TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 84
Yuria wandered the streets with Empty Eyes.
Since That Day, many things had happened.
The Student Council convened a Disciplinary Committee.
Disciplinary actions were taken against Mikhail, Ruin, and Yuria, who had ventured into the Dungeon despite the Student Council President’s warning.
A heated argument broke out between Ruin, who claimed the disciplinary actions were unfair, and Princess Chartia, who exploded in anger, while Mikhail and Yuria humbly accepted the punishment.
Chartia told us. She said it was sufficiently dangerous, that she had warned us not to do it, and then she angrily threw documents at us, demanding why we acted so Self-Willed.
-You almost died. If the Knights’ Order had been even a little late, you all would’ve died. Are you crazy, going there with just the three of you? Did you ignore the warnings from the Student Council Members and just go? Do I look like a joke to you? My words mean nothing to you, right?
-Fine, I get it. Ruin’s always been Self-Willed, so I’ll let it slide. That guy lives without thinking anyway.
-What?
-Shut up. Before I sew your mouth shut.
-Damn it. My mood was already f*cked up…
-I said shut up. If you run your mouth one more time, it won’t just be a suspension; I’ll expel you.
-…
Chartia, with prominent Dark Circles, lowered her gaze and spoke to Yuria.
-Sigh… And Mikhail and Yuria. Shouldn’t you two know better? You’ve always been diligent, and Yuria, you haven’t even been able to enter a Dungeon since your 1st Year… Sigh… Seriously…
-…I’m sorry.
-Anyway. All three of you are suspended.
-Why are we suspended! We didn’t even do anything wrong…!
-Shut up! Ending it at this level was the best I could do.
Yuria was sentenced to a one-month Suspension.
If she were an ordinary Student, it wouldn’t have ended with just a suspension. They had even considered Expulsion, but the Faculty and Chartia argued that expelling an honor student, the face of their respective departments, would be a loss for the Academy, so the punishment was reduced.
And.
The Student Council President said that several letters suspected to belong to Heretics were found in Hans’ room. He expressed his Grudge, saying they had set up an Encirclement for a Capture Alive operation and that we had ruined it, then added a single irritated comment.
-If there are any casualties because of That Guy, it’ll be your fault. You might say I’m shifting the blame… but I’m not, so don’t resent me.
-If you didn’t want this, you should’ve listened to me.
“Sigh…”
Yuria wandered the Capital City, lost in thought.
She wasn’t aimlessly wandering the streets like a lost child because of her Suspension. She had already prepared for this consequence the moment she stepped foot into the Dungeon to find Missing Hans.
However.
-Trash.
The events shown by the Blue Window that day kept replaying in her mind, making it unbearable to stay in her room.
She hadn’t been able to sleep well for days, and the Dagger her Father had given her as a Gift when she entered the Academy remained buried in her Dormitory drawer, untouched.
Whenever she looked at the Dagger, her hands would tremble, and her breathing would grow ragged.
Knowing that something she had been so certain of had turned out to be a horrifying mistake made it hard for Yuria to shake off her gloomy mood.
She wanted to apologize immediately, but…
She thought she couldn’t face Ricardo as she was now.
She had said cruel words to him, hadn’t even thanked him for saving her from the Heretics last time, and if she apologized for what happened in the Dungeon as well… she wouldn’t know what kind of expression to make.
‘It’s shameless.’
Even if she apologized now, nothing would change.
The mistake had already been made.
Forcing something in a broken relationship might only make things worse. Yuria hesitated.
It wasn’t that she had forgiven Ricardo.
She wasn’t sure if she had the right to forgive him, but she hadn’t forgiven what he had done. What Ricardo did at the Academy had left a deep scar.
And Ricardo…
-It’s okay. Just run away.
…would surely smile and say it was fine, so Yuria couldn’t bring herself to apologize.
What she had done to Ricardo couldn’t be resolved with a simple apology.
She even wanted to be hated. If he hated her, asking if she was only remembering now, she thought she might feel a little better.
Even now, the chilling sound that had pierced Ricardo still seemed to echo in her ears. Yuria let out a sigh with a gloomy expression.
“I don’t know either…”
What she should do first.
Where she should start fixing things.
For Yuria, who was experiencing this for the first time, finding the Correct Answer was impossible.
Helping people.
Being someone who had only ever been bullied, the feeling of becoming a Perpetrator wasn’t pleasant.
As she wandered the streets with a heavy heart.
-Murmur murmur.
Yuria stopped in her tracks at a crowded spot. Seeing the densely gathered people, she quickened her pace, thinking.
‘Is there a fight?’
With this many people gathered, it was likely a famous Circus Troupe, a Dancer from the Empire, or a fight. Yuria began pushing through the crowd.
No matter how gloomy she felt, she couldn’t just pass by if someone was hurt.
With a fragile heart, she pushed through the crowd, but because of her small stature, she couldn’t easily see what everyone was gathered around.
‘I can’t see…!’
Yuria spoke to the tall The Man next to her.
“Excuse me… Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Hm? Ah… There’s something amazing.”
“Something amazing?”
“A Chair with Wheels is carrying a person.”
“A Chair with Wheels?”
Yuria thought to herself.
Was this commotion really just over a Chair with Wheels? While she could understand the appeal of a rare spectacle, she couldn’t comprehend why so many people were gathered.
The tall The Man stroked his long beard and exclaimed in admiration.
“It’s not an ordinary Chair… It’s a Self-Propelling Wheelchair! To think it can carry two people and move at that speed… It’s thrilling.”
Another The Man standing next to him nodded, clenching his Fist with the fervor of Youth.
“It’s a cart that carries people, but can it really go that fast? It seems dangerous.”
Though he spoke in a worried tone, his eyes were filled with burning passion.
“Should I ask for just one ride…?”
The Middle-Aged Man muttered wistfully, his eyes full of regret.
Driven by growing curiosity, Yuria pushed her way through the crowd, and after much effort, she finally reached the front to see what everyone was staring at. She couldn’t hide her astonishment.
-Vroom vroom vroom.
-Eeeek!!!!
It was really a moving Chair.
With a red body.
Making a loud ‘Vroom’ noise as it sped through the streets, the Chair caught Yuria’s eye.
And.
Seeing the person riding the Chair, Yuria couldn’t hide her trembling gaze.
“Hehe!!! Hehehehe!!”
“Young Lady! Didn’t I tell you to avoid Over-Speeding!”
“Ricardo didn’t tell me how many kilometers!”
“Go at 30—no, 20!”
“20?”
Upon hearing the words of The Man standing on the footrest beneath the backrest, the woman suddenly hit the Brake.
The Self-Propelling Wheelchair, which had been speeding, made a screeching ‘Screech’ sound as it came to a Sudden Stop, causing The Man to be flung into the air.
“Huh?”
“Eek…! Ricardo is flying!”
“It’s because the Young Lady flung him.”
The Man, who had been flung into the air, performed a Somersault and landed on the ground amidst the crowd, dusting off his hands.
“Nice Landing.”
The people clapped in response to his display.
“That was amazing!”
“Did you come here to perform in a Circus?”
“Woohoo~~~!”
The Man lowered his head with an awkward smile.
“Thank you. I’m not part of a Circus Troupe; I’m a Butler.”
As he looked around and tried to return to the stationary Chair.
“Huh?”
Yuria accidentally made eye contact with The Man.
The Man brightly smiled as he saw her and said.
“Aren’t you Miss Yuria?”
It was an encounter sooner than expected.
While the flustered Yuria hesitated and stammered, the woman left in the middle of the road started scolding Ricardo.
“Ricardo, let’s go quickly. The Chocolate Shop will close.”
“It’s only 10 o’clock, Young Lady.”
“What if it’s sold out?”
“Then we’ll just have to be disappointed.”
“…Ugh!”
Ricardo smiled faintly and approached her. As Yuria watched him slowly walking over while adjusting his attire, her eyes trembled.
“How are you here…”
“Ah.”
Ricardo turned his head toward the woman sitting in the Chair. Though her face was obscured by a Helmet, her Voice made it clear she was Olivia.
Seeing his Master fidgeting with her fingers and feeling shy under the gaze of the crowd, he whispered softly.
“Well… there are various circumstances.”
“What?”
“The Young Lady is inexperienced at driving. The Estate—no, anyway! We came to the Capital City for a trip after a long time, partly to prepare for the Head of the Household’s Birthday.”
Ricardo spoke with his usual calm Smile.
“Have you been well, Miss Yuria?”
“I…”
No words came out.
Her lips trembled, and she didn’t know what to say. Struggling to think amidst her blank mind, Yuria said.
“I’ve… been doing well.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And… Ricardo, have you been well?”
“Me?”
From the middle of the road, Olivia’s irritated voice rang out again.
“Ricardo!”
Ricardo started walking as he spoke.
“Yes, very well.”
Ricardo looked genuinely happy.
*
After parting with Yuria, on their way to the Chocolate Shop in the Capital City.
The Young Lady sitting in the Wheelchair turned her head and asked.
“Ricardo, you seem to be in a good mood.”
“Yes, I feel like I’m finally growing.”
“Growing?”
“I’m talking about growing taller.”
“I know.”
Ricardo knew about what had happened with Hans. He knew they wouldn’t die. And he also knew that this incident would help them grow.
Ricardo, with the benevolent heart of a Possessor, understood.
“Now, I’ll just live a life of leisure.”
“You’ve always been like that.”
“…”
Ricardo pressed down on Olivia’s Helmet.
“Ack!!! I’ve turned into a Dwarf!”