Chapter 108 – Anastasia is a ghost…
The morning of the Harvest Festival.
As usual, I woke up late, soothed my groggy mind with a cup of coffee, and opened the window.
It’s finally today. As I was holding my throbbing head and crossing my eyebrows, the doorbell rang, boom, and someone knocked and shouted.
“Professor Nefernya! Is Professor Neferna there? Ah, well. “I’m sorry from this morning.”
When I opened the door to see what was going on, the head of the department I belonged to was standing there with a kind smile.
He left a message telling me to go to the chairman’s office. Considering that the department head came to my lab, it was highly likely that it was not because I was specifically identified, but simply because he needed available professor-level talent.
… I wasn’t a full-time employee, so I wondered if it was right to take on even the youngest’s work, but I thought it would be a loss to cause trouble if it was just a temporary visit, so I nodded calmly and killed the head who came in at night.
As soon as I left the lab, hurriedly crossed the campus, and entered the chairman’s office, a loud shout came from the chairman.
“Well, well, today is the long-awaited Harvest Festival! “Is everyone ready?”
That errand was not a big deal. To roughly summarize, all that was required was a few things to be aware of and the required materials to be delivered to each department.
All they did was ask me to sign some kind of confirmation on behalf of the department.
If this is going to happen, why did you knock on my door so early in the morning?
… Okay, I don’t know what it is, but since I’m going to criticize it, I’m going to criticize it.
“Okay, this should be enough. Anyway, the most important thing is that you and the students don’t get hurt. This Harvest Festival must not repeat the incident of the last Eunwol Festival. Although we have strengthened security through an external company, we must not forget the pride of the prestigious Magic Academy. The protection system linked to each department must be maintained as planned. “Never forget it.”
The chairman, smiling energetically, said while putting on sandbags and expeditiously exploding the sandbags in front of the professors of each department. I can’t believe I’m exercising until days like this. I’m not crazy.
“Chairman. Does that mean you don’t plan on showing your face today?”
Anyway, why are you hitting the punching bag? ?
“… I have something very important to do today. “There was a call from the organization I belong to.”
“Group… What do you mean? “So, you have a job as a Holy Sword hero?”
“Dragon… Warrior? … …. Hmm! Hmm! “We have the same thing in common: to enforce world justice, hahahahaha!”
Where is this person afraid of disappearing again?
The other professors probably didn’t expect much from the beginning, so they shook their heads and left the director’s office in silence. I also briefly signed, scribbled down the notice in my notebook, and then turned around.
Then, just in time, I met Freyja, who was leaning awkwardly near the entrance.
It seems like it has finally arrived. There was no way she wouldn’t have caught my eye if she were in the row in front of me.
“Freyja. “Are you here as the representative of the Department of Liberal Arts?”
“Ah, yes. “As expected, you came.”
“That’s right. I don’t know if it’s okay to treat contract workers like this. Haaam… I’m sleepy. “Anyway, the department somehow managed to send you.”
No matter what you say, it’s more like a chore. If a young and beautiful woman like Freya were singled out, the self-proclaimed sweet guys wouldn’t have stayed quiet. As expected, Freya answered in a disgruntled tone.
“… I volunteered first, but the department head said it was okay and wanted to send someone 10 years senior than me, so I got so upset that I almost got angry and left on my own. …… Ha. What should I do? “It’s uncomfortable to see your face.”
“It’ll be okay. Don’t mind.”
I left the main building and took a leisurely stroll across the campus. The students who volunteered to prepare for the event under the leadership of the student council were seen working hard.
A believable automaton that uses elemental magic to hold banners and promotional signs that flutter even without wind.
I was looking at the sign from a distance. Among them is ‘Welcome to Galleon Magic Academy! The text ‘How about a cup of warm coffee?’ Stands out. An unfamiliar word caught my eye and I asked it without thinking and out of curiosity.
“What? “Does this academy have a name?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? “You don’t even know the name of the school you work at?”
Freya narrowed her eyes and stared at me. She doesn’t want to make excuses, but no one ever told me the name of the school.
“So where do you leave the princess and are you alone?”
“Um…… ?”
“Don’t you have to practice dancing at least? There are rumors today. The son of the hero Neferna and the princess are dancing together. “There is a lot of interest both inside and outside the academy.”
“… Was I that famous? ?”
“The famous one is your father. And the princess.”
“… Sheesh. Know. “I have to go now.”
“Okay, see you later.”
***
After hearing Freya’s words, I immediately set out to find Anastasia.
In fact, there was a long time left until the time to dance. During the day, we had to spend time at booths planned and operated by each department or explore things to see around the school.
The students had determined expressions on their faces, as if they wanted to make up for the fact that the previous Eunwol Festival ended in vain due to the Vanir gods.
Grade classification is based on the time of admission, not age. Even among first graders, there are countless children who are well past adulthood. It would be nice if they didn’t get too passionate and start drinking, but that would be too much of an expectation.
‘I’ll go around the booth later and find Anastasia.’
It is not easy to find Anastasia at a time like this.
As I was wandering around here and there, I happened to find a familiar shadow in a dark spot behind the undergraduate building.
“Uhehehe…… “
“… “Not here.”
The sound of laughter soaked in the darkness. I immediately turned away.
I took the wrong route. I was mistaken because the back looked exactly like Anastasia. Anyway, there’s a zombie here. Is it a monster? Although it’s none of my business.
But soon, I couldn’t help but be startled by the cold sensation that wrapped around my ankle.
“Stop… …..”
“Ugh, wow! It’s a surprise!”
“……… What the hell… “What have you done, Master?”
“…… Argh… evil? ……………… ? Uh, what is it? Anastasia? … It’s really Anastasia. “What are you doing here?”
I could barely calm my pounding heart. When I looked closely, I saw that it was Anastasia.
He has a bandage tied around his head and his face is pitch black.
The skin looks as if it might fall off at any moment, with dark pus or blood crusting on it.
Darkly discolored fingernails and pale, discolored face. The lips are so dry that the expression that the skin and bones have become bruises comes to mind, and the cheekbones stick out, emphasizing the skin, giving goosebumps.
The skin tone was particularly impressive, making you think, “Oh, this is already a dead body” Just by looking at it.
The appearance of a monster that could only be depicted in children’s fairy tale illustrations.
However, strangely enough, the scent of blood was not strong, so when I looked closely, the unique scent of paint passed my nose. I was able to realize that it was not a real wound, but some kind of special makeup.
“Don’t you remember…?” Our department applied for the haunted house experience booth this time… “I’m working hard on the haunted house today.”
“Well, was that so? By the way, it looks like you also got the role of a ghost. “I thought you wouldn’t ask me to do anything because you’re the princess, but I’m glad you get along well with the kids, hey.”
“That…” It’s not a problem…… “
Anastasia continued speaking in a dead voice.
“Cecilia… Cecilia… The eyes looking at me…… “
“What? “I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
As soon as I popped out my face, Anastasia must have come to her senses, gritting her teeth and jumping up from her seat.
“What did you say that made Cecilia so upset? Could it be that ‘I won’t go with you because I have to dance with Anastasia.’ Did you even say something like that?!”
“What are you talking about?”
“… Ha, that’s a good thing. The joke I just made…….”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Of course I said so.”
“Hey!!! Eugene!!!”
Quack, Anastasia hit me on the shoulder.
“Don’t lie!”
“Why would I lie about something like this?”
“……… How can people… So perceptive! … “Ugh.”
“Why are you sighing?”
“Really… ha ha ha… barely… We became friends… This is the starting point again… Really…… You ended up in the position of stealing your friend’s man… no… no… Cecilia… Don’t misunderstand… I like you…. Because I like you… That’s why I helped Master… Don’t misunderstand… Don’t look at me with those eyes and that disappointed look… Sigh!”
“It’s all good, but will you stop scratching my legs with your fingernails?”
“It’s all because of you, Eugene… only you… If it weren’t for you… Cecilia…… “
“I’m bleeding… Cheolcheol me… “
“If it weren’t for you…… “It’s my fault for having someone like you as my teacher.”
“You can still cancel classes now, student.”
“Sir… I want to become a warrior… “
What should I do with this?
What can I do?
I had no choice but to sit down and listen to her story wrapped in bandages.
“Tell me. “What on earth happened?”