However, even that thought only lasted for a moment.

No.

That would have been impossible.

Reisir was not a child.

Nor was he someone who needed to lean on another person every time he suffered.

More importantly, I was not the sort of person who could comfort someone skillfully.

Trying to do so would probably only make things more awkward.

"...If you're finished talking."

I spoke while deliberately keeping my tone flat.

"Then stop making that expression."

Reisir blinked.

"What expression?"

"The one that looks like you're attending a funeral."

"..."

"No one died."

For a brief moment, silence settled between us.

Then Reisir let out a weak laugh.

"...That's true."

"Helga is alive."

"Yes."

"Ríolíkin is alive."

At the mention of his name, Ríolíkin unconsciously straightened his back.

"Y-yes! I'm alive!"

"Vigdís is alive."

Vigdís nodded.

"And Yor is alive."

"Myang."

"You're alive as well."

Reisir's smile grew slightly.

"And so are you."

"...Obviously."

"Then nobody died."

He repeated the words quietly.

As though trying to convince himself.

"No one died."

The expression on his face eased, if only a little.

Not enough to call him fine.

But enough that he no longer looked as though he might collapse on the spot.

Good enough.

That was probably the limit of what I could do.

At least, that was what I thought.

Then—

"Young Master Karvaldr."

Helga suddenly called out.

"What?"

"I think you're kinder than you realize."

The auditorium became strangely quiet.

Not because everyone had fallen silent. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But because I immediately stopped thinking.

What nonsense was she saying?

"I believe your judgment is impaired."

"It isn't."

"It clearly is."

Helga laughed.

The irritating part was that she looked genuinely amused.

"Then perhaps my eyesight is impaired instead."

"That would explain a great deal."

"Huhu."

Even after hearing that, she only laughed again.

Hopeless.

Absolutely hopeless.

Ever since Reisir had infected her with that ridiculous theory, everything I said seemed to be interpreted in the worst possible way.

Or perhaps the best possible way, from her perspective.

Either way, it was troublesome.

"Kar."

At some point, Vigdís had moved closer.

She tugged lightly on my sleeve.

"What is it now?"

"When we leave today..."

She hesitated.

Then she spoke carefully.

"Could we go train together sometime?"

"..."

"Not because of the engagement."

Her eyes wavered slightly.

"But because I really want to become stronger."

The determination she had shown earlier was still there.

Not a fleeting emotional outburst.

A genuine resolve.

Looking at her, I found myself remembering the Vigdís from the original novel.

The woman who had become strong simply because she loved the sword.

Now she had both that talent and a reason to grow stronger.

A troublesome combination.

"...We'll see."

It was an intentionally vague answer.

But Vigdís immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"I said we'll see."

"That's practically a yes."

"It absolutely is not."

Yet for some reason, Vigdís looked pleased anyway.

Was everyone around me incapable of understanding plain language?

First Helga.

Then Reisir.

Now Vigdís.

Even Ríolíkin.

At this point, the possibility that I was the normal one felt increasingly doubtful.

"Myang."

Yor patted my shoulder.

For some reason, it felt like mockery.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

She immediately looked away.

Traitor.

Just then, movement stirred near the auditorium entrance.

Students who had been lingering inside finally began filing out in earnest.

The crowd started moving.

The long incident was truly coming to an end.

Seeing that, I let out a small breath.

Finally.

I could go home.

No more monsters.

No more life-threatening situations.

No more emotionally unstable protagonists.

At least for today.

Then Reisir opened his mouth.

"Karvaldr."

A bad feeling immediately washed over me.

"What."

"About the celebration gathering this weekend."

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

Of course he would bring that up now.

"We haven't decided anything."

"We have."

"We haven't."

"We have."

"We absolutely have not."

Reisir smiled.

The smile of a man who had no intention whatsoever of losing this argument.

Behind him, Ríolíkin looked hopeful.

Vigdís looked interested.

Even Helga appeared curious.

"Myang."

And Yor, worst of all, looked supportive.

...I suddenly had a feeling that escaping today's incident might turn out to be easier than escaping that gathering.