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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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-!
By the time the guardians arrived at the scene, everything was already over.
The aftermath of a fierce battle, the scene of tending to the injured and collecting the deceased.
And the ash-haired boy, catching his breath in the center.
.
.
.
After the incident, at Clarice Academy,
Along with the previous monster outbreak incident, a memorial service was held for the deceased students,
And an emergency committee was convened at the Administrative Hall to investigate the truth of this incident.
Primarily, the investigation focused on Taylon, the raid leader of this incident, and the guilds cooperating with the academy, [Divine Valhalla] and [Eternal Flame].
Why weren’t high-ranking knights and mages dispatched in preparation for the worst-case scenario, and why was the raid team composed of elders and mostly underage trainees?
Also, why was the crucial role of the vanguard entrusted to a trainee student, Abelline Valantes?
And whether there was any collusion between the two guilds beforehand.
I’d like to say the handling of the matter was decent…
But recalling the content from the fanfic, the outcome wouldn’t be so.
The first committee, focusing on the internal personnel who approved the raid rather than the detailed circumstances, could be considered perfunctory.
Only evasive answers from the members heavily influenced by the large guilds, Divine Valhalla and Eternal Flame, were given, and above all, Taylon, the raid’s commander, took all the responsibility, naturally exonerating Melissa and Abelline, who acted rashly.
This time would likely unfold similarly.
Since I swiftly defeated Crimson Ash to minimize casualties, the mistakes Melissa and Abelline made didn’t escalate disastrously.
‘However…’
In other words, it wasn’t over yet.
I could turn the tables at the second committee, where the testimonies of the survivors would be compared.
.
.
.
A day before the second committee convened, I visited the training grounds building in the Martial Arts Hall.
The 12th and 13th individual training rooms located in a corner on the first floor were exclusively for S-rank students and featured a lounge connected to the outside.
“Alright~. Lily’s going to sleep.”
“Go to sleep quickly. I’ll make it up to you soon.”
“Mm…”
Having entered this place for the first time thanks to Lily’s help, I meticulously examined it for a short time.
Just over three minutes.
Having finished my business, I was currently sitting on a bench near the Restoration Hall.
‘I should visit the hospital, right?’
It was natural for medical facilities to be located near the training grounds where injuries were common, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
Probably, students who participated in the Crimson Ash raid, including Violet, were being treated at the Restoration Hall right now.
Even if this was the world of a novel, as someone who lived in South Korea, with its strict laws and order regarding violence, it seemed I still wasn’t used to seeing others get hurt.
Of course, thanks to my intervention, I was able to save many more students compared to the original story…
But the fact remained that one vanguard knight from their party was seriously injured due to Melissa and Abelline’s greed and impulsive actions.
As I was grappling with these complex emotions,
-!
In the distance, a familiar silhouette, now too familiar to be unsettling, was standing in my direction.
The girl with silvery hair tinged with lavender, after belatedly greeting her classmates, began to approach me with quick steps.
Stopping exactly two meters away, the girl’s lips parted.
“…Lev.”
“You came.”
Aria Bluebell. Someone who might know my secret.
Someone who might understand even if I revealed everything… soon.
“You didn’t… fall today.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing…”
-Thump.
-?
Then, she cautiously approached and sat next to me.
The faint smell of antiseptic and Aria’s soft jasmine scent calmed me.
“…”
At times like this, it seemed there were some differences from the fanfic.
I didn’t recall her making jokes, showing interest in anyone other than Edwin, or casually sitting next to someone…
‘Well, that’s how the author’s novel is.’
How much narrative could he have possibly given to the non-main heroines?
Aria spoke softly.
“Once again…”
“…”
“I heard you were… involved in a big incident.”
“Yeah, I’m really unlucky, aren’t…”
“This time…! What reason will you give for participating in the raid?”
“…!”
She interrupted me and looked up at me with her azure eyes.
Every time I saw those sincere eyes, I felt a little afraid that everything I held within would be exposed.
“…”
She then averted her gaze to the ground and continued in a slightly trembling voice,
“It’s too strange to be a coincidence…”
“…”
“The Flame Ghoul incident, Yeriel’s incident, and the festival…”
“…”
“Whenever something dangerous happens at the academy, you’re always… there…”
“Aria.”
“Surely…! This time too, you were trying to solve it alone…”
“Aria.”
When I called her name softly twice, Aria finally met my gaze.
“You’re overthinking things today.”
“…Why won’t you… tell me anything?”
Those desperate words, tinged with worry, somehow pierced my heart.
Perhaps, like me, she was also far away from her family?
Aria wasn’t my family, nor was she an acquaintance from my original world.
Furthermore, our first encounter was…
-Let’s date, let’s date. Anyway, you’re not the type to care about anyone, right? I’m not bad, am I? Don’t tell me you like that trash Edwin? Anyway, someone like Edwin…
A dark past.
The worst first impression, nothing more.
‘I really need to tell her… soon.’
Afraid that my thoughts might be read, I couldn’t help but avoid her gaze for a while.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the S-rank student exclusive 12th individual training room,
In this private, secluded place, Taylon, Melissa, and Abelline were having a secret meeting.
“Taylon, you took care of it for sure, right?”
“Yes, my lady. I’ve stated my position as the raid leader, taking full responsibility and resigning.”
“Lady Melissa, did this incident have to… go this far? Was what we did that big of a…”
“Ha, muscle-brain. You stay quiet. Just say what we tell you to tomorrow.”
“W, what did you just call me!”
Of course, Abelline and Melissa’s impulsive actions weren’t a major ‘crime’ in terms of results.
But acting independently in a raid was clearly a major ‘mistake.’
Since both were high-ranking S-rank students, demotion was a given, and they would face disadvantages in participating in future raids.
Also, if penalty points were imposed, it would disrupt their academy life and might even negatively impact the Duchy’s reputation.
‘What a disgrace…’
Moreover, they didn’t even obtain the Essence of Immortality.
Thinking about it now, they had acted too recklessly, relying on a single legend.
-Melissa, do you know about the Essence of Immortality? I kind of want it.
‘Kaelan…’
If he were here, how would he have overcome this situation?
As Melissa sighed, looking at Abelline,
“Sigh.”
“Lady Melissa!”
Taylon continued,
“It was easy to silence parties 5 and 6 since they were members of Eternal Flame and Divine Valhalla, and parties 1, 2, and 3, 4 were too far away, and the situation was chaotic, so they probably didn’t notice anything…”
“But?”
“The problem is that ash-haired man, right? He saved us.”
“…”
At the word “saved,” Melissa and Abelline fell silent.
Because it was the truth.
“From what I heard, in the second committee, they’ll only hear Lev Denek’s testimony, as he contributed greatly to defeating Crimson Ash, and won’t hold him responsible… Violet Decrescent’s actions, although impulsive, were understandable considering the unexpected turn of events with Crimson Ash, and she ultimately bought time for parties 3 and 4, minimizing damage, so it’ll be considered extenuating circumstances.”
At Taylon’s explanation, Abelline asked curiously,
“Then can’t we also prove that our intentions weren’t impulsive actions but meritorious deeds?”
“Well, that is, Lady Abelline, your original duty was as a protector knight, wasn’t it? If it’s pointed out that you neglected your duty, we won’t have anything to say.”
Melissa deeply regretted it.
‘Ugh, seriously!’
She shouldn’t have listened to Abelline.
“I want to say that I, as the raid leader, directly ordered you to participate in the attack, but there are many ears listening. Moreover, with the Decrescent girl present, adding such lies would be digging our own graves.”
“No, ugh…”
In this frustrating and hopeless situation, Melissa felt a surge of irritation.
“Taylon, so what are you telling us to do?”
“It’s simple. Persuade Lev Denec.”
“What…?”
“If it’s proven that your and Lady Abelline’s actions were a setup for Lev Denec’s impulsive actions, you two will also be acknowledged for your contribution to the defeat and be exonerated.”
At Taylon’s words, Melissa looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.
“Sigh…”
Lev Denec.
Of all people, he held the key.
This time, and the duel with Kaelan as well…
Come to think of it, his skill as an archer seemed to be beyond imagination.
She could understand why Abelline pursued him so relentlessly.
‘…’
At the same time, she felt a little regret.
Melissa’s memories of him were filled with coldness, not attempts to connect with him.
When he first approached Aria, during the entrance exam, during the duel with Gailon Shafty… she had only doubted and criticized him.
But what choice did she have?
There was no other option than to meet him and talk.
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After that, my conversation with Aria went like this…
“Yeriel is also worried, so go and apologize quickly.”
“Do I have to apologize…?”
“Yes, of course…? Lev was with Selena, so you were very…”
“Selena?”
“Ah… I misspoke.”
“…”
Even though she was much younger than me in terms of actual age, we got along surprisingly well.
Compared to the Aria from [Reincarnation Brave], who had tasted all the bitterness of the world, this version’s reactions were more entertaining.
Anyway, since she said she looked forward to the second semester,
-“…Yes. But…! Don’t come back injured.”
With her personality that kept promises meticulously, she would continue to help me tsundere-style.
As Aria left,
‘What’s important now is…’
I was eavesdropping on Melissa, Taylon, and Abelline’s conversation in real-time.
In this world without smartphones, I had a feeling it would be helpful someday, so I bought a magic tool with a transmission function in the Imperial City.
The fanfic mentioned Melissa having a secret meeting with Kaelan in individual training room number 13, so I installed it there just in case.
The sound quality was excellent, as I bought it expensively with the money I earned from the Lord of Pleasure subjugation.
“I wonder what Lily likes.”
As I was pondering how to repay Lily, who readily helped me reserve the S-rank individual training room…
Speak of the devil, as they say.
This time, a pink-haired girl appeared before me.
Melissa, with a complex expression and a slightly surprised look.
“Why are you here?”
“Hospital visit.”
“Ah…”
At my short reply, Melissa nodded,
Then tucked her hair behind her left ear and took a step closer to me.
A strong perfume scent wafted over.
“Th, that was cool.”
“What was? Me?”
“Yeah… Lev, you. Thank you. You saved me.”
Melissa had a habit of stuttering and blushing when she spoke her hidden true feelings.
But seeing her act so nonchalantly made it too obvious. Her acting.
“Yeah, I’m leaving.”
“…!”
As I made a gesture to leave, Melissa grabbed my arm with a surprised look.
-Slide.
And I unconsciously pulled my arm away.
-…
Melissa’s eyes wavered slightly.
“That. I’m sorry Abelline bothered you, I’ll apologize on her behalf.”
“It doesn’t really mean anything if I accept it from you. If the person involved apologizes, I’ll handle it.”
It was unclear what I should be apologized for, but anyway.
“W, wait!”
Perhaps to win my favor, she continued to approach me flatteringly.
“I’ll buy you dinner… Want to go out for a bit? I know a really nice place…”
“No, I have someone to meet for dinner.”
“Th, then how about just a cup of tea? No?”
“Nope.”
Dinner was scheduled with Yeriel, as Aria suggested.
“That…”
As I continued to deflect her, Melissa finally parted her lips and, in a trembling voice, pulled out her trump card.
“Remember? When we first met.”
“First time?”
“Yeah, you confessed to me.”
“…”
Was she talking about the mindless confession made by the ‘real Lev Denec’?
She looked down slightly and sighed, then looked at my face again and said,
“I’ll accept those feelings.”
“What?”
“I’m saying, I might even go out with you.”
-…
Melissa was wearing a rather haughty expression, as if doing me a favor…
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ts pink haired bum is wack yo
I guess the rpg secret job of “whore” is real after all.
Also might get stabbed by saying this
Dude I swear if OG lev was here even he’d run away from her for fear of STDs at this moment
😂😂😂😂