It’s the maximum.

It’s easy to forget since the game itself specializes in human vs. human battles, but concepts like monsters and different races exist in this world too.

It’s just that hundreds of years ago, humanity joined forces to eradicate different races and magical beasts that posed a danger to them, and drove their remnants to the outskirts of the continent, making it difficult to find traces of them.

Legobrick was a barrier erected to isolate such dangerous areas, and the environment inside it has been repeatedly distorted over hundreds of years as all kinds of dangerous things were driven in.

Ratel Lo Den is a boy born from barbarians who have adapted to such a place. His dangerousness would refuse comparison with an ancient weapon that has already lost its power.

Yes, that must be true, but.

“…Hmm.”

The boy who showed ferocity towards me was just quietly facing the boy in front of him in the seat I had prepared.

“Um…”

Dale, trying to open his mouth despite feeling intimidated by the boy.

“Ah, hello? Um, I heard from the teacher that you’ll be staying here for a while too? Nice to meet you. I’m Dale, and… What’s your name?”

Rather than being intimidated by his size, it was purely a cautious attitude in trying to become friends with a stranger.

An attitude imbued with pure consideration without any prejudice.

“…Hmm.”

As if sensing something from that, the barbarian boy began to look down at Dale blankly while resting his chin on his hand.

He’s certainly quiet if you call him quiet, but… I really can’t tell what he’s thinking because he’s so taciturn.

You’d think he’d be flustered when introduced to a child he’s never seen before, but to think he’d be this quiet just from not feeling anger.

“Ratel Lo Den.”

Yet, as I was watching anxiously, wondering if he might act up.

Soon, the barbarian boy broke the silence and said one word.

“Ratel…? Is that your name?”

“Yes.”

A short answer.

But it was clearly an emotion that could be called affirmation.

What was never shown when facing me…

“You can call me Ratel.”

Clearly, an emotion that could be called goodwill was shown to a boy he had never seen before.

“Can I really?”

“Yes.”

The repeated emphasis taught that such an evaluation was not a misconception…

Well, that child must have been constantly concerned too.

Unable to suppress his emotions due to his nature, Dale’s presence, which brings mental stability just by facing him, might have greatly resonated with him.

“Dale, you said?”

As if proving that my thoughts were not wrong, soon Ratel began to gradually extend his hand towards Dale.

A precarious race that was hostile to everything existing in the magical barrier.

“Nice to meet you.”

The moment he directly showed goodwill towards someone who wasn’t of his own kind for the first time.

Facing that, Dale smiled brightly and soon began to grasp his hand, relaxing his tension.

“Yes! Nice to meet you too! I look forward to getting along!”

A hand twice as small in comparison.

It’s nerve-wracking as if it might break if tapped, but nevertheless, Dale boldly grasped the hand extended towards him.

Ratel’s eyes widened as if surprised by that sight, but that too was only for a moment.

The moment their hands touched, the corners of his blunt mouth lifted slightly, and it was then that I felt my own anxious feelings gradually subside.

“…Well, of course it would turn out like this since they’re good kids at heart.”

Is it resolving this smoothly just because there’s a means to calm anger?

That’s fortunate. I keenly felt the benefit of having left the infirmary door wide open.

“The infirmary seems busier than usual.”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard as the infirmary door opened.

It was the transfer student who regularly joins this infirmary.

“Ah, you’re here? Perfect timing. I wanted to introduce some children to you, Saint… Hm?”

Just as I was about to greet her, I suddenly realized that someone else was positioned behind her and looked down.

A small girl with red hair in twin tails.

She was clutching the Saint’s skirt and hiding her body. As if she didn’t want to show herself to me.

“…Oh my.”

But it wasn’t difficult to recognize who she was.

I just thought she would come someday, but I never thought it would be this soon.

“As it happens, I also have a child I wanted to introduce to you, Teacher…”

After that, the Saint tried to step aside, but the girl was just busy hiding herself while clutching her skirt.

The Saint carefully looked back at the girl, but she still didn’t show herself and just stood on edge.

“Um, are you alright?”

“……”

“…Ahaha, I guess she’s very nervous.”

Oh dear, it seems she needs the Saint’s help, but we shouldn’t make it difficult.

“Peek-a-boo~”

As I immediately approached and startled her, the girl collapsed with a ‘Eek!’ sound.

Afterwards, I casually faced the child who put her hand on her chest as if clutching her pounding heart, and smiled.

“You’re so surprised. Anyone would think you saw a goblin.”

“Y-You…”

“It’s okay.”

Still, it’s probably not good to startle her too much.

I immediately extended my hand to the fallen child and said:

“You don’t need to worry about outside circumstances here, if nowhere else.”

Although I can’t be her guardian since I’m not this child’s parent.

Nevertheless, if this child asks me for help, I will give her everything I can as a teacher.

“Do you want the teacher to help you?”

Beans, who had been looking at the hand extended with such feelings, soon calmed her flustered mind and reached out to me.

The reason it’s not grasped immediately is probably because she feels a lot of inner conflict.

Still, she’s aware that she’s acted rudely.

“…Just a moment.”

Yet, it must have felt unsettling to apologize for disgracing her father, and the reality of having to return despite that must have been unsatisfactory.

“I’ll only be here for a little while. Just until the suspicions about Father are cleared… Ugh!!”

But despite such conflicts, I’m very grateful that you finally grasp my hand.

Embracing her with those feelings, Beans started trembling in my arms, flustered.

“L-Let go of this! I didn’t allow such…”

“It’s okay.”

There must be a lot that’s embarrassing and uncomfortable right now.

Perhaps you’re also afraid that the kind adult might turn their back on you.

Betrayed by the world you’ve always believed in…

That memory has distorted the environment you’ve always taken for granted, so now everything in the world must look negative to you.

“Everything will be alright. It’s just that you’re confused because you suddenly went through this.”

You might regret coming back here because you couldn’t endure that world… But I’m grateful that you came back even like this.

So I will cherish this opportunity you’ve provided more than anything else.

“So don’t worry. Everything will surely turn out well.”

Hoping that your distrust towards me will lead to trust.

Hoping that this pain you’re feeling will, when you look back on this moment in the future, be sublimated into an experience rather than a nightmare.

Because I sincerely hope that light will come to your future.

“What’s okay? I…”

As I patted her with such feelings.

I felt the resistance of the girl in my arms gradually subsiding.

“I…”

Perhaps she can’t get the words out.

Soon, the mouth that was about to pour out sorrow closed, and that face burrowed into my chest, beginning to dampen the sweater I was wearing.

Well, I suppose a child is a child even if they try to act strong.

I quietly patted the child’s back and gradually moved my steps towards the two boys watching this situation.

Hoping that the time spent with the children gathered here will bring good meaning to this hurt child’s future.

---

School Festival.

An event that breathes vitality into students tired from studying, while simultaneously exposing the academy to the outside and raising its reputation.

Maris, the largest academy on the continent, also values this event, and this point has become particularly prominent since the war.

It’s natural for excessive attention to be drawn when an event bringing in outsiders is held at this place that has emerged as a symbol of peace.

So this year, the school festival needs to be supervised even more carefully than last year. Mariel, the director of Maris, kept this in mind as she scrutinized the plans for the school festival in detail.

But…

“Are you saying you won’t participate in this school festival?”

Just as that time was approaching, Mariel couldn’t help but express her discomfort to the visitor who came to the director’s office.

Anyone would if they knew who the person sitting opposite was.

“We also truly regret having to convey such sudden news.”

Baral Raika, the grand warrior of the Valhalla Order that worships the war god.

She and the members of the Valhalla Order are believers and warriors who find faith through combat, and as they cultivate their faith through battle, they cooperate in many related matters.

Not only standing on the battlefield for honor alone but also protecting the public safety of the city emerging as a symbol of peace.

‘First Lagrid, and now Valhalla won’t participate either.’

Lagrid can be understood because something happened that even people outside the order couldn’t overlook – the reincarnation of a saint was born.

But Valhalla is different.

Their absence from this school festival means that a big hole will be created in the public safety of this Maris where incidents never cease.

“Even if we don’t participate, please don’t worry too much. It’s just that we won’t participate in this school festival, it certainly doesn’t mean we’re leaving this city…”

Whether knowing her inner thoughts or not, Baral Raika just spoke her opinion proudly, crossing her arms nonchalantly.

A woman with impressive muscles that stand out despite low exposure. Her makeup with dark eyes and lips emphasized strength more than beauty.

An appearance that looks no different from a barbarian tribe except for civilized clothes…

Such an evaluation might be a disrespectful thought, but perhaps the warriors of Valhalla would smile and consider such inner thoughts positively.

In fact, the ‘Valhalla Order’ they serve originates from ancient barbarian tribes in its traditions.

“…The problem is that you’re declaring non-participation in the school festival while staying here.”

Yes, their life and beliefs originate from barbarism.

For those who worship combat itself, danger is rather seen as an opportunity.

So they’re probably smiling even now while we’re having this serious conversation, but…

“How large is the scale?”

No, whether we understand or can’t understand their values is not something to consider now.

The important thing is that as an order that finds opportunities in danger, their intuition for detecting danger is superior to anyone else’s.

“It’s the maximum.”

A situation where all members of the order are preparing for battle, abandoning the opportunity for evangelism at just one sign.

That means their sense of crisis is that certain.

“Haha, to think the biggest problem since my inauguration… I guess I need to prepare myself thoroughly.”

But how can one be afraid in a position responsible for the academy?

Let’s pretend to be calm as much as possible even if it’s confusing, she thought, bringing the teacup in her hand to her mouth for a moment.

“No. According to my prediction, it will be the largest scale of danger since this academy was established.”

-Crash.

At the words that followed with a spirited smile, the strength left the hand holding the teacup.

Nevertheless, Mariel couldn’t bring herself to care about the contents of the teacup wetting her shoes.

‘…So the Empire’s Sword didn’t come for nothing, is that it?’

The strongest who didn’t set foot even in the war era.

Just that existence alone made her immediately realize that the current warning was not an exaggeration.