34 Arena Thirty-Two: Foul Restrictions VI

After the whole fiasco in the Colosseum, the rest of the classes went pretty smoothly. Most of them were just introductions of the teachers and courses, so we didn't have to study much.

I had decided to select Armament Design and Strategic Deployment as my major subjects, while choosing Skill Control as my secondary subject.

The first two subjects dealt with direct arena battles, while the latter dealt with my control over my skill. I could have selected all battle-related courses, but being a part of an already-deployed Elliot squad, I had to learn something as a [Technician].

After all, none of my skills was suited to take enemy Regalia head-on. The most I could do was scratch them.

...

"... That ends the basic overview of the courses. Of course, you guys already learned about these from the respective teachers, but this would help those who haven't decided yet to decide your courses faster. Well then, today's classes end here."

Kain stood in front of a tired yet excited class while smirking. None of the courses offered in the academy was mundane or boring. Each had its own charm.

The students were all top of the bunch (except a few irregularities like me), so they were naturally keen on learning and improving. Which, in return, created the perfect environment for learning and growing.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Everyone said in unison as Kain turned off the screen behind him. Then as if remembering something, he turned towards me.

This couldn't be good.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Arnold Tilgen, you have been called to the principal's office."

He said while raising an eyebrow. Sighing, I nodded.

"... Understood, teacher."

"Good."

He turned away and left the room, leaving me alone to endure the curious gazes of my classmates.

Ah yes, the youth life I had expected from this academy felt like it was getting further and further away...

...

I knocked politely on the door of the principal's office.

"... Come in."

I heard Principal Flora call out to me in an extremely tired voice from inside.

I slowly opened the door and entered the room before bowing.

"Raise your head."

Hearing those words, I looked up at the woman in front of me... And she didn't look good.

Her beautiful face was pale and sickly, while her eyes had bags under them. Her hair, while still somewhat prim and proper, had some strands coming out of here and there.

"... Are you alright, my lady?"

I asked, slightly concerned. Hearing my words, she frowned and waved her hand, as if to shoo my concerns away.

"Yes, I am fine. Rather than that, Arnold Tilgen, it seems that you can't stay out of trouble for a single day, can you?"

She asked in an exasperated voice. I couldn't do anything but look down and apologize.

"... I have no excuses. I am sorry, my lady."

"... Well, this time, it was not your fault so... You do not need to apologize."

Her voice became gentler, just by a bit.

"... Yes, my lady."

I looked up at her again. Principal Flora nodded, before leaning against her chair.

"So... How are you?"

"... Er... I am doing fine, thank you for asking, my lady."

Did she bring me here for small talk? Otherwise, I saw no reason for her to ask me how I was doing.

"... Well, of course, you are. How are things with Anastasia?"

"... Er..."

I didn't know how to answer that. What could I tell her? That I had awakened some sort of romantic feelings for her daughter? That her daughter seemed infatuated with me?

"... Well, you don't have to answer that question."

Thankfully, Principal Flora dropped the topic... Instead, she picked up a more troublesome one.

"I heard that you accidentally met with Roxy Rubiat while being on a date with Anastasia?"

I decided to ignore the last part of her sentence and answer.

"Yes, my lady. I did meet her."

"How was her reaction?"

While she asked me, judging from her frown, I knew that she already know what my answer would be.

"It was a... complex one, my lady. She was angry... to some extent."

I answered truthfully. Principal Flora nodded at my words before speaking up.

"... More or less what I had expected."

Hearing her reply, I decided to ask the question I had on my mind.

"My lady... If I may ask... Did something happen between Roxy Rubiat and Anastasia?"

Immediately asking the question, I felt like the air in the room froze. I gulped while looking at Principal Flora's extremely displeased face.

"Well... Not with Anastasia but... More or less something like that."

"... Understood, my lady."

I chose to step back. The topic seemed like something I couldn't touch on, at least not yet.

"If you value your friendship with both Anastasia and Roxy Rubiat, then don't ask them either."

"... I will remember that."

"... Good. Dismissed."

Bowing, I turned back and left the room in a hurry.

I couldn't understand why she had asked me to come to her office... Was it just for asking about Roxy?

...

He shivered as the cold wind brushed against his face. Cleaning his thermal glasses with his finger, Jeffery smiled.

"Found it."

He muttered to seemingly no one in particular. However, the next moment, a voice spoke up.

"That fast?"

A robed person came out of the rubble behind Jeffery. He stared at the ruined cityscape in front of them, covered in nature's embrace.

The buildings had fallen apart as trees grew through them. Most of the roads were unusable, and were littered with high ranking phantoms.

It was a maze full of death.

"Yeah, there it is."

Jeffery handed the tablet to his robed accomplice, who looked over the location again.

"Well, the thermal data says that it's there but... Are you sure about this?"

For the first time, they showed concern. Seeing that, Jeffery frowned.

"Yeah, I am. I can't go back there anymore... And it's all that bastard's fault. And I'll drag that bitch down with him too."

He hissed as he glared at the skyscraper a few kilometres away from the building they were on.

"Well, I won't complain if you are sure... You know what... Nevermind."

The robed person shook their head before giving back the tablet.

"So when are you going to commence the plan?"

"In a week or two. Haven't decided yet."

Jeffery answered the question while taking the tablet back. He quickly glanced at the data again before putting the device back into his bag.

"Well, good luck to you then."

The robed person said before turning away. But just as he was about to log out, Jeffery called out to him.

"Wait. Are you just going to leave like that?"

"... Do you need anything else?"

"Well... I guess some ammo would be good."

Jeffery said while narrowing his eyes.

"I'll deliver it tomorrow."

The robed person didn't object.

"And also... Aren't you being too detached from the whole situation?"

Jeffery's question made them frown.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, they are out for you too, right? And besides... There is a high chance that Anastasia might come after the bastard to save him. And if she does, I won't guarantee her safety. You know that, right?"

Jeffery pointed out a valid argument, but that made the robed ally frown even more.

"... I'll make sure that she doesn't. You don't need to think about that."

"... And, isn't that bastard one of your new favourite rats?"

"Well... Maybe. But if he dies here, so be it."

Unlike before, the robed person seemed careless... It made it clear that they cared about Anastasia more than they did for the 'bastard'.

"Well, if that's the case, then it's all fine."

Jeffery himself turned away and faced the ruins in front of him. The grey clouds swirled over the destroyed city, occasionally the strong sound of wind could be heard. The sound of leaves swaying in the air, crows and other birds chirping as they flew around, the serenity of the scene... All made it a dark yet somewhat majestical scene.

"... I'll be going now. Good luck, Jeffery. Don't fail me again."

The robed person said before finally logging out.

Jeffery didn't reply to the threat... He just stared at the scene in front of him.

For a moment... Just for a moment... The aura of malice had disappeared from around him.

...

"All the pieces are in positions now..."

The young man said to the being in white robes in front of him as he pushed his pawn forward.

"Well... This is the seven thousandth time you said that line."

The being in white robes replied with a chuckle as they pushed forward their bishop by three squares. Hearing that, the young man frowned.

The chessboard on the table glowed, accepting their moves.

"No, it's barely the twelve hundredth time."

"Haha... Whatever you say, child."

"... Don't call me a child."

Hearing his retort, the being again laughed gracefully. Then, they watched the young 'boy' in front of them push his knight forward.

Finally... They whispered.

"Are you sure you don't want to intervene?"

"Yes, I am sure."

The young 'man' replied in a quiet tone.

"You might fail again."

"I know."

"You might need to redo everything from scratch."

"... I know."

"Yet... You won't interfere?"

"Yes, I won't... At least, not yet."

"The other realities failed to reach the end your desired, Al..."

"... Stop. Don't call me by that name."

"... Alright."

The two people silently played their game for a few moments. Whether these moments were mere seconds, or centuries... Only they could tell.

"... Even so, if this reality fails... Promise me. That you'll intervene."

The being said while staring at the young 'boy' in front of them. The young 'man' tried to argue, but couldn't.

He knew very well what that tone meant. There was no room for negotiations. No room for argument.

The rare tone that being took whenever they wanted to say something that could shake everything... Even the young man had only heard it twice before. And he had spent centuries with the being in front of him.

"... Fine. If this reality fails, I will intervene."

"... Good. Now, let us continue."

The two beings silently continued playing, for what it felt like eternity.