Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Discipline (3)

◆

Carlisle is getting beaten right in front of her eyes.

Even in this situation where reality feels distant since it’s the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this, that one thing was clearly being perceived by Vespa.

‘…I need to do something.’

That thought comes to mind first.

But, what? 

She has never done anything this rough before. Right now, her body flinches and trembles with each loud sound that erupts every time Carlisle and Gray exchange blows.

What on earth should I do?

—You just need to properly say what you want to say. 

—Someone who doesn’t value themselves can’t possibly appear precious to others. 

—Whether it’s complaints, requests, anything is fine. I hope you’ll let it all out with this opportunity.

“……”

The words she had heard earlier flashed through her mind, which was full of confusion.

‘Mr. Carlisle is…’

Someone who prepares everything in advance as if he knows everything beforehand.

He recognized her magical talent that even she didn’t know about and actively brought her around the academy.

He even rebelled against Gray for her sake.

So.

Let’s trust him.

What she wants to say.

What she wanted to say to Gray.

She gathers the first thing that comes to mind in her head.

What she always wanted to say to her was.

“……Please always put used items back in their proper place.”

Because cleaning up the room that’s always been turned into a mess is entirely the servants’ job.

If Carlisle had heard this, he probably would have chuckled at such a modest wish, but the effect was dramatic.

“Huh.”

Vespa let out such a dumbfounded sound as she looked at the blue haze gathering before her eyes.

Wait.

Something suddenly appeared in front of her.

This would probably be a phenomenon that would make mages scream if they saw it.

The first stage of magic that they try to achieve somehow through lengthy incantations, sanctification, had just been completed with that alone.

The will of the world—Magic—was ready to accept her words.

“……”

What is this?

Something, something is happening.

But if something is happening, that means it’s okay to continue, right?

Vespa stammered as she continued speaking.

“……My name isn’t ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘lowly thing’, ‘trash’, ‘worthless thing’, ‘vermin’, or things like that. My name is Vespa Luciana. I’d like you to call me by my name.”

The blue haze begins to be carved into a slightly sharper form.

The second stage of magic, the vow.

Her wish is contained within the Magic.

“I also… Sometimes find it difficult serving you, Miss. I want to hear words of gratitude.”

The blue haze takes on a slightly more concrete form.

She doesn’t want to definitely harm others, but even so, ‘disappointment’ is definitely contained within it.

In the form of a round sphere.

……Even when containing emotions, the fact that it’s a small and adorable sphere seems to represent her personality.

Vespa squeezed her eyes shut as she muttered the remaining words.

“Other people don’t exist solely for your sake, Miss.”

She doesn’t really know what she’s saying herself, but even so, she had one clear theme.

She also has complaints. She’s not a tool that can naturally be treated however Gray pleases.

She’s also human.

……So, she hopes Gray will look at her too.

“And—”

Decisively.

—Apologize to Miss Vespa, Miss.

Because she’s watching someone who said that to her get beaten.

For her too, definitely.

She’s angry.

“—Hitting other people is something you shouldn’t do—!”

The moment she said that with her eyes squeezed shut.

The moment she contained slightly intense emotions, as if the ‘world’ was empathizing with her anger. As if it was getting angry on her behalf.

The round sphere in front of her was launched like a meteor.

A sphere with a trajectory so brilliantly white it stuck to her optic nerves flew out, and at that moment.

“……!”

Gray, who had opened her eyes wide, drew the Holy Sword she had kept at her back.

The Holy Sword and sphere collided, and soon a dazzling explosion swept across the entire training ground.

“……KYAAAAAAAAAH—?!”

Vespa, who had actually launched such a sphere, panicked and sat down while covering her head.

“M-Miss?! Are you alright?! What have I done……?”

“……”

Though Vespa’s panicked voice fell noisily, Gray stood frozen in place, blankly staring at her own hand. 

As if shocked by what had just happened.

Just now.

This ridiculously weak attack that Vespa had fired.

Had made her feel ‘danger’ enough to draw her weapon.

The human she had always ignored and dismissed as ‘nothing’.

“The bet.”

Above that, Carlisle’s voice dropped flatly.

“I think I won.”

“……”

There was no way to deny it.

◆

If you were to talk about Gray’s flaws, several days and nights wouldn’t be enough, but even so, what Carlisle could say positively about her was that her standards were extremely consistent.

Just look at how she properly takes responsibility for the results of bets she herself agreed to.

“……Sorry.”

With Vespa in front of her, Gray said curtly while looking down at the floor.

Though reluctance was clearly showing through.

That was, undoubtedly, an apology.

‘You worked hard for this.’

For this person, this level is equivalent to an ordinary person kneeling and begging by normal standards.

Considering that when Gray became an adult, she even considered fighting rather than apologizing for causing trouble on official occasions, it truly was.

“……N-no……”

And Vespa, who heard such words, is squirming around even more.

She’s happy, but the situation itself feels awkward.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Carlisle thought such thoughts while inwardly smiling bitterly.

Well, it’s that Hero after all. I wasn’t expecting something to improve all at once with just this.

Education isn’t easy work. It has to go slowly for a long time.

……That’s what I was thinking.

“Last time, you were startled, weren’t you? When I swung my sword.”

But the words that followed.

“I was going to apologize then, but I was also startled and couldn’t.”

“……”

“……”

Not only Vespa, but even Carlisle, who had demanded the apology in the first place, stared at Gray in momentary bewilderment.

‘What’s this?’

Who are you?

You can communicate this normally?

“……I heard what you said during the sparring.”

Still glaring at the floor, Gray hesitantly brought out such words.

“I wasn’t paying attention at all. I didn’t even think that there might be complaints.”

“M-Miss, uh, uhhhh……”

Vespa’s eyes spin round and round.

In all the time she’s been following Gray around, she’s never seen her show such a human side.

“Of course, even if I had known there were complaints, I probably wouldn’t have cared much.”

“……”

Ah, thank goodness.

Gray hasn’t become completely strange.

While Carlisle and Vespa both sighed in relief at this strange sense of reassurance, Gray let out a deep sigh and said,

“But…… I learned this time. Even people I completely ignored can surprise me. There might be value I failed to recognize.”

So,

After realizing that fact.

“……I started thinking there might be more things I’m missing.”

Other values hidden behind the wall of arrogance.

I don’t know what they are yet.

But at least, that direction of thinking has opened up.

That’s what she’s trying to say.

“So, while I’m apologizing, I’ll say this. As a way of saying I won’t miss such things in the future.”

As a start to that.

Human to human.

Listening to what the other person says.

“I’ll remember your name. Vespa Luciana.”

Vespa’s mouth dropped open.

“……Thank you. For working hard all this time.”

Carlisle’s mouth also dropped open.

“Missssss—!”

Vespa burst into tears and hugged Gray.

“Hey, what are you doing, you’ll dirty my clothes, get away—!”

……Of course Gray panicked and pushed her away.

But she didn’t draw her sword like before.

That was definitely,

A better appearance than before.

◆

“Why are you silent again?”

That night, at the dormitory.

He dropped such words to the Holy Sword that was unusually quiet.

[You.]

“Yes.”

[……If I had met you a little earlier, could I have had such a conversation with Vespa too?]

“……”

[Could I have…… Prevented her from dying like that?]

“I’m not sure.”

Because it’s something I haven’t tried, I don’t know.

But what’s certain is,

“It’s something that’s already passed. Something that can’t be changed.”

[……]

“It’s enough if the people here right now are happy. That’s all I need.”

The relationship between Gray and Vespa now has changed.

It might not be completely changed yet, but at least the foundation to change the future has been laid.

“One by one, we just do what we can. What use is regretting things we can’t change?”

[……That’s true.]

“Hero, you’re really emotional at times like this.”

[Well. Isn’t your sense of emotion rather unusual?]

“Huh?”

[Didn’t you say you’ve regressed many times? Then you too must surely…… Like me, have parts you regret.]

Even if they’re things of the past.

Even if they became as if they never happened through regression.

Memories remain. The emotions attached to them remain too.

If she, who has only regressed once, is like this, how would Carlisle, who has repeated so many regressions, be?

There surely must be wounds carved deep enough to be etched into his soul, that’s what she’s saying.

“……”

Carlisle, who had been silent for a moment, soon smiled bitterly.

“I don’t have anything like that.”

[No, surely there’s something—]

“I said I don’t.”

At his calm voice, the Holy Sword shut her mouth in confusion.

Though nothing about his expression changed, she instinctively realized it.

This is this regressor’s reverse scale.

Something that shouldn’t be probed deeply.

[……Sorry, I asked something unnecessary.]

“Ah, it’s fine.”

Carlisle answered in his usual easygoing voice and chuckled while yawning.

A new window had appeared before his eyes.

System Message

▶ You have completed Quest: Discipline! 

▶ The trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates. 

▶ Part of the ‘Rehabilitation List’ has been updated!

[ ★ Arrogance 100% → 80% ]

▶ Rewards are provided! 

▶ The progress of the Rehabilitation List is high. 

▶ The quest’s ‘Hidden Reward’ is unlocked!

“Oh.”

Carlisle stroked his chin as he looked at the window.

Other rewards aside, the last sentence that appeared was the most eye-catching.

Come to think of it, when the quest appeared, there was something about a hidden reward.

It seems the conditions were met thanks to the good results.

What will be provided? I hope it’s something good.

System Message

▶ A ‘Chain Quest’ is generated. 

▶ Chain Quests are special quests linked to ‘Main Events’. 

▶ Though they’re relatively low-difficulty quests, clearing them will greatly impact Main Events!

‘……That’s good?’

Just looking at what’s written, there’s nothing to refuse.

I need to look into what Main Events are a bit more, but they’re probably referring to the most dangerous and difficult situations.

Mainly, incidents involving hell or demons.

If it greatly impacts such things, it’s definitely content that should be done. When dealing with that, no amount of preparation would be too much.

Carlisle organized his thoughts and waited for the next window to appear. He needs to see the content of the Chain Quest anyway.

Since they say it’s relatively low difficulty work, it won’t be something too difficult—

Quest Info

▶ Please make a ‘school friend’ for Hero ‘Gray Chasefield’! 

▶ Friends [ 0/1 ]

“……No, damn it.”

They called it low difficulty.