BIWMD 09

Chapter 9. Prepare for the Foreseen Ruin (1)

…Tch. People really don’t listen.

Ethan Behemoth was always like this—relentlessly persistent to an excessive degree at times.

Nothing’s changed. I guess that’s to be expected. After all, in this world, I’m the only one who gets worn down and eroded.

“Sigh…”

I muttered while messing up my hair with the other hand.

“Yeah. Well… it’s not like I’ll be coming back anyway.”

It’ll be fine.

After this subjugation training, there won’t be anything at this academy I’ll ever see again.

As long as I deal well with unexpected variables like this…

“……”

Just then, a sudden sense of discomfort washed over me.

I quickly turned around. A chill breeze swept up dust behind me in perfect timing.

All the branches had been chopped off the wooden stumps surrounding the sparring ground, leaving nothing like twigs or leaves to rustle in the wind.

So there shouldn’t be anywhere for someone to hide.

Then why did it feel like someone was watching?

…Am I getting too sensitive?

Yeah. If there had been an outsider or an intruder here, Ethan Behemoth would’ve dealt with them before the duel even started.

I squinted and stared behind me for a while, then reluctantly stepped out of the sparring arena.

There wasn’t enough time to waste if I wanted to prepare for the upcoming subjugation exercise.

*

The spot Edith Crowell had vacated looked far too ruined to have simply been used by two students sparring.

The once well-packed ground was torn up and cracked all over, and traces of wild, rampaging mana scattered in every direction.

Any students who arrived here later would probably assume it had been a duel between professors using sword and magic.

And hiding skillfully to avoid Edith Crowell’s sharp gaze, someone smiled faintly.

“Edith Crowell… interesting.”

Then he too disappeared into the shadows.

As if discovering something fascinating had lit a fire inside him, he left behind only a whispered murmur.

*

“May you all return with honor. Safely.”

All and safely. Two words from that short farewell that likely wouldn’t be upheld.

But for now, that was something only I knew.

Once the headmaster finished his speech and raised his hand in signal, the subjugation trainees—dressed in their academy uniforms and mounted on horseback—began to move in unison.

Hundreds of students in similar uniforms lined up and rode their horses in formation. It looked majestic, like a small elite cavalry unit setting out.

Since I was positioned at the rear of the group, I had a perfect view of the massive march moving forward—almost like I was spectating it.

That part’s nice.

Though, thanks to the dusty wind kicked up by the horses’ hooves, I got the full brunt of it.

…That part’s not.

I lifted my arm to cover my face and frowned.

I was keeping some distance from the group ahead as I followed on horseback. It felt strange.

Seeing this sight again—it felt like something from a faraway dream. Maybe because I had lived through hundreds of lifetimes and was seeing it anew.

This subjugation training, conducted entirely by student groups without any external supervision, was the academy’s way of proving it wasn’t just an ivory tower of theory.

Which is why the departure ceremony was so grand. I was even taken aback by the enormous trumpet—about as big as my body—played by the academy’s commemorative band.

They actually blew into that thing?

As I looked around while passing through the academy’s main gate and receiving a fancy send-off, I spotted black hair up front.

There he is.

Ethan Behemoth—who was very likely to be a pain—was leading the formation far ahead, which gave me peace of mind.

I needed to find the right moment to slip away from the march, so I couldn’t draw attention to myself.

Focus on the monsters, not me.

Monsters that harmed humans were scattered so randomly and unpredictably that no group had ever completely gotten them under control.

To put it simply—even in my previous lives, when I came close to wiping them out, I never learned their true origins.

So the Empire didn’t try to exterminate them outright, but instead sent subjugation units to cut them down before they matured too far—just like this training exercise.

This march was literally a hands-on “training” for academy students who would later serve as subjugation forces after graduation.

“G-Good morning!”

While I was blankly riding my horse, a voice broke through the steady rhythm of hoofbeats.

“Hello,” I replied, nodding politely.

A figure wearing a gray hood came into view.

Unkempt white hair peeked out from the hood, standing up slightly.

His pale face—whether due to the hood’s shadow or natural frailty—was hard to read.

“I-I heard from the headmaster, j-just before departure, that you… you agreed to team up with me. Th-Thank you.”

He stammered, avoiding my gaze. Not only frail, it seemed he was also shy.

So we’re on the same team.

His hands, gripping the reins tightly, were larger than I expected, but so pale that blue veins popped up—he looked like a first-time rider.

“No problem.”

I nodded lightly and looked at him again. Pale purple eyes. White hair…

Very distinct features, but I had no memory of him. So he wasn’t one of the survivors.

If I wanted to sneak away later, I needed to know if his personality would be a problem.

I casually smoothed my expression and offered a simple thank-you.

“I must’ve startled you by asking to form a team out of the blue. Thank you.”

It would’ve been best to be in a solo team, of course—but the headmaster would never allow that.

…Wait.

Something felt off. Then this student was alone without a group? Why? Were the numbers uneven?

The student smiled awkwardly and lowered his head, then lifted it again.

The loose hood flapped along with his movements and fell low, blocking his view when he looked up.

“A-Ah!”

He flailed in surprise at the sudden darkness.

Hmm…

He was so clumsy, I almost felt bad for having suspected anything odd.

“Th-The hood…”

“Let me help you.”

Maybe, to adjust to this new life, I needed to start by letting go of the habit of doubting everything.

I reached out and flipped back his hood.

“Seems a bit big for you.”

“Th-Thank you. You’re so kind… M-My name is R-Rimos Therion.”

As his hood fell back, long hair spilled over it. The student shyly introduced himself.

“Rimos Therion, huh. May I call you Therion?”

“Y-Yes… Of course…”

Rimos Therion. His name and surname didn’t ring any bells. I nodded vaguely.

Should I give my name too? Just as I opened my mouth—

“My name is Edi—”

“Oh, I know.”

He cut me off.

I hadn’t expected someone like him to have the nerve to interrupt, so I was briefly taken aback.

Smiling softly, he continued in a quiet voice.

“You’re Lady Edith Crowell, right?”

No stutter when he says my name.

“…Yes.”

I raised a hand to rub the back of my neck. It felt… itchy? Or maybe a bit chilly?

…Probably just me overreacting.

“So you knew.”

“Who doesn’t know Lady Edith Crowell?”

…Am I really that well known? That can’t be right.

Maybe sensing the narrowing of my gaze, Rimos Therion quickly turned forward and began babbling about himself, his face reddening.

“I-I studied holy magic. So… I’m assigned to the rear for healing support… A-And if there are monsters with strong m-mana, I… purify them.”

Ah. A holy mage?

Then it made sense that he’d be assigned to the rear on his own.

I gave a faint smile and nodded to him.

“I see. Therion, I look forward to working with you.”

He smiled brightly and nodded back.

“Y-Yes. Me too…”

Holy mages—those who could use divine magic without being clergy—were rare.

Still, a solo team? Could it be that Rimos Therion is the only holy mage at the academy this year?

Well, that’s possible.

There’s no point wasting energy worrying about such details. Besides, it’s not really my business.

Either way, the fact that I don’t remember Rimos Therion means he’s doomed to die here.

He won’t be a major variable in this situation. That’s why I shouldn’t get attached.

And so, back then, I had no idea.

That this holy mage and I would end up terribly entangled.