episode_0059
by fnovelpia
Clink clack clack.
Please…just a little…just a little…
Squeak…
Crunch.
“Arrived. When you get off, please show your ticket…!”
“Sorry, sorry…ugh!”
A man rushed out of the carriage, handing his ticket to the attendant in a hurry. Logs turned his head in a hurry and ran into an alley that was visible at the end of his vision.
And a loud noise spread through the alley.
“Ugh…ugh…”
I can see the food I ate yesterday. When will I get used to it…
If I think back to the first time I rode a carriage for a long time, I would say I’ve adapted a lot more now than I did then, but I don’t think it’s a very useful adaptation because it makes you feel sick.
I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.
The smell of home that feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve smelled it.
“Hmm…smells like burning…”
smell of burning?
I looked around anxiously. And then I saw black smoke rising into the sky, which I thought was the source of the burning smell.
At that moment, a sentence that had been engraved in my head came to mind.
It was sealed because I didn’t have time to use it.
I have had that sentence in my mouth as a belief since the moment I thought about entering the academy.
“A voice that raises public sentiment!”
As I moved straight to the place where the smoke was rising, I saw a burning restaurant in front of me. It looked like a familiar restaurant.
‘ah…’
I let out a short sigh as the memory came to mind.
The restaurant I came to when I first came to Demeria.
The restaurant my sister made a reservation for as a final farewell.
I ran into the restaurant without looking back.
I was a bit taken aback by how dark the restaurant was, but fortunately it wasn’t so dark that I couldn’t see anything.
I took a towel out of my bag and covered my nose and mouth.
My lungs are weaker than those of other people because of smoking. So if I inhale even a little bit of this smoke, I will faint. I absolutely must not pass out until I am saved.
With that determination, I started walking, checking the direction in front with my remaining hand.
I didn’t come to this restaurant without a plan.
What I could do now was limited.
I don’t know how to use water magic or wind magic, and I’ve never used Asbel’s sword before.
I can’t help but feel the fundamental power of putting out fires, literally.
There is only one thing I can do.
It’s to reduce casualties. It won’t be of much help since I don’t have infinite stamina like some people. But let’s think about it.
What would people say if I showed them that I saved even one person here?
-What the… Are you really crazy after entering the academy?
-Was it true that the rumors about you getting a head injury and becoming strange were true?
‘hmm…’
Let’s not think negatively.
Someone will look at it favorably.
With each slow step, my peripheral vision expanded. Most of the furniture was broken and fallen over, but I couldn’t see anyone.
‘It seems like everyone who was here has been evacuated.’
I turned my head and looked at the kitchen where black smoke was rising. A simple accident?
But there isn’t a single water magic user in a place like this?
Even though it was a small place, it makes no sense that no one knew how to use one of the five basic elements that wizards could learn.
Is this really an accident?
I continued to move forward with doubts. It felt like the black smoke was not only blocking my vision, but also my actions.
As I pushed through the smoke like vines, I found a person lying in front of me and a middle-aged man whose leg was caught in debris that had fallen from the ceiling.
He was the chef who came out to apologize to his son for his mistake.
Did he see me as I saw him?
The chef shouted at me loudly.
“There are people here! I’m fine, so please take my son and wife out!”
The chef couldn’t tell who I was because of the black smoke and towel. He didn’t give me a name because it was more efficient for rescue.
It’s okay to tell me later.
First, I put a towel in my mouth and held my breath.
And then I carried his wife and son on my shoulders as he requested.
Two people in a bag feels like too much for me right now.
I put them both down from my shoulders again.
“Please don’t throw me away! I’ll compensate you later, but please, at least leave my son and wife!”
I covered my nose and mouth with the towel again and spoke to him.
“How can someone who is about to die receive compensation?”
“Then where is the money now…!”
“You don’t need that, so just guard this bag.”
“Yes?”
After leaving my bag with him, I bit the towel in my mouth like before and carried the two men on my shoulders as I went out. On the way out, a blue flame caught my eye.
Blue fire… blue fire.
‘Unquenchable Flame’, which can only be used with black magic.
This made me realize that this wasn’t an accident. The reason for this is unknown at this point, but that doesn’t matter.
I laid his son and wife down at the entrance. I’m sure people will come to their rescue.
So I hurriedly went back to the kitchen.
The chef was pushing away large debris by himself, probably not expecting me to come back.
“Can you move such a large piece of debris by yourself?”
“Why, why did you come back!”
“What do you mean you left your bag behind?”
“Run away quickly! They’ll come again.”
“I don’t know much about that, and it’s bothering me, so just stay quiet.”
I took out Kraverk’s Fang from my bag. Asbel’s sword is good, but this sword is the best when you need to break something and not do delicate work.
I’d like to use both if possible.
The only hand available now was one hand.
He quickly swung his sword and shattered the solid ceiling fragments in one fell swoop.
‘As expected, it’s a scary performance.’
I was impressed for a moment, then I said to the chef.
“Let’s go quickly now.”
“Ugh…Okay, I understand.”
The answer was yes, but the chef, who had been lying under a large piece of debris, was unable to get up because of his shattered leg.
“Thank you for helping me, but I think I was wrong.”
“It’s too early to give up.”
I used the heel on his leg. Now, like action and reaction, I got a headache.
“Are you okay? You don’t have to go this far, so why…”
It’s just a regular heel, but I’m making a face, so he misunderstood. Maybe it looks to him like I’m sacrificing myself instead of treating his own leg.
In fact, it’s just an attempt to please the public.
But I can’t tell you the truth about this.
After much thought, I came up with one answer.
“I have no other intentions. I just saved this place because the food there was delicious.”
“Yes?”
‘I guess this isn’t really possible.’
I opened my mouth again.
“Actually, my brother likes this place too. I can’t let a place like this get ruined for this reason.”
He was moved by my words and quietly wiped away his tears. What, really…
As soon as his leg was healed, I lifted the chef up.
“Could you please tell me your name?”
‘It’s here! It’s time to fill the public’s hearts!’
bang!
‘What, what!?’
It didn’t seem like it was going to collapse until now… Could it be intentional again…!
bang!
It’s already too late to run away.
The chef’s wife and son were left at the door, so they should have already been rescued. So if we just hold on, it’ll be over.
I worked so hard, do you think I’m going to die here?
bang!!
“It’s too late to escape.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Hide behind me.”
Now, in an atmosphere that seemed like it would collapse at any moment, I threw away my towel and held my breath. Then I picked up my sword in both hands.
bang!!!
‘Phew…I can do it.’
A sharp wind blew across my skin as I prepared for it. And rocks rose from the ground to support the ceiling that seemed ready to collapse.
Thud thud.
“Are you okay?”
“It was fortunate that something happened nearby, senior.”
“Yeah.”
A mature white-haired man and a short, wall-mounted woman slowly enter from the kitchen entrance.
“Are you okay?”
“I…I’m fine…but where did the man who was here…go?”
“First, rest and I will listen to your statement later. Stella, I will take care of this, so take you to a safe place.”
“Okay.”
At the end of the man’s gaze as he spoke, a blackened towel appeared. Then, he turned his gaze once more and looked into space.
“The black magic is stronger than I thought.”
A woman named Stella, who was standing on the steps of the kitchen, supported the chef and spoke.
“I think so too…well, all inverted crosses are like that.”
“That’s true, but I feel a completely different vibe from those guys… ”
“Senior, the problem is that you worry too much about strange things. At that time, please put out the fire over there quickly. If you keep doing this, everything will really burn down!”
“I’m sorry.”
***
Gasp… gasp…
Logs, who had left the restaurant and was running without looking back until he was almost out of energy, had his hands on his knees and was breathing heavily.
‘So he is one of the ten warriors?’
The sight of that warrior accurately identifying my location despite being in hiding gave me goosebumps. How could he sense my dark magic alone in that dark space?
Even the most sensitive person would not be able to feel the difference.
I shook my head.
‘If you think about it, it’s because they can do that much that they’re called the 10th Warrior.’
And in reality, he only suspected me and didn’t approach me. Let’s be satisfied with that for now, since we won’t be meeting him again anyway.
But my public opinion…Ah!!
I feel like I’ve been robbed of the citizens I worked so hard to help.
I had no regrets about helping them, but it was disappointing to think that in the end, the person who saved that citizen would be written about in the newspaper as the 10 warriors and the credit would go to them.
It would be better than being dragged to the 10th Warriors for questioning and being caught using black magic, and having it appear in the newspaper as ⌜The scoundrel of a clerical family, but in fact he’s joined hands with darkness!?⌟
But it still hurts.
“How much time is left until the academy?”
“You have arrived, my lord.”
I slowly turned my head at the familiar voice in my right ear, and I saw Steven’s face right before my eyes.
“Surprise!! I told you to make noise!”
I took a step back and landed on my butt on the floor.
thud!
“This old man’s memory is not so good these days…I’m sorry.”
“Steven said that and smiled faintly as he extended his hand to me.
“If you had hidden that smile, I would have worried and thought it was real.”
I stood up, taking Steven’s hand.
“I am so happy that you even worried about me.”
“Something exciting happened? ”
“I think it’s because it’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face.”
I don’t know if what he said is true or a lie, but I know that figuring out his true feelings is harder than picking stars from the sky, so I decided to just give up and accept it.
“I will appreciate even empty words.”
“It’s true.”
I nodded my head in agreement and went into the academy with Steven.
“Do you smell something burning, sir?”
“It’s my imagination.”
Steven sniffed the air around him, questioning my words. Damn it…
Steven’s senses are good.
I quickly changed the subject and distracted Stephen.
“That’s right. And don’t be surprised and listen.”
“I already heard that you are looking for a servant.”
“Really? Then… Okay, I’ll take care of it.”
“I will live up to your expectations.”
“What’s wrong with that? Just teach me simply what ordinary maids do.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
‘Wow… I think I got through it well.’
So, Steven and I continued our awkward conversation as we passed through the academy, the dormitory, and before we knew it, we arrived at the training grounds.
After thinking about where Ilia and the kids could be for a while, this place seemed the most suitable. It may seem strange to infer that they train nonstop after all that they’ve been through, but…
And I know that there are still kids left behind.
As if to prove my suspicions right, a sound was heard from the training ground we used every day.
widely!
“Ilia, you’re really good at archery! All 10 shots hit the mark!”
“Rice, it’s nothing…”
“Elfs are famous for being good shooters.”
Ad poured cold water on Ilia, who was embarrassed by Sarah’s barrage of compliments.
Sarah looked at that ad.
“Not all of them are like that, right? ”
“…That may be true.”
“Ha… Don’t pay too much attention to what this kid says… Where are you looking, Ilya?”
Sarah and Ad follow Ilia and look at the entrance to the training grounds.
Squeak.
There, Logs was seen opening the door and coming in.
“Was it okay for you to leave me behind?”
Ilya ran straight to him and opened his mouth.
“I wanted to go too…!”
“Just kidding, why are you so surprised? Didn’t I ask you to ride with me in the first place?”
“That’s fortunate.”
Ilia smiled, relieved. Every time I see that elf, she’s so cute.
I snorted and introduced Ilia to Steven, who was behind me.
“This is my butler, Steven. And from now on, you will learn what Steven and the maid have to do.”
“… ?”
Ilya said with a look of incomprehension.
“Weren’t we supposed to be together?”
“Huh? Of course not.”
“…”
For some reason, Sarah walked behind Ilia, who was shocked.
“Why are you here now?”
“Sorry, the carriage was almost always late. What about the others?”
“Personal training called Kadi, the princess reports to the palace, and the others have been gone for a while.”
“I see…Sarah.”
“Why.”
Sarah may seem like a grump on the outside, but on the inside she always thinks of others first.
“Thank you for being with me, Ilia. As always, you are my proud first friend.”
“Are you proud!? You, aren’t you happy to hear that from you? It was fun being together anyway, and I said I’d be with the kids…so…”
Is her face red because she’s angry, or is it because she’s embarrassed by the compliment?
She started to tap her feet with the aforementioned face.
“I know. Actually, I was just being polite.”
“Yes, just out of courtesy? You should be proud of me, right!”
“Um…”
Of course, there are some annoying aspects to this.
“What the heck. You just looked so annoyed.”
I hope I can see you tomorrow, the day after, and for a long time to come.
Logs, who was smiling while thinking like that, probably didn’t know.
Ilya’s appearance next to him exuded an ominous aura.
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