“……”
Looking at the empty dormitory, I felt a strange vibe. The place that was always bustling with students was now enveloped in a quiet stillness, making me feel rather lonely…
“Who cares?”
It’s so nice.
If I liked having people around, I wouldn’t have spent ten years living in the remote Forest of the Demon Realm.
It had been so long since I felt such calmness and a sense of freedom that I could feel the fatigue in my body melting away.
This morning, as everyone got on the carriage, they apologetically told me they were almost in tears, but I, on the contrary, felt immensely grateful.
They must’ve had a hard time detaching those who wanted to stay with me.
“Haah, this is life.”
I might have said I had to attend a lecture, but all the professors who would hold a class just for me had already left on the field trip. In other words, I just needed to self-study in the classroom for a while before heading back to the dormitory.
It was so informal, yet I was really thankful for it.
“Wow, amazing!”
Just a few days ago, my bed, which became communal out of nowhere, welcomed me.
Thinking about taking a nap and then exercising made me excited, and I started happily pondering what to eat for dinner.
*
“Looks like Daniel got left behind after all.”
Beside a sniffling and pouting Eve, Tana tilted her head and replied.
“I think he’s probably dying of happiness right now?”
Hayun, who was next to her, chuckled softly in agreement.
“Yeah, he’s probably enjoying his freedom, eating whatever he wants and exercising as much as he wants.”
“Well, that’s true. But I still wanted to travel with Daniel.”
Tana and Hayun momentarily lost their words at Eve’s clear but simple declaration, but Eve seemed unbothered.
The destination the three chose for this field trip was Taemin Plateau.
There was a disagreement between Tana and Eve, but when Hayun mentioned wanting to go to Taemin Plateau, they ultimately decided on it instead of the religious city of Batian.
“I’m kind of excited now that we’re actually going to Taemin Plateau.”
I wondered if Eve wasn’t thrilled about being forced to go somewhere she didn’t want, yet she melted their worries away with a smile.
“Plus, I heard that the Saint Election is currently ongoing in Batian. Ugh, so glad we’re not going there.”
“Yeah, there’ll be a huge crowd.”
The event to select the ‘Saint,’ the face of the kingdom, happens once every twenty years. Thanks to that, tons of people would flock to see it, and Eve, who was weak with crowds, shook her head at just the thought.
So, the three of them began their week-long field trip.
Tana asked Hayun various questions about clothes and accessories, while Eve read a book but occasionally chimed in on their conversation.
Over this week, the three of them would strengthen their friendship and create unforgettable experiences and memories.
And when the field trip ended, they thought about how they were so glad they had chosen Taemin Plateau.
*
“Hmm.”
With an awkward smile, Rin got off the carriage.
Of course, it could carry a lot of people, and since it was magically enhanced, they quickly arrived in Batian.
Batian, known as the sanctuary of the Frisia Kingdom.
A city that’s basically a gathering place for religion, where the Pope resides and you can often spot Paladins and Holy Knights.
Following the guiding professors, Rin moved while sincerely responding to her friends’ overflowing conversations.
However, a few girls continued to catch her eye.
May was already mingling with her delinquent friends, messing around, and Elise was pretending to be normal while chatting with her classmates.
But Sen was just blankly following Rin from behind.
Hayun had suggested going to Taemin Plateau together, but the reason Rin refused to go to Batian was simple.
She had received a mission from Daniel McLean.
“Follow Rin, and if you notice anything strange, contact me immediately.”
Along with that was a walkie-talkie used by the royal investigation agency that she had received from Heini Rosales in the past, powered by mana.
This meant that Sen could contact Daniel at any time.
Of course, Rin, who was unaware of this background, mistook Sen’s following for loneliness due to a lack of friends.
“Hey, Sen, want to stick together?”
Rin reached out to Sen, trying to avoid other friends who were closing in on her. The surrounding students grumbled about why she would be interested in someone who seemed so emotionless.
‘Opportunity!’
Thinking this was a chance to naturally stick with Rin, Sen grabbed her hand without hesitation.
“Let’s share a room too.”
Seizing the moment, Sen boldly suggested that, and Rin replied with a smiling, “Sounds good,” making Sen think it was just a fascinating experience.
‘So when Daniel’s involved, people can change, and otherwise, they can be so ordinary…’
Beautiful, kind, and caring without discrimination.
Sen honestly admired her, thinking that aside from Daniel McLean, she was a completely perfect girl.
And while Sen chatted with Rin, Ares, who also chose Batian as his travel destination, clenched his fist.
The girl who liked him, Arni Duratan, had headed to Taemin Plateau. She was crying, insisting they must go because she had a cousin there.
Of course, even without her, Ares was always surrounded by female students, but he had no time to spare for them this time.
‘I need to check this mark.’
Even Elven Eris looked flustered at the markings that had shown up on Ares’ hands.
To uncover the secret of this mark, Ares intentionally came to Batian.
‘I heard there’s a nun who serves Helios in this Saint Election.’
She might know something.
Ares, filled with hope, tightened the gloves on his hands to cover the marks.
And here.
There was another male student.
A large build, a grim face, striking fists.
If he were to ask a woman out, it would come off more like blackmail than a request—5th-year senior, Talois.
Why were he and his crew here on a trip for 3rd and 4th years?
Because they had volunteered to help the 5th-year seniors. The professors had praised Talois and his gang for finally waking up now that it’s graduation time, but it wasn’t that simple.
‘May Plov! Not only are you ruining the field trip; I’ll make sure to flatten you too!’
Fueled by a desire for revenge after losing to a 3rd year on the academy rooftop, the delinquent was lurking, waiting for the perfect moment.
*
“Ugh, this is nice.”
Chewing on snacks and jerky that I brought from outside while gazing at the starry sky through the window, I realized this is what healing feels like.
The Forest of the Demon Realm was filled with murkiness, and with the trees towering high and dense, I couldn’t see the stars from my house window.
So, to see the night sky, I had to climb up a tree, but here, it was just visible out in the open; it was definitely more comfortable.
“I wish it were beer, though.”
Being only 18 years old, I felt a bit sad that I couldn’t drink beer. The jerky was such a high-quality snack, it would’ve been the perfect pairing.
“Ugh, it’s delicious.”
I’ve been through so much lately, so I was taking a break like this.
In the empty dormitory building, I was alone, enjoying delicious food while star-gazing.
Feeling like I was lost in a moment of bliss, I even caught myself humming a tune I usually wouldn’t as a sizzle sound echoed from the corner.
It was the walkie-talkie I gave to Sen.
“What happened already?”
I received the call with a sense of dread, and Sen’s voice gently echoed in the room.
-What are you doing?
“What am I doing? Just stargazing in my room?”
-Really? That’s just like me. I’m also stargazing from the hotel rooftop.
What’s going on?
“What’s the matter? Did Rin go on a rampage?”
-No, nothing like that.
“……Then why’d you contact me?”
I clearly told her to use it only in emergencies. It’s expensive, and if I overuse it, it’ll break quickly.
-Just.
“Just? Really? Are you messing with me?”
I wondered if she was just excited from the trip, but then I heard a soft chuckle from the other end.
-Hehe, is it fun over there?
While living in the Chokugen Faction, undergoing training to become an exceptional assassin and weapon by numbing my feelings through drugs, Sen’s voice now sounded so much like that of an ordinary girl, catching me off guard for a moment before I spoke again.
“Yeah, it’s fun. I’m loving being without you guys.”
As I jokingly said that, Sen let out a small huff.
Naturally, I turned my gaze to the sky outside and casually asked.
“How about you? Is it fun?”
-Not as fun as I thought. I just looked around today and that’s it.
“It’s just the first day, right?”
They had ridden in a carriage all day, so they had to be tired. Today they could rest, and the real trip would start tomorrow.
-……I think it would’ve been a bit more fun if you were here.
“What? What difference would it make if I was there?”
I genuinely thought that, but Sen laughed again, insisting it would be different.
‘Maybe it’s because there’s no one around, and we’re talking through a walkie-talkie.’
I might not be able to naturally show my feelings in front of people yet, but I still felt it was a huge step for her.
Whether she had realized that herself, I didn’t know.
-Okay, I gotta go. Keep an eye on Rin. Share a room too.
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
-Goodnight.
“Yeah, goodnight.”
As the line suddenly went dead, I tossed the walkie-talkie onto my bed and took another sip of my drink.
She said she was stargazing too, so was she looking at the same sky as me right now?
Thinking that made me feel overly emotional, so I bit into some jerky.
