Chapter 53 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

**Chapter 53. Follow Along** Squish, squish. “...Can I really survive the next three years...?” A lament from a girl who is not yet twenty, having just turned sixteen. Some might dismiss it as trivial worry, but right now, I genuinely fear for my life. A threat to my life? Honestly, that would be a relief. My arm is throbbing so much that I doubt it would even leave a bruise. With a cautious sigh, I blew on my still burning forearm, massaging around it in an effort to ease the pain: a strange blend of aching and soothing, desperately wanting to stop but unable to. “...Hmm.” On my once pristine forearm was now a long, red mark etched into my skin. What on earth happened? It felt like lightning from a clear sky was the most accurate description. Still, a good thirty minutes of rubbing had thankfully dulled the once overwhelming pain. It still hurt, though. ...I wonder if it’s okay to touch now. —Poke. “...!!” Nooooo! Upon pressing the swollen area as a test, my body jolted as if by an electric shock. Like a flounder freshly taken from a tank, I flailed and muffled my groans, banging my head against the wall several times before finally calming down. I was the one hitting my head against an innocent wall, unexpectedly. “...Ugh…” Ugh... Ugh... I’m exhausted... I want to go home... Swamped by a wave of self-pity, I cast resentful eyes at my own arm. The sight of the red and swollen mark was a telling reminder of just how intense today’s swordsmanship lesson had been, like a battlefield. Self-defense(??)—!! A technique to protect myself, they said!! If this is a 'self-defense' swordsmanship class... then what on earth are the things I’ve been experiencing up until now!? A rise of pent-up resentment. I voiced my grievances countless times in my heart, but not a soul in this empty place was there to lend even a hollow ear to my lamentations. Truly, I feared I might actually die this time. Honestly, those days before I was even granted the title of a mercenary, when I unwittingly joined my seniors on a bandit raid, seemed easier by comparison. Yes, a raid. Like hell itself, where blood and flesh flew everywhere— ‘...Back off!? You, you little brat—!?’ ‘Only a fool gets caught. Remember that, Hahn. Kick them in the groin or gouge their eyes. The dead can’t speak.’ ...a blend of deceit and tactics— Stab! Stab, stab! ‘Aah... Aaaah... Mother..’ ‘Uh... not like they’re not speaking, though, senior?’ ‘People are either male or female. Therefore, that punk isn’t a person.’ ‘Ah.’ Yes, where blades clashed against blades... Uh... It might seem strange, but it was, indeed, a bandit eradication. Throwing dirt in each other’s eyes, tripping the unwary, impaling swords into unsuspecting backs was commonplace, yet, in essence, it was still mercenaries executing a bandit raid. At least, as far as I know. Yes. I remember trembling with fear at the bloodbath occurring all around me for the first time, wondering why this is all I can recall. All of it, because of today’s lesson. Oh, by the way, what happened during the swordsmanship class was— ... ‘—Dieeeeeeee!!’ ‘Heeeek—!?’ The moment they grabbed their sword, their face turned grim; it was a murderous gaze sparingly given by those who have slain at least one or two people. I’m sorry if you have a vendetta against my family, but I suspect you have the wrong person. No grudges against them, really? Then why target me this way? Seriously, why... I looked to the referee teacher for help, but they had long abandoned the arena. Meanwhile, my classmates, whom I had considered friends, stood beyond the stage, their hands clasped together, praying that my life would be spared. Grateful to them for the prayers, I wondered if it was a blessing in disguise. Even now, I wish to commend myself for not immediately spinning around and fleeing the arena. No, reflecting even now, perhaps fleeing would have been the prudent choice. Pride? What is that, something edible? ‘...Um, uh, Your Highness?’ ‘...........’ Despite me looking at them with a pleading gaze asking for mercy, the smirking individual, who had shooed away my original opponent just to spar with me, gritted their teeth and swung their sword at me. Bang, bang. It was a thunderous sound, one hard to believe was produced by mere wood clashing. Block, dodge, block again. Where on earth did such overwhelming strength emerge from those slender limbs? The more I blocked, the stronger their attacks became, making me wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to just take a blow and pass out. Until I saw with my own eyes, the arena floor being dented by their sword. Ah, that’s out of the question. How many blocks later did it happen? Crack, a loud noise resounded through the arena. The attacks grew so intense that the wooden training sword, unable to withstand the force, shattered like powder. Countless fragments scattered like petals before my eyes, with those terrifying eyes glaring through them... I thought it might end because the sword broke, but that was not the case. I thought the match had ended in a draw, yet there she was, charging at me with her half-broken sword, leaving the very scar I'm looking at now. It was a scene worthy of a horror film. Her name, unsurprisingly, was Remi Akaia. She was the top contender for avoidance, proudly holding the notorious rank of number one, a status she vied for permanently. "Ugh..." Honestly, if asked to fight her again, I would rather bite my tongue and die. I muttered my grievances at a volume so low they wouldn’t reach anyone's ears, trying to cool my head in solitude. I couldn’t even speak properly. Gosh, it’s so unfair. It might sound strange, but fighting with fake swords against the princess of a nation is far more terrifying than facing criminals wielding real swords. I hope you can understand. If you saw it in person, you’d say the same as me. If I brought in some people who witnessed the duel, I bet they would all nod in vigorous agreement with my opinion. Of course, they’d soothe me with words like, "You should make comparisons fairly." —Tap, tap. "Ugh… my whole body is aching." Was it because I was sitting on the steps where people frequently passed by? My pants were covered with dust and dirt from sitting unceremoniously there. I brushed off the dirt for a few seconds, preparing to return. Well, it’s all over now. The sparring, the lesson, and the day's activities––all of it. It's all over. "...Remi Akaia." I whispered her name with a touch of sympathy and pity. To be honest, I didn’t dislike her. ...Of course, her odd hostility and the way she looked at me like I was a suspicious figure were a bit troublesome, but aside from that, there was really no personal reason for me to dislike her. It wasn’t like she had harmed me directly— She hadn’t done anything wrong to Alice, either. Through the stories I'd heard from Saelia, she was just a kind-hearted victim who lost the younger sibling she dearly loved. Rather, I wanted to get closer to her. Of course, her sister was an exception. The reason for withholding information about Alice was due to the existence of her sister, Anna Akaia. If it weren't for that, Alice— “—Yawn.” Gently rolling my shoulders to ease their stiffness, I picked up the wooden sword resting against the wall and slung it over my shoulder with a natural motion. I rounded the corner, heading straight. It was now familiar, the path back to my own dormitory. Sniffing the fragrant scent of flowers, I walked leisurely, taking in the surrounding scenery as if I were on a stroll. Though it had only been a few days, this had completely become my new everyday routine. Thinking I would never get used to the immense tumult, I felt a small sense of nostalgia creeping into me, even as I chuckled bitterly at myself. Yet, my legs steadfastly carried me toward my intended destination. That is, until I heard a voice I should not be hearing here. A voice that didn't belong here. A voice I knew all too well. “—Sia, sis!!” “...Alice?” Thunk. My legs, as though trapped in a swamp, refused to move. Once halted, my stride did not continue. Frozen mid-step, I couldn’t even turn around. Alice, why are you here? That question lingered in my mouth. ** **** During this time, I believe many of you were caught off guard by the sudden time warp. However, it was necessary for the rapid progression of the story. I've posted brief updates and progression details in the announcements, so please refer to them.