CH 565

Chapter 565

The Royal Class Dormitory was home to the students who had decided to spend their winter there and had obtained permission to do so.

However, not all of them had returned, and some were unable to come back, so the place did not seem crowded.

After all, the Royal Class Dormitory had a capacity of only 120 people.

There were not many people to begin with, and there were even fewer now, so the atmosphere was quite tranquil.

Ludwig unpacked his belongings in his dormitory room, which he hadn't seen in a long time. He didn't have many possessions, nor were they particularly valuable.

After casually unpacking, Ludwig left his room and encountered someone.

"Ludwig…"

"Ah, Detto. It's been a while."

Dettomorian, who usually looked pale, stared silently at Ludwig's nonexistent right arm.

"…I heard about it."

"I somehow ended up like this."

Ludwig scratched his head with his left arm and gave an awkward smile.

Dettomorian was not surprised, as he had already heard the news about Ludwig and Delphin from the others who had returned earlier.

"Have you been well?"

"As for me… Nothing happened…"

At Dettomorian's words, Ludwig nodded his head as if relieved. He looked around the quiet B-Class Dormitory hallway.

Only Dettomorian was passing by.

"What about the others?"

"They seem to be busy with their research."

"I see. They didn't come back for a break…"

Louis, Christina, and Anna had returned to the dormitory not long ago.

Unlike Ludwig, who had been assigned to the rear, the three of them had returned to the dormitory because they had tasks to complete.

It was different for him.

Unlike Ludwig, who was forcibly left at the temple by the royal command, they would be deployed to the Allied Forces' frontlines if needed.

And then, the owner of that royal command.

"It seems you're back."

Bertus raised his hand to Ludwig as he entered the B-Class Dormitory hallway.

------

Dettomorian left for the club building, saying he had things to do, leaving only Ludwig and Bertus in the B-Class Dormitory.

After becoming Emperor, Bertus had little opportunity to meet his classmates, except for a few of them.

The person Bertus saw most frequently was not Ellen but Evia from B-7, a telepathic ability user, who was stationed at the headquarters as a liaison.

Next was Ellen, and then those involved in magic research.

So it had been quite some time since Ludwig and Bertus had seen each other's faces.

"Just be comfortable around me. I like it that way."

"Ah, um… Okay."

As Ludwig seemed unsure of what to do, he scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

"Thanks… for caring."

Ludwig felt he had to say that, as the Emperor himself had ordered his return to the temple.

"You don't look grateful at all."

"…"

To anyone watching, Ludwig seemed more desperate about his situation than grateful. It only looked like he was saying that because he had to.

"…No, really. I am grateful."

"I understand your desire to fight more. I also know that in your current state, you're still far more capable than any ordinary soldier. But… you're not an ordinary soldier."

"…I know what you mean."

It was true that most ordinary soldiers were treated as expendable and died meaninglessly in battle.

However, even those ordinary soldiers, if they were injured and managed to survive, would not be sent back into battle.

Ludwig still had the strength to fight, but as a highly important Royal-class soldier, his death would significantly dampen the morale of the entire Royal class. That's why he was forcibly sent to the rear, and Ludwig knew this all too well. It was just a bitter pill to swallow.

No longer able to fight and being a burden to his peers, he had to retreat to the rear lines.

"It's a shame about Delphin... I didn't get to talk to her much, but I heard she was a good friend."

"..."

Bertus didn't know Delphin well, but Ludwig had countless memories with Delphin Izzard. He had helplessly witnessed the death of such a precious person right before his eyes. It was both Ludwig's nightmare and reality.

"It's all my fault."

"...What?"

"Delphin got hurt trying to help me, so it's all my fault."

Ludwig muttered with a blank stare.

"I'm weak... It's all my fault."

Bertus silently watched Ludwig blame himself.

Everyone was feeling guilty, and like Bertus, Ludwig was blaming himself in this situation. Bertus was about to say that it couldn't be helped or that they at least managed to save Scarlett, but he closed his mouth.

Ludwig was broken.

It wasn't a particularly special or rare occurrence.

Like everyone else, Ludwig was going through the same process.

Having retreated from the battlefield, he would slowly decay in the depths of his powerlessness.

What Ludwig needed wasn't sympathy or comfort.

"There are plenty of things that need to be done in the Empire, and there are many places where you're needed."

He needed to understand that he could find his purpose outside the battlefield.

"I'll find you a place in the guard. It's not official, but give it a try. We'll decide later whether you're suitable for the job or not."

He needed to feel that he wasn't powerless.

------

At the moment, Ellen was the only one in the second-year A-class dormitory.

Of course, the number of people residing in the Royal class was small.

That's why meals were not taken in the Royal class dormitory but in the large banquet hall within the general dormitory, where students from different years mingled during mealtime.

Ellen used to eat a lot.

However, on the battlefield, there was no time, and food was a scarce resource.

So, Ellen ate less on the battlefield, where she needed to eat more, than ordinary soldiers did.

-Om nom nom

Perhaps because it had been a while since she'd been in a comfortable place, Ellen ate quite a lot, though not as much as she used to.

The quality of meals in the Temple Royal class had significantly decreased after the Gate incident.

Therefore, Ellen didn't eat as voraciously as she used to.

-Nom nom

Still, seeing her eat her fill after a long time made him feel good.

...But thinking about it, it's like a pet feeling happy to see its owner eat well. Isn't that an absurd situation?

Anyway, what could he do with this feeling of satisfaction?

She fought on the battlefield, eating like a bird.

Was Ellen actually fuel-efficient?

"Ellen, you brought the cat?"

"Yes."

"It's good for him too, being raised here. Good thinking. Ellen, are you resting here too?"

"For the time being."

"That's right. You need some rest."

And so, the other Royal-class members he encountered at the allied forces' base would recognize him, stroke him a few times, or strike up a conversation with Ellen.

—---

I sat beside Ellen, who was sitting at a long rectangular table.

Ellen handed me a sausage, perhaps to take care of my meal, and I nibbled on it.

It might have a strange shape, but it's still fit for human consumption.

Of course, I hadn't followed her to the dining hall just to get a measly sausage.

I was looking for the B-class individuals.

First, Anna de Gerna.

Not here.

Secondly, Christina and Louis Ancton.

Not here either.

The only B-class individuals present were Ludwig and Dettomorian.

I had thought I would see Anna, Christina, and Louis Ancton if I went to the dormitory, but I couldn't catch a glimpse of them.

I couldn't lead the conversation, so unless their names were mentioned, I had no way of knowing what was going on.

Someone, please talk!

Anna, Christina, Louis.

Can someone please ask where they are?

“Detto, are Louis and the others in the lab? Eating there? Haven't seen them for a while.”

“Maybe......”

“Are they staying there then? Isn't that too much?”

“They come back every few days...”

Ludwig!

You're the best.

So they are here!

------

I was just fooling around.

Seeing my situation objectively, there was nothing else I could say.

A few days after returning to the temple.

I had been just playing around.

-Tap tap

As if to beckon me over, Ellen sat down on the bench and tapped the seat beside her with her palm. I lightly leaped and settled on the bench.

-Meow

Other than following Ellen on her walks, I had nothing to do.

Fortunately, Ellen didn't hand me over to Bertus and return to the allied forces.

It seemed like she was taking a long-awaited break at the temple as well.

Originally, I planned to gather information.

But I couldn't, even if I wanted to.

Firstly, Ellen always took me with her, and secondly, the B-class individuals, excluding Dettomorian and Ludwig, hardly returned to the dormitory.

It was certain that the three were in the temple, but it was difficult to see their faces.

I wondered if they were in a research lab or something similar.

And I had a rough idea of where that might be.

The fact that I couldn't see the three I was looking for was enough information on its own.

The fact that none of them came back one by one, but left and didn't return simultaneously, meant they were together.

So, I knew that all three of them were involved in the empire's secret research.

Secret research related to the remains of a warrior.

In Louis's case, his exceptional understanding of all fields of magic made sense for the project.

I could guess Anna's talent, dark magic.

But Christina's talent, alchemy.

I couldn't understand why an alchemist was needed.

What on earth were they doing?

For now, I decided to observe the situation instead of blatantly doing something suspicious or returning to human form to investigate or scout.

In Edina, it was said that I had plenty of time to gather information, so I didn't have to worry about that place for now.

So, all I did was watch Ellen resting, as I had nothing else to do.

Sometimes, she lost consciousness and spaced out for a while, but there was no attempt to leave the temple. When Ellen was like that, she would sit absentmindedly for some time before regaining her senses.

"I used to come here often."

-Meow

The hill of the Temple walkway

It was a place often run as a training course.

Adriana and I had run there frequently, countless times on my own, and many times with Ellen as well.

Ellen gazed down at the scenery below the hill with a faint and distant look in her eyes.

It seemed like I didn't need her to say what she was thinking – I could already tell.

She was probably thinking the same thing as me.

------

Rest was also a strategy.

Such words were used in the military.

Managing fatigue was naturally a very important matter for maintaining the combat effectiveness of the military, so rest also occupied a very important part of military operations. It was only natural.

Thus, saying that rest was also a strategy was not just a saying – it was actually a very important strategy.

Ellen, responsible for reconnaissance and annihilation in most battles, always took the lead. When occupying somewhere, she went out to pacify the surrounding area, returning last.

She was the first to dive into the battlefield and the last to return.

Of course, there were days of rest in between, but Ellen would have always dashed out if she received a call from the headquarters, even if she were sleeping.

Now Ellen was resting.

She had fully accepted Berthus's words that she must rest.

Just as Ludwig had been forced to return from the rear of the battlefield for the sake of others.

For the sake of others, Ellen accepted that she must rest.

It wasn't maintaining tension on the battlefield, falling asleep on a makeshift bed.

She was safe and sound, unaware of the world in her own room, wearing loose pajamas, and no one looking for her.

Ellen not only ate, but also slept a lot.

As if trying to catch up on all the sleep she hadn't been able to get. As if trying to get all the sleep now that she wouldn't be able to get later.

She slept for over twelve hours a day, sometimes missing meal times, and even took naps.

Just how exhausted must she have been?

It wasn't just an allied forces issue.

Since the Gate Incident, Ellen had been constantly dragged into battles with monsters.

From one place to another, from one battlefield to another.

Relentlessly thrown into battles and annihilating monsters.

It was as if Ellen was taking a proper rest for the first time in almost three years since the Gate Incident.

I had been busy since the Gate Incident as well, but I hadn't been constantly fighting. In fact, I had spent more days dealing with Edina's internal affairs.

Moreover, hadn't I taken a very long break in Rezaira?

But Ellen had to keep fighting and fighting.

Ellen was asleep, hugging the blanket as if she were dead.

Resting properly for such a long period was probably the first time for Ellen since the Gate Incident.

So it couldn't be helped that she slept like the dead, as if to dissipate the fatigue accumulated in her soul.

Ellen's door was slightly ajar.

Because if it were closed, it would feel like I was trapped. After waking from a long sleep, Ellen apologized for seeing me still sitting in the room and has since left the door slightly open when she sleeps.

As if to say, come and go as you please.

In any case, there was no one in the A-Class dormitory to look for Ellen.

She seemed to know that I would be back soon if I go out, so she didn't intend to confine me.

Of course, Ellen probably didn't know that she shouldn't actually raise a cat like that.

The time was early evening.

I should go to the B-Class dormitory once.

The three that I was looking for might have returned today.