Chapter 103: Chapter 103

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Morning Encounters

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The scent of dawn tickled the tip of my nose.

Slowly, my eyes opened, revealing the still-dark surroundings.

'What time is it?'

As I tried to sit up, I felt something constricting me.

Sure enough, Iris was holding me in a tight embrace.

She must have been in a deep sleep, as she was breathing softly.

On the bed opposite Iris, Hania was sleeping.

She slept in a proper posture, even wearing a delicate silk sleeping cap.

It was the very picture of sound sleep.

My girlfriend's sleeping form was quite impressive.

'Now that I think about it...'

It felt like my contract relationship with Hania was nearing its end.

Thinking that, I quietly twisted my body.

After sleeping several times while being held by Iris,

I had developed a knack for escaping her grasp.

I successfully slipped out of Iris's hold and exited the room.

After stretching my stiff body, which had been constricted by Iris, I realized this was the dormitory.

'I was out for a long time.'

It seemed fatigue had accumulated, whether I realized it or not.

I had been training almost every day before coming here.

It was clear my body had taken the opportunity to get some deep rest.

'More importantly, where's my actual room?'

Iris had brought me here on a whim, so I had no idea where it was.

'Never mind.'

It was dawn anyway.

The sun would likely rise soon.

It was actually for the best.

At this hour, it was about time to go check on that person.

'Good thing my body woke up out of habit.'

I decided to go for a run, combining it with my morning training.

Stepping outside, I felt the crisp, cold air characteristic of autumn.

It put me in quite a good mood.

I felt like I could live vigorously today too.

Maintaining a moderate pace, I began to run.

In the Holy Land of the Great Hero Olfram, there was a cathedral dedicated to him and the gods.

As I approached the cathedral, I noticed theology students who had woken up early.

Besides students from Jerion Academy, many students from other academies were also present.

They didn't look at me strangely.

After all, many ordinary students also performed morning prayers.

But today's morning prayer was different from usual.

Two figures, escorted, began to walk towards the cathedral.

The students gathered here all let out exclamations of awe and clasped their hands in prayer.

This was because the two figures were revered as symbols of the Holy Order.

The Noble Saintess.

Narea of Acrede.

The Saint.

Eden of Sirmiel.

The symbols of the Holy Order entered the cathedral together.

Among them, my eyes fell upon the Saintess, Narea of Acrede.

Her hair was pure white, like platinum.

Her eyes shone with a translucent brilliance.

Slightly shorter than the average woman, she wore a benevolent smile.

Watching her, I briefly marveled inwardly.

'Even seeing her again, she hides that monstrous thing so well.'

Her concealment skills were always astonishing.

Beneath that white dress, it must surely be screaming.

But she couldn't help it.

What was required of a Saintess was nobility.

However, what she possessed was a symbol of lust, far from nobility.

So she had no choice but to conceal it.

She feared that the faithful would see only her, not the gods.

At that moment, my eyes met with Sirmiel's.

As usual, he offered a benevolent smile before entering the cathedral.

Watching the throng of students, I followed them into the cathedral.

The small cathedral was bustling with people eager to see the Saint and Saintess.

The two prayed before the statue of the Goddess, who bestowed benevolent blessings upon Olfram's statue.

Beneath their prayers,

the cathedral was instantly filled with holy blessings.

But my eyes quietly scanned the place.

Earlier, I had mentioned someone's death in this international individual competition.

It was the main story of Act 4, Chapter 2, and the event that would make Lucas's exploits known worldwide.

Lucas, shaken mentally because he had killed Nikita with his own hands.

It was also the incident that would become the turning point for him to rise again.

[Act 4, Chapter 3: Assassination of the Saintess]

Preventing the assassination of the Saintess was the main objective of this episode.

And here, in this very place, was the culprit aiming for the Saintess's assassination.

I came today to confirm their face directly.

My eyes landed on someone's back.

Standing there was a cardinal.

I gazed at him for a moment, then turned around.

It wasn't time yet anyway.

The Saintess's assassination would occur immediately after the main round of the preliminaries concluded.

'Even if Jerion Academy is different, the other academies are proceeding exactly as in the original history.'

Due to Lucas's absence, Jerion Academy had deviated significantly from the original history.

Therefore, the other academies had spent the same time without change.

So there was no reason for the Saintess's assassination schedule to change either.

After the attempted assassination of the Saintess, the Holy Order would be completely overturned.

This was a necessary step for what was to come.

It was a stepping stone to bring Duke Robliaju, who had contracted with the Demon Lord, to the surface.

To draw him onto the stage of the scenario, the Saintess's assassination event itself had to happen.

'I've confirmed the incident will happen, so that's enough.'

Just as I walked out of the cathedral, I ran into someone I seemed to have many ties with.

"...Hanon Airey."

She, who quietly called my name, was Eve, the Unyielding Azure Flame.

Yesterday, and now, I really see her face often.

"Eve, good morning. Did you come for morning prayers?"

When I smiled, she glanced at the cathedral.

"Something like that."

Suspicion was in Eve's eyes as she looked at me.

Did I look like someone who would never attend morning prayers?

Unfortunately, that was the correct answer.

I wasn't one for religion.

The problem was, Eve herself was also very far removed from religion.

What she believed in was herself, not the gods.

For her to come here meant she had sensed something unsettling.

'Since the Unyielding Azure Flame also contains the power to destroy evil...'

She, too, must have subtly sensed the unsettling aura circling near the Saintess.

"I see."

For some reason, Eve's gaze felt quite sharp.

So, as I quickly tried to make my exit, Eve abruptly called out to me.

"Wait."

I stopped at Eve's call and turned back to her; she frowned slightly.

"Are you... involved with the Holy Order somehow?"

"No, nothing of the sort."

I had no connection whatsoever.

Despite my truthful answer, Eve only frowned and said nothing more.

She clearly didn't believe me.

"Well then, I should get going; I need to prepare for morning."

Eve's gaze remained on my back, but I quickly left her behind.

***

After returning to the dormitory and finding my actual room,

I put on my Jerion Academy uniform.

The Jerion Academy uniform was not only made of good material but also enchanted with restoration magic.

It wasn't bad as battle attire either.

Outside, it was already bustling.

Distinguished guests had flocked from all over the world to witness this international individual competition, so it was only natural.

The results of the preliminaries must have already been announced worldwide.

The news of First Prince Ergo Pharazon's elimination must have caused an uproar throughout the world.

Of course, his elimination was merely due to him breaking the rules.

Ergo's skill was not underestimated.

'It seems the Sword of Pharazon will be announced after the international individual competition.'

If it were announced now, it would only be overshadowed by the prestige of the international individual competition anyway.

So it seemed he had quietly returned to his home country.

Hoping he had properly apologized to Seron, I opened the door.

"Yikes!"

At that moment, someone standing in front of the door was hit in the head by the opening door.

I was just as flustered, not having expected anyone to be there.

I quickly checked who had been hit, and there stood a familiar face.

Seron Parmia.

She was there, clutching her forehead where a small bump had formed.

"Seron?"

When had she memorized my room number?

As I called her name, Seron slowly rubbed her forehead.

"Geez, you should check if anyone's in front before opening the door!"

"Maybe you're just too small to see."

"What are you talking about? We're not that different in height!"

Hearing that, I smiled faintly.

Seron flinched, then bit her lip tightly.

This was because she knew very well how much of a height difference there actually was between us.

But Seron soon released her lip.

Then she quickly glanced around.

Everyone was still busy with their morning preparations.

Moreover, most of the early risers had gone for morning prayers.

The students' rooms were all closed, with no sign of movement.

Seron confirmed this, then let out a soft breath.

As I looked at her questioningly, Seron abruptly beckoned with her finger.

"Prince Sweet Potato, lean in."

"What is it?"

"It's about Prince Ergo."

Had he gone to apologize?

At least he was someone who kept his promises, thankfully.

'Is she going to get mad that he did that because of her?'

Thinking Seron might do something like that, I obediently complied.

Immediately after, for some reason, I felt a warm sensation on my cheek.

It was a sensation I'd never experienced before, so for a moment, I couldn't process what was happening.

As I slowly turned my head, there was Seron, her lips having just left my cheek.

Her face flushed bright red, she trembled, clutching her collar tightly.

Her face looked like she was dying of embarrassment.

I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.

Then Seron, with trembling lips, forced out a pout.

"I-I-I said before I'd p-p-plant one on you, didn't I?"

"You."

Seron trembled uncontrollably.

If she was going to be that embarrassed, she shouldn't have done it.

Even I was starting to feel embarrassed just watching her.

"N-N-Next time, I'll do something even worse! So go ahead and keep tempting me like that!"

With that shout, Seron scampered away, moving her short legs quickly.

Her waddling gait reminded me of a penguin.

My hand cupped my cheek.

Before I knew it, I let out a hollow laugh.

I had no idea what that laugh meant.

***

And Hanon didn't know.

The moment Seron planted that surprise kiss on Hanon,

"Oh, um."

"..."

That two women had witnessed this scene.

Sharin Sazaris.

And Isabel Luna.

Sharin's eyes slowly fell on Isabel.

She was watching Hanon with calm eyes.

Even Sharin couldn't discern Isabel's emotions this time.

No.

Lately, Isabel's emotions had become increasingly unpredictable.

Especially concerning Hanon, something was amiss with Isabel, to the point where it felt like an obsession.

Their relationship had certainly started in the worst way possible.

However, somehow, various events had intertwined, making their relationship impossible to categorize precisely.

One thing was certain: Isabel relied on Hanon for emotional support far more than one would imagine.

Sharin knew that this reliance had explosively increased after the boycott incident.

"Rin."

"Yes, Bel."

"I'm going to win this individual competition."

Leaving those words behind, Isabel turned and walked away.

Sharin watched her silently, then sighed.

Then, with a complicated expression, she scratched her head.

Isabel was one thing, but...

For some reason, Sharin herself felt a strange unease in her heart after witnessing Seron's sudden action.

It was a truly unpleasant sensation.