Aios Academy was enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere.
Naturally, this was expected, given that it was exam season. During lectures, not even the faintest whispers between students could be heard, and when the professor announced exam topics, the crisp sound of writings filled the air like rustle, rustle.
After classes, students were squeezed into their study rooms, sweating profusely as they swung their swords around like swish, swish.
Since both written and practical tests were happening simultaneously, figuring out what to study and what order to practice was a significant part of the exam strategy.
If one tried to practice practicals first and then prepared for the written test, their hands would shake or they’d feel fatigued. So usually, it was more common to prepare for the written part first to cool off a bit before diving into practicals.
Well, that just meant it was conventional, not necessarily the best way.
Each student had their own methods and strategies.
The classrooms and libraries felt serene, but the corridors and dormitories were buzzing with chatter about the upcoming exams.
It felt somewhat more intense than the days I attended, and there was indeed a reason for that.
They had returned from a brutal defeat in the competition against Pales Academy.
At least they weren’t still dragging out a nonsensical 13 losses in a row like when I was there. They were actually riding a two-win streak.
I had gone with the hope for a three-win run, but it turned out Pales was well-prepared, and we lost.
It felt like they were purposefully diving deeper into studying to forget about their crushing defeat.
“Not my problem,” I thought.
Like I felt in past competitions, it was always the best to play while others were sweating it out.
As long as I didn’t fail, I was fine, so while other students studied hard, wielding their swords like whoosh, I passed the time in my own little world.
“More fun than I thought,” I said, closing the book I had just finished reading from Eve. Stretching, I felt a strange connection with the protagonist, and the female lead had vibes of Eve, which was a little awkward.
I don’t know how to put it…
It felt like looking at my girlfriend’s wish list.
I thought Eve would love it if I followed a few of those things.
Knock, knock.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Who could that be?”
The only person who might be looking for me at the academy right now was May, but as the dean’s secretary, she couldn’t meet me during the exam period.
Though she’d throw me intense eye glances whenever she passed by, signaling we’ll catch up after exams, it was a bit scary.
Since I was thinking of taking a walk outside anyway, I opened the door without much thought.
“Hmm?”
The girl with a bright smile wasn’t someone I recognized.
No, I hadn’t seen her for quite a while, but she was definitely stuck in my memory.
Light gray hair, wearing a checkered mini dress with a brooch, looking neat and tidy.
Michelle Portren.
If we wanted to go back to the very beginning, she was the girl I met when I was acting as a Sherpa during the zero round.
The child who had wandered into the Forest of the Demon Realm while being chased by the Chokugen Faction. I had taken her in for a few days, and she had reminded me of my humanity, which I’d long forgotten while living like a magical beast.
Unfortunately, back then, Sen from the Chokugen Faction killed her.
And Sen had died at my hands.
The next time we met was after my regression, in the city of Bethel.
Murder hotel, Tudogs, the efforts of Mikael Portren to cure his daughter’s illness, werewolf.
Several keywords passed through my mind as I stood there, mouth agape.
The current Michelle was neither the mature woman I saw in the Forest of the Demon Realm nor the little girl who barely reached my waist back in Bethel.
She had grown at least to my chest level.
With that smile, she greeted me.
“Hello, Uncle!”
*
I couldn’t take Michelle to my room to chat. Even though it was exam season, the corridors were filled with Male Students, and I couldn’t let any strange rumors start spreading.
I led her to the café in front of the dormitory.
Sitting down, I took her in again.
She had been about 9 years old, but seeing her matured now after a few years brought mixed feelings of pride and bitterness.
People tend to grow mentally when they lose something.
I had only heard that her father, Mikael Portren, was sentenced to prison. I hadn’t heard anything after that.
Perhaps, losing time with her beloved dad was why she matured this much.
“I’ve been doing well,” she said with a smile.
“Don’t just think about age. I remember all the times we spent together in the Forest of the Demon Realm.”
“Right, I remember.”
“Even though my father received the death penalty, I understand why. He was a villain, but he was still my father until the end.”
That was enough for her, and Michelle smiled gently.
If she could accept that, I didn’t want to press the matter further.
“I heard you’ve been receiving education with Elise’s help?”
“Yes! I worked hard at the Royal Talent Development Institute. It was quite tough!”
After losing her father, she had been taken in by the royal family. She started telling her story with a smile—the friends she met there, the memories she built, the mishaps she caused, and more.
The exciting part was that she had surprisingly joined the espionage unit under Elise, called Lavender.
“You joined Lavender?”
“Yes! The Princess personally suggested it to me because I had good grades!”
And then, she started talking a mile a minute again, sipping coffee to wet her throat, and it really reminded me of old memories.
She was exactly what you’d call a chatterbox.
Had my expression shown that? Michelle pouted slightly and grumbled.
“What’s with that? I’m happy to see you after so long, but you don’t feel the same?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, just that my ears are in pain.”
“……My seniors say the same to me.”
Honestly, this girl talked way too much. Shaking my head in disbelief as I sipped my coffee, Michelle stared at me, resting her chin on her hands.
“By the way, I felt it when I saw you last time, but you’ve really changed.”
“Hmm?”
“When I saw you in the Forest of the Demon Realm, you looked like you’d bite my head off if provoked.”
“Ah.”
I remember that vibe. I had been through so many incidents since then that I had softened quite a bit.
“That moment was you.”
I casually expressed my gratitude, and Michelle beamed.
“Looks like I’ve helped you a bit! I always felt bad for being a burden.”
“No, you definitely woke me up.”
The short time I spent with her was a precious moment among my many experiences in the Forest of the Demon Realm.
If it hadn’t been for Michelle, I would have only had a stiff relationship with clients like Eris.
“Oh! I heard from the Princess that the Assassin has become a step-sister.”
“……”
“The world is truly unpredictable, isn’t it?”
Michelle shrugged her shoulders, feeling a bit let down.
Thinking of a defense, I said,
“Sen has changed a lot too. And……”
“I know. She saved me.”
In the zero round, Sen had killed Michelle as a member of the Chokugen Faction.
In the first round, she had saved Michelle from the grip of the Chokugen Faction instead.
“Isn’t it strange? I wonder if it means ‘giving you medicine after giving you poison’ like they say?”
“……”
As Sen’s brother, I struggled with how to react, but Michelle waved her hands, saying not to mind it.
“It’s okay. It’s all like it never happened anyway, right? So let’s treat the killing and the saving as if they never happened.”
“Sure.”
“And those memories now feel like a dream to me. I don’t know about you, but most of my friends feel the same.”
No matter how many memories remained from before the regression, acting like a student and speaking like a student was key.
In the end, reality was most important.
“By the way, how did Sen end up thinking about being your sister?”
“Hmm?”
I was puzzled by her words, but Michelle shrugged her shoulders and replied.
“I thought you wouldn’t stay silent after I was killed.”
“Ah……”
That was a good point.
Just as Sen killed Michelle, I had also killed Sen.
We had conversations about it, but surprisingly, Sen took it lightly.
Back then, she had just been a tool without emotions, so she had even asked me to forget about it.
“Anyway, I came here because I wanted to see you after so long.”
Michelle stood up slowly with a smile, bowing deeply.
“I wanted to say thank you. I’m really grateful, Uncle.”
Just moments ago, she had been a lively chatterbox, laughing without a care.
She must have gone through many wounds and had some illnesses, yet she overcame everything to be here.
I placed my hand gently on her head and rubbed it as I replied.
“Thank you for growing up well.”
