第５９０堀：不思議な噂 (Part1)
Chapter 590: Strange Rumors
Side: Aslin
Guided by Kagura-oneechan, we found a message on the back of the stone monument said to have been left by the academy’s founder.
"To those who can read these characters: Come to the library. We shall speak more there."
It was written in Japanese. There was no doubt about it; this was meant for the Japanese people.
"Kagura, did you know about this?"
"No, I didn't. The monument only gets refurbished once every hundred years, and I never had the urge to go out of my way to look at the back."
"That’s true. Anyway, Aslin, Firia, we should probably leave this area. It’s not good to keep trampling all over the well-maintained garden."
"Okay!"
Firia-chan and I stepped away from the monument as instructed. I had just followed along because I was told we were going to investigate, but I need to be more careful next time. Big Brother always says there’s a risk of traps in places like this.
"For now, I’ve taken a photo of the back. I’ll send it to Yuki. I want to discuss this immediately, but he’s in class right now, so that’s impossible... Which means we should head to the library mentioned in the note. Can I ask you to guide us?"
"Yes. But wait a moment, let me try contacting my father first."
That’s right. Kagura-oneechan’s father might know something about this.
"Still, this is kind of exciting, isn't it?"
"It is exciting. Big Brother once said that if you solve the mysteries of the academy, it’s like something out of a school ghost story."
"You're right. Like, there’s some strange seal, and the school turns into a haunted house."
As I was talking to Firia-chan about that, I noticed Labyris-chan had frozen up.
"Ah, sorry, Labyris-chan. I forgot you don't like scary things."
"Ah, I am very sorry."
Labyris-chan is terrible with ghosts and such. Personally, I don't see how they’re any different from monsters like Liches or Skeletons. Well, if it were a blood-soaked ghost, I’d just think, "I need to heal that."
"I-I-I'm fine."
No, she’s definitely not. Luna-oneechan once summoned real ghosts as a prank, so I think that made her even more afraid. But I’m actually happy to see this unexpected side of Labyris-chan. She usually acts like a big sister and protects us, so it’s nice to know she has things she’s scared of, too. When that happens, Firia-chan and I will be the ones to protect her.
"You don't have to force yourself to explore. Maybe it’s better to go back to Big Brother and talk about it in detail."
"That’s right. It’s definitely better to meet and talk about it first."
When the two of us took Labyris-chan’s hands, her trembling finally stopped. She looked at us and then dove into our arms.
"Thank you, both of you."
"It’s okay. We won't let you have a scary experience."
"We'll leave the ghosts to Big Brother and explore the academy safely later."
There’s no need to force Labyris-chan to explore while she’s scared. We could always go back to the Baide side and do some paperwork instead.
"Um, my father doesn't seem to know anything either... wait, what’s with the three of you?"
"Well, I just realized how happy I am to be with these two."
"We’re such good friends!"
"That’s right. We are very good friends."
"Ah, yeah. I can see that just by looking... Well, whatever. Anyway, shall we go to the library?"
"No."
"Huh? Didn't you just say you wanted to go?"
Kagura-oneechan tilted her head in confusion. Labyris-chan, who had previously agreed to go, looked away, feeling awkward...
"Ah, um..."
"It’s no good because ghosts might appear."
"That’s right. Firia is scared of ghosts."
"Ghosts?"
Kagura-oneechan tilted her head even further, looking genuinely puzzled.
"By ghosts, do you mean spirits? Like, the souls of the dead?"
"That’s right. Are there no rumors like that at this academy?"
When Firia-chan asked that, Kagura-oneechan fell into thought.
"Hmm, I haven't heard of any. But I know there are monsters on the Rogali continent, so it wouldn't be strange if ghosts existed too, right?"
"Monsters and ghosts are different things, though."
"Is that so?"
"It’s more like a category of strange tales. Stories where if you do a specific action in a specific place, something happens."
"Strange tales, huh... I suppose there are some of those."
"Library rumors?"
"There are various ones, including that. Well, the important thing right now is the library rumor. You’re saying it’s a bad idea to carelessly approach places with weird rumors, right?"
"That’s right."
"Exactly."
"Yes. In most of those cases, only the person who notices the phenomenon ends up suffering the consequences."
"I see. Then it’s better to wait until Yuki’s class is over. Getting involved in library rumors sounds like an absolute nightmare."
Kagura-oneechan accepted our plea, so we decided not to go to the library for now, but I couldn't help but be curious about the rumor itself.
"Hey, Kagura-oneechan. What is the library rumor?"
"Let’s see, I think it’s the one where you realize you’re walking in circles in the same place?"
"The same place?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, none of you have seen the library, have you? It has quite a large collection, and the bookshelves are lined up like walls, so people who aren't used to it get lost. Well, even if you get lost, there are guide signs, and if you shout, the staff will notice, so you can escape easily. I mean, if you walk straight, you’ll hit a wall, and if you walk along the wall, you can circle the whole room and come back. But for some reason, there’s a rumor that you can’t reach the exit even after circling it."
That certainly is a strange story.
"Well, nobody believes it. I mean, if you walk a full circle, you should reach the exit, right?"
"That’s true."
As Labyris-chan nodded, I found it hard to believe too.
"I heard a story once about some curious person who tried to investigate the rumor, but they ended up walking dozens of laps and were kicked out by the library staff for being a nuisance."
That’s only natural. You have to be quiet in a library.
"Also... I feel like there was another rumor about the library... what was it?"
As Kagura-oneechan was trying to remember, a voice suddenly called out from another direction.
"It’s the story that if you study alone in the library, you’ll hear strange voices."
"Ah, that’s it!"
Kagura-oneechan clapped her hands in agreement.
"Wait, who are you!?"
"Who am I? That’s rude. We fought together in Baide, didn't we?"
"Micos?"
"That’s right!! The eldest daughter of Baron Jama, who played a huge role as a messenger to the magic corps during the Baide defense battle!! It’s Micos-chan!"
The girl who introduced herself as Micos had blonde hair in short twin-tails. She looked more energetic and cute than traditionally beautiful. She was about the same height as Kagura-oneechan, and her figure was average—though since she was slim, her bust was likely decent, but it didn't quite reach the level of Rurua-oneechan, Samantha-oneechan, or Jessica-oneechan. Among Big Brother’s wives, she was at best average.
While I was thinking that, Kagura-oneechan jumped at Micos-san, looking deeply moved.
"Micos!! I’m so glad you’re okay!!"
"Whoa!? No, no, Kagura, that’s my line. You haven't been in touch at all since the Baide defense battle, and when I heard you were back at the academy, you seemed busy with diplomatic work. You could have at least reached out to your comrades-in-arms, couldn't you?"
"Ah, sorry. I’ve been busy."
"Yeah, I know. I understand. We’re dealing with the Weed people who crushed both the Haiden and Findall armies in the blink of an eye at Baide. No one is going to complain too much. Nobody wants to be blown away like they were back then."