Chapter 195

Chapter 195. The Witch’s Decision (2)

Over a week had passed since I started helping Lanes with her training every day.

“Lanes. Let’s take a break today.”

“Huh? Why? Do you have something else to do…?”

Lanes looked flustered at my words.

I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.

“Lanes… Do you even know what your face looks like right now?”

Lanes’ face was so haggard that it was painful to look at.

“Ah… I-I’m fine!”

“No. You’re not.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Lanes. Let’s go to your dorm room.”

“Huh? M-my room? Why?”

“Quickly.”

Without answering her question, I forcefully grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

‘If I leave her alone, who knows what she’ll do.’

I decided to go to her room and make sure she rested properly, so she wouldn’t even think about doing anything else.

Click.

As we entered Lanes’ room, it was so barren that the word “desolate” fit perfectly.

Just a bed, a small desk, and a dining table.

There wasn’t even a hint of the pink, girly vibe that male candidates often imagined when thinking about female candidates’ rooms.

“Ugh… I-It’s embarrassing.”

Even though her room was like this, it seemed she was still embarrassed to show it to others.

Lanes, who followed me in, blushed and kept glancing at me.

“…Sorry. It’s too empty, isn’t it?”

“What are you apologizing for? It’s your room.”

“But…”

“Still, it might be nice to decorate it a bit more. If there’s nothing in the room, it feels a bit lonely, doesn’t it?”

Though I wasn’t one to talk, since my room was just as empty as hers.

“Y-yeah. I’ll do that.”

“Good. Then sit down. I’ll make some food real quick.”

“F-food? You, Dale?”

“Yeah.”

I lifted a bag of ingredients.

They were fresh ingredients I bought at the store early in the morning before meeting Lanes.

“N-no! I’ll make it!”

“Hey. I skipped training today so you could rest, so how can you make it?”

“B-but…”

“Come on, sit down.”

I grabbed Lanes’ shoulders and forced her to sit on the chair.

“Let’s see… Alright.”

Today’s menu was Samgyetang.

A nourishing dish known to be good for recovering from fatigue.

‘It’s not that hard to make.’

I wasn’t as skilled as Lanes or Iris, but I could cook to some extent.

After preparing the chicken, I stuffed it with ingredients and boiled it in a pot with medicinal herbs.

Bubble bubble.

After about 30 minutes, a milky broth emerged, filling the room with a savory aroma.

“It’s hot, so eat slowly.”

“Y-yeah.”

Lanes, who seemed quite hungry, quickly finished the Samgyetang.

“Th-thank you, Dale.”

“It’s nothing.”

“A-ah, I’ll do the dishes!”

“I told you to rest.”

I pushed Lanes’ shoulders back into the chair as she tried to get up.

Then.

Ding dong.

The sound of the doorbell echoed through the room.

“Ah, the morning classes must be over.”

“Huh? Did someone call?”

“I mentioned you, and they insisted on coming.”

Click.

When I opened the door, Iris and Yurina were there.

“Iris? Yurina? Why are you two here…?”

“I heard from Dale that Lanes has been overworking herself lately.”

“I was worried, so I came too.”

Iris approached Lanes, who was sitting on the chair, and examined her face.

“…You really don’t look well. Your complexion is bad, and the dark circles are severe.”

“A-ah, Iris.”

“Shh. Don’t move. I’m examining you now.”

Iris placed her hand on Lanes’ cheek and gently touched the area around her eyes.

Then.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Squish.

Suddenly, Iris grabbed Lanes’ left chest.

“Eek!”

“Ah. Don’t move…”

“Hah…!”

Lanes, startled, twisted her body, causing Iris’ hand to grip even tighter, making the shape of her chest clearly visible through her clothes.

“…!”

Quickly, I sent magic power to my eyes to burn this scene into my memory…!

“Eek.”

Yurina, who had come up behind me, covered my eyes with her hand.

“Y-Yurina?”

“Dale… You’re perverted.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

With a heart ready to burst, I turned my head away from Lanes and Iris.

“A-ah, Iris… W-what are you doing…?”

“Stay still.”

Iris placed her hand on Lanes’ left chest… where the Holy Mark was engraved, and began to draw out her magic power.

A white light seeped into Lanes’ Holy Mark.

“…As I thought.”

Iris’ face twisted in concern.

“Your magic circuits are severely damaged.”

Due to the excessive use of ‘Blessings,’ Lanes’ internal magic circuits were in tatters.

“Dale. Let’s move Lanes to the bed… What are you two doing?”

“A-ah, nothing.”

“Hmph.”

Yurina finally removed her hand from my eyes.

Following Iris’ instructions, I carried Lanes to the bed.

“T-this isn’t necessary…”

“No. You’re clearly a patient now. Please follow my instructions until the treatment is over.”

Iris shook her head firmly.

She held Lanes’ hands with both of hers and brought them to her forehead as if in prayer.

“Holy Seven Gods. Please grant your child peace and tranquility.”

With a soft incantation, a light flowed from Iris’ body and seeped into Lanes’.

“…Ah.”

A soft sigh escaped Lanes’ lips.

Color returned to her cheeks, and her expression relaxed.

“Do you feel a bit better?”

“Y-yeah. Thank you, Iris.”

“Still, you need to rest for at least three more days.”

“Th-three days?”

“If you train before that, I won’t send you the photo of Dale drying his hair after the hot springs that I promised.”

“Th-that can’t happen!”

“……”

What?

I feel like I just overheard some kind of shady deal.

“Dale… drying his hair…?”

“Oh, Yurina, are you interested too?”

“Ahem. N-no, not really… W-when was it taken?”

“Hehe. I asked Juliet to take it during the school trip…”

Juliet, you little…

No wonder you suddenly wanted to take a commemorative photo…!

“……”

As I stood there dumbfounded by the blatantly illegal (?) transaction happening before my eyes.

Knock knock.

There was a knock at the door.

“Huh? Did someone else call?”

“No.”

Curious, I opened the door to find Sophia and Berald.

“Huh? What’s going on? Why is everyone here?”

“We came to check on Lanes… What about you, Sophia?”

“Hmph. I came to catch the delinquent candidate who’s been skipping classes lately.”

Sophia snorted and glared at Lanes, who was lying on the bed.

Lanes flinched and turned her head away from Sophia’s gaze.

“Skipping classes…?”

“Yeah. She hasn’t shown up to class for over a week. I only found out today when Professor Elisha told me.”

Tsk. Sophia clicked her tongue and strode into the room.

Berald, who followed her in, scratched his head awkwardly, saying, “I was dragged here by Sophia.”

“Are you skipping class because you’re sick? Then you should have submitted a sick leave form. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“W-well…”

Lanes stammered, looking flustered.

“Sigh. I’ll talk to the professor and submit the sick leave form for you.”

“S-Sophia.”

“Tsk. You’re such a hassle.”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s fine. Friends are supposed to be a bit of a hassle to each other.”

“……”

Lanes hung her head low.

“Everyone… thank you…”

Lanes’ shoulders trembled.

Transparent tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking the blanket.

“W-what? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

Sophia looked flustered and turned to Berald.

“B-Berald! Do something to stop her tears!”

“W-what can I do…?”

“Do something!”

Sophia pushed Berald’s back.

“Umm.”

Berald scratched his head and brought a metal spoon from the kitchen.

“Then I’ll show you a magical trick.”

Berald pinched the handle of the spoon between two fingers.

“Now, hold it like this and shake it gently…”

Creeeak.

Snap.

The spoon broke in two.

“Ta-da!”

“Ta-da my foot! You just broke the spoon with your fingers… Huh?”

Sophia’s eyes widened as she looked at the broken spoon.

“You… broke metal…? Without using magic?”

“Hoho! That’s the power of magic!”

“No… that’s not how magic works…”

Sophia looked at Berald with a confused expression.

“Pfft!”

A clear laugh burst from Lanes’ lips.

“Ahaha!”

“Ooh! I-I did it!”

Berald clenched his fist as he watched Lanes laugh, clutching her stomach.

“Then for the next trick, I’ll make the table split in two…”

“No, are you going to break everything in the room? There’s barely any furniture as it is.”

Sophia smacked Berald’s head.

“Let’s all head back now.”

Lanes would probably rest better without us here.

“Rest well, Lanes.”

“Don’t forget what I said! At least three days of rest!”

“Make sure to come to class once you’re better.”

Everyone said their goodbyes and left the room.

Lanes waved her hand from the bed.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Click.

The door closed.

The noisy commotion that had filled the room like a marketplace now felt like a dream, as a peaceful silence settled in.

“…I won’t forget, ever.”

Lanes smiled faintly as she looked at the firmly closed door.

* * *

The next day.

I was getting ready to go out, thinking I’d train with Yurina since Lanes wouldn’t be there today.

Bam!

The door slammed open, and Sophia burst into my room.

“D-Dale…!”

“What’s wrong?”

“L-Lanes… she left this…!”

Sophia handed me a piece of paper.

Like a snowy field under the night sky.

On the white paper, the black letters began with “Resignation Letter.”