“By the way, I heard strange rumors about you and Seria, is it not true?”
“Of course not, sis.”
While being checked by Adriana, I sharply answered Daina’s sudden question that pierced in.
It was definitely not because I was conscious of Eris’s eyebrows slightly twitching.
“Given this, we can assume that the dragonkin transformation has stopped. Thankfully, it hasn’t worsened.”
Adriana, who was checking my pulse, stood up with a smile. They say it’s a unique method of witches to flow mana through the blood vessels to see if there are any abnormalities in the body, which seemed to pique Rin’s interest quite a bit.
Even though the atmosphere has become a bit strange now, she said she wanted to quietly practice medicine in the village after everything ends someday.
“By the way, handling wings and tails this well… I heard you guys only have tails and no wings, yet still struggle with the proportions.”
As Meister Hatsim Bellock, the best blacksmith among the dwarves with only seven in total, stroked his gray beard while muttering, Regua Baekplin, who was next to him, let out a scoff.
“The proportion just isn’t good for you dwarves, I suppose. On our side, it doesn’t seem like there’s a significant issue.”
A weird pride battle ignited between the two over something odd. It seemed like Hatsim was losing at the moment, but he proudly rebutted with a grin.
“I heard that although you don’t have wings, you grew a tail? I was told it’s a cat beastman, so does that mean that friend has two tails?”
“……”
“I’ve heard of something like that. There are mythical creatures or magical beasts with two tails! So isn’t that friend evolved into a legendary being?”
“You sure talk nonsense, you short fry.”
“Fluffing your fur in front of a patient. A beast shouldn’t lounge around with a human.”
Seeing them bicker and start play-fighting in the hospital room made me frown unintentionally.
“Is it always like this?”
“Not a day goes by. It’s now just part of our routine. They were apart for a while the other day, and it looked like they missed each other.”
So that’s why they weren’t stopped. As Eris lightly warned them to go out and fight, they hurriedly scampered away.
She definitely keeps discipline in check.
Since we were borrowing the health room for a brief diagnosis, I brought a wheeled round chair and pushed it over to Eris.
Adriana perched on the bed where her sister was lying, and I sat cross-legged on the opposite bed. I didn’t think these four would come all the way to Aios Academy just to see Daina.
As if reading my thoughts, Eris cleared her throat and started to share what she had learned during that time.
“First of all, we headed to the Dragon’s Boundary to interrogate Keyalmirec, who was a heretic inquisitor.”
Keyalmirec.
A dragonkin who kidnapped the dragonkin and sold them to Tudogs as lackeys.
A criminal who exploited that once crossing into human lands, all judicial power over the dragonkin would transfer to humans.
“It seems the Tudogs crumbled in an instant, and the locations Keyalmirec mentioned are still left untouched.”
Looking at Adriana, who seemed a bit apologetic as she glanced at me, Eris smiled proudly.
“Once we traced one like a spider web, we found more connecting nodes. Along the way, we recently faced Horan.”
“The survivor of the Tudogs?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I remembered the leader of the Tudogs had delayed to save her. In the end, we lost track of Horan, the tiger beastman.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t catch her. She realized we were coming and fled.”
“Is she still involved in transforming humans?”
At Daina’s question, Eris shook her head.
“No, it didn’t seem like it. Rather, there were traces of her destroying various bases.”
Could it be that she doesn’t want to reveal the secrets of the Tudogs?
Adriana crossed her arms and chimed in.
“However, through the fur Horan left behind and the remaining records, we discovered the largest base of the Tudogs. And that place… is near the Beast King’s territory.”
Lord Raizer.
The king of beastmen, whom the Regua Baekplin, who is currently having a childish yet fierce fight with the dwarves, serves.
Beastmen reacted much more strongly to outsiders intruding in their territory compared to other races.
Of course, based on past experiences, other races didn’t seem particularly lenient either.
I almost got hit by an arrow the moment I entered the elves’ forest, and crossing the Dragon’s Boundary means losing all human rights.
But beastmen reacted a bit differently.
The moment an unauthorized outsider enters their lands, they not only get their limbs severed but often go a step further.
For instance, if they capture a human, they would start invading the nearby human village.
A hit for a hit.
That’s the kind of instinct ingrained in beastmen, and it’s a big reason why other races can’t recklessly enter their lands.
“But this time, we have Regua Baekplin with us.”
If he, the captain of the special unit under the Beast King, is around, entering the beastmen’s territory shouldn’t be a huge issue, right?
I thought it was a perfectly reasonable question, but Adriana smirked mischievously and glanced at Eris, who had her hand on her thigh, bowing her head and sneakily looking at me.
“Hmm? Did I say something weird?”
“Goodness, brother. Are you really that clueless?”
I genuinely listened to my sister’s words with a look of confusion, not understanding.
“Beastmen’s land is quite far, after all. So you came just to see me?”
“Hey.”
I didn’t want to believe it.
No way Eris, the Guardian of Yggdrasil, would drag a party of witches, dwarves, and beastmen just to come see me, right?
But Eris’s face was as red as a ripe apple waiting for harvest.
“Uh?”
Looking at her expression, a mix of confusion and subtle joy bubbled up inside me. Knowing that even a moment of silence would be embarrassing for Eris.
“Alright, I’ll step out for a bit. I have something to discuss with Eris.”
Despite my sister and Adriana watching, I immediately clasped Eris’s hand and led her outside the health room.
“Wow, what a youth!”
My sister’s dad-like voice echoed in my ears.
Whistle
The dwarves and beastmen who had just been poking fun at each other suddenly joined forces to cheer for us as we walked down the corridor, and I ignored them.
I had planned to go out and eat something tasty in town, but Eris politely declined, saying she wanted to see the academy I attend instead.
Since it was a weekend today, the place was empty unless there were students doing club activities, so I easily introduced her to my 3rd grade E class first.
“Where’s Daniel’s seat?”
“There’s no designated spot, but I usually sit with the kids over there.”
As I pointed to the back corner where I always sat, she immediately placed herself in my spot and began scanning the classroom with her eyes.
“So this is the view you usually see, Daniel.”
“Not that special, right?”
“It’s peaceful and nice. Are the other friends sitting next to me? Can you introduce me?”
“……You probably saw them earlier. If we get the chance, I’ll formally introduce them.”
I felt like Tana would be fine, but for some reason, Eve would ignite some weird competitive spirit. Lately, Eve has been ready to brawl at any moment.
Just as I was about to suggest moving to another spot, Eris, basking in the sunlight streaming through the window, had a pleasant smile on her face, so I found myself wanting to see more of that scene, standing there absentmindedly.
“Hey, Daniel.”
Slowly and very cautiously, Eris parted her lips. Keeping her gaze fixed on the chalkboard still hanging on the classroom wall, she continued.
“Do you remember the day you confessed to me when you came to Yggdrasil?”
“Uh? O-of course I remember.”
I didn’t expect her to bring that up suddenly and absentmindedly scratched the back of my head, but Eris was still smiling, almost gleefully.
Was she perhaps thinking of accepting that deferred confession? But she brought up what happened after that.
“And that early morning, you talked with a girl named Rin by the lake. I actually heard that you saw the future.”
“……!”
She heard that?
I must have let my guard down since I was so focused on Rin back then. Especially since elves are hard to find, given how well they blend with the woods.
As if to say she wouldn’t let go of my wavering gaze, Eris naturally turned her attention from the chalkboard to me.
“So I began to naturally understand. You liked me, who was seeing you for the first time, and knew my taste in food well. Although I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of future you saw.”
“……”
Eris forced a smile.
She was anxious at this moment. I didn’t know why she was anxious, being such a foolish sherpa, but she kindly spoke straightforwardly for my sake.
“Are you sure you don’t like me, but rather the ‘future’ me?”
“……”
I couldn’t find words to respond.
That question pierced my heart deeply, was painful, and struck at the core.
“I thought about it while watching you. There are so many beautiful girls in love with you; why is it that you like me? In fact, we don’t even share such a deep connection.”
Eris gently brushed her hand over the desk she was sitting at again. Her hand, wiping away nonexistent dust, looked as if she were trying to erase memories that she didn’t possess.
“Daniel, I don’t know how the future went, but I am not the Eris you remember.”
That’s true.
The one who whispered sweet love to me.
The one who fought desperately for life until the very last moment with me.
The one who cared for me until the moment her heart was pierced by a spear.
Eris Anen Seriere was nothing more than a futile hope and ambition trapped in my memories—a ghost, an illusion.
“So I think we need to clarify our relationship. Just in time since I’ll be leaving for the beastmen’s land, so we should have enough time to think it over.”
“……”
Seeing me unable to say anything, Eris gently held my hand.
“This isn’t your fault, Daniel. It’s natural to associate the future and the present me. But we shouldn’t determine our present based on the future. That’s no different from superstitious people who blindly follow fate.”
Though she was reprimanding me sharply, her touch was uncommonly soft.
“Please don’t make me into a tragic woman. Don’t equate me to her in your memories and force false affection upon me.”
In the end, I had no choice but to accept it.
“Alright. Let’s take some time apart.”
“Thank you.”
Eris slowly released her grip on my hand and, trying to lighten the mood, asked teasingly, “By the way, what was our relationship in that future?”
Knowing she couldn’t help but be concerned, this time I grabbed her hand and looked her directly in the eye.
“I liked you a lot.”
