I Became a Murderer in the Academy.-Chapter 124

“I wasn't looking at anything. You were the one staring.”

“I-I didn't look at anything specifically…”

Perhaps she had been caught staring out of concern. Clana's face turned slightly red, and she quickly turned her head away.

And then, Iria, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, let out a sigh.

It wouldn't be beneficial for her to turn Clana into an enemy for her future life, but it seemed that the grudge from that time ran deep.

Hadn't she tried to apologize in her own way?

Iria recalled the words she had said when she called Clana aside.

“Please forget about what happened then. It would be better for both of us if we can end this cleanly without any lingering resentment.”

“Are you threatening me?!”

Looking back, it wasn't exactly an apology.

Rather than trying to threaten her, she had simply spoken her mind.

“...”

Iria's lack of eloquence was to blame.

What she had intended to improve their relationship had instead led to deep misunderstandings.

“Come on, you all should stop fighting and get along. Why are people with similar hair colors arguing?”

“B-but that person started it with me…”

“Are you going to keep that up?”

“I’m sorry…”

Seeing that it was getting out of hand, Sera stepped in to mediate, but it didn't have much effect.

Instead, the awkwardness only continued.

They all thought that this situation couldn't go on. Iria thought so, and Clana thought so too.

Iria wasn't the only one wanting to improve their relationship. Clana, who was struggling with this living situation, felt that something needed to change.

Thus, these two socially awkward individuals were moving towards a common goal.

Love your enemies.

That was the teaching from the church.

Clana recalled the events she had with Iria.

From the day when Iria had taken her wallet while pretending to save her from danger to the many days when she had meddled and extorted money from her.

Those were undoubtedly painful days.

At first, she had emulated Iria's behavior, having learned it the wrong way.

But it wasn't all bad influence. It was also true that she learned about the world quickly because of it.

It was wise to be cautious about the kindness that comes without reason. Clana was no longer a fool who knew nothing.

She had seen enough outside the church.

Iria's bullying, well, it wouldn't be a lie to say it didn't help at all.

So Clana decided to forgive Iria.

She had resolved to treat her enemy with kindness as the church taught. After all, she was a merciful saint.

This time, Clana called Iria aside. It was to seek reconciliation.

“What is it?”

When she arrived at the meeting place, Iria was already there, looking difficult to read as always.

'Oh, I came here today to reconcile with that bad person!'

'Even though I dislike her, the hero and Sera seem to trust her!'

'Perhaps I misunderstood, and she’s actually a good person.'

Clana had once asked others how to reconcile with someone she had a falling out with.

And the answer given by her protector, the abbess, was to give a meaningful gift.

If she presented it along with an apology, surely Iria would accept it.

Though it was Clana who was forgiving rather than apologizing, she thought it was a good approach nonetheless.

So she prepared a gift for Iria. Although she wasn't sure what to give, she finally settled on something good.

It was something anyone would appreciate, and it was valuable too.

“I-I will especially forgive you for what happened last time. I'm generous like that. Here, take this.”

Clana handed Iria a holy water that she had prepared herself.

It was particularly concentrated. She had made it just last night, and it still held a faint warmth.

Seeing it, Iria...

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“Ugh…”

Made a face that clearly expressed how much she did not want it.

Her usual expression was rather flat, but this was distinct. Iria stepped back with a furrowed brow.

Iria was sensitive to the divine because she was a demon. She avoided even regular holy water, and this one, made directly by a saintess, was deeply concentrated.

The moment she touched it, her hand would likely catch fire.

“Do you not like the gift? If you don't like holy water, I could perform a miracle for you. That's my specialty.”

“...”

Iria's expression went pale.

She stepped back in fear. This time, Iria rummaged through her pockets.

“...Take this.”

“Excuse me?”

Iria pulled her wallet out from her pocket and handed it to Clana.

It was a moment when the dynamics of bullying were turned upside down.

From that day onward, Iria’s gaze toward Clana changed.

While still wearing her usual dazed expression, she subtly began to observe Clana's reactions.

Holy water and divine power were torment for Iria. Just being near it caused her body to reject it, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Iria thought Clana was coming to her to exact revenge. Forgiveness? No, that crazy saintess had finally come to kill her.

So she had given her wallet. In the academy, Clana was like Iria's natural enemy.

If this somehow eased her feelings, she could part with a wallet.

But Clana's bullying toward Iria continued.

“It seems you don't really like holy water, so I baked some cookies… Ah! Would you like to try one right now?”

“...”

Clana said this as she offered Iria a cookie.

And.

Iria couldn't eat human food. If she did, her stomach would twist, causing her extreme pain.

She took her wallet out of her pocket again and handed it back to Clana.

“Why?!”

“Just take it.”

Iria was in the middle of settling her karma.

After an unexpectedly exhausting day at the academy, Iria was on her way home.

Today, Iria walked the streets of the back alleys.

For no particular reason, just lost in memories.

It was a half-collapsed, blood-soaked place, but her affection for it was deep.

It was where her journey in the Empire had begun and where it would come to an end. She planned to visit this place once more before leaving the Empire for a long journey.

Iria would be meeting the Demon Lord’s army. The truth she sought was there.

Of course, it was uncertain whether anything would change upon learning it.

Perhaps the truth was something so brutal that it would be better to remain ignorant.

Still, she intended to go.

She had no doubt it was related to the conclusion of this world.

Iria continued walking through the back alleys. It was a place tainted by thick black magic.

The magic here was that which Iria had unleashed in a rampage a year and several months ago. The concentration was so high that it had yet to be purified.

Touching such remnants, she fell into a bit of thought.

This was the magic that had devoured her old friend. Closing her eyes and recalling the past, she could hear Liana’s voice calling her name while screaming.

But now, she felt nothing.

“...”

It was empty.

Very much so.

That unique feeling of having an empty void inside couldn't be filled by mingling with people at the academy.

It only swelled when she killed a human. Emotions only surfaced when she drank human blood.

That’s why she couldn't bear that hollow feeling, and sometimes Iria sought out the back alleys.

Even if nothing changed by coming here, it felt more comforting than anywhere else.

Before she knew it, she had arrived at the place where she killed her friend, and she placed a single flower there.

The one she had left last time had been washed away by the rain.

Soon, she might not be able to visit the back alleys that she held dear.

Iria lay down on the ground there.

'Should I sleep rough today?'

Fortunately, it was a day when it wasn't raining.