166 What's Next?
The ride back to campus was a quiet one.
"...Do you have any questions?" [Wilharrow]
"No." [Solace]
I wasn't even willing to look at him. Dragging me into battle is one thing, using Fina as a lock on me was another.
"Look, don't hate me for-" [Wilharrow]
"Shut it!" [Solace]
Wilharrow flinched.
"It's for the good of the people-" [Wilharrow]
"Did you not hear what I just said?" [Solace]
I glared at him.
"..." [Wilharrow]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I didn't even talk to him when we arrived on campus. I immediately beelined towards Master's class and pulverized the brick wall with a single kick.
"Oh my." [Vincent]
Sitting leisurely, Master had prepared a table for two.
"You predicted this?" [Solace]
"Did I?" [Vincent]
Again with his cryptic nonsense. I've had enough.
"Do you think I'm stupid? Why else would you have a table with two chairs!" [Solace]
"A table having two chairs doesn't-" [Vincent]
"There's even two cups for your tea! What are you gonna do, drink both at the same time?!" [Solace]
Master raised a finger.
"As a matter of fact..." [Vincent]
He then calmly poured tea into the two cups and downed them both at the same time.
"...Do you think that's funny?" [Solace]
"Very, yes." [Vincent]
That just pissed me off more.
"Here." [Solace]
I threw the flower at him. As expected, he caught it.
"Careful there. You wouldn't want to damage an important ingredient." [Vincent]
"Great. Now what? What else do I need? How many more wild goose chases do I need to go on until you're satisfied?" [Solace]
Master gave me a weird look.
"I'm sensing quite a bit of hostility from you." [Vincent]
"Ya think?!" [Solace]
I was absolutely seething.
"How about you try telling me your plans for once, huh? Quit manipulating me like some kind of puppet master!" [Solace]
Master raised a hand.
"Gentleman's rules number 11." [Vincent]
"No." [Solace]
"Say it." [Vincent]
"I'm not sayi-" [Solace]
"Say. It." [Vincent]
The conversation wasn't going anywhere so I folded.
"...Gentleman's rule number 11: A gentleman does not let their anger control them." [Solace]
"Good." [Vincent]
Master smiled a kind smile. Though, I only felt that it was insincere at the time.
"Now, for your earlier question. There is one last ingredient required to get Fina's mana back." [Vincent]
"Shoot." [Solace]
"A Demon Lord's heart." [Vincent]
"A… Demon Lord's heart." [Solace]
Master leaned back in his chair.
"Indeed. It was the sole reason why I had you join the hero's party." [Vincent]
I had mixed feelings about this. My anger subsided knowing that I was going to have to do this anyways, but I was still peeved at how Master never tells me anything.
"Have I addressed all your concerns?" [Vincent]
"No." [Solace]
Master then motioned with his wrist.
"What are you waiting for?" [Vincent]
"How fresh does the heart need to be?" [Solace]
"It does not matter. Just bleed it out and it will preserve itself." [Vincent]
"Hm." [Solace]
Still annoyed, I left Master's classroom.
("A Demon Lord's heart… seriously?") [Solace]
I got a bit lost in thought. So much so that I didn't even notice Wilharrow waiting for me.
"Alt? Are you okay?" [Wilharrow]
"Hm?" [Solace]
I flinched. It felt like he appeared out of nowhere.
"Woah!" [Solace]
"What the-?!" [Wilharrow]
Startled by my flinching, Wilharrow backed away with his arms raised.
"...Wilharrow?" [Solace]
"Yeah?" [Wilharrow]
We looked at each other in confusion. After a few moments passed, Wilharrow spoke.
"U-Um… Alt, about Fina…" [Wilharrow]
"Stop." [Solace]
I raised my hand to cut him off.
"Before you say anything… I'm sorry." [Solace]
"...What?" [Wilharrow]
Wilharrow seemed surprised at my apology.
"I'm sorry for how I acted back in the carriage." [Solace]
"...You don't have to be sorry for that. In fact, I should be the one apologizing." [Wilharrow]
This brought a slight smile to my face.
"Then we're cool?" [Solace]
"Uh…" [Wilharrow]
He appeared to be a bit puzzled as to what I meant.
("Oh. They don't have that saying here.") [Solace]
"I mean… We're okay now, right? All is forgiven?" [Solace]
"Ah, that's what you meant. Yes, all is forgiven." [Wilharrow]
He then put out a hand.
"All is forgiven." [Solace]
I proceeded to shake his hand.
"Now, how do we slay a demon lord?" [Solace]
Wilharrow smiled.
"Good to see you're on board." [Wilharrow]
He then wrapped an arm around me and started walking.
"We're gonna travel to their country." [Wilharrow]
"Oh. How far is it?" [Solace]
"About a month." [Wilharrow]
"A month?!" [Solace]
That was longer than I thought it'd be.
"A month by carriage is crazy." [Solace]
"...On carriage? We're going on foot." [Wilharrow]
"What?! Why?!" [Solace]
"Tradition." [Wilharrow]
He put on the most stern expression I've ever seen.
"...There must be something wrong with the traditions in this world." [Solace]
