A pitch-black room.
The curtains drawn, no light entering from outside. The Student Council room.
In a space where no one would enter — alone — I sat looking at a photograph in a frame.
“Such an interesting boy, Mister Veret.”
The image of the boy I’d exchanged words with the other day rose vividly into my mind.
I recalled my encounter with the boy in the photograph.
I’d padded a little more than usual to make a good first impression, and he saw through it instantly.
I thought it would work on a boy who likes big-chested girls…
…Not that I’m particularly small. Definitely not.
I glanced down. A modest swell came into view.
”…………Hmph.”
The pointed-out truth wasn’t very entertaining. I flicked the photo frame with a finger.
”…So he hid it after all, didn’t he. The rumored magic-cancel.”
I had crafted a perfectly natural-feeling moment.
I’d waited and waited for a chance to make contact, skipping classes the whole time to watch, so I had a fair grasp of the situation.
I don’t think I gave off any oddness.
He shouldn’t have been able to deduce my aim was his unique technique…
Could it be that, from the moment he wrapped up that incident, he’d already accounted for the possibility that Teacher would target him?
If that’s the case, then his combative attitude from the very start makes sense.
“I never thought he’d refuse my invitation to the Council… is he planning to hide it completely?”
If so, why use it on that Bolbond idiot?
The fact I can draw from it is: he wanted to save Miss Liche himself, even at the cost of using magic-cancel.
To plant loyalty in her — a girl whose rarity is enormously valuable.
His goal is to make her his yes-man… something like that.
No matter how much he loves big chests, surely he isn’t fool enough to reveal his trump card just because Miss Liche’s chest is big.
“I was playing in his palm the whole time.”
The exquisite timing of the attendant’s call must have been part of the setup too.
His attendant Alice apparently stays glued to him in normal times.
But to predict that I would use her to probe… he reads that far ahead.
“They exist — natural-born geniuses, hmm.”
So different from me.
If he keeps growing as he is, he’ll become a mage whose name is carved into history.
He might even become a hero on par with [Floné the Lightning Strike].
A few minutes of conversation was enough to make me understand he has that kind of disposition.
“But I’m sorry.”
I let go of the photo frame.
It fell with a clack — and I crushed it under my heel.
“Replacing Teacher is my — Reina Milfonti’s — reason to exist.”
Aaah, what am I going to report when Teacher returns from her business trip?
I don’t want to be scolded.
“Though I’m used to it by now.”
The yelling. The hitting. The toying.
”…What is he up to, I wonder?”
I picked up a single sheet I’d just processed.
A Permission for Off-Campus Lodging form.
The required paperwork for an enrolled student to leave the academy — and on it, three names I remembered all too clearly.
The stated reason: volunteer activity.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Lord Ouga. Are you feeling all right?”
“Yeah. I’m used to this much rocking.”
“I-I might not be… urp…”
“Hey, hey…”
Mashiro’s color was clearly bad. I gently rubbed her back.
The first thirty minutes or so in the carriage she’d been bouncing with energy, but the repeated rocking had gradually worn her down.
“You don’t often get to ride in a carriage. I had the same trouble in the past.”
Recalling her Holy Knight days, Alice wrapped a cloth around a bag to make a makeshift pillow.
“It’s cramped, but please lie down on this. It should help a little.”
“Mm… thank you…”
She had been sitting next to me. Slowly, she rose to swap with Alice.
While she did, I looked out the window.
We were headed to Inivent.
A small town on the outskirts of the royal capital — its defining feature is that it has no defining feature.
The royal capital isn’t entirely prosperous.
The farther you go from the center, the more rural it gets.
Meaning the roads get progressively worse, too.
“Ah—”
The carriage jolted violently up and down.
Mashiro, still mid-stand, came tumbling toward me.
Off-balance, her head smacked square into my stomach.
That was the trigger.
”…BLEHHHHH”
“AH—!? Lord Ouga’s clothes are—!?”
The sound of a classmate emitting things a classmate shouldn’t, and the wail of a maid, filled the carriage.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“I’ve told you many times. It’s fine. Although — if you shake your head that hard…”
“…urp…”
“Are you an idiot? I’m allowed to say it now, right?”
We arrived at Inivent, and following Alice’s lead we walked through the town.
The town was startlingly lifeless — almost desolate. I started to wonder if anyone really lived here.
“Miss Liche. Please, ride on my back…”
“Mn… I’m sorry…”
After that brief exchange, a considerate Alice was carrying Mashiro on her back.
”…There really are people harassing them, right?”
“Yes. My friend doesn’t lie.”
“Good, then.”
But what’s their aim? Honestly, it doesn’t seem to have any upside.
The land in a worn-out town like this can’t be worth much.
Carrying a faint sense of unease at the lack of fit, we kept walking.
“Turn right at that corner, and we reach the orphanage.”
“You remember the way pretty well, without even checking a map.”
“I’ve come this way many times. See — they’re surely going to come out to gre—”
Her words stopped there.
What had jumped into our view was a scene of five men shoving aside a woman with orange hair.
”…Looks like our turn already.”
I broke into a run, riding the momentum into a flying kick that landed on the men.
“Gah—!?”
The men, caught entirely off-guard from an unexpected angle, toppled like dominoes.
Alice had moved to secure the safety of the woman — likely her friend.
“Wh-what the hell! You bastards!!”
The thugs flipped into combat stance immediately.
I, too, set my own stance.
“We came to crush you.”
“Heyyyy, kid. Jokes are only allowed up to infant age. Brat.”
“We’ll let you go this time. Run home and suck on Mama’s tits.”
“I’d rather suck on the little ladies’ over there!”
The vulgar laughter echoed off the empty buildings.
How unpleasant.
I’ll shut them up here and now—
But before my fist could close their mouths, Alice’s booming voice did the job first.
“You! Do you have any idea who this man is!?”
She stood in front of me and knelt on one knee — and from somewhere, started scattering confetti.
The petals fluttering down dyed the ground at her feet pink.
A-Alice? Excuse me? Could you not? It’s embarrassing…
“He who sweeps away all darkness in this world and delivers light! He who passes judgment on all evil and lives in justice — the [Savior]!”
A speech so smooth it was as if she did this every day.
“——OUGA VERET!!”
And she declared my name loudly.
Alice did. Out loud.
”…………”
Hey, stop! This silence is incredibly painful!
Don’t give me looks like I’m a deranged person!
You behind me too, Alice’s friend! YOU’RE on this side, aren’t you!?