Chapter 47 : Where ill be

“You seem to be in a hurry, Saya.”

I stood still for a few seconds, my gaze locked with his. An unknown fear, as if he could see right through my thoughts, crept over my body.

“…I was very worried about Yuri’s condition.”

Answering his question, I didn’t budge from the spot. Violet went to the bedside of the sleeping Yuri and stroked her hair.

“Yuri Freesia. She’s a very strong child. Isn’t she?”

“…”

“In situations where it wouldn’t be strange if she had died several times, she always manages to survive, as if resurrected… It’s quite amazing.”

Violet took his hand away from her and walked towards me. His usually gentle eyes now filled me with fear. His hand was placed on my shoulder.

“Strangely, every time, you are always by her side, Saya.”

It was the first time I’d felt such overwhelming helplessness.

It was a thrill I hadn’t felt even when facing a Master Sarkas, or when Julius pointed a sword at me. This man’s power had the ability to turn me into a handful of ashes.

A moment later, the words that came out of his mouth were unexpected.

“…Thank you.”

“…Yes?”

“Thank you for protecting Yuri. She is a valuable asset to the academy. There are few who can handle freezing magic as well as she can.”

I couldn’t read his expression. I had no way of knowing whether it was genuine gratitude towards me, or a silent warning about protecting her.

“…We’re comrades.”

Does Violet still not know that I suspect him? Or is it…

“…Oh, I have some bad news to share.”

“…Bad news?”

“Invidia’s movements have been observed.”

“…!”

I thought it was bad news, but it was the worst possible news.

‘Invidia, already…!?’

Invidia of Envy.

The cause of the world’s destruction in the original work, and the ancient species Sarkas that could use all kinds of magic in the world.

‘In the original work, Invidia awakened around winter at the earliest…?’

In the original work, Invidia awakened during the snowy winter. They set out to subdue Invidia, who was weak soon after awakening, but despite the Spirit Masters’ efforts, they ultimately failed to capture it. Invidia, who regained its freedom, was unleashed upon the world and regained its power, bringing about destruction.

But a strong reason for the failure of that expedition was the absence of the protagonist. That is, Yuri Freesia’s non-participation in the expedition due to her death.

Unlike the original work, Yuri, the Spirit Master, is alive and well. Perhaps her existence can overturn the ending. One thing that bothered me was that the time of Invidia’s awakening was too early.

“We may need to prepare a large-scale subjugation battle involving Spirit Masters. I have high expectations for your team. Especially for Miss Freesia.”

Violet also seemed to know that Yuri was necessary for the battle. He glanced at his watch and said to me.

“It’s already this late. I’ll be going now, so take care of your business.”

“…Yes.”

Even until he was completely out the door, I couldn’t let my guard down. As long as I couldn’t fully understand Violet’s intentions, I had to avoid contact with him as much as possible.

Violet, who was about to go outside, stopped with his back turned.

‘…Why isn’t he leaving?’

He looked at the hallway and said to me.

“…By the way, did you resolve the questions you had about brainwashing, Saya?”

My breath caught.

With a single slip of the tongue, all my cards could be revealed.

“…Yes, more or less.”

“…That’s good. If you have any more questions, feel free to come to me. My door is open to all Spirit Masters of the academy.”

After he disappeared, I leaned against the wall and caught my breath.

“…Sigh. Haah…”

When he brought up the topic of brainwashing first, I really thought my breath would stop. Did he really know when he said that?

“…Whew.”

I calmed my breathing and approached the sleeping Yuri. The impact of the explosion was considerable, and she hasn’t opened her eyes since the incident. Her life, who has just entered puberty, will determine the survival of the world. No matter how much she is the main character of my novel, it’s a cruel fate.

‘…She’s not waking up, Yuri.’

Last time, Yuri asked for water as soon as she opened her eyes. Right now, I wish she would open her eyes, even if she cursed at me.

“If you stare at me that intensely, you’ll burn a hole in my face, Saya.”

The voice I heard this time came from behind. The lovely blonde knight I’d spent the most time with.

“Luna…!”

Without hesitation, I ran to her and hugged her tightly. She was surprised by my strong hug, but soon smiled and stroked my head.

“…I was worried.”

“And you came to see Yuri before me?”

“…”

Feeling disadvantaged, I gently released my arms and tickled her sides.

“Hahaha…! Saya, that’s where I’m hurt…! Ahaha!”

The feel of her skin, which I hadn’t felt in a long time, and even the faint scent from her hair were all welcome.

After a tickle war, Luna and I sat side by side at Yuri’s bedside. I knew that she was trying to show a bright appearance, but she wasn’t really okay.

“…How is your body, Luna?”

“What do you mean, it’s healthy.”

“I’m asking seriously as a comrade. Tell me the truth.”

According to Iris, who was in charge of Luna’s treatment, she would no longer be able to fight as she used to.

“My left hand isn’t what it used to be. I think it’s impossible to hold a shield now.”

“…”

“It’s okay. It’s a good thing that the hand I use for my sword is fine, isn’t it?”

It’s not okay. For Luna, who used to use a parrying style of combat using a shield, not being able to use a shield is a fatal risk.

“…More than that, I left a scar on Yuri-yang’s body.”

She seemed to be quite bothered by the fact that she had hurt Yuri’s body.

“If it wasn’t for your magic, Yuri wouldn’t have survived. Don’t say that.”

“But I’m still sorry.”

“Umm…”

At the sound of a groan from the bed, we both focused on Yuri.

“…Luna.”

The first word she said when she woke up this time was Luna.

“She seems to be calling you?”

A bewildered Luna approached Yuri.

“…Closer…”

“…Like this?”

Following Yuri’s request, Luna leaned her face closer to her.

Tap.

Yuri’s finger struck Luna’s forehead.

“Ouch!”

Luna held her forehead, whimpering at the sudden violence.

“What’s wrong…?”

“Idiot.”

In addition to physical violence, now verbal abuse was added. Yuri turned her head while lying down and looked at Luna and said.

“What do you mean sorry, when you saved my life.”

“…”

“This isn’t a scar, I think it’s rather a mark of honor.”

“…Thank you, Yuri-yang.”

“How long are you going to call me so formally? Yuri is fine.”

“Yes! Yuri.”

It was an unfamiliar sight to see the two of them talking face to face. In the relaxed atmosphere that I hadn’t felt in a long time, we talked about things we hadn’t been able to do, and Luna suddenly stopped talking and stared at the closed door.

“What’s wrong?”

“…There’s a presence outside the door.”

‘…A presence?’

I got up and headed for the door, not letting my guard down. Since the aftermath of Violet’s visit hadn’t yet subsided, my anxiety was amplified even more. I grabbed the doorknob and quickly slid the door open.

“……Carne?”

There, Carne was standing close to the door.

“…What are you doing there?”

Carne, who met my eyes, cleared her throat and swept back her hair.

“Well… I saw you running somewhere in a hurry, so I was worried and followed you… and it was a hospital?”

“So?”

“I came here and wondered if the others were okay…! Anyway, I checked, so I’m leaving…!”

I sighed once and grabbed her clothes. There was another idiot here.

“Where are you going? They’re all safe, so we should have a celebration party.”

“Wait, I…!”

I grabbed Carne’s back and pushed her into the treatment room. At her appearance, Luna and Yuri’s gazes also focused on Carne. Carne, avoiding eye contact as much as possible, greeted them awkwardly.

“…Everyone… looks healthy?”

I could roughly guess why she was so watchful. Even if it wasn’t her will, Carne was the one who almost killed Yuri. With her sanity restored, she would have a hard time facing Yuri.

Yuri, who received the greeting, said to Carne.

“Are you still thinking about that, Carne?”

“…Yuri, I…”

“I know you didn’t do it on purpose. You come and sit down too.”

I pushed the embarrassed Carne and sat her on the chair by the bedside. She looked at Yuri with a hesitant expression and asked carefully.

“…Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I don’t care at all.”

Yuri, who was looking at Carne, was smiling.

Yuri, whose only expression was a frown, is smiling. Just that alone was enough to ease the atmosphere among the four of us.

While we were talking for a long time, I suddenly jumped up from my seat.

“…What’s wrong, Saya?”

“I forgot something important. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Leaving the questioning girls behind, I left the treatment room.

‘This can’t be left out.’

A moment later, what I came in with in my hand was a black glass bottle labeled Drosia.

“…Saya, that’s… alcohol?”

The first to show interest was Luna.

“Where did you get that?”

“It was lying around in the food storage? They won’t know if one is missing.”

I was about to open the alcohol with anticipation, but Carne stopped me.

“Wait!”

“Why?”

“…We’re still minors.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, we all burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha…!”

“…Why are you laughing?”

“Carne, I didn’t know you were the type to care about that.”

“What do you mean, unexpectedly, that’s rude…!”

She said she had been living in a monastery since she was adopted, so I guess that ascetic habit stuck with her.

“Then we’ll just enjoy it ourselves. Nun Carne.”

“I’m not a nun!?”

“Then, will you have a drink too, Carne?”

“…”

At my question, Carne seriously worried.

I never thought Carne would be reluctant to drink alcohol. Background is a more influential factor than I thought.

“…Then, just a little.”

As if waiting for her answer, I smiled brightly and raised the bottle.

“Since that’s settled, shall we open it?”

It was the first time since the team was formed that we had gathered in such a relaxed atmosphere. We had been through classes and training together, but it felt like we could finally open up to each other.

Why couldn’t we have been like this sooner?

The closer the day of the apocalypse came, the more I thought I wanted to stay in this world a little longer.

Because for the first time since I came to the academy, I felt like this was the place where I belonged.

“…But, we can’t open this without a corkscrew…?”

“……”

Tonight’s party wasn’t going to be easy.