Chapter 203 - Conspiracy (19)

We didn't return to the ballroom where the main event of the second part was being held. This was because Luna was reluctant to draw attention from others.

We sat on the grass where we could see the fireworks well and quietly appreciated the sky.

The sound of fireworks shook the sky.

Luna, sitting next to me, was silent. She didn’t chatter and share her daily life like other girls.

The fireworks' light reflected in her bright eyes. Her expression didn’t reveal what she was thinking.

It could be a boring time, but I had no complaints. She might find meaning just in being in the same space, seeing the same things, and breathing the same air.

I wasn't good at making small talk either, and we went without conversation for a while.

It was peaceful. So much so that I wonder if I deserved to enjoy such comfort.

The Sword Master's letter had warned that magic sword hunters would come, but there were no signs of disturbance anywhere.

There was no need to be on guard as Luna's spirits had practically occupied the entire campus area.

Just as I had protected Luna, Luna was also protecting me.

Breaking the long silence, I spoke first, "Luna."

"...Yes."

"Are the black spirits not bothering you again?"

Luna nodded.

"Yes. But it hasn't completely disappeared from Eternia... When Damian goes far away, I sometimes feel their gaze. It could start again anytime, anywhere. That's the kind of existence they are..."

"..."

"But even if they come back, things won't go back to how they were before."

I first met Luna at the Reilis family mansion in Rigved. Looking back, Luna had changed a lot since then.

Unlike then, when she was curled up and hiding in the darkness, she now got along well with others and even smiled occasionally, though rarely. Although it was still just me, I could see her hostility towards the opposite sex gradually improving.

"Will it be okay when the vacation comes?"

When the vacation arrived, we'd have to be apart for a long time. I wouldn’t be able to rush to help if problems arose. I felt a bit anxious about having to leave Luna in such a situation.

I couldn’t just follow Luna to her family home either. It was questionable whether Luna's family would accept someone of my lowly status.

"I can overcome it now."

Seeing Luna full of confidence, I thought she might be stronger than I imagined.

Even if I wasn’t always by her side, she might learn how to overcome crises on her own when they arose.

"Yes... I'm not worried about the vacation now. Because I have the wish coupon."

"...Huh?"

"Because your vacation is... mine now."

Wait, what is this?

"...Can you explain what that means in detail?"

Luna slightly avoids my gaze. Then her face gradually started to blush.

"When... when vacation comes... visit the Reilis family's territory. That's my wish..."

"..."

Well, okay, I should visit if needed, but just thinking about my schedule after the vacation is making me nauseous.

First, I had agreed to visit Trisha's home, and I had also promised to visit the Duchess. And... if I go to Luna's territory... was Luna from the Empire side?

Considering the travel distance... I might spend more nights sleeping in carriages than in beds.

"Where is the Reilis family's territory?"

"It's close to the Imperial capital. We have many villas near the border..."

Hearing about villas, I realized anew. Luna was also a precious daughter from a noble family. Living in Eternia, which emphasized equality, made it easy to forget this fact.

I got up without answering and dusted off the grass stuck to my pants.

Luna looked up at me with tense eyes, as if waiting for my answer.

"Can you... come?"

Faint music could be heard from the direction of the ballroom. The sun was setting, and the ball was also nearing its end.

I didn't respond to that question and instead held out my hand to Luna, saying, "It's time to dance."

"O-okay."

She showed a slightly flustered look as she took my hand. Then she stood up.

There was no one around us. No brilliant lights, just an open space with a few trees. This wasn't what I wanted. It was what Luna wanted.

I didn’t know why she wanted such a place. Maybe she just disliked noisy places.

"Now, take a deep breath."

"...Huh?"

Luna flinched when I put my hand on her waist. Seeing her like this strangely made me feel guilty. I wondered if I was tormenting a delicate soul.

We moved our feet to the faint music coming from far away. Luna was so tense that she couldn't match the steps and her body trembled.

I threw out a joke to help her relax.

"I'll visit before the vacation ends."

"...Okay."

"But you know, I would have done that even without using a wish coupon."

Luna's eyes suddenly widened as if surprised.

"Then the wish coupon is cance—“

"Too late."

***

Nothing happened until the end of the ball. Luna's spirits didn't detect any suspicious movements either, so I was able to enjoy the festival with peace of mind for once.

When the moon rose. Everyone put down the festive excitement and returned to their dormitories.

I wonder what it would have been like if Trisha had attended the ball.

Is Trisha okay now? I'm worried because she's been in seclusion for the past few days.

I hurriedly made my way through the mist of the maze.

Is it my imagination? 

The mist currents I encountered while heading towards the Thorn Garden dormitory felt strangely discomforting.

It felt like the mist was writhing in an unusual way.

As time passed, my anxiety grew. I reacted sensitively to even small changes happening in the labyrinth. After all, I had experienced death in the labyrinth on the first festival day at Eternia.

"..."

I quickened my pace. And when I finally reached the Thorn Garden dormitory, that ominous premonition became reality.

"...!"

The librarians of the labyrinth were standing in a line like guards in front of the Thorn Garden dormitory's front yard.

And I lost my senses for a moment as I witnessed the bizarre scene before my eyes.

"W-what... is this?"

I closed my eyes and opened them again. It felt like I was seeing a hallucination.

The building of the Thorn Garden dormitory was strangely distorted.

The outer walls of the building were curved like a bow. Not only that, troof was sagging like wet parchment, and the entire building was wrapped in a dark energy.

What was even stranger was that there were no cracks or signs of collapse on the building's exterior.

Could this be the work of magic sword hunters?

As that thought occurred to me, my heart sank.

Professor Candinella, standing next to the librarians, spotted me and gestured.

I rushed to her and immediately asked about Trisha's wellbeing,’"Professor. Trisha! Is Trisha okay?"

Professor Candinella shook her head.

"She's not injured and won't die, but there's a problem."

"What on earth happened? Did an outside intruder come?"

"No. It's unrelated to that. Ah, if you're talking about the magic sword hunters, that issue was well resolved."

"...Then could you explain what's going on?"

Candinella sighed deeply and looked up at the distorted dormitory building.

"We can handle magic sword hunters, but not this. It's completely distorted the space. Take a good look. It's a power that could either save or destroy this world."

"Who did this?"

Professor Candinella smiled weakly and said, "Your friend."

"You mean Trisha?"

To think Trisha had such power. Indeed, she didn't enter the Masters Class for nothing. I wasn't expecting much... but looking at the state of that dormitory, I could only think it was a monstrous ability.

If this ability spread throughout the campus, it would truly be a catastrophe.

"Yes. For some reason, she's extremely angry and her latent power is bursting out uncontrollably."

"..."

"Her guardian says this situation happens once every three or four years. Once last year. And once again this year. It's unusual."

"What do you plan to do with Trisha?"

"That power has only taken over the dormitory building and hasn't spread outside. We'll have to watch, but it's not very dangerous. However, if you try to go in, you'll be repelled. In the current situation... we have no choice but to leave her until her anger subsides."

A special power that bursts out depending on emotional state... it suddenly reminded me of the “Star Child”. 

Was Trisha also born with such an innate magical ability?

"Where is Trisha now?"

"In the dormitory."

"Is there no way to reverse it?"

"If you forcibly try to enter, you'll be repelled. That... no one can control it. We can only watch until Trisha's mood improves."

"...May I try going in?"

"I want to stop you."

"I'll try to soothe her. I'm used to comforting Trisha."

Professor Candinella pondered with a serious face for a while and then answered, "Alright, go ahead and try. If you get repelled, we'll catch you."

Without further delay, I headed straight for the dormitory entrance.

Swish swish—

The black energy wrapping the outer walls writhed like a snake, but it didn't directly affect me.

I looked back at Candinella once. She nodded.

Fortunately, I didn't feel any force rejecting me.

The front door was sagging like a wet cloth. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The oil lamps and candles lighting the hall irregularly spewed green and black flames. It had become a completely different place from the dormitory I knew. There was a gurgling sound as if I had entered water. I hurried my steps, thinking it might be the sound of the pillars supporting the building twisting.

I quickly climbed the stairs to the second floor and stood in front of Trisha's room door.

And I knocked.

"Trisha, I'm here."

There was no response.

"I'm coming in."

I opened the door and went inside.

I saw a girl with loose white hair wearing a white dress.

She was lying on the bed as if taking a nap, burying her face in a pillow as big as her torso and hugging it tightly.

"Trisha."

Still no movement. With her mouth and nose covered by the pillow, I wondered how she was breathing. Worried she might be suffocating, I put my ear close and heard faint breathing sounds.

"I'm back."

"..."

"Are you sleeping?"

Her arms were tightly gripping the pillow as if it might burst.

The candles in this room suddenly swelled up as if oil had been poured on them. She seemed to have noticed my arrival.

To elicit a response from Trisha, I threw out some silly jokes.

"If you stay like that, your face will get flattened like flour dough. I don't really like flat-faced girls."

Still no response.

"I have somewhere to go with you. If you stay like this, I'll just go dance with the professor."

Finally, there was a slight reaction. She trembled her arms as if her anger had surged even more.

Along with that, the walls began to tilt with a heavy sound.

Finding this situation ridiculous, I let out a laugh like a deranged person.

To think that a young girl who loved theater, was innocent, and full of emotions was given the power to control the fate of the world.

Could there be a greater tragedy?

"Alright. Keep covering your face. Hold your breath until we arrive even if you suffocate."

I picked up Trisha in my arms. Even lifted like that along with the pillow, she still wouldn't show her face.

"The effort of feeding you well has paid off. You've gotten heavier than before."

I came out of the room and went down the stairs. Then I briefly stopped by my room to grab the music box Lilith had given me.

There was no response, but it seemed her anger was gradually subsiding as the distorted space started to return to normal.

As I came out to the entrance carrying Trisha, the black energy had almost disappeared, and the distorted space had returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

From a distance, Professor Candinella crossed her arms, looked in my direction, and quietly gave the order for the librarians to withdraw.

After they all left, I held the compass while carrying Trisha. And I moved in the direction the needle pointed.

I didn't bring Trisha's shoes, but that shouldn't matter much.

Even after walking for a while, she still had her face buried in the pillow.

I followed the compass into the Forbidden Forest. There was a clearing I had noticed when we were collecting Maladiroot.

It was a place with colorful flowers and luminous grass growing abundantly.

After reaching the destination, I said to her, "Trisha, you can open your eyes now."

The arm holding the pillow twitched slightly. She seemed to be hesitating whether to show her face or not.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally removed the pillow from her face.

Her eyes were swollen and her eyelids were red, as if she had been crying hard for a while.

"I... won't play with you."

It was such an obvious lie.

"Okay. Let's just play today and you can do as you like after."

"Why didn't you... keep playing with Sis?"

"Unfortunately, things ended badly with Cecil. I'm feeling very lonely and desolate today, would you be my partner?"

Her expression changed subtly.

"I knew Damian was stupid."

"Want to see this?"

While carrying Trisha, I hopped around on the grass.

The ground where I passed glowed faintly.

Trisha pretended not to be interested, but I could feel that she was.

"...Put me down."

I put her down on the ground as requested.

She stomped on the grass with a sulky face.

"I've had my eye on this place for a long time. Isn't it nice?"

Trisha's gloomy expression remained. She wiped the moisture from her eyes and said, "...There's no music."

I had brought something expecting her to say that.

I took out the music box and placed it on a nearby rock.

Soon, an unfamiliar melody began to softly echo through the forest.

After finishing the preparations, I reached out my hand to Trisha and said, "Come here."

Trisha still stood there like a wooden statue. It seemed more time was needed for her pent-up emotions to resolve.

Having no choice, I approached her and forcibly took her hand.

I lifted her limp arm and took the ready position.

Then Trisha said, seeming a bit flustered, "I'm not ready yet...!"

"If you don't know what to do, just leave it to me."

She looked confused, not knowing whether to go along with this or get angry.

We started moving to the rhythm.

Unlike her usual self, she couldn't fix her gaze on one spot and was acting shy.

"Do you like the music?"

"...It's my favorite song."

"How do you know this song?"

"It's the lullaby Godmother used to sing to me."

"..."

Unfortunately, the music from the music box didn't last long. Our dance stopped there as the music ended in less than two minutes.

I carefully observed her.

Trisha seemed quite satisfied despite the short dance.

"Damian."

She let go of my hand. Then she looked up at me with an expression of having made a decision.

"Yes."

She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Serve me for life!"

"...What?"

And without giving me time to resist, she bit my collarbone.

"...!"