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

Chapter 8.2

The sun was already setting in the western sky when Nozomu stepped outside the martial arts garden.

The setting sun illuminated the white school building in vermilion.

Nozomu recalled his earlier training as he walked through the vermilion-colored corridors. A torrent of violent power raged throughout his body. The will of destruction was contained within that stream.

(I have to do something about it as fast as possible ......)

Nozomu felt that nothing was enough. There was still no sign of him being able to control the power of chaos, and he could not sense the presence of spirits.

In the labyrinth of thoughts that still haven't found a way out, the frustration in Nozomu's heart only grew.

"Fuh~ ..."

Aware of his own impatience, Nozomu took a deep breath.

With a quiet exhale, the urge to scratch his chest somewhat eased.

With his head still hot from the heat, Nozomu once again recalled the training he had just done.

"Even though I've been told that I have to deal with my unique skill myself ...... ~!"

Nozom felt a tingling sensation in his head.

At the same time, a fragmented image flashed through his mind.

(Tet, good work.)

(Gosh~. Why do I have to dress like this in human form~.)

(I already told you, didn't I? If you're the head of a country, you need to have the dignity to match it. Tet is a disappointment on the inside, so you have to do something about your appearance at least, for now, right?)

(Uuu, Mikael is terrible...)

"This is ....... Another one of her memories..."

The shadow of a woman who appeared to be Tiamat, who was shouting in protest, and the shadow of Mikael, who was letting out an astonished voice.

It was the memory of Tiamat that Nozomu had glimpsed before when he had lost himself in anger and in sync with Tiamat.

The two of them shone as if backlit, almost invisible to Nozomu. However, the fact that he could now see them, even if only slightly, whereas two weeks ago he could not see them at all, aggravated Nozomu's frustration even more.

(Am I gradually becoming more in sync with Tiamat? Or is it a sign that I am beginning able to control the [Soul-Sealing Chains]? No, the control time has hardly increased. Then what exactly happened ......)

Twenty percent anticipation and eighty percent anxiety mingled in Nozomu's chest.

The figures of Tiamat and Mikael disappeared like the ebbing tide in just a few seconds.

However, the anxiety and anticipation that welled up in Nozomu's chest were like mud, accumulating in the depths of his heart.

"Nozomu, have you finished your training?"

"Eh?"

Nozomu unintentionally leaked a shocked voice to the familiar voice that was suddenly heard.

Nozomu looked ahead and saw the main gate of Solminati Academy. Apparently, he had come close to the main gate while he was lost in thoughts.

And there were several students waiting for Nozomu at the main gate.

One of them, an ashen-haired girl, noticed Nozomu and approached him with a small wave of her hand.

"What are you all doing here?"

"What are you talking about? Of course, we are waiting for you."

The ashen-haired girl, Irisdina Francilt, asked Nozomu what he was talking about with a question mark on her face.

She put her hands on her hips and let out a sigh of dismay.

"We've got a lot of things to do here too. So, you don't have to worry about it."

Mars came out from behind Irisdina and the others.

Seeing that his white uniform was stained with dirt in several places, it seemed that he had been training at the training ground.

He is probably using some kind of magic combination of air and magic.

Seeing that Tima, Tom, and Mimuru were behind him, it was probably related to the magic and Qi combination technique.

"The sun is beginning to set, it's about time for us to go home."

Shina, who came a little later from behind Irisdina, urged Nozomu in an indifferent tone. Apparently, waiting for Nozomu is a given for them.

"I think Shina is right, we better leave before they close the main gate."

Irisdina looked up at the western sky while holding her gray hair that was fluttering in the cold wintry wind

Yes, her hair was still ashen white.

Irisdina's glossy black hair had completely lost its color due to the excessive use of magic power to stop the out-of-control Nozomu.

According to Norn, who examined her body, there was nothing wrong with her body and her hair would return to its original color after some time.

Nevertheless, every time Nozomu looked at her hair, which had faded to ashen white, he felt a tightening sensation in his heart.

"By the way, how's the training going? You're not doing anything reckless again, are you?"

"No, it's not as reckless as you think..."

Irisdina drew closer to Nozomu while wrinkling her brow.

Unlike her hair, which has turned gray, Irisdina's eyes have hardly changed color.

Her obsidian-like eyes mysteriously sucked in Nozomu's gaze.

Nozomu's cheeks were flushed with vermilion as he gazed at her from such a close distance.

Meanwhile, Irisdina, who had detected Nozomu's hidden exhaustion, deepened the wrinkles between her eyebrows.

"What are you talking about with such an exhausted face? You've done something reckless again, haven't you!?"

"Nozomu, sit down there for a minute. I've been telling you this every day for the past two weeks, but it looks like it's still not enough."

Furthermore, Shina, who had been watching them from the side, joined them.

Nozomu was made to sit on the cobblestone pavement without question, and the two standing in front of him questioned him about the details of today's training session.

As Nozomu told them the details of his training, Irisdina and Shina began to shake their shoulders.

A dark shadow began to appear behind them. They seemed to be very angry.

On the other hand, Nozomu, while wiping the greasy sweat on his forehead, began to talk about the contents of his training.

"Seet? It's not as reckless as you think, right?"

""Which part!?""

When he had finished speaking at one point, two Yasha exploded in anger.

The next thing that hit Nozomu was a muddy stream of abusive words.

"Nozomu, you are one step away from being seriously injured every single day! What are you thinking!?"

"Well, it was healed so I don't have any injuries..."

"Don't tell me you think it won't matter once your injuries are healed? No matter how great a sword is, it still has a life span. No matter how much you repair it, it will break if you continue to use it recklessly. Don't tell me you think that won't happen to you?"

"N-, no, I didn't mean to go that far..."

"Oh, I'm sure you do. I know you understand what we mean. But even if you understand it in your head, it means nothing if you don't act on it."

"Rather, it's worse because you still do it even though you understand it. Even a bird, once attacked by a snake, will not rest in the same place a second time."

"Are you saying that my head is even worse than a bird's, by any chance?"

"No, it's rather disrespectful to the birds."

"You'd better reflect on what you've learned so far."

"... Well, at least his records are improving~."

Nozomu's small protest was firmly silenced by the two.

After that, Nozomu kept getting scolded by them.

Mars and the others watched the three of them warmly.

"Well, he's always been reckless."

"After all, that part of him is always strange."

Feo agreed with Irisdina and Shina's fierce protests, and Mars sighed at Nozomu's airheadedness.

Meanwhile, Tima was flustered, her gaze darting back and forth between the three of them.

"Um, shouldn't we stop them?"

"Nozomu reaps what he sows, so let it be. Irisdina and Shina are so worried about him that they can't help but nag him like that."

"Nihihihi~, Shina's getting cute, isn't she?~"

"Mimuru, you have a bad taste."

Mimuru smiled devilishly at the change in her best friend, who had recently become aware of her love for him.

Perhaps she was thinking about how to tease her afterward.

Tom was aware of Mimuru's deviousness but didn't try to stop her, probably because he knew that Shina would counterattack later.

While Nozomu was scolded by two beautiful girls, and Mars and the others enjoyed it like a snack, at that moment, a red-haired girl called out to them from behind.

"Yahho~. Nozomu, are you alive?"

It was Lisa Hounds, a childhood friend of Nozomu's, who called out to him.

Her once long ponytail had been cut off, and her hair was now trimmed shorter than her shoulders.

There was also Camilla next to her.

"Pretty much, yes. Camilla's on her way home, too?"

"Yes. Anyway, what are you guys doing?"

"Well, you know... please don't ask."

A male student sat up straight and two beautiful girls stood in front of him. Seen from the side, Nozomu could only be seen as a criminal caught and publicly exposed.

"Why are you here, Lisa?"

"I was just doing some self-study. It's not strange, isn't it? More importantly, we should hurry up, or the main gate will be closed."

Lisa casually took Nozom's arm and made him stand up, so naturally, his body and Lisa's were in close contact.

Seeing the two of them, a vein appeared on Irisdina's forehead.

"Lisa-kun, I don't think you should get too close to him, don't you think?"

"Hmm? I think it won't be a problem if it's just this much. I'm his childhood friend, and we're friends. It's normal."

Irisdina chastised Lisa in a calm and demanding tone. Shina didn't say anything, but she showed her protest with an absolute zero stare.

Lisa, on the other hand, was taking the intimidation from the two of them as if it were a breeze.

Instead, she put even more power into her own hand, which was holding Nozomu's arm, even tighter.

Their bodies, which had been clinging to each other, were now getting even closer. At the same time, Irisdina and Shina's gazes turned fiercer.

Nozomu's entire body stiffened as he felt the intimidation as if having an ice spear thrust into his neck.

"Oh, are you worried about what people will think? It's fine. I know, there will be a lot of noise, but it's right before school dismissal time, and there are hardly any students around."

It's been two weeks since Nozomu and Lisa made up. The story is now known throughout the school.

Naturally, there were many rumors about the circumstances of the reconciliation.

From Lisa's change of heart, her attempts to switch from Ken to Nozomu, to Nozomu wanting to reconcile with Lisa, and so on. Many different rumors spread widely depending on the grade and class.

However, both Nozomu and Lisa were now training every day without paying any attention to such rumors.

Nozomu tried to control Tiamat's powers, while Lisa pursued her own dream.

Now that each of them had started their own path, they were no longer bothered by the unnecessary noise around them.

Instead, Lisa would occasionally tease Irisdina and Shina in this way.

A sigh naturally escaped from Nozomu's mouth.

"Haa ....... Lisa, could you step away for the time being?"

"Nn, if Nozomu says so."

He urged Lisa to step away in order to appease the Yashas in front of him.

Lisa, too, when told by Nozomu, obediently separated her body from him.

Irisdina and Shina also retracted their hostility as soon as Nozomu and Lisa moved away from each other.

With school dismissal time approaching, Nozomu and the others quickly made their way to the main gate.

As they approached the main gate, the number of students leaving school gradually increased.

Nozomu then noticed that there were more students remaining at the school than he had expected.

"There are quite a lot of students."

"Nozomu, don't you remember? It's almost time for the Opening Festival, isn't it?"

"Opening Festival? Ah, now that you mention it, you're right ..."

Opening Festival.

It is the day when Solminati Academy opens its door to the public once a year. On that day, many visitors come from inside and outside of the town to see what the school is like, which is usually something they would not normally see.

At the same time, the town also holds a variety of events to take advantage of the event. It was a kind of festival.

However, the purpose of the festival actually comes after the daytime is over.

On the night of the festival, a party is held at the school for dignitaries from various countries, to which the best students from each grade are invited. The main purpose is for key figures from each country to recruit these students. Each country competes with each other to get the best students after graduation.

The students also look for a suitable figure for their career path at the party. In other words, it was a kind of job hunting party.

"To be honest, we've never really had much to do with the festival."

"At best, it's just a big party in the name of a festival."

"Besides, we had our fair share of things to do, so we couldn't take it easy..."

Aside from Nozomu and Mars, who were always in the tenth class as inferior students, Irisdina, who has always been at the top of the overall class, has naturally attended parties every year.

Although she was used to socializing, the people she dealt with were all important people she was already acquainted with. That's why she said she couldn't let her guard down.

Perhaps she has her own thoughts about the party, but Irisdina's dignified expression was overshadowed by a slightly melancholy atmosphere.

Lisa nodded her head in agreement with Irisdina's opinion.

"They'll say things like, 'Yes-yes, by all means, come to our country!', but it still kind of gives us the creeps, isn't it?"

"Lisa-san, do you ever think about serving any country?"

"Hmm? My dream is to become a real adventurer, and then I'm not sure if I want to serve a particular country ....... I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have a connection, though. What about you, Sheena?"

"Hmm? My dream is to be a real adventurer, and since that's the case, I'm not sure if I want to serve a particular country... Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a connection, though. What about you, Shina?"

"I'm the same. I really need help from other countries to get my homeland back, because it's not enough for us elves to do it by ourselves... But, frankly, I'd prefer not to be around people who look at me like they're licking my body."

Lisa, who was in the first class, and Shina, who was in the second class, naturally had participated in the party before.

They seem to have their own problems.

"The students who stay until just before dismissal time are probably party participants who have never been to a party before. They're probably not used to parties, so they're desperately studying to figure out how not to be rude."

Nozomu looked around the school and observed the other students leaving the school.

When he looked closely, some of them were walking while thinking, others were reading from a handbook of etiquette for ladies as they left the school.

They were all trying their best to make as good an impression as possible.

"They all look like they're having a hard time."

"What are you talking about? This time you're coming to the party too."

"......E-, eh?"

Nozomu's stuttering reply was met with a sigh from all of his friends present.

Nozomu, who could not understand why his friends were sighing, scratched his head at the subtle atmosphere that filled the area.

"You performed so well in the special training and you went on a rampage against Jihad-sensei at the martial arts garden. I don't think there's any reason why you wouldn't be invited. In fact, I'm sure that Jihad-sensei would be more than willing to have you participate."

"In fact, your name was on the list of participants. Didn't you see it?"

"... Where did you see it?"

"It's on the bulletin board next to the main gate. By the way, it has been posted for a week.

"It's on the bulletin board next to the main gate. By the way, it has been posted there for a week. You were mumbling and mulling things over on your way to school, though, so you didn't notice it at all. You were probably too preoccupied with your training session with Zonne-dono, weren't you?"

Apparently, Nozomu was so focused on his training that he was completely unaware that he was a party participant.

The stares from his friends turned to dismay.

"No way. I'm not supposed to be out in public, am I? You see, I have a spiritual existence inside me..."

Perhaps unable to bear the indescribable stares, Nozomu at least tried to resist.

However, what Nozomu said was not wrong. He was like a walking bomb. Normally, he shouldn't appear in public too much.

However, that question was denied rather easily.

"No matter how we look at it, Nozomu-kun's body is still that of a human. If that's the case, then you should have no problem going out in public. Even Zonne-sama said he couldn't see right through your soul, and I think the chances of you being found out are slim."

"Rather, I think the purpose is to proactively get you known and get you recognized, don't you think? Maybe to increase the number of allies that might be willing to cooperate with Nozomu and ask them to lend a hand when the time comes."

"I'm sure that's what they're trying to do. In any case, Nozomu is already on the radar of the higher-ups after his fight with Jihad-sensei. I think they would have pulled you out sooner or later."

"............"

Nozomu's eyes widened in admiration at the inferences that were being made in quick succession.

"W-, why are you in a daze now.?

"No, I just thought, not only Iris but also Shina and Lisa as well to tell me such a thing..."

Considering the balance and movements of those in power, for Irisdina, who has been raised in an aristocratic society, it made sense for her to say such a statement.

However, Lisa was originally a commoner and had no connection to such an aristocratic world until she came to this school.

Also, it was hard to imagine that Shina, an elf with a strong sense of isolation, would have a sensibility such as knowing the balance of power between humans.

In other words, it was only after coming to this town that Lisa and Shina came to be able to think in this way.

Nozomu was genuinely amazed at the two of them.

"I think you're just being too cautious, Nozomu-kun."

"'I think you ought to think a little more about how you are viewed by those around you."

Just as he was feeling amazed, he was suddenly bombarded with words.

Nozomu could only nod his head to Shina and Irisdina's merciless remarks.

Looking back, Nozomu himself has been doing nothing but training since he came to this school and has not been able to hone his sensibility like the girls.

Nozomu was still on his knees while wondering if this situation was also the result of his low sensibility...

"But Nozomu, this sensibility has nothing to do with the fact that you forgot to check the party participants, right?"

"Guh~!"

His childhood friend, with whom he had spent the most time together, had just finished him off with her words.

Nozomu fell to the ground and wept tearfully as if there was no more life left in him.

"Even though it's a great opportunity, somehow, I don't feel like attending the party..."

Perhaps it was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but his energy was already drained before he even got to the party.

"Well, the party is a bore in some ways, but the food is definitely top-notch. I don't think it would hurt to try some of it."

"...In that case, I might be able to look forward to it."

Irisdina comforted Nozomu with a smile on her cheek.

Nozomu wondered if eating would help him restore his energy, but he frankly felt that anything that would help him get back on his feet at this point would be fine.

Perhaps feeling a little more energized, Nozomu stood up with a smile on his face.

Shina let out a sigh and Lisa shrugged her shoulders as if she couldn't help it, but it was a somewhat heartwarming scene.

The atmosphere turned warm. However, the friendly atmosphere was destroyed by a bomb thrown by someone.

"By~the~way~, there will be dancing at the party. Who is Nozomu going to dance with?"

The bomb that was thrown into the room detonated, and a soundless impact hit the four of them.

Irisdina, Shina, and Lisa freeze with silent smiles on their faces. On the other hand, Nozomu shrank like a turtle from the intimidation, which had increased even more than before.

And Feo, who threw the bomb, quickly evacuated and turned into a spectator.

In a sense, he was a man who didn't betray expectations, reading the air and then ignoring it with all his might.

Nozomu wanted to take him down right away, but the current situation was so close to the start of the war. His crisis-sensing ability was warning him that he might die if he made a wrong move.

"Ah right, I remember that they were handing out guidebooks for party participants in the office..."

"Alright, I'll go for a bit! You guys can go home first!"

"Ah~! Wait~!"

Nozomu quickly took advantage of the words that Mars let out.

He raised his hand and dashed towards the office as fast as he could as if he had forgotten the exhaustion he had just experienced.

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

Irisdina returned to the Francilt mansion, entered her room, and fell straight onto her bed.

"I've done it ..."

Such words escaped from her mouth as she buried her face in the fluffy bed.

What she remembered in her mind was the sermon she gave to Nozomu after school.

"Uuu, I didn't mean to say that much..."

To be clear, she had no intention of reprimanding Nozomu in such a strong tone.

She knew from her time with Nozomu that his way of thinking about training was somewhat different from others, and she also knew that he was now eager to control Tiamat's power.

But Irisdina had lost her patience.

On the outside, Nozomu's expression seemed normal. However, Irisdina sensed the deep fatigue and exhaustion hidden behind his expression.

Most importantly, Nozomu's reaction when he saw her ashen hair made his attitude even stiffer.

"Even though I was happy..."

Irisdina turned her face sideways, which she had buried in the bed, and entwined her fingers in her own hair, which had turned gray. Her hair that had lost its color and luster caught in her fingers.

Roughened hair. But it was very dear to her.

She was proud of her black hair, just like her mother's, but she was also proud that she had been able to protect Nozomu even though she had lost the color of her hair.

However, this hair had now become a source of pain for Nozomu.

"To show such disgraceful behavior until the end ...... It was unsightly of me..."

Irisdina became even more depressed as she recalled her jealousy towards Lisa for taking Nozomu's hand.

She is happy that Nozomu and Lisa have reconciled.

However, she also noticed that a deep bond has been re-established between Nozomu and Lisa, even if it's no longer shown on the surface.

It's not a passionate emotion like the sun, but a gentle connection reminiscent of the moon.

She couldn't help but feel envious of that brilliance, which reminded her of the bond between her own father and mother.

Nozomu and Lisa had decided to go their separate ways, and in the past two weeks, there was no sign that they would ever return to a sweet relationship like a lover.

Still, the feeling of "uncertainty......" continued to swirl deep within his chest, along with impatience and pain.

Irisdina once again buried her face in her bed and closed her eyes as hard as she could, then relaxed with an exhale.......

Irisdina was lost in thought once again, feeling her dark emotions waning along with her sandstorm-like vision and her pain.

"What Nozomu is trying to do is to gain complete control of Tiamat's power ....... Then what I can do is ......."

Irisdina was almost powerless when it came to his training to control Tiamat's power.

She didn't have the power to sense spirits like Shina.

But there was something only she could do.

"Alright"

After she bounced out of bed, she went to her desk and slowly picked up a pen.

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

While Nozomu and the others were falling into a deep sleep. Jihad was in his office late at night checking the list of dignitaries from various countries who would participate in the opening festival.

Applications for participation had been received from many countries, including Forsina and the Cremazone Empire.

"Jihad-sensei, a new list has been delivered to you. This brings the total number of party participants to about 200 people."

"As is the case every year, the number grows every year.'

While having a serious expression, Jihad confirmed the names on the list.

From those he knew to the names he saw for the first time, he slammed one by one into his head.

"It has been about seven years since the first group of students graduated. Gradually, the graduates are gaining recognition. I suppose it means that the existence of this school is now more widely recognized."

"Perhaps the fact that more and more people from the Suimahya Union are joining us is proof of that."

The Suimahya Union was originally founded by the survivors of the countries that were destroyed during the Great Invasion 10 years ago.

Due to this history, there were some dignitaries who did not have a favorable impression toward the western countries, and there were some negative impressions toward the Solminati Academy at the time of its establishment, which was founded under the leadership of a western country, Forsina.

Also, there was a name of an elven elder on the list of participants.

They have been living quietly near the border between the Suimahya Union and the Cremazone Empire since they lost their home forest in the Great Invasion.

Even after losing their homeland, they remained isolationist and did not try to get involved with other races.

They may be changing little by little. With that in mind, Jihad flipped through the list of names.

At that moment, a name on the list caught his eye.

'Egrod Fabran'

One of the most prestigious aristocrats in Forsina. Jihad raised his eyebrows at the name of the head of the Fabran Household, which was comparable to the Francilt Household.