Sunday morning.
Theo and his group decided to return to Elinia Academy.
There were several reasons for this decision.
Primarily, there were two reasons; the first was for Theo's rapid recovery.
The [Special Stamina Recovery Potion] that greatly aided his recovery was in [The Hilté] within the academy.
The second reason was to attend classes.
Absences were not allowed in the Hero Department for any reason.
They would be marked absent without question.
Attendance scores were extremely important.
"Then, let's go."
Theo, supported by Amy, boarded the carriage.
With a height difference of roughly 20 cm between them, Theo felt quite uncomfortable.
However, he had no choice but to endure it.
'It's better than Siena, at least.'
Originally, Siena, who matched Theo's height more closely, was supposed to support him, but she was replaced by Amy because she kept trying to hug Theo.
Thus, the carriage carrying Theo and his group reached the Polaris city gate.
Siena, looking out the window, said,
"There are a lot of people standing around? Ah, knights."
"Isn't today Sunday? It's mostly a holiday... Wow. That's practically everyone out."
As Aisha said, there were about 100 members of the Polaris Knights assembled in front of the gate.
Maverick, the leader of the knights, shouted,
"All members! Salute Theo, the savior of Polaris!"
All the knights saluted towards the carriage carrying Theo and his group.
The booming sound vividly reached inside the carriage.
Theo wore a mixed expression.
'I did take care of Oswald, but it's awkward with Maverick acting like this.'
Maverick does not look kindly upon the direct lineage of Waldeurk.
The main reason is, of course, Theo, a collateral discrimination advocate.
Anger towards Theo extended toward the entire direct lineage.
'Aisha must have done something.'
Since Theo had been bedridden since the duel with Oswald, he had no chance to talk with Maverick.
Theo, forcing out a voice that rarely came out, asked,
"Aisha, what happened with Maverick?"
"With Uncle Maverick? Oh? Nothing special. We just talked a lot since it had been a while."
Of course, the content of the conversation was all about praising Theo.
─Theo has definitely changed. You know how Theo was, right? But something happened... He even gets along well with that grumpy principal. Oh, don't be surprised. He also holds a connection with the First Saintess! The principal told me herself, so it's certain!
─How's academy life these days? Well... It's like a series of practical exams every day. Our team is averaging about 4th place.
-1st place? Oh, why bother asking. Theo's team is always at the top.
Aisha gave Maverick a lengthy speech about Theo's changed attitude.
And Theo would not come to know of this even in the future.
"Is that so. Understood."
Theo accepted the explanation and nodded his head.
He closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat of the carriage.
'It's regrettable, but I'll have to search Robert's room next time.'
He kept thinking about the scene from his past that he glimpsed in a dream.
Robert had a pathological habit of taking notes.
Everything, even the trivial details like what he ate each day.
Surely, he must have also noted down what happened with Theo that day.
It would definitely be stored in the Waldeurk family's main room, which is hard for outsiders to enter.
According to the main story, Aisha began to officially take over the Waldeurk family only after meeting Robert and resolving the Polaris bombing crisis with the help of Neike.
'I should bring Aisha with me next time I go to Polaris.'
However, it must be just the two of them.
There's no need to show the secretive parts of the Waldeurk family to outsiders.
Of course, since the future has changed a lot, it's hard to imagine what will actually happen.
But overthinking is bad for one's physical health.
'I should rest now.'
Having finished his thoughts, Theo shook off the clutter in his mind and fell asleep immediately.
"Hey, you brat! Why did you steal my pudding?!"
"Hehe, you're so greedy, kiddo. You should learn the virtue of sharing."
"Ah~ Luna doesn't know about that! Give it back now!"
"Ah! You dirty little brat! How can you lick it all over!"
Even the bickering between Luna and Siena couldn't prevent him from sleeping.
Around 3 PM.
The carriage carrying Theo and his group arrived at Elinia Academy.
Theo decided to go to [The Hilté] with Taylor immediately.
'But first, I should drop off Siena, Luna, and Aisha.'
Regardless of the reason, it was only right to properly see off those who had taken the time to accompany him.
The carriage arrived in front of the building with the principal's office.
Two people got off the carriage.
Theo, supported by Amy, also got off the carriage.
"Thank you for accompanying me, principal. It was a great help. Siena, make sure you go in well too."
Luna and Siena responded.
"Yeah, take care."
"Hehe, Theo. You have to take good care of yourself, okay? Let me know when you're better. We'll make up for all the missed time."
"Alright."
After parting with the two, the carriage stopped in front of the Hero Department dormitory.
It was Aisha's turn to get off.
As they were about to part with a formal goodbye, Theo spoke up.
"I'll have to go to Polaris again soon."
"Really? When might that be?"
"We'll see, but it's likely to be the day finals end."
"Got it. Take good care of yourself, and see you tomorrow? You should go in soon; it must be hard standing."
Aisha had a somewhat sulky expression.
Before leaving, she had hoped for a romantic date just for the two of them, but in reality, it was merely nursing the sick.
Of course, nursing the sick has its own kind of romance.
A girlfriend peeling an apple for her boyfriend lying sick in bed.
How romantic is that?
'Really, this is too much.'
But this time, the nursing was nothing like that.
Theo slept so much that it made one wonder if he was actually dead, clutching his sword the whole time.
And to top it off, Aisha ended up eating the apple she had carefully peeled.
However, Aisha's disappointment vanished with just one sentence from Theo.
"Next time, it'll be just the two of us."
"Just... the two of us?"
"Yes. It might be embarrassing to show the others."
"Yes, yes... I understand! I'll make time."
"Alright. Then, let's go. See you tomorrow."
And so, Theo and Aisha parted ways.
Aisha's face was beaming with joy.
"Hmm."
For a moment, Theo watched Aisha's retreating figure, bouncing away as if hopping.
Time flew quickly, and it was a week before the final exams.
In most departments, the finals were considered more important than the midterms. The Hero Department did not hold joint classes a week before the finals.
As a result, every library and cafe in Elinia Academy was packed.
Of course, I didn't study. To be precise, I didn't need to. After all, I already knew everything.
So, even though it was a week before the finals, I spent my time as usual.
After class, I would usually return to my room to train.
Sometimes, I visited [The Hilté] to chat with Taylor, sometimes help Sonya with her research, or spar with Noctar and his group in a one-against-many situation.
And now, in a study room attached to the library──
"Theo, I don't understand this. Why must a hero avoid duels initiated by ordinary people? Aren't duels a sacred ritual? There's no distinction between heroes and ordinary people here."
"Well, Tarkan......"
──I was tutoring Noctar and the orcs.
I have been teaching them strategy.
Seria, who was casting [Focus] magic on the orcs nearby, said,
"Theo, you have a knack for teaching as well. Even I as a Magic Department student can understand everything clearly."
"You aren't studying?"
"Hehe, who do you think I am? I'm proficient up to the 4th-year curriculum in theory."
That's to be expected.
Seria's parents are the masters of the Black Magic Tower and the Branch Tower, respectively.
She's a prodigy who received early magic education from the time she could crawl.
Anyway, while I was teaching Noctar and the orcs.
Brrr, brrr──
The communication crystal I had in my pocket vibrated.
'Who could it be?'
Irene had just left to go training, and Piel is studying in a nearby room.
Then, the remaining possibilities were Rok, Sonya, or Isabella.
'I hope it's one of the first two.'
I desperately hoped it wasn't Isabella as I stepped out of the study room and pressed the receive button.
─Hello?
'...Damn.'
Why do ominous premonitions always come true?
I steadied my heart and spoke.
─Hello, Senior Isabella.
─Yes. How's your exam study going?
─It's always the same. May I ask why you've called?
─Isn't that a bit cold? Well... I have a proposal for you.
Tension and anticipation spread through my heart at the same time.
A proposal from the continent's only religion's First Saintess...
Of course, I had to hear it.
─What is the proposal?
─It's a bit difficult to discuss over the phone, how about we meet in the student council room?
