Chapter 187
The training ground that has somehow become our hideout.
Luna and Rezé changed their movements according to my commands.
It's the third movement of the [Fleur Family Style].
'Hmm... There's no particular change.'
Currently, I'm conducting a simple experiment on the [Fleur Family Style].
If it goes as I expect, there will be meaningful changes within a few days.
"The t-test is over, so why are we t-training?"
Why are we training when the test is over?
It's obvious.
"Because the test is over."
"...?"
The test is over, so we prepare for the next test. What a truly exemplary student attitude.
If Caron saw this, he might have shed tears of emotion.
'Well, rather than preparing for a test... It's groundwork for catching demons.'
A 5th grade demon we will face in the midterm exam, the 'Dispatch' episode.
The strategy is complete.
'A strategy with a success rate of about 55%.'
You could say it's low for a strategy thought up by an veteran. But it can't be helped.
The number of users who have caught the 5th grade demon that appears in the midterm exam episode.
'Is zero.'
That's right. I was planning to attempt a strategy no one has ever tried.
An ambiguous probability of 55%. The only way to raise that percentage even a little is for us to 'grow'.
The experiment and training that began like that.
After about 3 minutes, Rezé's arms holding the wooden sword started trembling.
"Don't let your posture collapse! Maintain it properly even if it's hard!"
"I-It's impossible!"
Rezé sent a pitiful gaze to Luna next to her.
She's requesting help to stop me, the demon obsessed with training. But.
"Sorry. We promised to train hard."
"...!"
"Kekekeke!!"
I've already finished talking with Luna.
You have to survive in the jungle called the advanced class, but you can't even hold a wooden sword properly.
There's no way you can survive. Especially if you're a timid rabbit.
'Well, the promise we made before must have had an influence too.'
The condition that she has to train hard in exchange for going together.
In addition to that, the fact that she feels a sense of responsibility for becoming Lucia's disciple must have played a part.
Either way, that rabbit has to go through hellish training from now on and be reborn as a 'muscle rabbit'.
Perhaps realizing that fact.
"Eek, eeek!!"
Rezé went into the box with a thud and disappeared from sight.
She activated [Stealth], one of her specialties.
But no matter how far you run, you're in the palm of my hand... no, within the range of the [Hyper Sense] skill.
I chased the box into a corner, tore the middle part.
And sticking my head in there, I said.
"Here's Zero~!"
"Eek, eeek!!"
What a shame. It would have been better if I had an axe.
Anyway, I was pulling Rezé out of the box by grabbing her collar when.
Beep! Beep beep-!
"Stalking is subject to demerit points!"
With a loud whistle sound, someone kicked open the training ground door and entered.
The vice president of the student council at Annwood Academy, the head of the disciplinary committee, and the youngest of the Lucid family.
Rodelin, that is.
A ponytail with every strand of hair neatly tied up, clothes without a single wrinkle, well-ironed, and a stiff disciplinary armband.
Rodelin was showing off her perfect appearance today as well.
"Keke, she was just training hard, but she has to get demerit points for that. Poor Ms. Rezé."
"Is stalking a part of training? Then I'll have to arrest you right away. And the one I was going to give demerit points to wasn't Ms. Rezé, but Mr. Zero. It's you."
She was going to give demerit points to me?
Why? Anyone could see that I was trying to teach diligently.
"Ms. Rezé, are you alright? Here, take my hand and get up."
"S-Senior Rodelin! Y-You saved me from the d-demon's clutches!"
"Yes, yes. I'll take care of this demon, so just get up. Look, Ms. Luna is watching worriedly over there."
Treating a person who's just standing there as a demon. This is discrimination.
Rezé, who became free, ran on all fours towards where Luna was.
Tap tap tap!
She runs quite well with those short legs.
Making me forcibly release the rabbit I caught with effort. Isn't this an abuse of power?
"Keke, so are you going to hunt demons now?"
"You know it was a joke. I just wanted to have a conversation with Mr. Zero. So I hope you don't take it to heart."
A conversation. Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I had a conversation with Rodelin.
Although Rodelin would come to the training ground from time to time and unleash a barrage of demerit points, even to Lucia, we didn't really have what you could call a conversation.
I was struggling to clear the fifth main quest.
Rodelin was busy preparing dormitories, uniforms, food, etc. for the kids from the Holy Kingdom, so we had a busy month even without seeing each other often.
'But as soon as the busy work is over, she wanted to have a conversation...'
Gasp! Could it be that she's falling for me?
It must be. That's why she came looking for me as soon as the busy work was over.
Then is the demerit point barrage an expression of interest in me?
Let's see. The number of demerit points I've received from Rodelin so far...
"...I might have to give you 10 demerit points."
"Keke, why is that?"
"It seems like you're having some unhealthy thoughts. Be careful. Next time, I'll really give you demerit points."
I see. She loves me as much as 10 points? Is that it?
I think I'll have to lead her well(?).
Rodelin is very shy when it comes to this kind of thing.
I was about to ask what she likes so much about me.
"Is Alex alright? I heard he got hurt during the test."
...Alex? Why is he being mentioned here?
"Aren't you in the same class? You two are close too. I thought you'd naturally know."
"...Raymon was also hurt, you know?"
"Ah, right. I heard Raymon got hurt too. Are they both okay?"
Pop quiz 3rd stage, group duel test.
Alex and Raymon were in the same team and faced Caron along with twelve other kids.
Out of twenty, fourteen passed the 1st and 2nd stages.
That's almost double the number compared to other teams.
'It's because Alex helped the kids.'
Alex, who is righteous and loves peace.
He led the kids wandering in the labyrinth and encouraged the kids suffering from illusion magic.
You could say it's the behavior of a protagonist.
And that behavior continued in the group duel test.
He protected the kids Caron tried to drop one by one and got injured in the process.
Because Caron overdid it out of annoyance.
'The spirit of sacrifice. That will earn him a high score.'
In fact, it's not strange for Rodelin to worry about them.
Since all three are main characters, they have many intertwined stories.
They started building friendship while defeating Lérang, the first boss. They must have met at least a dozen times even during the month I was busy.
So it's not strange to ask me about their well-being.
'But it's a bit disappointing. Our first adventure was together.'
The connection formed during the parrot and Luterus incidents.
She must have become close with Alex and Raymon enough to cover that connection.
'Am I just an extra character in the end?'
I purposely kept my distance because Rodelin's favorability could exceed a certain number and she could join my party, causing the story to get tangled.
Somehow, my mouth felt bitter.
"Keke, they're both fine. I heard they're going to the library today, so you can meet them if you go there."
"Ah, I see. Thanks. Then..."
Rodelin, who was turning her body to head out of the training ground.
She spun around and stood in front of me again.
"I heard Ms. Rezé made it to the advanced class?"
"Keke, that's right. It's all thanks to my handsomeness."
"...I guess about half of it is."
What is half of it?
Surely she doesn't mean my face is mediocre-looking?
Perhaps realizing my thoughts, Rodelin covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Hehe, wasn't there Ms. Luna's help too? Half Mr. Zero's help, half Ms. Luna's help. So it's half and half."
In other words, she's acknowledging my effort.
But Rodelin's words were wrong.
"Thank you. But I don't think it's half."
"Why is that?"
"Didn't you leave out Rezé's effort?"
"Ah..."
That's right. No matter how hard we try, it would have been impossible if Rezé herself didn't put in the effort.
It's an undeniable fact that Rezé did her best in her own way.
"It wouldn't have been possible without Rezé's effort."
"I see. I made such a mistake. It's embarrassing."
Rodelin's gaze turned to where Rezé was.
Rezé, who was hiding behind Luna, was startled and hurriedly hid inside the box.
Rodelin laughed again.
"I'm really glad I left that child to you guys. Thanks for becoming her friend. This is sincere."
Sincere. Then there's something that naturally has to follow.
"Keke, then how about giving a reward?"
"A reward?"
"Yes, because you need a reward to work hard next time too."
"Hmm, if I give a reward for deepening friendship between friends... Isn't it a bit much?"
"Getting Rezé to pass the advanced class, and this beautiful sight of working hard even the day after the test to serve the great empire! I just want a reward for this."
Only then did Rodelin's expression brighten.
It's a reaction fitting for Rodelin, who goes crazy over the empire.
"A reward... Okay. I should give that much to my hard-working juniors. I'll give you whatever I can. What do you want?"
Of course.
"Keke, your love, senior."
"...?"
Perhaps she needed time to interpret.
Rodelin's face gradually turned red, then eventually exploded with a 'pop' sound.
Ah, she's really too cute.
The Rodelin power(?) that had run out while training for a month.
I was going to recharge it now.
"Wh-What is that...! S-Soldiers don't do things like l-love!"
"That's different from what I know. Doesn't the empire encourage soldiers to get married? In fact, it's always in the top 3 occupations for potential grooms."
Just a few decades ago, there was a war, and recently even demons are rampant and tormenting people.
So the soldiers of the empire are treated well. They're respected by people too.
"But you're denying a soldier's love. Are you going against the empire's will?"
"Ugh, uwaah... It's m-my mistake! Because you're s-saying n-nonsense..."
"Hmm? Didn't you say you'd give me anything just a moment ago?"
Rodelin's face turned bright red.
I brought my face close to hers and whispered.
"Give me your love. Senior."
"Un-Unhealthy Abolishment Punch!"
Slow.
"...!"
Rodelin's face was colored with shock.
Because I dodged Rodelin's fist. And that too just by slightly tilting my head.
'Come to think of it... I didn't erase the reflex skill.'
The [Reflex] skill I mimicked with [Divine Imitation] during the fight with Lucia.
Since it received an A-grade judgment due to [Divine Imitation], my body moved on its own and dodged Rodelin's fist.
Grab-.
I grabbed Rodelin's wrist of the extended arm and pushed her against the wall.
And.
'...What do I do now?'
The slight teasing I intended turned into a strange(?) situation.
I really only wanted to recharge Rodelin power a little bit! How did it end up like this?
Disheveled hair, flushed face, slightly wrinkled clothes, and even rough breathing.
I could see Rodelin's messed up appearance.
When I looked into Rodelin's eyes, she closed her eyes tightly.
What does that mean? Could it be...!
"Ooh~ Looks nice?"
A sharp voice.
I could see when I turned my head. The sight of Luna with flames burning in her eyes.
"I heard there was a pervert at the academy... It was right here, wasn't it?"
"...Keke, I'm not a pervert though."
"Yeah? Anyone can see you're a pervert. Right, Rezé?"
Then Rezé peeked out from behind Luna.
"P-Pervert! He's a p-pervert!"
"You heard her?"
That's your subordinate, Luna.
But I wasn't given a chance to make excuses.
Because Rodelin plopped down on the ground.
She even had an expression as if her soul had left her body.
"Zero."
"...Yes."
"Didn't I tell you not to bully my Senior!"
Luna bit my ear.
--TL Notes--
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