Chapter 93
“You fed the rabbits. I never imagined Cadet Martin had such a cute side. It’s nice to see a new side of you today!”
She raised her hand and placed it on my head, patting it gently.
“Good job, good job.”
“….”
I couldn’t yell at her for touching .
I owed Hailey too much already.
After patting my head for a while, Hailey said, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
She brought it up casually.
The Coffee Exploration Club, a vacation activity, had been suspended due to the Marquis Vistavern’s terror incident.
Most of Imperium Academy’s clubs faced the sa fate.
“How have you been?”
“Fine, I guess. Sa as usual.”
There were things I couldn’t fully explain.
“Was it tough?”
“It was okay.”
It was tough.
I got hurt a lot and was dragged around.
“Yeah, I believe you’ll overco it, Cadet Martin.”
“….”
“Let’s go explore the capital’s best eateries together during the next vacation.”
“….”
“Got it?”
Gilbert and I are at war.
It’s a cold war for now.
Hailey, being sharp, probably knows that.
“Yes.”
Look at her effort to shoulder that burden herself.
True to Hailey, like an all-embracing spring.
I can’t bring myself to dislike her.
“Oh, I was running an errand for another teacher, so I’ll head out. Don’t sleep too much, Martin.”
“Yes.”
As I watched Hailey stand up, I realized sothing.
‘Co to think of it, the Extra Privilege Item Shop.’
Matthew, Nerjin, Luri, Savo.
No matter how I recall, there was nothing for Hailey.
Adela isn’t an extra but a main villain, so that’s understandable.
But Hailey is a minor extra, not even ntioned by na in the original story.
‘That must an…’
I saved Matthew’s trauma, Nerjin’s destiny, Luri’s friend, and Savo’s freedom.
They were freed from the shackles of their dood lives through .
But… in other words…
‘Does that an I haven’t truly saved Teacher Hailey?’
***
Hailey von Lua Etrande.
Nature Magic user.
Imperium Academy teaching assistant.
Originally fated to be devoured by Dr. Keren’s test subject during the Petrak field trip, but I saved her.
She defended at the disciplinary committee, joined the raid on Dr. Keren’s lab, and beca the advisor for the Coffee Exploration Club.
‘To be honest…’
She helped , but I received far more from her.
How many tis has she comforted ?
Even just now.
‘Well… maybe it’s for the best.’
Soone like doesn’t suit her.
A pure spring like her would only be tainted by being around .
‘More importantly…’
I hope she never faces anything bad enough to need saving from .
Hailey is a good person.
Truly kind, pure, an untainted pink flower.
“What are you worrying about so much?”
“Huh? Oh…”
Luri, sitting across from , asked while eating a parfait.
“I was just spacing out.”
“Hehe, even you have those monts, huh?”
“Well… yeah.”
After academy, I ca to a newly opened parfait shop at Luri’s request.
No ulterior motives, of course.
Just here for new nu developnt.
“How were the second-sester classes? Good?”
“They were alright.”
“Hmm, really?”
Luri asked in a subtle tone, then continued.
“I heard… a transfer student ca?”
“…?”
She seed a bit angry.
Was it my imagination?
Did I do sothing to upset her?
“Yes. Princess Adela transferred to Class A.”
“Oh, ohh, you call her so casually~?”
“What? Well… she sits next to .”
Crunch, grind.
A sound leaked from Luri’s clenched teeth.
“Martin…! If Princess Adela bullies you, you have to tell !”
“…? Got it.”
“Promise! You have to!”
***
‘Phew, it’s exhausting.’
At first, just going to and from school was enough, but as I got to know more people, tiring situations kept piling up.
When I opened the door, I saw Lilac.
“Master! Welco back!”
“I’m back.”
“How was academy life today? It’s early in the sester, so maybe I’m making a fuss, but I’d be so happy if only good things happened to you, Master. Oh, this isn’t the ti! Have you eaten, Master?
Or would you like to wash up first?
I made a cheesecake, and I’ll bring it out after you’re done washing!”
Her beaming smile made my heart tingle.
Then, I suddenly worried if I’d brought back any bad slls from the day.
“I’ll wash up.”
“Yes!”
When I entered the bathroom, warm water was ready in the tub, tid perfectly for my arrival.
Towels and a change of clothes were impeccably prepared.
As I soaked in the tub, ‘Ah.’
A fresh floral scent enveloped .
It felt like the entire bathroom was blooming with flowers.
The fatigue from the academy lted away.
It was obvious who prepared this gift.
The image of Lilac warming the water, neatly folding towels and clothes, and personally adding the fragrance ca to mind, making smile.
‘Thank you.’
Feeling refreshed, I went to the kitchen, where Lilac was waiting with a delicious-looking cheesecake.
As I sat down, Lilac poured freshly brewed tea into a cup.
“By the way, I don’t see the others?”
“Nerjin is in his room, studying the scroll you gave him, Master. Savo is outside practicing swordsmanship. Bianca seems to have plans with friends today.”
My heart stung for a mont.
I helped Nerjin and Savo grow stronger.
Bianca has friends.
But… Lilac?
I’ve never seen her et friends or go out to have fun.
She’s always, always, waiting for at ho…
It felt like she was tied to , unable to live her own life, which made feel stifled and uneasy.
“Lilac.”
“Yes?”
“Do you… not have any plans?”
“….”
Lilac’s eyes widened slightly.
‘Oh, damn.
What did I just say?’
It was too insensitive.
Careless.
Stupid.
You idiot!
If only I could turn back ti…!
“N-No, I an…”
“No, Master. I know what you ant.”
Lilac gave a gentle smile.
It was beautiful, noble, and pure, like a single blooming flower.
“Master Martin. I, Lilac, decided long ago, when you saved in our childhood, that I would live solely for you. When you’re struggling, when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you’re joyful. If you allow , I’ll follow you to the ends of the world. Until the twilight of your life. No, beyond that. Across the river of the underworld, to the afterlife, through every mont of existence.”
Lilac’s resolve was directed solely at .
“If you permit it, I’ll be with you, Master. Forever. Forever. Until the world ends. Until everything granted to cos to an end.”
She smiled faintly.
“You’ll permit it, won’t you?”
Her smile was so beautiful that I-
“…Yes.”
Answered like a fool.
‘Idiot.’
Couldn’t I have said sothing cooler?
Couldn’t I have shown her sothing better than words?
‘Really an idiot.’
Lilac said she’d be with forever.
I even felt certain that if I ever turned the world against , Lilac would follow .
The certainty that she’d be waiting for when I returned.
That was the source of my strength.
‘But…’
The reason a part of my heart felt uneasy was, ‘Like Hailey, Lilac doesn’t appear in the Extra Privilege Item Shop either.’
The fact that I haven’t fully saved Lilac.
The past I glimpsed of Lilac and Martin kept haunting .
What must I do to truly be her salvation?
“Eat, Master. These are the best ones I made today.”
“Oh, uh. Thanks.”
Lilac’s voice snapped out of my thoughts.
I, who always looked toward the apocalypse, beca fully present with Lilac in this mont.
As I picked up the fork, I noticed Lilac’s slender wrist.
“Have you been eating properly lately?”
“Huh? Yes! I eat three als a day!”
“….”
But she looked too thin.
So… without thinking, I cut a piece of cheesecake with the fork and held it to Lilac’s mouth.
“Ah.”
As Lilac’s eyes widened, I ca to my senses.
What was I doing?
Just as I was about to pull my hand back, Lilac opened her mouth and took the fork.
Chewing the cheesecake, she looked at and smiled.
***
There’s a villain who should have appeared around this ti.
Nelson of the Quesharow Family, whom I defeated in the Eudialyte Desert ruins.
He attacked his older brother, Teacher Faris, and tried to kill and Elisha but failed.
He sacrificed his own life to summon a high-ranking demon, which I defeated.
“Hmph! Cowardly steps, won’t you stop?! Look, shooting a bow starts with standing confidently before the bow and target!”
“Wow, that’s amazing, Princess Adela…!”
…A distracting noise, but let explain first.
Anyway, that’s that.
For a while, there are no major events, so I’ll live like an ordinary cadet at Imperium Academy.
I’m studying the martial arts manual from the Naless Revolutionary and checking the effects of the Extra Privilege Item Shop items, so it’s perfect timing.
Even if it’s the calm before the storm, I…
“I-Is this right?”
“Mary of Deminiyan! Better than before, but grip it tighter!”
…Sigh.
Fine, I’ll confess.
The transfer student, Princess Adela, and Mary, the eldest daughter of the Deminiyan Family, part of the protagonist party, have beco friends.
‘It’s quite a scene.’
The entire Class A was sneaking glances at them.
Even the protagonist party couldn’t approach and just stared blankly from a distance.
‘To be fair, I’m not one to talk.’
I was dumbfounded too.
‘What happened to make Princess Adela and Mary friends?’
Adela, whose arrogance pierces the heavens.
Mary, timid but sensitive to others’ malice.
‘Really.’
It’s not a bad thing.
But thinking about how this will affect the original setting and story gives a headache.
As I furrowed my brow, soone approached.
A kind, golden-haired, squinting character.
“Hehe, who would’ve thought those two would beco friends? Right, Cadet Martin?”
“Oh… Teacher Faris.”
Faris, the eldest son of the renowned archery Quesharow County.
…The older brother of Nelson, whom I killed.
I heard he returned after recovering from his brother’s funeral and injuries sustained in the ruins.
He stood beside .
We didn’t look at each other, both watching Princess Adela and Mary.
“Yes, I suppose.”
Awkward?
No, just uncomfortable.
I killed his brother and socially buried him.
The video of Nelson’s vile ambitions and summoning a demon by sacrificing himself spread across the continent.
‘Even if it was for the greater good.’
I wanted the world to be wary of demon worshippers.
‘It was a filthy act.’
But what I did to Faris and Nelson was the sa as what the protagonist party did to Martin.
Spreading their misdeeds to socially bury them.
‘I’d do it again if I went back.’
I’m different from the protagonist party.
I have the greater cause of preventing the apocalypse, not so childish justice ga.
…But using that as an excuse to justify myself is disgusting.
It’s clear.
Before Faris, who lost his brother, I was a sinner.
“Um…”
“Um…”
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