[ ▶ The Reporters Are Really Gathered in Droves. ]
[ ▶ The Reporters Are Really Gathered in Droves. ]
Carve the brand.
Plan had said it clearly.
'A human, of all things....'
A spasm flickered at the corner of Maeve's eye.
To demand subordination from another being in the first place was an outrageous notion. It meant living as a subordinate Witch forever.
And on top of that, Plan was born human. A human—the very creatures Blood Demons regarded as little more than toys.
Her lips, which barely moved, trembled open.
"A subordination contract is... impossible. No, I cannot."
Forcing out the respectful speech made her tongue twist awkwardly. Maeve strained to press on.
"I must attend the Blood Demons' executive council, and I must present myself before Her Highness the Princess..."
"However."
"I cannot do any of that while a brand is carved into me. I cannot."
To be subordinated and bound to someone—that was a thing she had never once imagined possible.
One by one, she began pulling out every reason she could to persuade Plan.
"It would be bad for both of us. A human who has subjugated a Blood Demon—the other Blood Demons would call it insolence and mobilize for revenge."
"That sounds as though you are calling me insolent."
A cold sweat beaded on Maeve's skin.
"I am not."
"I am not particularly concerned."
"...Not concerned? You are not?"
To Maeve, whose eyes had gone wide and round, Plan merely intoned in a flat voice.
"Is disguise not your specialty? Live while holding every identity at once—Blood Demon, one subordinated to me, the Society Head of the First-time Section."
"...."
"If you are a prodigy of the Disguise Art, you ought to manage at least that much."
She truly had nothing to say. Yet even with nothing to say, this was a situation where something had to be forced out.
"Right now, does that even make..."
"If this does not make sense."
Plan's voice, its edge honed sharp. It cut Maeve's words apart without mercy.
"Then there is no reason for you to remain alive."
She did not think that statement was wrong.
If she did not align with Plan's interests, then from his perspective there would indeed be no reason to keep Maeve alive.
"Fine. Then there's no helping it."
Maeve squeezed her eyes shut.
'I'd rather die.'
At first, the fact of dying had simply terrified her. But now, no longer.
She had readied her resolve in her own way. Better to die than to cling to life subordinated to a human.
And so she could be composed.
"Just kill me."
"Is that sincere."
"Yeah."
Maeve slowly nodded.
"It's sincere. So just kill me."
"I wonder. It is probably not sincere."
Without a word, Plan rested his index finger against Maeve's forehead.
"...!"
A violent convulsion wracked Maeve's entire body.
"...."
She saw it. No—she felt it.
It was a darkness black as pitch.
She instinctively tried to shut her eyes and evade it, but even if she plucked out her eyeballs, the darkness alone would remain.
A suffocating pressure that coiled around her whole body and wrenched it tight. A searing heat that pierced through her heart as though dozens—hundreds—of blades were being driven into it. A crushing weight that drenched her in cold sweat, like the edge of a blade pressed cold against the base of her throat.
The instincts of a living, breathing animal told her.
This is 'death.'
"...P-please save me."
A single tear slid down Maeve's cheek.
Her eyes had already lost their focus. Muttering like a woman who had lost her mind was her final resistance as an animal.
"Save, save me. No—please save me, I beg you."
Plan withdrew his hand from Maeve's forehead. She collapsed flat onto the floor.
"Th-thank you. Thank you..."
Thank you. The words came out on their own.
Even she did not know why she was speaking this way. It was simply that her instincts commanded it.
Hic.
Now even hiccups burst out of her.
"Uuhp... hhk..."
Terror, relief, tears, hiccups... all manner of things blocked her breathing, and Maeve, still collapsed, clutched frantically at her own chest.
"Uweeghh... hck, huuuhh..."
In the end, she vomited onto the floor.
'What in the world... what in the world, what in the world...'
She could not believe it.
Is observation important to the life of an illusionist? It is—because she unfolds false worlds built upon what she has observed, then layers further imagination atop them.
"Huuuhh... huuuhh... uughhh..."
What Maeve had just witnessed was 'death.'
This was not something that had actually occurred. Yet he could show her such a sight through imagination alone? She could not believe it.
'A human... a human... how...'
That she could not resist Plan—that one thing, at least, was certain.
If she steeled herself for death and threw herself at him, Plan would gladly bestow upon her something beyond death.
"Still confused? Then this time, a thousand deaths—"
Plan made to extend his index finger once more.
"W-w-wait. No, please wait—!"
Shuddering in terror, Maeve pressed her forehead against the floor.
"Please wait... please wait a moment, I beg you."
It already felt as though she had experienced a thousand deaths. If she were made to witness such a sight once more... this time, she would truly lose her mind.
"I will, I will do it."
"What will you do."
"The subordination contract... I will do it."
Upon the back of Maeve's hand, a red cross marking appeared.
She pressed her violently trembling hand against Plan's feet. The marking flared up with a whoosh and remained behind like a tattoo.
Now, with this, everything should have been over.
"Not quite."
But Plan shook his head.
"The contract alone is insufficient. Additional clauses have been appended."
"...?"
Maeve's mouth gaped open.
"Earlier... up until..."
"You were too insolent. The situation has changed."
"...."
Maeve's whole body began to tremble violently. It was not from fear alone.
"That attitude seems like something only death will fix."
"I'll do it! I will follow the conditions as well!"
At Plan's single remark, Maeve began banging her head against the floor again and again.
Now she wrapped her hands not around her chest but around her face. Her whole body was already trembling uncontrollably.
'To suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of a human... and even a subordination contract...'
Her chewed lower lip bled. The taste of blood was bitter and made her feel insanely filthy.
"First, I will assign your tasks."
Fwip— Sheets of paper stacked themselves in perfect alignment beside Maeve's head. They were the evaluation forms Plan had written.
"Release all the taxidermy, and submit these to the academy as the midterm evaluation results."
"Yes."
"Additionally, several citizens died because of the Blood Demons... Take responsibility by resigning from the position of Society Head. That will be one fewer identity to perform through disguise."
"Yes..."
"I will be taking 'Dream' with me. The rest, confirm through this."
One more sheet of paper was laid beside her head.
"With this, I will be going first."
Step— Step—
The steady sound of footsteps grew distant and, at last, could no longer be heard. Only then did Maeve slowly raise her body.
She still did not have the strength to stand. Still collapsed on the ground, Maeve examined the papers laid beside her head.
[ ]
Plan (Party A) and Maeve (Party B) hereby enter into the following contract.
Work commencement date : Immediately upon conclusion of contract
Place of work : Not applicable
Job description : Subjugation Festival training assistance, thesis proofreading assistance, accounting management.
Wages : Life
Annual paid leave : Granted upon death
"What in the... what is this...."
Her hands shook minutely. The paper trembled so badly that the letters were illegible.
At the same time, the blank space on the paper filled itself in.
[ Slave Contract ]
"Ah..."
Her mind went completely blank.
◈
[ Fatalities within Sapour... furthermore, the undisclosed magical tool 'Dream' has been lost. ]
[ "I take full responsibility." Shushia resigns as Society Head of the First-time Section. Estimated compensation alone reaches a staggering... ]
Alongside the ceaseless torrent of articles, the students returned safely to Märchen Academy.
"I don't know if I should call this a good thing... Looks like we've ended up staying at the Hotel of the Magic Tower again."
Becky scratched her cheek.
There were no casualties among academy staff or students, which was extremely fortunate, but... as a safety measure, the A Grade students were being forced to lodge tonight at the Hotel of the Magic Tower.
In truth, it was a facility far too pleasant for the label "forced" to apply. Not a single thing about its interior structure or amenities failed to impress the students.
"And this time, it's three people to a room."
The girl surveyed her surroundings. Sharing a room with Yushia was fine, but the problem was Trixie. Honestly, she was frightening.
"Ah~ Miss Becky, you can unpack your things right here."
With a bright smile, Yushia greeted Becky. Becky awkwardly waved back.
Meanwhile, Trixie didn't so much as glance at Yushia or Becky. She stared silently out the window, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
"Ah... yeah. Thanks."
"Miss Becky, are you doing all right?"
"Not even a little bit. Who in the world comes up with evaluations this terrifying and awful?"
Becky shuddered.
When she first encountered the anomaly at the exhibition hall, she had genuinely believed a real disaster was unfolding.
"I was incredibly startled as well. To think it was all just an evaluation in the end...."
"Märchen Academy really is something else. Or wait — should I be saying Sapour is the one that's something else?"
Becky shook her head in disbelief, then suddenly spotted the three scrolls cradled in Yushia's arms.
"What are those?"
"Hm?"
"Those scrolls you're holding."
"Ah~ These!"
Yushia beamed.
"They're our midterm evaluation results."
"Your results came on scrolls...? I can't imagine why they'd need to be that thick."
"Apparently, the evaluations are written on them as well!"
"Written evaluations...?"
Yushia nodded.
"Yes. If only the scores were written down, students would struggle to fix their own shortcomings!"
Images of Sapour flickered through Becky's mind, and she swallowed dryly without realizing it.
All she could remember was frantically casting spells and fleeing for her life.... She was already dreading what kind of evaluation might be written about her.
"J-just give me mine.... I'll look at it later, alone."
Becky awkwardly extended a hand, but Yushia tilted her head.
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"Huh...? I said alone. Not now — later."
"That won't do."
Yushia's refusal was firm as she shook her head. Becky was simply bewildered.
"What do you mean, it won't do? They're my results."
"Looking at them alone is what won't do. Don't you see this?"
Yushia's fingertip pointed to a corner of the scroll. There were two blank square boxes.
"You must show them to at least two people and receive their confirmation. Only then, they say, will the results be officially validated."
"Wh-wh-what?"
Becky jumped.
"Why in the world?"
"Discuss what needs improvement with each other.... That's likely the intent, isn't it? At any rate, we look at them together!"
"Aaaaagh.... I hate this...."
Becky wailed, wildly tangling her own hair.
"We'd best look at them quickly and then sleep. Ah, Miss Trixie, please come over as well!"
Trixie gave a small nod.
The three scrolls were laid out side by side on the cabin floor.
And the three young women sat in a row before them. Yushia placed a hand on one of the scrolls.
"Well then.... Let's take a look now!"
The scroll was heavier than expected. Yushia checked the name on the one she had picked up.
Becky.
"First, this one is Miss Becky's."
"Urgh...."
Before a single word had been read, Becky let out a dying sound.
[ Becky ]
▶ Understanding of ice elements is commendable.
"Huh...? What, there's actually a compliment written here?"
Having read the first line, Becky snatched the scroll from Yushia's hands. With newfound confidence, she began reading through the rest.
▶ Displays excessive wavering in unexpected situations. This stems from a lack of faith rather than a lack of talent.
▶ Output process is pathetic. Refer to A Study on Output and Related Factors, page 32, Library Section D.
...(abridged)
"Hahaha...."
Reduced to ash that might scatter in the slightest breeze, Becky made a sound somewhere between laughter and tears.
It had started with a compliment, but everything that followed was nothing but a merciless lashing.
The part that said "worthless" struck Becky's heart particularly hard. Enough to make tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
Yushia carefully patted Becky's shoulder.
"B-Becky.... Miss Becky.... It's all right. It seems this is simply how grading is done in Sapour."
"Th-there's a limit even to that.... Do they normally use the word 'worthless' against students?"
"I agree.... It goes past blunt and approaches outright venom."
"That's exactly what I'm saying! Even Plan doesn't talk to me like this!"
Yushia tilted her head.
"Wouldn't Lord Plan be more than capable of that?"
"Erm, yeah — the moment I said it, I realized my mistake."
Yushia's head turned toward Trixie.
"Miss Trixie, I think you'd agree! Doesn't this sound just like Lord Plan's way of speaking?"
"Don't bring up Plan."
A voice sharp as frost. Trixie let out a deep sigh.
The sound of a heavy sigh settled over the cabin.
"Because of him, I can't even function normally right now."
"...?"
"...?"
Becky and Yushia's eyes went wide.
Silence drifted through the cabin for a moment.
After a beat, Yushia awkwardly lifted the next scroll.
"A-anyway~ This time it's mine~"
[ Yushia ]
▶ The mana-blending portion is not entirely unbearable to watch.
▶ Circuit composition is shoddy. Refer to the full text of Circuit Composition Studies.
...(abridged)
"Oh, I received a compliment on the mana-blending portion!"
"...?"
Becky looked at Yushia with flabbergasted eyes.
"Yushia. You actually seem happy...."
"Yes~ Because I was complimented!"
"Th-this counts as a compliment? 'Not entirely unbearable to watch' — that counts?"
"Yes!"
Yushia nodded, beaming from ear to ear.
"Then what about this one. Haven't you seen this?"
Becky pointed her index finger at the second item. The word "shoddy" was brazenly displayed there.
It wasn't that she was doing this out of spite toward Yushia — Becky was simply marveling at this pure-white girl's bottomless optimism.
"Ah, circuit composition genuinely is a weakness of mine, so...."
"R-right, I see."
Becky scratched her cheek.
"Haah."
But at that moment, Trixie sighed.
Having been utterly silent until now, Trixie finally opened her mouth and spoke a single sentence.
"None of it is actually wrong. Why are you making such a fuss?"
"Hing.... But still...."
"..."
Becky and Yushia's expressions grew glum.
What was written on the evaluations was correct, and what Trixie had said was also correct. There was nothing in particular they could say in response.
"Just accept it. Is that so hard?"
After that single added remark, Trixie picked up a scroll.
"Hmph."
She unfurled it without any particular emotional reaction.
She didn't imagine there would be any harsh criticism — and if there was, she would simply accept it and overcome it. That was all.
"...?"
But a moment later, all three young women's eyes flew wide open.
"What...."
Trixie's hands began to tremble.
"What the...."
Soon the trembling spread through her entire body.
[ Trixie ]
▶ The direction of the magic is misguided.
...(abridged)
◈
The next morning.
I greeted the dawn without having slept at all. It wasn't that I had been unable to sleep — I simply hadn't felt any inclination to.
'The Dream.'
It was entirely because of this magical tool. Slowly, I traced my hand over it, small as it was, like a tiny picture frame.
At the same time, I felt my heart pounding hard.
Why this exhilaration? I knew the reason better than anyone.
Without thinking, I recalled my research into the ancient rune language from my previous world.
The missing characters were scattered everywhere, and so—the research had hit a ceiling.
But now. Inside this 'Dream,' there were traces of ancient runes I had never seen before.
'If I can find all the ancient runes....'
A new horizon would surely open. The research accomplished with only the characters already deciphered had already been staggering.
Time, space, dimensions.... Even domains I had previously been unable to approach could finally be touched.
If that happened, the range of possible actions would broaden dramatically.
I drew in a breath and let it out. I felt rapture.
No — I trembled at the prospect of new magic. A single bead of sweat ran down my forehead.
"...You are beautiful."
I murmured quietly.
And at that moment, a message arrived on Trivia.
[ *Sepia ]
[ ▶ You know there's an exclusive interview today, right? ]
[ ▶ A massive swarm of reporters has gathered. ]
[ ▶ The Knight Department reporters are packed in full force too. ]
[ ▶ You absolutely have to come! No excuses! ]
"An exclusive interview, is it."
I straightened my collar and tidied my appearance.
There were still so many things to prove. So many things worth enjoying. Overflowing, even now.