Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Angel's Form (1)
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Makina's entire body was pure white.
It was because she wore a ceremonial white robe with a straight silhouette, accented by similarly white silk embroidery, and a narrow, long celestial sash.
This ceremonial attire, which only cadets of the Black Lily Class could wear, was something she kept even after becoming a full priest later on, wearing it layered underneath.
"Makina."
For some strange reason, every time my eyes met hers, a chill settled in my chest along with an uneasy feeling.
It was like being intimidated in the presence of something sacred.
Of course, I knew better than anyone that Makina was just a human like me.
While I hesitated, unable to continue, Makina smoothly picked up my words.
"I apologize for interrupting without a greeting. You seemed restless from afar, so I followed, and then I heard my name."
Makina winked playfully with one eye and flashed a convincing smile.
A faint sense of relief washed over my previously muddled mind, if only for a moment.
I hurriedly scanned around for a place where Makina and I could talk alone.
"Makina and Cruise cadet are talking..."
"...If something happens to Makina..."
"Ominous."
But I had forgotten my own situation.
The unpleasant notoriety that prevented any secretive actions was now paying its dues in full.
"Could we have a moment now... if you have time?"
"...Oh dear, I'm afraid now is not convenient."
Makina spread her arms as if to show off her robe and shrugged her shoulders.
"Ah, the ceremony."
"I'm not an official priest, but I have proxy authority. If I leave, all these cadets will have come for nothing, right?"
I wanted to grab Makina right then and spill everything I knew, but I couldn't.
Makina was especially obedient and reverent toward all things related to the Creation God Aegis.
Moreover, ever since becoming student council president, she had become the epitome of a perfect, devout believer.
Thanks to that devotion, her divine power had advanced by leaps and bounds, and now she even wielded proxy priest authority.
"It's really, really urgent."
"-I remember you not being the type to act so hastily. Something serious must have happened."
Makina furrowed her brow as if truly sorry and spoke.
"How about this, then? The choir needs someone to pick the hymn for the ceremony. Would you do it?"
The hymns sung at ceremonies sometimes extended up to five verses depending on the occasion.
I always skipped everything except the mandatory prayer meetings, but I still knew the basics.
"...Then, 'You Shall Surely Come in Light'..."
"Understood."
Makina smiled so brightly her pupils nearly vanished, then passed by me and entered the chapel.
"Theodore, let's go first. You follow later."
"...Yes."
Theodore nodded readily, perhaps bothered by the fact that he had hidden the truth from me.
The hymn I chose, 'You Shall Surely Come in Light,' was about two minutes shorter than others, so meeting Makina would have to wait two hours.
.
.
.
-Hoo.
As Makina blew out the candle she had brought to light her feet, the other flames on the candelabrum flickered briefly.
Right after the service ended, I rushed into the prep room where Makina would be, enduring the student council's sharp glares, and stood my ground here.
"Everyone, sorry, but could you step out for a moment?"
With her back to me, Makina slowly removed her sash and robe.
The student council cadets, who had been watching, reluctantly left the prep room, leaving Makina and me alone.
"So, what was so urgent that you sought me out like this? I could feel your stare burning into me the whole prayer."
"Makina. This might sound strange, but please know that what I'm about to say is no joke."
"What on earth could it be?"
Having neatly folded her robe and sash, Makina was now dressed in a blue riding coat and leather pants.
I belatedly realized she had come prepared to go somewhere.
"Makina Christy, you knew, didn't you? About the summoning ritual in the literature club."
"They held an illicit gathering under the influence, caused a violent incident, and performed unauthorized rituals."
'You know that's not all.'
I swallowed dryly for no reason.
Makina seemed intent on not saying more herself.
"You know that ritual actually succeeded."
"Hoo..."
Makina smiled, looking as if she'd heard a fascinating hypothesis.
"Is there proof that the summoning ritual there succeeded?"
"There's... no direct proof. But the summoning circle was complete, and the White cadet here can testify to that."
"I saw the scene myself, so no testimony needed. What I require is evidence."
Makina's curt words overlapped with the cold judge from my trial just weeks ago.
Why had I forgotten?
Makina was the student council president ruling over the roughly thousand cadets of Aegis Academy.
A person with judgment so stern it didn't seem like a peer's, as if her heart were made of ice.
In those few exchanges, my wariness toward her had softened.
"You must have heard the rumors about me, of course?"
"Ah— the guardian angel, was it?"
"......"
Makina knew everything that happened in the academy.
Not just the source of bad rumors shaking entire classes like now, but perhaps even where passing crows laid their eggs.
So I realized.
'She was pretending not to know on purpose.'
If I couldn't convince her here, things would get much worse.
I didn't like getting involved, but if it meant stopping the ineffable horror on the verge of materializing, I'd do anything.
"Makina. This is no joke. That day, I really—"
"Arma Cruise cadet."
I was about to hurriedly describe the black mist slicing through the night sky that day.
Makina slowly reached out, touched my forehead, and said.
"As I thought. You're burning up."
"Yes? What do you—"
"It's at least 39 degrees. You held out impressively."
"No, I'm not sick at all."
"White cadet. Support Arma cadet."
No sooner had she spoken than the ground began to shake.
'Huh?'
My knees trembled, and my breath felt hot.
As someone carefully approached and supported me, my body lurched forward.
Amid my fading consciousness, I heard Makina and Theodore talking.
"—so I believe Arma Cruise's words have credibility."
"Understood. We'll investigate. I think it's just a false alarm, but—"
"...But... I also... said..."
'No, not now of all times......'
I gritted my teeth and tried to open my eyes, but it was futile.
In the end, I couldn't overcome the sudden fever and blacked out completely.
***
"Arma Cruise."
Theodore's voice came from very close.
He must have known I was awake and spoken.
Struggling to open my eyes, the first thing I saw was my room's window.
"They say the inflammation in your knee worsened and caused a fever."
"What about Makina? Did I get it all out?"
"I relayed all of Arma Cruise's speculations. But I couldn't convey what happened after you passed out."
"Forget that. It was better not said."
My cheeks and fingertips still tingled, the fever not fully gone.
I wiped my face with my palm and sat up in one motion.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Arthur, Judith, and even Shirley. I need to meet them all."
A sense of crisis that it might already be too late overrode my aching body.
As I stood, dizziness rolled in the direction I rose, but I couldn't stay put.
Theodore immediately pressed me back down onto the bed.
"Your fever hit 39.6 degrees. It's a standard high fever. What you need now is rest."
"This isn't the time."
"Until the student council acts first, there's nothing we can do."
Theodore stated firmly.
It was true, but I couldn't just sit idly waiting.
"Sigh... fine. I'll stay here, so call the others. If not, I'll call the servants."
"I already did. It's odd they're this late. It's been about an hour."
My whole body ached like I'd been beaten, making rational thought hard.
All I could think was, 'Then I'll go find them myself.'
As I shot up again, Theodore didn't stop me this time.
"At least Judith."
Judith was the easiest to summon by route.
Theodore nodded silently at my words.
Whether he lacked confidence to break my stubbornness or had his own suspicions, it was good.
Just as I leaned on Theodore to head out—
-Knock knock.
"Phew... they're here."
After wiping sweat from my brow, I said come in, and a tall silhouette in a long jacket reaching his knuckles appeared.
But the man with his hat pulled low over his face wasn't who I expected.
"Emergency. I apologize for coming here unannounced."
The servants' voices were uniformly low and polite.
"I'm in a great rush now. Can you make it brief?"
"Yes. We've found a body."
"What? A body...?"
"There was a cadet who passed recently."
"...No way."
Were these back-to-back incidents coincidence?
Before the servant finished, I guessed who the body was.
"Cale Ace of Silver Chalice Class?"
"Correct. Found in the sewer between Crown of Thorns Class and Silver Chalice Class."
My vision shook with the high fever.
Yet some intuition struck.
Now it's spilled milk.
Something has begun.