Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Flame
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After the treatment was done, I asked the cadet where she was staying.
I couldn't head there right away and had to wait until the day's schedule ended.
A nagging unease, like a fishbone stuck in my throat, lingered, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Still, the positive side was that, though fuzzy, the 'incident' in my memory had happened in the evening, so there should still be some time.
In fact, with everything feeling so vividly real right now, it was uncertain if the events from the game would play out exactly the same.
That meant nothing might happen at all.
'This year's training exercise concluded successfully without any incidents.'
If the exercise ended like that, ironically, the reason I'd been tossing and turning since last night would vanish.
But if someone asked me if that was a good thing, I'd probably say no.
It felt similar to the idea of eliminating the source of pain by taking a life.
If the exercise was just the academy's curriculum proceeding as predetermined—whether I was here or not, game or reality—then...
Tonight's 'accident' was a different matter altogether.
To me, it was like a precognition, almost a prophecy.
Something that had to happen, the catalyst that would transform the vague plans swirling in my head into something concrete, no matter how half-baked.
I, clicking away at the mouse from outside, hoped the accident would unfold as foreseen.
Whatever choice I made, it was supposed to happen anyway, so its absence might leave me feeling empty.
And on the other hand, if it didn't, the makeshift plans I'd cobbled together would all fall apart, so it had to happen.
...But 'Iris Plumeria,' the one feeling it in her skin right now, seemed to think differently.
Sensations so realistic it was impossible to think of this as just a game.
The scenery from last night and the blazing bonfire might have forcibly imprinted the sense that this place was reality onto me.
Iris Plumeria just wanted nothing to happen at all.
Not for humanitarian reasons like hating to see people get hurt or anything... Though I'm trying to separate it, I know that's what I thought, since it's clearly my own idea.
Iris Plumeria, I...
If the incident I'd only seen as text actually happened for real...
...it would feel queasy.
That was all.
Just sitting still would make it feel like I was the one who caused it.
Battling like this in my head was bound to give me a throbbing headache.
The presence of 'El,' who seemed like she could resolve it, only complicated my thoughts further.
Maybe because I was separating 'me' from Iris Plumeria...
My stomach churned.
"Teacher, are you really okay?"
"...You don't look so good."
Even Evelyn was looking at me like that, so it must be showing plainly on my face.
I forced a smile to reassure them and slumped over the table.
At times like this, I really missed those small, round painkiller pills. They wouldn't erase my worries, but they'd cleanly banish the pain.
Anyway.
Once the time came when I could move freely, I waited calmly... like an office worker clocking out on time, then left the temporary infirmary and headed to the place the cadet had mentioned.
After asking Evelyn and Charlotte to handle the cleanup.
Struggling to calm my chaotic mind.
Still unable to decide what to do.
I made my way to where the red-haired cadet was.
As soon as I left the infirmary area, a dense forest greeted me.
Having no experience walking through a place like this made me a bit anxious, but fortunately, the signposts were well-placed, so there were no issues.
The fast travel with mouse clicks had overlooked these details...
"...".
Thinking about it soured my mood again, so I silently pressed on.
As I headed to the area the cadet mentioned, faint voices came from nearby.
Other cadets must be around.
It made sense—even scattered, they couldn't be too spread out, or management would be impossible.
I wanted to see cadets gathered warmly around a bonfire, but I held back.
Then.
Something unusual happened.
Light poured into the darkening forest as if the sun had returned.
A lukewarm wind began blowing through the cool forest breeze.
A little ways off.
A pillar of fire erupted into view.
Stunned by the sudden change, I realized it was the 'accident' I'd feared and bit my lip.
How was this a small accident by any stretch?
"...Yeah."
Snapping to at El's voice, I ran toward the pillar of fire.
The cadets around me seemed to notice something too; the area grew noisy.
As the pillar—like a new sun—subsided, a fire naturally broke out.
It looked like a massive campfire.
The campfire meant to cap off the training session seemed poised to blaze through the academy exercise's final day.
How the heck did they handle this in the game?
I, maneuvering the mouse and keyboard, had sighed in relief when the event triggered as it should.
But staring at flames that seemed ready to devour everything, I broke out in cold sweat.
The colossal blaze I faced for the first time in my life was terrifying in its majesty.
...How many times does one get to see flames like that and live?
Trusting only El's voice in my head, I charged ahead blindly.
The event was supposed to happen, so cleanup couldn't be that bad, right?
I'd have to trust El, unreliable as she seemed.
Especially since I couldn't just sit back waiting for someone else to handle it.
...The growing flames looked so precarious.
Crack! Boom!
Sounds of massive trees toppling echoed frequently.
I couldn't tell if my trembling body heading to the fire's source was from fear or plain exhaustion.
The air entering my throat grew hotter.
"Huff... huff..."
I couldn't tell if my scorching throat was from the superheated air or just my body giving out.
With El's help, maybe I could manage somehow.
With that vague hope, a familiar silhouette came into view as I advanced.
It was Philia, directing the cadets' evacuation.
Her face rigid as she issued orders, she spotted me and approached with visible relief, opening her mouth.
"Teacher."
"...President."
As I responded with a question of what the hell was going on, she pointed not at the rising flames but in an odd direction and continued.
"I've gathered the injured over there, so could you take a look? I was just about to fetch you—perfect timing."
Her response was incredibly swift.
Honestly, impressive enough to draw admiration.
In the game, it must've been handled via text thanks to her skills like this.
So, did she know how to put out that fire?
"...What about that fire?"
I asked cautiously, and Philia's expression grew slightly complicated as she murmured low.
"We've stopped it from growing for now, but putting it out right away... Well, no one has a clear solution yet."
I approached the gathered injured with Philia, summoning Undine and spoke.
"...So, no one's inside there right now?"
The gently manifested Undine went to the burned, suffering cadets and began treatment.
A slight fatigue settled into my body after the hard run.
Philia silently watched the cadets receiving treatment, then turned to me with a bitter expression.
"A few cadets haven't made it back."
"...".
Digging through my memory, the only one hurt in this 'incident' was that nameless red-haired cadet.
Something felt off.
Injured cadets aside—
...Could it be because of me?
Something that could affect an unnamed cadet's safety.
Because I'd shown interest in her.
Other cadets, intrigued, might've approached her.
Chaos reigned.
For me.
For Iris Plumeria.
No one felt satisfied.
Biting my lip, I confirmed the injured were improving and withdrew Undine.
"Teacher?"
Philia's puzzled voice rang out.
Around us, cadets' groans and clamor blared starkly.
Feeling like it was all my fault, I couldn't stay put.
I ran toward the rising flames.
"Teacher?! Where are you going?!"
"To put out the fire!"
"Pardon?!"
Philia sounded flustered and seemed ready to chase, but for some reason, she didn't.
Soon, a scorching—blisteringly hot—heat wall of flames appeared.
A faint, transparent barrier blocked it from advancing further.
The barrier flickered precariously, as if it might shatter any moment.
Beyond the barrier, charred black trees and singed ones drew a clear boundary line.
...The trees outside were wilted but unburned—small mercies.
Taking a deep breath amid the heat, to eliminate the cause and rescue any cadets inside.
"...El."
I summoned the time-bomb whose desires I couldn't predict.
She gently gripped my shoulder, gazed at the flames, and murmured softly.
"Looks like we'll have to go inside."
"...Huh?"
"Then... shall we? Contractor."
"Ah, um... Yeah."
I'd thought it could be handled from outside, but apparently not.
Gulp.
Staring at the roaring inferno, I felt a bit scared.
But with El, the spirit queen, it should be fine.
...Who knows.
As El's energy enveloped me.
My body charged straight into the flames.
The fire drew closer.
Thanks to the energy, it wasn't hot, but the flames still looked ready to devour me whole.
Honestly, I might've been a little freaked out.