episode_0044

The Dark Sword was thrown carelessly. The mask and hood were rolling around on the floor.

In a dark dorm room with the curtains drawn even though the sun had risen.

Ruth was crouching on the bed.

“… … … … .”

The Dark Sword that fell from Ruth’s hand had lost its ominousness and color, becoming an old, worn-out sword.

After yesterday’s incident in the forest, even though she had just woken up from a deep sleep, her mind was still in turmoil.

“… … … It’s hard.”

It was something she muttered unconsciously, and it was her true feelings.

There’s a question that’s been on my mind since I first opened my eyes and went back to the past.

Why me?

‘why?’

The previous Ruth was only a 6th rank. He never reached 7th rank, and while he is overwhelmingly good in the Academy, he is not particularly outstanding on the continent as a whole.

Even my knowledge is vague. Since I traveled around the continent after graduating, I know a lot of things, but I am completely blind to what happened at the most important academy.

He is not a great man. He killed Circe, he killed Chloe, he killed many evildoers, but he did not prevent any of them. In the end, he only killed them after numerous massacres and disasters.

I’m so lacking. If I could go back in time, there would be countless people who would have done much better than me.

Why me?

“… … … … … .”

Of course, no one was kind enough to give him an answer. Ruth, who had clearly seen the downfall of the Holy Land, which had been searching for God until the end, thought that there was no such thing as God.

Rather, if there is a god, it would be an evil god.

A being that throws people into pain and death and then giggles.

‘… Chloe.’

For now, I left some room for speculation. To be honest, even Ruth herself felt that the guess she had made in the forest was a bit excessive.

But I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that it was connected to Chloe and Circe. If not, then why was I indifferent to the existence of that basement and the summoning magic?

So I ended up just giving a warning. Now I have to periodically monitor Chloe and see if she meets Circe.

I thought it was a bit of an overreaction, but I still vividly remember Chloe burning down an entire small kingdom.

How much trouble did they go through to kill Chloe? How many people died to Chloe in the meantime.

Thinking of the ruins and burnt corpses left behind, I couldn’t help but be very wary of her.

And if it really were so fortunate that Chloe was Circe’s ally and the mastermind behind Adam’s downfall.

“… … Adam.”

The dormitory was spacious and fancy, but lonely. However, it was just as I remembered.

A past that only Ruth now knows. There was a time when they laughed and chatted in this dormitory.

‘Why did this change too?’

Originally, this was the dormitory where Adam, the head of finance, lived alone, befitting his position. Naturally, I thought Adam would be here, but I was so surprised to find the dormitory empty.

It was from then on that I became convinced that the future had changed for some unknown reason.

… … In the memories that slowly came to mind, the previous Adam had specially lent Ruth a room on the first floor. He even fed her for free.

It was a huge help to Ruth, who was barely able to pay tuition unlike now.

‘I was going to make you breakfast in return.’

I vividly remember scraping together all the money I had and going to the store, only to have my wallet stolen and not being able to buy eggs that were suddenly on sale.

I was so upset at that time. If I had this, I could have made breakfast for Adam, who was busy. I was really ashamed of myself for missing out on even that.

All I had left were a few coins in my pocket. With those, I could buy only one apple, so I felt really embarrassed and ashamed of myself for giving that to her as breakfast.

──Thank you, Ruth. I’ll be feeling good all day.

Adam, who was laughing as he said that, was such a dazzling person to Ruth.

I somehow became more obsessed with training and tried to escape the perennial last place. I wanted to graduate from the academy with excellent grades and get a good job to repay Adam. In the end, I graduated with average grades, not to mention excellent grades.

Traveling around the continent was also a way of giving back. I wanted to tell Adam, who was always at the Academy, stories from all over the continent and give him various souvenirs.

… … But in the meantime, the academy collapsed.

The chairman died.

Adam is gone.

Eventually, Adam met again in a small kingdom on the outskirts.

──It’s nothing. I just burned it all.

──It’s not difficult. It catches fire easier than I thought. Fierce, just like that day at the Academy.

Because it has changed so much.

In addition to the sudden meeting, he didn’t show me his old smile at all.

──More than that, who is this guy…?

──Don’t you remember? There’s Ruth Spero, the perennial last place winner.

──That guy you cared about so much during your time at the Academy? You’re not still caring about him now, are you?

And Chloe is next to her.

Adam, who had completely changed and fallen while Ruth was away.

──Well, it’s true that it was like that in the past.

──Not anymore.

──Because it has no meaning anymore.

Because I even denied the time and memories we had together.

Even after those two disappeared, Ruth remained on the burning hill for a long time.

I traveled all over the continent to tell Adam.

I collected all kinds of souvenirs and things to give to you.

entire.

It became useless.

“Adam… … .”

A trustworthy adult, someone I respect, a benefactor who helped me so much, someone I definitely wanted to repay… … the Minister of Finance.

Is this how it feels when a teacher you always thought was on your side betrays you?

After that, Ruth searched frantically for Adam and Chloe.

Then, he meets Circe in the Holy Land, meets Lisha in the Kingdom, meets the Emperor in the Empire, and meets Beatrice in the Kingdom of Delphi.

Following the trail of carnage, death, and destruction left by Chloe and Adam.

Finally kill Chloe.

Inside the cave she guarded until the end.

Adam.

“… … … … … .”

That’s why, when I had another chance to return to the past, I felt very bad about it.

Even if we ever meet Adam again, let us remember the death and destruction he caused.

He is ultimately the enemy, and if he shows even the slightest sign of corruption, let us not hesitate for the sake of the world.

That’s why I treated you so rudely during the entrance exam and the entrance ceremony.

──Ruth, is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy it for you. I’m the finance director, right? My salary is higher than you can imagine, so I have a lot of money.

──Why are you being so nice to me? It’s like an investment for the future. You’re definitely going to be great.

The more I met Adam and talked to him, the more warm memories from the past came back to me. I just couldn’t let it go.

But at the same time, I overlapped the future Adam with the deserted island midterm exam. It was like a whipping to tell me to be strong.

Adam, who smiled awkwardly, and Adam, who set the world on fire.

Which one was real? Which one was an act? Or were they both Adams?

Can I really do it? Can I change all those futures and disasters?

“… …Adam, why do you treat me so special?”

Those words suddenly muttered.

That was the question I had once asked Adam, in this very dorm, in this very place.

Perennial last place. Those were the words Ruth said to Adam as if complaining, back when she had nothing special about herself, whether it was theory or practice.

At that time Adam.

──Well, do you need something more wonderful than just words of belief or comfort?

──Uh… … It’s really shameful, embarrassing, and embarrassing, so don’t laugh when you hear it?

──In my opinion, you are the main character.

──The protagonist of this world.

──… … Hey! Don’t laugh! I said that! It’s just what I think!

“I… … am the main character.”

Ruth raised the corners of her lips as she recalled those memories for a moment, then wiped away her tears and got up.

Yes, I am the main character. Didn’t none other than Adam say so?

Words that gave strength to Ruth time and time again. Words that she kept thinking about even when she was teased for being the last in the Academy and even after Adam’s downfall.

Thanks to that, Ruth was able to get back up.

At the academy too.

Even in a world that is falling apart.

Even in front of Adam, who had changed so much, the one who had said those words.

‘But I’m not the main character.’

But paradoxically, Ruth didn’t believe it even though she muttered that she was the main character.

All Ruth believed in was the warmth and smile of Adam who had said those words, and she didn’t really think she was the main character. She just treasured those words as the last remaining connection she had with Adam.

‘Do I miss Adam or do I hate him?’

… … No one is an island. Even if we don’t realize it, we are all connected to one another.

But it’s a connection that’s now gone.

Because the remnants of it live and breathe inside Ruth.

“… … Let’s go.”

In one corner of the room, there is a storage room with frozen artifacts installed. Inside, strangely enough, there are no other ingredients, only eggs.

That was because on the day I met Chloe, I ended up not being able to buy discounted eggs, so I ended up buying all the eggs in the grocery store in a fit of anger.

After glancing at the eggs, which were too many to eat alone.

Ruth tidied up her room and went out of the dormitory.

A promise made in advance.

Adam was waiting for her.

*

Maybe it’s because there were so many dark clouds yesterday, but today the sky is clear without a single cloud.

The weather was just right, warm enough.

A short break under the pretext of work.

Even coffee was purchased at a very cheap price with the faculty and staff discount.

Isn’t this life?

bang!!!

“What? Where did it explode this time?”

“I heard that Lisha and Madman are dueling in Arena 12!”

“If you’re crazy, then Kaerin Desté? That would be so much fun!”

“They’re both so excited that they’re leaving the arena!? Let’s go quickly!”

I don’t think so, fuck.

… … No. Lisha will read my mood and bribe me appropriately, and Kaern will let me meet Hoguus again, right?

Go, you Four Heavenly Kings of Financial Destruction. Destroy this Academy. Don’t destroy everything.

‘Is this the proper destruction of a building that will help the finances?’

As I was thinking about the nonsense I had read in an introductory business book, I saw a familiar face among the students running by.

These days, the protagonist has become very well-behaved and doesn’t destroy buildings, especially not destroying buildings.

“Student Ruth, here you are.”

“… … Long time no see, Mr. Finance Minister.”

“Is this the first time since the midterm exam on the deserted island? I kept an eye on Ruth’s performance back then.”

“Thank you… …”

I don’t think he’s concentrating on the conversation right now.

The main character, who had been staring intently at my business smile, closed his eyes for a moment, muttered something, and then sat down. What the heck?

Anyway, this time I was the one who called out, so I looked at Ruth sitting across from me.

“Don’t be too nervous, I have a good story for you.”

“Good story?”

“Student Ruth, are you interested in the student council?”

“… … … Yes?”

No, I thought about it.

It’s also a bit scary to be anxious about when a wall or building might be destroyed.

‘If I can’t control it anyway.’

It’s much better to keep it somewhere where you can always see it.

In addition, the student council was anxious. In fact, if you really think about it, this is the real reason.

It’s about time for that junior to cause a big accident.

‘I don’t know if it’s because he was always last.’

I don’t know how he did it, but if he’s a 6th-grade protagonist, he should be able to stop that junior kid.

I trust and leave it to you, protagonist. Really.

More than anything, it’s not a bad story from the protagonist’s perspective. Things like training and sparring are meaningless at the 6th rank, and the only things you gain from the academy are colleagues and connections.

‘It’s easy to make something like that if you’re a student council member.’

The student council of Grandis Academy is in a rather special position.

It’s not like she has a ton of power, but she has a certain amount of influence that makes her seem like a simple face.

“How is it?”

“… … Could the Finance Director give me a place in the Student Council?”

“This is a special recommendation system exclusively for faculty and staff.”

Of course there isn’t anything like that, but it’s not a big problem. Just meet your junior and ask him to put it in, and he’ll put it in right away.

A parachute? A real parachute is someone like me. Above all, everyone will understand that it is possible to join the student council at the 6th grade level.

If you answer positively, you can proceed as is.

If they answer negatively, just ask them again. Repeat until they answer positively.

The main character seemed to be thinking for a moment.

“Okay.”

“Do you accept it?”

“I think it’s a really good opportunity in many ways.”

“Excellent choice.”

That junior guy is a really good guy, isn’t he? He’s a good guy in a somewhat ambiguous sense, so he’s adapting well.

During the festival, do some work. The student council patrols in cooperation with the security guard.

Anyway, now that I’ve achieved my goal, I should go back to the office…

“That, the Minister of Finance?”

“Do you have something to say?”

“By the way… …where are you now?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I was just curious all of a sudden.”

Why is the place I live suddenly different?

Are there any records left in the dorm I’m currently staying in? This dorm is the one the chairman originally wanted to give me.

“I just stay in a dorm outside the city. It’s a pretty nice place.”

“Outskirts? Where outskirts?”

“… … Student Ruth?”

Why is he acting up all of a sudden?

More than that, why are students interested in the teachers’ houses───

“Minister of Finance.”

“… … ?”

“I came to meet you.”

Suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder and I turned around.

Chloe, who I met yesterday, was standing there. She came as promised.

however.

“… … … … .”

“… … … … … .”

These two.

Were we on bad terms to begin with…?