Vol. 1 - Ch. 38 - Prize of Suffering (2)

The wind was chilly, touching the skin if one didn't pull the cape right to the shoulders.

Two weeks had passed since the fall Thanksgiving day, so now the second semester of the academy was about a month and a half away.

Today being the weekend, I didn't really want to wear a uniform cape. Unlike usual, I went out with a white shirt, a turquoise cravat, and a black coat.

And I am scared of stepping out...

"Hello~"

"...Hello, Dylan."

"I stopped by today to see if there was any good news. Hahaha."

"It is the same as always."

"Same as always! Right. I understand."

I was greeted by Dylan, who was wearing activewear. Starting the day after I was invited to the Ashen Dawn, Dylan came to say hello to me every morning for about four days, including today, which was the weekend. Only four days have passed since that day, but where is this anxiety coming from?

'I am going to graduate next year; why are they being this sincere?'

When I glanced at him suspiciously, Dylan smiled and waved his hand.

"Then have a good day today!"

"I hope Cadet Dylan has a good day too."

I responded with a silent bow to Dylan's hand gesture. Dylan said something inexplicable about it being nice to see people and then turned to the north.

It is like this even on weekdays. When does he even go to class?

Dylan was already a senior when I stepped into the academy. Unless there was a special reason, such as not eating unless it is good or not being able to sleep unless it is in bed, such a nature of poor attendance was odd.

"Arma Cruz."

Theodore appeared shortly after Dylan, and they seemed to be taking turns approaching me. Theodore had an unusual expression, and I couldn't quite gauge his mood.

"It looks like Arthur is getting better."

This garden, situated between the main buildings of Wooden Cross class and the dorm, was a place rarely visited unless by majoring cadets. As far as I know, Arthur has been in a deep sleep since that day and hasn't woken up yet. First of all, the story seems to have concluded that he overworked himself while training alone in the forest ahead of his ordination test.

"The concussion has settled. He's in a deep sleep now. Just like Arma Cruz was a couple of days ago."

If it was a few weeks ago, which one? I remember three things.

I didn't want to embarrass Theodore by saying unnecessary things, so I just nodded.

"Right, don't rush."

I felt as if I had swallowed a thorn, but I didn't reveal it. While I was in a state of sleep, I envisioned a future---a ruined one. If what Arthur sees is the image of that devastated world, is it right for him to wake up? If not...

"Arthur..."

While I was thinking intensely in my head, Theodore said, "It is fine; he is as strong as cast iron."

Right. For him to be alive even after a hit...

"Thank goodness."

The image of Theodore hitting Arthur on the head mercilessly came to my mind, and for a moment, I felt a shiver run down.

"I was planning on coming over as soon as Arthur woke up, but I think he needs more time. When he opened his eyes briefly, he did try to speak, but it was all gibberish."

"Gibberish? How so?"

"I don't believe it's something within our understanding. He repeatedly inquired if there was someone here, similar to the opening line of the Prophet Game we used to play when we were young."

The Prophet Game is this boring psychic game that any growing kid would love. It involves two people asking questions with their hands on the board, with a few words written on them, and getting answers from this unknown entity. It was also a game that one would naturally get away from if they had some reasoning.

"... I guess the memories of childhood still have power over him. There is something I want to ask, but I don't want to pry too much."

"Yes. And I understand that Arma Cruz will remain at the academy even during the winter break."

"No other option."

"..."

"No, proceed safely. I have prior engagements and need to go there, but if you have anything else to discuss, could you come by later in the evening?"

Not wanting to sound mean, I said goodbye to Theodore with a sad look. At my words, he disappeared, saying I should have a good weekend.

'So he won't come to visit.'

Despite my plan to question Arthur about something he said before the fight, his continued unconsciousness deepens my anxiety.

I passed through the garden and headed to my original destination, the dorm annex.

-knock.

"Judith. It is me."

Judith opened the door almost the moment I knocked, and today she was dressed casually, wearing just a shirt and pants, with her hair tied low and no accessories.

"Come in."

"It has been a while since I've been here."

The dorm annex where Judith lived was a place where the best-grade cadets could stay, and the room structure itself wasn't different from the normal ones, but the number of cadets staying around was small, so it felt a lot more comfortable.

-clack!

Judith poured tea from the teapot engraved with this exotic shade of blue. I laid out the plates and teaspoons that Judith had brought and sat down across the table. The white sea foam pattern drawn on the light blue silk wallpaper went well with Judith's image.

"It has been a mess since morning. Have you committed any crime against the dorm president?"

"I didn't really do anything. I feel like I just got caught."

"Got caught?"

Before I knew it, Judith was sitting across from me with her legs crossed and sipping her tea. I followed Judith, took a sip of the tea, and gulped it.

"I got a book from Dylan before, remember?"

"Ah, that book? Well, the only thing that could bring him close to you was a book."

"Right, there was an invitation there. Do you want to join the classical culture club?"

As soon as I said that, Judith's face fell.

"Classic Culture Club?"

"You know about it?"

"It is famous. The same goes for the incident where there was this fight with the writing department over posting the posters. Dylan himself is famous for not graduating, and the members of the club are known to be eccentric."

"Don't we have too many of such people in the academy? But what is this about the members? I only saw one."

"I do not remember the name, but there is one more. And I think they were twins or something."

If there was a twin with a face that looked exactly like Dylan, then I would know. So it had to be Elijah, who had a twin. I thought of Elijah, who had a gloomy face and dark circles under the eyes, and I wondered if his twin would look the same.

"Well, everyone seems lonely these days. They are passionate about club activities."

"These days?"

"Since the lock-in. Large and small clubs began to grow."

"I had no idea."

Judith chuckled at my words.

"Well, you have been busy."

It was a word with many meanings.

"It is a friend club, but more like a group of people you know hanging out together."

"Now that you are together, wouldn't it be better to be an official club too? I heard that the classical culture club is an unauthorized one too."

"A valid question, but you are missing one thing."

Judith continued, warming her fingertips with a teacup that had cooled to the right temperature.

"Miss what?"

"Machina Christie. In order to get formal club approval, one must recruit club members and then obtain permission from her, but she isn't one to grant it unless a club is healthy and enterprising."

"As expected of her, to never do anything for waste. So what should we do to become a healthy and enterprising club?"

"Because not everyone knows that, they cannot apply for a formal club role."

"I see..."

Even as I said that, I myself had no idea what activities in a club could be considered healthy.

Judith had already finished her tea, and she had poured herself a second cup. Although her intonation and expression were the same as usual, I could feel that Judith was nervous. In the end, I raised the topic first instead of her, who didn't speak first.

"Anyway, what happened then? During the major classes."

"Ah, that."

Judith paused for a moment. Then she made a groaning sound.

"An attendant knight scout has arrived from First Princess Ariel's palace."

"Puah!"

"Dirty."

With a desperate effort, I splashed the tea back into the cup from my mouth. Shocked, I put the cup down.

"Isn't that amazing?"

That lady... the child was a princess?

I tried to remember her face, but I couldn't. Well, it was expected since it wasn't a face I had seen before. And it turns out that she is a princess of great stature, as she covered her face with that strange veil.

Looking at me all excited, Judith smiled slightly and then shook her head.

"Because the situation was a bit strange."

"... Strange? It is a bit different from the original goal of the Royal Guard, but it seems like a pretty good offer."

"The princess is about to get married. After marriage, she is heading to the Titan Duchy, and I don't understand why she wants to select me, a foreigner, as her guard."

This was truly odd.

In the midst of immigrating to a distant country, selecting Judith, a foreigner, as an escort knight seemed like something that only one with a strong heart could do.

"Wouldn't one normally take a knight from their own nation? She is a princess who will go to a distant nation alone."

"That... surely."

Judith was usually not conscious of that. But this time, it felt like she felt conscious that this was being offered to her, a foreigner.

"Well, that is why I declined."

"It seems you turned down the invitation. Even a knife crafted from obsidian would pale in comparison to your sharpness."

"Hmm. Let's just say I am still young and don't want to graduate from the academy that I love."

After talking with Judith, who had calmed down, we both had more things to ask, but we decided not to bring them up. Both questions are probably about the same thing.

What on earth is happening?

After receiving a warm welcome and a farewell from Judith, I left the place.

"It would be better to have a quick meal before heading in."

The conversation with Judith took longer than I expected, and although the morning sun was bright when I left, there was no trace of it now.

The shorter days were evidence of winter coming.

I headed towards the restaurant, following the street lamps, which were turning on one by one.

"Arma Cruz!"

As soon as I stepped into the cafeteria, I heard someone whispering to a cadet who seemed to be his friend.

This happens all the time when I end up being an unwelcome celebrity, whether I go alone or go to a place with unfamiliar cadets.

"Hello."

I deliberately greeted the table that called my name and then went to the dinner rack piled with sumptuous food and sat down.

Soon, young employees, with their faces covered, brought clean plates and knives to my place.

"Thank you."

When I thanked the employee, they bowed their heads and then disappeared. The employees of the academy were like walking ghosts.

'Come to think of it, I never heard their voices before.'

From what I vaguely remember, I recall being told that employees had to turn a blind eye, a deaf ear, and remain silent about anything they knew as part of their job requirements. . Personally, I find it to be an incredibly inhumane working environment, but it's considered a highly sought-after position at Aegis Academy due to its attractive salaries and the advantage it provides for transitioning to the next job.

-Clack. Clack.

I began my meal by using the utensils to place the large bowl of smoked duck and veggies on my plate.

Then, I suddenly noticed that the cafeteria was filled with frightening silence.

I looked around the corner of my eye, pretending not to notice.

The eyes of all the cadets sitting inside the cafeteria were on me.

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