Come spring (5)
Since it is a building that was recently renovated, there is no way the Ofilis Building can be affected by a snow storm.
The management staff were all veterans, and most of the students living there were highly talented, so the atmosphere was more peaceful than that of Dex Hall or Lorail Hall.
Heating measures are fully prepared, and most of the necessary items are provided by the maids. Therefore, the inside of Ofilis Hall felt like it was in a period of long rest rather than preparing for a natural disaster.
There are times when you feel eerie when crossing the hallway in the soft darkness typical of winter, but the soft lights in the various halls and student facilities inside Ofilis Hall give you a cozy feeling.
The student hall in the middle of each floor seems to be prepared as a free space mainly for students living in Ofilis Building. Of course, the space feels a bit spacious compared to its intended use.
Antique wooden pillars along the walls, and tables neatly placed throughout the hall. Desserts and drinks always stocked by maids were lined up between the pillars, and large wooden round tables were lined up near the large fireplace in the center.
Most students spend time in their rooms, but it is still boring to stay in the room.
Therefore, the student facilities inside Ofilis Hall were more crowded than usual.
There were also tables where students could chat with each other, eat dessert, or have light reading sessions. Some students played chess, while others practiced sensitivity by lightly implementing various elemental magic.
“You want to duel?”
It hasn’t been long since Ziggs returned home with Elka.
Since I wanted to arrive before the snow storm, I was a bit tired from the hard work I had to do, so I planned to recover steadily from now on.
Ziggs, who was leaning diagonally at a table in the student hall and reading alchemy books, smiled curiously at the cheeky remark of a junior who came to greet him.
“Yes, Senior Ziggs.”
Ziggs folded the corner of the book he was reading and placed it on the table.
The junior who came was Wade Calamore. He was the valedictorian of the entire freshman class.
White hair and light gray eyes. The boy, who was so white that I almost thought he was an albino, greeted me with such confidence.
And then the request for a sparring match was made, saying, “I will do everything.”
“Of course not right now. Isn’t Mr. Ziggs famous as a strong man not only in the Ministry of Magic but also in the entire academy? “I’m still a freshman, so I’m not the type of person to confidently challenge to a sparring match.”
“I don’t care about that. “It’s not that difficult to cross swords with each other if you want.”
Ziggs sat with his chin resting and answered indifferently.
“But why?”
“Of course, as a junior, I want to ask my senior for guidance.”
“That superficial reason is enough.”
When Ziggs said that, Wade smiled and nodded.
“Because I want to prove my worth. “I feel like I haven’t been able to properly demonstrate my strength within the academy, so I’m looking for seniors who are known to be strong and applying for sparring.”
“Ho… “Are you saying something like that after earning the top spot in your grade?”
“I really want to spar with senior Ziggs, but it seems like he is exhausted from the journey, and more than anything, there is an order to everything, so it would be too hasty to spar with senior Ziggs.”
Wade showed his characteristic refreshing smile, but Ziggs felt that his inner thoughts were not as pure as his appearance.
Ziggs felt very proud of Tanya, who declared that she would take the position of student council president, and Wade, who said that he would beat all the seniors in a duel, and all of the juniors who showed full of spirit.
“Among the second-year seniors, I will first defeat senior Clevius, who is also the head of the combat department, and senior Elvira of the pension department, and then send a challenge to senior Ziggs.”
“I’m not the head of the Ministry of Magic?”
“Isn’t the second-year senior at the Ministry of Magic the one that students of all grades ignore?”
Wade pulled out a chair, sat down, and asked the maid managing the hall to make him a cup of tea.
Clearly, it has become a practice of sorts for Lucy Mayril to put rankings aside, whether it’s calculating grades or sparring.
“If you think about that, I believe that Ziggs is actually the top second year student at the Ministry of Magic at this point.”
“Well, that’s fine. I don’t want to win mentally like that. “It is true that Lucy is stronger than me, so I have no intention of leaving it out of the discussion.”
“We have all heard of humble character, but the facts are facts. “If I can defeat Ziggs, I will at least be able to prove that I am at a higher level than the sophomores.”
Do you know what you are talking about? Declaring that you will defeat the person in front of them may be seen as an act of starting a fight, depending on the situation.
However, Ziggs is not the type of person to be offended by such things. Wade probably knew that too.
“It’s hard to say whether I can win against Mr. Ziggs or not… ”
“That sounds like you can easily beat the rest of the 2nd year seniors?”
Wade simply responded with a smile.
“What are you going to do after you defeat me?”
“Then I should branch out and become a third-year senior. Senior Yenika, the top student in all 3rd grade classes, and Senior Drake, the top student in the combat department. And for me personally… “I also want to compete with senior Ed, who is well-known among our first-year students at the Ministry of Magic.”
“It’s good to be motivated, but you have to be careful not to let that confidence spread into arrogance.”
It is not a word that conveys a particularly arrogant feeling. Ziggs was just telling the facts as they are.
Wade responded skillfully by saying thank you for the advice, but didn’t seem to be listening at all.
“First of all, I decided to schedule a sparring match with senior Clevius. Since it was snow storm season and we had to stay in the dormitory, it seemed like we had some time to spare. “The sparring venue can be used in the underground auditorium of Ofilis Hall.”
A week is too long to spend indoors. Therefore, Ofilis Hall has prepared several measures to save time.
One of them is student sparring.
“However, I am a bit disappointed that Senior Clevius seems to be avoiding sparring with me.”
After saying that, Wade smiled happily.
It was obvious even without looking. There is no way Clevius, who is negative and gloomy in everything, would accept a sparring request from a freshman who is so energetic and confident.
Looking at Wade, he seems to be overflowing with motivation to fight and make the sparring happen somehow. He will try to win over Clevius somehow, either through appeasement or by being disgusting.
“The reason I’m greeting you like this today is to give you advance notice of the next time I apply for a sparring match.”
“I am grateful for your consideration, but it is a useless consideration.”
Ziggs laughed again, picked up the alchemy book he had closed, and skimmed through it.
“After defeating me, my third-year senior… For example, they even look at senior Yenika and senior Ed… “I don’t think that will work.”
“I understand. “I also don’t think I can defeat Ziggs that easily.”
“No, that’s not what it sounds like. Looking at the rumors, confidence, and achievements, it seems like you are a very capable person, but… “I think I need to develop my ability to judge my opponent a little more.”
Ziggs spoke casually as he turned the pages of a book.
“I don’t think you know anything, but you end up at the Clevius Line.”
“… ”
“Let alone senior Yenika or senior Ed, you don’t even come to my line.”
Clevius has always been a gloomy, timid, and pitiful person. He was already rumored. He was said to be complaining that he could not figure out how he was the head of the combat department.
Wade tried to show his displeasure by shaking his eyes slightly at Ziggs’ words that concluded victory or defeat, but Ziggs confirmed without any hesitation.
“If you want to beat me, first develop a sense of reality.”
*
A monster lives in the northern forest.
Such rumors were already circulating among students who had no background knowledge about Ed’s wild life.
Even if you search the entire campus, there are less than a dozen students who know about Ed’s life, so it is understandable that such strange rumors are going around.
The rumor, which is represented by the image of a man carrying a lot of bleeding corpses of wild animals and smiling eeriely, is all horrifying when you look at the eyewitness information alone.
Of course, it was a very strange feeling for Belle, who knew the truth.
-Wheeeeeeeeee!
“Ugh… ”
A northern forest during a snow storm. The dense coniferous trees blocked the snowfall, so visibility was clear, but the strong wind was clearly too much for Belle’s slender body to withstand.
At least enough measures were taken to protect against the cold. She wore several layers of thin clothing, a maid’s uniform over it, and a thick cape.
After using some light fire-type magic to keep warm, I was able to endure more than I thought.
The primary destination was set. This is Ed’s cabin.
If Saint Clarisse heads to the northern forest, Ed is the only person who would encounter her.
‘footprint… !’
Should I say this is good news? Freshly taken footprints are found along the snowy road in the northern forest. The direction also somewhat matches Ed’s cabin.
Students who don’t know much about Ed say that he seems like a cold, cold person who can’t communicate well, but… I know Bell because I have already talked to him. Surprisingly, he is a person with quite common sense, can communicate well, and is also considerate, although it may not seem like it.
It would be much better to run into Ed than to run into someone you don’t know and end up in a bad situation.
That’s right, he’s a man who faithfully performs his duties even though prominent women like Yenika, Lortel, and Lucy show no caution and just flirt with him. At least he is a trustworthy human being. It’s safe to say that he doesn’t have any negative intentions toward Clarisse, but he doesn’t have any sinister thoughts.
Even if he encounters Clarisse, he will definitely try to send her back to Ofilis Hall rather than harboring any ill will towards her.
If there is a problem, it would be that the human relationships around Ed become unnecessarily complicated. Belle was already having enough headaches.
In the distance, Ed’s cabin came into view. It took longer than expected due to the driving snow storm.
‘Master Ed… ‘You probably don’t know Miss Kylie’s true identity.’
Kylie’s identity is Clarice, a saint who receives the protection of saints.
Even if Ed doesn’t know her true identity, he is probably treating Clarice kindly…
With that confidence, Belle opened the cabin door.
-Cow!
“… ”
As I opened the stiff door and entered, Ed and Clarice came into view.
“Oh, Mr. Bell. As expected, Mr. Bell is here.”
Ed is furious and is bandaging his wound.
And then I saw Clarice sitting in the corner of the cabin, shivering and on her knees, holding a wooden chair with her two slender hands.
Belle’s head was already starting to hurt.
*
The two women were shaking, but the reasons were different.
One of them was trembling because his arm supporting the chair was so numb, and the other was terrified at the fact that a saint who was under the saint’s protection was being punished.
But I can’t tell Ed about Kylie’s identity… Belle sat down at the table and took the tea he handed her with difficulty.
“that that… Master Ed.”
As the task of cleaning up the mess inside the cabin was roughly completed, Ed looked at Belle and asked why she was calling.
“that… “I listened carefully to your explanation of the situation, but now if you don’t take Miss Kylie back soon, the snow storm will get stronger and you’ll be in trouble.”
Hearing those words, Ed thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Certainly, it would not be very desirable for the maid to empty the Ofilis tube for a long period of time.”
“Well, that’s true too, but… ”
Belle, who was sweating profusely as she glanced at Clarice, thought that she had to be taken away first.
‘… ‘
Ed pulled out a wooden chair and sat down in front of Clarice, who was standing there.
It’s quite pitiful to see him holding a chair upright, trembling with tears in his eyes.
Ed was lost in thought for a moment.
He must have been shocked when Clarice first came out of the cabin.
However, once I regained my composure and organized my thoughts, I was able to easily infer the reason why this young saint had come all the way here.
Most likely, that small accident during the class placement test was the cause.
During the battle with Merilda, she dropped her brooch, and she quickly covered up her mistake… When Clarice saw that scene, she seemed to think that Ed was guessing her identity.
Certainly, because the situation was so sudden, Ed’s response was not smooth. Still, there was no other way to deal with it more amicably.
Kylie’s identity is one of the key twists that is revealed only in the second half of the third act.
Kylie’s identity has already become known to the world, and if she finds herself in a situation where her every move has to be monitored under the protection of the Knights Templar, it becomes impossible to know what will happen in the future.
As Ed cleaned up the cabin, he also organized his thoughts.
Kylie thinks Ed knows her identity. Unless that thought changes, Kylie will continue to be in anxiety. There is no way he can get rid of those doubts once he does.
Therefore, Ed chose to break through in reverse.
“I am sorry for my rude behavior, saintess. The chair… “Just put it down.”
At those words, Belle and Clarisse trembled at the same time.
Clarice’s pupils widened in an instant, and Belle checked again, her voice shaking in an uncharacteristic way.
“Oh, did you know… ?”
“I am also a baptized believer of the Telos Church. “If you see an illusion spell released from that close, you usually recognize it right away.”
“I really… ?”
Actually, this is an ambiguous part.
At the time of the placement test, Kylie’s hallucination magic had not completely dissipated, and even if she had recognized it, it would be difficult to deal with it so naturally by giving her the brooch.
Of course, it is an ambiguous part, so there will be nothing to say if you say that you handled it with appropriate improvisation and agility.
Otherwise, it makes no sense that Ed could see through Kylie’s identity.
“Well, then… ”
“I told you that you can put the chair down for now.”
“ah… yes… ”
A rough outline of the course of action has been completed.
Anyway, Ed didn’t want to have anything more to do with Saint Clarice.
So, the primary task was to calmly admit that we were discovering your true identity and eliminate any factors that would make the saint anxious.
After that, all you have to do is convince Edgar that he will not reveal the saint’s identity anywhere.
“As a believer in the Church of Telos, I am sorry for doing such a subversive act against a saint whom I have great respect for. However, I had a duty to inform the saint of the horrors of her freedom.”
Dark cabin. A rushing draft. The sound of the wind occasionally hitting the ceiling.
The environment was so poor that it was completely different from the private bedroom of the saint in Seonghwangdo or the private room of Ofilis Hall.
When you look up and look at Ed sitting on the chair, the background is very scary.
The blood-stained cogs of hunting traps, hacksaws, wild boar carcasses and intestines drying on hooks, and an interior filled with the heavy smell of blood.
Of course, most of them were forced to be brought indoors due to the storm, but Clarisse was not in a position to question such things.
However, the sight of Ed sitting with his hands clasped and his back bowed as he calmly continued his story… There was so much sense of disparity.
The first sight of Ed that Clarice sees is him guarding the altar at the top of Mt.
He was holding a dagger in one hand and gathering magical energy with the other, looking down at the new students.
That scene only seemed like a wall or an ordeal to overcome, rather than a human being on the same level… Edra has never thought about the burden that humans themselves carry.
“I see you hiding your identity and casually hanging out with a bachelor… The saint seems to have a strange romance with the value of freedom. Some admit it. That’s definitely… “It must be something valuable.”
“Well, that’s… ”
“I am also in a position to live freely in this forest. “I know very well how frustrating and difficult life is in bondage.”
Scenes contained in the song sung by romanticist Adele.
It is not at all strange to embrace romance in a world shining with all natural colors and filled with the scent of flowers.
However, the path to freedom is not always filled with the scent of flowers.
Rather, like the fishy smell of wild boar blood in this cabin… There are many times when I feel nauseous due to the thick pressure pressing down on my lungs.
“What kind of life am I living… Can you guess?”
A senior who is two grades older. It’s a feeling that’s hard to summarize simply by saying it’s strong and scary.
Even the bleeding wound was not considered a big deal, and in the cool corner of the cabin… Looking down at the girl sitting among the horrible corpses… It is clearly felt that the very texture of the life lived is different.
Believers of the Telos Church always kneel in reverence and respect when they see Clarice. The very idea of punishing and getting angry at a saint is impossible.
Nevertheless, the boy was looking down at the saint with cold eyes.
We know the meaning and value of faith, but what comes before that is survival itself. At least this boy survived in that environment.
This man’s life… Rather than ‘living’, it is ‘surviving’. Although that small difference in tone may not seem like a big deal, the reality is enormous.
There is light and darkness in everything. Freedom is no different.
If we say that Adele is a bard who praises the beauty of freedom.
This man is probably the one who represents the heaviness and darkness of freedom more clearly than anyone else.
“It would be best for you to leave now and never come near the cabin again. Even with the protection of the Holy Law, it is impossible to avoid death by falling, death due to shipwreck, or starvation.”
Ed said that and bowed his head calmly.
“I am sorry for being harsh to you. Unfortunately, it seems that there is no one around the saint who can talk about this, so I skipped the topic.”
Then he stood up and suddenly came to a conclusion.
“Then please go back now.”
From Clarisse’s perspective, there wasn’t even a chance to reply.
Clarice couldn’t even speak to Ed, who just turned around.
*
I had to quickly head to Ofilis Hall before the snow storm got stronger. If you follow Bell’s guidance, you will be able to return quickly.
If you return to Ofilis Hall, you will be able to warm up while eating delicious soup in a warm room.
You can sit in a well-appointed room and read a book in a peaceful mood, like talking about a snow storm in a distant country.
If you sit still in the Ofilis Pavilion, this fierce snow storm becomes a ‘story outside the window.’
As she left the camp holding Belle’s hand, Clarice had a hard time looking back.
After seeing the two leaving the camp, Ed went back into the cabin with the hatchet on his shoulder.
It will still be cool inside the hut, and the bloody smell will be thick. The weight of the chased reality will once again weigh on your shoulders. That scene is engraved in Clarisse’s mind and will not disappear.
The boy does not feel any burden from the weight. It is simply the weight of life that must be endured in order to survive.
Clarisse had read about it in a book. It is said that even beautiful swans continue their ugly kicks beneath the surface. A life of freedom is not much different from that.
Just looking at him sitting on top of the altar, blocking out new students and insensibly wielding magic, you would never imagine that there was something like that behind him.
“Mr. Bell.”
“Yes, Clarice.”
“I’m sorry for making you walk so far because of me..”
“I’m just doing my job. “Please don’t pay too much attention to it.”
Holding Belle’s hand and going through the snowstorm, Clarice looked back towards the cabin several times.
Anyway, when I came to Sylvania, it was the first time I met a senior I could respect.
At least in the capital… There is absolutely no chance of meeting someone like that.
“… ”
Of course, Belle, who had no way of knowing the true meaning, was only shedding cold sweat as she looked at Clarice, who kept looking at Ed, who she had left behind.
‘no way? is not it? Probably not… ? Am I right? Oh… something ambiguous… ‘
Belle was just upset.
*
A snow storm rages, and winter leaves little by little. It goes without saying, but each person’s winter takes a different form.
Some people study magic engineering in the underground library, while others chat with spirits at the window of the Dex Building.
There is a girl who sits in the private bedroom of the Ofilis Building and closes the accounts of the business, while there is also a girl who is locked in her room and complains while being tormented by the maids.
An academic assistant who takes time out during the vacation to handle paperwork, a swordsman who was a failed student who diligently practices swordsmanship, and a guardian of the northern grasslands who sits in the student hall and reads alchemy books. A cowardly swordsman who locks himself in his room and doesn’t come out. Everyone was spending their winter in their own way.
And the same goes for the platinum-blonde girl who was sitting quietly in the royal family’s private bedroom and looking up at the window.
Looking at the falling snow, Princess Fenia lowered her sad gaze and made a small decision.
Spring comes and a new semester begins, a time when many things change.
The student council president election was just around the corner.
In fact, Fenia Elias Cloel is trusted by many of the university’s supporters and is considered a strong candidate for the student council president.
“As expected, I… . Why don’t you run for office… ”
From Ed Rothtaylor’s perspective, it was a single word that collapsed the entire premise of the story and was like the beginning of all disasters.
