Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: You Shall Surely Come in Light
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"Wait, wait. What the hell does that mean?"
The bracelet embedded with a magic stone began to glow faintly for a moment, just as expected for a magic tool, before fading away.
Anyone would be shocked to learn that this thing, which looked like an ordinary bracelet, cost enough to buy a small castle in the countryside.
"Makina pointed out that the Aegis Academy cadets couldn't properly respond to the beasts because they couldn't use magic."
"And they bought that nonsense? Sir Reynolds isn't that much of a pushover."
"This incident was just so serious. Of all times, it happened while all the swordsmanship majors were away, and of all places, the beasts attacked the Wooden Cross Class dorm. They barely avoided total annihilation."
The Wooden Cross Class had very few students talented in magic, so the moment magic use was permitted, they seemed to be compensating for their weakness with magic tools like this.
"This thing... isn't it expensive? Where'd you get it?"
"The Spencer family sent it. It would've looked better if Shirley gave it to you herself, but oh well."
"Why would the Spencer family give something so precious to me...?"
For a split second, I nearly blurted out something childish like, 'My family has plenty of money too.'
Judith shot me a look that said, 'I know exactly what you were about to say,' before speaking.
"You shielded Shirley when her leg got broken."
"If I hadn't been there, Shirley's leg wouldn't have broken in the first place."
"You're just twisting words endlessly."
Judith shrugged her shoulders and refused to answer any more of my questions.
Dumbfounded, I stared at the magic tool on my arm—the bracelet woven from silver and black threads.
"Since you weren't going to ask about its effect forever, I'll tell you first: it shares fatal wounds that could lead to death, distributing the burden."
"No way, then it really is precious. Give it to Shirley, not me, you idiot."
"Frontier barons are stubborn men who value face above all. Just accept it gratefully and secretly return it to Shirley later."
"Haa...."
The situation had changed so drastically that fatigue crashed over me.
The painkiller was finally kicking in, bringing sleep with it, but since I'd already slept too long, all I felt was a languid sensation without actual drowsiness.
"Judith, I have a favor to ask."
"I won't grant it, but go ahead. I'm curious."
"Don't say that, hear me out. Could you handle my discharge?"
"You're insane. Might as well ask me to stand on my head and dance."
"Please."
Judith let out an audible groan, clearly annoyed.
But I had my reasons.
Now that my presence here was known, those weirdos chanting hymns outside would keep coming, and that would undoubtedly empower the guardian angel.
"Fine. I'll pass on the message, but don't get your hopes up."
In the end, Judith was the one who gave in first.
I nodded, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
I knew full well this pain-free moment from the painkiller wouldn't last, but I had to isolate myself.
'He deflected bullets right in front of him, survived Shirley's attack despite being that strong, and killed him in one blow....'
I was the only one who accurately recognized the guardian angel right now, but the majority of cadets who perceived it as 'something from the Aegis God' were the problem.
Their worship and adoration would be like pouring oil on a fire.
As those thoughts swirled, Judith returned.
"Uh, they said you can be discharged."
"Really? Great, easier than I thought—"
"When you can walk out on your own two feet."
"So it didn't go smoothly after all."
I felt sorry for making her ask something unreasonable and embarrassing herself.
Judith didn't seem to mind much, though.
My first attempt had failed miserably, but I had another ally just as reckless as me.
.
.
.
"As long as I can walk out."
"That's the discharge condition. On my own two feet."
"It's possible, but it could cause problems with the wound."
"Can you do something about that too?"
The second ally I'd coaxed here after soothing the rampaging Judith, who hated being treated like an errand girl, was Theodore.
Instead of pressing his temple, Theodore fiddled with the strap of his eyepatch, lost in thought.
"If we borrow Senior Judith's prosthetic arm temporarily, it might work."
"Judith's...? No, taking someone else's body part is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Your resolve is lacking."
I bristled at that and raised an eyebrow, as if to say, 'Go on if you have more to say.'
Theodore continued calmly.
"Senior Judith's prosthetic arm is the highest-grade body replacement tool made in the Labyrinth Tower. It operates based on Senior Judith's magic, so for Senior Cruise..."
To sum up his waterfall of words: cover the wound with spare artificial skin and muscle parts from Judith's prosthetic, sealing it like patching cloth.
Judith would have to channel her magic from behind, which would be a bit tough, but it should be fine for a short time—that was Theodore's idea.
"Won't they notice? Judith's prosthetic is a kind of magic tool, after all."
"The prosthetic as a magic tool isn't commercialized yet. Plus, the academy's infirmary is staffed purely by non-magical medical personnel who don't use holy power or magic, so they won't catch on."
This was another byproduct of Aegis Academy's bizarre magic ban rule.
Convenient for me right now, though.
"Hmm, okay. That should prevent the wound from bursting while walking. So all that's left is the acting?"
"Control. It'll be harder than you think."
Theodore pulled a small glass bottle from his pocket.
'This guy... I'm grateful he's thought this far, but isn't this a bit risky?'
I unscrewed the lid and sniffed the liquid inside.
It was strong liquor, high-proof enough to conquer even the debate club's drinking veterans.
"Sorry, but no thanks... It'll cause inflammation."
Theodore nodded and put the bottle back.
"You didn't bring it to drink yourself, right?"
"It's for experiments."
"Liquor for... uh, tell me later. Anyway, thanks. I can get discharged now."
I relayed Theodore's plan to Judith and asked if I could borrow spare parts from her prosthetic—half-expecting refusal.
To my surprise, she agreed readily.
"No, this patient! If you act so shamelessly...."
"Ah, doctor. I'm really fine now and want to handle discharge."
"No way... I just gave you painkillers a bit ago...."
The doctor muttered for a while longer and even lifted my shirt to check my abdomen.
The wound was, of course, sealed with the borrowed magic tool.
Side effects from forcing myself up were starting to bring on a fever.
"You look a bit tired. Could you process this quickly?"
Judith jumped in, barely hiding her fidgeting.
This moment was a trial not just for me, but for her too.
She was controlling the prosthetic's contraction and expansion to match my movements using her own magic.
'Sorry for lying....'
I bowed to the bewildered, stammering doctor and headed north down the infirmary wing's hallway.
"This way."
We chose the back exit, obviously to avoid the cadets surrounding the infirmary.
Theodore handed me a wool hunting cap that was clearly his.
"Thanks."
As soon as we left the infirmary, the tension released, and stabbing pain surged through me.
Better to get back before the painkiller wore off fully, so I leaned on Theodore and Judith for support.
"There's a shortcut. I'll guide you."
"Sh-shortcut...? I've been here ten years and never knew...."
The "shortcut" Theodore showed us wasn't really a path—it was an oval crevice naturally eroded and left abandoned.
A gap between garden trees and streetlamps, formed by a rain gutter, astonishingly led to the Wooden Cross Class dorm's backyard.
"You... you've been using this all this time?"
"Arthur too."
"Why say it like you're teaching me?"
His responses were so random and emotionless that it was hard to notice, but up close, he was unmistakably a kid.
Arthur was quite a bit older, but they must get along somehow.
Imagining the two darting through the shortcut, I hunched over like them and passed through.
-Come in the light, surely come in the light...
From behind came the cadets' hymn, sung with heat and fervor.
Arma Cruise, public enemy number one just days ago, was now the academy's hero who drove out evil. What could be more ridiculous?
I tried walking as straight as possible to not burden Judith and Theodore, but by the time we reached the dorm, I could barely stand upright.
Collapsing onto the bed at last, Judith wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Haa, haa. Really sorry, Judith. And Theodore. Just bear with me one more week."
"One week?"
"By then, finals will be over, and those winged pests can all go home and give us a break."
"Ah, oops. I forgot to tell you."
"...Tell me what?"
Exhausted, I was ready for anything as long as it wasn't that finals were canceled and everyone had winter makeup classes.
"Finals are canceled, so all cadets have winter makeup classes."
"Damn it! You literature club bastards!"
Did that mean I'd have to endure this mad hymn chanting indefinitely?
Right now, the dorm was quiet because they thought I was still in the infirmary. The moment they learned otherwise, my peace was over.
'And the guardian angel too... no, stop thinking.'
The more I struggled, the more it felt like everything was going according to the guardian angel's plan.
With a foggy mind, I half-listened to the two discussing my condition while tearing at my hair.