The Best Possible Outcome
A subtle tension hung in the air. Rustilla met my eyes for a moment, then looked past my shoulder. Though I couldn’t see it, she was probably locked in a staring contest with Zernya. A soft scoff brushed against my ear.
“Idel……”
“You mean Zernya? Her avatar took a serious hit. That’s why I carried her all the way here.”
Zernya bit down on my shoulder again. Apparently she considered even that a point of shame. Whether her bite had grown weaker or my senses had dulled, it didn’t hurt much.
I set Zernya down on a nearby bench and asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
The two girls answered at the same time. Zernya and Rustilla glared at each other, brows furrowed. Please, you two. Don’t fight here.
I checked Rustilla’s complexion first. The color had mostly returned to her face; she seemed to have recovered from her Ether depletion. The one in worse shape right now was actually Zernya.
“Fine, my ass. Give me your right arm.”
I lifted Zernya’s arm and rotated it gently. The swelling from her avatar’s death was slowly going down, but it still needed careful monitoring. Just as I leaned in for a closer look, she yanked her hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Why not?”
“Contact with you makes my condition worse.”
She’s really being prickly. Maybe I should’ve just left her behind? No, I would’ve regretted that for the rest of my life.
“If you’re fine, could you move? I’m tired.”
“What’s that, you little sparrow? I’m the one who’s tired. There are plenty of other benches—go sit somewhere else.”
“Can’t you see the other benches are occupied by the swordsmen trying to rest? You really are selfish. You don’t have a single ounce of consideration for others.”
I had been sitting with my eyes closed, organizing my thoughts, but the sound of their bickering made me look up. The kind, well-mannered Rustilla was actually picking a fight with Zernya.
“You need to learn a little humility.”
“……Humility. Ha!”
This is going to drive me insane.
I stood up, popping the candy Rustilla had given me earlier into my mouth. As I turned, I gestured for her to take my seat. That’s right—if both of them needed rest, I should be the one to move. Besides, I still had a mountain of work waiting for me.
Although one of the avatars was slain directly by the God of Wisdom and Curiosity, you have been granted the following package in recognition of repelling three avatars and for the 30,000 coins you sponsored.
I opened it with equal parts anticipation and nervousness. There were four items inside.
First, the Caliper of Wisdom. It had jumped two whole ranks from C to A. When I summoned it, the tool had grown longer and its scale far more precise. It could now measure down to the picometer level, and the physical and mental damage it inflicted on avatars had increased dramatically.
Next was Cleanup. Simply put, it was a magical item that reset one’s Fron value to zero. This would definitely come in handy.
Then came the Trapezohedron-Flavored Star Candy. Three pieces total. Each one increased the consumer’s maximum Fron capacity by 500.
Last was Cartesia’s Hair. It was actually a charm… but I had no idea what to do with it. It was even sealed, so I couldn’t tell what color the hair was.
Outer Gods have a custom of gifting a portion of their true body, sealed within an object, to those they favor.
Now that I thought about it, there had been a setting like that. It was mentioned only once and I’d glossed right over it. After all, what human would ever catch an Outer God’s fancy?
“Contact from Hangar Four!” the comms officer shouted.
The ship that had drifted off course had been located and communication restored. I asked urgently, “Tell me the details. Is Naiere—is my wife safe?”
“Yes, Miss Naiere is safe. The others report only minor injuries.”
“Whew, that’s a relief.”
“However, the hull sustained heavy damage. The avatar that possessed the ship itself made destroying its core extremely difficult. Fortunately, one of the accompanying androids performed heroically.”
“An android? I see. In any case, we’ll have to go rescue them ourselves.”
Soon a team was assembled to evacuate the refugees from Hangar Four. Both Isaac and Kibel were among them. The rest of us, led by Enavet, would watch over the wounded. While the doctors treated Zernya, I mentally prepared myself.
With the swordsmen gone, a long bench had opened up. I was finally able to sit comfortably—for about five seconds.
“Idel, lend me your shoulder.”
Apparently uncomfortable sitting near Zernya, Rustilla scooted close and rested her head against me. I rolled my eyes toward the bench where Zernya sat. Having gained the entire bench to herself, she had stretched out and was now glaring at me.
“You look like a total homeless person right now.”
Rustilla burst out laughing. “Pfft!”
“You done?”
Zernya scowled, stood up, and staggered over to our bench. She plopped down.
“What are you doing?”
“Borrowing the other shoulder.”
“Weren’t you just saying you were fine?”
“Being tired is separate from being fine.”
“Then lie down here and sleep. Rustilla and I will move to another bench.”
“I don’t want to be called a homeless person.”
The situation had become strangely comical. Both girls really were exhausted; they soon fell fast asleep. Soft breathing came from either side of me while, in front, the sound of military boots approached.
It was Enavet, an EX-rank swordsman.
“You really are crazy.”
“Pardon?”
Out of nowhere?
“Look at you—still wet behind the ears and already surrounded by girls. If you’re going to attend the Academia, you should focus on studying. Just studying. Romance will eat up all your time.”
“……”
“I’m serious.”
What on earth is this person talking about? Isn’t that exactly what I should be doing?
The rescue team returned aboard the relatively intact Ship Two, forty minutes after departure. A shadow fell over me as I dozed.
“Young master.”
A familiar voice. An eerie tone. I slowly raised my head.
A frilly apron stained black with the blood of an avatar. Next, monochrome eyes. Finally, the navy-blue bob of my personal android.
Sonia stood there.
She gently pried the deeply sleeping Rustilla and Zernya off me, then grabbed my wrist and yanked hard. The force was so strong I nearly dislocated my shoulder.
“Your personal maid has been fighting desperately to keep your little sister from dying, yet here you are, creating a cozy little atmosphere with two girls. Do you think you’re some kind of king?”
Her scolding was several times sharper than usual. In truth, I hadn’t pushed the girls away simply because it was too much trouble. I figured the distance was fine with my close friend Rustilla, and I didn’t want to wake her when she was so tired. As for Zernya, she was already self-centered by nature; I didn’t want to provoke a fight.
But if I said any of that, Sonia would undoubtedly respond with something like Shut the hell up and beat me senseless.
She sighed and continued, “The situation is urgent, so I’ll save the discipline for later—all at once. Right now we must worry about Miss Seti.”
Bella, Seti’s personal maid, stepped forward holding my sister in her arms. Bella hung her head like a criminal, eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m sorry, young master… I failed…”
“The doctors examined her on the way. Her Fron levels are too high to enter the Sanctuary. Honestly, it’s time to prepare yourself.”
Looking at my sister’s deathly pale face, I clicked my tongue.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
Who gave you permission to talk about sending my sister away? She was only sixteen. A bright young life with far more days ahead than behind.
It was a good thing Rustilla was still asleep. Otherwise she would have burst into tears again. I had to finish this before she woke.
Of the items I received from the quest reward, only two were immediately useful: Cleanup, which could drop someone’s Fron to zero, and the Trapezohedron-Flavored Star Candy that raised maximum Fron capacity by 500.
Looking at my sister’s face, the first option seemed correct, but I chose the second and slipped a candy into her mouth. The star candy began to melt, releasing its effect.
Her ragged breathing gradually steadied. Huff… huff…
“This is… what in the world…”
“What are you waiting for? Hurry and take her to the Sanctuary!”
The emergency medics quickly carried Seti away. The sudden commotion woke Rustilla and Zernya at almost the same moment. They rubbed their eyes.
“Uncomfortable.”
“Just a little longer.”
Thud. Thud. They latched onto my shoulders again. As I sighed, Instructor Isaac and Lieutenant Kibel returned from their successful mission and approached. Beside them stood a man dressed unmistakably like a lawyer.
He asked Isaac and Kibel cautiously, “Is this the one?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll proceed.”
Something was thrust in front of me. Even without reading every line, I knew exactly what kind of document it was.
“Idel von Rheinland. The Federal Government has determined that you are a person of interest in the possession case of an avatar infected by an Outer God and present a flight risk. Therefore, in accordance with the Federal Criminal Procedure Act, you are hereby placed under arrest.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Rustilla and Zernya snapped awake. The two girls shot to their feet.
“What are you talking about?”
Even Sonia stared at the man with clear displeasure. Her tone was colder than any voice I had ever heard from her.
Regardless, the man continued reading the official document bearing the seals of both the executive and judicial branches and added one final line.
“You will accompany us to Alcatraz.”
So it’s finally here.
But I didn’t mind. In fact, I welcomed it.
Because this was the absolute best possible outcome I had been hoping for.