Yuki's teaching style was very intuitive. Perhaps that's how it worked if you used the game system for magic.
Phoebe's hands were frantically waving, trying desperately to conjure something. Suddenly, a burst of magical energy shot from her hands, striking the target and bursting into a spark.
"Oh, it's not a Holy Ball, but it looks like you managed to create an attack spell! Keep going, and let's work on mastering that Holy Ball!"
Yuki smiled, praising me as if I were her own child, gently guiding me. Suddenly, a flicker in my vision changed the scene; now I found myself battling something resembling a crystal drone.
"First, try attacking the moving drone. It won't retaliate, so take your time to aim," she instructed. My body responded… Wait, I have to use Phoebe's body to attack the drone?!
Although my body was moving, it felt restricted—I could only perform the actions necessary for combat. What could I use to attack? Phoebe wasn't armed, and I couldn't strike with my bare hands. Maybe I should use that magical orb from earlier? It was time to cast the spell.
I probably wouldn't be able to use Holy Ball, but I'd try it anyway. "Holy Ball!"
A glowing orb of blue energy formed in Phoebe's hand—clearly lacking any holy essence. It struck the drone and sent it flying.
"Don't worry, the drone is resistant to magic, so feel free to keep casting spells. Even if it breaks, I can have a friend fix it. I'll also increase the drone's speed and evasion a bit. With Phoebe's current abilities, I'm sure you can hit it!"
Yuki's soothing voice encouraged me from behind.
"Alright, sounds good. After this, let's have tea and enjoy some mandarins, just as Phoebe wished."
Is Phoebe asking for a tea time? Although I can't hear her voice, Yuki's words give me a sense of what's happening. I focus my aim, launch a burst of magical energy at the drone, and despite its speed making it tricky to hit, its predictable movements allow me to succeed after some struggle.
The scene shifts again with a sudden noise, revealing Yuki and Phoebe enjoying tea time in a vibrant flower field. Phoebe is picking apart the flesh of a tangerine, her size comparable to the fruit, while chatting with Yuki.
"I have another side to me—I'm a student who studies at a school... You might not believe it, but I'm actually a top student! ... Oh, I can see you don't believe me! Well, I really excel at math!"
"My mom is super kind too, just like Phoebe's! The other day, when I gave her a gift, she thanked me and even patted my head!"
"Itsuki is trying to pry into my secrets! I can't tell him about this world because it must remain hidden. He really is such an insensitive childhood friend!"
Yuki chats animatedly, her expressions shifting joyfully. While it's nice to see her so happy, a sense of unease grows within me. My thoughts drift to the monsters that attacked Phoebe's hometown. I hope that without players around, the chances of those creatures attacking are low…
So… it seems likely that Yuki fought against a monster. Given that Phoebe was almost eaten by a spider in that place, she probably lost.
I used an appraisal skill on Yuki's equipment, and it turned out to have specs comparable to the gym uniform I received from Lily. I'm not sure about the level or stats, but the lack of uniformity in the gear suggests it was pieced together from high-spec items.
Regardless, it feels like a bad ending is looming ahead, and I really don't want to see it… that thought weighed heavily on my mind.
Yuki's classes weren't just about magic; she taught various subjects, including math, cooking, sewing, and strategies for backline support. The scene transitions were jarring, so I could only catch snippets of the lessons, but they seemed relatively easy to understand.
"Don't worry about it; I just enjoy teaching… Well, my knowledge is broad but shallow, so I can't cover anything too specialized… But at least, I hope you grasped multiplication and division?"
"If you want to repay me, please don't forget what you've learned… even if we end up apart, that knowledge will surely connect us again… Maybe that was a bit too dramatic?"
"By following this, you'll learn to cook delicious meals. Remember this, and if you ever find yourself hungry, you'll be able to manage!"
As Phoebe listened to various comments from Yuki, she found herself busy, alternating her attention between Yuki's face and jotting down notes. After each class, Yuki and Phoebe would enjoy tea time in a nearby flower field. The scene would shift back and forth between their lessons and tea time, and each time they paused for tea, an array of tempting sweets appeared before them—a delightful distraction. I wondered if Yuki had made them.
At some point, Yuki updated her gear to a beautifully coordinated set of white leather armor, clearly crafted by a skilled armorer. It was then that a new character emerged: a red-haired man who floated a massive sword with magic, accompanied by a fairy perched on his shoulder. With a serious expression, he wore a breastplate that fittingly covered only his vital spots.
"You both look well," he commented.
"Oh, Caleb, hello! You could leave the sword behind for a walk, you know," Phoebe suggested.
"I can't do that," he replied. "Without this sword, I feel almost... incomplete. Besides, Yuki, my mission is to protect the keys. Since I have the right to wield this weapon, I believe keeping it close is the safest option."
"Still sticking to your answers, I see. Would you like some tea, Caleb? I haven't yet thanked you for your help during our last class, and we have freshly made sweets as well!"
"Yes, I'll accept it."
Yes, it's Caleb… the owner of the key to the repaired broken fairy gate, standing before the fire. Phoebe had mentioned wanting to retrieve the metal shard embedded in the centipede. Now, with my keen eye—or even without it, as a blacksmith I can tell—that shard is part of the giant sword Caleb rides.
"Oh my, it looks like fun! May I join you?"
"Yes, of course! Caleb, you're okay with that, right?"
"Absolutely, I have no reason to refuse Phoebe's mother."
Phoebe's mother joins in for tea, and the four of them chat happily together. It's unfortunate I can't hear Phoebe's voice.
But watching this is rather painful… If I didn't know what was coming, it would be a heartwarming scene. Yet for Phoebe, these moments are memories forever out of reach.
Suddenly, my vision floods with noise again, shifting the scene to a flower field bathed in sunset colors. There sits Yuki, presenting her aspirations.
"I want to become a teacher after graduating... Though I've only heard that the pay is low, time off is scarce, and the workplaces are terrible... Despite that, I love teaching. Will you support me?"
Her white hair glows orange in the sun.
This is a moment I wish to capture forever.
Phoebe would definitely cheer me on! She'd say that Yuki could absolutely become a teacher! "Well, if you're going to be a teacher, you need to teach a lot—enough to make Phoebe knowledgeable," she would smile.
Suddenly, a wave of static filled my vision, and Yuki disappeared from sight. In her place, a system screen appeared before me.
**'Resonance Trial, Hard Mode
Objective**
As Phoebe, based on your memories, survive the upcoming experience: the memory of the worst disaster.
**Success Condition**
Jump into the transfer magic circle.
**Failure Condition**
Zero resonance rate, death.
**Notes**
The resonance rate decreases with actions uncharacteristic of Phoebe. Conversely, it increases with actions that align with her.
Since this is a memory experience, if you meet the failure conditions, a retry is possible.
Remember, this is a re-experiencing—no matter how hard you try, you cannot change the facts of reality.'**
Along with the trial details, buttons labeled "Yes" and "No" appeared, as did the words "Resonance Rate: 70%" at the edge of my vision.
I see… I just need to act as Phoebe based on my past experiences. Though I have limited information from her memories… that's likely because it's hard mode. And the memory of the worst disaster means I might witness the monstrous being that attacked Phoebe's homeland. Perhaps I could even gauge the monster's strength.
"Alright! Let's go!"
I steeled myself and pressed the start button. Immediately, static flooded my vision, and in the next moment, a table and a notebook came into view.
I quickly checked my belongings… just a pen that looked like a writing instrument. The clothes I was wearing resembled those I had on when I first met Phoebe; they looked botanical in nature...
"Hey, why are you suddenly rummaging through your pockets? Phoebe?"
Looking up, I saw Yuki staring at me, puzzled. Oh right, we were in class!?
"N-no, I'm just looking for something I lost…"
"What did you lose? I can help you look for it, just let me know."
"Well… it's my house key."
"Wait, your house key? What are you talking about? You have a house key…?"
**'Resonance rate has dropped to zero… the trial has failed.'**
After Yuki spoke to me, I blurted out a lie, and my resonance rate plummeted to zero… my vision went completely dark.
Wait, is it really that strange for Phoebe to have a house key?! Could it be that in Phoebe's hometown, the safety is so high that no one carries keys?
Ugh, let's retry! I've checked my belongings, so I shouldn't raise any suspicions this time!
I hit restart and returned once more to the flower field.
"That wraps up today's class. Was there anything you didn't understand?"
"No, I'm fine, Yuki…"
As I said this, Yuki tilted her head slightly.
"What's wrong? You sound a bit uncertain…"
"No, I have a bad feeling about this…"
"What!?"
As I said that, the ground shook violently beneath us. Oh no… I should fly using the fairy wings on Phoebe's back, but I have no idea how to!
"Phoebe, over here!"
"Yes!"
Yuki reached out her hand to me, and I jumped onto her shoulder, gripping her clothes tightly to avoid falling.
Looking around, I spotted dark smoke rising in the distance. No, that can't be smoke; it's completely pitch black! And it's moving like it's alive!
"What… is that? An insect?"
"Huh? An insect?"
An insect? No way, I don't want to believe it…
Just then, part of the black smoke surged towards us.
"Barrier! Wide cast! Concentration!"
Yuki pulled out her pure white staff and began casting support magic to prepare for the fight.
"No way!?"
As the black smoke approached, its true form started to reveal itself. They were swarms of locusts, beetles, and flies, a multitude of insects that filled me with horror, but somehow, I managed to suppress a scream.
For now, I have to use Phoebe's support magic on Yuki!
"Element boost! Speed up!"
"Thanks, Phoebe! Chain lightning!"
Lightning shot from Yuki's staff, piercing through the swarm of insects!
The dark smoke, the horde of bugs, fell to the ground…
"Y- Yuki, let's regroup with everyone!"
"Yeah, let's meet up with Caleb first! I can't handle this many with just my magic!" Yuki shouted, taking off running. I clung desperately to her, nearly being thrown off as she sprinted ahead. My resonance rate was at 60%, slightly lower—probably due to my surprise at the swarm of insects. But I didn't have time to worry about that.
A terrible certainty filled my mind. The giant centipede that had pierced Caleb's weapon during the second quest, the massive swarm of insects I had just seen… It was almost certain: the monsters that attacked Phoebe's hometown were a legion of bugs. Was the swarm made up of their front-line fighters and the centipede a commander? Then what about the boss?