episode_0049

Cineria’s Black Moon 4th Division has executed the contract excellently.

Apart from the intermediate demon I dealt with, I succeeded in cleanly sweeping away another one and their monster forces.

It was significant that professors and some students participated in and fought in this Ardent Academy demon infiltration incident.

The most fortunate aspect seems to be that there are injuries among the students, but at least no one died.

Honestly, upon seeing the altered scenario, I made a contract with Laika with a feeling of catching at straws, thinking that it would be impossible to avoid casualties among the students.

Anticipating that many students would collapse under the pressure of reinforced monsters surrounding them, and with the intermediate demons increasing to two entities and positioned elsewhere.

If they had been in the same location, I could have somehow bought time to prevent other students from being attacked.

Until Laika and I moved, Helena and Rachel bought time for us, which could have prevented casualties.

I should express my gratitude to them as well.

While doing so, my gaze involuntarily drifted towards the eyes secretly watching me.

“Now it’s my turn to fulfill the contract terms.”

Considering the current turmoil at the academy, for now, I will just observe and give them time, but soon Laika or Cineria… are likely to make contact regarding this matter.

Regarding the deal, they seem likely to come first to establish contact, so waiting might… probably work.

In a situation where demons and monsters invaded on a large scale, I was slightly taken aback by Iris’s lack of response, but according to what she later announced in the auditorium, she had evacuated the school due to some reason, causing a delay in response.

It was unexpected that Cineria’s Black Moon 4th Division couldn’t avoid being seen by students or professors while protecting the students, announcing that they were special guards contracted to protect Ardent Academy in emergencies.

Although there hadn’t been much interaction between Iris and Sungyong before, if incidents occurred, I thought that any suspicious group acting within would be promptly acknowledged and accepted for remediation and dialogue.

If some professors are deeply involved in Ardent Academy, there is likely no such thing as special guards, so suspicions would arise sooner or later.

That issue is likely to be resolved soon.

“It seems like you don’t show any remorse for what you’ve done, so I might as well add disciplinary measures. Come to the principal’s office once a week for special education. That’s all, you may leave!”

Considering the last words of the conversation I had with Iris before receiving disciplinary action, a week has already passed, and since I handled an intermediate demon in this incident, I have sufficient grounds to meet her.

Once this incident is settled, at the very least, she will call me for a conversation or debriefing.

I cleared my mind of distractions and quickened my pace.

“More importantly, the person I need to get answers from is here.”

-Academy Infirmary

Inside the infirmary, I saw Teacher Tina and students running around trying to treat the injured students.

“Excuse me. I’d like to confirm if visiting Helena Clark is allowed.”

As I spoke, Teacher Tina approached me.

“You’re Yukal! I heard you dealt with an intermediate demon this time. Thanks to you, there may have been no casualties among the students. I want to convey my thanks on behalf of the infirmary.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“No, if the students’ treatment is all done and the infirmary becomes quiet, come visit once. Let’s see, Helena isn’t completely fine yet, so she should take some time to rest.”

“If Helena is asleep, I’ll just take a quick look at her face and leave.”

“Um… Alright, if that’s all.”

After hesitating slightly, I found myself unconsciously looking at Teacher Tina, who opened her mouth.

She is a kind person who listens to families’ complaints and blames herself first if students are seriously injured or die and are moved to the infirmary.

She was someone who laughed a lot and was affectionate, but gradually lost her laughter in the face of students’ suffering and death.

Seeing her smile thankfully because no one died after such an incident, I made a silent vow in my mind.

“I’ll do my best so that no one loses their laughter due to someone’s death.”

“By the way, things are going well~ My girlfriend is worried and wants to see me by her side. Teacher Yukal, I thought you were a person who shed no blood or tears because of what happened last time. It’s fortunate. But don’t do anything mischievous inside the infirmary, okay?”

“……”

I didn’t know she had such a mischievous side, but following Teacher Tina’s guidance, I moved to a private room inside the infirmary.

Lying on the bed, I saw Helena sleeping soundly, and as if to create time for us, Teacher Tina quietly left the room.

The fact that I could get a private room in the infirmary in this situation spoke volumes about Helena Clark’s status, so there was no need for further explanation.

“If Helena continues to pretend to sleep, I’ll leave now.”

“Hehe, caught me?”

As I spoke, Helena opened her eyes and looked at me with a sly smile.

“I hoped you would notice it so blatantly. Your breathing was too regular. If you wanted, you could have pretended to sleep longer.”

She probably realized that I had visited and pretended to be asleep to give Teacher Tina a chance to show her appearance and create an opportunity for us to talk alone.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. You know, Yukal, did you nurse me while I was asleep next to you the whole time? I was touched, but I might be a little embarrassed.”

I could only sigh at Helena’s behavior, blushing and acting shy.

“I came here to ask you two things.”

“Oh? Yukal, I was looking forward to you asking me something. I’ll answer as much as I can in return for letting me speak, but if you ask cheeky questions like my underwear size, I won’t answer-”

“How much lifespan did you use up this time? Answer properly.”

Cutting off her nonsense, I could see a hint of tension in Helena’s smile upon hearing my words.

Helena’s unique ability, the ‘Cursed Pocket Watch,’ allows her to sacrifice her lifespan to harness magic beyond the current limits or manifest higher-level magic.

Considering the traces of magic around when she arrived at Intermediate Demon territory and the barrier crucially placed on Claire, it seems she heavily utilized her unique ability.

Regardless of her exceptional magical abilities, it was impossible for Helena, still a first-year student, to achieve this level of magic proficiency.

“She seems quite flustered.”

She couldn’t maintain her poker face and seemed to be pondering why I knew about this.

Even Helena’s father wouldn’t know this fact.

Ultimately, despite her contemplation, she quietly spoke up.

“About ten years.”

Despite avoiding Helena, it was my negligence and mistakes that wasted her life, not hers.

“Do you not want to ask? Why do I know this fact?”

“I wouldn’t tell you even if you asked. Is that the right answer?”

There’s no way I could tell Helena what I couldn’t tell Claire.

“…Yes. Additionally, I want to ask why you risked Claire’s life by spending yours like that. Weren’t you supposed to dislike thinking about what you did to Claire?”

Helena, smiling again at me, replied, “You don’t know everything, Yukal.”

“I’m human too. How can I know everything and act perfectly?”

She chuckled in response to my words, seeming relieved.

“Just like Claire, I had no choice but to do that to find a place in your heart. That’s all. Yukal, you decide whether to judge others based on some predetermined criteria.”

Considering Helena’s personality, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that.

Having deduced everything from my subtle attitudes and actions so far, she even inferred that I would unconsciously do that.

Even so, dedicating more than ten years of my life to that.

My mind has become more complicated than before the thoughts came rushing in.

Seeing my expression, Helena added, “I won’t ask you to treat me exactly like Claire right away. I’d appreciate it if you could explain in more detail why I and Claire are different than before, but if you just allow me to stay in a corner of your heart without pushing me away, that would be enough for me. If you’re sorry, it’s okay. Just grant me one favor later, hehe.”

“If it’s within my realm of possibility, I’ll grant the request.”

Knowing that all my actions were thoroughly calculated, I cannot overlook the fact that I saved Claire’s life and sacrificed my lifespan to do so.

“Thank you! Well, I think I need to rest again because I’m tired. I’d appreciate it if you could make room for me.”

Quietly responding to Helena’s words, I greeted Teacher Tina and left the infirmary.

Staring at the barrier that was still there, I couldn’t help but quietly ponder to myself.

“Is it possible for me to change you…”

With a muttered thought unheard by Helena, Yukal moved his feet again.