episode_0136

Episode 136 After the War (8)

Two weeks after the end of the monster season.

During that time, most of the damage to the Academy and the Imperial Capital had been restored. In addition, distribution of contributions such as monster byproducts was completed.

There was nothing more to handle. Everything was finished. In a word, it meant it was time to say goodbye.

The first to leave were the barbarians of the Northern Continent.

As soon as they received their share of the spoils, they left immediately. They seemed worried about the tribe they had left behind. The coldest time in the north, which is cold all year round, was now.

Next were the Kingdom Federation and the Magic Kingdom. They left the Empire in that order, with a few days in between. They weren’t as rushed as the barbarians, so they left slowly.

More than half of the support troops had left. Now, only the Knights of Arden and the Theocracy of Eustia remained. And Elraim and the Knights were scheduled to leave tomorrow.

So, the evening before leaving. I spent some time with Elraim. With Lana, of course.

“Heeing, I have to say goodbye to Elraim again….”

A scene I had seen sometime before. Lana was tearful at the thought of Elraim leaving tomorrow.

But it wasn’t as bad as before. She just stuck by her side and stopped there. It seemed to be thanks to living together for 3 weeks.

“There is parting if there is meeting, Lana.”

“Still….”

Elraim hugged Lana tightly and said.

“I came to see you this time, so Lana should come first next time.”

Elraim originally told her to come visit half a year ago, but the situation had changed, so the opposite happened.

“Okay!”

At Elraim’s words, Lana shouted loudly and hugged her. Their sister-like appearance was still the same, and it was good to see.

The two of them were talking, and then it was my turn. I spoke first.

“I won’t be able to see you for a while again. You’ll be busy even after you go back.”

“The territory is not in a good situation.”

As you can see from sending only one knight order, the Arden territory is still busy with the black magician’s work.

This will continue until Evan graduates, so there will probably be no days to rest even after returning. Elraim was the commander of a knight order.

“Just bear with it for a year. It’s graduation in a year.”

“One year…. Okay, I’ll wait.”

One year. If it’s long, it’s long, and if it’s short, it’s short, just endure that time and I won’t be attending Trianis anymore. Elraim, who knew that fact well, agreed and moved on.

“Come to think of it, we’re already in our third year.”

“That’s right, third year.”

I nodded at Lana’s words.

The end of this year is just a few weeks away. The school year changes. In other words, it’s the last year of academy life. Of course, it’s currently the vacation season, so it’s not the start of school. There’s still time left for that.

“Then I won’t have to part with Elraim, right?”

“Wouldn’t it be?”

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m looking forward to it too.”

We chatted like that, and the last night passed.

The next day.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Yes, young master.”

I said goodbye to Elraim in front of the warp gate. Since it was a place with the Knights and other people, she treated me with respect.

Just as Elraim and the Knights were about to return through the warp gate.

-Kyle, take care. If… you get hurt like last time, you’ll be in trouble.

Elraim sent me a telepathic message. Her voice was serious, but it felt cute, so I smiled. I also sent a telepathic message.

-Elraim. You know what I like, right?

Elraim’s face turned red in an instant. She looked embarrassed by the sudden attack.

Immediately after, Elraim tried to say something to me.

-Kyle, you…!

“Goodbye.”

The magic of the warp gate had already been activated. So, her figure disappeared before her words could fully reach me.

Then a sense of emptiness enveloped my whole body. It was okay when I didn’t see her, but now that she was here and then disappeared, my heart feels strange.

‘I need to graduate quickly.’

Either way, this situation of being forced to go to school was not very welcome. Of course, I’ll be busy because of Evan even after graduation, but at least it’ll be better than now.

After that, I returned to the Academy.

***

A few more days passed.

Now, the traces of war could no longer be found in Trianis Academy. With the exception of minor systems, Trianis, which had been completely restored, perfectly regained its former appearance.

Around that time, the students were able to leave Trianis with peace of mind. Currently, Trianis was on vacation. As each day passed, one by one left for home.

Nevertheless, there were still people who had not left Trianis. It was the Theocracy of Eustia.

If there was a reason, it was because of patient treatment. There were no massive casualties, but that didn’t mean there were no injured people.

There were many seriously injured people, and some were so severely injured that they fell into a coma. The Theocracy of Eustia was staying in Trianis to take care of them until they recovered.

“It’s hard….”

Estella, who was about to fall towards me. I quickly avoided her.

“Why are you dodging me!”

“Don’t pretend to be weak. You’re saying you’re tired, a dog passing by would laugh.”

“I’m a person before I’m a saintess!”

She refuted like that, but it didn’t work. It’s more believable if she’s drunk and unconscious.

“Cieee, you treat Lana well…. Shouldn’t a saint be more precious to the one and only saintess in the world?”

“Are you comparing Lana to you? If you’re going to talk more nonsense, shut your mouth.”

You have to compare things that can be compared. How dare a saintess.

“And.”

A faint smell on the tip of my nose. I stretched out both arms and pulled on Estella’s cheeks.

“I told you not to drink before coming here. I can smell the alcohol.”

“Uuu, it hurts!!”

She quickly moved away from me and rubbed her reddened body. I sighed and asked.

“How many bottles did you drink today?”

“No, I didn’t drink much….”

“So, how many bottles?”

“Yes, four bottles.”

There’s no way. Even though I erased it with divine power, if the smell of alcohol is so strong around her, 4 is an impossible number.

“Fi, five bottles?”

I stared silently at Estella, and she corrected the number. But I kept staring.

“Seven bottles….”

“Really?”

“Uh, maybe nine bottles…?”

As the numbers increased, a blood vessel popped out on my forehead. I grabbed her cheeks again.

“9 bottles? You’re just crazy.”

“It hurts!”

“I told you to drink moderately.”

“I thought you said it was okay as long as I didn’t drink in front of you! Why do you care!”

Estella screamed in agony, but I didn’t stop.

No, before that.

“Where did you get all that alcohol? There wouldn’t have been anyone to give it to you.”

Except for a very small number of people in Eustia, they don’t know that the saintess likes alcohol. So, in order to protect her image as a saintess, she wouldn’t have gotten alcohol from others.

People who know wouldn’t have gotten it for her either. Especially Elena wouldn’t allow it.

“Tell me. Who did you get it from? Did you steal it?”

“Hmph, steal? What do you think of the saintess!”

“Then how did you get it.”

“I, I went out secretly in the early morning… Ah, it hurts!”

“You’ve completely lost your fear.”

Of course, Estella isn’t someone who would be taken advantage of, but being crazy is being crazy. If she goes out with that face, she’ll attract all kinds of aggro.

She should know that, but she still goes out. I was so displeased that I gave more strength to both hands.

“I hid my face properly!”

“That’s not the problem.”

“Why! It’s the last day, so it’s okay, right!”

The last day. At those words, I let go.

That’s right, as Estella said, today was the last day for the Theocracy to stay in the Empire. Moreover, she must have been stressed because she had been working hard to treat the patients.

“…I would have hit you if you weren’t a saint.”

“You should be glad you’re a saintess.”

No, it stopped at this level because she was the main character before she was a saintess.

“Anyway, stop drinking today. I’ll tell Elena if you drink more.”

“Cieee, yes….”

Her expression was momentarily dissatisfied, but she immediately backed down when Elena’s name came out.

“So, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”

“After lunch.”

“I see. Goodbye.”

I’ll be going to see you off tomorrow anyway, but I said goodbye in advance. I won’t have time to deal with you separately then.

“…Saint.”

Then Estella called me. I said with a sulky face.

“What, why.”

“Really… aren’t you going to the Theocracy with me?”

It’s that word again. Estella had been urging me to go to the Theocracy for several days. And my answer is set.

“I’m not going.”

“Why not? It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but you’ll be satisfied if you go. In some ways, Eustia is better than the Tyran Empire.”

I know that well enough. But I still don’t like it. Why should I go to the realm of the gods? I’d rather bite my tongue and die.

But I couldn’t explain that to Estella. I gently pulled her cheek and said.

“It’s my decision, so mind your own business.”

“Don’t try to gloss over it like that again. And I’m confident I can treat you really well if we go together….”

“Shut up.”

I cut off Estella’s words.

“And don’t make a fuss. It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again, why are you making such a fuss.”

Either way, Estella is the main character. We’re bound to get involved in some way. Even if I don’t want to.

“If you understand what I’m saying, drink moderately. Don’t eat like you’re eating now.”

“Eheng, are you worried about me now?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

By pulling her cheek, I forcibly loosened her smug expression.

Anyway, I spent the day hanging out with Estella appropriately and then broke up.

***

The next day at lunch.

Today, the area in front of the warp gate was crowded again. Of course, it was because of the Theocracy of Eustia.

There were so many people here that the people who had finished preparing moved to the Theocracy first. I watched it from afar.

“Then I hope you have a safe trip, Saintess. And thank you for your help.”

“No. It’s my job.”

Estella treating the other person with the face of a saintess. I keep feeling it, but it’s completely different from when she’s in front of me.

Estella continued to deal with the people who were seeing her off. Then something happened and she stood still for a moment.

Mana floating around. Someone was sending a message to Estella. I delved in and eavesdropped on the conversation.

-The troublemaker is finally gone. Goodbye~.

-I’m sorry, but I have a better chance of being with the Saint? Don’t you know that there are more cases of saints and saintesses being together?

-This is driving me crazy until the end. I’m sorry, but senior doesn’t like you.

-You never know.

Tsk tsk, she’s still doing that until the end.

After the last incident, Chloe and Estella fought with message magic. They’re doing everything they can to win.

Anyway, the two of them fought like that, and it was time for Estella to leave. I sent a telepathic message to her as she stood at the warp gate.

-Go. As I said yesterday, drink moderately.

Then Estella looked at me and sent the same message.

-Hehe, yes!

She smiled brightly. The people around her didn’t seem to know why the saintess was smiling, but they just moved on. Immediately after, the magic was used and the figures of Estella and the people of the Theocracy disappeared.

The monster season episode, which had finally ended, was over. I moved to return to Trianis.

“Senior~.”

Then Chloe came up to me.

“What, why.”

“No~ I just called you.”

Estella’s face was brighter than ever, as if she was happy that she had left. She’s really simple sometimes.

“I see.”

“Actually, I know a delicious cake shop. Would you like to go with Lana?”

“…Do as you please.”

It was annoying, but I accepted because I had nothing to do for the time being. After that, I took Lana and followed Chloe.

***

A few weeks later.

The graduation ceremony of Trianis Academy was approaching.