Ch.109The NPC Takes a Leap of Faith. (2)

“Did you sleep well, oppa?”

“Yeah. Did Ira sleep well too? And what’s everyone doing here?”

[Master collapsed, so we all gathered. We were planning to take you to the hospital without telling Ira…]

As expected. Gorg was worried because I collapsed, and the other two women were also anxiously shifting their gazes.

The Spirit King’s fragment said the timing was the only chance, but for me, it was the worst possible moment.

I moved around a bit to show the three of them that neither my body nor head hurt, and the atmosphere finally lightened.

But it seems like the heavy mood isn’t just because they were worried about me…

“Peep—!”

“Huh?”

“Oppa! Look at this! Isn’t it cute? A baby bird!”

[Supreme Fire Spirit Phoenix (Infant): Level 243]

“…What?”

When I look at the yellow and red lump Ira has placed on her hand, a status window appears.

…Phoenix? Did it give me this? A supreme spirit? Did it already make a contract with Ira?!

“Oppa! Its name is Peepee!! Peepee, this is our oppa! Say hello!”

“Peep—!”

[Supreme Fire Spirit Phoenix (Infant). Name: Peepee. Level: 243]

As if understanding Ira’s words, the little creature spreads its tiny wings—not even half the size of Ira’s palm—wide toward me, and the status window changes.

…Is that name really okay? I thought supreme spirits were supposed to have intelligence and reason? Are you sure you won’t regret this?!

“Just so you know, Ira already had it when we got back.”

“I don’t understand how this happened either. And Miho, who was watching the whole time, is in that state…”

“Huh?”

Miho’s here too? Where? I don’t see her… Why is she kneeling on the floor again?

[I’ll explain.]

Gorg mentions that the other two don’t understand the situation either, writes with slime liquid, and immediately explains the situation to me through the status window.

While I was unconscious, the Chancellor targeted me and raided our house.

The three of them fended her off and, according to plan, landed a good hit on that woman.

When they returned, Ira had contracted with a supreme spirit and learned several skills.

Gorg briefly explained the situation, showing me [Spirit’s Beloved] and [Supreme Spirit Master] that appeared for Ira.

…How many days was I out? What’s all this about? Targeting me? For what reason…

[You’ve been unconscious for about 5 hours. They said it was because you broke the barrier.]

Surprisingly legitimate reason. Shit. They found out?! So how did…

[Don’t worry. Ragni talked her down and smoothed things over.]

“Oppa, can I keep Peepee? I’ll feed it and take it for walks!!”

“…Oh, um. Sure. You can keep it. Feed it well and take good care of it, okay?”

“Hehe! I will!!”

“Peep—!!”

An infant mode of a supreme spirit. It’s a state I’ve never seen in the game, but it’s not human, so it will probably grow quickly.

Plus, Ira seems to really like Phoenix… Peepee, constantly nuzzling it against her face, and the Phoenix seems to enjoy Ira’s actions too, rubbing itself against her.

Well. I don’t completely understand the situation, but at least nothing bad has happened.

And what’s important now is…

“Rey, Ragni, Gorg.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes?”

[Yes.]

All three look at me when I call their names. I carefully look at each of them and then…

“You did well. Thank you for your hard work. Really, you’re the best. Thank you.”

This is me expressing gratitude to these guys. They fought a deus ex machina without me and came back unharmed, and they even handled something I should have done myself.

If I didn’t thank them for this, I wouldn’t be human, would I?

With that thought, I smile sincerely at the three of them, and…

“Ugh?! Y-you!!”

“S-surprise attack!!”

[…You’re making me want to get pregnant.]

…What’s with the sudden commotion?

The two women’s faces have turned strangely red, and they’re twisting their bodies weirdly. The golem’s eyes have grown slightly larger as it strangely displays a status window where I can’t see it. I tilt my head in confusion, but well.

They don’t seem upset, so let’s move on.

Anyway.

“Now all that’s left is Ira’s entrance exam.”

“Hehe. I’m going to pass!”

“Peep—!”

“Right! Everyone’s worked hard, so you must be hungry? Let’s have breakfast quickly. I’ll make it today.”

We moved to the first floor, forcibly dragging along the two women who still couldn’t move with their strangely reddened faces.

*

“……”

“Chancellor? What’s wrong?”

“Manie…”

Chancellor Naika, completely dazed from what happened earlier this morning, was standing still like a corpse, not even noticing her secretary had entered.

“The entrance exam starts the day after tomorrow. Are you feeling unwell?”

“…No.”

“…Well. You should take care of yourself. You’re not getting any younger.”

After saying that and handing over the report documents, the secretary begins to explain the current situation.

The human who broke the city barrier hasn’t been identified, and several department heads and teaching assistants have been absent without leave for about 5 days. The vice-chancellor still hasn’t returned either.

“So, what should we do? The elementary and middle school spirit department heads are all gone, and the professors can’t handle their routine work properly. They’re strangely anxious…”

“…Manie, from today you’re the acting head of the elementary spirit department.”

“The urgent approval documents… What? What are you…”

The secretary’s reporting mouth stopped at the quiet words of the Chancellor, whose eyes looked dead. And then…

“I’ll temporarily serve as the middle school department head from today. Also, summon all spirit department professors from elementary, middle, and high school to my office today. Tell them I have announcements regarding the upcoming exam. And Manie, gather the spirit department teaching assistants after lunch and keep them waiting.”

“W-wait a minute! We’re extremely busy right now! If that many people stop working…!!”

“It won’t take long. Please, proceed as instructed.”

The secretary’s eyes widen. Please? Did the Chancellor just say please? Having worked under this person for 10 years, the shock of hearing the word “please” for what seemed like the first time left the secretary speechless.

In the end, the secretary began to move according to the Chancellor’s instructions.

“…The generation that will walk into the new era the Spirit King spoke of. I thought I was raising them all, but when did I…”

Begin throwing them all away meaninglessly?

Chancellor Naika began cleaning up the academy slowly like a dazed human, but surely and mechanically.

*

Two days later. At the entrance to the Academy exam hall.

“Ira, be careful. You absolutely must not get hurt, okay? When you finish the exam…”

“Check that you didn’t mark the wrong answers! Even if you can’t finish everything, check what you’ve done 10 minutes before the end!”

“Right. Ira, I believe in you. And, Gorg, Rey.”

“Leave the escort to us!”

[I’ll protect her with my life, so don’t worry.]

Ugggh!! Is this how parents feel when sending their child on their first errand? I hold Ira’s hand firmly but gently, repeating the same words over and over.

“You know we’re the only ones making such a fuss about someone taking the academy entrance exam? Will you let her go now?”

Ragni says this indifferently, but I know that she woke up earlier than usual this morning and checked the contents of Ira’s bag more than 10 times.

Well, maybe she’s confident because she checked so thoroughly.

Ugh, but still! Being anxious is being anxious!!

“Oppa! Ragni unnie! Miho unnie! I’m off!”

“Okay. I put in 7 pens, so if one breaks, replace it right away. Just solve everything as you learned.”

“Have a good day! Miss Ira!”

“Good luck, Ira!!”

“Hehe! I’ll come back after passing!”

I waved my hand until Ira, Rey, and Gorg completely disappeared into the academy.

“Please stop! People are watching. Let’s go.”

“Ah. We’re waiting at the practical exam venue first, right? It’s this way.”

Miho, who had infiltrated the academy before, started leading the way, and Ragni began pulling me by the arm.

We arrived at a dome-shaped building labeled [Practical Exam Venue] in the center of the academy.

I’ve seen this place in the game too. Originally, the quest started here by tracking traces of a kidnapped child.

“Good. It’s quiet here.”

“But, Ragni, couldn’t you have gone too? Why did you only send Rey and Gorg?”

“I told you this morning! I have something to discuss with you. You’re really out of it today!”

Ah, was that so? I guess I’m completely distracted because it’s Ira’s exam day.

They say parents are more nervous than the children on college entrance exam day, and I’m exactly like that.

Feeling like Ragni might have said something like that, I nodded and sat down in a spot with the best view of the practical exam venue before continuing the conversation with Ragni.

“So, what exactly is that spirit next to Ira?”

Ragni immediately gets to the point. And the first to react to her words is not me, but…

-THUD!! BANG!

“Just from that woman’s reaction, it’s clear this isn’t an ordinary spirit. Tell me everything. You know, don’t you?”

Miho, who was about to sit down, instead fell forward on her knees and pressed her head to the ground. Looking at her behavior with disbelief, I gather my thoughts.

Two days ago, after I woke up, I explained that Ira had contracted with a spirit and that was all they needed to know, but with Miho kneeling whenever Ira played with Phoenix… Peepee around the house, a proper explanation became necessary.

This is really annoying. I’m going to fail her on the exam anyway, but I was keeping her with us so Ira wouldn’t be disturbed before her test. She’s really not helpful in life.

“And that day when you woke up, what you said… it definitely wasn’t directed at us, and it wasn’t sleep talking either. Who were you talking to and what happened? Explain clearly. If we don’t know, we can’t help you.”

I organize my thoughts in response to Ragni’s accurate statements.

What should I explain and answer, and how much? I’ve been roughly organizing the content since two days ago, but…

“And finally, why are you trying to enroll Ira in this academy? At first, I thought you wanted her to study, so I didn’t say anything, but I just don’t understand. This academy is where those people did such things to children, right? Even now, we’ve only cleaned it up to some extent, with no perfect guarantee of safety. So why is someone like you, who worries about and loves Ira so much, acting this way? Honestly, I don’t understand.”

Hmm. As expected. Ragni is too smart. That’s why she’s called the sharp-witted princess… My answer is…

“That’s too many questions. Give me 30 minutes to think. Let me organize my thoughts.”

I’m not that smart, and there are too many sharp questions!! Let me buy some time first.