第５９０堀：不思議な噂 (Part2)
"That couldn't be helped, you know. There were so many people complaining, and it’s not like we treated them poorly—it was just pure selfishness on their part. So, we just told them, 'We’re going to step out now, so please be quiet,' that’s all."
"Now, now, Mikos. That’s not the right way to put it. At that time, we were..."
"We were practically prisoners. I understand that. Besides, Mikos, you were just watching and laughing. Aslin-chan, you were so cool! Both in the match against Baide and the one yesterday."
Mikos-san looked at me and offered praise.
"Hehe."
It’s hard not to feel good when you’re being complimented.
"Of course, Labyris-chan and Firia-chan were amazing too."
"Indeed. Thank you."
"Thank you very much."
"So, Mikos, was it? Do you know about the rumor we were talking about earlier?"
When Labyris-chan asked, Mikos-san pulled a piece of paper from her bag and showed it to us.
"Let’s see... what’s this?"
"Academy Information Journal? A special feature on the Seven Mysteries of the Academy?"
Huh, so this academy has an information journal. I have to tell Brother about this.
"Exactly! I’m part of the Academy’s Information Disclosure Department. That’s actually why I was acting as a messenger at Baide—but anyway, I’m getting off track. I was investigating this for the latest issue of the journal."
"Wait, you were investigating? What about your classes?"
"Kagura, upperclassmen are exempt from classes. We have our combat results from Baide to show for it. It’s not just you, Kagura—everyone who participated in that battle passed their graduation exams and has already secured employment."
"Is that so?"
"I suppose it’s thanks to you flushing out those idiots in the royal palace, Kagura. You know how that created a lot of vacancies, from the top down, right?"
"Ah, filling those holes, I see."
"Exactly. And as for me, I’ve been assigned to the Magic Corps Intelligence Division!"
"Congratulations."
"Thanks. But, back to the point. Since our remaining academy life is what it is, some students are trying to add prestige to their resumes by attending Yuki-sama’s lectures, while others, like me, are doing other things to make memories."
"I see. That’s why you were wandering around at this hour."
"Not wandering—investigating. So, why were you, Kagura, and the Weed group talking about the academy’s mysteries in a place like this?"
"Ah, well..."
Mikos-san asked, and Kagura-onee-chan looked at me, wondering how to answer.
"It was just idle chatter. Because we put on such a grand demonstration yesterday, the lowerclassmen couldn't attend their classes today. So, I asked Kagura to show us around the academy during the free time. She was explaining various things to us."
Right. I couldn't exactly say we found words left by Kagura-onee-chan's ancestors. I’m glad Labyris-chan answered for us. If it were me, I might have just blurted out the truth about the stone monument.
"I see. So you were on a tour and the topic of the library came up. Well, that’s about as interesting as library rumors get, isn't it?"
"I understand now that you’re well-versed in rumors, Mikos. For now, could you tell us more about that rumor regarding the strange voice?"
"Eh? Labyris-cha... wait, Labyris-sama..."
"It’s a private matter, so 'chan' is fine. I’m just a little curious about that rumor."
"Alright. Well, it’s not a big deal. The story is that if you’re studying alone in the library, you can actually hear a voice."
"That’s no different from what you said before, Mikos."
"Kagura, don't be like that. It’s just a rumor, after all. Ah, but I did meet and talk directly to a student who heard it."
"Wait, really? There’s actually someone?"
"Well, it wouldn't be a rumor if someone hadn't experienced it, right? But even the student who heard it directly said they couldn't understand what it was saying. My conclusion is that it was probably just another student looking for a book out of sight."
Hmm. I guess that’s how rumors usually go.
"Ah, but there’s an interesting follow-up. You know the other rumor about getting stuck walking in circles in the same spot? Well, the student who heard the voice said that right after, they went to get a book they wanted and ended up experiencing that 'walking in circles' rumor. So, I, Mikos-chan, came to a theory: maybe the person who hears the voice ends up walking in circles?"
"...What kind of logic is that?"
"Well, a hunch?"
"Sigh. Sorry for dragging the three of you into such a strange conversation."
"Ah, Kagura. What’s so strange about it? Mikos is going to cry, you know?"
"Ah, yes, yes."
I was watching their friendly banter when Labyris-chan suddenly leaned in toward Kagura-onee-chan...
"Kagura. Is there any possibility that the strange voice, the one you can't understand, is actually Japanese?"
"Eh? No way..."
"Hm? Japanese? What’s that?"
"For now, the classes are ending, so let’s go to Yuki and talk about this again. Mikos, you’re coming with us."
And so, we took Mikos-san with us and headed back to Brother’s location.
Going into a place where something is almost 100% likely to happen, all by yourself—that’s a classic death flag, isn't it? Yet, the protagonists of ghost stories always head straight for it. *Just go home!* I’m sure many of you have thought that.
Starting next time, the countermeasures meeting begins. How will Yuki and Taiki-kun react when they hear about this?!
And here we have the classic school trope: the information-gathering character. Her name is "Mikos Jarna." The name comes from "Mikos" (Mascomi, or mass media, read backward without the 'ma') and "Jarna" (Journalist). Don't say it’s terrible—I think it’s actually quite a cute name.