Chapter 91

‘You know the situation too.’

At that, Gabbie’s face twisted strangely as he looked at me. His cheeks puffed up like a balloon, his lips pouted, and the corners of his eyes twitched upward.

The transcendent expression he had while facing Brassidas earlier had completely vanished.

And then—he suddenly screamed.

— I wanna goooo! I wanna gooooo!

“……”

W-what the…?

It had been less than five minutes since I thought, “He’s not like a brat throwing a tantrum,” and now this?

“I mean, it’s not like I said we’re never going. I just meant after this period passes—”

— And how long do you think that’ll take?!

And his next words rang directly inside my head.

— You think those cult bastards will consider your situation before making a move?!

…He had a point, though.

— I’m goinggg! Going! Going!

Now he was sprawled on the floor, spinning and flailing like a broken toy. My temple throbbed as I watched him.

“Fine, Gabbie, you go. Mommy—I mean, your contractor—will stay home.”

That only made him go from throwing a tantrum to full-blown roaring.

— I’m not leaving you aloooone!

“G-Gabbie…”

I was startled.

We had spent time together, sure, but I had only guessed he couldn’t be far from his spirit stone. This was the first time he had ever said he wanted to stay by my side out of his own will.

‘So… he actually worries about me?’

Feeling oddly touched, I rubbed my nose. But then his next scream pierced straight through my eardrums.

— If I leave you alone, you’ll get caught and they’ll suck my power dry! How could I trust you to stay safe?! Do you know how hard it was to get even this much of my strength back?!

“……”

That touching moment disappeared faster than evaporating ethanol.

Gabbie, whining like a bratty four-year-old. And me, staring down at him with an ice-cold expression.

Brassidas watched us both with great interest before finally speaking.

“If I go with him, traveling there and back wouldn’t take much time. Wherever it is.”

— See?!

Yeah, and what, you’re just gonna go there, stick a flag in the ground that says “Gabbie was here” and come back?

I put my hands on my hips and asked, “Alright. How long are you planning to stay there?”

— At least a week!

“What is this, a vacation?”

With a sigh, I asked again, and he sheepishly knocked it down to five days.

— Five days?

“Shorter.”

— I need that time! You’re being so stingy! We don’t even know where we’re going yet!

Oh please.

“We do know. Hirobimi Volcano.”

At that, Gabbie’s eyes—or rather, the little flame orbs that looked like eyes—wobbled like an earthquake.

— You—you can read my mind now?! And you’re okay?!

“What are you even saying?”

‘Like I didn’t know he’d try this. I hadn’t forgotten how he tried to rope me into a weekly trip to a volcano as part of the contract.’

Hirobimi Volcano was the largest active volcano in the world.

On an island beyond the eastern seas, it was said to erupt year-round, making it uninhabitable.

When that kind of place is on the table, it’s not weird to assume that’s where he wants to go.

“Still, we can’t go now. Even five days is too long.”

— So stingy, ugh.

Sigh.

I let out yet another sigh—I’d lost count by now.

“Okay, Little Gabbie. Listen closely, alright?”

I understood his desire to regain his strength by going to the volcano. But here, there was Austin—the head of the cult who stole the power of fire! He could wield fire better than me!

“We’ll capture him soon and drain his power. That alone might be enough to recharge you. What do you think?”

But what if something happened while Gabbie was away at the volcano? What if we missed the chance to take him down?

That would be beyond frustrating.

— Ughhh…

Gabbie clearly understood what I meant. He kicked the floor in frustration. I patted his head gently.

“Once we’re done with this, we’ll go to Hirobimi with Brassidas and stay for three days. Okay?”

— Just three?

He tried to act pouty again, probably hoping to extend the trip. My grip on his head tightened.

“Most humans couldn’t even last a day there, you little fire spirit.”

— Tch!

He clicked his tongue loudly and vanished like a flame going out.

In most stories, spirit contractors go on healing journeys or become heroes. Me? I feel like I’m raising a child.

“Ugh, my luck.”

Shaking my head, I turned to see Brassidas looking somewhat disappointed.

“So… not for now, then?”

“…No.”

But I knew just how to cheer him up.

“Instead, would you mind helping me with an experiment?”

“Experiment? What kind?”

“I want to see if I can completely burn a target without letting the fire spread. It’s a bit tricky, so I can’t ask just any mage…”

“Without even blocking the air? You always think in such unique ways. Alright, alright. Come along, then.”

Just as I expected.

I followed behind Brassidas, whose steps had grown quick with excitement, smiling slyly.

His obsessive, repetitive experiments were exhausting, but at least when I threw myself into them, I could focus all my energy and forget everything else.

Not just the issue with Esadien, but also with Ramande. Like with Gabbie—maybe I was the only one who thought we had grown distant.

My head was spinning with thoughts. I just wanted to forget them all, even for a while.

A little later.

“Ugh, uuugh…”

I groaned and barely managed to straighten my back.

I’d braced myself, but Professor Brassidas’s mercilessness had leveled up since last time.

“Alright, once more from that position.”

“We—we just did this!”

“The wind was stronger earlier, wasn’t it? You have to do it again with calm air. All variables must be the same for the result to be valid.”

I really had dug my own grave. But at least while being pushed to my limit, I didn’t have time to think about Esadien or Ramande.

“Ugh. Still, this is exhausting.”

As before, Brassidas stopped just before I passed out and let me go.

***

Even though I hadn’t used my body much, my shoulders ached as if I had. I massaged them and went off to find Clidane, who hadn’t returned yet.

“The experiment took quite a while… Is the school really that fun?”

I’d only been to the magic school twice myself, so I wandered around, looking here and there—until I finally got lost.

“Where… am I?”

I never thought I was bad with directions, but maybe I needed to revise that assumption.

This place was darker and quieter than where I’d been walking. I must’ve wandered to the back of some unused building.

“There’s no school-wide announcement system, is there? Guess I’ll ask Brassidas to use magic to find me.”

Missing person alert: Magic School Edition!

Just as I muttered that and turned to retrace my steps—

“…We told you to come. You think we’re joking?”

A voice barked harshly, followed by a more familiar, mocking tone.

“Well, I just don’t get it. Why should I do what you tell me to?”

That voice—belonging to a boy just before puberty—and this setting… Magic School?

That could only mean one thing.

‘Palos?’

I peeked around the corner, and as expected, Palos was surrounded by other kids.

“What’s with this punk? Got bolder lately, huh? Just do what we say. Got a death wish?”

“Reasons matter. Everything has a reason…”

But unlike at the banquet, he showed no signs of fear. One hand on his hip, he looked completely relaxed.

“And I have no reason to follow your orders.”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly.

“Especially not to write your report for you. You think I took that tough entrance exam just to do your homework?”

Wow. I swallowed hard.

‘So ‘laying the grass’* happens here too…’

[T/N: It means to set the stage for something]

Wait, no, that’s not the point.

‘Good for you, Palos! I’m so proud!’

Even with a great mage as his mentor, he was still just a young boy—but he stood his ground against bigger bullies. I was proud.

Palos, unaware I was watching, continued bluntly.

“Unlike some people who waste time wandering around, I don’t even have enough hours in the day. Don’t call me out for this nonsense again. This is the last time I’ll even bother showing up.”

The other kids glared, their energy shifting.

They were no longer taunting. But Palos didn’t notice and turned around—to walk straight toward me.

Before he could spot me, I quickly pulled back and hid behind the wall.

‘If they’d just let it go, I could surprise him with some food and take him home…’

But small-time bullies never let go of someone they see as weaker.

Even at this school, that rule held true. I heard multiple footsteps chase after Palos’s.

“Why don’t people ever take a warning seriously?”

I’d already told them I wouldn’t let anyone mess with my kid.

Anger aside, I cooled my head and focused. I honed in on Palos’s location and summoned fire with my breath.

Snap!

A flick of my fingers.

The fire I released into the air shot off toward a point and—whoosh!—ignited.

Screams, followed by dull thuds. Someone had collapsed.

“Palos.”

I stepped out from behind the wall and grabbed his hand tightly. His eyes widened in shock as he looked up at me.

“Sister? How are you here…?”

“I got lost.”

I smiled lightly. At last, he relaxed and smiled back, holding onto my hand a little tighter—as if to make sure I was really there.

It was adorable.