-Vainticel's POV-
Hmh... this is bad. And here I thought things would go well after five years of absence. It's a bit quicker than I expected.
"...As expected, I can't let this go."
Standing up, I began to walk away but someone stood in front of my abode. A familiar face.
"Where are you going, Vainticel?" Helios asked with his arms folded.
"I want to go down... but I can't huh? You anticipated my movement." I smiled wryly.
Looking at the God who governed over the sky and freedom, Helios was blocking my path with arms crossed in front of his chest. I glanced over his figure and I noticed the subtle irritation within his gestures. Even his weapon was trembling as if irate over something.
"Your movements have been quite suspicious lately. You, who is a Minor Goddess, should have no concern over your followers' fate. I thought you have stopped throwing tantrums but was I wrong?"
"...well, if I were asked by a Major God who has all the rights in the world to roam freely and doing as he pleases while maintaining the orders around then yes."
The silver haired man scrutinized me with his sharp gaze. Sadly, I'm no powerful god and I have no exact power with my believers reaching only a hundred if not less. I could never hope to defeat this battle hardened Major God anyway.
"...your servant is still safe. Irnia and Linia won't even interfere with the Mortal Realm anymore, and the other gods have all stayed silent because they cared not a single thing with what the mortals do."
Haa.... I know that already. In fact, those two were meant to aid the Child from the very first place. She escaped danger through the trap Irnia had prepared after all.
"But... I don't think it's enough to ensure our influence from harming the Mortal Realm."
"That is impossible. You know that all the gods have vowed by creating the Monument of Order. Especially when it was YOU that proposed the idea in the conference."
"...Helios-kun, aren't you being a prick now? What is your point?"
The Major God frowned. His deep gold eyes pierced through me and he said.
"It was by your words that this newborn world could flourish. But why are you trying to add an Irregular in the system you have painstakingly worked on for millions of years? What is your goal, Vainticel?"
Irregular… huh? That is certainly one way to describe them, those lost souls that do not even know that their fates have been set in stones. However… he is wrong.
"No wonder you're still a single, Helios-kun." I snorted and with a hand on my waist, I told him. "If you're looking for something, then do it by yourself."
-
-
-
-
-
-
.......a... dream...?
".......was it a dream...?"
I opened my eyes and what I saw was a ceiling with chandelier hanging. The smell of medicine needed for sanitary purpose wafted in the air. The white curtains enclosed my surrounding like a veil hiding the outside world from me.
"...I fainted again... and this must be the infirmary... Aah... looks like I am STILL sick."
Getting up from the white bed with white blanket, I had noticed my uniform was drenched with sweat and it's already ragged too. Was I put in the infirmary in this state?
"...this might be bad. I hope there is a change for clothes... ah, there is."
Beside the bed was an empty chair. Not entirely empty as a folded set of uniform was there and I saw a note on top of it.
"...Alia wrote this? And Leon brought the clothes over? Wait, who’s scribbling is this...?"
Was it Anise? That girl always did something stupid... well, fine then. Looks like I can change my clothes and I doubted there was anyone in the infirmary this late. Helping myself standing up from the bed, I peeked outside the curtains.
"...nope. No one is here. I'm all alone here."
Okay. Time to get changed.
-
-
-
-
-???'s POV-
Busy, busy, busy. As always, I busied myself with works and studied like a cockatrice ready to be slaughtered. It couldn't be helped knowing my grades which were so-so compared to everyone's.
Even so, my friends still encouraged me. They saw something in me that I couldn't see so it's better for us if I could get used to my new duty and other than being a man, I'm also a Knight Course student. There's no way I could allow myself dishonor the code of knights.
Though saying that, it took me everything to carry a girl younger than me to the infirmary. Her fever was terribly high I doubted why she was in the hallway. Had she been unwell even before attending school?
From the looks of it, she seemed to be an Initiate. I knew that Instructor Galahad often rounded the whole classes up for the sake of gauging each individual's strength and weak point. He's a man renowned to have unreasonable way of thinking and I could never understand how he brought even the weakest of the weak forward into that violent stage.
Well... I brought the herbs teacher Cindy asked for me. They're of rare types and they had clashing properties if I remembered correctly. What's more, several were only allowed to grow in a special circumstance so it was hard to not be glared at by the gardeners and the people who took care of them. Ugh, my credibility would fall soon...
"No, stop that thought… I am helping someone so it's a fine price to pay. I don't regret it."
Arriving in front of the infirmary, I opened the door with my empty hand and entered.
"Teacher Cindy, I've brought over the herbs you asked for… hm?"
Nobody's here...? Why is this happening again...? For some reasons, I always have the worst luck whenever I wanted to meet someone's expectations or expecting help from someone else.
...ah, but there's someone beyond the curtains. That gesture and flapping coat... that is definitely teacher Cindy Opus. One of the best healing mages specialized in curing diseases. I went over to her as quietly as possible because I did not want to wake up the patient on the bed.
Come to think of it... teacher's coat is somehow shorter than the usual... and why is her hair seemed longer than the usual? The silhouette was then revealed as I slid open the curtains.
"Teacher Cindy, here's the herbs you requested—"
"Huh—?"
And... Why is there a girl with golden hair and emerald pupils in front of me? Her flowing hair glistened as it was struck by the twilight... her alluring figure which was a reminiscent of a fairy's imprinted into my mind... and her bountiful chests were about to spill as the girl tried to take off her shirts and coat at once.
I could see a piece of fabric on the ground, presumably her skirts and I saw the smooth and pure white skin of hers wrapped tightly by her white colored underwear.
........
...............
................................
Ah... Aah... that's right. This girl was the girl I carried this afternoon. And she just happened to wake up a little while ago. Then... she might have found a change of clothes so she was in the middle of changing... even now.
Come to think of it, I think I've seen her somewhere before. I didn't expect someone like me who had no courage to even stare at a girl without being flustered to be able to remember their features. How odd… just where have we met? I think its way before I found her lying on the ground…
"K..."
But before all that... I think I have already breached the boundary of modesty by intruding when a lady is changing her dress. Silly me.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!?"
*SMASH!* That day, I was sent flying for committing a crime I have accidentally caused by being too focused in one point.
-
-
-
-
"I'm terribly sorry!!" With my head bowing down deeply in front of the boy, I was feeling guilty for suddenly hitting him.
I knew that the infirmary wasn't a place for changing my clothes but I didn't like the sensation of wearing a drenched uniform! It's also my fault when I punched him due to my sudden agitation. More like, why did I scream so girly like that!? I didn't understand why I was acting unlike myself lately!!
Then again, the infirmary teacher arrived before I could finish off the unfortunate person so it was barely safe. And I was nursed and drank a mixture of herbs drink to ease my fever. Of course I could not let the chance go so I gave her the recipe for the ones I usually took.
Anyway, I apologized to the boy who had a bandage wrapping his head. He laughed weakly while scratching his cheek.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
"No... it was my fault for I suddenly barging in. I should have knocked on the door first too to let you know. At least you are unhurt so it's okay."
"B-but... you are my senior... how could I disrespect you...?"
Yes. I never knew that he's my upperclassman until I saw the ornate feather badge on his collar. Even the infirmary teacher elaborated in telling me that the person before me was an honor student who aced the exams. The sole reason why the feather badge looked like it was shining was also because it's a magic item from the highest grade.
How could I, a freshman barely starting my school life punched the top student like a delinquent? He's not a jerk too!
The boy once again smiled with a cramped face. He didn't seem like he was angry but I wasn't satisfied if I did not apologize. Uuu...... how much of an idiot I could be....?
"Could it be... Senior was the one who brought me to the infirmary?" I asked when we are in the corridor of the right wing in Knight Course building.
It was illuminated with many shades. The only lighting was only the dim orange light penetrating through the rows of windows on the right side and the end of the corridor was painted with darkness.
Heck... school always looked scary when it's going to be night. I hope Lancer won't suddenly appear and stab my heart with Gae Bolg.
"Well... you could say that. Though I didn't do much to ease your fever as teacher Cindy was the one who did most of the tasks."
"But I heard that it was senior who delivered the herbs needed to treat me."
"I'm used in doing errands. And there's no one else around so I can't just walk off without a care no?"
Haa... How should I say it? This upperclassman of mine always smiled thinly and he was friendly though he often flustered once he was praised. His personality reminded me of Akashi and their selling point would be—
"Senior is a kind person."
".......where did that come from?"
"But it IS the truth right? Senior helped to carry me and you even brought over herbs for me. There's not many who could do that without asking for payment."
The boy made an awkward smile. His cheeks were slightly flushed and I could see his eyes swam around like a fish in an aquarium. It made me giggling for knowing he was not used to being praised.
"I... think you're thinking too highly of me, Miss Charlotte."
"It is the truth, you know? Senior is a very kind person. You are a proper example of a gentleman."
"Urgh... Please stop with the flattery... I'm not a gentleman at all......."
"No no, there's no way you aren't. I'm sure many who knows you regard you the same as I do."
Senior hung his head down. Was he fed up with my teasing? I didn't mean it to be a joke alone though. I have a good pair of eyes in judging people so there's no way I am wrong.
Once the two of us exited the school building, I realized how dark the surrounding was.
"Well, then. I should get going. See you again, senior."
"Ah... yeah. But are you okay? You have not recovered fully right?"
"Don't worry. I'm used to being sick so this much is fine. In fact, I want senior to be careful in your way home. Night at school can be dangerous you know?"
"Right... I doubt it but should I laugh?"
Feel free to do so! I exclaimed and the boy who looked like a honor student had his shoulders trembling.
"Eh... wait, I didn't mean you should laugh at me!!"
"No no...! I'm not laughing at you, but... it's just... pfft...!!"
Aaah! He laughed! He laughed hard!! Did he thought I was a lame person!? Well, I did try to put a lame joke but he laughed so this person must have laughed at me!! My cheeks heated up and I yelled from the top of my lungs.
"Uuu......! Please stop laughing, senior!"
"Alright, alright...! I'm sorry okay...?"
Whew, I never laughed that much lately, Senior muttered as he wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes. For some odd reasons, the boy’s expression loosened or was it my imagination alone?
"Alright. See you again, Lady Charlotte Augmund. Have a well rest when you reached the dorm."
"Why suddenly calling me with my full name...? And what's with the 'Lady' part...?"
Senior showed a grin full of hidden meanings as he tapped his heels together and putting his right hand at the left side of his chest. Like a Prince who had waited for the arrival of the Princess, he said.
"I pray that your study in this Academy may bring you closer to your dream."
Eeehh… was he trying to act cool? I didn't know what to respond so I nodded down quietly before walking away. Just like that, my meeting with an upperclassman ended. We parted ways as night followed my arrival at the dorm.
"Come to think of it, I never asked his name. How could I forgot to ask his name when he saved my life?"
-
-
-
-
-
The next day, I woke up with a mood brighter than Solaris.
"Aaah~ I feel so refreshed! The medicine sure worked fast!!" I said as I walked to the school.
Though saying that, the schedule was already fitted with several studies. I didn't go for my chosen studies yesterday so might as well attend them all now.
Sadly, I was walking alone because Leon and Anise had different studies. They had their own agenda and it's not like I have the right to control them. However... again, I have the slight discomfort over traveling in a path I was foreign to.
"I wonder if this is the correct place...? The class to learn Swordsmanship..."
I looked over the wooden doors which smelled like bamboo. The building was quite small but it was wide nonetheless. The triangular roof, the design of the building, and the slight scent of waxed wood drifting around enabled me to guess where I was.
"That's right... this place is a dojo. But well, if I tried to challenge it then I would simply being rude to the teacher in charge so... Here goes nothing!"
Sliding the door open, the first thing I saw was—
"I'm never coming here again!!"
"What the hell does he think I am!? I am so going to inform my parents!!"
"This kind of shitty class isn’t even worth of my times!!"
*dondondondon...!* I saw students leaving the dojo like a hurricane. It was a very stunning sight to see how they left piles of dust and their wrinkles were clearly displayed to public. Heck, almost all of them were boys too...
"Eh?! Wait a minute... If they left just like that... just what kind of place have I come to!!?"
"Makes you wonder right? Those idiots simply ran off without even trying."
"Uwaaaaa?!!" I was startled to the point of letting out a weird sound. I found a man with short yet spiky auburn hair and pale grey eyes smiling at me from the doorsteps… Since when was he standing right there!? I couldn’t even detect his aura!
"Yahoo. Are you the rumored class skipper, ojou-san? Where'd you go yesterday?"
Urgh! And he went straight to the point it hurt...! Right at my kokoro!
-
-
-
-
"Aaah... so you were unwell. I didn't know that. Thankfully I have not scratched off your names from the list of attendance."
"I'm terribly sorry... My illness relapsed at the worst time ever."
"Nah, it happened all the time. Seriously, the world is filled with unfair stuff so why bother getting angry over another unfair thing?"
Well... that might be so. I walked in the dojo and there were actually plenty amount of students here and there. But wait, why are there so many girls here rather than boys? Though there were some male, I hardly found anyone whom I know of and was it my imagination that they were waxing the floor with a rug?
Talk about old style but this man here beamed a wide smile.
"Haha, it's been a while ever since this dojo accepted more female members! I thought that the principal would come here and taking it down but we still have one new addition."
Right. At least don't rub your chin like an old man there. It contrasted your young appearance, sensei. The man in sleeveless kimono smiled and he sat down in front of the wall where a rolled out scroll saying "Patience is Virtue" was hung at.
"Welcome to the training hall where you learn swordsmanship. This place provides the necessary lessons and it is also the classroom for you starting today, Charlotte Augmund."
The man said. His eyes locked onto me and I was stilled in surprise due to his next words.
"If you want to hone your skills in wielding swords, this place is the only one in Raumia and I am the owner of this dojo who dedicated himself in midwifery and self-taught sword technique for women—Ikki Farrange!!"