Chapter 97

Student Council President Election (10)

Ofilis Hall is filled with silence.

Lortel Kecheln was quietly blocking the exit to the central hallway.

Ziggs saw that... I grabbed Tanya’s shoulder as she was running out side by side.

“Ugh?!”

Just like that Ziggs pulled Tanya’s entire body and hid it behind his back.

“Ahh!”

Tanya who had been staggering due to Ziggs’ strong grip barely regained her body speed.

“Why suddenly... ”

“Stay still.”

Ziggs’ intuition is almost always correct. His sixth sense which he had honed while living in the wild saved him from crisis situations many times.

This time Ziggs’ sixth sense screams in anxiety.

She may have been sleeping but she was wearing a lace slip dress and a light fur coat. Her rich reddish-brown hair which flows like waves is completely let down.

“Lortel.”

Ziggs was in a position to know some of Ed’s personal relationships while he was alive.

Those who recognized Ed’s true value usually developed a special relationship with him so even though he had only a narrow network of contacts many of Ed’s acquaintances were scary people.

Knowing that Lortel also had a very special relationship with Ed Ziggs adjusted his posture carefully.

Although I was holding the sword handle I wanted to avoid a situation where I had to fight Lortel as much as possible.

Lortel’s magic skills and agility were enough to make even the strict Professor Glast place her name in Class A.

However his practical sense and combat sense are not at a level that can match Ziggs. If they fight Ziggs will probably win.

Ziggs may be inferior in a simple firefight but in a one-on-one battle where he uses his abilities and the given environment to the limit there are very few people who can beat Ziggs.

However Lortel’s true fear does not come from his fighting ability.

Lortel Kecheln is someone who will inevitably lead to destruction whoever he targets. Not even her adoptive father could escape its clutches.

You should never be fooled by her pretty and noble appearance or elegant words and actions into thinking that she is a benevolent and good fortune.

Although others may not know Siggs Eiffelstein definitely knows. She is a rose with thorns. The thorns are coated with several layers of deadly poison that can instantly poison even an elephant.

If I were to choose a person who should never be an enemy at Sylvania Academy... It will fit comfortably within three fingers.

The figure who was quietly blocking the door with his head down and waiting. No matter how you look at it it doesn’t look like a favorable situation.

─I’m sure I heard about Ed’s death.

It’s even weirder that you don’t know that Lucy is making such a fuss outside.

Therefore Ziggs had no choice but to hide Tanya behind for now.

“We’d better evacuate quickly Lortel.”

As Ziggs said those words Lortel in the darkness raised his head thoughtfully. There is no telling what effect the news of Ed’s death might have had on her feelings or what it might have made her think of Tanya.

I have no choice but to wait quietly for Lortel’s answer.

But Lortel raised his head... He was smiling in a surprisingly elegant manner.

“Ziggs you say that... “What were you doing here without escaping until now?”

Tidy tone as usual.

The clothes are just a bit more comfortable and less formal but Ziggs looks calm and collected as always... She felt rather uncomfortable.

Ziggs stared at Lortel who continued speaking calmly without relaxing.

“It’s a dangerous situation. We need to evacuate quickly. Isn’t that right Ziggs? And you Tanya.”

Did even Tanya sense that something was unusual?

However it doesn’t seem hostile so it’s hard to say anything back.

“Lortel.”

Ziggs does not loosen his grip on the sword handle.

And then he asked directly.

“Have you heard any news about Senior Ed?”

Lortel’s eyebrows furrowed and trembled.

It was a very weak reaction that would be difficult to catch with even a sharp eye but Ziggs who was quick to notice recognized the fluctuations in emotion.

well. What do you think?”

“Okay I don’t think they’ll just let me go.”

“What are you talking about Ziggs? “I have no reason to stop you.”

Lortel with his eyes closed and smiling still looks relaxed. However Tanya and Ziggs cannot think of taking a single step.

“There’s no way I could beat you Ziggs in a simple one-on-one battle like this.”

It’s almost painful to recite all of Lortel Kecheln’s abilities one by one.

However the thing that stands out above all else is the monster-like calm that maintains reason in any situation.

Even in imminent situations like Tarkan destroying the student center or Glast’s magic tower rising over the academic building she never panicked or lost her senses.

It is a monster of reason that acts like a machine finding the best move. Even in this situation where even Lucy who always seemed to be grumpy is swept up in anger she grits her teeth and maintains her cool rationality.

However reason and rationality do not always work together as one body.

Although she lived the life of a merchant who converted everything in the world into money and weighed them there were times when even she deviated from the rational scale. This is when Ed is involved.

Lortel does not stop Ziggs. The reason is that Ziggs has higher combat ability than Lortel.

If so I have no choice but to turn it around and ask.

“It’s not me...” “What would you have done if Tanya was alone?”

Although it looks calm and organized there is no guarantee that it will be that way on the inside as well. That girl never honestly reveals her true feelings.

Therefore no matter how messed up the inside is you can never figure it out just by looking at the outside.

However there are times when that part is revealed implicitly.

“He must have been torn to death.”

A shiver ran down Tanya’s back.

The expression is still calm and organized. The tone of voice also does not change at all. However a sharp threat as if cutting through flesh hangs in the air.

“You’re lucky Tanya. “I should thank Ziggs for accompanying me.”

Tanya’s expression is clearly visible in Lortel’s motionless amber eyes.

The reason why Lortel was sitting guarding this hallway was probably...

“That is a hasty action Lortel.”

“That’s right Ziggs. “It looks like you are taking Tanya’s side.”

Ziggs couldn’t say anything either.

Apparently all circumstantial evidence points to Tanya as the culprit in Ed’s assassination.

The actions of Tanya who had consistently revealed her malicious intent toward Ed. And the vassals of the Ross Taylor family who appear to have carried out the assassination. This overlaps with the fact that they were direct vassals who followed Tanya’s orders. Most vassals rarely take actions on their own without orders from their masters.

Ziggs’ actions of deciding to believe in Tanya’s innocence... It is strictly the realm of emotion rather than reason. It’s just a guess based on experience that Ed Rothtaylor doesn’t want Tanya to meet a terrible end.

This is why Lortel who always aims to act rationally is a terrible match for the somewhat emotional Ziggs.

“So rather than killing them directly they would have tortured them first. “If he somehow confesses it’s another story.”

Ziggs swallowed dry saliva as he looked at Lortel smiling. That woman is definitely not in a normal state. She looks infinitely calm but she is clearly twisted somewhere.

“It looks like it’s been a while since you’ve had your nails done Tanya. “That’s a good thing.”

Tanya trembled hiding her hands behind her back. Lortel’s words which he uttered implicitly had a horrifying meaning.

The image of a hero charging with his sword drawn against an army that was coming like a mountain. A picture of Belcus Nortondale the founder of the Nortondale family seen in a picture book.

Everyone was afraid of the Sword Demon’s curse in Clevius’ blood and gave up but his older brother died while affirming Clevius as a member of the Nortondale family until the end.

Ed Rosstaylor who stood in front of Takan a high-ranking fire spirit who was feared even by the seniors in his grade and came up with a trick until the end.

Tailly the sword saint who never lost his will and rushed at Professor Glast among the magic towers that filled the sky.

The maids the top graders and even Elvira who tried to do their duty until the end even in front of Lucy who attacked.

Those idiots eat away at the defeatism that was rooted in the boy’s heart.

It presents an ugly and stained image in front of you like a light hanging in a gutter.

It makes you hold your feet on the ground and pulls out a sword that has lost its edge.

It makes you hit your head like an idiot into an ordeal that everyone defines as impossible.

really... I am... You stupid bastard idiot scum... me too... know... I know... ”

I lost too much blood. It was time for her to rest.

Clevius was unable to continue speaking and fell unconscious.

Ed just stood still and listened to Clevious’s incoherent swearing until the end. She had finally lost her senses and was about to speak in her quiet voice to Clevius.

“Ugh... ”

-Shoot.

Elvira completely injured came between Clevius and Ed. She looked as if she had already been subdued and was having a hard time controlling her body but with her arms wide open she was blocking Clevius’s path.

Perhaps because she misunderstood that Edgar was going to do something to harm Clevius Elvira sat awkwardly blocking the path with her lips pursed and her trembling arms not lowered.

It looked dangerous as if it would fall right off if you kicked it.

Still with his eyes alive with determination his body trembled and he somehow managed to take a protective stance.

“... ”

Ed who was quietly looking down at Elvira finally quietly opened his mouth.

“Thank you Elvira. Clevious. “Your efforts were not in vain and were truly worthwhile.”

Elvira’s pupils widened as if she had never imagined such a line would come out of Ed’s mouth.

There was no particular reason to harm Edgar Clevius. Rather Clevious’s struggles were of great help to Ed.

However Elvira still did not like Ed so she became anxious for no reason.

However contrary to Elvira’s imagination Ed calmly tapped Elvira’s shoulder a couple of times.

At that gesture Elvira lost all strength in her body and fell down.

“... you are... ”

“Just rest for now I’ve confirmed that I’m alive...” “You two have a lot to talk about.”

And then Ed quietly put down his robe hat and turned around and walked away.

It was time to take Lucy back.

*

Loneliness is a disease that leads to death.

It is a curse that comes equally to everyone and eats away at their hearts little by little.

That is why people rely on each other to survive.

Even for a girl who lives with a sad look on everything going on in the world that mortal disease is bound to come without exception.

However the girl could not understand the fear of loneliness... Because she had her Glokt in her childhood.

The presence of the old man who strokes my hair with his wrinkled hands and always sits next to me as if he were not there... He was protecting the girl from the fear of loneliness.

However it is very difficult to realize this on one’s own.

Therefore it may be natural to realize and suffer the pain of loss only after losing it.

– Shoot!

Lucy’s body almost lost strength in an instant when she saw the boy wearing a robe hat.

I tried to close my eyes to see if I was hallucinating but the boy’s appearance was still the same.

There was no dramatic reaction. She is not the kind of girl who would run screaming and be hugged.

“I am sorry. Lucy. You didn’t tell me in advance. “For some reason I needed to die.”

However it wasn’t until the low voice that I thought I couldn’t hear came into my ears that the sense of reality came to me.

“But I was in an urgent situation where my life was on the line so I couldn’t do anything in advance. So there was no time to share the news.”

Ed trudged through the rain to Lucy who was standing there blankly. And only after reaching her face did she clearly convey it to Lucy who had a puzzled expression on her face.

“I am alive. Now like this.”

Lucy looked up at Ed blankly.

Ed Ross-Taylor was right about his sturdy body his flowing blonde hair and even the faint smell of grass coming from his body wet from the rain.

The facial expression is as expected. However anyone could tell that what was flowing down around the corners of the eyes was not rainwater.

Suddenly he started sniffling and jumped up to look at Ed’s chest. Then she buried her face in Ed’s wet collar and rubbed it.

“I thought you were dead.”

That wet feeling was in a tone that was difficult to hear for Lucy’s voice.

In the calm pouring rain Ed slowly wrapped his arms around Lucy’s shoulders.

I looked up at the raining sky and pressed Lucy’s slowly sobbing body tightly for a long time.

Spring rain is falling.

Spring reveals a new appearance after the rain has passed sweeping over the flower petals piled up on the roadside or the scent of flowers left in flower beds.

The same goes for the torrent of emotions.

Once you calm down and regain your sense of reason a new phase often comes to a relationship that was stably established.

It starts with a small sense of discomfort.

Lucy who was crying in Ed’s arms poured out her emotions for a long time before... He succeeds in capturing the weak emotions hidden in that solitude.

It was Lucy who was looking at Ed’s face with a glock... No matter how much I think about it I feel like there is a fundamental difference between the feelings I have for Ed and the feelings I have for Glokt.

The emotions felt in Glokt’s wrinkly hand as he stroked Lucy’s head while sitting by a warm fire and in Ed’s hand pressing tightly on Lucy who was so overcome with emotion that she was shedding tears... Similar yet strangely different.

The rain slowly stops and moonlight begins to seep through the clouds.

Lucy who was rubbing her eyes in Ed’s arms suddenly takes a deep breath.

I was wondering what the difference was... Eventually the correct answer becomes concrete.

Once you become aware of it realizing the identity of that emotion is not a task.

-Whisk!

-sudden!

Suddenly Ed was startled and regained his balance.

Lucy who had been crying profusely in Ed’s arms suddenly held back her tears pushed Ed’s chest away and raised her head.

And then... I quietly look up at Ed’s face with eyes of disbelief. It wasn’t just Ed who was surprised but Lucy as well.

The corners of his eyes were still moist but the feeling of embarrassment was clearly evident.

Like a stray cat that has met an unexpected natural enemy... Lucy’s face which had been shaking endlessly heated up.

Lucy?

Ed just called Lucy’s name normally but it felt like a fire was blooming in Lucy’s chest.

Lucy tried to answer but her voice trembled and no words came out so she just took a step back.

Even the high-ranking magicians of the Bachelor cannot help but tremble in front of her... Lucy is like a mountain.

Lucy looked at Ed with a trembling face as if she was facing an unknown being. That face was filled with only embarrassment.