episode_0114

The final exams, which concluded with spectacular sights, were over. The academy finally welcomed its vacation.

Of course, a vacation didn’t mean any special changes to daily life. It only meant that outings outside the academy became a little freer.

Students still lived in the dormitory buildings, moving between classrooms during the day for advanced or supplementary classes, and continuing self-study in the library during other hours. It was only a vacation in name; in reality, it was no different from spending 1.5 semesters.

The only difference was that there were no exams during the vacation.

The overall schedule definitely felt more relaxed than during the semester, but on the other hand, it also felt excessive for a vacation that only happened once a year.

Conversely, it was also understandable. Perhaps it was precisely this intensity that allowed it to be called the continent’s best educational institution. I once again realized the true meaning of the name Gallimard.

‘Oh well… if it’s good, it’s good.’

Anyway.

Daily life hadn’t strayed far from its general framework. Nothing had changed, except for a bit more free time, but there were always those in the world who made good use of even such faint changes.

Especially me.

With the restrictions on outings lifted, I could move around much more comfortably. Though it wasn’t difficult to go out normally, given my title as a head professor, it felt a bit awkward since it was always in the form of borrowing authority from the professor in charge.

Perhaps it was because I had been away frequently recently, which made me conscious of it.

The vacation that arrived amidst all this was a welcome change.

‘Just in time, as there were many things I needed to attend to at the headquarters.’

It was around this time that the original story’s plot was truly getting underway. The businessman was slowly revealing his dirty desires, and the cultists were also showing suspicious signs, so I couldn’t lower my guard even a little.

It seemed the dean’s prophecy was subtly bothering me.

I regularly visited the headquarters to refine the system.

To prepare for the approaching danger.

“Master.”

It was another day flowing by. Having arrived at Astro’s headquarters as usual, I was in the midst of handling tasks with the vice-commander.

Neria handed over the prepared documents, one by one.

“These are the materials regarding the mana stone disease you instructed us to investigate last time.”

“You said there was new information, didn’t you?”

“We found relevant content in the research materials of black mages that were stored in the remote branch.”

“It seems our efforts have paid off.”

“However, it seems more time will be needed. It’s a book written in an ancient language, so we’re having difficulty interpreting it. Members skilled in linguistics are working hard on it, but… since it’s an object that has been exposed to sinister energy for a long time, there’s a risk of mental erosion upon contact, so the work is slow.”

“Hmm.”

“Fortunately, since last week, we’ve started gaining speed with the help of the priests. Perhaps because they were involved with the Rite, they showed proficient handling of curses. Currently, they are focused on the work, repeatedly performing translation and purification in sequence. It seems we’ll be able to complete the work in about half a month.”

“So the priests we took in back then are proving to be this helpful.”

“I can only admire your foresight, Master.”

“Heh heh… Though I wasn’t specifically expecting such a reward.”

“Next, I’ll report.”

“Please do.”

The work continued without pause. I moved my pen.

By the way, I didn’t bring Irene today. It was due to her voluntary request to stay in the dormitory.

The girl had recently started paying attention to household chores. Last time, she had asked me to teach her how to cook, and it seemed she had fallen for it since that day, as she kept practicing.

Today, she even cleared her schedule, saying she would prepare dinner for my return.

‘It’s been a long time… since someone prepared a meal for me.’

Normally, I often prepared my own meals.

It felt fresh.

Perhaps it was closer to the feeling of a married couple waiting for each other.

I let out a soft chuckle at the silly thought. I cleared my mind of distractions and continued with the remaining tasks.

Time seemed to fly by particularly quickly.

“I think we can finish here for today. I will report on the remaining matters as soon as they are resolved.”

“You worked hard.”

The tedious tasks were largely wrapping up. I stood up, stretching my stiff body.

As I stretched for a moment, my eyes caught the calendar placed on one side of the desk.

The date was already pointing to November, reaching the end of autumn. Winter was suddenly right around the corner.

Perhaps it was due to the nostalgic sentiment that washed over me. My lips, feeling light, uttered a remark towards the vice-commander.

The silver-haired girl happened to be looking this way.

I murmured.

“Looking back… it’s almost been three years since I met Neria-yang.”

A single photograph captured in the depths of memory.

As I fiddled with the texture at my fingertips, the season when snowflakes fell particularly heavily often came to mind.

For someone, it was a winter like the most painful scar.

“When I first met Neria-yang… how should I put it. She was like a wounded wild beast.”

The girl back then was quite different. She was filled only with hatred.

Perhaps it was because of the wound that covered half of her face.

Her eyes were dead, devoid of even a trace of vitality.

Her frail hands were on the verge of letting go of the world herself.

That’s when we met.

-So you were here.

The hand I extended. I remember the warmth of her body when I embraced her, soaked in blood.

I don’t know how it was for her. But for me, at least, it was one of the few good memories in this world.

I murmured a bit of sentimental nonsense.

“Sometimes, I miss it.”

“………”

“How are things these days? Do you still go out of control like before?”

“It is thanks to your embrace, Master.”

“I don’t think I did much, though.”

“If you hadn’t taken me in on that cold winter day, I would surely have died before even a year passed.”

“Ahem.”

“Master, you are the one who saved my life.”

“How embarrassing.”

“Because it is a precious truth to me.”

The girl replied stiffly. Her tone was rigid, as if speaking to someone she was uncomfortable with, but in reality, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked flustered.

It just seemed that an awkwardness remained when dealing with others. Having spent time together, I could tell the difference.

“Heh heh… There was a time when Neria-yang used informal speech with me too.”

With a contented feeling, I stroked her silver hair.

The girl froze with a slight gasp.

As the soft touch repeated at my fingertips, a scene from the past suddenly flashed before my eyes.

It was a time when both of us carried the metallic scent of blood.

I remembered.

-I’ll ask you one last time.

-Kill me.

-So that I don’t become a monster… kill me with your own hands.

-If it’s you, I don’t think I’ll regret it.

A flower miserably broken. It felt like only yesterday that I held the girl who was sobbing.

When did so much time pass?

“If the symptoms return, you must inform me. I took measures back then, but you never know.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Let’s head back around this time today.”

“I’ll call Lena.”

I quietly rose from my seat. The girl saw me off accordingly.

Though we crossed the hallway without a word, we were surely sharing similar recollections.

The winter, filled with tears and blood, faded into memory like a nostalgic recollection.

“………”

“………”

Snow fell upon the silence.

***

Meanwhile.

In the shopping district located near the academy dormitory.

Irene was shopping alone. Judging by the time, she seemed to be preparing ingredients for dinner.

Her fierce gaze meticulously scrutinized the ingredients. She seemed to be quite careful in preparing the meal.

She deliberated briefly.

“I can’t do anything too difficult… What would be good?”

Her hand repeatedly picked up and put down items. She hadn’t known preparing a meal for someone else could be this difficult.

When trying to choose a fancy and impressive menu, her lacking skills held her back, but on the other hand, choosing a simple menu somehow felt like a blow to her pride.

The fox fell into serious contemplation.

“Haa… Did I really say I’d do it?”

She let out a faint sigh.

It was a momentary regret. Perhaps she had been too hasty. To offer to prepare dinner when she couldn’t even chop properly yet, she could only blame her past self, whose enthusiasm had gotten ahead of her.

The girl, with a sulky expression, put a few vegetables into her shopping basket.

At the same time, she muttered.

“It really is difficult.”

Irene had a newly set goal.

She wanted to be like that person. A bit annoying, constantly ominous, but also, on the other hand, kind.

Her sudden interest in cooking was also in a similar vein.

Affection or admiration.

The complex, tangled emotions made her body feel warm.

The girl recalled the warm stew.