275th Chapter – Side Story: Erica
—…Rica.
A familiar male voice was heard.
A gentle and warm voice.
Just listening to it made me feel pleasantly sleepy.
—…Erica.
The sound gradually became clearer and closer.
I felt like my body was floating, like calm waves on a tranquil sea.
The man who approached me smiled softly and said,
—It’s getting late. Time to wake up, Erica.
He pressed a finger gently against my forehead.
Feeling that touch, I scrunched my brows and finally reacted.
“Mmm, mmm….”
“No matter how old you get, you still can’t handle mornings.”
“Ugh… huh?”
“The sun’s been up for a while. I woke you up because I thought you’d really oversleep.”
Stretching, I noticed a man between my squinted eyes.
I hesitantly called out his name.
“Vargan?”
“Looks like you don’t even remember last night.”
I looked around.
It was obvious, with expensive decorations and symbols representing Schugenharz everywhere.
The male dormitory of Academia. Specifically, Vargan’s room.
I rubbed my eyes and stretched out a yawn before asking.
“…Why did I sleep here?”
“You really don’t remember?”
“Umm… oh, right. I remembered!”
“You’re lying.”
“Ah, I got caught.”
I smirked mischievously like a little troublemaker.
Vargan, resigned, pointed to a wine bottle on the table.
“Didn’t you come to my room to drink? Then we had two glasses and you passed out right away.”
“I can’t handle my liquor….”
“Then why do you insist on drinking together every time?”
“Every time? If someone hears that, they might get the wrong idea. It’s occasionally, very occasionally. Oh dear…!”
I felt glued to the bed, finally managing to sit up.
Vargan, sitting near me, pulled out a handkerchief.
I looked at him questioningly.
“A handkerchief?”
“I’m going to wipe your eyes.”
“Me…? Why?”
“…….”
Vargan gently wiped the corners of my eyes.
Soon, the end of the handkerchief got soaked. He asked with concern.
“Did you have a sad dream or something?”
“…A dream?”
I pondered.
What dream did I have last night…?
“Hmm… I don’t remember at all.”
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
Not remembering a dream happens quite often.
It’s not uncommon for things to slip your mind.
Erica brushed it off casually.
“By the way, what’s the date today?”
“It’s April 29.”
“April 29… I’m pretty sure we… researched a joint magic construct yesterday?”
“Right. It consumed quite a bit of mana and time. But thanks to that, we’ve made pretty good progress.”
“But are you okay?”
At Erica’s natural question, Vargan ruffled her hair and got up from the bed.
“I’m fine. Although there’s still a ways to go, I can see the transcendence of total mana, so that level of mana shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That’s not what I meant… If it’s April 28, you…”
Erica’s words trailed off.
It definitely seemed like an important day, but she couldn’t remember why.
It felt like something crucial, but was it just her imagination?
As she racked her brain, Erica roughly tidied her tousled hair and opened the closet door.
Inside were her clothes and school uniforms packed tightly.
As Erica spent more time in Vargan’s room, he started keeping her belongings separately.
While Vargan was briefly away, Erica changed into her uniform and sat in front of the vanity.
Her glossy black hair was as smooth as silk and quickly tidied with a comb.
“Here.”
The fragrant aroma and warmth of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air.
While Erica prepared breakfast, Vargan brought her a cup of coffee.
“Thanks. You put sugar in it, right?”
“Do you really think I’ve been with you for years without learning that, Erica?”
“Hehe. That’s true… Munch. Wait, what’s with this taste?”
“I only put half a sugar cube since it’s morning. Besides, your sugar intake is too high. You need to cut back.”
“You’re not my mom…”
“But I’m your fiancé, aren’t I?”
“……Munch.”
Erica shot Vargan a disgruntled look but didn’t argue any further.
While she understood he meant well for her health, the coffee tasted surprisingly bitter on her tongue.
Vargan, watching her reaction with affection, teased her lightly.
“Just remember there’s a student council meeting this morning.”
“I know. It’s because of the final exam we’re having jointly with Rikeion.”
“So it would be unfortunate if you were late?”
“…I can already imagine Arterion glaring at us with fierce eyes.”
“The Vice Student Council President is just diligent. What kind of fiancé would be welcoming when the student council president is late with his second-year representative fiancée?”
“I’ll get ready quickly.”
After blowing on her coffee to cool it down, Erica took a sip, immediately sticking her tongue out and making a face at how terribly bitter it was.
Vargan took the empty cup away, and Erica returned to getting ready.
Finishing her makeup at the vanity, Erica nodded to herself while making various expressions.
“Done.”
With a satisfied smile, she stood up and left the room.
That’s when she noticed Vargan’s broad back, already ready to go some time ago.
“……”
Seeing that, Erica felt compelled to hug him from behind.
She slipped her arms around his waist and clung tight.
“Did I really dream something?”
Vargan chuckled softly.
He turned around to look down at Erica.
As their positions changed, Erica hugged Vargan tightly again and said,
“I don’t know. I don’t really get it, but I feel like I just want to hold you.”
“I feel like I want to do something.”
“I already saw enough cuteness last night.”
“Did I do that…? I don’t remember. I was drunk.”
“Then does it mean you’re still feeling drunk now?”
“That sounds good. Let’s go with that.”
Now buried in his warmth, Erica felt the heat of Vargan.
Her face, partly visible, wore an expression of comfort and reassurance, making Vargan feel awkward.
“This is troublesome. We really don’t have much time…”
As Vargan was petting Erica’s head, he suddenly stopped and gently tapped her small shoulder.
At his call, Erica’s big eyes looked up at him, and the strength in her arms that had been holding him loosened a bit.
As their eyes met, Vargan bent down slightly.
He kissed Erica’s lips softly, just barely touching.
“Can you tolerate this?”
Vargan, having given her a morning kiss, smirked.
Erica seemed to catch his smiles, returning it with a bashful grin.
“Yes!”
As the arms that were holding her loosened, Vargan took Erica’s hand.
The two began to step outside.
However.
“…….”
Erica tightened her grip on his hand, preventing him from leaving.
Was there something she wanted to say or something she was hesitating about?
Muttering uncertainly, her lips moved slightly.
It looked almost like she was pleading for him not to go.
Erica faced Vargan.
But she couldn’t meet his eyes properly, contemplating whether to speak or stay silent.
Then, having made up her mind, she gently tapped her own lips with the hand that wasn’t holding him.
“…One more time.”
“I can’t help it.”
As if indulging a child’s tantrum, Vargan kissed Erica once more.
With their eyes closed, the warmth felt more intense than when they were holding each other.
Erica, balancing on her high heels, struggled to keep her toes pointed for what felt like an eternity before finally lowering them.
At that moment, the dormitory door opened.
The morning sunlight spilled in through the doorway. The two stepped outside together.
“Erica, it’s fine inside, but you need to be cautious outside.”
“Is it because of the family and the standing?”
“Exactly.”
“…But isn’t it okay in a place where there are no people?”
“……”
As Vargan couldn’t find the words, Erica let out a small laugh and whispered.
“I love you, Vargan. The most in the world.”
“…Yeah. I love you too, Erica.”
—Creeeak.
Thus, the door closed.
Once again, darkness filled the dormitory.
* * *
“E-Erica…! Are you awake?!”
Erica woke up in bed.
She rubbed her throbbing head and looked around.
An unfamiliar hospital room. Her friend Diphelia was watching her with a worried expression.
“Where am I…?”
“You’re in a hospital in the church of Quile, the city closest to the forest where the war broke out.”
“…War. Ugh. My head…”
“Hold on a moment. I’ll cast healing magic right away!”
Diphelia held Erica’s hand and infused her with Holy Light.
Gradually, Erica’s complexion improved, and the pain was eased enough for her to talk.
Erica murmured.
“I feel like I had some kind of dream…”
A dream so blurry that it was impossible to find a single clue.
It feels unpleasant, as if someone intentionally made a mess of things.
Looking at Erica, Diphelia cautiously asked,
“Do you remember something?”
“Remember…?”
“About the war… or something else.”
“…War. War. Wait, how long have I been sleeping?”
“Four days, Erica. You haven’t woken up even once in four days.”
“Four days….”
It felt like it had barely been a day since April 28.
But already, four days had passed.
Getting a rough grasp on the situation, Erica asked about the outcome of the war.
However, Diphelia, who had a somewhat pitying expression, shook her head and suggested they first retrace Erica’s memories slowly.
Erica, somewhat dazed, accepted this and began answering her following questions.
“Erica, when was the last time you remember?”
“April 28… when dawn was breaking.”
“I see. Do you remember where you were and who you were with?”
“I was inside the Grand Clock Tower… Huh? But why was I inside the Grand Clock Tower while the war was happening?”
“…You don’t even know who you were with?”
“With? With… with…”
Erica furrowed her brows.
This time, it wasn’t because of a headache, but due to a question arising in her mind.
“Were there others with me?”
“……”
Diphelia cast a healing spell.
The headache was gone, but the mental part was something even healing magic couldn’t touch.
She was worried about whether she should bring up ‘that name,’ but it would be unavoidable.
It was better to ask now, rather than being interrogated in a strange environment.
After finishing her thoughts, Diphelia carefully asked, as if walking on ice,
“Do you happen to know the name ‘Vargan’?”
Diphelia looked into Erica’s eyes.
Her beautiful eyes, still holding the brilliance of a blue sea.
Those eyes were shining brightly, yet,
“No. It’s a name I don’t know.”
They looked somehow empty and hollow.
“……”
Feeling the sincerity in Erica’s words, Diphelia slowly moved closer and hugged her.
Patting Erica’s narrow back, she pulled her in tighter, hoping to see her expression.
“What’s wrong…?”
Erica couldn’t understand Diphelia’s reaction.
After pondering how to respond for a moment, she smiled and returned the embrace.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t wake up? You don’t have to worry! I’m awake now.”
“……”
“Don’t worry, okay? I’m perfectly fine, and my mana… huh? Are you actually crying right now?”
“……”
“Diphelia?”
The bewildering tears of her friend.
To reassure Diphelia, Erica repeated the same words and even patted her back in return.
“It’s okay. I’m fine. Diphelia.”
See, I’m fine and right here in front of you.
There shouldn’t be any problems.
It’s just that I woke up after a short… no, a long sleep, right?
Just dreaming some trivial dream that I can’t even remember.
