Chapter 30 – Traces of the Mysterious Feather
Professor Aegis, who had been quietly examining Cecilia, finally turned around with a wide smile.
“It’s okay! Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong~♩”
“Really? Don’t we need some kind of detailed examination or something like that?”
The fact that there was no problem was something I had suspected deep down. However, being examined by a proper doctor was a different issue altogether.
As I blurted out unnecessary fuss and turned red, Professor Aegis began to gesture as if deeply contemplating something.
“Hmm~ I’ve recently developed a magical stability therapy. Are you perhaps interested?”
“If it’s good for Cecilia, I’ll do anything!”
“Well… it’s a bit expensive~♩ So, I won’t recommend it lightly.”
“Money?! How much are we talking about approximately…”
“Well, considering Professor Neperna’s monthly salary… you can multiply that by exactly three~♩”
Three… three months’ worth… again… The nightmare of miscalculating the measurement grid came back to life.
By the way, how does Chairman know the exact amount even if it’s the second time for Professor Aegis? The income from the part-time job might be around the same, but something felt a bit strange.
“Is there a possibility of installment payment? It’s not an excuse, but due to the evil karma of someone, or rather, the wicked balance of the bank account left by someone who is either dead or alive, there is a significant error.”
Upon hearing that, Undine shook with anger, blocking the way in front.
“Please don’t make fun of our innocent teacher!”
“Make fun?”
“With such a suspicious massage, um… enticing with that, uh, lewd chest, and then randomly assaulting the teacher! Like in those naughty old men comics!”
“Phew… Puhuh! Oh my, I’ve been caught~”
Was that a joke? Just a joke? Ugh, that wicked gnome professor. I almost felt like pulling that elf ear until it hurt.
But I’m kind of curious about that awkward massage. Maybe I’ll collect three months’ worth later?
“Since Undine students shouldn’t vomit, let’s stop joking now. …That aside, there shouldn’t be any major issues with Cecilia, so you don’t need to worry. Her body might be a bit tired from the sudden recoil, though.”
Professor Aegis smiled gently towards Cecilia, who had been sparing with words since earlier.
As soon as he left the room, a serene calmness settled in.
Cecilia, with her ears and tail drooped, looked up at me with lifeless, blackened eyes and asked.
“… Have you come to dislike me?”
“Huh?”
I was caught off guard by the sudden question.
Perhaps my reaction was just right to cause misunderstanding, as Cecilia’s face began to turn an unprecedented shade of blue. She clutched at my clothes, starting to tremble with a frightened expression.
“I’m still learning magic… Please, please don’t abandon me… I’ll do better from now on.”
Wait, did I say anything just now?? I haven’t done anything unusual before?? Someone might think I’ve been abusing her just because I can’t handle magic!
I looked urgently at Undine, but she seemed flustered too, avoiding eye contact.
I pondered quietly where her anxiety came from, then cautiously spoke with a forced smile.
“Cecilia, you’re family now.”
“…Yes.”
“Outwardly, nothing will change from before. Your daily life won’t be different. The blood of the family blends harmoniously with the blood of other species. Unless you use magic, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”
“Are you telling me to give up magic?”
“I’m not forcing you to.”
“…… I can’t give up magic. My magic… the one given by the teacher…”
“That’s up to you. If you want to give up magic for safety, it’s okay. If not, it doesn’t matter. Like I said before, I’ll go with you wherever.”
“Together… are you saying that?”
“Yeah, together.”
“Continuously?”
“Continuously.”
“For a lifetime?”
“A lifetime?”
“…………”
“………… A lifetime.”
“…………”
“A lifetime… a lifetime… until we die… together… continuously… a lifetime, a lifetime… a lifetime…”
Cecilia pondered the word ‘lifetime’ with vacant eyes.
Undine, apparently unhappy with that, grabbed my shoulders and vigorously shook me up and down.
“Teacher? Have you forgotten that I, Undine, am standing right here, with both eyes wide open, watching everything?”
“Undine. My head is spinning. Ugh…”
“Just forget about what the old witch is saying. Right now.”
I protested with “Ugh, ugh,” but there was no way Undine would listen to that.
Right on time, the door creaked open, and along with Professor Aegis, the little angel also joined in. It was not particularly surprising.
“Ta-da☆ I brought Rina along because I was bored~”
“Oh! Oppa, unnie! Hello!”
… What a hectic day.
***
Even if I were to go back now, there was nothing urgent to do. So, I just sat in the hospital chair and slowly started to doze off.
Cecilia said she’d only stay here today and could attend classes normally tomorrow, so waiting wasn’t so bad.
Tap, tap.
Someone lightly tapped my cheek.
If I had been deep in sleep, I might not have felt even a hint of that touch, but unfortunately, I was still awake.
“Unnie, Oppa’s going to wake up.”
“Teachers never wake up once they fall asleep. hehehe, unless it’s a time like this, when shall we play another prank? Uhuhu… So adorable. Squishy squishy squishy~”
… So, does that mean it’s not a prank under normal circumstances? And finding a grown man cute? Your cheeks must be much squishier. I thought about teasing her with ‘Squishy Squishy Cheeky Cheeky’ but upon careful consideration, I decided against it, thinking she might actually enjoy it.
“Wow! Unnie, you know Oppa well! You two really suit each other. Like a family!”
“Yes…? W-Well! You, you have quite an eye for seeing us as a good match! F-Family… It’s a bit early… H-How♡”
“hehehehe… You look really good together like close siblings.”
“Siblings…?”
“Yes!”
“………… Did we look like siblings?”
“Yes! You both always have fun together! When Rani and I grow up, could we be like those siblings?”
Rina. I think I’ve teased her enough, maybe it’s time to stop.
When she opened her eyes slightly, Wundine was frozen white.
It seemed like it would collapse with a touch.
Younger sister… younger sister…
Looking at the dazed Wundine with a kind expression, Lyne suddenly jumped out of the chair, chuckling softly.
“Oh, it’s time for Ran to see! I’ll be right back.”
Stabbing with a knife and casually leaving.
It’s nothing short of a homicidal act.
Terrifying.
… The innocence of a young girl is frightening.
The return of silence.
Occasionally, only Wundine’s voice muttering, “Younger sister… younger sister…” echoed.
And then it happened.
Thunk!
Somewhere, the dull sound of something falling over could be heard. … It wasn’t a sound from the room. Outside the ward. No, perhaps from another nearby ward.
“…!”
The first to react was Cecilia. She, who had been lying quietly, pricked up her fox-like ears and, with a determined expression, leaped out of the ward.
“Cecilia?”
There was no time to ask questions in the hurry.
Sensing an unusual aura, Wundine and I immediately locked eyes and followed her.
The direction she was heading was the room where Ran’s ward was. For some reason, Ran’s ward was already halfway open.
Finally, Lin didn’t expect the door to the hospital room to be left open. The child was meticulous about these things.
First, Cecilia, standing in front of the room, was casting Signature Phantasm, peering inside so eerily that I couldn’t understand the significance.
“『Let the flames swallowed by time, be completely incinerated by the gesture of a small spirit, leaving not even a speck of dust』!”
She didn’t forcibly alter the margins as before. Despite being a bit unstable, the flames were cast normally and shot into the hospital room.
Then, Wundine and I jumped in between.
“Uh! Ugh…! Ugh!”
Lin was making hurried noises.
Two unfamiliar people.
Draped in black robes, intentionally perhaps, they had turned off all the lights in the room except for the faint light seeping in through the dark windows, making it hard to see their figures.
One was holding a sleeping Lan silently, as if dead, while the other was peering outside, blocking Lin’s mouth.
At least, there was no sense of goodwill from them.
The priority is to rescue the children.
“Lin! Get down!”
Kiiing!
Wundine’s Water Jet swept through in a diagonal line, casting spells.
Controlling a Water Jet that could cut through flesh and bone just by touching it indoors, and doing so while being conscious of Lin and Lan, wasn’t an easy task.
The intruders easily evaded Wundine’s Signature. However, as if anticipating this moment, Wundine canceled the magic.
Injecting magic into the water droplets bursting in all directions, the air surrounding them chillingly froze.
Ssss…
“『Rise, frozen frost, to zero』.”
Crack… Bang!
Ice shards spread out like shrapnel in all directions.
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Finding an opening, I drew out the dagger tied to my waist and plunged into the chaos.
Amidst the confusion caused by Undine’s elemental magic, I struck down the villain holding onto Rin’s wrist.
A dull, bone-crushing sound echoed. He couldn’t contain his agony and let out a scream.
“Krrraaagh!”
Seizing the opportunity, I roughly grabbed Rin by the shoulders and half-threw her towards the entrance of the ward.
Cecilia caught Rin as she fell.
One of the villains shouted urgently, “Escape! Even if we take just one, it doesn’t matter!”
They were trying to vanish, shattering the window along with Lan.
Without hesitation, I hurled myself towards the window.
“…What’s this!”
One of them reached out to me and cast a spell. A chilling, condensed flame surged out, swelling only to the building and shooting into the sky.
Drawing on Undine’s magic, I surrounded myself with a barrier. Holding the dagger in reverse, I leaped through the gap in the flames, catching onto his robe and pulling him away.
Beyond him, I aimed for the shoulder of the villain holding Lan.
“Gkkk…! Madman, I’ll buy time, flee using the stockpile!”
A space-time mage? He intended to escape.
But I had no intention of standing idly by.
Supply-type reinforcement magic. Acceleration.
I hurl the bamboo sword I was holding in one breath.
Thud!
Startled by the sliding movement with a delay in the casting of the No-Shadow Spear, the villain misses Ran. I leave them behind and immediately grab Ran.
“Damn it! Run for now!”
Thinking they were wrong, they immediately concealed themselves through the spacetime magic crevice.
Having landed on the ground, I lightly lick my lips and examine Ran.
Fortunately, Ran didn’t seem to have suffered any significant injuries outwardly.
“Hmm? This is…”
Something pure white twinkled on Ran’s face, as if transferred from the villain, reflecting the moonlight.
I grimace and mutter.
“Feather…?”