***
Two nights passed.
The day of the memorial service arrived.
The event was held in the same place as the Master's funeral, near the main building.
The Square of Seasons.
People stood, each dressed in dark mourning clothes.
Although the memorial service had not yet begun, a solemn atmosphere filled the air.
A heavy silence pressed down on everyone's shoulders.
Perhaps it was a representation of the respect shown to those who had passed away.
-Wheeeeiii...
The blowing winter wind ruffled my hair.
The sky was perfectly clear.
As if the snowfall of the past few days had all been a lie.
'...Should I be thankful?'
I muttered to myself.
I was worried about what would happen if the weather was bad today as well.
It was a day that rendered my worries meaningless.
My gaze lingered blankly on the blue backdrop.
As I was lost in thought for a while, Ariel, who was standing next to me, poked me on the shoulder.
"Brother, are you alright?"
"Huh?"
"No... you seem out of it."
"I was just lost in thought. I'm fine."
Ariel looked up at me with worried eyes.
I shrugged as if to show her there was no problem and patted her bouncy hair.
We were currently waiting for the memorial service to begin, just like everyone else.
We had arrived earlier than scheduled, so we had some time to spare.
Thinking I should relieve some tension, I stayed by the children's side.
"You look a little pale, brother."
"You seem strangely out of it."
"Raiden... are you sure you're alright?"
The voices of Ariel, Rachel, and Lucy, from top to bottom.
The girls all expressed their concern.
It seemed that the fact that I hadn't slept well last night was showing on my face.
As I was trying to reassure them that I was fine, Lucy grabbed my sleeve.
Her blue eyes were filled with anxiety.
She brought her mouth close to my ear as if to tell me a secret.
"Um, hey, Raiden...?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'm really curious, why is Lady Phyler here...?"
A question laced with nervousness.
Although she pretended not to, Lucy glanced over my shoulder.
There stood a silver-haired girl, stiff as a board.
Margaret flinched as our eyes met.
Then, as if trying to avoid notice, she took a few steps back, putting some distance between us.
"......"
Lucy glared at her disapprovingly.
Ariel reacted the same way.
Seeing the two of them openly expressing their hostility, I let out a small sigh.
So it was going to be like this after all.
I hadn't fully explained Margaret's situation to the children yet, so it was only natural for them to be hostile.
In their memories, Margaret was simply the one who had driven me to the edge of a cliff.
Of course, there was room for improvement.
If I explained the pain between us step by step, some misunderstandings would be cleared up, but...
The problem was that it was too long a story to resolve immediately.
Pushing the thought of finding the right time to talk to the back of my mind, I calmed the children down.
"I'll explain everything later. For now, please hold back your anger."
"...I'm not angry yet."
Then did that mean she was about to be?
"And Ariel, stop glaring at her."
"But...!"
"Have you forgotten what day it is?"
"Ugh..."
"It's a day to commemorate those who have passed away. Let's put aside our hatred for now. Today will be a day filled with enough sorrow even without it."
At my gentle persuasion, Ariel finally nodded.
After pacifying the children, I turned my head towards Margaret.
The silver-haired girl was frozen stiff, her usual intelligence nowhere to be seen.
When did she run away?
Margaret had moved away to a distance of about seven steps.
With a wry smile, I reached out my hand to the trembling girl.
"Why are you standing so far away?"
"E-Everyone else seems to dislike me..."
"Come closer."
"I-I'm fine..."
"Come here."
"Y-Yes..."
Margaret hesitantly took my hand.
I carefully pulled her towards us and made her stand next to me.
"Don't wander off on your own."
You had already blossomed in my garden.
"I have the right to worry about you, care about you, and intervene in your affairs. Please don't make things difficult for me."
"Ah, o-okay..."
Margaret stammered for a moment before nodding.
I felt a little relieved.
As I looked away with a faint sigh, a voice reached my ears.
-I ask for everyone's attention.
-Before we begin the scheduled service, I would like to thank all of you who have gathered here today to mourn the departed...
It seemed the memorial service was finally starting.
I fidgeted with the object in my pocket.
Since Grandmaster had personally made this for me, I had to do it right.
I bit my lip, holding onto the faint sense of purpose.
At my fingertips, laced with a hint of nervousness, only traces of the past remained.
***
The memorial service proceeded in a solemn atmosphere.
Since most of the Academy had experienced the invasion firsthand, the approaching shock was all the more vivid.
Screams ringing out.
The roars of monsters.
People panicking in confusion.
Even the metallic scent of someone's blood stinging my nose.
It was a scene worthy of being called a tragedy.
The afterimages remained vivid in the students' minds.
A heavy feeling pressed down on their shoulders, proportionate to the sense of helplessness they felt.
-We have lost five futures.
-We have lost children who should have enjoyed a future full of hope, smiled beautifully, and walked together.
-They were braver than anyone else. When the academy was in danger, they did not hesitate to take up their swords to protect their friends...
Professor Sharon recited each word in a calm voice as the eulogy continued.
Although the scale was different, the basic format was not much different from the previous funeral of Head Professor Lucas.
A field covered in white snow.
The students each closed their eyes and paid their respects.
The softly resonating requiem was for those who had left, or perhaps for those who remained.
The depth of sorrow each person felt was different, but...
The fact that everyone was standing here with some form of loss remained the same.
-This concludes the eulogy.
-Next, we will have a speech from a student representative.
Sharon quietly stepped down from the podium after finishing her part.
As if to follow her, a student stepped up to the podium.
Black hair that resembled the night sky.
Black eyes that shone calmly.
Perhaps due to his distinctive appearance, the students recognized the boy at once.
-Raiden Lishite.
-As a representative student of the academy... I have been given the honor of delivering a speech at this memorial service.
The boy bowed politely, but there was no response.
It wasn't that they were ignoring him.
It was just that the students didn't have the composure to clap.
Perhaps aware of this fact, the boy continued without a moment's delay.
-I stand here today to commemorate, console, and encourage those who have suffered from the recent tragedy.
-There are many things I need to say.
-But before that, there is something I want to show you.
The children looked up at his unexpected words.
Having succeeded in gathering the attention of many, the boy took out the 'object' he had been fiddling with in his pocket.
-Does anyone recognize this mask?
It was a mask that covered the entire face.
A plain white mask.
It was large, very large, and didn't have any particularly memorable features.
-Wait... that...
-That mask, could it be...?
-The mask of the man who fought off the monsters alone at the back gate...
-I remember...
One by one, students began to recognize the mask.
The boy, who had been patiently waiting for a reaction, sensed the time was right and lifted the mask.
And then he put it on his face.
The mask fit perfectly.
Its unique magic that interfered with recognition instantly changed the boy's appearance on the podium.
He was now the masked man the students remembered.
Before the students could react, the boy spoke.
-I am the masked man who protected the back gate.
It was a bombshell declaration that cut through the heart of the memorial service.
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