Peace Hunter

At the same time, at the academy.

Irene and I were currently in my dorm. We were both cleaning up the dishes we had just used for dinner. We chatted as we cleaned up, making the atmosphere less awkward.

"What time are you leaving for the New Year's Eve celebrations, Rid?" Irene asked.

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe I'll go when Noa or Charles comes to call me," I said.

"Hmm, then I'll go if you go too," Irene said.

"Are you planning to stay here until they call me to the New Year's Eve celebrations, Irene?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's fine, right?" Irene asked.

"That's fine. But what if Chloe comes to your dorm and calls you to the New Year's Eve celebrations, but you're not there?" I asked.

"If she came to my dorm to call me and there was no answer, Chloe would know I was in your dorm. After that, she would definitely come to your dorm to call me. Since Chloe is also coming with Prince Charles, you will also be called to go to the New Year's Eve celebrations," Irene said.

"Well, you have a point. Well, if you want to stay here, then stay here," I said.

"Ok. By the way, about the gift from Her Majesty the Queen that you asked to be sent to your hometown, have you thought it arrived yet? You said Her Majesty the Queen would send it on New Year's Eve, right?" Irene asked.

"Yes. The gifts have probably been distributed to the residents there by now. If they have been sent, a representative of Her Majesty the Queen will definitely inform me," I said.

"Ok then," Irene said.

Then we finished cleaning up the tableware we had used. After that, Irene looked at the clock on the wall.

"Hmm, it's still 7 PM. I think the others will call you around 9 or 10 PM. There's still plenty of time before they come and call you. While I wait, can I borrow your book to read, Rid?" Irene asked.

"Just take it to my room, Irene," I said.

"Ok. Any book is fine?" Irene asked.

"Yes, you can read any book in my room. Whether it's knowledge books, magic techniques, or anything else," I said.

"Ok," Irene said.

Irene then went to my room, while I just sat on the chair in the living room.

-

9 PM.

Noa, Charles, and the others came and called me to go to the New Year's Eve celebration. Since Irene happened to be in my dorm, she was invited to come along as well. Irene and I immediately accepted their invitation to go to the New Year's Eve celebration.

On the way, we chatted. The boys chatted with other boys, while the girls chatted with other girls.

"You've been in Rid's dorm since earlier, haven't you, Miss?" Leandra asked.

"Yes," Irene said.

"What were you doing in Rid's dorm, Miss?" Lily asked.

"The usual. Just eating together, chatting, or reading books," Irene said.

"Didn't you do anything suspicious with Rid in his dorm?" Lily asked.

"Suspicious things? I don't know what you're talking about," Irene said.

"It's pointless for you to ask that, Lily. Miss doesn't seem interested in it," Leandra said.

"Yes, I think you're right, Lea," Lily said.

Meanwhile, Irene just looked at the two of them without saying a word.

"By the way, should we go straight to the academy lake?" Noa asked.

"Let's go to the shopping area first. We need to buy lots of food and drinks before we head to the academy lake," said Charles.

"That's right. We need to buy food and drinks first so we can enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations," said Noa.

Then we all went to the shopping area to buy food and drinks.

-

After that, we went straight to the academy lake. When we arrived at the academy lake, there were already many people there. They seemed to want to enjoy New Year's Eve at the lake. So we looked for a comfortable spot on the lake to enjoy New Year's Eve. We found a spot on the edge of the academy lake to watch the fireworks that were part of the New Year's Eve celebrations. Then, we sat down and arranged the food and drinks we had bought. After that, we chatted while waiting for the New Year's Eve to come.

After chatting for a while, the clock struck midnight, signaling the new year. Fireworks began to explode and soar over the capital city of San Estella. The sky was filled with fireworks. I continued to gaze up at the fireworks-filled sky.

"This is the second time we've celebrated New Year's Eve at this academy," Charles said.

"Yes, second time," I said.

As I continued to gaze up at the fireworks-filled sky, I suddenly felt homesick for my hometown, Aston Village.

"Why do I miss Aston Village? When I first joined the New Year's Eve celebrations at this academy, I didn't miss it. Could it be that I've met the people from Aston Village for the first time in a long time, that's why I miss it so much? Besides that feeling of longing, I also feel a sense of unease. I don't know what this unease is, but perhaps it's a sign that something is about to happen. Well, I'd better not think about it too much," I thought.

I continued to look up at the sky above the capital of San Fulgen, filled with fireworks, to take my mind off it.

-

Meanwhile, at the same time, on a road in the San Minerva region.

The road led to Aston Village. On the road, Commander Keira and her knights were seen riding horses towards Aston Village. Behind the horses were five horse-drawn carriages carrying Commander Keira's knights.

"All of you, speed up your horses. Even though it's New Year's Eve, we must still carry out our assigned duties."

"Her Majesty, through Commander Oliver, informed us that the royal knights sent to deliver gifts to Aston Village have not received any news. It seems something has happened in the village. We must hurry," thought Commander Keira.

"Yes, Commander," said her knights.

Commander Keira and her knights continued to advance towards Aston Village. As they neared Aston Village, Commander Keira and her knights saw black smoke billowing into the sky.

"What is that black smoke?" asked Commander Keira.

"It looks like a huge fire is breaking out, Commander. And the position of the black smoke looks exactly like the location of Aston Village," said one of the knights.

"So the black smoke is probably coming from Aston Village? Increase your speed, we must hurry," said Commander Keira.

"Yes, Commander," said the knights.

Commander Keira and her knights increased their speed to reach Aston Village as soon as possible.

Upon arriving at Aston Village, Commander Keira and her knights looked utterly shocked.

"What is this?" asked Commander Keira, shocked.

Commander Keira was shocked to see that all the buildings in the village had been burned. The burning buildings were what sent the black smoke billowing into the sky. In addition to the burned buildings, the people in the village were also seen to have died horribly. Some of them died with their bodies completely charred, some with body parts severed or perforated, and some with their bodies intact but covered in blood. The bodies of the dead were scattered across the village streets and around the burned-out buildings. Among the dead were several royal knights tasked by Her Majesty the Queen to deliver gifts to the village. Several of the horse-drawn carriages the knights were riding in had also been destroyed, along with the goods they were carrying.

"Who did this?" asked Commander Keira, shocked.

-

Back at the academy, 4:20 a.m.

Miss Violetta and I had just finished our usual sparring practice.

"By the way, Miss, where were you during New Year's Eve?" I asked.

"I was at the academy gate with some of my knights. What's wrong?" Miss Violetta asked.

"I see. I was just wondering if you were celebrating New Year's Eve too. I was wondering if the adults at the academy were celebrating, because when I was at the academy lake to enjoy New Year's Eve, there were only students there. I didn't see any of the academy's staff or faculty," I said.

"Well, my knights and I also saw the fireworks, and we also provided food and drinks for the New Year's celebrations. You could say we were celebrating too. The adults at the academy definitely celebrate New Year's too, but perhaps their way of celebrating is different," Miss Violetta said.

"Yes, it seems so," I said.

Miss Violetta and I continued our conversation. As we were chatting, we heard footsteps approaching. We both immediately turned to where the footsteps came from. When we turned, we saw Miss Karina walking towards us.

"Good morning, both of you," Miss Karina said as she walked towards us.

"Good morning, miss," Miss Violetta and I said.

"What's your business here so early in the morning, Miss? Are you just taking a morning walk?" asked Miss Violetta.

"I came here because there's something I want to tell Rid," said Miss Karina.

"I see. Then, Miss, please take Rid with you, or I'll leave so you can tell Rid without me overhearing," said Miss Violetta.

"No need, you can stay here. Besides, what I want to tell Rid isn't a secret," said Miss Karina.

"Very well, Miss," said Miss Violetta.

Miss Karina then turned to me.

"What is it you want to tell me, Miss?" I asked.

Miss Karina fell silent after hearing my question. Her expression suggested she didn't want to speak. But soon, she began.

"I actually didn't want to tell you this. However, even without me telling you, you would have found out about it anyway. So I decided to tell you so you could know in advance."

"It's about Aston Village, your hometown, Rid," said Miss Karina.

"Aston Village? What's wrong with Aston Village?" I asked.

"Her Majesty the Queen just informed me that Aston Village has been attacked. All the buildings in the village have been burned down, and everyone in the village has died," said Miss Karina.

I was shocked after hearing Miss Karina's words.

"What?!?!?" I said, shocked.

-To be continued

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