127 Epilogue 37: Strength

A few minutes after the battle is settled.

After reporting to Chris and cooling his feverish body with the night wind, he heard a groan from a figure lying at his feet.

Are you awake?

"... ahh"

Lying on the ground, Valen answered, looking at the starry sky.

"Strong... I didn't expect to lose to the same student."

Wake up slowly, Valen says.

"If you're that strong, you don't even know what I'm thinking."

"... you'll be strong enough."

"I'm getting stronger.... after losing something important."

Somehow, I could see that the important thing was Fraud Durite.

That's why this man cares about his sense of crisis.

This man gradually gained unbeatable strength on the battlefield with a sense of crisis that lost something important. But even if I get it now, I won't return what I lost. This man was trying to instil a sense of danger in humans throughout the country so that there would be fewer people like him. --Next time, try to make it in time.

"... you don't understand."

Hmm?

I'll give you back your words.

Zero breath, I'll tell you.

"Valen, you're strong, so you don't understand the way weak people think.... I don't think anyone in this country can keep fighting like you. Only a handful of people can swear on the battlefield. Almost exhausted and eventually crushed."

It's not just the strength of the wrist.

Strength of mind. Or spiritual strength. Whatever it is - don't push your strength against others.

"That's why we need peace. Even if it's the beginning... there are people who need it."

It could be a normal person everywhere, it could be a classmate... it could be me.

I also felt vain in the enduring battle. If the war had continued like that, I might have gone mad by now. If I hadn't gone to school and continued to fight with Chris as a "back" person, I'd have turned him into a weapon that killed his enemies indiscriminately, like Oz.

I'm not convinced yet.

Valen murmurs with a small voice.

"But... well, I'll think about it seriously."

That's what I told Valen, and I exhaled.

First of all, this will prevent agents of the Russian Empire from infiltrating the school.

But what I'm worried about...

- How well does the student chairman know?

The chairman seemed to be aware of Valen's dissatisfaction. There's even a passage that led Baleen and I to fight.

Maybe he's still watching us somewhere.

◇

"... it looks like it's over."

On the rooftop of the school, Ikes murmured as he watched the two fights.

Shelia, a girl with light purple hair next to her, also caressed her chest as she watched the situation unfold.

"Chairman, how far did you explain this to him?"

"Almost nothing. But I think you understand."

"I don't think it's such a good idea. I can't believe I let a freshman stare at a rabid dog..."

"I can't help it. Valen won't listen to me at all. Besides me, I really needed him and the guy who got a rash from the front."

Ikes glanced at the two of them in the school yard blurrily.

Lying on the ground, Valen had a calm expression. It's been a long time since I've seen such a face.

Besides, I'm afraid of the aftermath if I don't drain the gas at this time.

"Well, maybe it's better than being rampaged during the competition festival."

Ikes smiled at Shelia, who was convinced.

"Then I'll go."

"Where am I going?"

"Knights garrison. We have to put back the loose security."

Also, Mira, who was waiting in front of the school gate, had to be told that the mission was over. I recall that there were several people gathered in front of the school gate.

"But it seems that the remnants of the operative are still in school..."

"Hmm? Oh, you forgot to deal with that. Um, where was it installed..."

Ix put his finger between his eyebrows and felt signs of the enemy.

While Tweet and Barren were fighting, the operatives were breaking into the school again. The number is ten. There are multiple warehouses in the campus and they are distributed among sentinels from all over the country.

Having grasped the agent's location, Ix lifted his right hand slightly.

A small magical formation lights up on the thumb and index finger. I rubbed it together quickly - snipping and snipping my fingers.

"Yes, it's all gone."

A pre-installed trap is activated and ten operatives are stunned at once.

Ikes went down the stairs without changing his complexion.

◆

Two weeks have passed since the battle against Barren.

Finally, the magic competition festival began.