A familiar ceiling, and a familiar landscape.
After a long sleep, I propped myself up in my loose clothing.
I expected it, but is it really this memory?
Over a year ago, I realized that I couldn’t die by ordinary means.
Theoretically, it wasn’t impossible, but a botched attempt would only bring about another disaster.
Fearing that, I stopped trying to kill myself since that day. It was simply impossible for me.
Once a week, I even fed on humans. I knew all too well what would happen if I didn’t—my bones ached from it.
After the incident, the back alley was quiet for a while. Rumors of monsters circulated, causing even fewer people to pass through.
So now, it’s turned into my exclusive home.
The Empire tried to reconstruct the collapsed alley a few times, but every time they sent someone, I ended up eating them, so they stopped sending anyone.
“······Ah.”
This is why I dislike memories of the past.
Since I fell into this world, I had no good memories, so any memory I brought back was just a nightmare.
Of course, it remains a nightmare to this day.
“······.”
I wonder how far Ariel will grow.
I guess I’ll have to watch to see if I die in the end or if he does.
*
It’s been two days since the incident ended.
Classes were empty, and while people were busy rebuilding the building, Iria decided to visit Ariel in the hospital.
She didn’t have any particular feelings; she was just going because she had nothing else to do.
Upon entering the familiar hospital room, she saw Ariel and Sera lying side by side.
What’s this? Don’t hospital rooms separate men and women?
Apparently, the women’s side was already full. Luckily, Sera seemed friendly with Ariel, so they put them in the same room.
“Oh, it’s Iria.”
As she stepped inside, Sera waved her hand.
Seeing Sera after two days… well, what should I say?
“Wait a minute, patient! You can’t get up yet!”
“Let go! Iria is right there······ Huhhuhh!”
“······.”
She still looked like she wasn’t fully recovered.
She tried to move her body despite her severe injuries, and the wounds opened, causing her to gasp. Odd moans echoed in a place where men and women shared a room.
Whether she was aware of it or not, her voice was so youthful that it sparked strange imaginations.
Ariel, who had been relatively calm in the hospital, sighed as if used to Sera’s antics.
Today, Iria had to witness the struggle between a nurse and Sera once again.
Still, today was somewhat calm. Usually, she would have dashed out of the hospital on the same day, but it seemed she was too severely injured to do so.
Well, that was only to be expected.
Honestly, it was a miracle she wasn’t dead yet.
“Did you come to visit?”
Iria nodded at Sera’s question.
They were the two who had been most seriously injured during the recent Academy raid. At the same time, they were said to have contributed the most to the incident.
Even the professors had been sitting on their hands while these two had been making waves.
Especially after witnessing Ariel slicing up that huge monster at the end, everyone couldn’t stop talking about how this generation’s hero had finally succeeded in unleashing his power.
Ariel had already surpassed the level of the Academy’s professors. In terms of simple strength, he could likely be compared to the generals of the Empire.
In fact, against monsters and demon races, he exerted even greater influence than a general. He was already stepping into the ranks of the elite.
‘That’s why he’s definitely the protagonist.’
What’s even scarier is that the potential for growth is still limitless.
The bloodline of someone who killed the Demon King is frightening like this. In the previous generation, all the talented humans had died in war, while this generation’s sprouts were gradually emerging.
Only Ariel’s feats were shining, but he wasn’t the only one to transcend their limits.
“Iria! Wait, can you come over here for a sec? I can’t go over there myself!”
Iria walked over to Sera’s call.
She had seen Sera fighting that gigantic monster. Withstanding that level of magical energy all over her body wasn’t something you could simply achieve by handling flames well.
She had done that not once but twice.
If you only consider personal talent, Sera might be the most exceptional.
As Ariel grew, Sera too was rapidly blossoming her own unique talents.
“Did you call for me?”
As Iria approached Sera, she asked her. If she called someone, there had to be a reason.
“No, no. You have to come a bit closer.”
“······.”
Sera smiled slightly, waving her hand as if to come over.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Iria took a step closer.
Suddenly, Sera hugged her. A huge presence pressed against her, momentarily stealing her breath.
“Ugh.”
“Gotcha!”
Sera shouted, petting Iria’s hair a bit roughly.
For a moment, Iria contemplated using force to break free, but remembering she was a patient, she decided against it.
Instead, she asked her.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Well, I don’t know why, but it feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you. Your hair is so long and fluffy, it seems perfect to cuddle and sleep with······.”
“······.”
“Hey?!”
Only after poking Sera’s wound with her finger could Iria finally escape from her embrace.
She could breathe again.
Iria, once free, asked.
“It’s not really been that long, right?”
Weren’t they together even on the day the incident occurred? Although they had headed in different directions afterward.
It hadn’t been long since the incident took place two days ago.
“Well, it just felt like a long time since I last saw you. The hospital is suuuper boring, and time drags on. Ariel is so stoic, it’s no fun talking to him. Plus, he’s going to be discharged today! How can he leave me behind like that? It’s so unfair!”
“I heard there are many injured, so they don’t have enough rooms to accommodate all the patients. You should clear out your space quickly once you’re healed.”
Listening quietly, Ariel finally spoke up. While it was a valid reason, Sera’s expression somehow looked sulky.
“I-I can be discharged too···?”
“This time, don’t push yourself. Just focus on your treatment. You almost died this time.”
“Ugh······.”
At Ariel’s cold words, Sera fell silent and pouted.
Sera had serious wounds on her body as she lay in bed. Even for her, it would likely take days to fully recover.
For someone as active as she was, this was quite a harsh penalty. She was currently paying for the reckless choices she made during the mission to stop the Seed of the Demon King.
“Iria? Would you stay with me? If I’m left alone in this hospital, I feel like I’ll die from loneliness.”
“No.”
“You’re just as heartless as Ariel.”
“What of it?”
“······.”
After a short response, Iria turned her gaze toward Ariel.
Unlike the seriously injured Sera, Ariel, who had suffered only minor injuries, was controlling the overwhelming power of the stars.
Even though he had major wounds, he must have healed thanks to the power of the stars.
Having transcended through his battle with the giant monster, the new sensations he felt didn’t seem all that familiar yet. It appeared he was still in an adaptation phase.
He too wasn’t an ordinary human anymore; he had stepped into the realm of superhumans. Everything must feel strange. All his senses had been significantly enhanced compared to before.
After sitting up, Ariel called for a nurse to go through the formal discharge procedures.
After that, he called out to Iria.
“Iria.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we walk for a bit?”
He had an expression that seemed like he wanted to say something.
I was curious about what he had to say. After all, he was the only human whose memories I couldn’t read. Moreover, he was the protagonist of this world.
The more I knew about him, the better.
“Yes.”
Iria nodded and followed behind Ariel.
Though it felt a bit sad to leave Sera alone, well, she’d figure it out. Ignoring that, they stepped outside. The air outside the hospital was clear.
Someone who would be stuck in a hospital for several days wouldn’t have that luxury, though.
It wasn’t the first time it was just the two of them alone with Ariel. They had been alone together back when they dueled with wooden swords on the back mountain.
But this felt a bit different. Maybe it was the atmosphere? The current Ariel felt quite different from the Ariel back then.
There was a sharper, heavier presence. It signified that he had risen to the ranks of a worthy opponent. If I fought him now, I might have to sacrifice an arm or something.
And he certainly looked more relaxed than before. It was different from when he swung his sword just to get stronger as quickly as possible.
I followed him as my black hair flowed behind me.
They exited the hospital and walked the paths. However, Ariel rarely spoke. How far would I have to walk to hear him speak?
I didn’t know.
I just kept following him until the surroundings shifted into a thick forest. It was the ridge of the mountain behind the Academy where they had practiced with wooden swords.
“Iria.”
Having seemingly reached his desired place, Ariel called my name. I didn’t reply, but I nodded to indicate that I heard him.
His calm, star-colored eyes settled on me. Then he asked.
“Is there something you’re hiding from us?”
“······?”
For a moment, there was a silence in the mountains, where only Ariel and I were.
Since I couldn’t grasp the intent behind his words, I hesitated to answer, and Ariel didn’t provide any further explanation for a while.
Ariel sat down at a suitable spot and then slowly continued speaking.
“If the question was sudden, I’m sorry. You may not know, but I recently unlocked the stars. I think my senses have become a bit more sensitive than usual.”
“······.”
“I don’t fully understand yet, but I know you’re actually an incredibly strong person. Probably even stronger than I am now. I don’t know much, but one thing I can firmly assert is this.”
Ariel paused for a moment, as if contemplating whether or not it was appropriate to say this.
Of course, I couldn’t wait. Unlike other humans, I couldn’t read Ariel’s memories. I wouldn’t know his thoughts unless I heard them directly from him.
And after a brief moment, he spoke.
“······The stars are wary of you.”
That was a statement loaded with various meanings.
I couldn’t read his memories, but I could take a guess by looking at his expression.
Ariel was wary of me.
