“Ge, get away!”
Ivan’s face was even flushed red with embarrassment. With a face like a ripe apple, he staggered and tried to get up from his spot. However, unfortunately, because he’d been in a stiff position for quite a long time, it seemed he had a cramp in his leg, and he couldn’t stand up completely and plopped back down.
“Scotilino!”
“I’m, I’m fine, Professor.”
From Ivan’s fumbling voice, the bewilderment he felt was desperately conveyed. He seemed to want to deny that he’d received help from Jay, whom he considered a hypocrite.
But the facts hadn’t changed. Even the blanket that felt like rags to him had certainly been helpful.
Unless Jay looked at his medical records, he couldn’t know in detail about his abnormal condition. However, it was obvious that he had a major problem. It was a fact that was clearly revealed if one looked just a little carefully. Certainly, if Jay hadn’t just helped him, he would have suffered from seizures for quite a while.
Jay looked at Ivan carefully and asked.
“I don’t know what it is, but……”
“If you don’t know, you can just stay still. Why are you interfering?”
Ivan couldn’t contain his irritation and took off the blanket wrapped around his body and threw it away again. However, from the weaker gesture than the first time, one could feel that his temper had softened. Jay smiled awkwardly and said.
“I felt like I should at least do this.”
“……”
“Even if you call me a…… hypocrite, I have nothing to say.”
Jay swallowed his words. Because he also knew well that whatever he said would be nothing but shabby excuses. Ivan, who had been staring at such a Jay, soon moved his feet and headed toward the dormitory. That retreating figure looked somehow lonely, so Jay couldn’t stand it and called out loudly to Ivan.
“Scotilino!”
“……Yes, Professor.”
Ivan, disguised as the usual obedient and pale student, answered. However, he remained turned away and Jay couldn’t confirm his expression.
“Next time too…… would it be okay if I bring a blanket?”
“……”
Ivan didn’t answer and left the spot. Jay interpreted that as a refusal and let out a small sigh. However, Jay had no intention of stopping this small meddling. If he didn’t do even this, he would feel discomfort like walking barefoot on a gravel field.
Jay picked up the blanket that had fallen on the ground and shook it off. The blanket still had the softness it had when first received, but it was crumpled messily and dirty with dust. Jay felt sad that it seemed like the emotions Ivan showed toward him.
“Still, it seems better than before……”
Nevertheless, Jay felt a little hope. While at Connubium, he wanted to be of help to the students even a little. Even though he had become conscious of his surroundings, that feeling of his hadn’t faded. Rather, it burned brightly, even if small.
Jay resolved to spare no effort for the students as much as he could. Belly climbed onto the shoulders of Jay, who was full of determination, and acted cutely. Jay quickly felt comforted by that action and melted limply.
Leaving such a Jay behind, Belly’s gaze suddenly turned toward the tree. It was the gaze of a glistening hunter tinged with unusual color.
What is he looking at? There’s nothing there…… On the tree I glanced at, something like an ember was flickering.
* * *
After that day, Jay desperately searched out Ivan who was hiding, somehow finding him no matter what. Connubium was wide, but there were fewer secluded places than expected. Because of that, Jay could quickly find Ivan crouched like a sick cat.
“Are you okay?”
“……”
No matter how kindly he approached, Ivan gave no answer. However, unlike the first time when he threw the blanket away, he didn’t refuse the blanket Jay covered him with.
Looking at Ivan’s expression, it seemed he wanted to kick it off right away, but it seemed he couldn’t quite do that knowing it helped with recovery. It was a practical choice by Ivan, who always seemed to act emotionally.
On days he received reformation classes, Ivan generally skipped meal times. Since his physical condition was bad, it was natural he had no energy to eat. Still, today he came to eat even though he was staggering, so Jay was inwardly pleased.
“Everyone, enjoy your meal.”
Jay was relieved to see Ivan eating food even if it was as much as bird feed. To recover his body, he had to eat even a little.
That day’s meal wasn’t bad for everyone. Jin’s meal was quality as usual, and Vittorio’s meal wasn’t bad either. Thanks to that, Jay felt a bit of peace for the first time in a while.
Meal time ended quietly and the students left their rooms to spend their own time. It was also when Jay was organizing his spot and about to go to the preparation room for his report.
“Pro, Pro, fess, or.”
Vittorio approached and called Jay. His weak voice was so frail it seemed like it would go out at any moment.
Come to think of it, Vittorio had tried to say something to Jay several times. He kept hesitating, so is he planning to speak today? I watched Vittorio with inward anticipation.
Originally, after dinner, one spends some free time and then goes to sleep. Until now, he had to go to class after meals so he was pressed for time, but now during free time, there was more leisure than other times. Jay made an effort to make a kinder face than usual.
“What’s wrong?”
“Th, th, that……”
Vittorio fumbled and clasped both hands together, then closed his mouth tightly again. Jay waited patiently, and Vittorio, perhaps thinking he couldn’t not speak again, squeezed his eyes shut and opened his mouth.
“Ju, just…… it’s, it’s be, better. To, to leave, it a, alone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Scoti, Scoti…… Sco…… Scotil.”
Jay then realized that what he was talking about was Ivan and widened his eyes. In fact, it was already late advice, but Vittorio began to earnestly persuade Jay with all his might. For him who stuttered, it was work that required great stamina.
“Th, that class is, dan, dan, dan, dangerous. Don’t, don’t get, in, in, in, in, involved.”
“That class? You mean the transfer class? The one at Nokeum Hall?”
“Ye, yes. Yes.”
Jay wondered why Vittorio, who had been passive all this time, was coming forward like this. At the same time, he was curious about what the identity of the transfer class to Nokeum Hall was.
After pondering for a moment, Jay carefully asked Vittorio.
“Can you tell me what that class is?”
Inside the map room growing dim. A deep sunset seeped in through the small window. However, that light gradually faded, pushed away by darkness, and the room was gradually eroded by darkness. Because the lights weren’t turned on, the map room was becoming eerie.
Vittorio, with shadows cast heavily as if swallowed by darkness, answered with a face that had turned pale.
“I, can’t…… can’t…… do it.”
Vittorio couldn’t continue speaking and staggered, panting as if even breathing was painful. He looked like a fish pulled out of water.
The person who had been conversing without major problems even though stuttering until just now was like this, so Jay was utterly bewildered. He supported Vittorio, who was suddenly suffering and swaying.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m, I’m okay……”
Vittorio took deep breaths with both eyes tightly closed. Unlike what he said about being okay, Vittorio’s body showed no signs of recovery.
Jay, who had turned pale, urgently carried him on his back and ran to the infirmary. Vittorio’s limply hanging arms were nothing short of pitiful. Among the students, Vittorio was on the small and light side, so Jay could barely carry him on his back and run. Vittorio’s panting hot breath heated Jay’s shoulder.
Though he almost collapsed from exhaustion several times, Jay was able to arrive at the infirmary.
“What……”
The infirmary professor widened her eyes in surprise at the sight of Jay who had rushed over urgently and roughly flung open the door.
As might be expected, because the infirmary professor recognized me. With murky blond hair and a gloomy impression, he was Carl Maduka, an Arbor guild member infiltrating this school.
To the extent that if it weren’t me, one couldn’t recognize him, Carl looked completely like a different person from his usual self. Originally a glamorous handsome man, it seemed to be because he was disguised in an ordinary appearance as if hiding that light. Even if not to the extent of my Persona, since he was a guild member, it was natural that he had to master the art of disguise, so it wasn’t strange.
He had clearly recognized me, but didn’t rush over like when he first discovered Jay. If one were to say it was natural as an information guild member, it was natural, but it was fortunate. On the other hand, Jay didn’t know Carl. Because I hadn’t set it up.
Jay passed right by Carl and laid Vittorio on the bed. Carl’s gaze stuck damply, but soon he began to act according to the situation.
“It’s student Vittorio Valli. Did this happen suddenly?”
However, odd speech and somewhat half-hearted gestures. There was no urgency at all in dealing with a sick patient. It didn’t match the behavior of dealing with a student suffering and panting.
Fortunately, Jay was distracted by Vittorio and didn’t notice Carl’s appearance.
“Yes. He, we were talking and sud…… suddenly.”
Carl, who nodded once without even listening to all of Jay’s words, half-heartedly plopped a blanket over Vittorio’s body. Jay was dumbfounded by that insincere appearance and opened his mouth wide, about to say something.
However, at that moment, thwack— something grabbed Jay’s wrist with strong force. Vittorio, who was only breathing laboriously, strongly grasped Jay’s wrist. It was surprising how such strength could come from a sick body.
With barely opened eyes, he desperately restrained Jay. Even bloodshot vessels stood in both eyes. Jay closed his open mouth.
“……Then I’ll be going. Please take good care of him.”
Carl didn’t even answer and roughly nodded as if annoyed. Jay was worried about Vittorio being left alone, but at his desperate gaze, he eventually moved his feet that wouldn’t lift. Carl’s secret gaze stuck to him glancing sidelong, but Jay never looked back.
Returning to the professor preparation room to write his report, Jay thought deeply.
