Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The Girl's Conclusion
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My research lab.
Iluania, who had visited after a long time, was brewing tea, and honestly, that alone made me a bit dissatisfied.
“You didn’t have to come.”
Even though I’d prepared a separate hotel room for her and told her not to come to work but to rest instead, she had come anyway.
Her already swollen belly signaled that the time to welcome the new family member was drawing near.
“Sitting still for too long isn’t good for my body. And I get bored alone.”
“……Don’t push yourself.”
“Yes, Owen’s helping me.”
At that, Owen, who had been staring curiously at Iluania’s belly from the side, grinned brightly and nodded.
“Just leave it to me! I’ll do anything!”
“Oh my, how admirable.”
Iluania seemed to have taken a liking to Owen lately, stroking his head or pinching his cheeks, and he didn’t dislike it at all.
He especially favored her since Pindenai tended to treat him harshly.
“By the way, where’s Pindenai?”
“I gave her a separate task. It’s over by the first-year girls’ dormitory, but it could be dangerous, so don’t go there.”
“Is the dormitory dangerous?”
She tilted her head in confusion but didn’t press further and began preparing tea and snacks with Owen.
“Um, do you really think I can be of help?”
Per Petra, sitting beside me and fidgeting nervously with both hands.
If Pindenai had seen her, she would’ve made some snide remark, but I answered flatly.
“I heard you’ve given lectures to the students I’ll be calling in from now on. Don’t feel burdened—just listen comfortably.”
I didn’t really expect anything from Professor Per. It was just that they would be using the same research lab, and the four people I planned to summon had attended her lectures a few times, so I wondered if there might be some notable point and had her sit in.
Professor Kerun, the health professor, was also sitting across from me with arms folded, waiting for the students.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
Owen, having finished preparing the snacks, poked his head out the door and exchanged a few words.
“Necromancer, a female student named Happy has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
Happy was the archer in Aria’s party, the main rear dealer, so she was solid talent with no downsides if raised well.
On top of that, resolving the episode involving Pindenai would yield an item from the Clock Republic, which synergized well with Happy.
“Ah, hello.”
A simple girl with orange hair entered. Like Aria, she was a pure soul from a rural village, a commoner.
In the game, she was the first to befriend the protagonist at the start, forming a trio with the mage Florensia like the Three Musketeers.
“Yeah, it’s nothing much. I just wanted to talk for a bit.”
“Ah, yes.”
From what I remembered, Happy’s personality matched her name—lively and cheerful—but she seemed stiff and tense in front of me, her professor.
I couldn’t have the pregnant Iluania attend to guests, so she only brewed the tea while Owen served it.
After seating Happy across from me, I gave her a moment to sip her tea.
As her tension eased after a few sips and her stiff expression softened, I asked.
“Do you know a student named Aria Rias?”
“Ah, yes. I do.”
But the moment I mentioned Aria, her face darkened.
The two should have already become friends by this timeline, but had Aria’s eccentric behavior soured their relationship?
Her reaction wasn’t good.
“Hmm, self-centered, maybe? She doesn’t seem to welcome others approaching her.”
“…….”
“So I didn’t try to get close. She was a bit scary.”
Had Aria’s reputation degraded this much?
Happy looked like she regretted gossiping and kept making uncomfortable faces, but I told her it was fine, heard a bit more, and sent her off.
The next one was the same.
The mage Florensia also held a highly skeptical view of Aria.
Aria, Happy, Florensia.
The bond between those three, which seemed unbreakable, no longer existed.
Having witnessed all those scenes personally, I couldn’t hide my sense of dismay.
“Whew.”
“…….”
“…….”
The two professors watched me from either side. They looked like they wanted to say something, but the next person entered.
Leo Rus, the creative genius, and Jin, the assassin.
The male members of the party felt the same—no particular fondness for Aria.
I had some faint hope for Leo Rus since the game described him falling for her at first sight, but he only wore an ambiguous expression.
After a brief talk, I returned to my seat. There was no need to ask the two professors; I hadn’t gained any separate information.
‘The four of them were definitely together when Aria suddenly complained of a headache.’
Yet their relationships with her were far from good. As my head began to ache faintly at the contradiction.
Health Professor Kerun asked, arms still folded.
“By the way, is there a reason you chose those students?”
“Hm?”
“Ah, I was wondering the same.”
Per Petra chimed in, raising her hand slightly.
Come to think of it, it was natural for them to question why I’d suddenly summoned students with no connection to Aria.
“I understand that Aria suddenly complained of a headache upon seeing that group of students. But was there a specific reason it was those four?”
It was hard to explain.
Because it was a memory from the first playthrough.
Back then, the innocent Aria had surely befriended those four, formed a party, and fought for continental peace…
“I see.”
I nodded unwittingly.
The two looked puzzled at my disjointed response, but I abruptly stood and headed out of the research lab.
I heard Owen, Iluania, and the other two professors calling after me, but I had no time to reply.
The fact that Aria showed that reaction despite having no ties to this playthrough’s companions.
It made me think something had happened in the first playthrough.
I gestured to Kerun, who tried to follow, to stay back, then headed to the girls’ dormitory.
“Huh?”
Pindenai was leaning against Aria’s door, holding the cigarettes I’d given her in her mouth without lighting them.
“What, is it solved?”
She glanced at me and jumped to her feet. I lightly shook my head and instructed her.
“Make sure no one enters this floor if possible. Thirty minutes should be enough.”
“Yawn, should I prepare the axe?”
Pindenai yawned and shrugged. Had she prepared a new one after losing hers on the Clock Republic trip?
“Please.”
Just in case, I had Pindenai arm herself first.
After Pindenai left to fetch her axe, I also asked the Black Necromancer attached nearby to step away for a bit.
[You and this girl must have a very special connection.]
“…….”
[Hmm, I’ll step aside since you want me to. But… honestly, I don’t really get it.]
What didn’t she get?
The Black Necromancer glanced at Aria’s door and then vanished.
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my mouth in front of Aria’s door.
“Are you there?”
“Ah! Professor!”
Aria approached brightly right away. I could sense her standing at the door across.
“Can I come out now?”
“No, I came to talk for a bit.”
“W-With me?! Hehe! That’s great!”
Great?
“What’s so great about it?”
When I voiced my doubt, Aria answered cautiously.
“Actually, back in Northsweden, I said I didn’t care even if you hated me. But… I kind of regretted that.”
“…….”
“In the end, even if I say that, I thought I’d be happy if you liked me, Professor.”
“Has that feeling changed now?”
I asked just in case, but as expected, Aria answered so firmly, without a hint of hesitation.
“If anyone endangers you, Professor, I’ll kill them, no matter who it is. Because I chose you.”
“Even if that person is your friend?”
“Huh?”
Aria sounded confused. I let out a faint sigh and briefly recounted today’s events.
“I heard you’ve been keeping distance from other students. I spoke with Happy, Florensia, Leo Rus, and Jin today.”
“Ah…….”
Names she should be familiar with.
But Aria didn’t sound pleased. Her voice was low, as if she wanted to keep her distance.
“I have no idea how much you know, Professor. You definitely don’t have memories of the first playthrough like I do.”
“That’s right.”
That’s why I came here.
To find the reason for Aria’s sudden odd behavior and the trigger for her mental instability.
To uncover the root of it.
I swallowed hard and stated the reason for my visit.
“Aria, how did your first playthrough end?”