Chapter 342: Edelweiss, Addicted to Floating!
Splash, splash—!
Hearing the sound of water beside her ears, Edelweiss asked,
"Are you leaving?"
"Yeah. I can't keep delaying. I still have to go back and check. I'm a little worried after all."
Luke felt the small amount of mana and Prana that had slightly recovered inside him, as well as the mental fluctuations he had barely suppressed.
To be honest, for him right now, resting was the most important thing.
His body had almost reached its limit.
It was not just the injuries he had mentioned while chatting with Edelweiss earlier. It was more fatigue and overload.
With the double burden on his mind and body, it was already incredible that Luke had not fainted outright.
"Although this is the second time, I still can't understand that monster-like body of yours."
"With injuries and burdens of this level, it should be impossible for you to move your body."
Edelweiss looked at Luke as he gradually rose and slowly stood on the water's surface, her words carrying undisguised amazement.
"But… aren't you forcing yourself too much?"
"I should have told you Rebellion's plan. Hagun's teachers and students won't be killed. Instead of worrying about them, shouldn't you worry about yourself first?"
"If you keep forcing your body like this and end up causing some serious injury, then the victory you took from me won't have much meaning."
"Besides, I don't think the current you still has enough strength to participate in battle."
While listening to Edelweiss's persuasion, Luke took out a bottle of elixir from the Portable Pocket.
He poured the potion over his body.
After feeling his injuries quickly recover and his fatigue grow a little heavier again, Luke finally replied.
"I'm not worried about Ikki and the others' safety."
"You already explained it to me, and I also believe you must have handled that properly."
"Including Arisuin, everyone should be fine in the end. I'm right, aren't I?"
"Since you understand, then why still—"
Edelweiss's question was interrupted by Luke before she could finish.
"The ones I'm worried about aren't them. Quite the opposite. I think the people who need to be worried about more are Rebellion's members."
Seeing the surprised gaze Edelweiss cast at him, Luke smiled and did not explain too much.
"The reason I'm going over is because I'm worried a certain person's rampage won't stop."
"If the rampage lasts too long and puts too much burden on the body, leaving aftereffects, that would be bad."
Luke's words made Edelweiss understand even more deeply just how outstanding the boy before her was.
"You arranged a backup plan over there too?"
"Not one. Two."
After moving his body slightly and feeling that it was about ready, Luke prepared to set out.
"Although I don't think the second one will be needed."
Luke looked in the direction of Hagun Academy.
Barring anything unexpected, a rampaging Stella should be enough to sweep away those Rebellion members.
Even if they had another hidden card, even if it was a world-class powerhouse, it would probably not be enough before the dragonified girl.
Hearing the faint sense of "everything is under control" revealed in Luke's words, Edelweiss knew that Rebellion's plan this time had completely failed.
Luke was absolutely going to return to Hagun Academy to take a look.
Edelweiss had seen through that from the very beginning.
That was why she had originally thought that if Akatsuki Academy's plan over there proceeded smoothly, then once Luke went over, with his current condition, he would definitely be captured by Pierrot and the others.
At that time, even if she lost, the plan would still be considered complete.
But now, it seemed there was probably no chance at all.
'This is fine too.'
The failure of the plan did not make Edelweiss angry.
On the contrary, she was actually quite satisfied with this result.
If not for the fact that she owed Rebellion some favors, and because she was extremely interested in Luke, Edelweiss would never have participated in this kind of plan in the first place.
Although she had not gone all out, she had fulfilled her basic obligation.
Glancing at Luke, who was preparing to leave, Edelweiss tentatively asked,
"Before you go, can you clean up the water?"
"…If you don't mind me cutting both you and the lake together with one sword strike, then I'll clean it up."
Luke looked at Edelweiss with some amusement.
It was not that he was really that lazy.
It was just that, right now, he truly could not do it.
This lake could be considered the result of him desperately squeezing himself dry back then.
With his current physical condition, it was impossible for Luke to guide the water away like before.
He might even have to fight the rampaging Stella later.
Edelweiss could not possibly fail to judge that.
In Luke's view, she simply wanted to tease him.
Sure enough, when she heard that Luke could at most split the lake apart, Edelweiss, who still planned to float for a while, silently looked away.
Shaking his head, Luke stuffed a bottle of potion into Edelweiss's hand, then turned and left in the direction of Hagun Academy.
After he took a few steps, the words coming from behind made him pause slightly.
"Don't forget. Come to Sword Peak when you have time."
"…Yeah. Your clothes and food are still with me. I'll bring them over in a few days."
"Then it's settled. I'll wait for you at home."
"Okay…"
…
After Luke left, a figure arrived beside the lake at extremely high speed.
"W-What is this?!"
Kurono stared in shock at the completely changed terrain before her, momentarily unable to speak.
The sword energy and sword intent recklessly lingering in the air, as well as other dangerous auras mixed among them, all told Kurono exactly what kind of miserable battle had taken place here.
Looking down through the clear lake water, she could easily see the battlefield remains below, which looked like ruins.
"This kind of large-scale environmental destruction… What exactly happened here… No! Luke!"
Kurono's expression changed drastically, and she immediately intended to rush in and search for her school's student.
However, before she could move, a voice reached her ears first.
"If you're looking for Luke, he has already gone back to Hagun Academy."
The sudden voice startled Kurono, and she immediately looked toward the direction it came from.
A black and white pair of guns instantly appeared in her hands, and her entire body entered a battle-ready state.
Then she saw something slowly drifting toward her…
"C-Corpse…?"
"It has been a long time, but that greeting is truly rude, World Clock."
"Have you ever seen a corpse that can talk?"
"…"
Looking at the peak of this world drifting strangely before her, and hearing the other party's calm words, Kurono froze where she stood.
Completely unable to understand the current situation, she stared blankly at the "corpse" drifting toward her in the lake.
"Edelweiss?!?!?!"
…
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