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Chapter 119: Interlude – Private Conversation (1)

Had this been an ordinary educational institution, the semester would have ended immediately after the final exams, marking the beginning of vacation.

But at Reynald Hero School, there was a unique two-week period called the "final evaluation period."

Simply put, while the regular course had finished, students were expected to stay quietly at school and not go home or take vacations until the final evaluation results were announced.

The reason for this rather inefficient system was simple.

‘Well, it’s not like the evaluations have fixed answers.’

While party performance scores could be assessed based on the results alone, it took a long time to determine who performed better in terms of individual contribution to the party, which could grant extra points.

It wasn\'t just a matter of time either.

Sometimes candidates had to be called in during the evaluation to give additional explanations about the situation, which is why the school had to keep them on campus.

‘Thanks to that, this is the freest time of the semester.’

The final exams were over, there were no classes, and during this final evaluation period, the students spent most of their time gathering in groups, planning what they would do over the break.

‘As for me, I’m actually glad I can focus on training in peace.’

Today, as usual, I woke up at 4 a.m., finished my mana training and basic physical exercises, and headed to Yuren\'s personal training ground.

Normally, I would’ve warmed up with a sparring match against Yuren.

“…Yuren?”

"......"

Yuren turned his head sharply, as if he couldn’t see me.

His tightly shut lips and the cold, distant look in his eyes were radiating an aura that clearly said, "I\'m angry."

"I said I was sorry for not telling you in advance."

I approached him with an awkward smile, and Yuren narrowed his eyes as he turned to face me.

“…I told you everything without hiding anything, Dale.”

Yuren spoke with a sulky expression.

"Dale, you hid the blessing from me. You only told Iris. You always do reckless things alone and only tell Iris. You tell the party to rely on each other, but when it’s dangerous, you don’t rely on anyone. You told only Iris."

"......"

Three out of the six reasons he\'s angry seem to be the same thing.

"Anyway! If you have a blessing like that, you should have told me beforehand!"

I let out a bitter smile as I looked at Yuren, who shouted with his cheeks puffed up in frustration.

"I\'m sorry."

"…Are you really sorry?"

"Yeah."

"So now there’s nothing you’re hiding from me?"

"Well…."

I trailed off, looking troubled, and Yuren\'s expression hardened.

I sighed and continued.

"I can’t tell you everything right now, but I promise that one day I’ll tell you everything."

“…Before you tell Iris.”

"Huh?"

"When the time comes, tell me before you tell Iris."

"……."

I couldn\'t help but chuckle at Yuren’s playful glance as he folded his arms.

"Alright."

"Hmph, good. Then I’ll forgive you for this time."

Yuren awkwardly cleared his throat, covering his mouth with his hand as if to hide the grin creeping up his face.

“Ahem. But, in return for forgiving you, can you do me one favor?”

"What favor?"

"Wait here for a moment."

Yuren hurriedly went into the locker room.

I tilted my head, waiting for him, and soon the locker room door opened cautiously.

And out came…

“…Yurina?”

"Ugh... It feels so weird with nothing between my legs."

Yurina appeared, wearing an off-shoulder blouse and a flowing skirt.

"That outfit…."

"Yeah, it’s the one we saw when we went to Valhalla City together."

I knew I recognized it—it was the one Yurina had been staring at blankly in the women’s clothing section back then.

"It’s been trending among the female candidates lately, so I thought I’d try it on… How does it look?"

Yurina twirled slightly, lifting the hem of her skirt as she turned towards me.

Her fair shoulders peeking out above the blouse, her slightly exposed back, the bright-colored skirt, and the low-heeled shoes—everything about her look radiated charm.

Even in ordinary training clothes, she had always looked stunning, but now with these clothes, I could feel my breath catch in my throat, sending a shock through my body.

"It suits you well."

I tried to hide my inner turmoil as much as possible and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Hehe. Really?"

"Yeah."

"Thank goodness."

Yurina smiled bashfully, placing her hand over her chest.

My heart pounded as I felt the overwhelming charm that I had never experienced when Yuren was present.

"So, what’s the favor you wanted to ask?"

I stammered as I glanced away to avoid her gaze, and Yurina moved closer to me.

"Shall we sit for a moment?"

Yurina gently took my hand and led me to a chair in the corner of the training hall.

We sat close enough that our shoulders almost touched.

Yurina looked up at the ceiling with a soft smile on her face.

"It feels like that day, doesn’t it?"

"……."

The day Yurina first revealed her true identity to me.

Back then, she had pretended not to know me, hiding her real self.

"It was obvious from the start."

That kind of clumsy act couldn\'t fool me after all the time I had spent with “Yuren.”

"…Hmm?"

Now that I think about it.

"Didn’t you also hide your identity from me back then, Yurina?"

"Huh?"

"You hid who you were from me, so why…."

"Ah, no! That’s different!"

"How is it different?"

Isn\'t it the same, in the sense that she also kept the truth hidden?

"Uh… Well, I mean…."

Yurina, flustered, stumbled over her words before clenching her fists and shouting.

"At least I was the first to get caught by you!"

"……."

That doesn\'t really seem like an important distinction.

"Anyway! No changing the subject all of a sudden!"

As soon as the conversation took a turn that wasn’t to her liking, Yurina crossed her arms in an “X” and puffed out her cheeks.

I chuckled at her stubbornness and nodded.

"Alright, alright. So, what’s this favor you’re asking for?"

"My favor is..."

Yurina suddenly leaned her head toward me.

"Can you... pat my head?"

"...Pat your head?"

"Yeah."

Yurina shyly averted her gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Uh, is that not okay?"

"No, well... it\'s not like I can\'t."

Now that I think about it, I’d heard a similar request from her before.

‘Does she like having her head patted?’

It was something I never saw in her previous life.

Or rather, something she must have hidden.

The true face concealed behind the facade of "Yuren," the Sun.

‘After all, a person’s true face isn’t always something ugly.’

I shook away the image of Seto that had popped into my mind and slowly reached out to pat her head.

"Mmm."

Her soft silver hair slipped through my fingers.

As I gently moved my hand down, it felt like I was stroking fine silk, a glossy sheen evident.

"Like this?"

"Y-Yeah."

Yurina closed her eyes as if savoring the sensation of my hand.

I continued patting her head until she seemed satisfied.

"Fuu~."

"Shall I stop now?"

"J-Just a bit more."

Yurina slightly opened her eyes, grabbing onto my sleeve as I was about to pull away.

"Just a little more... please."

"......"

This feels like cheating.

Sigh.

Barely controlling my thumping heart, I reluctantly took my hand off her head.

"...Ah."

Yurina sighed in disappointment, her eyes following my retreating hand.

"That’s enough for today."

"Tch."

"I’ll do it again next time."

"Mm... promise?"

Yurina smiled sweetly.

Avoiding her gaze, I awkwardly cleared my throat.

"By the way, you mentioned the Archbishop of Madness, right? The one who attacked us, that little brat."

"Oh, yeah."

"...They said they’re going to kill Dale."

Yurina’s eyes flashed with fury, her teeth grinding in anger.

Suddenly, a suffocating surge of immense mana poured out from her, shaking the entire training ground as if an earthquake had struck.

"That brat... I won’t let them get away with it."

Yurina’s body began to glow in silver light.

It was a characteristic that appeared when she used the "Blessing of the Moonlight."

‘What in the world?’

I widened my eyes at the mana radiating from Yurina.

I’d always known her mana capacity was immense, but now it was growing to a level that even words like “immense” seemed inadequate.

‘It’s not like she just chugged down a bunch of mana potions… what’s going on?’

As I stood there, mouth agape at the sudden and inexplicable surge in her magic, I realized I still hadn’t asked her about the condition under which her "Blessing of the Moonlight" activated.

"Come to think of it, what’s the condition for activating that Blessing of the Moonlight?"

If it’s not some magical potion, the only explanation for this sudden increase in power would be a blessing.

"That’s..."

For a moment, Yurina flinched, her shoulders trembling as she trailed off.

She let out a small cough before quickly turning her head and standing up.

"It’s a secret."

"Hey, didn’t you say you weren’t hiding anything from me earlier?"

"Well, Dale, you still have things you’re hiding from me too, don’t you? I should be allowed at least one secret."

Yurina flashed me a mischievous smile, shrugging her shoulders.

"I’ll be quick and change clothes, then let’s start training again. Lately, I’ve been focusing on controlling mana more finely… and you’re good at that, right?"

"Well, that’s the one thing I’m confident about."

In my previous life, the only thing I surpassed Yuren in was fine-tuning magic.

"Is it because of the feedback you got from Professor Elisha?"

"Yeah. That’s part of it… But honestly, my mana has been increasing so much lately that it’s hard to control it."

"......"

"Uh, why are you giving me that scary look?"

This must be what it feels like when someone close to you says, “Ah, I’ve just got too much money lately… how should I spend it?” and asks for advice.

Even though I knew she didn’t mean any harm, I couldn’t help but feel an urge to lightly smack Yurina on the head.

"Sigh. Never mind."

I shook my head and stood up.

"Alright, I’ll push you hard in training, so hurry and change your clothes..."

Beep beep-

Just as I was about to continue the training session with Yurina, a clear bell sound echoed, and the Hero Watch on my wrist lit up.

I checked the message on the Hero Watch and let out a small, bitter smile.

"Sorry. Training will have to wait."

"Why? Who’s contacting you?"

"Professor Elisha."

"...Why would Professor Elisha call for you? It’s the end-of-term evaluation period, and all the professors are super busy."

"Well…"

I let out a quiet sigh and turned toward the entrance of the training ground.

"It’s a personal meeting."

There was still unfinished business between me and Professor Elisha.

Something I hadn’t told anyone yet.