episode_0129

Steps left the ballroom.

The sky was dark.

Before long, night had begun to settle over the scene.

Two people traversed the dim landscape. Coincidentally, a garden was located near the building, so we moved there, avoiding the students’ attention.

The garden, with not a single flower blooming in the winter, was quite desolate. Instead, the lightly falling snow added to its charm. Even without life, it was a season where even death was beautiful.

We simply walked.

“……”

Gentle quiet.

The woman in my arms didn’t utter a word. Her presence was felt only through the skin and body heat pressed against each other, and her lingering scent. Her exhaled breath bloomed into long white flowers and then dispersed.

Suddenly, something touched my chin. That faint warmth was unusually hot.

I gently posed a question.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“……I’m fine. I was just surprised.”

The calm reply came back. I felt an unnecessary awkwardness. Perhaps because her attire was somewhat revealing, soft touches were felt in various places. Normally, I wouldn’t pay attention to such details. But with the unfamiliar perfume and the woman’s body scent mingling chaotically, that captivating allure was something that dulled the senses.

With the dizzying sensation spreading from the tip of my nose, I fell into an uncharacteristic silence.

Of course.

The Drunkard was no different.

Was she equally awkward? I had been watching her for over half a year, but this was the first time I’d seen such a clear reaction of agitation. Her red eyes couldn’t bring themselves to look this way. Her posture remained frozen, her lips showed no sign of parting, and earlier, she had even uncharacteristically stammered.

Embarrassment.

Perhaps it was because the warmth of another person was unfamiliar to her.

We simply continued through the winter garden.

“There’s a spot over there.”

Soon after.

We found a suitable bench and settled down. My hands carefully set the woman down. As it was late, and the weather chilly, I placed my outer coat over her shoulders. Afterward, I knelt on one knee to examine her injured ankle.

Selena said.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s no use saying that while limping. I’ll take a look, so please just relax and stay still.”

The woman couldn’t bring herself to push me away due to my firm tone. I took off her shoes. Her instep slowly became bare. Beyond it, her pure white skin and ankle were visible. Perhaps due to the sprain, there was a slight swelling.

The snake extended its hand.

“Eugh…”

At the same time, the Drunkard flinched, pulling her shoulders back.

My touch was delicate. I gently massaged her foot. The sensation of her smooth toes was particularly captivating in my hand. The warmth of her lukewarm sole, the coldness of my hand chilled by winter, the temperature gradually mixing and becoming sticky as it dropped, and the sense of moral transgression arising from defiling it.

The shadow that gently bloomed gradually covered her slender ankle. The snake carefully stroked it.

“Uh, ugh… haa…”

Faint breaths could also be heard, but I consistently pretended not to hear. Even as this happened, the permeating darkness made the swelling subside. As even the remaining pain in her ankle completely vanished, her slightly unfocused gaze looked down at me.

I smiled faintly at her blurry gaze. It was a feigned innocent smile.

“It won’t hurt anymore.”

“……”

“Teacher-nim?”

“Ah… Thank you.”

The Drunkard regained her composure belatedly. A short, returning deep breath. She murmured, as if subtly observing my reaction. Only bitterness reflected in her blood-colored pupils.

“I’m sorry… It feels like I’ve become a burden.”

“Not at all.”

“But I couldn’t properly join the banquet Yuda student had been looking forward to.”

“Hmm.”

Was she worried about that? Since her student had asked her to be his partner, she might have wanted to live up to his expectations. Even though she always seemed rigid, she was a woman who harbored a certain warmth.

I shook my head and said.

“On the contrary, I’m even glad.”

“Huh…?”

“Because I was able to be of some help to you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Normally, I’m the one who only receives help, so to be able to return even a small bit of that help, that fact is very meaningful and makes me happy.”

“……”

“I’m fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

“……Is that so.”

The woman replied a beat late. The atmosphere settled. Was she troubled by complex thoughts as usual?

Unable to speak for a while, she then unconsciously murmured to herself.

It was a sigh.

“Yuda student is… truly a good person.”

Or lingering regret.

I returned the Drunkard’s words exactly.

“Well, that’s because he’s a good person’s student.”

“Even if it’s just empty words, thank you.”

“I mean it sincerely. Where else would I find someone who backs up a student who acts as freely as I do, and offers such convenience?”

“I wasn’t particularly thinking of helping you, though.”

“That too is proof, isn’t it? Proof that even if you seem indifferent on the surface, a warm heart resides within.”

“You’re praising me too much.”

“I’m merely stating what I’ve observed.”

I came to know by observing. Your kindness. Your classes, where you pretend to be indifferent yet give your best, your meticulousness in organizing each textbook, and finally, your never harsh attitude towards children.

From an objective standpoint, Selena was quite an excellent educator.

Except for her chronic alcoholism.

‘You are.’

‘Quite a good person.’

I wanted to convey such encouragement, or rather, non-encouragement, but Selena merely shook her head with a hollow laugh. In her dull pupils, only the image of a single adult lingered. It was a terribly lonely atmosphere.

“I… wasn’t like that. It was merely the result of following my own desires from beginning to end.”

“Everyone lives for their desires, don’t they?”

Everyone is like that, I suppose. Humans cannot live without clinging to desires, and that is why the epithet ‘insignificant creature’ is attached to their names. I was no different. For I had countless desires held onto from my previous life.

The desire for them to live.

The desire for the illness to miraculously heal.

And if even that couldn’t be fulfilled… the desire to die in their stead.

Though all of them were wishes that ended in lingering regret. At the time, such feelings kept me going day by day.

Therefore, I think.

Desire is not bad. Because if lonely adults don’t even crave desire, they’ll no longer find meaning in life. This was the last self that allowed us to exist as ourselves. Even if it was somewhat twisted.

“So… no one will blame you.”

I wore a bright smile. As if to say she hadn’t done anything wrong yet.

“Please, put an end to your self-reproach.”

“……”

The woman stared blankly down at me. Soon after, the dark clouds disappeared, and a brief smile broke out on her face. It was a look as if the anguish that had weighed on her shoulders had been swept away.

She said.

“I can’t possibly win against you with words.”

“Hehe.”

“Aside from being a ‘good person’… Yuda student, you should be careful not to get stabbed anywhere you go.”

“I feel like I’ve heard similar things a few times before.”

“Take it to heart.”

“I will certainly do so.”

Her tone had softened somewhat. The atmosphere had lightened. Had the lingering pain in her ankle also vanished with that brief conversation?

The Drunkard moved her outstretched leg.

Rustle.

Her bare feet touched the ground. The garden’s blades of grass softly enveloped her delicate soles. Her uncomfortable shoes had been set aside.

Selena stumbled for a moment, then regained her balance, turned back to me, and extended her hand. Her purple hair, blending with the moon and darkness, was uniquely beautiful.

Her lips spoke.

“Although we’ve left the banquet… if this place is alright, shall we continue the rest of our dance?”

“Aren’t you going back?”

“Because if I wear my shoes, I feel like I’ll sprain it again.”

“Then… it will be a banquet just for the two of us.”

“Meaning is what you make of it.”

The bushes where others’ gazes couldn’t reach. A garden where stars and the moon sparkled. The scenery of a barefoot stroll across the grass. In the center stood only the woman and the boy, and soon, the two clasped each other’s hands.

Their lukewarm body temperatures, mingling, began to erase the winter.

“How is it?”

“I’d be glad to.”

The two moved slowly. The distant ballroom. Using the faint melody drifting from there as their backdrop. A clumsy serenade, one step at a time. And then another step.

We stepped.

“It’s strange. I never thought there’d be a day I’d dance with a man in my life.”

“Surely, you’ve never had one before?”

“To be precise, I had no desire for it. I was never interested in anyone from the start.”

“Then… are you saying you have absolutely no experience in that regard?”

A superstition suddenly crossed my mind. The content of it was that if pure men and women paired up at a banquet, their love would be realized. It was precisely that part that came to mind, which made me ask.

The woman replied in a subtle voice.

“Well, I wonder.”

It was an expression I had never seen before. A very faint smile, seemingly playful, and thus even more dizzying.

The Drunkard then placed her hand on my waist. She whispered into my ear.

“If it’s true… will you take responsibility, like in the superstition?”

“Gladly.”

“No hesitation, I see.”

“If that is what you wish.”

“You say dangerous things.”

Of course.

She didn’t accept it, though.

“I’m fine as is.”

“That’s a shame.”

“It’s just… there are too many things I’ve already done to pass on my responsibility to someone else.”

“Even so, your words made me happy.”

I too will wait. Until you emerge from that dark predicament. Until you fully forgive yourself.

“Because someone’s ‘first’ remains especially in memory.”

Therefore.

The fact that I would be specially remembered by you made me as happy as the starlight in this garden.

Hearing this, the Drunkard let out a hollow laugh. As if to say I was impossible.

“If the other students knew… I might be quite disliked.”

“Hehe.”

Interlocking hands. Between the flowing wind and the stars, the final nocturne resonated. Perhaps it was a melody weaving connections.

“……”

Silence descended. We were concentrating completely. No matter what it meant.

The form of flesh that pressed together with every close touch, her chest seemingly holding that hot body temperature, the faint perfume scent that captivated my nose, and even my own reflection caught beyond her alluring redness. Perhaps due to the dress, her accentuated contours drew my gaze. It was a sight that anyone would covet and envy, yet it was her form, entirely permitted only to me.

A strange atmosphere flowed through our interlocked hands. However. No one spoke. Against the backdrop of the night sky and scattered stars, only the wind brushed past. For even the continuing silence was enchanting.

Thus.

We spent the night.

***

Meanwhile.

In the pitch-black underground.

There, figures clad in blood-red robes were gathered. The surrounding floor was splattered with blood.

“The time has finally come.”

The mysterious figures prayed in unison. Each with a twisted vocal cord. Beyond the sacred chorus of demons, an ominous aura stirred, signaling its birth. Mana scattered into fragments like broken glass. It was the symbol of the dark mages.

“With young blood, cleanse all insignificant creatures, and with pure hatred, noble rebirth.”

Meaningful sentences. The culmination of their meditation was none other than a festival of blood and massacre. Piled on the altar were documents concerning a certain academy. None other than Gallimard Academy.

“The Lord commands to awaken the slumbering calamity.”

An even more horrifying melody filled the deep underground. Their eyes were filled with. Only madness, thirst, and slaughter. The combined words roared.

“Deliver the will to the betrayers.”

Thus, the world.

Into uncontrollable danger.