Extra in a Romance Fantasy chapter 59

59 – The Start of School, Changes, and…

The group that left Raekinwood headed towards the academy in a peaceful journey as they did on their way here.

Although there were minor incidents along the way, each time Ethan stepped in and resolved them promptly, so the group did not feel any discomfort.

After steadily traveling for several days.

“I think I’ll head off now.”

The day to part ways with Ethan arrived.

It was a journey taken together due to the fact that their destinations were initially the same.

And now, their paths diverged.

Since Ethan’s destination was not Ferdion.

“Thank you for everything.”

I bowed my head towards Ethan.

Although our encounter was unexpected, and we even had a sudden fight, I owed him a lot.

I received swordsmanship training, assistance in dealing with unexpected situations, and most importantly, I experienced significant growth through sparring with him.

Being able to mix my skills with a swordsman of similar caliber is a valuable experience.

I never had the chance to mix my skills with an equal swordsman before, but through Ethan, I finally gained that experience.

And through that sparring, I gained many insights, corrected my mistakes, and progressed.

Perhaps, if I were to compare myself before the vacation and now, there would be a significant difference.

Moreover, Ethan also offered me a lot of advice.

Starting from what I should be cautious about, to the techniques and skills he possessed, he shared a lot with me.

Hence, I owed him a lot.

“Enough. It’s getting awkward.”

In response to my gratitude, Ethan waved his hand dismissively.

Even his annoyed expression was so typical of Ethan.

Then, Ethan suddenly gazed at me intently.

“…I usually don’t like saying this kind of thing.”

“…?”

Why bring up something out of the blue when it’s time to part ways?

Moreover, the word “fate” was not a term that suited a person like Ethan, as he himself had mentioned.

“I know it sounds like nonsense. But sometimes, when I look at you, I can’t help but think that fate might exist.”

“…What’s with the random talk?”

Bringing up fate now, when we’re about to part ways.

Furthermore, the word “fate” was not something that seemed to fit a person like Ethan.

“I know it’s nonsense. But sometimes, I get a feeling like fate might actually exist, unexpectedly. As your skills improve, as you reach higher levels. It becomes more frequent, more vivid.”

Even though he called it nonsense, and even though he put on a nonchalant expression, his gaze was quite serious.

…Thinking about it, there might be some truth to what he said.

Sometimes, I also had moments when I felt that way.

If we were to consider the intense intuition I’ve felt since reaching a certain level of determination, it might somewhat align with what Ethan referred to as fate.

“Some are said to be born with a special destiny. If that’s the case…”

Ethan’s eyes shone intensely.

“With talents more special than anyone else, could it be that you were born with a destiny more special than anyone else’s?”

“…”

Though it sounded a bit embarrassing to hear face-to-face, I couldn’t react as usual.

Not because I wasn’t, but because, strictly speaking, I might be a more special human in this world than anyone else.

Originally not a person of this world, but a person from another world.

Viewed from that perspective, I couldn’t help but think that my existence might already be on a more special course than anyone else’s.

“So, be careful. The more special the destiny, the more intricate its twists and turns.”

The Ethan before me now seemed devoid of his usual casual demeanor, more like a solemn enlightened sage.

“…You’re making me unnecessarily anxious.”

I muttered.

“…Well, it’s just a word of concern. It’s a reminder to act more cautiously.”

With my grumbling, Ethan’s atmosphere returned to its usual self.

“…Alright.”

It was difficult to deny it to the end with seriousness, or to mask it with laughter.

Therefore, I nodded my head vaguely.

Looking at me like that, Ethan nodded solemnly and then turned his gaze to the companions behind me.

“Take care, all of you.”

From Noble mtl dot com

With that brief farewell.

“Goodbye!”

“T-Thank you…”

“…I’ll pass on your regards to the master.”

Each of the companions bid him farewell in their own way.

Observing those farewells with a somber gaze, he finally turned his eyes back to me.

“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, contact me, I’ll help as much as I can.”

“…Yes.”

“Well then, I’m off.”

With a subdued farewell, he finally turned around and began to walk away.

I stood in place, silently watching his back.

Until his figure became smaller and smaller, disappearing from view.

***

After parting ways with Ethan, we set off on the road again.

Reversing the path we took coming here.

Days passed since parting with Ethan, over ten days since leaving Raywood.

“There it is!”

We had returned.

To Ferdion, and to the Academy.

***

“This one has arrived!”

Two days after returning to the dormitory at the academy and unpacking.

A familiar face revealed itself at the dormitory.

“I don’t think there’s a need to ask if you’ve been well just by looking at your face.”

Jack, whom I met again after dozens of days, had a noticeably brighter expression than when I last saw him.

From his skin to his complexion, he looked completely different from before the vacation.

Jack, who heard my words, smirked and laughed.

“Do I really look like that?”

“Yeah.”

He said he was going to do nothing and rest, and it seemed like his plan had actually worked out.

“So, you… don’t seem to have a good expression, huh?”

Jack, who had been chuckling like that, suddenly peered closely at my face.

“…”

I, too, had planned to relax lazily during the vacation.

However, that plan went awry from the day the vacation started.

Unexpected companions appeared, followed by unforeseen situations, and eventually, I even fought a monster of catastrophic proportions.

Although I eventually regained my daily life, that routine was not as comfortable as it used to be.

For some reason, the atmosphere among the companions became strange from time to time, and I had to be wary of them.

It wasn’t extremely uncomfortable, but it wasn’t comfortable either.

In short.

I was exhausted.

“Well, there were some things going on.”

Since I couldn’t reveal the details, I evaded the topic decently.

“Um. I see.”

Without saying anything further, Jack, who seemed to have caught something from my expression or had a subtle sense of sympathy, looked at me and then nodded slightly.

“Anyway, it’s fortunate that you seem unharmed.”

“Yeah.”

Although it was certainly not a peaceful vacation, it ended safely without any major incidents.

Rather than complaining about the past, it is more appropriate to be grateful for such things.

Sighing heavily, Jack, who had tossed his luggage carelessly, sprawled on the bed.

“Well, starting tomorrow, academy life will begin again.”

As he said, the second semester at the academy starts tomorrow.

The break of the vacation ends, and a new semester begins again.

“Looks like the mundane routine is starting again.”

Jack said with a voice that clearly sounded drained.

Mundane routine.

For Jack, that statement was probably not wrong.

It’s not like Jack greatly enjoys academy life, nor is his academy life entirely trouble-free.

The upcoming second semester, for Jack, is likely to be truly mundane routine.

However, I did not agree with that statement.

My second semester might not be boring after all.

Perhaps… No, it was clear that it would be busier than the first semester.

I had to prepare to prevent the mischief that could happen at the academy.

There was a high probability that I would be busy, and the tedious routine would continue.

“……”

Just the thought of it was already tiresome, yet I couldn’t just ignore it.

Hoping things would go as planned, I closed my eyes.

And so, the second semester began.

***

The second semester that started like that flew by at a rapid pace.

In the midst of ordinary days of attending lectures, training, and participating in clubs like the first semester, new tasks were added.

Tasks of preparing to prevent the turmoil that might occur within the academy.

First, I established a foundation to gather information within the academy and found companions.

Information was essential to prevent and stop the tricks that would happen at the academy in advance, and companions were necessary to obtain that information and prepare for any unforeseen events.

I confided in trustworthy individuals and asked for their help.

The companions I first chose were the ones I had traveled with during the break.

Rachel, Ayla, Estelle, Alexis, Cedric, and Mary.

They already knew about my abilities and deemed me trustworthy in terms of character, so I confided in them about my thoughts.

Not everything, just what I could share.

There were those who strategized for war, increasing the likelihood of incidents at the academy.

Fortunately, my companions believed me.

Some showed hesitant reactions, but with Estelle and Alexis backing me up, I was able to persuade everyone.

Perhaps they were already aware of the fact that there were those who desired conflict due to their positions.

Thanks to that, I was able to receive help from my companions.

Compared to me, they were all outstanding individuals in their own right, and in just the aspect of obtaining information, they were all superior to me.

Especially when it came to Estelle, with her tremendous power and background, she provided me with significant assistance.

The companions I sought help from were not the end.

In addition, I gained allies.

Such as Jack, Professor Wurtz, and Professor Patrick.

Considering Jack’s wide connections and sharp ear for rumors, I thought he would be quite helpful, so I asked for his assistance.

Although Jack was puzzled as to why I suddenly showed interest in the academy’s affairs, he ultimately helped me without questioning the reasons.

I confided in Wurtz and Patrick in my own way.

I emphasized the need for cooperation regarding potential unsettling movements within the academy.

The two professors, surprisingly, readily accepted my proposal.

They agreed to provide internal information and help to appropriately restrain any suspicious activities within the academy.

I was well aware of the integrity of the two professors, but I hadn’t expected them to accept my proposal so willingly.

Perhaps the impression I had of the two professors wasn’t all that bad.

For whatever reason, I had managed to gather a number of allies within the academy and lay the groundwork like that.

Not content with just that, I also turned my gaze to Ferdion outside the academy.

Ferdion was a city of considerable size, even among those on the continent.

Naturally, where there is wealth, people gather.

And where wealth accumulates, those who covet it gather as well.

Whenever time allowed, I would venture to Ferdion, conducting business with the information traders there, establishing connections and foundations in the back alleys of Ferdion.

To enter the academy, one had to pass through Ferdion anyway, and in that process, even the slightest scrap of information was valuable.

Utilizing the power of information networks and the back alleys, I gathered such information, frequently checking the external situation.

In this way, I was as prepared as I could be.

After all that preparation, if the very thing I was concerned about didn’t happen, all my efforts would have been in vain. Fortunately or unfortunately, that future did not come to pass.

Terrifying events, big and small, began unfolding within the academy.

To prevent these incidents, to stop the spark of war from igniting, I ran around in all directions, averting many disasters.

There were times when I noticed things too late and things almost went awry, but with the help of those around me, I managed to resolve them somehow.

As a result, I inevitably became a noticeable figure within the academy, but that was an unavoidable consequence.

And, it wasn’t just me who underwent changes as time flowed.

Others around me also faced transformations.

First was Rachel.

Rachel officially became a disciple of Professor Patrick and entered the Tower of the Sky.

This news caused a huge stir within the academy.

The Tower of the Sky was a place that only admitted those overflowing with talent, and among them, the fact that the discerning Patrick, known for his exceptional talent and exceptionally high standards, took Rachel as his disciple was akin to Patrick and the Tower of the Sky marking Rachel as the next leader without saying it outright.

It was all thanks to Rachel’s explosive growth in magical prowess during the second semester.

Rachel, who had always excelled in magic, saw her abilities skyrocket at an incredible speed in the second semester, ultimately becoming the top student in the Department of Magic.

It was Rachel’s development and talent that caught Patrick’s eye and led him to take her as his disciple.

And, the shocking news didn’t stop there.

If the previous news was about the Department of Magic, this time it was about the Department of Combat.

In the duel with Cedric, Ayira emerged victorious.

Cedric, who had been far ahead and dominating in the Department of Combat, was finally caught up with.

It was due to Ayira’s unexpected progress.

While Cedric had also grown rapidly, Ayira underwent a remarkable transformation as if she had become a different person.

The result was revealed in the duel.

Of course, Ayira surpassing Cedric in the duel didn’t mean she completely outshone him.

Cedric and Ayira continued to compete back and forth, engaging in the battle for supremacy.

However, the defeat of the genius who had been dominating was enough to cause a significant stir within the academy, leading to a major upheaval.

And, like the two previous pieces of news, while not causing as much of a stir, there were changes for others as well.

Estelle cleaned up the factions gnawing at the heart of the empire, solidifying her foundation.

I heard that she had even cornered the Crown Prince. If things continued this way, it was said that it would be possible to bring him down under perfect justification.

Alexis began to formally wield the authority of the Prince of Wolfron.

It was not out of a desire for power, but rather to check the factions within Wolfron that sought war and those causing chaos.

In return, Alexis faced the scrutiny of other contenders for the throne, but he didn’t seem too concerned.

Mary also made significant progress.

My magical abilities had grown significantly, and my circle of friends had expanded even further.

And in the process, two of the male leads from the original work started to develop feelings for Mary.

Though she herself seemed oblivious to it.

As each of us underwent changes, time passed by.

Finally, my first year at the academy came to an end.

After spending another vacation there, I moved on to my second year.

Rumored to have graduated, Lunea-senpai gracefully repeated a year.

Without a hint of embarrassment, she revealed this fact with a smile, leaving me to suspect that Lunea-senpai’s repeating a year might not have been a one-time occurrence.

…Anyway, my transition to the second year meant that new first-years were entering the academy.

Should it even be called an academy?

New underclassmen with distinguished backgrounds like Elbrent, Kaien’s younger brother, the daughter of Duke Wolfron who seemed to be following Alexis, and a princess from the Blue Noah family in the Levelon Kingdom.

New juniors with impressive backgrounds were joining the academy.

And with that, naturally, my workload increased.

Yet, despite such circumstances, I somehow managed to navigate through them.

There were numerous crises, but I somehow managed to wriggle out of them.

Nonetheless, amidst all that, my daily life continued.

No matter how busy I was running around behind the scenes, no matter how embroiled in major events, my daily life continued to persist.

By now, I began to hold onto hope.

If things continued like this, with my comrades by my side, we could surely overcome any obstacle and eventually reach a peaceful conclusion.

However, in the end.

That was a hope too hastily conceived.

My daily life.

“Stop him! He’s the prince’s assassin!”

“The prince’s assassin is Wade Heblon!”

Suddenly, everything fell apart.