Same Words, Different Meanings, Same Heart.

I headed to the library with Luna. I had learned how to use the librarian’s grimoire from Flavia before, so I immediately searched for things related to Floyd.

,Wow, there’s a ton….”

Was it because he had a legendary reputation as an architect? There were hundreds of books about Floyd’s architecture alone. There were even more than 10 books about the academy building design.

,Then, I’ll, I’ll search for the secret room and check it out….”

Perhaps because she wasn’t used to speaking informally, Luna stuttered, but she still tried hard to speak informally to me. Seeing Luna, who was very shy, trying her best, I smiled, but sometimes when she hurriedly avoided my gaze, I felt a sadness as if I had reached out to pet a cat and been rejected.

There were so many books about Floyd that it was impossible to check them all. Using the functions of the librarian’s grimoire, I wrote down words or sentences that seemed to be related to the secret room and narrowed down the books.

Luna, who frequented the library, was using the librarian’s grimoire to find and investigate books related to the secret room without my help.

,There’s only mention of rumors.”

Even when Floyd was the headmaster, rumors about the secret room circulated. The author of the book even asked Floyd directly.

[Author: There are rumors that there is a secret room in the academy, what do you think?]

[Floyd: What is most important to a student? A sense of adventure, exploration, and curiosity. The secret room is a delusion to some, but I think it is a rumor that can be a good goal for others.]

As expected, not giving a definite answer and speaking ambiguously was a way of speaking unique to ‘magicians’ that aroused curiosity.

Since magicians themselves are beings who use curiosity as a driving force, they themselves had an instinctive ability to stimulate the curiosity of others.

Just before the library’s operating hours ended, we organized what we had investigated in a notebook, returned the books to their places, and left the library.

On the way to our respective dormitories, there were many streetlights and students who were returning to their dormitories late after studying, but I deliberately decided to take Luna to the front of the Department of Magic dormitory.

,I’ll take you to the dormitory.”

,U, uh….”

Seeing Luna’s happy expression, I talked about what we had investigated as we headed to the dormitory, and when the Department of Magic dormitory building began to appear. I thought it was time to get to the point.

,Hey, Luna. Do you happen to have time on the weekend?”

As I carefully observed Luna’s expression and asked, Luna nodded eagerly as if she had been waiting for it.

,Yeah! I have tons, I definitely have it!”

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at her intense reaction, and Luna’s face turned bright red even in the night’s lighting, as if she had realized her extreme reaction.

Luna’s cheeks, flushed by the streetlight, looked so lovely that I even felt an urge to hug her without realizing it.

,Go in. See you tomorrow.”

But I wasn’t sure about me yet, and I didn’t want to burden Luna by acting on instinct.

For some reason, Luna was someone I felt I had to treat very carefully.

,Goo, good bye Ross!”

Seeing Luna waving at me in front of the dormitory until I disappeared, I wondered how much I had been smiling.

My cheekbones hurt, so I pressed them down with my hands and returned to the Combat Department dormitory.

***

I spent a week investigating the secret room made by Floyd, but I didn’t get good results. The other members were in the same situation.

Aria collected and organized rumors about the secret room by sticking to the seniors so much that they avoided her, and Lacar diligently compared the academy in various places with the blueprints that Kanega had investigated as exercise to see if there were any differences.

I had to go see Rotten with Luna, and it was also the weekend. All the members stopped club activities for a while and headed to the island to enjoy a break.

I arrived at the academy gate before the time I had promised to meet Luna and was waiting. Luna also tried to come out a little early, so she appeared earlier than the promised time.

Unlike me, who was wearing a school uniform because I was too lazy, I couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed by Luna’s appearance in pretty clothes for some reason.

I was worried about whether I should hurriedly return to the dormitory and change my clothes, but Luna said that she just wanted to wear it. She stopped me from going back to the dormitory, saying not to feel burdened.

I couldn’t help but take a carriage with Luna to the outskirts of the capital due to Luna’s kind consideration.

For some reason, I felt that Luna’s pace was gradually decreasing as we got further and further away from the capital, so I looked at Luna with a puzzled expression. Rather, Luna was looking up at me with a questioning gaze.

Only then did I realize that I hadn’t explained where we were going, so I scratched the back of my head and said.

,Ah, I’m going to take a carriage heading to a place called Turning Village.”

,Turning Village…?”

Luna’s confused expression as she tilted her head, as if she was hearing the name for the first time, was cute like a puppy.

,There’s someone I want to introduce Luna to.”

Actually, I received an order to come together… I glossed over it nicely.

,I told him about you, and he said he was curious because he was interested….”

Fortunately, Luna nodded as if she understood those words.

,Yeah, I got it.”

After borrowing a carriage, we arrived at Turning Village in an instant by having a brief conversation with Luna. Perhaps because I always came to the village after class, it felt different seeing the village during the day than at night.

Even Rotten’s house, which had been hidden in the darkness of the night, was revealing an even more hideous appearance as it was hit by the sunlight.

,That’s where we’re going.”

I pointed to the haunted house in advance and explained it, worried that she would be shocked, and Luna’s eyes lit up when she saw Rotten’s house.

,It looks like an elf lives there.”

Praising such a dilapidated house, I thought Luna was kind and was about to approach Rotten’s house and knock on the door when a loud noise was heard from inside.

,Isn’t it time to give up now? Are you so angry at your friend’s suggestion to spend the rest of your life comfortably in the Magic Tower?”

,Hmph, if I was going to give up, I wouldn’t have started in the first place!”

Luna and I exchanged glances for a moment, wondering what to do with the fighting-like voices, and then knocked on the door to stop the argument.

,Grandpa Rotten, I’m here!”

I heard footsteps, and then an old man with a kind face that I had never seen before opened the door.

,Welcome, are you here to see Rotten?”

,Ah, yes. Hello.”

,Hello.”

The old man with a good-natured face accepted the greeting with a smile and turned to Rotten and said.

,A guest has come to see you, so I’ll be on my way. Rotten, think about it seriously. It’s advice for you, who has been my lifelong friend.”

With those words, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket, placed it on the table, and left the house.

Seeing Rotten with a lonely expression, picking up the paper on the table and throwing it carelessly on the desk, Luna and I approached and greeted him.

,Grandpa, hello.”

,Hello.”

Rotten, who had returned to his usual expression at our greetings, looked at me and Luna and gave a very uneasy smile for some reason.

,Yes, welcome. I was curious about who the person this guy likes was, and it was you.”

Luna and I were very embarrassed by Rotten’s sudden crazy words.

,Wh, what the hell are you talking about!”

,Huh? You haven’t confessed yet? I’m sorry! I thought you already did.”

Realizing that he was doing it on purpose with an expression that didn’t feel sorry at all, I gritted my teeth and glanced at Luna.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood at Rotten’s words, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief as she smiled prettily and lowered her gaze.

It’s not a bad reaction…?

,Sit down, I should bring you something to drink.”

With those words, Rotten got up from his seat and headed to what seemed to be the kitchen.

Luna and I sat on the sofa and looked around the room. It was my first time entering the house, so I felt like the various plants growing on the walls and floor were like a unique cafe design.

I was curious about the unidentified object covered in a blanket next to the bed, and I was about to get up from my seat to check inside when Rotten returned with tea at the right time.

,Couldn’t stand it and wandered around in the meantime?”

I shrugged at Rotten’s nagging and sat back down, drinking the warm tea that Rotten had brought. I thought the tea would be very bitter or tasteless, as befitting Rotten’s personality, but unexpectedly, it was a sweet-feeling tea that women would like.

,It’s delicious.”

Luna seemed to think so too. She smiled and said the tea was delicious.

,Oh, I think it’s better than I thought? What kind of tea is it?”

Feeling the scent of the tea spreading in my mouth, I said that. Rotten grinned unpleasantly and said.

,It’s tea made from Platinang flowers.”

,Puhuhup-!!!”

I spat out the tea that was in my mouth and hurriedly grabbed Luna’s hand as she was about to bring the tea to her mouth. Luna, who was flustered, looked at me with surprised eyes, but I couldn’t let her drink any more of this tea.

,Are you crazy? Is that a lie?”

,Keukeu- It’s true that it’s a Platinang flower. Of course, the thorns have been removed, so there’s no danger at all. It has a good taste and scent, so it’s natural that it protects itself with such thorns.”

Even with Rotten’s explanation, I felt uneasy for no reason and whispered to Luna not to drink any more tea. Luna seemed to believe me, put down her glass, and looked around with an awkward smile.

,Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Rotten. I’m a magic scholar who studies thornification disease, and I’m going to be this guy’s teacher.”

At Rotten’s explanation, I hurriedly added.

,The last part is a lie.”

Luna smiled prettily at my explanation, as if she found our relationship interesting, and introduced herself.

,I, I’m Luna. I’m a freshman in the Department of Magic at Transcendence Academy, and I’m in the same club as Ross.”

,Really? You’re in the Department of Magic? A junior of mine has come to visit.”

Feeling impatient at Rotten who was laughing while saying that, I asked.

,Luna came as promised, so please check it out now?”

While Luna, who didn’t know what I meant, tilted her head, Rotten observed Luna and took out his staff.

,You little rascal, you’re impatient because you’re in front of the girl you like. Luna, would you mind if I check your body with magic for a moment?”

,Ye, yess?!”

Luna, surprised by the sudden suggestion, looked at me with eyes that were bigger than usual. Regretting that I hadn’t explained it to her in advance, I hurriedly explained to Luna what the situation was.

,Grandpa Rotten said he wanted to see if he could help you….”

,Ah… well, but it won’t work… I’ve checked it a lot.”

Just as my heart was about to ache at Luna’s gloomy expression, Rotten’s roar was heard.

,Is that what you call getting checked by me? Even though I look like this, I’m someone who has been working hard every day for decades to study thornification disease!”

Luna didn’t know what to do and had a flustered expression at Rotten’s roar. Seeing that, I put my hand on Luna’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.

,Luna, trust me. Grandpa Rotten is a reliable person even if his personality is strange.”

Whether she was persuaded by my words, Luna took out the book she had on her left hand and stretched out her left hand to Rotten with difficulty.

Rotten muttered something in an unknown language and brought his staff to Luna’s left hand, which was trembling as if convulsing.

The light that was emitted from the staff and went up Luna’s arm to her head could be seen under Luna’s white skin.

While watching the light passing through Luna’s body for a long time, I stroked her shoulder to reassure her. Rotten stopped the examination, took off his staff, and started writing something on a piece of paper after the examination was over.

,There’s a problem with your head. Did you have an accident when you were young?”

As Rotten asked while writing something quickly, Luna answered carefully.

,I fell off a horse… and hurt my head badly.”

,So that’s why you have a problem with your brain.”

I sighed at Rotten’s voice, which had no consideration at all, and looked at Luna.

,Yes… I have a problem with my brain, so potions don’t work and it’s hard to solve the problem with magic….”

Luna’s parents must have worked hard to fix their daughter’s body. But the fact that they couldn’t fix Luna’s body must mean that it’s impossible with current medicine.

Hoping that Rotten would be different, I looked at him with a little expectation, and Rotten put down his pen and turned around.

,Have the patient sit down for a moment. I need to have a conversation with the guardian.”

With those words, Rotten gestured for me to come outside.

After whispering to Luna to wait a moment, I followed Rotten out of the house.

,Can you fix it?”

,It’s not that I can fix it, but I have to fix it. If I leave it like this, her brain won’t be able to handle it and she won’t be able to walk. As time passes, her whole body will harden and her heart will harden and she’ll die like that….”

I bit my lip at Rotten’s shocking words. Luna is going to die…? I felt like the ground I was stepping on was collapsing and falling into the abyss.

,Then what do I do…? You have a way, Grandpa. Right?”

As I asked with anticipation, Rotten gave a mocking smile.

,I do. It’s not like thornification disease, and the problem of the brain is clear. It’s a method that only I can do.”

Before I could smile happily at those words and thank him, Rotten added.

,However, to treat that child, the condition is that you become my disciple.”

Seeing Rotten looking at me with cold eyes, I knelt on the floor without hesitation.

,I, I’ll do it. Disciple. So please treat her.”

At my words, Rotten looked down at me with suspicious eyes.

,You’re not doing this with the intention of getting treatment and running away, are you?”

,Absolutely not. I won’t run away, so please treat Luna.”

,If you become my disciple, you’ll have to drop out of the academy and live in this house picking Platinang flowers until I die?”

I answered immediately at Rotten’s words.

,I’ll drop out or whatever… so please treat her. I beg you.”

As I said those words, I slammed my forehead on the ground.

I couldn’t lose Luna like this. We weren’t even dating, and I just had feelings of affection in my heart. I couldn’t accept that she was going to die.

I promised to make them happy. Not only Luna, but all the members. It wasn’t a Geass oath or a restriction, but a goal as a complete me.

For the members, for Luna, for the people who are precious to me. I could kneel down and slam my forehead on the dirt floor at any time. I could even kill Rotten right now.

,Okay, then my disciple…”

,No!!!!”

Cutting off Rotten’s words, Luna’s shout was heard. When I lifted my head that was slammed on the ground and looked at Luna, her blue eyes were filled with tears.

Did she overhear our conversation? Luna, who couldn’t even run well, struggled to come to me and raised me up with one hand.

,Ross is the head of our club… Absolutely not.”

I was very embarrassed by Luna’s appearance, holding my hand and blocking me as if she wouldn’t let Rotten take me away with her small stature.

,Even if you die if Ross doesn’t become my disciple?”

,Ye, yes. No way. Ro, Ross will be a hero who protects everyone.”

Emotions are truly strange. Sometimes it’s very difficult to understand other people’s emotions, but sometimes it’s very easy to understand.

Because of her small stature, she couldn’t completely cover me, and she stuttered. And even though she heard that she would die if she didn’t get treatment.

Luna was only worried about me, not herself. It’s really funny that we weren’t even dating, but we sincerely cared for each other.

Is this love? I don’t know. I’ve never heard of this kind of love.

Then is this pity? I don’t think so. When I see Luna, I feel joy, not sadness.

Then what should this relationship be defined as? I don’t know.

Even though I was a writer, I don’t know the word to express this.

Maybe the person who can create a word for this is a genius.

,Hmph, I don’t need a disciple who’s crazy about women either.”

Rotten turned around, saying that with a grumbling voice.

,I’ll treat you, so come and help me out from time to time!”

With those words, Rotten returned home. Luna, who was looking at that, turned around and hugged me.

Crying, as if she wouldn’t let me go. Seeing Luna tightly gripping my clothes with her hardened left hand, I hugged Luna and stroked her back as if to comfort her.

,I’m glad.”

,Heueuk, heuk… I, I’m glad.”

Same words, but the meanings towards each other were different. I said I was glad that I could treat Luna.

Luna thought it was fortunate that she could prevent me from becoming Rotten’s disciple and dropping out of the academy.

Same words, different meanings.

However, we knew that our hearts towards each other were the same without having to say it.