"Thank you."
The damp air of dawn blew against my face.
Although now wasn't the appropriate time to be thinking about this, there was still something I wanted to say.
The crisis just barely got solved before things turned for the worst thanks to the first-year ace students. Taylor seemed to have also acquired the Swordmaster Skill, and as long as he had that skill, the story shouldn't run into any issues for the time being, which was a relief.
The half-destroyed Training Hall and Glockt Hall.
The broken trees, the benches and fences that were piled up here and there that were used as a barricade, and the marble floor of the Student Square that had completely shattered into pieces due to Takan stomping around.
The other parts of the academic district were not in a good shape as well.
Calculating just how much damage had been done was meaningless. There was no way to exactly calculate it anyway.
There were serious injuries and an uncountable number of minor injuries as well. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
"Frankly speaking, I still feel resentment towards you."
Taylor had his head lowered and his whole body was covered in wounds. He was the one who ran all over the academic district and gathered the members of the subjugation force, and he was the one whose sword cut down Velosfer and Glaskan during the battle.
It was a glorious achievement that deserved praise from everyone around him but Tayle didn't have the corners of his mouth raised into a smile at all.
"I think you know the reason why better than anyone else."
Taylor's eyes were still filled with hostility.
I looked around. The subjugation force members who went through all sorts of hardships were gathered together in front of the Student Center. They have completed everything and are on their way to a glorious return.
The students waiting at the base in the center of the Student Square would applaud and cheer for them once they return, and the long night's story would finally come to an end.
It had been a long and tiring night but somehow, it was finally over. Act 1 ended on such a note. We would go straight into Act 2 next. The episode dealing with a war of nerves between the Elte Company and the academy.
"Still, I owe you a lot."
Although Taylor said that, his hostility didn't disappear.
"I need to at least pay my respects. No matter how much I resent you, the subjugation wouldn't have even happened had you not blocked Takan in the first place."
He made sure to show his gratitude even though he was clenching his teeth with such hostility. This was the kind of person Taylor McLaure was.
"Ah, Taylor. You're quite uptight, huh? Haha! If you hate me, just say you hate me. Why are you compartmentalizing your emotions and saying you're grateful for what I did even if you hated me?"
Nosy Alvira burst out laughing despite being completely exhausted.
"That's right, Taylor! You don't have to be polite to this guy. The only reason he helped was to save his own ass. Isn't he the type of person who'd backstab you if your goals don't align? When we were taking care of Takan, he only used me as bait and treated my life like some measly fly's…! Seriously! This dude…!"
"Klebias, you're too loud."
"You talk quite a bit, Klebias."
"Be quiet, Klebias."
Lortelle, Princes Pheonia and Ziggs said one after the other, stopping Klebias from saying another word. He probably felt timid at being chastised so he quietly walked away with dropped shoulders.
"Taylor is right, Ed. I can't just blindly trust you but it's clear that you did quite a bit of work here. That's definitely something deserving of praise. If you submit a post of recommendation to the academic council, whatever it may be, it will be accepted."
"You don't have to go that far, princess."
And then I spoke of some objective facts.
"The biggest help during the Takan subjugation was Lucy, while Taylor was the one who cut Velosper and Glasskan down, so there's no need to give me such praise. Please focus on them rather than me."
"Oh my, you're trying to give credit to others. Everyone already knows Lucy and Taylor played a big part during the battles. What we're talking about here is something else… or wait. Is it… are you, perhaps, embarrassed?"
"He's a whole year above you. Speak with some respect, Alvira."
Ziggs flicked Alvira's forehead, making her squeal as she stepped back, allowing Ziggs to come up and talk to me.
"Let's talk about the details back at the base, Ed. We can't possibly come to a conclusion while walking on the street like this."
"..."
But I stood still, unmoving.
The others were already heading back to the Student Square when they realized I was still where I was. They turned around one by one and looked at me.
As dawn settled upon us, these exhausted and injured characters were to return home with a victory.
Taylor, Ayla, Princess Pheonia, Ziggs, Lortelle, Klebias and Alvira.
"There's something I left behind at Training Hall. You guys go first."
I knew that fact very well, so I turned my head and walked away.
Now that the crisis was over, it was time to put the puzzle pieces together.
I went back to Training Hall's Combat Practice Field.
I opened the door below and found Janica hugging her knees to herself as she giggled a soft 'hehe,' looking every bit as awkward since I caught her hiding.