Chapter 15

Episode 15. Interlude – Spring

The day after the duel with Professor Lucas.

After finishing the morning class, I sat on a bench on a quiet walking path that the candidates rarely frequented, reminiscing about yesterday’s duel.

‘He was strong.’

As expected.

Professor Lucas possessed skills on a completely different level from the mediocre candidates I had faced so far after returning.

‘But, it wasn’t a level I couldn’t win.’

To be honest.

I even thought, ‘Is this all you’ve got?’ in a corner of my mind.

‘Well, it’s a bit funny that I thought that after losing.’

It couldn’t be helped.

The reason for my defeat in the duel with Professor Lucas wasn’t due to a lack of skill or experience, but simply because the gap in magic power was too vast.

‘Well, at least the fight was somewhat manageable.’

This time, I managed to make Professor Lucas use his ‘blessings,’ which was somewhat satisfying.

At least.

I could tell that the time I spent training alone in the ruined world wasn’t in vain.

‘Even though most of the techniques I can’t fully use in my current state.’

Of course.

The swordsmanship, martial arts, and magic used by heroes are all fundamentally based on the use of magic power.

Techniques used without magic power are just imitations of the real thing.

Like the model food displayed in front of the restaurant.

Just as you can’t compare model food to real food, no matter how excellent a technique is, it can’t exert its full power without the appropriate magic power.

‘And there aren’t many techniques I can fully utilize with my current magic power.’

At best, there’s the ‘Sky Flip,’ which specializes in using the opponent’s power against them.

In fact, even that could be used several times more powerfully if I had enough magic power.

“After all, it’s all about magic power.”

Tsk.

As I clicked my tongue and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Did, did I do something wrong?”

A voice full of fear came from behind me.

‘Ah.’

Come to think of it, this guy was here too.

I turned my head towards the ‘friend’ who had been diligently massaging my shoulders while I was lost in thought on the bench.

“Why does it feel weaker than before?”

“I didn’t make it weaker…”

“Ah, was I mistaken?”

“N, no! That’s not it!”

“Then what is it?”

“S, sorry! I messed up!”

Juliet, with a panicked expression, bowed deeply.

I let out a light laugh and patted Juliet’s shoulder.

“Haha. Just kidding, man. What’s with the overreaction over a little joke between friends?”

“Y, yeah.”

“By the way… It’s almost been a week, have you got the money ready?”

At the mention of money, Juliet’s shoulders twitched.

Having struggled to gather 1 million gold, Juliet opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“I, I think I can get it by tomorrow!”

“Think?”

“N, no! I can get it! Yeah!”

“Alright, alright. Thanks, man. It must’ve been tough gathering 1 million gold.”

“W… well, it’s for a friend.”

“Kuh.”

To gather a fortune of 1 million gold in less than a week for a friend.

It was so touching that my eyes turned red.

‘This is what friendship is about.’

Helping each other in tough times is what friends do.

Juliet, sharing the same sentiment, had red, swollen eyes.

“Shall we grab some lunch?”

“Y, yeah. Should I get the usual bread?”

“Sure. Today’s a day worth celebrating, so let’s have sausage bread.”

“I’ll go get it right now!”

Juliet turned around and dashed off to the store.

Judging by the swift movements, the deep friendship (?) between friends was evident.

“Kuh.”

As I leisurely sat on the bench waiting for Juliet.

-Ding!

A clear alarm sound rang, and a hologram window popped up.

[Would you like to have lunch together if you have time?]

It was a message from Iris.

I replied without a second’s hesitation.

[Sure. Where are you?]

[At the main building restaurant.]

The main building restaurant is a high-end place usually frequented by prestigious noble families or the children of conglomerates.

‘I’ve never been there before.’

It was so expensive that in my past life, I never had the chance to visit the main building restaurant.

Even though I had to burn 1 million gold for research funds tomorrow (not my money, though), I hesitated for a moment.

[Since you prepared the meal during the last outdoor training, I’ll treat you today.]

[I’ll be right there.]

Kuh.

Pretty, kind, and buying me food.

‘Only our Saintess could do this!’

I dashed off towards the main building restaurant where my past lover was waiting.

“…Oh, but.”

I feel like I forgot something.

‘It’s probably nothing.’

I pushed the thought out of my mind and quickened my pace.

* * *

“Ah, Dale, over here!”

“This way.”

Arriving at the main building restaurant, I saw Iris and Camila waiting at a table they had reserved.

“So this is the main building restaurant.”

“Is this your first time here?”

“Yeah.”

I sat down at the table with the two and looked around.

The restaurant had a luxurious interior, like a hotel restaurant.

A fragrant scent wafted from the candles placed on each table.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the restaurant too.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, you usually have meals prepared by chefs dispatched from the Holy Kingdom, right?”

“Yes.”

So, to have lunch with me, they turned down meals prepared by professional chefs and came to the restaurant.

“Hmph. It’s rare for the Saintess to offer to have a meal like this, so consider it an honor.”

“Oh my, I’m honored to be invited to the Saintess’s feast.”

I stood up and exaggeratedly bowed, making Iris flustered as she waved her hands.

“P, please don’t do that! Camila, don’t say things like that either!”

“Haha. Thanks to you, I get to see a place like this.”

“Do you usually eat at the side building restaurant, Dale?”

“No, I just grab something from the store.”

“The store?”

Iris frowned at the mention of the store.

“I heard store food isn’t very healthy.”

“But it’s cheap and convenient.”

“Hmm.”

Iris, clearly not pleased, crossed her arms and spoke.

“Then, would you like to have lunch with us from now on?”

“S, Saintess?”

Camila looked flustered at Iris’s sudden suggestion.

“That might be…”

“Why? Adding one more person doesn’t make much difference.”

“That’s not the issue…”

“Then what is the issue?”

Camila looked troubled.

Preparing an extra portion of food wasn’t a problem, but the issue was the fact that ‘the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom is having lunch every day with some unknown male candidate.’

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have lunch separately.”

I quietly shook my head.

Having lunch with Iris every day was certainly tempting, but.

‘Not yet.’

There was too much to do right now.

Literally, even the time to eat felt precious.

“Hmm… Oh, how about this? There’s a combat training class every Monday, so let’s have lunch together only on Mondays.”

“That might be… okay?”

Even though there’s a lot to do, having lunch together once a week, just one meal, wasn’t something to refuse.

“So, is that a yes?”

Iris, having received permission, stared at Camila.

“Kuh… Alright. I’ll let the chef know.”

Camila, thinking she couldn’t stop this, nodded with a complicated expression.

“So, it’s decided for every Monday?”

“Got it.”

“Yay! Jackpot!”

“Huh?”

“Ahem. No, I didn’t say anything.”

“No, just now…”

“No, I didn’t. Say anything. Okay?”

“Uh… yeah.”

Alright.

Let’s go with that.

“Shall we grab some food then?”

“Yes! Just follow me!”

The main building restaurant was buffet-style, so we had to take plates and serve ourselves.

Holding empty plates, I followed Iris towards the center of the restaurant.

‘Wow, what’s all this?’

Dishes that made your mouth water just by looking at them were lined up.

“From here to there are Holy Kingdom dishes, over there are Empire dishes, and on the opposite side are Republic dishes.”

“They all look so delicious, I don’t know where to start.”

“Shall I recommend some Holy Kingdom dishes for you?”

“No, um… Holy Kingdom dishes are a bit…”

“W, what’s wrong with Holy Kingdom dishes?”

Why, you ask.

Everyone on the continent knows Holy Kingdom dishes are tasteless.

“There are tasty dishes among Holy Kingdom cuisine!”

“Tastier than ramen?”

“T, that’s…”

Iris trailed off and turned her head away.

Even instant food from factories beats traditional cuisine.

What kind of place is the Holy Kingdom?

“Anyway! Since you usually eat junk food from the store, let’s have something healthy today!”

“That’s harsh.”

As I was being dragged around by Iris, filling my plate with food.

-Commotion.

A group of female candidates gathered in one corner of the buffet.

Thinking it might be a popular menu, I looked over and saw.

“…Yuren?”

Surrounded by female candidates wasn’t a popular menu, but a young man with radiant golden hair like the sun.

Golden hair and golden eyes.

Snow-white skin and a naturally noble aura.

An androgynous appearance that could easily be mistaken for a woman.

My mentor who taught me the Sun Sword in my past life.

My irreplaceable friend.

Yuren Helios was there.

“Ah, Yuren. Are you having Holy Kingdom cuisine today?”

“Do you have any favorite dishes? Our family recently hired a famous chef from the Republic…”

“We have some premium wine that’s hard to come by, would you like a glass with your meal?”

“……”

Yuren silently filled his plate with food, not even glancing at the female candidates surrounding him.

“Huh? Ah. The heir of the Helios family. Do you know him, Dale?”

“……”

Do I know him?

I swallowed a bitter smile and shook my head.

“Only by name.”

Not yet.

It’s not yet time to meet you.

The day I stand before you.

Must be when I can be more confident in myself.

‘Wow, but this guy is really popular.’

Unlike the freshmen who just enrolled or Juliet, who I used to hang out with, the female candidates surrounding Yuren exuded an air of nobility.

‘Well.’

Handsome face, prestigious family, top of the class since enrollment.

It’s no wonder he’s popular.

“Dale?”

“Huh? Ah, sorry.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Ah… just that he’s as handsome as the rumors say.”

“I see.”

Iris glanced at Yuren, then cleared her throat and spoke.

“He’s handsome, but not really my type.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t really like people who look like they were carved by the gods.”

It felt strange hearing that from Iris, who looked like she was carved by the gods herself.

“So, what kind of looks do you like?”

“I prefer someone who looks more like a weed on the roadside… natural looks. Ahem. For example…”

Iris, with her pink hair, shyly covered her cheek and glanced at me.

“Someone like you, Dale.”

“……”

So now.

“You’re saying I look like a weed?”

“No.”

“This is going to be controversial.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“To think I’d be called a weed in my lifetime.”

“Mr. Dale! That’s not what I meant!”

Iris, flustered, raised her voice.

I chuckled at her reaction.

“Let’s just go eat!”

Following Iris, who was stomping towards the table, I glanced back at Yuren.

‘Iris, Yuren.’

And though I haven’t met them yet, Berald and Senior Sophia somewhere in the school.

‘I’m back.’

I wonder why.

The reason this fact suddenly came back to me now, more than a week after returning.

It was an afternoon in March.

The long winter had ended.

Spring had arrived.

* * *

“Huff, huff! Huff!”

In the spot where Dale had left.

A sweaty blonde youth came running, holding bread in both hands.

“D, Dale! I got the sausage bread like you asked!”

Juliet looked around, calling for Dale, but there was no response.

“…Did he go to the bathroom?”

Juliet, holding bread in both hands, carefully sat on the bench.

He waited for Dale to return.

“……”

After 30 minutes, an hour, two hours passed.

Until his stomach growled, Juliet, waiting for Dale, took a bite of the cold sausage bread.

“Sniff… sniff.”

The sausage bread, soaked in tears, tasted of the bitterness of life.