Chapter 125
Chapter 125
Astral Hair (1)
“Now then, I’ll begin the class. Everyone, sit down.”
The moment the clock struck the hour, Gorilla started the lesson. The previously noisy atmosphere was instantly subdued with just a single sentence from him.
And I was the only student sitting in front of that Gorilla.
“As the name [Large Monster Subjugation] suggests, we’ll be spending our time learning about large monsters. Until midterms, the class will mainly focus on theory. After that, we’ll conduct practical training where we hunt an actual large monster.”
I listened to Gorilla’s explanation with little interest. Large monsters weren’t creatures you could easily encounter, so theory naturally took a larger role than practice.
Besides, their danger level was extremely high, which meant there were many things to take into consideration.
“For reference, a student assistant system was introduced starting this semester. I recommended Davide to the Academic Department, and they approved him.”
After giving the shortest explanation imaginable, Gorilla immediately brought me up. The atmosphere that had quietly settled became noisy once again.
“Quiet.”
At the booming voice, the students fell silent again, though their expressions still remained full of dissatisfaction.
“You all seem dissatisfied. If anyone has complaints, raise your hand without hesitation.”
At Gorilla’s words, the students began raising their hands one after another. I turned around and checked who had raised theirs.
A few flinched when our eyes met, but even they didn’t lower their hands.
“You there. You. What’s your complaint?”
“I’d like to know the evaluation criteria.”
One of the students who received permission to speak answered boldly. I nodded slightly at his words. Even I had learned there were somewhat complicated reasons behind it, but there was no way they could openly explain that to the students.
“The name of this class is [Large Monster Subjugation]. And Davide is someone who has hunted the Hellhorn Bull, which is classified as a large monster, not once but twice. As far as I know, aside from Davide, there isn’t a single one of you who has even encountered a large monster, let alone hunted one. Am I wrong?”
At Gorilla’s counterquestion, the atmosphere in the room rapidly cooled.
I quietly admired him. The Hellhorn Bull, which I’d hunted so casually in the game because I was used to seeing it, was actually classified as a large monster.
Sure, it was big, but when I thought about the Guardian I fought in the tutorial, it felt like the Hellhorn Bull would fit better in the medium-sized category.
“……I have a question.”
“I permit it.”
The same student who had spoken earlier raised his hand again. I looked over, wondering who it was, and somehow his face looked familiar.
“Did Davide truly hunt the Hellhorn Bull on his own merit?”
At the student’s question, Gorilla furrowed his brow. Just the simple act of narrowing his eyes radiated an intimidating pressure.
“Are you saying that you have no trust in the Academic Department that received reports and investigated the matter?”
“……N-No, that’s not what I meant. I was referring to possible fabrication or…….”
“So you’re saying the Academic Department is an incompetent group incapable of detecting manipulation from mere students?”
As Gorilla continued speaking, the student’s face gradually turned pale.
The way he spoke with such a serious — almost angry — expression made him terrifying. Honestly, I thought it was probably because of his appearance.
“I’m joking. Your doubt is reasonable. However, according to the Academic Department’s investigation, Davide hunted the Hellhorn Bull alone with… who was it again? That troublesome blue-haired one.”
While speaking, Gorilla suddenly threw the question at me. Wearing a blank expression, I thought about the troublesome blue-haired person.
“Canis?”
“Right. He hunted the Hellhorn Bull with a student named Canis alone, and he also has a record of hunting one alongside three third-year seniors.”
Only after hearing that much did the students finally shut their mouths.
“We’ll end the orientation here.”
At Gorilla’s words, I stretched widely. It hadn’t even taken that long, but I was already tired.
As I casually rose from my seat, Gorilla abruptly stopped me.
“Sit down. I said the orientation was over. I never said the class itself was finished.”
Many of the students who had started getting up after me immediately sat back down.
Naturally, I was included among them.
***
“Fucking exhausting.”
After class ended, I headed straight to the chapel. A class overseen by Gorilla was truly something else.
The moment it started feeling even slightly sluggish, he’d widen his eyes, and it was enough to make the lunch I ate two hours ago rise back up.
“How was it, attending class again after so long?”
Hearing my complaints, Winter chuckled as she asked. I let out a deep sigh and stroked Aro, who had settled comfortably on top of my stomach.
As the production of the Blood Mist neared completion, Worden and Aro, who used to stay only in the laboratory, had started appearing around the chapel more frequently.
“You know Gorilla.”
“Gorilla?”
“Ah, right. You’re in the Divine Department. Anyway, it was ridiculously exhausting. I think I’d rather fight a battle instead.”
Watching me complain so dramatically, Winter laughed more cheerfully than usual.
What’s with that look? Every time I glanced at her like that, she immediately changed her expression. Maybe I’d somehow ended up raising a tiger.
“Ah.”
As I lay sprawled on the sofa enjoying the soft sensation of Aro’s fluffy fur, something suddenly came to mind.
“Winter.”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
At my casual question, Aro, who had been half-asleep while purring, suddenly opened her eyes wide. Winter, who received the question, also became visibly flustered.
I looked at the reactions of the two women with confusion.
“Why are you asking that? Why are you calling our Whitey out at night? What exactly are you planning to do at night? Why are you specifically calling Whitey out alone at night?”
Watching Aro speak with gleaming eyes, I shuddered.
For some reason, the red eye makeup that only appeared during battle had activated as well. I grabbed Aro’s snout as she bared her teeth and drooled heavily.
“I’m going to a dungeon tonight. And after I come back, I’ll need Silent Bell.”
Only then did Aro calm down. Using her front paws, she roughly rubbed at my uniform, which had become dirty from the drool she spilled in excitement.
Only then did Winter seem to realize something, and her expression stiffened frighteningly.
“If it’s a dungeon where you need Silent Bell… then is it that place? [Black Moon]?”
It seemed she’d recalled the dungeon we visited after investigating the academy-wide superstition for the first time, because she looked displeased.
Back then, I had fallen into a fear state after meeting Astral for the first time, but things would be different now. Of course, I’d still need Silent Bell to解除 abnormal status conditions.
“I want to go too.”
I stood up and grabbed Aro by the scruff of her neck. At that, Aro raised one front paw and declared that she was coming along too.
I casually tossed her onto the rocking chair, and after performing an oddly impressive flip before landing properly, Aro heatedly protested.
“I want to go too!”
“Nope.”
At Aro’s whining, I roughly pressed down on her head. While screaming, Aro continued declaring that she would follow me no matter what.
It was still too early to show Astral to them. At worst, they might suffer mental damage equal to the sense of loss I felt back at the Sanctuary.
“Hmm.”
“W-Why me?”
Winter, who still believed in the academy’s superstition, shook her head repeatedly. I also didn’t think Winter could face Astral yet.
There were two reasons I was going to see Astral this time.
First, to confirm whether Astral was still doing well.
And second, since the fragment of a star had been inserted into the gauntlet, I wanted to see whether anything had changed.
“Me too? Can I come?”
The lump of muscles sleeping on one side of the sofa also spoke up. I fell into thought for a moment as I looked at Worden.
In large-scale battles, Worden was extremely effective, but right now… not so sure. If he suddenly went insane and started attacking, that would become a disaster in its own way.
“No. None of you are going. I’m going alone. It’s too dangerous.”
After saying that, I lay back down on the sofa. Worden quickly gave up and fell back asleep, but Aro puffed out her lips with a sulky expression.
“That look won’t work either. Out of all the places I’ve been to so far, that place is the most dangerous.”
I said it to persuade Aro, but the reaction came from somewhere else.
“T-The most dangerous? Even more dangerous than the battle in the Ulla Desert?”
Winter’s eyes widened. She recalled the fierce battle she experienced in the Ulla Desert and formed a grave expression.
“If it’s that dangerous, then you went there alone before? Really?”
“…….”
I quietly shut my mouth. Back then, I hadn’t known Astral was there and had only encountered it by chance. It absolutely wasn’t intentional.
“It’s fine now. Back then was just an accident.”
At my excuse, Winter looked utterly dumbfounded. After hitting her chest several times out of frustration, she suddenly froze in place.
We quietly watched Winter, whose atmosphere had suddenly become unusual.
“Just a moment.”
Winter suddenly began rummaging through the surroundings. She even opened the safe and started gathering various things.
“Take this with you.”
Winter handed me a small bag. It was a cross bag worn over the shoulder. Receiving it absentmindedly, I checked inside.
“This is an herb used to stop bleeding. You chew it up in your mouth, mash it, and apply it to the wound. And this is an antidote. They call it an antidote, but it doesn’t completely detoxify poison — it only slows the spread. There are bandages and burn ointment tucked into the corner just in case. There are recovery potions in there too, so look carefully.”
“Uh, right. Thanks.”
She spoke so rapidly that it left me dazed. Even after my thanks, Winter continued lecturing me with a stern expression.
“If you get hurt, treat it immediately. It could scar, and even small wounds can become serious. If any symptoms appear, you need to deal with them right away. You might not know what to do, so I included papers describing common injuries and treatments, so make sure to read them. Make sure! Senior, you have a tendency to recklessly abuse your body, and I keep telling you this, but your body is the Religious Order’s treasure. Your very existence is the core pillar of the Religious Order.”
I tightly shut my eyes. It reminded me of the first time I met Winter and showed her the Holy Scripture and Stigma.
“……Who is this girl?”
Seeing this side of Winter for the first time, Aro asked with a bewildered face. Only after continuing her nonstop lecture for another five minutes did Winter finally slump down.
It was truly a magnificent speech from Winter, who loved the Religious Order even more than I, an Apostle, did.
“This is new. The Empire really is different.”
“We think the same whenever we look at you.”
“Ah~ really? Far Eastern culture is beautiful too, isn’t it?”
Watching Aro instantly start spouting nonsense again, I shook my head.
Aro climbed onto the head of the steadfastly unmoving Worden and excitedly began talking.
“Eh?”
“Come on now~ It’s been a while since we had a chance to chat. Stories from one’s homeland are precious, you know?”
Dragging Winter away from her work desk using a talisman, Aro properly began telling her stories.
Though flustered at first, Winter quickly became absorbed while listening to stories about the unfamiliar Far East.
“Heavy.”
Feeling the weight of the bag Winter had handed me, I closed my eyes.
Using Aro’s clear, ringing voice like a lullaby, I rested my exhausted mind.