Wrap Up (3)
"Sob, sob, waaaah...!"
Regia wailed, her cries echoing through the infirmary.
Like a child who had lost their parents.
Her sobs were so heartbreaking that even Selena, who was waiting outside, rushed in.
It was pure chaos.
Bang!
"What's going on? Did someone scream...?"
"W-wait, commoner! Don't cling to me while crying! With your face covered in tears and snot..."
"Sob, La-Lady..."
"Eeeeek!!"
"Heh... What a mess."
The scene continued in a cacophony.
Perhaps the memories of the laboratory were too vivid, as the girl couldn't calm down easily.
It was only a long time later that Regia finally stopped crying.
"...Sniffle."
The girl swallowed her tears, still sitting on the bed.
A faint tremor lingered in her green eyes.
She seemed to have calmed down considerably compared to before, but she still looked anxious.
Hesitant red lips formed a question.
"S-so... are you saying that no one died?"
"That's right, Regia."
"How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?"
We answered calmly.
Since we couldn't tell her the original story, we rounded it off with a suitable fabrication.
Basically, we said that we were lucky to have survived.
"The monster suddenly... r-ran away?"
"Yes! Right after you fainted, it suddenly disappeared through the ceiling that had collapsed."
"B-but, w-why...?"
"H-how would I know! If you're curious, go ask the monster yourself!!"
"Eek! I-I-I'm s-sorry..."
It was a 100% pure lie, devoid of even a shred of conscience.
There were moments when she tilted her head in doubt, but thanks to Emilia's assertive demeanor, we were able to get through it.
Perhaps it was a good thing we coordinated our stories beforehand.
I subtly chimed in.
"I was lucky too. I barely managed to escape from where the monster fell."
"Even the Young Master... I-it really seems like the gods were watching over us."
"I agree."
"Th-that's a relief..."
I wondered if she would believe us, but our protagonist believed us wholeheartedly, making my worries seem unfounded.
Just how pure does one have to be to react like this?
-Ding!
[The target's emotions are changing.]
(Anxiety, despair -> Relief)
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 36.4%]
Thanks to that, my lies recovered a bit.
As we exchanged a few words, Regia suddenly sat up from the bed.
Her legs wobbled as she stood.
"Young Master. Young Lady."
"Regia? It would be better for you to rest in bed for now..."
Whoosh!
Before I could finish my sentence, a warmth enveloped us.
The pilot wrapped her slightly outstretched arms around the Snake and Vanity, who were sitting side by side.
A lukewarm embrace enveloped the two.
"Hmm?"
"C-commoner...?"
As we raised our eyebrows at her sudden action, a faint sob echoed around us.
Regia clung to us as if her tension had been released.
"Sniffle... I'm so glad, really, th-that you're both alive."
"..."
"..."
Her murmuring was especially pitiful.
The nightmarish scene of the laboratory.
Perhaps it was because she finally felt like she had escaped that ordeal.
The girl buried her face in our embrace, basking in the warmth.
She was so fragile.
Are you saying I'm dead too?
Oh no! Poor Young Master, sob, Young Lady...!
Despite her delicate nature, she never stopped worrying about others.
It was a testament to how kind her heart was.
Perhaps it was these aspects that made me cherish the protagonist.
I smiled gently and accepted the sobbing pilot.
"You've worked hard, Regia."
Emilia did the same.
The flustered girl's hands couldn't bring themselves to push away the pink creature.
She could only awkwardly pat her back.
"I-I understand, so... p-please stop crying."
"Y-Young Lady..."
It was a clumsy gesture, but it was a heartwarming scene to watch.
It seemed that their relationship, which had been strained in the original story, was slowly improving.
I couldn't erase the faint smile that crept onto my face.
"What are you smiling about?"
"It's nothing. I just thought that the two of you looked particularly beautiful today."
"...I'm not falling for that."
Emilia turned her head away, feigning indifference.
The bullying knows no bounds.
Following my personal principle, I cheerfully tap-danced all over the protagonist.
***
We underwent another medical examination.
Although the doctor said there were no problems, it was Selena who insisted on it, just in case.
Perhaps a teacher is a teacher, no matter how indifferent they may seem.
She was being fussy because the well-being of her students was at stake.
Internal injuries, external injuries, curses, engravings, magic.
Only after completing five detailed examinations were we able to be discharged.
Even that took more than half a day.
"I'm glad you're all safe."
Of course, leaving the infirmary wasn't the end.
As the victims of this incident and the closest witnesses, we had to be investigated.
"I truly have nothing to say about the accident yesterday. It was my negligence that I didn't notice it beforehand."
Selena apologized with a bowed head.
Sitting side by side on the sofa, we stared at her with bewildered expressions.
It was strange to see her so composed after always seeing her either stiff as a board or drunk.
Her red eyes were shadowed.
"Shall we at least hear your excuse?"
"The black magic used in this incident was a completely new form of infiltration technique that deviated from existing methods."
"You're saying it's a technique the Academy has never dealt with before?"
"That's right."
"Hmm."
This was also mentioned in the original story.
The cultists who had been inactive for the past few years.
The world thought they were annihilated during the 'Great Purge,' but they were simply building their strength in the shadows.
To achieve their desires.
"It seems they prepared meticulously. Even experts in the field struggled."
"I heard it takes at least a week to analyze the new black magic... how were you able to find us in just two hours?"
"Well, we are Galimar."
It was a clear answer.
Galimar.
An educational institution where only the best of the continent gathered.
Heroes who were active during the Great Purge, former Imperial Knights Commander, elders of the Magic Tower, cardinals of the Church, and countless other geniuses came together to create this academy.
It's fundamentally different from those tree saplings whose roots are blood and slaughter.
Although we experienced an unexpected accident, they handled it quickly.
They'll surely have a clear response to this in the future.
'There was also a traitor inside who leaked information... in many ways, this incident was unavoidable.'
If anyone were to be held accountable, it would be Selena.
As the supervisor of the exam, she would likely receive the most blame as an example.
Since the professor in charge in the original story was dismissed, she would at least be stripped of her position as Head Professor.
Of course, considering that there were no serious casualties and that she was a direct disciple of the Dean, she would receive some immunity, but it seemed inevitable that she would be demoted to a regular professor.
Are these the woes of a working adult?
"..."
Suddenly, I felt sorry for the bottle of alcohol she was holding.
Unable to bear the bitterness of life, the woman took a long swig.
Her purple hair fell into disarray.
"Ha... I apologize to all of you who were caught up in this incident. The academy will also prepare compensation for the damages. The Dean will explain the details later."
"Understood."
The formal introduction was over.
"Then, let's move on to the main topic. I'd like to hear from those involved in the incident."
"I'll tell you."
"Judas, please explain in detail from beginning to end..."
What followed was a thorough investigation.
Perhaps wary of the cultists who reappeared after years of absence, they asked various questions.
I told them the fabricated story I had prepared for Regia.
"That's what happened."
"..."
Perhaps it was because the story had some holes.
Selena made a perplexed expression.
Of course, she didn't press or corner us.
When I said that I was so scared that my memories of the time were hazy, she just nodded as if she understood.
It would have been strange to interrogate us anyway.
In this incident, we were in a position of power.
Even if they searched the laboratory, I had manipulated most of the traces, so the academy had no choice but to believe our testimony.
I smiled brightly at the situation unfolding as I intended.
...I understand for now. Let's end the investigation here."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Oh, one last thing."
Selena stopped us as if she had remembered something.
"Please go home early. The atmosphere in the academy isn't very good right now."
"Did something happen?"
"While you were in that basement... there was another incident at the academy."
She continued her explanation quietly.
"Several intruders appeared in the shopping district."
"The shopping district... that's not far from the dormitory, is it?"
"Their method was the same - teleporting and stealing. It seems their intention was to divert attention from the midterm exam kidnappings."
"So what happened?"
"Thanks to the quick intervention of the faculty, the situation was resolved in six minutes. They succeeded in killing 28 of the 30 intruders instantly, but the rest immediately escaped using teleportation."
"Were there any casualties...?"
"There haven't been any reports yet."
"That's a relief."
"Well, there might be hidden victims."
Selena frowned as if she had a headache.
The woman took a deep breath and then brushed back her purple hair before speaking.
"Anyway, it's best to be careful, just in case."
"Thank you for your concern."
Well, for now, it's not something I need to worry about.
I slowly got up from my seat.
I thought it was a pretty good ending.
It was almost time for the next episode to begin, but... I felt like resting for now.
'Come to think of it.'
I wonder if she's waiting.
I haven't returned to the dormitory for two days in a row, so she might be worried.
Of course, I know it's a silly delusion.
"Hehe."
When I get back, I should play with her tail a lot.
Pondering thoughts of the fox, I quietly took a step towards the dormitory.
I didn't know then.
"..."
An empty dormitory.
Not even a hint of life could be felt in the silent space.
The unusually chilly air brushed against my cheeks.
The shopping basket was nowhere to be seen.
The fox was also nowhere to be seen.
It was currently 11 PM. If she had gone grocery shopping, she should have returned long ago.
The shopping district usually closes in the evening.
-Several intruders appeared in the shopping district.
-The shopping district... that's not far from the dormitory, is it?
-Were there any casualties...?
-There haven't been any reports yet.
-That's a relief.
-Well, there might be hidden victims.
It was surely no coincidence that the previous conversation flashed through my mind.
Lost in thought in the encroaching darkness, I let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha."
Baob.
Those bastards.
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Oh no! Our little fox maid!
ReplyDeleteWow, they're so dead. So absolutely fucked. My condolences to all of them.
ReplyDeleteOh, they dead
ReplyDeleteMc about to make them realize the FO portion of FAFO.
ReplyDelete