episode_0080

Meanwhile.

As students who had finished their field trip were returning to the academy, terrible screams echoed from a cathedral located in a remote part of the empire.

“Ugh, h-hack, cough, g-gasp…!”

“Aaaargh!!”

“G-God, God, oh God…!”

“W-we have to run… *cough*.”

Ricite.

A gathering of the clergy protecting the region. Originally composed of devout believers who guarded the city they were entrusted with, they were now steeped in a darkness so profound that their light seemed to fade in comparison.

In the wide corridor, unconscious priests lay sprawled on the floor. Every single one of them was covered in blood, twitching.

“Haa, haa…!”

A woman ran, gasping for breath. She seemed to be fleeing from something. The air was tainted with a terrible stench. The woman moved her legs, her face filled with terror.

Faint music echoed in her ears.

“Ugh…!”

Her consciousness grew hazy from the enchanting melody. It felt as if her brain was melting.

The woman clutched the rosary in her pocket, regaining her senses. Following the faint holy power emanating from it, her blurred vision sharpened once more.

But that, too, was only temporary.

“Ugh, haa…!”

Even as she groaned, the woman did not stop her weary legs. She had to relay this news to the outside.

Ricite was facing annihilation. Devoured corpses lay strewn across the floor, crimson blood filled every corner, and the pitch-black darkness that had descended upon the cathedral obscured her vision.

All the priests exposed to the music had transformed strangely. Their white priestly robes turned black, and then they became monsters gnawing on human flesh.

Now, only the woman herself retained her sanity.

“I have to tell them…!”

She ran, covering her ears. Her will was to somehow alert the outside world to this danger.

However, despite her resolve, it wasn’t long before the woman was forced to stop.

A shadow stood before her.

“Ah.”

Immediately after. The assailants hidden in the surrounding darkness began to appear one by one. Every single one of them was cloaked in a robe. Figures that seemed to have been waiting. The woman involuntarily lost strength in her legs.

*Thud*-.

“Oh, God.”

The woman knelt and slumped to the floor. She clutched the rosary with trembling hands, then closed her eyes and offered a prayer.

It was her final meditation.

“Please… deliver us from evil.”

The next moment. The surging melody swallowed the woman whole.

***

The field trip had been full of various events. Several days had already passed since returning from the rather boisterous vacation. The students seemed to be preparing to return to their intense daily routines.

“Time really flies.”

“Tell me about it. It feels like the entrance ceremony was just yesterday… What did we even do for it to be final exams already?”

“I’m already dreading it. The announced scope looks no joke.”

“I want to go back to the field trip…”

Perhaps it was because the final exams were already just a month away. In the library, training grounds, lecture halls, and elsewhere… the children busily moved around the academy, catching up on the studies they had temporarily put aside.

It wasn’t particularly different for me. Of course, I was confident in my grades, but academy life wasn’t just about doing well on exams. At the very least, I had to fulfill my duties in my given position.

While other students were studying, I spent my time in the research lab.

“Hmm.”

*Scratch scratch*-.

Each time the pen nib scraped across the paper, a distinct sound echoed. As I drew lines following the continuous trajectory, the black ink soon formed elegant handwriting.

I pushed aside the towering stacks of documents.

“Teacher-nim? These are the documents that need review.”

“Thank you, Yuda.”

I was assisting Selena with her paperwork. I classified the layered documents, separating and organizing the less important contents. This was a basic task for most head assistants.

“If there’s any other administrative work, please pass it to me.”

“I appreciate the help… but you don’t really have to do this.”

“I’m fine.”

Since we had already agreed last time, I didn’t necessarily need to be tied to the work, but I still felt I should offer at least this minimal help. After all, enjoying power without responsibility felt like something that would prick my conscience. Moreover, Selena had neatly covered my three days of absence during the field trip, so this also served as a gesture of repayment.

‘There should always be something to return when you’ve received something.’

Because that’s how interactions between adults work.

I casually twirled my pen. As I continued writing, a voice suddenly called out from beside me. It was a voice that betrayed not a hint of emotion.

“Regarding the last field trip. I’ve roughly handled the records. I’ve reported that you went to acquire research materials under my instruction, so if any other professors ask, you can answer that way.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Teacher-nim.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm… I thought you’d ask why I was absent then, but it seems you’re less interested than I thought.”

“Even if I’m curious, I won’t ask. That was the condition from the start.”

Selena replied with an indifferent expression. Her red eyes blinked. In her hand, as always, was a bottle of alcohol. The woman took a few sips of alcohol, then swept back her flowing purple hair. Her red lips offered a piece of advice.

“I have no intention of interfering. However, I would like to tell you not to play too dangerously.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Because you are a student I teach.”

“Teacher-nim is kind.”

“…That’s enough paperwork for today. You can go back now.”

Selena wore an ambiguous expression. The woman, silently, tilted her liquor bottle. She seemed lost in thought. The faint scent of alcohol wafted through the air. I left it behind and walked out of the research lab. As the wind brushed past me, I mulled over my monologue.

‘Indeed, it seems difficult to get close to her easily.’

Selena consistently drew a line. Considering the events to come, it would be easier to narrow the distance between us, but there had been no progress so far.

‘It’ll be fine… there’s still quite a bit of time left.’

I shook off the idle thoughts lingering in my mind. As I stepped out, I saw a few people standing in front of the research lab building.

“Young Master…!”

“You’re finally out.”

“Good work.”

In order: Regia, Emilia, Irene. The three, who had been waiting for me to finish my work, waved lightly when our eyes met. I approached them with a bright smile.

“I’m a bit late.”

“You’re a whole ten minutes late! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

“Th-that’s because we left the library too early. We could have stayed a bit longer, but the young lady kept insisting we leave quickly…”

“Commoner! Don’t say unnecessary things!”

“Hmph… So-sorry.”

Regia flinched under the glare. As the villainess subdued the main character, the fox who had been standing quietly subtly added a remark. Her voice was calm.

“Pink-hair is right.”

“Irene?”

“Blue-hair was the one who insisted we wait first. She dragged us out too.”

“Y-you be quiet too! Don’t speak, you mere attendant! And I told you to use honorifics! I am the rightful heir of the great Benity family…!”

“Yes, the rightful heir. I’ve heard it enough for today, so stop.”

“Eek!! That attitude is disrespectful!”

Emilia reacted vehemently. It seemed she was properly provoked. Had their bond grown from spending time together since the field trip? While it was still too much to call them close friends, it was no longer the awkward silence they had before.

I said with a contented smile.

“It’s good to see you all getting closer.”

“By what measure?!”

“…I don’t need that. You are enough as a human in my life.”

“W-weren’t we getting closer? If not, then, co-could it be that it was just my own misunderstanding… *Ugh*.”

The reactions were diverse. The flustered vain one. The indifferent fox. The sulking pilot. It was truly a boisterous atmosphere.

We crossed the sprawling plaza, conversing as we went.

Suddenly, a call caught my sleeve.

“You… said you wouldn’t be going to the research lab starting tomorrow, right?”

“Because the exams aren’t far off.”

“Then, what do you think about studying together? I suppose the commoner and I will be at the library.”

“As expected, everyone is diligent. To prepare for the exams so intensely.”

“Hmph… If you want, I’ll even let you join.”

“Th-that’s right, Young Master! The young lady said she’d even teach the difficult parts!”

“Hmm.”

It was an enticing offer. Since I already knew all the academy’s academic material, reviewing alone would only be boring. It seemed like it would be enjoyable to gather together, just like when we usually did assignments.

However, there was one problem.

“I gladly accept your offer.”

“Then…”

“But it seems difficult for me to participate tomorrow. I’ll join starting this weekend.”

“Do as you please. Do you have other plans tomorrow, perhaps?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded. I took Irene’s hand beside me, interlaced our fingers, and wiggled them slightly. The other two girls were staring at us.

“We’re planning to go out, just the two of us. You could call it a date?”

A single, nonchalantly delivered sentence. Following that sentence, the eyes of the two who were listening widened.