A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Bastard Aristocrat
chapter-28-2

Consciousness returned.

As I opened my eyes, I saw a plain white ceiling devoid of any pattern.

The soft feel of the bed against my back and the all-white ambiance of the room told me that I was in a hospital.

Or rather, an infirmary, I suppose.

This is the Academy, after all.

"......Somehow, I managed to survive."

I mumbled, shaking off the lingering drowsiness.

As my blurry vision focused and my stiff body regained its mobility,

I propped myself up on the bed.

"Ugh......"

Excruciating muscle pain surged through my entire body.

Although the wounds had been healed, leaving no scars,

the repercussions of pushing my muscles to their limits couldn't be erased.

As I groaned, clutching my trembling hands, a voice came from the front.

"You're awake."

The familiar sharp yet cold voice.

Surprised by the unexpected voice, I looked up.

"Principal...?"

The principal of Reynolds Academy,

Korn Ronezia was standing at the door of the infirmary, looking at me.

Beside her, Professor Lucas was breathing a sigh of relief.

'Why are these two suddenly here...?'

They were the ones who should be the busiest, dealing with the aftermath of the attack.

Why would they come to visit me...?

Did something go wrong?

"What... happened?"

Grasping the situation was my priority.

I asked the two, massaging my throbbing head.

Korn stared at me for a moment before speaking.

"The situation has been resolved for now."

Thankfully, the unforeseen circumstances I had been worried about didn't occur.

The professors had taken care of the aftermath in the banquet hall.

And the enemies who had infiltrated the Academy had also been successfully subdued, according to her.

"I see."

The attack had been repelled without any further casualties.

No one was dead or injured, and Lucy, the target of the assassination, was safe.

Only then did the tension ease from my shoulders, and I leaned back against the headboard.

Thank goodness.

If things had gone according to the original story, this attack would have resulted in countless casualties, including deaths.

It seems I did well.

As I was pondering this, a familiar mechanical sound rang in my ears, as if in response.

-Ding!

[Quest requirements have been met.]

[Main quest 'For Your Past Self' has ended.]

[Reward: 500 points]

500 points as a reward.

The points I had used up preparing for this attack were fully replenished.

It seemed like almost three times the amount I had before.

'The effort was worth it.'

With a faint smile, I closed the status window.

As the blue windows that had been blocking my view disappeared, Korn's figure came back into focus.

She was staring intently at me with a hardened expression.

There was something strange about her gaze.

As if she suspected something.

"What's wrong?"

"......"

Korn remained silent for a moment before answering my question.

"I asked the students who were present at the banquet hall about what happened during the attack."

I simply nodded.

It was only natural that she would investigate the attempted assassination.

"I heard that student Raiden handled the entire situation alone."

"......Yes, that's right."

"How did you manage to do that?"

"Huh...?"

Korn narrowed her eyes at my question.

"Those weren't opponents that an academy student could handle. Yet, student Raiden is said to have dealt with all those attackers in ten minutes."

"That's because I used a scroll......"

"The power of the 'Absolute Domain' scroll, is that it?"

Korn scoffed, as if I was taking her for a fool.

"That scroll only provides a justification for 'being able to do it thanks to it.' I could try to understand it forcefully, but it's a hardly convincing explanation."

"......"

"A student who was at the bottom of the class in the academy just a few months ago suddenly slaughters numerous attackers single-handedly and claims 'it was all thanks to the scroll'? Do you expect me to believe that?"

No.

Of course not, damn it.

I know my explanation is crap, but what else can I do?

This was the best I could come up with.

I can't just reveal that I'm a transmigrator...

"......"

"......"

I had no choice but to remain silent and endure Korn's piercing gaze.

The scrutiny of one of the most powerful individuals in this world was far more daunting than I had imagined.

As the atmosphere grew heavy,

"Ahem... Principal? You're scaring the student."

Lucas, with an amused expression, nudged Korn's shoulder.

As if snapping out of it, Korn sighed and relaxed her intense gaze.

"......My apologies. The situation has made me rather edgy."

"No, I understand."

"You're heavily injured and must be exhausted. I was out of line... Please forget what I said."

You realize that, do you?

What kind of principal grills an injured student the moment they wake up?

I was about to retort, but seeing Professor Lucas's face, I held back.

As if reading my mind, Korn smiled wryly and turned around.

"We'll talk later. For now, please rest. Your wounds are healed, but the fatigue must still linger."

She was about to leave the infirmary but stopped abruptly, as if remembering something.

"Actually, I almost forgot."

"......?"

I looked at Korn with a puzzled expression.

But she ignored it and bowed deeply towards me.

It was the legendary 90-degree bow I had only heard about.

"Thank you, student Raiden."

"Huh...?"

"Thanks to you, everyone is safe from this attack. Your courage protected the future of many children. I express my deepest respect for your noble spirit of sacrifice."

A sudden expression of gratitude.

Despite the abruptness, it was a sincere and weighty gesture.

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just stared blankly at Korn with a dumbfounded look.

She raised her head again and gave me a faint smile.

"Now, please get some rest."

"I'll visit you again. Student Raiden."

With those words, Korn and Lucas left the infirmary.

"......"

I stared at the door where the two had disappeared for a while.

Receiving such unexpected gratitude made me feel strange.

A mix of unease and a strange warmth.

It was a difficult and dangerous time, but I felt a sense of accomplishment.

"......What is this?"

Was I so starved for the emotions of others?

Hearing someone thank me was a natural response in this situation, but for some reason, it felt awkward.

I felt my cold heart thawing a little and thought,

Maybe this wasn't such a bad day after all.

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