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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Johann, Johann! Look!”
Milia spun around with a bright smile, like a scene from a movie. Her cheerful and energetic display drew the attention of everyone around us.
“…You changed your outfit.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Hee hee. Thank you.”
Seeing this cheerful scene after dwelling on assassins felt…strange.
I looked away from Milia and met the gazes of those watching her, then turned to Karina, who was waiting for us.
Karina smiled at me and tapped the table beside her, inviting me to sit. Milia and I joined her.
“Did you rest well?”
“Yes. This spot is less conspicuous, so I was able to relax.”
I glanced at the screen that had been set up, unlike yesterday. Someone had thoughtfully placed it there to shield Karina from the crowd’s gaze.
Thanks to the screen, Karina seemed more relaxed than yesterday.
“That’s good.”
“Did you finish your business?”
“They agreed readily.”
“…You didn’t threaten them, did you?”
“I’m not the type to get beaten up, so don’t worry.”
While I still wasn’t entirely sure about that man’s strength, he couldn’t be stronger than Renny, right?
Renny, in the “betrayal route” of the original story, was strong enough to single-handedly defeat demons like Halphas.
It was even emphasized that she was barely on par with the protagonist, even after he had received multiple demonic blessings.
He couldn’t be stronger than Renny.
Besides, someone at Renny’s level wouldn’t bother with such elaborate schemes. They would simply find an opening and eliminate the target. At that level of power, no one besides Renny could stop them, even if they acted openly.
She was practically a monster herself, more akin to a Cerberus than a human.
“…Johann, why are you making that strange face while looking at me?”
“…I was just admiring your strength.”
“What?”
“It just…came to mind.”
“What a strange thing to say.”
Renny averted her gaze, scratching her cheek.
Was she embarrassed? I didn’t think it was that embarrassing. As I was talking to Renny, I felt a tug on my arm.
“Johann, Johann, what are you talking about?”
“Work stuff. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay.”
I couldn’t discuss assassination plots with Milia. Such matters were best kept secret.
The news of the additional event would spread eventually, but until then, the fewer people who knew, the better.
Someone of that man’s caliber would likely reach the finals anyway. An extra event wouldn’t deter him.
If he was an assassin, he would find a way to defeat me and reach Karina. If he was just a mercenary, this was an opportunity to enhance his reputation, so he wouldn’t back down.
“Johann, what would you like to drink?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Okay!”
Milia skipped off towards the cafe counter, her cheerful demeanor drawing attention.
“Milia is quite popular. I heard she’s received many requests for personal service.”
“She was constantly being called away before you arrived. It felt like she was single-handedly handling all the guests in the hall.”
Renny’s comment confirmed Milia’s popularity. It wasn’t surprising.
She was objectively beautiful, charming, and had a cheerful personality. Few could dislike her.
“You seem to have rested well.”
“Fewer people approached me than I expected, so I was able to relax.”
That’s because Renny was glaring at everyone.
Who would dare approach with a rabid dog guarding the Saintess?
The First Prince might have been brazen enough, but he was apparently a busy man.
I heard he had already left the academy.
I sighed inwardly, thinking about the future headache that was the First Prince. His antics were a problem for next year.
Today, I needed to focus on protecting Karina.
While the martial arts tournament had been a major concern, the second day wasn’t over yet.
We still had the departmental visits, the evening prayer, the campfire, and the play. It was a packed schedule.
We would be working even later than yesterday, so I needed to focus on the task at hand.
“…I hope nothing happens tomorrow.”
“Me too.”
We shared a look and chuckled, our thoughts aligned.
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“The play is next.”
“A play. I’ve never seen one before.”
More accurately, I had never seen a live performance of “Saint Sabrina,” the play within the game “Survival Academy.”
Karina looked at me with pity.
“You’ve never seen a play…?”
“Never.”
“Me neither!”
I had forgotten about Milia. The look of pity shifted to her, and I chuckled.
Were plays a common form of entertainment here?
“It’s quite enjoyable. One of the few forms of entertainment you can relax and enjoy.”
“I suppose this is the first time I’ll be watching a play in such a large hall.”
“…I’m a bit concerned.”
Putting aside the quality of the acting, “Saint Sabrina” was a play depicting the life of the first Saintess. It was customary for the current Saintess to play the role, if she was attending the academy.
While Karina wouldn’t be playing the lead role due to her wheelchair, she would likely make a brief appearance and deliver a few lines.
The problem was…
“I’m not sure about the security.”
Appearing on stage made her a prime target. It would make our escort duties much more difficult. If assassins launched a coordinated attack with arrows or throwing knives, things could get messy.
The best course of action would be for Karina to skip the play altogether, but it was a tradition. Not participating could damage her reputation.
Reputation might seem trivial, but any blemish on the Saintess’s image could become a problem later.
The label of “Saintess who disregards tradition” could be quite damaging, so I couldn’t simply forbid her from participating.
The academy had already made accommodations for her. I had to assume she would be on stage and plan our escort strategy accordingly.
I would do my best to protect her. If things went south, we would either escape or unleash a “buster call.”
The general plan remained the same.
…Or perhaps a more proactive approach, a “provocation,” would be more effective.
The ultimate form of protection was to eliminate the threat entirely, preventing any assassination attempts from occurring.
“Johann? Johan~”
“…What?”
“What are you thinking about? I called you seven times!”
“Sorry.”
“Just don’t do it again.”
“As an apology, let me pat your head.”
That wasn’t an apology. I looked at the top of her head. She was like a puppy.
“Hee hee.”
I patted her head as requested, a smile forming on my face. We probably looked like a pair of close siblings. As I thought this, I felt a strange gaze on me.
I turned to see Karina looking at me with a peculiar expression.
I could be mistaken, but she seemed…envious.
“Karina, it’s time to go inside.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”
We entered the auditorium in a slightly awkward silence.
The hall was already filled with people, but the crowd parted as we passed. No one would be foolish enough to block the Saintess’s path.
Except perhaps the First Prince.
“This way, Saintess.”
“Principal Merlin. Hello.”
“It’s good to see you’re feeling well today.”
Principal Merlin greeted us with a warm smile and gestured towards our designated seats. In a hall filled with chairs, ours were the only empty spots.
They were located near the stage, slightly off to the side, but still a decent location.
“I never thought I would see the Saintess’s play again in my lifetime.”
“Have you seen it before?”
“When I was still a student.”
How long ago was that?
I listened with one ear as Principal Merlin reminisced, while scanning the auditorium and the stage, which was still concealed by a curtain.
The murmur of conversations, the annoying rustling of people moving around. The hidden stage.
I pulled a small flute from my pocket and attached it to my belt. It would be easier to access in case of an emergency.
“Johann, can you play the flute?”
“…I know how to play.”
I had never actually played a musical instrument. But I knew the basics.
“Can I try?”
“No. It’s dangerous.”
It was a dangerous item with potentially disastrous effects. I couldn’t let anyone else handle it.
Unless they knew how to use it properly, like me, it could cause chaos.
“What’s so dangerous about a flute?”
“Just…trust me.”
“Okay…”
Milia, seeing that I wasn’t going to let her touch the flute, lost interest and turned to Karina, resuming their conversation.
I scanned the auditorium again. It was about the size of a football field, with a second-floor balcony. Escorting Karina in this environment would be a challenge. I wanted to use my skill to separate the second floor entirely, but I couldn’t do that without a valid reason.
I sighed and watched as the curtain slowly began to rise, revealing a warm, yellow glow.
“Thank you for waiting!”
The familiar voice of the announcer signaled the start of the play.
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