“Today’s lesson will take place here. The city and streets are close by, and this is a zone where there are no particularly threatening monsters for you all, but please be careful nonetheless.”
The teacher responsible for the ecology survey class began reciting precautions to the students of our class and others gathered before her.
“In the event of any problem, send a signal immediately. Whether it’s shouting, using fireworks, or employing magic, it’s all fine. Remember, however, that if someone sends out a false rescue request, it could result in point deductions as well as a potential disciplinary hearing.”
She paused, reinforcing her warning by surveying her students.
However, only a moment of silence passed before her rigid expression softened, and she spoke in a light-hearted tone.
“Well… though I may have frightened you, you don’t need to worry too much. Ultimately, as long as you stay within your limits, you may act freely. If you’d like to go alone, that’s fine; if you prefer to go with friends, that’s fine too. As long as the content of the survey matches the objectives of the ecology class, I don’t care about anything else.”
One could almost suspect that she was too lazy to imagine the curriculum and had left it up to the students, but the students, for their part, seemed to enjoy the situation.
“Alright. Then, take full advantage of this, the last class of your academy life where you will have this kind of freedom! By the time you’re in second year, you’ll be stuck with boring classes until graduation.”
…Did she really need to say that last bit? Without it, we might have enjoyed the time a little more.
Still, freedom is freedom, so I quickly joined Selian, Yuli, and Anne to start moving.
Considering the sheer number of students who came out at once, the situation was bustling, much like a market.
Though things would quiet down once everyone dispersed, we decided to move first.
After all, this wasn’t like Anne’s territory where monsters randomly jumped out of the forest, and even if it were, we had the strength to stroll around comfortably.
Thus, we walked further and further, trying to distance ourselves from the noise of other students.
The clamor of student conversation gradually faded, replaced by the chirping of birds.
Passing between trees, we eventually found a place that was very much to our liking.
The trees were spaced appropriately, letting refreshing breezes pass through the gaps, and the ground was flat and free of rocks, perfect for laying a mat.
Moreover, despite the weather getting cooler, seasonal flowers carpeted the area, filling the air with their fragrance, while the sound of running water nearby pleased our ears.
Without needing to consult one another, we immediately spread our mats wide, securing a spacious area.
With such a great spot, it felt reasonable to be greedy; we were far enough away from the starting point that the chances of other students coming were slim, so we didn’t worry.
“Who knew such a place existed? Since we don’t have much reason to enter the forest, I’ve never imagined a place like this.”
Selian brushed her hair, which had been gently blown by the wind, behind her ear and spoke.
Indeed, she had every reason to be amazed; this place was breathtaking.
Even compared to the park in the Griffin Academy designed by renowned architects and designers of the continent, this naturally formed location held its own.
“Whoa! Look at the sky! It’s as blue as Selian’s eyes! Ehehe. And those clouds—so white, like El’s hair!”
Anne, who had immediately stretched out on the mat as if it were her very own bed, exclaimed while gazing at the sky.
Though her comment needed correction—if she called my hair white, it would make me feel old. My hair is silver, not white!
I should make that clear. I’m a vibrant 18 years old!
Perhaps…?
Anyway, leaving behind such important yet trivial thoughts, I also lay down next to her, emulating her.
As soon as I lay down, the same blue sky and pure white clouds that Anne had noticed greeted me.
“Come on, come on. You both should lie down too.”
Still lying on the mat, I encouraged Selian and Yuli to do the same.
“Well, then I’ll…”
“Hmm… I can let Selian have it this weekend.”
At last, the two hesitantly crawled over and laid down next to me.
We would have never been able to witness this scene had the weather been cloudy or if we weren’t supposed to conduct an ecology survey. It provided an excuse to lie down in the middle of the forest and enjoy the sky leisurely.
Of course, as an assassin, it’s not that I never saw the blue sky.
The sky is a space equally available to everyone, be it the dwarves who love the ground beneath or the rest of us.
However, during those times, although I liked to gaze at the blue sky, I loathed it as much as I loved it—it felt revolting to me.
Why was I in such a place? Would I end up living and dying doing odd jobs for people my whole life? Was I bound to be at the mercy of the guild master for my entire life? As I stared at the blue sky, I could not help but feel my own situation more profoundly, even as I was granted fleeting illusions of freedom, whispers of hope wrapped in despair.
Sometimes, I even felt jealousy toward the mere birds soaring freely in the sky.
Yet, I knew fully well that anything I desired was utterly beyond my reach. Anything I longed for was nothing more than a futile way of consoling myself, and it would only lead to frustration and despair over time.
Still, wasn’t I better off than the ones who used drugs?
They too enjoy immensely while on drugs, perceiving the world as a land of flowers and feeling sheer happiness. But once the effects wear off, they are left with a sense of loss, craving the very world they had just experienced.
Perhaps in the end, I was much like them, but at least I didn’t destroy my body like they did. I trained rigorously every day without fail, after all.
Of course, the problem was that I couldn’t rest even when I wanted to—it wasn’t my choice in the matter.
On the contrary, when the sky was cloudy or even raining, things were better in a way.
Then, I didn’t have to immerse myself in useless romanticism, leading to despair and feelings of being sickened.
I would merely grumble inwardly that my room might leak from the rain and would continue training.
But now, things are different.
The assassin guild that had bound me, and more specifically, the guild master, is dead.
Very few in this continent know that I was once an assassin.
The more they investigate, the more they might suspect and be certain of my identity, but how many people are there who would investigate a complete stranger’s background in the first place?
Even someone with decent skills would have trouble tracing ‘Ellycia Frentz’ back further than the alias ‘Number 3.’
So… am I now allowed to embrace true hope rather than despair disguised as hope? Am I allowed to live a simple yet happy life, sleeping when I want, eating delicious meals, mingling with friends I genuinely like?
Hm…
At that moment, as if reading my thoughts, the mark of the master-slave bond on my abdomen began to prod me. It wasn’t painful enough to elicit a groan, merely annoying.
As if reminding me of its presence.
Ah, so my conscience resides in my abdomen, does it?
Even making useless jokes to myself made me feel a little better.
Right, as long as I don’t remove this master-slave mark, there’s always the possibility I’ll return to my old situation. Some strange, pot-bellied noble might even show up and demand my obedience with the scroll.
The scroll would likely, with a probability of nine out of ten, have flowed to the Deretia family, since they were the ones who dismantled the assassin guild and killed the guild master.
Given they were using real-time communication magic during the assault, the chances of interference were minimal.
But since I wasn’t there to witness the incident, I cannot confirm who killed the guild master.
Even if the guild master’s killer didn’t take the scroll, it could have been retrieved by someone else entirely.
Still, at the least, I should find out who killed the guild master.
If the scroll was taken, I could get it back from them. If not, I could at least eliminate a suspect.
The person who killed the guild master must have been at least someone at the level of Deretia’s knight squadron.
Though the guild master might have been worthless as a human being, his skills were genuine.
Alright, I’ve at least got a rough plan together.
If Freisia can find a solution as I’ve asked her, that’d be ideal, but I can’t just sit around and hope.
I’ll visit the Deretia family during the winter break.
Selian will likely be happy about it, as she was during the summer break. She’s the head of the Deretia family now, after all.
Of course, if my true identity as an assassin who once targeted her life is exposed, I certainly won’t fare well.
She might even feel betrayed and brandish her sword at me in anger.
If that happens, and I am unable to defend myself against a sword master’s blade, offering my neck will be the least I could do.
But…losing my life doesn’t resonate as something significant with me anymore.
Life as ‘Ellycia Frentz’ has changed me immensely.
To me now, being hated by my beloved friends, who shine brilliantly and will soon make names for themselves across the continent, is far more frightening than facing the wrath of a sword master.
Selian, Anne, Yuli, Freisia, Mariel, Linne, and others…
Compared to the life of a mere assassin, their presence is dazzlingly bright, proud and invaluable friends.
Being hated by them, by Selian, has become more terrifying to me than losing my life.
Thus, no matter how crucial it is to find the master-slave mark scroll, I must ensure Selian never finds out.
This winter break…
For a complete farewell to ‘Number 3,’ I’ll return to that identity one last time.
