Ch.263Exploding NPCs. (4)

“Huff! Huff! Huff! M-Miss Ira. D-Did you wait long?”

“No! I only waited 20 minutes!!”

Twenty minutes is quite a long wait. Ugh, Miss Ira’s kindness in saying she didn’t wait long to avoid making me worry only makes my heart ache more.

Originally, Gor was responsible for escorting Ira home from school, and I would only occasionally join them on days when I came as a swordsmanship instructor (intern), but recently that schedule began to change.

[I’m sorry. Now, I can barely move during the daytime.]

Gor’s condition had been deteriorating since before the final exams, and now she couldn’t move her golem body even when fully conscious. Strangely, she said she could move when Miss Ira returned home, but if they separated after going to the academy together, she would completely lose the ability to move. In fact, students had started screaming in terror, thinking they’d found a corpse when they saw the gray woman lying on the corridor floor with her eyes open. Eventually, Gor was banned from entering the academy.

[It’s not just students complaining, but professors too. When you collapse, the entire building shakes from your weight. Now everyone knows about it.]

I feel it’s a bit inappropriate to talk about a woman’s weight like that, but Gor is actually a golem. I’ve heard the sound of her falling several times myself. It was truly tremendous. In the end, the headmaster instructed that until Gor recovered, Ragni and he would take care of escorting Ira within the academy, while I would be responsible for taking her home.

Of course, Gor initially protested, saying she would just lie collapsed in some secluded corner of the school if she fell, but the headmaster shook his head, saying it would be more trouble to find her if someone carried her body away. Ragni opposed the idea too. So that’s how…

“Huff! *inhale*… Haah! Miss Ira. How was your exam today? Did it go well?”

“Yes! All the written questions today were ones I knew!!”

“Oh my, then you’ll get good grades again this time, won’t you?”

“Yes!!”

I became responsible for escorting Ira home. Of course, from my perspective as someone who needs to handle adventurer requests to earn money, this meant a bit more work, but honestly, I enjoy this in its own way, so I don’t mind. Above all…

‘…Earning money by going outside for Ira and Jack, then rushing back in for escort duty. Working this hard feels like something.’

It’s like being a woman suffering at the hands of a terrible man! Especially when I think that the man in question is Jack, and it’s his precious little sister I’m caring for, I get this thrilling sensation.

Ah, I’ve been completely corrupted! This sinful feeling!! If I marry Jack, I’ll be the one earning money, raising the children, doing the housework, while Jack just watches… Mmm!!♡

“…Big sis. Are you thinking stupid thoughts again?”

“N-No?! I was just thinking how impressive you are, Miss Ira?! A-Anyway. Is there anything you want to eat? To celebrate finishing your exam well. I’ll make or buy you anything!!”

Miss Ira’s perception is getting sharper, so I really need to be careful. Pushing my inappropriate thoughts aside, I smiled as innocently as possible at Miss Ira, who was looking at me with suspicious eyes. After considering my offer, she immediately spoke up.

“Skewers! Meat skewers!!”

“Hehe, alright. Then let’s buy skewers at the market, and also get some vegetables to grill with them.”

When I extend my hand to Miss Ira, she firmly grasps it with her adorable little hand. Ah, this sense of achievement! Miss Ira, who used to say she couldn’t stand the sight of someone like me, now easily allows me to hold her hand. I’m so happy!!!

Thinking we should finish preparing dinner before Ragni gets off work, I quickly shopped with Ira and headed straight home. The gray golem sitting slumped in front of the entrance began to move with creaking sounds.

“We’re home~”

[Welcome back. It seems tonight is a skewer party.]

“Yes. Gor, how are you? Were you able to move?”

[No. When Ira leaves, I simply stop. I don’t understand the principle behind it, but when Ira moves about 6 meters away, the golem body completely stops moving.]

What is she talking about? I’d like to think she’s not deliberately making it complicated just to say she wants to be with Miss Ira all the time. But Gor is actually a golem, and our house is a duplex about 10 meters from end to end. If she’s saying she doesn’t collapse because she can stay within range of Miss Ira, then I guess it can’t be helped. Anyway, Gor started preparing dinner, and I finished bathing with Miss Ira. Hmm, it should be about time for Ragni to come home.

[Ira, how was your exam today?]

“It was very easy! I think I might place in the top 10 this time!”

[I see. Then, when we hear from him later, shall we ask your master to give you a reward? I’m sure he’ll grant anything you ask as recognition for your hard work.]

“From my brother? Mmm…”

“Oh? Miss Ira, isn’t there anything you want from Jack? I’m sure he’d be happy to grant it if you asked.”

Miss Ira tilted her head thoughtfully, then continued to ponder for a while. Finally, she shook her head and spoke.

“No, I can’t. If I ask my brother for something, he’ll definitely be troubled.”

[I doubt that.]

“I don’t think so either. But what is it you want to ask for?”

Curious about Miss Ira’s unusually deep contemplation, I asked, and she fidgeted with her fingers and toes as she spoke softly.

“…I want him to come back a little sooner…”

“Oh?!”

[My goodness, my status window shows no heart, yet I’m feeling heart-flutters.]

What a virtuous little sister, I envy Jack!! Seeing Miss Ira with her slightly flushed face and upturned eyes, saying “My brother would be embarrassed if I said this, wouldn’t he?” with uncertainty, Gor and I simultaneously rushed to pat her head.

There’s no way he would dislike seeing this. Surely, if he saw Miss Ira like this, he would summon strength he didn’t even have and fly back at incredible speed to resolve whatever issues he’s facing. I’ve actually seen him flying before, so there’s a real possibility he might literally fly back!!

“Don’t worry, Miss Ira! Next time we hear from him, let’s definitely tell him! I’m sure he’ll finish his work faster and come back sooner!!”

[I guarantee it. From what I’ve seen, the master could literally fly through the sky for Ira’s sake.]

That’s not true. Most of the time, you were the one who threw him. I want to say that, but since he might actually fly back that way again, I just nodded in agreement.

“Hehe, really?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

[Of course!]

As we were patting Miss Ira and adoring her, an exhausted-looking Ragni arrived home.

“…I’m working so hard, yet why are you all healing yourselves by patting Ira? Isn’t that unfair? Let me hug Ira too.”

[Not allowed. Go wash up first.]

“Yes. And there’s a strange smell. Don’t tell me you haven’t bathed today?”

“I did bathe!”

Though grumbling, Ragni headed straight to the bathroom, saying she would wash up. After she finished bathing and came out, our skewer party quickly concluded.

“Mmm… I’m full and want to sleep.”

“You must be tired after having practical exams today too. Um, Gor?”

[Yes.]

“Sorry, but can Ira sleep in my room tonight?”

[What? But it’s my turn…]

“Could you possibly…”

[…Sigh, since you’re working hard too. Just this once.]

Gor, seemingly mindful of the increased burden on Ragni and me since she became unable to do anything, gave up her time to sleep with Miss Ira. After finishing brushing her teeth, we tucked Ira into Ragni’s room and came out.

“So, how is Ira’s performance actually?”

“What do you mean how? Perfect scores again, of course. For the final practical exam, there was talk in the meeting about doing one-on-one battles. But the only one who could fight Ira is Grace, and even Grace’s spirits can barely function in front of Ira and Ppiyak. If they had gone with the one-on-one battles as discussed in the meeting, it would have been complete annihilation.”

[…She said the exam was very easy and she might place in the top 10 this time.]

“…Top 10, huh. Even grade manipulation is difficult.”

It’s now impossible to deny that Ragni is the one working hardest among us. Gor was originally responsible for guarding Ira and doing housework; I earn money, guard, work as an intern professor, and do housework; but Ragni is responsible for all aspects of Ira’s academy life. And lately, with Gor causing problems, she’s had to add guarding duties on top of academy supervision, so it’s no wonder Ragni is tired.

“Sigh, and after these final exams, during the break, I’ll be going away for about a month.”

[…What?]

“A-A month? Where are you going for a whole month?!”

Surprised by Ragni’s sudden announcement, Gor and I tilted our heads in confusion. Ragni gulped down her tea in one go and continued speaking matter-of-factly.

“I need to go to the Empire briefly with the headmaster. Well, I won’t be doing anything particularly dangerous…”

[No, there’s every reason it would be dangerous.]

“That’s right! It’s definitely dangerous! The Empire is targeting you!!”

As Gor and I vehemently opposed this sudden announcement, she smiled bitterly and continued.

“It’s fine. There’s supposedly an anti-war faction, so I just want to talk with some nobles from that side. If it goes well, we’ll gain more forces on our side…”

[If war is the issue, you should wait until the master returns. The promised date is only about 4 months away…]

“Have you forgotten that our dear master can’t be detected right now, which is why you keep turning into a broken pile of rocks?”

“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t go! The headmaster is strong, yes, but with demons involved, going to their stronghold in the Empire… Such a thing…!!”

“That’s precisely why I must go.”

Cutting off my words sharply, Ragni looked at Gor and me with a bitter smile.

“That’s why I’m going. To ensure there are no problems with Ira’s life while Jack is away. Jack and all of you entrusted me with overseeing Ira’s academy life, didn’t you?”

[…That and this are.]

Though her words were true, Gor persisted in objecting to her going to the Empire alone, but Ragni continued with a smile.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be moving with the headmaster anyway, and I’ll just quietly meet with the nobles and return. So, it’s fine.”

“Please take care of Ira in the meantime,” she said with determination, and we couldn’t stop her. And then…

“…What the hell is that damn teaching assistant saying about who’s going where with whom.”

A few days later, Ragni alone disappeared from Neti.