Chapter 452.2: New Friend
The Academy I was shown around is incredibly impressive.
There are only a handful of things called Academy in Terrace. Moreover, these academies mostly teach combat skills, creating a somewhat tense and brutal atmosphere. So Academies in big cities that aren’t threatened by monsters are that different, huh. The students passing by are all well-dressed and would nod whenever they saw Lucia and me.
I have never attended school, but if I had, would I have made many friends?
I shake my head slightly to clear away such delusions.
Although I don’t have friends in Terrace, I have people who fought alongside me. And there are also lives that have been saved by my power. There are even people who offered words of encouragement before I took the Level 9 Exam. Everyone lives with what they have. My life is the result of the choices I made.
I turn my attention to the Foreigners who have been following me and ask them to go and check the situation inside the Academy.
“I sense a strong presence of Magic…… Is a spell cast around?” (Saya)
“Yes. A big incident just happened the other day, and the barrier was just re-established…… You can tell?” (Lucia)
“Somehow. It is because my eyes are special.” (Saya)
My eyes are more powerful than ordinary Magic Eyes. My main ability is to see Foreigners, but I can also see things that normal humans cannot. It can be both convenient and inconvenient, but at least I have never overlooked a Magic technique.
Instead, Code really hit a weak spot.
“Do you have Magic Eyes?” (Lucia)
“Yes. Initially, the color only changed when I activate my ability, but…… After I took Cry’s advice and started using it, it became activated all the time.” (Saya)
“………… I am sorry, for our Leader.” (Lucia)
“!? N…… No, I don’t mind. He did the right thing.” (Saya)
“I see, I see.” (Lucia)
Lucia nods slightly.
It is not that I regret it. If I hadn’t used my ability during the day, I wouldn’t have been able to resolve the situation, and “Sword Tail (Kenbi)” and “Sky Tail (Kuubi)” would have rushed to the Royal Tower. As expected, even for 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, it would have been tough to face those two at the same time.
I think crashing Code was a bit much, but it seems that no one was killed, so it was probably an unavoidable course of action he had to take.
“………… How was Leader in Code?” (Lucia)
Asks Lucia after a moment of silence. At her question, I close my eyes for a moment and think back to the events in Code. I was captured the moment I entered Code and had been forced to wear the mask the whole time. That’s why, although I wasn’t observing Cry’s actions up close, I still have vague memories of what happened while I was wearing the white mask.
Neither Angus-ouji nor Jin Gordon, who was conspiring behind the scenes, was able to see through Cry’s true abilities until the very end. Everything, including the fact that he even deceived the system evaluation, which caught me, who should have only received a score without the Foreigners, must be the power of 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》.
“Lucia, your Onii-san is…………………………” (Saya)
Strong? No. Amazing? He was amazing, but I don’t think it is that. So, how can I sum up Cry Andrich’s achievements in Code in a few words?
I hesitate for a moment before answering.
“It is just a guess, but I think he had a lot of fun.” (Saya)
“…… I am really sorry. He has been like this for a long time. He meant no offense……” (Lucia)
Lucia’s face turns bright red, and she shrinks back.
“Cry isn’t to blame. If the other person and I hadn’t messed up, I am sure he would have used a different tactic.” (Saya)
At the very least, dropping Code at the end can hardly be called a strategy. Well, I am sorry that he has been suspended, but I think it is unavoidable.
“I don’t think that is the case. Nii-san really does some unpredictable things……” (Lucia)
Just as Lucia says this in a weak voice, the Foreigners return.
“………… Lucia, it looks like there is something over there.” (Saya)
We follow the Foreigner who moves its hand as if to beckon me. We walk around the impressive school building and through the site. The place we arrive at is a courtyard-like place surrounded by tower-like buildings.
A bright courtyard where many students are taking a break in their own way. A Foreigner stops in front of a tree in the center of the courtyard.
It is not small, but it is far from being called a large tree, what a half-hearted tree. Its lush green leaves cast a shadow. The Foreigner raises its arm. Lucia speaks as if she has remembered something.
“Ah, there is a rumor here too. I don’t think there have been any victims, but――There is a rumor about the 『Confession Magic Tree』. Apparently, if you confess your love here――” (Lucia)
“Like, they will definitely end up together?” (Saya)
It is a story I have heard somewhere before. However, Lucia shakes her head at what I said and says with a slightly uncomfortable look on her face.
“No………… There is a rumor that if you confess your feelings and get rejected, both you and the other person will be eaten by the tree and disappear……” (Lucia)
“What kind of rumor is that…………?” (Saya)
That makes no one happy.
“That is probably why there are no victims. In the first place, this place is usually pretty crowded. No one would be so eccentric as to confess in a place like this, and if someone disappeared, there would definitely be witnesses.” (Lucia)
“I see……” (Saya)
So what is this strange haze that is floating in front of that whatever magic tree I am looking at?
It is a purple haze. It is the size of a fist, but it disappeared as I looked at it. It is as if the whole thing were an optical illusion.
Since a Foreigner guided us here, the current haze would probably be invisible to ordinary people. I have never seen anything similar, even in Terrace. It looks a little like the distortion in space that occurs when a Foreigner arrives, but the color is different. However, even if I think about it any further now, I would likely not come to a conclusion. Because, unlike Lucia’s brother, I am not the type to think through everything with my brain.
I quickly change my thoughts and speak to Lucia.
“Alright. Lucia, let’s go to that classroom.” (Saya)
“Sure. Well, even if this tree was the cause of the Spirited Away, it would be easy to just cut it or burn it down. I think the 『Haunted classroom that cannot be opened』 could be resolved in the end by blowing it up, but I couldn’t get the permission……” (Lucia)
At times, what Lucia says and actions overlap with those of Liz and Sytry…… After all, this means that she too, is a member of 《Strange Griefs (Nageki no Bourei)》.
But, that is fine. Lucia is very cute, and with the endorsement of 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 Divine Strategy, she is a good candidate to be my friend. In fact, I would probably look pretty average to them too――.
“Lucia, do you want to have a mock battle with me?” (Saya)
“Sure. Let’s do it later.” (Lucia)
Lucia answers without hesitation to the question I timidly ask.
Thanks for reading! And thanks Valis1911 for the ko-fi! Also the cover for Volume 13 is out! I updated it in the main page, but I have so many question! Is Lucia afraid of ghost? Is it gonna be because of Cry who traumatized her when she was small? And why do we have a shark on the cover!? Are we going to have a Sharknado or Jaws scenario!? Or is it all just a pranks by Imouto Kitsune!?
For the chapter, we can see that Lucia is indeed a member of Strange Grief. What do you do when a something caused the Spirited Away? Answer: blow it to smithereens… And Saya, of course that haze is a big clue to the case! You gotta go inside to resolve the situation!
By the way check this 3D Strange Grief diorama I made! Love it so much!
If you are in a generous mood and want to support me, I will be very grateful! : Click here for Ko-fi donation or the button bellow