Chapter 71
Daike's treatment had already been completed.
The injury was severe, so a high-grade potion was needed, but it didn't make a hole in Teron's pocket.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I can move right now."
"Good, let's think about what's next. You can win next time, right?"
"...Yes."
Teron frowned.
It was because Daike hesitated for a moment.
Others might not know, but Teron knew. He knew Daike hesitated.
"You must be getting complacent lately."
"No, I'm not."
"Do you really think so? Are you even lying to your master now?"
"...I'm sorry."
Teron knew.
Even if Daike didn't actively mingle with other children his age, he did talk to them to some extent.
There were times when he even showed a small smile.
'He must have loosened up without realizing it.'
And the same was true for himself.
He should have also considered the case when Zero suddenly appeared and defeated Daike.
Being satisfied with his academy life, he had clearly become more relaxed.
"Daike."
"Yes."
"Think back to when you were in the territory. Compared to then, this is heaven."
Not a stiff formal tone, but one that sounded like talking to a friend.
Daike was reminded of the times before he came to the territory.
Just thinking about it for a moment made his body shiver.
And Teron was no different.
'Probably by tomorrow, a report will go to the family.'
The rats planted by the family.
Even if the report goes up as a draw, his father will notice.
That both he and Daike lost.
Teron moved a little away from Daike and adjusted his posture.
They had returned to their original relationship. The relationship of a hunting dog and its master.
"We'll have to change our strategy."
"Please, instruct me."
"Zero won't join any faction in the end. So, there's no need to rush."
Building up favor and approaching slowly.
Maintaining a close relationship.
Not close enough to join forces with Yuridia, but just right.
'Just that kind of relationship is perfect.'
Keep expanding his influence and crush Yuridia.
From time to time, give Zero what he wants to keep him from being wary.
"Don't touch him. Not until you're certain you can win."
"Understood."
"Attack Zero only after you're certain. Got it?"
"Yes, I understand."
Teron knew Daike better than anyone.
His innate talent, his grueling efforts.
Even the dreams he harbored.
He might be behind now, but the moment Zero lets his guard down, he could strike.
"The midterms are the problem now."
The upcoming midterms.
A battlefield and a chance for redemption at the same time.
"We'll take the top spot once again. Then, this incident will mean nothing."
Teron struggled to steady his trembling hands.
"Teron."
"...What is it, Yuridia?"
Yuridia looked around. There was no one else but them.
"Are you going to talk about it?"
"About what?"
"The technique Zero used."
Teron recalled Zero's form.
From the preparatory motion to the final result.
A perfect One Flash.
"We swore not to talk about it."
"But..."
"It's the sword technique of a traitorous family. That's the problem, isn't it?"
"...Yes."
Teron chuckled.
"Yuridia, let me give you a piece of advice."
"Advice?"
"Don't meddle in others' affairs. Especially if it concerns a traitorous family. It will eventually strangle you and those around you."
"But we have a duty to protect the royal family...!"
"Duty?"
Teron let out a snickering laugh.
A laugh that was strangely unpleasant.
"I see now. You really don't know anything."
"...What do you mean?"
"Just pretend you didn't see anything. Forget what happened today. This is sincere advice. I hope you'll heed it."
Teron seemed to know something.
Yuridia wanted to ask again, but she couldn't.
Because two other children were approaching.
"Um... Lady Yuridia?"
"What?"
"Lord Teron?"
"Instead of calling names, state your business! You frustrating kids!"
A child from Yuridia's faction and one from Teron's faction.
The hesitating duo slowly began to speak.
"So... what about that?"
"The rest is restored, but the ceiling is beyond repair!"
Yuridia and Teron exchanged glances.
That's right, Zero had smashed the ceiling.
Not only using the duel arena as he pleased but also destroying it.
"..."
"..."
A more pressing matter than thinking about the family of traitors had arisen.
* * *
Tadadak!
The saying that Luna runs well was no joke.
She really runs well. The scenery flew by ceaselessly.
‘No one is following.’
I gently tapped on Luna's back.
"Luna."
"Huh? What?"
"Let's get you treated first."
After getting off Luna's back, I reached into my spatial pocket.
[Healing Potion: D]
A healing potion made with artificial ingredients.
It seemed capable of healing even torn wounds.
It was purchased from the general store at the academy.
‘I bought the D grade since the price doubles from C grade.’
It was enough to treat Luna's wounds.
As I applied it to various parts of Luna's body, the torn wounds healed instantly.
"Thank you."
"Keke, I'll collect my dues later."
"Do as you please. Now that the treatment is done, let's go."
Luna knelt down and offered her back.
It was a sign to get back on.
"Keke, there's no need for this."
"Get on. I just want you to."
"If you insist, I won't refuse."
I got onto Luna's back again. This time, she didn't run.
She walked slowly, talking about this and that.
The night sky was filled with stars.
"Keke, like you, they're small, Luna."
"Wanna die? Probably as small as your eyes."
It was during such conversations that I asked.
"Zero, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, please speak."
"How can you use One Flash?"
Hmm, this could be a problematic question.
Well, I prepared three versions of the story just in case a situation like this arose.
‘I saved Luna's arm. So, that means.’
She had escaped the imminent danger of death that I knew.
This game can go on until it ends.
More than anything, it seemed Luna wouldn't betray me.
‘A comrade who will stay with me from now on. Then, it's better to tell the truth.’
It would be a shock if I suddenly used something like Rodelin's [Sky Splitter].
So, I decided to tell her about [Divine Imitation].
Of course, since it's a skill, I'll have to mix in a bit of a lie.
"It's a secret technique of my family."
"A secret technique?"
"Yes, a secret technique that can imitate the secret techniques of other families."
"What, what!?"
My waist was jerked backward.
Luna, startled, nearly dropped me to the ground.
Ugh, a man's life is in his waist.
‘This excuse should be sufficient.’
A descendant of a family wiped out for possessing a secret technique too powerful, feared by other families.
Dreaming of revenge, I entered the academy.
‘It turns out, those very people who wiped out Luna's family are the same ones. This storyline should keep Luna and me together, right?’
A perfect excuse. But then, Luna started crying all of a sudden.
* * *
Having heard Zero's words, Luna was inevitably shocked.
'A secret technique that can imitate other families' secret techniques!'
She had never heard of a family with such a technique, but seeing it right before her eyes, she had to believe.
‘It makes sense why they were wiped out.’
Perhaps they were even hunted down.
Such a threatening existence.
Suddenly, Zero's words during the entrance exam came to mind.
-My power is too flashy and draws attention.
At the same time, all of Zero's strange actions up to now made sense.
The reason he had been hiding his abilities.
Because it was dangerous.
Entities from other families capable of mimicking secret techniques are rare.
If someone who knows the secret discovers Zero, they'll immediately start hunting him.
'He was being so careful, and now because of me...'
He used a secret technique in front of the children.
He took the risk to protect me.
But that's not all.
Currently, the Lester family's swordsmanship is the swordsmanship of a traitorous family.
'To use that in front of everyone.'
Even those who annihilated the Lester family are now targeting Zero.
It's incredible how one wrong decision can escalate things this much.
How could I not shed tears?
"Don't cry because of me; I'm okay."
"Sob... Ah, I'm not crying."
"I see. It seems like it's raining from the sky."
As we talked, we eventually arrived in front of the dormitory.
Of course, it was the boys' dormitory.
Luna scratched her head and asked.
"It feels a bit disappointing. Don't you want to talk a bit more?"
"No. I should go in now."
"That, that so? You must be really tired, right? Sorry. I was inconsiderate."
"It's not that. It's better to part ways quickly. And..."
Zero gently stroked his own head.
"We'll meet again tomorrow, won't we? Right?"
Luna bowed her head deeply.
Zero is such a good person. Too good for someone like me.
I couldn't just let it go.
Luna bent over greatly.
"I'm sorry!"
"Yes?"
Zero told me we would meet again tomorrow.
A major incident that kept us apart for two days.
He was suggesting we forget about it and go back to normal.
He was willing to overlook all the wrongs I had done.
'I can't let it be like this.'
During the two days we were apart, I did a lot of thinking.
I did more than one or two wrongs to Zero.
I can't just brush it off.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to treat a friend."
It was my first time having a friend.
"I won't bite you anymore."
I didn't know how to show interest in a friend.
"I won't follow you around anymore."
I didn't know what to do without a friend.
"And also..."
"Stop."
Zero cut off my words.
There was still so much to apologize for. This is serious.
Was he still angry?
"Luna, look at me."
I slowly lifted my head to look at Zero.
He was smiling.
Well, he always did.
"If that's your way of treating a friend, Luna, then you can continue. Just."
Just?
"Gradually reduce it. Until it's within a normal range. Until then, it's okay to continue as you are."
Tears streamed down from Luna's eyes.
Zero was saying he would accept me as I am.
I tried not to cry. I was determined not to cry until Zero accepted my apology.
"Hu, huaaaaah!!"
My first friend.
Surely, the best friend in the world.
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading
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