Come spring (5)
As it is a newly reconstructed building, there is no way the Ophelis Hall will be shaken by a snow storm.
The management staff are all veterans, and most of the students who live there are excellent, so it was a more peaceful atmosphere compared to the Dex Hall or the Lorail Hall.
Heating measures are fully prepared, and most of the necessary items are provided by the maids. Therefore, the inside of the Ophelis Pavilion felt more like entering a long rest period rather than preparing for a natural disaster.
There are times when I feel eerie when I cross the corridor with the subtle darkness characteristic of winter, but it also feels rather cozy because there are soft lights in various halls and student facilities inside the Ophelis Hall.
The student hall in the middle of each floor seems to be prepared as a free space for students living in the Ophelis Hall. Of course, there is a sense that the space is a little more spacious than its intended use.
Old-fashioned wooden beams along the walls and tables neatly arranged throughout the hall. And desserts and drinks that the maids always stock up were lined up between the columns, and a large round table of wood was lined up near the large hearth in the middle.
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Most students spend their time in their rooms, but it’s still boring to just stay in the room.
Therefore, the student facilities inside the Ophelis Hall were more crowded than usual.
There were also tables where students chatted and ate desserts or had a light reading party. There were students who played chess, and there were students who practiced sensitivity while lightly implementing elemental magic.
“You want a duel?”
Ziggs had just gone down to his hometown with Elka.
I wanted to arrive before the snowstorm season, so I was feeling a bit tired from the forced journey, so I thought I would try to recover steadily from now on.
Ziggs, who was sitting obliquely at the table in the student hall, reading alchemy books, smiled curiously at the quirky remarks of his juniors who came to greet him.
“Yes, Ziggs-senpai.”
Ziggs folded the corner of the book he was reading and put it on the table.
The junior who came to visit is Wade Callamore. He was the head of the whole first year.
Gray hair and light gray eyes. The white boy confidently greeted me to the extent that I thought he was almost an albino.
And then, to say that it was a lot of fun was an application for Dalian.
“Of course not right now. Isn’t Ziggs-senpai famous as a strong person in the entire academic department beyond the Ministry of Magic? As a freshman, I am not yet an opponent who can confidently apply for Dalian.”
“I don’t care about that. It’s not that hard to put a knife to each other if you want.”
Ziggs sat with his chin crossed and answered indifferently.
“But why?”
“Of course, as a junior, I want to ask seniors to teach me.”
“It became such a superficial reason.”
When Ziggs said that, Wade smiled and nodded.
“Because I want to prove my worth. It seems that I haven’t been able to show my strength properly within the university yet, so I’m looking for seniors who are known as strong people and applying for a match.”
“Hey… you eat even the senior year seat and say something like that?”
“The desire to fight with Jigs-senpai is like a chimney, but you seem to be exhausted from the journey.
Wade had a characteristic refreshing smile, but Ziggs felt that the inside was not as pure as her appearance.
Ziggs also had a very unique feeling for Tanya, who declared that she would take the seat of the student council president, Wade, who said she would defeat all of her seniors in a duel, and the juniors, who showed all the same enthusiasm.
“Among second-year seniors, I will send a challenge to Ziggs after defeating senior Clevius, who is the head of the combat team, and Elvira, senior in the pension department.”
“Aren’t I the head of the Magic Department?”
“Isn’t the 2nd year head of the Magic Department the one that students of all grades ignore.”
Wade pulled out a chair, sat down, and asked the maid in charge of the hall to bring her a cup of tea.
Clearly, it’s become a custom for Lucy Merrill to put her rankings aside, whether she’s grading or competing.
“Considering that, I think that at this point in time, the second-year head of the Ministry of Magic is actually Jigs-senpai.”
“Well. I don’t want to win like that. It’s true that Lucy is stronger than me, so I don’t even want to hit it off topic.”
“The humble character is well known, but it is the truth. If I even beat Jigs-senpai, I will be able to prove that I am at least at a higher level than the sophomores.”
Do you know what he is talking about now? Declaring that you will be defeated in front of the person in front of you may be viewed as an act of arguing, depending on the circumstances.
However, Ziggs is not the type to be offended by such things. Wade probably knew that too.
“It’s hard to say whether I will be able to win against Ziggs-senpai…”
“Does that sound like the other 2nd year seniors can easily win?”
Wade responded with a simple smile.
“What will you do after you beat me?”
“Then we have to grow up to be a senior in the third year. Yenika-senpai, who is the head of all 3rd graders, and Drake-senpai, who is the head of the Combat Team. And personally… I want to compete with Ed-senpai, who is well-known among our first-year magicians.”
“It’s good to be motivated, but you have to be careful so that your confidence doesn’t spread into arrogance.”
It is not a word that expresses the feeling of being cheeky. Ziggs was just stating the facts as they are.
Wade responded skillfully by saying thank you for the advice, but it didn’t seem like he really listened.
“First of all, we decided to schedule a match with Clevius-senpai. It was a snowstorm season, so it was time to stay in the dormitory, so it seemed like you had plenty of time. Dalian should be in the basement auditorium of the Ophelis Hall.”
A week is too long to spend indoors alone. So, the Office of Ophelis has prepared several ways to save time.
One of them is student competition.
“But… I’m a little disappointed because Clevius-senpai seems to avoid confrontation with me.”
Saying that, Wade smiled happily once.
I would not have seen it. There is no way Clavius, who is always negative and gloomy, can accept the application of a freshman who is so energetic and confident.
Looking at Wade, he seems to have a lot of will to fight by somehow making a match. Whether by conciliation or by clinging to him, he will try to defeat Clevius somehow.
“I am greeting you like this today to give you a notice in advance, considering the next time I apply for Dalian.”
“Consideration is appreciated, but it is useless consideration.”
Ziggs smiled once more, picked up the alchemy book that had been covered, and flipped it over.
“After beating me, the seniors in the 3rd grade… For example, Yenika-senpai or Ed-senpai… I don’t think that’s the case.”
“I understand. I also don’t think I’ll be able to defeat Ziggs so easily.”
“No, that’s not the sound. If you look at the rumors, your confidence, and your performance, you seem like a very talented person… but you need to improve your ability to judge others.”
Ziggs turned the pages and spoke casually.
“You don’t seem to know anything, but you end up on the Clevius Line.”
“…”
“Even senior Yenica and Ed, you don’t even come to my line, you.”
Clevius has always been a gloomy, cowardly, and pathetic human. Rumors have already spread. It was a rumor that Tuo couldn’t figure out how he was occupying the chief position in the combat team.
Wade tried to express his displeasure by trembling his eyes at Ziggs’ words that determine victory or defeat, but Ziggs affirmed casually.
“If you want to defeat me, come up with a sense of reality first.”
*
A monster lives in the northern forest.
Rumors were already circulating among students who had no background in Ed’s wild life.
It is understandable that there are only a dozen students who know Ed’s life, even if they search the entire school, so there are strange rumors circulating.
The rumors, represented by the appearance of a man carrying a lot of bloody corpses of wild animals with an eerie smile, are terrifying if you look at the sighting information alone.
Of course, it was a very strange feeling for Bell, who knew the truth.
-Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
“Ugh…”
Snowstorm in the northern forest. The thick coniferous trees blocked the snow quite a bit, so the view was open, but the strong wind was definitely hard for Bell’s slender body to withstand.
Fortunately, we have taken sufficient measures to visit Korea. She wore several layers of thin clothes, and she wore a maid outfit on top of it, and a thick cape was also wrapped around it.
After warming it up a bit with light fire-based magic, I was able to withstand it more than I thought.
The primary destination was set. Ed’s hut.
If Saint Clarisse headed for the North Forest, Ed was the only one who could meet her.
‘footprint…!’
Should I call it good news? Footprints that have just been taken follow the snow in the northern forest. The direction also manages to match Ed’s cabin.
Students who don’t know much about Ed say that he seems like a cold, cold person who doesn’t speak much, but Bell knows because he’s already talked to him. Surprisingly, he is a fairly common-sense person, he can communicate, and although he doesn’t look like that, he is also very considerate.
It’s much better to run into Ed than to run into someone you don’t know and see bad things.
Even so, he is a man who faithfully fulfills his duties despite prominent women such as Yenica, Lortel, and Lucy flirting without being wary. At least he’s a trustworthy person. It’s safe to say that there’s no way he’s going to have bad thoughts or evil thoughts against Clarisse.
Even if he encounters Clarisse, he will definitely try to send him back to the Ophelis Hall rather than harbor any bad feelings.
If there is a problem, it must be that the relationships around Ed are needlessly complicated. Bell already had enough headaches.
In the distance, Ed’s hut came into view. It took longer than expected due to a raging snowstorm.
‘Brother Ed… you don’t know about Miss Kylie’s real identity.’
Kylie’s true identity is Saint Clarisse, who is protected by the saints.
Even if Ed doesn’t know his true identity, he must be kind to Clarisse…
With that certainty, Bell opened the door to the hut.
– Koo!
“…”
As I opened the stiff door and entered, Ed and Clarisse caught my eye.
“Oh, Bell. Bell is also here.”
Ed is raging in anger and bandaging his wounds.
Then, in the corner of the hut, I saw Clarisse, trembling and kneeling, holding a wooden chair with her slender hands and standing on the bee.
Bell is already starting to get a headache.
*
The two women were shaking, but for different reasons.
One was trembling because the arm supporting the chair was so numb, and the other was terrified at the fact that the saint, who was being protected by the saint, was being punished.
I can’t even tell Ed about Kylie’s identity… Bell couldn’t help but sit down at the table and take the tea he handed me with difficulty.
“That, that… Master Ed.”
As soon as the messy hut was finished, Ed looked at Bell and asked why he was calling.
“That… I heard your explanation, but if I don’t take Miss Kylie back home soon, the snowstorm will get stronger and I will be in trouble.”
Hearing that, Ed pondered for a moment and then nodded.
“Certainly, it would not be very desirable for the maid chief to empty the Ophelis for an extended period of time.”
“Yeah, that’s right, but…”
Belle, who glanced at Clarisse in a cold sweat, thought that somehow she had to take her first.
‘…’
Ed pulled out a wooden chair and sat down in front of Clarisse, who was standing on the bee.
It is very sad to see him holding his chair upright with tears in his eyes and shaking.
Ed was still in trouble for a moment.
When Clarisse first popped out of the hut, he must have been terribly surprised.
However, if I regained my composure and put my thoughts together, it was not difficult to infer why this young saint had come all the way here.
It was probably caused by that little accident during the class placement test.
In the course of the battle with Merylda, he dropped the brooch and quickly covered the mistake… but Clarisse seemed to think that Ed was figuring out who he was after seeing the scene.
Obviously, Ed’s response was not smooth because he was in such a sudden situation. Still, there was no other way to deal with it more amicably.
Kylie’s identity is one of the key twists that is revealed only in the second half of Act 3.
Kylie’s identity is already known to the world, and when she is under the protection of the Knights Templar and has to be monitored for her every move, it is impossible to know what will happen in the future.
Ed was tidying up the hut, and as an added bonus, he even organized his thoughts.
Kylie thinks Ed knows who he is. As long as that thought doesn’t change, Kylie will continue to be anxious. There is no way to dispel that doubt.
So, Ed chose to break through in the opposite direction.
“I apologize for being rude, my lord. The chair… just put it down.”
At those words, Bell and Clarisse trembled at the same time.
Clarisse’s pupils widened in an instant, and Bell checked again with a trembling voice that wasn’t hers.
“Oh, did you know…?”
“I am also a believer who was baptized by the Telos Church. When you see the illusion magic so close, you usually recognize it at once.”
“I, really…?”
Actually, that’s the tricky part.
At the time of the placement test, Kylie’s vision magic was not completely solved, and even if she did, it would be difficult to naturally take care of the brooch.
Of course, it’s an ambiguous part, so if you say you’ve dealt with it with a bit of improvisation and quickness, there’s nothing to say.
Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to know that Ed is figuring out Kylie’s identity.
“Well, then…”
“I told you you can put the chair down.”
“Ah… yes… …”
As for the policy of action, the rough arrangement has been completed.
In any case, Ed didn’t want to be involved with Saint Clarisse any more.
So, once you have admitted that you are clearly aware of your identity, the first task was to get rid of the elements that made the saints anxious.
Next, you just need to instill confidence that Edgar will not reveal the identity of St. Edgar anywhere.
“As a member of the Telos Church, I am sorry to have done such a disgraceful thing to the saint I respected. However, it was my duty to inform her of the fear of freedom.”
dark hut. gusts of wind. The sound of the wind hitting the ceiling from time to time.
The environment is so poor that it differs from the saint’s private bedroom of the Holy Hwangdo and the private room of the Ophelis Hall.
If you look up and look at Ed sitting on the chair, the background is very bloody.
The blood-stained cogs and hacksaws, the corpses and organs of wild boar being dried by hooks, and the smell of blood subsided heavily inside.
Of course, most of them were forced into the room due to the storm, but Clarisse is not in a situation to question such a thing.
However, the appearance of Ed sitting with his hands clasped and bowing his back while continuing the story…
The first sight Clarisse sees of Ed is that he is guarding the altar at the top of the right mountain.
He was holding a dagger in one hand and gathering magic power in the other, looking down at the freshmen.
The scene is not seen as a human being on the same line, but only as a wall or an ordeal to overcome… Edra has never thought about the burden of living as a human being himself.
“Seeing that she hides her identity and gets along casually with the person of a bachelor… The saint seems to have a strange romance in the value of freedom. Some admit it. It must be… worthwhile.”
“Well, that’s…”
“I am also in a position to live freely in this forest. I am well aware of how frustrating and hard life is to live in bondage.”
The landscapes contained in the song sung by the romantic Adele.
It is not at all strange to embrace romance in a world that shines in all natural colors and is filled with the smell of flowers.
However, the path one takes to freedom is not always full of the scent of flowers.
Rather, like the smell of wild boar blood in this hut, I often get nausea from pressing my lungs down hard.
“Are you guessing what kind of life I am living…?”
Senior two years above. It is a feeling that is difficult to summarize simply by feeling that it is strong and scary.
In the corner of the cool hut, looking down at the girl sitting among the corpses that are horrendous to look at, while not taking even the bloody wounds too seriously, it is clear that the texture of life itself is different.
Believers of the Telos Church basically kneel in reverence and respect whenever they see Clarisse. The idea of punishing a saint and getting angry is impossible.
Nevertheless, the boy was casually looking down at the saint with cold eyes.
We know the meaning and value of faith, but what precedes that is survival itself. At least this boy has survived such an environment.
This man’s life… rather than ‘living’, ‘surviving’. Even though the small difference in word may seem insignificant, the reality is huge.
In everything there is light and darkness. Freedom is no different.
If Adele was a bard who glorified the beauty of freedom.
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Most likely, this man represents the heaviness and darkness of freedom more clearly than anyone else.
“It would be best if he died and never approached the hut again. Even with the protection of the Holy Law, it is inevitable to avoid stumbling, verbs due to distress, and starvation.”
Ed said so, and lowered his head in a cool way.
“I am sorry for the harshness. Unfortunately, there seems to be no one around Saint who can tell me this, so I went over the topic.”
Then he got up and made a decision.
“Then go back.”
From Clarisse’s point of view, there wasn’t even a chance to answer anything.
Ed, who turned around as it was, Clarisse couldn’t even speak.
*
Before the snowstorm got stronger, I had to head to the Ophelis Hall. With Bell’s guidance, you’ll be able to go back in no time.
If you go back to the Ophelis Hall, you will be able to warm up while eating delicious soup in a warm room.
You can sit in a well-organized room and read a book in a peaceful mood, like a story from a distant country, like a snow storm.
If you sit still in the Ophelis Pavilion, this fierce snowstorm becomes a ‘story outside the window’.
Leaving the camp holding Bell’s hand, Clarisse looked back with difficulty.
After seeing the two of them leaving the camp, Ed again went into the hut with the hatchet on his shoulder.
It will still be cool inside the hut, and there will be a bloody smell. The weight of reality that we traced back will weigh on our shoulders again. The scene was engraved in Clarisse’s mind and never disappeared.
The boy doesn’t feel any burden on the weight. It is just the weight of life you must bear in order to survive.
Clarisse had read it in a book. It is said that even the beautiful swans keep their ugly feet under the water. A life of freedom is no different.
Seeing him sitting on the top of the altar and blocking freshmen while wielding magic insensitively, it is impossible to imagine that there was such a figure behind the scenes.
“Mr. Bell.”
“Yes, Clarisse.”
“I’m sorry for making you take a long step because of me..”
“Of course, I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do. Don’t be too fussy.”
Holding Bell’s hand through the snowstorm, Clarisse looked back to the hut again and again.
Anyway, when I came to Sylvania, it was the first time I met a senior I could respect.
At least in Chengdu… you never get a chance to meet someone like that.
“…”
Of course, Bell, unable to understand the real meaning, was only sweating in a cold sweat as he watched Clarisse looking at Ed, whom he had left behind.
‘no way? is not it? Isn’t it…? Am I right? Baby… something vague…’
Bell was only burning his stomach like that.
*
A snowstorm is blowing, and winter is slowly leaving. It’s a natural story, but each winter has a different shape.
Some stay in the underground library and study magic engineering, while others chat with the spirits by the window of the Dex Hall.
While there is a girl who sits in the private bedroom of the Ophelis building and closes the books of the company, there is also a girl who is afflicted by the maids and is trapped in the room and screams in pain.
A bachelor’s assistant who takes time until vacation to process paperwork, a swordsman who is a failed swordsman who trains hard, and a guardian from the northern steppe reading alchemy books while sitting in the student hall. A cowardly swordsman who locks himself in the room and does not come out. Everyone had their own winter.
And the same goes for the blonde-haired girl who sat quietly in the royal residence and her private bedroom and looked up at the window.
Watching the raging snow, Princess Penia lowered her sad gaze and made a small decision.
Spring comes and a new semester begins, a time when many things change.
The election for the student council president is now in front of us.
In fact, Fenia Elias Chloel, who is trusted by various supporters of the bachelor’s degree, is considered a powerful person as the student council president.
“After all, I… I won’t run for office…”
From Ed Roth Taylor’s point of view, it was the sound of the whole premise of the story falling apart and the beginning of all disasters.
Wake up to reality, Clarisse