I silently listened to Ceria’s story.
I could guess why she had been reluctant to speak up until now.
“I’m just a burden because my skills are lacking.”
Ceria had received this notification from the ‘me’ who came from the future, and she had tried her best to overturn that evaluation, but ultimately, she had failed.
It was a story she couldn’t help but want to hide.
Because acknowledging that evaluation would mean admitting it herself.
That must have been deeply troubling and hard for her. I deeply empathized with Ceria’s feelings.
At one point, I too was just a student in the middle to lower ranks.
Self-deprecation and self-torment were familiar tasks for me as well.
So I didn’t hastily offer Ceria any words of comfort.
It was the kind of moment where even a single word could leave a deep wound in Ceria’s heart.
I needed to choose my words as carefully as possible.
However, a sudden question came to mind, and I posed it.
“…Then what about Celin?”
“Oh, Haster.”
At that, Ceria let out a wry smile, as if in a difficult position.
Her head bowed once more.
“She had a lot of struggles because of me. Because I was so stubborn, even Haster ended up getting caught by that guy… She wasn’t beaten like I was, but he made her train all day long.”
“Training?”
“He made her hold strange weapons, not swords. What was it… Battle Axe?”
A Battle Axe, huh.
It was not a weapon that a slender woman would typically choose. It was a piece of gear that only a muscular giant could manage to wield with both hands.
Due to the difference in physical conditions, it was naturally even harder for a woman to handle. At the very least, she had to reach a level where she could use Aura.
The problem arose at this point.
Being able to use Aura meant that there was a weapon that had been mastered to a certain degree.
Even taking the Academy into account, it would typically take more than 10 years to handle such a weapon.
There was no reason to abandon a familiar secondary weapon. Moreover, a Battle Axe was particularly challenging to train with because of its weight.
Therefore, it was no surprise that women who could wield a Battle Axe were rare.
As far as I knew, there was not a single one in the Academy.
For that reason, Ceria had an obvious expression of regret towards Celin.
While the word was ‘training,’ in reality, it was likely closer to ‘torture.’ No matter how much magical power one had, switching to a two-handed weapon was an exceedingly painful process.
From the basics of physical strength to the method of wielding the weapon.
A Battle Axe was significantly different from a sword.
Starting from scratch must have come with tremendous mental burdens as well.
It was then that I finally understood why Celin had stiffened when she looked at me.
Although not to the extent of Ceria, it seemed she too was undergoing difficult training.
In the end, I found myself folding my arms and deep in thought.
The ‘me’ from the future never moved without reason.
If I assaulted Ceria and made Celin train, there must have been significant reasons behind it.
The most plausible possibility at the moment was one.
That the enemies I was about to face were that dangerous and strong.
So much so that even Celin, not to mention the skilled Ceria, would not be able to help.
Thus, I had no choice but to experience inner conflict.
In my heart, I wanted to encourage Ceria and tell her that she could follow me no matter what.
The feeling of self-loathing gnawed at my mind like a bug eating away at fruit.
If it would help shake off that painful feeling, I was more than willing to take Ceria along.
But if it was a matter of life and death, the story was different.
No matter how mentally difficult it was, it was better than losing a life.
It was a judgment made by a cold-blooded person who seemed unlikely to bleed even if pricked. It was likely more precise than the sentimental thoughts I often fell into.
As I groaned and was lost in thought, I carefully opened my mouth.
“…Ceria, do you really need to follow?”
At my words, Ceria immediately looked sullen.
Seeing that made my heart ache as well.
But there was no other choice.
If Ceria were to lose her life, it would be a greater tragedy than that. Perhaps I would never be able to forgive Sulo for the rest of my life.
That I could not allow.
Ceria was an important junior to me.
I didn’t want to lose her so uselessly.
I continued to persuade her gently.
“As you know, risking your life is no joke… There will be other opportunities. Truth is, I still don’t even know where I’m supposed to go, so you can train during that time…”
“…Why can’t it just be me?”
At Ceria’s question, I found myself momentarily lost for words.
I couldn’t guess the intent behind her question.
My eyes, filled with doubt, stared blankly at Ceria.
Of course, it wasn’t that I would only take Ceria along.
Right away, Celin was also on the verge of being excluded from the list, and anyone else who was lacking in skill would not be permitted to join. It was a just decision, since we had to face dangerous enemies.
Ceria surely knew that.
Yet despite knowing this, she voiced her complaints.
That meant there was something she knew that I wasn’t aware of.
And then the words Ceria uttered subsequently proved my suspicions.
“The Imperial Princess asked me directly to request for her to join us…”
“The Imperial Princess,” huh.
Hearing that title made my mind momentarily jumble.
Could she be talking about that crybaby, the oblivious brat?
No matter how talented she was as the top of the Magic Department, a first-year was still a first-year. Objectively speaking, the Imperial Princess’s abilities were a bit lacking compared to Ceria’s.
So I could only let out a hollow laugh.
“The Imperial Princess? Has Iris transferred here without me knowing…?”
“I’m talking about Shi-en.”
The voice that pierced through my ear as I shook my head left me no choice but to remain silent.
With such a clear assertion, I had to close my mouth.
Skeptical eyes turned towards Ceria.
Then Ceria emphasized once again to me.
“I said she asked Shi-en to join us.”
It seemed I had to listen to her story in detail.
That day, the man had a particularly fatigued look in his eyes.
An underlying air of tension accompanied his footsteps. He seemed sharp enough that getting too close would be dangerous.
No one would dare to approach him.
His infamous reputation was unmatched within the Academy. After all, he was the one who had once chopped down an Imperial Princess with an axe.
Actually, in the Academy, there were few who didn’t keep a wary eye on him.
Avoiding a mad dog was the best course of action.
Especially with someone who looked undeniably worn out, nobody wanted to provoke him.
Only the murmurs of speculation about his destination floated around.
Nonetheless, the man simply moved forward.
As if the gazes of the crowd meant nothing to him.
His steps came to a stop when he locked eyes with a particular girl.
The pure white cloak revealed the girl’s grade.
First-year, meaning a freshman who had just entered the Academy.
With dark blue hair reminiscent of the night sky, she was an impressive beauty. Though she had just reached adulthood and still bore a youthful appearance, her beauty would surely shine more as time passed.
At least the man already knew that future.
The girl’s true identity was the Fifth Imperial Princess of the Empire, a woman he had once served directly.
Of course, this was still in the unvisited future.
And it was an event that should never have happened.
As he sorted through the remnants of emotions that felt almost like fragments, the Imperial Princess, noticing his presence, jumped up and expressed her delight.
“…Ah, Ah! Sir Ian!”
The title was the same then as it is now.
Even if the past changed, it seemed that there were still some unchanging things, the man thought with a wry smile inside.
But after all, this was not his world.
The Imperial Princess skipped over and approached him.
“This is perfect timing! I was just practicing!”
Honestly, he had little interest in whatever the Imperial Princess was practicing.
After all, the ones he loved had already perished.
The people remaining here were separate individuals. At least he was firm in that belief.
So he intended to simply convey the main point and leave.
If it weren’t for the next action the Imperial Princess showed.
“…Kra-rarara!”
She mimicked a dragon’s roar with her tiny hands.
No, could it even be called a word?
It was a sound closer to a beast’s cry.
The man fell silent for a moment, unable to comprehend her intention.
As his sunken golden eyes fell on the girl, the Imperial Princess scratched her cheeks awkwardly, blushing.
“Hehe… Father told me that dragons don’t roar ‘Kraaaar!’ So, to become Sir Ian’s pet dragon, I’ve been practicing a new sound!”
Even after hearing that, the man remained silent for a while.
He merely parted and closed his lips repeatedly.
With a faint sigh, he thought to himself.
Should I self-harm?
