Chapter 205

Episode 201: The Voracious Hospital Stay

The hospital in the central city is one of the safe facilities that anyone can use, a non-combat zone.

Here, regardless of any past grudges or connections, everyone is treated as a patient equally.

Moreover, since this hospital is also open to tourists, its security is extremely tight.

A security team made up of explorers ranked B and above, along with the crime prevention system created by Jilnias Academy, has raised safety levels to their limit.

It was to such a hospital that Toa was brought.

Given that she had been attacked by Solciera, there was no guarantee she would survive if targeted again.

Thus, she was placed in one of the safest zones in the academy city.

“―Sorry, Miroku. I’m causing you trouble.”

In the hospital bed, Toa said this apologetically.

Though wearing a hospital gown, she looked fine outwardly, with no apparent issues.

“Don’t worry about it. We’re all here to help each other when we’re in trouble. Ah, do you want an apple?”

“Yeah. Is it okay to eat apples even at midnight?”

“It’s probably against the rules, but it’s pitiful to be hungry and unable to sleep. Besides, as an apology for not visiting earlier, I’ll allow you just one.”

“Yay!”

Saying that, Miroku began peeling the apple.

The time had already passed midnight.

What Miroku didn’t know was that Toa had already eaten dinner properly and had finished off the snacks she had stored in her expanded domain.

She was completely breaking the rules.

“Still, what a misfortune. To be attacked by a fake Solciera…”

“Really! It came out of nowhere and shocked me. I didn’t even have time to fire an artillery attack.”

Saying that, Toa pouted.

“Even if you had fired, whether you could have won is uncertain. Though, if it was a fake, perhaps you could have beaten it. You’ve been getting stronger, Toa.”

“…Miroku, you believe me too, right? That the Solciera who attacked me was a fake?”

At Toa’s question, Miroku nodded.

This was based on Toa’s subjective judgment.

Objectively, it was merely recognized that some unknown monster called Solciera had finally started attacking people.

But even so, all the members of Factom General Academy believed her.

“I know that kind of child wouldn’t do something like this. She’s gentle and serious.”

“…By any chance, do you know the true identity of Solciera?”

At those words, Miroku stopped peeling the apple.

Then she smiled and shook her head.

“No, if I knew, I would have thanked them long ago. I wish they would reveal themselves sooner. We at Factom General Academy have undoubtedly been saved by that person.”

With that, Miroku divided the apple onto a plate and offered it to Toa.

Toa brightened up instantly and took a big bite of the apple.

“You don’t look like someone who’s hospitalized. Chew well, alright?”

“It’s fine! Besides, it’s only an observation stay. I’ll be discharged the day after tomorrow. I’ll make it in time for the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival… though I won’t be able to participate in the part-time job. I caused Kei a lot of trouble this time.”

Thinking of Kei who had taken her place for the part-time job, Toa murmured.

“Fufu, he might actually be enjoying himself quite a bit. He seems like the type who enjoys festivals too.”

Miroku and Toa laughed together.

Imagining the usually serious Kei enjoying a festival was heartwarming.

“I hope the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival goes smoothly.”

“It will.”

At Miroku’s words, Toa clearly responded.

“The cultural festival must go on. It will definitely be a fun festival.”

Her expression was filled with confidence.

It was as if she had seen the scene herself, brimming with certainty.

“That would be great…”

“Absolutely fine. Hmm, I wonder what I should eat on the day. I’ll definitely try the yakitori from Senkai Academy, and this time I’ll also have the Gorgon Crepe… Ehehe. My stomach’s starting to feel empty.”

“Enough now. You’ll get fat.”

“Pfft, I won’t!”

While saying that, Toa quickly ate the remaining apple and leaned back on the bed.

Then, while gazing outside the window, she said,

“…Miroku, this moment is fun, isn’t it? We’ve gone through a lot of tough times, but we’ve had even more fun experiences, and we’ve made friends.”

“Yes. It feels like a dream. Next year, new students will surely come. The school buildings and dormitories have been repaired, and the academic districts will become wider and more organized.”

“Will there be food stalls?”

“Certainly, they’ll appear. Cafeterias and convenience stores aren’t dreams anymore either.”

At those words, Toa relaxed her cheeks.

“This is exciting. We’ll do lots of things together. Next year, the year after, always.”

“Next year too? Aren’t Mizuki and I repeating a grade then?”

“Stay as teachers. And let’s all stay together forever. Definitely.”

That was a dream only children could imagine.

The young girls, still halfway to adulthood, could laugh together imagining such a future.

And they were even seriously thinking about making it happen.

“Well, if that’s the case, we need to work harder. First, the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival. Work part-time jobs, enjoy ourselves to the fullest, and then―”

Miroku smiled and continued her sentence.

“And summer homework too.”

“Wha…!? Huh, homework?! But, doesn’t the basic learning assignment for Hinotuchi cover everything as a Factom member…?”

“If we don’t set an example now, how will we show the incoming freshmen? Do you know who the top three students are currently?”

“Isn’t Miroku first?”

Miroku grimaced and denied it.

“It’s Miuye.”

“Ah…”

“And second is me. Third is Clam. Then comes Hikari and Kei. Most of our top performers are transfer students! Especially Mizuki and Toa, what about you two? Are you slacking off because there’s no teacher?”

“But, if we’re excellent as explorers, isn’t that enough to graduate?”

“Toa,”

Miroku grabbed Toa’s shoulder.

Her eyes were clear and straightforward.

“Do you think excuses will work with me?”

“H-h-h…”

Toa let out a cry of sheer terror.

Her appetite had dropped by ten percent.

“Don’t worry. I’ll only assign what you can handle. Right?”

“U-um…”

“And if you don’t submit it by the end of summer vacation… right?”

“H-H-H…”

Another ten percent drop in appetite!

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

Saying that, Miroku stood up.

Toa burrowed under the covers, only her face visible.

“By the way, are you sure you don’t need someone to accompany you when you’re discharged? Either me or Clam could make it on the day.”

“I’m fine. As you can see, I’m perfectly healthy.”

“Saying that while shaking in your bed doesn’t exactly inspire confidence…”

For Toa, her current greatest fear wasn’t the fake Solciera but the assignments given by Miroku.

“Bu-but, I’m fine…”

“Did I scare you too much…? No, spoiling you too much isn’t good either. Well, if anything happens, don’t hesitate to call me, alright?”

“A-ah, yeah. See ya.”

Toa nodded and saw Miroku off.

As the door closed, the room fell silent.

When Miroku’s footsteps faded away, Toa slowly sat up.

She quietly held her head.

“What… What am I supposed to do… If I have homework, my summer food tour is…!”

Shaking uncontrollably, Toa eventually managed to say,

“Hey, shouldn’t we stop this? I’m not really in the mood today… I understand what you’re saying, but my motivation…”

Muttering to herself, Toa sighed as if resigning herself to her fate when her clothing changed.

“I got it… I’ll change… Ugh… I want to sleep. I want to eat and sleep lazily…”

Climbing out of bed, Toa straightened the wrinkles in her black coat and slumped over.

In the next instant, her hair turned pitch black.

“What a glutton I am… Anyway, it’ll be fine with two of us; the homework will be a breeze. But―”

The girl pinched her stomach.

Looking at her slightly soft abdomen, which seemed to make a “puni” sound, she frowned.

“Am I eating too much? The excuse that it turns into magical power isn’t working anymore, is it? …Ah, sorry. I get it. Let’s hurry up and go.”

Saying that, the girl in the black coat—Nameless—deployed a teleportation magic circle.

“I hope the Conductor does well…”

Murmuring indifferently, Nameless disappeared from the spot.

Bathed in moonlight, the hospital room was left empty.

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