<strong>EP.8  The Thread of Fate</strong>


    Getting out of the test site, I was dizzy thinking about Edward.


    ‘The condition wouldn’t have been met.’


    The condition for Edward, who can be seen as a hidden character, to be an instructor.


    Identifying Edward’s ce of appearance and meeting him in advance before the test.


    If I have the required level ofpetence, that will get Edward’s interest and he’lle to the test site.


    At this time, if I won first ce in the test, Edward will almost certainly be an instructor in ss A.


    Knowing this, I deliberately avoided his appearance. I’ve never encountered or had a conversation.


    He and I just metpletely for the first time.


    “Haa…”


    The reason why I’m reluctant about Edward is none other than his randomness.


    As a strange and suspicious character, he changes the contents of the ss as he pleases.


    In some ways, sses in the game were able to gain experience stably, so it was possible to level up appropriately just by taking sses.


    For me, who had an increase of 500% in the acquisition rate of experience values, meaning that  taking sses to me is even more important.


    However, his ss, which I wouldn’t know what would happen, was far from the word “stable.”


    Some sses didn’t give experience points, and some sses suffered serious injuries even if we obtained experience points.


    It’s not that he doesn’t have the merits as a hidden character.


    If you were lucky, you could get a huge amount of experience or items as a reward through his ss.


    Nevertheless, I still wanted to avoid it.


    Now that the game has be a reality, the risk was too big to leave my body to pure luck.


    But why…


    <i>‘Zetto. See you soon.’</i>


    Why did he say such suspicious words?


    Because of my dispel?


    That means he was already at the test site, but as I said before, I’ve never met him.


    It doesn’t make sense that he got interested in me.


    Then…


    ‘…Someone else other than me got his attention?’


    Just in time, a likely candidate came in front of me.


    Whether it’s fate or coincidence.


    As I thought about her, I felt like she had been waiting for me.


    Her golden eyes were shining brightly, not obscured by the zing sunlight, and her gaze was directed at me the same as before.


    Was she sitting and looking at the flowers that were blooming in the garden?


    I’ve been thinking whether I should just pass by her or not, but… As expected, I think it would be better to start a conversation.


    “Thank you for your support earlier. Thanks to you, I got a good grade.”


    “…I guess you can tell the difference just by looking up.”


    “You’ll be in trouble if you attack your colleagues. I tend to distinguish it by the unique waves that each person feels.”


    “Wave… For example…”


    Aizel swept her hair and asked me in a weak voice.


    “Heartbeat… Or the sound of breathing…”


    Aizel, who was sitting, stood up with her knees stretched out.


    And came a little closer to me.


    “That means you remember my heartbeat.”


    Aizel pointed her face at me.


    Aizel’s cutie face came so close to me that I could even feel her breath.


    “T-That’s right?”


    “I hope you don’t forget.”


    “What?”


    “My heartbeat”


    What’s wrong with her?


    I was embarrassed at the moment by her sudden recklessness even though she seemed to be keeping a distance.


    “…We might end up fighting each other. I don’t want to be cut by your sword.”


    “Hahaha… Then I’ll make sure to remember it.”


    I tried to give Aizel a gentle smile.


    Aizel stopped sticking her head out at my answer and looked away at me.


    “My name is Zetto.”


    I held out my hand to her and greeted her brightly.


    This is the perfect time to make an introduction.


    “Aizel… Aizel Ludwig.”


    On the other hand, Aizel didn’t even look at the hand I held out, but only recited her name.


    Did she not like touching people?


    I didn’t know anything about Aizel’s thoughts on skinship.


    ‘But she should at least ept a handshake.’


    I put my bitter feelings behind me, and I collected my hand embarrassingly.


    She may be reluctant to contact people because she is a regressor.


    Looking back on my memory, she only talked to the yer, but not even the yer could have had a big contact with her.


    I gave up my misceneous thoughts and opened up to solve the problem I was facing right now.


    “But, by any chance… Have you ever met a man named Edward?”


    That didn’t happen in the game, but I thought it was possible for Aizel, as she has been acting differently from the game.


    As I checked Aizel’s unstandard force with my own eyes, she could have attracted Edward’s interest at once if she had only met him.


    “Edward…”


    Aizel’s fingers touch her lips, perhaps recalling her memories.


    There’s no way she doesn’t know, as a regressor.


    She’s probably acting.


    Because the regressor can’t make it obvious that ‘I went back to the past.’


    “He’s a person who always sounds fishy. Haven’t you met him?”


    “Hmm… Fishy… Oh.”


    As I threw a simple and clear keyword about Edward, Aizel made a short sound as if she remembered something.


    Aizel was an outstanding actor.


    Her performance looked very usible.


    “If he’s a suspicious man, I’ve met him once before. With white tail hair… A man with wide open eyes. He was acting weird, asking me to try magic, so I ignored him and left.”


    At Aizel’s answer, I finally understood the situation.


    ‘So it was you.’


    It was Aizel who called Edward to the test site.


    Well, Edward, who met Aizelle, would have tested her with a strange stunt, as always.


    Then, he would have been interested in the Aizel’s existence and reached the test site.


    Edward may be bothered by all sorts of things, but when he bes interested, his behavior changes.


    “But why?”


    “I met him at the test site earlier and he mentioned Aizel. It’s nothing. He’s just… He’s a weirdo.”


    In fact, Edward never mentioned Aizel when he met me, but my excuse was to be regarded as one-way information, so there won’t be any problems.


    “It’s definitely weird.”


    Aizel nodded her head at my words and agreed with me.


    I should go back now.


    There was no justification to continue the conversation with Aizel, and if I made a non-existing justification to continue talking to her, it would make Aizel feel burdened..


    I still wanted to save Aizel, so I didn’t want her rtionship to deteriorate.


    “Well then, I’m going back now.”


    “…”


    After bowing lightly with Aizel, I walked back to the dormitory.


    By this time, Yuri would have gone back on her own, right?


    …I’ll check the bench on my way just in case.


    I can see his back getting further away.


    The hand that he held out to me in front of my eyes.


    I’m sorry.


    I’m sorry I couldn’t hold it.


    I couldn’t even look.


    I’m afraid I’ll catch him in a fit of anger if I put his hand in my eyes for a moment.


    But if I take his hand now.


    It would be too hard to let go of his hand, so I didn’t.


    …No, I couldn’t hold it.


    Because I never wanted to let go of his hand this time, because I would hold it hard.


    I wanted to hear more of Zetto’s sweet voice, but it’s okay.


    I’ll see him again tomorrow and we’ll be able to talk longer than today.


    ‘Hahaha… Then I’ll make sure to remember it.’


    You don’t remember a thing.


    Idiot.


    Stupid Zetto.


    …Lovely.


    My Zetto.


    ***


    An office that is full of intense feelings.


    The well-organized documents and items on the desk were all tangled together.


    This was representing the character of the owner of the ce.


    “What you said just now. Are you serious?”


    “There are many people who don’t trust me today.”


    Juliut us, it didn’t appear on his face, but he was very embarrassed.


    Edward, his son, who never listened to him when he was told him to work, now finally.


    “Finally… You said you wanted to be an instructor..”


    “I was just waiting.”


    “What?”


    Edward fluttered as he reclines his chair to Juliut’s question.


    “I think a lot of fascinating kids came in this time.”


    “Fascinating, you said. Which cadet was it?”


    Being the principal of the academy was a very busy job. Juliut didn’t have time to check the cadets for each admission.


    Special cadets were bound to stand out on their own anyway.


    “There was a kid with an amazing level. At that point, I wonder why she’s attending an academy. Anyway, there’s one kid like that.”


    “And?”


    “There’s one unexpected kiddo. I saw him do ‘Dispel’ with a dangling sword”


    “With a sword… He dispelled…?


    “Yes. Of course, he didn’t break your ‘illusionary magic’… But isn’t it interesting enough?”


    Juliut thought it didn’t make sense as he knew Edward wasn’t the one to lie, but he was convinced.


    “…So, what do you want, Eddie?”


    Juliut wanted to fulfill his wish as much as he cared for his son, but this son’s selfish personality was the problem.


    “ss A of this jockey. I’ll take it.”


    “What? Kaliman was going to take the position, wasn’t he?”


    “I told Kaliman instructor in advance.”


    “…”


    Juliut stopped doing paperwork, took off his sses, put them down on his desk, and touched his forehead.


    “…Did he agree?”


    “Kaliman seemed to be reluctant to ss A of this jockey. It was a relief.”


    “That’s true, since all the heavy-duty four-element family members entered together… It would be burdensome to include the cadets you mentioned.”


    “I promised Kaliman a fair reward. So it won’t be a big problem.”


    “Whoo…”


    Juliut sighed and got lost in thought for a moment.


    It’s his own son.


    He had the ability to be a teacher.


    On the contrary, Juliut was underestimating Edward because he was his son.


    Objectively, he had an excellent ability.


    Compared to Juliut himself, the No.1 illusionary magic field, who has the title of a great wizard right now, he was on the verge of catching up with himself at an early age with his rapid growth.


    But the eye of the beholder was the problem.


    The person who didn’t even work as an instructor will be the instructor, and that’s also the instructor of ss A.


    And the fact that he was his son, the principal, made him worry.


    Then, Edward made a suggestion to Juliut.


    “I know what you’re thinking. So how about this?”


    “Tell me.”


    “In the end, Innocence Academy is a ce to prove ability. Shouldn’t I also prove it as an instructor?”


    “Prove?”


    “The main test to be taken this semester. There was no one who passed or was eliminated from ss A. What do you think?”


    “Hmm…”


    Juliut uttered a deep sigh.


    The Academy’s main test is a test that can change grades, or even half.


    ss A’s test was the most difficult as the best cadets gathered.


    “It would have been unprecedented.”


    “So that’s proving.”


    “Ha… All right. Then let’s do that. But remember this, Edward. If there is even one dropout, you may never be able to work as an instructor again.”


    “I see. Then we’re done talking. I’m going to see my wife.”


    “How did that brat even get married…?”


    It was weird for Juliut to see Edward being endlessly affectionate to his wife every time.


    Edward grinned before leaving the room and left a word for Juliut.


    “Wasn’t you also able to get married because of your personality? I’m leaving. Juliut ‘principal’.”