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yumemory[Location: Hallway]
It was late at night, and the day was approaching its end. Feeling a little thirsty, I decided to drop by the dining hall.
But before I could get there, I was stopped in my tracks upon hearing someone’s joyful voice.
Akira: (...Hm? This voice…)
[Location: Lounge, evening]
Nero: If you wanna get wasted, then go somewhere else. I ain’t in the mood tonight.
Bradley: Dumbass. Look ‘ere, I gotcha somethin’ a bit different than usual.
Nero: ...Oh? Real nice wine you got there. Where’dya snag it from?
Bradley: Got it from a deaf ol’ granny at a restaurant I like going to. She said I looked like her handsome husband in his youth.
Nero: Lemme guess, the old lady’s as blind as she is deaf, ain’t she?
Bradley: Oh, shut it. She’s got perfectly good eyes if she appreciated my charms. Seriously, let’s have a glass or two tonight.
I peeked into the room and saw Bradley and Nero. In Bradley's hands were a glass and an expensive bottle of liquor.
However, they both noticed me before I could even think of approaching them.
And the light atmosphere in the room suddenly grew cold.
Bradley: ...I changed my mind. I’m not doing this.
Bradley: You gotta be nuts to even think of tryin’ to get a gloomy Eastern wizard to hang out.
Bradley's demeanor changed dramatically, and his face now showed only a blank, uninterested expression.
Nero: Glad ya get that… A nobody like me isn't someone you'd wanna hang out with, anyway.
Nero said in an unusual tone, before distancing himself from Bradley.
Bradley and Nero: ……………
Akira: Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop...
Nero: Don’t worry about it. It’s not like ya heard anything we wouldn’t want you to hear.
Bradley: I only invited ‘im ‘cause he happened to be the only person I found.
Their voices became more and more piercing as they turned their faces away from each other, and the awkward atmosphere made me panic.
Akira: (I think I came to the wrong place at the wrong time…)
Akira: S-So that's what happened. Well, there are times when you just want to have a companion while drinking, right?
Akira: Ah, then how about you use that as an opportunity to deepen your friendship?
Nero: Friendship?
Akira: Yes. I heard that even if two people aren't very close, they can still easily get to know each other by drinking together...
Akira: Bradley will be out on a mission tomorrow morning, so how about having a drink when he gets back?
Akira: Let’s say it’s like thanking him for all his hard work on the mission!
I spoke with the brightest voice I could manage. Bradley, who had seemed reluctant, raised a brow after hearing my suggestion.
Bradley: ‘Ey, not a bad idea ya got there!
He then walked over to me and held me by my shoulders, and then stroked my head like he was praising a dog.
Bradley: You should join us. I mean, even the Master Sage needs appreciation, right?
Bradley: Hey, Nero, you heard ‘em, so make sure ya put some nice grub together.
Nero: Don’t drag the Sage into this… And you, you don’t hafta force yourself to go along with this, y’know.
Akira: Um...
Akira: (I'm actually pretty curious about what Bradley and Nero's drinking sessions are like…)
Akira: I’d like to join, too. If it's not too much trouble for the two of you, of course.
I turned towards Nero, who pondered for a moment before nodding.
Nero: .........Well, if that’s what the Sage says, then that’s final. I’ll get the drinks ready.
Bradley: Haha, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Bradley looked to be in a really good mood. He hit both Nero and I on the back.
Akira: Ouch!
Nero: Ow!
Bradley: Just you wait. The Great Bradley’ll clear that mission in a flash!
[Location: Foyer, morning]
A few days later, the Northern wizards returned to the manor after completing their mission.
Akira: Welcome back, everyone.
Snow and White: We’re homeee!
Mithra: Sigh.
Owen: It’s finally over.
Akira: ...Huh? I thought all five of you went on that mission together... Where's Bradley?
Northern Wizards: ………….
The Northern wizards had returned, but Bradley was nowhere to be seen.
[Location: Lounge, morning]
After that, I attended the meeting the teachers held. For some reason, Mithra had joined us as well.
Each country's acting teacher then proceeded to report and discuss the agenda one after another.
Figaro: Recently, I heard that one of Leno's sheep tends to stray off its herd, and that it broke into one of Central's classes.
Oz: Yes. It was when Riquet tried to do shapeshifting magic. He thought he mistakenly turned someone into a sheep and panicked.
Faust: Was that why Lennox was lecturing the sheep when I passed by the courtyard…?
Shylock: Fufu, how heartwarming.
Figaro: That being said, let us know if you see any sheep wandering around. We'll be careful from now on. That should be all concerning the magic lessons.
Shylock: Then, shall we move on to the main topic of this assembly? Bradley went missing during a mission.
Faust: ...So that's why I haven't seen him in a while. Did something happen during the mission?
Snow: Mithra should be able to provide an answer for that.
White: You may speak, Mithra.
Mithra: ……….
At the urging of the twins, Mithra pulled the spoon he’d been boredly nibbling on the entire meeting out of his mouth.
When all eyes were on him, he then spoke only a few words:
Mithra: I killed him.
Faust: Killed…?
Faust, who was about to take a sip of his tea, almost choked after hearing Mithra's straightforward confession. I stood up from my seat without thinking.
Akira: M-Mithra, is that true!?
Figaro: So you killed him, huh?
Mithra: Yes. Perhaps.
Shylock: I must say that’s a bit vague.
Oz: ………….
Faust: I don’t get it. Snow, White, could you give a more detailed explanation?
Snow and White: Hohoho... It seems like our dear Mithra isn't a good speaker.
Shaking their heads in disbelief, the two then began to go over what happened during their mission.
