Extra in a Romance Fantasy

155 – Reunion (2)

“…It’s been a while, Aira.”

I offered a sheepish greeting to Aira, who had suddenly jumped into my arms.

However, Aira did not respond to my greeting.

Instead, she buried her face deeper into my embrace.

Like a whimpering child.

Though it was a bit awkward, I didn’t push Aira away.

Though she didn’t speak, the tremors conveyed from her body made it clear what kind of feelings she was experiencing.

Thus, I could only look down at Aira with a wry smile, without making any further gestures.

Instead.

“Aira, is that you…?”

Rachel was quite concerned about Aira.

Her face and voice feigned calmness, yet there was an unidentifiable pressure beneath it.

It was a different kind of pressure than one might feel from an exceptional warrior.

However, for some reason, I felt a greater pressure from Rachel now than I did from a master swordsman.

Yet.

It seemed that this gaze and voice did not reach Aira at all.

Some time passed in that delicate and complex state.

During that time, Aira remained completely still, and eventually, Rachel tore her gaze away from Aira to look at me.

“…You really are alive.”

Rachel, having regained some semblance of her usual demeanor, spoke to me.

After a moment of contemplation, I replied with a sheepish smile.

“I was lucky.”

It was not humility.

If my luck had been even slightly worse, I would surely have died.

When I sustained a fatal injury from the swordsman and fell from the cliff.

At that moment, I owed my life to Bella, but had fortune not favored me, I likely would never have met her.

I might have perished underwater without ever reaching the shore, or even if I somehow made it to the bank, I would have run out of breath before receiving Bella’s help.

Thus, the reason I was able to return here alive was ultimately due to sheer luck.

“…I’m sorry. I should have let you know I was alive, but I couldn’t reach out because I had no idea how far the Empire’s surveillance extended.”

I apologized while looking directly into Rachel’s eyes.

In truth, I hadn’t contacted anyone, considering the possibility that my acquaintances were being watched.

…To be precise, it was the surveillance of the Empire and the Order, but I didn’t have the luxury to explain that now.

“I understand. I would have done the same.”

Rachel accepted my apology with a calm nod.

Even though it was something that could easily evoke feelings of disappointment, Rachel accepted my apology so simply.

Feeling grateful for that fact, we continued our conversation for a little while longer.

Throughout our exchange, Aira showed no intention of moving away from me, and Rachel gazed at Aira with an oddly intense look.

In that situation, I forced a bitter smile.

As for Ethan, he was quietly stretching his body a few steps away.

He was probably doing that out of consideration for us, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Normally, he would have already complained by now, so his silence made me feel a sense of gratitude toward him.

It was then that—

“Hmm?”

Ethan suddenly lifted his head and looked in one direction.

I followed his gaze.

I could sense a few presences approaching from that direction.

Sure enough.

Before long, several figures emerged from that direction.

And then.

“…Huh?”

A familiar face to me.

It was the group that included Alexis and Cedric.

*

“…Wade Hebron, you’re alive.”

Alexis reacted with wide eyes, clearly surprised.

On the other hand, Cedric simply said,

“…You’re alive.”

He finished his thoughts with those few words.

Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t show any signs of surprise.

Rarely, he had stared at me with wide eyes, looking dazed.

However, the speed at which his surprise settled was quite fast.

Given that he was someone whose emotional range was not particularly wide, it was only natural.

The agitation shown by Alexis and Cedric was considerably quieter compared to the commotion Rachel or Ira displayed.

It was only to be expected.

After all, my relationship with these guys was more of acquaintances than close friends.

I wasn’t one to indulge in tearful reunions with other men, so this level of reaction was just right.

Having completed this somewhat calm reunion, I finally turned my gaze toward the guests standing behind Alexis and Cedric.

“Ah, so you are Wade Hebron.”

A man with striking clear green eyes, undeniably bright in appearance, yet utterly unreadable.

“Hmm. So you are Wade Hebron.”

A man with blazing golden eyes, giving off an impression that goes beyond arrogance to sheer hubris.

The one with green eyes is Chris Pale, a magical genius and already mentioned as a candidate for the next Tower Master at such a young age, a disciple of the Tower Master of the Frost Tower.

The arrogant-looking man is Wilhelm Eisenberg, the youngest grandson of the ‘Golden Hand,’ which is arguably the best merchant guild on the continent.

I knew their faces.

It wasn’t just because both were famous figures within the Academy, known to everyone.

The fundamental reason was that they were among the male leads in the novel.

Due to my interference, the future of this world had changed significantly.

Because of that, I thought that perhaps these two wouldn’t get involved with Mary.

However, should I call it unexpected, or perhaps the power of fate?

In the end, those two became entangled with Mary and, just as in the novel, developed feelings for her.

That was roughly when I was about to leave the Academy.

Because the timing was oddly aligned, I had never properly greeted them.

Thus, officially, this was our first meeting.

Yet, the fact that they knew me… well, it wasn’t strange.

I had been somewhat famous at the Academy, and after the prince’s murder incident, it was likely that no one within the Academy remained who didn’t know me.

Thinking back, there is something odd.

Even though I hadn’t cleared my name yet, their calm reactions in the presence of the murderer of the prince were puzzling.

However.

I could roughly guess why they were so composed.

It was probably due to their constant proximity to Mary.

Considering Mary’s personality, she would have defended me at every opportunity, and they must have heard it to the point of exhaustion.

…Well, there might also be an influence from their own personalities.

In any case, it was a relief for me that they weren’t showing any excessive reactions or making a fuss.

“So, why are you here?”

After finishing the brief greetings, I asked Alexis, who was standing at the forefront.

What brought them to this situation?

Choosing to ask Alexis specifically was because, among them, I had some familiarity, and he was the one with whom communication flowed the best.

In response to my question, Alexis wore a serious expression and said,

“…I believe the source of this commotion is here.”

…he said.

At those words, I slowly nodded my head.

It wasn’t difficult to notice that the center of this series of phenomena was this mountain.

With just a basic level of insight, one could immediately grasp it.

Thus, the fact that they had gathered here was, in a sense, not strange at all.

For that reason, I decided to move on to the next question right away.

What truly mattered to me was something else.

“…Is Mary okay?”

Given that this situation had unfolded, they wouldn’t just abandon Mary.

They must have rushed to her the moment this situation arose to ensure her safety.

Or perhaps she was nearby from the start.

So, asking them about Mary’s well-being would be the quickest way to find out.

Mary.

The heroine of this world, of the novel, and my childhood friend.

Mary and I had grown up together almost from the moment we were born.

Therefore, one could say that within the academy, she was the person I was most concerned about.

Mary probably felt similarly about me.

While it might seem silly to measure such feelings, perhaps Mary was the one who worried the most after hearing the news of my death.

No, she must have certainly fretted as much as my father did.

With that in mind, I was extremely anxious about Mary’s well-being.

So, even though the situation might have been somewhat urgent, I asked Alexis about her.

However.

“…I have not been able to confirm Miss Mary’s well-being.”

The completely unexpected response came back from Alexis.

At that answer, I stood there momentarily in shock before opening my mouth to ask again.

“…Did you come straight here?”

I thought the possibility was low, but if they had come here without confirming Mary’s safety, it would make sense.

An uneasy premonition brushed against my mind.

I hoped that Alexis would nod his head vertically.

I wished for him to affirm my question.

Please, let this answer be the right one.

I had rushed here without even the time to confirm Mary’s safety, which is why I didn’t know anything about her.

But.

Despite my desperate wish, Alexis’s head did not nod in affirmation.

With an endlessly heavy expression, Alexis opened his mouth.

And…

“…I searched the academy within the possible range, with the cooperation of others. However… Miss Mary was not found.”

He delivered the unbearably heavy truth to me.