Chapter 10: A little sorry

Even though the Academy is quite vast, interesting news always spreads in an instant.

The news that Paern, one of the Great Pioneers, had visited the Academy, became known to all the students in the class in less than a few hours.

Among them, there were students who tried to somehow get early dismissal, claiming they could only believe it if they saw it with their own eyes, but unfortunately, their homeroom professor was not an easy opponent.

Thus, everyone waited for lunchtime, and as soon as class ended, the classroom emptied.

“Today too… do you have time…?”

“…Yes, well…”

“Then how about we eat at the restaurant we went to before?”

“No. I’ll guide you today.”

Except for Hestia and me.

In the classroom, left with just the two of us, I decided to have lunch with her as she quietly approached me.

Outside the classroom, it was quiet, unlike usual.

Perhaps because all the students who usually laughed and chattered freely during breaks had gone to the Headmaster’s office building, hardly any students were seen passing by this area.

‘Is this the influence of Paern, the Great Pioneer…’

‘Her popularity is truly terrifying.’

“By the way, Hero… no, Hestia, aren’t you going to see that person?”

“Are you referring to Paern?”

“Yes. Isn’t a Great Pioneer a celebrity everyone wants to meet at least once?”

“Hmm… I am curious, but…”

Hestia seemed to ponder for a moment, then cautiously asked me.

“Perhaps… you want to go?”

“No, I don’t particularly intend to go. If you want to go, Hestia, you don’t have to worry about me; you can go ahead.”

As long as Paern continues to stay at the Academy, there will be opportunities to see him at any time, not necessarily today.

However, the current Hestia doesn’t know that yet, so she might think this is her only chance to see the Great Pioneer.

If I send her away under the pretense of consideration, I might be able to enjoy a quiet meal alone for the first time in a while.

Hestia stared at me for a moment.

When I tilted my head with a questioning look, she opened her mouth.

“…Shall we go together?”

“Ah, I’ll just have lunch separately…”

“Then, I won’t go either.”

‘Huh?’

“Why? You clearly said you wanted to go earlier.”

“I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go eat first.”

Saying that, Hestia quickly turned her head and walked away with rapid steps.

I stared blankly at her walking ahead, then chuckled and said.

“The dining hall isn’t that way.”

“…”

****

The Academy is vast.

Roughly, it would be the size of several cities combined…

Usually, those who have never been to the Academy don’t quite understand even when it’s explained this way.

So, when talking about how vast the Academy is, it’s better to explain ‘why it’s vast’.

Many people are mistaken about something.

Although the Academy is an institution affiliated with the Empire, strictly speaking, it is not imperial land.

You can think of the Academy itself as an independent small country.

Of course, since it’s connected to the Empire and has significant influence, the Empire could potentially replace the Headmaster if it wished, but closing down the Academy itself is almost impossible.

The reason is that the Academy is a unique institution.

For a very long time, this has been the only Academy on the entire continent.

While small educational institutions can be found elsewhere, this is the only educational institution in the form of an Academy.

Talented individuals from various countries around the world become professors, and countless students who wish to receive an education gather here.

Despite the endlessly increasing number of people, the Academy continued to accept those coming from all over the continent.

To do this, it was necessary to buy land and expand the surroundings, and thanks to the Empire’s help at that time, the current Academy was able to be completed.

A gigantic educational institution, practically a small country.

That is the Academy.

As an educational institution possessing vast land, classes at the Academy are not always held only in classrooms.

Outdoors, there are many forests and training grounds, and sometimes activities for education take place there.

And today is the first day of that.

****

After lunch break, the afternoon class time returned.

Since Hestia and I had different classes, I lightly bid farewell to her, who was wearing a somewhat dissatisfied (expressionless) look.

One of the elective classes I was taking was ‘Comprehensive Combat’.

Unlike ‘Melee Combat’ that Hestia was taking, or ‘Divine Studies’ that the Holy Maiden was taking, this class taught various combat styles.

This class had something a little special about it…

That was, I took it with the Regressor.

“Hello?”

At the sweet voice heard directly behind me, I reflexively moved my arms to cover my upper body.

“…What are you doing?”

“Please don’t touch my body without permission.”

“…”

I hid myself in a corner, avoiding the Regressor, whose gaze seemed somewhat dangerous.

‘Even if I do this, there’s no way that stalker won’t find me, but it’s still better than just standing still.’

As I spent time crouching in the corner like that, the professor in charge of ‘Comprehensive Combat’ soon entered.

“Today is the day for group combat practice, as announced. Teams can be freely formed with four or five members each.”

“Ah, damn it.”

“Who was that just now?”

At the instruction to form teams freely, students gathered with their close acquaintances to form groups.

‘As for me… no one would even care if I participated in this class.’

‘If I stay quiet like this, I might naturally be able to skip the practice.’

However, unfortunately, I had never once missed this day’s practice, not even from the first regression.

“Hey.”

“…”

“If you don’t have anyone to team up with, want to join our group?”

“…Sure, why not.”

Of course, the one who approached me, who would otherwise have no one to talk to, was… the Regressor again.

Moreover, this woman included me, who was alone, in her group even from the first regression, when she didn’t even know about the existence of regression.

‘It seems she was concerned about me, being alone without friends.’

Thus, with two additional members separately recruited by the Regressor, a party consisting of a total of four people was completed.

“Oh? Why does the number fit perfectly? I thought one or two people would be left over.”

‘That bastard definitely intended to mess with students who didn’t have friends.’

“Well, anyway, if you’ve gathered with your group members, open the booklet I handed out before.”

The group member standing next to me pulled out a booklet from their pocket.

It was the one the professor had distributed when announcing the practice date.

‘By the way, I didn’t receive one.’

‘The assistant who was distributing the booklets must have overlooked me and just passed by.’

Left with no choice, I decided to stick close to the group member next to me and look at the booklet together.

“…What are you doing?”

“I apologize. I lost my booklet. Would it be okay if I looked with you?”

“Yes, well… go ahead.”

After saying that, her expression suddenly went blank, and she turned her head to look only at the booklet, as if she had never spoken to me.

Information about various plants and monsters was written there.

“The monsters and plants listed in the booklet are those that inhabit the northern forest. You only need to catch one monster from the booklet, regardless of its type.”

Demon Beasts, Magical Beasts, Monsters.

These three are similar, but slightly different.

Demon Beasts refer to monsters that are created, or those that have mutated due to something demonic and possess aggression.

Prime examples include corpses controlled by black mages, or chimeras formed by combining various creatures.

Magical Beasts are similar to monsters but refer to stronger individuals.

Most beast-like monsters found in ‘Tombs’ are typically called Magical Beasts.

Lastly, ‘monsters’ is a general term for any life form hostile to humans.

Both Demon Beasts and Magical Beasts fall under the category of monsters.

And today’s practice is to catch any one monster.

Whether it’s a Magical Beast, a Demon Beast, or a small monster, you just need to catch one, without discrimination.

Of course, it’s not about capturing; bringing proof of its defeat is enough for success.

“While bonus points vary depending on the danger level, this is the first practice, and there isn’t a huge difference in bonus points, so don’t overexert yourselves and be careful. If everyone understands, let’s go!”

As soon as the professor finished speaking, everyone quickly began rushing into the forest.

The woman who had been looking at the booklet with me was also fidgeting, wondering if she should hurry into the forest.

Just then, someone firmly grabbed my hand, which had been quietly observing her.

“Let’s go now too!”

Held by the Regressor’s hand, which pulled me with a bright smile, I was semi-forcibly led into the forest with her.

****

“W-wait…!”

“You have to come with us!”

“…Tch.”

‘Hey… even so, aren’t you overreacting for teammates?’

At the voice calling her from behind, the Regressor stopped.

Only then did she release my hand, which she had been holding tightly.

Soon, the two other group members stood in front of the Regressor and me, panting.

“Haa haa, what if you just go ahead without us?!”

“You were just lying in a hospital bed until recently, but you’re so energetic. Phew…”

‘Indeed, they’re not even being chased, so what’s the rush…’

‘Wait, hospital bed?’

‘At this point in time, was there anything that would have caused the Regressor to be severely injured?’

Since the Regressor is always busy rushing around, even I don’t keep track of all her movements.

However, at this point, while she might come back with minor injuries, I’ve never seen her suffer injuries leading to a severe condition.

‘Then why… Could it be because of me?’

Before, when I swiped the black cross necklace from the Holy Maiden, the Regressor had briefly fought me.

There’s a possibility that she took my attack head-on then and something went wrong.

‘She seemed perfectly fine when she secretly entered my room.’

Didn’t the Regressor even stay until before sunrise?

Until she disappeared from my room, she never once showed any sign of pain.

‘Did she just endure the pain then?’

‘If not, then there was something I didn’t know about…’

“When did your wounds heal completely?”

“Not long ago. It’s a relief that the blow to my abdomen back then didn’t leave a scar.”

“Ugh, you picked a fight with someone who broke through a barrier and trespassed, you almost got into serious trouble, you know that?”

“I know. Back then, I just… couldn’t control my emotions.”

‘Uh, um…’

‘…Somehow, it was strange that the Hero was alone.’

‘It seems the Regressor was laid up in a hospital bed due to an injury, so she couldn’t pay attention to the Hero.’

‘And since she didn’t approach, the Hero came to me…’

‘…Right. Who else would keep Hestia company if not me?’

Although I felt a little sorry for the Regressor, attacking her so strongly back then was unavoidable.

To convince myself, I nodded and decided to think that way.

‘Still, should I have hit her a little more lightly?’