Chapter 19.2 (1/2)

Chapter 19.2

「Mio, stop making that face.」

「That bad?」

「It’s on all of us.」

In the large room of the Alfemina Temple, Makoto was consoling Mio wearing a contentious (or, rather, concerned) face.

「For real. I’ve never screwed up this bad before…」

Haruna let out with a sigh, as she drew the magic circle according to Mio’s directions. She had said this at least a dozen times (by Makoto’s count). She was devastated that she didn’t think of it until the end, despite having the most time to check. Haruna felt like she had let down her partner, whom she had spent an intense, meaningful (albeit short) time together. Knowing Haruna, she would not let this go easily.

At the moment, though, they were working on constructing a stage to draw out everyone who was afflicted. The fact that they could not track everyone’s status of affliction (especially when it came down to the servants) combined with their plan to keep the enemy, now most likely with decreased decision making skills, in the dark from even a strategy as obvious as this one as long as possible, fueled them to avoid using Haruna’s singing for anything, and holding back on constructing the stage in the Temple so far, although that was a critical component of the plan.

To prepare, they had been setting up magic circles (as speakers) in as many places as they could think of while they were out and about giving away Japanese treats, and had tested them while no one was around. Now, they were checking the speaker placements that they had missed before, placing microphones, and constructing/linking magic circles and testing the speakers, all in a hurry. But Hiroshi’s recovery had put a dent in the pace of these things, leaving the girls without much time to wallow.

「It’s on all of us, Haruna.」

「I mean, you’d expect him to think of it, with everything he’s been through…」

Tatsuya said, and Makoto nodded in agreement. No one had expected Hiroshi, who had prepared all sorts of traps and contraptions, to not expect the possibility of the assassin being a woman at all. In hindsight, it would not have been a problem if Mio had stayed with Hiroshi. They all had to admit that they had overestimated Hiroshi’s defenses and mental strength.

「Get it together, Sensei…」

「Cut him some slack. I’m impressed that he didn’t let it get worse. This time around, and the time with Rayna.」

Tatsuya pulled back Mio from going solo and criticizing Hiroshi. When he had heard from Layotte that Hiroshi’s phobia hadn’t worsened, Tatsuya was thoroughly impressed. He wasn’t there during Rayna’s incident, but remembering Hiroshi’s stories from his past (which he had been told before in the real world) Tatsuya was legitimately concerned that Hiroshi would be unable to rejoin human society at all.

All things considered, Mio’s comment was out of line, and worthy of reprimand, but Tatsuya had decided to take a more diplomatic approach, thinking that scolding a teenage girl outright would only cause resistance.

「He can’t just keep…」

「Mio, I get it. Just don’t rush it.」

The two elders of the group pulled back Mio’s rushed response while still understanding her half-adoration and half-admiration (or more accurately, her infatuation with the thought of love) for Hiroshi.

「Just like the thing with the underwear, just because he stopped showing signs of his phobia from living with a girl for a couple of months, I think it’s still too risky to have him do anything that emphasizes the opposite sex.」

「If he won’t do it, he won’t get better.」

「That’s why I’m telling you not to rush it. It’s all for naught if he relapses. At the very least, wait until someone here, or like, Elle could be standing next to him without triggering him.」

「…I don’t want to see Sensei like this anymore. Pathetic. And in pain…」

With an expression of lost disappointment, Mio still stuck to her guns. Tatsuya and Makoto knew that Mio wasn’t just being selfish, so all they could produce were sighs. Without Mio saying anything, they knew that it was very likely for some of their enemies to be female, and for them to have to fight them directly. If that time comes without Hiroshi making any improvements that would put Hiroshi’s life in danger.

But as of now, even Haruna (the woman he could trust the most) could not come within three feet of Hiroshi without stressing him out. That was close enough for Haruna to take a step forward and touch him, but far enough that Hiroshi had to approach her for them to make contact without Haruna moving. Much improvement was needed.

Since the Mental Endurance stat didn’t necessarily translate to the same skillset in real-life, Hiroshi had to be the one to conquer his wounds on his own, and they shouldn’t try to put their hands in it. Because they understood this, Haruna kept her distance as she tried to maintain her independent normality, and Aearis searched for the right distance as she purposefully continued to show her affection.

Their concern and devotion was impressive, but asking Mio to do the same would have been cruel.

「In any case, Hiro’s the one who has it the worst. We can crack jokes about other stuff, but no matter how you feel, don’t you tell any of this to his face.」

「…I know…」

Mio knew already that she was saying things that maybe she should not have been. Still, she couldn’t grasp her emotions, causing her to blurt out almost aggressive words.

「Alright. The clock is ticking, so let’s hurry it up. Mio, what’s left?」

「Tatsu and Mako, place the finished product where they’re supposed to. Haru, the angle’s off there. And speed it up.」

「Okay, I’m on it!」

Under Mio’s direction, Haruna focused on preparing the chapel, an integral part of the plan. Tatsuya and Makoto left to place the small magic circles that would act as speakers in their place. They were worried that they were running out of time to finish the other preparations, but Hiroshi had joined them just in time to brute-force everything together in an astonishing speed.

「It seems that the Assassins’ Guild did not live up to its expectations.」

Hearing the news of the Assassins’ Guild falling first thing in the morning, Barold had relayed the news with an exasperated tone.

「I had expected them to fail, but captured alive and giving away information? And now the guild itself has been taken down. How pathetic.」

「As if you had nothing to do with it. With that much evidence, the King would surely come after us now, no matter how much the atmosphere in court discourages the royal family from exercising executive power. What are you going to do?」