Lucy POV
'So I managed to get Hina's forgiveness in the end, though after that I was almost smothered to death by her embrace. Seriously, you better not break the promise I made to her because next time she might really finish the job. But don't worry, there shouldn't be any more dangerous situations you'd need to handle by yourself. Someone will always accompany you, so if you just follow my guide for future events you will be fine.'
I finish writing that last sentence and shake my stiff hand.
I decided to write a diary to record everything that I have done so far, so when the real Lucy returns she will know what happened while she was gone.
Though maybe she will inherit my memories just like I did with hers, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I am also working on summarizing the entire plot of the game, since I've already messed up so much for her. I feel like this is the least I can do to make up for it. So even if unexpected things happen, she'll have a better chance at dealing with them.
Actually, even that might not be enough to compensate for all the starter events I skipped so I'm planning to give a boost to the favorability for all the capture targets by triggering a few end-game events that have a low-risk, high-return ratio. So with all of this, Lucy should be able to pick up her role as the protagonist and give this world a happy ending.
I already found the ancient map hidden within the pages of an old book behind one of the bookcases. It took me a while to search the library, but it's a good thing I remembered where it was since it starts off an important event for Bernard.
Originally, he and Lucy were supposed to find the map together by chance, but this should be fine too. I just need to explain it to Hina. I wouldn't want to break my promise right after swearing on it.
Hm, am I forgetting something?
Ah, right! I still need to find Miss Julia. Ugh, who would have thought the curse transfer would lead to all of this…?
Though I guess at least it led to me realizing that the real Lucy is still alive. Well, I don't know if she can currently be called 'alive', but still around at least.
I close the diary in front of me and quickly get ready to head out. Even though I didn't have light magic class today, Miss Julia told me to find her some time after school.
I make my way to the infirmary, and seeing it empty, I open the door leading to the light magic classroom.
"Excuse me…"
"Hm? Ah, you're here."
"Miss Julia-"
"..."
I try to greet her, but the extremely cold look in her eyes makes my words catch in my throat. Then she glances towards the ground next to her desk and back at me.
Ugh, I still need to do this…
I hang my head and with familiar movements, I get on my knees while looking pitiful.
But Miss Julia ignores my expression and just takes my hand, continuing her observation of my soul. Ever since she learned about my curse transfer and then about the seal two days ago, whenever I saw her, I had to kneel in front of her while she did her research into that abnormality on my soul.
I would complain, but just like with Hina, I must have made Miss Julia worried as well. So if this is my punishment, then I'll gladly take it.
After about half an hour, just when my legs are starting to fall asleep, Miss Julia releases my hand. Then she finishes a few more lines on her notes before starting to speak without looking at me.
"Okay, I've finished recording all the details of this seal. Since I started observing it two days ago, there have been no changes at all, further supporting that it has no negative effects on your body and that it was probably not a result of the curse transfer, so you don't need to worry. Next, I'll work together with the others to figure out what the purpose of the seal is or how it came to be on your soul in the first place. It might take a while though. Like I said before, it's really complicated."
"I see."
Miss Julia states all her findings in a matter of fact tone. But then she suddenly speaks up again and briefly glances at me:
"So, were you scolded enough by Miss Seraphina?"
"Huh? Uh, yes…"
"I bet she made you promise to behave in the future, didn't she?"
"Ugh."
Even though Miss Julia's voice finally changes from the cold and distant tone she has been using to more of a teasing one, getting reminded of yesterday's events still brings a bit of a blush to my face.
But at least it seems like Miss Julia won't scold me and her light punishment is over too.
"Where did you learn about the curse transfer?"
"...!"
Yet just when I let out a sigh of relief, her voice suddenly turns cold once more and I instinctively straighten my kneeling posture once more while keeping my eyes on the ground.
"I… read about them somewhere…?"
"Hm~?"
I feel her burning gaze on me while she's sizing me up, making me break out in a cold sweat.
"Haah. You're always such a handful brat."
"Phew."
But just as quickly as it arrived, the tense atmosphere disappears after Miss Julia lets out a deep breath. She's usually like this when she lets go of an issue, meaning I managed to survive after all.
But then a hand suddenly appears in front of my face…
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"Ow! Ow! My head…"
Pain shoots through my head as she flicks me right in the middle of my forehead three times in quick succession. Actually, their location feels kind of familiar, though this time the pain doesn't disappear as quickly.
I quickly hold my head, both from the lingering pain and afraid that it might get targeted again, but the one who inflicted this attack on me just leisurely lays back in her chair.
"If you act recklessly again, Miss Seraphina isn't the only one you should fear."
"Yes…"
"Still, I get the feeling that this wouldn't make you hesitate to deal with any curses you come across, is that right?"
"..."
"Just how many times will you make me rewrite the curriculum? Curses were meant to be covered during the final year… But whatever, I'll teach you about them this year."
"...! Miss Julia!"
Even though she acts so harshly, she still accommodates my wishes. I managed to deal with this curse by relying on what I read about in the game, but actually learning about it firsthand will definitely help me more.
***
Lucy POV
"Okay, I think we have reviewed everything from this week. Good work, Lucy."
"Hm."
The two of us are in Hina's room, having just finished our weekly study session.
After we made up, things have mostly returned to how they were before. Being with Hina is still really comfortable and fun, to think that I might not have much longer to enjoy it…
No, no. That's exactly why I have to make sure I relish it for as long as possible so I won't have any regrets. And that also means that I can't break the promise I made to her, but that will make this really difficult.
I want to do Bernard's event, but it involves going into the restricted area and doing a trial. In the end there isn't much danger involved, but if I went there with only Bernard and Hina found out about it, I feel like it wouldn't end well for me.
So I need to explain it to her, but that's a pretty hard task if I can't reveal where I got all that information from.
I know about it from my previous life… I saw it in a dream… I just had a feeling…
I feel like none of these would work, they sound so far-fetched and I don't really want to lie to Hina either. So my next best option is just asking her to trust me without going into too much detail about how I know all of this.
"Hey Hina, look what I found."
"Hm? What is this?"
I take out the old map and show it to her.
"I found this in an old book in the library. I think it's a treasure map left behind by an old student or professor."
"Oh? Then is this supposed to be the academy? And then this part is the restricted area?"
"Hm."
Hina carefully examines the map and quickly recognizes what it depicts. Even though the academy's layout is drawn with fewer buildings than it currently has, the main campus area is quite similar to how it looks in its current state.
I think it was explained in the game that the map only shows the oldest buildings because it was created during a time when that was how the academy looked and the rest of the campus was added over time as the academy expanded.
So by that logic, this map is indeed quite old. Well, considering the artifact we're going to find, it's not a surprise that a great mage of old created it and made this map for future generations to find it.
Though Hina doesn't seem to be surprised by this sudden development. The old students and professors liked to leave behind their legacies in convoluted ways similar to this.
"You want to see where this leads?"
"Yes."
"It seems to point to a place within the restricted area, which should be relatively safe, but who knows what kind of hidden dangers could lie at the end. Since it seems to be from the older generations, I wouldn't put it past them if they set up some sort of trap or trial before reaching the end."
"I um… actually know where this leads and what's there." I say awkwardly.
"You do? Wait, you didn't go there by yourself, did you?"
"No! That's not it. I promised I wouldn't act recklessly."
"Really? Then how would you know that?"
Hina stares at me with a skeptical gaze.
"I can't really explain it… but I swear I didn't go there and I know all the details. It's not dangerous at all."
"..."
I look into Hina's eyes while explaining myself. The best I can do is be as honest as possible and hope Hina believes me, even though I know that I sound suspicious…
"Hm... So where does it lead?"
"...! At the end of this trail, there is an old underground chamber with a sword embedded in a stone. There are no traps or anything like that in the room and the sword itself is an artifact."
"That sounds a bit too easy."
"Well, the complication comes if someone touches the sword. At that moment everyone nearby gets pulled into a sort of dreamscape and whoever touched the sword has to face a trial where they have to overcome their biggest fear. But the others who came along can help out too."
Whether Hina actually believes me or not, just playing along with me is already much more than I can ask for so I quickly start explaining the details I know from the game.
"Well, that sounds more like something those old fossils would design. But didn't you say there is no danger?"
"It is something like a shared dream after all, there is no pain and if you die in there you just wake up. Even if somebody gets stuck in the dream, I can bring them out with my light magic. There's no real penalty for failing either."
"Hm. It sounds a bit too convenient to be true… kind of like a certain technique…"
"Hina… I'm really telling the truth this time."
Ugh, seems like I'll need to work hard to build up her trust again in this aspect.
"Let's say I believe you, you want to get this sword artifact?"
"Yes, but well, not for myself. I thought it would be a good fit for Bernard. I kind of wanted to do something for him after… Anyway, so he could come along as well and it would be even safer with more people right?"
Things ended a bit awkwardly with him after the sudden proposal event, and I don't want to leave the real Lucy with a strained relationship with one of the capture targets right off the bat.
The sword artifact that is the reward for the event is also really useful for his fighting style. Usually he doesn't use weapons since all of them would break with the constant strain he would put them under, but this artifact is really special. When mana is channeled into it, it hardens further so it can withstand even his hands. I think it's a good make-up gift of sorts.
There's also his biggest fear that he needs to face during the trial. The dreamscape summons a vision of him trying to defend his friends from a large wave of monsters but always failing.
The situation is also set up as being his fault for playing around and not taking things seriously. It's basically a character development moment for him where he realizes that sometimes he needs to put aside his usual personality and act serious in order to protect the people he cares about. For a character like him it's a pretty big step forward.
"...! Why him? I don't like that idiot."
Ah right, Hina has always had a rather bad relationship with him.
"Um, what if Arthur comes along as well? With both of them present it should be easier to deal with."
In the game this entire event only had Lucy and Bernard, but a few extra people shouldn't be a problem.
"Arthur… is probably fine. Okay, but you need to stay next to me the entire time and you better be correct about the lack of danger."
"...! Thank you Hina, you're the best!"
Honestly, even I would have a hard time believing my own words, so Hina actually giving me the benefit of the doubt right now makes me really happy.
Ah, I should include this in my diary for the real Lucy too.