episode_0026

Eir continued speaking with a regretful expression on his face.

She was still shoulder to shoulder with Belle, fiddling with the unusually shaped sword she held in one hand.

“The bitch who was so crazy about fighting suddenly disappeared, so I thought about going to visit her… Write. I suddenly became the student council president and something else starting in my second year. I thought you were living well…”

“… ”

“The fighting spirit has completely disappeared from [Spiral]’s eyes. Okay, this is… Your sparkling eyes were like ‘fireworks’ when you were in first grade. Write it.”

“… ”

Eir keeps looking at my eyes with a look that says it’s a waste.

A fighting fool from Academy City who knows nothing but fighting and arson.

What was important to her was the fighting spirit burning in her eyes.

-hey… The captain is now… ?

-He praised me for being like a ‘firework’… ?

In , the term ‘like a flame’ refers to both a compliment and madness that acknowledges the other person. The best compliment to someone that can be written in . Among them, the praise that came from the mouth of Eir, the strongest student [Yang Hong’s Trail], had a huge impact.

Murmur

After hearing those words, I could feel all the students gathered at the scene moving their heads and talking. Beyond the light of the flame, their shadows move busily.

Soon, several third-grade students remembered my tinnitus and let out an exclamation.

“[spiral]… !”

“No way, that [spiral]… ?!”

“Beat the opponent with endless ether until they are exhausted… !”

“A warrior god who fought only with the strength of his body!”

In that passionate buzz.

Albit just opened his eyes wide.

He looks at me and mutters in a questioning voice.

“Senior… ? What is [Spiral]… ?”

“… ”

Tinnitus suddenly revealed. But it wasn’t as embarrassing as I thought. After confirming the Dungeon Gate erosion, I thought it was just something to come.

The ‘Five Priests’ of the late-half raid boss .

Among them, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out how the [Priest of Erosion], the boss in charge of the last incident, went on the rampage first.

‘The worst executive who pollutes Academy City’s environment right from the beginning appears… ‘

The full-scale incident related to the hostile group has not yet begun… Even relying on knowledge of the original work, I couldn’t figure out the reason.

Although many things had changed, I was relieved to think that this was the starting point of the incident. This is because what happened now and what I changed were elements that were that far removed from the chronological order of events.

However, at least what we can know now is that fate has already changed significantly. No matter how much she tried to clown around like Clara in the original and go back to her original path, there was no turning back.

The relationship that has already been formed does not disappear.

The past that has already been committed does not disappear.

During the past time when I behaved as I wanted, events that went awry in places I was not aware of slowly twisted my fate. And they twist the tracks that run toward the happy ending of the main story.

Even though I know… I couldn’t let go of that contradictory wish in my mind that everything would return to the way it was.

Since all I had were my two meager fists and the original knowledge of my past life, I was counting on fate to lead me to a happy future.

“… ”

I ran blindly after what I liked. In the process, I learned how precious my heart was and the love I received from my three seniors.

And true strength is…

I realized too late that I needed to look around.

…

no.

What will change if you regret it now?

‘I can’t believe you would even think like that in this situation.’

I clenched my fists and regained my composure. That was the reason why I stayed quiet even after feeling Eir’s presence earlier.

A gloomy and sickly man was seen by his seniors… This was not the mindset I learned from those kind girls. And the way to repay ‘Clara’ for allowing me to spend a happy time of struggle was not to drag my feet and regret it.

‘If something has changed because of me, I just have to fix it and that’s it.’

My strength has now been put to use for that purpose.

With that much determination.

I made eye contact with Albert.

A light flickers in her brown eyes.

The emotions contained in those eyes were anxiety and embarrassment.

When I looked into those eyes, I knew what I had to do.

‘I’m anxious, I’ve been dragged into an unknown situation… ‘The unknown past of a person I knew came out.’

I smiled while looking at Arbit. The most foolish… And, remembering the most ‘Clara-like’ smile, she smiled with all her might.

-are you okay. Everything will be okay, don’t worry.

-I am the Clara you know.

-I will always be your senior.

It’s not a character in the game, but on the way back from , he said he was looking forward to his future school life… My lovely junior.

It was intended to reassure her.

“… !”

Has that feeling been conveyed?

Arbit’s eyes no longer wavered.

I looked at it and nodded in satisfaction. And then he walked forward to talk to Eir.

“Yes―♪ For a compliment to a cute lady… ”

But before I finish my sentence.

Incomprehensible words flowed from the mouth of Belle, who was being held captive by the idiot Eir.

“I… [spiral]… ! I never would have guessed that the pink hair was that [faded spiral]… ! Somehow, when I measured the gap, I couldn’t feel any ether… !”

“… ?”

‘What kind of nonsense is he talking about all of a sudden?’

Hearing those words, Eir also sighed and said.

“… As expected, the rumor was true. For some reason, even when I fought in the past, the ether of the [Spiral] was often unstable and I couldn’t read it.”

“Oh my God, [Faded Spiral] has been gradually losing its status since then… !”

“In such a situation, the final fight with [Blue and White Thunder Spear] must have been won with just grit… I admit that.”

“… ?”

A friendly conversation between Belle and Eir.

I felt dizzy for a moment after hearing that.

[Faded spiral]… ?

What does that mean… ?

‘The bending attack pattern of Eir is particularly difficult to deal with, so I tried to interfere with measuring the gap.’

What shook my ether. This is because Clara’s range skill Heart was divided into small pieces and used like chaff in order to deflect the ‘gap’, a radar that detects the opponent with ether waves.

Hearts so small that they are indistinguishable from the minute ether that exists in the air of Academy City. They close the ‘gap’ of third-level etheric abilities who have risen above the level of [wave].

It was just a range attack and a remnant of Clara’s skill with heterogeneous conditions, but it was by no means the equivalent of dabbling in a forbidden secret art.

‘I didn’t reveal it openly because it was like a secret trick of mine, but I guess it made me feel uncomfortable.’

But it seems like he doesn’t even care about the facts.

Eir and Bell exchanged friendly words with their arms around each other’s shoulders.

“A strange skill that doesn’t even use a weapon… And the endless ether… There is no way there is no price. Tsk… ”

“A legend that burned down all etheric realms and faded away… ! Who knew the rumors about [Faded Spiral] were true!”

I felt confused again.

‘In the first place, ‘Clara’s’ skill was a very weak comedy skill, so there were no conditions for use… ? And because my weapon aptitude was so low, I just recklessly increased the total amount of ether with my bare hands… ?’

Slowly, I began to feel the difference between their perceptions and mine.

The shortcut that made me stronger… That is the original state of this world, a method that does not exist in the system of the game . I think that was what those who dealt with me thought was foreign to me.

Belle said, covering her face as if she was suddenly horrified. The fear on his face was as if he were seeing a contagious patient.

“Somehow… ! My seniors emphasized that etheric abilities must be used as weapons! Who would have thought that a forbidden path existed that would consume one’s realm with bare hands… !”

“In exchange for becoming stronger for a short period of time, you lose all your status… Isn’t this a really dirty story?”

“I also heard this ominous rumor from my seniors… I thought it was just a prank to scare you.”

“Huh? Seniors… ? Little one, weren’t you from ?”

“… Seniors from school I know.”

I shook my head while watching the ridiculous situation between the two idiots.

[Faded Spiral]

It was really a word I had never heard before.

What I feel from that word is a strong sense of discomfort.

‘This is a nuance I’ve heard before… ‘

My head starts to spin in this absurd situation. With a flash like the resourcefulness of six hands, memories from some time ago are replayed.

.

Maya’s tired face.

A stale smelly office.

An industrial hammer struck with expressionless expression.

-[Spiral], let’s check something.

-Is ‘that rumor’ a lie that someone intentionally spread?

-There was a ridiculous rumor going around among some third graders.

ah.

I finally felt like something was connected in my head.

Due to her cynical nature, Maya rarely believes rumors.

However, if Maya, who is highly suspicious, ‘necessarily’ needs to confirm.

She also thought to herself, ‘Maybe…’ I had the thought ‘?’

From a poor, remote school.

Heterogeneous ether operation methods.

A student who is shrouded in mystery as he rarely interacts with anyone except the powerful.

And after the last fight, he disappears as if he were dead.

I thought I knew where the ridiculous rumor called [Faded Spiral] came from.