Chapter 261
Ellen and I didn't exactly reconcile. We didn't really fight in the first place.
We had both inflicted some unknown wounds upon each other, but we ended up apologizing to each other for it.
There was still the issue with Harriet.
That night, I invited Harriet to the Titaime Terrace, where Berthus and I often chatted.
"It's okay. I'm getting better," I asked, and Harriet forced a smile and said that. There was no other way but to win. It was a different kind of horror from seeing a corpse.
"I just don't understand. I don't see why we have to do such terrible things, like mixing races or creating life."
Magic makes the impossible possible. But I can't understand why anyone would want to do such strange things, like mixing races or creating life.
Harriet's complexion wasn't great, but she seemed to be getting better little by little. She was still finding her balance, but she drank her tea.
"What about Ellen?"
"I said enough to make things okay."
"That's good."
Harriet smiled wistfully.
"...You fought a zombie horde in Darkland, right?"
"I did."
"I can't even handle seeing something like that. I wonder how difficult it was for you and Ellen."
We had fought terrible things directly, and Ellen had personally taken care of the Chimera.
Even just seeing the aftermath of that fight was difficult for Harriet.
I wanted to tell her that this was a different kind of dilemma, but Harriet seemed to be thinking about her own weakness and how difficult it was for her right now.
"If it weren't for you, Ellen would have died."
"...All I did was use a scroll."
"Still, that doesn't make my words untrue."
Harriet stares at me quietly.
If it weren't for Harriet, Ellen may not have chosen to fight in that moment. But once she made that decision, Harriet's role was crucial.
Even if it was a seemingly insignificant action in her own mind, it was undoubtedly a decisive help.
"I'll try harder."
Harriet says, looking out at the autumn night that has fallen.
"You're already trying hard."
Harriet looks at me.
"Still, I can try harder."
I don't know when it started, but there was always a hint of sadness mixed in with Harriet's laughter.
"I'll be here during the break."
Magic research club activities.
Harriet seemed to be planning to dedicate herself to research there without returning home.
Her desire for strength was evident in her expression. Perhaps seeing Ellen fight so fiercely had stirred something within her.
I'm the only one who thinks there's no time.
Is it because of my influence?
Both Ellen and Harriet were anxious.
—---
I must obtain information through magic. Additionally, in unavoidable situations, I must use my position as the last demon king to its fullest extent.
As the next demon king, I must take action, even if it is fake. The successor of the barren demon realm is only good prey, not someone to be wary of.
People must know that the next demon king exists.
For that, I need at least some power.
The Vampire Council.
They will try to undermine me, regardless of their intentions.
However, I cannot be sure if the old vampire lords will fear me more than the holy sword.
The vampire lords seem almost all like wizards, so it is possible to obtain clues about magic from them.
The Black Order has decided to approach me, and I have agreed to provide them with information about Cantus Magna. However, I do not expect them to approach me anytime soon.
Although they have already smashed Aaron Mede's head, they will not try to kill me for giving them false information because they know I am a dangerous person who controls the vampire lords.
There is no possibility of them pushing me into the empire. It is a situation where criminals push each other.
So.
There is still time until the Vampire Council is summoned.
The final exams are approaching.
After the final exams, there will be a festival, and then winter vacation.
It is difficult to feel the seasons when one is busy, and I am just like that.
The short autumn is already passing.
It is the way of spring and autumn to slip away to the other side before one knows it.
“Crrrak"
The sound of stepping on fallen leaves can be heard in various places throughout the correction.
"What is this?"
I cleared the fallen oak leaf from Ellen's hair. She stood still at the entrance of the dormitory, with large leaves perched on her head as if she didn't even notice them. Ellen stared blankly at me, although to be precise, it was the person next to me.
"Do you always have that expression when you see your sister?"
"What?"
Olivia Lanze was glaring at me.
"Do you have a problem with me?"
"No."
"Are you so bothered that I'm friendly with Reinhardt and others?"
"Oh, come on! If you're going to talk nonsense, leave quickly!"
Ellen and I bumped into each other in front of the dormitory on my way back from seeing Olivia. Olivia squinted at Ellen, sending a hostile gaze.
Lately, I've had some business with Olivia, which is why we met like this. Ellen and Olivia have a very bad relationship.
But you know what?
The fact that they have a relationship means something.
Did they have this kind of relationship from the beginning? I don't really know.
"You wouldn't have been able to be by Reinhardt's side even if you were five years younger than me. I can teach you everything, you know."
Ellen raised one corner of her mouth at Olivia's words.
What's this?
This is the first time I've seen her make that expression.
Ellen spat out an obvious sneer.
"You're probably glad that you're older."
"W-What! I'm still only twenty-two! I'm still young! It's my prime!"
"Anyway, you're older than me or Reinhardt. Five years."
"W-Well, can I hit Reinhardt then?"
Did Olivia lose in the end and resort to trying to pick a fight with me?
"Why are you asking for my permission?"
"Hit him or something."
Ellen tilted her head confidently.
Ellen...
Why are you acting like this? You're not that kind of person!
Olivia snorted and turned her head.
"Hmph! My sister hates violence, so I'm holding back! Remember that!"
Olivia stuck out her tongue and went into the dormitory.
That lady...
Everything's fine. Really.
Sometimes, she only chose to do things she hated so much that it made her want to scream. Ellen watched Olivia leave and then turned her gaze toward me.
"Hey, why do you hang out with that person? You don't have to be friends with her."
"Why not?" I asked.
"I don't like them. That person."
Ellen was really angry.
"Why? What happened?"
"I don't know. I just don't like her. She annoys me."
It was the first time Ellen had expressed her emotions so bluntly.
"Well, that person has helped me a lot with this and that, and I need her help now, too."
"Is it something important?"
"Yes, it is."
I knew it wouldn't be a good thing if people saw Olivia Lanze sneaking around me, but it was something I couldn't help this time.
Ellen couldn't say anything about it being inevitable, but she seemed very uncomfortable.
"Just be sure to do something about it."
"What... What should I do?"
"Because you're not doing anything, that person keeps bothering you."
This time, Ellen's anger was directed toward me. Her cold gaze made my body freeze.
"Or maybe that person likes it when you act like you don't like them."
"No, not at all. It's not good."
"It seems like you like it. You're just pretending to dislike it."
"No, I don't! I really hate it!"
What's going on?
Why is she talking to me like she’s scolding a boyfriend who can't manage his female friends?
It's a strange situation, and I can't say anything.
Who are you to talk to me like that?
If I say anything similar, my tongue or throat will be cut off, one of the two situations will happen.
It's really scary.
"Then make sure it doesn't happen."
"Uh... yeah..."
In the end, I answered like a boyfriend who couldn't manage his girlfriend's friends.
—---
There is too much to do.
If everything related to the Gate is considered as "work," then there was too much work to do.
Dealing with various problems that arise from human relationships was also going to be a headache.
So, academic duties, which should have been a student's primary responsibility, took a backseat.
If I come in last place again this time, it's dangerous. That's why I won't deliberately come in last place this time, but the bottom is already certain.
"So, please control yourself."
"Hmph, is my expression of affection incorrect?"
Eventually, when I told Olivia as she had instructed, Olivia became very upset and began ranting with a huff and a puff.
"...Really, it feels like I made some kind of promise with a senior! I don't have any intention of marrying you!"
At my displeasure, Olivia's face turned pale with her mouth agape.
"R...really...?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
Even though she sincerely likes her senior, hasn't she continued to appeal that she has no interest in that kind of thing?
"I thought you would reject me..."
"Oh, it's confusing..."
"Well, if it's not now, then maybe you'll start to like me in the future?"
When Olivia's dazzling smile appeared, it felt like my mind was going blank.
I can't seem to communicate.
"If you keep using me like this, and don't even consider my feelings, how angry do you think I'll get? You don't know how scary I can be, right?"
Olivia's words are correct too.
I couldn't say anything to the comment that if I keep using her as I please, then why can't I overlook something like this?
I am still using her like that now.
"Do you really like that person so much? To the point where you get angry at your older sister?"
"That's not the issue here."
"If it's not the issue, then what is it?"
Suddenly, Olivia's expression hardened, and she stopped herself from saying something.
"I'll say one thing. Has that person done something wrong to me? No, there's nothing like that."
Olivia was serious now.
"But I don't like that person. That's something I can't help. Don't tell me not to hate that person, don't torment me, and don't start a fight. You know?"
Olivia bites her lips slightly, looking at me.
"The more you say things like that, the more I will hate that person for no reason."
Slam!
Olivia said this and slammed the door shut with force.
Why.
Why do I have to go through this, even though it's all to save the world...
—---
"I don't like that person either," Adelia said.
Harriet nodded in agreement.
"But still...before all of this, she was supposed to be a very kind person," Adelia added.
Liana shook her head at Adelia's words.
"Just like a ten-year-old," Liana said.
"Ten-year-old...?" Adelia seemed confused by Liana's intense expression.
Munching away at five different dishes, Ellen, who had brought up the topic, seemed a bit different from her usual self. She appeared to be eating recklessly to release her stress.
When Liana asked about her sour expression, Ellen explained that she didn't like a person named Olivia Lanze, who hangs around with Reinhardt for no reason.
At this moment, Ellen spoke ill of someone behind their back for the first time in her life.
Harriet agreed with her, Adelia didn't understand, and Liana labeled the person as a "Ten-year-old."
"But Reinhardt is such a bastard, so maybe they suit each other?" Liana said cheerfully, prompting Ellen and Harriet to stare at her.
"Why not?"
"...."
"...."
"Li...Liana...."
"What?"
Liana de Grantz was oblivious to strange nuances.
She didn't seem particularly hungry and was snacking on cheese salad.
"That sister of yours is just weird. She knows she's pretty and keeps showing off. It's embarrassing."
None of the four of them had anything to say about that.
Olivia Lanze.
Although the title of Eredian saint had disappeared quite some time ago, the fact that she stood out wherever she went because of her beautiful appearance remained unchanged. Even Reinhardt, who expressed his dislike of her, must have been surprised or embarrassed at times by her actions.
Watching her stick to Reinhardt so much that it was excessive, anyone who saw it felt some disgust.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Such thoughts naturally came to mind.
"So, what do you want to do about it?"
"It's not about what I want to do. I just don't like her. I get nervous when I see her."
"Then what? What do you want to do?"
"...It's not about what I want to do. I just don't like her. She always picks a fight with me for no reason," Ellen said, focusing on her food.
Ellen was always a binge-eater, but today she felt like it was stress-induced bingeing.
"She picks a fight with you? You?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah."
If she just stayed quiet, Olivia wouldn't bother her, but every time Olivia saw Ellen, she would scratch at her nerves.
It had been going on for quite some time, not just recently.
Ever since the last sponsorship event, Olivia had been scratching at her nerves every time they crossed paths.
Being in the same dorm, they inevitably ran into each other occasionally.
"Oh, hey. Reinhardt's friend?"
"Please treat Reinhardt well!"
"Don't get too close with Reinhardt, okay? You know why."
"Oh, you're pretty. Not as pretty as your sister, though."
"You're good at fighting, right? But don't bully Reinhardt too much."
"Sorry, you're a rival to my sister. It can't be helped."
"Oh, are you angry? You're going to hit me? I'll tell Reinhardt. Is that okay?"
Ellen gripped her fork as she ate.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
-Growl.
Everyone was staring at her fork, which was now bent out of shape.
But in the end, Ellen wasn't the type to hold grudges against someone she disliked, just as Harriet didn't like the irritating Heather.
Harriet used to be like that, but not anymore.
"Well... that sister is a bit strange," Liana said, shrugging her shoulders in response to Adelia's question.
"She probably entered as a sacred power major. But if she gave up her faith, what is she going to graduate with? It would be strange to graduate with a sacred power major."
Their expressions became strange at her words.
"Yeah, you're right," someone agreed.
There was no reason to worry about the graduation of a slightly unpleasant senior, but they all became curious.
"I don't know," Ellen said, devouring five dishes in a flash and taking a sip of water as her eyes gleamed.
"If you keep talking like that, I won't be able to hold back."
"Uh, um... calm down, Ellen..."
Harriet secretly hoped that Ellen would do something, but she also felt like something terrible was about to happen, so she tried to stop Ellen.
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