Chapter 29


    Midnight.


    Danyas dorm.


    Her room appeared quite spacious, but the small bed was to me.


    A small but soft bed.


    Danyas eyes, wrapped up like a burrito in her nkets, were darting around restlessly.


    Many things from thebat training passed through her mind.


    Soldiers with bomb head skulls.


    Pierced dungeons.


    The ckening of students.


    There were indeed many events.


    But what she couldnt forget in her mind, rather than those significant events, was Ian ckangers expression.


    Lina, surrounded by professors, receiving praise.


    Ians eyes watching that scene, they were like as if they contained the endless depths of a dark, unfathomable water, deep and dark, like an endless sea.


    What could he have been thinking


    Even after tossing and turning in bed several times, she couldnt guess why Ian had that expression.


    But she had a vague feeling.


    Did Lina really attack Ian?


    The first mes shot at Ian.


    Wasnt it intentional, not a mistake? she thought.


    It was purely spection because she hadnt seen it herself. And she was afraid of turning Lina, who was loved by everyone, into an enemy.


    I should tell him what I saw, right?


    It was the right thing to do.


    If Danya trusted Ian, that is.


    I trust him


    Danya buried her face in her tail.


    Beastkin feared trust.


    To be more precise, they avoided trusting other races.


    To borrow the words of the adults, it was no different from putting a noose around your own neck and handing the handle to someone else. Thats why the first education they received as children was not to trust other races thoughtlessly.


    It wasnt excessive caution because Beastkin were tamed.


    To be tamed. Danya had only recently understood the meaning of that word.


    If there was a ss at 9 that she was going to meet you for, she was excited from 8.


    When she looked at the water full of bubbles for washing dishes, for some reason, you came to her mind.


    No, its not thest time.


    Anyway.


    Danya thought that being tamed meant something like that.


    People shouldnt be trusted.


    No matter how many times she vowed like that


    Danya felt like Ian, whom she saw today, needed it.


    With endlessly deep and empty eyes, he looked at Lina, surrounded by people.


    Someone believes in you.


    But if I say I believe


    Just saying it might make her truly believe. That was frightening. Of course, she believed to some extent even now, but for some reason, it felt like if she said it, she couldnt turn back.


    Oh, really. Why is it so difficult?


    Danya buried her face in her pillow.


    Tsk, tsk.


    Her breath was quickly stifled.


    This wont do.


    Danya got up from her bed.


    She intended to go for a walk.


    Ian was concentrating on his ss as usual.


    The setting was the practice room for basic magic.


    Today, well try a practical exercise on elementalpatibility. Lina Rosewell, a student of the fire element, pleasee forward.


    Lina walked forward, receiving cheers from those around her.


    Now, then, what element can stop fire? Water? Yes. No, thats not correct. When water and fire meet, they produce steam. Its a mutual interaction. So, who can show us what element can stop fire? Ian, an Earth element mage, please give a demonstration. Come forward, Ian ckangers.


    Ah.


    Whats with this chaotic turn of events?


    Ian got up from his seat and was led to the front of the ssroom.


    It was a space set up for a simple magic demonstration.


    He stood facing Lina Rosewell.


    Her smiling expression changed instantly. It was a full-fledged murderous expression.


    However, even with that expression on Linas face, everyone was still smiling.


    As expected of Lina!


    Scold Pongpong for us!


    Whats with these reactions?


    Is this allowed because shes the heroine?


    While Ian was lost in confusion,


    Linas hair turned blue without warning.


    !


    Suddenly, intense mes poured out.


    It was an attack by a high-level spirit.


    Ian quickly cast the basic defensive spell, Earth Wall.


    Fwoosh!


    However, the Earth Wall crumbled.


    He couldnt stop it.


    Hot.


    His hands were burning.


    The Lunars staff Oh, he didnt bring it.


    The Earth Wall hadpletely melted away.


    The mes started touching his hand.


    Hot.


    It was so hot that he almost wished to die.


    People wereughing while watching this.


    And Lina Rosewell was smirking.


    No matter how much of a heroine she was supposed to be, this situation didnt make any sense.


    Is this a dream?


    Ian woke up from the nightmare.


    *


    Bam!


    Ian, who sat up abruptly, clenched his throbbing forehead.


    Sweat dripped from his heated body.


    Even the nkets were soaked in sweat.


    [Laurent Magic Fabric  Insted nket]


    The tag was attached to the edge of the nket, faintly visible.


    Humph! Let me show you Laurents top-notch technology!


    Stimting Silviaspetitiveness with Emilia, he had the warm nket from Silvia.


    He had asked for a warm nket, in case it got too cold, but they sent him this heated nket.


    Phew.


    He needed to be careful when stimting Silviaspetitiveness.


    He got up from his bed and opened the window.


    The cool night air cooled his body.


    Was that a sudden nightmare? No, it doesnt seem like it.


    The cause of the nightmare was clear.


    Lina Rosewell.


    A heroine of Fantasy X Academy.


    Now shes an enemy?


    A helplessugh suddenly escaped.


    Possession in a video game?


    He could somehow understand that.


    But suddenly having to be cautious of the heroines and turningpletely hostile with one of them was something beyond belief.


    Its difficult, really.


    With a sigh, he looked out of the window.


    The moon had risen, illuminating the night brightly.


    By the way, the Lunar was quite damaged.


    The magic staff turned ck after receiving Lina Rosewells attack.


    Now that he had woken up, he had to charge the Lunar.


    Near the dormitory courtyard.


    It was a ce he frequently used for training, but today was different.


    Hmm.


    Ian, holding his staff that had turned ck in one hand, lost in thought.


    Lunar Ore.


    This mineral, which could only be mined in a specific origin called the Moonlight Mountains, had the property of being imbued with moonlight.


    Its unique high magical resistance was brought out by that property, but if it received a certain amount of magical power, it would turn ck like this.


    In such cases, filling it with moonlight again would return it to its original color and properties.


    Where would be a good ce?


    After some consideration, he finally chose a small tree with no leaves. The way the silvery light gently rippled on the surface seemed to indicate it was a suitable choice.


    Now that he looked at it, it felt different.


    Why did she suddenly be so strong?


    This was about Lina Rosewell.


    With this much Lunar, he could easily make aplete set of armor.


    It was just one strike.


    The fact that she turned all of Lunar ck.


    Its definitely not at this level right now.


    Lina Rosewell was a persistent-type heroine.


    If you trained her well, she would guarantee remarkable performance in theter stages. But she was already showing tremendous strength this early.


    And only when she was attacking Ian himself.


    Its unbelievable.


    However, he had a hunch


    The reason she became stronger.


    If he were to confront her in the scenario that would follow


    Rustle.


    What broke his contemtion was the sound of leaves being rustled.


    In the distance, the bushes shook.


    The surroundings were pitch dark.


    No wind was blowing.


    There shouldnt be a reason for them to rustle.


    Maybe a squirrel passed by.


    Rustle, rustle.


    But this squirrel seemed to be moving somewhat excessively.


    It might be a rabbit or something.


    Lichten was a reasonably sized city.


    There couldnt be monsters in the middle of the city.


    But for some reason, it seemed to be approaching in this direction.


    Sssss! Sssss!


    Wait, why was iting this way?


    Ugh!


    As Ian raised his staff to swing it, suddenly, a loud scream erupted.


    Kyaaaaah!


    A figure jumped up from the other side.


    Simultaneously, screams burst out.


    Uwaaaah!


    Kyaaaah!


    After exchanging screams once each, both of them calmed down.


    If the other person had ill intentions, they wouldnt have screamed like that.


    Though their paths were different, they reached the same conclusion.


    Ian blinked for a moment.


    His vision slowly cleared.


    The face was familiar.


    Danya?


    Why did you suddenly scream like that! You startled me!


    Why are you here at this hour?


    Me? Of course! Uh, well, I was exercising


    At this hour?


    Ian gave her a suspicious look, and Danya jumped in surprise.


    I couldnt sleep!


    Well, considering she had almost been killed and a fellow student had been ckened, it wasnt surprising that she was up. Ian himself had woken up from a simr dream.


    Ian shrugged and sat on a log.


    Danya quietly stared in his direction.


    You should sit down too.


    Ian patted the space next to him.


    There was plenty of room for both of them to sit on the log.


    Danya, who had been standing still, took a deep breath and approached, treading carefully like a cat approaching a person for the first time.


    Who would eat you?


    Its not like that!


    Danya, after adjusting her position to sit next to Ian, maintained a bit of distance but didnt move her seat again.


    Their clothes lightly brushed against each other.


    Danya flinched a little, but didnt bother to move again.


    The moonlight illuminated her side perfectly, revealing the contemtive expression on Danyas face.


    Her lips seemed to be hesitating, hinting at some inner turmoil.


    After giving her a moment to gather her thoughts, Ian inquired.


    Why?


    She nced up at him for a moment, then hung her head. Ian wondered what she wanted to say, but there had to be a reason shede out here at this time of night.


    With a resolute clench of her fist, Danya lifted her head slightly.


    -Tremble


    And her lips, which had been trembling earlier, finally opened.


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