Ch.3333. The Weak (2)

Professor Müniher brought Charlotte in.

The rings wrapped around each of Charlotte’s arms caught my attention.

‘Magic restraints…’

Magical tools that completely suppress and block any use of magic power from criminals.

The fact that Charlotte was wearing them might mean they were going to proceed with the original punishment after all.

However, one might wonder why they came looking for me. If it was just to deliver punishment, there would be no reason to come here.

“I’d like to ask a bit about the circumstances of the incident.”

As I thought.

It was unexpected that Charlotte came along, but it seemed Professor Müniher wanted to give her some room for leniency.

Even without considering my position, it wouldn’t be good for Charlotte to pay for her crimes. So then…

“May I ask how much you already know?”

“Hmm, I’m the one who asked the question here.”

“There might be inaccuracies that I’d like to correct. I could be seen as the victim, but in a way, I’m also the primary witness.”

Professor Müniher thoughtfully rubbed his chin with his index finger, then nodded and asked Charlotte to give her statement again.

“After I first met you, senior, I left the team due to ongoing conflicts with my teammates…”

Charlotte told Professor Müniher the facts as they were, but omitted certain parts.

Those were private matters between Charlotte and me.

She didn’t mention anything about trying to ask me something when I was heading to where Noel and John were.

Nor did she bring up anything about the powder covering various parts of the suddenly appearing Giant Cud Rat’s body.

The fact that she answered this way about details that could raise suspicion or be disadvantageous to me meant she was respecting my answers.

“And then the senior who was holding both my arms collapsed onto me… and someone else found us.”

It seems she conveyed the same story to Professor Müniher, and as Charlotte finished speaking, his gaze turned to me.

Now it was my turn to answer.

“It mostly matches what I know. Just without the exaggerations that Noel and John made such a fuss about.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Professor Müniher already knew it wasn’t an intentional attack.

But did the situation seem staged to him? He looked back and forth between Charlotte and me a couple of times before sighing once.

“Well, rats would naturally be in the underground waterways… but the cause of their enormous growth was the magical beast blood mixed in the wastewater.”

Why would he come to such a conclusion without pressing further despite his suspicious glances?

It was essentially saying he would let this incident slide.

“Since the parties involved have stated as much, I won’t impose disciplinary action, but Lady Charlotte needs to be with companions to help control her power.”

After explaining about magic outbursts and Charlotte’s constitution, Professor Müniher strongly recommended she join a team.

He was absolutely right.

If she were to face magical beasts alone, she would lose control again, and she needed someone to restrain her to prevent further damage.

He even recommended a team, mentioning that Goden was recruiting people.

I was worried that Charlotte might not be able to join the Tembris party because of my interference, but it seems that concern was unnecessary.

“Well, I think I’ve said everything I needed to. Junon. Come see me once you’ve recovered.”

“I intend to.”

“Lady Charlotte, please keep it brief when you’re done here. You’ll need to provide explanations first.”

“…I will.”

Since he didn’t mention the beginning-of-term evaluation, it seems it proceeded as planned.

Some students do visit with complaints about their grades, but I’m not interested in that.

Why would I refuse when he’s offering one-on-one private tutoring?

Professor Müniher indirectly told me to come for guidance once I recovered, then left the hospital room.

‘What remains is…’

Just Charlotte.

Silence filled the room, and once again, I was left alone with her.

***

“Um… senior? May I ask just one question…”

“It makes me uncomfortable too, so why don’t you drop the formalities and speak comfortably? We’re just seniors and juniors with a two-year age difference.”

Why is she speaking as if addressing someone of high status? The person in front of her isn’t some grand duke or the emperor of the empire.

I may owe Charlotte, but I also have things I can’t talk about, so it’s fair to consider us equals.

Besides, that kind of relationship would be the smoothest with Charlotte anyway.

“Hmm. That’s true. Yes. Comfortably… comfortably…”

As Charlotte fidgeted nervously, I was tense wondering what she would say, but her first words were rather puzzling.

Charlotte was afraid to speak up.

After all, she had done something wrong. Thinking he might be displeased, she couldn’t easily bring herself to speak.

But she gathered her courage. She still had something to say.

“…Aren’t you going to ask how I ended up like that?”

With complete memories of her past life, how could Junon not know?

Though it was supposedly caused by a magical outburst, he simply didn’t want to mention it.

“Asking about that would only make you feel bad, so there’s no need.”

“My… feelings…?”

As soon as she heard those words, Charlotte’s hands gripping her skirt naturally tightened.

“How can we undo what’s already happened? Just make sure not to make the same mistake next time.”

What kind of person doesn’t hold a grudge even in this situation? What had she done to someone like him?

Charlotte couldn’t help but bow her head and confess the truth to Junon.

“I’m… sorry… I didn’t know my magic had such a nature… No, that’s not the excuse I meant to make…”

Shaking her head repeatedly, Charlotte gathered her thoughts before continuing.

“Not knowing anything, I thought I had to draw out power somehow, and this is what happened. I’m sorry for causing you injury and ruining your beginning-of-term evaluation exam.”

This display was quintessentially Charlotte.

Sharp yet somewhat careless, the behavior of a child trying to mature—someone who wants to become an adult as quickly as possible. That could be seen as Charlotte’s identity.

Thanks to her cyan hair covering her face, I could tell she was sobbing.

They say most children cry when they make their first big mistake, not knowing what to do.

And someone who watched Charlotte once said:

-‘You know what Charlotte fears most? When she loses control.’

-‘Someone stronger than her could suppress her, but someone weaker couldn’t.’

-‘She doesn’t dislike you because you’re weak, but because she struggles to control even herself and fears hurting others. That’s why she’s afraid. So don’t take it too personally, Junon.’

That’s how it was.

It wasn’t because she truly hated someone, but because she was afraid of herself hurting others.

Having finally hurt someone with her own hands, it must have been quite difficult for a child with such a tender heart to bear.

All this time, Charlotte had been pushing away the weakest people, fearing she might end up killing someone with her own hands.

Telling them to know their place, that human limitations are predetermined no matter how hard they try, that some people need to be cut off.

‘Yes. It seems you were right.’

No matter how much she tries to imitate a mature adult, when faced with situations like this, the nature of a child with a tender heart is revealed.

After all, she’s just a 17-year-old girl. At an age where she should receive care when faced with overwhelming situations.

The youngest in the Tembris party, doted on by the members as their baby.

That’s who Charlotte Eshreldt is.

The hand of the patient, who could finally move one arm, reached up over the cyan hair.

The patient’s hand, still not moving well, gently patted the back of the crying child who was all curled up.

“Sen… ior…?”

“Don’t blame yourself too much. I’ll be better soon.”

“Hic…!”

Charlotte clenched her fists so tightly that large wrinkles formed in her skirt made of luxurious fabric.

And the girl sobbed uncontrollably, unable to contain her overwhelming emotions.

It had been too heavy a burden for Charlotte, who couldn’t shake the feeling of being a criminal.

‘Yes. Crying it out is a good way to let it go.’

Charlotte Eshreldt.

In a harsh society, all her parents left her was a mansion and enormous debt.

Charlotte’s motto for survival in this world was correct.

She had earned her respected position through early awakened power, excellent territory management skills, and business acumen.

But even if her direction was right, could one say the path wasn’t difficult?

No. She had already walked a path through countless harsh winds and storms of the world, becoming worn down.

The child who never received proper care tried to become an adult too early and fell.

Not by tripping over a mere stone, but over her own legs.

So it will be alright now.

Those people will step in to embrace and refine her, sometimes scolding but also praising her, creating childhood memories before she slowly becomes an adult.

It’s okay to cry your heart out now, Charlotte.

***

After the beginning-of-term evaluation ended, the injured students received treatment, and the matter was quietly resolved.

Students questioned whether the difficulty of the exam was inappropriate again, and the professors once more had their doubts.

Professor Müniher, having seen the Giant Cud Rats, quickly grasped the situation and began an investigation.

But until the investigation progressed, no one could understand.

Why the rats grew weaker as time passed.

Only Junon, who was directly involved, and one other person knew this.

“Junon… what on earth…”

Through the thick plant encyclopedia, reddish-brown side-locks of hair fell down.

On the page where the reddish-brown hair touched, there was information about a plant with a name familiar to Michelle.

[ Mistellis ]

[ Has white leaves and brown stems, but turns into white powder when ground. ]

[ Mistellis in powder form serves as a purifying agent. The leaves attached to the stem have the same effect. ]

[ The white powder and leaves have the effect of purifying the magical energy of magical beasts that have inhaled excessive amounts of magical energy and grown rapidly. ]

[ However, it takes about 5 minutes for the effect to appear, so caution is advised. ]

[ When the medicinal effect appears, the white powder turns ashen gray, and one can confirm that it has stuck together after combining with a large amount of turbid magical energy. ]

[ It also hardens to an ashen color when touched by refined magic power or human magical energy, but it is not harmful to the human body and can be brushed off or washed away with water. ]

[ It also shows purifying effects on rodent-type magical beasts, making it extremely effective. ]

[ The species is found in most regions across the southern continent of Kempton────── ]

The reddish-brown hair, glowing softly in the lamplight, remained stuck to the plant encyclopedia for a while.

Recalling the face of the male student who seemed almost like a seer, Michelle had to reconsider her promise with him.

-‘In return, I hope we won’t get involved with each other in the future.’