Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Unexpected (11)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Justina lingered alone in the liberal arts classroom, her face clouded with melancholy as she sorted through the items she had prepared on her own. At first, they were documents she had meticulously compiled—summarizing the recent changes in the academy's atmosphere, key events, and the current situation—so that Julius could adapt quickly upon his return.
She had known he didn't care for her, but she had naively assumed his official position would bring him back regardless.
In the end, they had become useless.
Her heart wasn't quite ready to discard them entirely, but after taking a full barrage of insults right in front of her, she felt a profound emptiness in every sense. For now, she just wanted to put them away.
Saying it like this might invite misunderstandings, but she had viewed Julius as a kind of ideal man. It had been that way since childhood, and everything he had shown her up to now was more than enough to foster that image.
So right now, Justina felt as if she had suffered a breakup—while simultaneously being abandoned by her family.
Thinking back to yesterday's events brought tears pricking at her eyes again, and she was grateful no one else was in the classroom.
Having mulled over her gloom while finishing the cleanup, Justina finally rose to head back to the dormitory. Only then did she sense someone's presence.
"...Professor Selene."
"You haven't gone back yet. Good."
"Is there something you'd like to say...?"
The professor had turned what could have been another round of mere scolding into a proper resolution last time. Even if Justina hadn't liked her much before, she had to bow her head now. Her big brother held this woman in particular esteem, which grated a bit, but Justina acknowledged the professor's excellent character.
Justina subtly checked her reflection in the window, hoping her tears wouldn't show, confirmed nothing was amiss, and proceeded with the conversation.
"I need to report on yesterday's incident, but telling the full truth as it happened would cause problems. If you're thinking the same, maybe we should get our stories straight."
"I see."
Aligning their accounts might not just keep her big brother away—it could drag out longer. Even though it would help her brother, she felt no motivation. What should she do now?
She hadn't even settled on what to report to their father, and now she had to figure out the academy report too. It was all so dizzying.
So depressing.
If she could just see his face once more and have a proper talk, maybe things would improve a little.
"What do you think of my big brother, Professor?"
"Hm? It's sudden, but if I had to say... he seems to be pushing himself too hard, which worries me."
"Pushing himself?"
"Like he's always on edge about everything. As if the slightest mistake could spell disaster."
Was that it? She had simply chalked it up to perfectionism.
Considering how he always sharpened his senses toward academy incidents or demon-related matters, reacting and preparing—it might not just be responsibility. He could be facing the world with something more.
Evidently, she still didn't know what Julius was thinking or what he truly wanted from life.
The conversation only fueled her inferiority complex and depression, making her want to leave quickly.
"...Please say I only arrived after the incident ended and knew nothing."
"That means you can't claim any credit or stake in resolving it."
"Yes. I don't plan to tell my paternal family either."
Selene stared at Justina for a long moment, as if something troubled her, then asked quietly.
"Then, may I ask one question? What has Julius been to you, Miss Justina?"
"...My big brother, my ideal type, my life's guiding light, my role model, a family member I was proud of, and the capable heir to our house."
"Whoa. That's quite a list. Anyway, then what do you think you've been to him?"
It was a question she had never considered—or rather, never wanted to. Though bound by family ties, Justina might not be necessary to Julius at all.
I can't live without him, but he could live just fine without me.
She just wanted to deny that reality outright.
"Even if he says he dislikes you, I don't think he truly hates you."
"What do you mean?"
"Surprisingly, people who really hate someone often don't even bother responding. If he truly never wanted to see your face, he would've left regardless of whether you grabbed him or not."
"...Honestly, that's not much comfort."
"It's not comfort—it's advice. If you really want to close the distance with your brother, become someone he needs."
Justina clamped her mouth shut and glared at Selene. Was the professor someone he treated politely because she was necessary?
Sensing the intent, Selene gave a wry smile.
"Whether it's romance, friendship, or family, you should always express it to those you truly care for, no matter the circumstances. If you sincerely make the effort and show him your changed self, won't his heart turn back?"
"And if I don't?"
"It'll hurt. Enough to make you wish you were dead."
Her unusually heated tone prompted Justina to quietly accept the advice. Crumbling after failure was third-rate. If the way she had lived until now was unacceptable, she had no choice but to change entirely.
She couldn't just spend time crying.
"Professor Selene."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Embarrassed even as she said it, Justina hurriedly gathered her things and left. Selene watched her go, then pulled up an empty chair in the deserted classroom and muttered to herself.
"There's no second chance for someone who's stopped in their tracks. Yeah. Human relationships demand you keep moving forward somehow."
A chuckle escaped her.
Julius, pushing himself too hard.
That's rich, coming from me.
She briefly reminisced about her own school days in the empty classroom.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day.
Karin rushed to the garden at Justina's summons. Having witnessed the cafe manager unleash violence so cleanly once, there was no guarantee she wouldn't be the target next—and since it was known she understood his position precisely, who knew what Justina might do to pry it out of her.
Entertaining grim imaginings, she arrived at the garden to find a neatly set table with prepared refreshments. It was lavish treatment she hadn't received before.
No. My mouth stays shut even for sweet pastries. How could I talk about the man who saved me, my two friends, and even the students' lives?
"...You don't have to look at me like that. I have no intention of interrogating you."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm just here to ask a favor today."
Karin, eyeing the black tea and pastries warily while her pupils quivered with desire, accepted the documents Justina handed her.
"Please deliver this to my big brother. Just pass it on—no complications."
"No tracking spells or anything?"
"It'd be faster to crush you right here than use some elaborate method. There's nothing, so just deliver it."
That made sense.
Relieved it wasn't a demand for confession, Karin swiftly devoured the pastries and tea.
As the daughter of a trading company, she lacked for nothing financially, but perhaps the recent ordeals had ingrained an adventurer's mindset: eat when you can.
Letting out a sigh, Justina took a sip of her own tea.
"From now on, I'll be busy handling the academy's casualties, the incident's aftermath, and even the death of that executive Danil. Even without all that, I'm planning to stop searching for my big brother's whereabouts anyway."
Was it because of the thorough tongue-lashing?
Karin's simplistic thought wasn't far off.
"Anyway, the academy will be chaotic for a while, so time your moves carefully. Since it was an assault, access controls will tighten."
"Got it."
"And are your two friends okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Close enough to okay...?"
Sophia, who had been unilaterally overpowered by Danil, seemed to be in a sage mode now that the cafe manager had unilaterally killed him. Natalie, meanwhile, had suffered immense stress from being teleported alone and now startled at the slightest noise.
What was it called? Post-traumatic stress disorder?
Remnants of the assault lingered—bloodstains and flesh scraps not fully cleaned—so Natalie was skipping classes.
It worried her, but Sophia recovering unscathed from actual injury was the greater relief.
"Tell me if you need help."
"Uh, sure. Got it?"
Hard to believe the change, Karin replied more like a question.
Justina sighed again.
"Has Ermina or Rias contacted you separately?"
"Not yet."
"...Please behave in a way that won't trouble my big brother."
"I'll do my best."
I, Karin, have been reborn from yesterday.
I shall become a tight-lipped, loyal person.
Karin and Justina's resolve held firm through the first day.