NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Return
“—This isn’t an unfamiliar ceiling… yeah.” is it?
I woke up, recognized the ceiling—the infirmary of the knights’ training facility—and felt a mix of relief and disappointment swirl in my chest.
…Ah, so I ended up back here again, huh? For a second, I was happy, but I’m not really happy at all…
Wait, why am I in the infirmary?
With no clear memory answering that question, I sat up in bed, crossed my arms, and tilted my head in confusion.
“Hmm… I’ve got no clue.”
“You collapsed, idiot.”
“Huh? Oh, Eresdia-Sama! How are you doing? Feeling better?”
“…Yeah. I’m alive thanks to you.”
Suddenly, the infirmary door opened, and Eresdia-Sama gave me an answer. With a towel around her neck and a bit of sweat on her, it seemed like she had just finished training. She must’ve been tired, yet she came to check on me. How thoughtful.
“So, how are you? You’ve been out for quite a while… uh…”
“Wait, don’t tell me I was out for three days!?”
“—W-Worried… What? No, you were out for just one day.”
Apparently, I was wrong. Usually, in these situations, it’s three days, right? Kind of a letdown. But more importantly…
“Worried?”
“…”
“Hmm? What were you worried about? Come on, just say it~”
When I gave her a teasing grin, she stepped back with an annoyed expression.
“You… Ugh, so annoying… I wish you’d stayed out for two more days.”
“That’s so harsh! What the heck!? You seemed all worried, and now you’re acting cold?!”
Eresdia-Sama backed away, clearly irritated. The gap between us was like the gap in our hearts right now… Ugh, I might cry.
“…Sniff.”
“Wait, why are you about to cry?! Okay, fine! When you collapsed in Kagechi Village and wouldn’t wake up, I was worried, okay?! You were out the whole way back in the carriage!”
Blushing slightly and with teary eyes, Eresdia-Sama glared at me as if to say, “Is that good enough for you?” While I found the sight quite charming, I couldn’t help but feel bad since it was my fault she worried.
“S-Sorry for worrying you.”
“You better be. I mean, in that situation, it’s no surprise you’d collapse from mental exhaustion.”
Oh, so that’s why I collapsed—mental fatigue. Guess my body was fine then.
Thinking back, the battle had really pushed me to my limits. I remember barely being able to dodge attacks even when I could see them, struggling to maintain control when I activated *Extreme Enhancement: Grenzen Vi Att Verstärken*.
Now that I think about it, I don’t really remember what I said during that time… Hopefully, I didn’t say anything too embarrassing.
As I nervously pondered this, Eresdia-Sama tugged at my sleeve. I turned to see her face flushed red, looking down but clearly wanting to say something. Her expression was one I’d never seen before, and it made my heart skip a beat. Trying to hide my surprise, I spoke.
“Uh, what’s up? If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
“…What did you mean by *that*?”
Huh? *That*? What was *that*?
“Sorry, you’re gonna have to be more specific.”
“I’m talking about… the words you said…!”
She glared at me as if saying, “Don’t make me spell it out,” but I still had no clue. The confusion in my head only grew.
Wait, seriously, what was it? Did I really say something during *Extreme Enhancement*? And from her reaction, it seems like it was something pretty important? Crap, I don’t remember a thing.
As Eresdia-Sama stared silently at me, waiting for an answer, my panic started to grow. I was on the verge of admitting I didn’t remember when—
“—Zero, it looks like you’ve finally woken up.”
The door opened again, and in walked Instructor Lowe, the one-eyed, rugged older man. Of course, I wasn’t about to let this golden opportunity slip by.
“Oh, Instructor Lowe! It hasn’t been long, but good to see you again! I’m wide awake now—totally, completely awake!”
Though I couldn’t exactly mention it was mostly from cold sweat.
By the way, Eresdia-Sama let go of my sleeve the moment Instructor Lowe walked in. She was so fast I barely caught it.
“So, Instructor Lowe, what brings you here today? Did this idiot mess something up again?”
“Hey, when have I ever messed anything up? Name one time. You can’t because it’s never happened!”
I protested her jab, but surprisingly, Instructor Lowe nodded as if to say she was right. To my honest, goody-two-shoes self, this was a total shock.
“See? You must’ve done something while I wasn’t looking.”
“What… I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about. I swear!”
“But Instructor Lowe…”
As Eresdia pressed me, I turned to the instructor for help.
“Zero didn’t mess up. If anything, the two of you… may have made quite an impact.”
““Huh?””
We both tilted our heads in confusion as he gave a hearty laugh.
“Oh yes, in a good way. Do you know who the hooded man you defeated was?”
We exchanged glances and shook our heads. Then, Instructor Lowe continued.
“His name was Andrew Hyde Killing, also known as ‘Lustful Reaper Lüst Totengeist.’ He raped and murdered seven noblewomen, and killed over a hundred soldiers sent to capture him. He was a notorious serial killer who terrorised the kingdom and was wanted by the knight order.”
“!?!”
“??”
Eresdia-Sama seemed shocked, though I had no clue who that was. But it was obvious he was some really dangerous guy.
And… I was the one who killed him.
…Wait, WHAT!?
“That’s right. Zero—you killed a criminal so dangerous that even the knight order couldn’t catch him. A mere soldier like you.”
Finally, I understood the gravity of the situation.
Wait, that guy was *that* dangerous? Sure, I had to push myself to the limit just to survive, but still… seriously?
My mind was racing as I tried to process everything.
“S-So… what happens to me now?”
I nervously asked, and Instructor Lowe smiled wickedly—
“Zero and Eresdia von Donnart, both of you are to head to the royal castle immediately! His Majesty himself has requested to personally reward you!”
—And as we stood there, frozen, he laughed and added, “This is a historic achievement! Gahahaha!”