"Leader?"
Misaki, who had been waiting for Saori's orders, noticed something unusual.
Timid by nature, Hiyori immediately grew nervous.
"W-what is it...?"
Saori did not answer. Instead, she vigilantly scanned the surroundings and asked in return:
"...How long has it been since we last left this place?"
Hiyori thought for a moment before answering uncertainly:
"Around three hours... probably..."
Hearing that, Saori took a deep breath.
A cold glint flashed through her narrowed eyes. Even compared to when she reported the failed mission to Beatrice earlier, her tone now was far graver, with restrained anger hidden beneath it.
"...That girl is here."
Misaki's body trembled slightly.
"That girl?"
Atsuko immediately realized who Saori meant and explained it to the others through hand signals.
Hiyori looked startled and instinctively blurted out:
"A-Azusa-chan?"
Almost the very next instant, an explosion suddenly rang out, making Hiyori scream in fright.
"A booby trap,"
Misaki frowned.
"When did she...!?"
Shirasu Azusa specialized in guerrilla warfare.
As long as she was given sufficient ammunition and preparation time, she could singlehandedly engage forces dozens of times larger than herself.
While the Arius Squad had been away, she had infiltrated this place at some unknown point and quietly begun making preparations.
Hidden in the darkness, the white-haired girl observed her former teammates' movements while tightly clutching a doll with a photograph attached to it.
Controlling her breathing and heartbeat, Azusa pressed the remote detonator once more, triggering another explosion.
Amid the deafening blasts, she remained perfectly motionless, like a seasoned hunter silently waiting for the right moment.
...
Schale.
After visiting the injured students I knew at the Remedial Knights' infirmary and the temporary ward set up in the Antiquarian Bookstore, and confirming that although they were wounded, none were in life-threatening condition, I returned here.
I asked Mari to wait outside for a moment. I felt that keeping Serina by my side the entire time was too much of a waste of medical resources, and that she should instead care for those who needed her more, so only Mari remained accompanying me.
Alone, I entered the bedroom and picked up the tablet that had been charging, still slightly warm to the touch.
Feeling uneasy, I took a deep breath before pressing the power button.
Several seconds later, just as the familiar blue main interface appeared on the screen, an anxious yet reassuring voice came from within the Shittim Chest.
"Sensei! Are you alright!?"
At long last, my longest separation from Arona since arriving in Kivotos finally came to an end.
The tension I had been carrying finally eased.
Letting out a quiet breath of relief, I answered her as gently as possible, since she still knew nothing about what had happened outside.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. What about you?"
Though in reality, the wound in my side still throbbed with dull pain, and I had also paid another severe price.
Even when releasing the Divine Name before, Arona had almost never left my side. Because of that, this was the first time I realized that not only maintaining the Divine Name, strengthening bullets, and activating related authorities consumed Mystery, but defense did as well.
All things considered, compared to losing my life outright, merely shortening my lifespan by a few years was already a worthwhile trade.
In total, including all previous expenditures, I had probably spent around ten years' worth already.
Though I had gained a few more white hairs, aside from that, my appearance probably had not changed much.
As for whether my physical abilities had changed, I would need to wait until my injuries healed before conducting proper tests.
"Mm, I'm okay. The battery just ran out... But for that to happen at such a critical moment, ugh..."
Arona whimpered guiltily.
"If only I were more useful..."
"It's not like that."
I comforted her seriously.
"You already did everything you could to protect me, didn't you? Without your help, I don't even know what I would've done back on the airship. And besides, if I hadn't insisted on going to the Old Cathedral, none of this would've happened afterward."
But Arona replied:
"Even if you had another chance, Sensei would still make the same choice, right?"
Would I?
In truth, I had already thought about that question before.
"Of course I would."
I laughed and shook my head.
"Though I'd probably go a little later next time, so I wouldn't have the bad luck of running directly into a cruise missile. It even seemed to use some special Mystic technique too."
As Arona muttered, "No wonder the explosion was so powerful," I changed out of the patient gown into my Schale uniform, took the now mostly charged tablet with me, and headed outside, where I found Mari leaning against the wall with her head lowered in prayer.
Hearing the door open, she looked over and smiled.
"Sensei, are we leaving now?"
"Yeah."
I paused briefly.
"Mari, thanks for everything along the way."
Mari shook her head, her smile gentle and serene.
"Sensei, I don't think it was difficult at all, because it was for Sensei... Ah, um, I mean, as a sister, helping others is what I should be doing in the first place."
Halfway through speaking, she probably realized her words sounded somewhat ambiguous. Her cheeks flushed red, and the animal ears beneath her veil twitched lightly as well.
"Thank you, Mari."
I thanked her sincerely, but then changed the subject.
"Still, I'm planning to head to Gehenna next. Why don't you head back first?"
Now that I had confirmed Arona was safe, there was no need to keep troubling Mari, a Trinity student, by asking her to accompany me further.
Though nothing would probably happen, at a time like this, it was better to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Besides, relying on her beyond necessity somehow gave me an odd sense of guilt.
However, upon hearing that, Mari revealed a worried expression and asked hesitantly:
"But Sensei, will you really be alright on your own?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
I smiled.
"I'm just taking the train by myself. Once I arrive, Gehenna students will meet me there too. I'm an adult, you know? Trust me, I won't push myself recklessly."
"...Okay."
The orange-haired girl thought for a moment, then nodded with another smile and gently reminded me:
"I understand, Sensei. If there's ever anything you need from me, please contact me anytime."
After saying that, she closed her eyes once more, lowered her head, and softly offered a blessing:
"May you remain safe."
Staring at Mari as she sincerely prayed for me, I froze slightly.
Pressing a hand against my chest, against the rectangular object there that radiated a familiar warmth, I answered:
"I'll be safe. So trust me."
"Okay."
Mari opened her clear eyes. The smile on her lovely face was pure and sweet.
"I trust you."