I Got Lost!
I, well, I got lost, you see! By eavesdropping on Ern's conversation, I'd figured out it had been about three weeks since he regressed.
This was right around the time he'd be frantically rooting out the demon worshippers and fortuitous encounters hidden within the Imperial Central Academy.
If you're wondering why something like that would be lurking inside the academy, the answer's simple.
The area under a lamp is the darkest—that's common sense. They say to hide a tree, plant it in the forest.
Or maybe the author just tossed them in without thinking. Either way, I'm just making use of it.
Anyway, Ern's destination this time was a secret space hidden in the Sewers beneath the academy.
According to the setting, it was a place the demon worshippers had slyly built in during construction, so even the academy, which had the blueprints, was unaware of it.
That's why our protagonist steps up to nip it in the bud ahead of time…
But there was a tiny problem.
As you'd expect, sewers are filthy and unclean.
Forgetting about my clothes getting dirty, the real question was whether this frail body of mine could withstand the poisonous fumes.
From my experience, this body catches every little illness going around, so it wouldn't be strange if I picked up some mystery ailment on the way out.
…No, wait.
Isn't that actually a good thing?
It's the perfect chance to naturally dig into Ern's heart right in front of him.
If he sees me hacking and coughing from the sewer's toxins and stench, I bet I could really torment him.
And there'll probably be a fight down there anyway.
What if I swing my sword to protect him, ruining my body in the process?
He swore to protect people, but if someone he has to protect ends up protecting him instead…
It might not haunt him forever, but it'll linger in his mind for a good while, right?
He won't be able to tear his eyes away from my arm, gone mad from swinging the sword to shield him. Yeah, definitely.
Just imagining it was enough to make me drool.
Or, well, maybe make me wet now.
The moment I finished plotting, I quietly slipped out of the Temple so Ern and Cecilia, chatting inside, wouldn't hear.
Once I reached near the sewer entrance, coming up with excuses, I wandered around aimlessly, brainstorming plausible ones.
"How do I play this off naturally…"
Sorry, I actually overheard your plan? Nah, that feels too real…
What could I say to fool him without raising suspicion?
Bluntly admitting I eavesdropped on him talking with Cecilia would be a total bust.
Maybe say I went for a walk, got lost, and ended up here?
I was milling about like a lost person, glancing around, when I heard footsteps.
Thought it might be thugs at first, but I recognized the distinctive rhythm.
It was Ern.
He was coming.
Acting like I had no idea, I muttered "What now?" like a lost soul and looked around.
Then, pretending it was pure coincidence, I locked eyes with him.
"Oh! Ern. Fancy meeting you here?"
I waved cheerfully to greet him, and I could see Ern's face stiffen as he emerged from the opposite alley.
"…Ilisha? What are you doing here?"
His tone dripped with open wariness.
So he does recognize me.
"I went for a walk and got lost… Is this a place students aren't supposed to be?"
I tilted my head slightly and flashed a bright smile.
"Not exactly…"
Ern rubbed his temple like he had a headache and asked me,
"Even if you got lost, how did you end up all the way at the sewers?"
"While I was lost, I wandered toward alleys that looked interesting, and here I am."
Ern wasn't saying it, but he clearly didn't buy it.
Even I thought it was a flimsy excuse.
How do you get lost and just happen to overlap with Ern's exact path?
It had zero credibility.
But for now, that was enough.
"Then why are you coming to a place like this, Ern? I can't imagine you have any reason to go into the sewers."
He couldn't exactly be upfront with me either.
When I turned the question back on him, Ern clamped his mouth shut like he'd swallowed honey.
As expected.
I could at least claim I got lost, but he couldn't.
That face screamed "I came here with purpose" to anyone who saw it.
Too late to pretend he'd gotten lost like me—his pride wouldn't allow such a lame excuse.
Better to charge straight in than spout nonsense like that.
Sneering at his silence, I smiled slyly and asked,
"Is it something a bit hard to talk about?"
"…You don't need to know."
Seeming to give up on excuses, he hit me with the classic "you don't need to know."
Of course, I had my counter ready.
"Saying that just makes me more curious, you know?"
"…Ilisha. This isn't something for you to worry about."
"But what if I want to know?"
I shot back without batting an eye, and Ern's face started to sour.
His insides must be burning black with frustration.
Someone whose allegiance he couldn't pin down clinging to him like this.
Nice expression.
The kind that made me want to torment him more, stirring up my mischief.
"Ilisha. This isn't a time for jokes. It could really be dangerous. Go back. Now."
He tried a firm tone to send me away.
"I'd love to, but I don't know the way."
"I'll tell you…"
He was desperate to turn me back, but I stood my ground.
No way in hell was I leaving.
"Once I realized something shady was going down in my academy, I couldn't just let it slide. Plus, I'm curious."
He didn't blink either, but he seemed to be reaching the end of his patience.
"The sewers are too dangerous for you. Who knows what might come out."
"Then you can protect me, Ern."
At that, he flinched like he'd been shocked.
Poking right at his oath, so it was only natural.
To the dumbfounded Ern staring at me, I clasped my hands together like I was begging, holding them beside my face.
"I won't get in the way. Can't I come with you?"
Ern furrowed his brow and pressed his temples.
Probably agonizing—should he force me out, or reluctantly let me tag along?
I waited quietly for his answer.
I wasn't worried at all.
Ern would do exactly what I wanted.
After a long pause, he sighed wearily and laid down the law.
"……No matter what, don't stray from me. If it feels dangerous, get behind me immediately. Got it?"
As expected.
I cheered inwardly and thanked him.
"Hehe. Knowing you'll protect me makes me feel safe. I don't know your exact skill level… but you won't need me to protect you, right?"
I tossed a joke to ease his tension, but his response was icy.
"Not in the mood for jokes right now, Ilisha…"
"I was being totally serious."
It was my best shot at humor.
Would this cursed sense of comedy never improve, from my past life to this one?
I felt a tiny bit down.
Ern apparently deemed my joke unworthy of reply and grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the sewers.
"…Say the word if it's no good. We'll turn back anytime."
"Sure."
He said that, but I had no intention of doing so.
Why would I leave such fun behind?
"Light."
Ern chanted a short spell, summoning a floating orb of light.
"You can use magic too?"
"…Picked it up by chance a while back."
As we walked deeper into the sewers matching his steps, the damp, stinging air unique to such filthy places hit us, along with an indescribable stench.
"Urk…"
The vile smell and the air that seemed like it could infect you on contact made me want to puke.
I wasn't worried about the smell on my clothes anymore—I was worried if I'd pass out from the stench before anything else.
"You okay?"
"…No."
"Then even now—"
Go back?
"I hate that even more."
After coming this far, no way was I leaving.
I needed him to see more of me hacking and coughing.
Ern started to say something but shut his mouth, figuring I'd ignore him anyway.
I only adapted to the stench after nonstop coughing and dry-heaving.
That's when other smells reached my nose.
The scent of blood. The thick body odor of unwashed humans. The tang of rusted metal.
"Ern. I smell people. No one lives in the sewers… Who could it be?"
Demon worshippers, obviously. But playing dumb, I slipped him the info.
"You smell that? All I get is the stench…"
The stink must be overwhelming for him too—he tilted his head, asking if I was sure.
"Underestimating a Northerner's senses? It's people, definitely. And quite a few. Coming from that direction."
"Then… let's go."
The deeper we went, the worse the stench got, and other smells wafted stronger.
All of it made my lungs feel like they were rotting away.
…Am I actually catching something like tuberculosis?
Of course, I didn't care if I did.
If I caught it, great—I could carve into Ern's heart with it. If not, even better.
"…Hold up."
Lost in thought, he stopped abruptly.
Pricking up my ears, I could tell why.
Low whispering voices. Something being dragged.
Squelching footsteps… and the sound of weapons being gripped.
I glanced at Ern; he was looking at me too.
Putting two and two together that those ahead were the demon worshippers he was after, I gave a small nod.
At that instant, someone in black clothes charged from the darkness.
Before Ern could react,
I drew my sword first.