.｡.:✧ Chapter 48 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Ancient beast?”

Sen asked back with a puzzled expression.

It was a natural reaction, considering even the Chokugen Faction wouldn’t have information about the deep insides of the demon forest.

But I couldn’t reveal everything to her.

It was a kind of secret of the world, a gigantic something that shouldn’t be known.

“There are such things. Anyway, the academy is in a very dangerous state right now.”

The bug we saw must have been a servant of an ancient beast, given the emblem I recognized on it.

However, there was a peculiar aspect.

‘If it’s controlling bugs, could it be Apviel?’

Apviel, the king of bugs, leads countless insects and, while unable to use magic, possesses a formidable number of servants and physical abilities.

It’s not something to be taken lightly, as among ancient beasts capable of high-dimensional magic, Apviel held its ground purely with physical prowess.

‘But Apviel was already dead in my past life.’

Though its offspring were numerous and commonly seen in the forest, I had heard that Apviel itself had died before I even entered the deeper parts of the forest.

‘Is Apviel still alive at this time?’

I had heard something from a beast I was somewhat close to, but since it didn’t enjoy talking about others, the information wasn’t clear.

Anyway, according to what my acquaintance had shared, Apviel was a beast that could truly be called a disaster even among insects.

‘It’s ambiguous.’

I had never directly confronted Apviel, nor did I know why it was here or who was summoning it.

I had no clue.

‘But the direct appearance of its minions like this means danger.’

I remembered reading that if you see one bug in your house, there are already hundreds living with it. Apviel’s case would likely be much worse.

“What exactly are you thinking about by yourself?”

“Ah.”

I had been so engrossed in thought that I momentarily forgot Sen’s presence.

She was now sitting on my bed, staring at me, but I found it a relief and smiled slightly.

“Let’s make a request.”

If not now, when would I use my connection to the Chokugen Faction?

“What?”

“It seems like someone is summoning a very dangerous ancient beast to the academy. Can you call your superiors and ask them to catch this person?”

It would cost a considerable amount of money, but we have our dean, don’t we?

If I don’t stop it, the academy would be destroyed, so they’d have to borrow money if necessary.

Then Sen’s expression darkened as she shook her head.

“The Chokugen Faction has been out of contact recently.”

“What?”

What kind of news was this?

Suddenly, as if starting a consultation, Sen began to spill everything.

“After the incident with Zavalanco, contact with me completely stopped. And, you know, they assigned me the assassination and intelligence gathering of Zavalanco but hid from me that he was a former officer of the pirate lord.”

This was a first for her.

Sen’s eyes trembled with fear, like a child who had lost their parents. Trembling, she seemed unsure of what to do.

‘The Chokugen Faction has completely messed her up.’

While there was a high possibility that the Chokugen Faction had betrayed her, she couldn’t let go of them. They were everything to her.

But it was strange.

As far as I knew, she would eventually operate as part of the Chokugen Faction and end up dying by my sword in the future.

Pretending to ponder for a moment, I reassured her not to worry.

“Maybe they’re in a situation where it’s hard to contact right now? For example, they could be fighting with the Tudogs.”

“Then why did they hide Zavalanco’s information from me?”

“Maybe they were testing you.”

“Testing?”

“Find the information on the target yourself?”

I just blurted out anything, but Sen seemed to somewhat understand and nodded slightly.

“I see.”

“So, we can’t get in touch with the Chokugen Faction right now, is that it?”

This situation was getting complicated.

However, Sen shook her head and got up from the bed.

“I’ll take it.”

“What?”

“I’m part of the Chokugen Faction too. I’ll take on that request.”

“Are you sure?”

Honestly, I was in a situation where I would welcome help from any quarter, so there was no reason to refuse.

But the unidentified adversary was threatening enough to be summoning ancient demons. It could be dangerous for Sen.

“It’s okay, I’ll start first thing tomorrow morning. Anyone acting unusually or differently, anyone who seems to have a hidden agenda, I’ll investigate them all.”

Her face, which had been downcast until now, seemed to light up a bit, as if giving her a goal had invigorated her.

“Alright, I understand. I’m counting on you.”

After accepting the task, Sen walked out of my window with determined steps, heading back to her room.

***

On the second day of the festival.

I had entrusted Sen with the task, and currently, I found myself completely collapsed.

And my head was resting on Arni Duratan’s lap.

“I’ve lost everything.”

As I spoke in a dying voice, Arni gently took my hand and responded.

“You still have me.”

Arni looked into my eyes.

I slightly lifted the corners of my mouth and slowly closed my eyes.

“The one thing I most desired, has finally come to me in the end.”

I couldn’t see what Arni was doing since my eyes were closed, but it felt like she was gently stroking my head.

“What a fool.”

With a sobbing voice, we paused, and then Professor Veritio’s bitter voice could be heard.

“It’s lacking, still lacking. The emotions aren’t fully captured.”

“Is that so.”

Arni became disheartened.

Professor Veritio continued with his advice.

“Do you have someone you like or have liked? Try imagining that person in the role, it might make it easier.”

“……I understand.”

“Think of it as Ares.”

Professor Veritio whispered so quietly that only Arni could hear, and after glancing at me, Arni agreed with a slumped posture.

I was puzzled why the always confident her was acting like this, but the practice continued nonetheless and didn’t improve much.

And so, the brief practice session ended.

As I was stretching, someone tapped my back.

“Here you were?”

“……”

I thought it was some kind of goblin.

May, with her arms crossed, glared at me while snorting angrily.

“You said we were going on a date, where have you been roaming around!”

“No, I was helping Arni with her acting.”

I didn’t know why I was making excuses, but it felt like trouble if I didn’t.

May, thinking I was avoiding her not because I wanted to but because of the play, wrapped her arms around me somewhat appeased.

“Let’s go. I’ve planned everything to do with you.”

Seeing May smile, I gently unwrapped her arms, feeling a twinge in my heart.

“Why? Okay. I thought we’d spend the festival together, but let’s just make today count. Let’s make it a day full of activities.”

I had intended to tell her after the festival to enjoy the festive period, but it seemed necessary to tell May now.

I didn’t want to give her any false hope.

“May, as I said before, I have someone I like.”
“I don’t want to give you false hope by leaving things ambiguous.”

A clear rejection.

But if I don’t do this, in the end, only May would get hurt.

“I’m truly grateful for what you feel for me. And because you’re precious to me, I hope you don’t get hurt any further.”

Even if our relationship becomes strained or we end up helping each other out of necessity, I believed this was the right thing to do.

Yet, May responded indifferently.

“I told you before. I know.”

“Yes, that’s why we shouldn’t…”

“Do you know?”

May pulled out a candy from her pocket and started to unwrap it, but unusually, she struggled with the packaging.

“This is the first time for me. The first time I’ve liked someone so much I couldn’t bear it. I thought I liked Ares before, but what I feel when I look at you now is completely different.”

May, not putting the finally unwrapped candy in her mouth but instead staring at it, continued.

“So I’m really sorry, but I don’t have the capacity to worry about what you’re feeling or going through. I’m overwhelmed with my own emotions.”

“But…”

Before I could say anything, May popped the candy into my mouth. She prevented me from speaking by inserting the candy and twirling the stick around.

“Does it bother you? Annoyed because a girl you don’t like is clinging to you? Well, I’ve always been selfish.”

“…”

“Let’s go, I’m hungry.”

Watching May hook her arm in mine and lead me away, I had no choice but to follow silently.

I wasn’t convinced.

But,

The small tears that welled up in her eyes, which she tried to hide with indifference, sparkled in the sunlight.

Feeling as if my strength had drained away, I couldn’t say anything and just followed her.

“Jerk.”

A bitter whisper, barely audible even to me, slipped out.

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