Thunk!

Clash!

The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the quiet forest.

“You’ve improved quite a bit since the beginning.”

Unlike me, who was sweating profusely and swinging my sword with enthusiasm, my opponent, with a composed face, parried my attacks with minimal effort.

Siegfried wore a faint smile.

He seemed genuinely pleased with my progress.

“You’ve also lost a bit of weight.”

“Really...

huff, only a little bit though…”

As Siegfried mentioned, I had indeed lost around 5kg recently.

It seemed teacher Siegfreid’s Spartan-style training had been quite effective.

Even with Raphne’s diet, I was still losing weight.

“Come on, you stopped.

Keep moving, Ken.”

“Yes, sir!” About a week has passed since solving Emily’s Time Loop Event.

The bizarre woman who initiated the Time Loop was handed over to the Academy’s security department under hypnosis.

They're likely interrogating her to find out where she came from and more details.

Once they realize she’s affiliated with the Demon King’s Army, various commotions will likely start to unfold.

Well, there’s no stopping it anyway.

This Time Loop Event is one of the random Demon King’s Army invasion events that occur in the game.

Given that Dedris Academy hosts many children of high-ranking officials from various countries, its security level is akin to that of a royal palace.

It’s a place where the Demon King's Army frequently attempts secret infiltrations.

And the infiltrators always seek one thing.

The Child of Prophecy.

For some reason, the Demon King's Army is desperately searching for the Child of Prophecy, one of Emily’s backstories in the game.

Although the Academy's security is tight, they always manage to infiltrate secretly.

Oddly enough, they show no interest in Emily herself, the actual Child of Prophecy.

This part was never explained in the game, which makes me curious as well.

“…Ken, here.”

After finishing my morning training with Siegfried, Emily, who had come to watch our sparring session, handed me a lemon drink.

“You don’t have to bring something for me every time.”

“Well, even so…” Despite saying that, I appreciate it.

I took the drink Emily offered and gulped it down.

The beverage cleared my exhaustion and thirst from the workout.

A few days after the Time Loop event ended, Emily started showing up at my morning training sessions like this.

“At the Academy, Mary is always by your side, so…” Standing next to me while I drank, Emily mumbled something softly.

‘She really doesn’t need to go this far.’ I felt a bit sorry.

Coming out in the morning like this to take care of me must not be easy.

I think she’s doing it as a form of apology towards me.

“Here’s, a towel.

You worked hard today too.” Instead of handing me the towel, Emily wiped my face herself.

‘Isn’t this usually something you just hand over?’

As she wiped my cheeks, it felt more like she was rubbing them rather than cleaning.

Could it be something like a massage?

"Hey, Ken..." Emily spoke to me as she wiped the sweat from my forehead with the towel.

"I'm a bit curious, do you train like this every day because..." She hesitated and carefully continued.

"...because I used to bully you?" Her words brought back memories of when she would step on my head.

Our relationship has changed so much since then.

Back then, she often said things like ‘Lose weight, you pig!’

I found myself almost laughing at the memory.

However, unlike me, Emily was looking at me with a regretful expression.

"If that's the reason, please don't worry about it!

I was just being really mean back then...

Ken, you don't need to lose weight or anything.

You're perfectly attractive as you are..." It seems she misunderstood my motives.

At the end, she even said something she didn't really mean, worried she might have hurt me.

There's no way a fat guy like me could be attractive.

Emily couldn't even meet my eyes, indicating how awkward her lie was.

"It's not like that.

I just want to become stronger, so don't worry about it." I took the towel from Emily's hand and wiped my own head as I spoke.

I hoped my words would reassure her, but she still looked disappointed.

"You two seem quite close." Siegfried, who had been watching us, commented.

"S-Siegfried?!

How long have you been there?!"

"I've been here the whole time."

"If you're here, you should say something!"

"Hmm, got it.

I'll do that from now on." Somehow, Siegfried responded nonchalantly to Emily's flustered complaint.

"And, and also..

I've been watching for a few days now!" Emily, her cheeks flushed, continued her protest.

"Even if it's training, isn't it too much?

Hitting someone so hard with a wooden sword!

There must be less violent ways to do it!"

"Well, that's..."

"If the purpose is just to get stronger, there are plenty of other methods!

Like stamina training or correcting your swordsmanship..." Emily was strongly confronting Siegfried.

It was clear she was dissatisfied with the intense training methods she'd observed.

Siegfried seemed troubled by this particular complaint, unable to maintain his usual indifferent expression.

A teacher in a tough spot.

As a student, it’s only natural to step in and help.

"Emily, I'm fine."

"Ken, but..." I stepped in front of Emily to place distance between her and Siegfried.

From Emily's perspective, she's worried because I appear to be in pain.

In that case, all I need to do is reassure her.

"I'm used to getting hit!

When it comes to endurance, I've got confidence!"

After all, I have a handy skill called 'Physical Resistance.' Getting hit by a wooden sword is more of a source of experience points than pain.

“Sorry, I'm really sorry, …I apologize.” However, Emily seemed to become more depressed and hung her head with a gloomy face.

Huh?

That’s not the reaction I expected.

“Hey Siegfried!

Come quickly if you're done!

Breakfast is… Oh, oh?

She's here again?”

At that moment, Elise, who appears at the same time every day, spotted Emily and her expression hardened.

Elise approached and subtly stood beside Siegfried, blocking his view.

“You’ve been coming often lately, haven’t you?

Heh, heh.

Is there something you need?” With an awkward smile, Elise asked Emily.

“That’s…” Emily stammered, her face turning red in response to the question.

“Gasp!” Elise gasped, looking shocked.

Elise glanced back and forth between the hesitant Emily and the indifferent Siegfried.

Her eyes narrowed as she intently observed the two.

It was clear that Elise was curious about the relationship between Siegfried and Emily.

Maybe this is how their hostile relationship is going to progress.

"Well then, Siegfried!

The food will get cold, so let's hurry back!"

"Ah, right..." Elise pulled on Siegfried's arm.

She clearly wanted to get Emily away from him as quickly as possible.

Siegfried, deep in thought for a moment, then spoke up.

"Since it's a rare occasion, Emily, would you like to join us?"

He often extended the same invitation to me, but I always declined due to my duties with Raphne, so he had stopped asking recently.

It was likely he was just casually asking Emily too.

However, Elise didn't seem to take it lightly at all.

"S-Siegfried...

No way." Siegfried, oblivious to his childhood friend's pale face, remained indifferent.

And Emily, who had received the invitation, glanced at me with a troubled expression.

Hmm, I'm not sure what the current dynamics between Emily and Siegfried are.

But as a devoted fan of the [Epiris Academy], I must root for the couple I support when I see them in real life.

Let's side with Elise here.

"I'm sorry, Emily." I grabbed Emily's arm and pulled her towards me."

...

"Uh, ah?”

With the flustered Emily pulled along.

It may be a bit forceful, but there's no other way.

“I have something I need to discuss with Emily.

Please let us postpone breakfast until another time.”

“Hmm, is that so?

Alright then.” Siegfried answered indifferently, while Elise's face brightened at once, looking at me like I was a hero.

Hmph, express your gratitude through the fruits of love.

“Well then, see you both next time!” And with that, Elise waved her hand and pulled Siegfried away.

From a distance, I could faintly hear their voices.

“S-Sieg!

What was that just now?!

Do you have any interest in her?”

“Her?

Who are you talking about?”

“Come on!

You know exactly who I mean!

D-Don't tell me you like her?!”

“I think Ken's a good guy.”

“T-That's not what I meant!”

Seeing the two bickering so amicably brought a warm smile to my face.

“Ke-Ken.”

“...Huh?

Oh, ah!

S-Sorry!” I had forgotten that I was still holding Emily's arm, being so lost in their conversation.

Quickly, I released my grip and apologized.

“Ah, it's alright.

No problem."

"...What was it that you needed to talk about?"

"Oh, that..." The truth is, I don't actually have anything to discuss.

I just didn't want to intrude on Elise and Siegfried's private time.

Since I couldn't come up with any good excuse, I decided to be honest.

"Sorry, actually, I lied about having something to discuss."

"Huh?

Then why?"

"Well...

I just wanted those two to have a good time together.

Elise seemed troubled."

"Ah..."

It seemed Emily understood what I meant.

She looked a bit disappointed and downcast.

...

Could it be that she wanted to eat with Siegfried, and I spoiled it?

"Ah, do you have an interest in Siegfried as well, Emily?

If that's the case..."

"Woah!

No, not at all?!

What kind of nonsense is that?!" I was about to apologize out of guilt.

Hearing my words, Emily suddenly got angry, her face flushed.

"I really have no interest in Siegfried!

Not even a little bit, seriously!"

"Huh, really?" Startled by the suddenly furious Emily, I took a step back.

"Come to think of it, Ken!

During the festival, you also had some strange misunderstanding with Adrian, didn't you?!

Adrian is just a friend!"

"Really?"

"Yes!

So don't get any weird ideas!

We're really just friends!"

She seemed to be more worked up than when she was complaining to Siegfried about training earlier.

Her face was red, and she looked disoriented, her eyes spinning.

Did I misunderstand something?

...

No, wait a second.

If it's not Siegfried or Adrian, then who the heck is she progressing with?

It's clear that she's built up quite a bit of affection for one of the main characters.

But if she's denying it this strongly...

"Hold on, Emily, do you have someone you like right now?"

"...Huh?" This is an important issue.

Depending on who Emily is on a romantic route with, the situations leading up to the ending can vary slightly.

To prepare for that, I need to know for sure who she's dating.

"Well, um, it's not that I don't have someone..." Emily looked down and rolled her eyes in embarrassment.

It seems like there is someone.

Damn it, how did I miss this despite playing the game so many times?

I might as well find out since the topic came up.

"Who is it?

Someone in our year?

First year?

Or is it a fourth year?"

"Uh, what?

I-I, um, it's..."

"Is he tall?

Does he wear glasses?

Or is he kind of short?"

Apologies, but this is a matter of my survival, so I pressed her aggressively.

However, Emily, flustered by the barrage of questions, stammered.

“Wh-Wh-Why is that any of your business, you idiot!”

She squeezed her eyes shut, shouted, then turned red and ran away.

"Tsk, I'll find out no matter what."

I clenched my fist as I watched her retreating figure.

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