Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Faith -1
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From the moment I saw off Pinkvales, the sky had been overcast, and it had rained steadily for the past few days. Times like this made me newly grateful for the existence of magic.
In my previous life, I wouldn't have been able to dry the laundry and would have just waited anxiously for the sun to come out. The damp clothes hanging on the drying rack would have grown mustier by the day.
But things were different now. Even without buying an expensive dryer, a single spell did the trick.
"...So, you called me here just to dry the laundry, Professor?"
"That's exactly it."
"If you weren't the professor... Ugh."
The human clothes dryer, Selvia, let out a deep sigh as she began chanting her spell. Flickering flames danced from her hands, curling around the clothes.
While I was at it, I asked her to dehumidify the lab as well, and she nearly kicked me in the shin. If I hadn't dodged with some clever footwork, it would've left a bruise.
Ziiing.
I could see the laundry drying in real time. The flames mercilessly fluffed up my underwear and undergarments before shifting targets to Pinkvales's panties.
"......Tch."
Selvia clicked her tongue irritably, apparently gauging their intimidating size from the shape and volume. She wasn't exactly well-endowed herself.
To put that volume in perspective, they were bigger than apples...
"Shall I dry your eyes nice and crisp too?"
"No thanks."
I averted my gaze and raised both hands in surrender.
Plip. Plip.
A slight breeze carried raindrops tapping against the lab window a couple of times, as if knocking to be let in.
I glared at the annoying droplets. You aren't the one who should be knocking. It's my pink-haired, flirtatious friend.
No matter how lonely I got, I wouldn't let raindrops in instead of her. If she wants to come, bring Pinkvales along. I'd gladly open the door then.
"...What, having a staring contest with the rain?"
My internal tug-of-war must have looked strange to Selvia. She paused while drying Yuna's slightly undersized innerwear and spoke up.
I answered plainly.
"Negotiating."
"What kind of negotiation with those Azure Tower minions who won't even talk? All they do is freeze up and act aloof."
"Flames say they communicate just fine, though...?"
"Perfectly. They don't freeze, evaporate, or change form, and they have clear likes and dislikes. If they don't like you, they just burn you."
It made sense, but it didn't resonate.
Flame friends, huh. Those greedy things spread everywhere if you're not careful, so keeping them happy seems tricky. Stone friends might be too stoic.
Even filling my head with such random thoughts, the anxiety wouldn't leave.
"...Something bad going on lately?"
"Just anxious without word from my friend."
"Ah, the pink-haired one. Yeah, I haven't seen her around much... That's why you've been all droopy like a fire toad that's swallowed rain?"
"What kind of metaphor is that?"
Even in idioms, she avoided the word "water" like it was poison. How intense was her rivalry with the Azure Tower's Snow White?
Anxiety itself wasn't the problem.
The emotion anxiety clung to was. If I didn't like Pinkvales, the anxiety would have fizzled out powerless, like failing a test wouldn't matter if you weren't aiming for college.
So to eliminate anxiety, remove its host.
Like gum stuck in hair. You pull off the big clump, but the sticky residue lingers no matter how much you wash.
In the end, you have to cut off the tangled part.
"What kind of idiotic idea is that?"
"...Why?"
"My childhood friend told me emotions should be accepted as they are, without burying or cutting them out."
"...That's quite profound."
Selvia's words pierced deep in my chest, pointing out something I'd been ignoring. It even made me feel a bit embarrassed.
She clearly adored her childhood friend. Her face lit up with happiness already, like someone pulling a cake from the fridge.
She continued on their behalf.
"If you deny a love that got rejected, calling it 'never happened,' how can you trust love when it comes again?"
"......"
"That kind of emotion is proof, they said. You're so close to her... that's why you're this anxious, right? So be happy about it. The size of the anxiety reminds you how precious she is."
The taller the building, the longer its shadow.
Instead of trembling in the shadow or raging to topple the building, climb to the top and enjoy the view?
"...If it were that easy, I wouldn't be agonizing."
"Honestly, yeah. Still, isn't it a cool saying? Feels spot-on."
It was idealistic.
"Thanks for the comfort, Selvia. Want me to leak the next practical exam details?"
"Pass. I only said it because we're in the same boat. I've been waiting over ten years for my childhood friend too."
With a "Well, I warned you," Selvia waved as she left the lab. Her red hair swished and vanished. Over ten years...?
Ten years. Ten years.
I imagined the ominous scenario of Pinkvales disappearing, leaving me to wait endlessly for ten years. I started simulating it in my head but stopped.
They say if you mention a tiger, one appears. What if imagining it made it real? Fear gripped me.
I didn't have the courage to face that loss.
I don't want to lose her.
Neither the Magic Tower Master nor Pinkvales. In any form. Even if I revealed my lecherous intentions and heard, "Eww, romance is a bit... let's stay friends."
Or if I ended up with one, and the other said, "You didn't choose me. Then I won't choose you," and left.
Frozen by fears that hadn't even happened, unable to move forward or back, nailed in place.
I wondered if we three felt the same.
Yuna, never crossing the line out of fear of loss, swallowing jealousy, not defining our relationship sharply.
Yuri Lancaster, drawing a clear line despite seeming close, knowing she'd leave for revenge someday.
"How about we try being lovers?" That one line, tightly bound and hidden in a corner of my heart's shadow. Soothing cold feelings with meaningless skinship.
Just because bodies touch doesn't mean hearts do, right?
Truth is, I wish for it.
A stickier bond. One that never breaks. I want us to become family.
......
...Maybe we should talk about it.
When Yuri Lancaster returns, the three of us sit down. Carefully bring it up. Honestly say I want to get closer to you both.
Share more inner thoughts, more intimate parts of our hearts.
Of course, opening up might spark fights. Personalities clash, voices raise. But even risking that.
Adjust to each other, step beyond the current lines. Try a more intimate relationship?
So, tell me.
Yuna, what the mark on that conical hat means, why you sometimes sob suddenly. What happened in the Violet Magic Tower in the past.
Yuri, what sparked that revenge, what past event manifested that incarnation.
Let me solve your worries. If I can't, at least let me comfort and soothe you.
Let's do that.
When Pinkvales returns from her trip, muster courage and speak. Prepare jokes for if the mood sours. Write a script, practice in the mirror.
Is that all? What next?
A trip? Like a real family, a long journey to the southern continent. They say there are great beaches for swimming.
To make it happen... Use the wish coupon from Irid first. Assign Pinkvales as my exclusive aide, so no sudden missions pull her away. Sounds good.
The rain continued. Each drop made me anticipate our reunion.
If all goes well, we'll be happier, more fun. So please, return without a scratch.
As I prayed that.
Bang.
The door flew open.
I turned excitedly, hoping it was Pinkvales at the perfect timing. Instead, there stood Yuna, soaked like a drowned rat.
"......"
"...W-What's wrong, Tower Master? That expression, looking like that..."
I stammered unwittingly. Her shadowed face, clenched fists—they terrified me.
Amid gnawing anxiety, I'd reassured myself repeatedly. It's nothing. No big deal. Tell me that.
But reality is always cruel.
"...Yuri's in a coma."
"......"
With her gasping words, I froze like a pinned butterfly for what felt like ages.
Yuri Lancaster was asleep. An academy student passing by found her discarded in an alley and reported it. Defense Bureau agents still at the academy confirmed her identity and handed her to a priest first. After the Church of the Goddess priest declared her "unhealable."
They contacted me for cooperation. She slept so peacefully, it irked me. I softly called to her closed eyelids.
"...Pinkvales?"
No response. Why won't she answer? Did she hate the nickname deep down? ...Yeah, it could sound insulting. I coined it as a jab at first. Fine, a bit embarrassing, but I'll use her name.
"...Yuri. Hey?"
No reply. Strange. Only after chewing on the silence did I accept Yuri Lancaster was basically a vegetable. Tick. As stress spiked, the Psychopath Module in my head activated.
Right. No big deal. Just a succubus half-dead. No reason to panic.
No pain either. Just a stranger. Who stresses over a crushed ant?
Her intentions were impure anyway. Second Prince's spy to cozy up and extract info.
A vixen detached—pure gain. No watcher means freedom in the academy. Right? Yeah.
So, no big...
No.
Slap.
I infused mana and slapped my own cheek, shattering the module—and innocent ones nearby.
I shook my head wildly to clear thoughts. She's not dead. Reversible. If mental, I can do it.
I summoned a magic circle, channeled mana. Improvised spells. Probed Yuri Lancaster's mind meticulously. Resistance.
Detected artificial mana traces.
Recalling: Like the one in Third Prince's head. Succubus Queen's. And... something else. A complex web too intricate to touch.
Yuri Lancaster was trapped in her own mind by the Queen's spell—like wandering a dungeon in her head.
I could tell. She's having nightmares. Dark wizards inflict pain to wound the soul and drain mana. She's suffering now.
Can I extract externally?
Impossible. Queen's spell is crude, tearable—but aided by tar-like cunning. Malicious.
Like a thorn-filled Iron Maiden. Force the entrance, and Yuri's mind gets riddled with holes.
I sensed magic skill rivaling mine.
The Violet Magic Tower Master examining with me spoke.
"...Seems layered with complex incarnation. Thought Subtraction could erase it, but no. It'd sweep Yuri too..."
"......"
Impatient. Anxious. Other ways? Really abandon her? No. Can't.
Entrance found. Trap in her head vulnerable internally, with inviting side paths. Intentional. Not flaw.
Come in. If you want to save her.
Trap.
Reason warned. Fancy trap laced with unknown incarnation. Dangerous. Mini-dungeon in her head.
Like a session, detach consciousness to enter... I'd be as vulnerable as a participating player.
So?
Doesn't matter. Suppressing boiling rage and sorrow lest it disrupt magic, I gritted teeth. Prepared to enter.
Then Yuna yanked my sleeve hard, warning clearly. Blocking me.
"...Even you could die. You know that...?!"
"I know."
"No, you don't...!! Even Elaine, with mature incarnation, fell to immature you. Even I... half-baked incarnation and all, struggled! Prepared vs unprepared wizards—that gap exists!"
Yeah.
Incarnation traces multiply risk exponentially. But... can't leave her.
"Hey, no need to rush. Okay? Might still have time. At least don't charge in bare. Dangerous!"
But maybe no time. Yuri dying now. Definitely.
"I'll try harder. Rally whole Violet Tower, help. We can do it. Not too late. So...!!"
Can't bear anxiety. Rallying, assessing—takes time. Can she hold?
If I enter now, save her successfully. Everything fine. Happy future intact.
I can. Genius, right?
Go. Save her.
Reading my face, Yuna's twisted, tears welling, eyes reddening.
"...What about me? Then what?!"
"......"
I froze.
As I floundered, Yuna poured out resentment. Sad, sure. Yuri like this hurts. But.
"If you charge in recklessly and end up like this too... How do I live...?"
"I..."
As I trailed off silent.
"I won't let you. Can't go. No—!!"
Near-scream, water droplets rose around and from Yuna's fingertips. Magic prelude.
Whoosh.
Pushed. No, space expanded. Distance to Yuri's bed grew exponentially. Yuna's illusion magic.
Counter...!!
Omni-directional waves opposing Yuna's mana, shattering illusion. Mutual annihilation.
Then disrupt targeting, fire restraining illusions.
Blocking first wave technically, second hit harder. Yuna's chant: long, high-rank!
All light vanished. Senses overwhelmed. Can't process info.
Before blackout, saw bubble rising from Yuna's chest, filling with black liquid. Knew it.
『Violetiris's Condensed Memory Mana Crystal Explosion』.
Sweep with force. If completes, lose. Escaped blackout pre-cast, barraged to disrupt—but.
Can't focus. Dizzy. Her face lingers. Counters half-reflexive. And—
"No one, no one enters here, no one dies. Not you...!!"
——.
Info bomb exploded.
"...Ugh, ah."
Couldn't tell up from down. Legs on head? Eyes on soles? After staggering, regained senses at lab door.
Ejected somehow. Tried entering—door locked. Yuna blocking.
Pounded, tried opening long. Leaned back, slid down squatting.
"......"
Head hurt.
Head cooled a bit. I get it. I'd do the same. If Yuna went berserk to enter Yuri's mind, vowing to die saving Pinkvales. Ironically, I'd stop her. So, abandon Yuri Lancaster? No. Can't. Not impossible, not absolute. Just risky. Yuna, who likes her too, desperately blocking. Wasting time agonizing is loss. But no confidence breaching Yuna's holdout. Serious Violet Tower Master strong; can't attack her seriously. This not, that not. Floundered directionless. Wished someone gave answer. Cooled from blaze to simmer, relatively. Wandered long...
"...So you came to the girls' dorm soaked to the bone?"
"...Yeah."
Somehow, instinct led to Selvia.
"Idiot?"
Seems so.