I Became the Academy's Pink Airhead

Chapter 40

I took one last look around.

"..."

The airship's engine was already running, ready to take off from the dock with a gentle breeze. The students were bustling about, busy moving the materials the airship had brought from to .

But Hilde was nowhere to be seen.

Before leaving the hospital, I had asked the health department students of the about her whereabouts.

They only saw the student council president leaving in a hurry. Other students also seemed unaware of where Hilde had gone.

Since yesterday, it was as if she had vanished from the city.

‘I still feel like she’s around...’

For some inexplicable reason, I had a gut feeling that Hilde hadn’t left the northern area. It was an irrational premonition, but I felt that I would meet Hilde one last time before leaving the city.

However, the dock was filled with students busy with their tasks, and there was no sign of Hilde's silver hair.

"..."

Was it just a delusion? A wishful thinking from an irresponsible adult who had left once but still hoped to be considered a friend?

"..."

I shook my head and walked towards my juniors, who were loading our luggage into the cargo hold. It was better to stop having such unfounded expectations.

‘From now on, I should directly meet and talk, instead of acting on sudden impulses.’

I would surely meet Hilde again. When that time comes, we would talk. With that resolve in my heart, I walked towards the airship’s entrance.

Eir was there, standing with many students.@@@@

She wore a black coat that flapped in the gentle breeze from the airship, a uniquely designed sword strapped to her waist. The students around her also held their weapons, dressed in simple black outerwear.

‘Hundreds of them in black coats, black masks, and red uniforms... They look more like a mafia than delinquents.’

If the delinquents were mere thugs, these students seemed more like organized crime members, with far superior average combat power.

I noticed a few notable second-year students among them.

Some of them were looking at me with intense eyes. These were the ones who would later become allies—playable characters, to put it simply.

‘Were they away on a mission that night? They weren’t around during the chaos... Well, they must have been scattered all over to fend off the chaos bugs.’

I wanted to leave a strong impression on these future allies, but Eir was waiting for me right in front, so I let it go.

As I approached, Eir smiled and greeted me.

"You’re here. [Spiral]." "Yeah♪ I’m here, [Trajectory]."

Wow. Wow... Unbelievable...

It just came out naturally, and she responded immediately. Who would have thought we’d be greeting each other with our epithets? Not in my wildest dreams during the turbulent first year.

It felt like exchanging business cards among warriors. Frankly, it didn’t even feel embarrassing; it was more like a formal greeting.

Just a natural greeting...

‘I’ve really become a game character...’

The students cheered loudly at this exchange. Some couldn’t contain their excitement, stomping their feet or banging their weapons on the ground.

‘They really love passionate declarations, oaths, determination, and epithets...’

I chuckled at their reaction.

Eir, showing her shark-like crooked teeth, laughed as well. She, being a true student, seemed to love this meaningful exchange.

"...Heh, this is the first time you’ve called me that." "We’re comrades who fought the same enemy now―☆" "Ah... That’s right... We are comrades." "Yes☆" "..." "..."

Eir’s crimson eyes, usually ablaze, wavered a bit.

Unlike the hostile atmosphere of our last meeting, Eir’s face now showed a familiar, comfortable expression from the past. There was a hint of nostalgia and regret.

Eir slowly relaxed her stiffened face and murmured quietly.

"I should have come earlier... to talk with you." "It’s not too late now―☆ We’re meeting again like this♪" "True... yes, you’re right... We can still meet like this."

Eir closed her eyes and smiled softly, as if shedding a burden. Despite the changes over time, she was still a girl seeking the unchanging.

I felt a pang of sympathy for her face... and a warm feeling, like meeting an old classmate unexpectedly.

‘If I knew it would be this pleasant, I would have been more honest.’

She was initially disappointed with my changed self, but seeing me fight the [Priest of Corruption] seemed to have softened her heart.

‘Well, I did openly use chi techniques and fight, so she must have realized that the [Faded Spiral] was just a cosplay.’

"Hehe☆ The kids are really♪ nice." "Really?" "We only fought together once, and they called us sisters who can share their lives―☆ It shows how passionate and intense they are―☆" "..."

Albit responded with a slightly dissatisfied tone.

"...If that one fight caused you to lose all your ether and made you unable to fight anymore. For such... a hero, that much is reasonable." "...?" "...Just my opinion."

Turning her head away, Albit pouted as if hurt.

Lost? Power? All of it? ...Who?

"..."

Pressing close to the window, watching the kids bidding us farewell, I felt something off and was soon shocked.

‘Do they still think I’m the [Faded Spiral]... in a completely powerless state?! I thought they knew I was fine from the health department’s examination...?!’

Despite fighting so brilliantly, I had gone from a hidden powerhouse to a visibly powerless one.

No wonder Hilde, Bell, and Eir all said such serious goodbyes.

‘This is a mess...’

But there was no time to clear the misunderstanding, as the airship had already taken off, heading for .

*

Eir watched the airship slowly disappearing to the east.

‘Watch me. For you who lost all your strength for us, I will defeat the [Blue-White Lightning Spear]... and become the strongest.’

This was the only...

The highest honor for Clara, who burned her last flame for them.

[The Pink Spiral] remained bright and cheerful despite losing everything.

No...

Even before squeezing out her last strength, her faded appearance was no different from her past self. She always walked her path cheerfully.

Eir smiled bitterly, self-deprecatingly.

‘It was me who had lost the way.’

As she opened and closed her fist again, the path slowly began to reveal itself. The ennui felt since awakening [Unique Ether] now followed the pink spiral towards the strongest path.

Eir punched the air.

Whoosh―!!

Now, she just needed to move forward.

*

Brunhilde stood atop the highest building, staring at the airship.

"..."

She could clearly see the faded pink hair through the window in the distance.

In the end, she couldn’t muster the courage to meet and say goodbye again. The shock from the initial rejection had turned her into a coward.

"..."

So, Brunhilde stood and watched the airship.

At that moment,

it felt like the faded pink hair turned and looked her way.

"...?"

Brunhilde jumped up.

Even for someone aiming for a stage beyond infinity, she wasn’t sure, but it felt like Lara looked this way.

She slowly waved her hand through the window.

"...Lara."

Maybe it was just a greeting to the students who had bid them farewell.

But...

Even so, Brunhilde waved back.

"...Goodbye."

Goodbye. Let’s meet again. It would be nice to meet again.