"…Dale."
"Hm?"
Camilla stepped closer, her usual boldness softened. "Thank you," she said, bowing deeply—so deeply it caught me off guard. A full ninety degrees. Not like her at all.
I scratched my head awkwardly. "What's with this? It doesn't suit you."
"Ugh… s-shut up!" Her face flushed, and she turned away. "But really. I mean it. Thank you."
So Iris must've told her. Told her how I shielded Camilla from the demonic beast during that chaos, how I put my life on the line. A normal thank-you would've been enough, but Camilla being sincere? That was a rare sight.
"You're just saying that?" I teased.
"Huh? You want a reward? If there's anything you want…"
I raised my hands. "Whoa, calm down. I'm joking."
But she didn't let it go. "No, I don't feel right just letting this go with words. If you want a reward, just say it."
"A reward, huh?" I thought for a second. I hadn't done it expecting anything, so nothing came to mind. "Just give me something appropriate."
"Appropriate? This is a reward for saving the Saintess! It has to be special!" Camilla puffed up indignantly, as if I'd just insulted her honor.
"You really live a tough life, don't you?" I said, laughing. "Fine, just give me whatever you think I'd like best."
She blinked. "What you'd like best…?"
And then—for some incomprehensible reason—her expression twisted. She blushed again and took a step back, suddenly covering her chest with her hands like I was some kind of beast.
"I-I knew it! You're finally showing your true colors!"
"What?"
"Ugh… Men always want that! Saying 'No' with your mouth, but your body is honest… or something! Or do you want me to fall into your arms while screaming, 'Your sword skills are first-rate, but your lower half is third-rate'?!!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You… vulgar brute!"
"No. The vulgar one here is clearly you."
"Hmph…! F-fine! I'll prepare a reward. Something that'll satisfy a man!"
With that, she stomped away after Iris, her cape fluttering like a banner of retreat. I let out a long, weary sigh and turned back toward the dormitory.
After getting dragged back to the recovery ward and confined for a few more days under Iris's iron rule, I finally escaped. The sun was shining overhead, warm and free—just like me.
"You could've stayed until the break was over…" Iris muttered with a pout.
"We agreed it'd be one more day," I reminded her. "Besides, you've got enough on your plate. You don't need to babysit me."
She hesitated, looking over her shoulder. Camilla stood behind her, arms folded and expression stern.
"A delegation from the Holy Kingdom's arrived," Camilla said. "They're here to investigate whether the Saintess is truly unharmed. You need to return to the dormitory."
"Ugh. Can't I stay one more day?" Iris pleaded.
"No." Camilla didn't even blink.
With slumped shoulders, Iris walked back toward the dorms. I watched them go, then turned and made my way toward the training grounds.
I spent the rest of the break immersed in training, pushing my body and mind, molding the gains I'd earned from my battle with Astaroth into real, usable power. The Primordial Flame remained silent, but my swordsmanship had sharpened, my mana had grown, and the haze that once clouded my path was beginning to lift.
Click.
I glanced up at the wall calendar inside the training hall. "Classes start again tomorrow, huh…"
It wasn't just the return to boring lectures that bothered me. I let out a soft sigh and looked around the empty hall. "This is the last day I'll have this place to myself."
During break, the training grounds had basically been mine alone. Most cadets were off enjoying their free time—or recovering from it. But come tomorrow, the place would be packed. The curriculum was brutal enough that extra training wasn't optional.
And with everything that'd happened recently, I was drawing more attention than ever.
"Maybe it's time I applied for a private training room," I muttered.
But, of course, this school didn't hand out privileges for free. You needed to make a hefty donation. Unless you were ranked in the top fifty overall… which I wasn't.
I was ranked 472 out of 472. Dead last.
"Haha. Fuck me."
The next evaluation couldn't come fast enough. I'd have to climb the ranks just to afford some peace and quiet.
"A donation, huh…"
Naturally, one person came to mind the moment money was involved.
I stepped out of the training grounds.
And sure enough—
"Eek!"
There he was. Just like a summoned spirit. My favorite little moneybag: Juliet Kang.
I spotted him the instant he spotted me—and he bolted. Not very fast, though.
"Where do you think you're going?" I said, catching him by the collar.
"Ack!"
With a friendly smile, I draped an arm over his shoulder. "Long time no see, friend."
"Y-Yeah… l-long time."
"What'd you do over break?"
"I, uh… just went home for a bit…"
"Oh? You went home?" I narrowed my eyes, and he stiffened.
"I-I didn't say anything about you! I swear by the Seven Gods, I absolutely didn't!"
"Hahaha! So you were too embarrassed to tell your parents you made a friend?"
"Huh? Oh… y-yeah. Something like that."
"Sure, sure. Makes sense." I gave his shoulder a light pat. "So… what do you need?"
"Uh… nothing?"
"Come on, let's grab a bite to eat."
"You mean… like usual? I bring the food and leave five gold?"
"Nope." I grinned. "We're going to the cadet dining hall today. I'll treat."
Juliet froze like I'd just grown a second head. "You're… treating? For real?"
"Of course," I said with a nod. "I always mooch off you. I should treat you once in a while."
"…Really?"
"Really."
After all, I was planning to borrow a rather generous sum from him soon. For a private training room, naturally. A meal was a small price to pay.
"Alright then," he said, eyes still wide. "Let's go to the dining hall, friend!"
"Now you're talking."
And with that, the two of us headed off to lunch—me with a smile, and him with the faintest sense of impending doom.