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yumemory[Location: Beryl School, morning]
When I turned around to them, I saw Owen smiling happily and Mithra biting back a sigh of annoyance.
Mithra: ...I thought I heard a lot of noise, but I found it was only you all. Are we not supposed to be keeping a low profile right now?
Mithra: So, what do we do with these humans? I believe we've been told to make sure no one finds out we are wizards.
Mithra: Should I kill them all to prevent them from talking?
Students: Eek!
The students' faces gradually turned pale and they froze in fear as soon as they understood the situation they were in.
Akira: (T-This is bad. We’ll only worsen the situation if we don’t do anything to ease this atmosphere. And we won’t be able to continue the investigation...)
Chloe: Ah! Master Sage, that person over there...
Riquet: Sukey!
Sukey: .........!
Behind a pillar some distance away was Sukey, secretly watching the scene unfold.
Riquet: Thank goodness! Sukey, please come here and help us explain!
Riquet: Tell them you asked us to come here—to help you and the other students who went missing.
Riquet: Please assure them that wizards aren't the type who would harm people.
Sukey: ......Y-You have the wrong person. I don't know any of you. I don't know any wizards.
Riquet: ...Huh?
Riquet: But didn’t you...
Sukey: ...J-Just go away!
Riquet: Ah!
(Sukey runs off)
Male with Brown Eyes: Let's escape now while we still can!
Female Student with Red Hair: Yeah!
(The other students run off)
Chloe: Ah, wait!
All the students ran away from us without a second thought, despite our attempts to call them back.
Riquet: ......Why...?
Riquet stood there in a daze. That was when Snow and the others came rushing over to him.
Oz: What happened?
Snow: ...Have Mithra and Owen done something unnecessary again?
Riquet: N-No. Mithra and Owen aren’t at fault.
Riquet: The one who’s wrong is... This is all......
Suddenly, Riquet’s expression grew confused. Clumsily, his eyes wandered around his surroundings, and unsteadily he raised a hand over his mouth.
Riquet: ............
(Riquet runs off)
Akira: Ah! Riquet, wait!
As if to escape, he suddenly dashed out of the school.
After what happened, there was no way we could continue doing what we came here for...
...And the investigation was suspended.
[Location: Hallway]
Snow: Oh, what is this? Are you also perhaps on your way to Riquet's room, Sage?
Akira: Yes. He didn't show up for dinner, so...
Riquet locked himself in his room and never came out, no matter how many times Chloe and I called out to him.
The students' words were as sharp as blades. I can only imagine how much it must have hurt Riquet, the one who directly received them.
I'm not a wizard. I may not completely understand his feelings, but even so, I want to get close to him, if only a little.
White: What a coincidence. We were just thinking of visiting him as well.
Snow: During our investigation this morning, it was he who faced most of the students’ confusion and overt malice towards wizards. I cannot help but be concerned for him.
Akira: Yes...
(Akira knocks on Riquet’s door)
Akira: Riquet. It’s me, Akira. Can I talk to you for a bit?
Akira: There’s no response... Riquet...
Snow: I can sense his presence. I am certain he’s within.
Akira: (Maybe he wants to be alone right now. But I just couldn't leave him by himself, not after seeing how sad he looked earlier...)
But I also didn't want to force him. As I was contemplating what I wanted to do, a small voice came from the other side of the door.
Riquet: ......I apologize for causing you so much concern. Please come in.
[Location: Riquet’s room]
Riquet: ...............
His room didn't have a lot of things in it. In the center sat only a lit lamp, and Riquet, who seemed to have just finished praying.
Akira: Riquet...
Riquet: I'm sorry. You have all been worried about me. But I'm fine. I was just a little surprised, that's all...
Riquet: Once I've collected myself, I'll go out and have a proper meal...... A meal Nero made for me...
Snow: ...Riquet, my dear. There is no need to pretend that you are well.
Riquet: ......But... I... I am a Sage's wizard... And I couldn't even do my duty properly...
White: We did not come here to scold you, but to provide you company.
Snow: Yes, yes. In fact, we came here to tell you that you have done exceptionally well today. Now, how about a big tight hug from us as a reward?
Snow and White embraced Riquet gently. And upon their beckoning, I sat beside the three of them.
I didn't know what to do with my hands, so I grabbed Riquet's, after which I received a small whimper from him.
Riquet: Master Sage......
Akira: Yes, I'm here. If there's anything I can do for you, please just let me know, okay?
Riquet: Thank you, truly. Actually, my mind feels strange every time I remember what happened at the school... Not even praying could calm my heart...
Riquet: ...We didn't do anything wrong. I know that. We came there to save the missing students, but instead of gratitude, what we received instead were their unpleasant words.
Riquet: "A wizard kidnapped the students", they said. "It's all the wizards' fault." "Why won't wizards just disappear?".
Riquet: ...I'm well-aware that there are nonbelievers in this world. I've witnessed the same thing in other places.
Riquet: But even Sukey, who knew what was going on, ran away when she saw us, and even denied knowing us, or any wizards at all...
Akira: Riquet...
Riquet: She lost her dear friend, and that’s why I wanted to help her. And yet......
Riquet: I always used my powers for the followers of the Church, and not once have I ever been subjected to this kind of behavior.
Riquet: I just... I don’t know what to do...
Just like Sukey, Riquet also has a friend who's very dear to him. That was why he sincerely wanted to help her.
Perhaps he felt like his genuine feelings for her were trampled upon after the treatment he received.
Riquet: ...But also, I... feel like there's something wrong with my feelings as well.
Riquet: At that moment, my heart was filled with so many unpleasant feelings, and I felt I simply had to run away.
Riquet: If I thought Sukey was doing something wrong, then it was supposed to be my duty to lead her to the right path...
Riquet: It’s not like I was physically harmed, but after that encounter with her, I felt my heart ache for some reason...
Riquet: ...When Sukey asked for my help, I decided right then and there that I would definitely live up to her expectations.
Riquet: But now, I don’t think I can do that, nor do I want to. But...
Riquet: ...Having this kind of horrible feeling... Does it disqualify me from being an apostle of God?
I couldn't give Riquet an answer right away.
But this was what I wanted to say in an attempt to take away Riquet's sorrow:
He didn't do anything wrong. There was no need for him to feel bad for feeling that way, and it was only natural to behave like that in that kind of situation.
But I feared that these words would only hurt and discourage him more...
When all he wanted was to stay as the wonderful person he envisions himself to be.
My thoughts were then interrupted by Snow and White’s lighthearted laughter.
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
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