Mana Energy Antidote (1)
Yulia steadied her breathing and slowly lifted her head. She reached up to touch her own hair... The warmth of that large hand still seemed to linger there.
How long had it been since she'd cried so sorrowfully? She thought she'd forgotten sadness. She believed she'd become immune to pain. Her tears had dried up long ago—she'd assumed they'd never fall again. Hundreds of years. Dozens of reincarnations. She'd thought those emotions had vanished completely.
But they hadn't.
The moment Schlus's hand touched her head. That sensation of his large palm enveloping her head, roughly yet lovingly stroking it—it was exactly like in her dreams. At that instant, tears burst forth uncontrollably. Not wanting Schlus to see them, she'd had no choice but to quickly turn away.
'Why did I do that?'
She couldn't even understand why she'd called Schlus out separately in the first place. It was true she'd felt a bit of interest in him as an individual, but that was all. She hadn't intended to meet him again, yet her hand had moved on its own, secretly signaling him. A hand signal she'd never used before—as if possessed. Like instinct.
'Am I finally going crazy?'
She'd lived through time no human could endure. At this point, it wouldn't be strange if her mind had worn down and she'd gone mad. This was clearly proof she was losing her sanity. Evidence that she was broken.
If not that... 'My heart... is broken...'
What was this inexplicable tightness and ache? What was this feeling of missing Schlus so terribly even right after seeing him?
Yulia lowered her head and began to cry again. Her chest hurt as if it were being torn apart. She missed Schlus, who had just left, unbearably. And also... she simply felt sorry.
"Damn it, seriously."
It had been an irritating day. Not because she'd seen Lady Lichtenburg's face, nor because she'd been forced to dance with nobles who barely responded. She just hated this churning feeling. It angered her that it felt like her inner weakness—which she'd thought she'd overcome—was being forcibly exposed.
When she'd been alone with Yulia. It would be a lie to say she hadn't secretly hoped for something. It would be deception to claim she hadn't imagined Yulia calling her by her real name.
But that hadn't happened. Yulia was merely interested in Schlus Heinkel—just one of the countless characters in this damn world.
Now she felt rather relieved. It was as if she'd confirmed that Yulia was nothing more than a shell of that person, just a fake. Now she could finally let go of her lingering attachment.
"We've arrived."
The coachman's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. While lost in thought, the carriage had already reached the Imperial Academy. She staggered out and walked slowly across the dark, quiet academy grounds. For some reason, her mind seemed to calm. Maybe because it was like a home she'd lived in ever since coming to this world.
-Combat Magic Practical Training Guide...
A new notice had been posted on the bulletin board. It announced that the Combat Magic practical training would be a two-night, three-day trip. The destination would be announced on the day itself.
Right. There had been this event too. If her intervention hadn't changed the plot, the destination was definitely Wist Forest.
Just thinking of the name Wist Forest brought a flood of information about that episode to mind. Come to think of it, there was also the opportunity that Hurtlocker was supposed to obtain there. She could snatch it while she was at it.
'I should start getting tense.'
Wist Forest was full of unexpected events. It was hard to understand why they'd send students to such a place... If she didn't want to see anyone die, she had to stay sharp. And she needed to prepare thoroughly too. Since she wasn't the original Hurtlocker, she couldn't guarantee her safety.
Thinking about it, there was one thing she needed to obtain. The Mana Energy Antidote. In Wist Forest, she couldn't keep Iris by her side, and using recovery potions would require pouring in an almost unlimited amount, which wasn't cost-effective. The most ideal was the Mana Energy Antidote... Even if it wasn't elixir-level, it was quite rare and expensive. It wasn't a common item at auctions either. Where could she get one?
"Ah."
Come to think of it, she'd recently gained a reliable ally. She could get one from there... or rather, ask for it.
"Ugh...! It's been a while since I've had a day off!"
Erika sprawled on the sofa and stretched widely. She'd finally escaped that hellish swamp of assignments. What kind of assignments all required calculations... She'd sweated trying to devise and maintain the appropriate calculation magic formulas for each assignment. Even Schlus would probably find this one quite difficult. If she went through the midterms, maybe reclaiming the top spot wasn't just a dream...?
"Ah... Midterms are coming up soon."
Darkness fell over Erika's face, which had been joyful. Professor Ludwig's exams were famous for being merciless every time. She couldn't even figure out how to prepare. They said they never came out similar to previous exams. There were even rumors that Professor Ludwig's hobby was creating difficult problems.
"Is Schlus crazy...?"
Just preparing for one major subject exam felt like her head would explode. What was Schlus, who was taking two majors...? And he had to get top marks in both. He was clearly out of his mind.
"Aaaah!"
"......?"
At that moment, a familiar voice howling from afar could be heard. It was definitely her mother's voice. It had been a long time since she'd heard such an agitated voice. What on earth was going on?
Erika peeked her head out the living room door. Then she came face to face with her mother, who was hastily coming out into the hallway with her outerwear roughly thrown on. Her mother was holding something wrapped in cloth in one hand.
"Are you going out?"
"Ah. Oh, yes. Erika. I have something to take care of for a moment. I'll be right back!"
"Yes......"
She must have received quite an urgent call. After returning from the party and changing into loungewear just moments ago, she was rushing out without even changing clothes. Who could have summoned her?
Watching her mother's retreating figure as she hurriedly left the mansion, Erika pondered. What kind of news could make the Countess of Lichtenburg, acting head of one of the three great families, so urgent?
"Ah......?"
As if realizing something, Erika clapped her hands. When she'd asked last time if there was someone she had in mind, her mother had brushed off the question. She hadn't confirmed it, but she hadn't denied it either. That meant the person her mother was going to meet had a fairly high probability of being 'that person.' 'That person' who might become her new father in the future.
It was a somewhat restless feeling. But since it was someone her mother had chosen, he must be a wonderful and courteous gentleman. Erika was steeling her resolve to quietly support her mother's new beginning when—
"But I'm still curious."
She turned around again and hurriedly left the mansion. Her mother hadn't gone far yet. She'd secretly follow and just see 'that person's' face. Of course, even if she didn't like what she saw, she wasn't in a position to interfere...
"Ah......!"
She's taking a carriage? She hadn't expected that. Erika clicked her tongue and stopped. At that moment—
"Please get on, Miss."
The head maid appeared on horseback. The moment their eyes met, they realized they were thinking the same thing. Without asking or questioning, Erika took the head maid's hand and climbed onto the horse's back. Come to think of it, it was the first time she'd seen the head maid wearing pants. Maybe riding clothes. After only seeing her as a housekeeper, seeing her like this felt a bit novel.
"Is this okay? Won't you get fired if we're caught?"
"I'll just say I had no choice because the young lady ordered me to follow."
"......"
Erika's mouth shut tight in shock. The head maid had a plan all along. Though it was a plan where only she would get scolded.
"It's stopping."
Gradually, the carriage slowed down and came to a halt on the empty street. This place was... the street right in front of the Imperial Academy. Could it be one of the professors at the Imperial Academy?
Unable to contain her fluttering heart, Erika got off the horse with the head maid's help. With just one corner between them, Erika and the head maid stared at Lady Lichtenburg's back.
"Huh......?!"
"Shh."
Erika's mouth fell open at the person who appeared shortly after. Thanks to the head maid quickly covering her mouth, no sound escaped.
It was Schlus. Schlus Heinkel. The villain who sold his lifespan to the devil. And the contradictory man who kept sacrificing himself to save someone.
Surely... it must have just been passing by. Just as she thought that—
Schlus stood right in front of Lady Lichtenburg.
"What... what are they saying? Can you hear?"
"No. Not at all."
No matter how hard she concentrated, she couldn't hear their conversation. They weren't that far away. After trying amplification magic just in case, Erika realized. The sound was being blocked by a barrier. In the end, she had no choice but to guess the content of their conversation just by watching their expressions and lip movements.
'What are they talking about?'
Throughout the conversation, Schlus seemed calm. But the lady seemed a bit emotionally agitated, getting angry then biting her lips and lowering her head deeply.
'I think I misunderstood.'
Remarriage partner, my ass. Schlus must have been picking a fight with her mother again. Thinking her prediction was wrong, Erika smiled awkwardly and calmed her excitement.
But the very next moment.
When Lady Lichtenburg removed the cloth from what she was holding, Erika's eyes widened.
"A b-bouquet?!"
"Young lady. Please be quiet......"
She was gagged by the head maid again. What the lady had been holding was none other than several flowers. In other words, a bouquet. Seeing her shyly turning her head to the side and offering the bouquet, Erika couldn't help but be shocked.
Who was that? She'd never seen her mother looking so girlish before.
'No way, crazy......'
The person her mother had in mind was Schlus? Wait a minute. When was that conversation where she asked if there was a remarriage partner? Wasn't it before enrollment? Then when had her mother been meeting Schlus? And why Schlus of all people?
Erika felt her head spinning. She'd thought that since she and Yulia were grown up, her mother could remarry as she pleased, and she'd support whoever it was. But that resolve completely crumbled today. A commoner was fine. A young man was fine. But a young commoner, and moreover, her daughter's same-age university classmate as the partner—that was way beyond the range she could support.
'Schlus Heinkel......! Now he's even targeting someone else's mother?'
Erika ground her teeth, her cheeks flushed red. His aim was obvious. It must be the Lichtenburg family's fortune. Since he was someone who'd even sold his lifespan to the devil, that level of scheme seemed cute. No matter what, she'd stop their marriage. Erika clenched her fists and made that resolve.