Chapter 130

Rea​​ɗ​& ;o​&n; KаtR​eαd‍ｉǹ&g;​Ḉａfｅ

The academy operates dormitories.

All enrolled students are required to live in the dormitories according to the rules.

Even if they reside near the academy, commuting is not allowed.

For the three years from admission to graduation, students are under the academy’s control.

While going out is allowed, there’s a curfew, so they can’t stay out late.

Moreover, students are already busy enough honing their supernatural abilities.

The moment they graduate from the academy, they become heroes who join the frontlines against monsters.

They are protected as children only until they are students.

After that, they are the ones who must protect others.

For this reason, unless there’s a special occasion, students always stay within the academy grounds.

As a result, the academy has a somewhat closed-off nature.

Somewhat isolated from the outside world, news spreads within the academy in the blink of an eye.

In other words, rumors spread very quickly.

That was how Carlos had been able to find me.

The incident at the cherry blossom festival was big news that shook the entire nation.

The Celestial Corps’ initial response was inadequate, resulting in significant damage.

Material damage aside, there were countless casualties.

The media criticized the Celestial Corps’ complacent handling of the situation daily, and the political sphere also expressed regret over their delayed response. Some even criticized why the person responsible for taking charge hadn’t shown their face during such a crisis.

On the other hand, news of the young supernaturals who protected the citizens in place of the Celestial Corps also spread widely.

Although the Celestial Corps controlled information to protect the students’ identities, there were too many witnesses.

The survivors shared descriptions of the students’ appearances and characteristics.

The incident occurred in the 4th District, adjacent to the academy.

The supernatural abilities they used.

Eugene and Leo, who were suddenly hospitalized.

With just these clues, the academy could roughly guess which students had been at the scene.

It was only a matter of time before rumors spread.

“Thank you.”

Carlos had found me based on Anna’s description of her savior and the rumors circulating in the academy.

However, it seemed he wasn’t entirely sure.

Only after Anna confirmed that I was indeed the one who had saved her did Carlos express his gratitude to me.

Though it was just a short phrase, knowing Carlos, he was probably elaborating extensively in his mind.

No, he definitely was.

How much meaning is hidden before and after those two words?

Only someone fluent in “Carlos-language” would know.

But since the only person fluent in that is Carlos himself, no one else would understand.

“I should be the one thanking you. Thank you so much for saving Anna. How can I ever repay this kindness…?”

“Ah, no! I just did what anyone would have done.”

The director bowed her head politely as she thanked me.

Feeling awkward, I quickly responded.

Truthfully, Frey and Eugene had worked much harder than I did.

After all, they were the ones who directly fought the monsters.

Most of my contribution was following behind Frey and Eugene and helping evacuate people.

Heat rays and pyrokinesis were far more powerful than regeneration, so it was inevitable.

Every supernatural ability has its strengths and weaknesses.

While super regeneration might be advantageous in a prolonged battle, their abilities were far more efficient in short-term fights. By the time I took down one monster, Frey and Eugene could melt dozens in an instant.

For similar reasons, Arin, Leo, and Anastasia likely killed far more monsters than I did.

Arin would have identified dangerous areas with her danger sense, and Leo would have swiftly eliminated monsters with his speed.

Anastasia, despite her airheaded demeanor, was a versatile genius.

The skills her clones mastered were also remembered by her main body.

Having created dozens of clones to learn various skills, Anastasia truly lived up to the title of a polymath.

Compared to them, my contributions were minimal, aside from acting as a meat shield during the fight with the Black Knight. Hearing words of gratitude made me feel a bit itchy inside. I probably helped Anna while Frey was busy smashing monsters.

Given the urgency of the situation that day, I couldn’t remember the faces of everyone I saved. Even looking at Anna from the orphanage, I couldn’t recall specific memories. Still, I had helped many children, so it’s possible she was among them.

“Big sister! Hey, what’s your name?”

Anna tugged at my sleeve and chattered excitedly.

Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.

She was so thrilled to meet me that she couldn’t stay still for even a moment.

If she had a tail, it would’ve been wagging furiously.

“Lucia. My name is Lucia.”

“Your name is pretty too! Hehe, I’m Anna!”

Fortunately, Anna didn’t seem to have suffered from mental corruption. Even the mental corruption caused by low rank monsters is dangerous. 

It can start with mild confusion and, in severe cases, lead to acute heart failure. It’s a threat even to healthy adults, let alone children or the elderly.

“Is big sister Lucia also a student at the academy like big brother Carlos?”

“What’s your supernatural ability?”

“Are you in the same class as big brother?”

“Can you smash rocks in one hit like big brother? Can you chew on stones? Can you jump around like that?”

“Can you knock people out just by looking at them? Big brother Carlos can do that.”

The children, already very friendly to newcomers, bombarded me with even more questions after learning that I had helped Anna.

It was so noisy that my ears ached, but their innocence brought a smile to my face.

Still, it’s getting a bit too heated. Could someone mediate, please?

Ow, who’s that? The one pulling my hair? If you’re going to pull it, at least put some strength into it.

Enough to make my roots bleed! It’s not like it won’t heal quickly anyway!

Wait, no, that’s not the point. No one but Alice is allowed to touch Lucia’s hair.

“Hmm~ I wonder who owns these naughty hands?”

“Ah!”

A mischievous boy, huh? Didn’t anyone teach you not to touch a woman’s body without permission?

Naughty children who touch Lucia’s hair without permission deserve punishment~

I sat the boy who pulled my hair on my lap.

Startled, he flailed around, but I held him firmly with both hands and hugged him tightly.

I poked his chubby cheeks with my fingers and spoke in a playful tone.

“You shouldn’t touch a woman’s hair without permission. Got it? You’re not doing this to other friends, are you~?”

“Ah, no, it’s just…”

“That’s right, big sis Lucia. He’s always grabbing people’s hair.”

“Yeah, he’s such a naughty kid~”

“It’s just… it’s so shiny and pretty…”

At the boy’s excuse, I wiggled my fingers and smiled slyly.

Lucia’s hair is pretty. Yeah, I know. Thanks to super regeneration, it’s always smooth and undamaged, maintaining a glossy shine. 

When it sways in the wind, it’s as elegant and beautiful as the starlight of the Milky Way. I can understand why someone might be tempted to touch it. Alice often plays with my hair too.

But that’s one thing, and this is another. If you’ve done something wrong, you deserve to be punished, right?

“Ahaha?! It tickles! Hahaha! Wait, big sister, I’m sorry!”

“Oh? So this is your weak spot?”

I mercilessly tickled his sides. His limbs flailed wildly, but it was no use. Even though Lucia’s body looks slender and delicate, she’s still a supernatural. A child’s flailing is still nothing to laugh at though.

Only when he was almost completely exhausted did I finally release him from the tickle torture. I gently patted his head as he slumped down and spoke softly.

“A woman’s hair is her life. You should never touch it without permission.”

Though it’s not exactly something I, with a male’s consciousness, should be saying.

Managing hair is quite a hassle, you know.

It gets tangled easily and has a surprising weight to it.

Thankfully, my regeneration means I don’t have to worry about maintenance.

“Alright, everyone understands now, right?”

“Yes!”

The children answered in unison, their voices loud and clear.

I felt like a kindergarten teacher, or maybe even an elementary school teacher.

“Big sister! Let’s play together!”

Anna tugged at my sleeve as she spoke.

She’s such a lively kid, even though she’s not fully recovered yet.

She flapped her arms like wings and looked up at me with round, expectant eyes.

Seeing her so eager, I fell into thought.

Hmm, what should I do? I was actually planning to head back soon because I’m worried about Alice and Frey. 

Are they writing their reflection papers properly? Alice reads a lot, so her writing skills are excellent. 

She’s probably writing a long, detailed reflection based on the five Ws and one H.¹ Angelica is strict but not cruel, so she’ll likely accept it as long as it’s decent.

“Do you… not want to?”

When I stayed silent for a moment, Anna’s enthusiasm deflated instantly.

Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about what we could play.”

“Really?”

I guess there’s no helping it.

It would feel too empty to just leave after coming all this way.

It’d be too harsh to just say goodbye after seeing her face, right?

There’s still some time before curfew, so I’ll stay and play with them a little longer.

“What do you usually play?”

“Ball-throwing game!”

“You mean catch?”

“No. We throw the ball, and big brother fetches it.”

Anna’s cheerful answer left me momentarily speechless.

I turned to look at Carlos.

The gray-haired boy, who looked like he’d stepped out of a black-and-white photo, still had his usual indifferent expression.

Are you seriously a dog?

How do you even fetch a ball with your mouth…? Actually, that sounds kind of fun. I’ve played the role of a dog before with Frey at the hospital. I even wagged my butt like a tail and barked.

I imagined it.

Lucia chasing after a thrown ball on all fours like a dog.

Picking up the ball with her plump lips and returning it to her owner.

Then, as a reward, her owner would pat her head.

Scratching her chin, watching Lucia’s plump butt sway like a tail…

“…”

“Big sister? Are you okay? Your face is red.”

“Ah, no. I’m fine, don’t worry.”

What am I even thinking in front of the kids!?

I swallowed the saliva that had pooled in my mouth.

I hurriedly pushed down the instincts rising within me.

Bonk! 

Masochist Lucia is currently out of service.

Right now, I’m Caretaker Lucia.

“…”

…Maybe I’ll ask Frey to do it next time?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Carlos is not a pervert like Lucia.

The ball-catching game that Anna talks about is related to Carlos’ supernatural ability.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Speaking of hair, do you know that it is a surprisingly sturdy weapon? Choke someone with it! Assassins’ last stand! Bam!