Chapter 72 Now As Someone From Somewhere
"Why is this happening?"
I knew it. This situation was partly my fault too.
"Why are you standing on that side?"
"Huh?"
"Going against me, fighting back. This isn't right. It wasn't supposed to be like this. You were always behind me, quietly following my lead. That was you! That was how it was supposed to be! You're wrong now!"
Well, I pushed him away, created a gap between us.
I didn't deal with the mess that was Hiiro, so I guess it's my own fault too.
"Cut the crap, that's all you got to say?"
"!"
"Dude, stop being a baby and own up to your own mess. You're blind to your own flaws but think you know what's right."
"It's not a mistake! It's that witch over there who messed you up, right? So I acted to fix things! I'm not blind!"
"You numbskull. I cut ties with you 'cause I couldn't stand your crap anymore. Blame ain't on Shura."
"Are you saying it's my fault?"
"──Both our faults, that's what I'm sayin'!"
So, I can't deny that it's my fault too.
But that doesn't mean I can forgive him now.
"So, Listen up, I'm done bein' a waste of space!"
"Don't mess with me!!!!"
With a scream, Ruzure charged at me, and I faced him head-on with Ruthless. His emotions were raw, and he looked like someone I'd never seen before.
But I wasn't going to be scared by that.
"You're the one causin' all this drama, you numbskull!"
Yeah, and I'm angry too.
I never had a chance to feel this way before. So I really didn't know.
Seeing Shura all beaten up made me realize.
When a "friend" gets hurt, it makes you this mad.
* * *
(No way! Hiiro aside, that crazy instructor is our enemy now!)
Shouk was panicking.
He had been hiding because things looked bad, and now he was seeing just how terrifying Shidou was.
"You rude person! Why do you make us your enemies?"
"Corruption, bribery, threats, cheating. Everything you do deserves to be punished."
"You, you dare! Then why not join us noble class? With your skills, I can promise you a great reward!"
"──No way!!"
"Eeekk!?"
The 6 people, except for the two Shura took down and Shouk, Ruzure, and Powell, were being taken down by him in the chaos.
His presence was clearly different from during the exam. He was like a sword demon. It was only a matter of time before Powell fell too.
(This is impossible. The noble class is on a whole different level. If this keeps up, we'll all get caught.)
So, there was only one choice.
He couldn't let Ruzure and himself go down together. The small-time villain quickly decided to sneak away toward the exit.
"Are you trying to run away?"
"!?"
However, it was only by recognizing his own darkness that someone could see clearly.
Standing in front of Shouk was Quollio.
"When did you get here?"
"I'm not as good as Hiiro, but I owe you and Ruzure something."
"Damn it! You're still holding onto old grudges, you weakling!"
"I know I have a bad personality. That's why I can't help but feel disgusted by people like you."
Behind his glasses, there was no hatred like he had for Hiiro before. It was pure contempt.
"You skinny nerd. Why are you helping him?"
"Huh?"
"He messed with you too!"
"...Yeah, that's true."
Quollio agreed with Shouk's point.
At first, he had strongly rejected Hiiro. He had built a thick wall to keep him out.
"But Hiiro apologized. He even bowed down to the ground. And he got all dirty for my unreasonable demands. It's too petty to hold a grudge over something that happened so long ago. He went that far, that idiot."
But that idiot didn't care about how he felt and just broke through the wall.
"But you know, for a stubborn guy like me, having a fool like that around feels pretty comfortable. Maybe I can even call him a friend."
It's not about forgiving or not. He has accepted it.
Besides, talking to a fool like that is pointless. So, he decided to let go of his mixed feelings and just be a fool himself.
As a result, the days that followed were just so much fun.
"Hey, Shouk Shateiya."
So Quollio thinks.
He wants to keep these days going a little longer. If dark clouds come, he'll blow them away like a green magic master.
"What's wrong with me supporting my 'friend'?!"
A green flash shot through the night like a shooting star.
* * *
"Why?!"
The path was simple, like a straight line that could be avoided without even trying.
"How did it come to this?!"
But the clash of swords felt heavy, like it was hitting not just his body but his heart too.
"Why can't I win?! Why are you fighting back?! Why are you betraying me?! Why are you fighting me?!"
Screaming, Ruzure swung his sword wildly.
He wasn't just confused. This was his true feelings, all laid bare.
He was like a child crying out because things weren't going his way.
Hiiro Merifar and Ruzure Senegal.
It was like Ruzure was trying to prove a story I didn’t know existed.
He was showing me the future I had stolen from him, shoving it right in my face.
But you know.
I'm curious too - why?
I want to ask why.
You're strong, aren't you? You have potential.
If you train hard, you could become a great knight.
So why did you choose to do it that way?
"I'm done."
"That's a lie. You can't just flip like that!"
"It ain't easy, but it's doable."
"It's impossible now, isn't it?!"
"Ha! There's someone right in your face who changed! Don't front before you even try!"
"...Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!!"
I struggled too. People in the village and school looked at me weird, and even now, there are people in the knight dorm who hate me. Some even said, "What face do you have to call yourself a knight?"
But there are also people who slowly started to accept me. I've made friends I can casually greet.
It's not something I could do just because I'm me.
"Don't deny meeee!!!"
So.
"You can change, got it? Don't be dumb."
"Wh-what──."
Right now, I'm not Atami Shou or knight Hiiro.
As Hiiro Merifar, I punch Ruzure.
To you, who leaned on my shoulder while groaning, I whisper.
"I'ma run ahead, you wanna follow, do it or don't."
There's no such thing as being too late to try to change.
"Hii, ro... I..."
Just before losing consciousness, I don't know what he was about to say.
But that twisted expression is now peacefully asleep.
The soft moonlight illuminated Ruzure's face.
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