Chapter 24
The place Rei and Leaf took me to was quite familiar to me.
"This is..."
"That's right. The training hall."
"They've cleared out the inner walls. They were destroyed during the battle, so they're rebuilding it now."
I entered while listening to their explanation.
Inside, 12 of our classmates, excluding us three, were gathered, each finding their own spot.
"Roman, you're here. We've been waiting."
"I'm glad to see you're looking well."
"You're late."
Arthur, Fiona, and Alexandra's words came in order.
Their words really showcased the differences in their personalities.
I stepped into the center of the gathered group.
Gazes converged onto me.
This familiar focus of attention now carried a clearly different energy than before.
Contempt, mockery, disregard, sarcasm.
I couldn't find any trace of those past glances.
What their eyes held now was gratitude, respect, reverence... and trust.
Their overnight change in attitude showed me that my efforts hadn't been in vain.
I knew it could be an act.
But even if it was, some part of the latter emotions had inevitably seeped into their hearts.
There was joy.
A sense of satisfaction welled up, filling my heart.
However, while suppressing these emotions further inside, I outwardly spoke with a somewhat light tone, "I heard the witness interviews were ongoing. Do they just let all the witnesses gather in one place?"
In response to my joke, this time, answers came not just from the three, but from others as well.
"It depends on who the witnesses are."
"We have some big shots here. Since the culprit was a training center instructor, even the City Hall has to tread carefully."
"With the Grand Duchess here, how could the City Guard detain us~?"
The last comment had a playful tone.
It was Alexandra, wearing her usual relaxed smile, who said it.
Fiona slightly furrowed her brow before immediately protesting.
"I never said I wouldn't cooperate. I just said I'd testify after the internal friend-or-foe identification was completely finished and when I judged it was safe to do so."
"But when that identification ends is up to you, Grand Duchess."
These two are the same as ever.
It was surprising they managed to gather quietly in one place like this.
"If you're going to fight, should we step outside?"
At my words, the two closed their mouths and lowered their half-raised bodies.
"So. I'd like to hear why you called me here first?"
"We want to hear your opinion on something, and we also have a proposal for you."
As expected of Arthur.
His proceedings were very neat.
I nodded, and Arthur began explaining the former, "We've already gone through one round of witness interviews. And no one mentioned you."
"To protect me?"
"That's right."
It was the same as with the Director.
If my name and abilities were exposed, the Abyss Worshippers who plotted this incident or mages with nefarious intentions would come after me, so they decided to keep my name under wraps to prevent that at the source.
In that case, I'd have to give up on public fame and officially recorded achievements.
However, just as the Director gave me the Blank Grimoire, my classmates would remember the favor I did for them in their hearts.
"Thanks. For looking out for me. And please continue to do so."
"...No. We were going to decide among ourselves, but your teammates told us your opinion was the most important. We were a bit hasty."
So Rei and Leaf said that.
When I turned my head to look at the two, my teammates cleared their throats awkwardly and averted their eyes as if embarrassed.
"I understand the first part, but what about the next?"
The proposal.
This might be the real main point.
Before getting to the main topic, Arthur briefly looked around.
As if that action was telling me to look around too, I also scanned the group.
Each face was different.
Although the emotions in their eyes towards me were similar, their expressions were all different.
Some were indifferent.
Some were sad.
Some were angry.
Some were expectant.
However, there was clearly an emotion shared by everyone gathered here.
A desire for revenge.
Arthur continued speaking, "Among the people gathered here, there are some who've never even spoken a word to each other before and some who were practically enemies."
At his words, Fiona and Alexandra glanced at each other furtively.
Besides those two, a few others were also seen checking each other's reactions.
"But there's something that binds us together. Two things, in fact."
One was that we had become mortal enemies with the Abyss Worshippers, with whom we were already hostile.
And the other was...
"Roman, we owe you our lives."
There was absolutely no certainty that they would have survived if I hadn't helped them.
It was an undeniably massive crisis.
However, a crisis didn't necessarily lead to destruction.
The ways of the world were unpredictable.
They might have physically broken through the blocked path with someone else's power instead of mine.
But that was mere speculation.
The only truth that remained was that this moment existed because I stepped up and that those here survived because of me.
"These things bind us together. So, let's tie this knot properly."
They would make the Abyss Worshippers our sworn enemies and public foes, and remembering the favor I did in saving them all, they would surely respond if I asked for their help.
The proposal from my classmates that Arthur spoke of contained content that was incredibly advantageous to me, with no reason for me to refuse.
"Honestly, I don't quite understand."
Is there really a need to go this far?
What I had aimed for was a relationship beyond acquaintances, but not quite friends.
And along with that, a special position as their benefactor.
Just that much.
But the consensus of my classmates that Arthur was talking about was to form one team with all of us and forge a strong bond.
"Roman, only your team and the Alexandria School trio had no casualties here."
It wasn't Arthur.
It was number 4, Holson Blackwood, who spoke.
As he said.
Except for those two teams, everyone else had lost at least one comrade.
Even Arthur and Fiona.
"We didn't even get to participate in the final battle."
It sounded grand, but he was just talking about the necromancer subjugation.
"Because there was loss, we realize the preciousness of having someone by our side, fighting for us. At least, that's how it was for me. So, I don't want to end our connection here with the people gathered here."
Because he was the one who had seriously introduced himself by the number Amaia had jokingly mentioned when we were leaving the underground level.
Holson's words resonated more deeply.
"Everyone feels similarly. And at the center of it all, you should be there, Roman."
At the brown-haired man's words, Amaia beside him chimed in with "right, right," saying it was about time he said something sensible.
"Let's stop overthinking this. Let's all just be a bit more honest, huh? It's about people who shared the same experience sticking together. Checking in on each other when we think of it, and cooperating when our exploration times match. That's all it is. I don't know why everyone's making it so complicated."
Rough speech.
It was number 8, Dustin.
As a few people started speaking up, even those who had been holding back added a word or two.
It felt less like a gathering to repay my favor and more like some kind of alumni meeting.
"...I didn't intend for it to become something this grand."
"What can you do? You did it, so you have to deal with it."
"That's right. Roman is the central figure."
Rei and Leaf, even you two.
"That's how it is. Say something. You're kind of the leader of this group, aren't you?"
Even Arthur, who had been so serious, was now acting like someone caught up in the mood.
I guess I couldn't just keep holding back, either.
The embarrassment just wouldn't subside.
It felt incredibly awkward for me to give a dedication speech in front of the Grand Duke's daughter, the heir of a major school, a rising star of a large guild, and others.
After awkwardly clearing my throat.
I started speaking off the top of my head, looking at a place where there was nothing, just people.
"In this place, we have no wine glasses to share our vows, no bread and salt to promise non-aggression. We don't even have a geass to swear upon as mages, staking our mysteries."
That's why the promise of this gathering is pure.
"Perhaps we're still novices who know nothing of this world. This very statement might be a childish covenant only possible because we don't yet fully understand the weight of promises."
That's why there are connections that can be formed.
"So let's promise something we can't help but keep. Let's remember today. And let's move forward, reflecting on yesterday."
Because that's probably the best role we, as survivors, can play.
"Let's meet again in the Abyss."
And so, the last day at the training center drew to a close.
§
Around the time when, my classmates, who had already finished their witness interviews while I was asleep, were leaving the training center one by one to return to their original affiliations.
Dustin, who I thought had left, sneaked into the infirmary that was being used instead of the collapsed dormitory and handed me something.
It was a bottle.
And a pretty well-sealed one at that.
"What's this?"
"What else? It's alcohol."
As he said this, Dustin flashed a grin.
It was a smile that seemed to mix satisfaction and mischief in equal parts.
"I had it stashed away, but I'm leaving now anyway. It's precious, you know? I'm giving you the last of it."
"...Why are you giving this to me?"
"Come on, we're close now. Anyway, good luck. The weather seems especially nice today. It’s the kind of day to get lucky."
I wasn’t oblivious to what Dustin was implying.
They say they didn't teach us the really important stuff properly, but modern basic education did include sex ed.
But if the target is Rei or Leaf?
Absolutely not.
"Do you know how old they are?"
"No idea? Ah, the beast-folk girl is 16 or something? What does it matter? She's an adult, right?"
Ah... right.
This guy is a pure otherworlder.
He's someone who accepts that 15-year-olds are adults as common sense.
But I don't.
By my standards, an adult is at least 18, preferably 20.
"They're too young."
"Hm? Is a 16-year-old beast-folk still a child? I don't think so. Beast-folk lifespans are shorter than humans... Ah, sorry. So that's your preference. Well, you do know your stuff."
"...Are you really from the Celsus School?"
The symbol of the Celsus School was a branch split into three.
Each branch represents intellect, knowledge, and wisdom.
And the meaning contained in the trunk supporting these branches was none other than Virtue.
In this field (the mage society) full of scoundrels, the Celsus School stood firm like the last bastion of conscience.
So much so that those who couldn't endure the school's emphasis on morality left en masse to form other schools.
Why is someone like this from such a school...
"Heh heh, that's why they stuck me in the training center, isn't it? Anyway, I'm off. You don't have to pay me back for this, just let me know how it goes later."
"Like hell I will."
A curse reflexively slipped out before I knew it.
But Dustin seemed to find that even more amusing, giggling as he quickly left.
Leaving a bottle of alcohol in my hand.
Maybe I should give it to an instructor as a farewell gift.
Or maybe the Director.
I was thinking this when.
The sound of the door opening and my teammates entering.
I greeted the two while trying to hide the barely concealed bottle of alcohol with my body.
"Oh. You're here."
"What's with that expression? Like you've done something wrong. Did you decide where to go without telling us?"
"Watch your tone..."
Enough.
I guess it's okay for just today.
I stopped pointing out Rei's speech and answered.
"The City Guard asked if I'd consider joining them."
Rei pulled up a chair to sit down and asked back.
"And?"
"I said no. The City Guard has too many restrictions. If I train there, I'll just end up watching from the back and maybe killing a few monsters that are already mostly dead."
"You could go with Fiona."
"That wouldn't be good for me or for Fiona."
After all, parachute appointments were frowned upon in any organization.
"It's not good to make a bad first impression."
Because someday, we might need to cooperate with the City Guard.
"Then? Where are you planning to go?"
"I'm thinking about it. There are places I could go."
For training, one didn't necessarily need to be affiliated with any organization.
One just needed to find an explorer with an instructor qualification.
It was possible even on an individual basis.
If I really couldn't find anyone, I could request an assignment from the Exploration Union.
"The Director recommended a school, and I'm considering that."
"A school? Do they accept Devil Sorcerers?"
"It's a school made up of Devil Sorcerers, apparently."
I was a bit uneasy about them being under re-approval review.
But it would be better than other places for improving my skills as a Devil Sorcerer.
"What about you, Rei, Leaf? Do you have places in mind?"
"Um..."
The two seemed hesitant to speak, as if they were feeling awkward about something.
Then Rei opened her mouth first, "Sorry. I've decided."
"No need to be sorry. Where?"
"Arthur told me to come to his side. He said he'd introduce me to his master."
"Master?"
"The guild master of the Frontier Guild."
Ah, then you should definitely go.
If you can learn from someone of that caliber, you absolutely should go.
Even if you don't receive direct teachings, just making an impression would be beneficial.
"It was the fastest way to get stronger. If I don't get stronger..."
Rei's voice got quieter towards the end, so I couldn't hear the last part.
I thought about asking her to repeat it, but Rei didn't seem inclined to say more, so I let it go.
"What about you, Leaf? Huh?"
Gulp, gulp.
What's this?
Am I hallucinating?
Leaf was chugging from the bottle with gusto.
It was a truly impressive display of drinking.
When did she even take it?
"Leaf! That's not water!"
"Phuuu...!"
I managed to snatch the bottle from Leaf's hand midway, but Leaf's condition already seemed to have deviated from normal.
"She drank half of it."
Whoosh—
"Roman!"
Leaf threw off her hood, revealing her face and the pointed ears characteristic of a half-elf that she had been hiding all this time.
She was definitely drunk.
"I! We! You won't abandon us, right?"
"What are you talking about? Of course not."
"We'll! We'll keep being a team, right!"
Leaf's words had decreased dramatically recently.
Is this the thing she had been worrying about all this time?
"Just, just stay with us. Okay? Rei and I are strong too! We're good at magic too! Like this! Like this!"
"...Summon Undine first before you do that."
Ignoring Rei's sarcastic comment, Leaf grabbed my clothes and brought her face close to mine.
"Promise! Promise you'll team up with us!"
Team up with Leaf and Rei?
I'm the one who should be asking you two that.
Both Leaf and Rei have their own issues that could explode at any time, but they were clearly the first connections I could call comrades since I set foot in this world.
The reason I didn't propose to the two of them first about continuing as a team after leaving the training center was because I thought they might have different paths.
But maybe that was just me trying to be comfortable by leaving the decision to them.
"I promise."
I held Rei's hand too, who was pretending not to watch from the side, and said.
"Let's go together."
To the Abyss.
To that place where the answers we were seeking might be hidden.
§
"Meaaaaaa!!"
Is it starting again?
Mea sighed as she stared intently at the pathetic yet pitiful school head who was shouting her name to the heavens.
It would probably be the same repertoire today too.
She wished she would consider her feelings, having to listen to the same things she always said.
The re-approval review isn't even that big of a problem.
Just add some ghost school members and grease a few palms with money.
It was something they had done several times already, so she still couldn't understand why she always acted like this when this time came around.
However, this time was different.
The list of ghost school members they always used got leaked.
That could be solved by getting a new register of names from somewhere else.
But the real problem was something else.
"We, we have no money...!"
"Huh?"
"We ran out of budget!"
This was an emergency.
"Part-time job... Should I look for a part-time job? But exploration is scary... Ugh, where can we find some money...!"
Watching the school head clutching her head and trying to squeeze out money, Mea felt a sense of crisis for the first time in a very long while.
But they said crisis and opportunity were two sides of the same coin.
The hole that would emerge from the collapsed sky was, unexpectedly, right above their heads.
"Ah, excuse me. Is this the Telema School?"
Black had always been a lucky color for Devil Sorcerers.
The black-haired young man who opened the door and entered could truly be called a godsend.