help, yet I wasn’t focusing. I’m sorry. I definitely didn’t intend for this to happen.”

“I see.”

Ronelion Pryor von Lantana.

The other member of the Arcave party, which consisted of only two members.

Such a person was agreeing to spar with her, yet she was distracted. Not only was she not properly engaging in the sparring, but it was a situation where the other party would be justified in being furious.

“I don’t understand why you’re in such a hurry.”

But Ronelion didn’t seem to care about that.

Since that wasn’t what mattered, he threw a straightforward question at Senia.

“During the Great Extermination of Shit, I observed your movements, so I know. Senior, you’re rushing as if being chased by something.”

The Great Extermination of Shit.

The movements Senia showed there were significantly different from what she was showing now.

She was calm but never slow, appearing relaxed yet infinitely sharp.

“There were no mistakes that anyone might make. Instead, I thought your calmness and composure, which not everyone could emulate, stood out.”

Nimbly avoiding enemy attacks and swinging her sword with just the right amount of magical power at the appropriate timing, she cut down enemies with an unwavering stance.

That appearance was like that of a dancer.

Ronelion had accepted this sparring match expecting to see that version of Senia.

“But now, both your breathing and movements are excessively fast. I don’t understand why you’re so impatient. Is there a need for you to pursue power so desperately?”

Her growth rate was among the top even throughout the entire Levrant Academy.

Yet, he couldn’t understand why she was approaching the sparring so hastily.

Picking up her sword that had fallen some distance away, Senia asked:

“…Do you think others would also see me as being in a hurry?”

“It’s a subtle change, so they probably wouldn’t notice from the outside. I know because I directly crossed swords with you.”

“Huh, is that so?”

After asking that, Senia sat on a rest bench and briefly moistened her throat.

Then, capping the water bottle tightly, she sighed.

“You’re right. Unlike before, I’ve been feeling rushed lately, maybe because I feel like I’m being chased.”

The reason her heart kept racing was because she lacked confidence in herself.

‘I can’t just stand still. Not after seeing that.’

In the past, she had added to Junon’s already heavy burden.

Since that stemmed from her weakness, pursuing strength was a natural progression.

What if something similar happened again?

What if the same incident occurred and she had to rely on others again?

She couldn’t just depend on others like she did during the Seiren incident.

Whenever those memories surfaced, Senia would grip her sword tighter.

‘Today was particularly bad. That’s probably why I acted so rudely.’

To momentarily break this sense of urgency, Senia closed her eyes gently and then opened them.

“I think I need some time today. Would it be okay if I asked you again tomorrow, at the same time?”

Senia recognized her state and calmly organized her thoughts. She had returned to being the sharp and clear-headed senior that Ronelion had been drawn to during the Great Extermination of Shit.

‘Now you’re more like the senior I know.’

Ronelion smiled slightly and nodded.

Knock, knock.

“Hmm? Did you invite other guests besides me?”

“…No, I didn’t invite anyone else.”

The two made eye contact and confirmed that it wasn’t a guest for either of them.

Naturally, the question arose: who was knocking on the door of the sparring room?

“Since I’m the one who reserved the room, I’ll go check.”

“Alright.”

As Senia opened the door, ironically, she saw someone who shouldn’t have been there.

“…!”

“Senia…”

Aris, whose voice already sounded broken.

She didn’t appear to be physically injured. However, looking at her face… it was clear that something else was damaged.

“Ronelion.”

“Yes.”

Ronelion had a rough idea of what Senia was about to ask and responded.

“Could you carry Aris to a place where she can rest?”

“Of course.”

.

.

.

Aris is a tough woman.

Her personality is evident in her strong pride, her obsession with winning, and her hot-tempered and impulsive behavior.

But what about her inner feelings? Right now, she’s completely broken.

She didn’t come all the way here to be rude or to say irritating things.

‘The question is, how broken is she…’

First, for her to talk about it, they needed to be alone.

“Ronelion. I’m sorry, but I’d like to talk to Aris alone.”

“I’ll wait outside. Call me if anything happens.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Thankfully, Ronelion immediately left the party’s private room.

Now, what remains is…

“Would you like to tell me, step by step, what happened?”

Aris’s story.

But as soon as this question was asked, Aris immediately began showing severe anxiety symptoms.

“Se-Senia… What should I do…?”

Aris’s trembling, as if possessed, looked extremely precarious.

“It’s okay. Take your time. It’s just me here, so talk slowly.”

There was only one thing to guess. And at the same time, one thing to worry about.

The two had to be the same.

“I… I did to Junon…”

It was inevitable that that name would come out of Aris’s mouth.

“It’s just me here, so talk slowly. Okay?”

“N-No… I…!”

Aris immediately covered her face with the blanket.

The reason for such behavior is simpler than one might think.

Fear of what her past self, whom she doesn’t properly know, might have done.

But the solution to this is never simple.

And there’s always a worst-case scenario.

‘It seems like we’re in that worst-case scenario right now.’

While patting the back of the sobbing Aris, Senia thought so.

Just like during the festival, as she slowly comforted and listened to Aris’s past, it turned out to be the situation Senia had most wanted to avoid.

Aris had directly harmed Junon.

In the past, and in the present.

Regardless of which, the fact that she had committed an act difficult to forgive remained unchanged.

Moreover, due to missing the timing, it had now become difficult even to meet and ask for forgiveness.

This can only be described as the worst.

‘First, I should contact Mishel.’

Since this isn’t a problem that can be easily resolved, there’s a need to monitor the progress.

Until she directly tells everything.

***

Meanwhile, while Senia and Aris were conversing in the private room, Ronelion was still guarding the place.

“Quite some time has passed.”

After Ronelion had been guarding this place for over 2 hours.

Senia hurriedly opened the door of the private room and came out.

“I forgot, I’m sorry! I even forgot to tell you that you were waiting…”

“It’s fine. More importantly, how is Senior Aris?”

“Huh? Ah… There’s still no progress on that front. She seems to have exhausted herself from crying and is now sleeping soundly.”

From what he heard, it doesn’t seem like things have been resolved well.

Of course, Senia looks apologetic.

“I feel bad, so would you like to grab a bite to eat here?”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s a bit awkward, you know. You came all the way here, but the sparring was barely worth doing. And then you carried Aris and waited here, the amount of time you’ve wasted. Wait here.”

“Um, Senior? I’m not that hun—”

“Enough. And drop the formality! It’s making me cringe.”

Senia said that and went back into the private room.

‘…Well, this might be for the best.’

The purpose of coming here wasn’t originally to spar with Senia.

There was something else he wanted to find out.

It would be good to ask when the timing is right.

“Phew. It’s a bit awkward inside with Aris sleeping, so let’s sit here and eat.”

Senia said that and brought out a lunchbox.

“…It still seems warm. Did you prepare it to eat in the sparring room?”

“That’s right. When you’re hungry, you don’t have strength. People should live on the power of food. Mm-hmm, that’s right.”

But inside the lunchbox…

There was food that seemed completely at odds with her image.

‘Rice balls… I see.’

Of course, it’s not that he dislikes rice balls because they’re not tasty!

It’s just that considering Senia’s impression and such aspects, the shape doesn’t match at all.

For someone who outwardly appears strict, these small, round rice balls don’t seem to match at all.

‘I thought sharp, angular shapes would suit her better.’

The taste of the ingredients inside the rice balls is also like that.

She gives the impression of someone who would like spicy or fiery flavors, not someone who would enjoy something a bit bland.

‘…So it’s not wine and steak she enjoys, but beer and fries.’

At that, Senia narrowed her eyes.

“Why are you staring so intently? Don’t tell me… you’re trying to judge me?”

“No, no… of course not.”

Yet at times like this, she does seem like that kind of person.

When Senia glared at him, Ronelion was at a loss for words.

He wondered if she was really the same person. How could someone who is so sharp in battle be so round and soft in reality?

‘R-Right… I shouldn’t forget my original purpose.’

After clearing his throat with a fake cough, Ronelion asked Senia straightforwardly.

“Do you happen to know Senior Junon?”

Senia’s lips trembled slightly.

“Why do you ask?”

“There are a few things I’d like to know. Of course, I don’t want to pry, but it’s not something I can discuss in front of the person in question.”

“…Was this your intention from the beginning?”

Senia immediately crossed her arms and stared at Ronelion with an expressionless face.

There was something sharp in her eyes.

‘She couldn’t have known in advance, and it doesn’t seem like she’s just probing. That means… she has the incredible insight I’ve heard about.’

In situations like this, lies are never good.

“Yes. It’s a matter of utmost importance to me. I couldn’t resist the urge to act directly.”

Therefore, Ronelion needed to know about the person named Junon.

The only family he had left.

A man who was presumed to have caused some kind of change in Lenias.

“I don’t particularly want to tell you… but considering your help, I’ll give you just the surface-level information. If you ever lay a hand on that guy… no, my friend, then.”

She seemed to be saying she would draw her sword.

“I’m confident that won’t happen, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

Just mentioning the name had elicited this much of a reaction.

‘It’s not that he’s blessed with good relationships; it’s his nature.’

His power to draw people in is extraordinary.

He could somewhat understand why Lenias was drawn to him.