episode_0081

Along with the soft dawn light, I opened my eyes.

As I took a breath, a sweet scent flowed into my nose.

The scent I usually noticed from Rosalie-ssi had become even stronger after yesterday’s kiss.

It was quite funny, but as if we had made a promise, we just held hands tightly and slept.

Unlike before we became lovers, when we had no qualms about quite intimate skinship, last night was too quiet.

‘Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, impermanence, impermanence, empty-handed, empty-go…’

I recited the ‘Verse of Calmness’ in my mind, which is said to be used in the distant Eastern Continent to quell an excited heart.

No, I realized it’s truly wonderful just to hold hands… I thought I’d become a raging incarnate of carnal desire once we started dating.

Moreover, it was I who had been continuously having dreams with a suggestive atmosphere lately.

However, Rosalie-ssi did appear in my dream yesterday, but the dream was quite mild.

We peacefully played, rolling around like spring bears in some kind of dream garden.

“Mmm… Ras… are you awake…?”

Rosalie-ssi cooed at me in a soft, yet quite thick and cute voice.

How could someone be so beautiful right after waking up?

She chuckled softly, then hugged my neck and gave me a morning kiss on my lips and cheek.

“Did you sleep well, Rosalie?”

“Hehe. Mmm… But even though I’m awake, it feels like a dream. It’s so wonderful.”

“I feel wonderful too.”

With an “oof,” she got up and stretched her body, extending her limbs.

There’s a common saying that women with large breasts tend to be less flexible and stiffer, but she had none of that.

Rather, because her flexibility was so good, her soft yet elastic body curves stood out even more, I suppose?

As I stared blankly at the magnificent sight, she playfully stroked my head and got up from her spot.

“You’re going back today, right? Your fever seems even more stable than last time?”

“Ah, yes. I should head back to school soon. Perhaps once I’ve had a big bout of measles, the body and dantian, which act as vessels, become solidified and stronger; that must be the principle.”

The energy I felt within my body was very well-contained and refined, to a satisfying degree.

[Humming cheerfully….]

The nameless fellow seemed especially pleased, humming a joyous tune so loudly it seemed to break through my mental world.

It seemed this guy liked stability and gradual growth, so he was quite happy with this staged development.

Anyway, unlike before the regression, when I constantly overcame death’s hurdles and became brutally and steeply stronger, I was now steadily and stably gaining strength.

However, since my experience before the regression served as a foundation, I could overwhelmingly reduce trial and error, so the absolute increase in strength wasn’t too disappointing.

“Hehe. Things will get a little busy from now on, won’t they? I need to get to know Ras better, and most importantly, we need to discuss how we should live ‘happily’.”

“That’s true.”

“About the secret, you’re going to tell the other girls besides me, aren’t you? I wonder who’s next~ It would be fine if only Rosalie knew, though ♪”

She seemed very proud that she was the first person I shared the secret of regression with.

“Hehe..! This is all my first time. This makes Rosalie the main wife~”

She turned her head and hummed shyly, but her voice was so clear that I could hear everything…

Actually, for the sake of a harmonious future family, it wouldn’t do to show too much favoritism to one person already.

It was time for Ras Etgard, the ultimate tightrope walker and flame clown, to step forward, ensuring no one felt hurt.

“Ras, kiss me.”

First, a morning kiss is important, so let’s finish that!

*

“Hehe..!”

“Irha, are you that happy?”

“Mmm…!”

Irha and her roommate Lina’s dorm room.

Lina spoke with a hint of pity, seeing Irha giggling from early morning.

Irha didn’t notice the pity in Lina’s question at all, only answering brightly.

The reason Irha, who had been walking around glumly like a sick seagull for two days, was now beaming was because Ras had gotten up from his sickbed last night.

“I heard the good news and almost secretly went to his room at night to give him a big hug~”

‘It’s natural to be happy when your friend gets better, Lina…!’

Oops…!

And our happy fool, once again, swapped her thoughts and words as she spoke.

“Sigh…. Are you that fond of Ras? So much that you want to secretly visit him at night and hug him? Looking at this, our Irha is an adult after all…”

“Squawk…! What did I say…? No, Lina, you misheard me….”

Since Lina had a boyfriend and some knowledge of such things, there was no way she wouldn’t have noticed Irha’s fresh and deep affection.

Most students at Leone regarded Irha as Ras’s bread errand girl or minion, but in Lina’s eyes, the relationship between the two was a bit subtle.

‘Anyway… it’s a relief that Irha isn’t completely clueless. And honestly, they do suit each other, don’t they? Lizley felt a bit off in some way…’

Incidentally, Lizley often received jealous scrutiny that pretty girls usually do, but there were also people like Lina who genuinely found Lizley a bit ‘off’.

Because Lizley’s sense of superiority or her bad personality would occasionally pop out like beans in a drought, making it impossible to completely hide her true nature.

Lina had also accidentally witnessed this sense of superiority once and afterwards thought of Lizley as a slightly unsettling child.

At any rate, in her eyes, Irha was just an innocent girl… but now she was showing the behavior of a well-raised and proper adult, so should she be relieved?

‘But… there are rumors that Ras is getting along well with Professor Rosalie…. *gasp*, Irha… what should I do with you? Of all competitors…! It’s like a dragon appearing after a wyvern left…’

Objectively speaking, Irha is quite pretty and cute.

Especially in the last month since her poverty was resolved… Irha, who had been a hungry seagull, had transformed into a supreme seagull who plundered food from all other seabirds.

An unexpectedly amazing figure hidden behind her innocent and harmless appearance.

Lina had heard through the grapevine that there were male students who were developing secret crushes on her these days.

But what if the competitor was Rosalie, considered the most beautiful woman at Leone Academy?

The sight of Rosalie returning on Monday, embracing Ras with a honey-sweet expression, was so memorable that rumors of a budding romance between Ras and Rosalie were quietly spreading throughout the campus.

Lina, who was usually interested in other people’s love lives, was quick to pick up on this rumor faster than others.

“Um, Irha… what if Ras ends up with another girl…?”

Lina eventually had to ask Irha, who had become a precious friend after spending several months together, carefully.

Upon hearing the question, Irha suddenly looked glum and began to groan softly.

“Ugh… Well… I guess I can’t help it. I’m not his girlfriend anyway… Hmph….”

‘Oh dear…! She already knows. No, Irha is close to Ras no matter what, so she’d know better…’

However, despite her groaning, Irha soon continued bravely, as if making a firm decision.

“But it’s okay. Being a minion is more unique and special than being a lover. Anyway, I’ve received so much from Ras that I’ve already promised to stay by his side forever…!”

‘What exactly is that…? Will you still bring him bread even when you’re a grandmother, Irha…? From what I hear, Ras sounds a bit like a bad boy, doesn’t he?’

Watching Irha cheer, “Minion fighting! Aja aja!” Lina could only feel confused once more.

‘What… is a minion, exactly…?’

Lina was pondering the true meaning of a word her friend constantly used, a word that had recently made her very curious.

Lina secretly worried that the innocent Irha might have fallen for a skillful player.

*

When I returned to Leone after a few days, it was indeed a bit chaotic.

The most noticeable thing, for one, was the main building, which was half-destroyed…

“Did that demon causing trouble at school, or did he have more comrades?”

As I muttered to myself, a hand gently landed on my shoulder.

I turned my head and saw a familiar face.

“Professor Isera? It’s good to see you, it feels like a million years. Are you alright?”

“Hehe. A mere fight of that caliber can’t kill me. My little Ras, have you fully recovered?”

Her peculiar way of speaking was as usual, but I was implicitly concerned about her, enough to be glad to see her.

Of course, a skilled person like Professor Isera could definitely win in a one-on-one fight against most high-ranking demons.

However, the demons she fought this time, Antikrea and Haimon, were high-ranking demons who surpassed ordinary levels, to the point where Professor Isera couldn’t guarantee a hundred percent victory.

If the one who came with them was similar in skill, then Professor Isera must have had a considerably dangerous fight.

Professor Isera, who was last reported to have fought a high-ranking demon in Maugen Dorf forest, fortunately looked quite alright.

However, it was a bit disheartening to see her wrapped in bandages, with lingering injuries from one eye to various parts of her body.

It was almost as if she was a disabled veteran, I suppose?

But if it wasn’t a severe external injury, Rosalie-ssi would have had more than enough time to heal it completely…

Professor Isera stroked my head, as if I was praiseworthy, and continued speaking.

“I heard you were badly hurt. I’ve known Rosalie for five years, but I’ve never seen her so distraught. I didn’t want to bother her by going myself, so I just let her stay with you.”

Ah…

Though I hadn’t seen it directly, Professor Isera, being a close friend, must have really seen her in a state of confusion.

It was a situation where I felt a little sorry for both Rosalie-ssi and Professor Isera.

“Why are you making such a foolish face? You did well. I heard from Professor Rudis. The fact that you defeated a high-ranking demon alone. Truly amazing… Of course, it probably wasn’t as strong as the demon I fought, but for someone your age to be capable of such a feat is truly unheard of.”

“Haha… Well, I was lucky.”

Perhaps annoyed by my modesty, Professor Isera gently pinched my cheek.

But just how powerful a demon did Professor Isera fight to say something like that?

Antikrea, whom I fought, was quite strong among demons, even based on the ones I fought before the regression.

If I hadn’t properly manifested my mental world and unleashed Laulabha, I couldn’t have guaranteed victory in a one-on-one fight; she was that tricky.

If Rosalie-ssi hadn’t been by my side that day to transfer ‘origin’ to me, it would have been a really tough fight.

“Anyway, as my best disciple, you’ve shown tremendous growth and achievement. Ah… and Ras, thank you so much. If you hadn’t given me those gloves as a gift, I would have been in danger too.”

Oh, right.

I did give Professor Isera a pretty useful gift.

After receiving the gloves, Professor Isera cherished them so much that it made my face itch with embarrassment.

Suddenly I looked at her hands…

“Oh my… Professor, your gloves have become mere rags… How roughly did you fight?”

The special, stylish gloves with the Iron Horse’s Seal were completely destroyed.

“It was a fight of earth-shattering proportions. Anyway, they were very good gloves, good enough to save my life. It was a fight where I truly felt the importance of equipment… *tsk*…”

Professor Isera, smacking her lips regretfully, was somehow cute.

I thought she was just rough and gruff, but she has a somewhat clumsy side to her actions, making her subtly cute.

“Hehe. Even smacking your lips. Don’t worry. I’ll get you another pair, even better ones.”

“No…! It’s like receiving tribute gloves from my disciple. There’s no need for that…”

No, there is a need for that.

The aura I felt from Professor Isera was clearly stronger than before her fight with the demon.

Having a strong ally who can throw a good punch whenever needed is important in life.

I’m not short on money, and there aren’t many places I spend money right now, so a high-quality pair of gloves is hardly an investment.

I abruptly took Professor Isera’s flustered hand and shook it, pushing her to accept without worry.

“It’s fine. I’m from the Etgard family, so would money be an issue for a gift to my teacher-nim? It’s more like I should give you the very best.”

“Ugh… This boy. If you hold my hand so casually, people will stare… Anyway, I won’t decline further then. Instead…”

Professor Isera, uncharacteristically red-faced and embarrassed, trailed off slightly before continuing.

“The gloves… how about we go choose them together…? And customize them together… I’m so grateful, so I was thinking of treating you to a fancy meal…”

I wasn’t sure why this woman suddenly became cute, but anyway, what she said made sense.

After all, Professor Isera must have used much more weapon-like weapons than I, who just picked up trashy low-grade ones, and she must be an expert in this field.

“Well, sure. It might be too much to go somewhere far like Sephir… so touring Delphi might be best. Or if not, maybe the neighboring Bern…”

“Understood. The… weapons are always carried, so how about we set a time not too late?”

“Then, before vacation… preferably a weekend in May?”

Since the demons openly invaded Delphi, I wasn’t sure if Professor Isera would actually have proper time as she would be busy, but for a day, it’s fine.

I followed Professor Isera, who had become slightly more demure, and walked towards the building with the temporary classrooms.

Glancing at Professor Isera’s side profile, I noticed she was smiling.

*

Eisenwald, the northernmost part of the Sephiroth Empire. This area is also called the Grand Duchy by its locals.

Despite being an empire ruled by an emperor, this place, which gives off the atmosphere of a small kingdom, is governed by Rodrigo Ertines von Valencia.

As the ruler of the Duchy governed by the Valencia Ducal House, and furthermore, the overall ruler of the border region with Azuldar, the demon nation, he is no different from a king of the North.

Having received ‘lawful’ governing authority from the Emperor, his prestige and authority in this land are indeed executed by imperial decree.

Although he is over seventy years old this year, the Duke still maintains his ducal title.

He was expected to retire from the front lines by the time he reached sixty at the latest, but instead, he seems to grow stronger and more vigorous with age, and his martial prowess also continues to increase.

Armed with powerful martial might and a magnanimous personality, he is the Emperor’s shield and sword, defending the northern part of the Empire from demons and beasts.

Surprisingly, the old Duke, over seventy, is still an active, vigorous combatant, fighting on the front lines against Azuldar.

Relatively recently, someone asked him after he returned victorious from a battle:

‘When was the Grand Duke’s prime? I know this question is rude for someone hailed as an immortal legend, but I cannot contain my curiosity and dare to ask.’

Rodrigo lightly answered the question from a writer who had come to gather material for a biography titled, ‘Rodrigo, The Living Legend of the Empire’.

‘Right now.’

‘Cough…!!!!’

His loyalty to the imperial family, his famous love for his son-in-law and grandchildren, and his unpretentious, leading-by-example nature as a true soldier…

For these reasons, Rodrigo is immensely popular in the northern part of the Empire.

Northerners are generally larger and have a stronger martial atmosphere than people from the capital and other regions, so everyone loves and respects this magnanimous, picture-perfect general.

Therefore, not only Northerners but no one in the Empire, not even Leon or Marisa who know Rodrigo’s true nature well… nor Ras, the regressor…

Would undoubtedly fall over in shock if they saw the current situation unfolding in the North.

“Welcome, Rodrigo Ertines von Valencia.”

“I greet the Emperor of the North. I am Hermes, serving Demon King Kardmos.”

That is, if they saw him holding a secret meeting with a high-ranking demon in a shabby mountain cabin in the North.