Chirem Act 6-3.3
Act 6-3: Various Changes
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-2], R2[3-5], R3[6-8]
Part 6
Among the five classes established by the academy, those ranked Gold or higher were granted qualifications as soldiers. In particular, the Diamond and Platina classes, positions that come with seats as officers or organizational executives, require trainees to accumulate significant field experience and achievements during their training years.
It’s probably the intention of the leaders, believing that, as someone who would eventually command a unit, he must understand the battlefield better than anyone else.
Students who, despite still being enrolled, was sent to the front lines as ordinary soldiers were called 『Field Trainee』. It was a vital part of the training that could not be avoided if one wants to graduate from the academy. Of course, Yuiitsu, Sera, and I had all experienced it multiple times.
When it comes to the Diamond Class, the missions assigned were most likely all extremely difficult, none of them was something that could be handled easily.
However, Julio had successfully completed every mission assigned to him by the academy or his base. That was undoubtedly something to be proud of, yet, with a face so strikingly handsome that even other men might find themselves captivated, Julio simply tightens his expression and slowly shook his head.
「No, the reason I’ve been able to complete my missions safely isn’t because of my strength alone. It was thanks to excellent commanders, my comrades in the same unit, and so many people who believe in me and support me, even though I’m still inexperienced, like those women earlier. More than anything… It’s thanks to you, Rakuichi-kun.」
And then, to top it all off, he went and said something that sounds like he was thanking me, the one who was treated as dead weight in the Hero’s Party.
「I was once an arrogant man, blinded by my natural talent, looking down on others, and firmly believing I was the one destined to save the world. Then I lost to Yuiitsu, tasted my first real failure, and, blaming my misfortune on my circumstances and those around me, I sank into resentment and self-pity… And the one who helped reform that miserable, pathetic version of me, was you.」
「N-no, come on, that’s going way too far. The reason you’ve managed to rise this far, Julio, is purely the result of your own hard wor, right? 」
「It’s true, I take pride in the fact that I’ve worked harder than anyone. But the one who gave me the push to start… Was none other than you. A hero isn’t someone granted a title by the goddess. A true hero is someone who rises for the sake of others, even at the cost of themselves, without asking for anything in return. That’s what you taught me. And it’s thanks to that lesson that I’m the person I am today.」
Julio declares this in a voice that sounds almost like a confession to a sister. His eyes, fixed straight on me, were unwavering. It seems he’s genuinely grateful to me from the bottom of his heart. This from none other than Julio Emperio, the very man feared as the "Knight of Lightning," a top-tier talent among all current students, even if he wasn’t chosen as a Hero.
「Ah, that’s enough of that already. More importantly――」
「You're about to say, "Don’t talk about this kind of thing in front of others," right? If it’s for the mission I must fulfill or the future of humanity, you don’t care whether your achievements are recognized or not… Truly, you’re a humble man. And that’s exactly why you’re worthy of respect.」
No, I just didn’t want to be put in some annoyingly conspicuous position, that’s all… Damn it, I really couldn't do anything about this. No matter how I try to explain, he would only going to interpret it in whatever way suits him, and I could already see myself digging my own grave. Forget it, might as well just leave it alone.
「So... Seeing that you're wandering around in the city during this ocassion, may I assume that you're not going to participate in the meeting?」
Seeing me fell into silent, Julio suddenly changed the subject. Maybe he was being considerate after seeing how I reacted? I felt kind of bad about it.
「Yeah, I wasn’t asked to participate by the academy. Well, even if I’m in the same party as Yuiitsu, my role is just that of the manager after all.」
「I see... That’s unfortunate. As for me, I’ve been assigned to attend as an observer, since I’m part of the Diamond Class. That’s also one of the reasons I accompanied the delegation.」
「So that’s how it is. Man, you’ve been really active, both on the battlefield and in meetings, huh? Your reputation just rising non-stop... As expected of the rising star of the Enzenite Allied Forces. I bet you are quite popular over there too, weren’t you? With girls like those earlier, huh?」
Trying to respond to Julio’s feelings, I cracked a light joke, and he blushed slightly as he denied it, saying, “You're overestimating me!”
But when I kept staring at him, before long, his eyes started to dart around nervously...
「Well... I’m grateful that there are people who’ve looking up so much to someone like me, but even so, right now, I don’t have the luxury to be distracted by romance. I need to keep honing my skills, take on more missions, and save as many innocent people as I can. Because I believe that’s the mission entrusted to me— The reason the Goddess granted me this power.」
「... I see.」
He had really changed… this guy. Even just a little, I wish that idiot(Yuiitsu) would learn from him. Actually, while we were at it— Was there some way we could switch Julio with Yuiitsu? The current Julio now was far more heoic than the real hero himself. If it was Julio, I could entrust Sera and the others to him without worry, and I’m sure he’d gently fill the hole left in their hearts after I’m gone.
――As I was watching Julio while thinking about all that, he suddenly gave me a somewhat meaningful smile.
「Speaking of being popular with women, the same could be said for you right?」
「Eh? Me? Being popular with women?」
「That’s right. In fact, the girl I was paired with on this mi--- Woops, almost forgot that I’m supposed to say “man” or I’ll get scolded by her later. Well, anyway, she must’ve really wanted to see you, because as soon as we arrived in town, she slipped out of the procession and ran off somewhere.」
「Man? Girl?... Could it be...」
Hearing Julio’s peculiar phrasing, a certain person’s face came to mind, and I felt color drain from my face upon recalling that person.
Seeing me like that, Julio stifled a chuckle, then suddenly quickened his pace with a light wave of his hand.
「Well then, I’ll be going now. If you see him, please tell him, "We’ll take care of the arrangements on our end, so don’t worry and enjoy your reunion with the one you love."」
「Eh? Wait a second, what does that mean, Julio!?」
I called out to him desperately, but Julio acted as if he didn’t hear me and disappeared into the crowd while waving his hand, maintaining that charming smile. What a guy. He really wasn’t a hero after all.
Left behind and standing there in a daze with my arm still raised, I suddenly sensed someone next to me. It was Bell.
「Wo~w, Julio has really changed, hasn’t he? When we first met, he was a chubby little rich kid, but look at him now, he’s turned into such a tall and handsome guy」
「So you're only focused on that change in appearance... Did you forget that you're the one who called him a stalking horse back then?」
「Ughhh... Please don’t make me to remember that. I really do regret saying something so rude back then... Even now I'm still wondering if it’s still possible to swap him out with Yuiitsu-san? If we could do that, all my worries would just disappear」
My thought exactly. Well, if I had to choose between Julio and Yuiitsu, 100 of 100, my choice would be Julio.
――Whoooooooooosh
It was in that very moment. A chill suddenly running down my spine.
This was the sign of the passive skill of a gambler, 『Premonition』 activation.
In other words, it was proof that either Bell or I was in danger!
「WOAH!」
「KYAAAA?!」
Before I could even think, I grabbed Bell and leapt forward from that spot.
「DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!」
Half a second later, a massive greatsword blade came crashing down from above, striking the spot where we had just been and slamming into the ground.
KABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!!!
From the impact, the ground shattered, formed a wide spiderweb cracks, sending a huge cloud of dust rose into the air.
「KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!」
「W-WHAT IS HAPPENING JUST NOW?! IS IT EXPLOSION?! OR EARTHQUAKE?!」
With screams, pedestrians and shop workers began to flee, and the once lively main street was instantly overtaken by an eerie silence.
「Found youuuu... Rakuichiiiiiiii...!」
And then, a silhouette appeared within the gradually thinning dust cloud. A moment later, the figure revealed to the onlookers was that of a petite, beautiful girl with a confident smile, dressed in a cute gothic lolita-style outfit like something a French doll might wear, resting a massive greatsword on her shoulder.
「Y-You are...!」
That girl was the very one I had just thinking about in my mind moments ago.
Namely, Chris Schrader of the Platina class, who just returned from overseas mission just like Julio.