Chapter 11
Not far from the Academy.
There's a city famous for not seeing the sun even during the day due to thick fog settled over the entire area.
The City That Doesn't Cry, Rukiye.
It's the largest slum within the Empire.
Due to its gloomy atmosphere and lack of light, it naturally became a crime-ridden slum.
Rukiye is like a sanctuary for the wicked.
-All dirty money passes through Rukiye.
Though it's said to be a slum where beggars live.
In reality, it's no different from a hell where assassin groups, black magicians, and murderers run rampant.
Even the Empire's guards can't easily patrol there.
As such, it's also a place where many villains thrive.
While there were many criminal organizations in the city, the most notorious among them was...
-I hear the slums have been turned upside down again.
-Was it that "Astro" or whatever again this time?
-That's right.
-The world's gone to the dogs.
Astro. Sometimes called the "Starless Stars".
Now a top-tier threat not just in Rukiye, but in the entire Empire.
After appearing like a comet about 2 years ago, they quickly swallowed up the slums and became the new overlords of the underworld.
For some reason, their activities have been quiet recently.
-Speaking of Astro, there's been no news of them lately.
-Did they get taken down by other organizations?
-Rumors say they left the Empire.
-I heard there was an internal split.
While various speculations ran rampant, no one knew the truth.
They were thoroughly veiled in mystery from the start.
All people could do was pray that those nightmares wouldn't appear again.
"......"
Meanwhile, in a building located in the city center.
In a basement covered with blackout curtains all around, only one girl was sitting at a desk.
Long, disheveled silver hair.
Empty eyes reflecting only hollowness.
The girl's identity was the vice-commander of 'Astro'. The second-in-command of the criminal organization that had swallowed the Empire's slums.
The girl doesn't move at all.
A living corpse. She's breathing, but that's all.
For her, nothing in the world held any meaning. Breathing was merely an activity to prolong life.
She resembles a doll with its strings cut.
"...I miss you, Commander."
The girl suddenly mutters incomprehensible words.
Tears have formed in her eyes.
Her deeply sunken pupils were recalling some scene.
[It's a brief farewell. I hope you all are doing well.]
A short, hastily scribbled letter.
With that, the commander disappeared from the members.
The girl fiddles with the innocent paper.
"Where on earth are you?"
Nearly half a year had passed.
Though he was always elusive, it was the first time contact had been lost for so long.
Perhaps... had they been abandoned?
A terrible assumption suddenly arises. The girl tries hard to erase it.
Just thinking about it felt like her heart was being torn to pieces. Teardrops fall.
"No, there's no way he would abandon us... I shouldn't doubt him..."
She tries hard to calm herself.
Yet longing remains in her trembling silver eyes.
As she sits listlessly with a chilling sense of solitude behind her, suddenly noisy sounds are heard from outside the door.
Brightly echoing laughter.
It soon enters as the door bursts open.
"Neria!!"
Bang-!
The door is roughly kicked open.
Beyond it stood a middle-aged man with red hair.
Perhaps he'd had a drink? When his eyes meet the girl's, the man shows a silly grin.
"Neria! So you were here!!"
"...What's the matter?"
"It finally came! It came!"
"I don't know what trouble you've caused again, but first, please calm down."
The girl glances at the man.
Whatever it was, she didn't seem to like him coming in making such a fuss.
With the commander gone. What was there to be so happy about...
"We finally got a message from the commander!!"
"...Pardon?"
The silver-haired girl is stunned for a moment.
She seemed to be checking in her mind if what she just heard was correct.
Soon, light returns to her previously empty pupils.
"Really?! When, where, how did it come!"
"Now, now, calm down. Look at this letter."
"Give it to me quickly!"
Neria quickly snatches the letter.
As if he knew she would be happy, the man smiles contentedly.
"The contents were simple. He asked us to protect some children. Ten of them, all fox beastkin."
The girl quickly checks the letter.
The handwriting, style, composition, even the habit of placing periods all matched the commander's.
Joy spreads over her silver eyes.
"I quickly handled it at my level. I selected only the most elite troops to escort the guests."
"Sniff, sniff......"
"You're not listening, are you?"
The girl with her nose buried in the letter, smelling it.
On the thin paper surface. Faint but clearly, the commander's scent was present.
Her shoulders tremble as if in ecstasy.
After breathing in for a while, the girl commands.
"...Get ready. The commander will need us soon."
Silver hair fluttering brilliantly.
The girl, preciously hugging the letter to her chest, bows her head as if in prayer.
"Everything according to his will."
It was worship solely for her god.
***
The snake and fox walking side by side.
Before long, we were able to reach the Academy's main gate.
It was truly an overwhelming building even seeing it again. Even Irene couldn't stop marveling for a while.
We'll be spending 3 years in a place like this from now on.
It was a feeling where strange excitement and tension coexisted.
So we entered the academy.
On the way to the main building where the entrance ceremony would take place, we were able to meet a familiar face.
I readily greet her.
"Miss Regia! It's been a while."
"...Young Master Snakers?"
Green eyes looking this way.
Pink hair fluttering in the spring breeze resembles fully bloomed cherry blossom petals.
The aviator goggles hanging around her neck are like a trademark.
'Regia Philertz.'
The girl who plays the protagonist role in the original work.
At the same time, the character I loved the most.
When Regia's eyes met mine, she stiffened with a start. Is it still difficult for her to deal with nobles?
I smile faintly.
"Have you been well?"
"Ah... y-yes."
"My~ You're so stiff. I thought we had gotten quite close last time."
"I-I'm sorry."
"Was it just my imagination?"
"N-no... it's, this is like a chronic disease..."
Regia, earnestly making excuses as if worried my feelings might be hurt.
She could just say if she's uncomfortable.
She couldn't even properly say things she disliked.
But I thought even that was fitting for the protagonist, and stood beside her.
"I'm glad I could keep my promise."
"Pardon?"
"I said we'd meet again after being admitted together."
"Ah... I just remembered."
"I almost felt neglected."
I added mischievously with a smile.
"Congratulations on entering the Academy, Miss Regia."
A light congratulatory greeting.
At a glance it might look like words offered as a formality, but for me it held special meaning.
'I really wanted to say this. Even just these words.'
Regia has no family.
It was perhaps natural, given her life of wandering without a home.
So no one had congratulated her on entering the academy.
1943 times. I had seen this scene in the game.
The girl standing alone in the entrance ceremony procession each time.
Though she tried to look bright, there seemed to be bitterness beyond the screen.
Each time, I wanted to tell her.
"Let's enjoy our pleasant academy life."
Just those warm words.
Regia is dazed, as if she hadn't expected it.
Her green eyes waver for a moment. The girl who had been stiff soon breaks into a bright smile.
It's a perfectly clean curve.
"Yes...!"
"Haha, shall we go then?"
We started walking again.
Perhaps her tension had eased a bit, as Regia's atmosphere seemed much more comfortable.
The girl, having regained her energy, took interest in the fox.
"Wow...! This is my first time meeting a fox beastkin!"
"Wh-what? What's with you?"
"I've met various beastkin while traveling the continent, but there were no foxes among them! C-can I touch your tail?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Aww..."
Irene snarls fiercely.
Regia, whose eyes had been sparkling, becomes dejected again at the prickly response.
It was quite a worthwhile scene to watch.
As I was enjoying this two-shot of popular characters from the original work, we soon arrive at the main building.
It was where the entrance ceremony would begin soon.
"Shall we go to the waiting line? It looks like we receive some guidance there..."
The interior crowded with students.
As I was looking around to line up, someone calls my name.
"Student Judah."
"...?"
"Judah Snakers. Is that you?"
When I turn my head, a man is looking at me. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a faculty member.
I tilt my head but answer the question.
"Yes, that's me... but what's this about?"
"Your seat is over there. Please sit in the first chair placed on the platform."
"Pardon?"
The man stops me as I was heading towards the general seating and points towards the platform.
I was momentarily puzzled by this unexpected development, but the faculty member simply pushed my back firmly.
"The entrance ceremony will begin soon. Please hurry."
"Wait a moment? Could you at least explain what's going on..."
"As you were informed in advance. Student Judah, as the valedictorian of this class, you are scheduled to give the new student representative speech."
"Pardon...?"
For a moment I thought I had misheard.
What, valedictorian? New student representative? Speech?
What nonsense is this?
Quite flustered, I threw a questioning remark at the faculty member.
"...Valedictorian, you say?"
"That's right. Did you not receive the notification?"
Only then does the faculty member pause.
"Student Judah, you were admitted as the valedictorian of this class. A speech is also prepared for you as the new student representative."
"...?"
Valedictorian? Me?
At this completely unexpected news, I felt my vision blur.