Ch.33. Wounded Sister

“Why are so many coming in like this?”

Nurse Karen couldn’t help but feel perplexed. After all, in an academy that teaches both swordsmanship and magic, there were bound to be many injuries.

That’s why the infirmary was one of the largest spaces in the academy, always equipped with the latest facilities.

But even the spacious infirmary was completely full today, making the academy seem unusually strange.

Moreover, it wasn’t even during the semester but vacation time.

The infirmary was bursting at the seams, as if most of the students remaining in the dormitories had been brought in.

“What on earth is going on?”

Most cases were unexplained fainting. It started with new professor Feril, who was found collapsed in his research room with foam at his mouth.

Then several students using the training grounds fainted with marks as if they’d been hit by something. Witnesses said they suddenly shouted at thin air while swinging their swords.

Not just there, but in the library, cafeteria, hallways, classrooms, and more.

Students were collapsing everywhere in this bizarre situation.

The place with the most casualties was:

“The first floor main entrance.”

Karen sighed deeply with concern, pushing her hands into her white coat pockets.

Most students who had gone down to the first floor to visit the academic affairs office today had fainted and been brought in.

“Among the students who visited the academic affairs office, all those who didn’t faint used different staircases.”

Her own investigation revealed that only students who came down the central corridor or used the main entrance had fainted.

“Should I go check it out?”

Since it was before the semester started, most students currently at the academy were those staying in the dormitories during vacation.

While rumors wouldn’t spread outside the academy, it would be problematic if this situation continued after the semester began.

She could ask other professors, but that would take too long. Karen decided it would be better to go handle it herself rather than staying in the infirmary.

There wasn’t much she could do for the students here anyway.

Setting aside her stethoscope and syringe, Karen picked up her sword, neatly wrapped in bandages.

If there was an enemy hurting her allies, she would kill that enemy to protect them.

That was one of her philosophies.

“Everyone stay put. If anyone goes outside before I return, you’re dead.”

Clunk.

She tied her gray hair back with a hair tie and tucked her non-prescription glasses into her front pocket.

“It’s true! There was an undead at the first floor main entrance!”

“B-but look. There’s nothing here now.”

Arriving at the main entrance, Karen approached nonchalantly, irritated by the piercing voices.

It was the minimal security staff remaining during vacation and Meirin, a second-year known for being a foul-mouthed genius.

“Damn it! I’m telling you it was here! Don’t you know all those kids were taken to the infirmary?”

“We know that, and we’ve checked this place several times, but there’s nothing here!”

“There was!”

Karen’s lips twisted into a slight smile as she watched Meirin shouting.

Although she really disliked ill-mannered students.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Living up to her reputation as a genius, Meirin was the only one among those who came down the central staircase who remembered what she had seen.

*

“Then I’ll be going now.”

As soon as I finished my meal, a maid came to clear the dishes, seemingly quite uncomfortable dealing with me.

It must be an awkward position for her.

I could see she was anxious, trying to be as polite as possible while worrying I might make some unreasonable request.

Once again alone in the room.

I don’t feel lonely or bored. I’ve always found it difficult to feel loneliness. Ghosts, unbound by spatial constraints, were everywhere.

[You seem to be quite disliked, young master.]

“Can’t be helped.”

An elderly man standing stiffly beside my desk. With his neat appearance and attire, he hardly looked like a dead person.

He said he had served the Verdi family since ancient times and was still fulfilling that role.

‘I never saw him before leaving for the academy.’

Since ghosts tend to appear from everywhere and hide in various places, I didn’t think much of it.

I can’t understand all their actions.

“So I’d like you to help me.”

[You need my help?]

The man’s voice trembled at my words. He seemed moved to tears, then slowly placed one hand on his shoulder and bowed deeply.

[The reason I haven’t left this mansion, despite becoming a ghost, is only one: to repay my debt to the Verdi family.]

“Your name?”

[My name is Skraal. I-I am honored that you allow me to finally repay the kindness I received from Ditros Verdi 150 years ago.]

“Even though I intend to resist the current head’s orders?”

[You, who have awakened me, are the true master of the Verdi family.]

“……”

I looked down at him silently. His too-easy willingness to follow me felt suspicious, but…

‘Without him right now, I can’t take any action at all.’

Even if I wanted to jump out the window, I couldn’t even stick my face outside due to the protection magic that effectively imprisoned me.

“Then Skraal, are you an earthbound spirit?”

[No, I am not. I cannot travel too far, but I can move within Norsweden.]

“The mountains?”

[That’s possible.]

“Good. Then go to the Norsweden mountains. I’ve heard there’s an ongoing battle with foreign tribes, so we need to check how the war situation is developing.”

[I obey, master.]

Skraal disappeared through the wall. I calmly sat down and tried to analyze the magic imprisoning me in this room, but…

Thump thump thump thump.

Heavy footsteps from outside disrupted my concentration.

Anticipating a visitor, I lit the teapot I had requested from the maid and boiled water.

Click.

The door that wouldn’t budge no matter how I turned the handle earlier now opened smoothly.

“So, you’ve finally returned?”

The same deep black hair as mine. A woman wearing a light shirt and skirt.

Deia Verdi.

My younger sister, and a woman who quite disliked me.

With large eyes, she crossed her arms and sneered at me.

“What was it? I heard you came back being called a devil worshipper? I told you not to put on such pathetic acts.”

“Sigh, is that all you have to say?”

At my weary response, Deia’s veins visibly popped as she stormed in like a fierce wind through the open door.

“I told you not to talk like that! Are you going through delayed puberty? Where did your old way of speaking go, acting like this?”

“…If you miss my old way of speaking, I’m sorry.”

But this couldn’t be helped.

Now that I had become Deus, I had no intention of reverting to my previous manner of speech.

It was too frivolous.

“Miss it? Would I miss the way you used to make sexual jokes to your sister whenever you were bored?”

“…That’s.”

Yes, Deus Verdi was truly insane. Even in this remote land of Norsweden, he indulged in pleasure and debauchery.

He even regularly made sexual jokes to his blood-related sister and actually proposed sleeping with her.

A madman among madmen.

A womanizer among womanizers.

In terms of chasing women, he was like Cao Cao, and in terms of loving alcohol, he was like Zhang Fei.

Yet he wasn’t particularly strong in combat, nor did he have innate magical talent.

Deus Verdi was just someone who played dangerous games while relying on his marginal family name.

“I apologize.”

After all, this was what the original owner of this body had done.

I needed to apologize, though I’d already done so several times. Deia just scoffed.

“You’re full of shit. Stop this ridiculous act. Where did you learn to play at being a noble?”

“……”

“I know your true nature. When you said you were going to Robern Academy to devote yourself only to your fiancée and give up womanizing, do you know what I thought?”

Deia kicked the sofa where I was sitting. The tea I had boiled for her spilled onto the floor.

“I thought you’d be back within a month. I know how many women you go through in a week. I figured you could hold out for about a month with a fiancée.”

“……”

“But you lasted three months? How terribly must you have behaved to be expelled while being cursed as a devil worshipper?”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“Reason! Right! I’m sure there’s a reason why you play with your dick so freely! Seeing that the Bright family hasn’t requested to break off the engagement yet, I guess you’ve been keeping your mouth shut around your fiancée?”

“Haah.”

My head was starting to ache.

I understood her wounds, but this was going too far.

“That’s enough.”

“Enough? If you say it’s enough, I should…!”

Dark mana energy erupted from my fingertips. It gently wrapped around Deia and pushed her out the door.

“Fix your way of talking! I’m sick of seeing you come here every day, laughing like a clown and making vulgar jokes! It’s disgusting how you’re pretending to be normal!”

“……”

“Just leave the mansion! Get out and die!”

Slam!

The door closed, and Deia’s voice, still full of anger, echoed from outside like a clay pot.

“Phew.”

It had been six months since I came to this world.

Three months in the mansion, three months at the academy.

Life was still difficult.