Ch.93Chasing After You (3)

Occasionally, there are times like that.

When the film breaks.

Zernya couldn’t remember why she had been sleeping face down in the classroom. She only knew that when she came to her senses, she was being carried on someone’s back.

It was a familiar height.

And a familiar feeling.

“Aack!”

Zernya bit Eidel’s back fiercely.

“…Ugh, what? You’re awake?”

“Put me down.”

“What? You want me to put you down?”

“Do you want me to, cough, say it twice?”

Eidel ignored Zernya’s protest and continued walking with quick steps.

By the time they arrived at the infirmary, Eidel’s shoulder had about a dozen teeth marks on it.

The school nurse, Tierbel, clicked her tongue as she put away the thermometer.

“39 degrees. You have a high fever.”

It wasn’t a condition that could be endured just by taking medicine.

Fortunately, the position of school nurse at Stellarium Academia wasn’t something just anyone could fill, and the facilities were better than those found in ordinary hospitals.

Tierbel skillfully inserted an IV.

“Your body is completely worn out. Studying is good, but you should rest while you do it.”

“But…”

“Rest while you study.”

Nurse Tierbel leaned in with a mischievous smile.

“Yes, yes.”

“Good. You’re a good child.”

Tierbel then treated Eidel.

Since Zernya had bitten through his clothes, the wounds weren’t very deep, but there were bruises here and there.

“My goodness, who did this to you?”

“I’m not sure. They’re just wounds that happened somehow…”

Even in her foggy consciousness, Zernya could tell that Eidel was defending her. She still didn’t understand why he was doing this.

Whooosh.

A knife-like wind shook the glass window.

The temperature inside the infirmary wasn’t particularly high either. Despite taking medicine, she felt chilly and sneezed.

“Why did the temperature drop so suddenly…”

Tierbel sighed, sucking on a non-burning tobacco leaf like candy.

After a series of thoughts, Zernya said:

“Could it be that a Maxwell’s Forces outsider has entered, cough.”

“That’s an interesting hypothesis. But the possibility is low. Scientists repaired the Aether Belt, didn’t they?”

Tierbel looked at Eidel with admiration. Even the school nurse held respect for him.

That look, I want to receive it too.

Zernya sighed and closed her eyes.

She felt completely drained, as if she had caught a lazy cold.

…Well, she actually had caught one.

“No, teacher. Zernya might be right.”

Eidel, who had been contemplating, raised an objection.

“If it’s the work of an outsider who’s already inside the belt, it’s not impossible.”

“Yes, that could be the case.”

Tierbel immediately agreed.

Zernya smirked.

Yeah, what I say is right too.

***

That night, Eidel took care of Zernya with great devotion.

Even after the school nurse went home past midnight, he stayed by her side reading a book.

She was too concerned to sleep well.

“…Why are you still here anyway?”

“Because if something happens to you in the middle of the night, there would be no one to help.”

“Cough, that’s ridiculous. Are you my parents or something?”

Despite her curt words, her heart pounded with joy.

Her arrhythmia was getting worse.

Life is really tough sometimes.

As night fell, the temperature dropped further. Just a blanket wasn’t enough.

So Eidel asked Sonia to bring a throw blanket and heat packs. He also forcibly took away Zernya’s scarf, which was soaked with sweat.

“Ah, no. That’s…!”

“I’ve already seen everything anyway.”

The hideous artificial constellation pattern like a barcode.

It was her nape, so shameful that she had never shown it to anyone except her parents.

She wanted to get her scarf back immediately, but she didn’t even have the energy to reach out.

Eidel sat Zernya up and wiped away her sweat.

“Cough, really, cough, this is embarrassing.”

“What is?”

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

Eidel chuckled.

“Is it wrong to do this?”

Zernya couldn’t answer.

“Young master, Miss Adelbein has brought a blanket and heat packs for you. I’ve also brewed some ginger tea, which is good for throat colds.”

“Thank you, Sonia.”

“This is nothing. I’ve put it in a tumbler, so please drink it slowly as it cools.”

Zernya took a small cup of ginger tea and sipped it.

The spicy yet sweet taste seemed to perfectly represent her current situation.

Her body was clearly suffering, but her mind didn’t feel troubled.

What kind of emotion is this?

“Zernya. I’ll lend you this.”

Eidel unwrapped the black scarf he was wearing and placed it around Zernya’s shoulders.

It was smaller in area than the scarf Zernya had been wearing, but the fabric was thicker, making it more effective for warmth.

“Young master, I knitted that for you…”

“Let’s lend it to her for a while, sorry.”

“…As you wish.”

Sonia lowered her head, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

I see.

Even a tin can like her is having arrhythmia!

“I’ll go get my assignment real quick.”

Sonia glared at Zernya. A clicking sound of her tongue could be heard afterward.

Would you look at that?

She was already annoying enough that Zernya had been planning to tease her at least once. While Eidel was in the bathroom, Zernya spoke with a cracking voice.

“Hey.”

“What is it?”

Sniiiff.

Zernya buried her nose in Eidel’s scarf as if smelling flowers. Sonia’s eyes widened in shock.

“W-what are you doing…?”

Sniiiff, haaa.

“The quality is nice. I think I should buy one like this.”

“That’s not possible. It’s something the young master cherishes.”

“What a coincidence. I want to cherish it too.”

Sniiiiiiiff.

She genuinely liked it. She had expected it to smell bad, but the scent embedded in the scarf was more addictive than she thought.

Like someone doing cocaine, she buried half her face in the scarf and sniffed repeatedly. Unable to stand it anymore, Sonia stood up abruptly.

“You’re acting no better than a lowly woman. Give it back.”

“I’m a patient.”

“At the very least, don’t use the young master’s belongings in such a strange way.”

“No, cough. Why are you being so indirect? How much is this? I’ll buy it.”

“It’s not for sale!”

“We’re not talking about someone’s heart. There’s nothing in this world that can’t be sold.”

She wrapped the scarf more tightly and inhaled its scent. The exhaled breath mixed with his scent melted into each alveolus of her lungs like snow.

“The scarf you made is awesome.”

Having delivered this compliment, Zernya smiled victoriously. In such psychological warfare, the first one to show emotional agitation always loses.

Sonia approached with wide eyes.

“Hey.”

Her eye color changed.

From white to pale jade.

“You’d better stop, human.”

“Wow, scary.”

It was a bit startling to see someone who had been speaking politely suddenly approach with a sharp expression, but she was still just a tin can.

An android wouldn’t hit a person, would she?

Fortunately, footsteps could be heard from outside.

“I’m back. Sonia, why are you standing like that?”

“…I was just adjusting Miss Adelbein’s posture.”

“I can do that myself.”

Creak, creak.

While Eidel was looking down, Zernya showed Sonia a smiling face.

It was a vicious and confident smile.

***

The next day.

Her condition had improved somewhat.

She wasn’t completely better yet, but she could walk a little and hold a pen.

Despite her improved condition, Eidel continued to attend to her like a servant.

“Why are you doing this anyway?”

She asked the same question as the day before, but received the same answer. Just a smile.

“Take another sick day and rest today.”

“But, school…”

“Rest.”

“That’s not what I meant, I want to go back to the dormitory and…”

“Rest here.”

She couldn’t go anywhere because of Nurse Tierbel’s pressure.

After changing the IV about four times, Eidel came to visit around sunset.

He was carrying various things.

“These are the notes I took during today’s class. This is supplementary material for the class, and I’ve filled in the blanks. Oh, and these are the math and language homework due next week, and the announcements from today’s homeroom…”

A flood of precious information poured out. It was almost too much to take in.

Zernya was confused.

What Eidel was doing now was like leaving a fish with a cat. It was all benefit for Zernya and all loss for him. After all, she could overtake Eidel academically at any time-

– Know humility, mortal.

“…”

Zernya groaned, clutching her throbbing head.

“Later, I’ll look at it later. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Alright. It would be tough to hear about studying when you’re sick. Sorry, get some rest.”

“That’s not what I…”

Thank you.

That simple phrase wouldn’t come out of her mouth.

She was afraid. Afraid that once she uttered those words, she could never return to her former self.

“Nurse. There’s something wrong with Zernya.”

“Has the cold flowed to her brain?”

She felt completely deflated.

Forget it. Me, bowing to someone else? That’s not something the bloodline of the Adelbein, the most prestigious family in the universe, should do.

“Hey, cough. Give me that career survey.”

“Yes, miss. Here it is.”

Eidel handed over the survey form with a playful tone.

Name: Zernya von Adelbein.

Future dream: Doctor.

Intended major: Medical school.

Special skills: None. Because I’m good at everything.

But beyond that…

“…This isn’t funny. Expecting me to fit all my dreams and aspirations on this tiny piece of paper. That doesn’t, cough, make sense.”

“Actually, you do have things to write?”

“Ah, no.”

“Then you should fill it out. It needs to be submitted by next week.”

“Haah.”

“Rustila and Seti have already filled theirs out completely.”

“…”

“I’ve already submitted mine.”

“Give me the pen.”

Zernya began writing the first few answers with precision.

Q. Why do you want to become a doctor?

A. Because I can earn money and build prestige. Because the college entrance scores for medical school are the highest among all departments every year. Because entering Stellarium’s medical school means you’re the most outstanding among your academy peers that year.

“That’s honest.”

“Shut up.”

After finishing one, the next seemed like it would be easier.

But that expectation was completely wrong.

Q. Do you have specific goals you want to achieve?

“…”

I don’t.

Isn’t it enough to just see patients and make a living?

But if she wrote that, she’d surely be called to the faculty office.

She wrote down one word.

A. Next.

Q. Name one person who helped shape your career path when you were young, and how they helped you.

A. Next.

Q. What values do you consider important, and have you made efforts to achieve those values?

A. Next.

Q. Reflect on how these values might influence your career aspirations.

A. Next.

It was strange. The further she went, the more problems she couldn’t solve.

Between her foggy consciousness and the survey questions, it was torture. Her head was spinning like a top.

“This can’t be…”

Possible.

She had prepared so much for essay writing. She had learned so thoroughly how to structure an essay.

She had learned how to choose appropriate words, and how to select the right style for the time and place.

Through private tutoring, at academies.

She had studied everything in advance.

“How…”

Why can’t I solve these problems?

Have I lived my life in vain? Did I study carelessly? Did I neglect my swordsmanship?

Zernya clutched her head, complaining of dizziness.

Come to think of it, if I’m going to be a doctor, why did I delve so deeply into swordsmanship?

I’m not going to be a literary scholar, so why did I compose aphorisms and recite haiku?

Because they appear on school tests? Well, that’s true.

“No.”

That can’t be it.

She felt a heat rising deep from her heart.

“Zernya.”

“…”

“Why are you crying over something like this?”

“…Be quiet.”

Zernya put down her writing instrument and lay back down. Eidel sighed and opened a research paper.

Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember ever reading medical books deeply.

On the other hand, what about Eidel?

Even now, he’s sitting there because he enjoys what he’s studying.

Zernya asked casually:

“Is it fun?”

“Yeah.”

“Good for you. I’m envious.”

She surprised herself with her own words.

She thought she had never envied anyone in her entire life.

Before her consciousness could filter it, her tongue had already spoken her true feelings.

Belatedly feeling embarrassed, Zernya completely covered her nose and mouth with her scarf.

Eidel chuckled and put down his paper.

“You envy me?”

“…”

“Want to join me in graduate school?”

Only then could Zernya understand the advice her divine avatar had given her that day.

To be born with natural talent yet willingly become a servant and gladly humble oneself.

Isn’t that the true meaning of humility?