Chapter 125. Transfer Student and Christmas [2]

Shortly after Allen, Ria and Rose, left the branch chief’s office.

「Fuu… I managed to get through it somehow.」

Clown, who was able to settle the matter peacefully, felt a wave of relief.

「Because Allen-kun is a really kind child… If it’s not a big deal, he won’t get angry.」

「Hmmm, I see…」

Having found great value in Allen’s usefulness, he began to plot a sinister plan.

And then,

「I’ll give you a piece of advice, just in case… If you take advantage of that child’s kindness, and fooled around… You know what will happen, don’t you?」

Rize, who saw through his plotting, said, with a tender smile on her face.

At that moment, the air became oppressive at an instant. Suffocating bloodlust filled the room.

(R-Rather than『advice』… This is a complete『threat』…)

Rize was captivated with Allen Rodore far more than Clown had imagined.

Instantly understanding that fact, Clown abandoned the sinister plan of using Allen, shaking his head sideways exaggeratedly.

「O-Of course! I won’t ever lay a hand on Rize-san’s favoured child!」

「That’s fine then.」

As the oppressive bloodlust vanished and the tense air relaxed, he heaved a small sigh.

(Haa… it’s quite unfortunate, but… I should probably keep away from Allen-san.)

Clown, who has known Rize for a long time, knew well.

Her relentlessness, her desire to monopolize, and above all, her fearsome tenacity.

(But this captivation… It’s a little abnormal.)

In both a good and bad way, Rize was fickle-natured.

What she had cherished so far, turned to junk the next day.

The one and only thing she cherishes is her little sister, Ferris Dorahain.

That is why, it was abnormal for Rize to become so attached to a particular individual for several months on end.

(This… seems like she is still『hiding』something…)

Allen Rodore has a『hidden side』.

Clown, who was convinced of that, secretly decided to investigate everything about Allen.

「Even so, Allen-kun has become so admirable and reliable. A completely different person from the time I met him at the Daido Commercial Festival. Haa, if only I was slightly younger…」

「Yeah… It sure gets hard when you reach thirty–」

The moment Clown uttered those words, his fedora withered away like a flower, disappearing from existence.

「I am still twenty nine. There won’t be a second chance, Clown.」

Perfect standard language without a northern accent.

It was extremely rare to see Rize get angry for real.

「I-I am sorry…」

Having felt actual danger to his life, Clown sincerely apologized and immediately spun up another topic.

「C-Come to think of it… At last, Allen-san manifested his soul dress! Isn’t it about time we start preparing for an all out attack on the Black Organization?」

「That’s right… Allen kun has brought down two Thirteen Knights of the Oracle, Fu Rudras and Rain Glad in the past few months. It wouldn’t be strange if they start sending assassins.」

Rize nodded several times, and said so as though it was someone else’s problem.

「…Is it alright for you to not intervene? By some chance, they might send an upper Thirteen Knights of the Oracle.」

「Fufu… That child won’t die. After all, Allen-kun’s spirit core is Zeon!」she said, her eyes sparkling like a little girl.

「Can you even imagine, Clown? That a fifteen year old student, snatched away power from Zeon himself?」

「Man, that is a truly fearsome talent…」Clown said, with his eyes partly closed.「But, that’s quite hard, isn’t it?」

He had a complex expression on his face.

「Nn, what do you mean?」

「No, I was just thinking that it was a great burden. To be honest, if I was in his position, I would just throw it all away and run!」

「Fufu, that child’s mental strength is no longer human. He most likely spent an absurd amount of time in the『Prison of Time』. Who knows, perhaps he was there for the whole of『100 million years』?」

When Rize jokingly said that,

「Ahaha, that’s impossible. The longest record currently confirmed is『one thousand years』」Clown laughed, his shoulders shaking.

「Fufu, you’re right. That was just a joke.」

They were laughing, but…

In truth, the time Allen spent in the Prison of Time was『over a billion years』.

He continued to loop through the hellish 100 million years more than ten times.

After exchanging that brief discussion, Rize stood up with an elegant movement.

「Well then, I have another meeting, so I am returning to Drestia.」

「I understand! Then, as we talked earlier, I’ll keep Ben’s mouth shut.」

「Do it soon, okay? If you delay it… Ben and the rest, might disappear without a trace, okay?」

「I-I understand…!」

This time, Rize was moving to erase all traces of Allen Rodore from the Dagrio case.

That’s how she was hiding him from the eyes of the『world』.

(Fufu, not yet… That child will grow much stronger still!)

She was waiting.

For the supreme fruit that is Allen Rodore, to ripen.

For the time when he will turn the world『upside down』.

(Fufu, this is truly fun…)

Then Rize, who had an evil smile on her face,

「Till next time. Continue to favor Fox Finances from now on as well.」

She left the branch chief’s office.

Rize Dorahain and Clown Jester – thus, the secret talks between the two, who were rooted in the underworld, quietly concluded.

■

Having finished my overseas trip to Dagrio, I devoted the rest of my long vacation to practice-swings.

Then, December 1st came.

I went to Thousand Blade Academy with Ria.

We arrived at the classroom, and greeted our classmates who seemed to have grown slightly more muscular.

It’s been a week since I met everyone in my class like this.

Naturally, conversations bloomed and by the time we realized, the morning chime rang to signal the start of homeroom.

At the same time, the door of the classroom opened vigorously. Leia-sensei walked in, full of energy as usual, and stood on the podium.

「Good morning, everyone! I am sure, everyone had a meaningful vacation for a week! Well, then, I’d like to immediately start the first period class, but… Rejoice! Today is a big event in your student life – a『Transfer Student』has come!」

When she announced loudly,

「Wow, a transfer student… What kind of person are they?」

「Is it a boy? Or a girl?」

「However, transferring to one of the Five Academy, Thousand Blade Academy… I’m sure they would be very skilled.」

The classroom began to buzz suddenly.

「Fufufu, rejoice you guys! The transfer student is a super『beautiful swordswoman』! – Come in!」

When sensei said so, in a loud voice, the door of the classroom slowly opened.

The transfer student who walked in from there – was『that person』whom I knew very well.

(Oi, Oi, Oi… Are you kidding me?)

Sharp, long slit eyes.

Rather short, glossy hair for a girl.

A beautiful female student wearing a men’s Thousand Blade Academy uniform.

That person is no doubt Claude-san, captain of the Vesteria Kingdom Elite Guards.

She stood on the podium with beautiful posture, cleared her throat, and began to introduce herself.

「I am Claude Stroganoff, transferring from Royal Vesteria Academy. Hello.」

As her short self introduction ended,

「C-Claude…!?」

Ria abruptly stood up from her seat with surprise.

「It’s been a long time, Ria-sama!」

Claude-san turned to Ria, with a flower-like, lovely smile blooming on her face.

「And… It looks like you’re still alive, worm.」

With an outright disgusted look, she glared at me.

「Ahaha… It’s been a while, Claude-san…」

I was disappointed that my name had gone back to『worm』, but I replied for the time being.

(Haa… Things are going to get noisy again…)

And, I heaved a sigh deeply, with a knot in my stomach, anticipating trouble in the future.

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