After the aningful—questionable?—reunion with Yuren, my daily life beca so busy that the word "busy" felt like an understatent.
Lectures.
Assignnts.
And every evening, without fail, I t Berald and Yuren to teach them martial arts and swordsmanship.
Whenever a sliver of ti appeared, I squeezed in my own training.
By the ti I returned to my dorm, my body would collapse onto the bed like a corpse that had forgotten how to complain.
’I’m really going to die.’
Well, for , dying was more of an inconvenience than a tragedy.
I’d just co back.
But ntal exhaustion?
Even the Blessing of Revival couldn’t "revive" motivation.
So things didn’t heal with mana.
So things just... wore you down.
’Ah. I want to rest.’
I wanted to lie in bed all day and do nothing.
Not "train lightly."
Not "review notes."
Not "practice forms."
Just... nothing.
A nap under warm spring sunlight.
The kind of peace that makes you forget the world has demons.
Just imagining it made my throat burn with longing.
I swallowed hard and forced myself upright.
"Phew... still. I have things to do."
Today was Saturday.
No lectures.
No evening eting with Berald.
No scheduled session with Yuren.
But that didn’t an freedom.
It just ant I had no excuses.
"First," I muttered, "Professor Jade."
I looked at the small square case on my desk.
Inside was the mana-enhancing elixir Yuren had given .
For soone like him, it was probably as aningful as watered-down tea.
For soone like —whose mana pool was still embarrassingly small even after improvents—it was valuable.
’Taking it directly would be fine... but.’
If I had the elixir, I might as well squeeze everything out of it.
Professor Jade was the academy’s authority on alchemy.
If anyone could amplify its effect—or refine it into sothing cleaner—it was him.
"And then..."
I turned my gaze to my Hero Watch.
Juliet.
After seeing Yuren’s private training ground, my desire for one had grown into a hunger.
Not because I wanted luxury.
Because I wanted peace.
Yesterday’s duel with Vincent had made things worse.
Every ti I stepped into a public training area, people gathered like I was a traveling circus act.
Watching.
Whispering.
Pointing.
Training like that was torture.
’No wonder top students train privately.’
It wasn’t a privilege.
It was survival.
"I should ssage Juliet first."
I opened his contact and sent a short ssage.
[We need to talk. Are you free today?]
The response ca almost instantly.
[Huh? What do you want?]
[In person. ssage later with a ti.]
A pause.
Then:
[Fine. Contact again.]
I smirked.
The cost of applying for a private training ground wasn’t small.
But with Juliet’s weakness in my hands, he didn’t have many choices.
Still...
I needed to confirm sothing.
Just to be safe.
I opened the album file in my watch.
The first image loaded—
And I imdiately regretted being born.
"Ugh. My eyes."
Juliet.
Dressed in won’s clothing.
Striking a dramatic pose like he was posing for a romance poster.
I slamd the file shut like it was cursed.
Even if I was using those photos for a reason, having them existing on my watch was psychologically damaging.
’Once I get what I need... I’m deleting these imdiately.’
I’d already gotten enough revenge for my past life.
I didn’t want to keep carrying this.
"Alright," I said, standing. "Ti to move."
I reached for my sword belt—
Knock. Knock.
I froze.
Who was visiting my dorm on a Saturday morning?
I opened the door.
And instantly regretted it.
Iris stood there.
Dressed for an outing.
Neat clothes. Light jacket. Hair done.
And an expression that could lt steel.
"What’s going on—"
"YOU."
She grabbed my collar with both hands and yanked forward.
"You bad bastard!"
"Why are you attacking first and asking questions later?!"
"Why haven’t you contacted for the past few days?" Iris hissed.
"...You told not to contact you for a while," I said slowly.
Her eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
"...And you listened?"
"Yes."
Her grip tightened.
"Do you have no sense?!"
"Sense?! You told not to! That’s—"
Iris released my collar only to pinch both sides of my cheeks and stretch them.
"Ugh—!"
"I hate you," she muttered, clearly furious—at , at herself, at the laws of language.
Then she stepped back with a huff.
"...Fine. That was my mistake."
I blinked.
"That was... surprisingly reasonable."
"I’m not done," Iris snapped.
Then she looked at my clothes and the case on my desk.
"It’s the weekend. Where are you going?"
"Professor Jade’s lab," I answered. "I need to ask him sothing."
"Work again?"
"It’s not exactly work," I said carefully. "Just... a favor."
Iris’s gaze sharpened.
"So you’re not resting."
"...Not really."
A vein appeared on her forehead.
She grabbed my wrist.
"Co with today."
"...Where?"
"To Valhalla City."
"Huh? Out of the blue—"
"You’re not refusing," she said with a bright smile that was absolutely not a request.
She even winked.
I swallowed.
"...I’ll get ready."
It seed Professor Jade would have to wait.
Valhalla City surrounded the Hero Academy like a second world.
Huge. Busy. Loud. Alive.
It was where cadets went when they wanted to rember they weren’t weapons.
Iris walked beside with a satisfied expression, like she’d kidnapped and was proud of it.
"By the way," I asked cautiously, "what about Camilla?"
"I left without telling her," Iris said proudly. "I sneaked out."
"...Is that okay?"
"If you’re with , I don’t need an escort," Iris replied, as if this was obvious.
Fair point.
Still—
"Will you tell her later?"
Iris smiled sweetly.
"Eventually."
That smile did not promise anything.
I tried not to laugh.
"And... where are we going?" I asked.
Iris clasped her hands behind her back.
"Sowhere fun."
"If this is the orphanage—"
"It’s not," she said quickly. "Today is different."
"Then where?"
Iris grinned and dramatically pulled out two tickets with a bold fist symbol stamped on them.
"Ta-da!"
I leaned closer.
"A movie?"
"Yes!" Iris nodded quickly, eyes shining. "The Republic made a film based on Iron Fist Ryujin Seong!"
Ah.
One of the Five Great Heroes.
I rembered her ntioning she liked him.
"It’s been out for a while," Iris admitted. "But I wanted to see it with you."
I blinked.
With ?
That... actually felt nice.
"I’d be happy to," I said.
Iris’s smile turned warm.
"The theater isn’t far."
As we walked, I realized sothing embarrassing.
"I’ve only heard of theaters," I said. "I’ve never been to one."
Iris turned to , shocked.
"You’re from the Republic and you’ve never been?"
"There wasn’t an opportunity," I said.
That was the polite version.
The real version was: I couldn’t afford it.
During my cadet days, I lived on ager support.
After graduation, I was deployed to frontlines where "culture" ant "how to survive."
Iris’s expression softened.
"I’ve taken the children from the orphanage a few tis," she said gently.
"Then I’ll follow your lead," I replied.
"Hehe," Iris laughed. "Leave it to ."
The theater was larger than I expected.
Posters filled the walls.
The movie Iris wanted was titled:
Iron Fist: Dawn of a Legend
I stared at the main poster.
A bald, heavily bearded, muscular man was roaring with his fists raised.
"...Ryujin Seong wasn’t bald," I muttered.
Iris tilted her head. "How do you know?"
"...Textbooks."
She humd thoughtfully.
Then grabbed my hand.
"This way, Dale."
"Huh? Isn’t the entrance that way?"
"Yes," Iris said, dragging toward a counter. "But first, snacks."
"Snacks?"
She looked at like I’d just asked if swords were useful.
"Of course. You eat popcorn at the movies."
"Popcorn is... required?"
"Absolutely."
Iris marched up to the concession stand with terrifying confidence.
Then imdiately chose sothing labeled "Couple Set."
I opened my mouth—
Closed it.
Not worth it.
A few minutes later, she returned holding a large box of popcorn and drinks.
"How is it?" Iris asked, offering so.
"It’s good," I admitted. "But... we already ate half."
"That’s normal," Iris said seriously. "Popcorn is ant to be eaten before the movie starts."
"That makes no sense."
"It’s tradition."
Iris popped a piece into her mouth like she’d won an argunt.
Then she held a piece toward .
"Here."
"I can eat by myself."
"Say ’ah.’"
"...Yes, ma’am."
I ate the popcorn.
Iris looked pleased.
The lights dimd.
The movie began.
It was... an action film.
Not subtle.
Not deep.
Ryujin Seong trained, fought, trained harder, fought harder, punched monsters, punched villains, punched fate.
And—mysteriously—went bald after a training montage.
Iris was completely absorbed.
"Get up!" she whispered fiercely at the screen, gripping her popcorn like a weapon.
"Hit him!" she whispered next.
Then, with the intensity of a battlefield commander—
"Yes! That’s it! Knock him down!"
I stared at her.
"...You’re very invested."
Iris didn’t look away from the screen.
"Obviously."
Thankfully, the theater was nearly empty.
Probably because the movie had been out for a while.
So her whispered battle comntary wasn’t embarrassing.
Just... slightly terrifying.
At one point, Iris clenched her fist and muttered—
"Break them."
"...Please don’t say that."
Iris blinked at , then lowered her voice.
"Fine. Defeat them."
"Better."
I spent more ti watching Iris than the movie.
Honestly, she was more entertaining.
After the film, we ate a light al nearby, sat at a café, and walked through a park under warm spring sunlight.
And for the first ti since returning—
I felt my shoulders loosen.
’I can’t rember the last ti I actually rested.’
I sat on a bench and stretched.
The sunlight was warm.
The breeze was gentle.
My mind, for once, wasn’t screaming about demons or training schedules.
Iris sat beside , hands folded, expression calm.
"Dale."
"Yeah?"
"Lie down."
I blinked.
"What?"
She patted her thigh lightly.
"Here."
"...On your lap?"
"Yes," Iris said like it was obvious. "No one’s around."
I hesitated.
Then Iris grabbed my shoulder and pushed down before I could argue.
My head rested on her lap.
Soft fabric.
Warmth.
Comfort.
Not romantic in a dramatic way.
Just... safe.
Iris gently brushed my hair back from my forehead.
We stared up at the sky through the trees.
"The weather is really nice," Iris murmured.
"Yeah," I replied.
She humd happily.
"The wind is perfect. The sky is clear. No clouds."
I turned my head slightly.
And imdiately regretted it.
From this angle, the view was... blocked.
By her jacket, her hair, her posture—everything about her presence filled my vision.
I blurted without thinking.
"Wow... it’s really—"
I stopped.
Too late.
Iris’s fingers paused.
"...Really what?"
I swallowed.
"...Really peaceful."
Iris stared down at .
Then pinched my cheek lightly.
"Liar."
"I’m not lying!"
She narrowed her eyes, then broke into a small laugh.
"Dale."
"Yes?"
"Try saying sothing normal for once."
I sighed dramatically.
"Yes, ma’am."
Iris chuckled, then continued gently stroking my hair.
And for a mont—
The world felt ordinary.
No demons.
No storms.
No shifting future.
Just sunlight.
Just warmth.
Just the Saint sitting beside like she’d decided I was allowed to breathe.
My eyelids grew heavy.
Iris’s voice softened.
"You’ve been pushing yourself too hard," she said.
"...I have to."
Iris’s hand stopped for a second.
Then resud, slower.
"I know," she murmured. "But you don’t have to do it alone."
I didn’t answer.
Because if I did, my voice might crack.
So I just closed my eyes.
And for the first ti in a long ti—
I rested.
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