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The beast legion commander, Leonos, was undeniably an enemy of humanity.

The number of casualties caused by the beast legion’s deployment was unimaginable, and even the renowned knights, mercenaries, and S-rank adventurers lost their lives at the hands of Leonos.

Countless people lost their hometowns and homes, and there are countless who still cannot return. To sympathize with him would be disrespectful to the many lives lost during the war, and Leonos himself would likely take it as an insult.

However.

Unlike the undead legion that devastated the capital from the very start of the war and the insect-like monsters that inflicted great harm on civilians, the beast legion always fought exclusively against armies.

What Leonos desired was a struggle against the strong. This heavily influenced the behavior of the beast legion.

It is unclear whether Leonos intentionally avoided civilians or simply showed indifference. Nevertheless, he engaged in plunder but refrained from excessive slaughter of civilians, and at times even showed mercy towards recognized foes.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen a promising one… It’s a shame to kill you right here. Come back stronger! We’ll fight again then!’

If the first commander I encountered during the war hadn’t been Leonos, I might not be here now. Therefore, I had no desire to avoid a fight against him.

I had told Elizabeth to save her trump card… but I couldn’t deny that my lingering attachment to Leonos influenced me to some extent.

The scattered ashes had long since been carried away by the wind, leaving no trace behind.

Now was the time to act.

The airship, weakened from the explosion, had long surpassed its limits due to the battle with Leonos. The turbines were damaged by the impact, making safe landing impossible now.

In a pinch, there was no time to think. The moment to use the method I wanted to avoid had come.

“Elizabeth.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

“We’re jumping.”

“…What?”

Elizabeth’s expression froze for an instant.

“Instructor, I’m sorry, but if we jump from this height, I might die, even if you don’t.”

Jumping barehanded from this height was daunting for me as well, not just for Elizabeth.

“Right. So, I’ll jump just before the airship hits the ground.”

“…Is that even possible?”

I nodded as I spoke.

“Trust me. I’ve done it once before.”

“……”

Elizabeth fell deep in thought. The wind whipping across the deck ruffled her white hair fiercely, but Elizabeth showed no intent to tidy it, gazing down instead.

Her already pale face turned even paler due to the staggering height, but ultimately, she nodded and replied.

“If it were anyone else, I’d think it was a suicidal act… but I’ll trust you, Instructor.”

“Understood.”

With Elizabeth’s consent obtained, all that remained was to ensure the airship landed safely.

Of course, it would crash down on its own, but I had to avoid it going in the wrong direction and crashing over the capital or nearby towns. Additionally, if the falling speed was too fast, Elizabeth’s body might not be able to withstand the impact when landing.

I plunged Ezetus’ spear into the deck of the airship. I spread the swirling dark magic throughout the entire airship. I felt the mana, enveloping my body, wave and radiate outwards like a tide.

The mana quickly seeped into the airship’s internal structure. Like fine threads, unravelling and intertwining, it enveloped the entire airship in a dense web of mana.

I could feel it. Which parts of the ship were damaged and which were still intact. Although my knowledge of machinery was lacking, I instinctively knew how to move this ship as I desired.

From now on, my goal was to crash this airship as safely as possible.

“Hold on tight and don’t let go.”

Elizabeth gripped my neckline tightly. This was possible since the flame of mana spilling from the gaps in my armor was no longer present. And that flame roamed freely within the airship, ready to explode wherever I desired.

“Hyah!”

Kaboom—!!

The engine room exploded. Simultaneously, the remaining systems in the airship ceased to function, and the airship began descending towards the ground, having lost its lift.

In an instant, I felt an overwhelming sensation of flipping upside down, along with a weightless feeling throughout my body. Gravity was rapidly pulling us below.

During the free fall of the airship, I continuously caused explosions at various locations inside the ship. It may have been difficult to create flames alone, but here, filled with intricately entwined mechanical parts, it was entirely possible.

Bang! Bang! Kaboom!!

The airship shook violently from the explosions and started plummeting towards the direction I wanted. The deceleration was also as intended. Yet, despite that, the speed was still more than a human body could withstand.

“Ugh—! Huh…!”

It was entirely possible for anyone to scream with such an incredible falling speed, yet Elizabeth gritted her teeth and endured. Watching her trust me completely and holding on tightly, I pulled out Ezetus from the deck.

The ground was merely an instant away. There was no point in causing more explosions.

Embracing Elizabeth’s slender waist, I jumped without hesitation outside the deck.

The target was right in front of the cliff where I had been sightseeing with Instructor Rilya. Below the cliff was wasteland, completely barren, and the height of the cliff was just right for what I needed to do.

I thrust Ezetus into the cliff with all my strength.

The blood-red spearhead split the rock of the cliff without any resistance.

Crack—!!

Shock rippled through my body, followed by the sound of rocks splitting. The spear dug into the stone and slowed our falling speed down the towering cliff.

I held Elizabeth tightly with one arm. Elizabeth did the same. As the cliff cracked deeply, debris flung outward, but those fragments bounced off my back, enveloping Elizabeth.

As our descent gradually slowed, we landed beneath the cliff.

Just at that moment, the airship we had escaped from collided with the ground.

Boom—!!!

With a deafening explosion, a gigantic fireball erupted from the airship.

Heat radiated, and small debris fell in all directions. It only tapped my back lightly, and did no harm to Elizabeth.

After watching the dark smoke and flames rising high for a moment, I lightly patted Elizabeth’s back and said.

“Elizabeth. It’s over now.”

But there was no reply.

“Haa, haa….”

Elizabeth trembled her shoulders, barely managing to breathe.

Her rough breaths and rapid heartbeat, along with the cold sweat pouring through her hair, revealed the fear and tension she had experienced. The arm tightening around my neck showed no signs of letting go.

“……”

I had no choice but to stand still, waiting for Elizabeth to feel somewhat better.

As time passed, her breathing began to stabilize.

Slowly, Elizabeth spoke.

“…I won’t do it twice.”

“…Yeah.”

I didn’t want to experience it twice either.

*

We silently stared at the flames rising from below the cliff.

The flames from the airship were too large for a bonfire, but at least they were visible from a distance. With such size, the Royal Guard or the Capital City Gendarmerie would notice it soon.

Elizabeth gazed at the flames and quietly spoke.

“I was so flustered that I forgot to thank you. Thank you, Instructor.”

I responded in a nonchalant tone.

“It was my duty as an instructor.”

“That’s a big deal. Who knew the instructor’s job was to stop the assassination of a princess and fight against the beast legion commander? Philion Academy might soon go bust due to manpower shortages. Headmaster Heinkel would be distraught.”

“Hmm….”

At my speechlessness, Elizabeth giggled and continued.

“May I ask why?”

“There was no reason not to.”

“…There are plenty of reasons. I could list over ten that came to mind.”

I paused for a moment to think and then said.

“When you see someone drowning, you don’t think of reasons not to save them. You’re my student, and that alone was reason enough for me.”

“…Is that all? That you saved me because I’m a princess or because you wanted something from me… nothing like that?”

I calmly nodded.

Elizabeth’s red eyes were filled with surprise and disbelief. Ultimately, she gazed at me in silence for a long time, shaking her head in disbelief.

“That’s… not a lie, is it?”

“There was no reason to.”

At that moment, I sensed multiple presences approaching this way.

Strong individuals of Master Class level, presumed to be Royal Guards, were swiftly approaching. They must have been in a hurry, as they were running without even riding horses.

As I relayed this information to Elizabeth, she lifted the corners of her mouth in a wry smile, deep in thought.

“An instructor who saved the Imperial Princess… Congratulations. You’ll become a star in the social world.”

I grimaced instead of answering.

Seeing my reaction, Elizabeth smiled satisfactorily.

“Should I cover for you?”

“Can you?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

Nodding my head, Elizabeth stood up, dusting off her clothes. As she tidied her disheveled hair and straightened her back, the mischievous-looking eighteen-year-old girl transformed into the Imperial Princess.

“There are so many things I want to ask and say, but… I suppose I’ll have to postpone that for later. I’ll prepare a decent gathering soon, so please do find the time then, alright?”

“Sure.”

“Fufu, that’s a promise, right?”

The Royal Guards were gradually becoming visible. It was time to leave.

Neither Elizabeth nor I looked back. There was no need for a farewell between us.

After all, we both knew we would meet again soon.

*

That afternoon.

Upon returning to the Opal Black Dormitory, someone from the royal palace came to visit me.

Dressed in a gentleman’s tailcoat, wearing a mask, and holding an invitation to a ball.

“……”

I felt nothing but a bad premonition.

 

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