Chapter 54. New Semester and First Year War [6]

After finishing the semi-finals, Rose and I headed to the infirmary to treat the wounds that we sustained during the match.

Rose walked unsteadily.

I was walking slowly next to her, matching her pace.

And then,

「……」

Rose suddenly staggered and leaned onto me.

「Are you all right?」

I supported her body in a hurry.

「I’m alright… However, because I used Winter Sakura beyond the duration… This is the drawback…」

Rose said so and began to walk slowly again.

It seems that she pushed herself too hard in the fight just now.

「I see… Then let’s walk a little more slowly.」

「Un, thank you …」

After a little while.

As we were silently walking down the hall,

「… It’s frustrating. I couldn’t win, again… 」

Rose grumbled.

「…The outcome might be different if we went at it again, you know?」

I happened to win this time, but the outcome might be different the next time we fight.

「… Allen is really kind. But… I clearly understood the difference in power between us. It’s frustrating, but I still can’t win…」

While saying so, she quietly shook her head.

「But I’m going to train more and more – I’ll beat you someday. So… Will you fight me again next time?」

「Aa, of course. It’s a promise.」

「Well, thank you…」

Rose smiled gently.

「A-Aa…」

Different from her usual dignified self – it was a soft and warm smile.

Perhaps because I caught a glimpse of such a rare smile, my heart started beating a little faster.

■

When we reached the infirmary, I knocked on the door, and

「-Come in.」

The voice of the young woman returned, and I opened the door saying,「Excuse me」.

「Welcome. Did you two get hurt at the First-Year War?」

The teacher in the infirmary scanned us from top to bottom.

「Yes, please.」

「Fuu, today is a busy day…」

She shrugged her shoulders and stopped working on paperwork and stood up.

「I’ll be fine taking my turn later… so please check Rose first.」

「Yes, I understand. Well then, Rose-san. Sorry, but could you come this way? 」

「Yes… Allen, thank you.」

「Don’t worry about it.」

After that, Rose followed the teacher to the back of the infirmary – towards the direction of the bed.

「You wait over there. Don’t enter even by mistake.」

The teacher said briefly, and closed the white partition curtains.

「Well… I’ll disinfect the wounds first, so take off your clothes.」

「Yes.」

I heard their voices from behind the curtain.

And then,

「……」

Perhaps due to the angle of light, Rose’s silhouette was clearly visible through the curtain.

I turned my back reflexively and put my hand on my heart which was beating rapidly.

(C-Calm down… S-She hadn’t stripped yet, so it’s safe…)

After that, I heard the sound of clothes rustling and dropping on the floor.

As I restlessly passed the time,

「……」

I heard a sharp, short sigh.

「It’ll sting a little, but please endure it. If we don’t take proper measures, you’ll heal slower.」

Then a little later – the curtain opened, and the teacher returned to the front.

Rose, bandaged around her hands and feet, sat on the bed, with her upper body upright.

At first glance, there seems to be no problem.

「Teacher, how is Rose’s condition?」

「I saw a lot of lacerations, but… None of them are deep, so there are no major problems. Observing the fatigue of the body… Did she use her soul dress in an unreasonable manner? I think she’ll get better soon if she rests.」

「I see, thank you.」

As I sighed a breath of relief, the teacher clapped her hands together.

「Well, you’re next. I’ll disinfect your wounds first, so take off your clothes.」

As she said that, she began to prepare a brown bottle labelled『Antiseptic』and cotton fabric.

「Yes.」

I took off my uniform as told,

「…Eh?」

I finally noticed the unusual thing that had happened to my body.

On my body – there was not a single wound that should have been there.

(Which reminds me… The dull pain that I was feeling at the end of the match has already faded…)

When I was searching my body for injuries, the teacher tilted her head curiously.

「Oh…? Weren’t you supposed to be injured?」

「Y-Yes… I was supposed to be, but…」

I should have suffered a lot of injuries in the battle with Rose.

But in reality, there was not a single laceration left on my body.

「How odd… The blood on your clothes is still damp… I’ll ask just for the sake of it, but… is this your blood?」

The teacher asked, touching the bloody uniform from the side.

「Yes, no doubt」

「Um… perhaps you can use a recovery-type soul dress? 」

「N-No… I… I haven’t manifested my soul dress yet…」

「I see… The human body is still full of wonders.」

The teacher muttered curiously so, and returned the antiseptic and cotton to its place.

But I had an idea as to this strange phenomenon.

(Maybe that guy healed me…?)

This was the case during the Big Five Holy Festival as well.

I was supposed to have been seriously injured in the death battle with Sid-san, but…

When I regained consciousness, there was not even a scratch left.

(…No, even if I think about it here and now, I won’t get any answers.)

Fortunately, that guy is not tight lipped.

Let’s ask it later on, during the soul dress class.

(Well, I’m also curious about what happened to the match between Ria and Tessa… I think it’s about time to return to the venue.)

I took my uniform and put my arms through the sleeves again. Before I returned to the Underground Training Area, I decided to just say a few things to Rose.

「Rose, I’m going back now.」

「I see.」

「See you later.」

And when I tried to turn towards the exit,

「Nee, Allen.」

Rose grabbed my right hand gently.

「Nn, what is it?」

「… Absolutely, win… I don’t want you to lose to anyone other than me.」

「Fufu, Aa, understood. I will definitely win!」

Somehow, I thought,「How Rose-like support.」

「Then I’ll be leaving now.」

「Un, Do your best.」

I gently grasped Rose’s hand back and left the infirmary.

「…Fufu. A kind boy with a cute face. He was called Allen-kun, right…? He might just be my type…」

「I-It’s not good for a teacher to hit on students…」

■

At the Underground Training Area, the battle between Ria and Tessa was in its final stage.

「Iron Cutting Style Secret Technique – Iron Execution!」

「High King Style – Strong Strike!」

The two swords clashed violently,

「Guh, nu, ooOOO…!?」

「HAAAAAAAAA!」

Tessa was blown away with tremendous force as he was defeated by Ria’s overwhelming power.

「Ga-haa…」

Tessa, who flew horizontally, crashed into the outer wall of the Underground Training Area and fell down to the floor.

The sword slipped out of his hand.

He wasn’t in the condition to continue the battle.

「-Winner, Ria Vesteria! Overwhelming! It was simply overwhelming strength! 」

When the commentator announced the result, a loud cheer broke out, praising Ria.

And the cries that were lost in it,

「UOOOOHHHHH!? TESSAAAAAAA!?」

「Damn it… It was a good match…」

「Kuh… Nice fight… You are a man among men!」

From a block of the audience. a number of cries asserted their presence.

Apparently, Tessa seems to be loved by his Judo Club seniors.

「Now, whether you like it or not, this is the final match of the First-Year War! Let’s start the finals of Allen Rodore vs. Ria Vesteria!」

With so much cheers being thrown around, I and Ria, stared at each other quietly.

「…How nostalgic.」

「Yeah, it’s already been 4 months… It went by so quickly…」

On the day I entered Thousand Blade Academy, I and Ria crossed swords at this Underground Training Area.

(A lot of things have happened since then…)

Death fight at the Big Five Holy Festival.

Apprenticeship as a Magic Swordsman.

Incident at the Daido Commercial Festival.

Summer camp organized by the student council.

Establishment of the Practice-Swing Club and the Club Budget War.

Three successive battles at Vesteria Kingdom.

My student life, which began with my cohabitation with Ria, was full of ups and downs every day.

「Allen. Last time, I suffered an embarrassing defeat… but this time, I’ll win.」

「I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to lose either…!」

And when our conversation reached a pause,

「Are you both ready!? Well then, let the final match – Begin!」

The start of the match was declared.

I slowly pulled out my sword and assumed Seigan no Kamae.

Ria, on the other hand, thrusted her right hand forward.

At that moment.

「Invade -〈Fafnir〉!」

A beautiful black and white sword appeared as though tearing through the empty space.

「Well, here I come – Allen!」

「Aa, come – Ria!」

Thus, the finals of the First-Year War – began.

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