Ch.125125. The Girl’s Ending

My research lab.

Illuania, who had visited after a long time, was brewing tea, which honestly was a bit of a nuisance.

“I told you that you didn’t need to come.”

Despite arranging a hotel room for her and telling her to rest instead of coming to work, Illuania had insisted on visiting.

Her already swollen belly indicated that the time to welcome a new family member was approaching.

“It’s not good to stay still for too long. And I was getting bored by myself.”

“…Don’t overdo it.”

“Don’t worry, Owen is helping me.”

At that, Owen, who had been curiously staring at Illuania’s belly, nodded with a bright smile.

“Leave it to me! I’ll do anything!”

“Oh my, how sweet.”

Illuania seemed to have taken a liking to Owen, as she had been patting his head or pinching his cheeks since before, and Owen didn’t seem to mind it.

Since he was often scolded by Findenai, he tended to like Illuania even more.

“By the way, where did Findenai go?”

“I gave her a separate task. She’s near the first-year girls’ dormitory, but it could be dangerous, so don’t go there unnecessarily.”

“The dormitory is dangerous?”

She tilted her head in question but didn’t ask further and started preparing tea and snacks with Owen.

“Um, do you really think I can be of help?”

Per Petra, sitting next to me, was fidgeting with both hands, seemingly nervous.

If Findenai were here, she would have said something vulgar, but I answered calmly.

“I heard you’ve lectured the students I’m about to call in. Don’t feel pressured and just listen comfortably.”

I didn’t particularly expect anything from Professor Per. I simply had her sit in because she shared the research lab with me, and the four people I was about to call had attended her lectures a few times, so I wondered if there might be something unusual.

Karen, the health professor, was also sitting across from me with her arms crossed, waiting for the students.

Knock knock.

A knocking sound came from outside.

Owen, who had finished preparing the snacks, immediately opened the door, peeked his head out, and exchanged a few words.

“Spirit Master, a female student named Happy is here.”

“Let her in.”

Happy was the archer in Aria’s party. As the party’s main rear damage dealer, she was a talent worth nurturing.

Moreover, when resolving episodes related to Findenai, one could obtain items from the Republic of Clark, which had good synergy with Happy.

“Ah, hello.”

A pure-looking girl with orange hair entered. Like Aria, she was a commoner from a rural village.

When starting the game, she’s one of the first to become friends with Aria, and along with a mage named Forensia, they form a trio of best friends.

“Yes, it’s nothing much. I just wanted to talk for a moment.”

“Ah, yes.”

The Happy I remembered had a bubbly personality as her name suggested, but she seemed stiff, probably nervous in front of me, a professor.

Since I couldn’t have the pregnant Illuania serve guests, she only brewed the tea, and Owen brought it out.

After seating Happy across from me, I gave her some time to drink her tea.

After taking a few sips, her stiff expression seemed to relax, and I asked.

“Do you know a student named Aria Rius?”

“Ah, yes. I do.”

But the moment Aria was mentioned, her expression immediately darkened.

They should have already become friends by this time, but had Aria’s eccentric behavior strained their relationship?

Her reaction wasn’t very positive.

“Well, she’s kind of self-centered? You can see she doesn’t really welcome others approaching her.”

“…”

“So I didn’t really approach her. She’s a bit scary.”

Had Aria’s reputation deteriorated this much?

Happy seemed uncomfortable, as if she felt like she was gossiping, but I assured her it was fine, listened to a few more words, and then dismissed her.

The next one was the same.

The mage Forensia was also very skeptical about Aria.

Aria, Happy, Forensia.

The bond between the three that seemed unbreakable no longer existed.

Having personally witnessed all of this, I couldn’t hide my devastation.

“Sigh.”

“…”

“…”

The two professors on either side of me looked at me, seemingly wanting to say something, but the next person came in.

The spear master Leorus, the assassin Jin.

The male members of the party also showed little interest in Aria.

I had hoped for something from Leorus, as there was a description in the game about him falling in love at first sight, but he too only showed an ambiguous expression.

After the brief conversation ended, I returned to my original seat. There was no need to ask the two professors anything, as I hadn’t gained any new information.

‘It’s certain that she complained of a headache after seeing the four people among the students.’

But her relationship with the four was not good at all. As my head started to ache slightly at this contradictory situation.

Health Professor Karen, with her arms crossed, asked.

“By the way, is there a reason you chose those students?”

“Hmm?”

“Ah, I was curious about that too.”

Per Petra raised her hand slightly, echoing Karen’s question.

Come to think of it, it was natural for the two to wonder why I suddenly called in students who had no connection to Aria.

“I understand that Aria suddenly complained of a headache after seeing a group of students. But was there a specific reason it was those four?”

It was an awkward part to explain.

Because it would have been memories from the first playthrough.

The innocent Aria at that time would have surely been friends with those four, forming pairs and fighting for the peace of the continent…

“I see.”

I nodded unconsciously.

The two showed confusion at my misaligned response, but I abruptly stood up and headed out of the research lab.

I could hear Owen, Illuania, and the other two professors calling after me, but I had no time to respond.

The fact that Aria showed such a reaction despite having no connection with the companions of this playthrough.

I thought it must be because of something that happened in the first playthrough.

After gesturing to Karen, who tried to follow me, not to come, I headed to the girls’ dormitory.

“Huh?”

Findenai was leaning against Aria’s door, with the tobacco I had given her in her mouth, unlit.

“What? Is it resolved?”

Findenai stood up abruptly after glancing at me. I shook my head slightly and instructed her.

“Make sure no one enters this floor. Thirty minutes should be enough.”

“Yawn, should I prepare an axe?”

Findenai shrugged her shoulders while yawning. She had lost her axe during our previous visit to the Republic of Clark; had she prepared a new one?

“Please do.”

Just in case, I had Findenai arm herself.

As Findenai left to get her axe, I also asked the Dark Spiritmaster who was attached to me to step aside for a moment.

[You and this child seem to have a very special connection.]

“…”

[Hmm, I’ll step aside since you want me to. But… actually, I don’t really understand.]

What didn’t she understand?

The Dark Spiritmaster glanced at Aria’s door and then disappeared.

I took a deep breath and slowly spoke in front of Aria’s door.

“Are you there?”

“Ah! Professor!”

Aria approached buoyantly. I could sense her standing on the other side of the door.

“Can I come out now?”

“No, I came to talk for a moment.”

“With, with me?! Hehe! I’m glad!”

Glad?

“What are you glad about?”

When I expressed my doubt, Aria carefully replied.

“Actually, I said in Norsweden that I didn’t care if you disliked me. But… I regretted saying that.”

“…”

“In the end, even though I said that, I thought I would be happy if you liked me.”

“Do you still feel the same way?”

I asked just in case, but I suppose it was as expected. Aria answered firmly, without hesitation.

“If there’s someone who endangers you, I’ll kill them, no matter who they are. Because I’ve chosen you, Professor.”

“Even if that person is your friend?”

“What?”

Aria asked what I meant. I let out a faint sigh and briefly mentioned what had happened today.

“I heard that you keep your distance from other students. Today, I spoke with Happy, Forensia, Leorus, and Jin.”

“Ah…”

Names that should be familiar to her.

But Aria didn’t seem particularly pleased. Rather, her voice was low, as if she wanted to keep some distance.

“I really don’t know how much you know, Professor. You surely don’t have any memories of the first playthrough, unlike me.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

That’s why I came here.

To find the reason why Aria suddenly started behaving strangely and became mentally unstable.

To discover the root cause.

I swallowed hard and voiced the reason I had come here.

“Aria, how did your first playthrough end?”