Chapter 182
"Now that I think back on it, it's strange... Why did we so naturally accept her presence?"
As they walked down the hallway of the Reverse Academy, Eric spoke with a pained expression.
"She had slipped into the student council before we knew it. She never caused any trouble. She was diligent and handled her work flawlessly. Even the tea... she brewed it perfectly."
He must have remembered drinking tea while surrounded by monsters earlier.
Eric shivered.
"But I don't know her name. I know she's a first-year... but I don't even know her class. If my memory is correct, Reina turned down my offer to join the student council, and I was looking for someone else to take her place..."
Eric held his head.
He seemed to be desperately trying to dig up his memories, but it wasn't going well.
"But... I don't think she had any ill intentions. She just slipped into the student council, but she didn't do anything wrong."
Eric's words carried a wishful hope that it was true.
"That's why... if possible, I want to talk to her again. Even if she isn't human..."
"I leave it to you."
Clael, too, was curious about the identity of that mysterious girl.
If Eric was willing to confront her, then that was all the better.
"Here we are."
As the two were deep in conversation... Reina, who had been leading Clael by the hand, came to a stop.
Reina had stopped in front of the infirmary.
"I sense a sinister presence from this room."
"I see... and we arrived quite quickly this time."
Earlier, it had taken them over thirty minutes to reach the student council room where Eric had been.
But it had only taken about five minutes to get from the student council room to the infirmary.
"Yes, I'm already used to this space."
Reina spoke nonchalantly... but just before that, it felt like she had glanced at Eric.
Was Eric's presence somehow related to the shortened travel time?
It was true that Eric had helped fight the monsters along the way, but that shouldn't have made much of a difference.
"Well, it's fine. Let's go in."
"I'll open it. Both of you, stand back."
Eric stepped forward and opened the infirmary door.
The infirmary was upside down.
There was no one in sight.
"Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
"............!"
Just as they thought that, a voice came from beyond the red curtain.
A woman's voice... most likely that of the mysterious girl.
"I'm going to wrap the bandage, so please don't move..."
"...Mr. Byrne."
"Yes, let's go."
Eric gave a short word to Clael, then slowly walked toward the curtain.
"Hmph!"
And then... he flung the curtain open with force.
"Oww... don't make it so tight!"
"It's your fault for getting hurt again! Geez... getting into fights again..."
There were two people there.
One was the nameless 'her.'
And... the other was one of the main characters whose whereabouts had been unknown—Vincent Flame.
From Clael and the others' perspective, they were on the ceiling side... inside the upside-down infirmary.
Vincent was injured all over and was sitting in a chair receiving treatment from 'her.'
"Please don't push yourself too hard, okay... Not every injury can be healed with healing magic."
"I get it! You're not my mom, so stop nagging me!"
"Of course I'm going to nag! No matter how many times I warn you, you always get hurt again..."
It was a scene straight out of youth.
A younger girl tending to the wounds of an older student who had gotten into a fight.
For a boy, it might be a situation to admire a little.
"Hey, Vincent! What are you doing!?"
"Tch... You're really annoying. Not cute at all."
Eric raised his voice.
But... Vincent didn't react.
In Vincent's eyes, there was only 'her.'
"Vincent!"
"Prince Eric!"
Eric tried to grab Vincent.
But... Clael grabbed Eric's shoulder and pulled him back.
"Whoa!"
As Eric fell on his butt, the red curtain they had just opened fell over him.
The curtain in the infirmary, which should have been white... had turned into a grotesque, blood-colored slime.
"It's a monster! Don't let your guard down!"
"Tch... Don't get in the way!"
Vincent and 'she' were on the other side of the curtain monster.
Eric shouted to save his friend and drew his sword from the belt at his waist.