Ch.3434. The Weak (3)

Professor Müniher, who had begun his investigation, slowly reviews the testimonies of witnesses and those involved.

-‘There should be one that I dealt with near the entrance to the exam site. Killed with multiple ice spikes.’

As Charlotte had said, when he moved a short distance from the entrance, he could see a neatly dispatched monster.

Thanks to the trampled grass and exposed brown earth left by this giant rat’s movements, he could roughly intuit its path.

“It took quite a few hits. Facing this bulk head-on would be too much even for Junon’s strength…”

That would mean she didn’t face it directly but evaded appropriately.

Following the movement patterns to predict the next route, the hypothesis of evasion seemed to match up, along with Charlotte’s specialty magic—projectile ice magic.

Seeing ice spikes embedded throughout the creature’s body, it was clear she had ideally cut off its breath.

Nothing more needs to be said beyond “excellent.”

“There was another location, wasn’t there.”

Going a bit deeper from here and turning left—the place where Noel and John had been.

At the next battle site, something more complicated had occurred.

Two beasts that appeared to have been cleanly eliminated like before, and four others that didn’t look so.

He reconstructs what happened at the scene based on testimony and evidence.

Only one of the two shows signs of spear wounds, suggesting that the insufficient firepower was supplemented by Charlotte’s magic cast shortly after.

But that wasn’t the end, apparently. Four more rushed in, and here was where human blood was first spilled.

The aftermath was exactly as they had testified.

Someone had sent Noel and John away from Charlotte, who was charging recklessly due to magical overload, sacrificing themselves to save her.

He wasn’t sure how they had stopped Charlotte, but the results proved it was true.

After all, Charlotte had been more threatening than the rat-type monsters.

What would have happened if an out-of-control Charlotte had rampaged through the exam site, attacking people and devouring hearts as magical sources?

An execution order for Charlotte. Student casualties. Parents throwing stones in grief upon finding the deceased. Certain professors seizing the opportunity to criticize.

A series of cringe-worthy events would have unfolded.

The important thing is that Junon, just a single student, prevented this entire chain reaction. The current outcome was undeniably his doing.

All while earning the title of the only seriously injured person in this semester’s initial assessment.

“Truly. A promising one indeed.”

***

It didn’t take very long to be discharged from the hospital.

Of course, my desire to leave quickly played a part… but this wasn’t what I wanted.

“You’re saying I don’t have to pay the hospital bill?”

“Yes. It’s already been taken care of.”

I was going to show my academy student ID and request to pay next semester since I couldn’t afford the hospital bill right away.

But… it’s already paid? How could that be?

I was completely broke at the moment.

“Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? Please check again.”

The hospital staff obliged my request and politely confirmed once more, and the result…

“Your name is Junon, correct? A third-year student at Levrant Academy, E class in the previous year. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“It says everything has already been paid. Room charges, meals, rehabilitation costs—most expenses have been covered.”

It was the same situation as before.

Although Levrant Academy has good welfare benefits, they might help reduce costs but wouldn’t cover everything.

There are financial considerations, but they also deliberately leave students with small debts so they’ll develop their talents and give back to society.

It’s the school’s philosophy that students should become proper members of society, work honorably, and pay back their debts with earned money.

Similarly, accidents during exams usually incur some costs to highlight student carelessness, but apparently not in this case.

“Is there any way to know who paid it?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s…”

The vague trailing off told me it wasn’t possible.

“I apologize for asking…”

Who could have paid it for me?

Professors can’t spend personal funds on students according to regulations. At most, they might introduce scholarship opportunities or paid work.

A sponsor? That’s impossible for someone with my notorious reputation. Ruled out.

So someone else paid on my behalf…

Thinking of people who might have a connection to me…

‘Silvia said it wasn’t her.’

I had firmly declined Silvia’s money when she apologetically offered it, saying she couldn’t cover all the hospital expenses.

I had insisted she shouldn’t pay a penny and even made her promise, so it couldn’t be her.

‘Did Michelle come to repay me?’

That’s absurd. She wouldn’t have met the early graduation requirements yet, so she’d still be facing financial difficulties.

It would be premature for her to come repay the money I lent her.

Besides, I had explicitly told her she didn’t need to repay it and to stay uninvolved.

‘Renias… that’s impossible.’

She couldn’t even take the beginning-of-semester assessment because she was at the front lines. How could she have heard about my injury and paid for me? It’s not possible.

We’re not even that close to begin with.

That leaves just one person.

“No way…”

Charlotte.

She was the appropriate candidate with enough wealth from managing a merchant group to easily cover my hospital bills.

Process of elimination leaves only one person, and it happens to be Charlotte?

“Hah…”

My head was already starting to throb.

“Why does senior always look so troubled whenever I see you?”

Why does this voice sound familiar?

Come to think of it, there was one more person who called me “senior.”

“A receipt? Senior, are you hurt?”

I hadn’t expected to meet again after the end-of-semester assessment… but apparently that wasn’t the case.

Three-dimensional, distinct features with skin so white it seemed to reflect light.

Silver hair that held a subtle glow due to overflowing magical power.

I never thought I’d see my end-of-semester assessment partner again.

***

Until recently, Renias’s heart had always been like a flower garden.

The academy was the final place to meet peers and become a respectable member of society.

She thought school life was the last opportunity to enjoy such memories before becoming part of the battlefield or the principality.

Going to the hill behind school with classmates to pick and eat berries.

Playing pranks during lectures and getting scolded when caught by professors.

Asking each other questions and helping solve problems in difficult subjects.

Respecting opponents during practice duels.

But reality was cruel.

There were people who couldn’t even go to the hill without being wary of others.

Some couldn’t attend the same lectures, and certain groups faced professors’ scolding as part of their daily routine.

Those who might have helped answer questions had already been removed by higher-ups.

There were those who faced discrimination and mistreatment simply for being in lower classes.

The one who revealed this dark side that Renias hadn’t known about was a senior from the infamous E class.

The senior Junon, who was now sighing heavily right in front of her.

“Why does senior always look so troubled whenever I see you?”

She noticed what he was holding in his hand.

It was just a piece of paper, but it was obvious where it came from. The building right next to them was a hospital.

This person who had crossed mountains and rivers using only standard-issue equipment during the end-of-semester assessment.

The fact that this senior was coming out of the hospital with a receipt meant something had happened and he’d been injured.

“A receipt? Senior, are you hurt?”

When she mentioned the receipt, his black eyes immediately darted toward it.

Tucking the receipt away, he replied:

“Oh, this? It’s nothing.”

“Hmm… really? Nothing happened during this semester’s initial assessment?”

“Not particularly. Just some other annoying business.”

“What is it? What is it? Tell me too!”

She just wanted to know.

What was he hiding this time?

But Junon didn’t answer, instead tossing out a disinterested question:

“More importantly, why did you come looking for me? You shouldn’t have any business with me.”

Hearing that, Renias puffed her cheeks.

“Why wouldn’t I have business with you? Tch.”

In Renias’s eyes, he was a master of lies. A professional one at that.

“I clearly said I’d treat you to a meal. And you even waved goodbye at the end, and now you’re saying this?”

“Hey… we just went through hardship together, why would you need to buy me a meal?”

“Sigh, senior, you’re too rigid. Let’s just talk over a meal!”

With that, Renias grabbed one of Junon’s arms and pulled.

“Hey, hey!! Renias!! I said it’s fine!!”

“Just follow along quietly~”

Renias somehow liked seeing this rigid senior flustered.

She slowly enjoyed his reaction, which suggested he had never experienced anything like this at the academy before, with a smile on her face.

***

Charlotte hadn’t encountered Junon since meeting him at the hospital.

No, she had deliberately avoided him. Paying his hospital bills was the most she could do for him.

She was still afraid.

Afraid that she might be swallowed by the abyss within her again and once more leave him covered in blood.

She wanted to approach him but knew she shouldn’t. She was like a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

That’s how Charlotte saw herself.

“Goden, it seems we have a visitor.”

Senia lowered her sword upon seeing Charlotte step into the training room and said this.

As the two paused their duel, the voice of a small-framed girl reached them.

Despite her small stature, Charlotte’s single statement filled the spacious training hall and then some:

“I want to join your party.”

Her determination was as deep as her resolve to never lose control and hurt others again.