Morning light filtered through the window of the convalescence room.
A white ceiling.
The smell of disinfectant.
A methodical silence.
I sat halfway up in bed, simply idling away the time in a daze. Even though my injuries were completely healed, I still wasn't allowed to move. Why?
"…I'm bored."
"I believe you were told to stay at rest."
Yuka's voice returned an immediate response.
It wasn't like I was planning to run around, but didn't they have any card games or something? Come on, let’s duel already. (I might be a battle junkie).
Well, there was no way such things existed here, so I figured I’d just kill time by staring at Yuka. I turned my gaze toward her; she stood beside the bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her maid uniform was perfectly arranged today, as always. Her posture was upright, showing no openings.
"…How much longer is this going to last?"
"Until the doctor deems it okay, I imagine?"
"But I’m Anp*nman with a hundred times the energy."
"…?"
Ah, right. Yuka wouldn't know who Anp*nman was. Ever since I came to this world, it’s been painful how no one gets my jokes from my previous life.
Right then, a reserved knock sounded at the door. Yuka took a step forward in response.
"Come in."
The door opened, and three people entered: Elicia, Caiel, and Allen.
For a moment, the air seemed to stand still.
...Everyone looked a bit gloomy, didn't they?
◇◆◇
"Ah, morning, everyone."
Luka greeted us with a light wave and a smile. Just that was enough to make my chest tighten.
He was alive. That smile I had been captivated by so many times was right there. And yet, every time I saw that face, the scenes from that day flashed through my mind—his small body plunging through the flames, the spray of blood.
And my own powerlessness, as I could do nothing but watch his back.
Lord Luka does not need me.
The atmosphere that had existed between Lord Luka and Yuka... it wasn't that of the protector and the protected. It was a position where they both staked their lives on one another.
I had not been there.
"…Lord Luka." My voice was a little stiff. "Are you… alright?"
"Yeah, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
"You mustn't overdo it. You were very seriously injured," Caiel said, cautioning him.
As the conversation continued, the air softened slightly. Allen, however, was staring fixedly at Luka.
"…I'm sorry, Lord Luka. I couldn't do anything." His low voice was filled with regret and a sense of helplessness. It was a feeling I knew well, one that overlapped with my own. It was his honest truth.
Luka shrugged his shoulders. "No, no. I only jumped in because I couldn't do anything else either."
"T-That’s not—!"
"It's fine. It’s over now."
He—Lord Luka—had always been like this. To others, it was no simple feat, yet he did it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
My gaze naturally drifted to the side. Yuka, the slave Lord Luka had purchased. The girl standing right next to him. The distance between them was closer than when I had seen them before. Too close. Too natural. As if that was where she belonged.
A sharp pang of pain hit the depths of my chest.
—Even though I couldn't do a single thing.
Lord Luka protected Yuka. Yuka protected Lord Luka. And I... my legs wouldn't move.
"…At that time," I began, my voice trailing off. Before I realized it, I had opened my mouth. Everyone's eyes turned toward me. "I was so scared…" My voice trembled, but I couldn't stop. "I couldn't move."
Silence.
There was no point in saying such things, and yet, I found myself hoping for something. And Lord Luka always met my expectations. He gave me that soft smile again.
"That's normal. It would be weirder not to be scared."
"But—"
"I was scared too."
I caught my breath at those words.
"I was scared, but Yuka was right in front of me, so I just moved."
I didn't think it was something that should be said in such a light tone. I noticed Yuka’s fingertips grip just a little tighter. I couldn't help but see it—even that subtle reaction.
I couldn't get in between them.
A quiet heat began to smolder deep in my chest. It was frustrating. It was frustrating. It was frustrating. But it wasn't anger.
"…Next time," I whispered so softly that no one could hear. "Next time, I will be the one to protect you."
By the time I raised my head, I already wore the smile of a model student. However, deep within those eyes, a faint obsession had taken root.
◇◆◇
While I was enjoying the conversation with Elicia and the others, there was another knock. This time, it was a good sound. This was someone accustomed to knocking—a true professional. A Knock Sommelier, if you will.
Once again, Yuka headed for the door. When it opened, standing there was... the cynical-type man, my homeroom teacher. And—
The air in the room shifted.
"Pardon the intrusion."
A low, calm voice echoed through the room. A tall, handsome man with reddish-brown hair tied back spoke first.
"First of all, I am glad to see you are safe, Luka Noctear. I am Arvel Reinhardt, the Student Council President for the third year of the High School Division."
The woman standing beside him, who had beautiful white-blue hair reaching down her back, introduced herself next.
"I am Rizel Alphyria, the Vice President, also in my third year. It is a pleasure."
"I heard you regained consciousness yesterday," Arvel said. "How are you feeling?"
"I’m doing alright," I gave a casual reply.
Arvel nodded once. "I’d like to conduct a brief questioning immediately, if that’s alright?"
That really is "immediately." I’m not great at this kind of thing.
Caiel took a step forward. "Right now?"
"It won't take long. I’ll have to ask the rest of you to step out for a moment, however."
Vice President Rizel quietly added, "As those who manage the Academy, there are matters we must confirm."
The air grew tense. Well, if it was going to be quick, I guess it was fine. Though people who say "it won't take long" usually end up taking an hour. It was probably a mandatory matter anyway, so I’d deal with it.
"…Everyone, you heard him."
Elicia's fingertips twitched. "But—"
"It's okay, it'll be over soon."
Should I just answer "yes" to everything?
"Ah, I’ll have to ask the attendant to leave the room as well," Arvel noted.
"…"
Yuka hesitated for a fleeting moment. Nevertheless, she bowed and left the room. "If anything happens, call immediately."
"Yeah."
The other three also quietly exited. The door closed. After a short silence, Arvel stood beside the bed.
"I'll be blunt. If there is anything you know about the people in black cloaks… the attackers, please tell us."
He really was going straight to the point.
"Their characteristics?" I began to recall the scene from that day, unconsciously looking up at the ceiling. I hadn't fought them directly, but the most abnormal thing was… "…That dagger."
Arvel's eyes narrowed. "A dagger?"
"A dagger with a pitch-black blade. If I wasn't mistaken, it was nullifying magic."
For an instant, Rizel's eyes flashed sharply. "What did it look like?"
"What did it…?" I didn't remember anything other than it being pitch-black. Wait, hadn't they seized it? "…I'm sorry, I don't really remember anything more than that."
The air stilled. Arvel placed a hand on his chin, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
"…No such dagger was found at the scene, nor was one in the possession of any of the individuals we apprehended."
What?
"However, just like you, everyone who was there says they saw a black dagger."
...Stop with the sudden horror developments, I'm about to wet myself.
"This incident is different from the previous attacks in some way."
So there have been other attacks before this? I’m seriously worried about the security around here.
"…No, I shouldn't burden you any further," Arvel said. "We shall take our leave. If there is an opportunity, please let us hear more from you."
I turned my gaze to the President. "Yes, if there is an opportunity."
The President left, and as Miss Rizel bowed and prepared to close the door, Yuka rushed back in before it could even shut.
"Are you alright, Lord Luka?"
"Y-Yeah." Look, I'm happy, okay? I'm happy you care, but you don't have to be here every single second.
"Shall I brew some tea?"
"Eh, ah, yes please."
"Understood."
…I’m begging you, just let me have a slow life from here on out, okay?