A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Reckless Aristocrat

Foundation (9)

“Please heal him.”

I hauled up the terribly sprawled out Alan from the floor and pushed him towards where the Saintess was standing.

His staggering body fell into the girl’s embrace.

The Saintess, Lorraine, hastily chanted a healing spell, drawing up divine power.

Alan, a bloody mess.

Lorraine’s eyes were reddened as she looked at him.

The other children were no different.

Their cheeks each had clear tear tracks.

I chewed on a vaguely uncomfortable feeling, and had to wipe the blood off my fist.

‘……Feels like I’ve become a villain.’

I got carried away because my emotions rose while hitting him, but was I too much?

While I was making these sounds of concern, someone offered me a handkerchief.

“Young Master. Let me clean those.”

It was Rachel.

The girl was staring intently at my hand, riddled with scratches.

She must be worried.

I intentionally shrugged, as if to say I was fine.

“I’m alright.”

“I know.”

“Really, I am.”

“But it still hurts me.”

“Isn’t it usually the person who was hit, not the person who did the hitting, that you worry about?”

“I’m always worried about you, Young Master.”

The girl’s calm reply.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the rising freshness.

“…That’s nice.”

If I had my way, I would’ve liked to chat with Rachel right there, but there wasn’t time.

I still had unfinished business.

I straightened my clothes again, then turned my eyes toward the children.

“……”

Four girls surrounding Alan in heavy silence.

Their trembling gazes fell upon me.

They still looked wary of me, but it was a bit different.

Before, their wariness came from contempt, but now, it was born of fear.

Well, considering I was just beating someone to a pulp…

It would be strange if they *weren’t* intimidated.

I internally conceded, and then parted my lips, which had been holding the silence.

“I’ll make the same offer.”

I was thinking of giving these kids a chance too. Just like I had with Alan.

I didn’t really think I was showing them great charity.

It was more that since I had once been saved from death by them, maybe I could call this life’s despair a wash. That was my feeling.

And truthfully, they had helped me in some ways too.

When the system shut down, and the ‘Iron Spirit’ effect vanished, I should have collapsed into shock, my mind shattered.

That didn’t happen, thanks entirely to them.

Through Aeby’s ‘Soul Link,’ they eased my pain, little by little, allowing me to remain sane.

It was a twisted ‘give-and-take’ scenario, so saying I was in their debt felt…off, somehow.

Still, it showed me that they were correcting their mistakes, remorseful and regretful.

‘And they probably suffered from Soul Link side effects for a while too…’

It’s hard to say they’re *good* people, exactly.

But they’re not irredeemable human garbage, either.

I believe people can change.

I lived my past that way, so not believing that would be denying my own existence.

And so, I’m giving them a chance.

Just like so many others who loved me gave me chances, I’ll give you one too.

As a reader who cherished your stories.

“Say you will become my second hand, to guard against the dawn that approaches.”

Then, I will duly collect your time.

The quiet addendum carries a mix of coercion and a gentle proposal.

The kids had no choice.

Maybe in the later half of the original, where their minds had been forged in the fires of hardship, things might have been different.

But these tofu-soft kids would likely crumble at a harsh word, unable to bear the unforgivable guilt.

“…We’ll do as you say, Mr. Raiden.”

The first to lower her head was the Saintess, Lorelei.

Her white hair, usually shimmering with a light of uncertainty, now falls, heavy with a sticky sense of guilt.

The others hesitated at first, but

They accepted the proposal soon after.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

I released a satisfied breath, then approached Allen, who was kneeling on the floor.

“Allen.”

“Yes… Master.”

“Remember this day. In your life that follows, there must never again be a day where you fall so tragically.”

“I will… keep that in mind.”

Alan answers with difficulty, his words faltering.

The impact still seemed to be lingering.

I crouched down before him, lightly flicking his wide forehead and said,

“Don’t worry.”

That’s what I think.

The comfort I received from reading your stories, has become a past only I know about, now.

You could even call them non-existent memories, if you want to nitpick.

But that doesn’t mean they’re devoid of meaning.

You may not know it, but I clearly saw a light.

I swam through life watching your futures, that shone brightly.

Even though your forms that I didn’t know hurt me, I was determined to lead your story to a happy ending.

“Even if you stabbed me… I’ll embrace you.”

This is sin and punishment.

Maybe a price to pay.

Once, I yearned for stars, and now, I’m offering my light to them.

To those who were with me yesterday, I erased their painful today, and gave them a promise for tomorrow.

“Of course, I do plan on using you thoroughly as I see fit though.”

“……”

“Got a problem with that?”

“……No, sir.”

And just like that, all the founding members of Sentinel were assembled.

The Empire’s first and second princesses, the scions of ducal families, the next Saintess of the Church, the top of the Academy… and even the protagonist from the original story.

It was the moment when this insane elite group was established.

*

A few days later.

As the preliminary preparations for Sentinel were nearing their end, I visited my Grand Master once more.

I was worried she might not open the door, but.

That worry felt wasted as she greeted me right away.

“You’ve gotten yourself into something quite big.”

Grandmaster, seated at the table, tossed the words out casually.

His gaze was still lifeless, but he didn’t seem entirely dead either.

I set down the teacup I’d been sipping, and replied.

“You told me to do what my heart desired, didn’t you, Grandmaster?”

“You’re brazen.”

“I apologize.”

“It’s fine. Just don’t do anything that would tarnish Lucas’ name.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

A few words, delivered with cold indifference. After that, a brief silence brushed around us.

As the warmth slowly faded from my fingertips, which were still gripping the teacup, I parted my lips.

“Grandmaster… what do you plan to do now?”

It was a low question, but the weight it carried was by no means small.

Because it was a question posed to a person whose future destination was ‘suicide’.

A person who no longer has any lingering attachment to life.

How long will you remain by my side before disappearing?

I wanted to voice such doubts, but a hollowness pressing down on my chest seized my sleeve.

“……So you knew.”

Grandmaster shrugged, as if not surprised at all.

It was an attitude already steeped in detachment.

Though we were clearly seated at the same table, I felt a profound sense of distance.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to stay.

What good would it do to talk about hope to someone who had already lost everything in life?

‘In the original story too…it was written that after Master passed away, he vanished without a trace.’

Whether he takes his own life, or continues to live.

He surely has no desire to stay at the academy any longer.

I calmly bit my lip.

Even if I offer words of comfort now, would anything change?

It was a door to a wound that had already been sealed shut.

At this point, far too late, there was nothing I could do.

Just watching the receding figure. I had no role beyond that.

Yeah, I knew it.

But…

“It’s not time yet.”

There are moments when you have to reach, even knowing you’ll lose it.

“Didn’t you say you’d give me strength?”

“Hmm…?”

The Grand Master looked at me, surprised.

In his pupils, dulled and faded, only his own reflection flickered.

“The Sentinel is still in its infancy. Since it’s only high-ranking students, it’ll likely be unstable at first.”

“Yeah, I guess it would be.”

“That’s why we need a pillar to hold the chaotic atmosphere in check. Someone reliable enough to unite the students, someone who can be a sanctuary.”

“You want me to play that role.”

“Yes.”

Maybe it’s forced, but still.

“You haven’t kept all of the promises you made yet.”

“Right… so you’re saying, since I promised to help, I shouldn’t run away irresponsibly and instead nurture you guys?”

“If that’s how you heard it, I apologize.”

I just didn’t want you to leave.

Saying we needed a helper was just an excuse. I wanted you for another reason.

Someone who could reminisce about our teacher together.

The Grand Master had been with our teacher for so long, he must know so much.

I needed someone like that.

When those pangs of longing came, along with the occasional downpour.

I needed someone who could sit with me over a cup of tea, and calmly talk about someone who’d left us.

“I just want to say… your presence is crucial to our future.”

I grabbed at you with a nervous heart.

I didn’t expect you to be caught, but I still felt like it had to be this way.

Behind the sincerity that I recited word by word, came a long, still silence.

My heart pounded like a criminal waiting for judgment.

The Grand Master, who seemed to be lost in thought as he tapped the table, finally opened those red lips.

“……Alright, I’ll do it.”

I heard an affirmation I hadn’t at all anticipated.