Extra in a Romance Fantasy

157 – Reunion (4)

““……!””

Everyone except Ethan stared wide-eyed, alternating their gaze between me and the split barrier.

Most of them could hardly fathom just how destructive the technique of the Sword of the Ten was, or the profound realization it contained.

Yet, even when simply considering the situation, it was one that would leave them unable to keep their eyes from widening.

The veil that the Ten Swords, Ethan Bertrand, had been unable to sever, I had cut through without a hint of difficulty.

However, both Ethan and I remained unfazed.

We both had anticipated that this would be the outcome.

Ethan, ignoring the reactions around him, focused solely on the gap that had formed in the veil.

“Can’t see anything, can we?”

Ethan furrowed his brow as he spoke.

He was right.

Despite the veil being torn, the interior was not visible.

It was as if a thick fog had settled in.

“It seems that the space within this veil has been altered.”

At that moment, Chris, who had been silent since our greeting, interjected.

With everyone’s gaze now on him, Chris continued to scrutinize the inside of the veil with his unusually clear green eyes.

“I think you’re right.”

Rachel stepped forward to express her agreement with Chris’s observation.

“It appears that the very nature of the space has changed. This place is likely not a typical space.”

Nodding at Rachel’s words, I considered the implications.

In essence, this veil itself had arisen from a distortion of space.

Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if the interior space had also been altered.

And that added credibility to the vague suspicions I had been harboring.

The space within this veil was likely more dangerous than we had initially thought.

Therefore.

I turned to look at those around me.

“It would be better for you all to retreat.”

And I spoke calmly.

““……!””

At those words, the atmosphere in the room sank in an instant.

A silence so profound it felt tangible.

However, that silence did not last long.

“Arrogant.”

A voice brimming with confidence, bordering on arrogance, shattered the stillness.

“You have no right to command us.”

The grandson of the ‘Golden Hand’ guild leader.

Wilhelm.

I did not shy away from Wilhelm’s intense gaze, which would be difficult for the faint-hearted to meet.

Instead, I looked him straight in the eye and spoke.

“No one knows what might happen in here. But… it’s clear that this place is likely more dangerous than outside.”

There is no solid evidence.

However, logically speaking, it’s impossible for this place to be peaceful.

The culprit who created this situation is undoubtedly up to something within these walls, and it’s unthinkable that they would have left no defenses in place.

There must be something prepared to respond to the intruder.

And that is likely to be more dangerous than the monsters roaming outside, especially the catastrophic ones that loom large among them.

“So, it would be better for you all to turn back.”

Considering that, it would indeed be wiser for them to retreat.

“…I acknowledge that your skills are impressive. However, I possess enough ability to take care of myself.”

Wilhelm added, glaring at me with burning eyes.

To this, I replied.

“That’s true. You and everyone else here are indeed skilled. There aren’t many of your age with such talent across the entire continent.”

This time, I readily affirmed his words.

There’s no need to mention Cedric or Ai; Alexis, Rachel, Chris, and even Wilhelm, who is speaking now, all possess top-tier skills renowned within the academy.

If the academy is not the standard, they are the kind of talents who would be called geniuses wherever they go.

However.

“Only within your age group, that is.”

It is true that they possess remarkable talent.

—

It is true that they possess outstanding skills.

But that’s only when measured against peers of a similar age.

When age is disregarded as a standard, it’s not hard to find those who are more skilled than them.

In other words.

“In front of you, you will probably be nothing more than baggage.”

Within this context, the likelihood that they would be of great help was low.

“You…!”

Wilhelm’s face contorted.

Given his prideful nature, what I said must have been hard for him to accept.

Even more so, the already fierce gaze of Wilhelm grew even more menacing.

For someone weak-hearted, merely meeting his eyes would be enough to make them tremble.

However.

I did not shy away from that piercing gaze in the slightest.

On the contrary, I met it calmly.

How long did that state last?

“…Tch!”

Wilhelm clicked his tongue and averted his gaze from me.

Aside from his wounded pride, he must have known deep down.

That my words were not wrong.

Wilhelm may be arrogant, but he is not foolish.

““…….””

Just then, as silence was about to settle over the room once more.

“…I want to go too.”

A familiar voice would not allow that silence to linger.

Turning my head toward the direction of the voice, I saw.

Rachel, looking this way with trembling eyes.

As our gazes met, the tremor in her eyes intensified.

Yet, despite that, she ultimately did not look away.

“…While you, Wade, have been away from the Academy, I have also put in a lot of effort.”

With a quivering voice, she opened her mouth.

“Although I still have a long way to go, I believe I will be different from the Wade you remember. Surely… I think it will help.”

Both her gaze and voice trembled, yet she did not avert her eyes in the end.

…Indeed, quite some time had passed.

I was well aware that Rachel possessed exceptional talent, and it was entirely possible that she had made remarkable progress during this time.

In fact, the magical aura that subtly emanated from her was undeniably richer and deeper than before.

Just from that alone, it was not difficult to notice that her skills had significantly improved.

Surely, as she said, she must have put in a lot of effort.

“…When I heard the news of Wade’s death, it felt as if the sky was collapsing.”

She continued, her voice still trembling.

“At first, of course, I didn’t believe it. Just like always. Just as I believed that you would be alive, as you had saved me that day.”

However.

“Even as time passed, there was no news of Wade. The world had, before long, treated him as if he were dead.”

A sense of loneliness appeared in Rachel’s eyes.

“Every time I heard such talk, I denied it. It couldn’t be true. Wade couldn’t have died. But… as time went on, that belief wavered. And one day, I thought to myself, perhaps Wade really has passed away.”

Like someone confessing a wrongdoing, guilt surfaced on her face.

“The feelings I experienced then were sadness and helplessness. If only I had had the strength. Wade wouldn’t have had to run away like that… He wouldn’t have had to be pursued by the Empire… Wade… it shouldn’t have come to this…”

“…….”

“So I worked hard. I didn’t want to regret it again. And if Wade is still alive, this time, I want to protect him with my own hands…”

After taking a moment to catch her breath, she spoke.

“Now… I don’t want to just watch helplessly anymore.”

With that, Rachel’s words came to an end.

Her eyes no longer wavered.

“…I will go too…”

At that moment, another voice was heard.

The owner of this voice was none other than Aira.

“I too, I too… have become much stronger. I’m not the same as I used to be…”

With a voice that trembled and lacked confidence, just as I remembered her.

Yet, with a strong will evident in her eyes, she spoke.

As I felt a complex mix of emotions while the gazes of the two women met, I thought to myself.

“Just let them do as they please.”

Ethan interjected in a nonchalant tone.

Naturally, my gaze turned in that direction, but Ethan continued speaking without even looking at me.

“You know it’s dangerous, yet you’re still willing to go.”

“But…”

“I understand what you’re worried about, but these guys aren’t children. They’re saying they’ll take care of their own lives, and you have no right to stop them.”

“…”

In a sense, that’s true. I have no authority to dissuade them.

I had known that from the beginning.

However, knowing that and allowing them to accompany me was an entirely different matter.

Even knowing the risks, I couldn’t bring them inside here.

Yet, Rachel and Aira showed no signs of backing down.

What should I do?

Should I persuade them until they understand?

Or should I resort to force to subdue them?

As I pondered this,

“…Perhaps, it will be helpful.”

Alexis, who had been quietly listening, interjected.

“Of course, in terms of strength, everyone here, including myself, falls far short of you, Lord Tugi, or Wade Hebron. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be of help. As I mentioned earlier, this place ahead is unpredictable; a mage could be of assistance.”

“…”

Certainly, that wasn’t incorrect.

The space within the veil was distorted, and anything could happen.

Perhaps we might face situations that are difficult to resolve with mere force.

In such cases, a mage would be overwhelmingly more useful than a warrior.

“…”

I lifted my gaze and looked around.

Rachel and Aira, their eyes still reflecting intense determination, along with others waiting for my decision.

Receiving those gazes filled with various emotions, I finally reached a conclusion.

“…I warned you.”

I decided to abandon the idea of forcibly sending them back.

“……!”

“……!”

Rachel and Ira’s faces brightened noticeably.

I turned my body.

I felt several gazes directed at me from behind, but I didn’t turn back again.

In any case, after a series of twists and turns, the situation had been settled.

We finally stepped into the space beyond the veil.