Chapter 3.1 - Dropout Swordsman and Swordsmanship Academy [1] – part 1 (1/2)

3. Dropout Swordsman and Swordsmanship Academy [1] – part 1

I heard a voice.

「Alle… wake…! What time… you think……… quickly… wake up…!」

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the clear blue sky.

I am lying on my back, it seems.

(What…? What… was I……?)

My blurry vision gradually became clearer, in addition to my other senses which were slowly returning.

The cold ground.

The smell of grass.

My dried up mouth.

The light from the radiant sun.

And the voice that was calling to me.

「Allen! Oi, quickly wake up! Seriously, why are you sleeping here!?」

Before my eyes, I saw the form of the dorm mother, Paula-san, looking down at me.

「!?」

I hurriedly sprang up.

「R-Right now, what year, what month, what hour, what minute is it…!?」

I immediately tried to confirm the present time.

Paula-san shrugged her shoulders astonishedly.

「Huh… Allen? Are you still dreaming?」

「Ah, no, I see… so it’s over」

I escaped the hellish 100 million years loop, and returned safely to the real world.

「Oh right, the hermit of time…!?」

I unsheathed my sword and surveyed the surroundings.

However… there was no trace of him anywhere.

「Hermit of time…? Allen… are you really alright?」

Paula-san asked me with a serious expression.

「No, that is… I’m sorry…」

「Which reminds me, you had a terrified look on your face… Did you perhaps have a nightmare?」

「Maybe… I’m not sure…」

All that might have actually just been a dream.

No, it was surely a dream.

Thinking about it rationally, there couldn’t possibly be a 100 million years button.

「Tell me about the nightmare. If you do that, it won’t become real」

「…I don’t really remember much about it… I’m sorry」

That was a lie.

In fact, I remember every last detail.

However, she would only laugh if I told her that absurd story.

「Is that so? Then, let’s quickly head to the dorm! I’ve prepared breakfast a long while ago, you know? There won’t be any left if you don’t hurry!」

Then, Paula-san spun on her heels, and walked towards the dorm.

「S-Sorry……」

Right when I was about to follow after her while earnestly apologizing,

From the corner of my eyeー a suspicious red button gleamed.

There is no way I could mistake it.

That is……

「100 million year button…!?」

Shivers ran through my body.

Does that mean… it wasn’t a dream…?

I swallowed deeply and slowly picked up the button.

(If I push this… Will I be back in that hell…?)

No… it should be fine.

If it turns out to be real, I can just escape by cutting the world again.

If it was a dream, nothing will happen if I push this.

Either way, I have nothing to lose from pushing this button.

「Fuuu…」

I took in 2 to 3 deep breaths andー pushed. I pushed it.

However, nothing happened.

「…obviously」

The hermit of time.

The 100 million years button.