Ch.162161. Journey? (3)

# 161. A Trip? (3)

‘So it’s that child from back then…’

It seemed Amelia was referring to that dark elf from before.

“I don’t know that person.”

“Really?”

Her expression and tone suggested I should stop lying and tell the truth immediately.

I responded to Amelia, who continued to show such reactions.

“Really.”

“Then how did you know about that?”

“I just guessed.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

I spoke to the incredulous Amelia with a completely serious tone.

“Yes, believe me.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But why are you two here? Everyone else should still be at the entrance.”

“I just slipped away because I was bored.”

It was content I already knew, and since I’d heard it countless times in class, I didn’t want to listen to it again after coming all this way.

And Reina seemed to agree with my opinion, quietly nodding beside me.

“But specifically… just the two of you?”

“I’d like to decline any unnecessary misunderstandings. It just happened to turn out this way by coincidence.”

“That’s disappointing…”

“Anyway…”

I made a proposal to Amelia, who seemed as bored as we were.

“Would you perhaps… spend some time with us? We don’t have anything particular to do.”

“Hmm…?”

Amelia appeared to contemplate for a moment.

However, shortly after, making that moment of consideration seem meaningless, she immediately accepted the proposal.

“Sure, why not. So we’re doing this outside?”

“Of course, we can’t do it here, can we?”

***

Gloria’s explanation session felt like it lasted nearly an hour.

Still, at the end of what seemed like an eternity, there was a paradise called free time.

“From now on, you can act freely, but please follow the rules I just explained, and since the museum is quite large, try to stay together as much as possible.”

Those words were like an oasis in the desert.

Having waited for so long to finally hear those words, Chris was fully enjoying the sense of liberation that had finally arrived.

“Wow… finally… it’s over…”

“Wasn’t it actually interesting?”

Although Luna also knew about the Lester War, she wasn’t as knowledgeable as Gloria, so she found it interesting and fascinating.

Of course, it was different for Chris.

“What are you saying…? If you find it interesting, go ask her to explain more. I’m sure she’d be happy to.”

“Well, that’s a bit…”

Even Luna seemed to think that was going too far.

Still, thanks to those explanations, Luna had become more interested in the Lester War and wanted to explore more of the museum.

“Let’s look around some more.”

“”But that’s not the issue right now.””

Two people uttered the same words simultaneously.

The ones who spoke were Raicle and Rachel, who seemed to be thinking along similar lines.

They glared at each other, and Rachel spoke first.

“You noticed too?”

“Anyone who hasn’t noticed would be an idiot.”

Those who suddenly became idiots.

Everyone except Chris tilted their heads and quietly listened to their conversation, while Chris asked them why they were saying such things.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“You… didn’t notice?”

“Notice what?”

That incredibly innocent question.

Surprised by the boldness of the question, Raicle touched his forehead and continued the conversation.

“Don’t you think there are some people missing here?”

“Missing people?”

Not just Chris, but everyone present looked around.

And then they all seemed to realize why those two were having such a conversation.

“Ah… where did that bastard go?”

“Exactly…”

“Even Reina is gone. Wait! Could this be… a secret date?”

“Please stop… that nonsense.”

Raicle’s sharp rebuke.

Hearing those words, Chris seemed to come to his senses and spoke in a calm voice.

“But why are we looking for them? If it’s those two, they’re probably somewhere fighting each other again.”

Chris couldn’t understand why they were trying to find them.

However, Rachel and Luna thought differently.

“Maybe not. They seemed pretty close.”

“I’m telling you, they’re just fight-obsessed people. They’re the type who even cut back on sleep to get in an extra 30 minutes of practice.”

“Still…”

Even so, they couldn’t dismiss the possibility lingering in their minds.

“You guys go look… I’m going to rest here…”

After saying that, Chris sat down on a nearby bench to take a break.

He seemed tired from standing for so long.

“Now that you mention it, that’s true…”

Raicle, somewhat agreeing with Chris’s opinion, also sat down on the bench and was enjoying the sweet break time.

Of course, the others were different, but those two seemed to plan on staying there until the museum visit was over.

“Let’s go look for them.”

Two people with different thoughts from those two.

Those two were trying to find the two people who had disappeared without a trace.

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy to find them.

“Well… good luck with that.”

Knowing this, Chris was pitying them, and Gloria, who had been watching them all along, felt the same way.

Gloria, holding a rather thick book in her hand, sat down on the bench where Chris and Raicle were sitting and spoke.

“They won’t find them here.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“They’re outside, with the Hero.”

“The Hero?”

When Chris made a puzzled expression, Gloria answered in a calm voice.

“Yes, given the current situation, it could be dangerous. So the Hero came along… and now they’re outside.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“But why aren’t you two exploring more?”

Hearing Gloria’s innocent question, Chris answered while lying face down on the table.

“I’m tired.”

“Don’t sleep there.”

“Yes… By the way, how much longer will we be here?”

“About two hours? After this, we’ll also visit the city walls.”

The Lester City Walls.

It was the battlefield of the Lester Battle where countless people lost their lives and where the two armies clashed most fiercely.

After the battle, it had been preserved in its original state, with no one touching it.

Of course, measures were taken to protect it from weather conditions like rain or typhoons.

“Why are we going there too?”

“You’ll feel quite a lot when you go there.”

“But if no one has touched it, are the bodies from that time still there?”

“Of course! Even the smell of blood from that time still remains.”

It seemed that they had to visit this place especially because of the current state of war.

To show the students the horrors of war and make them aware of the upcoming battles.

“It’s cruel and disgusting, but that’s precisely why you all need to see it, as the future of the Empire.”

Gloria looked at the two alternately, then continued.

“Of course, some of you, including you two, already seem to know this very well.”

Indeed, those party members under her leadership were well aware of the cruelty of war and the necessity of talented individuals.

But others were not yet there.

“But if they haven’t come to their senses even after coming this far, then even seeing that probably won’t…”

“That’s probably true for those who choose to remain ignorant until it happens to them directly. But some will be different. That’s enough.”

There are two ways to increase a nation’s power.

Either raise the overall level of all soldiers or create overwhelmingly powerful individuals.

Of course, it would be ideal to do both, but that’s unrealistic.

So one must choose between the two.

The former is not only difficult but also not very effective.

But the latter is different.

In the case of an overwhelmingly powerful individual, their mere presence can determine the outcome of a battle.

“And in reality, it’s people like you, the few, who lead battles to victory.”

“Does that… apply to us too?”

“Of course.”

***

A person with the power to lead a battle to victory.

And those who will soon become such people.

The cold wind they created made the already chilly weather even colder.

Albert effortlessly catching Amelia’s arrows, even though she was holding back.

Seeing his skill left me speechless.

“Are you really here on a trip?”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

I asked Reina, who was just watching what I was doing beside me.

“Do you want to try too?”

“No?”

“Try it.”

“I said no. How could I possibly do that…”

From her perspective, I was catching arrows that she could barely see, so her reaction was understandable.

If we did it at the same intensity, she would get seriously hurt.

“We can shoot more slowly, right?”

“Of course, trust me and give it a try.”

“Ah…”

Reina contemplated amid the continued pressure.

Of course, I had no intention of forcing her to do something she didn’t want to do.

After all, I’d be forcing her to do it starting next year anyway.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Yeah, you’ll be doing it later anyway.”

“Uh… what…?”

Reina glared at me with an expression that seemed to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

I scratched my head and said,

“Your reflexes seem a bit slow, so I’m planning to properly train you starting next year…”

As I was explaining the training I planned to implement next year, from behind us—

More precisely, from the direction of the museum, numerous presences were felt.

It seemed the time was already up.

“So this is where everyone was?”