Chapter 193

“Hoooa~”

Thump, onto the bed.

I rolled over, curling my body, and moved to the center of the bed.

With the urgent matters resolved, I’ve decided to rest up fully today upon returning to the academy dormitory.

Just as I’m luxuriating in the softness of the quilt and pillow, a voice comes from behind.

“You’ve worked hard, Edu.”

Nisia, giving me a wry smile as she looks at me.

“Yeah, Nisia, you’ve worked hard too. Don’t just stand there, come relax on the bed with me.”

“Should I?”

Nisia slowly sits on the bed.

Just the two of us like this reminds me of the times after we first met when we entered the academy together.

As I think about that and look at Nisia’s face, she notices my gaze and blushingly scratches her cheek.

“Still, Miss Mu is really amazing.”

“That’s true.”

Seoli and Ryong are absent from the room.

Seoli’s happy voice wafts in from beyond the open window.

“Hehehe, Seoli grows! Ryong can’t keep up!!”

The sound of running feet.

Soft footfalls follow after that, and I can easily picture Ryong earnestly chasing Seoli in my mind.

“Miss Seoli. Miss Ryong. It’s good that you two are playing freely, but please be careful not to fall.”

“Yes!!”

A lively reply.

I don’t hear Ryong’s response, but he probably nodded to acknowledge it.

“Perhaps it’s because they’re adults?”

“Maybe Miss Mu just happens to be amazing.”

Even Ryong, who still finds others difficult and growls, has not only opened up to Miss Mu but goes around playing with her now.

Truly terrifying charisma.

To tell the truth, with someone who is good-looking and proficient in housework taking such diligent care of you, is there anyone who wouldn’t be charmed?

“Oh, right, Edu. I haven’t been able to say anything because you’ve been so busy, but do you have a moment?”

Nisia’s casual voice.

“Yeah, it’s fine. What’s up?”

Still, it’s not good etiquette to lie in bed while talking, so I sit up quickly as I answer.

“I can no longer hear that sound.”

“Huh? That sound refers to the voice that was tormenting you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh…?”

The secret Nisia confessed to me long ago.

It wasn’t something I’d forgotten, but it also wasn’t a topic to be brought up casually like this.

“So, Nisia, let me check. Are you saying that you no longer hear the voice that was tormenting you?”

“Yeah.”

“Since when has that been the case?”

At my question, Nisia tilts her head and contemplates.

“I can’t remember exactly, but I think it was after Edu defeated Megabase.”

“Megabase?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm?”

Megabase.

In AOE, Megabase is usually a strong enemy fought at the very end. Could defeating that opponent already have caused some change in Nisia?

“Oh, right, there was something else I should tell you.”

“Something you should tell me?”

“Yeah, I don’t think Edu noticed it.”

Tapping her eyes gently.

A faint iridescent glow around her eyes becomes visible.

“You remember the day Edu fought Megabase, right? That day, Edu’s eyes were glowing with the same light as mine.”

“The same light…you mean an iridescent glow?”

“Yeah, clearer and more beautiful than mine.”

“Hmm…?”

In AOE, iridescent light is the protagonist’s symbol.

Did it appear not just in Nisia’s eyes but also in mine?

My head slowly tilts down.

Just as the weight of the information Nisia casually disclosed was pressing down on me, I realize that this isn’t the important part.

“Wait, Nisia, does this mean something’s gone wrong? Is your body okay?”

“In fact…”

Nisia lowers her head.

So, there must be something wrong after all!

“Don’t worry, just say it. I may not know everything, but maybe there’s something I can do—”

“In fact, since I no longer hear the voices, I’ve been sleeping so well that I feel much better than before!”

Nisia answers with a lively voice.

“…”

“Edu? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, it’s good that you’re feeling better. Yeah.”

While thinking to myself it’s a surprise—how had I thought she was feeling bad?—I smile faintly at Nisia.

“But about the iridescent light…are you absolutely sure about that?”

“Yeah, absolutely. It was even clearer and incredibly beautiful than what comes from my eyes, so I remember it clearly to this day.”

“O-Okay?”

“Yeah!”

Nisia answers with an unusual forcefulness, her eyes sparkling.

At that moment, there’s a knock on the door, and a familiar woman’s voice comes from the other side of the closed door.

“Edu? It’s Ailina. Are you in?”

Ailina.

The renowned, indomitable awakener who also excels in combat and is our homeroom teacher.

It was an unexpected visit, but I raise my voice to answer the teacher.

“Yeah, I’m here!”

“Good, there are some things we need to discuss. Do you have a moment to spare?”

“Hmm.”

Turning my head to Nisia, she speaks first.

“That’s everything I wanted to say.”

“Is that so? Then how about we continue this another time?”

Her story was incredibly interesting. The only downside is that what she described was something I’ve never encountered, even having completed AOE countless times.

It needs time to be absorbed and considered in various ways.

Understanding my thoughts, Nisia stands up willingly off the bed.

“Yeah, I’ll see you later.”

Heading for the door,

As it opens, Ailina appears and Nisia bows respectfully to her.

“Hello, Teacher.”

“Nisia-san was here as well?”

“Yes, please have a comfortable conversation.”

“Thank you.”

After exchanging a quick bow with Nisia, Ailina enters the room.

The sound of the door closing echoes from behind.

“Edu-san, it’s been a while. You still seem to be incredibly busy, but you’re not overdoing things, are you?”

“Not going beyond my limits.”

Though it might seem quite reckless to others, well, anyway.

“Then that’s a relief. Understanding your capabilities and moving accordingly will aid in skill improvement.”

Ailina nods approvingly.

“May I sit for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll help myself then.”

Ailina plops down next to the bed.

“So, what’s this about?”

“I have an important matter to discuss.”

After saying that, Ailina stares at me intently and then sighs.

“To be honest, I am fully aware of your efforts for everyone’s sake, so I am all the more cautious when it comes to speaking now.”

Ailina’s uncharacteristically careful attitude.

“???”

“Since there’s no more time to delay, allow me to say it: quite simply, Edu-san, your attendance rate has reached a very dangerous level.”

“Ah.”

The events of the past come unbidden to my mind.

Though I’ve been busy with various things, it’s true that recently I’ve spent more time in Iason or at the forward base than at the academy.

“So, how dangerous is it exactly?”

“Very much so. The academy’s attendance standards are fairly lenient since we don’t know when something might happen, but Edu-san’s attendance percentage is…”

A shiver runs through me.

“And one more thing. This is just out of personal curiosity, so it might sound like prying, but…”

“…Yes?”

“Edu-san, why do you only attend my practical tests but rarely attend the theory classes?”

Another shiver runs through me.

“You’ve always been present for practical lessons, so I didn’t notice it, but your attendance rate for theoretical classes is alarmingly low. Moreover, the lectures you’ve attended were only mana studies…”

Unable to meet Ailina’s eyes, I unconsciously lower my head.

“Is there any particular reason you’re doing this? If it’s something that requires my assistance, please feel free to speak up.”

Ailina asks with kindness.

But her kind intentions, which seem so warm, actually prick at my conscience.

“That….”

“It’s alright, Edu-san. You can speak freely, trusting me.”

Her warm tone.

What should I do? Should I tell her?

But explaining it simply because I dislike theory classes just seems too bad.

Moreover, I hadn’t intended this, but now that I’ve entered the world I love, I somehow found it too bothersome to study history, ethics, mathematics, and science all over again.

Just as I’m about to confess, I feel a warm hand touch my head.

“I apologize. I might have brought up something you shouldn’t have to discuss…”

“Wha?”

Ailina looks extremely contrite and bows her head.

What? Why is she reacting this way?

“Actually, I heard from the principal and the commander that Edu-san has secrets you can’t talk about. I’ve been rather thoughtless, haven’t I?”

“Not at all! It’s something that could be said!”

Merely by staying silent, an unexpected misunderstanding occurs, and the situation seems to resolve itself.

Relieved by this, just as I relax, Ailina speaks again.

“So regarding Edu-san’s attendance… we’ve come up with a plan.”

Ailina extends her hand.

A hologram screen containing documents appears, and looking at it carefully, I recognize some familiar text.

“Supplementary classes…?”

“Yes, these will catch Edu-san up on the classes missed and bring you up to speed simultaneously! Other teachers have graciously given their consent.”

“Ah, uh, well… I’m really grateful, but if I have something urgent, I might not be able to attend the supplementary classes…”

“That’s alright, Edu-san. This has been considered. Teachers responsible for the theoretical classes have agreed to take turns tutoring you on holidays, and today—”

The door bursts open.

A stern-looking man strides in.

“The smell of gunpowder, it’s time for war! Edu!!”

“Ahiiik!?”

“These are supplementary classes, Teacher John Zhengguang.”

“So be it.”

Teacher Zhengguang flicks his tongue.

That sharp gaze locks onto me, and as he extends his hand, multiple hologram screens materialize.

“Alright, let’s begin learning the thrills of war together!! Prepare for combat, Edu!!”

“Guh… I hate studying!!”

…

In the Guildmaster’s room of the Explorer’s Guild.

A striking red-haired woman with feline-like features, Lian, gazes at the hologram screen and speaks.

“Is this information reliable?”

[Would we lie to Sister Lian? Seriously, the place is crawling with monstrous beings, grotesquely armed!]

“Is that so? Hmm…”

Lian pauses in thought.

“I understand, we’ll handle the response here. You install the surveillance equipment and return. Please send the data immediately to us.”

[Understood, Sister Lian!]

The communication cuts off, and silence falls.

Alone, Lian taps gently on the hologram screen at the corner of her desk, and soon an alert notifies her that the data from the Taichun brothers has arrived.

She touches the data immediately, and the video it contains begins to play. Upon watching it, Lian’s expression tightens.

“Hmm…”

Even after reviewing the video several times to confirm the content, the details remain unchanged.

Upon pressing the call bell attached to her desk, an elegant-looking automaton soon appears and bows to her.

“Guildmaster, you called?”

“Yes, please contact the academy and the forward base. I need to speak with the Commander or the Principal.”

“Understood.”

The automaton bows again respectfully.

After the automaton leaves the room, Lian turns her gaze to the hologram screen.

“Monster-armed creatures…”

She mutters to herself, her tone heavy.

“…Let’s hope this isn’t a major issue.”

The creatures in the data sent by the Taichun brothers at first glance look like ordinary monsters, but upon closer examination, they had elements that shouldn’t belong on their bodies.

Long cannons and shiny machine gun barrels are attached.

The monsters have become fused with weapons.