Chapter 16 Crying Face And Bad Connections
I woke up feeling refreshed.
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a slightly yellowed ceiling I didn't recognize, lit by a reddish sunset. I sat up, my upper body creaking like an old melody, and looked around the room. White sheets, a white floor, and it seemed like a medical room with shelves lined with medicine bottles.
It was quiet and peaceful. The distant noise added a nostalgic touch to the evening. A grown-up afternoon. Not bad at all.
I could really go for a cup of coffee right now. The smell of the medicine mixed with the bandages wrapped around my body created a strange, but interesting, mix.
Ugh.
Yeah, that's a lie. I'm in pain all over, but I'm going to fight reality.
Breathe in. Breathe out. On 3.
(Aaah! I definitely messed uppppp!!!)
Dear Goddess, how are you doing?
Right now, I'm filled with regret. Please help me.
(What should I do? I probably just got beaten up and that's it.)
I can't even remember when I fell down after getting hit so much, but I feel like I didn't even get a single hit in.
(This is bad. After challenging a strong enemy, instead of a cool comeback, I just got completely beaten up. What's that? I'm not even the main character; I'm more like a sidekick who dies for no reason!)
I thought I was acting like the main character, but I ended up being a sidekick. This is tough. No, really, it's a huge failure. Thank you very much.
(Failed, right? Damn it...)
Hiiro's Knight Story ends here in the prologue.
I can't help but cry at this unexpected early ending.
(But it can't be helped. It wouldn't be right for the main character to pass by cheating in a battle. I probably should have challenged a different examiner who wasn't Instructor Shidou or a cheating examiner.)
I have regrets. No, honestly, I only have regrets.
But a tiny bit of pride whispers that my choice was the most like a main character, keeping me from sinking into the depths of regret.
(It's not over yet, right?)
There are more tests to come. I could take the exam again after a year. It's too early to give up.
Even though the result was the worst, it shouldn't be the absolute worst.
Outside, it's dusk. As I think about the future, I clench my aching fist.
This kind of thinking about the future is...
"Haha. You look like a total loser, Hiiro."
"You're all beaten up. It suits you for being so clueless, hehehe."
"Tch, here they come." (These guys don't know how to read the room.)
I was interrupted by visitors who didn't even knock. They even brought their annoying comments with them. Seriously, I didn't invite you.
And then there's Ruzure, looking down at me with a satisfied grin.
"If you had just listened to me, you wouldn't be showing such a pathetic side."
"Shut up." (Seriously, just be quiet.)
"It's you. You probably got influenced by that heroic play we did back in training, right? You had such an unrealistic dream. How does it feel to show such embarrassing shame?"
"I said shut up... ugh, cough, cough."
Is that really what you say to a childhood friend who's in bad shape?
He's not joking; he means it. His bad personality is so extreme it could create a hole in the Earth.
"If you had challenged the same examiner as us, you would have passed easily. Why do you think I gave that examiner money?"
"Exactly. If you were going to pass anyway, you should have taken the easy and smart route. What a fool."
"What�s so easy and smart? You guys... wait, hold up. What the hell you mean by 'if you were gonna pass'?"
"...Shouk."
"Eh!? I-I'm sorry, I slipped up. Hehe."
"Tch, I wanted to tease you a bit more, but... fine. Here, take this quickly."
"........."
No way.
No way, no way, no way!
The tiny feeling of something being off was not just my imagination.
The parchment thrown from Ruzure's dissatisfied hand floated in the air.
'On the 27th of the Month of Aries.
This certifies that the following candidate has passed the Einherjar Knights entrance exam.
Passed: Hiiro Merifar'
With my trembling hand, I grabbed that one piece of paper, and on it were the words I wanted the most right now.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)