Chapter 114
The final exams concluded with a spectacular display.
The academy finally welcomed its vacation.
Of course, the vacation didn't bring any special changes to daily life.
Only outings outside the academy became a bit more free.
Students still lived in the dormitory buildings, went back and forth to lecture halls for advanced or supplementary classes during the day, and continued self-study in the library during other times.
It was called a vacation in name only, but in reality, it was no different from spending a 1.5 semester.
The only difference was that there were no exams during the vacation.
The overall schedule certainly felt more comfortable than during the semester... but on the other hand, it also felt too much for a vacation that only happened once a year.
However, it was also understandable.
It was probably because of this intensity that it could be called the continent's best educational institution.
I once again recognized the value of the name Galimar.
'Well... I guess it's good that it's good.'
Anyway,
A daily life not deviating from the big frame.
Except for having some extra time, nothing had changed, but in the world, there are those who make good use of even such slight changes.
Especially me.
Once restrictions on outings were lifted, I could move much more comfortably.
Even usually, it wasn't difficult to go out as I held the title of head teaching assistant, but still, as it was in the form of borrowing the authority of the professor in charge, I felt conscious about it.
Perhaps I was concerned as I had been absent many times recently.
The vacation that came amid this was welcome.
'It was just when I had many things to do at headquarters.'
It was the point where the original story's plot was getting on track.
The businessman was starting to reveal his dirty desires, and the heretics were also showing suspicious signs, so this side couldn't let its guard down even a little.
It seems the dean's prophecy had been bothering me inwardly.
I was visiting headquarters periodically and refining the system.
To prepare for the approaching danger.
"Master."
It was another day flowing by similarly.
Having arrived at Astro's headquarters without fail, I was in the middle of processing work with the vice-commander.
Neria handed over prepared documents one by one.
"This is the data about Mana Stone Disease that you instructed us to investigate last time."
"You said there was definitely new information that came in, right?"
"We found related content in research materials of black magicians that were piled up in the frontier branch."
"It seems your efforts so far have paid off."
"However, it seems we'll need time. As it's a book written in ancient language, we're struggling with interpretation. Though members proficient in the language field are working hard... as it's an object that was exposed to malicious energy for a long time, work is slow because there's a risk of mental erosion when touching it."
"Hmm."
"Fortunately, we've started to gain speed since last week with the help of priests. Perhaps because they're people who were in Lisit, they showed skillful handling of curses. Currently, we're focusing on work while repeating translation and purification sequentially. It seems we'll be able to finish the work in about two weeks."
"Those priests we gathered then are being so helpful."
"I can only admire Master's arrangements."
"Huhu... it's not like I expected such repayment though."
"I'll report the next item."
"Please do."
Work continued without stopping.
I moved my pen.
By the way, I didn't bring Irene today.
It was because of her voluntary request to stay in the dormitory.
The girl who had recently started to pay attention to housework.
Last time she even asked me to teach her cooking, and since that day, she seemed to have gotten into it and was repeating practice.
Today she even cleared her schedule saying she would prepare dinner to match when I return.
'It's been a while... a meal prepared by someone else.'
Usually, there were many days when I prepared it myself.
It felt fresh.
Perhaps it was close to the feeling of spouses waiting for each other.
I smiled at the trivial thought.
I erased idle thoughts and processed the remaining work.
Time seemed to pass particularly quickly.
"It seems we can wrap up here for today. I'll report again on the remaining matters as they are resolved."
"Good work."
An atmosphere of boring work tasks also wrapping up.
I raised my stiff body.
As I stretched for a moment, suddenly a calendar placed on one side of the desk caught my eye.
The date was pointing to November, already touching the end of autumn.
Winter had approached right before my eyes anew.
Perhaps because of the sentiment coloring needlessly. My lightened lips threw a word towards the vice-commander.
The silver-haired girl was looking this way just then.
I muttered.
"Looking at it like this... it's already been almost 3 years since I met Miss Neria."
A photo imprinted on the far side of memory.
As I fiddled with the texture touching my fingertips, a season where snow particularly fluttered came to mind.
It was a winter like the most painful scar for someone.
"When I first met Miss Neria... how should I put it. It was like seeing an injured wild animal."
The girl at that time was quite different.
She was only full of hatred.
Perhaps it was because of the scar covering half her face.
Eyes dead without even a trace of vitality.
Her delicate hands were just about to let go of the world herself.
We met then.
"So you were in a place like this."
The hand I held out.
I remember the body heat when I embraced her body drenched in blood.
I don't know how it was for the person herself.
At least for me, it was one of the few good memories in this world.
I recited with some sentimentality.
"I miss it sometimes."
"......"
"How are you these days? Are there no more incidents of going berserk like before?"
"It's thanks to Master embracing me."
"I don't think I did anything particularly though."
"If you hadn't taken me in on that cold winter day, I would surely have breathed my last without even lasting a year."
"Hmm hmm."
"Master is the one who saved my life."
"I'm embarrassed."
"Because it's a precious fact to me."
The girl answered stiffly.
Her tone was rigid as if dealing with an uncomfortable person, but in reality, she was at a loss with her cheeks reddened.
It just seemed some awkwardness remained in the process of dealing with others.
I could tell the difference as we had spent time together.
"Huhu... there was a time when Miss Neria used informal speech with me."
Swish-.
I stroked her silver hair with a contented heart.
The girl froze along with her breath.
As I repeated the soft touch brushing my fingertips, suddenly a scene from the past flashed before my eyes.
It was a time when both of us reeked of a fishy blood smell.
I recalled.
"I have one last request."
"Kill me."
"So I don't become a monster... kill me with your hands."
"I feel like I won't regret it if it's you."
A flower miserably broken.
It feels like just yesterday that I embraced the girl shedding tears.
When did so much time pass?
"You should let me know if symptoms occur again. I took measures then, but just in case."
"I understand, Master."
"Let's head back now for today."
"I'll call Lena."
I quietly stood up from my seat.
The girl saw me off matching that.
Though we crossed the hallway without any words, we were surely sharing similar reminiscences.
The winter full of tears and blood was colored like a memory.
"......"
"......"
Snow fell in the silence.
***
Meanwhile,
At the shopping street located near the academy dormitory.
Irene was shopping alone.
Judging by the time, she seemed to be preparing dinner ingredients.
Her fierce eyes carefully examined the ingredients. She appeared to be paying attention to meal preparation in her own way.
She pondered briefly.
"I can't do anything too difficult... what would be good?"
Hands repeatedly picking up and putting down.
She didn't know preparing a meal for someone else would be this difficult.
When she tried to choose fancy and cool menus, her lacking skills tripped her up, and conversely, when she tried to do simple menus, it felt strangely like her pride was hurt.
The fox fell into serious contemplation.
"Haa... maybe I shouldn't have said I'd do it."
She let out a faint sigh.
A moment of regret.
Perhaps it had been hasty.
When she couldn't even cut properly yet, saying she'd prepare dinner, she couldn't help but blame herself from yesterday whose heart had only raced ahead.
The girl put a few vegetables in her shopping basket with a sulky expression.
At the same time, she muttered.
"It's really difficult."
Irene had a newly set goal.
She wanted to resemble that person.
She wanted to resemble his appearance that was a bit annoying and consistently ominous, but on the other hand kind.
Her sudden interest in cooking was also in a similar context.
Affection or admiration.
Complexly mixed emotions made her body hot.
The girl recalled the warm stew.