The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 297: End of Semester (2)

Soon, the parents began to flood in.

The venue was the arena where the final exam rankings were determined.

Tudor vs Bianca for the Cold Department, and Granola and Sinclairee for the Hot Department, took the stage to compete.

Additionally, the top-performing students from the 2nd and 3rd years also joined the competition. Dolores, the student council president and senior, was no exception.

Parents, meeting their children inside the academy after a long time, hugged and asked about their experiences…

“Our son! We missed you! Are you eating well?”

“Well, daughter. Why aren’t you participating in the ranking match over there?”

“What? Is that a place to determine the senior ranking? Oh, I see, it’s not the usual stage for ordinary students.”

“Next time, make sure you can stand in that position too.”

“It’s reassuring that our child is receiving the same excellent education as those outstanding kids.”

“Make sure you also make friends with such friends around you. That’s why we sent you to Colosseo Academy.”

Amidst parents’ encouragement, pressure, compliments, and various reactions, a new dynamic of competition and friendship emerged. The parents’ visit was originally designed to achieve this effect.

Meanwhile, Tudor and Bianca, anticipating the final showdown of the semester, exchanged heated words before the match.

“My father is here, I can’t afford to look pathetic! Sorry, but I have to defeat you.”

“My father is here too, you know? I won’t go easy on you today.”

“Stop bullshitting? Your mid-term grades were lower than mine.”

“No way! I ranked higher than you in the mid-terms.”

“Yes, but that’s before considering the performance evaluation, attitude scores, and extracurricular activity bonus points. Overall, I’m one point higher than you.”

“Do you really have to consider all those things? It doesn’t matter. I’ll turn all these little things upside down today.”

“Upside down? You misspoke. You’re not going to overturn anything today.”

“Why is a girl talking like that? Seriously, it’s not cool.”

“What does it matter if a girl talks like that? Why are you so frail as a guy?”

“I’m not frail. Ugh, just start the match already.”

“You’re really not impressive.”

“You’re not impressive either.”

Tudor and Bianca continued their verbal sparring.

On the other hand, a quiet, cold wind blew between Granola and Sinclaire. Granola was the first to break the silence.

“Hey, commoner. Starting today, I, Granola, the rising star of the Hot Department.”

“….”

“I’ll also become the class president! I won’t yield the position to a commoner!”

“….”

“No complaints, right? Huh?”

Granola inwardly expected Sinclaire to react, holding the possible weight of her response. However, what came back was silence.

“… Childish, as expected.”

Sinclaire murmured, looking at a distant mountain with an expression devoid of any emotion. The innocent and cheerful feeling that used to emanate from her, like a young child, had disappeared. Instead, the atmosphere of a much older sister with considerable experience flowed from her.

Granola was puzzled by why Sinclaire had changed so much overnight, but somehow, he felt his heart pounding.

Finally, the professor serving as the host shouted loudly, capturing everyone’s attention.

[Now, ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention! The final match of the end-sem exams for each department is about to begin!]

The moment the curtain was about to rise on the final event of the semester exams.

* * *

“….”

A place quite distant from the arena.

One person sat on an old wooden bench.

Dolores L Quovadis. The student council president of the Academy.

The final match of the semester exams was destined to be hers.

Once the battles of the first and second years in the Cold and Hot Departments were completed, it would be Dolores’ turn.

However, she was more concerned about something other than her own final exam battle.

It was Sinclaire’s final match.

‘…What should I say to Sinclaire?’

Sinclaire, who was fighting in the finals today. Was suddenly cold and detached from everything and everyone.

Dolores planned to approach Sinclaire and attempt a conversation after the match.

‘But how should I approach her?’

Since the incident at the Bourgeois, Sinclaire had avoided meeting Dolores. Although she seemed to cut ties with everyone, she displayed a particularly cold attitude towards Dolores.

‘…It’s only natural after experiencing such a terrifying incident.’

As Dolores sighed, not knowing how to approach Sinclaire, her eyes widened momentarily.

Before her passed a familiar face.

Walking towards the well in the distance was a male student. It was Vikir.

Suddenly, Dolores recalled Sinclaire’s statement the day before their fight with Belial.

‘Right. Should we ask Big Brother to join us?’

‘…Does he also have an interest in this area?’

When Dolores asked Sinclaire that question, she responded with a bright expression.

‘Big brother is really good at this kind of thing. He reads all the newspapers of media outlet, so he knows how society works well. Lately, he’s been showing a lot of interest in the trade with the natives of Red and Black Mountains. And he even reads old economic newspapers. His enthusiasm is truly impressive!’

‘Big brother comes to the library often, I should tell him when I’m there.’

‘Oh, right~ I don’t know where big brother has been hanging out these days. Figgy do you know where he goes?’

Sinclaire always seemed to have a considerable fondness for Vikir.

So, they must be quite close.

Dolores got up abruptly, heading towards Vikir. It was to create an opportunity to talk to Sinclaire.

Just then, a little kid ran past Dolores.

With jet-black hair, red eyes, fair skin, and adorable chubby cheeks like glutinous rice cakes, the child looked like a doll.

Although Dolores didn’t get a good look as the child passed by quickly, from head to toe, everything about her was cute and charming.

And suddenly, the girl, who ran towards Vikir, said something unbelievable.

“Daddy-!”

Dolores was shocked by those words.

It was like a calm cat climbing onto the boiling pot;

‘Oh no, who on earth is the father of such a young kid?!’

As Dolores was left speechless, in a split second…

…Thunk! Thud!

Vikir swiftly lifted the girl onto his side and started running ahead.

“Uh? HUH?!”

Dolores dashed down the hill from the bench, but Vikir had already taken off down the path near the well in the distance.

* * *

Vikir headed towards a secluded place.

Having stopped by the old well, Vikir finally put down the little girl.

“Pomeranian. When did you come all the way here? Who did you come with?”

“Hehe, I sneaked out, I came with Big Uncle and Grandpa. They always keep me from playing.”

At Pomeranian’s playful words, Vikir touched his forehead with his hand.

He had heard the news through Cindywindy that ‘they’ had left for Venetior for the parent’s meet not too long ago.

‘I got careless, thinking that the Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro were handling it well.’

If they found out that Pomeranian was missing, it would likely cause chaos.

Before that happened, Vikir needed to quickly send her back to Hugo.

Vikir took Pomeranian’s hand.

“Alright, let’s go. Uncle will take you back.”

“Okay!”

Pomeranian obediently followed Vikir,

As they walked down the path, Vikir cautiously asked about Pomeranian’s well-being.

“How’s your Ghostwood doing these days?”

“It’s growing well! But sometimes, I have nightmares at night, and it annoys me!”

“Nightmares, huh? What kind of nightmares do you have?”

“When I have nightmares, demons keep coming out, and they bite me-”

Pomeranian shivered once.

Vikir nodded and gently patted Pomeranian’s head.

“The demons in your nightmares also have nightmares.”

“What do they see in nightmares?”

“…Me”

Vikir, in a slightly eerie voice, showed Pomeranian the Beelzebub on his wrist. Pomeranian’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Wow, Uncle, what’s that?”

“That’s why you don’t have to be afraid of things like demons. Uncle is here.”

So, Pomeranian could continue raising the Ghostwood without any worries. One day, she would provide powerful support to the Human Alliance.

And then, just as Vikir was about to leave the well area, someone grabbed the hem of his coat.

Without any prior warning, a granny appeared, tugging at the edge of Vikir’s coat.

“Ugh, I’m thirsty. Where’s the well, young man?”

A somewhat out-of-place old lady with a shabby white priest’s robe, a hunched back, round face with only a slight bump on her nose covered by thin-rimmed glasses, and sharp, thinly spread eyes.

She seemed like just an ordinary grandmother in every way.

However, when Vikir saw her face, he was so shocked that his stomach churned.

‘This person…?’

The biggest variable in this parents’ meet was right here.