Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Unexpected (8)
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Ah, it's hot.
Not just me—everyone else was dragging themselves into the cafe with faces like the walking dead, collapsing in front of the cool breeze from the fan.
At least Big Sister Mina, being from the south, seemed to handle the heat better than most, but Big Sister Leimi—who'd been here for a while now—was slumped over the table looking like she was about to die.
Maybe it was because opening the door let in that insane gust of hot wind, but everyone had flopped down far from the entrance.
Of course, I hated the heat too, and on top of that, summer made managing food ingredients a real hassle. The fridge had its limits, and things like fruits that needed ripening at room temperature between 50 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit required careful space allocation.
Last summer, I hadn't had as much gear, luggage, or food, so I'd just crammed everything into the fridge and called it a day...
No one even felt like talking—they just lay there with cold coffee or ice water near their faces. The cafe had turned into a quiet little oasis.
"Big Sister Leimi."
"Yeah?"
"Doesn't your shop have air conditioning?"
"It does, but... it's kinda cluttered, so the air doesn't circulate."
"Ah."
I remembered the mess I'd seen last time when I went to pick up that accessory. With shelves packed to the walls—or just stuff left lying around—any breeze would get blocked for sure.
A bit embarrassed, she hid her face behind her iced coffee glass.
The cafe door opened again, and in walked Mr. Dras.
"Everyone looks beat."
"The weather's no joke."
"Eh, for someone who works in front of a furnace every day, it's nothing."
"Doesn't that mean it's always rough?"
"Heh heh. You get used to it."
Still, cool was better than hot. Mr. Dras wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, his expression much brighter as he ordered an iced coffee.
Well, being able to endure something didn't mean you enjoyed it.
After taking a sip of his coffee, Mr. Dras dropped a line that made me uneasy for no reason.
"The weather's hotter, but things have gotten a bit quieter thanks to it."
"Don't jinx it."
"Eh, even if something happens, you always handle it well."
"Does it really work out that way?"
That was from the perspective of someone running around trying to fix things.
We were just joking around, so no one took it seriously, but even as I laughed, a sliver of anxiety crept into the back of my mind.
As the coffee in everyone's cups started to run low, I spotted Big Sister Cosetica sprinting toward the cafe through the window, her face frantic.
Seeing her run in this heat freaked me out, so I quickly prepped some cold water and a cloth for wiping sweat.
"Cafe Manageeeer!"
"Here, here. Drink this first, then use this to wipe off the sweat."
"Th-thanks, but anyway—someone's here looking for the manager."
"Pardon?"
From behind Big Sister Cosetica emerged a woman with neatly styled purple hair—but her face was streaked with tears, a stark contrast.
And.
"...Academy uniform."
"...This is him? The manager...?"
"Yes. I'm the one and only cafe manager here."
"Th-there's something at the Academy, it's super strong, and we can't stop it."
"Calm down first. Take your time explaining."
"I can't. It's urgent!"
Since she'd come specifically for me, I excused myself from the others, ushered the student into my living quarters, and followed her in.
Once she realized I was ready to listen seriously, she calmed a bit and introduced herself as Sophia before explaining the situation.
"The intruder is Danil. The ones holding him off are first-years Natalie and Karin, plus Ermina."
"Got it."
It seemed like a real emergency, so I sorted my thoughts as quickly as possible.
Danil showing up early could have several reasons. First, maybe because I'd left the Academy. The Lebedevs were blood enemies, and I was their vanguard. He might've seen it as an opening to pick a fight.
Or it could be Carthis's death. I didn't know their bonds, but revenge might be a motive.
Originally, Danil wasn't even the boss raiding the Academy—that happened after fourth year.
Not just the timing, but the order and spawn location were all messed up now, so matching it to my knowledge would be tough.
And if this twist started when I began helping Spiegel, the southern elf, then the Academy facing them unprepared was partly my fault.
"Teleport gate. How many can it handle?"
"One person."
"Sigh. I'll go. Wait here."
I got the location, grabbed my twin swords, armed myself minimally, and stepped out of the cafe.
"Be right back. Something came up that's bugging me."
"The Academy? You okay?"
"Straight up, no one there can stop me by force. Even if they catch me, I can just come back."
Worst case, if they barred the doors, I'd have to walk—but I could always ride the plant familiar Ellie gave me back.
"I'll be back soon. Take care of that kid's nerves for me."
I headed to the teleport gate spot I'd heard about earlier.
"...A visit after a year and a half."
**
Karin was feeling the gap in their levels firsthand. The biggest advantage of spatial magic was its near-total lack of tells. Lightning magic had discharge sparks beforehand, fire magic raised the temperature—but spatial magic had none of that.
Yet he was parrying every probe she fired off purely on reaction speed. It was enough to crush her will to fight. His specs as a living being were just on another level: abnormal mana, abnormal strength, abnormal reflexes. No amount of racking her brain would yield countermeasures against someone that superior.
"Y-you don't know the details, but we sent someone who can fix this, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Then let's buck up. We're holding out somehow."
She and Natalie looked exhausted, but Ermina's face still held its brightness. Knowing the person they'd called was Julius made Karin's imagination run wild with potential problems, so she quietly lowered her gaze.
"Strategy session over?"
"Yes. We're doing our best, anyway."
"Not giving up is admirable. Hold onto that spirit as you die."
She twisted his attacks with spatial magic to deflect them or block outright. Ermina patched up the wreckage as best she could, turning it into a defensive battle.
But those two had limits to their mana. Blocking grew harder, wounds accumulated on their bodies.
And as Karin experienced her first real fight, she realized battling someone of a higher tier wasn't just about courage and wits. You had to go all out—hands gone, use feet; feet gone, bite with teeth—to even glimpse an opening.
Still.
The cafe manager could surely handle it somehow.
And he definitely wasn't the type to watch someone die.
It was just leeching off his kindness, but Karin thought she'd take any hatred from him if it saved her and her friends. She truly believed that as Natalie teetered on the brink.
Her head spun lightly, hot liquid trickling from her nose.
Mana depletion. Her legs gave out, and she crumpled. Looking up at Danil looming over her, he seemed gigantic—she couldn't even breathe right.
"Whew. Honestly. Still, it was a good call."
Then a new shadow fell over her slumped form. Lifting her head, she saw a familiar recent face with a wry smile, standing there with swords in both hands.
"...Cafe Manager. Um, sorry."
"No, it's fine. You can ask for help in situations like this."
Tears she'd been holding back burst at his words.
Sorry. Relief. A whirlwind of emotions she couldn't even count—she just sobbed.
Julius looked away from her, met Ermina's eyes, and gave a bitter expression while raising a hand in greeting.
Ermina couldn't react. She wanted to say something—anything—but didn't know where to start, her mouth agape in silence.
"Oh man. Hey, Danil. One thing first: I killed Carthis. Up for revenge?"
"...If you're delivering yourself, why would I say no?"
A golden aura began blooming from Julius's body. Starting at his heart, spreading to every limb and fingertip. Fused seamlessly with the sword aura already coating his blades, it was fundamentally the same as the light Ermina always wielded.
"Miss Ermina. Sorry, but I need your support here."
"Ah, snk! Y-yes!"
When Ermina's light touched Julius, it applied a buff dozens of times stronger than any boost she'd used before.
It was a law of this romance-fantasy world: beneficial magic from light wielders toward their beloved amplified dramatically.
The two fated to save the world with the power of love— their first reunion after parting, manifesting this buff.
Ermina's white light mingled with Julius's golden aura, erupting in destructive radiance.