Chapter Index

    The Hero(?) Arrested

    The Hero(?) Arrested

    Aria Owen had been living listlessly for a while after her suspension.

    At first, she tried to think it was because of the severe scolding she received from her father, but soon she spent her time in bed like a dead person, unable to even consider such thoughts.

    If it weren’t for her friend Feris who visited occasionally, she wouldn’t have been able to properly distinguish between day and night.

    Aria, who had been like that, was now walking around town feeling refreshingly good for the first time in a while.

    “Aria, you seem to be in a good mood.”

    “Yeah. I think it was a good idea to come out with you to see the Mushin Festival, Feris.”

    Feris, who had been worried about Aria living depressively as if dead, smiled with relief seeing Aria looking energetic again after a long time.

    Seeing Feris like that, Aria smiled gently and held her hand tightly.

    “A…Aria?”

    “Feris… thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I… might have completely fallen apart.”

    Aria expressed her gratitude to Feris.

    Feris, who was momentarily flustered by Aria holding her hand, heard those words and replied with a bright smile.

    “Aria is saying strange things. I only did what was natural as your friend.”

    “Yeah…”

    “And, think about how much you protected me when we were little. This is nothing compared to all the help I’ve received from you.”

    In childhood, it was the bold Aria who protected Feris, who was often bullied for her timid and introverted personality.

    Perhaps feeling like their childhood positions had been reversed, the two looked at each other and smiled.

    “Now! Today is the last day of the festival. Let’s go enjoy more!”

    “Yeah… Oh, that looks really delicious…”

    The two were heading toward the area where food stalls were gathered to enjoy the festival.

    Feris, who was walking ahead, discovered something and muttered “Ah…” with a surprised expression.

    Aria, finding Feris’s behavior strange, also turned her eyes in that direction.

    “Uh…”

    “Allen…”

    There, they saw Allen walking somewhere with a serious expression.

    Normally they would have called out to greet him, but neither Aria nor Feris thought to do so, and just stared blankly.

    That’s because the atmosphere Allen was emanating was extremely ominous.

    “Aria, what should we do…?”

    “What do you mean what should we do…”

    Aria knew from what she had heard that Allen had suffered a terrible defeat in the semifinals of the Mushin Festival.

    To make matters worse, there were even rumors of match-fixing, causing Allen’s reputation to plummet to its worst.

    Just yesterday, while Aria and Feris were having dinner at a restaurant, Laiza Bruin and Sherry Reime, noble girls who had always looked down on Allen for his lack of manners, spotted the two and shared rumors about Allen.

    Previously, Aria and Feris would have been angry and upset about such rumors, but the two showed no reaction.

    Even Laiza and Sherry left because it wasn’t fun anymore, but what really surprised Aria and Feris was themselves.

    They heard someone badmouthing Allen right to their faces.

    Yet strangely, they didn’t feel angry.

    ‘What’s really going on with me…’

    Even so, they couldn’t find an answer.

    But because of that, they could understand Allen’s serious expression and the ominous atmosphere he was giving off.

    However, there was one thing they couldn’t overlook.

    “Allen… was carrying a sword, right?”

    “Yes. I saw it too.”

    There are various restrictions on carrying swords within town.

    For example, swords must be kept in their scabbards and safely wrapped in cloth or leather to be carried.

    A training sword would be no problem, but Aria and Feris confirmed that the sword Allen was carrying was the real sword he had shown them before, saying it was a gift from his father.

    Allen carrying an actual sword, emanating a disturbing atmosphere.

    Knowing that he had a temperament that made him easily excited and prone to impulsive actions, the two looked at each other.

    “Let’s follow him.”

    “…Yes.”

    Allen, who had submitted his withdrawal application to the academy, packed his belongings in the dormitory.

    The Archbishop had said he would give Allen power if he followed him to the church.

    But Allen didn’t know how long that would take.

    At that moment, a thought occurred to Allen.

    The Archbishop had said he had originally intended to take Riel as well.

    But he said that since the king declared that Riel couldn’t be taken against her will, they had even considered kidnapping her.

    If that was the case, couldn’t Riel come along if she wanted to?

    ‘Yes… I’ll show Riel the truth. Then she might change her mind.’

    With that thought, Allen asked Archbishop Marconi for time to persuade Riel.

    ‘…If she can be brought along through persuasion, wouldn’t that be all the better?’

    Even if he failed, nothing would change, but if he succeeded, they could secure the priestess too.

    With that in mind, Archbishop Marconi let Allen go and decided to wait for the outcome.

    Archbishop Marconi, who was hoping it would be good if they could secure the priestess, missed the fact that Allen was carrying a weapon at his waist.

    And Allen, who was heading toward the Aurum dormitory, found Riel there.

    Besides Riel, there was also Emilia, a girl he had been on a team with during the outdoor class recently, and a maid he had never seen before.

    Fortunately, Kyo Wentos was not around.

    It bothered him that the maid wasn’t Illia whom he knew, but another maid, but this wasn’t the time to check such details.

    Allen called Riel’s name loudly.

    Hearing his voice, Riel paused momentarily, but soon ignored him and continued on her way.

    Eventually, Allen hurriedly ran forward and blocked Riel’s path.

    Allen looked at Riel’s face.

    But Riel looked at Allen with cold eyes, her expression crumpling as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

    Allen felt like he was going crazy at Riel’s sharp reaction.

    ‘It’s okay… if I tell her the truth and persuade her, she’ll understand…’

    With such hopeful expectations, Allen told Riel everything he had heard.

    But what came back from Riel was not understanding.

    “If you’re going to leave the academy, just quietly get lost by yourself.”

    Rather, she looked at Allen as if he were a monster and ignored him as she tried to leave.

    ‘Why…! I’m the one who loves you the most! I’m the only one who can stand by your side!’

    Allen desperately grabbed Riel’s arm as she was about to pass by.

    “What are you doing? Let go of this!”

    “Riel! You’re being deceived!”

    “Let go!!”

    He meant to hold her to persuade her, but that was a mistake.

    Immediately, the maid beside Riel subdued Allen.

    Allen looked at the maid who had restrained him.

    “You…you…!”

    “I see you haven’t forgotten me.”

    Years ago, the maid who had been expelled from the mansion after trying to use Riel, based on Allen’s accusation, was looking at him with cold eyes.

    Allen stared at her blankly.

    ‘Trying to use Riel again…!’

    And soon anger boiled up inside Allen.

    As they were briefly in a standoff, Riel spoke.

    “Phyllis, let’s ignore someone like him and go.”

    “Yes. Young master’s match will start soon, so we should hurry.”

    The words “young master’s match” reached his ears.

    If it was a match, it would be referring to the Mushin Festival, and the people who had advanced to the finals of the Mushin Festival were Iris Likenair, who had defeated him, and Kyo Wentos.

    Then “young master” meant…

    ‘It’s you again, Kyo Wentos… trying to use Riel along with that maid…’

    The anger inside Allen grew stronger.

    He saw the backs of the three people who were trying to leave, ignoring him as if he didn’t exist.

    And then, Allen remembered what he had heard in the morning.

    The story that the church had tried to forcibly recover Riel.

    ‘Yes… this is for Riel’s sake. To prevent her from being used any more by that maid and Kyo Wentos, even if it means force…’

    Allen quietly drew his sword.

    “What are they talking about?”

    “Aria, is this really okay?”

    Aria and Feris, who had been secretly following Allen, were hiding nearby watching the situation.

    The person Allen was talking to was Riel from the same class.

    But Riel was clearly showing she didn’t want to talk.

    “Ah… the conversation seems to be over. They’re just leaving…?”

    As Feris said, Riel was trying to walk past Allen.

    But then, Allen grabbed Riel’s arm.

    Caught off guard by the sudden situation, both Aria and Feris were at a loss for words when the maid who was with Riel subdued Allen and shook him off.

    “I… I was surprised. What on earth is Allen trying to do…”

    “Yeah… this could turn into a serious situation if we’re not careful.”

    In any case, they were relieved that the maid had subdued Allen.

    Aria, who was about to laugh wryly at their situation of secretly following someone despite her anxiety, wanted to leave and gave one last glance at Allen.

    Yes, at Allen who was secretly approaching Riel’s group from behind with his sword drawn.

    Aria’s eyes widened to the point of nearly popping out.

    And without hesitation, she ran out from her hiding place.

    “Lightning Shock!!”

    “Argh!!”

    Allen dropped his sword after being hit by Aria’s magic.

    Aria rushed forward to face Allen and shouted.

    “Allen! What are you doing?!”

    “A…Aria…?”

    “How could this ever be forgiven?! What is this…”

    “Get out of my way!!”

    Allen charged at her, grabbing his fallen sword again.

    Aria, who hadn’t expected him to immediately resort to violence after being hit by magic, stood frozen in place, staring at Allen with a shocked face.

    Allen, his handsome face distorted like a demon, charged at her with his sword.

    “P…Protection!”

    Allen, who had rushed at Aria, bounced off an invisible wall and fell backwards.

    “Aria! Hurry and get away from there!”

    “Feris…!”

    Hearing Feris’s voice, the now-calmed Aria retreated carefully while maintaining her confrontation with Allen.

    Allen, who had fallen, immediately corrected his posture and glared at Aria.

    Seeing Allen’s ferocious expression for the first time, Aria backed away, trying to steady her trembling body.

    “Over there!!”

    “Don’t move!”

    And, hearing the commotion, military police who had been patrolling nearby rushed over.

    “He’s armed. Subdue him carefully.”

    “Yes!”

    Allen was instantly surrounded by military police.

    “Ugh…”

    As if finally recognizing his situation, Allen dropped his weapon and raised both hands.

    And Archbishop Marconi, who had been waiting for Allen in front of the dormitory, had to rush to the palace after receiving a report of the situation.

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note
    // Script to navigate with arrow keys