I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 31
* * *
“The final test is deployment to an actual combat site.”
The Purifiers straightened their backs and listened attentively to the old priest.
Only the final test remained before graduation from trainee status.
The bottom 10 percent based on overall scores would fail, while the top five would be given the opportunity to receive the Ascension Rite.
“As you all know, battles cannot be predicted, so we cannot inform you of the exact deployment time. However, you will definitely be deployed to a battle this autumn, so do not let your guard down. No one knows whether the summons will come at dawn or at an early evening like this.”
There was no Purifier who didn’t know that the final test involved real field deployment. It had been the same test last year, and ten years ago as well.
But knowing that didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.
After all the lectures ended, the Purifiers began preparing to head home.
“I’m so jealous I could die.”
Chelsea, who sat beside me, let out a long sigh.
“Of what?”
“Arvina. She doesn’t have to worry about failing even if she doesn’t do field deployment. I really, really hate field deployment. Even after I become a full-fledged Purifier, I’m never going to volunteer for field support.”
“They pay more though.”
“Is this about money? You could die out there. The monsters are scary enough, but rampaging Awakeners are even worse. And what if you have to perform emergency deep contact purification in some shabby barracks. Ugh, I hate it.”
“If you hate deep contact purification that much, you should hurry and find an Awakener you’re compatible with and get imprinted.”
“The Awakeners around me all look like squids. They’re all narcissists drunk on their own abilities, too. Anyway, Arvina will probably imprint with Lord Castion, right?”
Chelsea didn’t even feel jealousy toward Arvina.
The gap between the lives they had been given was too wide from the start. All that remained was a sense of helpless resignation and vague envy.
I stopped organizing my bag and tried to imagine Gerard and Arvina becoming husband and wife. They would hold a historic wedding, celebrated by the entire Empire.
They were a perfect pair, lacking nothing.
Just last year, even watching Gerard court Arvina had hurt so much that I had forced myself to look away.
I endured by clinging to other thoughts, but now I was even able to imagine the two of them as a married couple.
Of course, I still couldn’t help the dull ache that lingered in a corner of my chest.
Still, if I endured like this year after year, I believed that someday even this pain would gradually dull.
“Louize, what about you?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want to get imprinted?”
I moved the hands that had paused.
“Not really. I haven’t thought about it much.”
“If you get sent out for field support, you might end up doing deep contact purification with some Awakener you’ve never even met before.”
“I’m not going to do field support either.”
“Right? You don’t want to either, do you? See, I’m not the strange one. Professional duty, medical procedure, whatever, none of that matters. I don’t want to do it, that’s all…”
Chelsea’s words only passed through my unfocused ears.
The reason I had decided not to go to field support was much simpler than that.
Once I received the Ascension Rite and my rank rose, I planned to perform one final purification for Gerard and then leave the capital immediately.
Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. I didn’t think I could live my whole life in this place where Gerard would remain, especially after he’s married. This place where his face would appear every time I opened the newspapers.
* * *
“You’re late.”
The moment I opened the door, I froze.
‘Why is this guy still here?’
When I couldn’t step inside, he closed the book he had been reading and walked toward me.
Gerard lightly took my motionless hand and pulled me inside.
“How did you get into the house?”
This morning, Gerard had definitely left before I did.
“With the key.”
“……”
“Under the rotten flowerpot.”
“Ha.”
“The homeowner should have hidden it more carefully.”
His teasing tone made a faint irritation rise. He chuckled and brushed the raindrops off my shoulder.
“Just leave it. If it falls on the floor, I’ll have to wipe it, and that’s more work.”
“I’ll wipe it.”
“Are you cra… No, are you in your right mi— No, just, don’t.”
“I’m not crazy. I’m saying it while perfectly sane. Since I’m freeloading here, I should at least do some work.”
Is he serious? I looked up at him in disbelief, at the man who stood there like a door.
