Episode 91: Gratitude Frog
On top of a building in the autonomous zone of Jilnias Academy, Solciera and Clam were together.
The rooftop was locked and not open at night. In the quiet space where no one else existed, the only sound that resonated was the sound of Clam opening a canned drink.
“It’s on me, please enjoy.”
After receiving the tossed canned drink, Solciera briefly expressed her thanks and opened it as well.
After a brief silence between them, it was Clam who spoke first.
“So, why were you in such a place?”
“Because it was necessary.”
“Necessary, huh.”
While watching the man-eating frog hopping around at Clam’s feet, Solciera continued.
“I merely thought that by pursuing the magic eye, I could reach Nameless. To be honest, I have no interest whatsoever in the plan involving the use of the magic eye.”
“Nameless… isn’t that what you were talking about with Doctor?”
“Did you eavesdrop?”
“They’ve recently installed microphones and cameras.”
Holding a man-eating frog on the palm of her hand, Clam laughed.
“I don’t know anything about Nameless. I’ve been investigating the dark side of Kisou Academy, but I’ve never encountered it, nor even heard its name.”
Clam was not part of the dark side.
Still, she believed she knew to some extent.
Even for her, Nameless was an entity whose name she did not know.
Solciera answered this question with a sigh.
“A false star that uses the same magic as me. An existence that should not exist.”
Solciera looked down at her canned drink and added, “I don’t know anything else.”
Upon hearing those words, Clam tilted her head.
“Hey, didn’t you seem like you knew something about Nameless when you were talking with Doctor?”
“I just observed their moves. Truthfully, I know nothing about Nameless.”
“…Should you have told me this?”
For someone who always maneuvered to maintain the upper hand, exposing ignorance was akin to revealing a weakness. This came as a surprise to Clam.
“Is there any problem? It doesn’t matter to me if it’s you.”
With a casual remark, Solciera stared intently at Clam, who slightly relaxed her cheeks.
(I see, so it’s okay to tell me…)
Feeling somewhat acknowledged, despite the situation, Clam couldn’t help but smile.
Seeing her expression, Solciera frowned as if seeing something unsettling.
“What is it?”
“No, nothing in particular… But, so you were after Nameless? Then our meeting was coincidental.”
Clam threw away the empty can.
A few man-eating frogs skillfully caught it and carried it to the trash bin.
“I intended to just observe this time.”
Solciera remained silent.
Seeing this, Clam continued.
“The girl you helped… Hikari is currently hospitalized in this academy. Fortunately, her battered body caught the attention of the most skilled healer. I thought everything was fine until three days ago, before the attack.”
Her voice was filled with weariness and irritation.
“You’re familiar with the ghost rumors, right? Ghosts increase their numbers. Ghosts devour students.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Then, does that mean it’s related to the magic eye?”
Solciera nodded, her expression implying that asking such a question was silly.
“…Of course. It’s something you’d figure out with a bit of thought.”
Clam continued admiringly.
“That thing devours people. I don’t know how it selects the students it eats, but Hikari was also attacked once.”
“……It must have been drawn to my magical power within Hikari. That thing desires magical power as well.”
“Indeed. The Student Council has tightened security, so Hikari hasn’t been attacked since then. However, there’s no way we can forget and relax because of that.”
Swinging her legs, Clam gazed up at the starry sky.
“That’s why I decided to monitor using Mar-Chans. Apparently, it wasn’t here yesterday, but it returned again. So, I was trying to find its weaknesses using various Mar-Chans when…”
“I found you,”
Clam proudly nodded.
“Yes. Though I admit, saying it myself feels a bit off, but wasn’t it perfect timing? Well, I guess you noticed halfway through anyway.”
“…True. However, it’s a fact that I was saved thanks to you. Thank you.”
Smiling, Solciera said this.
Receiving such a straightforward thank-you from her was unexpected and strangely embarrassing.
Clam absentmindedly petted the man-eating frog.
She genuinely felt happy to have been able to help.
She hadn’t expected to get a chance to repay her favor like this.
(If I can help Solciera…)
Thinking so, the words naturally slipped out of her mouth.
“…Well, if you’d like, I’ll go with you.”
“—No.”
Her words were interrupted.
Unconsciously, Solciera had stood up and was looking down at Clam. Her slender white finger was placed on Clam’s lips.
“You moved to help Hikari, didn’t you? Both in the past and now. Therefore, you mustn’t prioritize incorrectly.”
Bathed in moonlight, she smiled gently.
It was such a beautiful sight that it scattered the words Clam had been about to say.
“This time, you saved me. But now, it’s fine.”
Solciera leaned closer, peering into Clam’s eyes.
“I am not someone who fails twice.”
In her eyes, geometric patterns along with magical formulas were engraved with strength.
Clam saw it and intuitively understood.
That was the magic eye.
“In this matter, you shouldn’t delve too deeply. …Though it might not be my place to say, given that I was the one saved.”
Solciera stepped back, turning her face away.
A transfer magic circle was already activated under her feet.
“Ah, wait a moment!”
Before she could finish speaking, Solciera disappeared.
Only silence remained, as if no one had ever been there.
(What was I going to do by calling her back?)
Gazing at the hand she had instinctively extended, Clam chuckled wryly.
This time, helping her was just a coincidence.
Originally, Solciera wasn’t someone who needed help to that extent.
It was probably due to a series of coincidences that a B-rank Explorer managed to save someone who was an absolute presence.
And thinking that far, Clam remembered something.
“…Ah. I forgot to mention that.”
She had wanted to seize the opportunity while they met, but somehow, those thoughts had flown away while watching Solciera’s figure.
“Haha, will she be surprised?”
If she could see Solciera’s surprised face, that would be good too, Clam concluded.
Then, holding up two student IDs against the starry sky, she thought,
(I need to return my hair to its original color.)
Pinching the tip of her dyed blonde hair, she considered this.
(Three blondes would definitely be confusing visually.)
Her thoughts were thoroughly influenced by streaming habits.
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