Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no “Kokoro”-

Chapter 6.17

A big pile of papers stood like a mountain range on his desk. Buried in the pile of papers was a large man with his back hunched over, while frantically working with a pen.

Jihad, who was busy in his office after cleaning up the mess from the previous Combat Training, sighed at the pile of papers in front of him and muttered to the woman beside him.

"Ms. Inda, I think we're almost done..."

"No, not yet. You need to check the restoration plan and estimation. As soon as the payment is made, we will start the restoration work. After that, you will also supervise the construction work to save us the trouble of confirmation work."

Her words pierced Jihad's ears like ice and snow, with not a trace of warmth.

She was a woman who usually had a hint of warmth in her flat tone, but lately, her attitude had been cold as a glacier.

"... Isn't my work strangely increasing? Normally, I would only check the plans and estimations, not oversee the construction..."

Jihad looked at Ms. Inda's face and tried to protest, but she kept her expression blank and slapped him with a lecturing word.

"Just for the record, sir. It was Jihad-dono who was in charge of the combat training class at the Martial Arts Garden this time, so it was only logical that you should be the one to clean up the damage.

Besides, the Martial Arts Garden was scheduled to be used by the 4th year students. In order to keep the classes running smoothly, we need to complete the work as soon as possible. Rest assured, I'll bring all the necessary documents to the Martial Arts Garden, and I'll even prepare a desk for you to work at."

Apparently, Inda was going to help him in supervising and she would do her regular work as well.

The sight of an adult frantically scratching papers at a desk would definitely become a laughing matter outside.

Even though she said she was just making an efficient choice, Inda's sentence was in a sense equivalent to a death sentence. If Jihad's students were to see him like this, his life as a teacher would definitely be doomed. But even before that, as a man, he would feel so miserable that it would be difficult to recover."

"Even though I'm your boss ..."

"Jihad-dono, are you finished yet?"

As Jihad's shoulders slumped, Inda rushed him to get back to work.

With a big sigh, Jihad turned his face to Inda.

While Inda's expression was nonchalant, the slit eyes behind her silver-rimmed glasses glared at Jihad. It seemed that she was quite in a bad mood since the combat training in which Jihad got carried away.

However, despite the stinging glare directed at him, Jihad grinned and lifted his mouth.

"Don't be so angry. You're ruining your beautiful face."

"I don't think myself as beautiful! So please, just get to work!"

Inda yelled to Jihad, who made fun of her.

While looking at her, Jihad began to laugh heartily with his hands on his stomach.

What he said was bold, without thinking, and unrestrained. It was hard to believe that this was the same man who had shown his power in combat training a few days ago.

Suddenly, however, Jihad tightened the grin on his face.

Inda's eyes widened at the sudden change in Jihad's atmosphere, wondering what was going on.

"Also, I've got some urgent business to attend to today. I need to take some time off."

"Business? What kind of business is that?"

She haven't heard anything about that, but ... just as Inda was about to continue asking, there was a knock on the office door.

Unlike Inda, who still had a puzzled expression on her face, Jihad urged the person waiting behind the door to enter.

The person entered the office. When she recognized the figure, Inda's eyes suddenly became serious.

"Hello~. Have I kept you waiting?~."

The person who came in was the opposite of Inda, with a carefree and slow-paced voice. They were like the moon and the sun. Anri Var came in with a sunny smile on her face.

And coming into the office from behind her was the person who is now the talk of the school, Nozomu Bountis.

================================

After school, Nozomu and Mars were about to meet up with Irisdina and the others along. He was feeling inwardly excited.

According to Mars, he was going to buy him dinner at Ushitotei to celebrate his discharge from the hospital.

This morning's meal had been nothing but digestible soup, and he hadn't eaten anything satisfying in the past few days.

The food at Ushitotei was unquestionably delicious, and as a hard-working student with a large appetite, it sounded like something Nozomu would be excited about.

However, when they were about to leave the classroom, Nozomu and Mars were stopped by Anri's voice.

She told them that Jihad had business with Nozomu, and brought only Nozomu to this office.

Nozomu was wondering what it was for, but he apologized to Mars and asked him to wait at the main gate.

"Sorry, I called you here on such short notice..."

"No, I don't mind..."

Nozomu and Jihad face each other as they sit down on a good-quality sofa. It had been a few days since they had met.

When Nozomu put his weight on his back, he felt a soft, enveloping touch.

"It must be expensive", Nozomu thought meaninglessly as he once again straightened his posture and listened to Jihad's story.

"Ha, haa... So, Jihad-sensei. I heard you wanted to talk to me."

"Yeah, I was wondering where you learned that katana technique..."

There were no teachers who teach the katana technique at Solminati Academy. This was due to the fact that there was very little interaction between this country and the Arcmill continent.

This is not due to political reasons. The sea between the eastern country and this continent is rough almost all year round, and even large ships cannot guarantee a safe voyage.

Once every six months, the sea is calm for a month or so, and during that time, diplomatic relations continue in a modest way.

And even during that one month, just because the weather and sea conditions are calmer than in other seasons, a safe voyage couldn't really be guaranteed.

As it was difficult to establish diplomatic relations on a large scale, there were naturally few people who would pass on the art of katana technique.

In such a situation, how many people could have taught Nozomu so many katana techniques? It was understandable that Jihad was curious.

There was no need for Nozomu to keep his master a secret, so he began answering Jihad's questions with a light heart.

However, there were other reasons for jihad to be so curious.

"She is an old woman named Shino. She used to live in the forest in the suburbs of the city until a while ago. She passed away recently..."

"Hmm... Shino..."

The moment he heard Shino's name, Jihad frowned and began to think.

Nozomu wondered if there was something on his mind but waited patiently for Jihad's words.

"About your master... a woman named Shino, are you sure that she is from the east?

"Yes, Shish? said that she came to this continent after being kicked out of her parents' home due to her family problem. She was about eighty years old, so she came to this continent about sixty years ago, and since then she has been living alone in seclusion."

Nozomu did not know how old Shino was when she came to this continent.

However, considering the fact that there had been at least some talk of an engagement, it could be expected that she was in her prime.

Jihad, who had been listening to Nozomu's story, occasionally nodded from time to time with his hand on his beard.

"Hmm, so, you inherited your katana from your master?"

"Yes, Shish? recently passed away from a fatal disease. This was entrusted to me at that time."

When she heard that Nozomu's master had died, Inda, who had been listening to the conversation beside Jihad, opened her eyes. Nozomu didn't know what she was thinking, but there seemed to be a hint of perplexion in the depths of her eyes.

In the meantime, Jihad frowned for a moment when he heard of the death of Nozomu's master, but his gaze was fixed on the katana that Nozomu was holding.

"... Do you mind if I take a look at it?"

"Yes, I don't mind, but ..."

Despite being puzzled by the strange attention his beloved katana was receiving, Nozomu slowly removed his katana from his belt and handed it to Jihad.

Jihad bowed and took Nozomu's katana, then pulled the blade from the sheath's mouth and let the blade peek out.

The western sun shining through the window made the blade glow. As soon as Jihad pulled out the katana, the sound of a ringing bell spread throughout the office like ripples.

At first glance, the blade looked ordinary, but there was something about it that attracted people like a moth to a flame.

Inda gulped at its majesty. Jihad, who had been squinting his eyes, also turned his even sharper gaze towards the blade.

"... I see. Do you know the name of this katana, Nozomu-kun?"

As Jihad quietly sheathed the katana and returned it to Nozomu, he inquired about the name of the katana.

Nozomu put it back beside him and slowly shook his head.

"No, Shish? did not tell me the name of this sword, nor was there any inscription engraved on it."

"I see..."

In response to Nozomu's reply, Jihad mumbled a few words and became lost in thought.

The way he wrinkled his mouth and pondered, he looked just like he had some sort of problem.

"Um, does Jihad-sensei know about this katana?"

This was the beloved katana of a master with such a great ability.

Nozomu knew that the quality of the katana was much better than the two he had used in the past.

That was why he had doubts about the lack of an inscription on the katana, but for him, the feelings that went along with it were far more important than the katana itself.

Therefore, the name of the katana itself was of secondary importance to him, but looking at Jihad, it seemed that the katana had some kind of history.

"I'm not familiar with katana, so I can't say for sure, but I can only think of one katana of this caliber that doesn't have a name. Perhaps the name of this katana is [Mumei]."

Tl note : Mumei means Nameless.

"Nameless? But that's ..."

He muttered to himself, but the tone in his voice contained doubt.

A nameless katana is one that has not been engraved with a name by the maker. This could mean that the katana was not worthy of a name, and is usually inferior.

However, regardless of its appearance, the quality of Nozomu's katana was clearly quite different from the usual nameless katana. No matter how good Nozomu's skills were, it would be hard to take Jihad's blow if he were to use ordinary katana, but he had no problem taking Jihad's blows during the combat training.

"Sure, many nameless katanas are not very well made in general. But this name has another meaning in that country."

Once again, Jihad looked at the katana beside Nozomu and slowly opened his heavy mouth.

"That is ... a katana from the genealogy created by a certain swordsmith."

According to Jihad, this swordsmith's skill was undoubtedly one of the best in the history of the continent, but he was severely misanthropic and eccentric.

His thought was.

(This world has always been impermanent, and nothing is permanent. Money, love, and friendship are nothing but dust before time. Therefore, there is no need to give a name to a katana that changes its shape and quality!)

It was said that he did not engrave his name at all on the katanas he made because they too would fade away with the passage of time and disappear from the world.

"It seems that the katanas he made have this concept of impermanence built into it. It seems that the nature of this katana changes depending on the history it has carved out."

The history that it has carved out. In other words, the quality of the katana changed drastically depending on the wielder who passed it.

If it was in the hands of a fire-wielding swordsman, the blade would pulse red like burning lava, and if it was in the hands of a cold-hearted leader, it would emit a cold glow like a decapitation blade.

"But even without it, the quality of the katana is undoubtedly the best, and many swordsmen have shed their blood to obtain it, and every time it sucked the blood of its victims, it would drive more and more people crazy.

This is a vicious cycle caused by the characteristic of "changing the nature of the katana".

Because of this, the swordsmith's "nameless" genealogy of katana was now feared in the east as a kind of dangerous demon sword.

Honestly, Nozomu had no idea that the katana he was using was such a ridiculously cursed sword.

He certainly felt it was quite a work of art, but there was no sign that it would harbor such a curse.

"The one who has mastered the use of such a legendary katana is Shino Mikagura. She is your master and the head of the Mikagura School and has been called the greatest genius ever since it was founded. It is said that she has collected many "Nameless" katanas and subdued them one after another."

"Mikagura ..."

"Hmm? You didn't know the name of your own school?"

"Y-yeah. I had never heard that name from Shish?, and I never cared for it either..."

What Nozomu needed at that time was a place to escape and an excuse to turn away from the facts.

This was the reason why he absorbed Shino's swordsmanship, but as he was running away by continuing his training, he was more interested in learning the art of katana technique than the name of the school itself.

Shino herself had not yet acknowledged Nozomu at the time, and perhaps she still had mixed feelings about her family and the katana technique of her household.

Aside from the fact that Nozomu didn't know the name of his own school, Jihad said that the "nameless" katanas that Shino had subdued were still in the possession of the Mikagura family.

However, when Shino ran away, several of them went missing.

(Could it be that the katana that I've been using is......)

Even though the curse had already been lifted, the fact that he was using the katana that had once been so powerful in the east sent a chill down his spine.

Without knowing what was going through Nozomu's mind, Jihad continued to talk.

"I don't know her personally, but I am familiar with her name. She is the sword princess who lives in the east. Not only is she the owner of a unique katana technique, but because of her beautiful appearance, her beauty was often compared to a black pearl. "

"Black pearl...? That old woman...? Shish??"

The word "black pearl" brought suspicion to Nozomu's face.

What came to his mind was an old woman with a childlike smile on her face and a mouth full of tea confectionery. And then he remembered when she was in the form of Yasha, raising her katana with a spine-tingling smile on her face.

Pearl is a stone that is said to represent chastity, purity, and to have the power to ward off evil.

However, no matter how Nozomu thought about it, he could not imagine that a pearl would suit the figure of his master, who was the embodiment of violence.

Many stones that are black have particularly strong power, meaning that they have all the colors. It can be said that they are very unique.

When Nozomu thought of it as "pure" like a child, it was actually a stone that was very suitable for his master. Her love for one of her students can also be described as "earnest".

However, Nozomu's memories of being bullied during his training were too strong, so he couldn't nod his head in agreement.

"Oh, you don't know much about your master?"

"Yes, she didn't tell me much about herself."

Nozomu had listened to Shino talk about herself in casual talk and had been rigorously taught to master her techniques, but he had never heard of the achievements she had done in her hometown

Shino herself didn't want to talk about it, and at the time, Nozomu himself hadn't been able to pry about it.

It was the same for Shino.

In the end, they accepted each other's feelings as they were, but there was not enough time for them to tell each other everything about their lives.

"Is that so ... Well, that's all I want to ask about. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time."

"No, I'm glad to hear about Shish?."

Jihad raised himself up from the sofa as if this was the end of the conversation. Nozomu stood up to follow him.

"Now if you'll excuse me."

Nozomu bowed to Jihad and Inda then disappeared behind the door. He was followed by Anri, who also left the room.

After seeing them off, Jihad let out a deep breath.

Looking up at the ceiling, he leaned back against the sofa and relaxed his shoulders as if he was convinced.

"I see. So he's the direct disciple of that sword princess ... and the fact that he inherited his master's katana, we should assume that he has already mastered the katana technique."

"Such a thing... It's only been two years..."

Jihad crossed his arms and looked convinced, while Inda still couldn't hide her surprise.

She had no idea that Nozomu Bountis, whom she had marked as a dropout, was a direct disciple of a swordsman whose name had once been famous even on this distant continent.

"But considering his refined katana technique, it makes sense. Despite the difference between katanas and swords, his skill level isn't much different from mine already. Rather, he surpasses me in some areas such as Qi control."

"Are you sure to let him go ...? There are too many uncertainties, especially that [Nameless]."

His katana, [Nameless], and his school, the Mikagura School, were elements that honestly did not exist in Arcazam at all.

Moreover, the fact that he inherited his master's katana meant that Shino Mikagura recognized him as her legitimate successor.

What kind of reaction will there be, both inside and outside the school?

Inda honestly conveyed her thoughts that she didn't know what was going to happen.

"There's the matter about the previous Triclops. Also, now that the opposition is making a lot of noise about Abyss Grief, maybe it's ......"

With an anxious expression on her face, Inda's voice sounded heavy.

However, despite her bitter expression, Jihad's expression was calm, as if to say that her fears were unfounded.

"Well, about the opposition matter, such a delicate thing will happen again and again in the future. However, about the Triclopes matter, it was definitely Nozomu Bountis or Shino Mikagura."

Jihad, who had confirmed the body of the Triclopes at the scene, answered with certainty.

He also experienced it firsthand in the combat training the killing power of Mikagura's Qi techniques.

It was understandable that the bodies of the Triclopes and Cyclopes were so badly damaged by that technique, which can easily cut through a steel shield and shatter it.

"Considering that he has "Ability Suppression," the most likely culprit would be Shino Mikagura. Either way, the possibility of her being a member of the opposition is nearly impossible. I'd have to check, but neither of them has any reason to be enemies of this city."

Nozomu's abilities were limited by Ability Suppression, while Shino Mikagura would be able to slaughter enemies of that caliber without difficulty. Jihad decided so.

To be honest, the existence of Shino Mikagura was not known at all, but she had not appeared in the public at all since she ran away from her hometown. It was probably true that she had become a recluse.

It was too long for her to be in hiding, and even if she was, the time when she came to this continent and the time when Arcazam was built was completely different.

As Inda said, they couldn't completely lower their vigilance, they were burdened with their positions and responsibilities.

However, in the case of the Triclops, they were forced to be overly cautious because the existence who defeated the giants was completely unknown.

However, now that the existence of the other party was known, there was no need to be overly cautious. They only need to devote the necessary amount of effort to the necessary areas.

In that sense, it could be said that Jihad's worries had been alleviated.

"Besides, the fact that he put up a good fight in the combat training could be a very big plus for this school."

However, other than that, the existence of Nozomu Bountis had the potential to become influential in this school.

"The school is trying to develop human resources to be able to counter the great invasion. In the past few years, there has been a dark cloud drifting along that path."

What Solminati Academy is trying to nurture is people who can support those who are about to collapse in a desperate situation. These people need to have strong willpower to never give up, even when they are under siege and surrounded by enemies from all directions.

Jihad had run Solminati Academy based on meritocracy in preparation for another great invasion that may happen again.

However, in the past few years, the quality of the students had begun to deviate from the kind of people the school had been aiming for.

"As I'm sure Ms. Inda is aware, this school is trapped in a sort of "rank mentality"."

This school adopted the framework of ranks based on the ability of the students.

However, nearly ten years have passed since the founding of Solminati Academy, and the students have come to be trapped in these classifications.

As a result, what is being nurtured is students that can only demonstrate a certain ability in a certain situation.

Such standardized forces may be useful as soldiers, as they are easy to distribute, but they are not suitable in the sense of "nurturing people who can overcome the difficulties of a great invasion.

However, the current students of the school have their own ranks as their base, and there is no sense of enthusiasm to break free from it.

In other words, the idea that they of lower ranks are no match for those in higher ranks has become ingrained in the students' minds, and as a result, it has become difficult to nurture people who have the willpower to lead those around them.

"But Nozomu Bountis' struggle has dispelled that atmosphere... Is that what you wanted to say?""

Jihad nodded quietly at Inda's words.

In that sense, Nozomu Bountis' effort in this combat training was an unexpected stroke of luck for Jihad.

In the 10th class, a man who had been shackled by Ability Suppression was able to approach one of the greatest swordsmen on the continent with his skill and willpower. The impact of this was enough to destroy the mindset that had taken root due to ranking classifications.

In fact, the effects were already beginning to be felt in the first year which had only been at the school for a short time.

Considering that, the fact that the Martial Arts Garden was out of service for a week or so is insignificant.

"...  I understand. I will follow Jihad-dono's decision."

Inda was pondering with a difficult expression, but in the end, she looked at him firmly in the eye and nodded. Jihad's face relaxed at her appearance.

"Actually, what I'm worried about is that katana. I'll have to keep a close eye on that katana to see how it transforms depending on the wielder."

Inda silently nodded her head in agreement with Jihad's words.

But as soon as she heard the following words, cold sweat appeared on Inda's forehead.

"I'll have Nozomu do a combat training with me on a regular basis as part of his guidance so that he and his katana can be observed."

"... Umm. Are you serious?"

Although she was silent for a moment, Inda managed to continue speaking. She put her finger between her eyebrows, perhaps because she had a headache.

"Don't worry, I will go easy on him. I'm not going to send him to the hospital like last time."

"Not that! Wait, that's true... but if you're going to do it, please do it in the forest or the outer edge of the city! I don't want people to get caught up in it and have a bunch of people get hurt because of it! The next time you cause such a huge mess, I'll have all the teachers lock you out of the school!"

"…………"

It seemed that Inda, who had been under a lot of stress from cleaning up the mess at the martial arts garden, had lost her patience.

Jihad was at a loss for words as he was subjected to a barrage of abusive language that she would never normally use.

A very angry Inda said, "These are the additional documents!".

She piled up a bunch of papers on his desk in a rough manner. As she piled up the papers, there was no hint of restraint or consideration in her hands.

Perhaps unable to bear the additional documents that were being added, Jihad finally slumped down on his desk. Only a towering pile of papers looked down on him as if to mock him.

==================================

Meanwhile, Nozomu and Anri parted ways, completely unaware of the devastation that had befallen Jihad behind the door they had just come out of.

"Nameless ... I know it's an excellent katana, but it looks like it has some sort of history."

Nozomu thought to himself as he walked down the empty hallway while tapping the hilt of the katana on his hip.

He had always found the katana mysteriously attractive, but it seemed that the katana also had a rather troublesome origin.

But that didn't mean anything would change. Considering that his master had subdued it and there was no indication that it was a demon sword, Nozomu thought that something wouldn't happen.

Above all, Nozomu could not bring himself to part with the katana.

There is no other katana like it, and it is filled with the feelings of his master. Even if he was given a pile of money piled up to the ceiling, Nozomu would not give it away.

"Well, It's no use worrying about it, though. I'm not going to let you go..."

As he gently stroked the hilt of the katana, he felt a cool and comfortable touch.

The touch was mysteriously soothing.

It was as if [Mumei] responded, and a smile naturally appeared on Nozomu's face.

"Nevertheless, Mikagura Style ..."

To be honest, Nozomu had never really cared what his katana technique was called.

Until now, it had only been a place for him to escape to.

However, when he heard the name firmly with his own ears, he became strangely curious.

Shino once came from one of the most prominent families in the East.

What on earth did this katana technique mean in that country?

Such a question arose in his mind.

"... Maybe I should look it up."

Thinking that he should look it up in the library next time, Nozomu started walking slowly towards the main gate to meet his friends.

Nozomu was about to turn on a corner of the corridor. But just as he turned around, a crimson veil suddenly spread across his vision.

"……Eh?"

Nozomu let out a dumbfounded voice.

Standing in front of him now was a person that Nozomu had not expected at all.

She looked away from Nozomu, who was frozen in surprise, and stood there with her head down.

Nozomu was also taken by surprise and had completely stopped thinking.

He wondered why she was here.

This is the building where the teachers' rooms are located, and students don't usually visit this area unless they have something to do.

On top of that, on this floor is Jihad's office, the headmaster. No one would casually walk through there.

While Nozomu was stunned, Lisa Hounds muttered in a muffled tone of voice.

"So you've been discharged from hospital..."

Lisa Hounds muttered in a hoarse, fading voice.

The tone of her voice, which reminded Nozomu of a dull color, echoed in his ears.

Nozomu replied in a choked voice.

"Y-yeah. I was badly injured and debilitated, but Iris and the others immediately took care of me."

Nozomu scratched his head as he looked at the bandages that were still wrapped around his body.

Lisa, who had been looking away, stared at Nozomu with a blank expression.

Her gaze crept Nozomu's body, from his arms to his legs and then up. It was as if she was examining his body.

"Is that so..."

However, the words that came out of their mouth felt too distant.

Lisa, who showed no emotion at all, and Nozomu, who was still shaken due to the unexpected occurence. They stared at each other in silence, and only time passed.

"…………"

"…………"

Lisa stared at him in silence that made their ears ring. And then there was Nozomu, who quietly received her gaze.

Eventually, it was Nozomu who opened his mouth first, probably he realized that it was getting nowhere.

"Hey Lisa, why are you ..."

"A coincidence."

Before Nozomu could finish his words, Lisa cut off his voice with her own words.

When she approached him earlier, Lisa was very agitated, but now she used her usual dismissive tone of voice.

Nozomu had no idea what was going through Lisa's mind as she such wore a cold facial expression.

But to Nozomu, the depths of Lisa's eyes, which were piercing him coldly, seemed to waver slightly.

"……I see"

A smile naturally appeared on Nozomu's face as he muttered just a few words.

Whatever the reason, he was happy that Lisa had called out to him.

When Lisa saw Nozomu smiling, she crumpled and distorted her face. At the same time, she pressed against Nozomu with a gaze filled with rage and indescribable feeling.

A mass of emotions slammed into him.

It was like a surging wave, a manifestation of the ups and downs of a heart that was rising and collapsing.

Nozomu couldn't tell whether the thoughts in her eyes were rage, desolation, or pity.

For Nozomu, this was a true reminder of the distance between himself and Lisa now.

When they were dating, he could look into Lisa's eyes and know what she was thinking. When she smiled at him, he found himself smiling back at her.

But now Nozomu couldn't understand what Lisa was thinking at all. Even though he could feel the passion in her gaze, he could not read her thoughts. The time and distance that had passed between the two of them now lay wide open.

But he couldn't remain silent like this.

While feeling a prickling pain in his chest, Nozomu opened his mouth.

Their relationship had been broken apart. As Tiamat said, their relationship already came to nothing, but at least he wanted to confirm something.

"Hey Lisa, are you still chasing your dreams?"

After hitting rock bottom, Nozomu used it as an excuse to run away, but it was still stuck in the depths of his mind.

(Lisa can pursue her dreams)

That was the reason why Nozomu came to this city. The feeling that started it all, that no matter how much he denied it, he couldn't deny it.

Whether he wanted to confirm it or he wanted to believe it.

He swallowed the feeling that was building up in his chest and waited patiently for Lisa's answer.

"It has nothing to do with you ..."

She turned away as if to escape from Nozomu's gaze and tried to walk away.

"Lisa, wait a minute"

She turned her back as if to flee, and Nozomu reached out his hand as if to stop her. But Nozomu's hand was stopped by a sudden voice coming from behind him.

"Nozomu, have you finished your talk with Jihad-sensei?"

Nozomu was startled by the sudden call and looked behind him to see his friends who were supposed to be waiting for him in front of the main gate.

When Lisa saw Irisdina and the others behind Nozomu, she quickly and quietly walked away as if she was running away.

By the time Nozomu, who had been focused on Irisdina and the others, noticed Lisa, she had already turned on the corner of the corridor and was out of sight, so he missed his chance to chase after her.

"Nozomu? What's wrong?"

Irisdina couldn't see Lisa, probably her figure hidden behind Nozomu's figure.

Irisdina called out to Nozomu, who was standing there in a daze.

"... Lisa was here a minute ago."

"I see... Did you talk to her?

"No, I didn't have much to say."

Whether he was regretting that he missed the opportunity, or he was worried about the look in Lisa's eyes at the end, but there was a hint of sadness in Nozomu's voice.

"... I'm sorry, I should have given you a little more time."

Irisdina's voice sank slightly as if she felt bad for having called out to him at the wrong time.

Nozomu shook his head as if to deny her words.

"No, it's not Iris's fault. From the start, I don't think Lisa and I had much to talk about.

This time, for the first time in a really long time, Lisa called out to him.

However, he still felt the furious expression that slammed into him immediately afterward. In Lisa's mind, Nozomu might still be the person who betrayed her.

However, it seemed that she was not only angry with Nozomu now. There were other emotions hidden in the angry glare she was giving him.

But what was more important was her reaction to Nozomu's last words.

"Also, I found out something."

Her attitude and words clearly avoided answering Nozomu's question.

And about what Camilla had said to him before.

(... Lisa hasn't been able to move forward since that time.)

Those words came back to Nozomu's mind.

(If that's the case, then the current Lisa is still ...)

"Nozomu-kun?"

"Y-yes. It's all right."

Sh?na looked into Nozomu's face.

Surprised by Sh?na's sudden appearance in front of him, Nozomu was at a loss for a response.

Lisa was already out of sight, and even if he tried to ask her any more questions, she would probably refuse.

The fact that she didn't want to answer Nozomu's question showed that. It was also not possible to catch up with her even if he chase after her now.

"Haa... alright!"

While sighing, Nozomu clapped his cheeks to change his mind.

His friends were celebrating his discharge from the hospital. It was no good to make such a gloomy expression in such a place.

"Come, let's go. I've been eating a lot of tasteless hospital food since yesterday and I want to eat something delicious."

"Alright! Mars, you're going to buy me a drink today, right?"

As if to follow Nozomu's renewed enthusiasm, Feo shouted happily and put his hand around Mars' shoulder.

The fact that he was so casual about who would pay for him showed that his intentions were clouded by greed.

"Aside from Nozomu, we're going to split the bill between us. Especially you, you have to pay 20% more than the others."

However, Mars must have seen through Feo's intentions, he cut off Feo's words in one fell swoop.

"Why!? Isn't that unfair?"

"It was the repair fee for the store you smashed up before. You haven't finished paying us back yet."

When Feo complained, Mars accurately pointed out the damage Feo had previously caused to Ushitotei.

As if to escape from the reproachful gazes he was receiving at such a close range, Feo turned his gaze in another direction while his hand was still linked to Mars' shoulder.

"... Aa, I just remembered there's something I have to do."

Feo tried to talk his way out of it.

But unfortunately, he's now linking shoulders with a debt collector. There is no way he can escape in such a situation.

He was immediately caught by Mars by the collar and got pulled back.

Mars put his arms around Feo's neck and held him in a headlock.

"Alright, let's go. It seems Feo will treat us today."

Mars declared so. Looked like it was payback for trying to set him up earlier. At the same time, the eyes of the others around them lit up.

"Well then! I won't hold back~!"

"Me too~!"

Mimuru and Somia were the first to speak up. Somia, who was supposed to have been raised as a young lady, was strangely cheerful, perhaps due to the influence of the Wildcat she had recently befriended.

As Nozomu pondered whether or not the innocent girl was being affected by the Wildcat tribe she had recently befriended, Sh?na, Tom, and the others followed Mimuru's lead and tapped Feo on the shoulder.

"Wait! I didn't say a word about it!"

Feo hurriedly raised his voice in the face of one heartless sentence after another, but his friends around him showed no sign of listening to him.

Along with this, Feo's face grew increasingly pale. Feo had been suffering from a lack of money lately, but it seemed that he would not be able to survive in this city anymore. At this rate, he might become a dry fox in a few days.

The cornered Feo stared at Nozomu as if he was entrusting his last hope on him.

"Nozomu! Be on my side ..."

"I-, I'll have the deluxe version of the rabbit steak."

However, despite his pleas, he was met with heartless and piercing words in return.

Feo, whose hope had been running out when his last friend turned against him, lashed out in desperation, but he was no match for Mars in terms of strength.

A young man of the Fox Tribe was dragged away like a criminal.

At first, he resisted as much as he could, but gradually his voice faded, and finally, he cried out in earnest, begging for help.

The sight of him made the others feel as guilty as if they had abandoned a kitten. In the end, feeling sorry for him, they decided to split the bill.

By the way, it goes without saying that Feo's pleading appearance was not in the slightest bit cute and lovable like a kitten.

===============================

While Nozomu was leaving school with his friends, Lisa was walking alone down the corridor of the school.

The dim sunlight shone through the window, and her back was illuminated with a hint of melancholy.

There was no sign of people in the corridor as if the students had already left the school.

Previously, when class was over and she was about to leave with Ken and Camilla, Nozomu's figure jumped in front of her eyes.

She hadn't seen him in a few days, and the sight of him, accompanied by Anri, made Lisa feel an inexplicable rush of emotion and frustration.

She felt a clogging sensation in her chest that she had been feeling for a while. And a shiver ran through her whole body.

However, while trembling in the chills that were akin to emptiness, she told Ken and Camilla that she had business to attend to, and found herself following after Nozomu

What revived in Lisa's mind as she followed him were the things Nozomu told her just the day before the joint class that the rumors two years ago were lies.

(Do I want to confirm or deny it?)

Unsure of what she wanted to do, she followed him, wasted time without being able to say anything in front of his face, and then turned away.

"Lisa?"

Suddenly called out, Lisa slowly turned around, and there was the appearance of her best friend, Camilla, who was supposed to have left.

She was probably looking for Lisa, who had suddenly said she had something to do.

"Did you meet Nozomu?"

The tone of her voice was somewhat reserved, which was unlike Camilla, who was usually very cheerful and open-minded.

She was one of the people who had heard Nozomu's story that night, and she was one of the people who understood Lisa's feelings better than anyone else.

Perhaps it was thanks to her that Lisa was still able to maintain a little of her composure.

"We just met by chance..."

Lisa tried to deny Camilla's words, hoping that Camilla wouldn't realize how agitated her heart was.

However, her answer was clearly forced.

Camilla was well aware of Lisa's agitation.

Especially today, after she heard that "he" had been discharged from the hospital, Lisa had been absent-minded both at the school and in the dormitory.

She remained absent-minded even when her friends and juniors spoke to her and only noticed when Ken and Camilla spoke to her.

So Camilla had an idea of what Lisa's business was when she suddenly rushed out.

"……I see."

Camilla muttered so and started walking side by side with Lisa.

She was having a hard time judging what Nozomu had told her.

Until now, she had concluded that Nozomu was the cause of everything without any room for doubt.

(Are you still chasing your dreams?)

But now that Nozomu had told them the story and they had heard words from Irisdina and the others, their words were like ink dabbed on a white cloth, spreading doubts in their minds.

"……What's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

Camilla had been wondering why Ken's attitude toward Nozomu had changed so drastically recently, but she had also sensed that his behavior had become even stranger since the joint class.

He was indeed smiling at Lisa as usual, but there was a shadow that was beginning to blend in with his smile.

In the school, the underclassmen were excitedly talking about the combat training between Nozomu and Jihad, but when Ken heard about it, he had glared at the underclassmen with a stern expression.

Lisa was also sensitive to such a change in Ken, and lately, there were times when her shoulders somewhat trembled because of Ken.

Camilla peeked sideways at her best friend walking next to her.

"Hey, Camilla ..."

"... What's wrong?"

While facing ahead, Lisa suddenly called out to Camilla.

Camilla, who had been lost in thought, was somewhat startled but waited for Lisa's next words.

Lisa opened her mouth as if to try telling Camilla something.

"... N-nothing"

However, Lisa couldn't say anything and fell silent.

Camilla didn't know what to say either, and in the end, the two of them continued walking with their mouth closed.

==============================

The school building was illuminated by twilight.

It was eerily dark at the end of the corridor as the night began to fall.

At the end of the corridor surrounded by darkness, a shadow was watching the two girls as they left.

His teeth clenched tightly together and rattled.

"~! Nozomu, that bastard ..."

The voice that came out of his mouth was dark and horrifying.

To be honest, the shadow could not have predicted this development at all.

He had thought that he had completely crushed his opponent. The person he thought would disappear from the school eventually, but somehow he was still here.

Not only that, but many of his friends, such as Irisdina Francilt and the elf girl, who were outstanding in appearance, ability, and personality among the students, had come to gather beside him.

However, what irritated the shadow the most was the fact that he was able to get close to Jihad Roundel, an exceptional figure even in this school.

The original reason why the shadow wanted to expel Nozomu was that "Nozomu Bountis could not protect Lisa Hounds".

He couldn't hide his agitation and anger at the outright denial of this fact.

For the shadow, the existence of Nozomu Bountis should no longer exist.

He had to get rid of him somehow.

With this thought in mind, the shadow pondered whether there was any way to get rid of Nozomu.

However, it had already become difficult to corner Nozomu and force him to leave school voluntarily.

The fact that he was close to Irisdina and other influential people in the third year, as well as the underclassmen who had witnessed the combat training firsthand, made them believe that the rumors were lies.

The third and fourth-year students were still skeptical about it, but more than anything, Lisa herself had begun to follow Nozomu's figure with her own will.

"Fuck……"

In the corridor that was already enveloped with darkness, the shadow was alone, groaning grudgingly with his hands on his face.

The flames of jealousy that had been raging deep in his chest since that time when Lisa had chosen Nozomu once again lit up the shadow's eyes with a black light.

He didn't notice. The original purpose and the means to protect his precious one have already been replaced by hatred.

He didn't notice. Even if he were to polish his sword skills and magic prowess, his distorted nature and feelings were significantly kept him away from his beloved one.

And so, within his own small and closed world, he dreamed of unattainable happiness and outrageous ways of eliminating those who stood in his way.

The shadow, Ken Notis, slowly disappeared into the darkness while his face distorted ugly in the dark.