Fat Chance
"Young master? Where are you headed?"
"...Night stroll."
Sudden as it was, it seemed I had no choice but to take a nighttime walk with Clana. Normally, I'd wrap up this exhausting day and get some solid sleep, but there was nothing for it. Her hand had been trembling when she suggested the walk, just like it had a few weeks ago.
"Kania, how much longer until Clana's memories fully return?"
"In her current state, they could come back at any moment."
Kania's expression darkened as she answered my question. I gazed at her for a moment before sighing and replying.
"The slave market liberation quest overlapping with this is making me uneasy. If all those slaves end up like they did last time..."
"Young master, are you already assuming you'll be found out?"
"...Sigh."
I started to argue against Kania's words but ended up sighing and clamping my mouth shut. From the day I'd applied the temporary fix to Clana's memories up to now, I'd racked my brain with countless ideas, but nothing solid had come to mind.
"I'm preparing contingencies anyway, Kania. I can't stand the thought of screwing everything up by sitting on my hands with no plan."
"Understood... sir."
Since that was the truth, Kania bit her lip and answered with effort.
"Then, I'll be back..."
"I have a question."
I patted her shoulder and turned to leave the room when Kania grabbed me and posed her query.
"...Isn't it about time for the third trial?"
"How'd you know?"
"I can tell just by looking at your face."
With those words, Kania gazed at me sadly.
"What's this trial? Irina's getting anxious again. To keep her from losing her mind..."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
When I answered flatly, Kania looked flustered and pressed me.
"I really don't. Not how this trial will play out."
But in this case, even I was helpless. The third trial changed depending on one's partner. That's why I'd been diligently planning ways to conquer it no matter who I paired with—until partnering with Perloché threw everything off.
"So... this trial is an unknown even to you?"
"...Yeah."
Hearing my explanation, Kania began pacing the room anxiously.
"Don't worry. The third trial tests mental fortitude, just like the others. I've got confidence in my mind..."
"Last time you wore the Deception Robe and got that mental evaluation. The results came back."
As I tried to reassure her, Kania slumped into a chair, pulled a report from her bosom, unfolded it, and spoke in a low voice.
"To cut to the chase, there's definitely something wrong with your mental state, young master."
"Me? No way. Do you know my mental fortitude stat?"
My mental fortitude was currently at 9.5, bolstered by my partner's blessing. In the entire world, few could match it. For my mind to have issues? It made no sense.
"You have a compulsive obsession that you must always be okay."
As I opened my mouth to retort, Kania continued in a grave tone.
"Sure, I think that way, but it's not some obsession—it's reality. Even if I see hallucinations, they clear up after a bit. I've been through so much that nothing fazes me..."
"That's not strong mental fortitude. Your high stat is just forcibly resetting your mind to clarity."
"But..."
As I tried to respond, the dorm room door burst open.
"...Irina, you said you'd just listen."
"I can't hold back anymore. Sorry, Kania."
Irina strode into my room and approached me, launching right into it.
"If you glue a broken porcelain vase back together with tape or adhesive, what happens? You know damn well—water starts leaking out bit by bit."
Hearing Irina's sudden analogy, I sighed and countered.
"...Use restoration magic to fix it perfectly, and there's no issue. Same with my mental state."
"But even if it's perfect, you can't erase the shock of the break. A vase might not care, but the one taking the hit is your mind."
I fell silent at her words, and Irina steeled her expression.
"So, I'm intervening in this trial no matter what you say."
"Intervene?"
"Yeah. I can't just sit by and watch your mind shatter and get patched up over and over."
To Irina, who looked resolved, I sighed and replied.
"I'm grateful you're worried. But you can't interfere with me, Irina. You too, Kania."
"Why not?"
"You both tried meddling in my trials before. And you failed. You know what that means."
When I asked, the two women tilted their heads.
"The system hates loopholes."
"So there's really no way to fool it except Serena...? Just look at her case..."
Hearing that, I gave a wry smile.
"Serena's a special case..."
I answered and headed out the door.
"...No one else can."
Leaving the two women biting their lips behind, I stepped into the long, silent hallway.
"Clana?"
Glancing around the corridor, I began walking quietly forward.
"L-Lord Frey. Good evening?"
"...Where's Clana?"
After walking some distance, I spotted Clana's maid and asked.
"Ah, well... She went outside first."
Apparently, she'd already left the dorm building. What had her in such a hurry?
"Has Clana been acting strange lately?"
"W-Well... I'm sorry. It's top secret."
"Tell me. Now."
Reading the unnatural edge in her behavior, I pressed, and the maid answered in a trembling voice.
"Lately, she's been talking to herself a lot more. She did it before, but recently it's almost pathological..."
"...Got it."
Gauging her condition roughly, I nodded to the bowing maid and headed outside.
"...Clana?"
After another long walk out of the dorm, I found Clana pacing and biting her nails.
"There you are."
Calling her cautiously, Clana composed her expression in an instant and looked at me.
"You're late. Does our appointment not matter much to you?"
"...Had to freshen up."
I gave a vague reply to her words, and Clana cleared her throat quietly.
"Ahem. Anyway, let's walk a bit."
"Just anywhere?"
"Yes. Anywhere."
With that, Clana began strolling slowly ahead.
"Alright."
For this time, I'd humor her whims. Her face was calm, but her hands were still shaking.
Should I hold her hand?
The thought crossed my mind as I watched her trembling hand, but I shook my head. Per Kania, even a tiny trigger could bring her memories flooding back. Better not risk stimulating her rashly.
"Still, maybe set a destination?"
As I voiced the thought carefully, she pointed suddenly at the grass behind the academy.
"Oh, look, a cat over there."
"A cat?"
"Cats that live around here. They swarm if you stand still—fearless little things."
I knew about the cats here, of course, but feigning ignorance and widening my eyes, Clana cleared her throat and explained.
"Ahem. Could you wait here a moment?"
"Suddenly?"
"Yes. Important call came in. Be right back."
Clutching an orb beginning to glow golden, Clana walked off somewhere.
"...Meow."
"Hm."
I eyed her suspiciously, then looked down at the meow by my feet.
"At it again, you lot."
Staring blankly as cats gathered and rubbed against my legs, I glanced around before petting them quietly and whispering.
"Want me to take you in? I could treat you well."
"Meow."
"Lots of food too. For real."
"Meow!"
"...Tch."
As they turned away coldly despite my pleas, I smacked my lips.
'Gonna have to tame these someday.'
These weren't ordinary cats—they were academy spirits dwelling here. Animal-like enough that my penalties didn't apply. Taming them would be a huge boon for the upcoming 'academy siege' quest.
"Tweet!"
"...Huh?"
As I pondered taming methods, a canary flew from a tree ahead, and I looked flustered.
"Tweet tweet!"
"...Knock it off."
This canary was likely Clana's, judging by the birthday party fiasco. But why was it pecking my cheek mercilessly? Was this her way of venting grudge?
"You don't do bad things to cats, do you? Or canaries."
"...Anyone'd think I commit evil just breathing."
After enduring the shoulder-perched canary's assault for a while, I replied coolly as Clana approached from afar.
"I don't pay animals much mind."
"...I see. Good."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Clana replied meaningfully and quietly took my arm, leading me somewhere—canary still on my shoulder.
.
.
.
.
.
"Crunch, crunch."
"Kania."
At that moment, as Frey was dragged off by Clana with a baffled look...
"Crun-crunch, crunch."
"Kania!!"
Irina shrieked at Kania, who had been pacing the room and gnawing her nails since Frey left.
"...Yes?"
Kania blinked at Irina with hollow eyes, tilting her head.
"What's with you? What's going on?"
"...Well."
Hearing Irina's question, Kania set her jaw and headed to the door.
"I think we need to tail the young master tonight."
"What?"
Irina thought Kania had finally snapped, but...
"Clana could fully regain her memories in days—maybe tonight."
"...!"
Her follow-up froze Irina.
"Something triggered it. The subconscious I implanted is merging rapidly with the trial memories."
"Th-Then...!"
"Yes. Penalty's coming soon if this continues."
Irina bit her lip hard.
"We have to do something. Third trial hasn't even hit, and we can't just wait knowing penalty's inbound."
"Kania."
"Somehow... even if it costs my life force, I have to..."
"...There's a way."
Kania's lip bled from biting too hard at Irina's calm declaration.
"What do you mean?"
But she ignored it and pressed.
"No one but Serena can fool the system...?"
Irina muttered, clenching her fist, leaving Kania behind.
"...Fat chance."
On her body floated a magic circle identical to the scroll she'd given Frey weeks ago.