Chapter 51 - I'm Not Upset

"You're normal."

In a psychiatric clinic room. A man with little hair left, combed to the side, spoke.

A gentle expression, documents and certificates piled around him. 

His relaxed demeanor and firm tone explained how much of an authority he was in this field.

That's why Ishia is flustered.

"I-I'm normal?"

"Yes. You're normal."

"Th-that can't be. The symptoms I saw on the internet were exactly the same─!!"

As Ishia shouted in confusion, the man touched the glasses on his face and picked up some documents.

"Looking at your test results, everything is normal. You came out normal in over 3 tests. Even the psychiatric consultation shows normal─"

That can't be. As Ishia's face turned pale, a voice was heard beside her.

It was a dignified yet attractive voice.

"The test results. Are they certain?"

"Yes. Certain─"

"Are they certain?"

"...Yes."

Hmm. Lee Siwoo's expression darkened as he groaned lowly. He had been worried when his daughter suddenly said she was going to a psychiatrist, so he dropped everything he was doing and used high-level magic "Teleport" to follow her.

Others might think 'Teleport for something like that?' but to him, it was an important matter.

"She's normal."

Hearing she was normal made him feel relieved but strangely anxious. Why is she so fixated on having bipolar disorder?

"Or it might be that you only experience this in specific situations. Do you have any idea what might trigger it?"

At that question, Ishia looked up at the sky as if thinking hard, then opened her mouth.

"Hmm. I'm not sure. It just started suddenly yesterday. Ah. Come to think of it, I was with someone all day yesterday. Could it be because of that person? They're really good at making people angry."

"Hmm. Who is it? A man or a woman? Tell me exactly what happened."

"Umm. It's a man. When I saw him talking to someone I got really angry, but when he talked to me I felt better─"

Hmm. The man made a strange expression and asked as if it was his last question.

"What's their name?"

"Lee Seonghoon─"

BANG!!

Before Ishia could finish speaking, Lee Siwoo stood up with a loud noise. His expression wasn't clearly visible, but the atmosphere was strange.

Seeing her father like this for the first time, Ishia was flustered as words flowed from his mouth.

"Again."

"What?"

"Again. Test her again."

"But guardian. She's already normal─"

The man spoke while showing the test results, but there was only one answer.

"Again."

***

Justitia's dormitories are divided into 5 levels.

They're split into 200 rank units, with better facilities and managers assigned as you go up.

If split into 200 rank units, to the question of where I live at rank 1028, I can answer that about 28 people are tied to the 800-1000 rank rooms.

What this means is that for me to move, I need to beat at least one student in the 700 rank range.

"Why are you explaining that to me."

Sophia said with a sullen expression. Eyes narrowed and lips pouting. She won't even make eye contact with me.

If we happen to meet eyes she turns her head with a "Hmph!" sound, and if I try to force eye contact she glares.

"She really is upset."

"I don't know what you did, but you're in the wrong. Making such a beautiful person upset."

Why are these guys ganging up on me? I didn't do anything wrong. I just left her because Sophia said the crazy thing about going to meet a true ancestor.

Shouldn't she be moved by me and have her affection go up, raise flags and such?

Isn't blushing normal?

""No it's not.""

"Do you know what I'm thinking when you say that? More importantly, you two are really in sync huh?"

At my question Lucy crossed her arms and smiled smugly.

"There's a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my ally."

"That's true. Though we're not allies."

Raphael holding Lachesis smiled broadly. Saying such cruel things while smiling. Angels really are different.

"I'm not upset."

What's this now. Saying that in this situation has zero persuasiveness. At least put away those protruding lips before speaking.

"I said I'm not upset?"

"That's what she's saying?"

This is almost threatening now. Let's say she's not upset. Hey neighbors!! Sophia says she's not upset!!

"Tsk tsk. Not understanding a woman's heart like that."

"I was trying to be natural and not say anything, but why are you still here? We need to have a strategy meeting? Can you disappear?"

Lucy smiled brightly at my question. Covering her mouth with her fan.

"My. Who's sitting in the seat I was in? I'm not leaving until I finish this tea?"

So I'm smiling too. Though veins are popping on my forehead? I am smiling.

"Oh really? Then I guess there's no choice. The moment you hear the meeting you're an accomplice too? Help out? This isn't a request? It's an order?"

"Oh? Ordering me? Are you trying to do this now? There's no one in the world who can order the Violet family."

"One just appeared here! Yes. End of discussion!! The meeting starts right now so you help too!!"

Crackle!!

The sound came from Lucy and me who had somehow stood up and were glaring at each other.

"Wow. Lachesis. These days people even shoot lasers from their eyes."

Meow─!! Not long after Lachesis's crying sound was heard─

BANG!!!

A sound like the table breaking was heard. Looking towards the sound, there was an intact table and Sophia smiling brightly.

Ah. Correction. She's not smiling. Only her eyes are smiling.

"I didn't say I'd help you?"

"Um, Sophia. You're a maid─"

"I didn't say I would?"

"....."

This is scary. Scary. Usually she would have helped with a smile but how much─

"I said I'm not upset?"

Sophia spoke as if reading my thoughts. Now even her eyes aren't smiling.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm really not upset? I didn't worry or anything after you said that and left yesterday? Someone was worried but you didn't contact at all until the next day then suddenly told me to come out so I'm definitely not angry about that?"

"Um. Sophia."

"What!!"

Um. You just said it all yourself.

"Ah!!"

As if belatedly realizing what she said, Sophia's face turned red. She quickly lowered her head with a face that had become similar to her eye color.

Then she raised her hand. Is it okay that steam is coming from your face?

Only her index finger was extended.

"J-just once."

"Once?"

"P-pretend you didn't hear that."

"Is that possible?"

"W-well~ I guess not~?"

Why are you asking the obvious?

***

Though she said that, our vampire lady whose face had turned bright red helped out.

I don't understand why Ishia and Sophia act so coy when they're going to help anyway.

Have they forgotten their duties as maids? Seems like it's time to remind them of the dictionary definition of maid again.

Is it being a maid to hit your master on the back of the head because you're in a bad mood?

"Sophia."

"...What."

"Look up the dictionary definition of maid when you get home today. It's homework."

At my words Sophia pouted. Then she glared at me drowsily but what can I do.

Of course it's my fault. But you know. Isn't a maid's role to endure and wait even if the master does wrong?

"Isn't a person who makes women into maids in this day and age a bad person?"

If we start picking at that I have nothing to say. But you know. If you've already become a maid you should do your job.

From the start, you benefit the most from being my maid.

"Miss Sophia. Instead of a man like that, would you like to be a maid at our mansion? The treatment is much better. I'll give you whatever pay you want."

What's this. It's not like poaching an employee from a big company.

Sophia smiled and shook her head at Lucy's words. Her face was still a bit red, perhaps still embarrassed about earlier.

"That's too bad. Well since we've decided on the opponent I'll be going now. You should say your goodbyes to Ishia. You."

"What are you saying? You prepare to open your treasure vault. Pororo."

"P-Pororo?! I haven't lost yet?"

"Shut up. Go quickly."

When I waved my hand, Lucy raised her eyebrows and stood up. Then she greeted Raphael and Sophia excluding me and disappeared just like that.

"Is that person tsundere?"

"There's only tsun. Where's the dere?"

"If she helped that's dere right? Then is it teriyaki?"

"Is food all you have in your head?"

"It's because the mortal realm food is too delicious."

I ignore the one making an "Ahem!" sound and making a strange expression.

I looked at the decided opponent. An unknown person in the 700 rank range. An extra I've never described.

A vanguard position person easy to deal with using my rune magic.

Actually Sophia wasn't that helpful. Since that guy's connections are only about half our class.

But Lucy was different. Her connections aren't wide, but this crazy woman rewatched all the ranking battle matches that happened in Justitia alone and prepared countermeasures.

A typical psycho magician, but she was helpful just this once. So I didn't pick much of a fight at the end and let her go.

Aren't I nice?

"Here we go again."

Shut up. As I was messing up the blonde's hair who was looking at me as if I was pathetic, Sophia clapped as if she remembered something.

"Don't be a jerk this time."

""Ah.""

My eyes met Raphael's at those words. As if with an expression saying it's impossible.

I think so too.

"No. Depending on how the opponent acts─"

"Don't. Don't you want to raise your ranking? If you get suspended again like last time you can't raise your ranking?"

Is this one my mother? I nodded to Sophia who was looking at me worriedly.

Well. I probably won't pick fights and such. Probably?

"Seonghoon. I want to live in a big house this time."

I've said this before, but don't talk like newlyweds starting in a small house.

The black cat sending "Me too meow!" looks from the side is burdensome too.

As I prepared to leave feeling like I'd become the head of a young family, Sophia approached.

In a voice low enough that Raphael playing with Lachesis couldn't hear.

She approached and whispered in my ear in a voice only I could hear. It was a bit ticklish and I almost flinched.

"I was worried, but I didn't doubt you."

Then she looked at my face and smiled, then waved her hand from far away.

"Thank you~ See you tomorrow~"

Hmm. It's a bit awkward to say this, but it was a smile I'd never seen since meeting her. Not her usual forced smile, but a pure innocent smile without pretense.

What's with the frantic hand waving. Is she embarrassed?

"If you're going to do embarrassing things then don't do them."

"You're noisy!! Go quickly!!"

Yes. I'm the mood breaker.

***

The next day.

Day 4 of the ranking battles.

Day 3 was skipped, but fortunately day 4 operated normally.

Today my challenge right returns, and it's the day Ishia needs to practice beating Lucy.

Though there's still some time since Ishia's battle with Lucy Violet is on the last day, it's better to think of methods other than "Magic Chant Breaking" since it's that Lucy Violet.

Ishia with "Magic Chant Breaking" is almost invincible, but still there's a saying that assumptions kill people.

As if mocking such thoughts of mine, a depressed Ishia is before my eyes.

Her head almost buried in the ground, face on the verge of crying.

The reason? I don't know that either. I need to ask now─

"What should I do."

"I'm anxious so tell me quickly."

Ishia raised her head at my voice. Is this that? Raising her head because tears are welling up?

"I can't use "Magic Chant Breaking"."

"?"

What crazy talk is this?