The city's uproars and lively atmosphere are what greeted me for the first time in my life. People are so briskly strolling in this sparkly marketplace. The airship landed on the surface.
"Welcome!"
"The Empire has prepared a celebration party for the students. Please, go to the reception area."
"Welcome our great students!"
My eyes were bewildered by the stunning lights everywhere. People are smiling worry-free from trouble. Just looking at them makes me feel happy too. —What the hell am I thinking, this is not me at all. I shook my head countlessly, and from distance, I heard Sekki and his brother talking.
"Wah! The city is lively. Brother! Please buy me some merch, alright?"
"Why don't you buy using your own money."
"Blegh, stingy."
Anyways, it'll be better if I get going. They said there is a reception for the students. I'll just go there since there is nothing to do here.
I head off, although I'm not fascinated by the people and the celebration. I can't seem to take my eyes off them. They are all here to celebrate, have some bonding time together, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime moment.
It's not sad, but the jealousy that was lingering with me is eating me slowly. If only my parents were with me, then I could smile like those smiles on their faces. But there's nothing that will happen if I keep on wishing something won't happen.
My legs began strolling into the busy street of the market. While I'm on it, I have seen a variety of things that I haven't seen before.
Floating strange things, mirrors that can change your outfit, balloons that contain strange Artes. Curiosity hung on me for a while, it's not like I want to feel this but this is my first-time seeing people showcase their Artes just to catch the eyes of the citizen. I've never thought to myself that Empire allows people to do these things freely. Once again, I still don't know things, rules on the surface. It'll be best if I adopt this kind of nature since I'm going to stay here for two or three months at least.
"Woah!" Nearby, I'd heard a disturbance. People are gathered in the corner. It seems that there's something in there.
Naturally, I don't like to meddle in things like that but since I'm already here. I couldn't just ignore it. The nearer I'm getting there, the louder the noises it can be.
"Boss!"
"Ahaha! I thought you were strong, that is why I fought you. I've never thought you are this weak."
"W-what did you say?!"
"Hm? You didn't hear me? Don't you think there's something wrong with your ears?"
"You bastard!"
There are two people who are commencing a duel right in the crowds. One with dark hair, he looks older and sluggish adult. His opponent was somewhat teen, who has blonde hair. Both of them are holding weapons. The adult's holding a warrior sword, as for the other one, he only uses a cane. It's not even sharp to cut down an enemy.
The adult ran toward blonde hair, his sword flung straightly to the blonde. However, all I had to see on the blonde's face was his very own smirk. He vanished right through the enemy's sight in just a single blink of an eye.
"Woahh! W-where did he go?"
Everyone was in deep commotion, trying to track down the blonde's location but no one expected that he would appear right behind his enemy. Not all that, he was holding the enemy's shoulder.
"Checkmate."
"E—Ekk!?"
"Kaminari Strike...!" His eyes flashed in deep ocean colour, and within his hand. A thunder envelope as it roared directly at his enemy. The adult was electrified, he was like a chicken that was fried cruelly.
"Aaaaaaa..." The only thing that he can do is shout in pain until he passed out.
"Ahaha! Ahaha! I couldn't believe that you passed out because of that! Ahaha!"
Well, anyone would pass out if they get electrified. Although I did not expect to see a very flashy fighting style, I guess strolling in this place wasn't bad at all. Not to mention, he uses a Kaminari type of Artes.
"You!" Four people stepped in. They are all holding an annoyed facial expression toward the blonde's. It seems that the four people are accomplices of the guy who passed out.
"Eh? What is it? What is it? Do you guys want to fight me? If you guys want to experience what happened to your boss then I wouldn't mind. Ahaha! Come!"
He is really inviting them to fight him. What a troublesome person.
"..Humph!" however, instead of answering him. The four people suddenly took their boss away and ran away like a duck.
"Eh. Boring."
After that, the crowd started to lay down. They went elsewhere instead, which leaves the blonde standing right there and, "Gah!" Why is he looking at me? T'was also smiling.
"Ahaha! Are you a Student from the Chasseur?"
Why is he even laughing like that? It's creepy, there's nothing to laugh about.
"What if I am?"
"Nice to meet you. My name is Fukase Oz. I'm not suspicious of anyone, I hope we can be friends."
No no, you're already suspicious when you talked to me like this.
"Hmph. I'm not interested."
I was about to go when the blonde abruptly took my hand as he forced me to run with him.
"H-hey! What do you think you are doing?!'
"Ahaha! Come with me for a while, Miss Hmph. I will show you something special! Ahaha!"
"W-what the!!"
The blonde's—, He brought me to a place where there was a hill and we could see the vast starry sky. Below was the Market place that was glimmering beautifully.
"Isn't it beautiful?" It's not like I don't like this, "Suddenly bringing me here even though we don't know each other. What do you think you are doing?!"
Instead of getting touchy-touch with a place that is supposed to be romantic. I couldn't help but feel pissed at him.
"I've already told you my name, didn't I? Ahaha! Fuka—"
"I told you I don't care!"
"Ahaha! Ahaha! You're weird. People mostly feel pleasured if I am the one to approach but how come you aren't interested in me?"
"You are really asking me that? Are you stupid? I'm clearly a stranger—."
"I don't care! Ahaha! I feel that we can be friends in some way! Ahaha!"
Ah. This person is hopeless.
"I'm leaving."
I turned on as I was about to walk out when he spouted something that kind of bothered me.
"Be careful. They are watching your every move. If you are reckless as you are now. You will simply become their puppet who will not gain any freedom for the rest of your life."
***
I finally made it back to the market. After getting across to that weird guy, I've never seen him. It just surprised me a little when he mentioned something like that. I know that they are watching me but I didn't think he could tell that they are watching me at all. He talked to me like we know each other either, it kind of bothered me somehow.
I had better go to the reception area where the Empire prepared something for the students. I'm somewhat starving after all. I walked to the path where it would lead me to the place but someone interrupted my walk when a girl who was holding a basket of flowers walked in to stop me.
"What the!"
"Say, beautiful Sister. Would you like to buy flowers? While they are still fresh—"
"No," I answered without hesitation. I tried to ignore her by walking away but this girl started following me either. "Please beautiful Sister, I—buy some of my flowers."
I don't hate flowers but also, there is no reason for me to buy them. I don't have any place to stay, and of course, won't have any containers that'll I use for those flowers.
"I told you already." I turned to her, "I don't have the intention to buy anything from you." and left her there.
"How rude..." (Well, that's the only thing I want to hear from you.)
The girl who was following me finally left. Sighed. Why do people keep on bothering me randomly? First that Sekki guy, then, that Fukase and now, the girl. Seriously, did they plan all of this today?
Anyways, there's nothing I could do about them.
***
I successfully reached the reception area. There I found a bunch of students partying and having a social conversation with each other. There's nothing fancy about the party. Food, drinks, and music that are commonly found at a party is the only thing I see.
The students that were presented in this place were unknown to me. Actually, I haven't seen most of them in the examination. But what really bothers me was not whether I saw them or not, but this tension in the atmosphere. I can feel much of the Artes leaking around the area violently.
It was rather terrifying to feel and be here at the same time. These people aren't normal at all. Why are they taking out such powerful Artes in this area anyway?
"Did you hear? The Montella house accumulated a good Rank this year. The heir of the Montella beat the first Ranker Silversehl and now they are leading chart."
"Really? But there was no announcement made about that news."
"Exactly, because the Montella house doesn't want to catch the eye of the public. They are basically hiding this news from us."
Montella? Silversehl? Those families are new to me. To be honest, I don't know about people who are in the Chasseur. I didn't know they had competition in the leading Chart. Well, if they were to ask me, I believe I'm also in the leading Chart. It's just people don't make a fuss about it, especially the President. I don't have a family that will represent my name. My family name, Altair, was considered to be a sinful surname by the Empire.
They don't allow me to use it. In the end, Euphemia without a surname was the only name I got. But the teacher from the Empire still used to call me by my surname so I feel a little relieved.
"Good evening, everyone."
"It's the son from the Montella house."
"Wow. He is gorgeous."
"On top of that, he is also powerful."
"I've never thought he will really be going to visit the celebration."
These people behind me really love to gossip with each other. Anyway, I'll just get some food here and move to a quiet place.
I don't have any intention of staying here and meddling in myself. I strolled further and further while carrying a plate of food. After this, I will look for an inn for me to stay in tonight. I find a peaceful place entangled like a Maze made of flowers and plants. It wasn't that far; the big Oak tree seems to be standing in the middle of the maze.
"That place seems to be peaceful." That's why I ended up going there. It wasn't that hard for me to locate the Oaktree. There were no people around, it was dark but the moon's sun was upon so it wasn't a problem either.
"Perfect." This is perfect for me. I sat under the oak tree as I began munching the food I got from the reception.
While eating, I couldn't help but think of other people. If only I had friends like other people, I could have a free lodge, free food—. "I'm not poor but I can't bring myself using the money I've got from the Empire. That was the result of hard work. I can't spend it so freely."
"Ahaha! Is that so? Then why don't you just give it to me?"
A voice came out of nowhere, not to mention it was this familiar.
"W-who?!" I've tried looking at the voice's source on the side of the tree.
"Yo!" and startled by someone, "Ahhhhh!!"
"Y-y-y-y-y-you?! What are you doing here?!"
"Eh... This is my house. Erm, ahaha. I meant, the house of Silversehl."
"EEEEEEHHH?!"