Chapter 97: Outing

Today’s apparently the once-a-month outing day for the students. Doesn’t make sense, though—nothing wrong with us, yet we’re only allowed out once a month.

Guess that’s how it is in France.

Felt bad for them… but the kids were clearly excited, chattering away like little kids on a field trip.

“Are we going with kids from other classes?”

I asked the Sister—she was explaining today’s schedule in the staff room.

“No, we’d stand out if we all stuck together, so you’ll be split into groups and go to different places. Mr. Gojo’s class will have Mr. Philip accompanying you as supervisor, so you’ll be traveling with him and seven students.”

—So I’m stuck with Mr. Philip. “Nice to meet you,” I said, giving a quick nod. Then I checked where we were going.

Morning: shopping mall. Lunch there… well, malls have everything. Fun, probably.

After that: art museum. Appreciation… huh. Sounds boring for kids. But the moment the kids heard the plan, they were already begging to go.

Guess being outside is just that exciting.

“Alright! Everyone, let’s go. Stay close!”

“““Yesss!”””

“Still, why the nun outfit, though?”

I was in my black habit, sitting with the kids on the bus. I hadn’t asked why earlier, so I turned to the nearby Mr. Philip and asked.

“Seems to be the rule. When visiting public facilities, we have to make it clear we’re from the convent.”

Oh. Right. Yeah, they handed us official identification as monks too. So if anything goes wrong, the convent’s on the hook, huh.

The bus pulled away toward the shopping mall up north.

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The bus carrying us arrived at the destination—the shopping mall. This was our second time coming here since joining the convent...

"Hey, Noah. C'mon, let's go!"

"Ah."

Arthur jumped out with a burst of energy. I stood up to get off too, when I noticed Emily sitting in the seat behind me, staring out the window. She looked hesitant about stepping outside.

"Emily, wanna come with me?"

"...I... um..."

I took Emily's hand.

"Trust me—it's gonna be fun!"

I pulled her off the bus with me. Looking back now... maybe that wasn't the best idea...

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Leading the kids around various stores. The girls went into clothing shops and bookstores, the boys into game centers and toy stores.

We were given money from the convent to spend within limits.

"Teacher! Have you been to the Marseille Art Museum?"

We were eating lunch in the food court inside the mall when Noah called out.

"Nope. Is it famous?"

"Not the museum itself, but the paintings and sculptures inside? They’re all amazing. I love them so much."

Huh. So this kid likes art. Then he’d probably enjoy the museum, right?

We were chatting when I spotted Teacher Philip, who was eating with the kids at another table, surrounded by a group of men.

"You guys from Saint Victor’s, huh? Then you’ve got that abnormal kid with you. What the hell are you doing bringing him here?"

"W-well, we did come from the convent, but we’ve got proper permission to be out—"

"SHUT UP!!!"

People around us were starting to notice the shouting.

The kids looked scared. What the hell are those guys even doing? I dashed to Teacher Philip right away.

"Residents are against this place, and they still go and build it?!"

The man grabbed Teacher Philip by the collar and tried to lift him up.

"Stop it!"

I grabbed his arm and shoved him down.

"Y-yaah! What the hell?!"

"What kind of crap are you doing, you big idiot? You’re making a fool of yourself in front of kids."

"You’re one of Saint Victor’s monks, aren’t you?!"

The two men behind him charged at me. Ugh, annoying. So I—

"Ugh!?!"

"Y-yaah!!"

They both collapsed right there, legs giving out. I couldn’t just punch people, so I tried using my “Intimidation” skill.

First time using it—surprisingly effective. No injuries, but I definitely messed with their heads. Pretty handy skill, actually.

Just as I was thinking that—

"Kyaa!!"

A scream from behind. I turned around fast—Emily was crouched, hands over her face.

"What’s wrong!?!"

"Someone threw something at Emily!"

As Noah said, a beer can with liquid inside lay on the floor. I scanned the crowd. Who the hell would do something like that to a kid?

I focused my “Telepathy” to maximum, scanning the surrounding thoughts—then found him. A guy clearly radiating hatred.

I cut him off before he could walk away. My speed’s fast enough that even without stopping time, I move faster than human perception.

"You! You threw that at the kid, didn’t you?!"

"W-what?! What the hell are you talking about?! I don’t know anything! I swear!"

Clearly shaken. Confirming via telepathy—this one’s definitely the culprit!

“Eeek!”

Knocked him out with intimidation. Hand him over to the cops later. I shoved the guy onto the floor and rushed to Emily’s side.

“Hey, Emily! You okay? I’ll fix you up in a sec.”

As I hovered my hand over her face, something felt off.

The chairs and tables around us started trembling. Food and drinks from the table floated up into the air—sucked away like they were being pulled into nothing.

I looked straight up.

“What… the hell is that…?”

A black sphere was floating in midair. It was devouring everything around it—chairs and tables lifting off the ground, spinning wildly before getting swallowed whole.

“Eeek—!”

“What the hell is this?!”

People started floating too. The sheer energy radiating from that black sphere devouring everything around it was overwhelming. Could this really be Emily’s unique skill, “Black Sun”?

It looked just like a black pseudo-sun… but—

I froze time. Gotta stop this before anyone else gets hurt. I need to get all the students and bystanders out of the building, fast.

I tried to pull Emily out, but she wouldn’t budge. Was it the sphere’s energy? If so… I have no choice but to deal with it.

I reversed time and attacked with a light spell—but the magic just vanished, swallowed whole. Emily collapsed to the ground, sobbing. The sphere’s energy kept growing.

This is bad. It’s expanding like a black hole. The mall’s walls were peeling off. Everything around us had already disappeared.

Can’t I erase this with my magic!?...Can’t... erase... it? I’ll stop time.

There are only two ways I can think of to destroy this black orb. One of them’s the only one that’s even remotely possible in the middle of town... I’ll restart time for a second.

I open the pocket dimension I use as an item box, then stop time again, pulling out a small orb from within.

So I really have to rely on this thing? Feels like some powerful force is manipulating fate... but then I see Emily crying. Not the time for that.

I put the small orb in my mouth, lick it clean, then restart time.

The black orb above me grows even larger. I’m barely holding on—this thing’s gonna swallow me whole.

I raise both hands forward, focus everything. Power surges from inside me, gathering in my palms until it reaches maximum intensity—then I unleash it all at once in a blinding explosion—

“Dragon Blast!!!”

The flash obliterates the black sun and the building wall behind it.