That day in Greyberg, the forest magician —Albert Morroe’s funeral was taking place.
There were many who cried, among them were Johannes Greyberg and Aries. The summoned heros were not present.
“Albert…. Was a friend. He supported this nation for a long time, but I could give him nothing in return.”
King Johannes was addressing the people.
“The person who killed Albert was part of the organization known as dragon heart! I initially did not intend to tell you this. To preserve Albert’s honor I meant to hide this from you. However, I realized this was a mistake. For are you not suffering the same as I am!? ”
The people looked up at their king, tears flowing freely.
” Do not forget the name of those who killed everyone’s friend! Those who have wronged this nation! I swear here and now! That I with out fail will tear the members of dragon heart, those that killed Albert, limb from limb!”
It wasn’t what the king said, but his appearance that told the people it was true. As Johannes touch the fire to Albert’s corpse, the blaze that rose up seem to be empowered by the word “friend” gaining the king even more support.
“The Forest Wizard, Albert Morroe!”
※
The academy training ground was plain dirt and sand, however, it was surrounded by a peaceful landscape of blooming flowers and other vegetation. Even the chirping of small birds could be heard. The students gathered there found it hard to believe Aries words.
“Albert, has passed away.”
The student’s expressions gradually collapsed and soon changed to confusion.
“Why? Albert—”
Saeki’s voice broke when he asked the question.
“There’s a group called dragons heart. They’re bandits targeting nobles, politicians, and the country itself. The other day they appeared on our border. Albert felt a disturbing magic power and rushed out to meet it, but……. regrettably he didn’t make it back. ”
Sometimes Albert would visit the academy and give the heros a magic lesson, he was a kind instructor. The students had become attached, they could practically hear the gentle ” HoHoHo” of laughter coming from under his mustache.
“I was extremely worried about whether or not we should talk about this, but I want everyone to inherite Albert’s will.”
“His will?”
Saeki spoke up again.
“That is for demons, for the demon lord to be killed. Defeat the demon king and bring peace to this world. That was Albert’s will, peace and the well-being of Greyberg. The was the will of Albert who thought so much of you.”
Tears flowed from Aries’ eyes as she said this and there were those that cried among the students as well.
” I beg you. ”
At her words Saeki quietly clenched his fist.
For a while after Aries left the training ground there was silence. However the deflated air the had hovered around them was gone, the student’s expressions had tightened and training had begun. There was no-one there who had doubted Aries tears. None, except Ichijo. In the training grounds they practiced magic and trained with sword and spear. All but Ichijo, who was in the shade leaning against a tree as he looked up at the sky.
“Ichijo! Did you not hear what Aries said!?”
Looking displeased Saeki had shouted at Ichijo.
“Huh? Oh Saeki huh?…. No, I heard, but this is free time right? So I thought I would use this time however I wanted. It’s important to rest as well isn’t it?”
There was no strength in Ichijo’s eyes, he treated Saeki the same as usual. Saeki’s shouting stopped as the silence between them dissolved into a staring contest. This was an everyday occurrence between them. There were several things different about Ichijo, the first being Mashima and Kihara. Initially they would be by Ichijo’s side, however now, there was no-one. They had separated from Ichijo and had chosen Saeki, when he moved those two followed behind him. They appeared next to him now, saying nothing. Ichijo glanced at them but soon uninterested he looked back up at the sky.
“Saeki, you came to poke at me right? I wonder if this is how Hidaka felt?”
“Asshole! You’re still saying things like that!? We are alive! Stop talking about the dead!”
“In that case, that woman is guilty of the same offense. She came here to talk about the dead didn’t she?”
“Who are you calling that woman?! You asshole, are you talking about Aries!?”
“Was there someone else?”
Saeki glared at Ichijo a murderous glint in his eyes.
“Saeki, your mouth, your personality, and your behavior are all bad. But, you’re pure, therefore you can’t see it.”
“…. Huh?”
“That woman, there was an ulterior motive behind what she said.”
“Motherfu— Say something else!”
“Saeki, why do you have her back to such an extent?…. Think about it. She showed up and talked about the old man that died and what happened to you? You’re more motivated now than ever before. Saeki, people die right? Sure, he was a great sage that served the country for decades, but you’re full of motivation now. ”
Ichijo smiled thinly.
” You don’t think that’s weird? They always start with a dark topic, another soldier was killed by demons, after that it’s stuff about will and how they believe in us. When that’s over most of the men take special lessons. It’s brainwashing. I thought girls were impervious to it, before I knew it that old man had came and went. His death provoking everyone to attack the enemy just as that woman wanted. She doesn’t have good intentions. ”
” What’s going on Saeki? Are you arguing with Ichijo again? ”
It seemed someone had become worried about the two, Butler appeared.
” No way Sensei. We were just talking about what to do from now on. For the good of Greyberg we have to become stronger.”
” I see, I’m expecting great things from you Saeki. ”
” Right!”
This was Saeki now. When Butler was called by another student and went off somewhere else, Saeki turned back to see Ichijo’s shoulders shaking with laughter.
“Saeki… Huu…The you now makes me nauseous, you were more serious before.”
At the expression on Ichijo’s face and what he’d said, Saeki trembled in rage as he glared. But he seemed to have regained his patience and sighed.
“Ichijo…. No matter what you think I’m not going to betray you. You’re strong. To this country you’re an important existence.”
“How much of your will is included in that loyalty?”
“Cut it out!”
Mashima had become irritated at ichijo’s earlier words and shouted out now.
“I’m tired of all your complaining!”
“You used to be so cool before but now…”
Kihara seemed to be making fun of him when she said this.
“You two are the same as ever, you’re so superficial.”
“What!? Say that agai-!”
“[Explosion]”
Immediately an explosion went off in the sky, wind from it shook the trees nearby. The other students and Butler had become captivated. The explosion drowned out Mashima’s words, Ichijo glared at her. She had been overpowered by the show of force, she now stood speechless her face cramped.
“You two are just mindless followers, if it’s not me it’s Saeki and if it’s not Saeki then who’s next? You hide behind someone and piggyback off of them. If it wasn’t me and was Hidaka instead would you have just poured on the abuse?”
Saeki pulled on the girls hands leading them away from Ichijo.
” Don’t use magic to threaten people, coward. ”
” I have an issue with being measured by your standards. Besides, I was just scolding them a little. ”
Saeki brought his face close, glaring.
“Think carefully about who was in the wrong.”
Saeki murmured in a low voice before leading the girls away. Left alone Saeki leaned against the tree again and sighed, closing his eyes.
(Why… Everyone forgot. That women has no compassion, the expression on her face when she sent Hidaka away. She laughs when tormenting others. Everyone should have seen it.)
Ichijo didn’t understand it, he was suffering from the feeling that he was the only sane person among them.
(After all, we are strangers here. If they judge that we are incompetent they’ll send us away like they did Hidaka. No, they’ll probably kill us, why hasn’t anyone noticed?)
—Without fail, I will come back to kill you, all of you.
In that moment Ichijo remembered Masamune’s final words. He smiled eyes closed, still smiling he opened one eye, using his hand to block the sun.
“When, when are you coming to kill us Hidaka?”
Ichijo asked quietly as he stared up at the sky.
That day in Greyberg, the forest magician —Albert Morroe’s funeral was taking place.
There were many who cried, among them were Johannes Greyberg and Aries. The summoned heros were not present.
“Albert…. Was a friend. He supported this nation for a long time, but I could give him nothing in return.”
King Johannes was addressing the people.
“The person who killed Albert was part of the organization known as dragon heart! I initially did not intend to tell you this. To preserve Albert’s honor I meant to hide this from you. However, I realized this was a mistake. For are you not suffering the same as I am!? ”
The people looked up at their king, tears flowing freely.
” Do not forget the name of those who killed everyone’s friend! Those who have wronged this nation! I swear here and now! That I with out fail will tear the members of dragon heart, those that killed Albert, limb from limb!”
It wasn’t what the king said, but his appearance that told the people it was true. As Johannes touch the fire to Albert’s corpse, the blaze that rose up seem to be empowered by the word “friend” gaining the king even more support.
“The Forest Wizard, Albert Morroe!”
※
The academy training ground was plain dirt and sand, however, it was surrounded by a peaceful landscape of blooming flowers and other vegetation. Even the chirping of small birds could be heard. The students gathered there found it hard to believe Aries words.
“Albert, has passed away.”
The student’s expressions gradually collapsed and soon changed to confusion.
“Why? Albert—”
Saeki’s voice broke when he asked the question.
“There’s a group called dragons heart. They’re bandits targeting nobles, politicians, and the country itself. The other day they appeared on our border. Albert felt a disturbing magic power and rushed out to meet it, but……. regrettably he didn’t make it back. ”
Sometimes Albert would visit the academy and give the heros a magic lesson, he was a kind instructor. The students had become attached, they could practically hear the gentle ” HoHoHo” of laughter coming from under his mustache.
“I was extremely worried about whether or not we should talk about this, but I want everyone to inherite Albert’s will.”
“His will?”
Saeki spoke up again.
“That is for demons, for the demon lord to be killed. Defeat the demon king and bring peace to this world. That was Albert’s will, peace and the well-being of Greyberg. The was the will of Albert who thought so much of you.”
Tears flowed from Aries’ eyes as she said this and there were those that cried among the students as well.
” I beg you. ”
At her words Saeki quietly clenched his fist.
For a while after Aries left the training ground there was silence. However the deflated air the had hovered around them was gone, the student’s expressions had tightened and training had begun. There was no-one there who had doubted Aries tears. None, except Ichijo. In the training grounds they practiced magic and trained with sword and spear. All but Ichijo, who was in the shade leaning against a tree as he looked up at the sky.
“Ichijo! Did you not hear what Aries said!?”
Looking displeased Saeki had shouted at Ichijo.
“Huh? Oh Saeki huh?…. No, I heard, but this is free time right? So I thought I would use this time however I wanted. It’s important to rest as well isn’t it?”
There was no strength in Ichijo’s eyes, he treated Saeki the same as usual. Saeki’s shouting stopped as the silence between them dissolved into a staring contest. This was an everyday occurrence between them. There were several things different about Ichijo, the first being Mashima and Kihara. Initially they would be by Ichijo’s side, however now, there was no-one. They had separated from Ichijo and had chosen Saeki, when he moved those two followed behind him. They appeared next to him now, saying nothing. Ichijo glanced at them but soon uninterested he looked back up at the sky.
“Saeki, you came to poke at me right? I wonder if this is how Hidaka felt?”
“Asshole! You’re still saying things like that!? We are alive! Stop talking about the dead!”
“In that case, that woman is guilty of the same offense. She came here to talk about the dead didn’t she?”
“Who are you calling that woman?! You asshole, are you talking about Aries!?”
“Was there someone else?”
Saeki glared at Ichijo a murderous glint in his eyes.
“Saeki, your mouth, your personality, and your behavior are all bad. But, you’re pure, therefore you can’t see it.”
“…. Huh?”
“That woman, there was an ulterior motive behind what she said.”
“Motherfu— Say something else!”
“Saeki, why do you have her back to such an extent?…. Think about it. She showed up and talked about the old man that died and what happened to you? You’re more motivated now than ever before. Saeki, people die right? Sure, he was a great sage that served the country for decades, but you’re full of motivation now. ”
Ichijo smiled thinly.
” You don’t think that’s weird? They always start with a dark topic, another soldier was killed by demons, after that it’s stuff about will and how they believe in us. When that’s over most of the men take special lessons. It’s brainwashing. I thought girls were impervious to it, before I knew it that old man had came and went. His death provoking everyone to attack the enemy just as that woman wanted. She doesn’t have good intentions. ”
” What’s going on Saeki? Are you arguing with Ichijo again? ”
It seemed someone had become worried about the two, Butler appeared.
” No way Sensei. We were just talking about what to do from now on. For the good of Greyberg we have to become stronger.”
” I see, I’m expecting great things from you Saeki. ”
” Right!”
This was Saeki now. When Butler was called by another student and went off somewhere else, Saeki turned back to see Ichijo’s shoulders shaking with laughter.
“Saeki… Huu…The you now makes me nauseous, you were more serious before.”
At the expression on Ichijo’s face and what he’d said, Saeki trembled in rage as he glared. But he seemed to have regained his patience and sighed.
“Ichijo…. No matter what you think I’m not going to betray you. You’re strong. To this country you’re an important existence.”
“How much of your will is included in that loyalty?”
“Cut it out!”
Mashima had become irritated at ichijo’s earlier words and shouted out now.
“I’m tired of all your complaining!”
“You used to be so cool before but now…”
Kihara seemed to be making fun of him when she said this.
“You two are the same as ever, you’re so superficial.”
“What!? Say that agai-!”
“[Explosion]”
Immediately an explosion went off in the sky, wind from it shook the trees nearby. The other students and Butler had become captivated. The explosion drowned out Mashima’s words, Ichijo glared at her. She had been overpowered by the show of force, she now stood speechless her face cramped.
“You two are just mindless followers, if it’s not me it’s Saeki and if it’s not Saeki then who’s next? You hide behind someone and piggyback off of them. If it wasn’t me and was Hidaka instead would you have just poured on the abuse?”
Saeki pulled on the girls hands leading them away from Ichijo.
” Don’t use magic to threaten people, coward. ”
” I have an issue with being measured by your standards. Besides, I was just scolding them a little. ”
Saeki brought his face close, glaring.
“Think carefully about who was in the wrong.”
Saeki murmured in a low voice before leading the girls away. Left alone Saeki leaned against the tree again and sighed, closing his eyes.
(Why… Everyone forgot. That women has no compassion, the expression on her face when she sent Hidaka away. She laughs when tormenting others. Everyone should have seen it.)
Ichijo didn’t understand it, he was suffering from the feeling that he was the only sane person among them.
(After all, we are strangers here. If they judge that we are incompetent they’ll send us away like they did Hidaka. No, they’ll probably kill us, why hasn’t anyone noticed?)
—Without fail, I will come back to kill you, all of you.
In that moment Ichijo remembered Masamune’s final words. He smiled eyes closed, still smiling he opened one eye, using his hand to block the sun.
“When, when are you coming to kill us Hidaka?”
Ichijo asked quietly as he stared up at the sky.
