I took the handkerchief from his hand and wiped away my remaining tears.
"Thank you... for your handkerchief," I said. My face still felt a little hot. I was about to return it.
"Keep it. Consider it my apology."
Hearing that, I wanted to laugh a little. I’d never seen anyone give a handkerchief as a sign of apology. I looked at Arthur’s face, then smiled faintly.
"You really are an interesting person."
Suddenly, I felt a dangerous aura. I saw Emma, still in her black and silver armor, walking slowly toward . She shot a sharp look from the slit of her helt. Seeing that, my body instantly went rigid.
"It’s ti to talk about serious matters."
I saw a change in Arthur’s expression after he said that. For so reason, Emma stopped giving that dangerous look after Arthur spoke. This made feel a little relieved.
I also noticed a change in expression on Octavia and rlin. They now looked serious, even rlin, who had seed playful before.
"Mahiru Yuna, what year and month is it? And... do you know anything about Avalon?"
Seeing his serious expression, I didn’t dare treat the question as a joke. I answered nervously, my hands clasped together and slightly sweaty. "It’s the year 2025 AD, January 29th. As for Avalon... I don’t know what you an."
Arthur was silent for a mont, then asked again, "I an... any sort of big news or major event you’ve heard about Avalon?"
I didn’t understand what he ant. "All I know about Avalon is that it’s the paradise in Arthurian mythology."Why is he asking this? Is it because his na is the sa as the protagonist in that mythology, so he’s interested?" I looked at Arthur with a strange expression.
"This is the last question. Have you ever seen anyone use magic or supernatural powers?"
"No. I can be sure of that," I answered quickly. "In my sixteen years of life, I have never seen anyone or any news that was proven to be true about soone using supernatural powers... until I t you all today."
Although it was hard to believe, I really couldn’t find any other explanation for their powers. A normal human doesn’t have the ability to teleport in an instant like Emma did. Besides that, I also saw her cut soone’s body in a way I couldn’t understand. From that alone, thinking it was the work of technology was already wrong. Even though I don’t know much about technological developnt, I’m sure humanity currently doesn’t have the ability to create a device like that.
I looked at Arthur’s expression, waiting for his answer.
"I see...."
I heard a small mumble escape his lips. For so reason, he looked worried and anxious, different from his previous calm expression. But soon after, his expression returned to normal, and he smiled at .
"I see. Thank you for the information, Mahiru Yuna. So what are your plans after this?"
Hearing that, I was a little stunned. I looked at the dark sky, then hurriedly took my phone out of my bag.
"8:00 PM?!" I shouted in shock at the ti on my phone. "I have to get ho right away! My parents must be so worried right now!" I looked at Arthur with a worried expression.
"In that case, let us walk you. You all don’t mind, do you?" Arthur looked at Emma and the others.
"If it is Lord Arthur’s will, then I have no objection," Emma replied firmly. But for so reason, I felt a dangerous gaze from her as she said it.
" neither," rlin and the others chid in.
Seeing that, I felt relieved. Although so of them were unfriendly and terrifying, if I went ho with them, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything unexpected happening on the way.
"Since everyone agrees, then we will see you ho safely. And, rlin, have you done it?"
I turned to rlin with curiosity. What did he do?
"Lord Arthur need not worry," rlin replied, pointing to the CCTV cara under the streetlight. "I’ve had an illusion spell up from the beginning, so that thing won’t record us."
"Good work, rlin. This puts my mind at ease. And as for that corpse, do the sa as before," Arthur said with a serious expression.
Is he going to use that magic trick again Thinking about the kidnappers’ corpses in the forest that had magically vanished, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at what rlin could do.
"Just leave it to !" rlin replied enthusiastically.
I watched rlin walk toward the corpse, while I, Arthur, Emma, Octavia, and a knight in white armor whose na I didn’t know walked out of this parking area.
...
I stood on the side of the road. Occasionally, a car would pass, its lights sweeping across our faces. Fortunately, the lighting here was quite bright despite being on a mountain.
"Sorry for the wait, Lord Arthur." I turned at the sound of the voice and saw rlin walking toward us.
"It’s fine. So, how are we getting there?" Arthur asked , which stunned for a mont.
"There’s a bus stop near here," I answered, pointing to the east. "From there, we can go to Takaosanguchi Station."
"Yuna, you haven’t told us where we are or where we’re going." Hearing that voice, I imdiately turned to Octavia, who had been silent all this ti. I looked at her face, then said, "We’re at the foot of Mount Takao, Japan. My house is in the Hachioji district, Tokyo. It’s relatively close from here."
"In that case, Lord Arthur, I suggest we just run instead of taking the train."
Hearing Octavia’s suggestion to Arthur, I felt a little anxious. "D-don’t walk! That’ll take half an hour! My parents will be even angrier if I co ho late," I said anxiously to Octavia, then gave Arthur a pleading look.
"No. We’ll go with Yuna’s suggestion. Besides, I want to know more about this place." I saw that Arthur had made a decision, which relieved . "Alright, let’s get going."
Arthur walked ahead, and the rest of us followed from behind.
Who... are you, really? Looking at the back clad in black armor, I couldn’t help but wonder.
"Hey! You! Are you Mahiru Yuna?!"
Hearing soone shout, all of us who were walking to the bus stop instantly turned toward the source of the voice. On the side of the road, I saw a red Toyota Yaris pull over with its turn signal on. From the window, I saw a woman with glasses waving her hand at .
Seeing that, I imdiately replied. "Shizuka-sensei!" I exclaid, waving back with a happy expression.
"So it is you, Yuna! Wait, I’m coming over!" she shouted. I saw Shizuka-sensei imdiately make a U-turn to cross the road.
"Who is she?" Hearing Arthur’s question, I quickly answered. "That’s my horoom teacher, Shizuka-sensei. She’s a good person. She’s the only teacher at school who defends ," I answered with an admiring look.
"It seems you’re not just a high school girl who was almost raped, huh."
Hey! Isn’t that sothing you shouldn’t say to a girl?! I complained in my head, giving him a slightly angry look.
I saw Shizuka-sensei get out imdiately after parking her car on the side of the road.
"Yuna! I was so worried about you! When your mom and dad told you hadn’t co ho... tell , what happened? And... who are these people?"
Feeling her warm hug, I was so happy. I hugged her back, then let go. I couldn’t hold back the tears that flowed as I looked at her face.
"What is it, Yuna? Tell what happened." Feeling the gentle touch on my face and seeing her worried expression, I tried not to cry, but my tears wouldn’t stop.
I began to tell her what happened. "After Tachibana and the others hid my bag, I thought it would be just like any other day... but I never expected that a white van would open its doors, and the people inside would co out and smother on the street I always take. I was so scared then. I even thought my life was over, Sensei!" I shouted, tears flooding my eyes.
Suddenly, I felt a warm hug again—a hug I usually only got from my parents. "It’s okay. Sensei is here now. You must have been so scared."
Hearing that, I felt an imnse sense of relief, more relief than when I was saved by Arthur and the others in the forest.
"So... are they the culprits?" I felt a change in Sensei’s tone. I quickly pulled away from her hug and explained.
"No! They’re the ones who saved ! Without them, I probably wouldn’t be here right now!" I shouted at Shizuka-sensei, spreading my arms as if to protect Arthur and the others.
"If Yuna says so, I believe you. Besides, no one would lie about sothing like this, right? Haha." Shizuka-sensei laughed softly. Her face looked very awkward right now. But I was a little relieved that she accepted my explanation.
"I apologize for the accusation." I saw Sensei walk toward Arthur and the others, then bow her head. From her expression, I could tell she was genuinely sorry.
"It’s all right. It’s a normal reaction. Please, raise your head," Arthur replied with a friendly smile.
"Thank you for saving Mahiru Yuna. Again, thank you." I saw Shizuka-sensei continue to repeat those words and bow to Arthur.
Seeing her, I felt that my life wasn’t such garbage after all.There’s soone who is willing to be thankful that I’m safe. There’s soone who cares about ! How could that be called garbage? If I say my life is garbage, isn’t that the sa as telling Shizuka-sensei, Mom, and Dad that they’re putting their trust in garbage?
And also... it turns out I want to live. All this ti, I thought I wanted to die, but when death ca for , I didn’t want to die!
I also walked toward Shizuka-sensei and bowed my head as well. I shouted with imnse gratitude, "Again, thank you for saving , Lord Arthur and everyone! Without you, I would have certainly died! And I also apologize for my rude words during our journey!"
I thought Arthur wouldn’t accept my apology and thanks, but he said, "It’s all right. Besides, I couldn’t possibly let a good girl like you be ruined by those scumbags. Raise your head, Yuna. You need to value yourself more. You are important. The world needs more good people like you."
I felt a warm touch on my shoulder. I looked at Arthur’s face. Even though he doesn’t look any older than , he looks like he’s experienced sothing significant in his life to be able to say such incredible words.
"In that case, since your teacher is here, we’ll see you off here."
"Wait! At least, please keep this number." I quickly took out a notebook, wrote down my personal number, then tore out the paper and gave it to Arthur.
"I’ll keep it." Seeing his smile, for so reason, I felt my heart beat faster.
"Well then, we’ll be on our way." Shizuka-sensei bowed her head, then walked toward her car.
Before I got in the car, I waved to them. "I hope we can et again!" I shouted.
The car started to move. I pulled my hand back from the window.
"They’re good people...."
"Yeah," I replied to Sensei. "They’re good people."
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