Chapter 6 – The Fox Dislikes the Lady
The landscape of the wastelands was desolate.
It seemed impossible for this abandoned land, forsaken by the goddess herself, to house any sprites’ affection. Nothing but endless ash accumulated on the barren landscape.
Occasionally, the remnants of an older civilization that existed before the wastelands took over appeared. Among those, there were spaces suitable for adventurers traversing through the wastelands to rest.
“Huuuhhhhh…. This is so boring. I should have just stayed in bed.”
I began to roll myself on the ashes.
Rolling and rolling. Why on earth am I here? Roll, roll.
Although a brief resting period was given, I did not do much to tire myself out.
The Hero dealt with almost all the monsters. The students who should be training were nothing more than mannequins offering enthusiastic applause.
In our school curriculum, the wasteland training is a valuable opportunity for the students.
From Noble mtl dot com
While there were some complaints from the students, the weight of the name “Hero of the Holy Sword” and his oblivious behavior had created a delicate situation.
The staff members who were leading the training tried to convey their concern to the Hero, but he didn’t seem to understand.
Whatever it is, I want to return to school quickly. I wish somebody would end this meaningless training early.
Suddenly looking at Cecilia, she was also sitting in a corner, silently hugging her knees..
“Cecilia, you’re not really sick, are you?”
“…I’m fine.”
“Let me know right away if you’re feeling ill or uncomfortable. That’s why I’m here with you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Huh? All of sudden?”
I found myself confused by her unexpected apology.
Sorry?
What did I say…?
What did I say just now? Why is she apologizing?
Did I scold her? Did I offend her? Did I say something to upset her without realizing it?
Oh! I really need to mind my tongue! What did I do to my only student without even knowing?
Just as I was figuring out how to take back whatever hurtful thing I might have said, a familiar presence caught my attention.
I turned my face to see Rebecca with an awkward smile, approaching Cecilia.
“Cecilia~ Can you talk with me for a moment~? I hope you can join us upfront when break ends.”
I stared at Rebecca silently, but she explicitly nagged Cecilia.
“I really miss your presence. You wouldn’t say no, would you? After all, you’re part of the ‘Hero Party’… oh! Of course, it’s unfortunate for you Neferna professor, whether you’re the academic advisor or whatever, but you have no right to refuse.”
” …I haven’t said anything yet….”
“Mmm, sure.”
Rebecca murmured in a low voice.
Even if I don’t push myself to accept, I have no ground to refuse such significant request regarding the Hero Party, which has school-wide implications.
The only thing, however, is my responsibility as her academic advisor to not leave Cecilia’s side.
“If Cecilia’s going, I’m going too. That’s not a problem, right?”
“Whatever you say. But be aware that neither I nor the Hero can guarantee your safety. Protect yourself with that pathetic weapon of yours.”
“I am not that frail to need protection from a runny-nosed brat. I just need my whip.”
“Runny-nosed…”
When Rebecca was about to argue back with a twisted face, Cecilia stood between us. In her weak voice, she said:
“…No, I’ll go alone.”
“Going alone might be a little difficult… In that case, go on ahead. When changing the order, it’s necessary to let the other professors know.”
As I gently put it that way, Cecilia looked at me with rare shaken eyes and slowly shook her head.
Seeing what that might mean, I gave a soft laugh and said.
“Cecilia, don’t forget the pendant if anything happens.”
At the word “pendant,” Cecilia paused for a moment, but then followed Rebecca’s back with a drooping tail.
***
I held my breath and followed Rebecca. My steps heavy as if I were shackled.
It’s evident why Rebecca summoned me at this time; there was no need to ask.
The conversation I accidentally overheard in the hall last night flashed in my head, causing a faint dizziness that messed with my steps.
I couldn’t put Professor Nefertina at risk.
“Why such a face? Anyone would think I’m doing something wrong, you.”
“… I’m sorry.”
“Do you know how unpleasant that is to look at? Stop playing the victim all the time. It’s annoying enough to put up with you in the party, and are you planning to ruin everyone else’s mood with that kind of sulkiness?”
“… I’m sorry.”
“Fine, what can I possibly say to an animal like you? You even smell of raw meat.”
A smell.
A single commonplace word caused my eyes to well up with tears.
For the fox tribe, smell is a sense that surpasses sight and touch.
I reflexively buried my nose in my sleeve, but there was no stimulation in the wind that brushed against my nose.
Really, there was truly no smell… I couldn’t even smell the most commonplace body odor.
“This is your homeland, right? The fox tribe is from the snowy regions. If you’re feeling good, how about a howl? Does the fox tribe not do such a thing? Awoooo! Howl, howl! The same, right? Pfft!”
“…………..”
“Laugh. It was a joke.”
“… I’m sorry.”
“If you keep mumbling ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ just try it one more time.”
Rebecca extended her finger long and pointed at my lips.
As I flinched and recoiled, Rebecca hinted at a direction with a slender stretched smile.
It was a location a bit far from the rest who were resting in the ordinary snowfield where nothing was in sight.
“I…”
“Now, do what you always do.”
At the expression ‘what you always do,’ I stared blankly at Rebecca. Her expression abruptly contorted.
“What are you looking at so stupidly? I’m talking about luring the monsters. The monsters! Bring your friends!”
“You mean… right now…? The others are resting…”
“I know that! Do I look blind to you? Do you think I don’t know?”
Her words were somewhat imposing. Seemingly a habitual raise of her hand to me who was startled, I tightly closed my eyes and deeply bowed my head.
Even though I couldn’t hear the horse’s whinnying, luckily, it didn’t turn into a hand-to-hand combat, perhaps because I was conscious of the surrounding glances.
I looked in the direction Rebecca was pointing.
The fox tribe is a race that inherits the power of the spirits particularly strongly.
Although other species may not notice, there were undoubtedly traces of magical energy of some setup or traps there. I was not so stupid that I couldn’t understand the implication to go there directly.
It felt like the last straw that I had faith in was being cut off.
I wondered if all the words I heard that night were not just jokes.
But she must have sincerely said those words.
Shame and humiliation are familiar to me. But I don’t know what it’s like to feel death. I didn’t have the courage to walk towards the trap, knowing that I would die.
“Re…Rebecca…”
“What are you so scared of? There’s no information about any ‘blood clans’ appearing around here. At most, you’re looking at a few monsters. Just go around there lightly. Like you normally do!”
“………. You see, there’s, there’s… a strange energy around there… from the spirits….”
“That, that’s it! That’s what! I’m telling you to look at! Are you deaf? Are those hideously shaped ears just for decoration? Do you want me to cut them off if they’re not needed? Dare you whine in front of me one more time.”
“……Please… I beg of you…”
Rebecca forcefully shoved me off her shoulders.
I reluctantly stepped back, looking over my shoulder several times, only to encounter Rebecca’s livid face and shrink back.
“Ugh…….”
I move forward, processing every step of the way.
It’s not that far.
It hurts, just a little bit, not much.
There’s magic involved. It’s a trap, I’m sure of it.
The spirits friendly to our fox clan instinctively tell me so.
To construct such an elaborate magic circle, the power of Rebecca’s clan must have been needed.
I had no choice. I knew too well that if I ran away, I’d be falling into the hands of Rebecca and her clan.
I crouched down, clenching my knees and covering my ears. The magic circle starts to demonstrate its power, meeting its conditions.
An uncanny noise…..
The ground seemed to disappear beneath me all of a sudden.
And what emerged was the abyss, appearing right under my feet.
The ground, disappearing without an end in sight.
A feeling of buoyancy follows, the taste of bitterness emergent from the pit of my stomach. It felt as though the blood that had been rushing to my head dropped all the way to my feet.
In my desperation, I was lucky enough to grab onto a protruding rock.
My hand imprinted into the rough, sharp surface and I let out a scream, but I stifled it.
“Rebecca! Cecilia! What is happening?!”
The hero’s voice emanates from the top of the cliff. Before I could cry out for help, Rebecca’s feigned shriek covers up mine.
“Ahhh! Hero! The ground just… Cecilia was swallowed!”
“Ugh, what do I do?!”
“Hero, it’s dangerous!”
“Rebecca! Cecilia is in danger…Gosh! We have to save her…!”
Strength drains from my hand.
But I did not want to die like this.
My head fills with blinding whiteness, and my senses sharpen to a razor’s edge.
In the moment I thought everything was truly over,
“…ha, you guys, come out because you’re annoying.”
…an incredible face reached out from the cliff.
“Grab on!”
“Professor Neferna!”
Overwhelmed by the rushing sense of sorrow, I couldn’t bring myself to wipe away my tears.
I could almost feel my fingertips brushing by. How much time was left?
Professor Neferna never gave up, pulling even harder.
And just when I thought we had finally grasped hands…a shower of icy snow fell from above, and my balance faltered.
“Uh? Uh uh? Ahhhhh!”
***
“….Damn! I couldn’t protect her. Cecilia…! I’m a sinner.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, hero…! It was an accident that couldn’t have been helped.”
“…But I promised to protect her…!”
From Noble mtl dot com
Hero Kim Yuseong grit his teeth as he muttered these words, and Rebecca clung to him, trying desperately to comfort him.
Other students and faculty appeared one by one, having realized the commotion.
Undine, who had headed for the cliff, spoke coldly, not even deigning to look their way.
“I’m not interested in interfering with your games, but how about you assess the situation? Unless, of course, you’re enjoying the fact a person has fallen off the cliff.”
They couldn’t respond.
Especially Rebecca. While looking troubled, she shot Undine a sharp look, as if something had touched a nerve.
The other professors were informed about the situation. The situation would have been more complicated if there weren’t professors who knew Eugene.
They stared down the cliff.
Woon-Dine smiled faintly, gazing towards him beyond the endless void.
“Heh…it’s troublesome if you play around too much, my lord.”