[ Episode 193. Darkness appeared]
After Adrias appeared, the tense atmosphere continued.
Honen seemed to think for a moment about Adrias’ words, then spoke slowly.
“……I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know now. I’ll tell you later.”
Contrary to the atmosphere, Adrias using honorifics was awkward for no reason.
In a rather uncomfortable atmosphere, Adrias immediately turned his gaze and waved at Noah.
“How are you Noah?”
“What.”
“I came because I have something to say.”
“To me?”
Adrias nodded and she rose from her seat.
Then her bodyguards, who had been silent until now, stood up together.
“no. I will go alone.”
“But…”
“It’s okay.”
Noah shook his head and left the seat alone.
Soon after, Adrias followed him to a noisy cafe located next to the stadium.
The two of them sat down and started talking after ordering only water.
“so. Why did you call me?”
“Noah Claire. Don’t you already know?”
“I don’t know what you mean. What do I know?”
“That you might die soon.”
Noah was speechless at the sudden story.
And after a while, Noah, who hid his expression by pulling down his hood, spoke.
“I don’t know what nonsense you are talking about.”
“I heard from Ivy.”
“So I don’t know what nonsense you are talking about.”
“Noah Claire. Don’t you want to live?”
She sighed at Adrias’ words and shook her head slowly.
“I don’t need any help. It has always been and will always be.”
“I will not force you either. If you die like that, that too will be your destiny.”
Adrias got up from his seat without hesitation.
Then Noah looked up with dry eyes and asked.
“Is that the end?”
“yes. Please contact me if you ever change your mind. By the way, helping you is a big risk for me too.”
“why?”
“well.”
“No, why are you talking about taking risks?”
“I can’t say that now. I’ll let you know when you decide to get help.”
Adrias turned around.
Then Noah calmly but forcefully seized him.
“for a moment.”
“Please speak.”
“Did you tell your sister too?”
“I said.”
“……what?”
“You said you respected your choice.”
Hearing Adrias’ answer, Noah seemed to be worried for a while.
Then he nodded.
“okay. I will think about it. Isn’t there a time limit?”
“Tell me before you leave.”
“But it is. How did you know I was going to die soon?”
“I can’t even tell you that right now.”
“There are many secrets.”
Noah shrugged and sat down.
Adrias, who had finished talking, soon disappeared, and Noah, who was left alone at the cafe looking at the water served by the waitress, muttered to himself.
“Right choice.”
It was a word with an unknown meaning.
**
The academy was noisy every day.
Just like a festival, there were students who developed a pink mood, and there were also students who were distracted by the management of the festival.
Among them, I was a laid-back student.
There was still a match left, but the only opponent to be wary of was Vivian at most.
It’s also the semifinal match, which is coming soon, so the final probably won’t be finished.
“Mutu’s Honen… He was an unexpected guy.”
There was more to think about than that about Honen’s true identity.
He’s famous at the Millennium Academy, so I wondered why he didn’t know, but there was a reason.
Maybe now he is his real name and he works under a pseudonym later, but I knew him by his pseudonym.
thump thump!
While I was contemplating that, someone knocked on the door.
“who are you.”
“Student Adrias! This is McLaren, Assistant Professor!”
When I opened the door, it was an assistant at the Knights Faculty.
What did the assistant professor of the Faculty of Engineering have to do to the research building?
“Student Adrias, are you busy?”
“no. Come in.”
“No. No. In fact, my next opponent has withdrawn, so I’m here to tell you that.”
“Abandonment…….”
I didn’t expect this?
“You mean Vivian Velocan withdrew?”
“That’s right. As a result, Adrias has been confirmed to advance to the finals. Congratulations.”
What the hell was he thinking……
I’ll have to meet him and hear his story.
I immediately asked my assistant for Vivian’s location and left the lab.
Vivian was near the stadium not long after the quarterfinals, and thanks to that, we were able to find her quickly.
“Vivian.”
“hi?”
It seemed odd that she greeted me casually.
I wiped my face and approached her.
“Why did you abstain?”
“I can’t point my sword at Adrias.”
“It’s just sparring.”
“I can’t.”
It was Vivian’s stubborn face.
Still, this time was a good opportunity to check her skills, but it was a pity.
I wanted to figure out what level of skill he was as he was a person who was outside my expectations, but if this happens, I will have no choice but to find out through comparison with other people.
“Vivian. You beat Serena in the finals, right?”
“huh.”
First of all, it seemed like she was stronger than the current playable trio.
When you think about it, it’s amazing.
The trio in the game achieves explosive growth from Rodlen Academy, and the speed is unmatched.
I didn’t become a playable character for nothing.
However, the current Vivian had faster growth and higher skills than the trio.
After all, she’s more playable.
Originally, it should have been the beginning of the episode where she turned into a madwoman by now, but there was no sign of that, and I thought I wouldn’t let her change that much as long as I was by her side in the first place.
“Adrias.”
“yes?”
“Who is he?”
Before I knew it, there was a little girl near me.
A dead-eyed girl wearing a hood.
“Noah?”
“I have decided.”
She approached without a sound and spat out her own words.
Then he spat out misleading words.
“So take responsibility.”
“yes?”
“……responsibility.”
I suddenly felt alive behind my back.
I hurriedly turned around to see an expressionless Vivian looking at Noah with a pale face.
“Vivian?”
“Responsibility Responsibility? Why is Adrias in charge of you?”
Perhaps sensing Vivian’s murderous intentions, Noah also spread his distance slightly and placed his hand on the handle of the sword.
“What kind of monster is this again?”
That’s what I want to say.
This killing spirit was similar to when I first met the Auror Master the year before last.
“Vivian, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”
“Who is Adrias?”
For some reason, goosebumps ran through my body at the question that made me feel alive.
Surely I haven’t done anything wrong? Could it be that he feels the energy of the dark magic in Noah’s body?
“Noah Claire. I am an invited student from Yukdo Academy. An abnormality was found in her body, so I decided to take care of it.”
First of all, I explained about Noah like a quick-fire gun.
I don’t know why, but I said it like a desperate excuse.
“But why are you responsible?”
“It’s because it’s not an ordinary problem. It is a matter of life and death.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Vivian’s true complexion light up.
At the same time, the heavy life that weighed on all sides disappeared neatly.
“What the hell are you…”
Noah looked back and forth between me and Vivian with a moment of incomprehension.
Now that Vivian seems genuine, let’s talk.
“First, you must make an appointment with me. I won’t tell you about the treatment process anywhere.”
“okay.”
“And not here. You must follow me to my house.”
“Why?”
Noah frowned.
The expression on his face showed that he was not very trustworthy.
“The expert is at my mansion. Perhaps it will clear you up.”
“What, didn’t you fix it?”
“Of course I will help. But there are better wizards. As I said, the choice is yours.”
“okay. I die this way or that way anyway…”
The cool one was just like her older sister, Ivy.
To be honest, it must have been a very difficult decision for Noah, who already had memories of being subjected to a biological experiment, to trust and follow someone.
‘Did I give up halfway?’
There seemed to be no such sign.
Maybe the situation is worse than I expected.
“I want to go too.”
Vivian, who had been silent at that time, quietly opened her mouth.
“yes?”
“I want to go to Adrias’ house too.”
It was unfamiliar to Vivian as she lowered her head and muttered.
Are you ashamed?
However, since treating Noah is about meeting Salem, I’m a bit reluctant…
“Can’t I?”
When I looked up and saw Vivian asking with bright eyes, I couldn’t bear to say no.
Come to think of it, Vivian is on my side anyway.
One day, the time will come when I have to reveal the things I’ve been hiding about being a warlock.
“All right. Let’s go together this weekend.”
“huh.”
My heart melted when I saw Vivian smiling brightly.
And Noah spat out a word towards me and Vivian.
“Your eyes look cold.”
“yes?”
“it’s okay. Did you say weekend? I have to adjust my return date, so I’ll go.”
After that, Noah left without a sound.
I don’t know what you mean by what you said before.
Vivian and I just tilted our heads.
**
The finals of the tournament are finally here.
Coming up so easily because Vivian had withdrawn, I didn’t even think about the finals.
Rather, it was to the extent that I was filled with thoughts about the reward for winning the tournament after this and Noah’s treatment.
“Sister Vivian. Why do you look so happy?”
Lucia, seeing Vivian and calling her sister, was scanning Vivian’s face, which looked the same as usual.
“Could it be that Adrias-senpai gave me something in exchange for giving up!”
“There was no such thing.”
Anyway, this guy.
Vivian didn’t say anything and just let herself go as Lucia waved, but I don’t know where in that expression she seemed happy.
“go for it.”
We came to the stadium together and parted ways in front of the stadium.
It felt quite refreshing to see Vivian cheering in a small voice.
“Student Adrias! You are here.”
The presenter welcomed me and made a fuss.
It always happened, so I just nodded and was about to wait in the waiting room when he suddenly stopped me.
“Student Adrias! wait a minute!”
“Yes, what is it?”
“A special VIP is coming to the VIP seat today.”
“Express VIP?”
Is this a story you haven’t heard?
It looks like it’s coming because it’s the finals, but if you’re busy with the northern expedition like now, is someone from the prince or princess coming?
“Maybe Adrias will be the winner, so let me tell you in advance. Shouldn’t you excuse me just in case…”
“Is the prince coming?”
“no. You are more than that!”
Are you a greater person than that?
Is the crown prince coming too? To think that, there is no prince in this country who has been appointed as the crown prince yet.
That means…
“His Majesty is arriving.”
[ Episode 193. Darkness Appears ] End
