Episode 72: An Unexpected Side

*Summary

Just when I thought I had done it with Eleanore, it turns out I hadn’t, but I was covered in bug bites anyway, and then I thought I was being forced into solo action for the Knight Department’s naval training, only to be turned into a bounty target. This is bad.

***

The students who finished lining up began gathering in front of the small boats assigned to each pair.

The small boats deployed on the sea had apparently been reinforced with magic in advance, set up with a mechanism that wouldn’t easily sink.

Each boat was equipped with a simple magical cannon, which could be used to keep “enemy” boats in check, or you could sink them with your own magic, or you could engage in close combat and hijack other ships.

Reaching the goal would clear the mission regardless of anything else.

Faced with such a relatively free battlefield, the students were forming strategies in pairs and discussing how to divide up the work.

Meanwhile, I waited alone for the starting signal.

…Waaah!

Participating alone is too harsh!

I want to have fun with everyone too!

“Arcs-kun, are you okay?”

As I sat hugging my knees, staring at the horizon and feeling sorry for myself, our original protagonist, Emma Helena, called out to me.

As expected of a protagonist, she doesn’t neglect to care for the loner.

“…I might not be quite okay, actually.”

“Oh my. Well, it’s true that everyone will probably be targeting you…”

Yeah, really.

For some reason I’ve ended up in a position like a bounty head.

What’s with “defeat Arcs and get an unconditional reward~”?

Kiril-sensei is being way too unreasonable.

If this was going to happen, I wish she’d told me beforehand.

Though it’s also partly my fault for freely wandering around because I’m a special student.

“But it’s because she recognizes your abilities, so it’ll definitely be okay!”

“You think so…? Emma, you won’t target me, will you?”

“…It’ll be okay!”

Her eyes as she gave a thumbs up were swimming, even though we hadn’t even gone out to sea yet.

Waaah, everyone’s an enemy, everyone!

Well, after what was said, there’s no way they’d choose not to target me!

I’m like a bonus enemy character where you get treasure for defeating me!

“U-um, excuse me”

A hesitant voice called out.

When I looked in that direction, I could see a somewhat downcast girl walking toward us.

“Ah! If it isn’t Erett-chan~!”

“U-ue. E-…Emma, too close…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! I mean, you came all the way to see us!”

Before I could accurately identify the person, Emma hugged her with her usual bouncy manner.

The girl hunched her back looking very uncomfortable, but seeing that introverted appearance, I realized.

Erett Dion.

She was someone on the same team during the cooperative entrance exam.

A skilled swordswoman, a user of dark magic. And possessing the rather peaky unique magic Celestia called “Charm.”

I’d passed her in the hallways and seen her being dragged around by Emma, but come to think of it, I hadn’t really had much opportunity to exchange words with her properly.

“Erett-san, it’s been a while.”

“Hiyea! A-Arcs-san. Yes, I-I’m surprised you remembered me.”

“Of course I remember you.”

When I gave a cheerful butler smile, she spoke in a frightened tone as if glared at by a snake. She returned a strained laugh with a “hehe” to my words.

Why…? Well, since enrollment I have been in the troublemaker category in various ways, so I can understand wanting to keep your distance.

“U-um. A-actually, I have something to d-discuss with A-Arcs-san.”

“Hm? With me?”

“It’s rare for Erett to speak up on her own initiative!”

When Erett timidly opened her mouth, a slightly surprised feeling came out in my voice, and Emma let slip somewhat harsh words.

Well, it’s true I can’t imagine her being proactive about talking.

“A-actually, um, I-I want you to do something about that person—”

“—Hey. Erett.”

In the middle of Erett’s words, a heavy, sharp voice fell.

She let out a weak “Hiiiii” and crouched down, then curled up.

…That person?

As I turned my gaze to the owner of the voice while floating a question mark at those words.

“…Isn’t that Razer-san?”

“Tch… why the hell are you here?”

Razer… the problem child who once caused a disturbance at Eleanore’s birthday celebration.

Even now he’s displaying quite the problem child nature, having challenged me to a duel on the first day of enrollment.

That person was looking down at us with an extremely displeased expression.

As usual, he was also in a swimsuit, but his exposed ripped physique and the scars carved all over his body radiated even more intimidation.

“That’s my line. You were just calling Erett-san, but what are you trying to do to her?”

“What…? Obviously it’s ’cause she and I are training partners. We’re supposed to be deciding strategy, but she ran off somewhere.”

“Eh, you two are in the same class??”

When I involuntarily turned around, Erett modestly lowered her eyes.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t Erett-chan always crossing swords with him…?” Emma added vaguely.

So there was that kind of connection…

Well, both of them are certainly people skilled with the sword, but I didn’t realize it was like that.

“B-but. R-Razer-san, you’re being u-unreasonable… Fighting aggressively, seizing opponent’s ships…”

“Hah? You think I’d lose to those bastards?”

“Th-that’s not it, but… b-but, fighting is still dangerous…”

“You’re a swordswoman too, is it okay to be so spineless?”

From how Erett was surprisingly arguing back, you could see they did indeed have a certain level of relationship, but the offensive was consistently on Razer’s side.

She was flustered by his glaring eyes.

“If you understand, then hurry up and prepare—”

“Wait a moment.”

I stopped him with my hand just as he seemed about to drag Erett away.

“…This doesn’t concern you.”

“No. Since I’ve witnessed it, it does concern me. Helping a fellow student in trouble is normal.”

“Tch… you’re annoying. Are you sure you can afford to act so leisurely? Going solo like you’re looking down on everyone.”

“It’s the teacher’s instruction. Well, I’ll do what I can. Fortunately—even alone, I can beat you.”

“…Hah?”

“Eh?”

We closed in to a distance where our noses almost touched, glaring at each other.

Somehow when I talk with Razer, blood rushes to my head.

An explosive atmosphere hung in the air, and as we didn’t break eye contact—

“Stop, stoooop!!”

At that moment, a cheerful voice cut in.

A slender arm thrust forcefully between Razer and me.

The one who raised her voice was Emma, her eyebrows raised in anger.

“Geez, you two! The training hasn’t even started yet, you know? Don’t be so on edge!”

Puffing out her cheeks, Emma scolded us like a mother.

At that momentum, both Razer and I fell silent.

“Good grief. I’m taking Erett-chan for a while! Cool your heads a bit. Come on, let’s go!”

“U-ue!?”

Saying that, she forcibly pulled Erett’s hand and walked away quickly.

At the turbulent development, my head cooled down too.

…Is this kind of forceful pushiness the protagonist-like power she possesses? Or is it her original nature?

“…Well, she said that, so let’s calm down a bit—”

Now that my mood had settled, I looked at Razer while speaking in a calm tone.

“…”

He was silently staring intently at one point. When I looked at his face thinking something was strange… not just his cheeks, but his entire face was dyed bright red.

Eh, sunburn? That fast?

My thoughts clunked along. A sense of déjà vu crossed my chest, and I followed his line of sight.

The one there was—Emma.

…No way.

Did that guy Razer fall for Emma at first sight!?

***

“Everyone ready!?”

Kiril-sensei’s spirited voice rang out.

“Combat is free! You may sink your opponents! But don’t die! That’s all!”

The students all tensed up at once.

Eventually, sensei swung her hand down greatly.

“—Begin!!!”

At that moment, the naval combat training commenced.