Chapter 110 (1/2)

Evening.

The red sky was spreading, peoples shadows were growing thin as it stretched, the shadow of a person stood still in front of a huge stone monument made from the stones from the mountain range at the northwest of the royal palace.

[I’m sorry….]

Right, the shadow of the person muttering was Aiko.

The monument towering in front of her, a so-called monument for the faithful who died in battle (A tower which symbolized praise to the souls who died while loyal to their country). It was for the people killed in action and victims who carried out their duties out of loyalty towards the Kingdom, their names were carved here without exception. Even now, there are lots of flower offerings and mementos left by people in front of the monument for those who have died.

Right now, although it’s unconfirmed how many people’s names were carved onto the stone but, Meld’s name will also be added onto here.

Aiko gently placed weapons within the mementos left behind. It was the damaged western sword and spear. It was the artifacts of Aiko’s students who passed away——Daisuke Hiyama and Reiichi Kondo.

Aiko voiced out her confession while alone, just what should I be conflicted with. That I wasn’t able to bring back Hiyama and them back to Japan, or, because one of my students caused many people to die, or, everything including what I’ve done……

While AIko was looking down with a dejected atmosphere, she remained standing as if she was enduring something, ~Za zaa~ footsteps resounded. The violently echoing sound was likely to purposely inform others of their own existence approaching. Usually he wouldn’t make such noises.

Aiko was startled and raised her face towards the sound.

[Nagumo-kun…..]

[What a coincidence, Sensei]

What was making that noise earlier was Hajime. His eyes were lightened up by the shine of the setting orange sun and stared right at Aiko. He had flowers in his hand. It’s obvious to understand that he was there to offer flowers as tributes. Aiko showed a slightly unexpected expression towards his actions.

Hajime noticed that Aiko’s expression and guessed that she was probably wondering what he was planning on doing, with a wry smile he placed the flowers onto the floral tribute stand.

[Even I feel like mourning for the dead people a bit, Sensei?]

[Eh? Ah, no, I mean, I don’t particularly……]

Hajime suddenly talked to Aiko in an unexpectedly regrettable voice which caused Aiko to be shaken and tried to deceive him by waving her hands back and forth in a hurry. Then Hajime shrugged his shoulders like it was a joke and stood silently by Aiko.

As Aiko frequently glanced at Hajime, it appeared that Hajime was looking up at the huge stone monument and didn’t particularly care about Aiko, he didn’t seem to have any signs of talking either. Somehow, silence suddenly fell into the area and Aiko decided to reluctantly start a conversation.

[Eh~tto, those flower are…..is it…..for Hiyama-kun and them?]

[There’s no way of that happening. It’s for Meld]

Hajime raised an eyebrow and plainly replied at the wrong guess.

[For Meld-san…..]

[Ahh, though we weren’t acquainted that much, I don’t particularly hate people of his nature. Contrary to his position, he worry quite a lot, failed a lot, and was always trying to improve himself…..although I’m only offering flowers its more along the feelings of “how regrettable” towards the people]

[Nagumo-kun…..that’s right huh….]

Towards Hajime’s words, Aiko’s expression suddenly turned gentle. Even though Hajime mercilessly killed his enemies, he still had the proper feelings to mourn for a person’s death so Aiko became happy at that. Her cheeks naturally loosened up that he purposely took the time to come and bring an offering.

Actually, Yue and them were taking a bath, he ran away when the women gave off a carnivorous glare in their eyes of wanting to take him into the bath room with them, since there was still time he became free, when he by chance glanced at the flowers being displayed in a vase, he thought, how about killing time by offering flowers? and he pulled some flowers from the vase but…..although his feelings about regret for Meld was real, he couldn’t actually tell the truth.

Hajime was taking in the circumstances of the surroundings and frowned at Aiko who loosened her cheeks.

[You’re not going to blame me…..]

[Eh?]

Towards Hajime’s sudden words, Aiko tilted her neck.

[That thing about Hiyama. The circumstances were different from Shimizu’s case. It appears that he was eaten by a demon in the end but, I was the one who pretty much killed him. I killed another of Sensei’s beloved students again? Kondo as well, although he was already dead, the one who pretty much destroyed his shape was me. …….I had thought that Sensei would have hit me once or twice out of anger]

[……….]

Aiko’s smile was erased and she looked down once again. Hajime was silent. He wasn’t pressing her for an answer. How much time was spent silently?……..Before long, Aiko began to gradually voice out her words.

[……To be honest, I can’t easily give out a clear answer. I don’t believe that it can be forgiven that Hiyama-kun killed Shirasaki-san but, if possible, I would have liked that he live out his life to atone for those sins. It was shocking that Kondo-kun turned out like that. But, I can understand why Nagumo-kun was enraged and showed your strength. An important person was killed in front of your eyes…..with that, although it’s against what I’d ideally want, you couldn’t do anything but vent out your anger on them. ……Besides, I don’t have the qualifications to blame Nagumo-kun]

Aiko crossed her arms and rubbed them both. It was as if her body was getting cold and she was trying to keep warm.

[Are you talking about what you did at the head temple?]

[……..]

A silent confirmation. Temporarily, although Aiko’s mind’s balance was broken, Hajime and Teio had somehow reverted it back to normal with reproduction magic, once again, it appears that her mind is being worn down by her sense of guilt and ethics. If you looked carefully under her eyes, you’d notice that she had dark circles that she tried to cover up with makeup, it was clear that she wasn’t able to sleep for the past several days. It’s possible that she was having nightmares.

Silence descended down once again. Hajime didn’t say anything and stood still. Was she unable to endure the atmosphere anymore? Aiko asked Hajime while lacking drive.

[……Is it……not painful for you Nagumo-kun?]

[Killing people? I don’t particularly think it’s painful……I think that that part of me probably broke when I fell into the abyss. That’s why I can’t sympathise with you]

[……..]

Towards Hajime’s words, Aiko’s face distorts in bitterness. Something important in Hajime was broken and, in a single strike, Aiko’s state of mind further tightened up.

[…..No one…..blames me]

[Eh?]

Aiko leaked out her voice as if she couldn’t endure it.

[No one blames me. The eyes of the children in our class doesn’t look at me any differently, as for the Kingdom’s citizens, they were looking at me with praise]

That was a fact. All classmates, had a strong impression from Hajime who was too gruesome in his battle, they didn’t really have much feelings about Aiko’s assistance in homicide, rather they were under the impression that Aiko fought for herself and took on the brunt of the load for their sakes, the Kingdom aristocrats and government officials were thankful that the brainwashing problem was solved.

[Though I’ve talked about it all to David-san and them, even they wanted a bit of time to think about and left it rather than immediately blaming me. Even though I robbed them of their important things]

Blood dripped from her lip that she bit. Aiko probably wanted to be blamed for it. The act of killing a person…..is heavy. As long as they’re not a maniac or rotten person, normally their minds would be hurt by the blades named guilt and ethics. So for such people, taking the blame and accepting the punishment, are in a sense a kind of salvation.

Aiko herself probably unconsciously seeked for that. However, that wasn’t given to her.

Although Hajime can agree that she played a part in overthrowing the church, he believed that even without Aiko, Teio would have still somehow managed to exterminate them someway or another, he thought that bearing the burden alone was a bit much, so as if he was troubled he scratched his cheek as he opened his mouth.

[Even if you say that, Sensei. The direct cause was due to Teio’s breath, Sensei only helped out a little? I don’t think you should take on the burden as if everything was your fault…..]

[Those kind of things don’t matter! I certainly……understood the possibility of them being killed but I still helped Teio-san. That’s no different than directly murdering them!]

Unexpectedly, Aiko gave out her rebuttal strongly. Aiko herself probably felt ashamed that she raised her voice as she shrank down apologetically. Looking at Aiko with a side glance, after a moment of silence, Hajime calmly asked.

[…..Do you regret it?]

[~……No, at that time, I was resolute with Teio-san…..because I couldn’t overlook what the church was doing….to help you…..if that was left alone then the students would surely have had terrible experiences…..that’s why…..]

While Aiko was holding back a painful voice, she replied that she “Had no regrets”.

At that time, when she looked at Ishtar and them who had cornered Hajime, not just for Hajime but also for the sake of her students to not have to fight, her resolution to dirty her hands was real. Even now that was still unshaken. However, she was suffering while carrying the people who she’s killed on her back, it wasn’t something that reasoning could solve.

Hajime let out a small sigh that wouldn’t be noticed by Aiko as he glanced towards the side at Aiko who looked like she was suffering. Why did a teacher like Aiko reveal such heavy feelings to a student like me. Even though I only came here to kill some time……he grieved in his mind.

And, suddenly, he recalled Aiko’s feelings that Yue and Shizuku pointed out earlier in the day and worried if that was the cause. It appears that Hajime was leaving Aiko’s student category in full-blast.

Hajime’s eyes were wandering around. He was completely looking for words.

[About Sensei, will you still be a Sensei from now on?]

[Eh?]

Towards Hajime’s abrupt question, Aiko’s expression unintentionally became blank. And she remembered that she was asked the same question once before. At that time, she should have answered with confidence, [Naturally!]

[…………..]

Now she was unable to immediately answer. That was because she questioned herself if she should declare herself as a teacher after having killed people. Aiko was tightly clenching her teeth and her expression distorted. He understood that Aiko was having an extreme conflict whirling within her mind.

As if he expected it, on behalf of Aiko who couldn’t answer, Hajime began to talk.

[If, Sensei says that she’ll continue being our Sensei from now on……will you listen to my selfishness as a student]

[Selfishness…..is it?]

Aiko who had a bad complexion and seemed to collapse at any moment, showed a perplexed expression from the words that came out of Hajime’s mouth.

[Yeah, my selfishness]

Hajime removed his sights from the monument while nodding and faced Aiko to match their eyes together. As she was being stared at Hajime, from somewhere within her, warmth was starting to well up and as if attracted by it Aiko also stared back.

After Hajime confirmed that he was firmly reflected in Aiko’s eyes, he slowly said his words. Exactly as Hajime said before, they were hopelessly selfish words.

[Sensei…..I want Sensei to feel guilty about it. I want you to shoulder it’s weight. Justly fighting, justly shouldering it, justly suffering, and justly complaining. To be human-like is slightly dazzling. I’m already unable to feel anything after all……you’ll be a good example for me to not forget my “Humanity”. So that’s why, continue shouldering it from now on. I’ll properly watch such a human-like Sensei after all. If I do so then even after I return to Japan, I’ll be able to live humanely]

[Nagumo-kun……]

Aiko’s eyes opened up widely towards Hajime’s words. She would have never thought in her dreams that he’d not blame her nor cheer her, but instead tell her to continue suffering from now on. But, towards that selfishness, in a sense, made her remember the shock which came from killing as it formed ominous clouds within Aiko’s heart.

The results of her determination and actions were serious. All the more it was painful as well. She wanted to run away and almost became broken. Her natural character made it extra painful because she was determined and resolute.

But, when she looked at herself, she had people who were willing to help her. The important things that were lost, there’s a person who can’t feel but remember them.

Aiko thought.

——Ahh, how very selfish. What mercilessly gentle selfishness

A transparent drop ran down Aiko’s cheeks. Everything she’s endured up until now in order to not cry easily crumbled.

As Aiko was shedding tears, Hajime averted his glance and turned his back as he troubled conveyed the his last words.

[Ma~a, times when it’s so painful that it seems like you’d break, by all means……since there’s no one here…..since there’s really~ no one here so it won’t be embarrassing……I’ll lend you my back]

[~….Really…..people like you are…..]

I’ll pretend that I didn’t notice that Aiko was crying? is what Hajime seemed to say as he showed his back, Aiko approached while smiling and crying and buried her face into his back.

[Then, I’ll be borrowing it for a bit. …..Nagumo-kun]

[Alright, Sensei]

Aiko’s cheeks loosened up because of Hajime’s casual answer and she entrusted her body. While shedding tears as if they were everything she’s saved up, she once again vowed. In other words, she’ll continue being a teacher. And continue shouldering her sins. If a selfish student would be watching her then…..she felt like she’ll be able to do her best.

The shadow of the two people expanded towards the east. As the night fell, the sounds of sobs resounded for a while.

After this, Hajime returned to the royal palace along with Aiko after she had finished crying but, while blushing randomly and looking down shamefully, Aiko was gracefully walking besides Hajime, to be honest, this may have done it……it goes without saying that he was breaking out in cold sweat.

And sure enough, Yue and them noticed and it’s needless to say what happened when he was taken into their room. About this case, Shia and them and i, Yue’s silent expressionless stare n particular was the most painful.

It should be noted, that they coincidentally met up with David and them of the temple knights as they returned to the royal palace but……it appears that, in the end their love for Aiko won.

To begin with, the reason why they accompanied Aiko as guards was due to various senses of values but, after being forcefully pulled away from Aiko when they returned to the Kingdom and was forced to descend the mountain without being confirming her safety made them start harboring doubt for the people of the church. Although they were considerably shocked when the truth of the church and god was revealed, as expected they still came to the conclusion that they couldn’t hate Aiko.

Although they kinda had a feeling of complete desperation hanging around them…..from now on, while believing in the “Goddess of Fertility”, they decided to revive and serve to protect the Kingdom as knights. Thinking about it again, it felt as if they carried a strange sublime feeling of love for Aiko but……surely they had lots of things to think about as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Enough already, really geez! Ok!]

[Hajime-kun…..please be a bit more cautious?]

[Fufufu, as expected of master, to deliver the final blow after we just looked away for a moment….]

In the dining room of the royal palace, while eating dinner, Shia’s and their voices resounded out as if blaming something. Hajime who it was being directed at was just enjoying the meal in front of him as if it was someone elses problem.

Although Yue who was sitting to his right wasn’t saying anything, her eyes looked at him as if she was looking at a troublesome person. When they heard of the circumstances, [Ma~a, guess It couldn’t be helped then] is what they thought, clearly the feelings that Aiko has for Hajime inside of her was complex due to the fact that he was her student.

Moreover, after hearing Hajime’s stance of “neglecting” Aiko’s treatment, they somewhat harbored feelings of sympathy for Aiko.

[……Hajime. Does it seem like Aiko will be able to endure?]

Because they heard of the contents from Hajime, Yue was slightly worried and asked. As opposed to it, Hajime stopped eating and seemed to be thinking a little.

[N~, it’s not alright? Worst case scenario, if it looks too dangerous I’ll have to create an artifact to stabilize her mind using Spirit magic. Ma~a, even if we don’t worry about it, with time, that person will be able to digest it in neatly]

[……I see, that’s good]

As Yue’s eyes loosened up, Hajime also smiled.