Chapter 19

Diana carefully picked me up and seated me on the sofa inside the principal’s office. Then she bowed her head.

“I’ll take my leave now. I hope you have a good conversation.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

She quickly left the room, her bold footsteps echoing down the hallway before the door slowly closed.

Thud.

A natural silence fell, and my gaze crossed with Ryuje’s in the empty air.

Thump thump, my heart raced.

Is this how people feel when they meet a celebrity for the first time? With my favorite character right in front of me, countless thoughts of what to say swirled in my mind while my mouth remained stubbornly shut.

Of course, I hadn’t come here purely as a fan, but having my favorite character alive and moving before me was an overwhelming experience that temporarily erased all my plans.

The silence continued, finally broken by Ryuje clearing her throat.

“Actually, this is rather surprising… No, I’m truly surprised.”

Her stammering attempt at polite speech despite her effort was endearing, even more so in person than depicted in AOE.

Perhaps because of this familiarity, I began to relax slightly, and the perfect thing to say came to mind.

“Um… Principal.”

“Uh… Yes?”

“You don’t need to use honorifics unless you wish to. I’m likely much younger than you.”

“Uh, um… Should I?”

“Yes.”

Finally sighing, Ryuje spoke.

“You’re sharp, aren’t you? Personally, I’ve never gotten used to using honorifics no matter how much I try… Speaking of which…”

As if just remembering, she tapped her left hand with her right fist.

“I suppose this room is too dark, isn’t it? Please wait a moment.”

Ryuje snapped her fingers. A small orb appeared from the darkness, then a blue flame enveloped it, leaving it floating in the air.

The pale blue light illuminated the room as it brightened gradually.

“Can you see better now?”

“Yes, it’s much clearer.”

“Hmm, good then. Now, let me ask you…”

Her serious red eyes remained steady as they focused on me.

“Is it true your name is Edu?”

“Yes, my name is Edu Nimbusday. Principal.”

“Uh? You don’t need to add principal unless you want to. I invited you to talk freely.”

Saying this, Ryuje picked up the glass she had set on the coffee table and took another sip of alcohol, its faint scent wafting through the air.

“Since I don’t like beating around the bush, let’s get straight to the point. Is that alright?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. Now, may I ask why you didn’t follow that person’s orders, the chairman of the adventurers’ guild?”

Setting down her empty glass, Ryuje’s two intense red eyes locked onto me.

“Certainly, that person must have promised much by simply following his words, yet you did not take his hand.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Indeed, if it’s not too much to ask, may I know why you acted that way?”

“It’s not a difficult story.”

“Hmm.”

Ryuje nodded encouragingly, and confident that our conversation was private, I opened up completely about my thoughts on Juyek.

“I just didn’t like him.”

“Huh? You didn’t like him?”

“Yes, from the start, he was constantly lying, then he seemed to think I was his subordinate the moment I slightly gave in…”

“Ah, I see.”

Ryuje reacted with understanding.

“Well, I’ve heard his vanity is boundless, so it’s no wonder he left a bad impression.”

“That’s not all. He tried to assert his authority multiple times despite only seeing someone a few times, and continuously demanded obedience…”

“H-Had he really done that? You must’ve had a tough time.”

“Yes, truly a nuisance!”

After saying that, memories of our previous conversations surfaced one by one, causing my irritation to rise.

“I’ll just… next time I see him!”

“Come now, calm down.”

“Ah, sorry…”

“No, it’s my mistake for asking such a question.”

Perhaps because of being in front of Ryuje, I felt more emotional than usual.

I shouldn’t, I need to be careful.

Reprimanding myself, I noticed Ryuje nodding as she listened to my story.

“Um, I see. Thank you for your honest answer. So you did such things?”

“Huh? What things?”

Turning her head slightly, Ryuze’s cheeks seemed slightly flushed—was it an illusion?

“Um, you… didn’t reveal everything by mimicking children on camera?”

Thump.

My heart sank, right, since that was broadcast live, Ryuje must have seen my actions…

As that thought came to mind, the words and deeds of that day resurfaced one by one, and my face grew hot instantly.

The urge to hide somewhere overwhelmed me, but as I stood up in panic—

– Due to the disadvantageous trait of ‘lack of coordination’, a huge penalty is applied to movement!

– Movement failed.

“Ah.”

With a sudden speed, I collided with the floor.

Thud.

“…”

An awkward silence filled the air. Stiffening at the sudden situation, Ryuje quickly regained her senses, rose from the sofa, and helped me up.

“Huh… Eh, Edu? Are you alright?!”

“Neigh…”

The pain in my head was nothing compared to the heartache of being so foolish in front of my favorite character.

“Come come, let me help you up. Give me your hand.”

“…Yes.”

Meekly taking Ryuze’s hand and standing up, she then returned me to the sofa.

“You seemed delicate, but I didn’t expect you to fall suddenly like that. Are you okay?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

My shrinking limbs and shattered mental state said otherwise, but still.

“That’s a relief. Nonetheless, I realized you’re quite independent despite your seemingly weak appearance.”

“Does that apply to me?”

“Yes, otherwise, how could you have challenged someone stronger and more powerful than yourself?”

“Uh…”

Honestly, I only acted as slyly as possible, but Ryuje’s evaluation of me seemed higher than expected.

“Thanks to you, I’ve had a good experience. The excuses they hastily provided—how laughable their desperate defense of no ill intentions really was…”

Ryuje smirked like a little devil, but pure joy shone on her face.

“Thanks to you, we quickly understood their schemes and acted accordingly! It’s all thanks to you.”

Standing up as she spoke, Ryuju slowly bowed her head towards me.

“Thank you very much, Edu. Thanks to you, the academy avoided a major crisis. As the principal representing the academy and personally, I express my gratitude.”

Her heartfelt gratitude made me wave my hands frantically in embarrassment.

“Ah, it’s nothing, Principal! Those actions were entirely on my part because I disliked the guild leader, so you don’t need to thank me so much.”

Though I had some ulterior motives, the main reason I acted was that I simply disliked Juyek, which made Ryuje’s gratitude feel somewhat embarrassing.

“Still, receiving help is a fact, isn’t it?”

“That’s…”

An undeniable truth, Ryuje slowly straightened up and smiled faintly.

“Since you seem uncomfortable, I’ll stop expressing gratitude here… But don’t think I’ll just let this pass with mere words.”

Saying this, Ryuju returned to the sofa.

“Edu, if you need anything, speak without hesitation. Though I don’t say it to boast, I can likely fulfill most reasonable requests.”

Pausing slightly and smiling as she looked at me, her words, though they could seem arrogant on the surface, carried genuine confidence rather than arrogance.

Hmm, though it feels a little wrong to take advantage of exposing their misdeeds, refusing outright would be foolish given how much Ryuju can offer.

Thus, I should set aside my conscience for now and calmly take my share.

“If that’s the case, I have a few requests…”

“Hmm, good. Tell them then.”

“First, could you admit me and two others into the academy?”

“Hmm?”

Ryuzu tilted her head in curiosity.

“Actually, that was something I wanted to propose too. However, who are these two besides you?”

“Friends I met in Outland. They’re not awakened like me, but they’re good-hearted and steadfast youths.”

“I see. In that case, perhaps it would be good for them to take an aptitude test. I’ll have Diana inform you about that later.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Um.”

Ryuje nodded.

“Now, tell me your next request. Surely, a bright child like you has considered everything, haven’t you?”

Her tone carried confidence. Realizing the wisdom borne from age and experience isn’t trivial, I nodded.

“Then there are a few conveniences I’d like…”

“Hmm, specify.”

“Yes… ”

I listed the privileges and rights I needed from memory, ranging from minor conveniences like arranging the same dormitory so I could live with Mili and Sita, to bigger requests like providing transportation and the authority to freely enter and exit the ground.

Ryuje mostly agreed to all of these until my final and most ultimate request—the very reason I had come to see her—moment she changed her expression.

“…Impossible.”

A clear denial. Nonetheless, I needed it.

“How is it impossible?”

“That!!”

A rarely seen emotional outburst from Ryuje.

“…It was left behind by a traitor to humanity. No one has ever used it, and we don’t know what consequences it might bring. Understand? It’s much too dangerous.”

An undeniable statement.

“Considering what that person did, it must…”

Trembling small frame, her words faltering.

Although I knew this request touched her sore spot, this might be the only chance. AOE is anything but easy, and enemies on the surface are growing stronger as we speak. If there’s a means to use, even if dangerous, it must be used.

However, putting herself in Ryuju’s shoes, this was an extremely difficult request, and I understood her reaction, so I apologized sincerely.

“Sorry, I may have made a rather rude request.”

“…”

Silence after my words, after an awkward moment passed, Ryuje slowly spoke.

“No, it’s not that… Sorry, I reacted too emotionally just now. Allow me to apologize.”

“No, I’m the cause, I should apologize.”

“No, still-”

“No, I really don’t mind.”

Back and forth conversation, as the time passed quietly, Ryuje’s tightly closed mouth opened again.

“…Allow me one question. Regardless of where you heard this, why do you need it?”

“I need the power contained within.”

“The power contained within, you say? What do you plan to use it for? Moreover, how do you know there’s power within it?”

Filled with questions, as Ryuju’s eyes locked onto me, instinct told me this was the moment to show my sincerity to her.

I might have hesitated if it was someone else, but I believed she was worthy of trust.

“…I have memory.”

“Memory?”

“Yes, memory of this ark burning and the world ending.”

“…”

Ryuje’s eyes widened at my response, clearly not expecting such an answer.

“Burning ark and end of the world…”

“…”

“Huh…”

The perplexed emotions revealed on Ryuje’s face as she hesitated, but they weren’t entirely negative.

“Haha… I’ve lived long and seen many people, truly unusual ones among them, but someone like you… is my first.”

Mumbling to herself, Ryuje continued.

“If anyone else had said this, I’d have deemed it a preposterous lie, but looking at your face and expression… It’s not a lie, is it?”

“…No.”

A quiet silence fell.

Complicated expressions on Ryuje’s face as she stared at me, and me staring back at her.

This silence was broken when Ryuje slowly stood up.

“Alright, I understand that you’re an extraordinary child. I believe you, but is it truly necessary to resort to that? Isn’t there another way?”

“…”

“…I see, it’s absolutely necessary, isn’t it.”

Ryuje let out a small sigh.

“Follow me, I’ll show you where it’s stored.”

Walking resolutely in the heavy atmosphere, but I couldn’t follow her words.

Because…!

“Um… Principal.”

“…What is it?”

Ryuje looked back at me with earnest eyes.

This situation required me to say it, making me feel like burrowing into a rat hole despite the lack of other methods.

Due to this atmosphere, the question felt even harder to ask.

“Could you… carry me?”

“…What?”