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Chapter 195: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 195



“Could it be because of the breakfast?”


Sylvia, who was getting ready to go out, looked quite unwell, a stark contrast to her earlier excitement.


At this rate, it didn't seem like we'd be able to go anywhere together...


"Sylvia, are you okay? You don’t look well... If it’s because your stomach is upset from eating too much this morning, should I go out and buy some digestive medicine?”


“...No, it's not that. I’m fine. I’m just a bit worried because I only made a quick phone call last night and stayed out. I’m already dreading Sebastian’s nagging...”


I asked out of concern, and this was her response.


Well, I’m relieved it’s not a stomach issue, but...


Wasn't it ultimately my fault that Sylvia had to stay out last night?


Thinking that it was because of me that she was making such a face, I couldn't help but feel responsible.


“If Sebastian starts nagging you about it later, just call me. I’m the reason you stayed out, so if he’s going to nag, he can do it to me instead.”


When I said that while clenching my fist, Sylvia looked at me with a complicated expression, then burst into a small laugh.


“I probably won’t get in too much trouble, so there’s no need for that. But it makes me happy to hear you say that. It must be because it’s you, Scarlet, that I want to help... Anyway, I’m ready to go out now, so let’s get going. The sooner we finish our business and return, the less I’ll be nagged at.”


“Oh, okay!”


With those words, Sylvia walked out the door, and I quickly followed her, nodding.


Sylvia, who had been walking briskly ahead of me for a while, glanced back and then slowed down to walk beside me.


“...You know, Scarlet.”


She hesitated for a moment and then called my name, reaching out to grab my sleeve, speaking in a determined voice.


“Even so, I’m not going to regret it.”


As I tilted my head in confusion at her sudden statement, Sylvia smiled brightly, as if shaking off some lingering regret.


I didn’t quite understand, but seeing her seem a bit more cheerful, I smiled back at her.


Sylvia held onto my sleeve the entire walk to our destination.


As if she would never let go, she held on tightly.


---


Although I followed Sylvia without much question when she said she had somewhere to go, I started sensing something unusual on our way there.


Should I say it seemed like there were fewer and fewer people around as we walked?


But I quietly followed, thinking that Sylvia wouldn’t take me somewhere dangerous. She eventually stopped in front of an old, shabby-looking building.


The shutters were down, and no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the place had been closed for a long time. Tilting my head, I asked Sylvia.


“Is this the place you said we needed to go to?”


“...Just a moment. This is definitely the place they told me to come to...”


Although I was the one who asked, Sylvia seemed just as confused, glancing around with a puzzled expression.


They told her to come here... Does that mean we’re supposed to meet someone?


Just as I was thinking that, a creaking sound came from somewhere.


Both Sylvia and I flinched and became alert as the shutters slowly began to rise.


Wondering what was happening, we watched the shutters open, and then, like something out of a horror movie, an arm slipped out from beneath the slightly opened shutter.


Thankfully, it wasn’t a corpse.


The arm that barely fit through the opening was gesturing for us to come inside.


I looked at Sylvia with a ‘Is this really okay?’ look, and she, looking a bit nervous, swallowed once before crouching down and entering under the shutter first.


Is it really safe in there...?


Feeling a bit tense, I followed Sylvia under the shutter, and what awaited us inside was—


“Uh... Mister?”


“...Haha, it’s been a while, Scarlet.”


The person waiting for us inside the building was none other than the Guardian with a haggard face—Luke.


What the heck, was this “meeting” supposed to be with him?


I looked at Sylvia with a slightly deflated expression and asked.


“Was Luke the person you wanted to meet?”


“Well, he’s the one who knows your physical condition the best. I thought consulting him might help prevent something like yesterday from happening again, so I arranged this meeting.”


“I see...”


Certainly, since he was the one who created this body, he might be able to give some helpful advice.


Besides, he’s one of the few people I can talk to about my issues.


As I nodded, agreeing with Sylvia’s words, she turned to Luke and asked.


“By the way, Luke, why did you want to meet in a place like this?”


I was curious about that too.


Although we usually met somewhere discreet to avoid people’s eyes, today felt like it was on a whole other level.


I mean, is there really a need to be this cautious, like some kind of drug deal in a movie?


When I looked at Luke with a questioning gaze, he responded with a troubled expression.


“Well, there are people watching me. To meet you two without being noticed, I had to be this cautious.”


“...You’re being watched? By whom?”


Startled by the word “watched,” I asked, and Luke gave a bitter smile without saying a word.


Even though he didn’t say anything, Sylvia seemed to understand, muttering with a serious expression.


“...Astra, isn’t it.”


“...It’s just a suspicion, but probably. Ever since Sator’s incident, they’ve been persistently asking me about his whereabouts. I’ve been denying it, but they seem convinced that I know something.”


“...You haven’t been hurt, have you?”


“Well, not yet. The worst it’s gotten is finding signs that someone’s been inside when I get home. They’ve probably planted bugs or hidden cameras. That’s why I’ve set up these hideouts everywhere.”


Sylvia looked distressed at his words, especially at the “not yet” part.


She seemed to be thinking, “If it’s like this now, who knows what more they could do in the future?”


Seeing Sylvia like that, Luke patted her on the shoulder as if to reassure her.


“Miss, don’t worry too much. No matter how much of a thorn in their side I am as a related experimenter, they won’t make a direct move on me until they figure out Sator’s whereabouts. Being under surveillance is nothing.”


Despite his words, Sylvia’s expression didn’t lighten up.


After all, looking at how gaunt Luke's face had become, one could tell that the mental stress he was under was not insignificant.


And since it wasn’t entirely unrelated to me either, I felt uneasy for several reasons.


Sensing our discomfort, Luke changed the subject on purpose.


“More importantly, didn’t you say there was something you wanted to discuss? I’ve heard a bit about it, but I’d like to hear more in detail.”


“...Alright. Scarlet?”


At Luke’s words, Sylvia glanced at me.


I nodded and slowly recounted what had happened yesterday.


About the barrier, the deficiency of magic, and all that.


And as Luke listened with a grim expression, his face twisted in anguish when I mentioned almost killing Jessie.


Perhaps he was in agony over the fact that the being he created had almost killed someone.


Luke, with his contorted expression, just stared at me.


Looking at him silently watching me, I asked quietly,


“...I almost did something terribly wrong. Aren’t you going to scold me?”


“...What could I possibly say to you? You’ve probably already been blaming yourself plenty. You’re that kind of kid.”


With a knowing look, Luke then added,


“...Scarlet, you must have had a really hard time.”


His words made me choke up.


Because, just as he said, I really had struggled a lot.


As I tried to suppress the rising emotions, I heard Luke’s voice again.


“...I’m sorry. I couldn’t find a fundamental solution to improve your condition. This temporary measure is the best I could think of.”


Saying that, Luke handed me something.


It was a box containing small capsules.


As I looked at it with curiosity, Luke explained in a low voice.


“Just in case something like this happens again, these capsules contain extracted magic from monster corpses. If you ever need to cross the barrier again or experience magic deficiency like this time, use them. But don’t let anyone else find out.”


Hearing that, Sylvia drew a sharp breath and said,


“Isn’t that... illegal? Collecting magic without authorization...”


“Yes, it’s illegal. But did you know? I’ve broken dozens of laws conducting this experiment. I’m already a criminal with a mountain of sins to atone for. This just adds a bit more weight to it.”


At Luke’s detached murmur, Sylvia fell silent.


Luke turned his gaze away from Sylvia and looked at me.


“Scarlet, to be honest, I don’t think I can provide much more help regarding your condition. Your body has already surpassed what my knowledge can handle. So, this is all I can say to you now.”


Then, gripping my shoulder, with a voice that conveyed an overwhelming sense of guilt and an even greater desperate wish,


“Hang in there.”


He told me to stay strong.


For some reason, those words remained so vividly in my mind.


---


After that incident, a few days passed.


There wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy.


Just helping out with the city’s recovery efforts day after day.


And even that was almost done, with talks that everything would be wrapped up by next week.


It was when I was about to leave after having breakfast that I received a call from Sylvia.


“...Scarlet, there’s something I need to tell you. Please don’t be too shocked...”


Hearing her somber tone, I knew something bad had happened.


“Luke...”


And then, with her next words, I dropped the phone I was holding.


Luke had died.


The cause of death was suicide.


--------------


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