Time circles back, and before I knew it, the cog that was stuck has finally found its place again.
The second hand of someone’s stopped clock slowly began to move forward.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
It was a beautiful moment when color returned to someone’s world, accompanied by the sound of something clicking into place.
“So, to sum up the situation…”
“Yeah, yeah—!!”
Buu—! Buu—!
“…how did it come to this?”
This was the common room of the special dormitory I resided in.
This place, which wasn’t frequented by many, was a spot far removed from the other dorms where regular students stayed, offered for free to students who entered the academy under the mercenary program.
As a special dorm that provided a room for each person, it boasted a size smaller than shared rooms, but considering it was a private room, it offered not just comfort, but a refreshing sense of openness as well.
Alice and I, though our time together was short, could coexist here thanks to such characteristics.
It was the optimal space to avoid needless attention, a dormitory.
From early morning at 9 AM to the late evening at 5 PM, I attended back-to-back classes, and this place was where I collapsed to relieve the exhaustion that had piled up from my grueling schedule, sucking the life out of me.
And it was the place where I laid my tired body down to meet tomorrow.
Now, however, the number of people in my cozy hideout had gradually increased, surpassing the capacity of four women.
If someone were to walk by and catch a glimpse of this scene, they might think it was a housewarming party.
But speaking from the position of the person involved, I would like to say that it was a huge misunderstanding.
It’s not a housewarming party; it’s a funeral.
And speaking of funerals or whatever, someone save me already.
Please…
Of course, there might be some who didn’t know the reason, so let me introduce the guests one by one.
First.
A woman introduced herself as ‘Tessa,’ lifting a giant book that looked thick enough to be a foot high, with veins protruding from her hands.
Was that book for reading, or was it meant to deliver a death sentence?
Soon, we would find out the reason.
“I’ll just give you a light one. Oh, just one, really.”
“…No, if you hit me, it’ll end badly, I feel.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
“?”
She seemed somewhat angry.
Next.
Seated directly in front of someone who was clearly plotting something bad—whether it would be attempted murder or actual murder was uncertain—was another woman.
The book looked like it might topple over on her head at any moment, yet she was oblivious to her own precarious situation, softly cradling a child with an exaggerated smile, singing lalala, and that would be Remi Akaia.
To call her a princess didn’t seem quite right, she looked a bit too, let’s say, lacking.
Maybe it’s because the future of Tesillia Kingdom looked so bright that it seemed like she couldn’t see ahead.
“My little sister, isn’t she cute?”
“I have to admit that.”
“Princess—!!”
She was quite the character.
And last but not least, the long-awaited third.
With an adorable little elephant trumpeting in her mouth, which was likely a gift from Remi Akaia, Alice was blowing the trumpet, swaying to Remi’s rhythm.
Wrapped in Remi Akaia’s arms, that sweet sight looked genuinely happy.
Buu—! Buu—!
…
“…Mother-in-law, please give me Alice.”
“No way, I can’t give her away.”
A child was just excessively cute.
And here I was.
Watching all of this, gently rubbing my upper lip with my index finger, I was now grouped with these four.
Whether related or not.
If I had lived a normal life, it would have been impossible for me to get entangled with such people.
Yet, for some reason, here we were, all cozy together in this cramped room centered around just one person.
By the way, the squid’s impression of those with high name recognition was as follows:
“Everyone, explode.”
No, except for two, just let one explode.
“Out of nowhere, you disappeared from the dorm, leaving no contact—! When I went looking after hearing from you, you left the greenhouse in total disarray—!! Because of that—!!!”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
Buu—! Buu—!
Ah, that’s not how you answer.
In contrast to the dark and heavy atmosphere of the question, the response felt somewhat light and bright.
Maybe she didn’t like that, as the amount of veins on Tessa’s hand seemed to increase just a bit.
…Creeeak!
“…Huh, huh… I must endure, I must endure, Tessa.”
“…………”
Battling her inner wickedness, Tessa barely regained her sanity.
But sadly, it seemed the book hadn’t endured the harsh torture.
At the sudden loud noise, I looked towards the source and saw the cover of the book, clearly made of tough leather, screaming as it twisted and collapsed.
Some strange voice from who knows where whispered, “Master… please save me… I’ve listened so well…”
Outside the cover, the words “Imperial Academy’s patented leather that withstands the passing of words!” were now so damaged that only the words “words” and “leather” remained legible.
With her round glasses and simple yet neat clothing, Tessa looked like a character straight out of a legend, the literary girl.
But….
Hmm, let’s not go there.
Is that? A literary girl?
The kind that massacres with words? So, a literary girl means a girl who commits slaughter with books?
Aha, so that’s what it was, a revelation came forth.
Rather—
“—Hahn?”
“……!?”
Yes. I apologize.
With her eyes somewhat vacant as she passed over me, I could only quietly rise and slowly retreat towards a corner.
Tessa was far too terrifying for me to voice any complaints or grievances, so I surrendered and knelt down, pouring out my woes.
But I’m the homeowner…
This is my room…
Yet, even though I cried tears of injustice inside, nothing ever changed.
The world is cruel.
“While I searched for every excuse to plead with the teachers, you just wandered about the academy by yourself—!!”
“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Buu—! Buu—! Buu—!
At this point, I wonder if Remi Akaia is amazing for being able to remain calm even in front of that woman.
Tessa’s current state radiated an aura of wanting to genuinely kill someone, breaking through the pain-o-meter, sending even passersby serial killers running with a thought of, “Uh, that’s a bit much.”
To maintain composure in front of someone wearing such a perfect murderous smile is remarkable.
If the thread of reason that composed Tessa actually existed, she must be applauding and performing acrobatic feats above it; I can only nod in admiration.
How impressive!
How had she survived until now?
Another unsolvable mystery added to the list.
“Kyah—! Alice, so cute!! Who do you take after to be this beautiful!!”
Puu—!
“Tessa—!! Look here!! Just once more, just one more time for Alice!!! Where’s the camera!? Oh, Tessa! Did you see the camera?”
“……….”
Let me correct that.
I think there were just no thoughts in her head.
Or maybe she had already been hit too many times that her mind had gone numb?
Or perhaps something Alice and I experienced left an irreversible impact on Remi Akaia!?
…
Well, no matter the reason, it’ll soon become irrelevant, so it wouldn’t concern me.
—Boom!
“……You…fool, princess…!!”
“…Um… are you okay…?”
The sound of an erupting volcano reverberates like a giant drum.
Boom, boom, resonating.
As the sound, deep and majestic, sweeps through the world, it signifies a calamity that could rewrite the annals of human history.
From her hands, a poor book has already revealed its inner flesh, trembling uncontrollably.
With each word filled with emotion, the deep sound would make anyone want to close their eyes and turn away from the impending tragedy.
Because to stop a disaster with merely human strength was sheer absurdity.
Well, let whatever be, be.
I’m not aware of it.
—Thump!
“I can’t endure it anymore—!!!!”
“—Kyah!?*”
Buu—?
A familiar conclusion emerged straight from a fairy tale.
The kind person gets rewarded, and the bad person gets punished.
Thus, with the kind person delivering punishment to the bad person,
The curtain on the never-ending chaos had just begun to rise.
Dong, dong.
