Chapter 101: Chapter 103

Around the time I finished my meal, I realized just when I was.

This was the first week of the training camp, today was Friday, and it was lunchtime.

It was about when the green young heroes were getting used to the training camp.

Thinking about everything that would happen, in order...

Tomorrow, Saturday, was when things would officially begin to go awry.

First, in the morning, the rankings of the young heroes would be announced, and in the afternoon, the young heroes would decide on their personal subjects and be formed into groups.

In the late afternoon, the groups would use their points to prepare for the test.

And finally, on Sunday...

Apocalypse would begin with the second special test.

Since I’d returned to Friday, I still had time before things actually happened.

Of course, that didn’t mean I could waste time.

“Luan, where are you going?”

“I’m going to get some fresh air. You head on first.”

“Ah, sure.”

I sent Evan and Karis back first before going to the empty field.

I wanted to organize my thoughts.

I found a secluded corner where I could lie down, and I just stared up at the sky in a daze.

It still didn’t feel fully real to me, and I needed some time to get used to this new truth.

I have sparring with the Instructor of the Hunt tonight, and my afternoon class... what was it?

Maybe because it was something that had happened 100 days ago, I couldn’t remember all the details that well.

I figured that if it was truly important, I’d remember it, so maybe it was fine.

It was then, while I was by myself in the field, that two suspicious young heroes caught my eye.

“...You.”

“L-Luan?”

Fortunately, I knew them both. One of them was Skull, who still looked pale.

The other was Charon’s... ally? Friend? In any case... it was Zeros, the one from that rich family.

I waved at them and offered my greetings.

“Hi.”

“H-hi.”

“...”

Skull responded with an awkward smile, and Zeros turned around with no change to his expression.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

I could tell that they were going to try and leave, so I gave a kind suggestion.

“You can just do it here.”

“What?”

“The point exchange. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“...!”

A shockwave passed over Zeros’s face, but he quickly controlled his expression before saying, “...I don’t know what you’re—”

“How did you know?!”

Zeros glared at Skull, and only then did he put his hand over his mouth.

“S-sorry...”

“...Sigh.”

Zeros looked at me.

“How long have you known?”

“For 100 days.”

“Hah.”

Zeros snorted.

Birds of a feather flocked together, and this guy spoke like Charon did. The atmosphere around him was similar as well.

Zeros smirked.

“I don’t care if you don’t want to tell me. You’re already too late. You might not know it, but we’ve gathered points beyond even what you could expect. No matter how much you struggle, closing the gap will be—”

“It’s only 31 points. That’s still doable.”

“...!”

Looking at Zeros’ shocked face, I continued.

“Charon has 43 points. That Sinbar has 28, or was it 29?”

“Y-you... how did you...”

Of course, their points would be announced tomorrow, and since we still had lessons left, there could be a one- or two-point difference...

I wiped the smile from my face and got to the main topic.

“You’re trading here to avoid the instructors, right? That probably means that you know where the communication crystals are set up, so can you teach me?”

“Why should I?”

“If you don’t want to, we can trade.”

Zeros reacted to that word.

“...Trade?”

“Yeah. I’ll buy the information with points.”

They were both surprised by my words.

“Buy it...?”

“Why? Did Charon tell you not to trade with me?”

“He... didn’t. And even if he did, I don’t have to listen. I’m better with deals like this than him.”

“Oho...”

As expected, it seemed that he wasn’t just a simple lackey of Charon’s.

“I’m asking because I don’t understand. Luan Bednicker, aren’t you aiming for a high rank?”

“That’s true, but it’s not like you’re going to ask for 10 or 20 points for something like this.”

“You’re not wrong, but using your points here may prevent you from getting into the top ranks.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Zeros looked at me, baffled.

“...A merchant who only looks at the gains in front of him will never escape the cycle in his life. It’s important to always understand the nature of each deal.”

It sounded cool.

“I’m not hiding anything here. I just don’t think I’ll be in danger even if I use a few points.”

“...You’re pretty confident. Is it because you’re a Bednicker?”

I could feel the emotion he spoke those words with.

“Do you hate Bednicker?”

“Are you seriously asking? There’s not that many people among the Great Houses who like you.”

“Hmm...”

Was it that serious?

“Then are you going to refuse me?”

He shook his head when I said that.

“No. I can’t let my personal feelings get in the way of my professional work.”

“...”

So this was business.

“...Three points. Then I’ll tell you about the location of each communication crystal I know of.”

“All right. I’ll take that deal.”

I jokingly pushed out my hand toward him.

Considering his personality, I’d expected him to refuse, but he shook my hand normally.

His hand felt rough for a merchant, and I realized something.

At the very least, Zeros never made a deal lightly.

* * * * *

* * * * *

The afternoon lesson that I hadn’t for the life of me been able to remember was Theory with the Instructor of Doctrine.

Heretic Inquisitor Juniang.

The woman I had seen collapse into a bloody puddle was standing atop the platform giving a lesson in a dry voice.

“...And as the Church of the Sun is a sect of the 72 Churches, they are treated as the national religion of The Empire. The current emperor has also been baptized directly by the bishop of the Church of the Sun—”

“...”

For some reason, I felt like I was dreaming.

But wouldn’t it be more plausible if the 100 days I’d spent on Spirit Mountain were the real dream?

...Heretic inquisitor...

I recalled the conversation I’d had with Juniang.

Ignoring the small things, she was quick-witted and perceptive.

Although she’d been used by Juan in the end, I wouldn’t say she was dimwitted.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get her on my side.

After that, I acted as if I was paying attention while trying to formulate a plan.

Honestly, this was the last time I would have to plan something.

Firstly, the cause of this entire disaster was the high priest.

I tried to simulate in my head what would happen if we were to fight one-on-one.

Dismissed.

Although I had gotten pretty strong from my 100 days of training, the enemy wasn’t someone I could for sure win against.

Juniang and Rook weren’t the only ones who’d died in vain.

High Priest Juan hadn’t been able to reveal even half of his power before being killed by the demon lord.

Trying to fight him when I didn’t even know what else he might have up his sleeve wasn’t bravery, it was just stupidity.

Should I tell Asad? That Juan is the high priest?

That Archmage could probably fix this entire situation in an instant...

But the risk was too big.

He might not fully trust my words, or he might ask me how I’d come to know of Juan’s identity, and I didn’t have any excuses I could give.

Hmm... hmm...

I continued to roll my head around as I wrote things and erased them over and over.

“Luan Bednicker. One bonus point.”

“...Huh?”

I raised my head when I suddenly heard my name.

I met my eyes with Juniang as she said, “It’s good to see you so focused.”

“...”

It was an unexpected gain.

I was a little more wary after that. I at least acted like I was focusing on the class.

Finally, the afternoon lesson ended and dinner came around.

I scooped the food onto my plate and looked for a seat...

And then I saw the back of an orange head of hair.

“...”

Pam.

I went and sat right in front of her.

“Hi.”

“Hmm? Luan?”

Pam looked at me with her round eyes.

I took a moment to look at her.

The face I’d seen, of her literally scared to death, overlaid her own for an instant before disappearing.

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Not really.”

“I see.”

“By the way... you, do you like vegetables?”

Pam’s plate was, well...

It was full of leaves.

I’d never been to the Great Plains in the east before, but maybe this was normal there.

Pam blushed a little as she smiled.

“Yeah. Honestly, I can’t eat meat. I can never get used to the smell.”

So she was a vegetarian.

I hadn’t known that.

To be precise, I’d never tried to know.

Since the young heroes had eaten together about a dozen times over the week, this was something I would’ve known if I’d just taken the time to look around.

“I like meat.”

“I can tell even if you don’t say that.”

“Really?”

After that, Pam and I held a light conversation.

I didn’t really know why myself.

However, when I’d discovered Pam’s corpse in that shack... I’d felt regret that I’d not gotten to know her better.

It was always too late to regret... but I’d been given the opportunity to escape that convention.

“My dad understands, but my mom is too inflexible. To be honest, it’s sad to see them still trying to live like nobles...”

While conversing with Pam, I gradually learned about her.

She had one older sister.

She was from a fallen noble house, similar to Evan.

And evidently, she wanted to become a publisher in the future.

The reason she’d joined the training camp was to make connections before that time came.

“So introduce me to Sir Hector in the future. And Ms. Sellen as well, if you can!”

“So you’re aiming for those two.”

“Those two are at the top of my connection bucket list! Maybe it’s just a feeling, but I know those two will become huge in the future.”

Pam’s eyes sparkled before she glanced at me.

“And other than them, Charon, Zeros, Sharyl, Evan...”

She continued counting on her fingers before suddenly pointing at me and shouting, “And you as well!

“Me?”

“Yeah. My gut feelings are never wrong, haha.”

Was she being polite?

For some reason, it didn’t feel that way, so I laughed as well.

Suddenly, Pam flinched and quickly controlled her expression.

“Ack... It’s your fiancé.”

Sellen?”

“This is trouble. What if she misunderstands us?”

“I told you, she’s my ex-fiancé.”

And she wasn’t the type to care about something like that to begin with.

Sellen her plate put away and left the cafeteria.

She still didn’t look at her surroundings properly. Before, I might have thought that she was haughty...

But if she knew everything that was going to happen, maybe her mind was busy trying to think of ways to stop it.

She wouldn’t have any focus left for anything else.

...My real name.

I recalled Sellen’s last words, but it was a waste of time right now, and it wasn’t something I could just up and ask her either.

I ate the rest of the food on my plate before getting up.

***

After dinner, it was time for sparring.

The plan that I had been thinking about and adjusting all day could be said to start here.

Once again, as the young heroes went about looking for decent opponents, I stood still.

Soon, a beast of a man approached me.

The Instructor of the Hunt looked at me.

“So you want to fight me today as well?”

Although he was asking a question, judging by the way he spoke and the aura he was giving off, he clearly knew I did.

“Of course.”

“Hmm. Fine.”

The Instructor of the Hunt gave a satisfied smile... and we immediately prepared for our spar.

We walked about ten steps apart as we looked at each other.

“...”

I could see his well-trained body.

Although he’d died an empty death in the other life, it was true that he was a master of his craft and a skilled individual.

So, to be honest...

I was looking forward to this spar.

The Instructor of the Hunt was the perfect opponent to face after my 100 days on Spirit Mountain.

...What do I do?

That was why I felt conflicted.

My plan required that I lose horribly here, unlike before.

However...

“...”

Luan Bednicker the martial artist had a different opinion.

Just once, I wanted to face this man at full power.