Episode 40: “It’s Been a While”

“Hahahaha!! Arcs, you’re quite something!! That was even more impressive than I’d heard!!”

A shock landed on my back with a smack.

At the same time, I heard Kiril-sensei’s hearty laughter.

“Thank you very much. Though I’m still immature”

“Indeed! That’s right, keep training!! But know that such humility is picking a fight with the majority of people in knight positions!!”

Ah, so Kiril-sensei says things like that.

But well, they do say excessive humility can be a roundabout insult.

It’s not like I’m confident that I’m that strong, but I need to be careful not to invite resentment.

“However, to defeat that Razer, the top student truly is extraordinary”

“…Is Razer-san famous? He said something about being a Seeker”

Since I’d only just heard the name Razer again after a long time, I had no idea about his accomplishments.

From the way the spectators were strangely stirred up and how he gave that ridiculously cool introduction before the duel, I figured he must have done something impressive.

“You don’t know? He’s a Seeker who even reached A-rank, you know?”

“How high a level is that?”

“Let’s see, even if you searched all of the capital, there’d only be enough to count on your fingers!!”

…Eh, isn’t that pretty amazing?

Think about how many people there are in the capital.

I don’t know what the Seeker professional population is among them, but it’s definitely more than in some random city…

Thinking about it that way, could he be one of the top people in the world…?

“Perhaps I defeated someone quite significant”

“It’s difficult to simply compare the strength of knights and explorers, but… well, he had a perfect sword technique score just like you!! You can definitely say you defeated a strong opponent!!”

Perfect score.

I suppose his sword technique earlier was certainly worthy of that. It was far removed from knight forms, but ultimately if you’re strong that’s all that matters for now.

…It’s a far cry from when he swung at me back then.

I hope his mental state has grown proportionally.

He seemed strangely fixated on me, so if this defeat causes him to hold another grudge against me, that would be unbearable.

Well, even if that happens, at least we’re not in the same class so we won’t have deep involvement going forward.

“…By the way, Kiril-sensei”

“What!!”

“You just said that he and I both got perfect scores, but is it okay to reveal exam scores like that?”

Silence.

When I glanced over, Kiril-sensei’s expression was frozen with her mouth hanging open.

“…Pretend you didn’t hear that!!”

…No, that’s unreasonable.

***

“Arcs!”

Just as I was trying to escape the crowd in the plaza and take a breath, someone suddenly called my name.

“Ah, Eleanore-sama”

In the direction of the voice was the figure of our young lady.

Uncharacteristically for her, she was running toward me while breathing heavily.

“Haa… Wh-what’s this about a duel?!”

Eleanore spoke with beads of sweat on her forehead, her eyebrows drooping yet her tone forceful.

…Did she hear about me having a duel?

Had it spread even to the nobles?

Well, students in noble course uniforms had already gathered in droves at the plaza earlier.

“…A classmate challenged me. It’s already over though”

I didn’t mention Razer’s name.

…How should I put it, I thought his safety would be at risk.

I don’t know if she remembers him, but there’s no telling what would happen if she recalled the past.

“Ah… I see”

At my words, a slightly disappointed emotion appeared on her expression.

Before I could feel puzzled about why, Eleanore immediately grasped my hand.

“A duel… Arcs, you’re amazing from the very first day”

“No, this was beyond my control… I never even imagined I’d be challenged”

I had vaguely thought I didn’t want to stand out too much, but having come this far, that probably won’t come true anymore.

Maybe I should just go all out and act like a celebrity.

I thought that much, but well, as long as I can live peacefully that’s fine, so I’d like to be spared any troublesome matters.

“I ended up standing out strangely, but how about you, Eleanore-sama? You must be bewildered with so many strangers around…”

“Me? I… nothing particularly happened”

“Do you think you’ll fit in with the class?”

“Let’s see… I’m not sure yet, but I made one conversation partner so I think I’ll be fine”

I ended up asking rather overprotective questions but… I see, she made a friend!

This makes me happy too.

After all, Eleanore had hardly interacted with anyone her own age besides me.

Combined with her peculiarity, I was worried she might end up isolated, but it seems that concern will likely prove unfounded.

Setting aside Adalbert, I accidentally had a father-like impression, but well, I’m glad, I’m glad.

“—Well then, I need to go to the infirmary, so I’ll excuse myself”

After talking about various things, I wrapped up the conversation.

“Eh… could it be you’re injured?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that after a duel, I’m told to go there as a precaution. Thanks to healing magic I’m perfectly fine though”

To the worried Eleanore, I exaggeratedly moved my body to appeal that I was healthy and sound in body.

If I said infirmary, she’d naturally be surprised. She’d wonder what happened, but actually it’s just showing my face.

She stared intently at the arm I’d rolled up my sleeve to show her.

I wonder if she understood that I’m unharmed.

“Well then, see you later. At the fountain”

Confirming the promise we made in the morning, I waved to her and left that place.

***

“Wait, Anciness-san, you’re too fast…”

Right after Arcs left, Colette came wobbling over.

Despite having chased after Eleanore, there was quite a time lag, but this too was unavoidable.

The moment Eleanore heard the rumor that he was having a duel, she ran to the plaza at a speed that would surprise even warriors and monsters.

She left even Colette, who was right beside her, behind… and partly because Colette lacked exercise to begin with, it took time to catch up.

However, as if not noticing Colette who had worked hard to come here, Eleanore was dejectedly drooping her shoulders.

“Um… did you get to see Arcs-san?”

“Ah, Colette-san. Yes, I saw him… but…”

Her words trailed off awkwardly.

“What’s wrong? Could it be he lost—”

“How could that be? There’s no one in this academy who could defeat Arcs”

“…I see”

Before Colette could finish speaking, Eleanore overlapped her words with an expressionless face.

At the abyss in those eyes and the too-definitive tone, Colette could only voice her agreement.

“Then why are you so disappointed?”

“That’s… of course, because I couldn’t see Arcs fighting…”

Emanating an aura of tremendous grief, Eleanore lowered her voice.

“I wanted to capture his every movement with these eyes… Besides, seeing Arcs’s achievements in his uniform—I’d obviously want to see that. …In these aspects, the academy really is inconvenient”

“…Yes”

Even when asked for empathy with “isn’t it”…

Colette pursed her lips in such a manner.

“Fufu. But I’m glad I got to see Arcs after such a long time”

As if changing completely, joy suffused her expression.

One might think her emotional range was already broken, but Colette conversed without exposing such thoughts.

“A long time… didn’t you see him this morning?”

“Of course I saw him. But after that, for several hours I not only didn’t exchange words, I wasn’t even in the same space as him, you know?”

Eleanore said it as if it were natural.

Without a hint of hesitation or joking atmosphere.

Colette now wondered if her own sense of time had gone mad.

(What kind of extraordinary person is this Arcs… to make someone like this…)

Toward her friend’s beloved whom she had yet to meet, Colette felt a certain sense of awe.