1. The First Letter (26)
In the middle of the day in the library, numerous students were reading books with languid expressions on their faces.
There was still a long way until the exam period, but the academy’s final exam was not at a level that could be overcome by cramming. If I didn’t study consistently, I couldn’t manage my grades.
However, it was just after lunch, and it was a car ahead of an important festival such as a hunting festival for a while. There was no way that the content of the book would come into my head properly.
It was because most of the students sitting in the library were yawning as if they were bored.
Of course, there were students who studied hard among them, but they must have been outliers who never had fun studying in the first place. They were the kind of strange people you would see at the academy.
Unfortunately, I was more of the former than the latter. While I was staying in the intensive care unit of the temple, the progress of the liberal arts lecture I was listening to went quite far, but I was spending an unfortunate time visiting the library on purpose to supplement the contents.
If there is only comfort, is it that I do not have to bear the pain alone? Sitting in front of me was Leto with a puzzled expression.
There was only one book in front of me, but next to him were several books with colorful covers stacked like a tower. It was the amount of study worthy of a student at the Faculty of Magic who values theories and hypotheses.
Compared to that, what a happy person I am. So I sipped the tea I had previously put in the canteen with a pitiful spirit.
It was a tea with a refreshing scent that had the effect of clearing the head. It was good to see that there were no academy students who did not use this car during the exam period.
Leto, of course. He too poured the tea from the canteen into his mouth, then frowned when he realized that his share of the canteen was empty.
He sighed and touched me with the tip of his toe. I, who was reading a book with my throbbing hair forcibly gripped, looked at Leto with a question.
Leto winked. It was a signal that meant:
‘Let’s go out for a while.’
I was somehow looking for an excuse to escape this book hell. There was no reason not to accept Leto’s offer.
I was excited and closed the book. I didn’t forget the bookmark. I still had about half the amount left to read.
I wondered how the person wielding the sword would learn ‘topology’ and use it. It was unavoidable because the academy had to take at least one literature and science course per semester, whether it was liberal arts or martial arts.
I was a little better at math though. If you ask Leto, he will usually give you an answer. Even now, I had written down a few questions to ask Leto.
However, the topic of conversation between Leto and I was focused on an unexpected topic. It started when Leto was leaving the library and picked up one of the newspapers published by the school clubs placed at the entrance of the library.
Leto ordered tea from the student center located directly across from the library and flipped through the newspaper. His weary eyes scanned the pages of the newspaper, and a flash flashed as if he had found something interesting.
He chuckled and burst into laughter. A newspaper was handed out as if to look at it. Leto picked up one part in particular and tapped it.
A short title was written there.
‘Southern Forest Witch Beast Massacre Case’
After ordering a new tea and drinking the remaining drink in the canteen, I almost gushed it out right away.
My hand quickly grabbed the newspaper. There, rumors processed somewhat provocatively were written as if they were objective facts.
[‘Southern Forest Witch Beast Massacre Case’]
[Ian Perkus (23), a 3rd year student at our school, has become a hot topic on the 15th after defeating a number of demons in the forest located to the south of the academy site. The number of monsters that Percus-kun single-handedly defeated that day amounted to about 10, including high-ranking beasts, which is an exceptional achievement considering that he was in the senior year of the academy.]
[On the other hand, Seria Yurdina (22), who is in her second year, is the target of criticism for running away while endangering her colleagues, unlike her excellent grades of being the top of the swords department. Regarding the mass outbreak of monsters in the forest in the south, the Ministry of Education made an explanation that it was ‘something that happened while watching the breeding of monsters in preparation for the hunting festival’… … .]
[On the other hand, Ian Perkus is also the main character of the so-called ‘Yurdina’s half-baked scandal’, which is causing more controversy. This is because he, who is only in the middle or lower grades even in his third year, is showing unexpected skills recently. How far can he, who is a rare member of the lower-class aristocrat of the empire, be able to play an active role… … .]
The more I read the typeface, the more my expression hardened. After reading the article until the last line, I said with a frown.
“what is this?”
“What is it? it’s a newspaper article It’s about you too.”
Leto giggled and giggled as if it were someone else’s business, but I felt uncomfortable. It was because there was a lot of gaps in the content of the article.
My voice rose with irritation.
“No, what is the content like this? Among the monsters I defeated that day, there was only one high-ranking monster, but the nuance that there were several high-ranking monsters… Did Seria run away while endangering her comrades? Did you go to call Professor Derek? And why are you emphasizing my origins?”
“That way it sells.”
But to my complaint, Leto replied as if he were telling the obvious truth.
“The public tends to be more attracted to the facts they want to believe, not the facts as they are. That unlucky Yurdina’s bastard ran away, but a middle-lower student from a lower-ranking noble of the empire subdued a number of high-ranking witches? Kya! The story comes out right away.”
“Anyway, that is… … .”
Deep down, I thought Leto was right, but I still couldn’t stop grumbling.
I felt so sorry for Seria for going on like this. Even if it wasn’t, it was a car that had recently heard that he was suffering from bullying.
It felt like I was sacrificing Seria to gain fame, and it made my heart ache even more. No matter how much Seria doesn’t care about others, isn’t she also human?
Even her heart would have been made of flesh and muscle. Knowing that she was being hurt by her relationships, knowingly or unknowingly, I couldn’t stand this situation any longer.
A while ago, I left a warning to the bully gang that was talking in the back alley, but if distorted information continues to circulate like this, it would be pouring water into the bottomless pot.
In the end, as if I had made up my mind, I nodded and said.
“… … I can’t do it, I’ll have to argue with the publisher of this newspaper.”
However, Leto’s reaction to my firm determination was boring. He smiled and stretched out, enjoying the sun. Perhaps thanks to an interesting story, his haggard expression brightened a little.
“Arthur, Arthur. In that club, a famous 4th grader is the department head. I can’t afford to listen to you.”
“Who is the manager?”
“Prom princess.”
“Ah, that commoner… … .”
After hearing Leto’s words, I washed my face dry. That senior would most likely not even pretend to hear me. It was because he was a senior who was famous for not knowing his insides as much as he had a lot of relationship assets.
Seeing me look like I’m in trouble today, Leto looked me in the eyes and asked. It was a simple question, but it got to the heart of the matter.
“Why, what happened?”
At that, I hesitated for a moment. She was reluctant to say that Seria was being bullied, and that it had recently escalated to bullying.
It was because it was Seria’s personal problem. Rather, it could have been more hurtful for Seria to inform others about these problems.
But it was also true that I couldn’t come up with a suitable solution. I can’t go looking for the guys who curse at Seria and warn them.
In the end, I had no choice but to sigh and tell Leto about the general situation of Seria that I had heard yesterday.
The fact that negative public opinion about Seria has been spreading lately, that distorted information about the beast subjugation incident plays a part in the process, and that the bullying is getting more and more out of line.
Leto listened to the words with an expression of interest or not, and then spoke in a sullen voice.
“The bullies you met yesterday.”
“yes?”
I had no choice but to question Leto’s sudden question.
The bullies I met yesterday were talking behind Seria’s back in that alley?
It was after the friends had mobilized appropriate means and reprimanded them well. At least he won’t be able to openly talk nonsense to Seria.
Since I didn’t even pay attention to them after that, I felt that Leto paying attention to them was a bit out of the blue.
However, Leto seemed to have a slightly different point of view than I did.
“What was the color of your cloak?”
“Because you called me ‘senpai’… Yes, it was brown.”
Second year, the same year as Seria and Celine.
At my answer, Leto sighed as if he knew that. A troubled look finally settled on his face.
He pressed his temples as if his head was pounding. Annoyance began to blend into his voice.
“First of all, I think you are right… … .”
As expected, my gaze fell down. Even if I didn’t do that, it seemed to have provided an opportunity for public opinion that had accumulated unfavorable feelings toward Seria.
It was a decision to save Seria’s life, but because of my inconsideration, it ended up hurting Seria.
Even after this year, she still had two more years to spend at the academy. If this public opinion continues, it will be difficult for them to reach the upper grades, when collective action becomes important.
But Leto’s words weren’t over yet. He threw me some puzzling words.
“… … And it’s not your fault either.”
My impression was naturally frowned at the subtle tone. What does that mean? It’s my fault, but it’s not just my fault?
It was an ambiguous word. A half sentence came right out of my mouth.
“What are you talking about?”
“Okay.”
Contrary to my serious reaction, Leto only returned an indifferent reaction. I should dig into this properly, the moment I thought so.
Leto shook his head as if he couldn’t help it. In the end, advice mixed with a sigh flowed from his mouth.
“I will tell you this much. Originally, bullying always has a leading group. Guys who shape public opinion and actively engage in bullying.”
“That, Thean gang?”
At my words, Leto’s green eyes glanced at me, then avoided my gaze. A groan escaped from his mouth.
“Well, those guys are there, but… Think common sense. If only they could create an atmosphere like this, wouldn’t they have done it a long time ago?”
“… … You mean a new group has joined?”
Leto shrugged. He didn’t answer, but he was able to guess his guess just by not denying it.
I folded my arms and thought for a moment. A new group joined, why the hell?
It was unknown as of now. But the answer was simple.
“Then, you only need to kill those two groups, right?”
“No, what… It is, but can you do it?”
Seeing Leto’s doubtful gaze, I smiled bitterly. Even so, my voice in answering him was plain and confident.
“I have to, somehow.”
It’s my responsibility, so I hoped Seria wouldn’t be hurt even more because of me.
Even though Leto sneered at my determined answer and longed for me.
“It’s good to have a resolution. Why don’t you do something about topology with that will?”
Stunned by those words, I burst into tears and spat out words of protest. It was one of the most fundamental questions I’ve had lately.
“no… Why do prosecutors have to study that in the first place? Doesn’t that make sense?”
“Tsk tsk, don’t you know that the trend these days is interdisciplinary convergence? Well, try applying topology to swordsmanship somehow.”
Leto clicked his tongue and left me such an answer, but it was a story that I couldn’t even laugh at.
“Are you crazy?”
Apply topology to swordsmanship?
Swordsmanship is an instant victory. There was a limit to understanding and calculating with the head. At that time, the sword attack had no choice but to rely only on intuition and experience.
Even Leto, who actually threw out those words, just waved his hand and laughed as if it were a joke. And since I had nothing to do to overindulge in the joking remarks, I decided not to discuss the matter any longer.
Only one question remained in my mind.
A group that harasses Seria.
As for what to do, I haven’t been able to come up with an answer yet. You should think a little more carefully.
At least, that’s what I thought until I saw Seria’s face the next day.