Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

Almark ran through the woods.

It's such a fierce way to run that the bounced soil rises far up.

The scenery flows as if it were flying.

On the way, I encountered a torque that seemed to have been training in the morning or something walking in front of me.

"What's wrong?"

Torque shouts in surprise at Almark's momentum.

Another monster?

He's not answering.

Almark screamed back and broke with the torque.

I felt that the torque said something, but at that time the torque was far behind and the words could not reach Almark's ears.

Almark increased his speed even further.

Pass the banned entrance bid for the elementary school and pass the water fields of Mora's raw parts and Gugu.

By the time I passed by the side of the stone with the blue crest, I was starting to lose my breath, but I still ran without slowing down.

Eventually, the forest opened.

Beyond the Fountain of Lulu, there was just one girl student about to enter a cave that had been perforated.

Here, we're in time.

Almark ran and screamed.

Leila!

In the quiet forest, Almark's shouts resonated surprisingly well.

Leila looked back as if she had been hit.

Leila's surprised expression moved her mouth.

I didn't hear a voice, but I thought I said, "Why are you here?"

Almark ran along the fountain.

Wait a minute, Leila.

As she screamed, she circled around the spring and reached Leila.

"Great. I caught up with him."

"... why are you here?"

Leila saw Almark with her unbelievable eyes.

"You were talking to Wendy in front of the dorm."

"I'm running."

He said he was running.

Leila shakes her head.

"How far do you think it is from the dorm?"

"Yeah, so I'm a little tired."

Almark put his hand on his hips and breathed heavily.

"It's been a long time since I've run this far with all my might. I've been dull since I came to the academy."

"You still do incredible things."

Leila said that surprisingly and then glanced at Almark with her usual cold expression.

"So, what do you want from me when you come after me like this?

I'm here to stop you.

Almark brutally wiped his forehead sweat and replied.

Leila's expression became steep for a moment.

"The fountain cave is a place where junior students cannot enter. You're trying to get in there alone."

"Do something extra."

Leila told her to throw up.

Who asked you to do that?

"Nobody. I came at my own will."

Almark said.

Leila, don't do anything dangerous.

"I'm going."

Leila said.

"If you want to, you can report anything to your teacher. But you can't stop me."

"No."

Almark shook his head.

"Teachers, rules, nothing like that."

With Almark's strong tone, Leila looked suspicious for a moment.

"I didn't come here to stop you because this is a primary school restriction. In fact, I'm on the first floor here."

The words raised Leila's eyebrows.

"Did you come in too?

"Oh, just Leido and me. We managed to reach the end of the first level. Still, it was hard. You're going further down, aren't you?

"Yes, you did."

Leila murmurs.

"I went halfway to the third floor. Today, I'm going to the end of the third floor."

Amazing.

Almark inadvertently leaks honest thoughts.

Leido and the two of us reached the third level of this cave of trials, where we were all alone.

Leila, you're strong.

Almark said.

That's what I thought during the martial arts tournament.

Leila is strong.

Too strong.

It's too strong, so I don't realize the need for my friends.

I try to move on by myself.

"But it's dangerous to dive deep into this cave alone. I actually got in, so I figured it out."

Almark continued looking at Leila's face.

Leila had returned to her usual cold expression.

"Even middle-school students can work together. It's useless to go in alone. If you're going in, you should at least go in with your people. Like me and Raido did."

Leila doesn't react to Almark's words. Almark went on.

"I can't overlook you trying to get in alone. I came to stop it today."

Leila smiled at the words.

"I know the danger. I know and I'm challenging it."

"Why are you being so rude?"

Almark shakes his head.

Some people are heartbroken by your indifference.

There's no one like that.

Leila shook her head without hesitation.

"I'm here."

"Then you'll come in with me?

Huh?

Leila seemed to challenge Almark, surprised by the unexpected words.

"If you say it's futile to go in alone, you and I are the only ones here, so you'll have to go in together. Or was that just your mouth?

There was fire in Leila's eyes.

"No, it's not. Even if I go in, I can tell by myself that I can keep your feet tight."

Almark said.

"But one is too dangerous. Stop this nonsense, if you're going, you should go and find your friends. For example, if Wendy talks properly, she'll understand."

Leila immediately shook her head.

"She's no good."

"Why? Wendy is a trusted child. I'm worried about you."

Having said that, Almark realized that Wendy had a hand in telling her the story and asking for help.

Why didn't you?

Wendy was kind of hesitant to talk to me about other girls for a long time.

Almark didn't know exactly why, but he thought he might be disqualified as a magician if he narrowed his choices with his own emotions.

Almark apologizes to Illmis and Wendy in his heart.

Let's go back and talk to Wendy.

I can't bother her.

That's what Leila said and shook her head again.

Almark also knew that he looked at his lonely face for a moment.

"Why?"

"I told you before, I don't have time."

When Leila coolly blocks Almark's words, it ends, and she turns back to the cave.

"If that's all we need to talk about, I'm going."

No, Leila.

Almark still resisted.

"Absolutely not alone. I don't know what kind of injury it will cause. I don't want you getting hurt."

But Leila stopped answering and ran into the cave.

This is what happens after all.

Almark thought.

I think I knew a little bit about it.

Almark saw the cane in his hand.

That's why I brought it.

Almark jumped into the cave after Leila and grabbed Leila's arm from behind.

Wait, Leila.

Let go of me.

Leila turned around with a sharp expression.

"If I have to go, I'll go, too. I won't leave you alone."

"You?

Leila looked at Almark with astonishment.

"You said so yourself. It's only going to be on my feet."

"Yes, it is."

Almark nodded.

"I'm still going with you."

That's what I saw in Leila's face.

I decided not to leave you alone anymore.

Leila opened her eyes.

"... you look like an idiot"

Somewhat confused, Leila said.

"Arms off."

That's how I realized I was still grabbing Leila's arm.

"Oh, sorry."

I apologize and let go.

"... if you want to follow me, you can follow me"

That's what Leila said and walked out.

"If it's really legless, I'm going to leave it mercilessly."

That's fine.

Almark firmly grasped Mars' wand.

An iron door appeared in front of both of them.