"You're—!?"
My disciples tensed up as they realized Shion was the person who had attacked them last year.
Seeing their reaction, Shion looked momentarily sad, but she quickly composed herself and looked straight at them.
"Sorry for suddenly appearing like this. I wasn't planning to come out, but it looked like you were in trouble. But before that—"
In the tense atmosphere that could erupt at any moment, Shion slowly bowed her head.
"—Last year, I tried to take your lives. I know an apology won't make it right. Even so, please let me apologize. I'm truly sorry."
Seeing Shion bow her head and apologize, I almost wanted to tell my disciples to forgive her.
But I knew that would be wrong. Besides, Shion herself probably wouldn't want that, and I didn't think it would solve anything.
I swallowed back the words that nearly escaped.
"…We heard a little from Orun about what happened last year. That the incident was a misunderstanding caused by the enemy's schemes. Is that true?"
"…Yes. That was one factor. But the biggest reason was that I'm a weak person… If I had done proper preliminary investigation, I should have noticed Orun's existence. If I had, we never would have fought."
"…Why did you neglect the investigation?"
"Because my killing intent would dull. The more I learned about my target as a person, the more it happened. That's why I never forget the face and name of someone I've killed, but I deliberately avoided learning anything else about them. Weak as I was, I protected my own heart by lumping all explorers trying to conquer the Great Labyrinth together as enemies who would harm the world."
"That's the lowest."
Carol cut her off sharply, which was rare for her.
"You're right. It's the lowest. I've taken many lives until now. That sin will never disappear, and I won't look away from it. Right now, I want to fight while carrying that sin, to save more people than the number of lives I've taken."
After Carol's remark, Shion had worn a self-mocking expression, but at the end she looked straight at my disciples with eyes full of resolve.
I knew these words came from the bottom of Shion's heart, but I wondered how my disciples would take them.
As everyone watched in silence, Log spoke up.
"I don't think I can easily forgive you. But because of the fear and sense of defeat I felt from you, I became determined to grow even stronger. In the end, I think that incident was a necessary trial for us to reach where we are now."
"Yeah. I feel the same as Log. It was really scary at the time, but looking back now, it feels like it was a trial we needed."
"I think it became a turning point that changed how I think too. I can't forgive you for scaring the two of them, but after hearing your words, I think I can at least set it aside."
Following Log, Sophia and Carol also expressed their feelings.
Hearing the three of them, Shion nodded.
"Thank you for telling me your honest feelings. You don't have to forgive me. I did something that deserves that much."
The tense atmosphere seemed to ease a little.
For now, I was glad that no fatal rift had formed between my disciples and Shion.
The three of them are truly strong for not rejecting someone who once tried to kill them.
"So, Shion. You said earlier that you'd 'take care of it.' Do you have a good plan?"
"Yeah. I was listening. These three want to enter the academy, but they want to avoid their connection to Orun being exposed. That's the situation, right?"
"That's right. If it's thought that they have any connection to me or the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, there's a high chance the church will once again target both these kids and Tsutrail. I want to avoid that at all costs."
"Then it's simple. Just give them fake backgrounds. My family can easily create fake histories for the three of them."
Shion's family—the Nasturtium family—is officially a mid-rank noble house.
But that's only on the surface.
The Nasturtium family, which traces its roots to the Witch who fought alongside the Hero of the Fairy Tales against the evil god, could be said to be the de facto ruler of the Hitia Duchy.
"Creating fake backgrounds so easily… Shion, are you from some really important family?"
"It's not that big a deal. We just have a certain amount of influence within the country. …So, what do you think? This way we can make the three of them citizens of the Hitia Duchy, so Orun's concern should be resolved."
"It's a good idea. Their names are fairly well-known, but not that many people know their faces. If we make them out to be from the Hitia Duchy and use their nicknames as their real names, the chance of them being identified as explorers from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky becomes very low. I think it's a solid plan, but what do you three think?"
"If it means my name becomes 'Carol' while I'm at the academy, then no problem~!"
"If it settles everything neatly, I don't mind either."
"I'm fine with it too."
"Mm, then I'll handle the procedures. I'll give you all your profiles later, so take a look at them."
With that, Shion turned on her heel and started to leave the room.
"Um, Shion!"
Sophia called out to her.
"What is it?"
"Thank you for going to all this trouble for us."
Following Sophia, Log and Carol also expressed their thanks.
Shion smiled gently at them.
"This much is only natural."