Chapter 37 – The Path Illuminated by Starlight

Shabel returned that very day. Though, of course, it wasn’t a decision she made herself.

She had wished to spend a day in the cradle, longing to reminisce about her school days.

But her wish was thwarted by the headmaster, Von, and the other teachers, who were vehemently persuaded (or rather, opposed).

“Ahem! I can help you! The Silstone position is vacant, guarding the Gate!”

“Silstone returns tomorrow. So please! Just! Go back! Senior!”

“Hmph! You don’t appreciate my consideration! Disciple! Help your teacher!”

“Goodbye, Master.”

“How cruellll!!”

Unfair! She had never displayed any violent tendencies.

She might have broken some things, but she certainly hadn’t intended to!

Having failed to achieve her desire, she trudged back when…

“Causing trouble again, are we.”

A man leaning against a pillar spoke, clicking his tongue.

“Didn’t Her Highness the Princess implore you so earnestly?”

“Hmph! A teacher can overlook the earnest requests of their disciple!”

“That disciple is the Princess, I remind you. I’m going to lose it.”

The man clutched his forehead as if the thought alone caused him pain.

He might not matter to that woman. And it might be fine since Luciel looked up to her as a master.

But those watching it all unfold right beside them were suffering the agony of the damned, to put it mildly.

The place Shabel belonged to was none other than the Special Forces.

A unit that prioritized the direct orders of the Imperial Family above all else.

To have a member who disregarded the Princess’s words in such a place…

‘Though, of course, it’s all done in jest. And Her Highness the Princess always shrugs it off.’

Regardless, from the perspective of those observing, each day was a thorny path to tread.

It wasn’t like he could scold her, not sharply, not when she was his senior.

Would he have treated her more casually if she wasn’t the Cradle’s Prodigy?

Today, too, Hanover, Chief of the Special Task Force, had to rack his brains.

“So. Care to explain what you demolished today?”

“I told you I didn’t demolish anything! Do you think I’m some kind of monster?!”

“I think it would have been better if you were a monster, honestly.”

Indeed. Yes. A monster at least wouldn’t understand words or have reason.

So even if it smashed something or didn’t listen, he could at least understand.

But this woman, she understood words, she had reason, and yet she still went and smashed things.

He could beg her to just behave herself! She’d say she would! And then, three days later, some disaster would occur.

“I didn’t cause any incidents!”

“Yes, yes. Let’s say that’s true. Then, again. What did you go and do?”

“Nothing much! Just met that young man named Deus whom that pupil mentioned! And…”

And… oh. Er. Shavel trailed off, scratching her cheek.

She was clearly trying to hide something. She was about to answer, but then abruptly stopped herself.

Seeing that, Hanover sighed, “Please, no. Please.”

“Right?”

“…Ahem.”

“Ah, please, Senior. I heard that kid is a first-year student. No, a first-year student in name only, just a complete newbie, right? You didn’t go and bully the poor kid, did you?”

“Bully? I merely… tested the young man, that is all!”

“That is exactly what we call bullying!!”

I’m going crazy. Seriously. Does she think she’s some ordinary, run-of-the-mill gifted person?

“Senior. You’re so good at objectively judging your own level. Won’t you even think about the other person who has to deal with it?”

“Ugh.”

“You’ve chased after someone every time someone says they show promise, and then you’ve proceeded to thoroughly thrash them more than ten times. How much cover have I had to provide each time? Her Highness, the Princess, has suffered too, you know.”

Shavel’s skills are undeniable. Her ability to manipulate her Gift is flawless.

And since she is also an ‘Elf’, she has longevity. In many ways, she is the ultimate asset.

It wasn’t for nothing that the Empire bestowed upon her the title of ‘Strongest’.

But, all those positive aspects… her personality, which could explode at any moment, devoured them all.

She was such a troublemaker that some said her ‘assignment’ to the Special Task Force was actually ‘seclusion’.

Since each member of the Special Task Force was skilled enough to handle three or four ordinary gifted people at once.

That’s supposedly what it took to stop Shavel when she went on a rampage.

—which was the reason behind that ridiculous “seclusion” theory.

“So.”

“What is ‘so’?”

“So, how much of a mess did you make this time? Just confess.”

Shavel shook her head at Hanover’s question.

“What mess? Nothing happened.”

“The news will reach me before the day is out anyway. So just tell me honestly.”

“I truly did nothing of the sort, though?”

“Blast it all! Senior! Just say it already! Why hide what everyone’s going to find out anyway?!”

“I told you! ‘Crushed’? What nonsense! He’s perfectly fine, I tell you!!”

How unfair. Who crushed whom, I ask?

If I hadn’t been careful, I might have been the one on the receiving end.

Shavel chuckled softly.

The moment we first clashed was still vivid in his mind.

Right from the start, he’d wielded two swords. Never had he done that before.

Not when facing promising talents or even renowned masters.

He always began with a single blade, revealing the next level only if they proved worthy.

But Deus, in this case, was completely different.

From the moment he first saw him. After a brief exchange, standing face to face for the duel.

Shavel sensed that he was stronger than anyone he had ever met.

‘I saw it. The expression on that young man’s face when our swords met.’

It wasn’t the face of someone nervous. Or afraid.

It was the face of someone ecstatic. Someone barely containing their anticipation. Someone craving the fight.

Someone trying to realize their romantic ideals more quickly, more effectively, through it.

It wasn’t just God-given skill and talent that were impressive.

There was also the gift of a superb physique, but more crucial than that.

The chink in the armor that anyone lacking experience inevitably possesses.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of that in the young man named Deus.

It was as if he’d been waiting for a bloody, life-or-death battle all along.

‘If we had fought to the death… what would have become of it?’

Curiosity mingled with the belief that, fighting with unwavering resolve, he would have the upper hand.

Unlike him, Deus had never ‘killed’ a ‘person’.

In a battle fought with the knowledge of one’s own mortality, could he really be the same?

Wouldn’t it be right, as his senior, to fill that lacking part?

“Hanover.”

“Yes. Just tell me already. You’re freaking me out, just smiling like that. Exactly how badly did you smash him? Do you need a new incident report?”

“Hanover Special Forces Commander.”

The playful glimmer in Hanover’s eyes vanished, replaced by a stern expression.

“I’m listening, Shavel.”

“I want to recommend someone to the Special Forces. Is that possible?”

“Recommend? Don’t tell me. You mean that young Deus?”

–A nod

An affirmation without even a hint of hesitation. Hanover was greatly surprised by it.

You’re serious, not joking? You mean, Shavel, of all people, is doing this for a mere freshman?

So, when you said you clashed but he was fine, you weren’t lying?

Incredible. This had never happened before, and he’d always thought it never would.

The sight of ‘Shavel’ recommending someone else was unimaginable.

“…Well, I suppose we should discuss that matter properly at a later time.”

“So? Ah. Could it be, we’ve finally got them by the tail?”

To Shavel’s question, Hanover’s lips quirk into a smile.

The sight of it is rather unsettling. The playful demeanor he’d shown just moments ago has vanished without a trace.

And standing across from him, Shavel’s reaction was hardly any different from Hanover’s.

“At long last, we can soothe the spirits of our honorably fallen comrades.”

“And we can finally make those b*stards pay for their blood.”

Not long ago, a large-scale Gate manifestation had occurred.

That alone was chaotic enough. It was a raging wildfire.

But instead of containing the fire, there were those despicable fiends who poured oil onto it.

Self-proclaimed revolutionaries. Ability supremacists. Damned radicals.

They destroyed Sealstone, inciting even greater chaos.

As if things weren’t already overwhelming. Thanks to them, the situation became even more dire.

In the process, they forced us to witness sacrifices we shouldn’t have had to see.

Young souls, still with so much to do. Noble souls.

Each and every one of them a hero of the Empire, stolen away by those damned b*stards.

“Operation target?”

“As always. Without excuses, without reasons, without justification. Unconditional annihilation.”

Meaning. This time, it’s our turn to exact the price.

*

After Shavel’s visit. Deus’s life hadn’t changed much, really.

Classes, as usual. Training whenever he had the time. Then, suddenly being summoned for strange tasks.

These strange tasks mainly involved making full use of his ‘Hero’ title.

“Um. Hunter-sensei. Even so, I’m still just a freshman….”

“No need to worry, Deus-student. Shavel-senpai was the same.”

Within the Cradle, the school year supposedly comes second to one’s status.

But ultimately, the recognition of one’s year hinges on talent, skill, and superior experience.

But what if one’s overwhelming level far exceeded even that of the upper grades?

“Now then. In that spirit, this teacher has composed a poem.”

“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll pass.”

Is he insane? He’s trying to write an epic poem of praise for simply defeating the first boss of stage one.

From now on, it’s only going to get worse than that Zagan fellow. There won’t be any less demanding.

It’s already getting troublesome. I need to at least defeat a mid-boss to feel a little less guilty.

“aaah! Deus-student! Could you possibly come to the sophomore training session later?!”

“I have class at that time, Tiamat-sensei. Would it be possible to get an excused absence?”

Please give me an excuse. Please. Why am I even learning ‘that subject’ in the Cradle?

“Which teacher’s class is it?”

“Roglio-sensei’s.”

“aaah. No way! That class is very important! It’s a required liberal arts course for Cradle students!”

“….”

Aish, damn it. Why am I learning mathematics in an ability academy!

No need to calculate anything like some sort of magic. Honestly! Why!

“Ehe! Did you really think the Cradle only teaches combat skills!? We also provide the bare minimum education needed to survive after you retire! So listen carefully! Got it!?”

“…Please be honest with me, Tiamat-sensei. Do you happen to like mathematics?”

“Nope? Not at all!”

Turns out, the aversion to math was universal, no matter the country or world.