Chapter 192 : Chapter 192

Chapter 192 : Honor and Glory (3)

Cadets ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍dispatched to the battlefield were guaranteed treatment equivalent to full-fledged knights, and that extended to their lodgings as well.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍other words, we were provided with comparatively cozy quarters separate from the ordinary soldiers, allowing us to live in at least some comfort.

That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍said, it was still only a three-person tent slightly larger than the four-person rooms considered the worst accommodations at the Academy.

Still, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was better than nothing. Compared with sleeping rough or barracks packed to bursting with enlisted soldiers, this place was practically paradise.

-STEP.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍finishing my assigned mission, I headed toward my tent with steps that were neither light nor heavy.

I would have to wake early again before long, but I needed to rest, even if only a little.

As I walked through the flickering torches of the encampment, all kinds of information hammered itself into my mind by the moment.

Regardless of my will, as naturally as breathing in and out.

-“Look. These were the boots that cultist bastard was wearing when he was lying there today. They are practically brand-new. How the bastard got hold of them was…….”

The everyday conversations of soldiers joking around after finishing their duties.

-“Nngh…….”

The presence of a sentry dozing while standing watch.

-“Hey, that cadet knight is passing over there. Look.”

-“It really is him. Look at those eyes. Is it pressure? How can someone that age have eyes like that?”

The gazes directed toward me, and the whispers centered on the same subject.

-“Did you see him fight last time? He fights like he does not care what happens to his body, but he never gets hit even once.”

-“Is he really even human like us?”

A succession of information was gathered almost automatically, and I assessed its nature.

-“……He is incredible. I heard he has already cleared eight battlefields.”

From soldiers having such conversations, I sensed awe.

-“…….”

From officers who greeted me by silently bowing their heads whenever our eyes met, I sensed respect.

-“Young Master Enlight, are you returning? What mission have you just completed……?”

From knights who stopped to speak with me, I sensed admiration and affection.

‘This is awkward.’

I had received those gazes for long enough that I should have been getting used to them, but I was not.

Even though it was a situation I could barely have imagined until last year—one where my very existence was being acknowledged—it did not feel particularly pleasant.

Why?

‘A considerable number of them probably treated my existence as little more than drinking-party entertainment until a year ago.’

The Wastrel Young Master, the disgrace of the Duchy of Enlight. Thinking of how I must have been the subject of countless people’s gossip in such humiliating terms made me feel that way.

‘It is pathetic.’

There was nothing to gain from being so twisted that I could not accept goodwill as goodwill.

Even so.

‘I feel like I am going to throw up.’

That physiological disgust was not something I could control through will alone.

But what could I do?

I could only deaden that loathing, those emotions, and myself, then show them respect.

Thinking that the original Rain Enlight had longed for this very respect so desperately……it was rather ironic.

The reason I indiscriminately gathered even information that seemed unnecessary, or even irritating, was to think.

What harbored hostility toward me, and what did not?

And among those hostile elements, what could actually threaten me?

To outward appearances, I might have seemed to be walking with my guard down, but those thoughts repeated endlessly in my mind.

It was a habit I had acquired over the past year, during which I had endured assassination attempts and crossed countless battlefields.

Though I had spare lives, I could not know when I might be attacked. I had to remain prepared for threats at all times.

A life spent constantly sharpening my senses, unable to lower my guard.

‘I am tired.’

Of course it could not help but be exhausting. Compared with my life before that—up until around the first semester, when I had lived more loosely—I could feel my mental strength wearing down at a noticeably faster pace.

At times, doubts would well up. Was there really any point in maintaining such a level of vigilance, one bordering on paranoia, at all times……?

But whenever I felt that way, the sharpened senses I had cultivated always saved my life.

For example, just like now.

‘Footsteps concealing their presence, about fifteen paces behind me.’

What I sensed was the presence of someone concealing themselves as thoroughly as possible.

Since some point after I returned, they had been following me from a fixed distance with skilled footsteps.

‘They are no ordinary opponent.’

Even though I had kept my senses sharpened, I had only barely noticed them midway through.

Despite roaming countless battlefields and missions, to the point where I could claim to have entered the ranks of the strong.

‘Someone formidable?’

After noticing their presence, I tried to gauge their level. Just how strong was this stranger following me?

‘There is no wasted movement in their stride. It feels as though they know precisely how to use their body.’

Though both involved concealing one’s presence, assassins and warriors each had their own specialized methods.

The former were relatively specialized in making use of techniques and their surroundings, while the latter were specialized in controlling their bodies precisely to erase their presence.

‘And……this one is the latter.’

It was an insight I had gained from my past days, and from the deaths repeated throughout them.

Once I had roughly identified the nature of my enemy—

‘I will lure them in.’

I would draw them somewhere no one else could get caught up in it, while making sure the person tailing me would not sense anything strange.

‘The cadets’ tent……the other two are both away on missions, so for now I will be the only one using it.’

-STEP.

Once I had made my decision, all that remained was to act.

I reached the tent naturally, then sat on an officer-grade field bed with my body steeped in fatigue.

And then.

‘They stopped.’

The person stood still at the entrance to the tent, holding their breath.

Now that they could assume I was resting, this was likely the decisive moment.

“…….”

They did not realize I had noticed them. I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword, intending to ambush them and seize the first move.

What followed immediately after that was—

-WHOOSH.

A leap without a shred of hesitation.

“Wha—?!”

A startled woman’s voice reached my ears……

……Had I heard it somewhere before?

-CLANG—!

My sword collided in an instant with the sword the woman had drawn.

An astonishingly decisive response despite the ambush, and outstanding physical ability.

But what surprised me more than that was……

“Ahaha……that startled me…….”

The mysterious person who had been following me had a face I knew well.

Bright brown hair tied up, round glasses, blue eyes visible through them, a gentle impression, and a bewildered smile.

There was only one conclusion I could draw from that visual information.

“……Senior Pleta?”

The woman standing before me was Pleta Templeton, one of the seven protagonists of and the ‘Pilgrim of the Lowest Place’.

“Ahahahaha!”

“I apologize…….”

“Hahaha……ah, that is hilarious.”

That was the conversation we had after the incident was resolved. I certainly needed to apologize for suddenly drawing my sword on her.

“No, what do you have to apologize for, Junior? I am the one who should apologize.”

That was how the woman who received my apology responded. She gave an awkward smile and scratched her head with unaffected ease.

“I tried to surprise you by concealing my presence, but I never imagined you would notice me—and then mistake me for an enemy too…….”

“……I was hasty.”

“I told you it is fine. I was at fault too.”

Fortunately, Pleta was a good-hearted person, so the matter did not escalate into anything serious.

“But I was surprised in another way too, Junior. Frankly, there are not many people who can notice me when I am determined to conceal my presence…….”

Pleta seemed more surprised that I had noticed her presence than by the act itself.

“Um, I believe it is because of my combat experience.”

“Hmm…….”

It was partly an excuse, and partly the truth. How many times I had repeated that combat experience was another matter.

“Frankly, when I heard the rumors about you, I was not sure whether to believe them. Even when I heard you had subjugated that ‘Knight Executioner’ alone, or that you were distinguishing yourself on the battlefield.”

“I see.”

“……Ahaha, sorry if that sounded offensive? I know how skilled you are, Junior.”

“No, I believe it is a reasonable suspicion.”

If anything, because she knew my abilities, it must have been even harder for her to believe.

‘Like everyone else, she probably thought my achievements had been exaggerated somewhat because of my connection to the Princess.’

Though I had been better than average before, I had not surpassed the level of a cadet when Pleta knew me.

“But……now that we have crossed blades once, I see. Yes, there was no lie or exaggeration.”

“…….”

Of the seven protagonists of , Pleta had the most versatile talent, at least in terms of physical ability.

Conversely, that meant she possessed enough strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other seven despite that broadly capable physicality.

Her strength lay in her uniquely cool-headed analytical ability, exceptional intuition, and the tactics she constructed through them.

Those two abilities might seem opposed to each other, but because she excelled at both, she could accurately assess the full capabilities of either herself or her opponent and devise appropriate tactics.

‘It may be close to the ideal my master aimed for, and the realm I must reach.’

Being Pleta, she must have accurately assessed my current skill from that single exchange.

‘Has even my ordinary skill reached around the level of a Master Knight?’

Through that assessment, I could also gauge my objective ability without 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』.

In any case, more importantly.

“By the way……what brings you here, Senior? I heard you were extremely busy carrying out missions as well.”

What I needed to know was her purpose. Was something wrong?

“Well, what business could I have? I was nearby on a mission, heard that you were here, and decided to stop by.”

“Ah…….”

Was it simply because Pleta was such a good person?

But was that really the only reason?

Perhaps it was because I had become so purpose-driven, but Pleta’s value as a knight on the battlefield was too extraordinary for her to come all this way merely for social interaction.

As if to prove my thought that there had to be circumstances deeper than that—

“Well~ I was asked for a small favor too?”

“A favor?”

“Yeah, from Yuna, Khan, Serene, and Junior Elwin, among others. I saw the other juniors when I went to Endinium last time.”

“Ah.”

“They asked me to check whether you were all right if I happened to see you. They seemed quite worried.”

Yuna, Khan, Serene. I had a feeling as soon as those names came up, but so that was it.

‘Did I make them worry?’

It had been a long time since I had seen them, and I truly had been moving from one dangerous place to another……

“I see……I have barely contacted anyone since heading to the battlefield.”

“Well, that was part of it, but there was another concern too.”

“What?”

“They said you did not look very well even before you went to the battlefield?”

“…….”

I had not looked well.

……Certainly, compared with the first semester, I had driven myself rather harshly during the second semester of last year.

I had tried to hide it so I would not make anyone feel something was off, but……

Had they all seen through it?

‘Was the problem that I tried to pretend I was fine around Yuna, Serene, and Khan, whose intuition is so sharp?’

“Is that how I seemed?”

“Yes. Yuna was beside herself with worry because of it. Oh, she told me not to mention her if I saw you……but who cares!”

“…….”

I honestly had not known she had worried that much. Truly.

The events in which Yuna and I had been closely involved were concentrated in the first semester, at most.

‘She has plenty of other friends too, so I thought she was enjoying herself in her own way.’

Well, that was something.

“That is something……”

Before I knew it, I was voicing exactly what I had thought and holding my forehead.

“……I have no excuse.”

There had been circumstances, but making them worry was honestly something I felt sorry about.

Besides, even though everyone knew I was not all right, had they not merely pretended to be fooled by my act?

“Hehe.”

But Pleta merely looked at me with a quiet laugh.

Then.

“You are loved, Junior.”

“Is that what it is?”

“It is.”

To be loved.

When was the last time I had used, or even considered, such a romantic word?

It was an expression that felt endlessly unfamiliar, but……

It did not feel too bad.

After living through such bleak and desolate days, perhaps I had come to understand the meaning of words like that, even a little.

“……It is not bad.”

Though it made me feel so oddly ticklish that I had to dismiss it like that.

“On the other hand, I also think you are loved a little too much…….”

“What?”

“No, I was just talking to myself.”

“Ah, yes.”

What could that possibly mean?

No one but Pleta herself could know.