Academy Town is now in summer vacation.
In this time, the students that make up most of the people in this town decrease a lot,
so the business activity is curtailed as well, is what one would normally think, but
that's not actually the case.
It is especially noticeable in Rotsgard which is in the center. Things like the towns in
the area, sightseeing, and teachers that autonomously hold lectures in summer,
actually gather students.
Of course, the students that attend the schools of the towns in the area most can't
compare to the students here. The teachers take that into consideration and put up
their lectures with that thinking in mind. By the way, the only ones doing this kind of
lectures are part-time teachers. For them this is a good chance to make pocket money.
Maybe the fulltime teachers have work in summer vacation as well, or maybe they
glorify the long break; they don't do lectures at summer vacation. There really is not a
single one. It has probably become a custom of sorts.
"Even if the extracurricular classes are cheaper than the regular ones… to come to
school in summer vacation, that's pretty impressive. I, aside from club activities, didn't
attend to any of those"
"That most likely means there's a good amount of people that wish to decrease the
distance between others, to reach them. From our perspective, this is a happy moment
as it increases the customers"
"And it seems the Rembrandt sisters didn't return home. Just before entering summer
vacation, there was an unreasonable letter from Rembrandt-san asking to bring his
daughters to Tsige"
"And for some reason, there was a letter from his wife in the same day as well. Telling
us to ignore the letter of her husband. She revoked his request immediately"
A slight space of silence after.
"Aaah, its summer huh~"
"It's indeed summer~"
Shiki and I were in the academy's library investigating. At morning we read books
here, check the situation of the store in the afternoon, and from evening to night I hear
the reports of Asora and do training. There was a time where I temporarily felt disgust
at my useless self, but it was also the time where I decided to move forward in my own
way. I think this is most likely because I have been influenced by Jin, Amelia and the
other students' frantic attitude. They and I are different existences, but seeing people
trying their hardest to move forward even if a bit, it also encourages me to do my best
as well.
"Ah, now that I think about it, at the previous class, Jin seemed like he wanted to say
something. Do you know anything about that Shiki?" (Makoto)
"No. He looked pretty cornered, so he probably didn't have the leeway of saying it out
loud. I certainly did feel as if he was perplexed" (Shiki)
——
At the last lecture before summer vacation, I had them do a mock battle as an
enjoyment lecture in the latter half, but for some reason the seven of them were
looking at me as if trembling in fear and after, they fell on their knees.
[Sif and Yuno also, try to confirm all that you have learned until now in real combat]
Saying that, I incorporated the sisters in the enjoyment lecture that has been done by
the five until now. Maybe they were already expecting this, the students made a
formation smoothly.
That's why I didn't say anything and nod. I summoned blue lizard-kun, a mist lizard…
Since there were more people now, I called for two.
[Let me introduce you. Blue lizard-kun Zwei]
Not presenting themselves and beginning battle would be unrefined, so even though
it was a short, I introduced Zwei-kun. However, it was at that instant, everyone
stiffened.
It seems that there were even some that were shaking. They have already bettered
their foundations and their battle tactics have widened a good amount, and yet they
expected to fight 7 against 1? How hyuman-like thinking.
They thought they would be fighting only one as usual, so Jin was the first one to shout
out.
"T-There's more!!"
[Why are you stating the obvious? 7 against 1 wouldn't be training at all. But well, you
certainly do have a point there. You couldn't even defeat one right? Fumu, I will give
you the option of going all 7 against 2 or divide in 4 vs 1 and 3 vs 1]
'You, what's the point of even doing that?'
The students' eyes were clearly saying that.
What's the point? These guys are pros at group fights you know. 7 against 2 is
obviously going to be more difficult. Well, it would be good for them to learn how to
coordinate, so it wouldn't be a bad idea.
"U… Uhm, Raidou-sensei? This is only for reference but, this new one is as strong?"
[Of course. Blue lizard-kun excels in technique, but Zwei-kun excels in strength. Both
are excellent warriors. By the way, they specialize in group fights]
Amelia. Isn't that obvious? Why would I bring two with difference in ability?
"W-well I was wondering if summoning those two isn't putting a burden in your body
or something like that"
[No problem]
It is actually not even a summon. I just open a gate, so it can be one or everyone and it
wouldn't change the burden.
Maybe they still had space to think properly, they decided on dividing. The team
distribution was mostly as expected.
Jin, Yuno, Amelia, Izumo.
Daena, Misura, Sif.
Well, in the end, both teams were unable to win. But they were able to fight a whole
lot better than last time, and just like that, the class finished.
Jin said he wanted to get advice after the lesson, so I was going to listen to what he
wanted but…
"I-I will leave it for a later time" (Jin)
Is what he said with a feeble voice lacking of air and left. And so we are now at present.
Since we are already at summer vacation time, it was probably not that important of
a talk. Maybe he wanted me to treat him lunch?
If that's what he wanted, then it certainly would be hard to say after moving so much.
It would all go back to the top after all.
———
"At that time only Sif wasn't collapsed on the floor huh. However, depending on how
they handle it, their skills should allow them to enter a further step. Why is it that they
are overwhelmed to such a point?" (Shiki)
While voicing out his question, Shiki doesn't stop reading his book. It seems that he
can concentrate his thoughts on two things at the same time.
"Maybe because they are accustomed? Seeing them like that, I think they will properly
make a countermeasure by next time and do one step forward. And well you see,
everyone is a good child, so they are most likely more cautious than necessary"
(Makoto)
"The second phase huh. If they know that the strength and speed increased, they will
certainly complain again" (Shiki)
"I can picture it already. If they handle it the same way as in the first phase, leaving
aside blue lizard-kun, Zwei-kun would blow anyone away in a single hit and take them
out of the fight" (Makoto)
In the library where there's only a few presences of people, Shiki and I were talking
about the students. The mist lizards also seem to be having fun with it, and it would
also help as training for holding back. Well, no idea if it would be of any use in the
future though.
If their growth is too slow, it would stress the lizards, so I wish Jin and the others good
luck.
"…Raidou-sama" (Shiki)
[Yeah, someone has come. Speaking of the devil huh]
Grasping the presence that is approaching, I change into written communication. A
presence I know of.
Putting on a posture where both of us are reading, we wait for them to arrive.
"Excuse me for the intrusion. Raidou-sensei, can I have a bit of your time?"
[Jin huh. What do you need?]
The ones who approached were the students that Shiki and I were talking about. As
expected, they were still at the academy, and I see Sif and Yuno here too. Rembrandtsan must be crying. Even if I take into account his wife's letter, I certainly understand
that he wants them to at least return home once.
"I have something I want to consult you about" (Jin)
Hearing Jin talking in a courteous manner, I had an uncomfortable feeling. At the same
time, I am surprised that he is able to speak this way.
[Let's hear it]
"Actually, about this summer vacation, I don't mind if it is in times where sensei is able
to, can you please train us?" (Jin)
[In the middle of summer vacation?]
"Yes. I heard that you are not doing extracurricular lessons. Of course, we will properly
pay for the number of times we receive lessons, so please" (Jin)
…
Even though it is a long period holiday, they surely are motivated. I was thinking about
using this vacation to concentrate mostly on work and training though.
Moreover, they came and said they would properly pay for the lessons. Impressive. If
there were high school students who pay with their own money for summer lessons,
it would be pretty out of norms in modern times.
[Is this a consensus from everyone? Is there someone who wants to return home?
Especially Sif and Yuno. You should have received a notice from your household to
return]
Also, I find it hard to tell Rembrandt-san that I am teaching lessons to the two of them
so I can't have them return. I can't tell him. My dad also threw a tantrum saying that
he wouldn't let my sisters live alone, even though he is an adult. I think that the
affection a dad shows towards his daughters is just on a whole new dimension.
In our household we have the stupidly doting father at full throttle and my mother
always had to intervene, so maybe in Rembrandt-san's place is mostly the same.
"From our side as well, please. For the sake of the future, I don't think we are currently
strong enough to get a pass in Tsige. There should be no problems in not returning for
only half a year" (Sif)
No no, even if your strength doesn't get a passing mark, the Rembrandt household is
a merchant one so as long as there's economic power, that should still give you a pass.
And Yuno is nodding.
Urgh. How resolved.
If I don't make them return for at least a short term, I feel like Rembrandt-san will
send me a cursing letter again. He is lending me a place to work, so I really want to
have an amiable relationship. I feel like I shouldn't take this offer.
[Shiki, how is it? Our schedule is already filled right?]
"No. If it's once a week, we might be able to do it" (Shiki)
Hey.
I was trying to use you as a follow up to refuse them you know?
Now the seven of them are looking at me with eyes filled with expectation. To deal
with the students once a week is just…
…
[Understood. Only one a week, got it? Also, Sif and Yuno will return home at the latter
half. This is a definite condition okay?]
"Eeh~ Onee-chan and I are the only ones who will be absent?!" (Yuno)
"Raidou-sensei! Please treat us just like the other students!" (Sif)
[No. Your father has asked me. You just recovered, so go home and relief your parents]
I could see that two had eyes filled with resentment, but most of the students were
thankful.
Aaah. Well, it should be fine to just do foundation training and summon lizard-kun.
At the appointed day, I leave it to Shiki and I once again return to the books. I have to
take advantage of this vacation to the fullest.
2
In the time when Raidou was being pestered by his students to do classes in the middle
of vacation…
There was one woman in a space of the library where general public cannot enter.
It's the librarian Eva.
When she was told that the danger in the academy was gone, she soon returned to his
duties as a librarian. Even if it's a long period holiday, the scholars and researchers,
and also the teachers that use the library still don't die out. Since she was absent for a
while and there was someone filling her place, Eva-san had to take the place of the
librarian while she is in vacation. That's why in this summer vacation she practically
doesn't have a vacation at all, but since she feels slightly fulfilled when doing work and
she still had something she had to do no matter what in this summer vacation, she
didn't feel dissatisfied.
Eva was right now searching for a certain article.
That is something she wanted Raidou to read. Eva was a noble in the past, and yet she
excels in her duties as a librarian. Since the time she marked Raidou, she has been
remembering all the books he has been reading and tracing the tendencies of them,
she predicts the things he wants to know, the things he must want to know. The books
Raidou read were pretty diverse in range, but Eva was still able to make out a number
of tendencies. Truly an exemplar librarian.
"Uhm, I don't need this kind of research instruction. And I don't need anything prior
to that either…"
Researches and essays that are deemed important are normally gathered in an area of
the library. Of course, there were essays that were composed at the academy in the
past and most of them weren't publicized and there were research contents that were
the same, so they are gathered and the numbers are massive. And in truth, even the
specialist Eva is having troubles finding the article she is looking for. She is in a state
where she is looking for it covered in dust. There's no doubt it wasn't a well-known
article.
"Raidou-san has saved my life after all. And he said 'there is no need for money, so
recommend me books' in a considerate manner, so there's no way I won't do that. I
will definitely show Raidou-sensei content that he will jump at!" (Eva)
The enormous reward that Eva proposed to Lime was the assets of Ansland. That's
something which lies in the land that has been stolen. Raidou heard that talk with a
complicated face, and asked Eva for knowledge instead of money. For him, instead of
assets of doubtful existence, he preferred a more realistic reward.
"He looked like he was reading anything, but the topic he was most interested in was
the magic aspect. And it was on the magic power application and summoning. After
that, he held interest in Kaleneon as well. And he seemed like he wanted to know about
geography too. But first, that article" (Eva)
What Eva is searching for is a thesis that a certain professor took his whole lifetime to
research and after reaching to a conclusion he was discouraged, a content that didn't
gather much attention, a common essay. However, Eva had a strong inference that this
might be one of the things Raidou is looking for. She also has listed up a number of
books he might want. Searching for those isn't that hard. Rather, what she found
difficult was that there were so many mediocre essays from no name researchers
while she was looking.
"I will return the favor, and from hereafter I have to maintain a good relationship with
him. I already have no other to rely on but him and the Kuzunoha Company" (Eva)
The ability of the Kuzunoha Company's employees, and also Raidou and Shiki. And the
other capable people that seem to also exist.
In Eva's eyes, the Kuzunoha Company is incredibly appealing. A free company with
abnormal ability. Just as promised, they crushed the organization powers that were
nesting inside the academy. That the gentle Brait-sensei was one of them was
something that surprised her in not a small amount. Also, not a single danger befell
Ruria. Those were plenty enough results to recognize their abilities.
Right now the scale of their company is small, but it may be because they can't do
anything big. But what about the future?
The reckless librarian that wishes for the revival of her territory, she has still not
abandoned it.
That's why she wants to be close with Raidou. He has power and his personality is not
bad. His company management is going well and he is blessed with capable people.
His face is certainly not good, but something like appearance, one gets used to it after
seeing it many times, is what Eva thinks. Even if her first impression when seeing him
was somewhat bad, so what? It is foolish to judge what's inside by looking at
someone's appearance. If the power of the Goddess serves for nothing, then what's
the worth of appearance? That is the current sense of value of Eva and Ruria.
Not relying on the Goddess. Her faith that had wavered and disappeared. This kind of
people probably have a tendency of losing their attachment to appearance and race.
This is a situation that was brought by the silence of the Goddess. This present
condition might serve – a bit – as a tailwind for Raidou, for Misumi Makoto.
Later, the Rotsgard school festival will be coming, and also, the sparks of war that will
rise greatly.
The Academy's summer vacation continued peacefully. Just like the calm before the
storm.
For the three otherworldlers, their second autumn was approaching.