episode_0017

“At that time… How did you do it?”

I wondered if I was hallucinating.

I heard a voice that I thought had been buried forever in my memory.

Was it directed at others?

However, most of the cadets had already disappeared into the tower.

At least I was the only one around her.

“How did you do it? .”

She asked me again.

The voice was much closer than before.

I couldn’t even guess what the intention of the question was.

No, I didn’t want to think about it in the first place, so I just remained silent.

“Please know… ”

“Okay, so the last team can enter!!”

She took a step closer to me again and tried to ask me again, but was ignored.

――Geek!

When the professor said it was my turn, I pulled the wheelchair without hesitation.

“… … .”

Fortunately, she didn’t ask any more questions.

“After… .”

I let out a long sigh without realizing it.

The practical exam has only just begun, but I already feel mentally exhausted.

**

“… … .”

There was no answer from Cain.

It was also what I expected.

She had already abandoned him, but would she really want to talk to him?

‘But I still need to know… .’

Still, Claire wanted to know.

The image of Cain she saw in sparring still lingered in her mind.

The clear magic power he gave off.

It was something that could not have happened and should not have happened.

‘Claire! I… Because I’m not like that! Please believe me!!’

His screams, which I thought I had completely shaken off, begin to ring in my ears again.

Were his words really true?

“… … .”

No, you can’t.

Even the great Holy Inquisition singled him out as the culprit.

Although the trial was held in the saint’s absence… No one could deny the judge’s power.

Let’s not be shaken. Claire.

He has already touched the taboo.

It wouldn’t be strange if there was another taboo that changed the nature of magical power.

Yes, I have to make up my mind like that…

――Geek!

Kyle started to get ahead little by little.

When I see that, my mind is confused and my heart is so frustrated that I feel like I’m going crazy.

**

Where is the end of the Tower of Dreams?

Unfortunately, few people know the answer to that question.

Among all cadets, there was no one who saw the end.

In the past, there was a record of a person who was called a hero by people reaching the 100th floor as a student, but it is said that he did not reach the top of the tower.

“… … .”

After my first experience at the entrance exam, this is my second time coming here.

It was still a damp and heavy air that was unwelcoming.

The feeling of water filling my lungs just by breathing made me vomit.

I try to think moderately.

The goal was to utilize previous experience and obtain a score slightly higher than a failing grade as efficiently as possible.

‘The 20th floor should be enough.’

The calculation is done.

It wasn’t easy to get to the 20th floor, but it was something that was easily possible with my current abilities.

――Guyue!

But things don’t always go as planned.

As soon as I entered the tower, I encountered a monster.

My goal was to not encounter any monsters until the 3rd floor, but that was all in vain because of that dirty, drooling ghoul.

I thought maybe Claire would catch it, but…

“… … .”

She just stayed still.

It just looked like he had lost his mind.

For some reason, today was strange. I should have looked into it when he spoke to me earlier.

――Guyuewe!

The ghoul started to approach.

Normally, I would have hit the guy in the face with my foot without having to use magic, but it’s really unfortunate that I couldn’t.

――Nothing!

I gathered magical power at the tip of my finger and fired it.

There wasn’t even a need to weave magic. Because this alone was enough.

“… … .”

The guy who got hit on the head fell down without even making a sound.

It’s just a pity that I wasted my magical energy on such an insignificant opponent.

Anyway, although the start was a bit bad, I thought the test itself would go smoothly.

I really thought so…

It wasn’t like that at all.

–thud!

“Huh… .”

The large figure collapsed before my eyes, and I took a deep breath.

The current floor is the 15th floor.

It was right after defeating a monster that was like a mid-boss.

However, the consumption of stamina and magic power was much greater than I expected.

If this continued, there was a very high possibility that we would not be able to reach the 20th floor.

The reason was simple.

“… … .”

It’s because of that crazy bitch who doesn’t do anything.

As everyone knows, this test is conducted by two people as a team.

So, naturally, the moment one of the two is retired, the test ends there.

Skill is not only skill, but it also means looking at the ability to cooperate with each other.

Honestly, teaming up with Claire?

It’s disgusting. How could I enjoy being with a bitch who hit me in the back?

But it was really, just a little bit good.

First of all, isn’t he the guy who is the head of this academy?

To be honest, I thought I could easily take the bus, if not all the way to the 20th floor.

But it was all an illusion.

That crazy bitch didn’t really do anything.

If I lead the way, they just quietly follow behind.

If I stop, it stops, and if I go back, it goes backwards… He was doing something really funny.

Don’t they know that if I retire, we’ll end there together?

Or does he hate me so much that he gives up on my grades, and wants to see me suffer?

Because she made a blank expression throughout the test, I couldn’t tell her true feelings.

“I’m going crazy… .”

Now that things were like this, it seemed like I had no choice but to go through it alone.

The magic power to defeat the boss on the 20th floor was a little tight, but… It seemed possible to avoid battle as much as possible.

No, it had to be possible.

**

“Wow… it’s tough. it’s hard. The 25th floor is also quite tight. Is this why I can never go to the 40th floor?”

“… … .”

“Huh? Rigel, why are you so dead? You’re not saying you’re tired already, are you? The Count of the Wright family?”

Rigel’s test mate Tristan asked. However, he didn’t give any particular answer.

“What is it? Are you feeling a little strange today? Why is he so silent? no way… Is that it?”

“… … .”

“Are you still upset because you lost to Cain last week?”

“… … .”

“Hey, why are you being such a brat and doing something like that? Just forget it. Why do you care about a bastard like that?”

“… … .”

Despite Tristan’s joking encouragement, Rigel remained silent.

Tristan was just sad to see that.

Well, a man can lose in life. It wasn’t a defeat so fatal that it would have a negative impact on the future.

“Ah, that’s it.”

Tristan thought so, but he realized one thing.

“Is it because you showed that side to Claire?”

It was a different story in front of a woman. Even if it’s a girl you like.

It may be a little heartbreaking to see her as such, but wouldn’t it be okay to try again?

“Hey, it’s okay. You just have to start again from the beginning.”

“… Hit it.”

“Huh? What?”

“… … .”

“Oh, and. Now that I think about it, I heard that the prince is also targeting Claire? Since the possibility is low in the first place, think again… ”

Tristan said and patted Rigel’s shoulder.

—puck!

“닥치라고 이 개새끼야!!”

Rigel punched Tristan in the face.

“Wh, what is it… Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Oh, huh? Hey hey Rigel! wait for a sec!! What are you doing now… ”

――Suddenly!

While Tristan was in an unexpected situation, the space surrounding them was destroyed horribly.

Because Rigel decided to retire, the illusion magic ended.

“Hey, hey! Where are you going!!!”

――Tadadat!

Leaving behind Tristan, who asked the reason, Rigel ran out.

‘I must find it… .’

Spaces made up of countless fantasy magic visible around you.

Rigel began to search for something among them.

“… … .”

And I was finally able to find it.

Beyond the shimmering wall, Claire’s still beautiful appearance can be seen.

And even the disgusting sight of trash next to it.

――Paaah!

Rigel tried to go straight into it, but he couldn’t.

The space spat him out, and he bounced straight out.

Unless you were a caster, it was quite difficult to get involved in the fantasy magic space.

“Mr. ”

I couldn’t get between those two.

Angered by that fact, Rigel bit his lip tightly. It was so strong that fresh blood began to flow out little by little.

“… … .”

Should I just give up like this?

But suddenly something strange happened.

The quivering wall, Rigel’s face minutely reflected there.

The face began to smile strangely. As if I had seen it in the mirror before.

“… … .”

And little by little, ripples began to appear on the wall.

Rigel cautiously stretches his arm toward the wall.

His arm was sucked into space without any difficulty.

There was no need to wait any longer.

“Claire… You are mine.”

Rigel put his body into that space.