Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter4

356 Pages until Memory Loss

◇◇◇356 Pages until Memory Loss

You are caught.

"…Pardon this teacher for asking, but there are rumors spreading of inappropriate male and female intercourse that have reached this teacher's ears."

The Doctor Magna, reclined deep in her chair in the student guidance office, asks in a very low voice.

It has been no more than eight lines since your escape, and you, running on the corridor, are whisked here, not knowing anything as you answer flusteredly,

"H-Huh…? I thought I was on the corridor just a moment ago…?"

"It is an emergency, so pardon the rudeness, but this Teacher brought you here with spatial transportation magic (teleportation)."

It appears you were transported to this student counseling room through a powerful space manipulation spell.

"Apologies for bothering you right after teleporting, but this Teacher wants to ask about illicit sexual relations between both of you."

"E-Erm…Teacher, may I know who spoke of those ru…?"

"Four or five students said so. Since this Teacher knows of it, rumors probably reached the entire school."

The long lunch break at the ‘Apothecary’ might have backfired against you. It appears the students who had witnessed this magic duel had just played an epic game of telephone.

"The rumors involve…well, both of you are of this age after all. With so many boys and girls together, there’s bound to be some romantic development."

"…We’re doomed. Teacher’s going to lecture us to death…!"

(W-What do you mean ‘lecture us to death’!? What’s going to happen to us!?)

"In any case, there might be, erm, such instances between boys and girls. But the problem is about you two doing so at school! You can only do such things when alone together!"

"We’re no match for such magic. We’ll be caught in an instant. We’re doomed…!"

(It’s really scary! You’ll end up in another space altogether before you know it!)

The murderer is shivering in fear. Perhaps it’s due to her outstanding magic skills that she can imagine the power level difference between her and a Doctor Magna.

"Engaging in sexual relationships to fulfill your desires are a bigger no go! If rumors are true, this Teacher has to punish you severely despite much reluctance. Is there anything you wish to say in defense?"

"…I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything…"

"I-I swear by all the gods of the Heavens and Earth that I didn’t do anything impure either!"

"…Then, Okutsuki-kun, what about the rumors that you were all over Eri-chan and ripping at her chest?"

"It’s a misunderstanding! O-Okutsuki-kun was pulling at my chest because…"

"Because mur…she said her heartbeat suddenly felt irregular, so I was was trying to check it out for her!"

"…Heartbeat? That is troubling then. Then, what about the rumors that you used magic during your lovers’ quarrel?"

"It wasn't a lover's quarrel!"

"Yes! We were really trying to kill…a mock battle!! Yes, that’s definitely it!"

"It’s written in the school rules ‘magic use is forbidden except in moments of emergency’. Using magic for pranks too is forbidden, let alone magic duels. But you…"

Teacher Yuzu's eyes narrow sadly as she continues with a disappointed voice,

"This Teacher never expected that the son and disciple of Teacher Okutsuki would have such a magic duel…"

"…T-Teacher Okutsuki's son…!"

(…I-If Teacher Yuzu says so, then Murderer isn’t Murderer after all. She’s actually Father’s disciple…)

Though still terrified of the Doctor Magna, you glance aside at the Mmurderer's profile.

Even after witnessing your Father’s talisman, you can’t believe it…yet even his colleague, Teacher Yuzuriha Daphniphyllum Walla says so.

This murderer…or rather, Erika, most certainly is a disciple of Kai Okutsuki.

"Erm…T-Teacher! That magic duel was my fault! It’s not Okutsuki-san’s fault. It’s just my misunderstanding…!"

The (ex) Murderer Erika mutters so in your defense.

"But school rules are school rules. If you do something wrong, you have to be punished."

"…I-I'm sorry…"

The ex-Murderer lowers her head apologetically, pinching the edges of her horns as she reeled back.

The sight of her terrified self really makes it difficult to imagine she was that Murderer prior to this…but she does seem apologetic for trying to kill you, stabbing you with a pencil, and trying to petrify you.

(…She’s actually reflecting on her actions…)

As you look at the demure profile of the ex Murderer, you feel a strange emotion welling up in you.

For five years since your Father was killed, you spent your life seeking only the Truth…if she, the self-proclaimed disciple of Kai Okutsuki, is seeking the same Truth as you, she too may have been tormented by the same despair as you.

(…I was killed on the level where Father's study is…if she’s at such a deep level in Labyrinth, was it because she was there to mourn him…?)

As noted prior to this, the level you died at is not a place where a typical explorer will venture too. Nobody else would have encountered you, aside from those with a deep connection to Kai Okutsuki.

You have forgotten about your past, and don’t know as to what happened between you and the Murderer. Given that she calls Kai Okutsuki ‘Teacher’, and has been seeking the Truth behind the assassination, it appears this gratitude runs deep.

The girl whom Doctor Magna recognized as his disciple and gave the same Talisman as the one to his son.

She may have a deep connection to your lost past.

"This Teacher still not ask you any further about the sexual misconduct, but Eri-chan will have to repair the balcony. Okutsuki-kun may not have used magic, but you are not spared from punishment."

"Eh? Ah, y-yes…"

As previously mentioned, your heart is still unable to accept magic. Since you are enrolling in the ‘Apothecary’, your homeroom teacher, Teacher Yuzu, is mostly informed of your plight.

"Erm…let’s see. Okutsuki-kun, you don't have your textbooks yet, do you?"

"Y-Yes…"

"It may be a little harsh, but this upcoming Friday is a holiday, so the Labyrinth exploration day will be a day earlier. Please use tomorrow's exploration time to unearth your textbooks."

"Eh…"

The ‘Apothecary’ operates on a generous scholarship program, and tuition and living expenses are free. (Although to be precise, it is a loan, given that after graduation, you are obligated to pay for the majority of the books you obtain from Labyrinth.)

Naturally, textbooks, supplementary reading materials, and other replicas are too released free of charge. Since you have to prepare them on your own, this probably is a light punishment as a normal student.

"So that means…I can use the ‘Elevator’?"

"Well, not the faculty’s. You can use the others though."

(…I-Is Teacher Yuzu actually…)

"Umu, it may be for your sake. Given that you cannot use magic, excavation and expansion of grimoires are a priority, so the use of the elevator is indispensable."

Of course, you sacrificed some of the remaining 1,000 pages of your precious life to pay attention in class so as to obtain vital knowledge necessary for your search, but the existence of the elevator is a big reason for that.

"Please do your best…or are you worried about entering the Labyrinth?"

"N- no, I understand! I will find all the textbooks I need!"

Realizing the Teacher's kindness, you bow deeply. The excavation of textbooks is just a pretext, and the Teacher is giving you a chance to get a set of grimoire since you are unable to use magic.

"No objections, I suppose? To prevent rumors from spreading further, you are to be confined to you room for the rest of the day."

"I-I understand. I will return to my room and wait."

"Please reflect on your actions so that you will not disrepute your Father."

"…Thank you very much….sorry to trouble you, Teacher Yuzu."

You bow deeply and open the old ebony door.

Leaving the apologetic murderer's profile behind you, you leave the student counselling room.