episode_0088

“It’s about time for the main scenario to begin.”

Already over 9 days have passed since I started living together with Claire.

Since the night the main scenario came down, there was no chance of mistaking the date due to spending time with Claire.

As 9 days have passed, a period that could be considered short or long, we remember all the time spent together, which has become an opportunity to learn unknown or trivial things about each other.

For example, one of Claire’s excellent qualities is her diligence, but surprisingly, she is weak when it comes to sleep.

Her meticulous preparation of alarm spells reminded me of her habit of repeatedly turning off alarms and going back to sleep before coming to this world.

And while I only knew in theory that she was good at cooking, now that it has become a reality, having tasted what she made, Claire is truly skilled in cooking.

Although I didn’t quite catch what she muttered about being envious of her future husband, I awkwardly expressed my gratitude, seeming shy.

Apart from practical matters, in order to maintain the buffs on my body 24 hours a day, I continued to use them, achieving significant progress in terms of abilities.

I could maintain the buff for about an hour, but the time spent together seemed to have been a kind of intensive training, as now I have made considerable progress to the point where I can maintain it for slightly over 2 hours.

“Thanks to that, I now have the opportunity to move around alone.”

A concern is that my proficiency with security-related magic has greatly improved.

Thinking that someone might be targeting Claire, if I were to return to my original body, I felt sorry for her and wanted to repay a bit of the debt by thoroughly investigating who might be planning such nefarious actions.

Anyway, to ensure that the main scenario is proceeding smoothly, I arrived alone at the park after promising Helena to assist in confirming it, despite feeling reluctant, and agreeing to two requests during our conversation.

Claire suddenly had to rush off because of some issue at the Ardent Academy scholarship team, although I don’t know the details.

Knowing that Claire is the only one aware that I become weaker when buffed, she seemed worried about me and hoped I would accompany her until the end, but unfortunately, I had to decline.

If there hadn’t been a significant change in the buff duration, I would have followed her without much hesitation, but given the substantial increase in maintenance time and the newfound flexibility I had, I decided to refrain from involving Claire in any potential risks.

“As my pattern has changed monotonously, there is a high possibility that I, who may have a new face at the academy or who is evaluated as close to Claire, will be closely monitored by the Black Moon 4th Division. At least if Claire shows active behavior regarding this, it could be troublesome.”

Although I haven’t cleared the main scenario entirely yet, considering that I promised the safety of the academy’s internal personnel until my graduation, I want to prevent any trouble related to this after that.

Apart from the Black Moon 4th Division, others could also be monitoring.

Shaking off my thoughts, I crouched in front of the bench where Helena had been sitting, looking down, and noticed a circular pattern resembling a flower design, as if someone had scribbled on it.

“Indeed, it looks just like how I remembered it, even though it’s my first time seeing it in person.”

At first glance, it may seem like a simple pattern, but when the upcoming dark wizard breaches the academy’s security and casts a spell, the magic circle transforms, absorbing vitality from the surroundings. For the dark wizard, it enhances abilities; for foes, it exerts opposing effects.

After spraying a prepared cleanser and cautiously wiping away, Solo could confirm that the markings were gradually fading.

Until now, simply damaging this magic circle in Seongyong Hall was enough to prevent its activation. However, due to experiencing various setbacks in scenario changes, erasing it meticulously takes time to eliminate any potential issues entirely.

“Merely erasing one part makes my arm feel stiff. How weakened have I become?”

Internally sighing, Solo swiftly moved to the next destination before Claire returned, aiming to erase all magic circles before her arrival.

*

Following the park, Solo clandestinely removed magic circles inscribed on the densely populated buildings and dormitories of each department, proceeding to the forest on the outskirts where Iris had engaged in a significant battle with Black Moon, to check the remaining time in the main scenario.

“They really prepared diligently during the break.”

Although Iris was absent during the vacation, some students, professors, staff, and guards remained on campus. Successfully avoiding their vigilant gazes, Solo managed to inscribe the magic circles.

Approaching a particularly large tree at the forest’s entrance, Solo confirmed the presence of the last magic circle despite the shadows and overlapping dark hues.

“With this inscribed, tomorrow’s actions are certain.”

Two days before taking action, Solo checked the magic circles they had set up for any anomalies. If everything was in order, they would inscribe a magic circle on this tree, serving as a main controller to activate the remaining circles simultaneously.

Unlike the others, this one was not erased.

If this were erased, the dark wizard visiting tomorrow would immediately realize someone had interfered with their plans, prompting them to retreat. While the main scenario would be cleared with a repulsion judgment, it would come back more challenging to handle, hence the thorough preparation.

Lastly, to conceal any signs of someone approaching the tree, Solo cleared trampled leaves and tidied the ground, only to hear a sound from behind.

*Rustle*

Activating heightened senses, Solo bit their lip at the realization of their oversight.

“I turned off heightened senses midway due to physical strain, and now it’s coming back to haunt me.”

To ascertain the identity of the newcomer, Solo waited. The person revealed themselves wearing a school uniform and carrying a sword, likely a student from the Swordsmanship Department.

“Do you remember me, Yura? If you answer this question correctly, I am willing to overlook your mistakes and forgive you.”

??

“Have I ever made a mistake with this person?” Suppressing doubts, Solo scrutinized the individual slowly, but no memories surfaced.

Considering the possibility that they might have fought these students in the past to save Claire, who were all from the Magic Department, it seemed unlikely. Moreover, the person seemed to recognize Solo as Yura, not Yukal.

Given the lack of recollection, the person appeared inconsequential. Nevertheless, being asked directly put Solo in a difficult position.

“I’m sorry. I will apologize for any mistakes I’ve made. I hope you can forgive me with an open heart.”

In the weakened state I am in now, there is no chance against that guy, so I decided to start with an apology.

Bowing deeply, I apologized, but as he carefully observed my reaction, he soon opened his mouth as if reaching a conclusion.

“You don’t know anything about me, yet you apologize to get out of this situation. Even after giving you one last chance, you still reject it yourself.”

“Hey, calm down for a moment-”

“Shut up! Do you know how long I waited on the rooftop that day? Deceiving yourself that there might be classes or other reasons. Only after the building security asked me to leave because they had to close the doors did I realize. You have no interest in me at all.”

“Oh, he was crazy back then.”

Professor Seigen fell for me in the first class of the year and sent me a strange note, which I casually ignored.

He should talk some nonsense like being a lonely wolf.

Reading that note, even though I never agreed to meet him, he deluded himself, went berserk, and now wants to take it out on me.

“I never promised to meet him, nor did I make any mistakes or rudeness. Please stop this now.”

“You trample on my kindness like that and say it’s not rude? Looks like I’ll have to teach you myself.”

I tried to tactfully persuade him to avoid unnecessary trouble, but it seems to have backfired.

Despite warning him since earlier, I reinforced my body with a weak magic surge to enhance my abilities slightly, feeling a faint additional warning tingling.

“The left side is clear.”

Trying to exploit any gap to escape, I leaped away, but he looked at me disdainfully as if I were pathetic and immediately raised his magic to follow me.

In the end, my arm was caught within seconds.

“It feels like my arm is about to break.”

With my current abilities, I anticipated being unable to escape from him and at least planned to approach the academy to call for help, but the current power gap is too severe.

“I’ve already figured out Yura’s abilities. No aptitude for magic or special skills in mana, and your body is so weak that just moving to a distant building for class leaves you breathless. Prepared to waste my time with useless actions?”

“Let go, please! My arm feels like it’s going to break. At least let go and talk…”

Weakened and experiencing intense pain after a long time, I unwittingly stumbled over my words while speaking.