Ch.160About Daily (1)

Over the past fortnight.

While Judas was absent, the children each spent their time differently.

Perhaps the image of the boy in the wheelchair had left a profound impact on them.

They continued their routine of intense training and daily life.

The purpose of their training was entirely focused on individual skills.

The desire to become even slightly useful.

The girls’ efforts were especially touching.

“Ephri! Good work today.”

“Let’s start increasing the firepower from tomorrow!”

Lezia concentrated on connecting with her summon.

It was a process to fully control the power derived from the dragon, which had been difficult to manage until now.

Her growing presence day by day proved that she was the protagonist.

The summoner was close to the original work.

“Haah… this is still difficult.”

“That person would have been much sharper.”

“I just can’t seem to reach that level.”

Ameila devoted herself to her unique magic.

She was working to refine the properties of ice.

Like the moment when she had borrowed power from Judas before, she was attempting to fuse winter and shadow.

Of course, “property transformation” was not easy, as it was a process of elevating a magician’s caliber.

However, the villainess simply continued to add effort and time steadily.

Her characteristic tenacity shone through.

“This place is indeed endlessly vast.”

“It might be dangerous… but it’s a request from my only disciple.”

“When he returns, I’ll ask him to hold me all day.”

Selena was exploring the labyrinth beneath the academy.

It was to fulfill her disciple’s request.

The scale was so vast it couldn’t even be estimated. During the previous attack, it had been used as an entry route for cultists.

As such, the faculty also considered it essential to understand this labyrinth.

However, being an ancient structure made it difficult to penetrate.

Several professors were working together, but no significant results had emerged.

Some were even expressing concerns about safety.

“We must consider the students’ safety.”

“There are still uncertain dangers remaining.”

“Shouldn’t we close the academy temporarily? At least until we fully understand the labyrinth.”

“Even at this moment, malicious forces might be targeting the academy.”

The structure of the labyrinth, not even half understood.

This was an extremely reasonable concern.

However, practical issues stood in the way of hastily deciding on closure.

Adult circumstances, one might say.

“Closure is too extreme a solution.”

“We need to consider the losses that would follow.”

Profit and loss calculations made automatically.

Of course, such trivial issues were only secondary.

The real problem was…

“Our decision is not limited to profit and loss.”

“The Great War that continued until just six years ago… After victory against the cruel cult groups, the academy has become a symbol of peace alongside the cathedral.”

“What would happen if one of these prominent symbols showed hesitation?”

“It would only amount to acknowledging the influence of the cultists.”

“This is an issue that could bring anxiety to the entire continent!”

The faculty was divided into two sides, arguing their opinions.

A difficult choice either way.

Indeed, conflict becomes clearer when right and wrong are more ambiguous.

The unsettled atmosphere was not easily rectified.

“That logic is nothing but an exaggeration!”

“Shouldn’t we prioritize the definite safety of students?”

“If we simply cover it up and things escalate, it will truly become irreversible!”

“We must fulfill our duty as educators!”

“We cannot just pursue idealism!”

“While we bear the title of educators, we are also protectors of the Empire.”

“The influence of cultists is nothing compared to six years ago.”

“The academy’s security has already been tightened. They don’t have the capacity to breach it!”

“If we back down in this situation, it will only expand the cultists’ influence.”

“Have you all forgotten that the source of malicious power is ‘fear’?”

“We might inadvertently cause waves!”

Voices chaotically jumbled together.

However, the proposal for closure was ultimately dismissed.

This was because the headmaster did not give direct permission.

The old man maintained his silence this time as well.

Selena, though caught between faculty members, consistently sent letters and materials to her disciple.

So that he could understand the overall situation even while away from the academy.

Thus, everyone did their best in their respective positions.

“Haa, haa…”

Meanwhile.

Irene Foxis was staying at Astro’s headquarters rather than the academy.

She had sought out the Sword Saint for guidance.

The fox raised her sword tip with rough breathing.

Swish!

Without even time to finish exhaling, a silver trajectory fell from above.

The girl defended by raising her blade at an angle.

The two blades collided.

An intense metallic sound erupted.

Clang!

“Kuh…!”

A simple strike.

Yet the fox’s stance crumbled.

Her precarious center of gravity broke immediately after.

The girl tried to regain her balance belatedly, but her opponent didn’t miss the momentary opening.

The gleaming line touched her cheek as if drawn in an instant.

The cool temperature of the steel cooled her sweat.

“…I lost.”

Clatter.

Irene finally dropped her sword.

It was a simple sign of surrender.

Following this signal, her opponent also withdrew his blade.

Only then did the girl slump to the ground.

She then caught her breath that had been lacking.

“Ha… this is brutally hard.”

“Hahaha! But you held out quite well this time!”

A boisterous laugh erupted.

Standing before the fox with a sword was a middle-aged man with flowing red hair.

Despite having crossed swords for six full hours, he showed no signs of fatigue.

Irene frowned as if shuddering.

“It’s irritating how perfectly fine you look.”

“Blame your own weakness.”

The Red Sword Saint, Kyle Stroban.

A figure said to have shone the brightest among all the stars of history.

The man was smiling as if amused.

“At this rate, when do you plan to catch up?”

“I just need to be strong enough to win or lose properly.”

“Even though I’ve declined considerably from my prime?”

“That’s really motivating.”

“Feeling self-loathing after being defeated by a retired chef?”

“You don’t have to point it out specifically…”

The girl grumbled quietly.

The two who had finished their training began to clean up the space.

Shattered sword blades were scattered on the floor.

Traces of the intense training that had continued.

Irene asked a question with a faint sigh.

“How was today’s training?”

“Excellent! Your growth gets steeper by the day. Right now, you’d be on par with my sixteen-year-old self.”

“Aren’t you praising me too much? Just a few months ago, you said I was around thirteen.”

“Didn’t I tell you! It’s an absolutely incredible growth rate! Perhaps the most outstanding raw talent I’ve seen in my life.”

“…Yet I still can’t beat a retired chef.”

“That can’t be helped! It’s because I’m strong!”

“You’re a real monster.”

“Hahaha!”

His characteristically resonant laughter made her ears ring.

The fox frowned.

“Just how strong are you?”

“Hmm… if we’re talking about my prime, I’d say at least in the top three.”

“In the Empire?”

“Not at all.”

“On the continent?”

“Not at all.”

“Then where are you in the top three?”

“You need to see the world more broadly.”

Woong-!

A faint tremor flowed through Kyle’s blade.

As if in response, a radiance flickered.

Following that, the starlight that spread magnificently was illuminating the dark space in blue.

Between the night sky, embroidery connected by dots and dots twinkled.

It was none other than a constellation.

Only then did the man answer.

“In history.”

“……”

A short yet weighty resonance.

It was a declaration that might be considered arrogant, but the scene before her eyes added credibility.

It was a beauty never encountered in any other sword.

Irene couldn’t help but sigh.

“Haah… I wonder if I can really catch up to you.”

“Not even close yet! Although my skills have deteriorated significantly, I’m not at the level to be defeated by a sprout!”

“Yes, yes, you’re amazing.”

“But.”

Tap.

The man lightly tapped the fox’s shoulder.

A smile hung on his lips.

“You will certainly catch up.”

“……”

“You might even surpass my prime.”

“That’s something I find hard to believe.”

“If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in the Captain’s judgment.”

“That person…?”

“He was confident that you would surpass me.”

“Well… if that’s the case, it might motivate me.”

Judas.

As talk of him emerged, the atmosphere immediately softened.

The girl subtly lowered her sharp gaze.

There was even a faint smile on her cheeks.

Kyle smiled as if intrigued.

“Hmm! The Captain must be happy.”

“Why suddenly?”

“There are devoted girls scattered all around him! Even our Vice-Captain is like that!”

“Again with the unnecessary comments…”

While responding as if annoyed, the girl didn’t actually deny it.

Having finished cleaning up, Irene got up and dusted herself off.

She was thinking of leaving soon.

Today was the day Judas would return.

It was time to return to the academy.

“I should get going now.”

“I’ve already asked Rena. If you take the portal, the timing should be right.”

“Tell everyone thank you. Please take care of my siblings too.”

“Don’t worry. This chef will protect the young foxes.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Exchanging casual farewells.

As the girl was about to step out of the training room.

Kyle conveyed his final words to her back.

Unlike the cheerful atmosphere until now, it was a somewhat subdued and serious voice.

The star that had set earlier spoke.

“One last warning.”

“…?”

“You’re approaching transcendence. Within 3 years if slow, within 1 year if fast, you’ll reach the stars.”

“That doesn’t sound like a warning. It sounds more like a positive evaluation.”

“The key point starts here.”

The star meets the fox’s eyes.

His characteristic red eyes were shining, but locked in a lonely manner.

As if worrying about some future.

“Do you know when a sword is most precarious?”

“When approaching the realm of stars. It’s a famous story.”

“Yes… because it’s when the wall of mana crumbles and new concepts are established. Many swordsmen have met miserable ends by hitting that wall. Unable to ascend to transcendence, they were instead devoured by starlight.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

The girl showed signs of tension.

The man’s expression was serious to the point of feeling out of place.

“Never go against the flow.”

“……”

“The natural order is an absolute law. If you try to defy the stars with the power of a mere mortal, you will surely pay a price worse than death.”

“What exactly is that?”

“Since I haven’t experienced it myself, I don’t know the exact details.”

“Seems like quite a few people have been devoured in the process.”

“Countless.”

Do not defy the stars.

This was advice left as a colleague before being master and disciple.

Kyle did not want anything that would make his master sad.

Irene promised, despite her uneasy expression.

That she would not act recklessly when it came to the stars.

“Then I’m relieved.”

“Yes… I’ll be going now.”

“Hmm! Give my regards to the Captain!”

Afterwards.

The girl set off toward the academy.

***

Irene was in a good mood.

The boy she hadn’t seen for nearly two weeks.

Today was finally the day she would reunite with him.

Even after arriving at the academy and heading to the dormitory where they lived, the fox continued to smile.

Even she, who was prickly to others, was simply youthful in front of someone.

The girl walked down the corridor with even a faint smile on her lips.

Meanwhile, her heart fluttered noisily.

Thump thump.

‘I want to see you soon.’

What would they talk about when they met?

First, she would act spoiled.

Since she had been practically abandoned, she planned to ask him to indulge her stubbornness.

That person would surely smile awkwardly and listen.

Because you were such a soft person.

‘First.’

She would lie on the bed.

Lying in his arms, she would melt into his broad warmth.

She would breathe in his intoxicating scent and feel his presence.

She would interlock her fingers as if never to let go again.

After fully realizing the fact that they were together, she would then gradually offer everything from her ears to her tail.

She planned to whisper to him to stroke every part without missing anything.

So that she would become disheveled by his rough touch, and her neat breathing would become yearning.

Her body would press as close as possible.

‘If you want…’

She wanted him to be even slightly conscious of her.

She would wrap her arms around his with her full bosom, place her soft tail on his thigh, and hope he would make a troubled expression.

She wanted to seep through the cracks and become everything to the boy.

Of course, it was just a childish fantasy.

The person she knew would probably just laugh it off casually.

But even these moments of indulging in such fantasies had become precious daily life for the fox.

The path to meet the boy was radiant.

Like colorful flowers swaying gently.

‘Nice.’

The cool flowing spring.

A feeling like becoming one with the season.

However.

“……”

It didn’t take long for that feeling to break.

For some reason, the fox’s eyes were cold when she reunited with the boy.

Her pupils were already dead black.

“Who is that?”

Irene asked.

The mark left on the boy’s nape.

A reddish blooming flower.

Like a passage encountered in a book, it revealed explicit sensuality.

It certainly looked like a trace from a physical relationship.

And.

“Oh my.”

Unwelcome guests were clinging to his arms.

Two people with red and platinum blonde hair respectively.

The princesses were each in close contact with the boy.

They briefly met her gaze, then greeted her with smiles.

Especially the younger sister’s gaze was sinister.

As if mocking the late-arriving fox.

“This one is going to be the Imperial Consort. I’d appreciate if you didn’t address him too casually.”

“Yes. He’s agreed to marry us. His Majesty has commanded it.”

The imperial princesses.

These vulgar women seemed to have gone mad as a pair.