The Hunted Regressor: My Heretic Saint System-Chapter 101: Their Predicament

’Of course~.’

Even now, after an entire day of Colosseum Trial viewing, Rosa looked... perfect? Yes, ’perfect’ as in symmetrical, from the way she styled her hair to the way she wore her clothes.

And speaking of, she was dressed in an immaculate silver-and-black dress, the crest of the Student Chief pinned proudly to her chest, which stood for this stratum’s student council.

This before him was "the perfect daughter," or so his mother liked to call her nearly every time she could.

The one person who made Ignotus inferior by simply existing.

His brother tried to do that, but he wasn’t exactly... smart.

"Congratulations on your victory."

Rosa smiled faintly.

"It’s quite the performance you put on in the Colosseum, matching even its first."

"Yes, I do my best."

Ignotus pocketed the slip into his inventory.

"You didn’t have to come all the way here, though. I know it’s..."

He grinned.

"Awkward."

She exhaled through her nose, the faintest twitch breaking her polished mask.

"It’s tradition."

Ignotus nodded, as if accepting her words.

"Are you sure it’s not sibling pride? I know you’re soooo happy for me."

"Tradition."

Rosa repeated, louder this time.

"Please don’t get it confused."

Behind her, the rest of her cohort lingered, six of them. All were older students, probably of the Priest Class as well, two Classes above his, smiling like they were posing for a painting.

In all their posing, they didn’t seem to notice how stiff the air between the siblings was.

"Great fight in there, man."

One of them clapped Ignotus on the shoulder.

"You took down monsters, faced that thing, annihilated those assassins, and literally stood before Death!"

Another shook his head, while a third lightly punched his side.

"It was an incredible watch! Too incredible that I’m afraid the Gods might not bother with a Trial for a while."

"I know, right? I’ve never seen someone fight that messy and win!"

"Messy’s a style."

Ignotus’s reply came in annoyance.

’Do these guys have no concept of personal space?’

Another leaned in, this time a curious girl.

"How’d you even do that? You used like ten different elements back to back."

And she wasn’t the only one to ask that.

"Yeah, what kind of Rune Path are you following?"

Ignotus raised both hands and spread them far apart.

"Two opposite paths—do you want to see?"

They laughed, thinking that he was joking.

"..."

...Rosa didn’t.

"Alright, enough."

She gave her cohort a sharp look.

"He’s tired. Let’s not smother him."

"I’m fine."

Ignotus brushed past them.

"Are you done fulfilling your family duty, Madam Chief?"

Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

"You really didn’t have to do this, Rosa."

He stopped beside her, lowering his voice.

"I know how it is for you and your ’image.’ Or has that changed now that my name is being cleaned up a little?"

Her lips twitched.

"It wouldn’t end with me..."

She gritted her teeth.

"Even if it’s... incredibly awkward."

"Hey."

Amused, he was the one who invaded personal space this time.

"At least you finally admitted it."

Ignotus stepped past her before she could respond, his hands behind his back, still grinning.

He didn’t get far before he noticed two figures waiting near the end of the hall.

One had leaned against the wall while the other stood straight as a spear.

His older brother, Acer, and his mother, Flora.

Acer’s smirk was obvious, his chin lifted a tad, as if challenging Ignotus. Or perhaps reminding him that, despite what he did in there, he was not yet anyone important.

If judged by how he acted, many might think that he was some sort of big shot in the Academy, like Rosa, but no. Acer was only the leader of some group that went around and bullied the pitiful Nameless, who somehow survived all that the Academy threw at them.

Next to him, Flora stood silent, her green eyes looking heavier than usual.

It was almost as if she’d aged ten years since he last saw her.

Ignotus slowed, but only for a heartbeat.

They didn’t deserve his attention.

And definitely not his time.

"Ignotus."

Flora called, but he didn’t look at her.

Her hand twitched; she wanted to reach out and chase after him, but she couldn’t move.

She knew better, or rather, she felt too...

Guilt-ridden.

Yes, ’guilt-ridden,’ after all, she and the rest of Ignotus’s family let him walk into that arena knowing that he’d die.

Her face was the one that turned away when his name was called. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

She had no right.

He left them behind without a word.

Acer’s smirk disappeared, and Flora’s hand fell while Ignotus kept walking, finally leaving the Academy.

They were no longer ’family.’

...

A few hours later, Ignotus reached a nearby town.

He stood before a massive building under the late evening sky.

It was a local Parish, where divine bureaucracy reigned supreme.

His eyes seemed locked at the symbol above, the one with three chains interlocked.

Ignotus was obviously lost in thought, but that didn’t last for long, as eventually he looked down and asked:

’Hey Eris, you’ve been awful silent. Why’s that?’

Because yes, She had been quiet the entire way here and for a time beyond that.

It wasn’t like they always talked, but Eris loved to drop a comment every now and then.

Even that She didn’t do now, so it made him worry a little.

"..."

And that worry increased when he heard no reply.

"Did I make you mad somehow?"

Yes, he did, but he couldn’t know how.

The struggle of most men in every realm.

"..."

She still didn’t answer, making him frown.

Immediately, he felt worried for Her life.

Ignotus was extremely practical like that.

"Are you hurt?"

And that finally seemed to stir Her:

’...No. I was just sleeping.’

That question straightened Her up, as She was reminded of Ignotus’s thought process.

’Yes... this is who he is... He doesn’t love that girl at all; he only wants her land.’

For a reason She didn’t quite understand, She laughed quietly, somewhat relieved.

’I...’

There was a pause, and then her voice came softer:

’I’m sorry for worrying you.’

Ignotus took a moment before shaking his head.

’Don’t worry about it, as long as you’re fine.’

Though he found Her extremely suspicious, he didn’t bother with it.

Everyone had their secrets, and he wouldn’t want to pry.

If She respected his boundaries, he would Hers.

It was only too bad that Her ’secret’ put him top and center.

A fact that She understood, but again, didn’t exactly comprehend why... and thus was the predicament they found themselves in.