Chapter 84

The tumultuous Sword King Festival had ended, and a few days had passed.

Early September.

After finishing our morning classes, the three of us—me, Reia, and Rose—headed to the student council room, each holding a bento box.

"---It's gotten a bit cooler recently, hasn't it?"

I looked out the window and turned the conversation to the two of them.

"Yeah, I like this kind of weather."

"Hmm, I prefer it a bit cooler."

Reia and Rose said this and glanced at me.

"I... I guess. Autumn has just the right coolness, and it's a good season for practicing with a calm mind."

"What about winter?"

Reia tilted her head and asked.

"Oh, winter is good too. The cold makes both body and mind tighten up, and I can focus on each swing."

"Hmm, how about spring?"

This time, Rose asked.

"Umm, spring is good too. The warm weather makes it pleasant to swing a sword."

"‘Then what about summer?’"

Reia and Rose said this simultaneously.

"Summer is good too... especially the intense heat. It feels like ‘I’m really training now!’ and that’s the best."

"Hehe, Allen, it seems everything is based on training for you..."

"Well, Allen is a ‘training bug,’ after all."

"Is, is that so...?"

As we talked, we realized we had arrived at the student council room.

We knocked and received permission to enter, then opened the door.

"Good morning, President."

"Good morning. Allen, Reia, Rose."

The president, who had arrived at the student council room a bit earlier, greeted us.

In the back, Lirim-senpai and Ferris-senpai, sitting on the sofa, waved at us.

"Alright, now that everyone is here—let's start the regular meeting right away!"

The president clapped her hands, and the usual ‘nominal regular meeting’ began.

After that, it was business as usual—everyone enjoyed their bentos while chatting and having a good time.

According to the president, the vice president, Sebast, was still in detention.

Apparently, because he was wearing a black cloak, he was suspected of having ties to the Black Organization. Therefore, it would take some more time for him to return to Senrin Academy.

After the talk about Sebast,

"---By the way, it’s almost time for the ‘Senrin Festival.’ Has Allen’s class decided what to do?"

The president started a new topic.

"‘‘‘...Senrin Festival?’’’"

The three of us tilted our heads in unison.

"Oh, you don’t know? The Senrin Festival is an annual school festival!"

"Each class puts on a performance, and many participants come from outside the school..."

Lirim-senpai and Ferris-senpai gave us a brief explanation of the Senrin Festival.

(School festival, huh...)

At Gran Sword Academy, I wasn’t allowed to join in... This will be my first time participating.

(Still, a ‘performance’... I wonder what kind of things they do?)

...I’m a bit excited.

"I see... From the looks of it, you haven’t decided anything yet. Probably, there will be a detailed discussion in homeroom soon."

The president smiled happily. It seems she was looking forward to the Senrin Festival.

"Has your class decided what to do, President?"

"Yes, of course. Our 2-A class is—"

"—a super large haunted house spanning three classrooms!"

"By the way, I’m the director... I’m quite confident about it..."

Saying this, the three of them made the ‘ghost pose’ with their hands in front of them.

"Hehe, will everyone come?"

"Yes, of course."

I replied energetically, but—

"Ha, haunted house... That’s just a waste of time for kids! Right, Rose?"

"A, ah...! Reia is right! A, as a swordsman...! We should focus on training every day, not get distracted by such festival performances!"

...It seems the two of them are afraid of ghosts.

The president, who noticed this sensitively, smiled a bit mischievously.

"...Hmm? Are you... scared?"

"‘‘No, we’re not scared!’’"

The two of them, provoked by the president’s obvious provocation, made a big mistake.

"Right. If you’re not scared, you should definitely come. Allen will be there too... There’s no reason to refuse, right?"

"‘‘...’’"

Thus, the two of them, unable to back down, said—

"‘‘E, eh...! O, of course we will!’’"

"‘‘A, alright, I’ll go! ’’"

Their voices trembled, and their bodies were visibly shaking, making it clear they were just putting on a brave front.

"Reia, Rose... If you’re scared, you don’t have to force yourselves—"

I tried to offer a helping hand, but—

"‘‘Don’t get the wrong idea! We’re not scared of ghosts!’’"

"‘‘That’s right! Don’t say such rude things, Allen!’’"

The two of them insisted they weren’t scared and rejected my help.

"By the way, let me tell you, 2-A did a haunted house last year too... Ten or more people fainted from fear..."

"Hehehe! Those who experience our haunted house will never be able to go to the bathroom alone at night!"

"I want to see you tremble in fear..."

"‘‘...’’"

Hearing this, Reia and Rose were quite seriously frozen in place.

(No... If you’re afraid of being scared, you should just say so...)

As I smiled wryly,

"‘‘...Allen, are you not afraid of being scared?’’"

"Hmm, you seem to have a tolerance for this... You cheated in poker with Shii, and you look gentle but are quite devious..."

"Usually, you’re calm, so I’d like to see you surprised once..."

The president’s attention turned to me.

"Ahaha, I’m not saying I’m not afraid... But I don’t really fear ghosts..."

When I was still in Goza Village, I couldn’t sleep at night after hearing Grandpa Bamboo’s ghost stories...

But by the time I entered middle school, I no longer believed in ghosts.

"Hmm... You seem quite composed..."

"This calmness... You seem quite tough..."

"We need to step up our game..."

For some reason, the president and the others were full of enthusiasm.

"---Well, President, it’s almost time to close the meeting."

Looking at the clock, it was five minutes before the end of lunch break.

"Already? Time flies when you’re having fun... Well, Allen, Reia, Rose. See you tomorrow."

Thus, we ended the lunchtime regular meeting and headed to our afternoon classes.

■

After finishing all our afternoon classes, we returned to the classroom.

"Phew... It was good training."

"Yeah, sure... My body is already aching everywhere..."

"Reia-sensei’s class is quite tough..."

As we chatted with Reia and Rose, we were preparing to leave when—

"—Everyone, you did well today with the tough classes! For the homeroom, there are no announcements! You can go home now!"

Reia-sensei quickly finished the homeroom and then—

"—Allen, I need to talk to you. Come to the principal’s office alone after this."

She called me with a slightly stern voice.

"Yes, I understand."

"Um, I’ll be waiting."

She nodded in satisfaction and left the classroom.

"---Reia is unusually serious..."

"What does she mean by ‘alone’...?"

Reia and Rose tilted their heads in confusion.

"Well... I’ll go see what it’s about."

"---Okay. We’ll be training at our usual spot."

"Come over as soon as you’re done, Allen?"

"Sure, I will."

With that, I left the 2-A classroom and parted ways with Reia and Rose.

I walked down the long corridor, turning right and left, and arrived at the principal’s office. I cleared my throat and knocked slowly on the black door.

"—Come in."

Reia-sensei’s stern voice replied.

"Excuse me."

When I opened the door, the teacher was sitting in her work chair with a serious expression.

(What’s going on? Did something bad happen...?)

As I was thinking this,

"Thanks for coming, Allen. I have a few things to talk about... First, the fourth place in the Sword King Festival, defeating the White Lily Girls' Academy—this is a great achievement. Congratulations."

The teacher smiled warmly.

"Thank you. But this result is thanks to the president, Lirim-senpai, and Ferris-senpai."

"Yes, of course... But you don’t need to be too modest. You won all your matches from the preliminaries to the finals—achieving the best record among all participants. You are strong—be more confident and proud of yourself."

She continued.

"And now, the main topic... By defeating the ‘Prodigy’ Ildra Luxmaria, your fame has now reached a ‘national level.’”

"Is, is that so...?"

"Yes. Among the ‘first-year swordsmen,’ you are undoubtedly the most famous."

The teacher stated this clearly, and then—

"---That’s why I have something important to tell you..."

She said this with an unusually serious face.

"What is it...?"

I swallowed hard and waited for her words.

A minute or two passed... The principal’s office was filled with a heavy silence.

Finally, she slowly opened her mouth.

"---It’s about the cursed—‘One Billion Year Button’..."

"What!?"

One Billion Year Button—this unbelievable word—

(Why... Why does the teacher know about the One Billion Year Button...?)

I was so shocked that I opened my eyes wide.