Chapter 67: A Parent’s Heart

Leave a Comment / Level 999 / By IX

After the second day of the Starry blossom Festival’s competitions had concluded, I returned to the dormitory room with Mill.

Our overall score was currently at the top. If things continued smoothly, Class 1A would secure the championship.

With such a situation at hand, everyone in the class was filled with excitement, and we were able to hold the final day’s meeting in a great atmosphere.

There was a lot of attention from those around us, and Maron-san’s mother surely had a good impression of our class.

Everything seemed to be going well, but as I gazed out of the darkened window, my emotions clouded.

“What’s the matter, Sachi-san?” Mill asked, tilting their head, clearly concerned. It seemed that I had worried them.

Shrugging my shoulders as if it was nothing, I tried to dismiss it. “Well, I just thought I saw someone familiar.”

“Huh, among the visitors?”

“No, among the students in the academy. It might just be a mistake though.”

I said it as if trying to convince myself, but my heart still wouldn’t clear up.

It was impossible to dismiss what I saw as a mere mistake. While observing the competitions, I heard a name from the announcer’s commentary and the voices around me. And when I searched for that person, they were among the second-year students in Class 2C.

So, it was indeed… “Maiss, my older brother, I wonder…”

It had been ten years since we last met, but the resemblance was striking. The name and face matched so perfectly that it would be unreasonable to consider him as someone else. The age was the same too. That was undoubtedly my true brother, Maiss Gracier.

I never expected to reunite in this way. Come to think of it, this is the prestigious school for training top-notch magicians. It’s only natural that someone from the Gracier family, known for producing skilled magicians for generations, would be enrolled here.

“I… I saw her getting angry about being mistreated, smashing the precious vase our father treasures.”

The words that triggered my expulsion from the Glacière family.

My cunning older brother, who used me as a scapegoat for his own sake.

I never imagined we would meet again at this academy, so I’m quite shocked.

Just the presence of someone I dislike in my beloved place dampens my spirits.

“Ah…” Well, it doesn’t really matter anymore.

There’s no connection between me and that person at this point.

Besides, ten years have passed since then, and even if we were to see each other, he probably wouldn’t remember.

In the sense of changing my mindset, I turned the topic towards Mill this time and asked, “By the way, Mill, do you have any acquaintances or friends who came to watch the Starry blossom Festival? It’s understandable if your mother’s illness prevented it.”

“Well, no, I don’t have any particular plans like that. Besides, I hardly have any acquaintances or friends,” Mill replied.

“Don’t say something so sad…”

Well, I don’t have any acquaintances either.

And then, because I had just remembered my brother, a certain question naturally came to mind.

“By the way, Mill, are you an only child?”

“Yes. So I don’t have any siblings or brothers and sisters coming to watch. The people in the village take care of my mother. Oh, but there is one person who’s like an older sister…”

At that moment, Mill suddenly stopped speaking, her voice trailing off. I glanced in that direction and it seemed like she had a pained expression on their face.

Confused by her meaningful expression, I was momentarily taken aback. What was Mill about to say?

However, she quickly returned to her previous expression and continued, “Well, lately, there have been many dangerous incidents involving mage rampages, so even if I had acquaintances or siblings, I might have advised them not to come.”

“Yeah, I heard that there are many people who choose not to invite their family and friends due to the current state of the town. It’s unfortunate that they can’t witness your achievements, but it’s more important to keep them safe from harm.”

“Anyway, I’ll make sure to watch your performance, Mill, so give it your all.”

“Thank you, Sachi-san.”

“Well, since I’m like Mil’s ‘big sister’ in a way, it’s only natural for me to take care of my younger sister.”

“…”

As I let out a silly laugh, Mil looked at me with an expression that seemed like she wanted to say something. Apparently, she didn’t appreciate being treated as a little sister without consent and unexpectedly launched a counterattack.

“Who is the one who always tidies up the messy clothes of her roommate?”

“… It’s Mill.”

“And who is the one who mercilessly wakes up her roommate who’s about to oversleep?”

“… It’s Mill-san.”

“And who is the one who cleans the room instead of her roommate who forgot her cleaning duty?”

“… It’s Lady Mill.”

Sorry for getting carried away.

Upon reflection, I’m the one who’s more like a pathetic little sister, huh?

Let me reconsider and hold back.

“Well then, it’s about time we go to sleep. Tomorrow is the final day of the Starry blossom Festival. And, being the ones responsible for stopping the mage rampages, tomorrow is probably going to be the most challenging.”

Upon hearing Mill’s words, I was reminded once again of the mage rampage incidents.

“Come to think of it, even though we accepted the role of stopping the mage rampages from the headmaster, nothing has happened in these two days, right? It’s been completely peaceful.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with peace, is there? Thanks to that, we were able to participate in the competitions properly.”

Next, Mill warned me by crossing her index fingers to create a punishment sign.

“Besides, we shouldn’t let our guard down just yet. We still have the final day ahead. It seems that the teachers will be even busier starting tomorrow, so it’s likely that we will be the ones dealing with the rampage incidents in earnest.”

“That’s why tomorrow will probably be the most challenging. I understand that, so don’t worry.”

Once again, I recalled my role in my mind.

If a mage were to go berserk, the headmaster would teleport us to the scene.

Then, just like when we stopped the rampaging mage in the commercial district, we would neutralize them through the use of force.

I have it firmly in my mind, so there’s no need to worry.

In preparation for the following day, I began to get ready for bed.

While Mill fixed the bed, I moved to close the curtains.

And then…

“Hm?”

Outside the window.

Towards the closest tree, it seemed like something glimmered for a moment.

Due to the darkness that had already fallen, I couldn’t see it clearly, but it looked like something was perched on a branch…

As I tried to focus my eyes, the light quickly vanished into the darkness.

Or rather, it seemed like it flew away. Was it a bird or something?

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, uh, it’s nothing.”

Without paying it much attention, I swiftly closed the curtains.

And so, I went to bed early, preparing for the day to come.