Chapter 268 : A Return to Everyday Life
Chapter 268: A Return to Everyday Life
Life at the Academy, after returning for the first time in nearly a month, reminded me just how precious ordinary days were.
After spending every day in a gloomy hideout surrounded by middle-aged criminals who constantly reeked of mustiness and ill intent, being able to spend time with students overflowing with youth and vitality—how could anything be better than this?
Well, of course, my life in this world itself could hardly be called ordinary, but let's ignore that minor detail for now.
Anyway.
About a week had passed since the series of incidents in the Elysium District had come to an end.
There had still been no contact from Chairman Stingray, so I focused on catching up on all the work I had unilaterally dumped onto Maria.
“I've been terribly inconsiderate.”
“Not at all. It couldn't be helped. I'm simply happy that you returned safely.”
I thanked Maria as she brought me a cup of coffee.
Whenever I had found some free time, I had already given her a rough explanation of what had happened. Naturally, I had omitted the part about the Sky Dragon. That secret was simply too sensitive.
At the moment, she only understood the situation as follows:
Kallia had convinced the board of directors and the shareholders to support her as the next Chairwoman... and Chairman Stingray had no choice but to go along with it.
“Lady Kallia becoming the next Chairwoman......”
“What do you think about this?”
“......”
Maria pondered for a moment before answering.
“If I may be so bold... I don't believe Young Master is particularly interested in becoming Chairman. Am I correct?”
“You know me well.”
“In that case, I don't have any particular feelings about this matter either. If anything, I'm relieved that your conflict with Lady Kallia didn't escalate into a civil war within the Group.”
“I see.”
Perhaps it was because Maria herself was someone who knew how to be content with her own place.
She didn't seem disappointed in the slightest that the person she served wouldn't be ascending to an even higher position.
“However......”
“Go on.”
“I believe Young Master is worried about something else. It isn't that you want the Chairman's position itself. Rather, you're worried that by not obtaining it, you'll lose the ability to do something.”
“......”
She was exactly right.
One could say she'd struck the nail squarely on the head.
What worried me wasn't Kallia becoming Chairwoman.
It was the possibility that once she did, I would be unable to deal with the many incidents that lay ahead—threats that couldn't be overcome by my own strength alone.
I'd tried my best to hide those concerns.
Apparently, they had been completely obvious to Maria.
“Then... what would you do?”
“I wouldn't do anything.”
“Hm?”
Her answer was so unexpected that my eyes widened slightly.
Maria lowered her head a little.
“I believe Young Master is already doing everything you possibly can. Everything you did in the Elysium District was to achieve the best possible outcome, wasn't it?”
“I think asking you to do even more would simply be too cruel.”
“......”
“So if I were you... I would acknowledge that I've already done my best and stop whipping myself.”
“What you're doing now is already more than enough.”
That surprised me.
Honestly...
I'd never expected Maria to say something like that.
She always tried to present herself as the perfect secretary.
Hearing her say, "What you've done is already enough," somehow felt unlike her.
To hide the turmoil stirred up by her unexpected words, I responded with a joke.
“So what you're really saying is that you'd prefer I stopped running around outside and leaving all the work to you?”
“That is... a small part of it.”
A faint smile lingered on Maria's lips.
When I'd first met her, she'd been a woman trembling in fear while kneeling before me.
Now...
She had learned to joke with me.
For some reason, that was surprisingly moving.
Right.
Everything changes, little by little.
I'd made countless choices.
Those choices had created results completely different from the Original Story.
Many had ended well.
Unfortunately, there had also been people I couldn't save.
All that remained ahead were futures rendered nearly impossible to predict by the butterfly effect I'd created.
Both the Author...
And Chairman Stingray...
Had told me the same thing.
-Prepare for the coming battle.
...Those were their words.
I didn't know exactly what they were worried about.
Nor did I know how fierce the battles awaiting me would become.
But one thing was certain.
They weren't problems I could afford to ignore.
Still...
That wasn't a reason to throw away everything I already had.
Just as Maria had said, I'd already done everything I could.
There was no need to push myself beyond my limits.
I needed to leave myself enough room to breathe.
To enjoy the present.
Not to fear a future that hadn't arrived yet.
Not to forget why I'd come to this world in the first place.
With that resolve, I signed my approval on the electronic reports Maria had placed before me.
After quietly finishing several urgent documents, I leaned deeply into my chair and asked,
“What about the Special Class students?”
In other words...
I wanted to see my kids.
As though she'd expected that question, Maria smiled gently.
“I'll guide you.”
Using an Academy inspection as an excuse, the first person I went to see was Iri.
While I'd been wandering around the Elysium District searching for Dragons and causing all sorts of trouble, the Academy had entered midterm season, and the students were all busy preparing for their exams.
Iri was no exception.
Now in her second year in the Tactical Combat Department, her curriculum contained significantly more combat classes than before.
She was currently inside a simulation training hall, fighting holographic monsters in preparation for a practical exam scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
[It's spitting acid!]
[I'll take point! Everyone get behind me!]
Fluorescent saliva bubbled inside the mouth of a zombie-like monster with a long neck.
In response, Iri deployed her shield and stepped to the front while her teammates hid behind her.
Kyaaaaaaah!
Ptooeeeee!
Moments later, the monster spat.
Iri adjusted the angle of her shield so that the splashing acid wouldn't hit her teammates.
The acid was strong enough to melt the floor itself, but fortunately, none of her allies were harmed.
After spewing a large amount of corrosive saliva, the monster's posture opened up.
Seizing the opportunity, Iri raised her shotgun.
[Now!]
At her command, the teammates hiding behind her drew their guns and swords simultaneously before charging at the monster.
[Be careful not to damage the salivary glands!]
Even with victory already assured, Iri never lowered her guard and continued issuing commands.
Watching her, Maria quietly explained,
“If a Spitter's salivary glands are damaged, all of its materials become unusable. She only learned that recently, yet she's remembered it well.”
Apparently, the evaluation wasn't simply about killing monsters.
It was about defeating them in the safest, most efficient, and most profitable way possible.
I'd fought plenty of monsters myself.
But whenever Headquarters called me, it was usually because they were facing some catastrophic emergency where the only order was,
"Whether you kill it or capture it, just deal with that thing...!"
So I had never learned details like this.
Well, I suppose I'd learned something new today.
Even if I didn't know the finer points of hunting ordinary monsters...
I could still tell one thing.
Iri had become dramatically stronger while I was away.
She handled the [Thousand-Pound Weight] Module much more skillfully than before.
Her shield techniques had also become far more refined.
But what stood out the most...
Was how well she coordinated with the rest of her team.
'......It looks like her anger has finally faded.'
Until last year, Iri had been terrible at working with teammates.
At best, she'd reluctantly follow other students' instructions with obvious reluctance.
Now...
She was actively leading them.
Her experience as Student Council President had probably helped.
More importantly, however...
She had finally resolved the emotional burdens she'd been carrying.
Because she came from the Fallen District, Iri had always harbored an inferiority complex toward the other students.
Then she learned that she'd actually been born into a family she had absolutely no reason to feel inferior about.
That had probably allowed her to cast aside those unnecessary feelings of resentment.
'Although... she still seems to be thinking about Peter Jones.'
She probably still couldn't completely forgive him.
Nor could she completely hate him.
There were simply too many memories between them to hate him outright.
Yet Peter had died without ever truly paying for his crimes, making it impossible for her to love him unconditionally either.
I had no idea when those conflicting emotions would finally settle within her.
For now...
Both she and I were preparing to reclaim the Everheart couple's inheritance.
Perhaps we'd see where things stood after that matter was resolved.
After quietly watching Iri's training for a while, I turned to leave.
Maria asked,
“......Won't you meet her?”
“Not today.”
If she saw my face now, she'd probably remember what happened a week ago and start crying again.
She was concentrating on her training.
I didn't want to interrupt that.
Until her emotions had settled a little more, I intended to avoid seeing her whenever possible.
“I understand. Then......”
The next place Maria led me was Reina.
As Vice President, she was handling the Student Council's work alone in Iri's place.
“It's been a while, Reina.”
“Ah... Chairman... welcome back......”
Reina bowed politely.
The very first thing I noticed was how different she looked.
Before, she'd given off the impression of a cheerful, hot-blooded girl.
Now...
She seemed gloomy.
While everyone else was busy preparing for exams, she was alone in the Student Council office working.
She probably wanted to be by herself.
And the reason was obvious.
'Silence, you bastard...!'
You spineless coward.
Are you still running away?
Your father(?) is deeply disappointed in you.
Keeping those thoughts to myself, I asked after her.
“Has everything been alright?”
“Ah... yes......”
“I see.”
“Yes......”
“......”
“......”
“R-right. Is there anything you need...?”
“No... not really......”
“I-I see......”
“Yes......”
“......”
“......”
...What was this?
The conversation wouldn't continue.
Reina was radiating a level of gloom I'd never seen from her before.
Just what had Silence done to transform someone so lively into this?
'What a headache.'
This was precisely why romance was prohibited at the Academy in the first place.
Reina wasn't one of my absolute favorites, but...
I'd known her for over a year.
Watching her slowly fall apart like this as someone responsible for her made me feel genuinely sorry.
I wanted to encourage her.
To tell her to stay strong.
But the words simply wouldn't come.
This wasn't something a simple sentence could fix.
Damn it, Silence.
I'm going to have to step in myself.
“Maria.”
“Where's... him?”
I deliberately didn't say his name.
Maria understood immediately.
“He's currently at the hospital for his regular treatment......”
“We're going there immediately.”
“Tell him not to leave.”
“He's to wait there.”
“Understood.”
Then I turned back to Reina.
“Reina.”
“Come with me.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Don't ask.”
“Just follow me.”
Where are we going?
You two aren't leaving...
Until your relationship problems are settled.