Chapter 63

Good morning.

Today's weather is clear.

I woke up earlier than usual due to the chorus of stomach growls.

I have no memory of what happened after riding the carriage yesterday.

So, I don't remember eating dinner either.

Since Shelle hasn't arrived yet, I rummaged through my magic bag, took out a chocolate bar and a calorie bar, and started gnawing on the calorie bar after opening it.

As a result of eating the food in this world, my jaw seems to have been somewhat strengthened, and it feels much softer than what I remember from my previous life.

While munching away, I noticed a gaze.

Sora and Haku were standing side by side, staring at me.

They both stared intently, so I tried breaking off a small piece of the calorie bar, placing it on my palm, and offering it to them.

Sora sniffed it and then ate it, while Haku poked it with a tentacle before absorbing it into its body.

Seeing them still staring, I broke off a larger piece and offered it to them.

Both immediately pounced on it, and then seemed satisfied as they started playing together.

Usually, when I eat with everyone, they show no interest and only eat the purified monsters or magic I provide, so why did they react to the calorie bar?

Is it because it contains some divine power of the Galen God?

I finished the remaining calorie bar and drank the water I conjured with water magic.

Feeling somewhat satisfied, I decided to save the chocolate bar for next time.

Since I still had time to spare, I watched the two of them while spacing out.

Yesterday was a intense day.

As far as I could see, no one died, but it's unlikely that no one died in such a battle.

Still, we didn't lose, and many people were smiling after the battle.

This world has been toyed with by the Stupid Bitch Goddess, but I felt that we wouldn't lose to such things.

My emotions were all over the place, and now I don't feel like doing anything.

While I was spacing out, Shelle came into the room.

I was dressed in a fluffy short-sleeved onesie and taken to the cafeteria.

Everyone seemed a bit dazed, probably due to the aftermath of yesterday's large-scale battle.

Yugram and Diggory were also there, and both seemed more relaxed than usual.

After placing our orders, I absentmindedly looked around and saw the student council president peeking in.

He looked flustered, scanning the cafeteria.

Was he looking for the two-timing girl?

The student council president seemed to have spotted Arshain and quickly approached, but was stopped by the barrier I had unconsciously set up.

He pounded on the barrier, and Arshain and the others noticed. After a while, they asked to be let in, so I let them in.

"Where did you take Rina!"

He shouted as soon as he entered.

Should I not have let him in? I looked at Arshain, who was staring at the student council president with a blank expression.

"What do you mean all of a sudden? Rina? I don't understand."

"You must have hidden Rina!"

"I don't know, and do you realize who you're being rude to?"

Diggory was answering the student council president, but it made no sense to me.

Why would the disappearance of the two-timing girl be our fault?

The student council president seemed to realize something and said,

"...... Prince Arshain, I apologize. May I ask a question?"

"I have no idea where the young lady you're looking for is?"

"Really? Where were you last night?"

"It seems you suspect me. Do you have any evidence? If you're trying to accuse me, a prince, based on mere speculation, I will take appropriate action."

Shelle stepped in front of the student council president and said in a condescending tone,

"N-no, I'm not suspecting you! It's just a question!"

"You said you don't know, yet you're asking about my actions last night?"

"I-I was just a bit flustered and acted rudely. I apologize."

The student council president stammered and tried to explain.

Arshain raised a hand, and Shelle bowed slightly and returned to her seat.

"None of us know where she is. You should look elsewhere."

"Yes, I apologize."

The student council president bowed apologetically and left, but everyone saw him give a final glare before leaving.

"What was that all about? I didn't know he was that foolish."

Yugram sighed, and Diggory agreed,

"Really, he's so blind to his surroundings! He was always quick to be provoked, but it wasn't this bad until he met her! He's even needlessly competing with Prince Cavendish! For a third-year, he's way too immature!"

"By the way, what do you mean by 'disappeared'?"

"...... From the looks of it, the one who would make the biggest fuss about her disappearance isn't here......"

Everyone was silent.

"Let's go back to the castle and check. She might have been expelled and sent back to the baron's house."

"May I accompany you? I'm curious too."

"Yes, I'd like to come too!"

"Sure, no problem. Once we finish eating, we'll head to the castle. Is everyone's schedule clear?"

"Yes, it's fine."

"I have no plans either."

The food arrived, so we ate leisurely and then borrowed a carriage from the school to head to the castle.

At the castle gates, the guard was surprised to see Arshain in an unfamiliar carriage, but let us in without issue.

Since we hadn't informed them, there was no one to greet us, but a knight led us to our room.

While drinking tea served by a maid, the king and prime minister arrived.

"What's this about? It's unusual for you to call us without notice, Arshain."

"I apologize for the inconvenience. I heard from the school that the former saintess has disappeared, and I came to confirm if she was sent back to the baron's house."

"...... We have received no such report."

The prime minister frowned, and the king looked troubled.

"We have received a report from the school that she will be expelled soon, but...... When did you hear about her disappearance?"

"According to what I heard, she hasn't been seen since last night."

"There have been no reports from those assigned to monitor her. Could something have happened during yesterday's large-scale battle?"

"Indeed, the number of monitors was reduced to half due to the sudden surge of monsters."

"Yes, they were mobilized urgently because of the unexpected surge."

"I haven't seen my brother either. If he knew the former saintess was missing, he would have searched for her, so the lack of commotion suggests......"

The king and prime minister fell silent.

BAM

The door was flung open, and the general burst in.

"Hey, everyone's gathered. What's going on today?"

"You're noisy. Weren't you supposed to be handling the aftermath of the battle?"

"Yeah, I switched with Ingrid. I got the gist of it."

"Was it the dragon?"

"Seems so. I expected it when the monsters retreated after the dragon was defeated! Hey, Kaita! You were amazing yesterday! I was floored by that magic! I couldn't help but laugh! Hahaha!"

Laughing loudly, he patted Arshain's back, causing Arshain to fall off his chair.

Though he probably held back, his strength was too much, and I was light, so I was sent flying.

Arshain caught me, so I was fine, but he said,

"Sorry, sorry! I misjudged! After seeing that big magic yesterday, I thought you were tougher! Hahaha"

"You should apologize properly! Anyway, let's get to the point. To put it simply, the former saintess has disappeared. Prince Cavendish is likely involved."

"Huh? She was being monitored, right?"

"Perhaps they took advantage of the reduced numbers during yesterday's battle."

"We don't train them to be that weak."

"But she has disappeared."

"...... I'll have an investigation started immediately."

"Thanks. I don't think they're capable of anything major, but we can't ignore the possibility of enchantment magic."

"...... Speaking of which, I talked to Kaita the night before last. The former saintess will almost certainly be expelled from the school. Is there any way to conduct an enchantment magic test before she leaves?"

"Hmm, indeed. It would be troublesome to create a pretext for testing her after she returns to the baron's house."

"Also, I've consulted with Chief Tailsmya about improving a magic item that can seal enchantment magic."

"Really? I've never heard of such an item."

"We're trying to modify a slave collar to see if it's possible."

"Hmm, but no one would wear such a thing willingly."

"What if we decorate it like jewelry?"

"Interesting! She seemed to like flashy decorations when she was in the castle, so it might work. But how do we get it to her? She has no merit to receive an award."

"Ah, that's where we'll need the help of Rider O'Connell."

"Rider O'Connell, the son of the head of the royal guard, right?"

"Yes, he was the first to suspect enchantment magic. He and the student council president, Etchett Hour, both have connections to the former saintess."

"Will he help?"

"If enchantment magic is confirmed, he will."

Arshain concluded,

"Anyway, the key is to catch the two of them!"

The general stood up and left the room.

With the conversation with the king finished, we returned to the school.