Volume 5 Chapter 5 I Don't Think There's A Right Answer
The day after visiting Principal Lucius's room, Randy and Liz quickly headed to the old school building to watch the combat training.
Usually, the training is like gym class with mock battles and basic drills, but before the practical training, real combat sessions are held in the old school building.
Even though the dungeon training is optional, most students participate every year. This year, because of the commotion with Catherine and Edgar, more than a third won't join, but the practical training in the old school is still an important part of the school curriculum.
So, students were already gathering in front of the old school building, but Randy spotted 2 familiar faces a bit away from the crowd.
"Hey? What are you guys doing?"
"Long time no see!"
"That's what I should be saying."
Leon, who is Catherine's bodyguard, gave a casual salute, while Luke frowned. Leon was understandable, but Luke, who is Cecilia's bodyguard, was also here. That means Cecilia is around too, but...
"Miss Cecilia isn't taking combat training, right?"
"Yeah, she has to show up here until the training starts."
Randy nodded, understanding Luke's sigh. If it's group work, the members from the magic training also need to participate, or it wouldn't make sense.
Still, Cecilia is pretty much the only one from the magic training who is joining.
"Is Leon guarding Lady Catherine?"
"Yep. I've been attending the school as her servant since this semester."
Leon nodded, but since he's not a registered servant, he can only watch over Catherine from a distance with Luke. His tone is relaxed, but his expression shows concern as he looks at Catherine, who is still isolated.
The small group near Catherine is probably her team, but she stands there with her head down in a rather awkward position.
By the way, there's another person, Cecilia, who also seems a bit out of place. For some reason, she carries herself like a confident champion, which makes her look kind of cool.
Even Catherine can't stand to see that, so Randy shifted his gaze to Luke and spoke up.
"If you're here, I didn't really need to show my face."
With a sigh, Randy said this, and Luke raised an eyebrow, asking, "What do you mean?"
"Just checking out the guards, I guess."
After saying that, Randy noticed Luke's surprised expression. Even though he knows about Randy's strength and all, Randy is still just a student.
It's surprising to Luke that the school allowed such a strange situation where a student is guarding another student.
"Just his usual behavior."
"Miss Elizabeth's, right?"
Luke chuckled, and Randy snorted, saying, "Shut up." They both glanced back at Liz, who was staring straight at Catherine. What is she thinking? It's hard to tell Liz's true intentions, but she doesn't seem like the type to laugh at Catherine, who is isolated.
Randy and Luke both shifted their gaze from Liz back to the group.
"...Still, even though I'm just a latecomer, I have to say──."
Luke looked around and lowered his voice.
"Isn't this a pretty deep scene?"
"Yeah."
Randy let out a big sigh and, like Luke, scanned the surroundings.
Catherine, holding a cheap-looking staff, stands alone.
Liz watches silently.
The Crown Prince and his entourage are seen from a distance.
All of this is being observed by a gallery of onlookers.
This scene, where the main characters of the engagement cancellation drama have gathered, makes even Randy and the others feel uneasy.
As Liz quietly watched the scene, she murmured, "Randy..."
"What should we do that's right?"
Liz's soft words left him unable to respond with anything but, "I don't know." She probably feels pain for Catherine's situation too.
The gazes directed at Catherine are mainly 3.
The Crown Prince and his group were surrounded by high-ranking nobles who looked at herm with almost contempt.
There were also glares filled with hostility from the group standing between the Crown Prince and Catherine.
And from the group near Catherine, there were looks as if they were handling something dangerous.
Many different thoughts mixed in those gazes, but one thing was clear: they were all avoiding Catherine.
That said, Catherine's current loneliness is partly her own fault.
Because it was a game, she acted selfishly, treating the Crown Prince and others like her servants while ignoring the other students.
With the Church's authority falling, she was now banned from contacting the Crown Prince. Without their support, she became an easy target.
So the nobles looked down on her, showing their hostility, and wouldn't let anyone get close. Maybe after seeing her shine as a Saint at the Year-End Festival, they wanted to eliminate her as a threat.
Randy can't tell what their true feelings are. He doesn't know, but whether Liz can accept that is another matter.
Even now, Liz murmured, "I'm..." while staring at Catherine, and Randy let out a big sigh, placing his hand on her head.
"Calm down. I know it's hard to bear, but whether to accept it or not is Catherine's problem."
With his hand still on Liz's head, Randy looked at Catherine with a serious expression. He thought she was just looking down before, but it was different. She had weak armor and no one to protect her. Still, standing there showed her own determination.
Cecilia was probably silent and watching because she felt that determination nearby.
"I don't know what the right choice is either. But..."
With Randy's steady gaze, Liz also looked at Catherine.
"If you throw her a lifeline here, she'll never be able to surpass you... that's what I think."
Randy couldn't be sure because he wasn't confident himself. It would be easy to join Cecilia and call out to Catherine, for example
"Lady Catherine──." "Don't just stand there, come over here!"
Let's say those words. It's simple. With their personalities, it wouldn't be strange at all. he can even picture that scene.
............
Then, Liz waves with a smile, while Cecilia sighs. The two, who could be seen as victims of Catherine, calling out to her would surely make everyone──Catherine included──look shocked.
Still, Catherine blushes a little and rushes over with her usual soft voice, "W-What is it?"
"Can you please stop talking like that?"
"Yeah, I think you should stop."
"Ugh, you're so noisy."
As the 3 start chatting, the looks from around them change. Of course, the fact that they had guys around them doesn't disappear, and the hostility doesn't vanish either. There will still be some resentment, but calling out together with Cecilia helps ease that a bit.
Cecilia and Liz, who were supposed to be troubled over the guys, don't seem to care. That must have made quite an impact on those around them.
At least, it should have an effect on the commoner students training with Catherine. The Year-End Festival adds to that impact.
............
This might be the easiest and most effective way. But if they do that, Catherine will just gain new support from Liz and Cecilia.
"It might be right to reach out... but──"
"That's right for me, but it might not be right for Lady Catherine... right?"
Randy nodded with an "uh-huh" at Liz's words.
Catherine knows better than anyone how tough her path is. She could have run away from dungeon training. Since she chose to come here, she has her own determination and pride.
"So I don't know what's right. But..."
Randy gestures with his chin, and Catherine looks up to see Liz.
It might look like Catherine is glaring at Liz. But only Liz and Randy know for sure. Catherine can't hear any outside voices at all.
"She's a strange one, isn't she?"
"Must be an idiot. Totally clueless."
Randy chuckles at Liz's words, but strangely, he doesn't dislike her. Her eyes are definitely clearer than when he first saw her.
"Anyway, during training, we can really push her hard."
"Sounds good."
As Catherine looks away from Liz's smile, the instructor for combat training shows up. Two muscle-bound guys with bald heads, totally out of place in this otome game world. The twin instructors, Gardo and Burk, are former students and part of the academy's 'Seven Wonders.'
Burk, the younger brother, glances at Randy and Liz.
With an unspoken "We're starting class now," Randy and Liz nod silently.
"Alright, we'll be waiting over here."
To avoid interrupting the class, Luke and Leon step back further. Ahead of them are other attendants.
"Now then, today's combat training will──."
Gardo, the older brother, starts talking in a deep voice about the class. He explains the goals and important points loudly so everyone can hear.
From here on, the two switch to work mode.
"...'What do you think?'"
Without looking away from Gardo, Liz whispers softly at Randy.
"Well... it's hard to say. Just standing around, it doesn't feel like anyone is taking charge."
Randy, also speaking quietly, is giving his thoughts on the students he's been watching from a distance. He's not talking about the Crown Prince's group or those who opted out of training, but rather the second group that Randy and the others are guarding.
It seems like commoners like them have fewer chances to show leadership in this academy. He doesn't know the original assignments, but it's clear they were on the receiving end of orders.
"I see. So, the one in charge would be Cecily... right?"
Liz tilts her head, and Randy shakes his head with a wry smile.
"Miss Cecilia is probably in charge of firepower. We also need to keep an eye on the rear guard, so it might be tough for her to give orders to everyone."
He has seen Cecilia's magic power in the [Tower of Time]. With this group, it's better for Cecilia to focus on attacking.
"So, that means Lady Catherine will handle healing and support in the center... right?"
"That sounds tough too..."
From what Randy sees, the team members Catherine will likely work with seem better than those who declined or the Crown Prince's group.
The looks directed at Catherine feel more like pity than hostility. Even though they know she's paying for her past actions, they might be tired of seeing Catherine struggle alone while the nobles quickly turned their backs on her.
Still, they care about their own safety.
If they get too friendly with Catherine, they don't know how the other nobles will react.
To put it simply, they are just bystanders.
"First of all, I wonder if she'll listen well..."
Randy gives a wry smile, and Liz nods with a bitter expression, saying, "Well, that's... yeah."
"Anyway, there's no point in us worrying more about it. It all comes down to whether Lady Catherine can hold on."
"Right."
Just as the two reached this conclusion, Instructor Gard's explanation finally ended, and then Randy's brother, Instructor Burk, spoke in a calm voice, the opposite of his brother's.
"Everyone, you probably noticed, but there are 2 observers this time."
Instructor Burk started, asking Randy and the others, "Do we need to introduce ourselves?" Following his lead, Randy silently shook his head at the gazes of his classmates gathering around.
"So, don't let your guard down just because there are observers."
He intentionally used the term 'observers' to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings or accusations. If he mentioned it was for protection, the Crown Prince's group, who had been watching Randy, might interrupt.
"Calm despite his looks, huh?"
"I didn't know that? Instructor Burk is famous for being calm and collected."
"How did it become 'Seven Wonders'... that's way more 'Seven Wonders' than anything else."
Randy smirked as the instructor said, "Let's go," leading the students into the old school building.
"Should we go too?"
Randy and the others followed a bit behind. Their main goal was to check on Catherine and her group, but some of the students didn't know that...
"Your Highness. What's Miss Elizabeth doing here?"
"Oh, how would I know?"
"Well, isn't this a chance to show off?"
...Randy and Liz had no idea about the lighthearted chatter happening.
"By the way, Liz, why is Miss Catherine going into the dungeon again?"
"Cecily said there's a book on Holy Magic written in ancient times."
"Wow. She really know the game stuff."
Randy watched as Catherine, with a serious look, stepped into the old school building, following Instructor Gard.
...Right. The two of them had no clue about Edgar and the others' carefree conversation. In fact, they weren't even thinking about them at all.
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