第５１６堀：学友再会 (Part1)
**Chapter 516: Reunion of Schoolmates**
**Side: Eoid, Lancer Magic Academy Student**
...I feel like I’ve had a very strange dream.
I was undergoing my usual training with Difes and the others when, suddenly, the Academy Principal told me to go assist Yuki and his group. Without any time to prepare, I was pushed into the depths of the academy, passed through a strange glowing gate, and found myself in a city I’d never seen before. I was standing there, dazed, when I was hoisted up and carried off, and before I knew it, I had arrived in this unfamiliar place.
“...Hey, Eoid.”
Amanda, who had been carried along with me, looked just as stunned, but she seemed to have more composure than I did as she spoke.
“Where are we?”
How would I know that? The cityscape was completely foreign, and I couldn’t understand a word the people on the street were saying.
Actually, speaking of which...
“Um, Difes-san. Could you please put us down now?”
“Aren’t you tired? Carrying both of us?”
“I cannot put you down just yet. Do not worry about the weight; it is nothing. We are in a foreign land, after all.”
““A foreign land?””
I was at the academy just a while ago; it shouldn’t have even been thirty minutes since we started walking. As I was thinking this, we arrived in front of a magnificent mansion.
“Who goes there?”
A gatekeeper leveled his spear at us and demanded our identity. Well, of course he did. There was no way he wouldn’t find Difes-san, who was carrying Amanda and me with ease, suspicious.
“I am Difes, here at the request of Lord Yuki. These two are Eoid and Amanda. Please announce us immediately.”
“Ah, I see. We have been informed. Are the two being carried feeling unwell? Shall I have a room prepared for them?”
“I appreciate your concern, but they are fine. They are simply unaccustomed to this land, which is why I brought them here in this manner.”
“I see.”
Difes-san was talking to the gatekeeper, but I couldn’t understand a word of it. Regardless, the guard seemed to lose his suspicion and opened the gate. We were then carried right into the mansion. The stares from the people we passed in the hallway were painful. They were clearly wondering what was going on with Difes-san carrying people and us being the ones carried.
“Uh, Difes-san, could you put us down and explain?”
“My apologies, but I cannot spare the time. Putting you down and explaining can wait until after we meet Lord Yuki.”
My plea was flatly rejected. We were carried directly into a room, and there, I saw Yuki and Taiki.
“Yo. You look well.”
“Why are you being carried?”
“To save time. Stopping to explain every little thing would be a waste.”
““Makes sense.””
For some reason, the two of them were convinced. Finally, we were lowered to the floor. I wanted to ask for an explanation since Yuki had called for us, but Difes-san spoke first.
“As ordered, I have brought the two of them. However, would it not have been better to use us instead?”
“That wouldn’t work. Besides, how is your magical decay? Any abnormalities in your core?”
“No. There is nothing of the sort.”
“Hmm. No leakage from the core, then. I suppose being a monster is the key? Anyway, you heard the situation. I’m surprised you made it here.”
“It is a path that someone must walk. If my stepping forward helps those who follow, I have no hesitation.”
“No, let’s have a little more hesitation. That’s exactly why Comet cut you down before.”
“Yes. I shall not do such a thing again. I only came this time because I knew you desired the data, Lord Yuki. I am certain that you would not let my death go to waste.”
“...*Sigh*. Well, I’m grateful for the data, but if you feel unwell, tell me immediately. Return to Weed right away.”
“Understood.”
“Well, because of that, I can’t take you with us. It would be even more troublesome if you were to drop out midway after leaving Faide.”
“That is certainly true. Then, I leave these two in your care.”
“Give my regards to Popuri.”
“Yes. Excuse me.”
With that exchange, Difes-san left the room. Honestly, we were left completely in the dark.
“Now then, it’s been a while, Eoid, Amanda.”
“Glad to see you’re both doing well.”
“Oh, hello. Long time no see, Yuki-san, Taiki-san.”
“Hello. Yuki-san, Taiki-san... wait, more importantly, where are we!?”
I had greeted them reflexively, but Amanda immediately voiced the question.
“Did Popuri or Difes not give you a detailed explanation?”
“Only that we were to help Yuki-san...”
“Well, explaining it would only cause confusion. We’re leaving tomorrow morning, so we’ll explain it to you ourselves.”
And so, we were finally able to hear the explanation from Yuki-san, but...
“...What do you mean, a different continent? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t get it either.”
After the explanation, Amanda and I were in a state of confusion in the room we were provided. To put it simply, Yuki-san had decided to support the reconstruction of a country called Haiden. He needed help because he lacked guards. That was why I was called.
Amanda was just an extra. Well, that made sense. Yuki-san’s wives were many times stronger than us.
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it? Yuki-san has no reason to lie.”
“The Principal’s intention was for us to gain more experience, and since Yuki-san is here, it shouldn’t be that dangerous, right?”
“I guess so. And I can understand the language now, so it’ll be fine.”
During the explanation, they had cast a spell called "Designated Protection" on us, which granted language comprehension. It was amazing; I could suddenly understand the strange characters I saw, and the meaning just flowed into my head.
“But can we really guard a princess and a duke’s daughter from Haiden?”
“We’re just padding for the guard, aren’t we? Yuki-san and the others will handle the troublesome stuff.”
“No, I mean, what if we make a mistake and get beheaded or something...”
“Yuki-san wouldn’t let that happen. Besides, a princess and a duke’s daughter... they’re probably like the seniors from August or Samantha. You don’t need to worry that much.”
“...I think those two are exceptions, though.”
“Anyway, there’s no point in worrying now that we’re here. Let’s go to sleep. Leaving tomorrow morning—it would be worse to be late.”
“That’s true. Let’s rest for today.”
“Exactly. Come over here quickly.”
Amanda climbed onto the bed and started patting the spot beside her.
“We’re sleeping together, but we aren’t doing *that* today.”
“O-of course not!! I wouldn’t dream of it. We’re in someone else’s house!”
...That “of course” sounded like she was fully prepared for it.
“I-I just need my husband’s embrace to sleep soundly!! Come here quickly!!”
“Yes, yes.”
As we were about to crawl into bed, the door to the room suddenly opened.
“Pardon the intrusion at this late hour. Eoid-san, Amanda-san, it has been a while. It is I, Samantha...”
“...Mm. Long time, no see...”
Standing there were Samantha-san and Cleena. Ah, right. Of course—both of them were married to Yuki-san, so it wasn’t strange for them to be here. As I was thinking this quite normally, the two of them looked at us with grins I had never seen before.
“Oh my, oh my. It seems we have interrupted something.”