Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer

[Eon's POV: ]

'Seems like she's asleep…'

Tucking the hair covering face behind her ear, I kissed her forehead.

'Dumb girl.'

Calm breathing, peaceful expression, and closed eyes… She's beautiful.

"Keep sleeping."

"Mmm…"

Getting out of the bed, wearing a robe, without making any sound, I walked out into the balcony.

[{ Master? }]

[{ "It's nothing, Celes. Don't worry." }]

She didn't have anything to worry about, just like Rein and the rest who must be enjoying their peaceful night.

[{ I'm here, master… }]

[{ "Of course you are, haha. What would I do without my amazing Celes~?" }]

I'm sleepy but I can't sleep.

I have no need to worry about the little things here, yet… I can't help it.

[{ *The festival?* }]

Lucy knew it. And I know she understood why I was like this as well…

'The headmaster, Lucy.'

Stars and the sky above were pretty.

This island high in the sky and this balcony that brought us even closer to those celestial bodies, all of this is far more amazing than the night sky I've known from the great forest, or from our home.

This place, this island, that academy with that bright star-like energy centre of a top were just too mesmerising for someone who was used to skyscrapers and holographic advertisement billboards.

This is a good place…

'There are demon cultists here and the headmaster wants to eradicate them. I have an idea what he might be after… but, we are believing that we know all that they are capable of.'

Sure we know about most of the individuals that are part of the cult, we know where they are, the kind of powers they have and we know what kind of techs and tricks they might have under their sleeves.

But, that's the extent of our understanding of those extremely unpredictable beings.

'I know you don't want me to go into what ifs and speculations, you're logical and will be like that… but I can't help it, you know?'

What if what the headmaster is planning is exactly what they want us to do?

What if the being behind these cultists already knows what we might be after, what if they even know what we know about them?

'There are many things that wouldn't logically make sense, but if I can think about it, doesn't that mean there is a possibility that it might be possible?'

[{ *Yes… master. That's possible." }]

Logically, she couldn't deny it either.

A complete probability of (1) could not exist… Since it is known that 'nothing' is not possible, the absolute certainty of something also does not exist.

A unique consciousness like her would know that better than me.

'I don't want anything to go wrong, Lucy.'

There were a few wine glasses and a bottle with some refined alcohol left in it.

-Shuuup.

The glass flew to me when I wished for it, and then, Celes poured me a drink…

'But the opponents are not simple villains.'

I know it isn't confirmed yet, but I'm pretty sure the corrupt cardinal that was taken by the Masters was, in some way, connected to these cultists.

'And if that was true, the possibility of some gods or divinities having connections with the cult would also be a possibility…'

If that's the case, then, what will we do when the cult aims for the island or the academy itself without caring about hiding their existence?

What will we do when the island is engulfed in another battle that would be even more prone to casualties than Lakmer's battle?

'We wouldn't even have any preparations in place if that happens.'

[{ *But master-.* }]

'I know. I know the headmaster would consider this possibility as well, Lucy. And I trust him.'

If there is anyone I trust regarding the safety of the academy and my fellow students, then that would be the headmaster.

But, I cannot say the same if the entire island gets involved. And, I cannot take out the possibility that the headmaster as well as anyone who fights against the cult would get severely hurt in the process either.

'What if people die again, Lucy?'

There would be a heavy storm all throughout the world if the news of a terrorist attack on the island of magic's wealth spreads.

'If the people find out about the cult in any manner and there's a misinformation overload, you know even the headmaster won't be able to clean it up, right?'

[{ *I do… I do understand that, master. And, I've feared that something would happen as well.* }]

After the Lakmer incident, ever since we found out about this cult, ever since we started to dig deeper into this cult, what we have found out until now has always been a new shocking fact.

[{ *However, master. What good will it bring to just worry about something we could only speculate?* }]

Starting with their abnormal scale to their unknown hideouts. Their horrible training method to their unconventional knowledge about various things.

The lengths some of them would willingly cross, the amount of lives they would take without any care, and the kind of devotion they have for everything they are doing for someone who might just be using them as disposable tools…

'I'm afraid, Lucy.'

All of it was scary. And if it scares even me, I don't even know how the Headmaster, the one in charge of the entire great academy, the future of this world, and perhaps the only mortal that has the ability to go against this cult on the same level… would be feeling while taking each step forward into this mess.

[{ *Are you afraid of the scale of the cult… or are the responsibilities the one scaring you, master?* }]

Responsibilities…

'I don't know.'

What responsibilities do I have and what gives me those responsibilities?

I'm not the headmaster that has to look after the world, I'm also not a ruler that has to look after his people.

I'm a student, a brother, a son, and a friend to some… perhaps some of these roles give me some responsibilities, but, what more am I?

'If I use a Question, can you tell me why I'm so anxious, Lucy?'

She helps me and answers the questions even though I do not know the answers. She guides me sometimes as well, like the firefly in darkness.

So this time as well… I wanted to know why someone like me who doesn't even have any authority or responsibilities like They do… can't sleep in this serene atmosphere.

I wanted that answer.

[{ *You don't have to use a Question for something as simple as this, Master.* }]

But, the question itself wasn't something as complicated as I wanted it to be.

[{ "You might not have been given the responsibility to look after anything, maybe the people around you and the ones you're closest to also don't want you to be burned by anything, but… as you know, you have power and knowledge that others don't." }]

I was saying something very similar to Rein just a while ago. And now she's telling me the same thing.

[{ "You care. That's the reason you are feeling so anxious. And, you're questioning the headmaster's decision and are questioning his judgement… which is pretty valid.

You're simply being a little arrogant and you know that as well, it's nothing too complicated." }]

'Arrogance isn't good though, Lucy.'

[{ *Yet it is what powerful and wise people always encounter on their path.* }]

Now that I think about it… she's right.

'If I'm so worried, just how much tension would the headmaster have?'

He must have prepared a lot for this already. He must have thought about everything I might think and more, and perhaps he had many hidden cards up his sleeves.

'We haven't even had any chance to talk yet, so why was I even worried?'

Finishing the glass, I placed it back in its place after washing it with some magic.

'Thanks, Lucy.'

The headmaster would tell us about what he was up to and I can worry about other things later.

Being arrogant and believing I was superior to him, or anyone for that matter isn't good. Especially when I am not even strong enough to defeat the cult members present on the island.

[{ *It is nothing, master.* }]

I went back inside and to the left in our bedroom.

She was still sleeping peacefully. There was a smile on her face actually.

'Ain't I a lucky person?'

Even in that disguise, with her long black hair covering her face once again, even though she looked a mess, even without any pretty clothes, she was beautiful.

And even though she carried a great burden on her shoulders, even though the kind of things she sees everyday aren't something 'nice' she's sleeping peacefully.

[{ *You should learn from her, master.* }]
Experience more on empire

'I should, right?'

I'm no god, and I'm no emperor.

Yes there are things that will need my attention, but on a beautiful peaceful night like this, when there was no war going on around me, I did not have to worry about what hasn't even started.

'Let's go back to sleep.'

Putting the robe to the side, after placing the blanket back on her, I went inside it and hugged my pretty fiancée.

"Grrrrr…"

And after making a funny sound, her hand also wrapped around mine.

'Cute.'

We couldn't meet the headmaster today, but Cradle told us he was busy at the moment and would be expecting us tomorrow morning.

She also told us he wanted to tell us something, so we should look forward to it…

'A battle is on the horizon.'

But that horizon isn't going to be visible for a few more weeks.

It's better to spend the peaceful nights sleeping since… who knows what will happen once the storm arrives.