Chapter 73 - Darkness and Sword King Festival [4] (1/2)

73. Darkness and Sword King Festival [4]

After the class in the second period, Ria, Rose and I, gathered in front of the student council room with our lunch boxes in hand.

It is to participate in a ”lunch party” called “regular meeting”.

When I knocked on the door,

「Enter.」

The president’s dignified voice returned.

When I opened the door slowly,

「Ah, Allen-kun, and Rose-san and… Ria-san!」

Seeing us, the president ran up to us.

「I’m really glad you’re safe…! I was relieved to hear that you had been rescued from a laboratory on the outskirts of Drestia last night…!」

As the president held Ria’s hand,

「It was a real disaster… Are you all right?」

「I was super shocked… I am really glad that you’re safe though…」

Lilim-senpai and Ferris-senpai, who were relaxing on the sofa in the back, also ran up to us.

「I have made everyone worry so much.」

When Ria bowed her head,

「No, Ria-san is not responsible for anything… I’m really sorry that my『House』allowed such dangerous people to invade…」

The president, the daughter of the House Arcstria, bowed deeply.

「President, you don’t have to apologize…! Please raise your head…!」

Ria hurriedly said that, but the president shook her head.

「National defense is one of the important duties of House Arcstria. I can’t make any excuses regarding this case.」

And she apologized again.

「And, Allen-kun, you were a great help. If something had happened to Ria-san… I’m sure it would’ve gone beyond simply being the problem of House Arcstria, and developed into an international issue.」

This time she thanked me instead.

「No, please don’t worry. I just helped my friend.」

Then the president briefly said “Thank you,” and began to talk about the current security system.

「Now, under the guidance of the swordsmen of House Arcstria, a much tighter security network than before has been built. In addition, we are planning to expand our personnel from next month onwards. Those guys should not be able to sneak in that easily in the future.」

And when the talks calmed down a little,

「Umu! Let’s end that talk there. Let’s have lunch now!」

「I’m already hungry though…」

Lilim-senpai and Ferris-senpai were attentive and tried to blow away the slightly heavy air.

「That’s right. I’m getting hungry too.」

I didn’t miss the opportunity and also tried to shift it into a fun lunch atmosphere.

「Yeah. Well then, as usual, let’s start the student council’s regular meeting!」

Understanding our intentions, the president smiled a little happily and signaled the start of the regular meeting in a cheerful voice.

After that, we enjoyed the lunch party as usual.

After the regular meeting at the student council and strength training in the afternoon, I went to the Director’s office alone.

When I knocked on the solemn black door,

「Enter.」

Leia-sensei’s stiff voice replied.

(This voice…)

I wonder if it’s because we have spent a lot of time together, but somehow, I understood.

(This stiff but somewhat bright voice… she’s definitely slacking off…)

I’m sure she pushed all her work onto No. 18-san and is happily reading Weekly Shounen Yaiba.

Thinking about that, I slowly opened the door. And there was the figure of Leia-sensei, seated at the luxurious black desk and had a complicated expression on her face.

「I’m tied up right now. Wait there a minute.」

Without looking at me, her gaze stayed planted on the document at hand, with a furrow between her eyebrows.

「Yes.」

I answered briefly and waited for sensei.

About three minutes had passed since then.

「Fuu…」

Sensei threw the document she had been reading carefully – the Weekly Shounen Yaiba – on her desk and exhaled loudly.

There was a hint of excitement on her face.

Apparently, the contents of this week’s issue were satisfactory enough.

「It was fun.」

Sensei murmured and drank the water placed on the desk vigorously.

「Well, what is it, Allen? It’s rare for you to come alone.」

She finally took the time to talk with me.

「Yes. Actually, I have something I would like to talk about.」

「Oo, I see… In that case, don’t hesitate to ask about anything. Fortunately, I’m free today.」

「Thank you very much. Well then…」

Then I told her about the various things I’m worried about right now.

The black sword which I was able to pull out in the laboratory could no longer be pulled out.

In the world of the soul, that guy said that my spiritual power was『completely empty』.