Evening.
The red sky was spreading, peoples shadows were growing thin as it stretched, the shadow of a person stood still in front of a huge stone monunt made from the stones from the mountain range at the northwest of the royal palace.
[I’m sorry….]
Right, the shadow of the person muttering was Aiko.
The monunt towering in front of her, a so-called monunt for the faithful who died in battle (A tower which symbolized praise to the souls who died while loyal to their country). It was for the people killed in action and victims who carried out their duties out of loyalty towards the Kingdom, their nas were carved here without exception. Even now, there are lots of flower offerings and ntos left by people in front of the monunt for those who have died.
Right now, although it’s unconfird how many people’s nas were carved onto the stone but, ld’s na will also be added onto here.
Aiko gently placed weapons within the ntos left behind. It was the damaged western sword and spear. It was the artifacts of Aiko’s students who passed away——Daisuke Hiyama and Reiichi Kondo.
Aiko voiced out her confession while alone, just what should I be conflicted with. That I wasn’t able to bring back Hiyama and them back to Japan, or, because one of my students caused many people to die, or, everything including what I’ve done……
While AIko was looking down with a dejected atmosphere, she remained standing as if she was enduring sothing, ~Za zaa~ footsteps resounded. The violently echoing sound was likely to purposely inform others of their own existence approaching. Usually he wouldn’t make such noises.
Aiko was startled and raised her face towards the sound.
[Nagumo-kun…..]
[What a coincidence, Sensei]
What was making that noise earlier was Haji. His eyes were lightened up by the shine of the setting orange sun and stared right at Aiko. He had flowers in his hand. It’s obvious to understand that he was there to offer flowers as tributes. Aiko showed a slightly unexpected expression towards his actions.
Haji noticed that Aiko’s expression and guessed that she was probably wondering what he was planning on doing, with a wry smile he placed the flowers onto the floral tribute stand.
[Even I feel like mourning for the dead people a bit, Sensei?]
[Eh? Ah, no, I an, I don’t particularly……]
Haji suddenly talked to Aiko in an unexpectedly regrettable voice which caused Aiko to be shaken and tried to deceive him by waving her hands back and forth in a hurry. Then Haji shrugged his shoulders like it was a joke and stood silently by Aiko.
As Aiko frequently glanced at Haji, it appeared that Haji was looking up at the huge stone monunt and didn’t particularly care about Aiko, he didn’t seem to have any signs of talking either. Sohow, silence suddenly fell into the area and Aiko decided to reluctantly start a conversation.
[Eh~tto, those flower are…..is it…..for Hiyama-kun and them?]
[There’s no way of that happening. It’s for ld]
Haji raised an eyebrow and plainly replied at the wrong guess.
[For ld-san…..]
[Ahh, though we weren’t acquainted that much, I don’t particularly hate people of his nature. Contrary to his position, he worry quite a lot, failed a lot, and was always trying to improve himself…..although I’m only offering flowers its more along the feelings of “how regrettable” towards the people]
[Nagumo-kun…..that’s right huh….]
Towards Haji’s words, Aiko’s expression suddenly turned gentle. Even though Haji rcilessly killed his enemies, he still had the proper feelings to mourn for a person’s death so Aiko beca happy at that. Her cheeks naturally loosened up that he purposely took the ti to co and bring an offering.
Actually, Yue and them were taking a bath, he ran away when the won gave off a carnivorous glare in their eyes of wanting to take him into the bath room with them, since there was still ti he beca free, when he by chance glanced at the flowers being displayed in a vase, he thought, how about killing ti by offering flowers? and he pulled so flowers from the vase but…..although his feelings about regret for ld was real, he couldn’t actually tell the truth.
Haji was taking in the circumstances of the surroundings and frowned at Aiko who loosened her cheeks.
[You’re not going to bla …..]
[Eh?]
Towards Haji’s sudden words, Aiko tilted her neck.
[That thing about Hiyama. The circumstances were different from Shimizu’s case. It appears that he was eaten by a demon in the end but, I was the one who pretty much killed him. I killed another of Sensei’s beloved students again? Kondo as well, although he was already dead, the one who pretty much destroyed his shape was . …….I had thought that Sensei would have hit once or twice out of anger]
[……….]
Aiko’s smile was erased and she looked down once again. Haji was silent. He wasn’t pressing her for an answer. How much ti was spent silently?……..Before long, Aiko began to gradually voice out her words.
[……To be honest, I can’t easily give out a clear answer. I don’t believe that it can be forgiven that Hiyama-kun killed Shirasaki-san but, if possible, I would have liked that he live out his life to atone for those sins. It was shocking that Kondo-kun turned out like that. But, I can understand why Nagumo-kun was enraged and showed your strength. An important person was killed in front of your eyes…..with that, although it’s against what I’d ideally want, you couldn’t do anything but vent out your anger on them. ……Besides, I don’t have the qualifications to bla Nagumo-kun]
Aiko crossed her arms and rubbed them both. It was as if her body was getting cold and she was trying to keep warm.
[Are you talking about what you did at the head temple?]
[……..]
A silent confirmation. Temporarily, although Aiko’s mind’s balance was broken, Haji and Teio had sohow reverted it back to normal with reproduction magic, once again, it appears that her mind is being worn down by her sense of guilt and ethics. If you looked carefully under her eyes, you’d notice that she had dark circles that she tried to cover up with makeup, it was clear that she wasn’t able to sleep for the past several days. It’s possible that she was having nightmares.
Silence descended down once again. Haji didn’t say anything and stood still. Was she unable to endure the atmosphere anymore? Aiko asked Haji while lacking drive.
[……Is it……not painful for you Nagumo-kun?]
[Killing people? I don’t particularly think it’s painful……I think that that part of probably broke when I fell into the abyss. That’s why I can’t sympathise with you]
[……..]
Towards Haji’s words, Aiko’s face distorts in bitterness. Sothing important in Haji was broken and, in a single strike, Aiko’s state of mind further tightened up.
[…..No one…..blas ]
[Eh?]
Aiko leaked out her voice as if she couldn’t endure it.
[No one blas . The eyes of the children in our class doesn’t look at any differently, as for the Kingdom’s citizens, they were looking at with praise]
That was a fact. All classmates, had a strong impression from Haji who was too grueso in his battle, they didn’t really have much feelings about Aiko’s assistance in homicide, rather they were under the impression that Aiko fought for herself and took on the brunt of the load for their sakes, the Kingdom aristocrats and governnt officials were thankful that the brainwashing problem was solved.
[Though I’ve talked about it all to David-san and them, even they wanted a bit of ti to think about and left it rather than imdiately blaming . Even though I robbed them of their important things]
Blood dripped from her lip that she bit. Aiko probably wanted to be blad for it. The act of killing a person…..is heavy. As long as they’re not a maniac or rotten person, normally their minds would be hurt by the blades nad guilt and ethics. So for such people, taking the bla and accepting the punishnt, are in a sense a kind of salvation.
Aiko herself probably unconsciously seeked for that. However, that wasn’t given to her.
Although Haji can agree that she played a part in overthrowing the church, he believed that even without Aiko, Teio would have still sohow managed to exterminate them soway or another, he thought that bearing the burden alone was a bit much, so as if he was troubled he scratched his cheek as he opened his mouth.
[Even if you say that, Sensei. The direct cause was due to Teio’s breath, Sensei only helped out a little? I don’t think you should take on the burden as if everything was your fault…..]
[Those kind of things don’t matter! I certainly……understood the possibility of them being killed but I still helped Teio-san. That’s no different than directly murdering them!]
Unexpectedly, Aiko gave out her rebuttal strongly. Aiko herself probably felt ashad that she raised her voice as she shrank down apologetically. Looking at Aiko with a side glance, after a mont of silence, Haji calmly asked.
[…..Do you regret it?]
[~……No, at that ti, I was resolute with Teio-san…..because I couldn’t overlook what the church was doing….to help you…..if that was left alone then the students would surely have had terrible experiences…..that’s why…..]
While Aiko was holding back a painful voice, she replied that she “Had no regrets”.
At that ti, when she looked at Ishtar and them who had cornered Haji, not just for Haji but also for the sake of her students to not have to fight, her resolution to dirty her hands was real. Even now that was still unshaken. However, she was suffering while carrying the people who she’s killed on her back, it wasn’t sothing that reasoning could solve.
Haji let out a small sigh that wouldn’t be noticed by Aiko as he glanced towards the side at Aiko who looked like she was suffering. Why did a teacher like Aiko reveal such heavy feelings to a student like . Even though I only ca here to kill so ti……he grieved in his mind.
And, suddenly, he recalled Aiko’s feelings that Yue and Shizuku pointed out earlier in the day and worried if that was the cause. It appears that Haji was leaving Aiko’s student category in full-blast.
Haji’s eyes were wandering around. He was completely looking for words.
[About Sensei, will you still be a Sensei from now on?]
[Eh?]
Towards Haji’s abrupt question, Aiko’s expression unintentionally beca blank. And she rembered that she was asked the sa question once before. At that ti, she should have answered with confidence, [Naturally!]
[…………..]
Now she was unable to imdiately answer. That was because she questioned herself if she should declare herself as a teacher after having killed people. Aiko was tightly clenching her teeth and her expression distorted. He understood that Aiko was having an extre conflict whirling within her mind.
As if he expected it, on behalf of Aiko who couldn’t answer, Haji began to talk.
[If, Sensei says that she’ll continue being our Sensei from now on……will you listen to my selfishness as a student]
[Selfishness…..is it?]
Aiko who had a bad complexion and seed to collapse at any mont, showed a perplexed expression from the words that ca out of Haji’s mouth.
[Yeah, my selfishness]
Haji removed his sights from the monunt while nodding and faced Aiko to match their eyes together. As she was being stared at Haji, from sowhere within her, warmth was starting to well up and as if attracted by it Aiko also stared back.
After Haji confird that he was firmly reflected in Aiko’s eyes, he slowly said his words. Exactly as Haji said before, they were hopelessly selfish words.
[Sensei…..I want Sensei to feel guilty about it. I want you to shoulder it’s weight. Justly fighting, justly shouldering it, justly suffering, and justly complaining. To be human-like is slightly dazzling. I’m already unable to feel anything after all……you’ll be a good example for to not forget my “Humanity”. So that’s why, continue shouldering it from now on. I’ll properly watch such a human-like Sensei after all. If I do so then even after I return to Japan, I’ll be able to live humanely]
[Nagumo-kun……]
Aiko’s eyes opened up widely towards Haji’s words. She would have never thought in her dreams that he’d not bla her nor cheer her, but instead tell her to continue suffering from now on. But, towards that selfishness, in a sense, made her rember the shock which ca from killing as it ford ominous clouds within Aiko’s heart.
The results of her determination and actions were serious. All the more it was painful as well. She wanted to run away and almost beca broken. Her natural character made it extra painful because she was determined and resolute.
But, when she looked at herself, she had people who were willing to help her. The important things that were lost, there’s a person who can’t feel but rember them.
Aiko thought.
——Ahh, how very selfish. What rcilessly gentle selfishness
A transparent drop ran down Aiko’s cheeks. Everything she’s endured up until now in order to not cry easily crumbled.
As Aiko was shedding tears, Haji averted his glance and turned his back as he troubled conveyed the his last words.
[Ma~a, tis when it’s so painful that it seems like you’d break, by all ans……since there’s no one here…..since there’s really~ no one here so it won’t be embarrassing……I’ll lend you my back]
[~….Really…..people like you are…..]
I’ll pretend that I didn’t notice that Aiko was crying? is what Haji seed to say as he showed his back, Aiko approached while smiling and crying and buried her face into his back.
[Then, I’ll be borrowing it for a bit. …..Nagumo-kun]
[Alright, Sensei]
Aiko’s cheeks loosened up because of Haji’s casual answer and she entrusted her body. While shedding tears as if they were everything she’s saved up, she once again vowed. In other words, she’ll continue being a teacher. And continue shouldering her sins. If a selfish student would be watching her then…..she felt like she’ll be able to do her best.
The shadow of the two people expanded towards the east. As the night fell, the sounds of sobs resounded for a while.
After this, Haji returned to the royal palace along with Aiko after she had finished crying but, while blushing randomly and looking down shafully, Aiko was gracefully walking besides Haji, to be honest, this may have done it……it goes without saying that he was breaking out in cold sweat.
And sure enough, Yue and them noticed and it’s needless to say what happened when he was taken into their room. About this case, Shia and them and i, Yue’s silent expressionless stare n particular was the most painful.
It should be noted, that they coincidentally t up with David and them of the temple knights as they returned to the royal palace but……it appears that, in the end their love for Aiko won.
To begin with, the reason why they accompanied Aiko as guards was due to various senses of values but, after being forcefully pulled away from Aiko when they returned to the Kingdom and was forced to descend the mountain without being confirming her safety made them start harboring doubt for the people of the church. Although they were considerably shocked when the truth of the church and god was revealed, as expected they still ca to the conclusion that they couldn’t hate Aiko.
Although they kinda had a feeling of complete desperation hanging around them…..from now on, while believing in the “Goddess of Fertility”, they decided to revive and serve to protect the Kingdom as knights. Thinking about it again, it felt as if they carried a strange subli feeling of love for Aiko but……surely they had lots of things to think about as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Enough already, really geez! Ok!]
[Haji-kun…..please be a bit more cautious?]
[Fufufu, as expected of master, to deliver the final blow after we just looked away for a mont….]
In the dining room of the royal palace, while eating dinner, Shia’s and their voices resounded out as if blaming sothing. Haji who it was being directed at was just enjoying the al in front of him as if it was soone elses problem.
Although Yue who was sitting to his right wasn’t saying anything, her eyes looked at him as if she was looking at a troubleso person. When they heard of the circumstances, [Ma~a, guess It couldn’t be helped then] is what they thought, clearly the feelings that Aiko has for Haji inside of her was complex due to the fact that he was her student.
Moreover, after hearing Haji’s stance of “neglecting” Aiko’s treatnt, they sowhat harbored feelings of sympathy for Aiko.
[……Haji. Does it seem like Aiko will be able to endure?]
Because they heard of the contents from Haji, Yue was slightly worried and asked. As opposed to it, Haji stopped eating and seed to be thinking a little.
[N~, it’s not alright? Worst case scenario, if it looks too dangerous I’ll have to create an artifact to stabilize her mind using Spirit magic. Ma~a, even if we don’t worry about it, with ti, that person will be able to digest it in neatly]
[……I see, that’s good]
As Yue’s eyes loosened up, Haji also smiled.
[As expected of…..Yue-san. With just one step, she gets ahead by two]
[Is this…..the difference between her and ? Ku, I won’t lose! I won’t lose!]
[Umu, should it be called naturally or sothing….it was a technique which touched masters heart as if completely natural…..If I had to say it, it’s a godly skill. Obediently allow to praise you]
[……Unwillingly evaluated]
Shia who was looking at her with a terrified expression, Kaori who looked mortified, and Teio who was feeling admiration. Yue’s expression beca bitter after being unexpectedly evaluated. Haji smiled wryly as he stroke Yue’s hair.
Among Haji and his companions, in a sense as their feelings of getting along was firing up, an unexpected group ca into the dining room. It was Kouki and them as well as his classmates. It appears that everyone including Aiko had co.
When Haji looked at them for a mont, he frowned slightly. Beforehand, he heard of the tis when they would be eating, he had thought that he would be able to comfortably eat with his companions but…..it appears that that plan was thrown off.
Ma~a, there’s no need to anxiously consider it, Haji renewed his thoughts as he continued eating his al. Yue and them didn’t particularly mind either.
But, it doesn’t appear that his classmates thought the sa, so people thought it was rather interesting, so people felt slightly awkward, and so people were lost as to what to do and beca restless. Although they frequently glanced over, they were reminded of Haji’s previous statent that he didn’t see them as companions and much less held much interest in it, so they were hesitant to call out to him. By the way, Aiko was staring at Haji for a different kind of reason.
[Ah~, Shizuku-chan! Over here!]
[Kaori. Can I sit next to you?]
[Of course]
Kaori was showing a friendly smile with Nointo’s cool face, Shizuku also naturally loosened her cheeks as she sat next to her.
At first It was still hard for the classmates to accept the fact that Kaori had changed her body but, the atmosphere of Kaori’s image and smile allowed them to loosen up. Even if her body has changed, Kaori’s peaceful atmosphere allowed her classmates hearts to relax. Or rather, when compared to the ti when Haji lost his cool, it was only slightly nerve wracking, there were many classmates who were glad that Kaori had returned.
*It’s funny cause the author didn’t ntion Ryutaro here*When Shizuku sat on the seat, Kouki sat on the seat next to her, and Aiko sat on the opposite side, while Suzu sat next to aiko. Aiko was right next to Yue. The other classmates proceeded to sit on the other remaining seats. Suzu looked at Yue as she sat, [Excuse …..for sitting besides Oneesama!], she said with a strangely tensed expression. Yue said, [……Why Oneesama?] while tilting her head.
When Kouki and them took their seats, the excellent maids of the royal palace began to move together and set the table. It was practically the sa nu that Haji and them had.
Then, at that ti, over Yue’s head, Haji and Aiko’s glances connected. At once, Aiko’s cheeks were lightly stained, she shafully averted her eyes. Even still, she’d frequently glance back at Haji, and secretly whispered out in a quiet voice.
[A, ano, Nagumo-kun…..sono, that thing from a while ago…..sono, if possible….]
Having to talk over Yue caused her to be a bit uncomfortable, most likely, as an adult, and, as a teacher, it was shaful to ask of Haji so she kept quiet and decided to not say it.
Haji guessed that Yue had decided to not mind it, and he thanked her within himself while looking at Aiko.
Suddenly her body was shaken and Aiko’s ears began to be dyed as well. There was a feeling that it was too late now that their eyes had matched up, Shizuku and them paid attention to Aiko’s appearance as she stared at Haji. Fortunately, it was a blind spot for the other students so they weren’t found out but, the relatively close frontlines-group classmates saw it and were rather suspicious.
[About what, Sensei. Was there sothing?]
[Fu~e?]
Naturally Haji had decided to pretend not to know anything. Aiko was montarily dimd by that attitude but, she guessed that he was willing to keep it a secret, with a wry smile, [No, it’s nothing], she answered. Although she was thinking that she was cowardly for having Haji take care of it, she beca happy and smiled because he was considerate.
When they saw Aiko’s state, more and more, the female’s began to turn their eyes onto Haji. Only Yue was comforting Haji by patting his shoulder, in addition, [Ah~n], as well. As expected of the true heroine. She was clearly different from the recent violent heroines of today.
Haji was absorbed in his deep thoughts, as expected, Yue is the best lover! I don’t know how many tis I’ve “fallen for her again”, Shia who sat on his opposite side began to tug on his sleeve.
[Haji-san. Ah~n, desu]
It appears that rather than getting angry that her rivals in love seems to have increased, she judged that now seems to be the ti for her to show her appeal. While blushing and glancing upwards, she gracefully presented a fork. At that point, she didn’t forget to also quietly draw her Usamimis closer to Haji as well. She was wonderfully cunning.
Haji had no hesitations since they’ve been doing it for a while, and consud it in a bite. As Haji chewed it in his mouth, Shia’s Usamimis were waving as if she was happy, incidentally, her bunny tail was also wiggling.
When such a spectacle was shown, Kaori and Teio couldn’t afford to stay put either. Both of them panicked and thrusted their forks into their food.
[Ha, Haji-kun, too, ah~n!]
[Master. Please eat mistress’s without delay. ah~nja]
[……Just this once]
No matter how many [Ah~n] were done, if the nu was the sa then he’d get bored. That’s why, he gave out a warning, the 2 [Ah~n]’ed as they responded to Haji. With that he consud both with a bite each. Kaori and Teio both had soft and warm expressions. *
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