episode_0210

Midterm exam serial massacre incident.

Two weeks have passed since that day.

Fourteen weeks. It is by no means a short time. There was a lot of agitation, and numerous investigations and procedures were carried out. In many ways, not just police and schools.

“Ha… .”

The same was true for Cheonwoong Shine Stella, the leader of the Panthera crew.

Thanks to Dean Merlin’s quick response, the students quickly escaped under the guidance of their teachers once the suppression of the intruders began. As a result, no one died afterward.

However, there were seven students who died first. Coincidentally, they were all Panthera crew members.

Panthera is the best crew on the continent. Of course, the virtue of seeing it because of its prestigious name is also great. It can be seen as a kind of capitalist structure. Just as money increases money, obtaining funds through authority increases power.

Now that there was a huge vacuum in funds and authority, Stella, the head of the Panthera crew, was in great distress.

“Ha… .”

Even though it is a pantera that failed to subdue a saint, a warrior, a princess, or a wolf beast with strange powers. Still, as fame is fame, the students of Class A, who are said to be the best first-year students, were accepted to a large extent.

Those were the seven dead. Coming together to hunt bigger game by joining forces led to an irreversible defeat.

“Son! My son… !”

Nobles who heard the news visited the academy one after another. Every time that happened, Merlin, as the dean, silently bowed his head. Stella was no different.

My chest felt heavy, as if it were made of lead. My mind was depressed. As if submerged in water.

I offer my sincere apologies to the families of the victims of the disaster, and when I go to bed, I remember the last time I saw them. Then I can’t sleep all night.

Why didn’t he think of going to the midterm exam together? Such regrets and thoughts overtook me.

It was the most meaningless thought in the world. Because it has already passed. It’s the same as not being able to contain spilled water.

But at the same time, it was the strongest regret in the world. Isn’t that what regret is? Even though I know it’s meaningless, I can’t give up.

Useless dreams, false hopes.

‘also… ‘You can’t do this.’

One, Stella should not have been swept away by the torrent.

She is the head of an organization.

Even in situations where everyone is panicking, you have to come to your senses alone. You must lead your colleagues. That is the role of the captain.

This was even more so when the crew was in a big crisis like now.

‘What should I do?’

A huge power vacuum has emerged. In the Panthera crew, which consists of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders, some of the 1st graders have disappeared.

Third year students are graduating students. After nine months, I will leave the academy and start working in society. The same goes for Stella. She is someone who will soon leave the crew.

The ones who will be responsible for Pantera from now on are the second and first years. However, now that the first-year floor is empty, Pantera’s future has become bleak.

Since most students have already found and joined their respective crews, it is impossible to try to recruit them.

“Assertion, wait a moment… I’m going to go get some medical treatment outside the academy. The doctor’s advice also told me to get some rest… .”

“I’m sorry, senior. The fact that the child I was talking with until the day before now became like that… Ugh, black… ! Well, I don’t think I can do crew activities right now… .”

“Stella, I completely understand your pain. You have to stand up. The only place the crew members can look at now is your back.”

My head was spinning. Stella stood up. Fighting off villains with force was as easy as eating cold porridge, but when human evil like this struck, it was difficult to solve.

In the end, even though she thought about how to overcome this crisis for half a day, Stella could not resolve her concerns.

Gradually-.

She got up from her seat. And then he walked away.

I didn’t have a specific place I wanted to go.

It was like that. My mind was blank, complicated, and disorganized. Even though I wasn’t thinking about anything, all kinds of thoughts were running through my mind. Stella suddenly felt a strong desire to rest.

The first place that came to mind was her bedroom. But it was too far. I didn’t have enough energy to walk to the dormitory.

Jeopuk-.

I walked around the main building.

Jeopuk-.

At some point, Stella arrived in front of a small warehouse.

It was the door of a dark yet cozy warehouse. Stella knew that the place had been abandoned for a long time.

Stella wanted to rest, so she went to a quiet place.

But the inside of the warehouse was completely different from what she imagined.

“Fray, try hard at training. And then you become like those dead kids?”

“I’m working hard… ! Evans… !”

“At least the sweat should flow like rain. Or that there is a sweet smell in your mouth.”

“Ha, haaa… .”

“Oh! Maria! it’s hard? Should we stop? Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“Oh, no… More can be done… .”

“No, Maria, take a break now. Frey only needs to do two more sets.”

Surprisingly, the inside of the warehouse was cool, with the windows open and the sound of words fluttering around. There were two girls sweating hotly.

A warrior and a saint. And in front of them, a boy holding a magic wand with two fingers and Princess Albrecht sitting cross-legged on top of a warrior doing push-ups.

“Woof!”

“Aru, are you hungry?”

“Woof! hungry! Give me food!”

“Now, eat this at least.”

Albrecht took a piece of bread from his pocket and threw it to the wolf lying in the corner. The wolf jumped up. She greedily opened her fanged teeth and snatched up the bread in one go.

Like a meteorite being sucked into a black hole, the bread disappeared into her mouth.

“Yum yum… .”

“It’s cute. Evans is too much for you.”

“What? Do you think you know how hard I worked to tame him?”

“It seems like just throwing bread like this would have tamed it enough, but why did you go through all the trouble?”

“Ugh, that’s because Your Highness doesn’t know the old Aru. That thing was an absolute beast, beast. I’m at least a human being now.”

“Meo-ung.”

“Look at this guy. Why are you twitching your tail in dissatisfaction?”

“Meow. Give me bread. Buck beak.”

It was an infinitely peaceful scene. It was different from Stella, who fell into a swamp of depression.

Stella, surprised, tried to get out of there. The eyes of the first graders suddenly fell on the intruder.

“Hmm?”

“Woof?”

“What, are you Stella senior?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was a place without people… .”

If the princess, whose superiority and inferiority were clearly evident beyond her age, had not opened her mouth.

“Your complexion is not good.”

She would have gone out like that.

“Her Highness the Princess.”

“There is something I heard. It is said that Panthera’s power was greatly reduced due to this incident. You don’t see it because it has nothing to do with your complexion.”

“… I’m sorry.”

“Is there nothing to be sorry about? Come and sit down.”

This is the name of the imperial princess. Stella did not dare to resist.

“Yes.”

The brilliant sunlight came in at sunset. A golden glow illuminated the blonde hair of the three women in the warehouse.

Hero Frey, Princess Albrecht. Those two alone are enough to create a bright atmosphere, but even Cheonwoong Stella took over.

There was an awkward atmosphere.

Frey was training under Evans’ guidance. She was lying face down on the floor, supporting the ground with her fists, and putting the princess on her back, sweating profusely. The muscles of my entire body were tense.

Maria was practicing the fine manipulation of divine power next to him. Likewise, what Evans said. She had a lot of natural energy and was able to learn even detailed control.

Of course, neither of them could open their mouths because they were concentrating.

Aru, who was eating bread, had no interest in the new Stella, and the boy who was sitting languidly tutoring the two girls was looking at Stella with a vague and nostalgic smile.

In the midst of it all, Princess Albrecht was the only one kissing her lips.

“… People are.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on Albrecht. Stella raises her head unsteadily.

“It is the law of receiving wounds from people and healing the wounds from people.”

“… .”

Albrecht’s next words silenced Stella.

“I don’t mean to belittle Pantera, but it seems like there is no one who can heal you in the current mess of Pantera. Rather, there are probably many people like you now. The wound will fester.”

“… .”

“This may sound a little callous, but you are a valuable talent for the empire. You must not fall down carelessly. Be aware of your position and role.”

“… .”

“For the time being, come here often and take a rest. It will be of great comfort. There are people here who suffer like you, but there are also people who are surprisingly heartless and laugh and talk happily.”

“Yes… .”

“… Yes.”

Stella’s answer was closer to a sigh. Since Albrecht had not expected anything like bravery in the first place, she just shook her head.

At that time, the boy who had been watching quietly the whole time spoke.

“Wait a minute. Whoever wants!”