Chapter 175

Chapter 175

The test was temporarily suspended. It was to treat Luna and Daike.

Although all the scratches came from collapsing the stone wall with force and crawling over the collapsed pile of stones.

'This is a test, not real combat.'

It's only natural to check the students' physical conditions.

Whisper whisper-.

Perhaps because they were given an unexpected break time. Or because the waiting time got longer.

Some kids glanced at me and whispered. They were kids from the Yuridia faction.

"Breaking the labyrinth. Should I say it's very Kraken-like?"

"Certainly, the scale is different."

"Moreover, look at Luna, who faithfully carries out such an absurd plan."

No. Luna did not faithfully carry out my plan.

She didn't properly execute a single thing I instructed!

"It's so sad. To instruct such an ignorant plan to Luna... But why did he give such a plan?"

"It's to show off. To show that Luna can't escape from his grasp!"

"Look at those hands full of wounds. To make Luna's delicate and soft hands like that..."

No. I instructed a plan that wouldn't get even a drop of water on her hands, let alone dust.

And her hands were full of wounds even before meeting me!

"Shouldn't we separate them now?"

"We can't do that. We are beings who support Luna's love until the end. It's fundamentally forbidden to interfere between those two. It's clearly stated in Article 2, Clause 3."

...Article 2, Clause 3? With that level, isn't it unreasonable to see it as a simple club activity?

Perhaps Yuridia is up to something more dangerous than I thought.

"Sob sob, I feel so bad for Luna. I keep crying..."

"Everyone remember today's pain. On the day Luna's heart changes, we'll return it all. The pain of Luna and us!"

Whisper whisper.

Murmur murmur.

Mumble mumble(?).

It seems like misunderstandings are only piling up as time goes on.

At this point, I feel like I should set a date and clear up the misunderstandings.

Because it seemed like I would face a bad ending I've never seen before, where I get kidnapped by the Yuridia faction and buried in the mountains.

'Oh, if this is also a Hidden Piece, then it's a Hidden Piece.'

The problem is that I'm about to experience it directly with my body?

I never wanted to experience the feeling of being buried in the mountains and coldly cooling down.

'In the first place, this wouldn't have happened if Luna had behaved properly.'

Knowing this fact or not, Luna, who finished a simple treatment, ran towards me.

"Big sis is here! How was my skill? I perfectly executed your plan."

"Keke, don't go around saying it's my plan. It's embarrassing."

"What's embarrassing? Didn't you use it confidently in the entrance exam?"

Luna, there's a huge material difference between bushes and rocks.

I never told you to use the method from the entrance exam this time!

'The reason Elester praised us in the entrance exam wasn't simply because we made a path that didn't exist.'

The reason Elester admired us.

It was because we broke free from the way of thinking trapped in a 'frame'.

The theme of the 'labyrinth' test. Originally, if it's a test, you're supposed to find the answer within that theme.

But we didn't do that.

We presented a new solution by breaking the frame of the labyrinth.

It was only natural for Elester to praise. Breaking the frame.

That is the mindset that a magician pursuing truth must always have.

Then isn't what Luna did now the same?

...Yeah, she certainly did break free from the way of thinking trapped in a frame.

'She broke free too much, that's all.'

They used rocks to make the labyrinth so that the same thing as the entrance exam wouldn't happen. And quite sturdy stone walls at that.

But she smashed them.

It's also contradictory to the act of breaking the 'frame' that Elester praised.

Because while anyone can pass through bushes, not everyone can collapse stone walls.

Unlike last time, this time it's something only people with the absolute ability called 'power' can do.

If Elester saw this situation now, wouldn't he be appalled?

"Well, whatever. As long as we passed, it's fine. Be a little happier."

"Keke, I am happy."

"Be even happier!"

"Impossible. Such an ignorant plan. It fundamentally doesn't suit me."

Ugh.

Perhaps because I, a smart, clever, and intelligent person, can't accept it.

Recalling what happened a little while ago, I felt nauseous involuntarily.

"This is really!"

Luna gritted her teeth.

A symptom that appears before she bites my ear.

I quickly placed my index finger on Luna's lips.

Kyaaaah-!

A scream rang out from somewhere.

Hmm, it seems like misunderstandings are piling up without rest, but... Protecting my ear is the priority now.

"Oh my! Look at this sweat. The academy is really too much. To commit such an atrocious act!"

"......"

"Daike, eat these and regain some energy. If it's not enough, tell me anytime."

A pile of snacks poured out in front of Daike.

Luna immediately pulled my ear.

"Taking care of the enemy! Are you in your right mind?"

"Keke, Luna. He's not an enemy. He's a friend."

"You only have one friend, and that's me?"

"Umm... Then how about a close friend?"

"Sounds like a relationship closer than a friend. No way!"

Companion, comrade, chum, even buddy.

All rejected. In the end, what I chose was.

"How about a friend-ish?"

"Well, that's fine... I'll specially allow it! I'm a relationship closer than that, so I can eat the snacks, right?"

"Keke, of course."

Only then did Luna give permission.

Leaving behind Luna, who was mindlessly munching on snacks, I turned towards Daike.

Daike hadn't touched the food and drinks I gave him.

"Keke, wouldn't it be good to have some? Daike, my friend-ish."

"Don't you think the other person will hate being called that?"

"Then do you prefer being called a friend? Oh my, this is surprising. To think you considered me a friend! As expected of Daike."

"...Let's stop this word play. What do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"You gave me this because you want something, right?"

Daike threw [Parma's Hand Mirror] at me.

After putting it in my arms, I cautiously approached, rubbing my hands.

"Want something? What a disappointing thing to say! Should there be something like that between us friend-ishes?"

"Then I can just go."

"But a friend-ish is certainly hard to see as a real friend. Oh no, I have no choice but to receive compensation in this situation! How sad!"

"......"

Daike's expression turned sour.

It's like an expression saying 'What kind of bastard is this?'. It must be my imagination, right?

"So, what do you want?"

"Keke, about that..."

Whisper whisper-.

When I cautiously told him what I wanted, Daike's eyes widened.

"...How do you know that?"

How do I know? Of course.

"Keke, it's a secret."

Daike turned his head and thought for a moment.

But his contemplation was short.

"...I don't know the reason, but since I received help, I'll do that much for you. It's not a difficult task anyway."

"Thank you. As expected of Daike, my friend-ish!"

"......"

A little later, I obtained the final puzzle piece behind a tree that blocked the view.

The final puzzle piece that might allow me to pass Lucia's quest.

*

The dueling ground of the 3rd stage, the group duel, where we arrived under the instructor's guidance.

As soon as he saw the unique marble floor of the dueling ground, a boy jumped on it and shouted.

"A duel! I've been waiting only for this moment!"

He was a kid from the Teron faction. 5th rank, his name was... I didn't remember.

Was it Zedaniel? If he had a simpler name, I would have definitely remembered it.

I should recommend him to change his name.

"Zero! Let's have a match! This time, you won't be able to avoid it even if you want to!"

"Be quiet."

The owner of a low but clearly audible voice.

Caron was already standing in front of us.

"I will use the strength of a 6-star knight level. For you guys, if you subdue me, it's a victory; if you fail, it's a defeat. Of course, the score will be higher if you win."

An explanation about the 3rd stage that started before even greeting us.

The kids were immediately thrown into confusion.

To be precise, it was the eight kids excluding me.

"F-Fight and win against Teacher Caron?"

"There's no way that's possible!"

But compared to what was about to happen, it wasn't even on the scale of confusion.

"Really? Then what about me?"

At the same time as a slender, beautiful voice rang in our ears.

The first daughter of the Lucid family, one of the Ten Swords of the Empire.

Lucia appeared in front of us.

--TL Notes--

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