The Preparing Angel (5)

Soya shoveled the fried rice into her mouth like there was no tomorrow, and before long, she was naturally polishing off Refri's portion as well. But Refri didn't mind a bit.

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'It's my Angel Power instinct, after all.'

Refri, who had been on the verge of collapse from depleted Angel Power, regained even more strength by handing over his own share to Soya. In a different sense, he had filled his belly.

"Ah… wait…"

Only then did Soya realize she had eaten Refri's lunch too. Her face flushed red as she whispered softly.

"…I'll pay you back for sure."

She pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket and started scribbling something on it. Then she bit her thumb and pressed a tiny thumbprint onto it.

"Here, take it."

The paper turned out to be…

'…What is this? Things I have to repay to Refri?'

It was a note listing roughly what she had received from him. Strangely, the thumbprint morphed into a cute character resembling Soya in deformed style. Probably some kind of magic.

"What's this?"

"An IOU. Remember, black mages always repay their debts—whether it's a favor or a grudge…"

Refri didn't really need something like this. But he couldn't exactly refuse…

"You're investing in me, right? In the future greatest mage ever."

"…Yeah."

If he refused here, that prideful black mage princess would surely snap, 'You're pitying me again?' and their relationship with the boy would sour.

'That aside, as expected…'

Refri thought, eyeing Soya's disheveled state. Her already ragged robe was even dirtier now, and her prized possession—the wizard hat (just a fashion item)—was slightly dented.

'The bullying seems pretty bad…'

He had anticipated some level of it. Magic engineering was a field pursued only by kids from wealthy families, so an inner circle was inevitable. Their goal was probably to weed out the young prodigy whale, Soya, one way or another.

Refri pondered for a moment. How could he proclaim 'Stop the violence!' to the bad group bullying Soya…

Watching him, the young black mage could only guess he was mad about her eating his fried rice too.

"……."

"Soya."

"Yeah? What?"

And the cathedral needed furniture. A stone bed could pass for a slab if he imagined it that way, but basic appliances were irreplaceable. Soya's dorm probably had them all. Wait, where does the electricity for those come from? Soya would handle that too. She was a genius, and black magic was godlike… or so Refri thought.

In the end, there was only one answer. Get Soya out of the dorm…!

Refri made the proposal right away.

"Wanna move out of the dorm? I can set up another place for you."

"…What? What are you talking about?"

Soya shot back sharply. Hiding his interior plans in his mind, Refri said to the girl,

"But you're not even eating properly."

"…It's a diet."

"Then you won't grow taller. I'll cook for you."

"Your food is delicious… No, I drink milk! I don't need it! And you…"

Soya shot to her feet. Her expression was icy.

"I told you not to pity me."

"It's not that… We're in a party together."

A party was just a business arrangement—no obligation to look after her like this… But the boy just smiled with an angelic expression.

Soya sensed no ulterior motives in that smile. Contrary to the facts.

'Am I trying to use this kid right now…?'

In the end, Soya had no choice but to say it.

"That was just something I said to use you."

Like all the others who had used her, Soya had planned to use Refri too. Not realizing that, and seeing him bring food like an idiot…

Of course, this was all Soya's misunderstanding. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The opportunistic angel Refri never moved without gain.

Ignoring that, Soya had no choice but to confess her feelings to this pure boy.

"I've come this far without anyone's help. It wasn't easy, sure. But I never stopped. So…"

A hint of sadness crept into her voice. Probably from the family that abandoned her and the acquaintances who used and discarded her.

"I'll walk the remaining path alone too. So the party thing is off. Of course, I'll repay the debt some other way."

That's why Soya couldn't meet the boy's eyes. That angelic face free of ulterior motives would make even her, betrayed so many times, want to believe just this once…

"Yeah, I don't know why you're helping me… Maybe you really believe I'll be the greatest mage…"

But Soya was that kind of girl.

"I don't trust people's kindness anymore. So stay away from me."

Soya pushed Refri away. He still couldn't see her face. Why was that wizard hat brim so damn wide?

"I'll repay the debt… so go."

The mana laced with irritation kept flowing. Even without seeing, Soya knew its owners. The group coming to bully her.

'A lot this time… even senior guys. Or are they planning to finish me off today? Wait, they brought magic tools too. Damn, Professor Klein's on a business trip today.'

They naturally surrounded Refri and Soya, spitting hostile words and picking a fight right away.

"A black mage in our department…"

"And she claims she developed the triple-bond ritual that the Ripen family made?"

"How could a beggar's daughter invent such a complex ritual? She even says she made reverse-summoning no-chant herself?"

"Nonsense. We need real sanctions here. Good thing Professor Klein's away…"

In truth, Soya had developed all of them. The magic families just stole them. That's why she couldn't trust the person who offered to help.

"Wait, who's this guy?"

"Ah… uniform says first-year. Friends with this black mage bitch?"

"Get lost or you'll get swept up too."

"Hey… why are you staring at your seniors like that?"

The boy hesitated. A sound came.

"Some family affiliation? Guild?"

"Doesn't seem like it. He'd have said if he did."

"Hey, so you're just some nobody acting up in front of us? First-year, want us to make your school life hell?"

Soya's hands trembled. She hated them bullying her, but bullying the boy was worse.

"Get lost."

"Wait, what did you say?"

"Not to you trash. Refri, get out now. I can't even look at you… hurry!"

Whether misfortune or blessing, just as Refri couldn't see Soya's face, she couldn't see his either. And people always imagine what they can't see. A girl ungratefully pushing away the one who helped her multiple times. What expression would the boy make hearing this? Sad? Regretful? Or relieved and happy?

Clack-clack. The sound of shoes. The boy leaving.

I knew it. No one had approached the black mage first except those who wanted to use her…

'This time I tried to use him too, so he won't be hurt.'

Better this way. No more weak heart. That's what she had to think… But Soya felt inexplicably sad.

.

Many would think these kids need a different kind of education. Not modern, but pre-modern.

Pre-modern education allowed—encouraged, even—moderate violence toward children. Because spoiling them too much ruins people, right? These kids were prime examples.

Chosen bloodlines' chosen children. Admitted to the ultra-competitive Central Academy, hailed as elites by the world… They crossed lines somewhere. Acting like they weren't mere humans.

One of Soya's bullies said,

"Drop out. We're tired of this too."

"Shut up, you thieves. Trash."

"Ha, this crazy bitch. Grab her. Let's end this today."

As the senior grabbed a magic tool, Soya couldn't help but flinch. How far would they go… What had she done so wrong…

That moment. A voice came from somewhere.

"Aren't you ashamed?"

The voice was heavenly. The kind people call 'voice of an angel'—it fit perfectly. It was the boy who had just fled.

"…What? Didn't you leave? Wanna die?"

"Wait, we put up a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barrier—how'd he…"

But the boy wasn't looking at them. Nor speaking to them.

"Professor, what is this disgrace?"

"…Truly shameful."

The one talking to Refri was the current strongest elemental mage: Klein Porfurogenetos.

The professor said with a smiling face,

"I never imagined our noble young ladies and lords would stoop to such vulgar acts."

"Professor!"

"Professor, your trip…"

"I got an urgent call and had to return immediately."

This was Refri's plan. He'd just called Professor Klein, explained Soya's bullying, and added, 'The magic engineering world is such a disappointment.' In short, tattling. A true angelic secret skill—tattling to God every day.

Hearing that, Klein had rushed back to the academy. From the other side of the planet, even.

Seeing Klein, the students naturally panicked.

"Professor, this isn't what you think."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"It was discipline. Just a simple punishment for a disobedient underclassman."

Klein assessed the situation. Was Refri right? Or the magic engineering students? As their professor, he should side with them.

"Sigh…"

As Klein stayed silent, a few seniors sighed in relief. But that was a mistake.

Klein remembered Refri sacrificing for others multiple times. And mistook him for a very smart kid. Such a child wouldn't judge wrongly. So the real wrongdoers were…

"…I think I'll administer some discipline and light punishment too."

"P-Professor?"

"Daring to slander and attack others with such pathetic skills? No noble pride… And shaming yourselves in front of Refri…"

Fire, water, earth, air. The four elements began gathering over Professor Klein's shoulders.

"Don't expect to leave unscathed."

That's why violence is sometimes called 'proper education.' Violence shouldn't be justified, but some people only learn the hard way.

Refri watched Professor Klein's lesson with a satisfied smile.

And a large amount of Angel Power as expected. Soya really was a tree that showered him with Angel Power without stint.

"Refri! I told you to go…!"

Soya burst into tears again. Why did he keep helping her even when she pushed him away?

"No way. How could I abandon a high-end appli— I mean, a friend?"

He almost said high-end appliances. Desires kept popping out of opportunistic Refri.

Soya looked at him. A friend? She'd never had one in her life. What do friends do? What does he want from me? Will he betray me like the others?

'When I was so scared in the water… he reached out for me. And today too…'

She didn't know much about friends, but now she could trust him a little.

"I don't need friends. I told you, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was just using you…"

"I need you too."

This was sincere. Refri needed Soya. For Angel Power, magic tech, defeating the Demon King by proxy, etc.

"…If you need me, I guess I can be your friend."

"This time it's real friends."

Soya muttered, face red.

"…I'm only doing it because I owe you. No choice."

"Got it!"

Refri grinned ear to ear, thrilled like America discovering a new mutation…?

Of course, Soya didn't feel bad. Actually good, but she couldn't admit it. She'd told him to go, but he didn't… She was grateful to the boy. A fact the girl would never acknowledge.

'Why's he so happy… like he found a new mutation or something?'

Soya's scary deductive skills indeed.