040. Warmth (3)
040. Warmth (3)
Ugh.
I have to go up.
I have to climb the Great Forest and go find Yuna, who went super far away.
Ah, if I don't, Yuna will... get caught in Luca's conspiracy and lose her life.
In the original game, it's just a sudden event where you have to click through randomly appearing choices wada-dat to clear it.
But... there was a way to definitely clear the event.
The protagonist, Yuna Castilla.
If the favorability of the main characters in the game toward Yuna is high enough.
Like... even if events pop up like crazy, there's no need to worry too much.
Because people around her will step up and handle it automatically.
And then.
[ How did you know? That I was the one behind it... Well, it doesn't matter now that you've come this far. ]
You skip all the events and immediately enter the mid-boss fight with Luca.
Ugh... But Luca is seriously, totally super strong.
Like, his body twists hideously and weird tentacles come pouring out of his stomach.
If you haven't leveled up Yuna enough, it's game over at this point.
And then it's revealed that even the Student Council President was a stooge for the cult.
The Academy faces even bigger, super chaos, and anyway, the crisis facing Yuna increases even more.
'I have to get through this hurdle safely...'
Yuna is in a super dangerous situation.
Like, like... if things go on like this and I pick even one wrong choice in the event.
Luca will appear and ambush her, and... turn Yuna into a horrific mess.
I have to stop that. Me. Because it's something only I can do.
Because I can't lose Yuna here.
So, hing-hing.
There's no need to look at me with such a sad expression.
Did something bad happen?
"Shall we... talk, just the two of us, Teacher?"
"Yes, yes. Understood."
Alisa and Clara.
The two of them left the camp with super sad expressions.
I was left here alone with Lena.
Like, like old memories are coming back to me.
Uhehe. We were alone in the infirmary back then, too.
But...
Why was that?
I don't remember the reason well.
Anyway, thanks to that, I met Yuna... and I was able to save Yuna from a crisis, so it's super good.
It seemed like Yuna had given up on looking for that person now, too.
She doesn't come around the Clock Tower these days.
...Why is that?
Hing-hing.
I wish she would come. But she shouldn't run into me.
Uhehe. Even I think that's super contradictory!
As I was thinking that and giggling,
"...You promised me, right?"
What promise was it?
Like, I don't remember well.
Uhehe. It's not like I'm pretending not to remember when I actually know everything.
Like, I was swindled like that in my past life, and I lost the security deposit I worked so hard to save.
I won't get swindled like that here. Hehehe.
I'm just saying I don't remember because I really don't.
"Ha..."
Lena's expression suddenly turned gloomy.
Hing-hing. Do they say emotions are contagious?
Seeing that expression makes me feel depressed too...
'Uhehe.'
But I'm really not depressed at all.
Because I'm going to meet Yuna now.
I'll meet Yuna and, like, tell her about all the dangers so she can avoid them all.
'Luca is...'
If it's the current Yuna, she can definitely handle him.
Because I... really helped her grow a lot. Uhehe.
She must be super strong.
She should be.
...Ugh.
The state I saw Yuna in earlier came to mind.
Like, she looked super bad.
Especially.
Especially.
A strange tattoo that wasn't there before appeared on the back of her hand.
But it even glowed.
It looked super suspicious.
I know everything about Yuna from head to toe.
Like, when something that wasn't there before appears, it's only natural to think it's suspicious.
So.
So even more.
I have to go.
I have to go and help Yuna.
"I, I have to go. I have to go up."
"Why are you so insistent on the Advancement Evaluation?"
That is...
Ugh.
Like, if I tell the super truth here.
Lena.
Would she believe me...?
Even after Lena knows all the truth.
Wouldn't she treat Yuna strangely or laugh at her?
I was worried about Yuna.
However.
Lena grabbed both of my hands firmly.
And.
She whispered with sparkling eyes.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Will you... trust me just this once, Teacher?"
Still, this person...
Because she was different.
It's not like I just trust people or anything.
I only trust Yuna.
However.
"...Because it's dangerous."
This person, for my sake.
She went out through the pouring rain to find my pendant.
An item that is super more precious than my own life.
Containing a photo that can never be taken again.
A very precious item.
'So...'
Like, it wouldn't be bad to open up about my inner thoughts, just a little bit.
"Who says it's dangerous?"
"Yuna Castilla."
And.
Every student who entered the Advancement Evaluation.
Everyone was destined to be offered as a sacrifice.
If Yuna fails, that is.
"Like, like... there's a bad group trying to harm Yuna. But that group is trying to offer all the students as sacrifices too. Like, it's a super weird cult... and they're super strong... and they're already inside the Academy..."
It doesn't matter if she looks like she doesn't believe me.
I'll just say what I super want to say and be done with it.
Anyway, I wasn't expecting a meaningful or valuable answer.
It's natural that she wouldn't believe me.
Even I think it's a super absurd story.
So...
"Teacher believes you."
"...Yes?"
Lena.
She smiled brightly.
"Because the Aria that Teacher knows isn't the kind of child to play pranks or brag about things like this. So... will you trust Teacher too, Aria?"
Uuuu...
I don't really know what to say.
Even I think it doesn't make sense.
That she would believe this...
"I, I don't even have proof..."
"Aria said it, didn't you? That's enough."
"Th, then..."
Please help me.
Those words came up to the tip of my throat.
But.
'...I don't want to get her involved.'
This person, especially among the NPCs that appear in the game.
She's someone who is kind and gentle to everyone.
Someone who always treated Yuna whenever she was seriously injured.
I didn't want to put such a person... in danger.
"If Aria starts climbing the Great Forest yourself, is it something that can be solved?"
"Uuu... no."
"Then?"
Yuna Castilla.
Because it's something only she can solve.
"I have to find... Yuna."
"Why do you think so?"
"She... can solve everything. She's strong. Other people... are lacking."
Lena nodded as if she were convinced.
And she continued.
"How about using the teachers' contact network? Then, without Aria having to climb it yourself..."
I shook my head firmly.
Then.
Lena noticed my intention right away.
"...Are there bad forces working within the supervising teachers as well?"
"Yes."
Who it is... will be revealed soon.
So for now.
"I have to go up."
The Great Forest.
*
"Even Teacher couldn't break Aria's stubbornness..."
Alisa stomped her feet.
And.
She was expressing her anxiety with her whole body, biting her nails.
"Just stay still! You're making me nervous!"
"So, sorry..."
"...Ha."
Clara was the same, unable to stay still.
'...Will it be okay?'
The main routes have long been swept clean by other students.
Judging by the monster corpses scattered around, it should be fine for at least half a day.
'Really, is this... really the right thing to do?'
It's for Aria.
Not just because Aria was being stubborn.
'Because everyone is in danger...'
I'm just moving because I'm moved by such a kind heart.
'What on earth did my sister do to deserve this?'
Even though everyone hated, ignored, and bullied my sister.
My sister, Aria, for everyone's sake.
'...I don't really know what finding Yuna Castilla has to do with everyone's safety.'
I decided to go find Yuna Castilla.
I'm so frustrated I could explode.
I should just let them all die.
If that happens, the Academy will automatically close its doors.
And I...
'If, if I have a daughter. That would be nice. I've... already decided on a name.'
Clara's face turned beet red.
"You guys, don't move as much as possible. If Aria's words are true, every second counts. I'll go first, Teacher."
"...Will you be okay?"
"Yes! I'm a graduate of this place, after all. I know the geography of the Great Forest like the back of my hand, you know?"
When Lena whistled, what came running like the wind was...
Ihihing!—
A horse.
'Oh, oh, so that's why Teacher's thighs were so... sturdy.'
So horseback riding... was her hobby.
Looking closely, the horse was the one always used for trial rides in every horseback riding class.
Alisa hid her bewilderment and saw off Lena, who was heading toward the Great Forest.
"W, we have to go too!!!"
"I understand... calm down, Aria."
Alisa stroked Aria's hair to calm herself down.
'I don't know what kind of dangers are lurking.'
I will protect Aria.
No matter what happens, I will.
Alisa firmly made up her mind.
And.
The smile from the moment she first met Aria.
She wore it on her face again.
"No need to worry."
Because I'll be there this time.
Because it's okay not to cry anymore.
As the three of them start the Advancement Evaluation the latest.
Alisa just smiled brightly.
Toward Aria.
