"Ryuga! How is Fee!?"
"Rest easy, his life isn't in danger. He's sleeping now, after Epee-san and Rouge-san finished their treatment."
Once the battle ended and Yugo had safely escaped the Insect Museum with the group led by Uno, he received word from Ryuga via the newly restored communication devices that Fee had been rescued. He had rushed to his brother’s side immediately.
At the makeshift medical station, Fee was stable, receiving recovery magic from Melt and Claire. Just as Ryuga had said, the injuries did not appear to be critical.
Yugo felt a wave of relief, yet seeing the deep wound across his younger brother’s back caused a surge of self-loathing. He hadn't been there to protect him.
By Fee’s side, Yui watched over him with a pained expression. Ryuga, clearly sharing Yugo’s sentiment, let a trace of suppressed anguish seep into his voice as he apologized.
"I’m sorry. If I had arrived sooner, Fee-kun wouldn't have had to suffer like this. I am truly sorry."
"You don't need to apologize, Partner. If you hadn't gotten here when you did, we’d be talking about a lot more than just an injury. Thank you."
"...Fee-kun took that wound to protect Yui. He’s the one who saved her life. I’m the one who should be thanking you."
"I see... He did his best, didn't he? I’ll have to give him some praise when he wakes up."
Fee was physically frail and lacked any combat training, yet he had desperately stood his ground against a powerful enemy to protect Yui. As Yugo listened to the story, he narrowed his eyes and murmured softly.
Though he wore a faint smile, his companions remained silent, sensing that the emotion behind it was far more sorrow than joy.
"Clay, Renjou... I am so sorry. I was the person in charge of your group. Pathetically, I didn't even realize the two of them had been separated from us. I know an apology won't fix this, but still... I am truly, deeply sorry. Forgive me."
"Professor Castle..."
Uno, despite his own leg injury, was clearly tormented by the fact that someone under his care had been hurt.
As Uno bowed his head and blamed the tragedy entirely on his own lack of management, a shrill rebuke was hurled at him from a woman who had nothing to do with the situation.
"Exactly, Professor Castle! You are the Grade Supervisor! How could you allow such a disgrace to happen under your watch!?"
The voice scolding Uno was laced with a delight she couldn't quite hide.
Yugo and the others turned toward the voice. Their expressions soured as they saw Professor Neila approaching, leading a large group of students that included the Warrior Shrine Maidens.
"...I have no excuse, Professor Neila. It was entirely due to my lack of supervision."
"You are absolutely right! If things had gone just a little differently, this would have been irreversible! Have you even considered what would have happened if Yui-san had been injured!? The only reason we avoided a catastrophe is pure luck!"
"Luck...? Are you out of your mind? Fee—a child from the Elementary Division—was mauled by a Magic Armor Beast and is seriously injured! Don't you dare call that luck!"
Incensed by Neila’s callous words, Anhel—rarely one to lose her temper—snapped, her face flushed with rage as she rebuked the teacher.
Taken aback by her intensity, Neila fell silent, though her face twisted in clear annoyance that a mere student from the Industrial Department had the audacity to lecture her.
"Ann, please, calm down. I understand your anger, and I feel the same... but there is something else we need to clarify right now."
"Clarify? Ryuga, what are you talking about?"
"...The reason Fee-kun was injured wasn't Professor Castle’s lack of supervision. It’s the possibility that someone maliciously set a trap for him and Yui."
A shocked murmur rippled through the gathered teachers and students at Ryuga’s incredible accusation.
As everyone wondered what he could possibly mean, Ryuga began to explain in a quiet, steady voice.
"According to my sister, the two of them separated from the group because she needed to use the restroom. As her escort, Fee-kun went with her, and that was when they were caught up in the incident. The problem lies in the window of time between them leaving and the attack. Fee-kun testified that he definitely reported their departure to a High School Division student. Yet, when they tried to return, the entire group had vanished."
"That’s impossible. They went to the restroom? I received no such report! Why on earth...!?"
"...Fee-kun has a profound sense of responsibility; he would put his life on the line to protect my sister. I find it impossible to believe he would neglect to report his departure. My sister has no reason to lie, either. And yet, the report that was supposedly made never reached the ears of the teacher leading the group. That means—"
"The report was suppressed somewhere along the line...!"
A shockwave of disbelief hit everyone present.
It was a nonsensical situation—confusing and utterly bizarre. In an attempt to settle the growing chaos, Uno called out to the students.
"Wait! Let’s confirm the facts! Is there anyone here who received a report from Fee Clay that he was taking Yui Renjou to the restroom!?"
"A—Ah... U-Um... I... I did...! I’m the one who received that report from Fee-kun...!"
In response to Uno’s question, a single female student raised her hand, her entire body trembling violently.
Under the weight of a hundred gazes filled with suspicion, doubt, and morbid curiosity, she spoke desperately through a face twisted with fear.
"B—But, it’s not what you think! I—I tried to tell the professor! But then, I was told to go take a break... and that they would handle the report for me! That’s why I...!!"
"Calm down! ...Who was it? Who was the person who told you to go on break and promised to report their departure to me?"
"I-It was—!!"
At Uno’s prompting, the girl’s gaze shifted.
Yugo, Ryuga, the teachers, the Warrior Shrine Maidens, and the other students... all of them followed her eyes to the person responsible for the disaster.
"Wh—Wh... What...!?"
Professor Neila was likely the one least able to accept the truth.
As she stood there with her mouth opening and closing like a gasping goldfish, the girl finally announced the name of the student who had promised to deliver the report in her place.
"It was... Egos-san. I left the report in Egos-san's hands...!"