Chapter 55 – Flames

R​ead õ​n̈ ​KаtＲead​ï​ng​C&a;f‍e

Editor’s Note

Edited

After learning which area the healed student was staying in, I couldn’t go there immediately and had to wait until the day’s schedule ended.

I felt an uneasiness like a fish bone stuck in my throat, but there was nothing I could do.

Still, the positive thing was that in my somewhat hazy memory, that “incident” happened in the evening, so it seemed like I still had some time.

In fact, with everything feeling as vivid as reality now, it’s uncertain whether what happened in the game would happen exactly the same way.

Because of that, nothing might happen at all.

‘This year’s field training concluded successfully without any incidents.’

If the training ended that way, ironically, the reason I’d been anxious since last night would disappear.

But if someone asked me if that would be a good thing, I’d probably say no.

It was similar to the idea of eliminating life to eliminate the cause of pain.

If field training is part of the Academy’s curriculum and would proceed as predetermined whether I existed or not, whether it was a game or reality.

The “accident” that would happen tonight was a bit different.

For me, it was like seeing the future, almost like a prophecy.

It was something that must happen, a source that would transform my vague thoughts into somewhat of a plan.

The me who clicked the mouse on the outside wants the accident to happen according to the foresight.

Since it was something that happened regardless of what choices were made, I might feel empty if it didn’t occur.

And on the other hand, the part of me that says it must happen argues that if it doesn’t, the loosely built plan would be in danger of falling apart.

…But ‘Iris Plumeria,’ who was feeling this through her skin, seemed to think a bit differently.

The sensations were so realistic it was impossible to think of this as a game.

Perhaps the scenery I saw last night and the burning campfire forcibly injected the sense that this place was real.

Iris Plumeria seemed to hope that nothing would happen.

It wasn’t for humanitarian reasons, like being troubled by people getting hurt. Though I’m trying to explain it by separating it, I clearly knew what I was thinking.

Iris Plumeria, me.

If an event I had only seen as text actually happened.

…It would feel unsettling.

That’s all it was.

If I just stood by, wouldn’t it seem like I caused it?

With this internal battle, my head couldn’t help but throb.

The existence of ‘El,’ who might be able to resolve this, made my thoughts even more complicated.

It might be because I’m thinking of ‘me’ and Iris Plumeria separately.

My stomach is sour.

“Teacher, are you really okay?”

“…You don’t look very well.”

If even Evelyn was looking at me like that, it must be quite obvious.

I tried to smile at them, assuring them I was fine, and then slumped over the table.

At times like this, I really missed those small, round painkiller pills. They might not erase my worries, but they would cleanly eliminate the pain.

Anyway.

After waiting calmly until I could move freely, like an office worker leaving exactly at quitting time, I left the temporary infirmary and headed towards where the student had told me.

After asking Evelyn and Charlotte to take care of things.

Deliberately calming my confused mind.

Still unable to decide what to do.

I walked towards where the red-haired student was.

As I left the infirmary grounds, a lush forest greeted me.

Having never walked in such a place before, I felt slightly anxious, but fortunately, signposts were well installed, so there was no real problem.

The details that went into what could be quickly navigated with a mouse click….

“…”

Thinking about it made me feel strange again, so I quietly kept walking.

As I headed to the area the student had mentioned, I heard small voices from around me.

It seemed that other students were nearby.

Perhaps it was natural that even though they were scattered, they wouldn’t be too dispersed to manage.

I wanted to see the students gathered cozily around a campfire, creating a warm atmosphere, but I held back.

Then.

Something unusual was felt.

In the forest where darkness was falling, light came as if the sun had returned.

In the forest where a cool breeze had been blowing, a lukewarm wind began to blow.

A little distance away.

A pillar of fire could be seen rising.

Bewildered by the sudden change in situation, I realized this was the “accident” I had been worried about and bit my lip.

How is this a small accident by any stretch?

– Weren’t you going there?

“…That’s right.”

At El’s voice, I gathered my wits and ran towards the pillar of fire.

The students around me must have noticed something was wrong too, as I felt the surroundings becoming noisy.

When the pillar of fire that seemed like a new sun had settled down, naturally, a fire broke out.

It was like watching a gigantic campfire.

The campfire that should have decorated the end of a retreat seemed set to vividly mark the last day of the Academy’s field training.

How did they handle this in the game?

The me who moved the mouse and keyboard sighed in relief that the event that needed to happen had occurred.

But I who was looking at the flames that seemed about to devour everything was dripping with cold sweat.

The massive flames I was facing for the first time in my life boasted an equally terrifying grandeur.

…How many people would experience seeing such flames alive?

Trusting only El who spoke in my mind, I ran blindly at first.

Since what needed to happen had happened, it shouldn’t matter how it gets resolved, right?

Though not entirely trustworthy, I should trust El.

To just stand by and let others handle it.

…The flames that were growing larger and larger looked too precarious.

Crack! Boom!

The sound of huge trees falling could be heard not infrequently.

I couldn’t tell if my trembling body was frightened by the flames, or simply tired.

The air entering my throat was getting hotter and hotter.

“Hek, hek….”

I couldn’t tell if what was heating my throat was the heated air, or if my body was just getting exhausted.

With El’s help, I might be able to do something.

With such a vague thought, as I moved forward, a familiar silhouette began to appear in my sight.

It was Philia, managing the students.

She was giving instructions with a stiff face, but when she saw me, she approached with a very relieved expression and opened her mouth.

“Teacher.”

“…Madam President.”

I responded, about to ask what on earth was happening, but she pointed in a direction away from where the flames were rising and continued.

“I’ve gathered the injured over there, and I would like you to take a look. I was just about to go fetch you, so this is fortunate.”

Her response was incredibly quick.

Honestly, quick enough to be admired.

To the point where I thought the text processing in the game must have been thanks to this ability of hers.

Then, wouldn’t she know how to extinguish the fire?

“…Is the fire under control?”

As I carefully asked, Philia’s expression became slightly complicated as she spoke quietly.

“For now, they’re preventing it from growing larger, but as for immediately extinguishing it… well. They’re saying there’s no clear solution at the moment.”

Approaching the gathered injured with Philia, I summoned Undine and spoke.

“…Then, is there no one inside now?”

Undine, who had emerged smoothly, approached the students suffering from burns and began treatment.

I felt slightly drained from running so hard.

Philia, who had been silently watching the students receiving treatment, turned to me with a somewhat bitter face.

“There are several students who haven’t come out yet.”

“…”

If I trace my memory, the one affected by this “incident” was a red-haired student whose name I didn’t even know.

Something seems off.

Putting aside the injured students—

…Could it be because of me?

Something that could change the circumstances of the unnamed student.

Because I showed interest in her.

Students who became curious might have approached her.

It’s confusing.

Me.

Iris Plumeria.

Neither felt satisfaction.

After chewing my lip gently and confirming that the condition of the injured had improved, I recalled Undine.

– Is it finally my turn?

“Teacher?”

Philia’s questioning voice could be heard.

Around us, the groans of the injured students and the noisy sounds of other students were clearly audible.

Feeling like this was all my fault, I couldn’t just stand still.

I ran towards the direction where the flames were rising.

“Teacher?! Where are you going?!”

“To put out the fire!”

“What?!”

Philia made a bewildered sound and seemed about to chase after me, but for some reason, she didn’t follow.

Soon, with a scorching, beyond scorching, hot heat, a barrier of flames appeared.

It was being held back by a faint, transparent membrane, unable to advance further.

The transparent membrane rippled precariously, as if it might break at any moment.

With the membrane as the boundary, blackened, burnt trees and scorched trees were divided as if a borderline had been drawn.

…The trees outside the membrane were withering, but wasn’t it fortunate they hadn’t burned?

Feeling that heat and taking a deep breath, to eliminate the cause and rescue the students inside.

“…El.”

I summoned the time bomb whose demands I couldn’t predict.

She gently gripped my shoulder, looked at the flames, and spoke quietly.

“It seems we’ll have to go inside.”

“…What?”

“Well then… shall we go, contractor?”

“Ah, um… yes.”

I thought we could resolve it from outside, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

“Gulp.”

Seeing the blazing flames made me a bit scared.

But with El, the spirit queen, wouldn’t it be okay?

…I don’t know.

As El’s energy enveloped me.

My body began charging towards the flames.

The flames drew closer and closer.

Thanks to her energy, it wasn’t hot, but the flames that looked like they would devour me at any moment remained imposing.

Honestly, I might have been a little terrified.

Editor’s Note

Hmm, I wonder why Philia didn’t run after you into the raging inferno of death.