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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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I lightly knocked on the door three times and waited for a response, scratching my head.
“Who is it?”
Good, she was there.
“It’s me.”
“Huh? Mister, what’s up?”
“…Just checking on your research. Thought I’d drop by.”
I couldn’t tell her that I had pressed the emergency escape button and ended up here. Even with my lack of social skills, I knew what was appropriate to say and what wasn’t.
“Hmm, not much progress.”
“The prosthetic arm?”
“Much better than before.”
Viola held up her prosthetic arm. It looked like a normal arm on the outside, but it was still just a prosthetic.
The result of our dedicated research during the summer break.
We had developed two separate versions: one for everyday use and one for special purposes.
The everyday version prioritized lightness, sacrificing some durability, but it felt similar to a real arm. The grip strength was a bit weak, but that could be improved later.
“That’s good. The joints on the previous version kept breaking.”
“Making the joints like a doll’s was the right choice. It’s easier to repair, and they break less often…”
“Though the joints are a bit weak.”
“That’s a bit inconvenient. They can’t support heavy objects. I almost dropped a box of empty vials earlier.”
It couldn’t support as much weight as I had hoped.
The everyday version was developed in my spare time between dungeon raids, so it was an unavoidable problem. I even had to travel to a city a week away because of the dungeons.
The problem was that I hadn’t even seen a hint of a sacred relic.
I knew sacred relics were rare in dungeons, but I thought they would at least give me one considering the mission. It felt like the system was deliberately preventing Karina’s recovery.
…Just a thought, but was the system’s true intention really the “true ending”?
“Mister?”
“Ah, sorry. What were we talking about?”
“The joints. What if we used a different material for the joints? For example…”
Viola started rattling off a list of potential materials. She wasn’t usually talkative, but she could go on and on about this topic.
I nodded along, killing time.
I just needed to make it back by dinner…
“Uh, um… M-Mister Johann…?”
A familiar voice came from behind while I was talking with Viola. I turned my head and saw a head of purple hair peeking through the doorway.
I blinked.
What was she doing here?
“…So, you’re friends.”
“Yes.”
“F-F-Friends…”
Why was she making that creepy sound? I looked at Viola and sent a silent message.
– What’s wrong with her?
– I don’t know.
While we were silently communicating, Elisa kept repeating the word “friends” with a strange expression, like a broken record. It was surprising that Elisa had a friend.
Or was it more surprising that I had never seen Elisa and Viola together before?
“So what’s up?”
“Um, well, the semester is about to start… I-I was wondering what classes you’re taking…”
“Me? Well… I haven’t decided yet, aside from the Alchemy department’s required courses…”
Required courses. Reminded me of my university days.
I definitely went to university…
What did I even do there?
I went, that much I remember, but I couldn’t recall any details.
I attended lectures, hung out… did I date anyone? I had some vague memories, but I didn’t think I had a girlfriend.
So I was single for at least thirty years?
“Dungeon Exploration is a required course for first-years, and then there’s Basic Mathematics, Symbology, Monster Ecology, Etiquette, Languages…”
“Y-You’re taking all of them?”
“It’s easier to take them all in the first year, that’s what the seniors said. If you try to spread them out, you’ll be suffering for three years…”
So there was a senior-junior relationship here as well. I hadn’t noticed anything like that in the game.
Perhaps this was the difference between the game and reality. I listened to their conversation while looking around the lab.
Shiny vials filled with unknown liquids, stacks of glass bottles in the corner, and numerous drawers labeled with the names of various materials.
Her assigned lab was surprisingly tidy, unlike the typical image of a laboratory. She was good at making tea, so perhaps she was also a good cook.
It was just a guess, though.
“…Then I’ll have to rearrange my schedule.”
“It’ll be much harder later if you don’t. I’ll help you.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. You’re my lifesaver…”
“Lifesaver?”
“Um, Mister Johann knows, right? About the squad leader…”
“Ah, that incident.”
So Viola was the student who was almost kidnapped.
I hadn’t realized because I had only been focused on Elisa and the squad leader. I hadn’t expected them to be connected like this.
“Huh? Mister, you were the one who…”
“If you’re talking about the person who subdued the squad leader, then yes, that was me.”
“You were the one who saved me back then too.”
“Back then too?”
“It’s nothing.”
Was she talking about the prosthetic arm?
Since Viola didn’t elaborate, I could only guess. Elisa looked back and forth between us with a surprised expression.
I wondered what was going on in her head.
“Elisa. Is there something you want to say?”
“Um, well… I didn’t know the Mister Viola was talking about was you, Mister Johann.”
“I didn’t know you two knew each other either.”
“Ah, I think I know what she means. Elisa definitely…”
Viola trailed off and looked away, as if she didn’t want to say anything more.
Elisa tilted her head, clearly not understanding.
“Elisa.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have no friends in the Magic department?”
“F-Friends…”
Elisa’s head drooped like a ripe ear of rice.
“Mister, that was too harsh! Why did you have to attack her weak spot?”
“…Sorry.”
So please stop kneeling and mumbling incomprehensible words.
“N-No… I-It’s my fault… I-I have no friends…”
“Elisa, look up. Having no friends isn’t something to be ashamed of. I haven’t had any friends for over twenty years.”
I probably had some before possessing this body, but I didn’t remember, so it didn’t count.
“I-Is that so…?”
“Yes. You could say we’re in the same boat.”
I could feel Viola’s gaze burning into me.
She was clearly thinking, “What the hell is this guy talking about?” I desperately ignored her and continued.
“You can make friends from now on. Start with Milia. You’re already familiar with her…”
“W-What about you, Mister Johann…?”
“Wouldn’t it be a bit strange to call me your friend?”
There was a significant age gap between us. And unlike Viola, who was actually quite beautiful despite her usual gloomy demeanor, I looked like a gang boss.
“I can see how that would be a problem.”
At Viola’s words, I looked at Elisa and closed my eyes, imagining the two of us standing side by side.
“…I can’t deny that.”
“W-Well… I think you’re a wonderful person, Mister Johann! Y-You look scary, b-but you’re kind… and capable… and…”
“There’s no need to force yourself to compliment me.”
Time to go.
I had killed enough time.
I stood up and stretched.
Sitting in a chair for so long made me stiff. I still felt uneasy when I was idle. Old habits die hard.
I would often feel anxious when I was resting like this.
Was all of this just a dream?
Would I wake up back in my hut on the deserted island?
The memories of the island, my prison for ten years, were still vivid.
Life on the island had changed me completely. It would probably take just as long to forget it.
…Though I might die before then.
“I should get going.”
“Oh? Why don’t you have lunch with us? I know a good restaurant…”
Viola’s offer was tempting, but I shook my head.
I had unfinished business and things to take care of back at the workshop.
“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline. Someone’s waiting for me…”
“I’m coming too!”
Milia?
What was she doing here?
I looked at Milia, who had barged into the room.
“Milia, how did you…”
“Oh, she visits my lab sometimes. She seems interested in alchemy…”
Someone please explain their relationship.
Please.
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[Your Text Here]
Mister Viola? Not Miss?