Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 86

“I’m with you!”

 

With Aire’s help, Eileen had passed the investigation and was enrolled in a special class to prepare for the real thing. It was both her own choice and something the imperial family secretly hoped for, given that she was a recognized star contractor.

 

When Laquerta heard the news, he didn’t hesitate to follow Eileen to the special class. As they were leaving, Eileen asked him.

 

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

This time, he couldn’t stay behind.

 

The 16-year-old’s eyes sparked with determination. Eileen looked into his burning eyes and felt a new realization.

 

“I will never heal a human.”

 

The image of the flying beast, now gone, flashed through Eileen’s mind. The Laquerta of a day when he had chosen the life of a healer as his salvation because he didn’t want to be miserable anymore, but the continued persecution of the Suyin had forced him to let it go.

 

All that absurdity melted away in the name of today, and before her stood Laquerta, a student, a bit of an oddball, but eager to learn.

 

That alone was enough to fill Eileen’s heart with courage.

 

“Okay, let’s do this together.”

 

Nodding, Laquerta fumbled in his bag and held something out to Eileen.

 

“Take this.”

 

Eileen’s eyes widened as she took the box nonchalantly.

 

“What is this?”

 

“I’ve always wanted to give you a gift.”

 

Inside the box was an adorable set of teacups. The white porcelain cups with orange and yellow flowers were her favorite.

 

“Wow, they’re so cute, thank you!”

 

Eileen’s smile deepened as she remembered the distraction of picking out the teacup. It was a gift that meant more to her because she knew how hard he had worked to get it.

 

Laquerta looked at Eileen’s delighted face and blurted out in embarrassment.

 

“Well, whatever, just make yourself at home. But that cup, I heard it changes color when you put hot water in it.”

 

Eileen couldn’t help but laugh out loud at how cute it was that he was pretending not to be and subtly extolling the virtues of the teacup.

 

“Don’t laugh!”

 

“No, I’m not. It’s just that the teacup is so pretty.”

 

After laughing for a while, Eileen calmed down and said,

 

“You gave it to me, so I guess we should have our first tea time together in it.”

 

“Hmph. I wouldn’t mind if you did me a favor.”

 

“Yes, thank you. Let’s get a bunch of refreshments.”

 

“I like the whole roasted chicken.”

 

“What did you say,…refreshments?”

 

“It’s a whole chicken cake with tea.”

 

The conversation flowed between them like a loose screw. Feeling strangely liberated and relaxed, they shifted their feet.

 

 

***

 

 

“You guys have been doing this training every day?!”

 

They had been training for two weeks now. Eileen lay down in the middle of the barracks as soon as the bell rang for break. Cordelia, Laquerta, Lucian, and Felix gathered around her.

 

“Is it that hard?”

 

“Hard?! I’m dying!”

 

Eileen cried out, covered from head to toe in sweat and sandy dust. Her resolve of a few days ago had long since vanished like cotton candy in water in the face of such extreme hardship.

 

“I thought we were supposed to train in elementalism!”

 

Eileen had expected that since she had applied to be an Elemental, training to develop Star’s special powers would be a priority. But the reality was different.

 

Amanda, the head of the special squad and a battlefield veteran of the Imperial Knights, prioritized physical strength.

 

“If you neglect your physical training because you’re a healer, a ranged mage, an elementalist, or whatever, you’re going to regret it when it really matters. At the very least, you must be able to take care of yourself to qualify for battle!”

 

That was very true, but to Eileen, whose physical strength was well below the standard, it was like a slap in the face.

 

“Laquerta, aren’t you tired?”

 

“Bird’s feet compared to a lake crossing.”

 

“I’m… ed.”

 

Laquerta had applied to be a healer, but he was already physically perfect, so he started practicing basic swordsmanship in addition to healing in his spare time. It was so basic that he hadn’t mastered the technique yet, but his innate strength made the sound of his sword when he swung it deadly.

 

“No matter how you look at it, your stats are wrong.”

 

“What?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“But you’ve improved, Eileen.”

 

Cordelia said as she sat down next to Eileen, brushing her sweat-sticky bangs out of her face.

 

“You could barely do two laps before, and now you can do five. That’s a lot of progress in such a short time.”

 

Eileen nodded, looking a little downcast.

 

“Thank you. And I’m sorry about something. I said I’d do it, and I sounded weak.”

 

The week of unexpectedly intense physical training had taken its toll on her body and mind. 

 

As Eileen apologized, embarrassed by her off handed remark, Lucian plopped down beside her and said, “You know, you can be a little soft when you’re tired.”

 

“You can be a bit of a weakling when things get tough, but it’s great that you keep going. We don’t care, so you can say whatever you want.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“It’s just that it’s easier for you to say it now that we’re alone, and I kind of like that.”

 

Felix laughed as he said it. Eileen’s expression softened at the outpouring of affection.

 

“Thank you, everyone. I’m energized! Let’s run!”

 

Cordelia, who had been watching Eileen’s back as she pushed herself upright, asked,

 

“By the way, Eileen, are you studying for your finals?”

 

“…Finals?”

 

A chill ran down Eileen’s spine, as if the heat she’d accumulated from circling the rehearsal hall had been blown away in an instant.

 

“When are they…?”

 

“In ten days.”

 

Eileen looked up at the sky. The sky was yellow, which meant something else. She stumbled back to the ground and grabbed Cordelia and Felix by the ankles.

 

“I’m going to make one more weak sound, help me!”

 

Despite the world crisis, the final exam was held without delay.

 

“Even though it’s a student’s duty to study, this is too much.”

 

Actually, it was Eileen’s grades that were too much.

 

Cordelia’s tips on Elementalism, Felix’s second installment of Genealogy for the School of Magic, and Andrew’s accelerated General Studies.

 

The shortcut to an efficient end to the exam was perfect, but the willpower to follow it was weak.

 

‘Middle school and high school might be the end of my soul’s academic capacity.’

 

After twelve years of formal education, Eileen’s ass, stretched to the limit, felt light in front of Verotanis’s academic rows.

 

It’s been a long time since club time.

 

Eileen’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at the members of the club, who had all excelled.

 

“You’re in great shape, cheer up!”

 

Andrew, who had just won the class president’s award, said cheerfully, and Eileen coughed. George stood in front of the board, leaving Eileen behind.

 

“It’s been a rough semester, everyone, and I’m glad we made it through to the show. I’ve really enjoyed this semester with you all.”

 

His chuckling laugh is refreshing.

 

“I hope you all have a great vacation, and I’ll see you all smiling in the new semester. I heard the kids in the special classes are staying in school for detention, so I hope they’re doing well.”

 

Applause erupted at this tidy finish. Eileen suddenly realized that vacation was coming.

 

“I’m tearing up just thinking about the special lessons schedule, but at least the semester is over.”

 

As with all finishes, there was a bittersweet taste in her mouth.

 

 

***

 

 

“Isn’t it lonely for you and the ladies to be in school during the vacation?”

 

Oslo asked as he poured the tea, and the duke chuckled. He opened the letter in his hand with a knife and replied.

 

“Strangely enough, I see a lot of them during the school year, so I’m not lonely.”

 

Four letters.

 

Letters from kids who were on vacation but couldn’t come down for training. The Duke’s hand paused on Eileen’s letter, reading each one slowly with a wistful expression.

 

“…Oslo.”

 

“Yes, my lord.”

 

“Perhaps it would have been better to further her education?”

 

“What?”

 

The duke turned his attention to Theresia in the picture frame while Oslo wondered.

 

“Theresia, the children are growing up healthy. Well, healthy, at least.”