Chapter 6

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"――――――ugh……smelly"

I came to the castle's magic research lab, where the last of my former companions, Tia Amuret, is said to be. The door in front of me exuded a decidedly ominous atmosphere, and I hesitated quite a bit before entering, but when I finally decided to open the door, I was assaulted by a strange odor, a strange odor, a strange odor――――――

But strangely, it felt nostalgic. I remember her clothes from back then had a similar smell, though not on this scale.

I almost choked and used wind magic to distance the smell from myself. It had already seeped into my clothes a bit, but it was much better now.

Finally, I had the leisure to look around and search for the person I was looking for.

Upon closer inspection, the room was quite spacious. It was generally dim, with twisted plants hanging from the ceiling, magic stones scattered around to store magic power, and glass containers, beakers, I suppose, filled with mysterious liquids lined up on a makeshift table. One of them was tipped over, dripping onto the floor, and the moment it hit, a sizzling sound could be heard. Acid? Is that liquid acid?

On the other side of the table, which was cluttered with beakers, was the woman I was looking for.

She was sitting in a chair, working on something at a messy desk. As I approached to speak to her, she suddenly turned around and looked at me.

Her purple hair reached down to the middle of her back, her eyes were almost expressionless, and her beautiful lips were tinged with a slight red. Her face and body were overwhelmingly young, and the oversized lab coat she wore was out of proportion with her small frame, under which she wore a casual white shirt. She looked exactly the same as she did five years ago, the last of my companions, the <Magic Doctor Tia>.

She stared at me intently.

Without taking her eyes off me, Tia spoke.

"Hmm... Long time no see, Setsu."

I was taken aback. My body is reborn and more frail than before. My hair is still not cut, so it even hides my eyes... Even if my eyes weren't hidden, my facial features are different, so there's no way she could recognize me at first glance.

"Why do you know it's me, Tia?"

"Setsu, I have <Magic Eyes>. There's no way I would mistake the magic power of someone who has traveled for so long."

Right... That's right――――――She has the rare skill of Magic Eyes.

Magic Eyes refer to eyes infused with magic, which can produce various effects depending on the magic infused. In Tia's case, her eyes have the ability to detect magic power in her field of vision. It might seem mundane, but in places with many hiding spots, it's impossible to hide from her, making it perfect for countering ambushes. She helped me a lot with her eyes during our travels.

Incidentally, the Charm Eye used by the princess is a technique that anyone can use with talent and training. Magic Eyes are unique powers that exist from birth, and techniques like Charm Eye that anyone can use are not called Magic Eyes. Magic Eyes are generally powerful, but there are not many of them. Therefore, the cause of why Magic Eye users are born was unknown even five years ago.

"But you haven't changed... You're still a little girl, aren't you?"

"Mu, I've grown a bit taller, you know. It's just that mages grow slowly."

"Do mages age slowly? I've never heard that before... But if you say so, I guess you've grown. How tall?"

"0.5mm."

"That's called an error, isn't it?"

Upon hearing my words, Tia looked displeased and started tapping me with her small hands.

"Shut up, Setsu is still mean, and hasn't changed at all."

"Sorry, sorry."

Her head reached my chest, even with my current body. The sight of her tapping my chest with her thin hands was just as it was five years ago, meaning she was still childlike.

"You haven't changed either, you know."

"Of course, I don't change easily. But... I heard from Elka that you were summoned back to this world. Why are you here?"

"Yeah, I heard you were working hard to summon me again... I just wanted to say thanks."

"Hmm, it's nothing. If I could see Setsu again, it was worth the effort."

It felt good to hear that, but there was still a nagging feeling.

I felt a bit uncomfortable and, as I used to, I lifted her by slipping my hand under her armpit, sat down in a chair, and placed Tia on my lap.

Without any resistance, Tia leaned back against my body.

"Hmm, even though your body has changed, this comfort is still Setsu's."

She leaned against me, looking satisfied. We used to rest like this in the shade during our travels.

"By the way, I want to know what happened after you were forcibly sent back to your country."

"Why?"

"I'm quite curious about how you've changed. Elka didn't tell me that much."

"Oh, I see... It's fine."

I told Tia everything that happened to me.

About being reborn, searching for a way to return, and the circumstances of my summoning――――――

"In your world, it's been over 15 years. Here, it's only been 5 years."

"Right, that's true..."

Well, it's impossible to say that the time progression in different worlds is the same. After all, they are different worlds.

Here, I remembered something I needed to tell her and spoke up again.

"Ah, I'll be leaving the country soon――――――"

"You're leaving the country, right?"

"Why do you all know...?"

Because I was about to say it――――――that's what Tia said.

Am I that predictable...

"You know what I'm going to do, like meeting those people and ending the war."

"You're a psychic, aren't you..."

"But there's something I need to warn you about――――――"

"Hmm?"

"It's this――――――"

A few minutes later, after our conversation, I left Tia's lab, timing my departure. Her last words, "Now I can focus on regular magic experiments," left a lasting impression, and I felt a bit guilty. She had spent so much time on my behalf, so I should do something for her, as well as for Elka and Grain.

There was one more thing Tia warned me about――――――

"Hopefully, it's a mistake... Really."

I started walking down the long corridor, illuminated by the setting sun, heading back to my room.

The face of the man who was summoned with me last time floated in my mind――――――

That night――――――

When everyone was asleep, someone visited my room.

"――――――May I come in, Master Setsu?"

"Yeah, I've been waiting, Elka."

Elka, dressed in a casual shirt and shorts, entered and said, "Excuse me." I told her to sit in a chair, while I sat on the bed. Sorry to those who thought it was something naughty, but it's not that kind of sweet situation this time.

"Did you get the message across?"

"Yes――――――As Master Setsu planned, I managed to convince the king and princess to have you expelled."

"Good job."

I sincerely praised Elka for her work.

"They will summon you tomorrow to inform you. You have three days left, starting from today."

"So, I have to leave by then, got it."

"...Master Setsu?"

"What is it?"

Elka looked somewhat dissatisfied and asked a question.

"Why don't you use force to leave? That way, you wouldn't have to do something that could undermine your position..."

"It would undermine it anyway..."

Well, that aside, Elka's method is simple and effective. After all, I have the power to do it.

"But it won't work."

"Why not...?"

"It's simple, because I'll be pursued."

"Pursued...?"

To maintain some semblance of dignity, this country won't let us summoned people go so easily. It's clear that they won't let us leave the castle even if we negotiate, and they wouldn't want to let go of a foreigner, even if they're useless like me――――――that's what I heard from Elka.

This is my reasoning――――――If I tried to break out of the country, it would prove that I have considerable strength. In other words, it would reveal that I've been hiding my true power... In that case, the country's response would likely be one of two things:

1. They would issue a warrant for my arrest and send pursuers after me.

2. They would desire my power and send pursuers to negotiate with me.

This is based on the character of this country, but there are other possible responses as well...

"――――――I see, there is a good chance I'll be pursued."

"Right? The main reason I'm not breaking out is to avoid the hassle afterward."

"I understand. But isn't the current method also quite troublesome?"

"Yeah, that's true."

In terms of time, this method of being expelled is quite troublesome.

"But this way, there won't be any hassle afterward. If they expel me, there's no reason for them to pursue me."

"But...?"

"Besides, it's not that much trouble. I just have to keep up the act of being useless. Plus, I wanted to see you all."

If I were to break out after showing my face, it would be easier and safer to seek cooperation and escape. Ultimately, the time and effort would be about the same.

"Well, if it came to it, I would break out, but I'm glad it worked out this way."

"I see... I finally understand."

"That's good――――――Oh, right."

In the middle of our conversation, a question came to mind, and I asked casually.

"How did you convince the king and princess to expel me?"

"Well, I said some bad things about you..."

"Hmm... What did you say exactly?"

"Um... 'He's completely useless,' 'It's a waste of effort to use any resources on such a useless person,' 'I can't stand having such a useless person in the castle,' and so on..."

...

"Ah... That glare is so good..."

"Ha... You really... talking about your master like that..."

"But Master Setsu told me to say it, didn't you?"

Well, that's true, but... ugh, it's quite sad to have a close friend call me useless...

"Anyway, it's fine. Thanks, Elka. You really helped me out."

"But... we'll be separated again in a few days..."

"Yeah... I know."

Elka and Grain still have the job of training heroes. If I were to accompany them, it would likely result in pursuit. Tia is also a state-employed magician. Her absence would cause significant problems.

"I can't take you with me, and I'm sorry."

"No, I understand the situation... It's getting late, so I'll go back to my room."

"Thanks for coming so late tonight."

"Hehe, Master Setsu is usually lazy but very kind. You should use us more."

Elka, standing up from the chair, said with a smile.

"I'm not being kind, you know..."

"You are very kind. I want you to rely on us more."

"...Because it excites you?"

"Yes!"

This guy... her face is serious.

Her expression, without any pretense, is just... end-stage.

"Ha... When I come back from seeing them, I'll use you as much as I want, so go to bed now."

"Absolutely! I like being ordered around by you!"

With that, Elka headed for the door of the room――――――

She opened the door, turned around, and spoke.

"Master Setsu... Did you hear about that person?"

"...Yeah, from Tia."

"I see... No, I'm sorry, I just wanted to ask. Good night, Master Setsu."

"...Good night."

After Elka left, I thought about the person she mentioned.

"What is she thinking...

That person is supposed to be dead..."

In the castle's corridor, Yūhi, Setsu's childhood friend, couldn't sleep thinking about the promise she made with Setsu and wandered around the castle.

(Yuki-kun and I are going out~♪)

Thinking about that moment now, Yūhi felt inexplicably excited.

To her, Setsu's presence was significant, but he didn't know why.

Feeling cheerful, she strolled around the castle when a door suddenly opened in front of her.

(Ah! I'll get in trouble at this hour of the night!!)

Anticipating that someone might scold her for wandering at night, Yūhi hid in the shadows, quickly concealing her presence to avoid being seen. This level of skill was easy for her, a talented individual.

The person who came out of the door was Elka, a classmate who trained other classmates in a different part of the training ground. Yūhi recognized her as a powerful individual on the same level as Grain.

(Elka... What's she doing at this hour...?)

"――――――Master Setsu"

(!!)

Indeed, just now... Master Setsu...

Yūhi was confused. The woman who came out of the room, which belonged to Setsu, the only person with that name among her classmates, left her puzzled.

(What's the relationship... Yuki-kun)

Doubt and unease began to swirl in Yūhi's mind――――――

The possibility of a love triangle