LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 86
Iris is suffering from insomnia due to nightmares.
The next day, I was dragging her toward training with Aisha.
Last night, Iris was filled with doubts after hearing my story, but she had already become someone who couldn’t sleep without my warmth.
So, even though she couldn’t understand my words, she hugged me and fell asleep anyway.
The next morning, I forcibly woke Iris, who was still half-asleep.
I had now learned the art of waking Iris like a drill sergeant.
Iris has a particularly sensitive side.
Through countless brainstorming sessions to escape her grasp, I had discovered this little secret by chance.
When I glanced back, I saw Iris gently rubbing her side.
“Iris, how’s the morning air?”
Upon hearing my question, Iris looked around.
“It’s refreshing.”
The autumn air that followed the end of summer was indeed refreshing.
It seemed Iris, too, had found some comfort in the brisk morning air.
Thanks to me being there yesterday, Iris had gone to bed early.
Her previously somber mood appeared significantly lightened.
“We’ve almost arrived.”
As I led her to our destination, there stood Aisha.
Dressed in slightly longer athletic wear than before, Aisha looked impressive with her tall and slender limbs, making her resemble a model if this were reality.
Fortunately, Isabel was absent.
After the recent boycott incident, Isabel had opted not to join our morning training.
“Aisha.”
“Ah, senior…”
Aisha hesitated in her reply, having caught sight of Iris next to me.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Of course, it was a natural reaction, considering I brought the nation’s treasure, the 3rd Princess.
“Aisha, this is Iris. From today, she’ll be training with us.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, 3rd Princess.”
Aisha adopted a formal tone, and Iris waved her hand.
“This is Jerion Academy. Treat me as a senior like Hanon.”
“Yes, of course.”
Aisha was not one to be inflexible.
If Iris asks something like that, she would gladly comply.
“Today, I thought I’d change the training method a bit for Iris. Is that alright?”
“Yes, training methods should change periodically to keep the body from getting accustomed to a single routine. Honestly, I welcome it.”
That’s a very Aisha-like response.
“Let’s go, Iris.”
“Mm.”
Our training began, the three of us, with uncertain expressions.
The training style was simple.
Iris was one of the few who awakened her aura at a young age, just like Ban.
However, since Ban’s proficiency was a step above, she couldn’t flaunt her aura as dramatically.
Still, the mere fact that she could use her aura was crucial.
I kept encouraging Iris to keep using her aura during training.
At first, she was puzzled.
But perhaps I had already built a good rapport with her, so she complied.
Thus, Iris spent the entire morning training, pouring out her aura.
Just as she became too exhausted to release any more aura, we concluded the session.
“Phew, did you do this kind of training every day?”
As Iris caught her breath and asked, I smiled.
“Iris, stamina is national power.”
“I think I understand why Hanon never seems tired.”
I endured even during our harrowing experience in Magung Palace purely on stamina.
Through this training, Iris began to grasp that idea.
“By the way, how’s your body?”
“My body?”
At my question, Iris slightly lifted the hem of her athletic wear.
In that instant, her fair belly came into view, and I felt dizzy.
I might get arrested for indecency.
“I think I’ve lost some weight.”
“If Hania were here, she would’ve fainted from joy.”
For sure, she would’ve fainted out of elation.
I adjusted Iris’s clothes for her.
“More importantly, Iris, focus inward.”
Iris blinked her large eyes and eventually turned her attention inward.
She was adept at handling her aura.
If anyone could delve deeply into her inner self, it was her.
Soon, Iris’s eyes gradually opened wide.
She looked at me, slightly astonished.
“…All the murky energy is gone.”
The force permeating within her was none other than the power of the Evil Zone.
The power from the Evil Zone is supplied through nightmares.
So, if she expels it all, then that’s that.
I instructed her to keep releasing her aura during our morning training.
As a result, when Iris reached her limits, she had unwittingly consumed the power of the Evil Zone as well.
With the power plaguing her diminished, the bizarre magical essence within Iris dissolved.
Her face took on a clearer expression.
It was natural, given the weight pressing down on her had lifted.
Iris possessed a strength that was on a different level, akin to the final antagonist.
People generally have a habit of accumulating their power instinctively, so it was likely Iris hadn’t truly depleted her strength like this in a long time.
“I’ll stay with you tonight as well. Let’s try to sleep.”
Nevertheless, Iris’s insomnia was a fundamental issue.
She had developed a habit of avoiding sleep due to the torment of nightmares.
Even if the influence of the Evil Zone had diminished, it wouldn’t mean she could fall asleep immediately due to her habits.
Thus, I decided to monitor her consistently for the time being.
“…Mm.”
Iris looked at me with a gaze that was hard to decipher.
I couldn’t understand what it meant, but thus began Iris’s sweet sleep project.
* * *
Time flows without fail.
It has been two weeks since I initiated Iris’s sweet sleep project.
Her face had noticeably brightened.
“Hanon, good morning.”
So much that she had begun waking up even before me to prepare for morning training.
Iris consistently pushed the intensity of her training higher.
She poured all her efforts into shaking off her nightmares.
Thanks to that, Iris had recently started looking forward to the night.
The peaceful sleep felt like such a rarity; she couldn’t help but await it.
“Hanon, come here.”
Iris dutifully called me over to hug and sleep.
I had become accustomed to this way of sleeping.
However, the fundamental issue of her nightmares still remained unresolved.
‘It’s time to get ready.’
The time to prepare for something that could alleviate Iris’s nightmares had come.
I spent my days focused on caring for Iris’s nightmares.
Meanwhile, new faces began appearing at the academy.
They were all newly appointed instructors and professors who filled in for those expelled after the boycott incident.
Many of them greeted Iris shortly after arriving at Jerion Academy.
They were proof that they were part of the 3rd Princess Faction.
The newly arrived instructors and professors were very diligent.
After receiving solid training from the Duke of Robliju, they guided the students, showcasing their abilities.
Thanks to this, the atmosphere at Jerion Academy had changed significantly.
The previous instructors and professors involved in corruption were generally not well-liked.
Replacing them with dedicated individuals led to a positive influence on the students.
“It’s not a wasted effort.”
Noticing the changed atmosphere at the academy, Seron nudged my arm.
Usually, in the company of Iris and Hania, today I was having lunch with Seron since the two had momentarily left.
Card had been busy lately, running around, so the frequency of our lunches together had decreased.
That’s how I ended up having lunch with Seron.
Indeed, as Seron pointed out, Rozamin, the former chair of the boycott, would surely feel a sense of fulfillment once his month-long suspension was over.
“By the way, Prince Sweet Potato.”
She lowered her stance while calling me.
I mirrored her actions.
“What is it?”
“……Why do you keep coming to the girls’ dorm disguised as Hania?”
So, this little rat caught on to me too.
“Seron, were you stalking me?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice after you said that last time? Of course, I should keep an eye on a pervert sneaking into the girls’ dorm!”
Why is the stalker so confident about it?
I can’t even.
“You’ve been lurking around Iris’s room way too often. What exactly are you up to? What if you get caught?”
Iris knows me as Hanon.
If she finds out I’m Bickamon, I’d be executed for hiding in a princess’s room.
“I’m just helping Iris sleep well, that’s all.”
Though, what I was doing was merely acting as a comforter.
I had sworn to do nothing shameful.
In truth, due to the restraint placed upon baser instincts related to feelings of love, such circumstances couldn’t even arise.
“As long as you keep your mouth shut, you won’t get caught.”
“I don’t want to see you get executed, so I’ll keep quiet.”
Seron mumbled while shooting me a sideways glance.
“……You’re making it difficult for me.”
“What’s so difficult?”
“I can’t sleep either.”
I blinked in surprise.
What’s this guy talking about when he was sleeping just this morning?
“Yes, I’m thinking about you.”
What the hell.
Seron’s face turned bright red as she fidgeted with her body.
She became a tomato after saying that.
I didn’t expect her to charge in with such directness right here.
“……Aren’t you embarrassed to say that?”
“I-I am embarrassed! But what can I do? It’s the truth!”
This is a fact.
Seron bit her lip tightly and covered her face with both hands.
“Don’t look at my face.”
I felt embarrassed just looking at her.
“Nope. Look clearly. Remember how serious I am!”
I gazed at Seron for a moment before checking around.
Luckily, no one else was here.
Given that I had walked through an area usually empty of people, it was expected.
It seemed Seron had slyly brought me to a spot where no one would notice this conversation.
She really is crafty.
As I loosened the bandages of the cloak, I transformed into Bickamon.
“Eek, ack, c-cough.”
Seron froze upon seeing me as Bickamon.
“Seron, say it again.”
Seron’s eyes rolled in surprise.
She had silently turned into a timorous little girl and began to wiggle her feet.
“Eeep.”
Then, she let out an odd sound and turned to run away.
I had recently figured out Seron’s new method of evasion.
While she usually jested around when I appeared as Hanon, when I transformed into Bickamon, she couldn’t handle it and would flee.
It seemed she had never gotten used to the face of Bickamon.
“Of course, she needs time to prepare her heart since she had kept her feelings locked away for so long.”
I dealt with Seron without issue and wrapped the bandages around my cloak once more.
With her growing bolder, I couldn’t help but worry about the future.
‘More importantly, it’s just about time.’
Gazing at the ripening autumn leaves, I sensed the onset of Act 4, Scene 2.
Act 4, Scene 2.
The International Individual Competition.
An event in which students from the academies of each kingdom and empire face off every three years, akin to a friendly match.
And I must ensure that there is one key individual who transfers to Jerion Academy here.
‘I burned my summer break brilliantly for that purpose.’
I clenched my two fists tightly.
For Iris’s nightmares and the future ahead, she is essential.
Someone with a will akin to fiery resolve.
I must transfer her to Jerion Academy.