Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 73

“The future.”

 

The Duke’s face fell as he listened to Eileen’s story. Albert’s expression was grim as well.

 

Eileen hadn’t told him all the original stories she’d seen, just that this was the first time she’d seen the future, and that she’d seen the future where Jessie was attacked, and that she’d given her clues along the way, including the resurrection of Urzar and the Hero.

 

‘I don’t need to tell them what happened in the original, which is already gone.’

 

What mattered was what was coming and how to stop it.

 

“If you saw what you saw in this attack, you may have seen a glimpse of the future involving demons, like a special kind of animism that responds to magic, though the exact mechanics are still uncertain.”

 

The duke nodded. Albert turned to Eileen and asked in a serious voice.

 

“Have you mentioned this to anyone else?”

 

“No. You two are the first.”

 

Nodding, Albert turned to the duke.

 

“Then why don’t we keep this story a secret for the time being?”

 

The duke nodded.

 

“Eileen, thank you for telling me what you saw. It will be of great help in tracking down future enemies. But let’s keep this ability a secret for a while.”

 

Elementalism outside of the norm was already enough to raise eyebrows in the imperial court. If it was discovered that she was capable of more, she might not be able to live freely under Gaudium’s protection.

 

Eileen nodded with a wistful look on her face. It was a good suggestion, even if she didn’t want to give away the clues from the original.

 

“We will also need to discuss how to reveal and utilize your abilities on the battlefield in the future. We can discuss the rest after the festival.”

 

“The festival is on schedule?”

 

Eileen’s eyes widened. Inwardly, she was disappointed; she had assumed that the festival would be canceled, given the incident. Albert smiled weakly.

 

“It hasn’t gone to faculty council yet, so I can’t say for sure, but I’m sure it will. It happened in Verotanis, after all, not anywhere else, and with all eyes on us, closing the school or canceling the festivities would only add to the unrest.”

 

With the imperial family so sensitive to Magi, it was clear that the festival would be guarded by Transcendents and other powerful members of the Empire.

 

“I’ll do my best to keep you safe for the festival, so enjoy it.”

 

Albert forced a smile.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“I am disqualified as a candidate for partner!”

 

Laquerta shouted indignantly and bowed his head. After the Duke had left and Eileen had left the ward, Laquerta came charging at her like a bull.

 

His face contorted as if he were about to cry when he saw Eileen with a band-aid on her finger.

 

“I can’t be a partner to someone who promises to please you and then fails you when it matters most.”

 

“What? No, this doesn’t hurt, I’m fine, you don’t even know it!”

 

Eileen exclaimed in panic, forgetting all about her frustration when she saw Laquerta’s eyes widen and his nose turn up.

 

Eileen let out a rueful chuckle. Unlike the others, she had only fought ranged combat, so there was nothing dangerous enough for Laquerta to worry about.

 

Even this scratch was a scratch from her hasty exit from her dorm room.

 

“I’m sorry, aaahhh.”

 

“It’s okay!!!”

 

She shouted at Laquerta, who was now almost angry enough to bash his head in, and he shut his mouth sullenly.

 

Felix and Lucian watched the scene with interest. They’d be lucky if one of their competitors got off on the right foot.

 

“Laquerta, calm down and look at me. I’m fine.”

 

“…You’ve been there for me whenever I’ve needed you, and I haven’t.”

 

“Why would you think that? I’m glad you’re worried about me right now.”

 

At that, Laquerta’s head snapped up from its resting place.

 

“Do you really think so?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Chewing his lip nervously, he extended his hand toward Eileen.

 

“Do you mind if I heal your hand?”

 

Eileen, now resigned, held out her hand as if to say, “Do as you please.”

 

“I can only help you so much right now, but I’ll be of more help next time.”

 

“Okay, okay. I’ll be waiting.”

 

Eileen thought Laquerta’s rounded crown was rather cute as he carefully peeled off the bandage with one hand, the size of a pot lid. As he focused his fingertips over the wound, a clear energy, a mixture of green and blue, seeped into her wound.

 

“Cooler than I thought.”

 

The energy, which resembled the coolness of the pine forest, healed the small wound in an instant. The healer’s ability to convert magic into healing power was something she’d seen countless times in Theresia’s presence, but Laquerta’s aura was something else.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

Averting his gaze from Eileen’s, he rubbed the bridge of his nose with a finger, embarrassed.

 

The muscles in his forearms twitched as his hands, which had been radiating healing power just moments ago, jerked from side to side.

 

“Ah.”

 

A thought flashed through Eileen’s mind as she watched.

 

“Laquerta, you said you wanted to help me, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Eileen smiled wryly at his answer.

 

“Then tell me the truth.”

 

She slowly walked over and grabbed Laquerta’s wrist.

 

“What have you been up to lately?”

 

Laquerta’s pupils widened in surprise. His mouth turned into a triangle, as if he’d been caught off guard, and he fidgeted, but then he dropped his head and said,

 

“I’m doing a job…”

 

“A job?”

 

A question mark floated above Eileen’s head.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The weekend after the commotion had passed.

 

Eileen left her dorm early in the morning to catch up with Laquerta. She was accompanied by Cordelia, who had come along just because it looked like fun.

 

“I hadn’t thought about the portal fee.”

 

Eileen felt a mixture of pity, pride, and anxiety as she listened to Laquerta explain his decision to take the part-time job.

 

It was great that he had taken the job on his own initiative, but when she told him that Andrew was the one who arranged it, it made her nervous.

 

“You’re definitely on high alert.”

 

“Can you feel it?”

 

“Yeah. It’s like the level of security has changed.”

 

Walking down the street, Cordelia scanned her surroundings. She’d heard that the Tower had dispatched several mages skilled in detection and determination, and that the imperial court had lent its support.

 

“They must have been really worried about the transcendents coming around the festival.”

 

Clearly, the event had been traumatizing. After a long walk with Laquerta, Eileen asked, bored and tired.

 

“Are we there yet?”

 

“Almost there.”

 

With that, Laquerta turned a corner. A vast construction site came into view, so vast she wondered if there had ever been such a place near Verotanis.

 

“What is this place?”

 

“They said the giant top is coming in, and we’re here helping with the groundwork and foundations.”

 

“Uh…?”

 

Laquerta deftly pulled a hard hat from somewhere and handed it to them.

 

“You guys put these on. Absolute caution in construction zones. Absolute safety is paramount.”

 

With that, he slipped the hardhat on with a flourish. He looked very skillful as he put on his belt with his equipment.

 

“Hey, Laquerta, you’re a little late today!”

 

A man came up behind him. Shaggy brown hair and narrow eyes peeking out from under his hard hat. He was sweating profusely, carrying bricks.

 

“Uh…?”

 

The man was Andrew.