Chương 182: Chapter A-14: “Will and the Red-Haired Girl”

Located on a solitary island in the distant sea, the Lewis Baget Laboratory. Until the other day, that place, which had existed for two thousand years, was... The only hope leading to space was— It had been destroyed miserably. By someone's hand. In front of it, a single girl wearing a black robe stood, looking indignant. She looked to be in her late teens. Her long, reddish-brown hair curled at the ends. Her brown eyes, hiding some kind of will, gave a somewhat provocative impression, as if mocking people.

But they didn't feel particularly harsh. Rather, her entire face, behaving expressively, felt soft and amiable.

"Ah. It's a mess after all. Good grief. Whose doing is this, I wonder." The red-haired girl held her right hand out in front.

"I have to apply a correction. Call forth the appearance of days past." 《Chrolhaust》 In an instant, in this world where magic is supposed to be barely usable. Tremendous mana far exceeding the framework of the world was released— And the laboratory had returned to its original state completely.

"One more thing while I'm at it. Awaken the memories of days past." 《Chrolmandrin》 Again, tremendous mana is exercised. This magic didn't seem to cause any changes at first glance, but. She nodded in satisfaction with the result of the magic.

"With this, it's good." She walked teko-teko up to the repaired building, took out something like a pen from her pocket, and wrote something on a conspicuous spot on the wall of the laboratory entrance. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Finishing writing, she stared at it and said earnestly.

"Yu-kun. This is about all the current me can do, but... do your best with the rest."

"Woman. What are you doing there?"

"What!?" At the strange intimidation that suddenly arose, the red-haired girl turned around in surprise. There stood Will, glaring at her quietly. Then, surprisingly. She was neither wary nor afraid of him. She floated a lively smile like a blooming flower.

"Oh, what. Isn't it Big Brother Will? Chi-ssu."

"Big Bro..." Spoken to in such a friendly manner out of the blue, even his ice-cold eyes wavered.

"Wait. In the first place, I don't remember meeting you."

"It's not my first time, though. So you were still doing the destroyer act." At that suggestive nuance, Will felt something snag in his mind.

"How much do you know?"

"I know roughly everything about the circumstances. I've wanted to say thank you for a while."

"Thank... me?" Facing Will, who was completely caught off guard and bewildered, she smiled.

"Yeah. Thanks to you. I'm making good use of what you left behind."

"—Ah. I see. So that's what it is." With those words, Will finally understood.

"I never thought the day would come when it would be useful."

"It means your groundwork wasn't in vain."

"I'd like to think so. How is it? The situation in space."

"Some things have changed, some haven't, I guess. That might not be much of an answer."

"It seems you are managing to maintain the status quo at least. How is Yu—no, I'll stop."

"—It's okay. It's okay. We're managing somehow." To reassure him, the red-haired girl answered puffing out her chest. Seeing that, Will also softened his expression a little.

"So, what is written there?"

"Ah, this?" She stuck out her tongue with a Tehe, as if to cover it up.

"Just a little message."

"Don't overdo it."

"Of course, I know. Since I am a human who shouldn't originally be here."

"That applies to me too, though."

"So we're in the same boat. Please overlook it. Okay?"

"... Hmph. Well, fine. But still, I wonder what's so good about a man like that." To Will shrugging his shoulders, she answered with serious eyes.

"I believe in Yu-kun more than anyone."

"... Hoh."

"After all, he is my savior."

"Well, I guess that's how it is."

"That's how it is. Besides, even if he wasn't..." The red-haired girl closed her eyes, thinking of something. When she opened her eyes again, her pupils were filled with determination.

"I have to go soon." She deployed an enormous 『Magic Formula』 on the spot. Masses of light characters float up and disappear as if surrounding her. Formula Magic. It allows for weaving far more precise and complex compositions than 『Declaration Magic』, which is activated by kneading an image in the head and vocalizing it internally or directly. Her skill was such that even Will felt a little interest.

"Let's meet again someday. Big Brother Will."

"I hope that 'someday' comes."

"It will definitely come. I'll be waiting." Wrapped in light, the red-haired girl vanished suddenly from the spot. For a while after that, Will stood there, lost in thought.

"... Does this mean I was rewarded a little?" Shaking his head slightly at having immersed himself in sentiment unlike him. He decided to disappear himself before Yu arrived. There were various unexpected things, but. There is no need to add any more hands. Things will proceed on their own from here. If there is only one cleanup left—"Fine. I'll just do what I have to do."