Ch.9292. Cleaning Up the Aftermath

After everything was over, I quietly slipped away from the scene. Some people from the audience jumped down into the arena.

They surrounded the fallen Mitein and Latein, carefully checking their condition. Not finding any visible injuries, they just looked at me with puzzled expressions.

Even if you look at me like that, I don’t know why they ended up that way either. I just hit them and that’s what happened.

I decided to pretend I didn’t notice and looked around the audience.

That’s when I spotted a very familiar face… no, a familiar figure.

Senior Lias? Weren’t you supposed to be dead? Why are you there?

‘Well, I guess I know why.’

She probably couldn’t resist following along when she saw things were getting interesting, even though she was supposed to leave.

Honestly, I probably would have done the same.

She seemed to think she was hiding among the crowd, but with her build, she was too visible… it’s not easy to pretend I don’t see her.

She had a very surprised expression after watching my battle, probably thinking I had gone easy on her.

That was my best at the time, but she wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said. Not that I planned to explain anyway.

While I was looking around the audience, I saw someone approaching. It was Alkine.

Her gaze moved between me and the fallen twins, with a somewhat downcast look in her eyes.

…That makes sense. She probably thought I would handle things properly, but instead I knocked them out cold.

To others, the twins might just appear unconscious, but someone like Alkine would have a general idea of their actual condition.

“Ludion.”

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized right away since there wasn’t much to explain.

But surprisingly, she expressed confusion in response.

“What are you sorry for?”

“Pardon?”

“They’re the ones who dragged you here for this duel, right? It was a bit excessive, but not enough to be problematic.”

“…Really?”

I knew duels happened frequently within the Academy, but I wasn’t very familiar with their intensity or consequences.

In the game, duels would just transition to a cutscene or results screen whether you won or lost.

“I used to do this often before becoming student council president. Though I thought you would go easy on them this time too, so this is a bit surprising.”

Alkine seemed to have expected that I would simply surrender or something when she saw they weren’t attacking.

Well… if my abilities hadn’t been updated, I probably would have…

While I was thinking about this, Alkine asked a question.

“That seemed like a pretty dangerous ability. Are you sure it’s okay to reveal it so openly?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

My answer was sincere.

To others, it might look like I revealed something I’d been hiding, but in truth, I had only just acquired it.

I couldn’t use what I didn’t have before. Now that I had it, I had no intention of letting it go to waste.

“Really?”

After hearing my answer, Alkine let out what seemed to be a sigh of relief.

“That’s good then. I was worried that I might have forced you into a situation where you had no choice but to reveal it.”

…What? Was that what she was worried about?

So that downcast look when she first approached wasn’t to reproach me, but because she was concerned she might have caused me trouble?

Thinking back, she did seem restless the entire time she was approaching.

What’s with her? That’s actually pretty cute.

As if she could tell what I was thinking, Alkine suddenly punched my chest lightly.

Hearing it was Alkine’s fist, I almost dodged reflexively, but thankfully I managed to hold back.

She kept her fist on my chest as she continued speaking.

“Still, you were too harsh. You could have gone easier on them, you know?”

What she said earlier was sincere, and this must be too.

From her perspective, it probably looked like a professional fighter beating up kids.

“I… suddenly got to use it and couldn’t control it well.”

“Yeah, I believe you.”

Is she believing me so easily simply because she trusts me, or because she likes me?

Either way, it’s equally burdensome, so I decided not to think about it.

While I was having this brief conversation with Alkine, Celia arrived with Professor Reina.

“What’s with you suddenly flying in and dragging people around?”

“It’s because you weren’t reading my messages, Professor. I don’t want to see Ludion become a murderer.”

“A murderer? What are you talking about… oh…”

From their conversation, it seemed Celia had gone to fetch her directly.

As Reina appeared, the crowd surrounding the twins quickly made way for her. Upon seeing the fallen twins, she seemed to understand everything.

She silently approached them as if to heal them, but then…

“…What exactly did you do?”

She asked without even turning to look at me.

When I couldn’t answer and just stared at her, Reina sighed deeply and finally began casting healing magic.

One of the bystanders cautiously approached Reina and asked:

“How is their condition?”

“Pretty bad.”

“…What?”

That answer was quite… no, extremely serious.

Coming from Reina, saying a condition was “bad” was synonymous with “on the verge of death.”

Reina realized her slip and quickly corrected herself.

“I misspoke. They’re not going to die. By that standard, it’s at most like having one limb each severed and some holes in their lungs? Not that serious.”

…Isn’t having limbs severed and holes in the lungs life-threatening?

Professor Reina’s standards were truly terrifying.

“What I meant by ‘bad’ is… it’s a condition that’s difficult to heal.”

But what was more surprising was that Reina mentioned difficulty in healing.

For her to say this—someone who could instantly heal any wound—was practically unprecedented.

Everyone who understood how absurd her statement was turned their gazes back to me.

I tried to avoid their stares by turning my head, only to meet the faces of Celia and Alkine.

“Ludion? Did those people commit some unforgivable sin against you?”

“I knew it was serious, but not this bad. You really couldn’t control it, right?”

I had a lot I wanted to say, but felt that nothing would help the situation, so I kept quiet.

They seemed to be half-joking anyway and didn’t press further.

Soon, the person who had approached Reina asked another question.

“So, their lives aren’t in danger, right?”

“That’s right. Sorry, but could you stop talking to me now? I need to concentrate.”

“Ah, yes! I’m sorry!”

The person quickly fled at Reina’s words.

Left alone again, Reina seemed to focus on healing for a moment… then began muttering something.

Being quite close, I could hear everything she said.

“Why would a kid who’s been so well-behaved suddenly… Was the academy activity not enough? Ah, that’s right. There’s a good opportunity coming up, perfect timing.”

I wasn’t particularly well-behaved, and I already find academy activities quite overwhelming.

I sensed something ominous and wanted to explain, but it was too late.

“Ludion.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“This weekend, keep your schedule clear. There’s something to do.”

“Is my presence absolutely necessary?”

“Even if it weren’t, you’d have to come. You’re my direct assistant.”

And just like that, my weekend plans were decided.

I couldn’t refuse. All the funds I currently had came from being Professor Reina’s direct assistant.

It’s truly lamentable to succumb to capitalism, but I had no choice.

I’m kidding. She probably thinks I’m really needed, so she’s taking me along.

Despite her words, she values efficiency and isn’t the type to create unnecessary work.

So I decided to take it lightly.

“Understood.”

“Good, and don’t leave students in this state again.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I accepted her admonishment as well.

Today was truly a mistake born from ignorance; I won’t escalate things like this again.

While I said I had no intention of wasting my ability, I also had no intention of carelessly wielding a power that could potentially kill people.

Perhaps satisfied with my answer, Reina left without saying anything more.

From behind, I could hear the groans of Mitein and Latein as they gradually regained consciousness, and the crowd began to gather around them again.

‘They sure are popular.’

Seeing so many friends worried about them, they clearly aren’t bad guys.

…Wait, aren’t those all members of Celia’s fan club and Lilith’s followers?

Oh… I should leave quickly.

No telling what might happen if I wait until they wake up.

I quickly left the scene with Celia and Alkine.