I landed flat on my back with a dull thud as Niali announced the obvious.
I sighed and raised my head a little.
"…" The disappointment in Conlaoch's gaze hurt more than I'd expected. "You were much worse than I imagined."
He turned and walked out of the circle, looking bored.
"All that time spent on you really was a waste."
Something burned in my chest.
"Hey." I was on my feet before I knew it. I used the ring's power to appear in front of him. "Say that again."
"… Oh?" Conlaoch's mocking smile made me clench my fist. "So that got a reaction out of you?"
"Liedschlag, go to your seat." Niali had come up beside us, and her voice left no room for argument. "Now."
What was I doing?
"Understood." I stepped away from Conlaoch and started toward my seat.
"That was incredibly stupid." Aeono greeted me with a look of disbelief. "But I suppose it couldn't be helped."
For once, I decided to keep my mouth shut.
"At least you tried," Oswyn offered in his best attempt to cheer me up. "That's what counts."
Which, to be honest, didn't help.
"Well, I think we can safely say the battlefield isn't your forte, Liedschlag." Maribel laughed.
I closed my eyes and took a breath.
"Not bad, Jakob," Bastian said in his best understanding-leader voice. "Honestly, it was admirable."
He was halfway decent at this.
"You lasted longer than I thought you could." At least Plumshire's honesty was refreshing.
"Thanks," I said to all of them, my eyes still closed.
I'd barely sat down, and they'd already made it clear that I'd made a fool of myself.
My body ached and my pride was thoroughly bruised. I looked toward the other side.
Armine was watching me. Her hands were tightly clasped in front of her. When our eyes met, she gave me a small, fierce nod.
"By the King." Aeono gave me a light smack on the back of the head. "Are you as dense as a wall of Yseal?"
"What?" I shot him an unfriendly look.
He sighed and pointed ahead with his chin.
Primrose was talking to Conlaoch. She still looked more fragile than usual…
Her green eyes suddenly darted toward me. Her lips curved into a smile so sweet it left me dazzled.
My heart skipped a beat. Heat rose in my cheeks, and I looked away.
"Aeono Serenwyn," Niali announced.
God.
"Well." Aeono rose lazily. He stretched a little, then smiled at me with a carefree expression. "See you in a bit."
"George Vaugort."
One of my many classmates—someone I'd never bothered to remember—headed for the practice weapons, too.
"It'll be a pleasure to train with you," Aeono said. He held a long two-handed sword before his face.
His friendly smile was dazzling.
"Likewise." George carried a shorter spear than Conlaoch's and looked somewhat reluctant.
"Begin!"
George thrust at Aeono's chest with terrible form.
Even an amateur like me could see how badly he'd done it.
And in less than a minute—
Aeono deflected the attack upward.
"Huh?" George was left so wide open that…
With one swift movement, Aeono knocked him off balance and pushed him out of the circle.
"…"
What had I just seen?
… I'd just been thrashed by Conlaoch, so I could tell: Aeono was much stronger than I was.
Suddenly, the phantom weight on my shoulders lifted.
I looked around. Everyone else seemed just as surprised.
Good. It wasn't just me. I turned back to Aeono.
"…" George looked incredulous, too, lying there on the ground.
"You didn't seem very excited about this," Aeono said, approaching him and holding out a hand. "Sorry, but I thought it would be better to finish quickly."
The gesture seemed to catch George by surprise. Something in his expression changed.
"…Was it that obvious?" George took his hand, and Aeono helped him to his feet.
A small laugh escaped the protagonist's lips.
"A little." Then he gave George a thumbs-up. "But don't worry. You stepped forward even though you were uncomfortable, and that's what matters."
George sighed and smiled.
"You make it hard to want to beat you." He gave a self-deprecating smile.
"My father likes to say something." Aeono put a hand to his chin and pretended to think deeply for a moment. "Before you can know victory, you have to experience defeat a few times."
Hmm… Honestly, it didn't sound like the best advice in the world, but…
"Enough chatter," Gradalan said, sounding slightly irritated.
"Yes, sir." Aeono turned and smiled. "Come on, we're both headed the same way."
Right, Aeono was sitting on this side… Wait a minute…
"…Sure." Even George seemed swept along by Aeono's easy manner.
They walked back toward us, and…
"…"
Honestly, I didn't know what to say.
I liked Aeono, but we were in opposing classes, so…
"Your movements were impressive," Oswyn said, breaking the silence. There was respect and a little awe in his voice. "Honestly, I could barely follow your speed."
Aeono smiled. The red in his cheeks and the way he scratched the back of his neck betrayed his nerves.
"It wasn't that impressive." Then his expression grew serious. "Honestly, I was nervous. I was afraid I'd make a fool of myself."
"A fool of yourself?" Bastian came closer, sounding incredulous. "Man, you won almost as soon as the fight started."
"You destroyed him."
"That win was so clean they ought to give you extra points."
"Handsome and strong." Maribel sounded like a hunter sizing up her prey. "Not bad. George, on the other hand…"
At the sound of his name, George lowered his gaze.
Great…
"Don't worry," I said in my best carefree voice. "Compared to my fight, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Hell, yes!" Plumshire chimed in enthusiastically, then looked at George. "Don't feel bad about losing. I'm sure hardly anyone could've done better in your place."
George's cheeks turned red. A compliment from a beauty like Plumshire could wreak havoc on a young man.
"I'll take my seat." George hurried away.
Aeono sat down beside me again.
Hmm…
"You're pretty strong," I said as casually as I could, keeping my eyes on the fighting circle.
"… It's not that big a deal." His modesty sounded sincere. "Brynn is more impressive."
That had to be another of his heroic qualities. There was no way Brynn was stronger…
Right?
While Niali and Gradalan called up the next students, something occurred to me.
"Hey." The fight in front of us wasn't holding my attention, so I might as well ask. "Is Kazuto always that… friendly with Primrose?"
I glanced at her. She was talking with Conlaoch and Armine, and the three of them looked quite comfortable together.
I smiled without meaning to.
"Pretty much," Aeono said as Gold Hall chalked up another win. "You don't need to be nervous. Primrose has made it clear she isn't interested in Kazuto. Besides, her eyes only light up when she sees you."
… I lowered my gaze to the ground.
Aeono's words hung in the air, simple enough to argue with and far too accurate to pretend I hadn't heard them.
"Good to know," I said in the flattest, most profoundly uninterested voice I could muster. I began studying a fascinating stone beside my shoe. "Very informative. Thanks for the intelligence update."
'Oh, bravo,' Friedrich remarked dryly. 'If self-deception were a martial art, you'd already be a grandmaster.'
'Quiet, Betsy,' I told him with my smuggest mental voice.
'Splendid. You use what she gave you without acknowledging the obvious.' That one struck home, but I decided to ignore it.
I looked at the protagonist of this world.
Aeono regarded me as if I'd just tried to convince him the sky was green.
"You already knew," he said slowly.
"I didn't know anything," I replied quickly. Maybe too quickly.
"There are rumors about you and Primrose," Aeono added helpfully.
"Slander," I said, feigning dignity.
"Obviously." His certainty threw me off balance for a few seconds. "But there's some truth behind those things. Any fool can see that she and you…"
I decided to mentally check out for a moment rather than think too hard about it.
Aeono was strong, so I didn't need to worry about the future. I could take life a little easier.
I mean… were there any immediate dangers near me?
"I love you, Kazuto!" Aveline's bellow reached my ears.
Meh. Nothing important… probably.
I made the strategic decision to become extremely interested in the next match.
That worked out nicely, because Niali was already shouting.
"Next! Primrose Tahearth!"
I fixed my eyes on an empty seat at the far end as though it had suddenly become the most important architectural feature in the history of Gwyndon.
'You're staring at a seat to avoid looking at a girl,' Friedrich observed. 'The behavior of a man with a plan.'
'Shut up.'
"Mirna Keld!"
A girl from Silver Hall I'd never paid much attention to stood up.
Short and sturdy, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a plain, practical axe.
Ah… poor thing. Primrose was going to eat her alive.
Speaking of my friend…
I heard her light footsteps as she entered the circle. I heard the soft scrape of her picking up her weapons: two hunting knives.
"Begin!"
It was over in twenty seconds.
Not because Mirna was bad. She wasn't. She came in low and fast, like someone who'd genuinely been taught how to use an axe.
By the time she swung it, Primrose was no longer there.
She'd taken half a step aside, slipped inside Mirna's guard, and kicked her in the stomach hard enough to send her out of the circle.
Silence.
"The winner is Primrose Tahearth," Gradalan announced. He sounded as though he'd expected nothing else.
I stared even harder at the seat. My treacherous peripheral vision caught a flash of orange hair and the ease with which Primrose hopped out of the circle.
I didn't catch what Conlaoch said to her. She burst out laughing. An ordinary laugh.
I didn't turn around.
"Are you going to stare at that seat all day?" Aeono whispered.
"It has excellent structural integrity," I lied.
"You're so transparent it hurts."
"Thanks."
'He's trying to help you,' Friedrich growled, audibly frustrated. 'For reasons beyond my comprehension.'
The next name saved me.
"Armine Kraftvollarm!"
Now I looked. For purely tactical reasons.
Armine entered the circle, and the air changed, though not in the same way it had with Primrose.
Armine made the space around her seem smaller.
The practice sword looked a little undersized in her hands.
"…" Armine closed her eyes, took a breath, and opened them again.
Her golden irises shone so brightly that I found myself captivated.
I didn't even hear her opponent's name.
Jannik something-or-other, carrying a large, heavy hammer.
He looked very sure of himself.
"Begin!"
Jannik tried to keep his distance. Smart.
He circled her, sizing Armine up.
He tested her with a feint.
Armine stepped forward. It wasn't fast. Just… inevitable.
He gripped his hammer with both hands and swung.
"Aaah!"
Armine merely put out one hand and stopped the blow as if it were nothing.
"Sorry," Armine said, tossing him out of the circle as easily as someone might toss a twig.
The boy lay on the ground, staring in disbelief. His ego had probably just taken the hardest blow of its life.
He gazed at the sky as if reconsidering every decision he'd ever made.
"The winner is Armine Kraftvollarm." Niali looked neither disappointed nor surprised.
"Let me help you." Armine bent down and offered Jannik her hand.
He stared at it for a few seconds.
"You'd better not disrespect her…" I muttered, my patience wearing thin.
'I need a drink…' I ignored Friedrich's weary sigh.
"Thanks." Jannik took her hand.
"You have a good foundation. With a little more practice, you'll improve a lot." Armine smiled brightly.
"… Thanks."
Armine's eyes found mine for half a second.
She gave me a small, solemn nod. Teacher mode.
I nodded back. Quick. Professional. See? Nothing going on here.
I followed her with my eyes until she returned to her seat.
Primrose was sitting two seats away from her, beside Conlaoch again. She was looking at me, too.
I looked up at the sky. Very blue today. Fascinating weather.
"You're sweating," Aeono observed.
"It's hot."
"It's not that hot."
"I'm wearing several layers."
Aeono sighed like a disappointed priest.
The next two matches passed in a blur.
Silver Hall managed to scrape out another victory when Maribel talked her opponent into rushing an attack and falling out of the circle.
Cedric won by dodging until his opponent got tired. Which, in my opinion, was quite a feat.
Florence surrendered immediately. I hadn't expected much from her in that regard.
Aveline's turn, though, was frightening.
Jakob's body must have been influencing me, because I started wanting a drink and a snack to enjoy the matches properly.
'Look at him, turning into a pompous aristocrat,' Friedrich said with no small amount of contempt.
Right. To hell with that…
Ardeshir won in a minute. A few simple cuts with his shamshir sent his opponent out of the circle.
Gnädia won with a cold look that practically compelled her opponent to surrender.
To my surprise, I also got to see other heroines fight.
I needed to take Friedrich's advice. None of them might have any interest in me at the moment, but that didn't mean they couldn't affect my life.
… Shit. I hate politics.
'Stop complaining,' Friedrich growled in frustration. 'The spear-wielding poet was right. You really do enjoy taking whatever you want without thinking about the consequences.'
… I hated having nothing to say to that, either.
I focused on the heroines.
Cao Zhaolian, from Zhongguo. Moderately popular with the fandom for her personality and her jade earrings shaped like Eastern dragons.
She used a jian and won with three well-placed blows: two to drive her opponent back, and a final one that made them surrender.
She must have noticed me watching, because she flashed me a smug little smile.
I looked away.
Danger level: Immediate.
I needed to stay away from her.
'Pfft.' Friedrich barely held back a laugh.
Asshole.
Juliette Châteauneuf. Another mid-tier heroine, popular with some players… I supposed even an anti-waifu guy like me could understand why.
The way she wielded two swords gave me an idea for my build. And even in her bad ending, she showed the resolve of a true heroine.
"Hya!" I had to admit, the speed with which she finished off her opponent frightened me a little.
She wasn't as fast as Primrose, Armine, or Conlaoch, but she was still impressive.
I could see her becoming my enemy. Danger level: High and immediate.
Fiadh Ní Broin, with long blue hair and an intense gaze that seemed to see through everything. She had lovely amethyst eyes.
Gwenllian ferch Rhys. In the game, she restored the monarchy of Gwyndon.
Damn it.
Therese Von Auenwald. Gnädia's rival in the game… Shit.
I felt a noose around my neck, swords poised over my arms, and fire beneath my feet.
"I'm screwed." I almost laughed. My mouth was dry and my palms were sweating.
'Is that all?' There was a certain satisfaction in Friedrich's voice.
'Don't strain yourself helping me!' I nearly shouted inside my head, clenching my fist.
'You aren't alone in this.' His voice grew more serious. 'I'm trapped with you, so you'd better give me some useful military intelligence.'
… I hated that his words calmed me a little.
"…" Beyond the heroines, there were key characters and rivals who normally orbited Aeono in the game.
Tiernan Ó Mháille. Another native of Éire Na Fidbadh. A heroine's brother, and quite strong in his own right.
My eyes moved quickly.
Darius Vafadar.
Radu Tescu.
Matteo Castiglione.
Damn it…
I bit my lower lip. I…
"Hey." Aeono's hand pulled me out of my spiral. "Everything all right? You look pretty pale."
… I'd almost forgotten. The hero and savior of this world was sitting right beside me.
I let out a laugh, feeling a little less anxious.
"Yeah, I'm fine… I just got a little nervous." A little was an understatement, but it would do. "Fighting people this talented kind of terrifies me."
Aeono gave me an incredulous look.
"If you say so."
Just as I was about to answer, Niali clapped her hands with a crack like thunder.
"All right! Silver Hall hasn't made a complete fool of itself!" she declared. "You even managed a few wins, if we count Plumshire's tactical surrender as… whatever that was!"
"Strategy!" Plumshire shouted from beside Oswyn, still smarting.
"Idiot!" Maribel shot back with all the malice she could muster.
They glared at each other from opposite ends of the benches.
"Good work, both halls. That concludes today's lesson…" Gradalan announced.
"Professor! If I may!"
Kazuto had raised his hand, wearing a radiant smile.
Too radiant.
He was already on his feet and halfway to the circle before anyone had given him permission.
Gradalan's expression hardened. Niali narrowed her one eye.
"Kinoshita," Gradalan said with the patience of a man who'd already had three meetings because of this student, "the inter-hall exercise is over."
Kazuto gave him a condescending look no student should ever give a teacher.
"I know, Professor Gradalan! And it was so inspiring!" Kazuto turned toward Gold Hall, spreading his arms as though he wanted to embrace them all. "Seeing Silver Hall fight so hard got me thinking. Shouldn't we show our less talented classmates—I mean, our friends in Silver—what Gold Hall can really do when its members push one another? A demonstration! Just between us! To end the lesson on a high note!"
… What?
What the hell was he talking about?
Niali looked at Kazuto as though he were an idiot.
"No."
Gradalan shook his head. "The purpose of this lesson is interaction between the halls, not fights within—"
"Come on! It'll be quick!" Kazuto laughed breezily, almost as though he were making fun of himself. "Just a friendly match! To boost morale!"
Silence.
Then a voice rose from the upper benches of Gold Hall.
"Yeah! Let him!"
"Show them, Kazuto!"
"Gold against Gold! We want to see it!"
Aegus stood up, smiling. "Good idea! A little extra motivation never hurts!"
Orianna sprang to her feet beside him. "Ha! Kazuto's finally said something sensible!"
One after another, nearly everyone in Gold Hall began to cheer—except for the small group where Armine, Primrose, Conlaoch, and Ardeshir sat.
Kazuto's smile sharpened ever so slightly.
"See? Everyone wants to watch." I didn't like the gleam in his eyes.
Niali looked at Gradalan.
Gradalan looked as though he wanted to be anywhere else.
The support was loud, nearly unanimous, and, most importantly, public. If the professors refused now, it would look as though they were afraid to let Gold show what it was worth.
Niali clicked her tongue.
"Fine. One match. One," she snapped, with very little patience. "And if you waste my time, Kinoshita, I'll throw you into a lake myself."
"Thank you, Professor!" Kazuto bowed deeply. When he straightened, his dark eyes swept over Silver Hall's benches and stopped.
Right on Aeono.
An unpleasant feeling ran through me. Kazuto's smile and the way he closed the distance made me think of something slimy.
"Aeono," he said warmly, holding out a hand as if inviting a friend to dance. "Let's give them a show. You and me."
The cheering doubled.
Aeono didn't move.
He was still seated beside me. His carefree smile had vanished.
My stomach tightened.
'A challenge in front of the whole class,' Friedrich murmured, suddenly serious. 'If Aeono refuses, he's a coward. If he accepts and loses…'
'He won't lose,' I thought before I could stop myself. 'He can't lose.'
Aeono sighed, scratched the back of his head, and stood.
"Sure," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear. His voice sounded amiable. Too amiable. "Let's both give it our best."
He passed Kazuto without looking at him. I was sure I saw his eyes turn cold as steel.
The hero picked up the same two-handed sword he'd used earlier and entered the circle.
Kazuto's smile never faltered. He picked up his two swords again and rolled his shoulders to loosen them.
"No hard feelings?" The way Kazuto said it sent my blood pressure soaring.
Who the hell did this asshole think he was?
"Don't worry." Aeono smiled with genuine goodwill. "You'll be able to handle losing."
That made Kazuto's smile waver for a second.
"Begin!" Niali shouted.
Kazuto attacked first. This time, he didn't even bother with the kindness he'd shown Bastian.
He thrust with his left-hand sword.
Aeono moved his head an inch.
Kazuto's right-hand sword swept toward the hero's shoulder.
With a shift of his feet, Aeono ended up behind him.
The challenger's frustration was all too clear on his face.
Aeono unleashed a horizontal slash, but Kazuto rolled out of its path.
He sprang up, leaped, and brought both blades down toward Aeono, who raised his sword between them.
The impact rang out. Even without sharp edges, the steel threw off sparks.
I saw Aeono sigh. With one quick movement, he broke their blades apart and landed a blow on Kazuto's shoulder.
"Urgh." Kazuto leaped back, clutching his shoulder. "Incredible."
Then he charged at full speed, both blades held low.
Aeono met him head-on. Sword struck sword. The metallic clash sounded again, and sparks flew more fiercely.
Between Aeono's serene face and Kazuto's barely restrained frustration, there was no question who was winning.
Kazuto growled. His right-hand sword scraped against Aeono's guard, and his left hand shot out to seize the hero's wrist.
Aeono let him grab it. Then he twisted his wrist and brought the pommel of his sword down on Kazuto's elbow.
Kazuto hissed and loosened his grip. He jumped back, shook out his arm, and smiled.
"Not bad!"
Then he raised both hands.
Wind swirled around him, a sharp, whistling current that stirred the sand by his boots.
Six small fireballs appeared behind Kazuto.
That was the first spell of Natural Magic.
I noticed the veins on his left arm standing out and turning black.
"{Valior}…" I recognized the pattern from the game… Come to think of it, that must be what it looked like when I used it.
And his eyes shone like polished bronze.
Metallurgical Magic…
Three at once.
I heard Plumshire choke back a sound.
"That's impossible!" she whispered, loudly enough for half the bench to hear. "You can't sustain three concepts of Gnostamur at once! Soul, Metallurgy, and Nature repel each other!"
I turned to her. Plumshire's face was pale.
Oswyn frowned. "Is that allowed?"
"It's not a question of whether it's allowed," Plumshire whispered. "Trying it should kill you."
… What?
I focused on the fight again.
"Give it your best!" Kazuto's deranged shout was followed by shrill laughter.
The fireballs flew toward Aeono. Kazuto gripped his swords so tightly I could see the hilts splintering.
He hurtled toward Aeono at full speed, wearing a savage smile.
If Aeono dodged the fireballs, the swords would hit him.
I watched nervously as he drew a breath, narrowed his eyes, and…
Instead of moving aside, he took his sword in his left hand, bent his arm inward, and unleashed a broad slash.
The flames went out instantly. Without wasting a moment, he gripped the sword with both hands again.
With a perfect motion, Aeono brought it down.
The impact sent a gust of air through my hair.
Even so, I didn't look away.
Aeono remained where he was, feet planted firmly and sword held in both hands, countering his opponent's enhanced strength.
Kazuto's smile faltered.
Aeono's face remained serene.
Then he pushed. Once.
Kazuto staggered back several steps before leaping away to put distance between them.
The black faded from his veins, and the bronze vanished from his eyes.
"You're much better than I imagined." Kazuto's breathing was slow, but that little display had taken a considerable toll on him.
Aeono said nothing. He beckoned Kazuto forward with his sword.
Kazuto's barely contained anger came out in a growl.
"Watch closely!" A slash from his right-hand sword was stopped when Aeono almost lazily put his own blade in its path.
A thrust from Kazuto's left-hand sword fared no better. Aeono's blade caught that, too.
"Argh!" Kazuto stabbed at empty air as Aeono stepped out of reach.
He closed the distance again.
Slashes, thrusts, cuts—much faster now, trying and failing to overwhelm Aeono.
Aeono evaded each attack with calm, effortless steps.
Kazuto overextended on a diagonal cut, leaving his arm out in front of him.
Aeono caught the armed limb against his sword's crossguard, pivoted on one foot, and drove his shoulder into Kazuto's chest.
Kazuto went flying.
He landed hard on his back, both swords clattering away.
Before he could roll, Aeono had the blunt greatsword at his throat.
It was over.
Kazuto looked up at the blade. His handsome face was flushed, his hair plastered to his forehead.
For a fraction of a second, something unpleasant crossed his eyes.
It vanished quickly, but I knew then that something about him wasn't right.
Then he laughed between gasps and raised both hands.
"All right, all right! You got me! You got me completely!" He said it with such good humor that half the Gold Hall students who'd just been cheering for him laughed along. "Just what you'd expect from our ace!"
Aeono looked down at him for another second, his expression unreadable.
Then he withdrew the sword and stepped back.
"The winner is Aeono Serenwyn," Gradalan announced, his voice noticeably warmer than it had been for Kazuto.
Aeono offered his rival a hand.
Kazuto stared at it with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
After a moment, he took it and let Aeono pull him to his feet.
"You're incredible, man. I have a lot to learn from you." He clapped Aeono on the shoulder as though they'd been lifelong friends.
He said it loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Sure," Aeono replied, sounding mentally exhausted.
"Back to your seats," Niali said, bored.
Aeono didn't waste another second on Kazuto. He practically teleported back to his seat and let out a long sigh.
"Everything okay?" I asked as Kazuto returned to his group.
Aeono gave me his best smile.
"Fine," he murmured. "I really can't imagine what goes through the head of someone like that…"
The look he gave Kazuto was the look I'd give something beyond my understanding.
"I wouldn't recommend finding out," Plumshire said.
I turned to her. Her face was serious again.
"What do you mean?" Oswyn asked from beside her.
"Gnostamur affects its users physically and mentally." She took a lock of her hair and twisted it tightly. "The more proficient you become in a school, the more the concept you study changes you."
Her voice was distant and melancholy.
"… Plumshire?" Oswyn put a hand on our classmate's shoulder, but she didn't seem to notice.
"My hair wasn't always this color." She raised the lock to eye level, her gaze going blank. "And I wasn't always so… loud."
I studied the people around me. They looked uncertain.
"That's why practitioners usually stick to one school. The effects on the mind and body are too much for an ordinary person." Plumshire fixed her gaze on Kazuto. "He's either a genius sent down by the King's decree or a fool who doesn't realize he's thrown himself into a slaughterhouse."
I turned my attention to Kazuto.
"You gave it your best!" Aegus declared at the top of his lungs, then laughed with all his usual vigor.
"Ahahaha! Challenging the golden boy of our class just like that." Orianna ruffled Kazuto's hair like an older sister teasing him. "No one can say you lack confidence."
"You two…" Kazuto sighed and looked up at the sky. "I just wanted Aeono to have some good memories. He seems so lonely sometimes…"
"You're so kind, Kazuto!" Aveline clung to him like a tick. Her awful, adoring expression still frightened me.
Apart from that, though…
Kazuto looked normal. He laughed and talked with his friends like any boy his age.
Then his dark eyes settled on me.
It felt as though I'd touched something slimy and couldn't find anywhere to wash my hands.
Niali clapped once.
"All right! Anyone else want to challenge a classmate before I decide you've wasted enough of my air?"
Please. Surely no one else would—
"I will." Primrose stood up.
My blood ran cold.
'Wonderful,' Friedrich said with a cruel laugh. 'Watch closely, brat. Once again, the world is reminding you this isn't a game.'
Wait… Primrose was going along with Kazuto's idea? Why?
'There are no words in any human or nonhuman language on the face of this world that could express how much I want to strangle you.' Friedrich sounded like the head of the law firm where I'd worked.
Exhausted and entirely ready to start throwing punches at the slightest provocation.
… Old Fred…
… I could no longer remember his face. It felt like watching a kingdom fall in real time. Even the least useful memories had been defiled.
"I'd like to challenge you." Primrose's calm voice brought me back to reality. She stood in front of Armine, smiling warmly.
"…" Armine's golden eyes assessed Primrose for what felt like an eternity. "All right."
She rose from her seat.
I was sure I wasn't the only one who felt it. The air around her changed.
"Great." Something changed in Primrose, too.
I recognized it. However much she smiled, the person standing before Armine was no longer my friend.
She was the ultimate hunter.
"…" This was another scene that was never supposed to happen.
… Rivalry between the heroines was inevitable in this world, but I hadn't imagined my friends and teachers would face each other so soon.
Was this… was this my fault?
Images of Armine's and Primrose's bad endings flashed through my mind.
"Everything all right?" Aeono sounded a little worried. I looked at him.
"…Yeah." The possibility had lodged itself in my mind. "Everything's fine."
I watched my friends.
They walked to the weapons together. The oppressive presence they both gave off made me look for Conlaoch.
My friend gave me a stern look.
Primrose and Armine picked up their weapons again and entered the circle.
"I should thank you," Armine said, smiling at Primrose with her sword raised. "You've helped my student a great deal."
Primrose had worn a calm expression all the way to the arena. Now she smiled.
"It was nothing." The way she spread her arms, the edges of her knives pointing toward Armine, looked almost friendly. "Though he can be a headache sometimes."
Armine gave a small laugh.
"Good." The softness left my teacher's golden eyes.
"Begin!" Gradalan shouted. I concentrated, determined not to miss anything.
Primrose appeared behind Armine, her arms little more than afterimages.
That crossing strike would have been devastating.
But Armine was no longer there.
"Your speed is impressive." She stood on the other side of the arena now. "You nearly caught me off guard."
I was stronger now than the original Jakob had been, and I still hadn't seen either of them move.
The sound of Primrose landing rang out with a solemnity that unsettled me.
Silence.
Everyone had fallen mute at that brief exchange. I couldn't blame them.
It might be difficult for many of the people here to grasp—just as it had been with Aeono and Kazuto—but these two were monsters with hardly any equals.
"…" Primrose stood motionless, her face blank.
The way she tightened her grip on her knives sent a chill through me.
Then her eyes met mine for a second, and her lips formed a silent, "…I'm sorry."
I blinked.
Everything changed in an instant.
The impact of Primrose's knives against Armine's sword sounded like a cannon shot.
The sight was imposing and surreal.
Armine had brought her sword down with one hand. The force behind that swing was more than I could imagine.
Primrose held the blade at bay with both knives crossed in an X.
"…"
"…"
The edge of Primrose's right-hand knife slid along Armine's sword. The blade in her left hand darted toward her opponent's abdomen.
Armine caught Primrose by the wrist and planted her feet.
"Goodbye!"
Armine hurled Primrose into the air. I watched her tuck herself in midflight and take control of her descent.
"No." The toes of Primrose's shoes touched the edge of the circle as she landed. She held her balance perfectly and bent her knees.
The intensity of her gaze on Armine made me feel sick.
The perfect hunter vanished.
I scanned the entire arena. There was no sign of Primrose anywhere.
Then the sound of metal striking metal filled the field.
"You're very good." Armine swung her sword through the air. Anyone else might have thought she was flailing at random.
But…
The ringing metal, and my memories of going down to fight the Rat King, told me the truth.
She was blocking attacks.
"Primrose is holding back a lot," Aeono said. I looked at him; his eyes flicked from side to side. "I think I can say the same of Armine. It's impressive how hard they both seem to be resisting the urge to fight in earnest."
His eyes continued to follow Armine's movements as he spoke.
"You can see them?"
"Yeah." Aeono narrowed his eyes. Something seemed to trouble him.
I turned my attention back to the fight.
Armine had sped up. She was barely a moving silhouette, and the clash of metal grew more frequent.
From the outside, someone might have thought swords were raining down on her.
A small, shallow cut appeared on Armine's right thigh.
The pang I felt at the sight was followed by a foolish surge of desperation.
"It's only a cut," Aeono said beside me, his voice matter-of-fact. "But I wonder if you'd react the same way if I told you Primrose had a wound just as bad."
I thought that was the first time I'd heard him sound so serious.
An unexpected fear rose in me.
"What do you mean?"
"Primrose is crying."
Impossible.
My head began to spin. Surely I'd heard him wrong… Vertigo seized me.
I gripped my seat with both hands, holding on firmly so I wouldn't fall despite already being seated.
"Calm down," Aeono said gently. "It won't help if you fall apart, too."
"Primrose doesn't cry." The conviction in my voice surprised even me.
"You can say that… but the facts say otherwise." Aeono sounded particularly firm about it.
But… in the game…
'This isn't a game!' Friedrich's shout nearly made me jump. 'How much more proof do you need? How many people have to tell you this world was never fictional?'
Once again, I felt skeletal hands closing around my throat.
It isn't a game… This isn't a game…
Armine. Primrose. Conlaoch. Rodrigo. Zofia…
I fell into a deep darkness. I couldn't breathe properly.
What had I been doing?
I'd managed to save myself from my role as the tutorial boss, but…
Images from the second half of the game blazed before me like fire across the sky.
Armies clashing. Cataclysms worthy of the Apocalypse.
Primrose.
War.
Famine.
Disease.
Death.
My friends. The innocent…
God… God, what had I done?
My head ached as I forced myself to recall a life that was beginning to feel like a mirage.
'Primrose is my favorite heroine,' my ex's voice echoed inside my skull. 'She's strong and funny, and her ending is really the best one for that world.'
Elen. Again.
It didn't matter. I needed information about Primrose.
I needed to know why she was suffering.
'You should try her quests. I'm sure you'd like them.'
Shut up already. I would trade every memory I had of you for a way to protect Primrose.
'Primrose is strong.'
'She's the only one who gives you a healing bonus.'
'The truth is… I'd like to be like her.' She'd said that while wearing a Primrose cosplay, staring intently at herself in a mirror.
I wish you had been like her…
Damn it…
Nothing.
Even when I forced my mind, all it gave me was the full catalog of nonsense Elen used to say.
Primrose. Forgive me.
'Imagine being a sun that shines on everyone, even when you can't quite feel that warmth yourself.'
For the love of all that's good…
Your miserable, insufferable existence is still causing me trouble, Elen. Just disappear already.
"…Armine is going to win," Aeono said with certainty.
His voice brought me back to reality.
I looked at him and found him watching me as though he were waiting for something.
"Aeono." What was I supposed to say? "…I think I've made a lot of mistakes."
Aeono remained silent.
"Don't we all make mistakes?" he said calmly. He seemed strangely peaceful. "Stumbling means you're walking."
I…
"But you need to realize that you're hurting the people who care about you."
… What terrible irony.
The sound of breaking metal reached my ears.
I looked back at the fight.
"…" Primrose was visible again, some distance from Armine. Her left hand appeared to be injured.
My heart clenched at the sight.
She studied the broken blade of her knife intently.
She threw the ruined weapon away and took the remaining knife in a reverse grip.
"I think that's enough," Armine said in a friendly tone. "You've shown how strong you are. In a real fight, I think very few people could beat you."
There was no condescension or pity in Armine's voice. But Primrose vanished again immediately.
A fierce gust of wind and a blur of orange circling Armine made me uneasy.
Armine's eyes followed what I could barely see.
"… So be it." Her stance changed.
She drew a breath and closed her eyes.
Both hands closed around her sword's hilt.
For a moment, I saw Primrose clearly. Her face held too many emotions at once.
Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and she bit her lower lip in frustration.
Then she vanished again.
And Armine swung her sword.
"Wow."
"Oooh."
"Well, well."
"Look at that power!"
The wave of wind Armine unleashed was like a small gale.
Then came the sound of breaking metal and the sight of Primrose standing before Armine's sword.
"…" Primrose's other knife had been cut cleanly in two. My friend stared at it without expression.
She let it fall to the ground and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She drew a breath, allowing her hair to fall across her face.
"Good fight." Primrose smiled as brightly as the sun, her eyes closed and every trace of her turmoil gone. "Thank you."
… Something was wrong.
"Of course." Armine smiled and stepped closer, holding out her hand.
Primrose accepted the gesture with a friendly but empty expression.
"Professor Gradalan," Primrose said in a sweet, superficial voice that concealed something beneath it, "I'm sorry for the trouble."
No…
Please don't make that face…
He looked at her with a mixture of understanding, pity, and a little affection.
"Well done, Tahearth," he replied wearily. Then he raised his voice. "That concludes today's lesson!"
"You brats!" Niali called, grinning in good spirits. "Be nice to each other and shake hands! No grudges over a single class!"
"You heard her!" Plumshire leaped over me and struck a pose as she landed. Then she turned and pointed a thumb at us. "Come on. Let's all get along."
"Come on!" Bastian said cheerfully. "Let's give our Gold Hall classmates a proper send-off."
Through it all, I kept my eyes on Primrose.
She went over to Conlaoch. They spoke briefly, and then Primrose turned away.
Her emerald eyes no longer shone as they had before. She avoided my gaze.
I looked at Armine. She gave me a faint smile, sighed, and nodded toward Primrose.
I looked back.
Primrose was gone.
My heart nearly stopped.
I searched for her frantically.
Among the seats.
No.
Near the professors.
No.
Near me.
No.
I caught a glimpse of orange hair.
I couldn't waste any time.
"Prim…" I took a step toward the flash of color.
"Are you a good friend of Prim's?" Kazuto appeared directly in my path.
A friendly smile, a gentle air, and a nice-guy tone that made me sick.
I ignored him.
I started looking for Primrose again.
Nothing. Nothing…
"I…" Her eyes. They'd held the same look mine had when…
"Jakub, right?" Kazuto stepped in front of me again. "Sorry, but I have a few questions."
"I don't give a shit," I growled. I had no time for him.
I needed to find out where she'd gone… Conlaoch.
"You shouldn't be so rude." Kazuto went on babbling useless things beside me. "I can see you're a bad influence. You must be the reason Primrose refuses to be my friend."
'Bad move,' Friedrich murmured.
I stopped dead.
'Jakob, control yourself.'
I ignored his advice.
"… Listen." I faced Kazuto, making no effort to keep the fury out of my voice. "I don't know what your problem is, but I have neither the time nor the interest to waste on you."
For a few seconds, Kazuto's face twisted into something ugly. He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him time to make a sound.
I activated the ring.
In a blink, I was standing in front of Conlaoch.
He was still seated. His red eyes were calm, and a trace of melancholy seemed to surround him.
We remained silent for several minutes.
"…" He looked at me with disappointment and pity. "You still have classes. You should get going."
He stood and turned his back on me.
… Shit.
"Primrose." Her name came out like a plea. "She… how is she?"
The change in Conlaoch reminded me of a dog preparing to bite.
"I don't see how that's any of your business." The dryness in his voice hit me harder than I'd imagined.
You… you're my friend…
"I see…"
Then the implication struck me.
My head felt strangely cool, my shoulders light. I even grew hungry all of a sudden.
"Well…" I began awkwardly. I didn't know how to continue. "It was fun."
As soon as the words left my lips, I felt… distant.
Maybe this was for the best. After all, my only goal was to save Armine and myself. Everything else had been a pointless distraction.
"But," McNessa said again, his voice a little less cold, "you can speak to her yourself at her cabin."
For some reason, warmth returned to my body.
"You're right…" I'd been too stupid to see that option.
"Besides." Conlaoch turned and pressed a finger against my chest. "Didn't she teach you to stop running away?"
"… Ahaha…" My laughter began quietly.
Had I really been about to give up?
I laughed.
I felt my mother's ring.
I laughed.
I hadn't come this far just to stop moving forward now.
"Conlaoch." I stopped laughing. "Thank you."
He smiled like an older brother.
"Don't thank me. I'm not done kicking your ass." His honesty was still refreshing. "But I've seen how you get when it comes to her. Before this day is over, I'm going to get a little truth through that thick skull of yours."