I Don't Want to Go to School
The explosion had shattered the luminous artifact, leaving my vision swallowed in complete darkness. In a way, I suppose I should count myself lucky it had lasted until the blast. If the homunculus attacked me in this state, I wouldn't be able to resist—I'd be sent straight to the afterlife.
Level Up Bonus: Bonus stats granted.
Fortunately, it looked like that wouldn't be an issue.
"Ugh..."
It hurt. The injury was worse than I'd expected. On top of that, this was the wastewater purification facility. Toxic gases filled the air around me. They hadn't been a major concern during the fight, but now they were steadily draining what little strength I had left.
I... might actually be in trouble here.
It seemed I'd have to wait for Liana or Sane to come looking for me.
...Assuming I could hold on that long.
The poor environment might cause the wound to fester. I'd barely managed to defeat the homunculus—dying here would be too unfair to even think about.
Thankfully, while I'd been unconscious, my magic power had recovered slightly. It was enough to channel energy into the brand connecting me and Sane.
Now that I think about it, doesn't this thing have a communication function too...?
"Sane. I'm in the wastewater purification facility beneath the academy. The path is blocked by collapsed debris, so bring people who can clear a way through. Keep that in mind."
"Huh...? Got it! Are you okay?! You fought the main body, didn't you...?"
"I feel like I'm going to die."
With those final words, the magic link between us severed. I'd probably run out of power. At least the rescue request was sent. Now I just had to endure as long as possible....
The stamina potion I kept in my pocket broke too...
It was the worst-case scenario. I lay exactly where I'd fallen, waiting endlessly for Sane's help.
I want to see Mom....
. . .
How much time had passed?
—Boom!
—Kwaaang!
—Kugugugung!
Loud explosions shook the ground with heavy vibrations.
Are they breaking through the entrance...?
They were probably clearing the ceiling debris that had collapsed after I smashed through the wall. Soon the rumbling stopped, and voices calling my name echoed through the darkness.
"[Light]. Okay, now I can see... Logue! Are you there?! Say something! Sane unnie, is this the right spot...?"
"Logue said he was underground, so..."
"Fight... traces here..."
An unexpected voice joined them. It sounded like Kiene...
I tried to call out and reveal my position, but I was too exhausted. No sound would come.
Tap tap tap.
"There! Isn't that Logue?!"
Hurried footsteps rushed closer. The sound grew louder, and then a voice that could only belong to Liana rang out through the chamber.
"Kyaa... kyaaaak!!! Lo... Logue!!! Are you okay?!"
...No.
Liana. Thanks for finding me before I died, but... could you please stop shaking me?
"B-blood!!!! S-Sane unnie...!"
"...Calm down, Liana. He's still moving slightly, so he's alive. Hurry and use recovery magic."
A cozy, warm sensation soon spread through my entire body. It looked like Liana had cast her spell. The constant pain gradually eased, and strength slowly returned to my limbs.
Her magic power must have increased a lot lately. Her recovery magic is noticeably better.
It was excellent work, even if it didn't quite reach the level of a full priest or nun officially affiliated with the temple. The comfort made me drowsy.
"Logue! You can't die!!!"
...I'm not dying.
. . .
Losing consciousness after every single fight... At this rate, my body really might give out.
I was now lying in the academy infirmary.
The day's chaos had been reported to the academic affairs office. Several victims had emerged, and the incident had grown far beyond what we could handle on our own.
According to Sane, the homunculus's main body had been sprawled near where I'd collapsed. In multiple pieces.
The other fragments had melted like liquid once their brains were destroyed, but the main body seemed to behave differently. Submitting those remains as evidence would prove we weren't lying.
Squish.
A soft sensation pressed against my arm. Turning my head, I saw Kiene using it as a pillow while she slept.
This feels strangely familiar.
The location was different, but something similar had happened before. Still, why was Kiene here?
Now that I thought about it, I vaguely remembered hearing her voice right before I lost consciousness. Clearing the collapsed ceiling debris must have been too much for Sane and Liana, so they'd asked for Kiene's help. With her absurd strength stat, it would've been easy.
"Kiene!"
Moving my hand carelessly might look like I was groping her chest, so I tried waking her with my voice instead.
Hold it together... Hold it together...
I genuinely wanted to move my hand without thinking, but I endured with superhuman willpower. Just as I approached nirvana, Kiene rubbed her eyes and sat up.
The soft sensation against the back of my hand vanished. I felt a twinge of disappointment.
"...Logue. You're awake. Your body... okay?"
"I'm fine, but..."
Squeeze.
Kiene suddenly hugged my arm. The overwhelming softness of her chest made my mind go blank.
"Wh-what are you doing...!"
"Logue... thank you. Thanks to you... my little brother got better."
Looking closer, I saw tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
She must have been under incredible stress all this time.
Kiene had just turned eighteen. In my original world, she'd still be at an age where she needed protection. It wasn't normal for a girl that young to work herself to the bone earning money for her sibling's treatment. Given her personality, she had probably suffered through it all alone.
I gently stroked her back as she sniffled, offering what comfort I could. Then—
Slide.
"...What exactly are you doing?"
The infirmary door opened, accompanied by an icy voice. I looked over to find Liana staring at us with freezing eyes.
"Uh..."
Why was she looking at me like that? Her gaze was so cold it reminded me of a gym uniform owner catching someone sniffing said uniform.
"It's not... I didn't smell anything...!"
Had I imagined it? Liana had returned to her usual self and was now asking about my condition.
...Wait, who was that behind her?
"What are you suddenly talking about? How's your body feeling?"
"Much better. But..."
A middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his beard stood behind Liana. It was Professor Gwen, the homeroom instructor for Class B.
"...I'm glad you're recovering, Logue."
"Thank you. What brings you here, sir?"
The fact that I'd stopped the homunculus's main body had become an open secret among the faculty. Most of them seemed to believe Sane—from the Demon Countermeasures Division—deserved the real credit. After all, it wasn't an achievement a failing student like me should have been capable of.
I hadn't corrected them. It would only cause more headaches.
"I've come to share the academy's investigation results. You have the right to hear them."
"...Yes."
Professor Gwen paused, choosing his words carefully.
"...After examining the unidentified creature you engaged, we've determined it was not a homunculus but a variant species of slime."
"What?!"
Liana, listening from behind, let out an incredulous sound.
Just as I expected.
The academy clearly wanted to bury the homunculus incident. They were even willing to clash with Sane's division over it. The empire reacted with extreme sensitivity to artificial life forms. If a homunculus was confirmed, investigators would swarm the academy, exposing the corruption in the upper ranks. The higher-ups were desperate to keep it hidden.
"What kind of slime mimics a human being?! How does that make any sense?!"
"Analysis of the debris found in the purification facility revealed it to be the remains of a slime containing large quantities of awakening agents... or so the academy claims."
I barely suppressed a bitter laugh. Professor Gwen was only the messenger. Arguing with him wouldn't change anything.
"...Then you're saying the students died to some variant slime?!"
"...Given that they were alchemy students, the report states they were caught off guard by a surprise attack and couldn't respond properly. For now."
"That doesn't even—"
"Wait."
I stopped Liana before she could protest further and looked at the professor.
"Professor, do you share that opinion?"
Professor Gwen looked momentarily flustered by my question.
"...I don't know."
. . .
"I almost forgot. There's one more thing I need to tell you."
"...Yes?"
Professor Gwen paused at the door, then continued.
What now?
"Your attendance seems to be falling short of the requirements for advancing to the next grade. I came to inform you. This incident will be counted as excused absence, but even with that, if you miss a few more days, repeating the year will be unavoidable."
Of course it had come to this.
Well, I have missed quite a lot lately...
But still...
"...How long are you planning to stay like that?"
Liana was staring at Kiene, who was still clinging to my arm.
"How long are you going to stay like that, Kiene?"
My arm was starting to go numb.