Shall We Sleep Together?
In Aria's room, a tower of magical devices rose neatly stacked in the center of the dining table.
“...Aren’t you bringing over too many?”
Serafina watched the growing pile of devices and asked if it was really all right.
Claire smiled as she answered.
“This much is necessary if we’re to call it the Magic Tower. Of course, you don’t need to test every single one.”
“Still...”
Serafina trailed off, her eyes carefully scanning the magical devices.
They were so diverse and ornate that her eyes widened in amazement.
Her expression seemed to ask whether it was truly all right to touch them.
“Feel free to use them as much as you like. If any of them break, it simply means they had defects. From our perspective, that would be most welcome.”
Claire encouraged them to use the devices without hesitation, then turned her gaze to Yohan.
“And this is the magic tool we prepared specifically for Student Yohan.”
Claire lifted one of the devices and carefully placed it into Yohan’s hands.
Yohan ran his fingers across it, slowly piecing together its shape.
What could this be?
Four corners. Several indented grooves, and something embedded inside those grooves.
...What is this?
A square plate? Should I think of it that way?
[It appears to be a square plate. This is a magic tool I have never encountered before.]
...What is its purpose?
Yohan felt over the device a few more times before tilting his head.
Its intended use was not easy to guess.
Claire gave him ample time to examine it, then continued.
“The Tower Master mentioned that Student Yohan had been writing on paper to communicate. This device was created with inspiration from that conversation. It is still in the early stages and somewhat unstable, but would you like to try using it?”
From Claire’s explanation, Yohan could roughly guess the device’s function.
It seems that whatever I write will be transmitted automatically.
[That does appear to be the case. Once your eyesight improves it may no longer be necessary, but in your current condition, is this not the most essential item?]
It is.
...In truth, it was practically the most necessary thing he could have.
He could not continue holding conversations in that manner forever.
Besides, it would be best to reduce contact with the assistant from now on.
Even if sharing the same living space was unavoidable.
Continuing to face a heart he could not answer was uncomfortable.
“Would you like to try it?”
Yohan nodded. There was no reason to refuse.
Claire soon handed him a quill pen, and Yohan slowly began to write.
“Yes, you’ve grasped the usage very quickly.”
Just as Claire said, Yohan quickly mastered the device.
It required very little mana as well. As expected of something crafted by the Magic Tower, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
Serafina covered her mouth with a small gasp of admiration.
“Student Yohan looks much more comfortable now. As expected of the Magic Tower.”
She added that the application was something she would never have imagined, clearly impressed.
Yohan tapped the device lightly with his finger.
...Why is this still considered an early-stage prototype?
Even though he had only tested it simply, he could find no flaws.
In fact, it felt complete enough to be used as it was.
Yet...
...the adjutant had called it an early stage for a reason.
After some thought, Yohan asked Claire for the reason.
“Ah, there is a reason. Could you try writing something longer?”
Claire smiled and asked him to write anything at length.
Yohan nodded and began to write.
A sharp hissing sound filled the air as smoke rose, and the device stopped working.
Yohan’s face showed clear surprise.
...Huh? Suddenly?
“When the amount of text that needs to be transmitted grows too large, it breaks down. It cannot be used for extended periods yet. And once it malfunctions, it must be remade from scratch.”
...I see.
Yohan’s expression turned bitter.
[What a shame.]
The means of conversation had vanished.
Yohan tried to activate the device once more, but it never responded again.
Meanwhile, while Yohan and Serafina continued testing the other magical devices, Aria and Kassian had finished traveling to the entrance of the Dragon’s Nest.
“Celestia, you’ve worked hard.”
“...Haah, so you do know.”
Aria sighed and withdrew her hand from Kassian’s body.
From here, they would have to proceed on foot.
Since they had entered the territory of another race, it was necessary to show them respect.
“That aside, this place really hasn’t changed.”
Aria turned her head, surveying the surroundings.
On the surface, nothing was visible.
...Of course, faint ripples of mana were visible to Aria’s eyes.
The barrier was woven with such intricate precision that ordinary people would never notice it.
Anyone without permission would be unable to find this place no matter what method they used.
And Aria could easily predict that truth.
“Remaining undiscovered is the goal, so it is only natural. The same could be said of you, could it not?”
Kassian looked at Aria.
At the gaze that seemed to ask if it wasn’t similar for her, Aria gave a small, wry smile.
“Well, that’s true.”
...In any case.
It was time to head deeper inside.
“I’ll open it now.”
Kassian raised his hand above the barrier and began to carefully channel his mana.
A moment later, the barrier parted just enough for Aria and Kassian to pass through.
The instant they stepped inside, a voice echoed.
“It has been a long time, Father.”
“It has indeed.”
Kassian’s eyebrows rose subtly.
His face seemed to ask why the speaker had already come out to meet them.
After the device broke, Yohan and Serafina examined the remaining magical tools.
Claire had already left long ago to attend to Magic Tower business.
All of these are things I already recognize.
[It seems that was the only one that had changed.]
...Tsk.
Yohan let out a quiet mental sigh.
In the end, that particular magic tool had broken completely and could no longer be used right away. Aside from that, they had gained nothing else.
At least, it is fortunate that the assistant seems to be enjoying herself.
That was the one saving grace.
After coming all the way to the Magic Tower, she had ended up looking after a student.
Even so, this experience should still be worthwhile.
That was what Yohan thought.
“Student Yohan, are you tired?”
Serafina, who had finished testing the devices at some point, asked him.
Yohan shook his head.
He truly did not feel particularly tired.
It seems people have been saying this to me often lately.
Thinking back, Professor Aria had said something similar a few days ago.
The memory of being suddenly transported to the bedroom surfaced.
Do I look sleepy to you, Zeno?
[From an external perspective, yes. Even now your eyes are half-closed.]
Zeno confirmed it.
Yohan tilted his head.
...I’m not tired at all, so why?
The reason was impossible to guess.
As Yohan continued thinking with his head tilted, Serafina—who had misunderstood his reaction—took his hand.
“Is something wrong, Student Yohan?”
Yohan gently shook his head.
There shouldn’t be anything to make me tired.
He never left the room. When movement was necessary, he was usually transported by Professor Aria’s magic, so he never had the chance to move his body.
Therefore, there was nothing that should cause fatigue.
If anything is different, it is only that I received mana, correct?
The only change from before was receiving mana.
If he had to name a cause, that was the only possibility.
...Could it be a side effect of some kind?
[If that were the case, would the Tower Master not have mentioned it?]
That is true.
...It certainly was.
There would have been no reason to withhold such information.
Then what is causing it?
Yohan unconsciously tilted his head again.
“Student Yohan, you really do seem tired. Shall we sleep now?”
Serafina stood up, and Yohan quietly followed her lead.
...Perhaps his body was experiencing fatigue that his mind had not yet recognized.
With that thought in mind, Yohan headed to the bedroom with Assistant Serafina so as not to worry her.
By the way.
Where is the assistant going to sleep?
...She couldn’t possibly be planning to do the same thing as the professor.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa. If Student Yohan takes the bed...”
Yohan stopped walking.
...So there is no other bedroom.
...No matter what, he could not let this person sleep on the sofa.
Yohan immediately turned to leave the bedroom, but Serafina quickly caught his arm.
“No matter what, I cannot let a patient sleep on the sofa. There is no need to be considerate of me, Student Yohan.”
Serafina added that he did not need to worry about her.
[There seems to be no other option.]
...Haah.
Yohan let out a small sigh.
...There was no point in prolonging the discussion.
It would be better to reach a compromise quickly.
“Yes?”
Serafina’s face flushed a deep crimson.