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After much contemplation, I approached and draped my outer garment over Instructor Rilya’s shoulders.

Our eyes met as she looked up at me in confusion.

“It seemed like you needed it.”

Even though it was spring, the weather in March was still cold. Especially on such a high cliff, it was even chillier. A thin dress alone wouldn’t be sufficient.

Instructor Rilya nodded slightly and hugged the garment tightly. With traces of tears still on her face, she silently absorbed the warmth left in the clothing.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Instructor Rilya.”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking.

What on earth should I say?

You’re not a pathetic person? I admire you, Instructor Rilya? There are many students who rely on you?

All just cliché phrases. And I wasn’t sure if I had the right to say such things.

I wasn’t used to comforting others, and I had no idea how much my clumsy words would help Instructor Rilya.

However, I believed that there must be a reason she had chosen to share a story with me here, something she hadn’t revealed to anyone else.

Showing one’s hidden weakness to another takes immense courage.

So I too had to show her the respect she deserved.

I carefully articulated my honest feelings with sincerity.

“I feel the same way.”

“…Huh?”

“I often feel pathetic about myself too.”

Instructor Rilya’s eyes widened in disbelief.

I managed a faint smile, perhaps a bitter one akin to the ones she had shown.

“I didn’t gain the power, status, or fame I have by wanting them. It’s more like I stumbled upon them by accident.”

The desperate reason I wanted to become stronger began with protecting Ella.

Then I wanted to be by Charlotte’s side, protect the family and friends left in my hometown, and return alive with my comrades from the special forces.

Before I realized, all the reasons I wanted to be strong had one by one disappeared from my side. And what remained was just myself, now only stronger.

The pathetic and pitiful man left behind was someone who hadn’t been able to protect anything he truly wanted.

Thus, the recognition and cheers from people gained as The Faceless Hero, along with wealth and honor, felt meaningless. Every time I took them on, it only made me feel the things I had left behind even more.

I quietly spoke in a voice filled with regret.

“What I really wanted… was very simple happiness.”

Yeah. I wasn’t hoping for anything extraordinary.

Living a normal life with the people I love. A desire that any human would naturally have.

However, the storms I had to weather to fulfill that wish were far too harsh and treacherous.

Instructor Rilya broke into a sad smile.

“It seems that living happily in this world is the hardest thing. A normal life is the hardest thing to obtain.”

Her gaze was looking far away.

“I often wonder. What if I hadn’t been born into the Bennett family? It would have been fine not to be a noble, but what if I had grown up with a family that loved me normally? What if there hadn’t been a war… It’s a meaningless assumption, though.”

I shook my head and calmly replied.

“A lot of things are already decided before we even take our first breath. Name, parents, social class, and the environment surrounding us.”

Therefore, I believe there’s only one important thing.

How to live amidst such unfairness.

“What matters is making choices.”

“…Choices?”

“I chose to become an instructor at this academy. Didn’t you, Instructor Rilya? If we hadn’t made that choice, we probably wouldn’t be meeting like this.”

“Ah….”

Instructor Rilya looked dazed for a moment before breaking into a soft smile and laughing.

“That’s true. Choosing to teach students was my choice… If that hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“So I don’t care who you are, Instructor Rilya. On the contrary, I’m glad to be able to hear these stories.”

“Glad?”

“I’ve gotten to know you better. If today hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have had this conversation.”

Instructor Rilya, who had been listening quietly, raised one eyebrow teasingly.

“Are you saying that it’s fortunate I almost ruined our date today?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

Instructor Rilya looked at my flustered expression before bursting into playful laughter. The sadness and gloom on her face had vanished.

“Hehe. Just joking. By the way, you didn’t deny the word ‘date’?”

“…….”

“Thank goodness. I was worried you thought it was just me who felt that way.”

I had said too much, unlike my usual self.

I wasn’t a fool. I had sensed that she harbored some feelings for me.

But I couldn’t be sure whether they were mere fondness or something deeper.

At that moment, Instructor Rilya rested her head silently on my shoulder.

I didn’t push her away, and we quietly gazed at the setting sun and the Capital City below.

In the distance, I could see the building of Philion Academy.

Instructor Rilya cautiously asked, “Is Instructor Graham… happy right now?”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“…I’m trying my best to be happy.”

I had spent too much time trying to shake off old feelings. The anger, regret, sadness, and hatred I harbored within had only been swung like a blade.

Now it was time to fill that empty space with something new.

Instructor Rilya nodded slightly.

“So, Instructor Graham had quite a few wounds, huh.”

“Everyone has their weak points.”

Suddenly, a silence fell over us. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable or awkward one.

Instructor Rilya, clutching my outer garment tightly, fidgeted with her sleeves before speaking up.

“Um, Instructor Graham.”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever heard that women are often drawn to a man’s vulnerable side?”

“…Is that so?”

“They say that a seemingly perfect person’s unexpected weakness is attractive. I wonder if it’s because it triggers maternal instincts?”

Instructor Rilya smiled gently as she spoke.

“And it seems like that might actually be true.”

“……”

To be honest, the combination of Instructor Rilya’s appearance and maternal instincts didn’t quite match.

Of course, she would get angry if she found out what I was thinking, even if she was Instructor Rilya.

Not knowing how to respond, I changed the subject.

“I should head back now.”

This wasn’t just idle talk; the sunset was almost gone, and darkness was beginning to engulf the sky.

As I watched the darkness gradually approach from afar, staying any longer would surely mean night would come upon us.

Instructor Rilya frowned slightly, her expression hinting she had hoped for a better response, but she ultimately sighed softly and gave me a light smile.

“Okay. Let’s go back.”

I climbed onto the bike, and Instructor Rilya took her place behind me.

As she casually wrapped her arms around my waist, I felt a bit uncomfortable and said, “Instructor Rilya, your hand….”

“Yes?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

After all, it was clear she would wrap her arms around my waist again once we started moving, so there was no point in stopping her.

Maybe I should later ask Doctor Brown’s student to install some auxiliary handlebars.

Suddenly, I heard Instructor Rilya’s curious voice from behind me.

“By the way, who is Sylvia? From her voice and name, she seems to be a woman….”

I pondered her question for a moment before answering seriously, “We owe each other our lives once.”

“What, such a deep relationship…!?”

There was a strangely anxious tone in her voice.

*

Riding the bike back, I quickly returned to the academy. After several rides, I had discovered much faster routes through the back streets compared to the main road.

Instructor Rilya wanted to see me off in front of Garnet Red Dormitory, but she firmly refused, insisting it would be too conspicuous to students.

Ultimately, I dropped her off on a road slightly away from the tram station.

The sky had darkened, and the lights of magic lanterns glowed softly in the surroundings.

As it was truly time to part, Instructor Rilya fidgeted with her tousled hair from riding the bike, lingering in place.

She looked as if she had something left to say, and I quietly waited for her.

“Instructor Graham. Thanks to you, I really had a wonderful time today.”

“Yes. I enjoyed it too.”

It was a heartfelt sentiment, not a mere formality. It had been a very long time since I’d felt the joy of spending time with someone.

“And, here! I’ll return this to you!”

Instructor Rilya offered me my instructor’s outer garment that she had draped over her shoulders. Given that it was quite chilly, I wouldn’t have minded lending it to her for the day, but it seemed she intended to return it right here.

After all, slipping into the dorm wearing a man’s outer garment would attract way too much attention.

I nodded and extended my hand, and Instructor Rilya approached me with the garment.

At that moment, her expression changed to one of determination.

She closed her eyes tightly and leaned her face towards me, and though I could have easily dodged it, I was momentarily stunned into inaction.

Soon, her petite lips brushed against my cheek before pulling away. It was just a fleeting moment.

Instructor Rilya, having planted her feet firmly back down, spoke hurriedly with a distinctly flushed face, even in the dark.

“T-this is a gesture of affection! So, take care on your way back!”

Without waiting for my response, Instructor Rilya turned and hurriedly dashed towards the dormitory building.

“Hah….”

I let out a short, bemused laugh as I turned the handlebars, steering towards Opal Black Dormitory.

 

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