Come spring (3)
Dark adaptation ended in both eyes a long time ago. Because it was a life full of darkness to begin with.
When he slowly opens his hazy eyes, the experience of facing a world covered in blood eats away at Clevius’s heart.
The scene that remains most deeply in my mind has been decided.
When I opened my eyes, it was the moment I saw a knife being driven into my brother’s heart.
Even when all members of the family turned away from Clevius, he was the one who stood by his side. Even towards his brother, whom he considered his only ally, he couldn’t resist the accursed blood and turned to the blade.
His brother, who was spitting out blood and looking down at Clevius with bloodshot eyes, opens his mouth.
Grinding his teeth, he raised his eyebrows and spoke to Clevius in a blood-boiling voice. Perhaps with the meaning of a curse. The words he said with his blood flowing down──
“You said all academic work would stop until the end of the snow storm, so why did you come all the way to the academic lab? “You don’t have to go to work?”
“Huh,” Clevius quickly came to his senses. He almost lost his mind again due to the hallucinations that came to him from time to time.
“The weather is going to be different today and tomorrow, so wouldn’t it be better to not leave the dormitory as much as possible?”
“Well, speaking of that, Assistant Professor Claire is at work… ”
“That’s what being the youngest professor is like~. It’s my destiny to work until the limit… Ugh… ”
Assistant Professor Claire lowered her head and sighed.
Rich clouds gradually filled the sky, and fluffy snow was falling occasionally. It may seem like a cozy winter scene now, but it won’t be long before the snow and wind become stronger.
Aken Island was also busy preparing for the storm, and Laplace Bakery also went into a closed state. It was a mistake not to buy snacks in advance.
“… What you said last time… Ha, I’m talking about being an academic assistant.”
Clevius spoke of his business first, without any further details.
“You mean becoming part of a research lab? It probably won’t be that bad~. “The staff has expanded considerably, so the workload each person is responsible for will be manageable.”
“That’s not it, I-I…” “I just think it’s better not to do it.”
“Eh? Why all of a sudden? “Long time in another lab?!”
“No, it’s not like that… ”
Clevious spoke in a shaky voice.
“The treatment is good, but I don’t want to do something so responsible… I came to tell you… ”
“why? “Clevius is the type of person who carries out his duties well and faithfully, right?”
“That’s it… Because it’s compulsory… Still, there is nothing that requires more responsibility or ability than this… I don’t like it that much… ”
Clevius swallowed dry saliva and spoke clearly.
“When duty is demanded in this way… Since I have failed most of the time… Would you say that you have accumulated some wisdom in life now? It’s better not to start from the beginning… I would rather go around and turn around and in the end it was the correct answer… In most cases, they cause trouble to others… ”
Clevius, who spoke hesitantly, looked haggard and gloomy, just like always.
“okay? “You thought I was treated poorly or that I received a love call from somewhere else.”
“Well, it’s not like that. I don’t even know how to do that, and the treatment was really good in the first place… I like it, but… ”
“okay? So you’re saying you can do it if you want to?”
“yes? Ah yes… That’s right… ”
Facing the hesitant Clevius, Assistant Professor Claire smiled brightly and innocently and immediately blocked the nail.
“Then do it.”
Assistant Professor Claire was the same as usual, but for some reason, it seemed like she wouldn’t tolerate any more grumbling.
Clevius was sweating profusely… He couldn’t answer any further.
* [Magic ability details]
Grade: Skilled Magician Specialty: Element Common Magic: Fast Casting Lv 10 Mana Detection Lv 10 Fire Element Magic: Combustion Lv 16 Wind Element Magic: Wind Blade Lv 15 Intermediate magic can now be acquired!
Spirit World Magic: Spirit Sensitivity Lv 13 Spirit Understanding Lv 13 Spirit Manifestation Lv 4 Sense Sharing Lv 3 Spirit Slot: Lower Fire Spirit Mug Sensitivity Level: 3 Elemental Efficiency: Good Unique Granted Skill: Protection of Fire Bok (Temporary Fire Immunity Explosion) Explosion ( Lesser Explosion Magic)
Increased fire magic ability Spirit slot: High-ranking wind spirit Merilda Sensitivity level: 1 Spirit ceremony Efficiency: Very poor Unique granting skill: Protection of the wind and waves (Needle damage periodically) Updraft (intermediate wind magic)
Wind Magic Ability Increase Spirit Slot: Empty New Spirit Slot! : empty
“Ed, I guess I’ll have to make a contract with the lieutenant spirit soon!”
The next day, Yenika came to the camp for the first time in a while and her face was shining.
It was just yesterday that I was completely depressed and walking around with a gloomy face, but today I am completely revived and sitting around the campfire, the temperature difference is enormous.
“You seem to have your strength back, Yenika.”
“huh? Oh, Ed too… “When you say that, it makes me sound like I was downcast!”
“Are you saying that? ? Last time I came to camp… ”
“Last time?! When was the last time?! I forgot… !!!”
Yenika frantically fanned her face and raised her voice.
The memory of coming to the camp with deathly faces on everyone’s face and covering them with blankets seemed to be quite embarrassing.
At that time, I felt like I reacted strangely emotionally. It was a bit difficult to leave him alone, holding his knees and shivering, as if he were a lost rodent.
In the first place, I felt like a layer of my heart was loosening when dealing with Yenika, probably because Yenika is a character who is completely outside the scenario. The only friend of her age with whom she can really communicate well is Yenika…
My personal relationships… Is it okay if it stays like this? ?? The thought comes to mind. It makes me think that we need to broaden the range of human relationships.
In the end, isn’t the reason why we grit our teeth and survive in this forest so that we can eat well and live well later?
I don’t know how much of a brute force achievement it may have been, but compared to the core members of the scenario, it is still a bit weak. Especially from the third act onwards, the growth was so rapid that I had to actively follow along.
I’m always struggling financially, and my interpersonal relationships are limited… It feels like there’s still a long way to go.
Above all, it is rare to find a place like Sylvania Academy where you can meet all kinds of noble people without any restrictions. It’s an opportunity too precious to throw away. My first impression was so bad that things didn’t go as well as I wanted…
Still, I’m glad I have Yenika.
“Well, I just had a small misunderstanding with my friend. huh.”
“okay?”
“Yeah, it was a really, really minor misunderstanding that Ed didn’t really need to worry about because it was nothing special. “Now all the misunderstandings have been resolved and our relationship is good again!”
She was smiling brightly, just like the old Yenika, so I felt very relieved.
“Uh, anyway, we should talk about Ed now. I knew you signed a contract with Merylda… No matter how much I thought about it, it was strange. “Ed isn’t skilled enough to handle high-ranking spirits yet.”
“I did a little trick.”
Didn’t Merilda tell me about the ring? It was strange that she was such a talkative person, but she also kept secrets that she wanted to keep private.
I planned to keep the truth about the ring to myself as much as possible, but I think it would be okay to share it with Yenika.
Above all, Yenica is helping me a lot with my elemental arts training, and since I originally signed a contract with Merilda with this amount of magic power, there are probably more than one strange part, so I can’t hide it.
Yenika is not the type of person to spread rumors, and she is a trustworthy colleague, so it doesn’t matter.
I told him in detail about the golden phoenix ring that Professor Glast left behind.
Yenika sat neatly, listened, and finally nodded in understanding.
“Then Ed can’t use magical power. “It would be difficult to make a contract with the lieutenant spirit right now.”
“The magic will come back by the time vacation ends and the semester begins.”
A contract with a mid-level spirit is necessary. I already knew it without Jenika having to explain it.
If a mug is a rifle, Merilda is a tank.
Whether it is a rifle or a tank, the gap between the two forces is too large.
Merilda was forced to contract with a spirit that I couldn’t handle at my level, so just summoning it once would have all of its magical power sucked out, rendering the main body instantly helpless.
Even after crushing all the magic stones, I was only able to manifest it with Lucy’s help. It would still be too much for me to handle Merilda alone.
Although it can be used as a special move when cornered, it is definitely not at a level where you can casually summon it on a daily basis. It is natural to see that even Yenica, who is unrivaled in elemental arts, carefully uses her magical power when dealing with high-ranking spirits.
“First of all, being able to handle a high-ranking spirit is truly something to celebrate, Ed. Among spiritists, the day you make a contract with your first high-ranking spirit is called your second birthday. “In the first place, there are not many spiritists who can contract with high-ranking spirits.”
“Even if you only deal with mid-level spirits in various ways, you are treated as a veteran… “I definitely feel like I’ve grown a lot as a spiritist.”
“Ed did use a trick, though. lol.”
The smiling face looks so proud that I feel like I’m shrugging my shoulders as well. Of course, there is still a much longer way to go before I can show off.
“Anyway, Ed already knows this, but high-ranking spirits can be handled comfortably at any time… There is absolutely no such thing as constant power. So, a lieutenant spirit contract is essential. Low-ranking spirits are at constant power, middle-ranking spirits are at special power, and high-ranking spirits are at final power. “Most high-ranking spiritists tend to operate their spirits in this way.”
“I guess I have to have one or two lieutenants who will serve as my core force.”
“huh. Ed has good sensitivity to the wind and fire elements… It’s a good idea to contract with spirits other than the main elements. Let’s give it a try when the magic comes back. I will help you.”
Jenica stamped her feet and spoke excitedly. I am very thankful that they are happy with my growth as if it were their own.
“For that to happen, I first need to get my magic back. I will be indebted to you again during the semester. “You must be very busy, but I always feel sorry.”
“No, no, don’t apologize, Ed. I do it because I like it. And it’s not the time to worry about me… ? They say a snow storm is coming soon. … “I think I’m making some preparations.”
Near the campfire were scattered hunting traps collected from all over the forest. Most of the traps were neatly organized and placed in the cabin, but traps that needed maintenance were set aside.
There are blood stains on it. If teeth containing foreign substances are stored without being properly polished, their condition will rapidly deteriorate.
Still, I don’t have much time, so I don’t think I can organize everything neatly.
Looking at the surrounding scenery, the entire camp was preparing for winter.
Everything on the floor was tied tightly with rope and secured.
The entire hut was supported on the floor with rope wrapped around it, and several pieces of wood were added to create an auxiliary support. The same goes for auxiliary warehouses.
The first wooden shelter I made when I entered this forest… Although this special rest area, which has now become Lucy’s nap area, has also been installed with a windbreak… I don’t know if it will hold up well. There is nothing you can do if it flies away.
“Once this storm passes, spring will come and the new semester will begin… This forest environment will also get better!”
Jenica said that, and then again, strangely downcast, she spoke in a subtle way.
“also… Wouldn’t it have been better to come into the Dex building? It’s too harsh to have to spend this winter outside… ”
“are you okay. “I will be in the soul library during the storm.”
“The… facility in the underground lab?”
“huh. We made a separate entrance. Rather than saying I made it… It was created naturally. It’s a bit stuffy because it’s underground, but at least you don’t have to worry about drafts, so don’t worry too much. “It looked great as a shelter.”
“Then it’s a bit fortunate… Still, I’ll be bored. “To be locked up for a week.”
“In the meantime, I will just focus on practicing magic engineering. “It may be a bit of a rush to digest all the materials and recipes we have secured.”
“You’re working hard as expected, Ed. “There is no way to waste time.”
A more appropriate expression would be to say that it is an environment where one has no choice but to live hard in the first place. And when I think about it in terms of hard work, I don’t think Yenika is particularly inferior to me.
The envy and respect that comes with being the top of your grade cannot be taken lightly.
“See you again when the snow storm is over and the semester starts. We have to think about joint combat practice, and there is also an election for student council president. “You’re the top student in your grade, so you’ll probably get a lot of attention.”
“Even so, there are already people who are secretly wondering who they will support. I heard there are a lot of candidates for this and that… “To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on, so I’m going to remain neutral.”
Even in political affairs, during the election campaign section, Yenika was not particularly highlighted as the top student in her grade. Because of her personality, rather than strongly supporting anyone, she respected a variety of candidates.
“Now that I think about it, Ed’s younger brother… “You said you were running in the student council president election, right?”
“Oh, right. “He has a secretly ambitious personality.”
Suddenly, Yenika seemed to remember something, took a deep breath, and slowly asked me.
“that… Ed… I’m very close with my younger brother… ?”
“Friend… Should I say it all? ?”
Strictly speaking, I don’t know.
Tanya Rosstaylor is a stepping stone villain who appears in the third act and exits the same way.
There is no need to be more cautious than necessary as he is a character who will soon fall out of the scenario… There is still a need to be careful.
still… Wasn’t this the first blood relative I met in this bleak world?
“I am in a position where I was excommunicated in the first place, so I can speak confidently, but… After all, they were blood relatives. Whether I like it or not, there is a high possibility that we will make eye contact for the rest of our lives, so I would like to get along well with her. It doesn’t seem like he has as much negative feelings towards me as I thought… In the first place, siblings cannot always get along well. yes?”
“that… is it… surely… It’s a fight between siblings… It doesn’t happen often… ”
“okay. Well, you will go through many joys and sorrows… As a result, I have the greatest desire to get along smoothly with her. dearly… “Even if it’s not that bad, I still care about it quite a bit.”
Although I didn’t do anything right in the first place… For me, who already has very limited interpersonal relationships, the existence of blood relatives means a lot. I feel like I want to maintain a smooth relationship by treating him well from now on.
Living alone in a dry desert-like world… It was my first time meeting someone with whom I had a blood connection.
By the end of the scenario, the Rosstaylor family will have collapsed anyway, so it is highly likely that Tanya will end up in a situation no different from mine. Still, I have the image that Tanya would just roll up her sleeves and struggle to survive… This girl is strangely reassuring.
“That’s right…” . You care so much… It was just a fight between siblings… ”
Suddenly grabbing my sleeve, Jenica’s complexion turned pale and she began to sweat profusely.
“But Ed, that… What does Tanya like? Is there something you would like to receive as a gift? Or your favorite food… ?”
“… .”
Yenika suddenly asked such a question while pulling my collar tightly.
I was staring at Yenika… He spoke quietly.
“What did you do to Tanya?”
“Anything!”
Jenica doesn’t have a thick face, so she’s extremely bad at lying.
It took about 3 seconds for me to utter the words of confession, unable to bear the remorse of my conscience.
Although he talked about it while sweating, it wasn’t really that serious.
*
“They say there will be a snowstorm starting this morning. “Going out is not permitted unless there is a special reason, so if you have any business outside, please use a maid.”
The neatly angled maid of the Ofilis building quietly bowed her head and left the room.
The sound of the howling winter wind was eerie. The window rattled intermittently, and snowflakes flew against the window and melted away in the warmth of the room.
Kylie… Clarice sighed, sat in the private room of the Ofilis building, which she did not envy, and looked at the makeup mirror, as if it were a room belonging to a noblewoman.
The size of the three-sided makeup mirror is larger than Clarisse’s body size. It’s almost like the mirror can cover Kylie’s entire body.
I let down my hair and put down the brooch that used to maintain the illusion magic.
The color of his chestnut hair quickly fades, and shiny silver hair falls down his waist.
The elegant light that does not match the reddish eyes at all creates a mysterious atmosphere.
Even his strangely sharp features seem to have become gentle and benevolent. Clarice finally felt a sense of relaxation as she returned to her familiar self.
However, although the body is comfortable, the mind is not.
I lie down on a magnificent bed with lots of frills and quietly look up at the ceiling.
When I close my eyes, the scene from a few days ago, which I have recalled dozens of times, is once again engraved in my mind.
The missing brooch, the magic of illusions slowly dissolving, the flying flame bats, the movements of the hands that put the brooch in one’s arms.
The sight of the third-year senior sitting in front of the altar and looking down at the freshmen was full of fear, but once the exam was over, that sharp atmosphere disappeared in an instant.
And what follows is a feeling of discomfort.
Tanya didn’t seem to notice because she was in a half-panic state, but even so, Ed Rothtaylor should have felt uncomfortable.
There is no question about Clarisse’s appearance changing depending on the presence or absence of a brooch. She looked so natural that I wondered if I had never seen her before.
How can you not see it from that distance? Even leaving it aside. I’m also really worried about the mistake I made after that.
No matter what anyone says, it feels like they have discovered Kylie’s fake identity… Clarisse’s heart started pounding.
How much effort did you put in to lead such an ordinary bachelor’s life?
If it were not for the natural protection of the Holy Law, it would have been difficult for the request to minimize the number of guards to be passed.
Also, how many days did she spend arguing with the priests of the church who tried to persuade Clarice that she should study magic?
How much time and effort was put into finding a double?
In addition to all that effort, there is a condition: if even one person’s identity is discovered by an outsider, he must quit living an ordinary bachelor’s life.
Clarisse wanted to grunt at the archbishop’s words, but her status and position did not allow it.
A girl that age would have been tempted to throw a tantrum, but Clarisse was already accustomed to her status.
‘… Rather than being noble… He looked like a barbarian… ‘
No matter how much Ed has a style full of life, it would be too much to call him a barbarian.
However, for a girl who has lived her entire life in an orderly environment and with a neat demeanor, Ed’s human side is truly a new world that she has never experienced.
Do you really know Clarice’s identity?
It was extremely difficult to endure the ambiguous situation, so I tried asking various questions, but to no avail.
This is Clarice, who took it upon herself to break the protection of the Knights Templar. There was a limit to the number of people Clarisse could mobilize.
Therefore, it was not until dinner tonight that I was able to earn a proper income.
– ‘Has anyone gone all the way to the altar during the placement test? That blonde senior who was there. A senior named Ed Rosstaylor. When I asked my sister, she said, “Well, she doesn’t live in a dormitory, she just lives by the river in the northern forest.”
– ‘what? North forest? ‘In this cold winter?’
Freshman dinner party.
Before the start of the semester, first-year students gather together in the student center and get their faces stamped.
Clarice just sat quietly and listened to the conversation between the head of the Ministry of Magic, Josef, and his colleague Aig.
– ‘Ah, did you say you were eliminated in the middle? Kkakakak. You act like you’re so proud, but it looks like you can’t even come near the altar.’
– ‘Poetry, it’s noisy. I was just taken by surprise by an unexpected surprise. If you changed your position, you would definitely have been eliminated, right?’
– ‘Even the excuse is ugly. Anyway, it seems that everyone among the seniors and third-year seniors knows Ed, and he is famous for being the nerd of nerds. They say you are the one who does it when you do it… When I saw him, he didn’t seem like an ordinary human being.’
After that, Clarisse was able to catch several conversations about Ed Ross Taylor.
Most of the Knights Templar pretend to escort fake saints. The only members of the Knights Templar who follow Clarisse are the two elite members who hide inconspicuously.
Even so, the two are escort personnel, and although they have strong military power, they are not good at gathering information.
As a result, Clarice could not help but feel frustrated, as if her eyes and ears were covered.
When I imagine Ed looking down from the altar in a state of complete disrepair, a shiver runs down my back.
He is a scary person. In most cases, I don’t want to get close.
But if that man really has any idea about Clarice’s identity… It’s difficult to leave it alone.
It would be a good idea to meet the man right away and find out how he found out if he really knew his identity. Of course, I had to keep quiet.
However, you cannot leave Ofilis Hall for at least a week from now.
The man said he lives in the northern forest, but I don’t know how he will survive this time of snow storm… Anyway, I am in a position where I can roam around freely outside.
While you are trapped in Ofilis Hall, you cannot know what will happen outside. Clarisse doesn’t even know if the man is loud-mouthed or clumsy.
Of course, I wonder how many people I would meet if I went out during a snow storm… Still, Clarisse trembled with anxiety.
When the snow storm ends, spring comes and a new semester begins. If you try to silence him or anything by then, it may be too late.
But I can’t run out now. You might be able to escape if you go out through the window and land beautifully using sex magic, but… School rules are school rules, and if you make a mistake, you could get caught in a snow storm.
You can’t ask the escort knights to go for you. If the news that Clarisse’s identity was discovered reached the guards’ ears, they might report it to the castle. Then it means nothing.
“Ugh… ”
Clarisse got up from her bed.
When I look out the dark window, the snow is not heavy yet.
The protection of holy law and sex magic. Clarice, who wields the power of both, is free from threats of force. However, whether it can survive extreme cold and distress is a completely separate question.
But the fear of being discovered… It comes before the fear of shipwreck. If you are in distress, it is highly likely that you will be lost inside Aken Island. Buildings and facilities to immediately escape the cold were widespread.
“okay… I can’t stay still… !”
Clarisse flung open the window.
-Wheeeeeeeeee!
The bitter wind blows past my pale cheeks. Silver hair spread like a fan in the wind.
-Crash.
Clarisse closed the window again.
scary.
It’s so scary!
I’m scared of Ed, I’m scared of the dark, I’m scared of the cold, I’m scared of shipwreck… !
– ‘If you live looking only at pure white walls and ceilings, your eyesight will deteriorate. ‘The romance of a world full of natural colors can never be known unless you experience it.’
However, what soon comes to mind are the words of Adele, a romanticist who overcame her fear of the unknown and always pursued freedom.
How moved Clarice was by the singing voice of the bard who was sitting at the window of the Holy Palace and plucking at his instrument.
I have not yet met Adele, who is currently attending Sylvania.
Still, that romantic voice that once made Clarisse’s eyes sparkle… He pushed the scared Clarisse back again.
When I opened the window again, a sharp wind rushed into the room.
Clarice looked out the window. Although maids patrol outside periodically, it is impossible to mark all areas thoroughly in this weather.
At that moment, the road leading to the garden was empty. Clarice jumped out, clenching her teeth, putting on his clothes tightly, putting the brooch back on.
I go to meet the man and check the facts.
If you wait for the snow storm to end… It might be too late.
