In the aftermath of my agonizing scream, cursing my own blasted fate, the newly awakened students of the dorm began to gather.
At least it was only the first years in this building, I suppose, so about forty people. Wait, no, some idiot went and lost to Abel, then transferred out, so now that’s thirty-nine students.
Everything that followed was chaos and pandemonium. Some students began to cry and wail. Some seemed driven into confusion after what was presumably their first time ever seeing a corpse. Then someone was sick—then someone else—then another. It was hell.
“I’m sleepy.”
Guards arrived immediately, and as the person at the center of the incident in question, I had to answer to them. Night passed quickly into day, and I barely got any sleep.
I got tired of thinking and just answered basically whatever they asked me…but thinking about it now, shouldn’t they have let me get some rest first, given the state I was in? This whole country’s really gone to crap, huh…
“I’m sorry. ’Tis the fault of my academy, and thus responsibility lies with me. I am bound to protect you all, yet I failed. I never imagined such a thing could happen here…I am still at a loss. More importantly, though, I am so glad that you are safe.”
“…”
“Freya…yes, yes. We grew so used to peace that, on some level, we convinced ourselves it would carry on forever… But no matter how long the peaceful days might last, nobody can ever know what the morrow may bring…”
“…”
Jeez, this atmosphere’s suffocating.
Freya came to explain a bunch of things to me right after the attack, but it was only yesterday that all this happened—or rather, a few hours ago. Seems as if all the teachers are still in panic mode. According to Freya, the school’s most likely going to be on an indefinite break. In other words, everyone here will be going home…but the logistics of that will take some time, so the academy’s finding us some temporary accommodation. In the meantime, there are dozens of Royal Knights here to give us the highest level of security this kingdom has to offer.
The indefinite break makes sense, I guess. I mean, this is the first time a student’s ever been attacked at Aslan Magic Academy. I’ll bet this attack has been a massive shock to everyone in so many ways. There’s that mysterious mana blocking to think about too…that stuff could threaten the decades-long peace of this whole magic supremacist kingdom. That’s a real serious weak spot for all of us. There’s no question that this incident has awoken a long-forgotten sense of danger in everyone.
They didn’t find anything on the bodies of the attackers that might have caused the mana blocking. They found some Shackles of Mana Sealing, I guess, but those are completely ordinary items used in the Kingdom of Milestia for arresting and imprisoning magic users that have committed crimes. If the attackers intended to commit a kidnapping rather than a murder, then it makes sense that they had shackles with them. But, well…Shackles of Mana Sealing are only effective when they come into direct contact with a person. The shackles couldn’t have caused what happened that night…so was this Dark magic all along? It’s just a feeling I get, but I don’t think the guys who came for me were talented magic users. Meaning…nah, there’s no sense in thinking about that now. All I know for certain is that I felt something similar to my own Dark element that night. That might have something to do with why they came after me in the first place. If Alfred hadn’t taught me how to handle myself with a weapon, I would’ve been helpless against them.
Hm…I wonder, does that mean those three succeeded in kidnapping me in the original book? As with most things, I don’t remember much, but I can imagine what was supposed to happen next: Abel would’ve found some way to rescue me, and being saved by him would’ve badly hurt my pride, causing my grudge against him to deepen… Yeah, that’s probably it.
As I pondered these things, my ears caught a fragment of the conversation between Freya and Amelia nearby:
“Not being able to use your spells must be really tough.”
“Yes…quite so.”
“H-huh…? What’s gotten into y—”
“Will you please just be quiet for a moment?”
“…”
I’ve never seen Amelia-san look so weak, and it sounds like Freya hasn’t either. Hmph…would the people of this kingdom truly be so feeble if their magic were sealed away? So these are the harmful side effects of an overreliance on magic, eh?
“C-come to think of it…Alice, you were covered in blood too, weren’t you?” said Abel suddenly.
Alice stared at him coldly.
“Excuse me, but what exactly is your misunderstanding? I will not be spoken to so casually by the likes of you. I am not as kind as Luke is.”
“S-sorry…”
“Hey! What was that for?! Social status doesn’t mean a thing at this academy!” Lily shouted indignantly.
“Oh, your screeching is so irritating. I am tired. Be quiet.”
“Wh-what did you just say to me?!”
“Luke…I’m so glad you’re okay,” Mia said, turning to me. “Are you hurt at all? Just say the word, okay? I’ll use my Healing ma—”
“Ah, I’m exhausted.”
Contrasting with the hushed tones of Amelia-san and Freya, the group gathered around me was as noisy as ever. My extreme drowsiness was making their voices sound even louder than usual, and it was hurting my head.
Alice should have gotten just as little sleep as me, but she seems fine.
“Very well. I will clarify this, just to avoid any further misunderstandings. I heard Luke screaming and rushed to be the first to the scene. I am his beloved fiancée, you understand? It’s only natural.”
“…”
“But, well, I was frightened when I saw the sea of blood at the scene,” Alice continued seamlessly, “and I slipped on my way to his side.”
“Y-you slipped…?”
“Yes, and quite badly, at that. That is why I was so covered in blood…or do you perchance not even possess sufficient intelligence to follow a word I just said?”
“S-sure…thanks for telling me…”
There was a brief, awkward silence—nobody seemed to know how to react to Alice’s statements.
I’m surprised she can rattle off all those lies with a straight face. Not that I’m complaining. I mean, I’d be in all sorts of trouble if everyone found out that I’d been sneaking Alice over to my room… So, yeah, let’s just say she slipped on all the blood, eh?
“Luke!”
A voice called down to me from the sky above. It was a voice I knew all too well, driving my mind into further depths of despair.
Yolande.
He floated down to land beside me.
“Ah, I’m so glad you’re safe!”
I said nothing, and he spread his arms wide as if to embrace me—oh, hell no.
The sight was so disgusting that I reflexively slapped him in the face.
I’ve done nothing wrong. Justice is on my side.
“Gross. Stay away from me.”
“Wh-wha…ah…th-that was so mean,” pouted Yolande, suddenly breathing quite heavily. “I-I’m just worried about you…”
“No…how could you? And to my brother, of all people…”
I shifted my gaze away from Yolande and his gross panting, over to Alice, who seemed to be upset for the wrong reasons.
Ah, now I remember. These two are always like this.
“L-Luke. You shouldn’t hit people… Instructor Yolande is just worried about you” said Abel.
Meanwhile, both Lonsdale siblings were quite disgustingly worked up—Yolande panting and flushed; Alice seething with unconcealed jealousy.
Oh, Abel. You really don’t know what’s going on here, do you? If only I could be so naive. Man, though, you’re way too kind, huh? Like, to an almost hilarious extent.
“I’m glad you’re okay too, Alice.”
Alice did not deign to answer, merely glaring at her older brother.
“Still, this attack,” said Yolande, his demeanor switching in an instant.
in an instant. “I never expected the Royal Knights to be so incompetent. Does nobody bother to patrol this academy?”
Yolande made sure to say that part just loud enough for all the nearby knights to hear. None of them raised their voices in protest at his comment, but there were bitter looks on many of their faces.
“The knights’ power has been declining, year after year. I suppose I can’t exactly pin all the blame on them though—this whole kingdom must be remade.”
Yolande’s comments sounded like trouble that I didn’t want to deal with at the moment. I ignored them and walked away.
I’m not thinking straight. I’m so tired. I just want to get some sleep. That’s all I want right now. The rabble can attack me all they like—I’ll kill anyone who comes at me. But please…just let me get my sleep.