The Road to the Summit (2)

“Instructor?!”

The first to come running toward me was Miriam. Apparently, she had been at the very front, because her entire body was covered in black smudges resembling charcoal soot, and she was holding an old sword I had never seen before.

“Are you feeling all right now?”

Charlotte looked largely unchanged. The only noticeable difference was the enormous battleaxe she had used since before being assigned to Class E, strapped to her back, but judging by the four tomahawks hanging from her waist as well, it seemed she had found another solution of her own.

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard….”

Roxanna was just as she had always been. She had been the first among the Class E students to change, after all. Even the custom musket made especially for her looked no different.

“….”

The one who had changed the most was Kariya. Unlike before, when he had at least maintained something resembling a knight’s appearance, he was now covered from head to toe in leather armor that made him look more like a hunter than a knight. The quiver strapped to his back and the horn bow in his hand were the same.

“…You’ve all changed a lot since I last saw you.”

I spoke, still dazed...