After that encounter with Ren,
The Intermediate Swordsmanship class finally began.
There was definitely a stark difference from the beginner class.
Most of the students were already skilled swordsmen and seniors.
They listened to Professor Chen Xi’s lecture with practiced ease.
“The foundation of swordsmanship is physical strength. And the body that supports it is the most important. A weak body makes it difficult to wield aura.”
She emphasized the importance of a strong physique.
From the very first lesson, just like in the game, intense physical training was carried out.
I was already out of breath, which showed just how grueling her training really was.
“Mmm~ Looks like all that brutal grinding back in first year paid off, huh? Even the newbies joining today don’t look half bad.”
Professor Chen Xi looked around at the students with a satisfied smile as she spoke.
Even though this was the first intermediate class for the new students today,
They had all been qualified to join the intermediate level from the start, so they were keeping up without much trouble.
Among them, one student stood out in particular.
“Wow, you really are a monster. You’re moving like that and not even sweating.”
“……”
Ren, with her usual stoic expression.
Professor Chen Xi was impressed by her movements and didn’t hold back her praise.
Not only her, but even the students who had already been taking the intermediate class were left speechless in shock.
It was, in a way, a natural reaction.
Her level was High Expert.
Even at Ella Academy, there were only a handful of students who reached the Expert level before graduation.
And if she’s already at the high level… nothing more needs to be said.
She was already someone who bore the title of Hero.
Once someone reached that level of ability, even seniors had no room to assert their pride.
All they could do was look on with awe in their eyes.
…Still, that Ren girl. She’s completely different from when she talks to me.
When she spoke with me, her expressions were varied and her emotions were rich.
But with Professor Chen Xi, and with the other students as well, it was the complete opposite.
Occasionally, some students would try to talk to her during class, but each time she only replied with short answers like “Yes” or “No”.
Her gaze was cold and devoid of any emotion, as if feelings didn’t exist within her at all.
That machine-like demeanor made me feel uneasy.
According to Ron, her emotions were definitely returning, no doubt about that.
But the way she looked now reminded me of when we first met.
I found myself staring quietly at her as she trained.
And then, as if she had sensed my gaze, Ren met my eyes.
“……?”
Tilting her head, Ren exchanged looks with me.
Then her frozen, cold expression slowly melted into a gentle smile.
She gave a small wave in response, and I quickly turned my head away.
…Yeah, seems like there’s nothing wrong with her emotions.
But the stares from around me were intense.
Maybe it was because I had just been greeted by the Hero, someone they saw as an icon.
Thanks to that, all my efforts to stay inconspicuous had gone completely to waste.
“What’s this? Did you two make up?”
“…Huh?”
Now even Professor Chen Xi quietly approached me and asked with a subtle tone.
“I mean… seeing you two spar last week, something didn’t feel right.”
“…Yeah. I guess you could say we made up.”
“Is that so? That’s good to hear. Friends should get along, don’t you think?”
The professor gave me a big grin as she patted me on the back.
Though it wasn’t exactly reconciliation…. more like her memory had been wiped…
Still, since the professor seemed to be interpreting things positively, I decided to just let it slide.
“You and that girl are both definitely heading to the advanced class after the midterm evaluations.”
“…Me too?”
“Of course. Why not? It’s obvious you’re holding back during training.”
“……”
I had only been trying to stay under the radar.
But as expected, deceiving the eyes of someone at Master level like her was no easy task.
“I’m not going to scold you for taking it easy, but at least put in the effort for the midterms, alright?”
“…Got it.”
.
.
.
And just like that, the swordsmanship class neared its end.
As a finale, sparring between students was held.
Everyone seemed eager to spar with the Hero, but for some reason, Ren gently turned down every request.
…Honestly, I’d kind of seen this coming.
Clang!
The sound of two swords clashing rang out sharply.
“…So, after turning everyone else down, you come to me?”
“We didn’t get to spar last week because I was late.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to spar with the other students? It’s the intermediate class…everyone’s pretty skilled.”
“They’re still not as good as you, Ain.”
“……”
I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to take that as a compliment or not.
After refusing everyone else, Ren ended up sparring with me.
Naturally, the attention of everyone around us shifted our way. It couldn’t be helped.
…It gave me a headache.
Still, this is way better than our first spar.
It was the same place, but both she and I were different from back then.
From the start, she had lost her memory, so she wouldn’t even remember sparring with me here.
I was worried Professor Chen Xi might bring it up unnecessarily.
Besides that, countless other thoughts filled my head.
They were foolish things to be thinking about during a spar, but—
It had become a reflex, a habit that surfaced whenever something troubled me.
“…Ugh.”
Clang!
A lapse in focus like this could be fatal in a fight.
Especially against someone who was on a higher level than me.
With a swift strike, Ren knocked my sword to the ground.
“…Ain. Is something wrong? You don’t seem focused on the match.”
“Sorry. My mind wandered for a second.”
“When you’re sparring, you need to concentrate on the spar.”
“Really, I’m sorry.”
“…Then, should we take a break?”
“There’s no real need to…”
But it seemed she had already made up her mind. Ren had lowered her sword and was walking over to the resting area.
As she sat down, she patted the spot next to her, motioning for me to join.
In the end, I reluctantly walked over and sat beside her.
The stares from those around us grew even more intense.
Professor Chen Xi’s subtle glances were no exception.
…Maybe we should’ve just kept sparring.
“So, what’s bothering you?”
Tap.
Ren leaned her head on my shoulder as she asked.
Everyone around us gasped again at the sight.
I did too.
…Seriously. Anyone would think we’re dating.
I wondered how everyone was seeing me now.
Some random guy had the Hero clinging to his side.
Just thinking about the rumors that would soon spread through the Academy made my head spin.
But even so, I didn’t push her away.
…I’d seen her on the verge of tears last time when I refused to hold her hand.
I was afraid of how she might react if I rejected her now.
Would the rumor be that I made the Hero cry at the Academy back then?
In the end, I couldn’t even question her actions.
I simply answered Ren’s question.
“…It’s nothing. I just haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“Ain, you’ve got insomnia, huh? I used to have that too.”
“Really?”
“Mhmm. …I went through some tough times.”
I knew.
When she was working as an adventurer, making a name for herself as a Hero—
I knew how much stress she had to endure to keep going.
And I knew that a large part of that stress had been because of me.
“But I’m okay now.”
“…Is that so.”
She didn’t weigh anything at all,
But the pressure I felt from the weight of her head on my shoulder was heavy in a different sense.
What am I supposed to do with her…?
The next episode was going to be a big one.
It was a major event that would pull in multiple playable characters.
And among them, Ren was someone fated to be dragged into it no matter what.
Originally, she was supposed to get tangled up with me and end up hating me.
“…Oh, right. Ain.”
“What is it?”
“I have somewhere to be after class today. So I probably won’t be at the training grounds. Maybe not for the rest of the week, either.”
“……..”
It was probably because of Ron’s archenemy.
She must have been told as well, so just like in the game, she was probably off doing her own thing.
The problem was that it was happening too soon.
“If anything comes up, contact me.”
Tap tap.
Ren smiled brightly as she showed me the badge she had.
It was as if she were saying she’d come help anytime I reached out.
And she probably would.
“…You too. Contact me if anything happens.”
“Then… would you come too, Ain?”
“…Probably.”
Even if she didn’t call, I was planning to go.
***
Once all the classes had ended,
I moved quickly.
Last time, I couldn’t find her in the end and ended up running into Ren instead.
But today, I was determined to find her.
It was the only way I might be able to get the other half of the severance pill.
Today again, I combed through the Academy from top to bottom, but I still couldn’t find any trace of her.
At this point, I was starting to wonder if she had even enrolled at the Academy at all.
It doesn’t seem like she’s anywhere on campus.
She wasn’t inside the Academy.
Which meant the only place left was the outskirts.
And if there were somewhere an elf like her would be…
…Could it be there?
A place came to mind.
And once I was sure, I hurried off in that direction.
.
.
.
Rustle.
The place I arrived at was a forest, thick with green.
The only forest located in the otherwise desolate neutral zone.
Because of that, even though it was on the outskirts of the Academy, it was still a zone managed directly by Ella Academy.
A few minutes into walking through the forest, filled with a mysterious atmosphere—
A wide, open lakeside came into view.
And across that lake, there was someone.
…I knew it. So you were here.
Ears stretched long to the side. The unmistakable mark of an elf.
And among them, the green hair reserved only for the noblest bloodline of all: the high elves.
True to their reputation as a race of stunning beauty, she was a woman whose face seemed to glow.
“Pricia.”
She, once a familiar figure from my past, was there.
It had been so long since we last met that I hesitated, unsure of what to say.
As I stood there, she must have sensed my presence because she looked in my direction.
Her eyes widened as she looked at me.
As if she were seeing a ghost, she even rubbed her eyes a few times.
Seeing her like that made me feel a rush of joy, and I opened my mouth to speak.
“Hey, it’s been a really long time—”
“Die.”
Fwoosh—!
A fierce gust of wind came rushing straight at my face.
…Wait, what?
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