Vol. 1 - Ch. 34 - Taste of Loudness (1)

The next day.

I had planned to spend the day peacefully on the weekend, but Enoch Clark, the one responsible for me within the Student Council (or at least that's what I tried telling myself), dragged me into the Black Lily Hall.

I sighed as I observed Machina, who was smiling in front of me. The weight on my wrist was making me quite uncomfortable.

"I will not be restricted in any way if I wear something like this."

There was a wide silver bracelet hanging on my wrist---a gold bracelet that magic-wielding cadets wore. When asked to choose between one on each arm or both on one, I quickly opted for two on the left arm, but now I realize it was the wrong decision.

'I should have just said to give one or filed a formal complaint.'

The moment I saw that silver bracelet with the black lily on it, I truly ended up in a daze. With an unhappy look, I put on two bracelets with the lily engraved on the side and lowered my sleeve.

"It's just a formality."

Usually, Machina would wear the academy uniform, but today she had riding pants and a shirt. The outerwear she brought was a well-tailored jacket without any decoration, making her look like a lean boy from a distance.

"Now my heart shatters every time I see Cadet Arma Cruz's name."

"I guess it's similar to how I feel when I run into Cadet Enoch Clark at my door."

"It seems like your gratitude to me doesn't last a week either, Cadet Arma Cruz."

"No, thank you very much. But do give me time."

Machina chuckled at my words.

Since the situation was so serious each time we came across one another, it had been a long time since we had an honest smile.

I remember that Machina didn't have such a dignified nature to her until five years ago. Seeing her smile for the first time in a long time made me feel relieved.

"Anyway, isn't it strange that only Cadet Theodore White is being disciplined? The accident occurred between two people.

"That, well... sorry."

"I wonder if you got caught in the graduation wind."

Machina shook her head. Then, organizing the box containing engraved bracelets, magicians' ink, pens, and the disciplinary book that were lined up on the tea table, she placed them on her study desk.

"Actually, Cadet Arma Cruz, this is a summary disciplinary action for procedural purposes. Originally, a decision must be made through a student trial, and disciplinary action must be taken in the presence of the president."

On the surface, the reason Theodore used magic and the reason I shot was because I got attacked by a crow. I had good talks with Theodore, and the incident itself felt like nothing, so I didn't understand why they were...

Looking at Machina's thin cheeks, I thought I shouldn't worry anymore.

"Now that I think about it, I am speaking about the leave of absence from school. It hasn't been filled in."

"Ah, that."

According to Judith, my mother said she would come to get me. I thought about it carefully and said, "I just want to attend until I graduate. I will pass this information on to my mother as well."

"... Yes."

I would be able to head home or to the capital once I graduate, so there is no need to run back there now. And my mother would possibly understand it.

I bowed silently to them and left the hall, leaving Machina lost in thought.

When I returned to the dorms, Judith and Shirley, who had arrived in the room before me, were having a talk while dragging a chair near the table.

Both of them were in their academy uniforms, and this black silk shirt with white leather pants is our code. The only difference was that Shirley had replaced her bottoms with these short culotte pants because she liked being active.

"Senior!"

Shirley turned her head toward me. It was the first time I saw her face after the accident. For me, who was constantly moving between the states of unconsciousness and wakefulness, meeting her seemed like a not-too-distant past, but from what Shirley felt, that didn't seem to be the case.

"Why don't you just move your place to Black Lily Hall? I feel like you spend more time there than here."

"Arma is being sensitive now; it will be difficult for us to get used to it."

"Machina will handle it."

Shirley, whose thoughts were crushed, looked dissatisfied as I said the name Machina instead of mine. She was worried about the kind of discipline I would get.

Well, I unbuttoned my sleeves and showed my arms to Shirley.

"Engraving?"

"Engraving?"

Shirley and Judith showed the same reaction when they noticed the two bracelets on my left arm.

"Wait, President Machina, is her mind haywire these days? Senior cannot use magic, though. This just makes you look like someone who likes flashy stuff."

"And since you have two of those instead of one, I guess one would have that thought with confidence."

"..."

Did I show it to them for no reason? I smiled bitterly and buttoned my sleeves again.

"It was the punishment, so I decided to just accept it."

"Yes, it happened while fighting a crow, so I get it. If you fought someone human, then they might have put it on your forehead."

"Just the thought of it feels nice. Like a crown."

"..."

Shirley and Judith, who had serious looks, now giggled looking at each other. I wasn't sure if I had to laugh or cry here.

"And the leave of absence?"

As the mood eased a bit, Judith asked me.

Actually, this might be why Judith came here. I answered with a more apologetic look because I knew she was worried for me.

"Ah, that. Hmm. I decided to pretend like it never happened."

"Arma."

"I know; I get that you are worried."

It might be a good idea to leave the academy for a while and think of countermeasures in a safe place. But I felt like the incidents happening were all aiming for me to be kicked out of the academy.

"Anyway, it feels like it has been a long time since we got together like this."

"Woah, do you feel new after crossing the line between life and death?"

Actually, true. I felt like I wanted to hug everyone and dance. The atmosphere had suddenly relaxed, and Judith was listening to Shirley's silly jokes with her back straight. Shirley was very excited, leaning on Judith or holding her stomach to laugh.

"We decided to accept this death."

Looking at her bright and cheerful look, I overlapped Shirley from that time in front of me. The age difference is around 2--3 years. What must she have gone through to say such a thing and lose her cheerful look? What form does the despair that will come to us take? Who will benefit if I leave the academy?

"Senior? Are you listening?"

Before I knew it, Shirley was talking to me.

"Ah, sorry. What was that?"

"Theodore, I was curious when you got so close to him."

"Ah."

I felt like Theodore and I had grown close recently.

It is a true Wooden Cross class, which majors in arts and physical education, and doesn't have much to do with the oddballs of the Crown of Thorns class.

"Right. We fight crows together, so I guess we can consider ourselves colleagues at a certain level."

"..."

I gained probability and lost honor.

"I had something to ask Theodore, so I wandered around for a bit, and this is what happened."

I sighed softly as I remembered the magic circle on my chest, a problem that hadn't yet been solved.

'Yeah, there is still so much to figure out.'

Since I spend most of my time passing out these days, what I figured out is very limited. What I did find out was that I was too weak to persuade others. By writing down a passage from the Bible that I had never heard of or learned while under hypnosis, I proved that it wasn't just a fantasy made up of my imagination.

But even if that were the case, how can I convince others?

-I saw in my dream that this world will soon be destroyed, and we will all die.

... if I say that, how many people will believe and follow what I say?

But ironically, in the current situation, it was Theodore who was most likely to believe and follow what I said. Of course, Judith and Shirley would respect and try to accommodate my opinion as much as possible, but that would be an action born of trust and not confidence.

Theodore's case is a little different.

-Be sure to remember.

These were the words written on Theodore's magic circle, which was still engraved on my chest.

The existence of the magic circle written in letters that no one but himself can read remains an unsolved mystery for Theodore. However, if, as I guess, what I saw and came into contact with is a future world that can influence reality and is an impending disaster, then Theodore's mystery is resolved to an extent.

'If we say that the future Theodore used magic on me, then this riddle will be simply solved.'

But I was convinced that if Theodore gathered some convincing evidence, he would come up with more arguments to support this theory.

"Theodore has been paying a lot of attention to me since the Kale Ace incident."

"That guy isn't one to let down things easily. Interesting."

Judith must have agreed with Shirley's words and nodded. Until I spoke with Theodore, I had no idea what kind of cadet he was. I just thought there must be a reason why Shirley said it.

"Well, we decided that this was all because Arma was a cadet based on instinct."

"It isn't entirely wrong, but I couldn't refute it."

After Theodore hit me on the head, I noticed a distinct change in his behavior. Prior to this incident, he didn't seem to listen to me properly. However, following the incident where I was hit by a stone thrown from the window while I was in the dorm, Theodore's attitude became notably more intense and extreme.

'Sorry. As expected, I will organize my thoughts more clearly and say it properly someday.'

Both Judith and Shirley were important characters who appeared in the dreams.

So, it is impossible for me to live alone forever, excluding them. I needed evidence that would convince not just me but the others.

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