Sellafi Black House.
Delicious smells waft through the small communal dining hall.
Lev is off training with Selena, and Aria and Yeriel are chatting about the happenings at the Reconta Festival.
Among them, the silver-haired girl, Aria, is in awe.
Yeriel is not only impressive in her magical abilities but also has a commanding presence as the dormitory supervisor.
Not just maintaining the Black House, she can handle laundry, cleaning, and food at a top-notch level,
– “Lev likes this scent, so I put this air freshener in the men’s bathroom…!”
– “Lev trains often, so he does laundry every day!”
It’s enough information to believe she’s Lev’s personal maid.
What a lucky guy to have such a woman taking care of him!
“Lev-san is being taken care of by you, Yeriel-san…”
“No! In fact, Lev helps me a lot…! Since he’s tall, he can reach things on the top shelf and bring down stuff from the attic or storage…”
“Still, it’s unusual for a supervisor to go this far…”
“Uh-huh, no! Aria also takes great care of Lev!”
“Well, that’s true.”
This… It’s a battle I can’t win.
Aria just asked a few questions to help out Yeriel, and yet traces left around the Black House proclaim that the two have been taking care of each other without a hitch.
‘They’ve been like this since the first semester, just the two of them…’
With a blank expression, Aria gently placed her hand on her chin in thought.
It’s strange for young men and women to spend this much time together without developing feelings.
Besides, is there a man who wouldn’t fall for the popular Yeriel even with her supporting him in Claris?
‘…That’s frustrating.’
Frustrating. Even the normally composed Aria begins to feel anxious.
‘I need a secret about Lev that only I know…’
Aria hopes there’s some side of Lev that Yeriel doesn’t know about.
.
.
.
As lunchtime arrives, the two take their seats at the table.
Yeriel cautiously asks Aria,
“By the way… are you okay…?”
“…Huh?”
“Uh, you confessed to Lev, right…?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you curious about his answer? I would be if I were in your shoes…!”
Aria calmly replied,
“It’s fine. I didn’t respond either.”
-…
Yeriel’s eyes widen at the unexpected reply.
“Huh…? What do you mean…?”
Aria continued with a serene demeanor,
“When Lev confessed to me, I didn’t give him an answer.”
– Clatter.
“The same situation… Yeriel-san…?”
The dish Yeriel was holding fell from her hands.
In her head, the fact that Lev confessed to Aria rings loudly.
Her eyes seem to dull, losing their sparkle.
“Ah, I’m sorry! Lev… confessed to Aria… huh… ah…”
“Yes….”
Contrarily, Aria remains calm.
It doesn’t seem like she’s lying.
A whirlwind of thoughts swirls through Yeriel’s mind.
‘When? Where? How…?’
What could Lev have confessed to Aria while he always messes with me?
Then why did Aria reject him…?
What would it feel like receiving a confession from him?
Observing the situation quietly, Aria suppresses a small chuckle and throws in a jab,
“…Seems like you didn’t know, did you, Yeriel-san…?”
“…………Yeah.”
“If you want to tease Lev, feel free to ask him. He might get embarrassed.”
“…………”
Shouldn’t have asked.
Aria just answered the question,
but for Yeriel, that fact alone was a crushing blow.
‘At this rate… no, I can’t lose…’
Something begins to sprout in her heart.
And soon, it transforms into a small resolve.
‘Yeah, from now on, Lev also has some blame for making a confession recklessly…’
When he returns today, I’ll be sure to set things straight.
*
In the managed territory of the Empire, the Class 3 Demon Creature Habitat, Flotine Forest.
It’s a setting straight out of fanfic, but this place was once the largest residence for elves and also the resting place of Selena’s parents, who are half-elves.
Selena usually visits here when she has heavy thoughts or faces significant issues, so knowing this, I volunteered to accompany her before the selection test.
Recently, we’ve been training together every other day, and due to the incidents that unfolded recently, my trust has significantly grown, making this a feasible situation.
.
.
.
– Jingle…
[Rosario – Sacred]
[Rarity: A-]
[A cross filled with sacred power. Reduces the rate of health loss significantly when the holder receives a fatal injury.]
[One-time use]
– I’m not confident since it’s my first one, but if you need it, please take it with you.
While fiddling with the cross Aria gave me in my pocket, Selena spoke up.
“Surprising. I never thought a human student would want to visit Flotine Forest.”
“I was curious about the elves’ territory.”
This danger zone designated as a demon creature habitat is completely cut off from human foot traffic.
The simple reason I wanted to come here is straightforward.
‘It’s too close to be preparing for Trial 4…’
Awakening for both Selena and me.
The final piece of the puzzle lies here.
– Rustle.
Selena led me deeper into the forest, to a red grassland hidden by withered trees.
And there, a small patch of greenery that had only been described in novels welcomed me.
‘How mysterious…’
There were two small tombstones.
Perhaps inscribed with ‘~ Windforce’.
Selena started her tale with a sense of solitude.
“My elven mother loved my human father.”
“…”
“That was the tragedy. The only thing a half-elf like me could do for my parents is to tend to this small space…”
The Windforce family was no weak clan in the past.
However, Selena’s mother took in a human man despite many objections, leading to the Galeon family, Sharpty, seizing power and thus weakening their lineage.
To make matters worse, the demons invaded, and war began, causing the elven race to completely divide.
Therefore, Selena’s goal of becoming a hero is for the unity and safety of the elves while also trying to claim authority herself, not coming from the Sharpty line.
It sounds easy, but the fates assigned are cruel.
The path she has to take is indeed a thorny one.
I cautiously broke the silence.
“I don’t think it’s a tragedy.”
“…What?”
“…Anyway, it happened, so that’s why you’re here, right?”
I gazed sincerely at Selena.
Even if I squirmed a bit, it couldn’t be helped.
Both Selena and I need a narrative now.
I tucked her hair behind her ear and said,
“You’ve worked hard. You too.”
“……”
– Soft.
The silent Selena sat quietly.
And as if listening to the wind, she closed her eyes.
Probably sharing all that has happened and what will happen with the wind spirits.
Everyone has feelings about their family.
So, I stayed quietly by her side until then.
.
.
.
Again, it was Selena’s voice that stirred me from my contemplation, delicate and fleeting as the wind.
“…What are you doing?”
“…Meditating.”
“Meditating…?”
“…It’s a gesture to wish for the rest of peace for the deceased where I used to be; humans bow their heads.”
Selena seemed to accept this otherworldly custom and soon bowed her head to follow.
How long had it been since then?
We naturally found ourselves facing each other.
‘It’s about time we should go.’
While I was anxiously measuring time, Selena spoke to me with a lighter expression.
“Thank you for praying for my parents.”
“Of course.”
“By the way, Lev Denec, you were easier than I expected, huh?”
“Uh?”
“What do you think it means for an elf to let someone into their territory?”
I spaced out for a moment before replying.
“…Companions?”
Still not quite the right answer, I guess.
Selena chuckled like she found me adorable.
“Are you dull, innocent, or just pretending not to know?”
Then, with her white and delicate hands, she lightly caressed my shoulders.
“From today on, I’ve claimed you, Lev Denec.”
“……”
“Do you understand? …You are the only human I acknowledge.”
“……”
– Swift.
Selena’s whisper is enchanting.
And simultaneously, her curves seep into my chest, thighs, and all over.
As if to check if the pieces fit together…
“Of course, I have not forgotten. You asked me to take care of Edwin Gwynn…? I will keep my promise.”
“…“
“But… still, I… need you.”
Selena, inching closer, turned her head away shyly.
Is this what it feels like if a doll were alive?
“Call me selfish, but I know there’s someone else in your heart. Even so…”
Tears glimmer in Selena’s eyes.
“…I hope you don’t leave me alone.”
Just as I was about to embrace Selena, entranced,
– Snap.
A crisp sound of tearing.
– Flap!!!!
Dozens of arrows with a non-fatal impact sound pierced through me.
– Fssssssssss!
“Lev… Lev!!!!!”
‘That was close.’
“Lev…!!!!!”
“I’m fine…”
After being pushed aside, Selena’s scream echoed as she was surrounded by a wind barrier.
– Thud.
Like a balloon deflating, I immediately knelt on one knee on the ground.
As if I touched on an unseen thread, blood welling up, staining my uniform shirt red…
‘Each step feels fatal…’
Exactly on the brink of death… that’s how painful it is.
‘…Finally seeing you.’
As I neared the threshold of death, my narrowed field of vision welcomed not the grim reaper but a dark fairy with skin like chocolate.
“……If you comply, I won’t kill you right now.”
The strongest marksman in the [Reincarnated Academy] universe.
The pinnacle of Wind Archery.
Banned numerous times in [Reincarnated Hero] for being too overpowered with the [Sniping] trait…
It was Dalian revealing herself before me.
