Chapter 33: Rumors

The location changed, and I found myself inside the school building once again.

I was walking outside with Maron-san, trying to find Poire-san, but there was no sign of finding her anywhere.

Then my intuition told me that she was inside the school building, so we returned to the nearly empty corridors.

As Maron-san and I walked down the hallway, I couldn’t help but ask about the rumor she mentioned earlier.

“So, what did you mean by the rumors about Mil?”

Maron-san looked somewhat troubled and spoke in a slightly lower voice.

“Have you heard about some students recently failing their school requests?”

“Failed requests? Oh, yeah, I think the receptionist mentioned something like that. It seems that because of that, there are more pending requests, and Mil is helping to handle them…”

“Indeed, that’s the case.”

Maron-san’s expression grew even cloudier.

Was it really such a disadvantageous situation that Mil was helping to handle the request backlog?

I remembered hearing that she was personally asked by the school principal to assist with request completion.

“Well, um, is there something wrong with that?”

“N-No, Mil-san is not at fault. It’s just that she seems to have incurred some resentment from certain students…”

“Resentment?”

Maron-san asked again, seeking confirmation from me.

“The current requests that Mil-san is accepting are all ones that other students have failed, right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s what I’ve heard, but…”

“According to the rumors, many of those who couldn’t accomplish the requests are trying to challenge them again and sometimes visit the receptionist’s office.”

Well, that made a lot of sense.

Reattempting a subjugation request. If I had failed once, I might also visit the receptionist’s office to try again.

Because it would simply be frustrating, and it would tarnish one’s reputation as a magician.

They would want to redeem themselves by attempting the request once more.

However, once they have failed once, it’s unlikely that they would be entrusted with the same request by the receptionist.

Still, it seems that many people visit the receptionist’s office as a last-ditch effort.

“But what do those who know that another student… Mil-san, has already accomplished those requests think?”

“Huh…”

After thinking for a moment, I finally understood from their perspective.

“I see. They feel like Mil took care of it for them… or rather, that she cleaned up their mess.”

“…Most of the students who felt that way were in the majority.”

I failed the request.

I was so frustrated that I went to accept it again.

But Mil had already resolved that request.

Knowing that fact would only fuel the flames of my frustration even more.

“Moreover, Mil, who cleaned up after me, is just a commoner without a family emblem, and she’s practically the top first-year student as a scholarship student. It’s no wonder she doesn’t receive favorable looks,” I said.

“I heard that those who felt uncomfortable started spreading unfavorable rumors about Mil-san,” 

Maron-san replied, looking very hesitant.

“Unfavorable rumors? Like what, specifically?”

Maron-san seemed to struggle, but she managed to tell me.

“Things like ‘The daughter of a commoner stole the request from me, a noble’ or ‘She used her title as a scholarship student to snatch away the requests.'”

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

It was incomprehensible to me that someone would go to such petty lengths to slander Mil just because they were frustrated that she accomplished the requests instead.

Since receiving the title of a scholarship student, she had already attracted hostile looks, but I never imagined that the students would harbor such intense jealousy.

“At the moment, it’s still a story that has only spread among a few students, and I haven’t seen any direct attacks on Mil-san. But considering how rumors spread, it wouldn’t be strange if things escalate,” Maron-san explained.

“Hmm, if it looks like it’s turning into blatant bullying, it’s probably best to consult with Professor Lezan,” I mused.

I could only pray that it wouldn’t come to that.

But given her unlucky disposition, it wouldn’t be surprising if such a situation unfolded.

“Thank you for telling me, Maron-san. And sorry for making you talk about unpleasant things.”

“No problem. I’m glad if it was helpful. If I hear any rumors from people around me, I’ll make sure to leave everything to you,” Maron-san replied.

“Okay, thank you.”

I was truly grateful for Maron-san’s kindness.

Not that it was a way to repay her, but I felt even more motivated to find Poire-san, hoping to be of help.

Sensing the presence around me, I sniffed the air and continued down the corridor, leading the way, while Maron-san followed, catching her breath.

“I have a feeling she’s somewhere around here…”

“Really? Over there?”

We went up the stairs at the far end of the corridor, leading to the upper floors.

Second floor, third floor, fourth floor… we ascended, with Maron-san trying to keep up, panting for breath. And I continued further up.

“S-Sachi-san, what’s ahead…”

Keep going!

The staircase, which should have ended on the fourth floor, had a slight extension, leading to a single door.

We opened the unlocked door, and a fresh breeze passed by us as the view of the rooftop unfolded before our eyes.

As we emerged beneath the sky, which was tinged with shades of orange as the sun was setting, we immediately heard faint breathing sounds, like “sū… sū…”

When I turned around, right next to the newly opened door, I found a female student leaning against the wall, sound asleep.

“Oh, so she was here after all.”

“She really ended up in a place like this… I’m impressed you found her.”

Well, I did find her purely based on intuition.

But my intuition was not something to be underestimated.

I’ll continue to boast about it as one of my skills for finding things.

Maron-san called out the girl’s name and approached her, and the sleeping girl slowly opened her eyes.

Then, rubbing her drowsy eyes, she looked up at Maron-san, who was in front of her.

“Huh? Maron…? What’s up?”

“What’s up? We were looking for you, Poire-san. We promised to go back together, didn’t we?”

“Is that so…? Did we?”

With a voice that made me feel sleepy just listening to it, Poire-san tilted her head.

Then, she blinked a few times, as if some of her drowsiness had dissipated, and looked around once again, raising even more question marks above her head.

“Huh? Where is this?”

“Where? Weren’t you the one who came here by yourself?”

“I don’t remember well. I remember falling asleep in the classroom, though.”

From her manner of speaking, it seemed that Poire had unconsciously ended up here while half-asleep.

According to Maron-san, she had done similar things in the past, like sleepwalking to a different classroom, so it’s possible that she had come up to the rooftop in a similar state.

She really is a mysterious girl, I thought to myself while watching Poire from behind Maron-san. Suddenly, our eyes met.

“Um, you are… uh…”

“Oh, yeah, I’m Sachi from the same class. I was looking for you with Maron-san.”

“…,” Poire unexpectedly bowed her head and replied with an unexpected line.

“I’m sorry. It’s my Maron who caused trouble…”

“Huh? If anything, you’re the one causing trouble, Poire-san.”

At that moment, Maron-san pinched Poire’s cheek and stretched it out with a playful tone.

“That’s right. She disappeared from the classroom without permission, and I was so worried, you know.”

“Th-That’s not…”

Watching them like this, they really seemed like a caring mother and a challenging daughter.

The serene scenery was too soothing, and it felt like I could watch this forever.

In any case, I was relieved that we found Poire safely.

“Thank you for your help in finding Poire-san. Thanks to you, everything is fine now.”

“Nah, no problem. It’s not a big deal. Besides, I got to hear about Mil’s situation from you.”

If I could be of help, I’m glad.

And I also received valuable information in return.

“Well then, Sachi-san. We’ll be… Oh, if it’s alright, would you like to walk back to the dormitory together?”

“Oh, yeah, sure… If it’s not too much trouble, I’ll walk with you.”

And so, I decided to walk back to the girls’ dormitory with Maron-san and Poire-san.

On the way back, I learned that they were childhood friends, and in turn, I told them about how I met Mil…

After experiencing the first time walking back with a group of people since the beginning of the school year, I felt a sense of loneliness in the quietness of my room when I finally arrived at the dormitory.

“…Hurry back,” I whispered, lying on the bed, staring at the door as if longing for my roommate’s return.