Chapter CXLV - Kingdom Crisis (part 2)

"So you're telling me she fought all those monsters by herself?!"

"There's nothing I could have done! I don't have a physical weapon, and-"

"Arfius! You are a man! You were suppose to be the one fighting, not protecting!"

"Dad! I tried too, believe me! But the plan works the best if I help her in saving the people! That way she can focus more on fighting!"

Ah… I can hear the father and son arguing so loudly…

I slowly opened my eyes thanks to those two shouting. When I opened my eyes, the nurse at the infirmary quickly stopped me from getting up. Instead, she gave me a glass of medicine to help me regain my energy.

I looked around searching for Arfius and his father, but they were not inside. Apparently my ears are too strong, I can hear them outside the infirmary, arguing.

There wasn't anyone else inside. Looks like they gave me some space to rest.

The nurse then headed out to talk with the others outside, and that's when everyone started pouring in.

Jericho, Manda, and everyone else from my first year's class E and second year's class A went inside to see how I'm doing. Arfius and his father are also standing outside, watching from the opened door.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like a pudding. See?"

Jericho asked, and I showed her by waving my left arm around that is really like a pudding. I can't feel my left arm at all.

"Ah, that would be the sedative. Your muscles were quite tensed up from your sleep, so I gave her a little something to calm down."

The nurse said from the side, and Jericho laughed.

"What the hell, you are so weak now."

"Hey, I'm a human too…"

Everyone started telling me how things went outside of the city. The civilians were rescued by Arfius in a flash, and only a few of them got injured. But plenty of magicians from Xyphon are heavily injured while five of them lost their lives.

I let out a sigh. Arfius said there were only three...

Even when I am this strong, I still can't save everyone.

I need to get stronger… Far stronger.

After a few minutes of talking, the nurse told everyone to leave me alone from now on so that I can rest. They heeded the nurse's words and left one by one. In the end, everyone left the room.

"How are you feeling?"

A voice came from my side, and the headmaster was standing and leaning against the walls.

"Well, aren't you the one with the entrances?"

The headmaster then walked to a chair and sat on it. There is no one else in this room, so we both are free to talk.

"How's your head?"

"Great, but not as dumb as yours."

"Heheh. Calling me dumb. That's rich."

I chuckled, but the look on his face was quite serious.

"... You still haven't answered my question. How are you feeling?" 

"So far? Terrible. I lost all my energy, and I couldn't even save five people. Amazing how powerful I am now, and yet I'm still terrible at saving people. I feel like I'm messing around too much..."

"Well, it has always been in your nature."

I glared at him with a bored expression.

"… I mean, stop blaming yourself for not being able to save them. No one here can do better than what you just did. Trust me, I know."

"... What about the culprit?"

"Astar Belmar was sighted on the castle walls around the time of the attack, but he got away. The magicians are now chasing after his tracks as we speak."

"Chances are they probably won't find him."

"I agree. But the next time he comes, you will be far stronger and more ready."

Surprisingly, hearing his words made me a little bit spirited up.

"Anything else I should know?"

"Yeah. It's about your emm... sword."

The headmaster took out an item from his magic ring. Oh, right. I forgot to put back my sword. I must have left it on the monster's corpse somehow.

It looked very chipped. Like, heavily damaged. A small piece of the middle is missing already, and a long vertical crack can be seen.

"Woah... It's amazing how it even survived that."

"I know. I could get you a new sword if you want."

"No need. This is a souvenir."

I took the sword from his hands and placed it on its scabbard, then I placed it back inside my ring.

"Oh, and Julius came visiting. He wants to tell you that the mutant dragon you and he were fighting is actually a merge between a human and an elder dragon."

"Ah... That was why the skin was very hard."

The headmaster looked very concerned, but I have no idea why.

"Rize... You just fought a mutant elder dragon, and then killed off multiple monsters, as well as slaying two other dragon mutants.

Then you run around the city with Arfius, saving people and killing monsters. What you did was... impossible, even for you."

"I am well aware... But I can't just let people get hurt."

"I know. You have the heart of a hero."

"Aww, shanks."

I said with a really mocking tone, and the headmaster laughed. He got up and straightened his robe, getting ready to leave.

"Oh, and Arfius is taking all the credit for killing those things. If you want it the other way, I can tell everyone who-"

"No, no, no. That is exactly the way I wanted it."

The headmaster grinned and nodded before cladding himself in bright light. The light turned on for three seconds before finally teleporting him away.

The nurse slammed the door open to see if there's anyone inside, and realized it's just me.

"Were you... talking with anyone?"

"I like doing monologues."

"Oh... Okay then."

She closed the door while mumbling something about too much sedatives. Then I placed my head back on the pillow and closed my eyes.

Today, five people died. All because I couldn't be fast enough to help them. I was playing around in the castle too much. I should've just killed that elder dragon mutant and immediately fly to help everyone.

I need to get much stronger, faster.

I can't even handle losing five people… I don't think I'll be able to be strong enough in the war...

Will I… even be able to stay sane if a war does break out?

Or will I lose my sanity and become the very thing I am working everyday as an adventurer to kill?

Becoming…

A monster.