Chapter 52
Clank! Rrrumble—
The tightly closed door opens.
People enter the school grounds with eyes sparkling.
Today is the first day of the ‘Festival of Stars.’
It’s the opening day of Polaris.
***
“Is there no practice today?”
“As much as I am, I’m not that merciless.”
Elma handed me a skewer of marinated chicken.
“Take it. I bought it from a stall over there.”
“Oh.”
I took the skewer without a word.
The chicken skewer glistened with a shiny coat of sauce.
With the first bite, the salty tang of the marinade and the mild sweetness of the green onions made my mouth sing.
“Wow, this is really delicious!”
“Even though it’s a festival, it’s an event of Polaris. They don’t just allow anyone to set up a stall.”
So that means all the food stalls here are verified spots?
I could already feel my mouth watering.
“Enjoy the festival. The tournament takes place on the last day, the third day.”
“Is that really okay?”
“We’ve worked hard for this festival. If skipping practice for a day or two would cause us to lose, then winning was never a real possibility to begin with.”
“Then…!”
I immediately dashed to the nearby food stall.
There was a particular dish emitting an appetizing smell since earlier.
“What’s this…?”
“It says it’s a ‘Red Bean Pastry.’”
The name says red bean pastry,
But both the taste and look resemble walnut cakes.
“Give it a try.”
“A-Are you giving this to me?”
“You bought me a chicken skewer, so I’m treating you back.”
I tossed a bag of pastries into Elma’s arms.
“Then, I’ll eat well.”
She popped a round pastry into her mouth.
Nom nom.
With her cheek puffed out as she chewed, she looked just like a hamster.
“Mmm… mmm!”
Elma’s expression brightened as she chewed on the red bean pastry.
“It has a rich sweetness. It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
I casually sat beside her and took a bite of the pastry.
‘It reminds me of snacks from rest stops.’
Even though I don’t actually remember going to rest stops much.
It’s not like I have family in the countryside or ever went on a school trip.
Still, it was a small moment of nostalgia, a fragment from before my possession.
After finishing the pastries,
“Well then, please enjoy the rest of the festival. I have something to take care of.”
“It’s the festival, though?”
“Well, I am the Vice President of Polaris, after all.”
“Oh.”
After a brief goodbye with Elma, we parted ways.
“Hm.”
Now, what should I do?
To be honest, I’m not that interested in the festival itself.
All my focus has been on the tournament on the last day.
‘Angela’s away due to royal matters.’
Even though it’s for the royal family, it’s something happening at Polaris.
Besides, I’ve got ‘insurance,’ so there’s very little chance Angela will end up in danger.
At least, for now.
“Sssik!”
Black Lotus devoured the crumbs of the red bean pastry.
“…Is it tasty?”
“Sssik?”
It probably isn’t eating for the taste.
Black Lotus doesn’t need food to survive.
It’s most likely just mimicking me because I ate a red bean pastry.
“At least thanks to you, I don’t feel lonely.”
“Sssik~ Sssik sssik!”
Black Lotus coiled around my finger.
The sleek feel of its scales was quite pleasant.
‘Hmm.’
Spending time with Black Lotus is fine, but…
I feel like there might be a more worthwhile way to spend this time.
“…Oh!”
Just then.
A familiar back came into my view.
Grinning, I quickly approached from behind.
Smack!
I lightly patted their back.
I swear I didn’t use any force.
“Aah! Wh-Who is it?!”
“Hey there, sis.”
“Gasp?!”
Her face, gorilla-like, turned white.
“This is the first time we’ve spoken like this since the entrance exam, right?”
“Why are you…!”
The successor of the Red Forest, Dwena.
She exaggeratedly shook her hands.
“Why did you come looking for me? Don’t tell me you’re here to fetch that thing?”
“Well, who knows?”
“You… you… you lunatic!”
I’ve always thought this,
But her reactions are so amusing.
‘I wasn’t originally this mischievous.’
But I can’t help but want to tease her when I’m around Dwena.
“If it’s during the festival, no one would notice if two students disappear for a bit.”
“It’s not about whether we get caught or not!”
“Then… should I just go ahead and do it?”
“You… vile… fiend!”
A gaze that looked as if it were staring at a demon.
I held up my hand, barely suppressing a laugh.
“Just kidding, just kidding. Both you and I are participating in the tournament on the last day, right? We should be sticking around here.”
“Phew, thank go– wait, no!”
Ignoring Dwena’s trailing words, I spoke.
“Alright, shall we go?”
“Huh… where, exactly?”
“Where else? To enjoy the festival, of course.”
“Why would I spend the festival with you?!”
“Come on, come on. Show me around, please.”
“Worse than a bandit…”
When a former bandit says something like that, is it an insult or a compliment?
I have no idea.
***
“You’re sure everything is in order?”
Fernia grimaced.
Even though it was a fair distance away, just sharing the same space with that made her feel nauseous.
“All preparations are complete, Your Highness.”
Someone who had approached her side spoke in a low voice.
“Just don’t forget what you need to do.”
“…Who exactly do you think you’re giving orders to?”
Fernia retorted irritably.
But regardless,
“The grand plan will soon unfold. Not even a slight mistake will be tolerated.”
Scarlett maintained a businesslike tone.
“…Tsk.”
Fernia clicked her tongue once.
She’d been openly disrespected more often lately, and it was infuriating.
But before long, she would become the highest figure in this nation.
For now, she could turn a blind eye to such insolence.
“Hah… So, you’re certain that thing can fulfill its purpose on time?”
Fernia narrowed her eyes as she looked at the monster, bound by seals and charms.
“Frrrrr!”
Drooling and trembling intermittently, the hulking creature.
A Minotaur.
“…No matter how I look at it, it just seems like an ordinary creature. A filthy, low-class dungeon monster.”
“It might look that way to you.”
Scarlett extended her hand.
At that, one of the seals binding it was removed.
“Gyaaaaaahhhh!!”
A dull roar echoed through the space.
It was different from the usual roars meant to intimidate or boost morale.
“Aaaaaaahhh!”
It was a scream full of fear and terror.
“That one has already ‘started.’ The moment the seal is lifted, it will progress rapidly.”
“Even you can’t fully prevent the distortion?”
“That’s beyond our control. All we can do is slow it down.”
“You’re disguising your lack of skill with flowery words.”
Fernia scoffed.
“If there’s anyone who should be worried about mistakes, it’s you, not me.”
“You’ll have to prove that it isn’t arrogance, Your Highness.”
Scarlett left with those words.
.
.
.
In the silent hallway,
Scarlett, who had returned to the empty space, let out a shallow breath.
“Huff… huff…”
Wings, half-torn and ablaze, encircled her body.
“The wounds… linger for a long time….”
This is the consequence of intervening ‘within the constraints.’
The Apostles of the Apocalypse exist beyond the constraints, only observing from the outside.
While they can exert indirect influence, it’s rare for them to directly enter within.
However, at truly critical moments, they can impose their power directly, even if it requires a sacrifice.
This was the result.
The ‘loss of rank.’
Her halo had cracked, and her wings could no longer emit fire as they once did.
This extent of damage would eventually heal on its own with time, but—
If she were to harm or directly kill a ‘prophesized figure,’ she would die instantly, leaving no trace.
Thus, this roundabout approach with Angela.
‘No.’
What the apostles are targeting is
not only Angela.
She wasn’t the only figure mentioned in the prophecy.
“You seem to be struggling.”
“…Nero.”
A pair of black wings appeared before Scarlett.
“The loss of rank seems worse than usual. Was the opponent’s prowess that high?”
“Ultimately, it’s just an existence within the constraints. There’s no reason to attach significance to it.”
“…I see.”
Without another word, Nero passed by her.
“Still, don’t worry.”
Scarlett held him back with her words as he was about to leave.
“It was burned beyond recognition.”
***
They say humans are creatures of adaptation.
No matter how insane the circumstances, humans seek ways to survive and soon blend into their surroundings.
Even without exceptional traits, they persistently survive because of that quality.
In that sense, I have a question.
“Damn it! It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
“Where are you lying from? I saw you groping that boy’s rear end!”
“Aaaagh! Why would I touch that guy’s body?! If anything, I’d rather kick him away!”
“Now you’re resorting to violent threats…! What exactly do you think of men, you fiend?!”
I wonder when I’ll ever be able to adapt to this insane world.
Like, when you’re just walking together and bump into each other slightly—
“Ahh! Aaaah!!”
And you end up restrained on the ground, screaming in agony in front of the guards.
Oh, but not me. Dwena, of course.
“Sssik sssik sssik.”
Black Lotus sneered at her from my shoulder.
—
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