The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 156 - Rest and Happiness

No matter how I thought about it, The One’s proposal was an irresistibly attractive story for me.

After learning of my fate of repeated death at the Enlight mansion, what was the very first thought I had?

I thought that I wanted to give up on everything. I thought that I wanted to escape this painful destiny.

I just wanted to find rest, and that would be enough. That was how I felt.

-However, I can help you. I can end your endless pain.

Before me, the being closest to omnipotence in this world was speaking. He said he would grant me rest.

Was there any reason to refuse?

‘I don’t know.’

Looking back, there were probably many reasons. For example, the ones I had grown fond of⋯⋯ the ones I could certainly call friends.

Yuna, Khan, Serene, Elwin, Arien, and on top of that, Regina, and so on.

It was certainly enjoyable when I was with them.

When Yuna and I went out into the city of Endinium and wandered around, there was peace in my heart.

Practicing dancing with Serene or training together was also rewarding.

Being scolded by Elwin and Khan about my conduct⋯⋯ looking back now, it was quite amusing.

And the various conversations I had with Regina in the night garden.

And dancing with Arien at the Exchange Meeting.

They were all precious memories I didn’t want to let go of. Such memories flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.

However, when I looked back at the reality that had driven me to despair⋯⋯.

Well. It seemed the point where I could return to that life just because I wanted to had already passed.

The despair before my eyes was so immense that it seemed insurmountable.

And the hand of rest, which could bring an end without having to endure all that despair, was right in front of me.

Who would refuse?

“Here.”

As if reading my mind, the pure white boy slowly extended his hand to me.

“⋯⋯.”

I knew that the boy was largely responsible for my fall into this despair, but⋯⋯ well.

None of that mattered anymore. What remained after the happy memories had passed was only painful ones.

It’s hard.

Whether stabbed by a sword, blown up by magic, or chopped into pieces by a massive greatsword, I didn’t want to repeat death anymore.

I wanted to stop being inwardly afraid of what kind of death I would face next.

And even if I managed to overcome a crisis, I had to be constantly lost in agony about what to do next.

Even while living a normal daily life, I wanted to escape the life of being anxious somewhere in my heart about when the shadow of death would fall upon me.

I had grown numb to it now, but killing people with my own hands was also painful.

And I hated the fact that even if I somehow overcame this despair, an even harsher ordeal would come next.

Yes, I’ll be honest. I was tired.

I’ve worked hard enough.

It’s okay to rest now.

Such self-comfort filled my head.

Therefore, I. I⋯⋯.

Swoosh.

Slowly raising my right hand, I took The One’s hand.

“⋯⋯.”

The boy—The One—who had been watching my hand for a moment, turned his head and shifted his gaze to my face.

And he spoke. In a voice gentler than any I had ever heard.

“You’ve been through a lot. Rain Enlight.”

I felt like crying. Because that voice was so gentle.

And, because of the last thought that entered my mind.

‘I see.’

I struggled so hard, I fought tooth and nail to live somehow.

I’ve fallen to the point of begging for rest from the very being I tried to oppose.

Looking back, I⋯⋯ I haven’t achieved anything at all.

‘In the end, this life had no meaning whatsoever.’

-Drip.

Just before my vision was completely dyed in pure white, a single tear flowed down my cheek.

Was it an expression of futility for a life I had run through so desperately, and⋯⋯ a sense of relief that I could finally rest?

It didn’t matter.

What remained immediately after was only a world of nothingness, dyed in pure white.

***

Before long, the atmosphere of the Exchange Meeting had ripened, and the people’s enjoyment was reaching its peak.

Social gatherings in aristocratic society were originally for showing off one’s status or strengthening relationships between nobles.

But the more essential purpose of enjoyment could not be overlooked.

Talking, tasting delicacies, dancing, people were clearly enjoying the Exchange Meeting.

However, amidst that cheerful atmosphere, there was definitely a girl who couldn't immerse herself in the fun.

“⋯⋯.”

Serene El Stellia.

The heir of the most prestigious family among ‘The Three Founding Families,’ a house that stood at the very pinnacle.

The girl had secretly slipped out to a quiet balcony of the vast Exchange Meeting hall to catch her breath.

It wasn't because she found it burdensome to fulfill her responsibilities as the firm heir of a prestigious family. She had experienced such social gatherings dozens, even hundreds of times in her short life.

It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying the party for that reason either. Unlike before, she was now with friends with whom she could genuinely open up and have fun.

A social gathering where one could enjoy oneself so freely was not something one could often enjoy in aristocratic society, where all sorts of schemes intersected.

However, the girl had stepped away from the people to calm her mind.

There were two reasons for this, and one was due to the subject that was troubling her heart.

Needless to say, that subject was about her close friend whom she had been thinking about frequently lately—Rain Enlight.

‘⋯⋯You seemed to have gotten quite used to dancing.’

Serene recalled the sight of Rain dancing with Arien, which she had looked down upon from the balcony.

Although it was just a single special training session last night, was it because it was Rain?

He was digesting the choreography quite splendidly.

Watching him, she felt a sense of pride. Perhaps it was from the joy that her actions had finally been helpful to Rain.

Unlike before. For origınal chapters go to novel✦fire.net

However, on the other hand, watching him dance like that⋯⋯ she also felt a pressing sensation in her heart.

Serene, uncharacteristically, could not clearly identify the cause of that feeling.

A sensation she couldn't quite grasp. A feeling of her heart stirring.

Squeeze.

The girl pressed down on the part where her heart was. Even so, the sensation showed no sign of abating.

“⋯⋯Haa.”

The girl let out a small sigh. A frustrating feeling still lingered in her heart.

That frustration wasn't just because of that sensation. And this was linked to the second reason why the girl had separated from her friends to act alone for a while.

‘Where on earth did he go.’

Yes. The girl had been looking for Rain, who had separated from the group at some point and disappeared.

The reason she went that far⋯⋯ well. She herself didn't know for sure. Rain wasn't a child, and thinking about it, there was no reason to go that far.

She already knew how thorough Rain was, and how he was even more calm and wise than herself.

Nevertheless, Serene was looking for Rain. It was due to an anxiety that tormented her mind for an indescribable reason.

Isn't he carrying a heavy burden all by himself somewhere again? Such a vague anxiety.

Therefore, Serene set out to find Rain and met quite a few people.

The first ones she met were Khan and Elwin.

-You mean Sir Rain? I'd rather be the one asking. He said he’d see me at the hall but hasn't shown his face once⋯⋯.

-Haha⋯⋯ He does like to be alone. Or maybe he’s with the Princess?

Khan, grumbling with a consistent expression, and Elwin, offering his own guess.

After passing those two, she met the Princess, Regina Eliade Abellon.

-Fufu, I wonder? I haven't seen him since I watched that wonderful dance with the prodigy of the Magic Tower.

However, Regina also replied that she hadn't seen him.

There was a possibility that it was a lie, and they were carrying out some plan of their own⋯⋯ but to Serene's eyes, her words didn't feel like a lie.

She wasn't telling the whole truth, but at least most of it was true. The girl's insight told her so.

Was it because when she mentioned Rain's dance, her already blazing violet eyes seemed to burn even more fiercely?

Even after that, Serene met many others. People who might know Rain, people who knew Rain by face, and so on.

From Acaite, Rain's supervising professor at the academy, to Jenna, with whom she occasionally talked, to Albert, who said he saw Rain often during the vacation because of the Origin Magic lecture, to Professor Mathieu, whose life Rain and she had saved.

Nevertheless, there was no progress. After wandering around the hall for a long time, the place she reached to catch her breath was this very balcony.

“⋯⋯Where on earth did he go.”

Once again, Serene looked out over the balcony and uttered such a grumbling remark.

The reason she was wandering around searching for the boy's whereabouts and worrying so much was simple.

Isn't he getting caught up in some trouble that she couldn't know about somewhere again?

That was her thought.

“He always shoulders everything by himself⋯⋯.”

The boy whom the girl held dear never properly opened up about his inner thoughts.

Even though he knew some unusual truth, he would always swallow that truth alone.

Whether he was battered and bruised, suffered all sorts of humiliation, was unfairly framed and had his reputation plummet to the ground, or endured all that pain alone⋯⋯ along with such harsh costs.

It was the same as swallowing solitude. A life not understood by anyone was bound to be painful, and Serene knew that well.

It wasn't that Serene had a complaint about him not opening up about himself.

She only blamed her own lack of virtue for not being able to give the boy her trust.

Really, just how upright was this girl?

Of course, the girl's thoughts had some merit. Especially since such an incident had happened in the past, during their middle school days.

‘⋯⋯I must try harder. So it doesn't become like the old days.’

Reaffirming that pledge, the girl lifted her head above the shining night view of Endinium visible beyond the balcony.

The sky, where the stars had hidden due to the city's light, was there.

But that wasn't all.

“⋯⋯A shooting star.”

In the pitch-black night sky, a single meteor was descending.

It wasn't big or bright enough to be marveled at, but it was a shooting star clearly visible in her field of view.

Seeing such a meteor—a shooting star—the girl naturally thought.

‘Should I make a wish on the shooting star?’

Well, it was that kind of story. A shooting star is falling. So, I make a wish. It was simple logic.

The girl's thoughts moved to the next step. Then, what wish should she make?

Two things came to mind, and one was related to the problem that was troubling her heart.

‘⋯⋯Next time, I want to dance with Sir Rain.’

The frustrating sensation she felt when Arien and Rain danced. Wouldn't that sensation disappear if she danced with Rain? That was her thought.

‘No.’

But the girl shook her head and didn't voice that wish.

Because it was not something to rely on a wish for, but something she ought to achieve herself.

For this reason, the girl wished upon the star for the other wish in her mind.

The girl's platinum blonde hair, and her turquoise jewel-like eyes, shone brightly in the light of the stars and the moon.

And the girl, with her hands clasped together, whispered her wish.

“⋯⋯Please, may there be only happiness in the days ahead for him.”

Did that prayer reach the heavens? No one would ever know.