Extra in a Romance Fantasy

154 – Reunion (1)

With Ethan, who I had forgotten, joining us just in time, our party heading toward the mountains became two.

Ethan was flawless in skill and someone I could trust, so I had no hesitation in including him in our group.

Estelle and Kairn initially looked at the suddenly appearing Ethan with suspicion, but once they recognized his identity, they nodded in agreement.

They knew well that having the master of the Ten Blades, Tughira, would be a great help.

Thus, Ethan and I began to move toward the mountains, parting ways with Estelle and Kairn.

Of course, the journey was anything but smooth.

Swoosh!

Crunch…!

“Goodness, there are just so many of them.”

Swinging his sword and cleaving yet another monster, Ethan frowned.

After entering the academy, we frequently encountered monsters on our way to the mountains.

It was as if, after dealing with one monster, another would appear just a few steps later.

Of course, if we exerted ourselves to avoid them, we could minimize the battles as much as possible.

Not knowing what might happen in the mountains, it was theoretically wise to avoid fights and conserve our strength.

However, we deliberately chose not to make that decision.

It was with the intention of reducing the number of monsters, thereby preventing danger to others.

I couldn’t say for certain whether it would be a significant help, but by clearing out even a few monsters, we might save a few lives.

As for the matter of expending stamina or magical power, to be honest, I wasn’t overly concerned.

For Ethan and me, these levels of monsters were not worthy opponents in a fight.

In any case, we were steadily advancing while facing the monsters.

“But, is it really okay to go straight like this?”

Suddenly, Ethan posed that question.

“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”

Not grasping his intent, I responded with a puzzled expression.

“No. Your friends are inside here too, aren’t they?”

With an unexpectedly serious face, Ethan said.

“…….”

At those words, I couldn’t immediately respond and fell silent.

The situation was somewhat urgent, and there was no time for leisurely conversation, but during our various discussions, Estelle had mentioned it.

That Mary, Rachel, Aira, Jack, Alexis, Cedric, and others were still at the academy.

When I heard that news, I couldn’t help but worry.

Especially in this situation, with the academy in such danger, the fact that they were inside was troubling.

While the armies of both empires were dealing with the monsters, the number of monsters roaming within the academy was no joke.

Moreover, among them were even calamity-level monsters that the army had yet to restrain.

In such circumstances, it was impossible not to be concerned for their safety.

Ethan was asking this now.

Whether it was okay not to go save them.

After maintaining silence for a while, quietly swinging my sword, I finally spoke.

“…There’s no helping it.”

—

Pretending to be calm in my own way.

To be honest, I wanted to secure their safety before heading to the mountains.

But that wasn’t possible.

It was clear that something was happening up there, and an intense instinct kept striking my mind, insisting that I couldn’t just leave it be.

If I left the mountain as it was and went to rescue them, something uncontrollable might occur.

Therefore, I couldn’t go to save them.

All I could do was trust them, believe that they would be safe.

“…Well, if you say so.”

Ethan, upon hearing my response, stared at me blankly for a moment before nodding with a calm expression.

Thus, the topic never came up again.

After that, we pushed through the monsters as before, and though it took quite some time, we were able to reach the mountain.

However.

We did not immediately enter the mountain.

At the point where the mountain began, in front of a veil that obscured the view inside, I had to stop in my tracks.

“…Wade, is that you…?”

A familiar face stood before the mountain.

*

“…Wade, is that you…?”

Eyes the color of red roses.

And hair that seemed to blaze like those very eyes.

An atmosphere overflowing with grace, and curves so captivating that no man could avert his gaze.

The woman.

The woman with a familiar face to me.

Was looking this way with wide eyes, as if in disbelief, her gaze trembling.

Perhaps my own eyes were not much different.

I too stared at her somewhat dazed, then slowly gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth.

“…It’s been a while, Rachel.”

The identity of the woman I met in front of the mountain was Rachel.

She stood before me, looking somewhat different after such a long time.

—

The external aspects, in fact, had not changed much since the last time I saw her.

Perhaps her hair had just grown a little longer.

However.

The atmosphere was significantly different from then.

How should I put it?

Overall, there was a sense that the mood had grown colder.

She had always possessed an air of elegance that made her seem somewhat inaccessible, but now, it felt as if she was not allowing any approach at all.

Had a considerable amount happened to her while I was away?

As I pondered this, I quietly gazed at her.

Rachel stared at me blankly with trembling eyes.

“…No, that can’t be.”

Muttering to herself, she shook her head.

“Now I’m even seeing hallucinations.”

Then, with a bittersweet smile that evoked a sense of pity, she lowered her head.

“…Or perhaps this very space is inducing hallucinations…”

But before long, she suddenly lifted her head and began to scan the surroundings with sharp eyes.

“…….”

I watched her unpredictable behavior with a somewhat dazed expression.

“…Hey, she looks like she’s definitely caught up in some strange delusion, doesn’t she?”

Ethan quietly remarked from behind me.

“…….”

I didn’t say much in response, but I agreed with his observation.

It seemed that Rachel could not believe the very situation of me being right in front of her.

So, after a moment of contemplation, I spoke again.

“…It’s not a hallucination.”

I addressed her once more.

“…….”

At my words, Rachel’s gaze returned to me.

However.

“…To even speak in accordance with my altered perception. It’s a sophisticated hallucination. But I don’t sense any magical influence causing this hallucination…”

Rachel muttered strange words to herself again, not believing what I said.

“…Hmm.”

Seeing her like that, I pondered what to do in this situation.

If I were to take a more drastic approach, I might be able to shatter her delusion, but the hesitation in my heart prevented me from taking such action.

In that way, as I hesitated and found it hard to step forward.

“Hey.”

Ethan stepped forward, wearing an expression of annoyance.

“Stop it already; this guy isn’t an illusion, he’s very much alive.”

As he spoke, Ethan released his magical power, fully revealing his presence.

To assure Rachel that it wasn’t an illusion.

Ten Blades.

The presence emanating from a warrior who had reached that great level made Rachel widen her eyes as she looked at Ethan.

“…Lord Tugi…?”

Rachel had met Ethan before, alongside me.

So she recognized that face immediately.

The overwhelming presence Ethan exuded, the pressure of the magic touching her skin, was something that couldn’t be intricately fabricated as an illusion.

Moreover, Rachel was a talented magician.

There was no way she wouldn’t know that the magic she was feeling was real.

In other words.

“Then… really…?”

Rachel’s gaze, freed from her delusion, slowly turned back to me.

As I looked directly into her eyes.

I smiled a bit awkwardly and said.

“…Have you been well?”

“……!!”

Rachel’s eyes widened.

Her already large eyes grew even larger.

“Wade… Lord….”

With an expression of disbelief, Rachel looked at me.

And she began to take steps toward me.

One step. One step.

As if still doubting whether this scene was not an illusion.

With movements so cautious it was almost painful.

I watched her, wearing a complex smile.

From her reaction, I could feel that she was quite worried about me.

I felt both sorry and grateful, but if I had to choose, the feeling of guilt was stronger.

So I could only stand there, unable to approach her.

In the meantime, Rachel slowly, little by little, came closer to me.

Before long, she was close enough that I could reach out and touch her.

“Wade…!”

Calling my name, Rachel leaped toward me with a somewhat intense momentum.

As if she were trying to embrace me.

However.

To put it simply, her action did not go as intended.

A figure suddenly appeared, darting into my arms at breakneck speed before she could wrap herself around me.

“…Huh?”

Rachel, having lost her chance, wore a bewildered expression.

In that moment, I looked down with a slight wry smile.

To be precise, at a woman with water-colored hair burying her face in my embrace.

“…It’s been a while, Aira.”

The identity of the woman was none other than Aira.