The Academy Poisoning Attempt
The moment Aria left the academy, the Magic Department’s academic schedule underwent several changes. Of course, the classes she personally taught were few enough to count on one hand over an entire year—but that was only from the students’ perspective.
In any case, her official position at the academy was that of a professor. And as a professor, she had duties to fulfill, which meant she kept a number of subordinates under her.
When Aria departed for external business, the assistant instructors of the Magic Department saw their schedules rearranged and were suddenly buried under a mountain of tasks. It was only on the very day she left that every last piece of work was finally completed, allowing them a moment of rest.
And the person most affected by all of this was none other than—
“⋯⋯Haa.”
A woman letting out a long sigh in one corner of the lounge.
Serafina, Aria’s direct assistant, with her signature pink hair and clear blue eyes.
“⋯⋯Huu.”
Yet the very person who should have been rejoicing at this rare break wore an expression heavy with worry rather than joy.
“Ah, of all times⋯.”
Serafina let out a weary groan. She had already sighed dozens of times.
And for good reason.
One particular scene kept replaying inside her head, refusing to leave her alone.
“⋯⋯I wonder if he enjoyed the chocolate.”
Serafina murmured to herself.
It had happened on the day she went to see Aria off. She had witnessed her professor casually handing a box of chocolates to someone else, asking them to pass it along to Yohan.
A gift given so openly in front of so many people. The recipient hadn’t been present at the time, but if he had been⋯.
⋯⋯Let’s not think about it.
This wasn’t the time. It was a long-awaited break, and it would be over soon. Aria would be returning before long.
She should be enjoying this rest, but⋯.
“⋯⋯Haa.”
But still⋯.
Click.
The sound of the lounge door opening made Serafina lift her head, cutting her thoughts short.
“Serafina~”
The person who stepped inside was her classmate, Riel.
“Ah, Riel. Come in.”
Serafina smiled and pulled out a chair for her.
“Thanks. By the way, you were the one who asked to meet first. Is it because Professor Aria is away?”
Riel asked as she sat down.
“Yeah, I guess so? I finally have some free time.”
“Must be nice~ The infirmary is always packed with people. We really need breaks like this sometimes.”
After a short lament, Riel accepted the tea Serafina offered her.
“How’s the infirmary these days?”
“Same as always. No major incidents. Just the usual crowd of people who got hurt during experiments.”
They all come in with their hair fried into tight curls.
Watching that is pretty much my only joy these days.
Riel giggled, then continued.
“So, what has our newly freed Lady Serafina been up to lately?”
Her tone was playful. She poked Serafina’s cheek repeatedly, urging her to speak, while staring straight into her eyes.
“So? Any progress with that guy?”
She asked in a hushed voice.
“We’re not like that. We’ve barely even talked a few times. He probably doesn’t even remember my name.”
Serafina waved her hands dismissively, avoiding her friend’s gaze.
“Yeah, right. He’s pretty handsome, you know? Totally your type.”
Serafina rolled her eyes.
It seemed there was no hiding it after all.
⋯⋯Was I always this easy to read? A faint sense of doubt crept over her.
“Just talk to him properly at least once~”
Her friend gave her shoulder a light push and added,
“The rumor about you and the professor turned out to be false, right? Same with the chocolate gift. You’ve been going around explaining it to everyone.”
“⋯⋯Well, that’s true, but.”
Serafina murmured quietly.
Normally she would have brushed off the rumor as nonsense, but after seeing the professor’s gift, she somehow felt strangely deflated.
Even though she knew Aria had no interest in that sort of thing.
Even while she had diligently answered every question that came her way after the chocolate incident.
For some reason, she just felt small.
“Besides, you can’t even leave the academy anyway. Why not try dating while you’re here?”
Serafina shook her head.
“No. He’s still a student. I shouldn’t distract him from his studies.”
“Ugh, don’t come crying to me later when you miss your chance. Once he graduates, who knows what’ll happen?”
Riel gulped down her tea in clear frustration.
“With things like this, you have to create ‘coincidental’ meetings. And since you’re an assistant and he’s a student, you have plenty of chances to run into each other. Even if you haven’t seen him lately because you’ve been busy.”
“⋯⋯That’s true, but.”
“Just have a proper conversation with him. That’s how you make progress—or find out there isn’t any.”
“⋯⋯I suppose I should.”
Serafina scratched her cheek.
When her friend showed such a hesitant attitude, Riel pushed harder.
“Yes. You have free time today, don’t you? Why not go see him right now?”
“Today? ⋯⋯Is that really okay?”
“Trust this Riel here. Everything starts with a single conversation.”
“But what if he doesn’t like it?”
“He won’t dislike it. So just try. Don’t let this slip away. After watching you for so long, this is the first time I’ve seen you react like this. Just do it first and think later.”
“Alright.”
Serafina nodded reluctantly.
“Good. Then now⋯. Oh dear, is it already this late?”
Riel glanced at the clock and made a disappointed face.
“You have to go already?”
“Yeah, my break is over. I’ll head out first. Make sure you go talk to him!”
She stood up, waved, and left the lounge first, leaving Serafina alone.
‘⋯⋯Is he in the lab right now?’
I should at least try talking to him.
‘If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll help with that too.’
She felt like she would regret it if she didn’t at least have a conversation.
She quickened her steps.
And the first thing she saw when she opened the lab door was—
“⋯⋯Yohan!”
Yohan, collapsed on the floor and coughing up a mouthful of blood.
The process of Yohan consuming the poison was no different from before.
However, if one looked at the parts that came after, there was one clear change: Zeno was now present to watch over the situation.
“⋯⋯Cough.”
Once the perpetrators had left, Yohan spat out blood.
It was a complete mess. Blood kept pouring out endlessly, and his entire body had been brutally beaten. Anyone who saw him would surely frown in disgust.
But to Yohan himself, it didn’t evoke much emotion. He simply observed the situation with calm detachment.
⋯⋯Yeah. This much is bearable.
He was confident he could survive it. So he endured.
‘⋯⋯I wonder when the assistant will arrive.’
Yohan’s gaze drifted toward the door. His throat burned. His eyes hurt too—most likely they had turned blood-red by now.
‘⋯⋯I do feel a bit sorry toward her. But it had to be done.’
I should give her a gift before I leave.
I really owe her so much.
Yohan made up his mind.
“⋯⋯Urk.”
He coughed up more blood.
[Yohan, are you alright?]
“⋯⋯Yes, ⋯⋯khk!”
[There is no need to speak aloud.]
‘⋯⋯Ah, right.’
Even while spitting blood, Yohan let out a small chuckle.
⋯⋯I almost spoke out loud again just because I got used to it. What an idiot.
With a self-deprecating smile, he spoke to Zeno.
‘Zeno, I’ll probably collapse the moment the assistant arrives. I’ll leave the rest to you.’
[Do not worry.]
‘Yes, thank you.’
Knock, knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the door reached them.
“This is Serafina. I’m coming in.”
‘Ah, she’s here.’
It was her.
The door opened, and pink hair and blue eyes came into Yohan’s view.
[This person is⋯.]
‘She’s the assistant. Her timing is exactly the same as before.’
“Is Yohan here right now⋯ Yohan? ⋯⋯Yohan!”
The urgent words that followed.
It was fine to collapse now.
Yohan slowly released the strength he had been holding in his body.
The last thing he saw was Serafina rushing toward him with a desperate expression before he closed his eyes.
“⋯⋯Kuh, assi⋯.”
“Yohan!”
After Yohan collapsed, Zeno observed every single thing that happened afterward.
The person Yohan called “assistant” performing emergency treatment, calling for help, the people in white coats rushing in and carrying Yohan to the infirmary, and even the way he was treated as a critical patient once inside.
He didn’t miss a single scene.
[Still, appropriate measures are being taken.]
Indeed.
Zeno was well aware that discrimination between commoners and nobles existed within the academy.
That was why he had worried that Yohan’s damaged throat might have been the result of inadequate care. But unexpectedly, the academy was providing treatment at the highest possible level.
In fact, the medical staff seemed more panicked by the fact that the treatment potions weren’t working properly on him.
“⋯⋯Bring more of that over here!”
“There’s none left? Bring everything we have!”
Shouts filled the infirmary one after another, followed by a voice thick with regret.
“He’s alive. But his throat⋯ it looks like it will be difficult.”
“I see. You did well. Move Yohan to the intensive care ward for now. I will explain the rest. Minimize contact with others.”
“Yes, Headmaster.”
A white-haired man appeared just as the series of measures was coming to an end. He gave a few short orders to the staff and then cleared the room.
[So this is the headmaster.]
“⋯⋯Tsk.”
The headmaster clicked his tongue and muttered,
“⋯⋯Yohan, I’m sorry. When you wake up, I’ll let you do whatever you want.”
He continued,
“It seems Celestia needs change as well. The same goes for me.”
The headmaster closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. He told everyone to rest and left the room.
Watching the entire process, Zeno thought,
[Letting him do as he wishes probably means allowing him to drop out. It seems he was already acquainted with the Magic Tower Master.]
Zeno didn’t quite understand what the headmaster meant by needing change himself, but it was clear that he felt genuine remorse toward Yohan.
[Now then, when will he wake up? Before the Tower Master returns⋯ Hm?]
Zeno paused. A small voice suddenly came from outside.
“Serafina, come in quietly.”
A woman in a white coat led Serafina toward Yohan.
“Serafina, I’m only letting you in because it’s you. You can’t tell anyone, understand?”
“Yes, Riel. I know.”
She nodded.
“How is Yohan?”
Her voice still carried the traces of tears.
Suppressing her own sobs, Riel answered.
“His life isn’t in danger. But speaking again will be difficult from now on. ⋯⋯We’ll have to wait until he wakes up for more details.”
“⋯⋯I see.”
Serafina’s eyes grew red.
“Still, Serafina, you’re the one who found him. If you had been any later, I don’t know what would have happened. You saved him.”
Riel hugged her and spoke gently. After calming Serafina’s trembling body, she continued.
“You probably won’t be able to see him for a while. Once the investigation starts, a lot of people will be coming and going. It’ll be hard to sneak in. So if you have anything to say, you should say it now.”
Serafina stepped out of Riel’s embrace. Then she slowly took Yohan’s hand.
“I’m sorry I was late. I hope I can see you smiling again when you wake up.”
Riel said I saved him because I found him.
But I don’t think so.
I should have come to the lab without hesitating. If I had, his condition might have been better than it is now. That thought made me hate myself.
So.
Please, let a miracle happen for you.
Serafina closed her eyes and finished her prayer.
“That’s enough, Riel. This should be fine. Sorry for forcing you.”
“It’s okay. Let’s go now. I’ll let you know the moment he wakes up.”
“Thank you.”
Click.
The two quietly closed the door to the hospital room and left. Once again, silence returned to the room.
Zeno spoke softly.
[So it was the Tower Master and the assistant.]
The two people who had been lying dead a short distance from Yohan when they first met.
Yohan, who had lost his sight, had not noticed the two corpses.
When asked why he had been covered in blood at that moment, Yohan had always answered,
‘Didn’t I draw a magic circle with my own blood?’
So Zeno had never told him.
But now.
It was a story he would never be able to tell Yohan, who was about to leave this place anyway.