Imagine More (2)

Afterward, Piel returned directly to her dorm room.

She didn't feel like swinging her sword anymore.

She opened the window and blankly gazed outside. No one was out there.

All she could see were tall trees, well-maintained grass, and flowers.

'If I knew this would happen, I would've just asked him outright.'

She thought she had made up her mind, but seeing the sadness in his eyes, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

It was difficult to confront Theo again by mentioning the [Contract with the Great Demon].

She had made a mistake with him just a few days ago.

On Monday, in the dormitory for top students, the moment he heard the word 'Demon,' his red eyes had swirled with fury.

["...My decision won't change. If you force this on me again, I won't stay quiet."]

He became serious. When he shot her a look as if she was a detestable insect, her heart felt heavy.

'But there's no other way.'

Knowledge of how to identify a Great Demon's contractor is incredibly rare.

Only a few of her direct blood relatives, including herself, from the Chalon family knew how.

'Markvern, my brother...'

It was depressing. Her fourth brother always came to mind in times like these.

Everyone in the family treated her with disdain since she was the child of a concubine.

She felt suffocated and trapped, but it didn't bother her much.

Markvern de Chalon. He was the only one among their blood relatives who treated her warmly.

─ Piel, shall we practice swordsmanship together today? I think you're truly talented. Honestly, I doubt there's anyone with as much talent as you in our family or even across the entire continent.

─ Ah, I lost. When did your skills improve so much? I can't compete with you anymore.

─ Piel, don't distance yourself from the people around you. People can't live alone. If it's hard to forgive them, then laugh at them.

Thanks to her fourth brother, Markvern, she had a relatively happy childhood. He was always on her side.

He picked her up when she was about to fall and greeted her with a smile.

...Until he made a contract with a Great Demon. She was 11 years old at that time.

Her family subdued him not long after he made the contract with the Great Demon.

He died.

But the damage was severe.

They stopped him before he grew too strong.

The two eldest sons of the family, known as the continent's greatest talents, died.

Markvern was treated as if he never existed.

In most countries, demon worship is a serious crime.

If caught, not only the worshipper but also their entire family would be exterminated.

Even with the Chalon family's prestige, it was dangerous.

Moreover, he didn't contract with just any demon, but a Great Demon.

Fearing investigators, the family reduced his body to ashes using the [Flames of Purification].

After the incident, only the third sibling and Piel remained as potential successors.

The dull-witted third sibling was wary of Piel, who was a genius.

Without Markvern, the family felt cold and meaningless.

Piel, disgusted with everything, silently trained alone until she enrolled at Elinia Academy.

"Why...."

But why Theo.

She didn't know why he overlapped with her brother Markvern.

He was cold in both expression and speech, not kind at all.

"....."

Over Piel's reddened face, a tear welled up.

She gently wiped her tear with her sleeve.

Tadak--

Then she hurriedly closed the window.

Just in case someone might see her in this hideous state.

Strolling alongside Siena near the Hero Department, we eventually made our way to the training ground.

Naturally, training against a real person was far more beneficial than a mock dummy, especially when that person was as skilled as Siena.

"Hehe, so what weapon should I use against you?"

"A rapier would be fine."

Two days ago, I sparred with Julia.

She had emulated Siena's swordsmanship during our match.

Observing and comparing the original techniques would be incredibly helpful for improving my skills.

After all, nothing beats repetitive practice when it comes to learning.

"Alright, I'll go first."

We had been sparring for about ten minutes when Siena broke into a radiant smile.

"Wow, your skills have sharpened! How did you improve so quickly? You've grown much more since the last time I saw you."

"Is that so..."

However, I was still no match for Siena.

If I were to use my amplified Overload skill in a surprise attack, I might be able to push her once or twice...

But in pure skill, she was overwhelmingly superior.

'She's truly on another level compared to Julia when it comes to swordsmanship.'

Even though Siena's stats and traits were inferior to Julia's, the caliber of her techniques was on a different level.

In a way, it was only natural. Siena was around 150 years old.

If she had practiced the sword for even half of that time, that would amount to 70-80 years—four to five times the age of other academy students.

"Let's go again."

I had assessed her skills enough by now. If Julia was like playing on normal mode, Siena was like hard mode.

But that also meant I was learning much faster.

To get a better view of Siena's movements, I enhanced [Observer's Eye].

"Hehe, of course. Come at me whenever you're ready."

Once more, I sparred with Siena.

I carefully observed her every movement, from her techniques to her most insignificant habits.

I took note of how wide she spread her feet when using a technique, the angle at which she bent her wrist, and when she paused to breathe during continuous attacks.

I even looked for areas in her swordsmanship that could be further developed.

'Absorb it all.'

Although I had enhanced my [Observer's Eye], merely watching wasn't enough. I had to train and make it my own.

I recently realized something: when using a technique, it shouldn't go through your head.

Your body should react before you think. Victory can be decided in that brief moment.

So I drilled the movements into my body until it could remember them.

This way, my body would react before my head.

Only then could I confidently use them in actual combat.

Our sparring session ended, and Siena looked at me with a smile.

"Hehe, Theo. I didn't realize it at first, but the more I watch you, the more I see you have the qualities of a ruler."

"A ruler?"

"Yes, a ruler. You suit the role. I've seen many people from various walks of life, but it's been a long time since I've met someone like you."

"That might be because of your age."

"Quiet, you."

Siena glared at me, her eyes seeming to spark.

"…Alright, fine."

"Anyway, I've seen a lot of people. Kings of different nations, people called rulers, and so on. But all of them were hungry, never satisfied with what they had and always in a state of constant desire."

"Is that so?"

I didn't feel ambitious. I was simply struggling to survive.

"Those types of people always end up becoming rulers. I sense that energy in you."

"I have no intention of ruling over others. It's doesn't suit me."

"Hehe, but you can't easily escape fate, can you?"

Siena playfully clung to my arm and looked up at me with a bright smile. I turned my head away and replied.

"I don't believe in fate."

Had the person I transmigrated into been a priest or cleric, perhaps I would have believed.

"Anyway, I must be going now. There's a place I need to visit."

"Where are you going?"

"The Knight Department."

I had to apologize to Irene.

It's best to apologize sooner rather than later.

***

Theo and Siena arrived at the Knight Department, taking a carriage together.

As their arrival coincided with the end of a lecture, students from the Knight Department streamed out of the classroom building.

With his arms crossed, Theo waited for about five minutes before Irene emerged.

"Irene."

"…Theo."

Irene approached Theo and glanced at Siena, who stood close by his side.

Unusually, she wasn't angry.

She simply felt relieved that he was healthy again.

"…Are you feeling all right now?"

"Yeah, I'm well enough to spar again."

"I'm glad. So, what did you come to talk about…?"

As she spoke, Irene cast a sidelong glance at Siena.

Not being angry was a lie.

'…'

That elf really irritated her.

Unconsciously, Irene clenched her fist as she looked at Siena clinging to Theo like a cicada.

Theo bowed his head slightly.

"I came to apologize. I'm truly sorry, Irene, for breaking my promise."

"…All right."

"I'd like to invite you to dinner once more. Will you accept?"

Theo looked at Irene, his gaze as calm as usual. Yet, Irene sensed a burning passion within his eyes.

"Al—All right."

Irene felt her body tremble. She wanted to smile sweetly like that elf… but she held back.

She didn't want to be compared to Siena.

She thought it would make her look foolish.

Theo and the elf before her eyes… they looked too good together.

So, instead of smiling, Irene maintained a stern expression.

"Hmph."

Siena pouted her lips.

"Let me join too."

Theo detached Siena, who was clinging to his arm.

"…Siena."

Theo closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them, gazing at Siena with a serene expression.

"It's a date between Irene and me. Just the two of us."