Ch.117Testing NPC (5)

One. She has a criminal record. The incident of molesting Ragni. Though she says she’ll forget it because Ira called her “unnie,” I still can’t forget it.

Two. She’s completely outclassed in terms of power. If she herself felt she couldn’t keep up with our party’s level, then that’s the end of it. I have neither the obligation to personally train a player nor any reason to boost her confidence.

Lastly, three.

“You didn’t prioritize Ira.”

“W-what? What do you mean…?”

“The battle with the Vice Principal a few days ago. You knew beforehand that the Vice Principal knew about Ira, didn’t you?”

“…Ah.”

I haven’t forgotten that day either. I assigned her because she had skills good for infiltration, but even without her, we had several other options.

During that time, she overheard that the Vice Principal knew about Ira. Yet, despite having ample time and opportunity to inform us before the operation began, she didn’t tell us that the Vice Principal knew about Ira.

Clearly, if it had been one of those three over there instead of her, they would never have made such a mistake.

Knowing how precious Ira is to me. And if she truly cared about Ira, such a mistake would have been impossible.

“And your behavior after Ira contracted with the spirit. Do you know how much of a burden that was for Ira?”

“What?”

“Ira calls you ‘unnie’ too. But seeing someone she calls ‘unnie’ bowing her head and kneeling because of a spirit. Do you think my sister wouldn’t feel any pressure seeing that?”

Honestly, I wanted to cut Miho off immediately after seeing her bizarre behavior.

Though Ira has matured enough not to show it much now, while Miho was acting that way, Ira only played with Piyaki and stayed close to us, never approaching Miho.

This is the same Ira who usually talks about how much she likes Miho.

Not knowing what Piyaki was, why it was sticking to her, why it suddenly appeared—she must have been anxious because she didn’t understand. And this woman was fueling that anxiety.

During the test, Ira was so surprised to see the opposing spirit bow to her that even after being told the reason, she asked again why Piyaki was sticking to her—that’s how concerned she was!

*Clench*

“Those are the reasons you failed. Do you still have any objections?”

“……”

Miho’s golden eyes began to tremble anxiously at my words. But even seeing her like this, I don’t feel even a shred of sympathy.

“If you have nothing to say, then we’re done. Tomorrow, you’ll leave Neithi with me for Aigram. There, you’ll meet up with Green Doll and then you can go your own way. Or go to Siltra. Do whatever you want.”

I turned my back, and the three people who had been listening to our conversation were looking at me.

Hmm. I tried to cut it short and end it quickly, but did they hear everything?

“You spoke quite harshly?”

“Harsh? I’ve never forgiven what she did to you back then in the first place.”

“…It’s a little pitiful. Her spirit is completely crushed.”

“It’s karma. Don’t sympathize.”

[I don’t intend to sympathize, but it was certainly cold and harsh criticism for you, Master.]

After hearing even Gor’s comment, I just shrug my shoulders.

What can I do? I never intended to accept Miho as part of our group from the beginning. Even now, I’m only tolerating her because she’s a player, but there have been countless times when I’ve genuinely wanted to punch her.

Reina and Ragni somehow ended up joining us, and now I consider them precious, but not Miho. If we don’t cut her off, she’ll eventually return as a nuclear bomb for Ira and for all of us.

I’ve already explained it to Ragni, and I think I should properly inform Rei and Gor later as well. With that in mind, I approached the Academy Director.

Now I need to take Ira home… right?

“Hehe. How cute, sleeping so soundly.”

“Excuse me, what are you doing?”

“Eek!!”

The Academy Director who had been watching our match until just now.

For some reason, she was completely ignoring my conversation with Miho and the others’ chat, and when I looked to see what she was doing, she was poking Ira’s chubby, baby-fat cheeks.

You’ll wake her up. What are you doing?!

“Ah, um. She-she won’t wake up. As soon as you handed her to me, I cast a sound barrier. And physical protection. She wouldn’t wake up even if there was an explosion right next to her!”

“Even so, why are you poking her cheeks? Ira’s skin is sensitive. Will you take responsibility if she gets bruised?!”

“I-I didn’t poke that hard! Just a little, because they were so soft…!!”

The Director’s face turned bright red, seemingly startled by my sudden call, and I spread my arms in a gesture asking for Ira back.

Seriously. I entrusted her to you to watch over, and this is what happens.

Even if you’ve just now realized how cute Ira is, I remember everything you’ve done to her!

“Ahem. So, are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I plan to leave by tomorrow noon.”

“You’re in a hurry. Do you have something important to attend to?”

“…You read the letter, I see.”

“Hmm. You’re quick-witted. You didn’t seem that bright when I saw you talking earlier today.”

…My life—being called stupid wherever I go?

“Anyway, don’t worry about it. Just take good care of Ira and our kids.”

“Yes. Don’t worry. And…”

The Director turned her back as if she had finished all her business for today. She spoke softly, just loud enough for only me to hear.

“Tell the Spirit King that I will wait for him here, forever.”

With that, the Director disappeared.

That message was a response to the letter from the Spirit King. Hah, as expected, even throwing out a “deus ex machina” line and disappearing is full of melancholy.

“Let’s go home too. I’m getting sleepy now.”

After delivering a much cheaper line compared to the Director’s, I started walking.

*

“…Talent with no visible limits. Interesting, and honestly, frightening.”

Far away, leaving the academy, a gray-haired man carrying a little girl. And four women following behind him. A middle-aged woman with red hair sitting quietly on the academy rooftop, looking down at them.

Academy Director Naika was recalling the sensation of the girl she had been holding until just now.

“The talent of that group itself is tremendous, but truly. That child called Ira is in the realm of the incomprehensible.”

When that man Jack asked to have a match here earlier today, she honestly thought it was a bother.

Though she wanted to see his abilities, frankly, the strength of a human without magical power was outside her domain.

But.

[Ah, and I’m sorry to ask again, but could you watch our Ira for a bit while we’re at it? I’d feel uncomfortable leaving her home alone…]

The moment he said that, her reluctance completely disappeared.

She had wanted to directly confirm several things about that child anyway.

Beyond having a higher spirit affinity than herself, who had received the Spirit King’s blessing, the level and quality of the child’s magical power seemed exceptionally high.

This was something she naturally wanted to confirm as both a researcher and an educator.

So she approved his request to use the arena, and the sensation she felt the moment she held the child in her arms still remains throughout her body.

“All spirits show goodwill toward that child… even my high-ranking spirits were being drawn to her.”

Contract spirits wanting to materialize without permission to summon.

She honestly broke a sweat trying to prevent both of her high-ranking spirits from expressing their will to her.

It had been decades since these spirits had disobeyed her like this.

“[The core of the highest-ranking spirit]. Perhaps the day has truly come for it to find its rightful master.”

She couldn’t summon it.

It was impossible even with the Spirit King’s blessing. No, perhaps it might be possible now, but she herself thinks that she shouldn’t do it anymore.

[I don’t regret choosing you that day. However, I’m sorry. The time when I asked you to raise children who would lead the new era must have been difficult for you, who was still so young.]

“…How could that be? If I hadn’t prepared from that time, I wouldn’t have reached my current level, becoming the Academy Director.”

Her vision had become clouded. At some point, she had come to believe that only human magical power and spirit affinity were the qualities needed to lead the new era.

And in her younger days, she had somewhat despaired, thinking that the Spirit King’s words confirmed she was not material to lead the era.

Still, she didn’t seem as twisted then as she is now. When exactly had she become so distorted?

Why hadn’t she noticed the Vice Principal’s atrocities until now?

“…Sigh. It’s too late for regrets now. There’s still much to do, and.”

She follows the silhouettes of those who have now completely left the academy and are disappearing from view.

The Spirit King didn’t ask her to raise a child. He said “children.”

“…While the girl Ira is extraordinary, the women around her are also remarkable talents. It’s a shame the man has no magical power, but I can work with that golem instead.”

The battle they showed today was incredibly impressive for their age.

Literally, in just 10 more years, they would easily surpass her level of talent.

And since she’s almost 50 now, it’s not wrong to consider those in their 20s as children.

Of course, that child called Ira will easily surpass her level not in 10 years, but within 5.

That level of talent, that pure magical power still feels like it remains in her hands.

“Well. Another all-nighter tonight. I need to report to the victims, compensate them, and apologize. I must move quickly. You too! Stop whining about wanting to see that child and help me! If you want to give her a gift, we need to move quickly!!”

After shouting at the invisible spirits around her, she smiled at the now completely disappeared silhouettes, turned around, and vanished.

Another iceberg has begun to move in a different direction, guided by a certain caretaker who has completely stepped out of her role.