It was probably Hertlocker who disguised me as a corpse.
He’s the only one.
Someone who knew I was going to Whist Forest and followed me to revive me without anyone knowing.
And who would do something ridiculously stupid in the name of revenge?
At this point, it has become certain.
The Intelligence Agency has ultimately decided to keep me alive.
I might have some satisfaction from the fact that despite beating up Hertlocker, they still let me live.
However, that doesn’t mean the Intelligence Agency thinks of me as an ally.
It’s still better to approach this cautiously.
In fact, they might just be keeping me alive to use me.
“Your focus is all over the place!”
“Wha—?!”
In an instant, a sword blade flew in and grazed mine.
A sword came to a halt right before my eyes.
My reflection shimmered on the gleaming blade.
I almost got hit and smashed my face in.
“Can you not concentrate? You just died and came back, so is there a lot on your mind?”
“Stop teasing me······.”
“Ehehe.”
Trie sheathed her sword and chuckled.
But just by looking at her swollen eyes, it was clear she had been crying her heart out.
Trie crying?
I’d heard the sounds from Whist Forest but had never seen it myself.
Missing that precious sight was a bit regrettable.
“But seriously, that was clever. Slowing down blood flow to delay mana absorption? I never thought you would survive like that.”
“······.”
Before I knew it, my disguise as a corpse had become my survival strategy.
I can’t spill the beans about Hertlocker, so let’s just keep it that way for now.
At least it’s a relief that this incident won’t cause a huge ripple effect.
The Imperial University has started to cover it up by silencing the first-year combat magic students.
It will inevitably reach the Emperor’s ears, but at least the rumor of my resurrection won’t spread in the media.
It seems that if rumors about resurrection spread, there will be significant religious issues.
“Whew······ Hah······.”
“Let’s wrap it up for today. You seem tired already.”
“Yeah, I’m not feeling great today either.”
Maybe it’s because my metabolism has just returned to normal, but my condition is awful.
After just a few rounds of sparring, I’m already out of breath.
I chuckled and held Trie’s hand to stand up.
“Whoa?”
“Ah.”
I was trying to stand up.
Trie suddenly staggered and fell back while holding my hand.
I tried to lift her up by wrapping my arms around her waist, but with my current strength, it was impossible.
Eventually, I ended up lying on top of Trie, who had fallen flat.
“Sorry. I don’t have enough energy right now······.”
“Ahhh, no! I stepped on my own foot! It’s not your fault, sensei.”
“Sensei······. You’re keeping that title, huh.”
“Of course. You’re the one who guided me on the path of magic.”
“······.”
It was a bit, no, very embarrassing.
Who would have thought that a few minor pieces of advice would awaken Trie’s talent for magic?
I’m probably at the peak of her expectations for my magic lessons…
I’m already worried she’ll be completely disappointed later on.
“C-can you get off me for a moment?”
“Sure.”
The situation was a bit awkward to talk in.
I could tell from her red face and averted gaze that she was feeling uncomfortable.
I put in a significant effort to stand up and extended my hand to Trie.
As Trie pulled my hand, she almost fell again, almost creating a comical scene.
Once is enough.
“And this longsword. Thank you so much. I’ll use it well.”
I raised the sword in my right hand.
It was far from being described as flamboyant.
However, its stable form and fierce blade oozed the dignity of a weapon meant for slaughter.
This is definitely a good sword.
I realized that while chopping up magical beasts with this.
“Yeah, that one. Actually, I’ve used it since I was a kid. My father ordered the best sword for me since even for training, the first sword should be good······.”
“······.”
The mood became somewhat somber.
Gawayn von Shulzenburg.
Now that I think about it, Trie accepted her father’s death just three days ago.
She might be forcing a smile on the outside, but inside, she probably hasn’t completely gathered herself yet.
Those swollen eyes might not be solely because of me but because of Gawayn.
“I’ve used it continuously since I was six.”
“What an honor. To receive my teacher’s treasured sword as a gift.”
“Teacher······?!”
Jokingly said, Trie looked surprised, her eyes wide.
By the way, she’s been using this since she was six…?
Even now, it’s definitely not a light sword, and she wielded it since she was six…?
I can’t even imagine what Trie looked like as a child.
“Hehe······ Teacher. It’s really you, huh.”
“What’s with all the suddenness?”
“Still, hearing it directly feels different.”
Maybe she was in a good mood, as Trie kept on smiling.
Yes, it looks good when Trie smiles like this.
The sound of her crying was truly painful to hear.
I vowed to never make Trie cry again.
“Thank you, teacher.”
“Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”
“Just. I’m so grateful for everything. I just thought about it. If you weren’t here, what would have happened to me······? I probably wouldn’t even be holding a sword again. I would have lived my whole life without knowing what happened to my father. Really······ thank you so much.”
“······No.”
I turned away from Trie.
It wasn’t that I was shy.
I felt guilty.
About what Trie just laid out.
Those were things that would have happened, even if it weren’t for me.
If not me, but Hertlocker had enrolled, it would have happened as well.
“It’s not because of me. You’re destined to reach the pinnacle after all.”
In one way or another, Trie is destined to become a Sword God, surpassing even the Empire’s best swords.
There are rare cases like Aintz who throw off the shackles of destiny, but that is an exceptional case.
“You were already perfect before you met me.”
“No, but still······”
“Trust your teacher. You would have picked up the sword again even if I wasn’t here, and even if I suddenly disappeared, you would eventually take the place of the Empire’s best sword.”
“Flattery. Even if you say that, nothing comes out.”
“It’s not flattery. I was telling you to have a bit more self-confidence.”
Perhaps I might actually be delaying Trie’s growth.
Awakening some talent in magic······
Looking at it, it might just be a mediocre talent with a low ceiling.
But now that it’s come to this, and I’ve intervened, I’d have to take responsibility until the end.
The current goal is to lead Trie to becoming a Magic Knight.
To surpass even the Empire’s best sword and aim for the place of Trie’s father, Gawayn.
That’s my current goal.
“If you can believe in yourself with confidence, then I’ll guide you on the path of magic.”
“I’m always overflowing with confidence, you know? Then I look forward to it, teacher.”
“Please take care of me, sensei. And comrade.”
“Hehe.”
As we exchanged some truly cringeworthy lines, we shook hands.
If anyone else had heard it, I would have been embarrassed to death.
*
After sending Trie back, I returned to the living room.
And I quickly became annoyed.
When I passed by earlier, I thought I was mistaken.
But it’s still here.
“So who are you?”
A girl with red hair tied back.
She was comfortably enjoying tea as if she owned the living room.
So natural that I was genuinely shocked.
“Selene von Festia. I was in Team 1 during the practice.”
“Ah······.”
“Ah” my butt.
Except for a passing memory, I had no real recollection of her.
Was there a character named Selene in the original work?
Or is she just one of the extras they forced into this world to balance the numbers?
“So how did you get in here?”
“The attendant opened the door for me.”
I glared down the hallway.
Just then, Emilia, who was carrying a teapot, walked in, feigning surprise, or rather, pretending to be surprised.
“I heard she was crying at the door, saying she had something to discuss with Mr. Hainkel······”
“Th-that was supposed to be a secret!”
“······.”
Well, if she was whining at the door, it would probably get annoying enough to let her in.
I can’t blame Emilia for this.
“Ha······ What is this about? I wish you would just tell me the gist of it and leave.”
“It’s not like that. I just had something to say.”
Honestly, I was a bit, no, very curious.
Since the last extra who got involved with me was Mary.
What on earth could she want with me?
Sitting in front of Selene, Emilia poured tea into my cup.
“I saw it. The mana energy antidote in your drawer.”
*Puhah…!*
I almost spat the tea out.
What the heck.
Who saw that? Was it you?
“After the antidote ran out, suddenly a large amount of high-concentration antidote appeared. That was yours, right?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mr. Hainkel, you took the Phelan Flower into the training room, right?”
“······.”
Damn it.
Emilia suddenly barged in with that innocent face.
I didn’t expect her to pull a troll act like this.
As they say, he who trusts the axe eventually gets axed.
“See? Called it.”
“······.”
“You were covered in blood and offered recovery potions to the assistant.”
This is truly a misunderstanding.
I didn’t save that recovery potion; I bought it from the shop.
The blood I was covered in wasn’t my own; it was from magical beasts.
“What? Covered in blood?”
“Calm down, Emilia. This is during practice. It has to do with hunting magical beasts······”
“And you were luring magical beasts alone for Aintz?”
“Whoa?! You lured magical beasts?”
“······.”
Emilia dropped the teapot.
At the sound, Selene turned her head in surprise.
Damn it. Emilia doesn’t know what happened during the practical training.
I wanted to take my time and explain, but I didn’t expect such a strong reaction.
Or rather, it’s as if she’s faking.
“Get to the point.”
How am I going to clean this up?
I rubbed my throbbing temples and spoke irritably.
“I have a confession to make. Actually, I was monitoring you at the behest of Erica.”
“······?!”
An unexpected claim popped out.
You were instructed by Erica to monitor me?
Ah. Now I vaguely remember.
Selene is from the side branch of the Lichtenburg family, and appeared for a brief moment in the original work.
She was just a name-drop, that’s why I didn’t remember her.
“You were suspicious of me, so you were ordered to keep track of my every move. But now I can’t do it anymore. Monitoring such a kind person who would go to such lengths for a jerk like Aintz is weighing too heavily on my conscience·····!”
“······.”
Oh, you crazy person.
Shut up already.
Emilia is glaring at me like she wants to kill me.
By the way, I had no idea Erica was using Selene in such a manner.
If things deviate from the original work in ways I’m unaware of, it could lead to serious issues predicting the future.
It’s fortunate I was made aware of this small detail in advance.
“I’m not sure if this will atone for all that, but I thought it was only right to reveal everything······. I’m truly sorry for suspecting someone like you and spying on you·····.”
“That’s nothing. Isn’t it something anyone could do?”
“R-really? So you’re forgiving me?”
“······.”
Selene looked at me with sparkling eyes.
This is a unique type.
Is she the type who needs to be forgiven to feel refreshed after feeling guilty?
I’m willing to forgive her.
“No. I could forgive you if you spare me the trouble.”
“W-what do you mean? What should I do?”
“Keep an eye on Erica.”
“What?”
Selene’s face dropped, as though she had misunderstood something.
“Monitor Erica? No way, I can’t do that.”
“Is monitoring me okay?”
“T-that’s! Ugh······ I’m so sorry······.”
“Then let’s do this.”
“Eh?”
“Gather and report only the commands or information Erica gives regarding me. A month should be fine.”
“About you, Hainkel?”
“Yeah.”
In essence, I was asking her to be a double spy.
Asking her to monitor and report Erica’s every move would be demanding too much.
But by requesting only the information about me, the psychological pressure would be greatly reduced.
“Compensating for my losses with that would be a rather generous offer.”
“Alright! I’ll do it! I will!”
“Then I’ll forgive you.”
“Really? For real?”
Selene was practically jumping with joy.
It seems like getting rid of that guilty conscience was her utmost priority.
With that, Selene could be sent back swiftly.
‘What is Erica planning?’
Come to think of it, Erica has been unusually quiet recently.
Despite being the main heroine in the original story and having the most connections with Hertlocker, she hasn’t been that close to me here.
It would be reasonable to assume she’s quietly scheming something unknown to me.
‘Let’s see what you have planned.’
Your mother is already in my hands.
Over-exaggerating a bit, or honestly quite a lot, the Lichtenburg family is basically in my hands now.
But what could Erica accomplish alone?
Go ahead, give it a try.
I’ll accept whatever challenge you throw at me.
I smiled, slightly amused, as I stood up.
“Hainkel.”
“Emilia?”
At that moment, something ran up from behind and hugged me tightly.
A small, strong touch wrapped around my waist.
The warm and soft sensation felt from my back was Emilia.
“What was that about, just now? Being covered in blood and almost dying······? I’ve never heard any of this before!”
“Calm down, Emilia······”
“Answer me. Okay? I believe I have the right and responsibility to know everything as Hainkel’s attendant. So why····· why didn’t you tell me? I thought your complexion was off, but····· why·····!”
“······.”
Damn it, why are you so good at acting?
It feels so real that it’s hard to breathe.
“Please tell me everything. Tell me what happened. All of it. You’re going to tell me, right? Hainkel? Why are you silent? Answer me, Hainkel.”
“······.”
Could you at least be a little more casual with your acting?
It’s giving me the creeps.
