Published at 22nd of January 2020 3:50 pm

Volume 1, Chapter 1: The Half-Asleep Man and the Woman who Looks After Him

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Her fist was imminent.

It aimed for Ryner Lute’s face with a sound. Ah, that was gonna hurt.

His black hair was strangely messy, and his lax black eyes were utterly devoid of that thing called motivation. From his exhausted, lanky body, it seemed like he was too tired for ambition and entirely lacked tension regardless of his current situation.

“Oh… any second now…”

Avoiding a fist should be simple for someone as calm as him. Right, he was capable of doing that.

Just as he thought that—wham!

“Gyah!” The fist slammed into him, and he tumbled onto the ground uncouth and rolled. and after a twitch, he became unable to move.

…To rephrase, he absolutely looked like his true power ended there. They were currently on the training grounds of the Roland Empire’s Royal Special Academy - it was time for all the students to perform their combat practicums, but…

The one who’d sent Ryner flying sighed and spoke. “Geez, Ryner. Why’re you always so apathetic?” She was a determined girl with short red hair and red eyes. Compared to Ryner, who still showed no signs of standing, she was absolutely brimming with motivation. “And anyway, why’re you pretending to have fainted? You’re not the kind of guy who twitches and faints!”

“But I’m still down here,” Ryner replied, apathetic as ever.

“Ah-ah! See, you didn’t actually faint! If you keep this up, my grades will drop too! Do you want me to keep going, are you okay with that? Should I beat you with magic? I’m gonna do it, is that okay with you?”

“Uugh… Don’t…”

“You’re just gonna ‘don’t’ me!?”

And so on and so on. Kiefer raised her voice as her hands danced. The people around them would just think it was for their practical. She invoked a magic circle native to Roland in the air before her, quickly completing it.

“I wish for thunder - Lightning Flash!”

In that instant, a light was born within her magic circle. It shot towards Ryner, who was watching the scene unfold. “Oh, thunder magic. I might really faint this time,” he said but made no move to avoid it.

Ryner took the hit without putting up a fight. His whole body was shocked, flipping him over and leaving him twitching.

“H-hey! Why didn’t you dodge!?” Kiefer asked and rushed to Ryner’s side, flustered. “Hey, are you okay?”

Ryner didn’t answer. He’d stopped moving so suddenly…

“Y-you’re joking, right?” Kiefer’s face turned blue, and she frantically held Ryner up and shook him. “Come on, Ryner! Stop messing around! U, unless you’re… really…”

The exhausted body she’d been shaking over and over spoke. “That’s right. I’m dead. So this is all I’ll be doing of today’s less—”

“Do you think dead people can talk? Idiot!” Kiefer slapped Ryner’s face vigorously. She sighed at him a second time. “Why do you even want to skip classes so badly?”

“I’m too tired today.”

“Aren’t you always tired?”

“Well, I’m tired today too.”

“Don’t just repeat yourself!”

Hearing them argue like a married couple, the people around them laughed and sneered.

“Wouldn’t you normally find someone weaker to get beat up by?”

“See, that’s the problem,” Ryner said. “I would if there was someone weaker here, but there just isn’t.”

“Sounds like death can’t come soon enough for you.”

What a thing to say on these training grounds.

Ryner used to be the best of the best, but now he was just a dropout. So he came here as a sinner.

The Roland Empire’s Royal Special Military Academy was a place where only this country’s rebels and outcasts gathered. The person in question was in Class A; he was an orphan, a child criminal… he had no place in society at all, and there weren’t any jobs or food for him.

Only people with nobody to rely on were gathered here, but all they were given was the potential to be used as a tool for war. Day by day, they were polished so they could sell themselves to the military for a higher price.

But it was different from a normal military officer academy. Nobles and even regular people didn’t want to be sent to the frontlines, so this was a system to account for that.

Even so, there hadn’t been a war for the past several years, so even though that was why they were here, there was no sense of urgency. But if a war should occur, they’d be sent straight to the frontlines. It didn’t matter that they were all young people of around seventeen.

Well, anyway.

Hearing their classmates talk behind their backs, Kiefer launched into lecturing Ryner. “Geez! Isn’t it frustrating hearing them talk about you like that, Ryner?”

“Sure, let’s go with that. Man, I’m so shocked that I can’t stand. There’s no way I can go to cl—”

“There’s no way I’m letting you skip class!”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously!”

“Ugh…”

A third person looking in would think their conversation was one between lovers. But there was a different reason that Ryner was ostracized and left the academy.

Kiefer was always sunny, had a fairly proportionate figure, and above all she was even kind to a slacker like Ryner. Because of that, she had all sorts of fans. But it was like she didn’t even notice…

If she had time off, she spent it with the always napping Ryner. Befriending an outsider like Ryner was out of the question, so the students who liked Kiefer were left unable to make a pass at her. So they all thought he was a pain in the ass.

“Just disappear, Ryner!”

“You’re in the way!”

“You’re too weak to be at this school!”

Etcetera. Ryner showed no concern for their vilification. He turned his mellow eyes towards the people openly insulting him. They were three classmates whose only redeeming feature was their muscles.

“See, Kiefer?” Ryner said. His voice resonated, making it clear that he had no intention of repenting. “It’s just like everyone says, so I shouldn’t go to c—”

Before Ryner could finish, someone interrupted. “Don’t you guys think it’s better if you spent your time training instead of making Ryner out to be an idiot?” His long and glossy silver hair was tied behind his back, his face’s proportions were well-balanced, and his golden eyes revealed a strong will. He was a young man bestowed with style and grace to point that it was hard to believe he was the same age as Ryner.

Sion Astal - he was top of the class in every subject. There was even a student group that’d converted to devoting themselves to him entirely. But that was pretty whatever. The important thing was that he had a noble background.

The nobility. They were supposed to be an existence far out of reach of this academy. So why was Sion in a place like this…? Even in the face of a mystery like that…

Ryner yawned. “I sure am tired…”

“Even after Sion went out of his way to save you, you’re taking him for granted and ignoring him?”

“Huh? You call this going out of his way to save me?” Ryner, who was filled with an eternity of exhaustion, had absolutely no interest. But as he glanced sideways to Sion, his carefully arranged lips relaxed and curved just a little.

“You guys seem to have some free time as well,” Sion said to those three students. “If you’d like, why don’t you become my opponents? Class hasn’t finished yet, after all.”

With just those words, their big bodies seemed to shrink. “Er, uh, no thanks, we’d be no competition for you. Right? Don’tcha think?”

“Y-yeah! It’s just that we can’t stomach Ryner…”

“Right, right. We don’t want to fight you.”

All their mouths started moving when they got a look at Sion’s expression.

Sion’s social status settled issues in this school just like that.

“I see,” Sion said, looking bored. Then a mischievous smile sprung back to life on his face. “But are you really okay with that? Our instructor is looking right at us. Stepping down as my opponent may be viewed just the same as deserting under enemy fire, so you might get points taken off. Or perhaps you’re fine with that? You’re welcome to decide.”

They all three groaned as one.

What Sion was saying was true. Grades affected the salary they’d receive once they were handed over to the military, so everyone frantically tried their hardest. People who made a mess of their grades as if they didn’t care at all, like Ryner, were in the minority.

“What will you do?” Sion asked them with a smile.

They’d looked lost, but finally squared up. “Sh-shit, you wanna go?”

Sion’s smile deepend. “Then come. All together.”

With that, their fight began. Two of them moved to draw magic circles while the third charged straight for Sion.

Seeing that, Kiefer wore a self-satisfied expression. “It’s a pretty good plan - one acts as the diversion while the other two hit him with magic.”

“Hmm,” Ryner said. It was the bare minimum to make her think he was paying attention. Even so, Kiefer hit him on the head again.

“Geez. I was explaining it for you! Watch Sion’s movements carefully so you’ll know how to defeat enemies that use these tactics.”

Ryner watched vacantly as the man charging for Sion threw a punch. For a guy with so much muscle, he punched pretty fast.

However.

Sion easily avoided his fist, and in the moment their bodies aligned, Sion drove a kick into the nape of the other man’s neck.

“Uu…”

The man fell right down. Without even stopping to take a breath, Sion headed for one of the men drawing magic circles.

“Huh? Wha? Whoa!”

Sion punched him square in the face. One left. He was just finishing his magic circle. Now all he had to do was fire his spell. How exactly would he defeat Sion? He’d easily defeated his friends. With a pale face, he recited the spell’s incantation. “I wish for lightning…”

Sion turned his composed face to the man who’d just finished his incantation and smiled. “Be quiet.” As he spoke, sand kicked up from the ground.

“Uwah!?”

The sand rolled up, stealing the man’s vision; he covered his face with his arm instinctively. Thanks to the split-second lapse in concentration, he missed Sion. With his arm twisted upwards, he was hit.

Just like that, Sion effortlessly finished their fight. He stood there without saying anything, then turned his head listlessly. “Well, I guess that’s how it is…” His victory was overwhelming - the difference in their abilities was too great.

In the face of such overwhelming skill, the training grounds had fallen completely silent. Students watched him with envy. Sion accepted their gaze naturally, as if he was born to be a hero.

Only Ryner lacked admiration, and of course he wasn’t jealous either. He was as drowsy as always, while even Kiefer was as starstruck as the others. He tapped her shoulder.

“Should I be taking notes on this, too?”

“Hm? Ah, no… there’s no way you would, right?”

“So you understand. Well, I guess that’s all for today’s cl—”

The bell cut him off, signalling the end of class. Everyone started their return to their rooms.

“Shit, I never got to skip,” Ryner said, disappointed.

“What’re you saying? Geez. All you did was sleep,” Kiefer said, exasperation filling every word.

Ryner frowned. “But you still made me stay in class all day.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What’ll I do if rumors about it get back to the teachers and they think I’m turning over a new leaf? They’ll make me do all sorts of annoying assignments. Then what?”

Kiefer took a good look at the straight face Ryner kept as he spoke. She held her head in her hands. “If you turn over a new leaf, then I can safely say I’ve become god…”

“Ahaha, you two dream big,” Sion said. “In the event that you become god, Kiefer, could you make me happy as well?” He’d come to stand by Kiefer and Ryner, who’d been sitting and talking for an eternity.

“Eh, ah, Sion… n, no, Sir Astal… w-wait, um, how do you know my name?” Kiefer’s voice cracked and squeaked from nerves.

Sion smiled wryly. “Just Sion is fine. I know the names of just about all of the outstanding students here.”

“Oh, outstanding…?”

Sion nodded. “Kiefer Knolles. Your grades are consistently above average, and what’s more, you have a bright personality and a refreshing face, and you’re very popular.”

“Ah, no, um… My face isn’t refreshing…”

Kiefer’s face reddened from his praise. But she couldn’t entirely believe it. “I wonder, Ryner… He says it’s refreshing. Aha, haha.” She couldn’t help but laugh at his nonsense.

“He’s praising you too much,” Ryner whispered.

Wham!

Sion watched their antics, then faced Kiefer. “I have a proposal for you. Why don’t you work under me?”

“Hm? Under…?”

“Yup. Soon, our school will be doing team credits for battles, so I was going to make a group to practice with. I’ll be able to make some preparations against the others if you join. There are lots of benefits to it, don’t you think?”

“Um, er, Asta… um, Sion… you’re only looking for talented people, right? I mean, I’m just…”

“That’s not true at all. You’re plenty talented. I won’t let you regret it if you join.” He smiled radiantly, shining unnecessarily brightly. He was the perfect picture of an agreeable young man.

Even though he’d gone that far, Kiefer still hesitated, eyes flickering to Ryner. “But…”

“Why’re you hesitating?” Ryner asked. “It’d be good for you. Also, if you do, I can take a nap every day…”

His voice trailed off. For some reason, Kiefer looked so sad.

Sion picked up for him. “Of course, I intended for Ryner to join from the beginning as well.”

“Really!?”

“Huuhh? What a pain, I don’t wanna—”

“—What!?” Kiefer said, taking over him. “If you follow Sion, everyone will definitely believe you’ve turned over a new leaf!”

“That’s exactly why I don’t wanna! I’ll end up with piles of work I don’t wanna do. Besides, it’s better if my life is spent sleeping day in and day out…”

“Don’t say that’s all you’re good for!”

“Huh? Don’t?”

“Yeah, don’t! Geez, Ryner, just shut up and do as I say—”

This time, Ryner interrupted, wearing a careless expression. “Anyway, why’re you even inviting me? You know my grades, right? I’m pretty sure Kiefer is the only one you actually want.”

Kiefer’s face distorted in sadness. “Ah…”

Without understanding why, Ryner tilted his head. But he wasn’t thinking about that. He was thinking about how strange it was that he was invited. It’d be too much for Sion to invite him as an aside to try and get Kiefer. The reason… well, he wouldn’t go as far as to say that. But his grades were the lowest, and he had absolutely no motivation…

Unless he had extremely eccentric tastes, there was no way he’d want Ryner…

It was really strange.

With a dark face and quiet voice, Kiefer spoke. “Ryner, you idiot… if you say that, we’ll get seperated…”

“Ryner, you’re mistaken,” Sion interrupted, smiling brilliantly. “I want you to follow me, too. Those are my true feelings.”

“Huh? Why?” Ryner asked. But he was just playing dumb.

Sion just kept smiling. “If I had to place it, I’d say I fancy your eyes, I suppose. You aren’t surprised by me, nor do you envy me. I fancy your dim eyes.”

“Wh, uwah… are you saying you’re in love with me…? Sorry… but that just makes want to follow you even less…”

Anyway, no matter what his reasons were, Ryner would turn him down. From the beginning, he didn’t want to follow anyone. It was a pain, and he didn’t want to turn over a new leaf. He might not really understand why Kiefer was sad about that, but…

“Man, I’m kinda tired today…”

For some reason, Kiefer hung her head. “Then I’ll…”

Sion’s expression abruptly changed. Until now, he’d had a pleasant and agreeable disposition, but now he wore the devil’s smile. He brought his face to Ryner’s ear. “Hey. I’m inviting you, so stop being so difficult, Ryner. I said I fancied your eyes, right? I want you, an Alpha Stigma bearer.”

“Wh…!?”

Ryner’s languid body sprung up, away from Sion.

“Wh-wh-what are you saying… me, I’m no Alpha… er, um… I don’t even know what that is…”

Sion’s demeanor turned pleasant once again, his smile radiant. “No need to be so modest, Ryner. I know you’ve been hiding your true power. I looked into your past all the way back to when you lived in that orphanage.”

“I…” Ryner gathered himself and feigned calm. “I have nooo idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, I’m leaving. Following someone would just be too much of a pain,” Ryner said. He turned his back to Sion and made to leave with uneven steps.

Sion called out to him in that refreshing tone of his. “If you don’t become my ally, I’ll expose you. I’ll tell everyone everything about you. I wonder what’ll happen once they learn about that hidden ability of yours?”

“Uh.” Ryner stopped dead in his tracks.

Alpha Stigma.

Those words were always spoken through fear and loathing.

That was how it always was, but…

Ryner sighed and turned back around. He gazed at Sion, refreshing and pleasant, with his mellow eyes. “You know about me, so you want me?”

“If I don’t want you, who will?” Sion asked, smiling happily. “So what will you do - come with me, or…?”

“Uu… fine, fine. I get it. I’ll be your ally. Geez… Do you always make allies with threats? What are, some kind of demon?”

For some reason, Sion smiled bitterly. “I could say the same of you. Anyway, our group starts the day after tomorrow. I’ll need you guys to really devote yourselves to it. We’ll be in this together,” he said, then left without another word.

Ryner sighed again.

“Huh, what? What happened? In the end, you guys became allies, right?” Kiefer asked.

Ryner sighed a third time, even deeper. “It sounds like such a pain…”

“Geez, you’re finally on your way to turning over a new leaf but that’s still all you say. Oh, but…” Kiefer paused for a moment to think. “Earlier, Sion said something about some hidden ability of yours, right? What’d he mean?”

Ryner jumped. Without letting anything show on his face, he spoke. “Man, I dunno. Think I’ve really got something like that?”

Kiefer stared fixedly at him, then readily shook her head. “Nope, doesn’t seem like it.”

“Hey, don’t admit it so easilyyy.”

“But if you don’t have one, you don’t have one. Oh! Maybe it’s your outstanding lack of motivation! It might be something unexpected like that. Maybe every day’s pretty nerve-wracking for an elite like Sion so he thinks your ability to fall asleep is refreshing… ah, that could be it. I think it’s pretty fun spending time together, too!”

Ryner watched Kiefer nod to herself as she insulted him, exasperated. “Hey, is your life really that nerve-wracking?”

Kiefer’s face fell into a melancholy shade. “Hmph… a maiden has all sorts of things going on in her life, you know…”

“Ohoh… and just where would I find such a commendable maiden on these grounds? Ah, ow! It was a joke, and you’re hitting me!?”

Kiefer’s punches kept coming. They were punches of someone with good grades at a military academy, alright. Ryner ran, and she gave chase towards the setting sun.

Peaceful days made up life at the academy.

In the past, Roland had been eclipsed by war. But seven years ago, in just one hour, a treaty brought peace back to their lands.

Roland was located on the southern tip of Menoris, bordered by three other countries.

The first was the Nelpha Imperia. The two countries weren’t exactly on good terms, but they weren’t on the brink of war either.

Next was the Runa Empire. Their two countries currently had an alliance, but… well, it was fine to ignore it.

The problem was the third country: the Kingdom of Estabul, where war dragged on and on for four long generations. Nobody knew what’d started the conflict anymore. At first they said it was about territory disputes, but that was already dealt with, so they had to come up with a new reason. Rinse and repeat.

The people of Roland didn’t know of an age without war. In this country, death was just the norm.

Up until seven years ago, their countries were withering away from a war nobody would end. But their countries were dying, painting targets on their own backs for all the rest of the continent to see. So they signed an agreement.

And so now, they were amidst days so peaceful that it was hard to believe…

You could say that seven years was a long time. Children who lived in their hastily recovered era had completely forgotten the war. You could even say that they were growing complacent.

“—Ryner! Didn’t I tell you not to sleep while walking?”

“D-don’t be stupid! There’s no way I could do that. I’m extra awake!”

“You were sleeping! Sleeping, I say! I saw it!”

“Uu… but it was only ten minutes, so it’s fine.”

“Geez. You’re some kind of sleepwalking prodigy if you can walk this mountain path for ten minutes in your sleep.”

They were so complacent from the peace that they could even sleepwalk outdoors…

“Anyway!” Kiefer said, continuing to yell her words at Ryner. “You shouldn’t sleep in the middle of a military operation! This simulation is a team effort, so if you slack off, you’ll be a burden to our leader, Sion, and everyone else in our group! At least understand that—”

Kiefer was cut off by a girl behind them. “Um, sorry, but Kiefer, could you quiet down a little? It’s pointless for everyone to go through the effort to mask the sound of their footsteps when you’re yelling.”

“Huh!? Ah, erm, uh… s-sorry,” Kiefer said, then shut her mouth.

The girl watched them from behind. She would be in their group from now on.

Her name was Fahle Penny. She was a petite girl who wore glasses and wasn’t blessed with particularly good reflexes, but she had excellent grades in covert operations, which is why Sion deemed her talented and dragged her into his group.

“Yeah, Fahle’s right. You guys are talking a little too much.” That was Tony. He always had a dark expression and a weak presence.

“I think it’s fine. As long as we follow Sion’s plan, this simulation will be a breeze. It’ll all work out!” Tyle said, in as good of spirits as ever.

They, along with Ryner, Kiefer, and Sion, made up their group of six. Excluding Ryner, they were all exceptional in a certain field. Sion had tons of other friends too, but as this was a competitive exercise, he decided his group based on grades instead of how good of friends they were.

Today’s exercise was a military simulation where they fought another student group on a mountain. Sion was their patron, so to speak, so they couldn’t lose focus.

“Uu… I’m really sorry,” Kiefer said. Her voice had gone quiet.

“Well, it’s alright,” Sion reassured her from the end of the line. “As long as we behave according to plan, there’s no way we’ll lose.”

“Right,” Ryner said. “Although I’m fine with losing. So it’s fine if we all take a nap—”

“Like we’d do that!” Everyone yelled in unison.

The simulation started with two teams who each started in a different place on the mountain. It would continue for days, as long as it took for one side to eliminate every member of the opposing team. It wasn’t a small mountain, so detecting the rival team would be difficult, and everyone had to find their own food; because this lesson had many pieces, it was fairly hard. Although, they weren’t being supervised by a teacher, so maybe calling it a lesson was a bit of a stretch…

It wasn’t just win-lose, either - stuff like being detected by the opposing team would cause them to get points docked. So the fastest team wouldn’t necessarily do the best.

The plan that Sion devised under these circumstances was as follows.

In the artificial clearing, awaiting the start signal, Sion spoke, brimming with confidence. “Alright. We’ll annihilate the enemy within four hours.”

“What!?” Everyone except Ryner shouted. Even Tyle, who was always cheery, looked doubtful. “L, look, Sion… that’s impossible, no matter how influential you say you are. Will we even find them in four hours?”

Sion’s smile didn’t waver. “Don’t worry about finding them. I already know where they’re starting.”

“Huh? You already know?” Kiefer asked.

Sion nodded. “Yup. I’ve already looked into who our opponents are and where they’ll start. All we have to do now is ambush—”

“Hey, wait a minute!” Kiefer interrupted. “Have you always been a cheater?”

No matter how you looked at it, Sion was the picture of calm. “I suppose you could say that, but I prefer to call it tactics. This lesson encourages us to try new tactics, correct? In war, gathering information on your opponent in advance isn’t foul play, and calling it such is a gross overstatement. So what I did is only correct.”

Sion really had the audacity to call his actions correct with a straight face.

“Hmm… it sounds reasonable, but you really had to snoop around and invade people’s privacy for that, didn’t you?” Ryner said with the same listless tone as always. “I dunno, you kinda sound like a pervert to me.” He still held a grudge against Sion for digging deep enough to uncover information about his Alpha Stigma and forcing him to become his ally…

But Sion took his words in kind. “Hm? Oh, are you talking about that thing you’ve been bribing me to stay quiet about? About the girl you rejected.”

“Huh!? What are you going on about!?”

Suddenly, the two men behind Ryner attacked him, forcibly covering his mouth “Fhhnhaa!?”

Once Kiefer confirmed that they couldn’t speak, she nodded once. “So. Who did you dump?”

“What kind of girl?” Tyle asked.

“Stories of love always make my heart flutter,” Fahle said.

Even the quiet Tony, whose already dark face had darkened more, piped up. “How far’d you go with her? Depending on your answer, she may never forgive you.”

For some reason, they were saying pretty scary things as all their eyes pierced him at once.

Sion’s lips twisted into a devil’s smile. “I heard he confessed to a teacher at his orphanage…”

“Fuo, ooooooghh!?”

Ryner’s sad scream resounded through the mountain.

Anyway, back to the present. They should be arriving at their opponent’s starting point soon. Everyone but Ryner had become tense, watchful for signs of others humans.

Ryner yawned loudly, and was hit by his teammate in retaliation. “Gyah!?”

“Geez,” Tyle said, voice muffled. “Be a little quieter, you old digger. We’re getting close to the enemy.”

Ryner grimaced. “O, old digger… I told you, it’s not like that! I was only six! And the teacher…”

They wouldn’t listen to his explanation. Instead, he just got a whack from behind from Kiefer.

“Shut up, you lecher! You’ve been at it since you were six! Six!”

“Th-that’s Sion’s lie! Think about this normally! There’s no way that’s the case, right? Remember it correctly, Sion!”

Sion was composed even while Ryner yelled at him. “Heheh… Information gathering and manipulation is a necessary, indispensable skill. You know that, right?”

“What do you mean, necessary and indispensable!? I’m seriously gonna…”

Sion abruptly covered his mouth and pressed a finger to his lips. “Bingo. Quiet, now. We’ve caught our opponents.”

Everyone quieted.

With Sion’s hand still covering his mouth, Ryner raised his head to peek through the gaps in the trees. He recognized six boys and girls talking. There was no mistaking it. They were able to find their opponents in a little over two hours out of the four that Sion had allotted to defeat them. Astounding.

Well, Ryner had absolutely no interest in it though.

“Yes!” Tyle said. “They don’t see us at all. Let’s do ‘em in, Sion!”

“But it’ll be bad if this is a trap,” Tony said. “It’s better if we’re careful, don’t you think?”

“What should we do, Sion?” Fahle asked.

“Let’s do ‘em in,” Sion said, narrowing his sharp eyes. A smile very unlike his usual refreshing one curled around his lips - it was rather like the smile of a man hunting a wild beast instead. “Easy. We defeat them in one go, and set the record for the fastest win.” Without waiting even a second, Sion lept towards them.

Their team watched Sion’s surprise attack - he defeated two members of the opposing team before anyone else could think.

“L, let’s do this!”

Flustered, they lept after him.

Perhaps it’s obvious at this point, but the opposing team was defeated effortlessly. Time: two hours and fifty two minutes. Only one of their own members was sacrificed. And by sacrificed, it means that Ryner skinned his leg falling in the middle of their surprise attack.

As a result their team lost a few points, and it goes without saying that they beat Ryner for it.

Sometime later, at a worn-out old tavern in a back alley. A bird began to chirp, but when Ryner looked through the tavern’s window at the sky, it was still dark. He should still have a little time before dawn. He staggered out the door and flopped down on the street outside.

“Ugh, I feel like shit… I didn’t even drink that much,” he groaned, worn out. He moved from the center of the street to the side, ignoring the feeling in his throat. “Still, can’t believe Kiefer’s that bad of a drunk,” Ryner mumbled looked up at the sky. Because of the fog, he couldn’t really see the stars.

They’d set the record for shortest simulation victory ever, and were dubbed heroes by the school as a result. Well, to be honest, everyone knew they just did whatever Sion said, so he was the one who became a hero…

Tyle said they should celebrate, and a dozen of Sion’s friends agreed, so that’s how they ended up holding a drinking party.

By the way, Roland’s legal drinking age was 22. The oldest students at the Roland Empire’s Royal Special Military Academy were 19. But nobody really checked.

Right now, Ryner was fighting nausea with all his might, so he prefered to be alone.

“What’s up with that good boy act, Sion… He’s even started calling me a homewrecker… I’m seriously gonna find and abuse his weakness one day…”

Suddenly.

“I don’t have anything like a weakness,” Sion said, studying Ryner’s face.

In an instant, Ryner skillfully rose his heavy, supine body back. “So you’ve decided to show yourself, demon!”

“Ah, if it isn’t the legendary homewrecker,” Sion said with a wry smile.

“I’m not a homewrecker!” Ryner yelled. He sighed, tired, and resumed his usual apathy. “You’re the lead actor here. Is it really okay for you to be in a place like this?”

Sion separated himself from the pleasant man he'd been before, and smiled with the alluring ferocity of a devil. “I already told you. I don’t have any weaknesses. Everyone but you and I have already drunk themselves unconscious.”

“Really. So they’re all sleeping.”

“Mm-hm.”

Their conversation faded. Ryner looked up and zoned out against the sky.

Sion lay down beside him. “Ryner.”

“Mm~? If you want to do a man-on-man love scene, I’m gonna say no, you know?”

Sion smiled bitterly. “I wasn’t going to suggest that. Rather… could you tell me something? I’d like to know why you entered this academy…”

“That? Why do you wanna know all of a sudden?”

“Hmm,” Sion mumbled, and nodded to himself. “Your grades are the worst in the school, and your attendance record is abysmal. Since you declined my invitation before, it seems you also have no desire to receive a good post in the military. Why would a guy like you even be here? It baffles me.”

Ryner didn’t look away from the sky. “Hey… you already looked into that a long time ago, right? You already know why I had to come here,” he said in the same listless tone as always.

“Ah, you got me,” Sion said and laughed. “To tell you the truth, I already researched it. I know about your orphanage. He paused for a moment, and then continued in a comfortable, relaxed tone. “Roland’s Special Facility #307. On paper, it’s an orphanage that helps children who lost their parents in military campaigns become independent, but the truth is a little different. They only accept talented children who are then given military training. Those who fail to display talent are put down, and those who remain are sold to the nobility for a high price and sent to the battlefield from a young age…”

Ryner didn’t say anything. He just stared at the sky listlessly.

“You were raised in a place like that,” Sion said. “But then the war ended. An institution that educates children for a war that no longer exists, culling those who don’t make the cut will obviously become criminal. So you were given a choice: continue under military orders, or be silenced through death… You chose the first option and entered Roland’s Royal Special Military Academy. Correct?”

Even though he was asked a question, Ryner just stared idly. He looked so horribly tired that Sion began to worry he’d fallen asleep. But then he frowned just a little. “Nu-uh. Your explanation was spot-on in places, but it’s not quite there yet. I thought it was pretty normal then, so I asked that teacher to marry me, right?” Ryner laughed at himself.

Sion gazed earnestly at that self-deprecating expression. “Hey, Ryner.”

“What? You’ve been rewriting that part for awhile now.”

“You…,” Sion stopped after that single word. Then, after slowly choosing his words, he continued. “Ryner, don’t you want to get revenge on this country?”

“Huh? Revenge?” Ryner repeated.

Sion nodded, then stood. He walked a couple steps to the center of the alley, then turned back. “Have you ever thought of smashing this rotten country to pieces? It’s a country that abhors you for bearing the Alpha Stigma. It’s an unequal country. It’s a country that oppresses the weak. It’s a country that’s rife with conflict. It’s ruled by a harebrained king, and the nobility is even worse.”

Ryner grimaced. “Whoa, hey. You’ll get the death penalty if someone hears you talking like that.”

Sion just laughed. “Right? But you hold a grudge for this country. You wouldn’t sell me out.”

“The only reason I won’t is because it’d be a pain.”

“Ahaha. I know that isn’t the real reason.”

“There you go, deciding what’s true or not on your own,” Ryner said.

“I’m going to do it, Ryner. I’ll change everything,” Sion said easily. “I came to this academy to assemble allies that don’t support the nobility… but I’ll soon be done. Then I’ll have organized enough of a militia.” He spread his arms. “I will become king of this country and change everything. Follow me, Ryner. I’ll make the world you’ve always wished for.”

Sion extend a hand to Ryner, face brimming with confidence. His silver hair sparkled, and his sharp eyes emitted intense determination.

This Sion was clearly different from normal. He appeared to be sparkling. Like a devil rising up against a god, or a god ridding the world of evil…

It was like he was already born with everything it took to become a hero.

He was popular and had superior abilities.

He would become king of all Roland.

Sion’s aura explained it all. He’d make what should’ve been a faraway dream into reality. He smiled, an all encompassing kindness. “Come with me, Ryner.”

If an ordinary person had been there, Sion’s overwhelming charm would have swallowed them up.

But… Ryner was the only one there.

“I see,” Ryner said, listless as always. “So you wanna be king. But it all seems like kind of a pain… Sorry, but I’m gonna hafta pass. Ah, but like, if you become king can you make a law that makes it so the guys who take the most naps get the most promotions?”

There wasn’t even a spark of determination in Ryner’s drowsy black eyes. Rather, it was like they lacked light altogether. He was like a puppy, or perhaps a kitten in the middle of their afternoon nap.

Sion stood for a moment, surprised, like he was swallowing his disappointment. Then, out of nowhere - “Fuh… ahahaha. I-interesting. Ahaha. Maybe I don’t want you because of your Alpha Stigma, and it really has nothing to do with that. Maybe it’s because you watch me with absolutely no reaction. It’s a first for me.”

“Why would I watch a man like that?”

Sion’s face contorted maliciously. “So you only go for older ladies?”

Ryner was indignant. “I’m seriously never gonna be your ally!”

Sion laughed, like a carefree child might.

Ryner watched him. His eyes suddenly caught someone behind Sion. “Huh?”

Several men, donned in black from head to toe, stood behind Sion. In the instant he noticed them, they began to draw circles of light. Magic circles. It was easy for students of Roland’s magic to identify a spell as it was being drawn.

It was a spell that locked on with a beam of light; a spell with a hidden but significant degree of lethality. Right now, they were the targets.

“What’s with these guys?!”

Sion moved to escape.

“Crap! You’re running!?”

Sion grabbed Ryner’s collar and sprinted, pulling him along.

“Owowowow, that hurts! Ow! I said it hurts, Sion!”

Sion let go. Ryner fell, face scraping the ground complaining all the while.

“Then you need to run yourself!” Sion said. “If they catch us, they’ll kill us!”

“What? Kill us…? Why? I haven’t done anything wrong, unless naps get the death penalty now.” Even in this situation, Ryner completely lacked the ability to get tense.

“I’ll explain later, so hurry and stand up!” Sion yelled.

“Alright, alright,” Ryner said. He pressed both hands to the ground and pushed, hoisting himself back up to his feet. One wouldn't think they were the movements of a poorly performing student who was said to lack a single athletic bone in his body.

Seeing that, a wry smile rose to Sion’s face. “Okay, there’s an alcove over—”

An intense light flashed behind them. The two turned around to see.

The light was naturally light magic shot by those unknown men in black - an optics spell meant to kill called abstract phosphorization.

“Ryner, jump!” Sion yelled.

“Uwawawa!?”

Somehow, they managed to jump into a thin gap between two brick houses.

In the next instant, a javelin of light shot into a house, ripping brick from its place and dissolving it like it was just air to begin with. It was an unbelievably destructive act, and the men soon invaded the house through the hole their spell had created.

They definitely weren’t just trying to intimidate them or make them faint. It was undeniably a spell fired to kill.

Ryner peered through the gap they’d left, dumbfounded. “Please, let it have been empty.”

One by one, they heard voices.

“Sion Astal ran around that corner. After him!”

“We’ll be punished if he gets away, so don’t let that happen!”

“Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!”

“It’s my bad that you got caught up in this,” Sion apologized. “It’s usually just some ruffians, but this time they’re a little dangerous. They’re pros… We don’t really have time for the full story now, but…”

Ryner stopped him. “I don’t really feel like hearing about it. What’re you gonna do now? Fight ‘em? Run?”

Sion thought for just a second. “We’ll split up. They’re only after me, so they won’t kill you.”

“Ah, that’s true… I’ll be safe.”

Sion smiled, a little bitter. “At least worry about me a little.”

“Worry about you? Your grades are number one, and mine are the worst, right? And you’re gonna be king, right? You think you can die here?”

Sion smiled broadly. “It’s just as you say. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

Ryner watched as Sion stepped out from the alley.

“I’m here! Come get me!” Sion yelled to his pursuers and took off running.

“He’s here!” One of the men in black called.

“Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!”

And so Ryner was left alone. He double checked to make sure no one else was around, then stepped out of the alley. Even in a situation like this, he wasn’t nervous at all. He let out a huge yawn. “Why’s tomorrow gotta be so soon? I’m so tired, and I’m not even in class… I’ll take the day off…”

With languid steps, he returned to the tavern where everyone was sleeping.

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