Every society contains its own context.
From simple encounters to conversations and deep discussions, there is no situation untouched by context. Therefore, it goes without saying that the ability to read ‘context’ is crucial in social life.
However, the seed of tragedy lies in the fact that everyone exists within their own unique context.
Such differences create subtle cracks in communication. If even those who have lived in the same era cannot avoid this, how much more so for those who have lived in entirely different timeframes?
There must have been circumstances behind Senior Elsi’s ‘sudden acceleration’ from the future.
The question remained: could the other party accept this?
The reaction of the Great Witch did not deviate from expectations.
“……What nonsense is this?”
With a puff, she exhaled smoke as she spoke.
The Great Witch was lying on a wide platform, wearing a somewhat annoyed expression. The gaze that rested on me, propped up on her cheek, was filled with unmasked doubt.
Senior Elsi was merely keeping her mouth shut and tapping impatiently on the floorboards.
The fervor with which she had been clinging to the Great Witch and arguing just moments ago had vanished without a trace. Even now, she was being questioned about the very words she had shouted earlier.
“Why can’t you recognize me!”
Senior Elsi had exclaimed, and the Great Witch was in the midst of demanding a proper explanation in response.
Was the aftermath my responsibility after all?
I had always played this role, so I felt no particular resistance. I only felt a headache from not knowing what explanation to add.
I tried to unfold a narrative that was as plausible as possible.
“Senior Elsi has recently suffered a great shock, leading to mental issues…”
“How interesting. Nowadays, if someone develops a mental illness, it seems they can also handle a new system of magic, huh?”
That and my own unique form.
Though the Great Witch did not insist on adding this, I could read her questioning gaze from the way she glared at me. I was already sweating profusely on my forehead from embarrassment.
It was far too exquisite to simply dismiss it as ‘mental illness.’
The way Senior Elsi had undone the Great Witch’s barrier, and even I, who had never been taught, possessed a vision.
At this point, it could safely be determined as inevitability rather than coincidence. The Great Witch was no exception; her gaze, fixated on me, was becoming more and more fierce.
What should I do?
I repeatedly agonized while squeezing my eyes shut.
Should I just spill the truth? But how could I convince her of such an absurd story?
It wasn’t completely impossible.
Though it seemed ridiculous, that was the only story that could explain all these mysteries.
However, ‘students from the future’?
Even the title would raise doubts about the author’s naming sense. I had no idea how the Great Witch would react.
At that moment, while I was unable to meet her gaze and hesitated to provide an answer.
“……Hmph, it seems you can’t even recognize my spells?”
Senior Elsi muttered, pouting her lips.
It was a tone that was clearly mocking, and I shot her a desperate look.
Please, give me a sign to stop.
In reality, the Great Witch was puffing out smoke persistently. This probably meant that her mood had soured even further.
Still, Senior Elsi’s outburst did not cease.
No, it was more appropriate to say that she seemed to be flaunting it, like a rebellious teenage girl against her parents.
“Isn’t that your vision? That someone other than you could transmit it to me?”
“Then I never transmitted any vision in the first place…”
“Then mind your own business!”
With her posture lowered, those words were uttered through her clenched teeth.
By this point, the Great Witch couldn’t even spit out proper language. She merely let out a hollow laugh, her face reflecting disbelief.
Regardless, Senior Elsi was still as unstoppable as ever.
“Either way, I was alone… and I just need to handle this alone moving forward.”
“No, little girl. It seems you don’t understand your position; the one doing the questioning is me…”
“Hmph!”
Senior Elsi flicked her tongue dismissively at the Great Witch’s assertion.
The way she turned away with a huff was so natural that it felt as if the Senior Elsi in my memory had returned.
In the end, both the Great Witch and I remained silent for a long time.
Until Senior Elsi strode off, her back disappearing from view.
The only thing to awaken the room, which had fallen into silence, was the Great Witch’s low sigh.
Before long, she was resting her hand on her forehead. The frequent streams of smoke she exhaled represented the Great Witch’s feelings.
It seemed her head was throbbing.
I cautiously decided to defend Senior Elsi.
“Um, it’s strange… she’s usually such a mature senior, I wonder why she’s acting like this all of a sudden…”
“Who would know?”
Her tone was laced with fatigue.
I had no choice but to close my mouth in response to that retort. After all, wasn’t it me who had forcibly brought the unwilling Senior Elsi along?
No matter how many mouths I had, I had nothing to say.
The Great Witch released a deep, thick stream of smoke, expressing her frustration.
Is this what it means to have ‘responsibility without pleasure’?
Somehow, I felt pity for the Great Witch.
“By the way, she certainly possesses skill. This building is impossible to enter or exit from… and yet, I already sense no one nearby.”
“……Will they come looking?”
“Forget it.”
With a languid voice, the Great Witch turned her green eyes to me.
“Isn’t there something more important at hand? Just before finding my useless sister… But it worries me that I have to depend solely on information of unknown origin.”
She was right.
Even though I was receiving information from ‘Greed,’ it was not feasible to trust one of the top executives of the Dark Cult completely.
If only there were a more reliable source of information.
As I pondered this with a sense of regret, my eyes inadvertently swept over the spot where Senior Elsi had been standing.
And then I saw it.
Several pieces of paper fluttering, sweeping across the floor.
Suddenly reminded, I reached out towards the documents. In response, a note I had carefully folded away began to whirl around, gathering up the papers neatly.
Information that Senior Elsi had left behind.
Indeed, Senior Elsi was still ‘Senior Elsi.’ Despite being angry, she had conveyed her achievements without reservation.
I gave a wry smile towards the Great Witch, who looked slightly puzzled.
“……Then, would you like to take a stroll with me?”
The Great Witch paused for a moment, wearing a bewildered expression.
“Hmph, it’s a bit outdated phrasing, but… fine. I’ll let it slide this once.”
She replied, breaking into a giggle.
It seemed she had held onto something the Sword Master had said.
She was quite a timid woman.
As the sun began to set in the hot afternoon.
I exited the building, taking slow, unhurried steps. There were still a few people I needed to meet.
After all, I had an appointment tonight.
Also, I was concerned about my unconscious juniors.
It was a path I had walked for several years. Especially since my destination, the ‘Temple,’ had recently become a place I frequently visited, I had no hesitation in heading there.
The only problem was the overwhelming attention directed towards me.
Though the Sword Master had blocked them for some time, the impact of the vampire’s barrier on the Academy was significant. Even now, with every step, there were students glancing my way, eager to confess.
On the flip side, some directed envious looks at me.
Caught between praise and criticism, I had become indifferent to public opinion, deciding to simply close my ears.
It was all a temporary phenomenon, anyway.
No matter how much I tried, I would inevitably get hurt by critical remarks, but I was also well aware that those words did not truly reflect their hearts.
At least in the Temple, I could worry a bit less about such things.
The Temple, with the highest density of divine power, naturally had resistance to magic. Especially against the Evil God Omelos’ power, that resistance was remarkable.
Within, I would not need to be concerned about the distinguishing glances of love and hate.
However, the scene that awaited me in the Temple made my head ache for another reason.
It was shortly after I had arrived and searched for the Imperial Princess’s sickroom.
“……So, the child who lost her grandfather came alone to the Academy. And so, as the representative of the first-year students, I decided to take care of this poor child!”
The owner of that pompous voice was quickly recognizable.
It was Shi-en.
I was relieved to see that, despite the tremendous emotional shock she must have undergone, she was already showing signs of vitality. I smiled as I pushed the door slightly to catch a glimpse of the inner scene.
Surprisingly, there were many people standing inside.
Including the Imperial Princess, a cold-looking beauty, and a silver-haired woman with silver eyes.
Shi-en, Iris, and Senior Shiene.
Senior Shiene was wearing a comically confident expression today, almost to the point of being silly. Her overflowing confidence piqued my curiosity.
“Hehe, you have a warm heart… Now that I look closely, you indeed resemble Prince Shi-en. Someone might mistake you for real sisters.”
While making that observation, the slyness in her gaze seemed nearly cunning, yet on the other hand, it appeared to lack any ulterior motives.
In contrast to Senior Shiene’s common sentiments, Princess Iris maintained her silence. Only her icy blue eyes shimmered with a subtle glow of vigilance.
Was it an inappropriate time for me to intervene?
As I pondered this, a strangely familiar voice began to converse with Shi-en.
“Ah, now that you mention it, that’s actually true?! Maybe we’re destined to be connected!”
“Y-yeah… Sister.”
Her girlish tone made me tilt my head in curiosity.
I had surely heard that voice before.
The moment our eyes met, tears brimmed in mine.
Overflowing with dark blue hair, her blue eyes resembled those of Shi-en. The slight sheen of tears from embarrassment in her eyes was charming enough to captivate many a heart, except for mine.
Unaware of my thoughts, the girl called out joyfully.
“Perfect timing, I-an! You’ve come to explain…!”
But I could only pale and step back.
Realization struck me, and tears welled in my eyes.
“E-Elder… it can’t be…”
Had I really crossed a river I shouldn’t have crossed?
Surprised by my reaction, the girl tilted her head in confusion for a while, eventually flushing bright red as she shouted.
“……No way!”
The irony lay in the fact that even her squeaky voice was entirely girl-like.
