Chapter 134
In a quiet park.
Luna, having bought a drink from a snack bar, sighed deeply.
It was one thing to escape from Zero's grasp. The problem was the aftermath.
What kind of price would that perverse guy demand?
Luna had no clue.
"Ah, forget it! It'll work out somehow!"
Zero's anger not subsiding?
If she struck a deadly sexy pose, he'd probably melt away, finding it cute.
'Hmm, it's a shame to show him such a pose... but there's no helping it.'
In truth, Luna's greatest weapon was her cuteness.
The sexy pose would only backfire, but she was completely oblivious to that.
Rezé, sitting on a bench, entered Luna's field of vision.
Perhaps because she wasn't hiding in a box, she was constantly looking around, vigilantly guarding the surroundings.
Finally, noticing Luna, Rezé waved her hand with a bright smile.
Whoosh-.
Luna threw the can of drink she had towards Rezé. Then...
Clang!
Luna couldn't help but be startled.
The drink, following a parabola, had hit Rezé squarely on the forehead.
'What, what!? She can't catch that?'
The can of drink flew as slowly as a bird performing five aerial flips before flying away.
Despite attempting to catch it with both hands raised, she missed.
Her reaction speed was disastrously slow.
"Rezé! Are you okay?"
Luna rushed to Rezé, who had collapsed to the side.
"I'm, I'm fine."
"Sorry. I shouldn't have thrown it."
"No, it's not that. It's my fault for being inadequate."
"No, you're not inadequate at all. You're more amazing than you think."
"Lu, Luna..."
Rezé choked up.
She was moved to be told that she was an amazing child.
It was the first time she had ever heard such words, and she couldn't help but be touched.
"Is the training too hard?"
Rezé slightly nodded.
She couldn't deny it, given the situation.
There was shooting training, physical training, and from yesterday, strength training had started.
The training added by Zero was to build shoulders that could withstand the recoil of [Overcharge].
"Why can't he understand that such a schedule is too much for someone new to training?"
Nod nod!
"He should tailor the training schedule to the person. The training is too much for someone as fragile as you."
Nod nod!
"He could gradually increase the training volume instead of mindlessly increasing it as if being chased by something."
Nod nod!
"That level of training should have started next week. He still has a long way to go, I tell you."
"...?"
So, starting next week, she was expected to handle that level of schedule?
'That, that can't be right.'
Such training was only manageable for monsters.
For someone herbivorous like herself, it was too much.
Rezé firmly believed so. Even if such a day came, Luna would protect her.
"Anyway, don't be too scared. I'll adjust the training volume for you."
The feeling of fear. Indeed, it was the emotion Rezé had been constantly feeling recently.
But it wasn't just because of the training.
"That, that's true but... I'm scared of Zero as well. And..."
"And?"
Rezé shuddered.
If she revealed the real reason she feared Zero, Luna might distance herself from her.
So, she desperately thought of another reason.
"I, I'm worried that I might be intruding too much on a couple's relationship."
"Huh? What do you mean? A couple? Who's in a relationship?"
Who, you ask? Obviously...
Rezé looked straight at Luna.
By now, even Luna, who was oblivious, had to notice.
After all, there were only three in their group.
"Ah, that's not it. Zero and I are just close friends."
Luna waved her hands as if to deny it, real.
Rezé's mind couldn't help but become more confused.
Distance, behavior, conversation, physical contact.
To anyone, it would seem like they were in a relationship.
Recently, Zero's irritation seemed to stem from Rezé interrupting their alone time.
"Isn't that, that too close for just friends?"
"Huh? Isn't this normal among friends? Eating together, playing, resting, and even... sleeping together?"
Luna counted on her fingers as she said that.
Rezé was shocked.
Friends sleep together?
"Luna, you're surprisingly open-minded."
"Is that so? I thought this was pretty standard."
Wow, what a modern woman!
A halo seemed to shine behind Luna.
Facing Luna's confident demeanor, Rezé had no choice but to shield her eyes.
Yet, the halo piercing through made Rezé panic.
"Can I ask you just one thing?"
"Yes, yes. Anything, I'll answer."
The sudden question didn't faze Rezé.
She was ready to answer anything for her friend Luna.
Even something as secretive as the best way to grow carrots.
But Rezé was bound to be flustered.
"Wouldn't the possibility of us being a couple not be a reason to fear Zero? I'd like to know the real reason. That way, I can help."
Luna went straight to the point.
It was natural for Rezé, who had been caught lying, to be flustered.
'Lying to a friend and getting caught. She must be disappointed...'
But even then.
Rezé couldn't tell the real reason.
Doing so would truly lose Luna as a friend.
"Um? It's because... He received a demon's curse..."
A demon's curse.
A matter so severe that the empire had laws strictly governing it.
'Ah, although it's called a demon's curse, it's essentially a deal.'
A 'promise' that binds both parties, not a contract where one or both sides gain, but where both must uphold or act upon certain terms.
That's the true nature of what's called a 'demon's curse.'
Depending on the situation, it's common to either bind or kill after confirming the contents of the curse.
It's a contract that binds both parties, which could weaken the power of the demon side depending on the content.
The problem is the 'binding' part.
'In the majority of cases, it leads to execution.'
Given the potential to weaken the power of demons, a demon's curse is a top priority for reporting.
If Rezé had been even slightly more proactive, she would have already reported it.
Of course, even if a report had been made, Zero would have brazenly dismissed it.
'The Hero of the Academy' consists of 8 episodes, and there are also 8 hidden bosses that Zero needs to defeat.
About 2-3 times a year.
To prove Zero has received a demon's curse, one must wait for the moment a hidden portal opens, which is a difficult task for an investigator who doesn't know the date.
Although a demon's curse is a serious matter, it's impossible to always have a monitor on it.
Even the reporter is a student, and the suspect of receiving a demon's curse is also a student?
It's highly likely to be dismissed as a simple prank or envy and jealousy towards a superior child.
Of course, Rezé had no intention of reporting it.
Doing so would harm Luna, who was by Zero's side.
'Anyway, the real reason I fear Zero isn't because of the demon's curse.'
Rezé cautiously gauged Luna's reaction.
Wondering if she would declare cutting ties with her for insulting her friend Zero.
It was then that Rezé was trembling.
"What? It was that? Well, don't worry too much about it. A demon's curse is nothing big."
While Luna was not angry, Rezé couldn't be entirely happy.
'As expected... Luna is completely unaware.'
That there is a more serious issue than a demon's curse with Zero.
Rezé fidgeted with her fingers.
Should she speak up? But she didn't want to be disliked by Luna.
Right, let's not say anything. Luna will realize it soon enough.
Just wait until she realizes it herself. That's all she needs to endure until then.
"Don't distance yourself too much. Despite appearances, he's a warm-hearted guy."
"Luna, how long will you... be with Zero?"
Until the end of the first year? Only until graduation from the academy?
Or at least until finding a job would be nice.
It might be a bit long, but with her support, it should be manageable.
"Huh? Of course, for a lifetime. That's what friends are for, right?"
A lifetime? To think of spending a lifetime with 'that kind of person'?
Finally, Rezé pulled the trigger.
The bullet she had hidden inside. Rezé revealed the real reason she feared Zero.
"You shouldn't be with that person!"
"Huh? Why?"
"I can tell. That person is going to cause a disaster! A huge one at that!"
Rezé's family, the Leria family.
An ordinary family from the barren lands of the south. The one peculiar thing is.
'They have a sensory ability to perceive impending danger.'
The Leria family members have an exceptional sense for survival.
It's solely on that sense they have survived until now.
Of course, their title is low because they prioritize safety too much, but the family has maintained for hundreds of years, proving that their sense is real.
From the first day she saw Zero, that unique sense warned of danger.
From the very moment she got involved with 'that thing.'
A life closer to death than to living.
'It's all over.'
Rezé clenched her eyes shut.
Criticizing Luna's cherished friend. She was sure to be hated.
Maybe Luna would leave her just like that.
But even knowing that, she gathered her courage.
Because she wanted to save Luna.
It was when Rezé was waiting for her sentence with her eyes closed.
"Ahh, so it was that. Well, that makes sense."
"...Yes?"
"I know too. That Zero is hiding something, that someday he'll be involved in a big incident..."
And.
"That his life could be in danger. I'm well aware of it."
"Then why...!"
"Because he's my friend."
Luna remembers.
During the fight with the demon Bineus, she practically did nothing.
Zero's sacrifice to save her.
She still clearly remembers him smiling faintly at her while holding the demon's pen.
All Luna could do then was scream.
The pain as if her entrails were being torn apart. She didn't want to experience that ever again.
"That's why I'm training."
She thought she had become stronger. But she hadn't.
During the ordeal with the demon's shard, the duel with Daike, and the time with Bineus.
She was weak. Always relying on Zero's help.
'How long has it been since I lost Parrot...'
She almost lost Zero as well.
Never again.
Luna didn't want to experience that again.
Watching Luna, Rezé thought.
'Luna is truly amazing.'
Knowing the danger ahead, knowing she has to walk towards death, yet she chooses to stay by her friend's side.
That's something she could never do.
"Ye, yes... Luna is amazing. I, I can't do that."
"Don't worry too much. You're in a state where you can leave anytime you want. And."
Luna continued with a bright smile.
"I'll save you too."
"Why, why would you save someone like me..."
"Huh? Because we're friends. Do I need a reason?"
Friends.
To risk one's life for such a simple word.
'Ah...'
Rezé finally realized. The one who hadn't regarded Luna as a friend until now was.
Herself.
Luna was ready to give everything for her, but she was only worried about being cut off.
A real friend wouldn't need to worry about such things.
"You can quit anytime you want. It won't change our relationship."
I see. Even if we part here, we'll still be friends.
Rezé was finally able to sort out her thoughts.
Zero is scary, and the training is so hard she wants to give up right away.
'Let's endure just a little longer.'
It's a way of repaying Luna for her trust in me, and it's what friends do.
"Looks like we've sorted everything out... Let's head back."
There was no need to ask where they needed to return to.
"He's definitely whining about me being gone by now, right? Well, let's forgive him this time. We should be generous. Right?"
Luna stretched in front of her, and Rezé became lost in thought watching her.
Could she do it too?
The place Luna says she must return to someday.
A friend and a place of rest.
"Let's go."
Luna smiled and reached out her hand, and Rezé cautiously extended her hand to grasp hers.
'I don't know how it'll turn out... but not being lovers might actually be better.'
Their clasped hands. Rezé resolved with all her might in that grip.
From the rogue's grip.
'I'll definitely save Luna.'
Thus, another small misunderstanding continued to build.
* * *
Screech- Squeak-.
Behind the crossed swords.
Lucia's eyes shone menacingly.
"Using One Flash all of a sudden. You really surprised me."
"Keke, then I've won the bet?"
The bet was that if Lucia got surprised, she would guide us.
Perhaps remembering that bet, Lucia murmured.
"...No way? I was just saying that. I wasn't surprised at all?"
Lucia shamelessly changed her story.
I sneakily opened the quest window to check if her words were true.
[Lucia de Lucid's Acknowledgement (0/1)]
[Surprising Lucia de Lucid (0/1)]
There was no change. It meant she really wasn't surprised.
'Was she expecting this?'
In a way, it was expected.
The remnants of One Flash left from the fight with the demon Bineus.
The only suspects were me and Luna, so it was naturally within the expected range.
'If only Luna had been a bit stronger, the suspicion might have fallen on her.'
Always our Luna causing trouble.
"Keke, changing your words like that, even though you're the hero of the empire. How disgraceful."
"...Isn't there something more important right now? Shall we see how long your arrogance lasts?"
Squeak- Squeak!
The crossed swords screamed out.
Yes, I know. Lucia is giving me a lot of leeway right now.
But.
'It's within my expectations too.'
I still had one more move left.
A trump card that would inevitably surprise Lucia.
--TL Notes--
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