23 - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
- Juniors Need Guidance from Seniors (8)
In the annex where students who were still First Manifestation Evolved Beings gathered.
The annex was more splendid than the main building, but it clearly showed signs of having endured many years.
Unlike the main building newly constructed for use as a military academy, this place was originally used as an academy for young nobles.
Despite the passage of time, the interior was still beautiful, but the atmosphere in the annex was noisy.
Unlike the tense upperclassmen, the freshmen who had just enrolled today were wondering, 'Is this what military academy life is always like?'
Rather than being gripped by tension or anxiety, they seemed confused about the situation and followed the instructions of their superiors in a daze.
Among them, still unable to shake off their naivety, Milia was particularly anxious, trying to steady her trembling arms.
'What should I do? A Second Manifestation so suddenly...'
If these children had been accurately informed about what was happening now, would they be able to remain so calm?
It's clear that only a very small number of people would be able to wait in such an orderly manner like this.
If things go wrong, in the worst case, the entire military academy could be turned into a wasteland. No one would be able to remain unshaken.
But this was not the time to worry about others.
The person who was most mentally shaken was none other than herself.
She placed her hand on her chest.
It felt like a sharp pain was rushing in due to her heart beating roughly.
Ignoring this, she clenched her hand, recalling the ominous magical power she had felt in the auditorium.
'Was it really the right choice to push someone who might die... like this on my own decision?'
The 'second' Liliop Ortiz she met was very different from before when she was just kind.
It seemed like she was worrying about me.
'I think I know what she was thinking.'
Milia closed her eyes tightly and felt distressed again.
She must have suffered from impulses similar to her own. They were the same in that they had seen the worst future.
However, Liliop and herself differed by just one point.
What she didn't do. What she herself had to do.
She didn't send herself to a place where she might die, but she ended up sending someone else.
Although she had resolved many times not to regret it, the guilt she had barely suppressed seemed to raise its head again.
'But I can't take direct action now. And...'
Senior will be able to do it.
It's worrying that I can't use the Garden of Oaths anymore, but I've prepared a lot to help Senior.
It will surely be different from before when she met a futile death.
It has to be.
Having thought that far, Milia suddenly came to her senses.
The inside of her lip that she had been chewing became ragged, and a strong metallic smell spread.
The delayed stinging pain made her dulled thoughts sharpen.
Then, a rough wave of guilt towards the person she had driven into a corner hit her, thinking 'Is this really okay?'
Am I being too restless?
"You, you're shaking too much."
Milia was startled more than usual at someone's tapping touch.
After turning around, she almost screamed.
"...Nothing bad will happen, so try to calm down. Don't make others nervous by acting like that."
A classmate who was a head taller than her was standing there.
She looked up at the face of the person who had spoken to her and opened her eyes wide.
It was because, of all the many students, the most uncomfortable and difficult person to deal with had spoken to her.
"...Really, nothing bad will happen."
Despite being the one to speak first, he was hiding his hands that were even more tense than hers.
"...What, why are you looking at me like that?"
The person who had collapsed after losing his only family.
In her memories, it was Hiakin Ortiz, who always looked at her with eyes of disgust as if she were a bug.
"I'm, I'm sorry."
Milia, who had blurted out those words unconsciously, quickly added more to take them back.
"You just looked like someone I've seen before..."
Immediately after answering like that, she regretted it.
This, this makes me look like I'm trying to pull some strange trick.
Moreover, it was as good as giving an opportunity for the conversation to continue unnecessarily.
And of all people, it was her who had dragged Senior into this. To this person who was Senior's younger brother.
It's probably not the case, but if things go wrong...
She was afraid of how much this person would come to hate her.
Even more so because she had already experienced Hiakin's hatred.
Although it wasn't directed at her, but at Akteon Brondearne.
She was afraid of seeing someone who had already suffered once fall off a cliff again.
She awkwardly changed the subject, knowing she would appear awkward.
"I hope no one gets hurt."
After saying it thoughtlessly, she froze, realizing it sounded like she was talking to herself, but Hiakin didn't seem to notice.
He simply nodded his head down to show agreement without saying a word.
The crystallizing magical power rippled like a mirage and slowly solidified.
Akteon was ready to attack me at any moment.
Just before my vision was cut off, he had clearly been unconscious, but as soon as I retreated due to an instinctive sense of pressure, he staggered to his feet.
Even though I was just watching Akteon, my back was damp with cold sweat.
He doesn't seem to be back to normal, does he?
There's no way he could have come to his senses on his own when I haven't even guided him yet. There's no way such a hopeful development could happen.
While I was chuckling wryly, Akteon's hand that was leaning against the wall slowly curled.
As his fist clenched, blue veins popping on the back of his hand as if scratching the wall, an alarm went off in my head.
If I hadn't hesitated, I might not have tripped over something.
As I was trying to widen the distance, I almost fell after stepping on something wrong.
I thought my heart was going to drop.
Akteon didn't seem to notice me almost falling flat on my face.
However, I couldn't just be happy that I hadn't drawn his attention.
I had discovered a lump that I hadn't seen before, hidden by the seats.
"This is..."
I flinched and stepped back to look again, and it wasn't just a lump.
"Professor Hesion..."
It was the professor who had entered before us to try to guide Akteon.
If I'm not careful, I could end up the same way. A chill ran down my spine.
To avoid such a fate, what should I do?
I kept asking myself questions in succession to avoid dying here. What I need to do is.
'Get a grip! You need to bring that guy back to normal!'
As I got closer, I understood why Akteon was in such a state.
Transcendent Beings can absorb and shape unfiltered natural magical power according to their will, but they can't maintain such a state 24 hours a day.
This is not only due to physical fatigue, but also because the unfiltered magical power has a huge impact on the human mind during the process of manipulating it.
This is also the reason why Akteon is currently unable to come to his senses properly.
In order to protect his mind, which has reached its limit due to the manipulation of magical power, he has closed off his consciousness to block other external stimuli.
So what I need to do is.
'...Stabilize his heart and circuits that draw in magical power so that he can control the manipulation of magical power.'
Obviously, it's guiding.
Remembering the purpose for which I came in here, I took off my gloves.
It sounds so easy when put into words, but in reality, I can't hope to fully stabilize him.
But at least making him stop absorbing external magical power should be enough to make him come to his senses.
The problem is whether that guy will meekly accept my touch.
"......"
Silver-gray irises like glass beads were revealed through his disheveled bangs.
I hadn't noticed before, but now that I looked closely, they resembled the eyes of a gloomy beast.
One that's hostile to humans, at that.
Ironically, as I faced the color that resembled his magical power, I dropped the gloves I had taken off onto the floor.
As expected, he didn't seem to have any intention of complying willingly, as a blue light resembling his gaze flashed.
The shaped magical power resembled irregularly shattered glass shards. As if it could slice me to pieces at any moment.
As soon as I took my first step, a sharp force grazed my ear.
"You'll regret this..."
My earlobe became wet, but I didn't bother to check.
Even without looking, it's probably torn and bleeding profusely.
Rather than worrying about such trivial things, what's important is how to approach that guy.
'Should I run?'
No, that's reckless.
It will only increase his wariness, and if I'm not careful, my limbs might be severed in an instant.
I'd just die with a squeak.
'Then I should approach as slowly as possible.'
It would be good if his attention could be diverted somehow, but such an opportunity probably won't come easily.
Let's approach carefully.
...If something goes wrong, that's when I'll make a desperate rush.
As I swallowed dry saliva, my dry mouth and throat stuck together as if they would tear.
Not averting my eyes from his, I took another step forward.
Crunch.
It wasn't easy even after just two steps.
I tried to take another consecutive step towards him, but.
"...Ha."
I stopped before I could even move my body.
A crystallized magical power formation appeared right in front of my face, aiming at my neck.
...This isn't easy. Damn, if I make it out alive, you'll see.
Frozen in place, I just rolled my eyes away from the crystal.
My hands went up on their own.
I don't think that guy will understand that I'm surrendering, but let's try.
"...Akteon. If you can hear me, show some kind of reaction."
He remained motionless even when I requested negotiation.
The fact that he's not attacking first is similar to the case of the senior I blew away earlier.
A bit of reason left in him telling me not to come closer.
Blink.
Blink.
Meanwhile, the magic stones outside continued to flicker intermittently.
The interior brightened and darkened repeatedly according to that light.
...I really don't know what to do.
With the continued standoff, I too began to wish I could just faint. Wouldn't that allow me to die painlessly even if I do die...
A bitter smile involuntarily appeared.
Then suddenly, my mind snapped to attention.
'...It's slowing down.'
The interval between the magic stones' flickers was getting longer and longer.
As if they were about to turn off soon.
The moment that thought crossed my mind.
Click.
The lights went out.
There was no more light coming back on.
In that instant, without anyone taking the lead.
Crack! Crackle!
A sound like thin glass cracking was heard.
It would have been chilling even in a normal situation, but now it felt especially eerie.
And for good reason.
This was a kind of warning that I might die soon.
'No, it's not just a warning. At this rate, I'm definitely destined to die.'
But I didn't stop my feet from rushing towards him.
The death of an extra like me in the original story, an ambiguous B-grade death, would probably just pass by as an unfortunate event for the start of the original story.
Even so, I reached out my hand.
At the same time, the control stone on my wrist that detected the Transcendent Being's magical power shattered mercilessly.
As I grabbed him, sharp magical power pierced my shoulder.
Rather than pain, only an urgent feeling took precedence.
"Akteon!"
Even though he probably couldn't hear me properly, I cried out while grabbing his collar where I could feel a strong pulse.
"You... If you really kill me, I won't let you off. If I die, Hiakin will be alone. He'll resent you, and you'll become even more broken than you are now while receiving that hatred."
So realize that I'm here in front of you right now.
The guiding magical power that can only penetrate a Transcendent Being's body.
Gritting my teeth, as I made contact with his chaotic magical power, I could immediately feel the unstable, tangled flow, even though this was just the beginning.
At the same time, I could clearly see his expression contorting roughly.
He was clearly trying to shake me off.
But I couldn't back down because of that.
I forcibly entered the guiding state while tightening my grip on his collar with both hands.
As my senses were cut off and a new sense awakened, I could clearly see the magical power all around that was usually invisible.
Even the magical power inside Akteon that he couldn't control.
The terrifying magical power that seemed like it would tear me to shreds at any moment showed no signs of subsiding.
On the contrary, it fluctuated even more ominously, baring its teeth at me as if a wave as big as a house was about to crash down.
It feels like I'm holding a time bomb with my whole body.
The moment I let go, it would probably swallow this entire school.
With the magical power refusing to stabilize, I now had only one choice left.
I pulled his familiar face with all my might and said.
For something I might greatly regret later.
"If you talk about first kisses or whatever and try to make me take responsibility later, I won't let you off easy."
Finally, as I lowered my head, our rough lips met.
