What Should I Call This?

“Ugh, you’re no different from two weeks ago.”

Malan, clutching his forehead and complaining of a headache.

Certainly, when you come with business and find the craftsman destroying his own items with his hands while wailing, anyone would be flustered.

“Is it always like this?”

“No, in the past he would just be a little heartbroken and drink… For some reason, this tendency has gotten worse since this year.”

If it’s since this year, it means it’s been like this at least since this semester…

Damn, I still can’t figure out what’s going on.

From what this kid says, he’s mentally broken because something he made broke and someone got hurt, but recently, no one with such injuries has been brought to the infirmary.

“It’s because of me.”

The old man’s muttering in this incomprehensible situation.

Having dropped the hammer on the powdered glass fragments, he began to wail miserably.

“If I had made a better window, the ceiling wouldn’t have collapsed like that!!”

Ah, I see. The ceiling collapsed…

Hm? Wait. What did that old man just say?

“If we weren’t careful, everyone at the scene could have died. No, it was already too late when one person bled! If I had made a stronger window… If I had made a proper item, I could have prevented this!! Uwaaaaah!!”

Oh, um. Right.

I think I get it now.

Thank you for the kind explanation, old man.

“Excuse me. Old man.”

I approached the shouting craftsman, but of course, the old man didn’t turn to look at me.

He just continued his wailing, shouting in place.

“I don’t know who you are, but go away! I’m very busy right now!!”

“Yes, you’re busy because of me.”

“…What?”

Perhaps he couldn’t overlook just that statement?

When two round eyes turned towards me, I shrugged and answered his words.

“It’s me. The person who almost died at that time.”

“…Huh?”

The old man looking at me with a blank expression.

His round eyes seemed to indirectly say that he couldn’t believe my words.

Of course, he might be wary if a woman who suddenly appeared claims to be the victim.

But I was just wondering how to coax the craftsman. Rather, his pride and anxiety about his work were seen as a great opportunity for me now.

“Should I show you by undressing here?”

Of course.

If I can lead the conversation by showing the scars remaining on my back, it would be a profitable business.

---

Of course, as expected, no strip show actually took place.

From the start, the other party was in a state of overreacting to the fact that someone was harmed by his work.

As he was soaked in guilt, just explaining the circumstances would be enough to gain his trust easily.

‘Uwaaaaah! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!!’

The old man screaming after understanding the whole truth.

Although it was somewhat an intended reaction, its intensity was so severe that I inadvertently expressed bewilderment.

Especially since that incident at the time was an accident that no one could have predicted.

‘As I’ve said many times, you don’t need to worry about it that much. The accident that happened then wasn’t because of your inadequacy, but simply because that child was unusual and…’

‘No!!! That was entirely due to my inadequacy! I should have reinforced the item itself, but because there was technology to absorb mana on its own, I neglected the basic design!! A more perfect window! A stronger window is needed to prevent this situation! Uwaaaaah!’

Your skill at fitting things together is really Christmas insider level.

Of course, it’s not entirely a negative reaction as it means he has that much pride in his skills.

The important thing is that as the other party is overly concerned about me, it has become easier for him to listen to my requests.

‘Yes, you can work hard on that… First, can you listen to my request? Actually, I came here because I heard you know a lot about ancient technology…’

‘Yes! Just tell me! I’ll do anything I can!!’

‘Ah, yes. Well. I appreciate that kindness. While you’re at it, could you take care of the vice president here too? The kid hasn’t been eating properly lately, so maybe have a meal together and talk a bit.’

‘Uwaaaaah! To think the child couldn’t eat because of me!! How inhumane!!!!!!’

To be honest, I just stopped by briefly to check on the situation and left, so it’s not entirely because of that… Well, if he’s going to feed him on my behalf, there’s no need to worry about it.

Afterwards, he insisted on doing my request for free no matter how much it cost, but I have a conscience too, so I put it on hold. For now, I left the workshop after telling him to send the bill to Maris.

Although I’m told that investment costs will be recovered if results are proven, if someone finds fault somewhere later and changes their words, it could end up being just a waste of money.

Just by blocking that possibility at the source through the craftsman’s own request, this current deal can be said to be profitable in many ways.

“Ah, welcome back, teacher. Did you have a good trip with that child?”

“Yes, thanks to her being well-behaved, things went smoothly.”

After putting my mind at ease like that and returning to the academy, I went to the stable to return the horse that had carried me before heading back to the infirmary.

The white horse named Unicorn because it’s said to follow only pure maidens.

-Puhiing!!

True to its name, the unicorn snorted angrily as soon as the male student from the breeding department touched it.

Seeing him fluster at that, I reluctantly led the unicorn back to its place.

“Why is this kid so fierce? They’re the ones feeding you, you should be nice to get even one more feed.”

-Hing.

“…I wonder who it takes after to be like this.”

The unicorn making a crying sound as if knowing it’s being scolded.

I stroked its mane and quietly left the place.

With the spoils I had brought before heading to Academic City in hand.

“Hm? Teacher, what’s that?”

“It’s exactly what it looks like.”

“…A cabbage?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Of course, anyone would see that it’s a cabbage.

It could never possibly be a pet that you take for walks on a leash.

I tentatively made a suggestion to him.

“Do you want to take it as horse feed?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. The horses in our academy only eat verified feed, so…”

“…Then there’s no helping it.”

Thinking I should put it in the refrigerator in the pantry for now and make some quick kimchi later, I returned directly to the infirmary hugging the thick cabbage.

“Ah, Teacher Seine, you’re back.”

And a female student greeting me as if she had been waiting.

With impressive elegant black hair and pure eyes, she was Haide’s Saint, a visiting student at this academy who had promised to temporarily take charge of the infirmary in my absence.

“Was there any trouble while I was gone?”

It’s been about two weeks since we started living together.

Now seeming accustomed to life in the infirmary, she answered leisurely with a chuckle.

“Some students came in the middle, but as they were minor injuries, I treated them and sent them back. After that, a teacher named Lloyd visited, but when I informed him of your absence, he left immediately, so it didn’t seem to be urgent business.”

“I always think this, but you’re really skilled at handling things. I’d like to recommend you as the health teacher of Maris when I retire.”

“I appreciate your words, but ironically, my stay here is set to be temporary… Rather than feeling regret while assuming possibilities, I think focusing on making the current time valuable is the way for both of us.”

The Saint smiling while taking my joking words seriously.

Seeing her speak with her hands modestly placed on her chest, I could feel her saint-like broad-mindedness.

Her complexion has improved, and that precarious appearance from when we first met is gone… Yes, I guess there’s no need to worry anymore.

“By the way, has Dale already gone home?”

“Yes, he said he would go home early today. He mentioned wanting to buy a reference book personally on the way…”

Her face darkening slightly at the mention of Dale.

She seemed to be uneasy about still not having narrowed the distance with Dale.

Certainly, that child is in a somewhat mentally unstable state. If the first impression was imprinted with fear, it would be difficult to approach him.

“…Are your personal studies going well?”

Still, if they keep being together, they’ll naturally come to realize that they can get along well.

So, deciding not to interfere unnecessarily, I changed the subject, and the Saint’s expression softened as she lifted the book she was reading.

“I’m building up knowledge based on the reference books you recommended, Teacher Seine. I’m feeling a small sense of accomplishment as I’m making progress little by little, as it’s well-organized in many ways.”

“I’m glad it seems to be going well. Still, there are limits to self-study alone, so please feel free to ask if there’s anything you don’t understand. I’ll teach you as much as I can within my capacity.”

“Yes, then thanking you for that kindness… Hm?”

Just as we were about to prepare for private tutoring in the infirmary after school. Suddenly, the Saint’s attention, who was about to present her book, shifted from me to my arms.

“…Teacher Seine, what exactly is that in your arms?”

Ah, so that’s what it was.

Well, it would be strange to be holding a cabbage in the infirmary… Hm? Wait a minute.

“What’s this?”

Belatedly feeling something squirming in my arms, I looked down.

The cabbage I received from Teacher Ranpa…

-Huff huff.

No, more precisely, something that was a cabbage until just now.

“…What is this?”

I looked down at the panting thing after detaching it from my arms.

A body that’s overall white and green.

The rough parts protruding here and there were the very characteristics of cabbage.

-Arf!

But a cry that should never come from a cabbage was being heard.

Surprised by that sound, I looked again and could see that its shape had subtly changed.

Clearly opened eyes, a slightly protruding nose bridge, and four adorable legs flapping while held in my hands…

Yes, looking at its shape, isn’t it just like a puppy?

“What is this?”

A cabbage turning into a dog.

What on earth is it? Even though all sorts of things happen at this school, this is too out of the blue.

“Halo…?”

But unlike me, the Saint seemed to have belatedly realized something.

Realizing it was a word I knew too, I immediately turned to her.

“By Halo, do you mean this?”

“Yes, to be more precise, it would be better to call it an object imbued with a Halo. If Teacher Seine is also a believer, I think you should be able to feel the holy power from this being…”

Indeed, at first I was too surprised to be aware, but when I focused while holding it in both hands, I could feel a faint holy power.

And not just any holy power, but a feeling like holy power concentrated in one place, like when manifesting Cle.

“…This is my first time seeing something like this. I didn’t know Halos could do this.”

“A Halo itself is the focal point of a manifested will created through holy power… As it doesn’t have a specific physical form, manifesting it with holy power alone requires a tremendous amount of power. Altars, statues, and such used in rituals… I think Teacher Seine understands that all these things provide favorable conditions for manifesting a Halo.”

“Ah, yes. That’s certainly true. Our sect isn’t very faithful to that culture, so it doesn’t resonate much with me…”

Yes, unlike science, religion values symbolism more than principles.

It’s certain that praying with symbolic objects helps reinforce holy power.

What the Saint just said meant that a Halo had settled in the sacred object itself that aids such prayers.

To make an analogy… Yes, it could be said to be similar to poltergeist phenomena where supernatural beings possess something.

“…Then does the Halo settling in this cabbage mean that someone revered this cabbage as some sort of sacred object?”

“That’s probably not the case. It’s more likely that an unspecified number of people worshipped something in common, and as a result, that will was manifested in a place separate from them.”

In short, the result of a common topic spreading to various places, like oral folklore or ghost stories, happened to settle in the cabbage I had.

While it’s understandable given that religion can arise from anywhere…

-Huff huff.

But the problem is why this manifested in front of me.

I don’t intend to keep a pet in the infirmary, but if it’s a god like Cle or Haide, it doesn’t feel right to just abandon it like this.

“Whatever it is, it seems I’ll have to keep it for the time being…”

As soon as one problem was solved, another popped up immediately.

Pondering how to handle it, I stared down at the cabbage in my hands for a moment.

No, is this a cabbage or a dog? A puppy?

“What should I call this?”

If it’s not a dog, and not a cabbage, then dog cabbage, dog, bage…

“…Dogbage?”