CH 176

As I strolled to the venue for the ceremony, I saw the underclassmen. In the midst of all this, I could hear voices whispering.

(Oh, it’s Lars-senpai, he’s so cool after all.)

(Idiot, don’t you know Ryuuze-san’s strength? I heard he has a legendary large sword.)

(It’s Makina-senpai, the one who created the guild club! She’s so cool. I want to be like her!

(It’s Urka-san, after all! I like the gap between his kind face while using the undead ……)

(The intelligent Yogus-senpai is also cool ……)

Is what they say, we’ve had a lot of attention from the guild club, weapons, and class competitions. 

“It’s the last time but this is embarrassing.”

“Is there anything about me and Patty-chan? Boring.”

“Kuu-chan is very popular in the class competition.”

“I know I’m called as the Superstrong Woman ……”

Kudelica puffed up her cheeks and walked on, and we laughed. Just when we thought we were about to enter, a voice called out to us from behind.

“Hello, Lars-kun.”

“Oh, if it isn’t Lux. Good morning.”

“In the end, I still couldn’t beat you.”

“What are you talking about, even though you were working as student council president.”

Lux tried to sabotage me in my first year.

After that sermon, he was able to use his brain to improve school life and the class competitions. He had always represented his grade, and in the fifth grade, he was the student body president, working hard for everyone.

“Where’s your sister?”

“She’s here. Though my parents are as indifferent as ever.”

Lux, who had learned to separate the two to the point of swearing, let out a sigh and laughed.

“You’re going back there when you’re done, right? Do you have any idea what you’re going to do for work?”

“I’m going to have a party and then go home. For the work, let’s see, I’ll think about it when I get back. I wish I had a brother like your brother, but I will probably be better, so it’s going to be a hassle. Oops, let’s get going.”

“That’s right …… I’m rooting for you. I don’t think Lux will falter. You went toe-to-toe with me so much in the class competitions, after all.”

“Thank you. Even though I lost to you, I feel like I can handle it when you say so. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi.”

Lux turned on his heel and started walking toward the venue. Ryuuze, who had been watching over me in silence, folded his hands behind his head and said to no one in particular 

“He’s changed too. It’s like he was making Lars as his reference, the second son of the lord, while at the same time looking up to him.”

“Well, only he knows that, but I think he had something that made him feel confident about himself?”

“Lars-kun, do you have one?”

“…… Secret.”

I answered Patty’s question nastily, and we walked into the hall laughing.

“Ohhh, Lars-kun!”

–I was about to go, but Mizuki-san called out to me ……

“Oh! It’s Mizuki-san! So you came for me!”

“N-No!? I’m here for Lars-kun’s graduation!”

“There you go again. At the last request, you let me carry your luggage! Oh, why are you running away!”

“I-I’ll see you later, Lars-kun!”

“Oh, yes, Be careful!”

Mizuki-san leaves this place as if she is running away from Yifa who suddenly appears. I think she’s a kind person because she’s willing to take care of Yifa after all. I wonder what happened to Mash-san. I haven’t seen him lately.

“Wait! Mizuki-san!”

“Yes, you’re persistent! Why don’t you go to the venue!”

“Gueh!?”

“It’s not easy for you too, Mizuki-san ……”

“Yifa-kun’s just too tough ……”

We followed them with our eyes, dumbfounded. We exchanged greetings with Naru, Nemigo, Hope, Onette, and others, and then entered the venue.

We sat in the front of the room and waited for the right moment as the underclassmen began to arrive. I hadn’t been to a ceremony since my brother’s graduation.

I was a little nervous as I checked my surroundings and noticed that there were two empty chairs, one in A-Class and one in C-Class. As I wondered what was going on, I saw an unexpected person sitting there.

“A-Ahhhh!? It’s Helena, isn’t it!?”

“What!? Oh, It’s true ……! What’s up!?”

“Oh, my God, it’s been so long!”

“Oh, you’re looking so beautiful ……”

“Yay♪ Long time no see, guys! We’ve been invited by the headmaster. Anthea too, right?”

When I looked over, I saw that Anthea was sitting in an empty seat in C-Class, and C-Class was abuzz. We can’t hide our surprise and joy at this unexpected surprise. Whether it was because she was working as an idol, as Jack had said, or because she had grown up, she had a more feminine figure than she had at the time, and her less flashy makeup enhanced her attractiveness.

“I’m glad to see this. I can’t believe we’re graduating with all of A-Class, plus Patty ……”

“You’re right! Wow, you’re so cute!”

“Thanks, Nora♪ You’ve grown bigger and more beautiful, too.”

Helena smiled at Nora as Yogus burst into tears and Nora let out a sigh. Makina, Luciel, Patty and Kudelica, who took turns to come in, all the girls were talking to each other and getting excited. 

They said that the school in the capital was strict, but still neat and comfortable. Of course, Prince Orden was also there, and the girls were very enthusiastic about him, she said amusingly. I was glad to hear that the prince was looking well.

When all the students were present, the whole place went silent, and the graduation ceremony began.

“We will now begin the graduation ceremony. We will begin with a congratulatory speech from the headmaster.”

Verna-sensei seemed to be the facilitator, and her beautiful voice echoed in the quiet space. What the heck, Tigre-sensei is already crying.

The headmaster went up to the stage, bowed, put his hand on the desk on the stage, coughed, and opened his mouth. We’ve been in great care to the headmaster too ……

“Firstly, congratulations on your graduation! I’d like to thank you all for graduating without incident. From tomorrow, you will be free to live your lives without being tied to the academy. Some of you will take over the family business, some of you will study harder, and some of you will dream of being active as adventurers. You are free to choose how you want to live. However, while you are free, please do not forget that you are responsible for your actions. You can do anything you want, but that also means you need to control yourself.”

The inconvenience of freedom, huh. Surprisingly, I think it was said that freedom can only be said when there are restrictions and rules. In fact, freedom without restrictions makes us feel uneasy.

“There will be times when things are hard, and we may be deceived or betrayed by others. When you feel like you’re falling apart, I want you to remember your life here. Of course, if it’s really hard for you, you can come back here. The teachers and I will be here for you. There are many things to say, but I’m sure you’ve learned them from your time here, so I’ll leave it at that. I wish you all the best in your lives! That’s all!”

The audience applauded with a crackling sound.

Maybe if I really knocked on the door, the headmaster would help me. He’s that kind of strict but kind teacher.

Oh, by the way, the people who turned the others into a monster haven’t come out since. Did they give up, or did they have other goals? The headmaster was concerned about that. After examining the bones, he found that they were no longer human skeletons, but had really turned into ogres. I shudder to think if this drug had been circulated, but there had been no other incidents recorded in the Reflexion Kingdom for the past three years.

“Next, the valedictorian, A-Class, Lars Irving-kun.”

“Yes.”

“Good luck!”

I said it should be Lux since he was the president, but they said the lord’s son should finish it, so I did.

“I’m Lars Irving from A-Class. Thank you for coming to our graduation ceremony today. I thought I had decided what I was going to say, but when I stood here, all of that flew away.”

A chuckle escaped from my words. I seemed to had forgotten it due to nervousness. But that’s not what I wanted to say. When I stood on the stage and looked at the teachers and my classmates, I felt that beautiful words were not the same.

“I …… I think there’s only one thing we want to say. Thank you, teachers! I really liked the teachers who I troubled but also laughed and rebuked me, got really angry when things got really bad, and tried their best to help my classmates. I can stay here as the son of the lord thanks to Tigre-sensei, Verna-sensei, and the headmaster.”

Verna-sensei nodded her head, and Tigre-sensei was at his wits end. I continued to speak.

“I also want to say thank you to everyone in my class and to the other graduating classmates. I want to thank everyone in A-Class for being my friends and for being my treasures. I’d like to thank everyone in B-Class through E-Class for the friendly competition, and for sharing the rigors and joys of competition with me. Thank you, everyone!”

“Way to go, Lars! I’m glad you’re my friend, too!”

“Huh, I’m not your friend. I’m your rival!”

“I love you too!”

Ryuuze and Lux shouted, and everyone else was clapping and shouting something or other.

“Lars-niichan, you’re so cool!”

“Cool!”

I can see Sarge, Aina, and Tilia-chan standing up and clapping their hands over their heads, which makes me smile.

“That’s all for me, Lars Irving! Everyone, let’s meet again somewhere!”

I shouted as I walked off the stage, and there was one last round of applause before moving on to the next program. I’m kind of excited, but I suddenly realize that I’ve never been the person to say something like this.

I guess my mind has changed a lot in the past 15 years ……? But I’m happy that my parents love me and that I have friends.

The rest of the program went off without a hitch, and we headed out.

“Nn ……! It’s over. Now we’re not students at the academy anymore.”

“I graduated a while ago, but I was happy to be with you guys.”

Ryuuze stretched and said that he was very happy, and Helena replied with a satisfied look on her face. However, Ryuuze’s graduation ceremony will continue for a little while longer.

“Oh, that’s ……”

“That person is, don’t tell me ……!”

A few moments after we left the venue, a certain person was standing there looking at us. I knew about it from my dad, but everyone else didn’t know about it.

The person they were all looking at was…

“F-Father ……? Is that you, Father ……?”

“…… You’ve grown up, Luse.”

“B-Brao-san ……”

Luciel opens his mouth. Yes, the person standing there was Ryuuze’s father, Brao. And his mother came out from behind him and smiled.

Ryuuze rushed over, grabbed Brao by the shoulders, and wept.

“Phew …… You came to see me once in a while, but standing in front of you like this, you’ve really grown so big.”

“Father …… no, Old man, why?”

“It’s because he has served his time, Ryuuze-kun.”

“Dad.”

(T/N: I wrote “Old man” here instead of “Dad” because it would be confusing if Lars calls his father “Dad” and Ryuuze also calls his father “Dad” too.)

It was not Brao who answered Ryuuze’s question, but my dad. And nearby were Sorio-san and Luciela. Dad continued.

“The sentence is five years. I’m pretty sure that’s what I told the king. If Brao did not show remorse, the sentence could have been prolonged …… but he was able to come out safely. What do you think, Brao, after seeing Ryuuze-kun.”

“Yeah …… You’ve grown up …… really …… sorry Roen …… for my sake ……”

“Old man ……”

Brao burst into tears and hugged Ryuuze.

Ryuuze and his mother. Is he crying because his family is waiting for him, or is he crying out of pity? Only he knows for sure. He has been sentenced to five years in prison so that he can attend this graduation ceremony.

Maybe he had some feelings for his friends. But I decided to think that he wanted him to be there as a father on the big day.

Brao’s face became calm, as if a curse had fallen off from him. I couldn’t help but hope that from now on, he wouldn’t live a life that would bring shame to his family.

“Let’s go. See you later, Ryuuze.”

When I said this, Ryuuze raised one hand without looking at me, and we left.

–And then it was time for me to make my last choice in school.

Yes, I’m sorry! It didn’t end!

Oh, seriously …… there are not enough characters ……

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“It’s really the end of the story, isn’t it?”

I’m going to have to make a flag, too. ……

“I’m going to see how far you can take this.”

Who’s point of view is that!?