Volume 6 Chapter 2 A Long-awaited Return To School (even If It's Only Been A Day)
Elk and the others finally returned to school.
They split up in front of the school gate. Classes would start again tomorrow... but Elk was called by the school guard.
"A Class, Elk, right? The principal wants you to come to the principal's office as soon as you return."
"...Huh, why?"
"I don't know. Also, A Class, Soara. You're supposed to go with him."
"Okay!"
For some reason, Soara was going to the principal's office too.
Elk told Gambo and the others.
"Well, that's how it is..."
"You're having a tough time too, huh? See you later."
On the way home, Elk shared some of what happened with Gambo and the others.
He only talked about being attacked by the Goddess Holy Church and kept quiet about Sylphid.
He would have to tell them someday. But... he couldn't say it yet.
Just when he thought they had arrived at school, he got called by the principal.
Elk went to the principal's office with Soara.
When he knocked on the door, Vice Principal Elshi opened it.
Inside, Poseidon was smiling while playing with game pieces.
"It seems you had a tough time."
"Uh, yeah. Well..."
"The Goddess Holy Church... what a hassle. There were many victims among the adventurers. Luckily, it seems the students were not harmed."
"......"
"Elk. Let's get to it... can you tell me what happened?"
"......"
When Elk looked at Elshi, he saw a serious expression.
Since students were targeted, it couldn't be ignored. The school had already experienced a major kidnapping incident before.
Looking at Soara, she was staring at Elk. It seemed she was leaving the decision to him.
Elk let out a small sigh.
"I defeated one priest from the Goddess Holy Church..."
"Papa wasn't defeated, he lost! It's not Elk's fault!"
As Elk said this, Sylphid flew out from Soara's chest.
""""......""""
"Elk, papa doesn't hold a grudge against you! He was really happy to call you a friend. I'm sure... right now, he's up there with the goddess, smiling!"
"Y-yeah... that's right."
"Hehe."
"──Elk, can you explain what happened?"
"Y-yes..."
Sylphid was lying on top of Soara's head.
* * *
Elk told everything.
How he got separated from Bob during the dungeon training and ended up going to the deepest part with Soara. How they fought and defeated Balthazar. How another priest, Takeru, showed up and executed Balthazar. How Elk got angry and destroyed Takeru's puppet. And how, with Balthazar's last power, Sylphid was born.
After hearing everything, Poseidon nodded and said, "Hmm."
"I heard that you and Soara got lost, and then you reported back. There were also reports that many adventurers died in the dungeon. So, I thought something was happening..."
"Yes. Balthazar was someone we could talk to. Also... the brainwashed students were wearing robes with the Goddess Holy Church's mark."
"I defeated two of them (students)... They seriously tried to kill me."
Soara looked down.
Elshi stroked her chin and said,
"Powerful brainwashing can make someone unaware that they are being brainwashed..."
"Balthazar said that a guy named 'Piasola' did some brainwashing."
"Hmm. To brainwash over 200 people at once is no small feat."
Poseidon stroked his beard while fiddling with the game pieces.
"Anyway, good job."
"Um, about Sylphid... what should we do?"
"──I don't want to be apart from Elk and Soara!"
"Hmm, it seems there's no danger. Elk, Soara, take good care of her."
"Ah, thank you!"
"Thank you. I'm glad for you, Sylphid."
"Yay!"
Sylphid happily flew around the room.
"Now, you must be tired. Starting tomorrow, you'll return to regular classes. Take it easy today."
"Yes. Well then, excuse me."
"───...Oh right. Elk."
"Yes?"
Elshi took a letter out from her pocket.
"...A letter came from the Duke Kinesis family. It's for you."
"......"
Elk silently took the letter and stuffed it into his pocket.
* * *
On the way back to the dorm, Elk said,
"Soara, do you want to join our dorm?"
"Our dorm?"
"Yeah. Actually..."
Elk explained that he won the individual competition and got the student dorm.
Soara replied happily.
"I want to join! I want to go there too!"
"Sounds good. We have extra rooms, so come anytime."
"Okay! Alright, I'll pack my things. See you, Elk!"
"See you, Elk~!"
Soara and Sylphid left.
Elk was alone, took a deep breath, and muttered.
"I'm hungry..."
Elk felt that he had returned to his everyday life after the dungeon training.
* * *
When he got back to the dorm, Emma was there to greet him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Elk."
"...I'm back."
Emma smiled brightly.
Looking around the dorm, he saw Gambo, Fine, Yato, Nickes, Merry, and Sophia. A nice smell filled the living room, so Mamma was probably cooking up something good in the kitchen.
Elk entered the dorm.
'Elk'
"..."
"Mr. Elk?"
Suddenly, he thought he heard a voice.
Balthazar might have been next to him.
Maybe that future existed.
"...I'm hungry."
"Yes! Ms. Mamma has made a lot of food. Hehe, please tell me about your dungeon training!"
"Ah."
From her cheerful attitude, it seemed she didn't know what had happened during the dungeon training. He wondered how Poseidon's information-gathering skills were doing.
"Oh, the combat uniform. Please give it to me later. I'll repair and wash it."
"Ah, please do."
Elk changed in his room and went back to the living room.
When he sat on the sofa, surprisingly, Yato sat next to him.
"I have a favor to ask."
"That's sudden... what is it?"
"I want to let someone into the dorm."
"Oh, you mean Kaya. We have extra rooms──."
Then, Elk felt a killing intent from Yato.
When he looked at her, Yato was glaring with a scary face.
Elk thought, "Oh no."
"...Why do you think it's Kaya?"
"Ah, well, just because. She was on my team."
"...Is that all?"
"Ah, yeah."
"──Mr. Elk, here's your tea."
"──Well, that's fine."
Emma offered a cup of tea, and that ended the questioning.
The conversation between Yato and Kaya the other day was something only the two of them knew. It would be strange if Elk knew about it.
He accidentally answered right away, which made him suspicious.
Then, Mamma skillfully brought 5 large plates of food to the table.
"Alright, everyone must be hungry. Eat up!"
"Yay! Merry, it's time for dinner!"
"Please stop acting like you couldn't wait."
"Haha, weren't you making a face like you couldn't wait?"
"Brother, if you don't be quiet, I'll cut you."
"Scary!"
"...I'm hungry."
"Gambo, there's plenty of meat!"
"I can see that, Fine. And you, calm down."
"...Dango."
"Ms. Yato, there are lots of dango too."
"Yeah... heh."
It turned out to be a noisy dinner.
Elk and the others talked about their dungeon practice, battles with monsters they met in the dungeon, and treasures they found.
Elk didn't mention Balthazar.
Maybe he could have been a part of their group. Talking about it would just feel empty.
"Starting tomorrow, it's back to regular classes..."
Fine slumped down, and Sophia laughed.
"That's right. The Skill Department group will have regular classes for a while. Next, it's the commerce department's turn!"
"Exactly!! The stage for me and Emmy to shine is coming soon!!"
Nickes was excited.
Elk, while drinking orange juice, asked Emma.
"What do you mean by a shining stage?"
"Well, it's the new student event for the commerce department. It's called the 'Presentation.'"
"Presentation?"
"Yes. The idea is to create something new with my skills and abilities, even if it's just one thing, and present it myself."
"Oh, really..."
Elk still didn't realize that this 'presentation event' was being targeted by the Goddess Holy Church.
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