Chapter 95

I'm standing at the entrance of the classroom, taking a deep breath, and tightly gripping the letter containing the secret that my mother gave me.

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Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

---

I am currently extremely nervous.

I feel like I might vomit the dinner I just ate, which was a large serving that I was just given.

Since I received the appointment ticket again after my follow-up visit to the infirmary the day before yesterday, going to the infirmary tomorrow is a certainty.

To do that, I have to get the "spell" from the young child in the cooking team, as suggested by Deputy Captain Bax.

I didn't see the child yesterday because I heard it was their day off, but I've been confirming their small, busy movements since this morning.

I was thinking of asking after dinner, considering what happened last time...

But why are the medical and magic divisions occupying more than half of the cafeteria at this time after dinner?!

I could understand if they were eating. It was just the final serving time until a little while ago.

But no one is eating!

They don't even have any utensils!!

And they are occupying a lot of tables on the kitchen side!!!

Moreover, the leaders and deputy leaders of both teams are right at the front!!!

And there are even people standing to watch—how much are they treating me like a guinea pig!!!!!?

In this bizarre situation, my fellow classmates and team members are sitting as close to the kitchen as possible, eating their extra-large servings of the final serving, and looking at me intently.

...I just want to go back to my room.

More than the nervousness, I'm starting to feel thoroughly fed up with this situation.

While thinking about this, the members of the cooking team started looking at me.

This is my chance.

Driven by the desire to escape this situation, I took a step towards the serving counter, and for some reason, Captain Dillnan appeared.

"Um, Captain Dillnan, good work. I'm Io from the External Security Team."

"Good work. ...You're Yuri, right?"

"!"

I was about to introduce myself and ask for the child when Captain Dillnan cut to the chase, surprising me.

"I've heard from Vincent. Sheriff also emphasized it. Since Yuri has agreed, you can relax."

"...Sorry."

I managed to apologize, though it came out in fragments. Please forgive me.

No, seriously, how much is the child's "spell" worth?

Even though the leaders of the medical and magic divisions have done the groundwork, I can't honestly be grateful.

My chest is filled with a bitter and complex feeling.

What was I so nervous about just a moment ago, really?

In the midst of this, Captain Dillnan turned around and called out.

"I just sent them over, so wait a bit."

"...Thank you for everything. Thanks a lot."

"You've got a tough job."

I thanked Captain Dillnan for his help, and he sighed and sympathized with me.

Despite causing so much trouble for the cooking team, he seems to be tacitly allowing it.

...This is why he's called "Aniki" by the members of other teams. I totally get it.

While thinking about this, I heard small footsteps approaching from the left.

Looking in that direction, I saw the child in a completely different chef's uniform from the other day.

"Big brother, good evening!"

"Hey, good work."

"Thank you for your hard work."

The child, with a smile that seems to come with a sound effect, greets me, and I crouch down to their height.

From the table, I hear laughter and comments like, "Wow, Io, that crouch is totally bad," but I ignore them.

The child is small, so what can I do? Should I kneel on one knee?

"Big brother, is your injury better?"

"Thanks to you, it's much better."

As Captain Dillnan said, the child seems to know why I'm here.

I show my left arm to the child, who looks worried.

I had just returned to my room after work and took a quick shower, so I'm not wearing my equipment.

The swelling is almost gone, and the pain has mostly subsided unless I move it forcefully.

The color is still a bit gross, but there's nothing I can do about that.

The child's eyebrows furrow at my injury.

"It's not better. It still hurts a lot."

"...Yeah."

The child's expression of pain is cute, but... the surroundings are getting weird.

A deep voice harmonized with a "Mmm" sound.

That alone is quite something, but the cafeteria is filled with strange reactions, as if there are so many perverts in the North Demon Castle.

Moreover, I notice the uniform of the document team peeking through the entrance, which is the most concerning. It's too much. The sound of heads banging repeatedly can be heard.

This is worse for the child.

While thinking about this, the child gently extended their hand, almost touching the injury.

"Make the pain go away!"

Closing their eyes and puffing out their cheeks, the child let out the same mysterious sound I heard the other day.

Suddenly, a light much stronger than the other day gathered around the injury.

"Wha...?!"

"The pain is gone!"

I opened my mouth in surprise, and the child shouted as if to finish the spell.

The light scattered throughout the cafeteria, and everyone was stunned but couldn't help following the light.

It lasted only two or three seconds.

When the light faded, the child opened their eyes.

"It's done!"

The child, as if to say they had completed the task, wiped the sweat from their forehead. Captain Vincent and Captain Sheriff, who were in the front row, rushed over.

They quickly closed the distance, stood me up, and rolled up my left sleeve.

The chronic, faint pain and the dark, discolored injury that should have been there were gone.

"...W-What...?"

I muttered in disbelief.

I had thought that even if it just sped up the healing process, it would be enough.

Maybe I could even participate in the promotion exam, which I had given up on.

But I had tried not to expect too much from the child.

The child brought me a miracle.

As my thoughts, which had turned blank, started to function again, joy welled up inside me.

"Child, you...!"

"Wha...!?"

I couldn't help but break free from Captain Vincent and Captain Sheriff and pick up the child, who had been pushed aside, as if to play "high and low."

The child, who was small and light, let out a surprised cry as I lifted them effortlessly.

"...Thanks! Next time, I'll help you when you're in trouble!!"

"Huh? Big brother??"

"Yeah!"

Being this child's big brother doesn't sound bad.

Thinking this, I called out, and the child's response was so cute!

"Hold it!"

"...What?"

Just as I was thinking this, a "hold it" came from the kitchen.

I couldn't help but let out a low voice.

Looking towards the kitchen, I saw someone around my age at the serving counter.

Probably a fellow classmate, though I don't know them.

"Yuri's big brother is me!"

"Huh?? What are you talking about?"

"Don't be ridiculous! It's strange for you to suddenly act like a big brother after looking down on Yuri until today!!"

"I didn't look down on him. I just didn't pay much attention to him."

This guy, who was biting back, seemed softer compared to my fellow classmate in the External Security Team.

I definitely won't lose.

"You just looked down on me now, didn't you?"

"Ah? You're nothing to me."

"Damn you!"

Words led to more words, and the argument heated up, but it suddenly stopped with a loud clap.

"...Are you going to fight over being Yuri's big brother without noticing that Yuri is about to cry?"

Hearing Captain Vincent's words, I looked at the child, who was on the verge of tears.

Captain Vincent then carried the child away.

"Anyway, even if you fight, Yuri already has my son as a big brother, so it's fine."

"Wha!!?"

Captain Vincent's bombshell made me and the cooking team member speak in unison. Tch. Not fun.

"Hey, Captain Vincent, that's unacceptable!"

"If you can't fulfill the role of a big brother, you'll be eliminated. There are plenty of candidates."

"I won't give up being Yuri's big brother!"

This guy, who was challenging Captain Vincent while comforting the child, seemed strong or just stupid.

At least, I would hold back.

Just as I was thinking this, a wave of fatigue hit me.

I felt so weak that I crouched down.

"...It's definitely the backlash from the light magic. How are you feeling?"

"I suddenly feel so tired..."

"......Light magic causes physical backlash proportional to the level of healing. Rest quietly in the infirmary today and get a check-up first thing tomorrow morning."

Captain Vincent, who had put the child down, checked my face.

I nodded, and the medical team members rushed over.

"Big brother..."

"It's the same as the other day. Just sleep, and you'll be fine. Don't worry, Child."

The child, who was nearby, grabbed my shirt worriedly.

I patted their head, and they looked up at Captain Vincent and Deputy Captain Bax.

"That's right, Yuri. You'll be fine after a good night's rest."

"We're here for you. Do you think there will be any problems?"

The leaders of the medical team smiled and nodded, and the child let go of my shirt.

"Io"

"Are you okay?"

"I'll tell Senior Kaiser first thing tomorrow morning."

"Don't overdo it."

"Get plenty of rest."

My teammates, who had been eating behind me, called out to me.

I nodded and left the cafeteria, supported by the medical team members.

For some reason, Captain Sheriff and Deputy Captain Alga of the magic division were also with the group heading to the infirmary.

As soon as I lay down on the patient bed in the infirmary, a strong drowsiness overtook me.

But the drowsiness was not dark; it was like a warm, gentle light.

I felt no fear and surrendered to the drowsiness.