New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (1/2 chapters)
The Seven Mysteries of the Magic School (1)
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I became able to get along with Rinalee through musical instruments. The lute I purchased as an initial investment, I decided to give to Rinalee.
Now, in the carriage to and from school, I think we are able to build a good relationship by getting excited about school life and performances. For me too, being picked up and dropped off is not as painful as before. Even after school ends, until dinner time, the two of us practice performing. I didn’t think we could open up to each other this much. Alfred and Lindsay are also watching over us from a distance. Surely both of them are feeling relieved by our closeness.
Good, good.
―――Or so I thought, but on today’s return carriage, Rinalee didn’t have energy.
“Did something happen today?” (Jack)
“Uu……Onii-chan……” (Rinalee)
She seemed to be frightened of something like that.
No way, bullying? It’s the thing I feared most. A five-year-old problem child. Abnormal mana. A countryside person from Soltaire.
There are plenty of factors that make her be treated coldly by classmates. When magic practice begins at the magic school, I predict the atmosphere of the class will change, and Rinalee’s treatment will also change. That is not just me, but Alfred, Lindsay, and Dwayne were also concerned. Alfred also, during his magic school days, seems to have been isolated as a problem child, and he wants to avoid the same outcome by any means.
So, Dwayne and the homeroom teacher have been confirming as needed when the magic practice will begin. I heard that lecture-based subjects will still continue, but could it be, due to other factors……
“Rinalee, did something bad happen at school?” (Jack)
“Y-yeah……” (Rinalee)
What the heck. So it really is bullying. I will absolutely not forgive it. Let the Onii-chan’s hammer of justice be delivered.
“So, who is it?” (Jack)
“Who isー?” (Rinalee)
“Which who did it?” (Jack)
“Umm……” (Rinalee)
She seemed to have difficulty saying it.
That’s right. I understand well the feelings of someone receiving unfair treatment. After consulting someone, if that person gets warned, the retaliation is scary. That’s why it’s hard to speak out.
I understand. I understand the feeling. Because Onii-chan also was tormented at the home.
“It’s okay, Onii-chan will protect you. Definitely.” (Jack)
“Really?” (Rinalee)
Fufu, if I erase them, there’s no problem. If I make them disappear, there won’t be any retaliation. Now, say that person’s name. I will become the ally of only Rinalee. For the sake of my little sister, even murder or anything――――
She surely didn’t understand my heart falling into the dark side. But upon seeing my serious gaze, Rinalee made up her mind and spoke the culprit’s name. With a little sigh mixed in.
“Ghost……it is……” (Rinalee)
At the unexpected name, my open mouth did not close.
“Ghost?” (Jack)
“A ghost appears at school……” (Rinalee)
Ahh, they are already a deceased person. That is troubling.
—
That night, having calmed down, I heard in detail from Rinalee. At Barwitch Magic School, there was a rumor being talked about among the new student class now.
That was something called “The Seven Mysteries of the Magic School”. I didn’t really understand what was mysterious, but apparently there were seven. They were said to be ghosts or types of supernatural phenomena. To begin with, Ghosts as magical creatures did exist. Magical creatures, if it was a place where mana arose thickly, could appear anywhere. Places where ghost-type magical creatures easily arose were, historically, battlefields where many people had died, graveyards, or places related to the dead where the mana density was thick.
So, it wasn’t such a rare thing. Even so, phenomena that didn’t follow a logical storyline did exist at the level of rumors……
Anyway, after hearing that rumor at school, Rinalee seemed to have become scared to go to school. Surely more than other classmates, the young Rinalee believed these kinds of stories no matter what, so she was teased and had the story implanted. It wasn’t bullying, but it was pitiful. I decided to dispel Rinalee’s fear.
“Isn’t it by magic?” (Jack)
“That’s not it…” (Rinalee)
Rinalee was clearly denying with tears in her eyes. Just remembering it seemed terrifying.
“There’s a ghost at school, and it eats me.” (Rinalee)
What are you saying, the one who casts magic that devours direwolves.
I was astonished, no words came out.
“Even so, ghost huh……” (Jack)
I leaned heavily against the backrest of the dining table chair and looked up at the ceiling. I let various thoughts wander.
Somehow, I can’t understand the fear towards that ghost. If you’re scared of ghosts, then what about magical beasts, what about magic, it becomes that kind of talk. Human-used magic is hundreds of times scarier. That might be an opinion precisely because I have trauma about magic.
As I gave a big stretch, Shia peeked at my face from behind the chair.
“Uwah!” (Jack)
“Let’s believe what Rinalee-san says.” (Shia)
“…What the heck, suddenly.” (Jack)
Then, she brought her face close to my ear and whispered. It had been a while since Shia whispered to me.
“…Among new students of the magic school, that’s a common rumor story.” (Shia)
The period when they first touched the world of magic. When 7- or 8-year-old children were doing such studies, these kinds of supernatural fabricated stories naturally started becoming rumors. As the rumor was passed on, it gained embellishments and even dorsal fins until it became a seemingly real story. In other words, it seemed to be something common.
“What the heck, you don’t believe it either, Shia.” (Jack)
“But if we keep denying, again……” (Shia)
“Ahh, I see.” (Jack)
Warned by Shia, I remembered. Rinalee had a fairly high pride.
I returned my posture and rested both arms on the dining table.
“Well, even if there are Seven Mysteries, Rinalee will be fine.” (Jack)
“Why do you think that!” (Rinalee)
“In these past 3 weeks going to school, has a Ghost appeared?” (Jack)
“No.” (Rinalee)
“Then, it won’t ever appear.” (Jack)
“You can’t know that!” (Rinalee)
It seemed like she couldn’t accept my simplistic advice. Rinalee jumped down from the dining table and dove into the sofa near the fireplace. She curled up, hugging the cushion placed on the sofa. Now, for this child, what was scary wasn’t just school. She was probably scared that a ghost could appear no matter where she was.
“Lost-san, maybe this is a time to strip off one layer.” (Shia)
“Strip off? What do you want me to do……” (Jack)
“Let’s verify the Seven Mysteries.” (Shia)
“Verify?” (Jack)
According to Shia, it seems the idea is to investigate the Seven Mysteries one by one and prove they’re nonsense. If it’s just that much, I’m not reluctant. Besides, it sounds fun.
“Alright, got it. Let’s go then.” (Jack)
“Please do.” (Shia)
“Shia, let’s go together.” (Jack)
“Impossible.” (Shia)
“Why?” (Jack)
“Because I have work at Conran Inn.” (Shia)
“Let’s go on a day off then.” (Jack)
“Impossible.” (Shia)
“Why?” (Jack)
“…” (Shia)
Shia ignored my question, dashed up the stairs, and returned to her room.
Maybe, that girl is also scared of ghosts.
—
And so, I ended up verifying the Seven Mysteries of the Magic School.
To prove that there was nothing there, Rinalee was coming along too. Maybe because I was with her, she felt reassured, and though scared, she followed me.
First, the Seven Mysteries of the Magic School were said to be these seven:
《1》The ghost of a boy sobbing in the third school building’s boys’ toilet.
At this school, apparently there was a boy who couldn’t handle magic well and committed suicide in the toilet. That grudge remains, and after school during dusk, crying voices echo.
《2》The sealed room in the basement of the practice building.
If you progressed smoothly, it seemed magic practice began in the practice building. In there, at the end of a hallway where no one usually passed, there were stairs to the basement. In that basement, there was said to be a sealed room. From that sealed room, groaning voices of monsters unthinkable to exist in that world could be heard night after night.
《3》In the training building drifts red hitodama (human-soul ball).
The training building that Rinalee had half-destroyed at the time of enrollment. Here, until renovation construction finished, students were prohibited from entering. However, in the unpopular training building at that time, red hitodama drifted, and those who saw it were eaten by the hitodama and had their souls taken.
《4》The grand piano that resounds by itself, placed in the first school building’s first floor entrance hall.
The front entrance of the first school building. That place was in hall form, and as part of the interior, an expensive grand piano was placed. Long ago, after school when the students had gone home, a teacher who loved music used to practice performance around evening. But that teacher had committed suicide in grief from heartbreak. It seemed that teacher was still attached to the piano, and around evening, that performance resounded.
《5》The curse ritual unfolding in the thicket of the schoolyard.
In the corner of the schoolyard, there was a thicket. It was the place I often used as a meeting spot with Rinalee. In that thicket, it seemed there were students performing curse rituals.
The curse ritual was about nailing a straw doll with the name of the person one wanted to curse written on the tree trunk. If you went to look at that thicket in the morning, it was said the wound marks from nailed straw dolls remained. Those who saw the curse ritual, it was said, were killed by being pierced through by the thrown nails used for nailing.
《6》The black ghost that appears in the library at midnight.
In this magic school, there was a large library called the Great Library. It was the place I also stopped by to investigate warrior circumstances. In the back of the second floor archive, there was a tightly secured vault, and if one tried to forcibly pry open that vault, a black ghost came out and killed.
《7》Kamikakushi (spiriting away)
Humans who came to know the other six secrets were subjected to kamikakushi.
Hmm, this… how should I say this…… Sounds fake.
“Onii-chan, thank you!” (Rinalee)
But when I see the beaming smile of my stepsister walking beside me like this, I become weak. Too cute, my cheeks involuntarily turn red.
I shook my head to retain my awareness.
I have someone I care about, Shia. Rinalee is a little sister. Rinalee is only a little sister.
—
《1》The ghost of the boy sobbing in the boys’ toilet of the third school building
For some reason, the rumor sites of the Seven Mysteries were mostly in the evening. Therefore, we arranged to meet after school as usual, and decided to conduct the verification from there. We properly got permission from Principal Gwayne and Dwayne-sensei. We didn’t know how long it will take, but Alfred and Lindsay gave us travel funds including the fare for a return rented carriage, so as long as we didn’t get too late at night, it should be fine.
Well then, shall we promptly begin verification from the first?
I looked through the paper where I had written down the Seven Mysteries.
First is the ghost in the boys’ toilet of the third school building. Right off the bat, a pretty legit-sounding one. Still, why boys’ toilet? Just a personal image, but I feel that ghosts and grudges tend to be girls.
“The third school building, where is it? Rinalee, do you know?” (Jack)
“Mmhh… Ah! The place where our classroom is.” (Rinalee)
“What, a ghost in such a close place?!” (Jack)
“Yes…” (Rinalee)
If there’s a ghost rumor in such a familiar toilet, it’s hard to use and unbearable.
I decided to have her take me to that school building right away.
—
It was just as Rinalee said. It was the building where I was allowed to observe class previously.
Even though it’s after school and I thought it would be bustling with kids freed from classes, it was completely silent. Only the dim orange light of the slanted setting sun stretched down the corridor. Knowing the liveliness of the children during daytime, the contrast is too stark and the eeriness is highlighted.
A place where people are normally supposed to be, having not a single person, surely produces fear, I think.
“…” (Rinalee)
Rinalee also swallowed hard due to the excessive creepiness.
“You okay?” (Jack)
“…Still scary…” (Rinalee)
“Onii-chan is with you. It’ll be okay……” (Jack)
When I stepped one foot forward, Rinalee clung to the hem of my clothes and pressed close.
How cute…!
I slowly proceeded down the quiet corridor. The wooden floor creaked with each step. There shouldn’t be anything existing, but it felt as if our presence was being known, and I naturally walked on tiptoe.
“…” (Jack)
“…” (Rinalee)
“Why is there no one around?” (Jack)
“Everyone is scared of ghosts…” (Rinalee)
“Should we go inside just to check?” (Jack)
“I can’t go into the boys’ toilet!” (Rinalee)
“Rinalee, actually, that rule is fine after school!” (Jack)
“Eh—” (Rinalee)
“Alright, it’s my first time infiltrating a school toilet, but let’s just go for it!” (Jack)
“Let’s go for it—!” (Rinalee)
“………U…Uu…Ugh…” (???)
“Hyau!?” (Jack)
“O-Onii-chan, just now…!” (Rinalee)
“Ah, I heard it too.” (Jack)
“…I-It’s a ghost.” (Rinalee)
“Calm down, Rinalee. If it’s a ghost, Onii-chan will defeat it.” (Jack)
“Wait! Don’t leave me!” (Rinalee)
“………Hi…hii…Ugh…Uuuu…” (???)
“…O-Onii-chan…” (Rinalee)
“Wahi!! Aaahhh!! Wahaahhhhaaa!!” (Patrick)
“Ugh!” (Jack)
“Kyaaahhh!!!” (Rinalee)
“Waaahhh!! Aaaaahhhh!!” (Patrick)
“Kyaaahhh!! Nooo!!” (Rinalee)
“Uaaahhh!!!” (Patrick)
“Patrick-kun, why are you here…?” (Jack)
“Waahhh!!! Aaaaahhh!!!” (Patrick)
“No, calm down.” (Jack)
“Aaaahhh!! Waaahhh!!!” (Patrick)
“Shut up.” (Jack)
“Haahhh…!” (Patrick)
“Why were you crying in such a place?” (Jack)
“……Hii… Uu…” (Patrick)
He’s about to cry again. Damn it, I just can’t understand children. Here, I’ll use Shia’s style of child handling. First, respect the other person, and worry with an exaggeratedly sweet voice. Apparently, if you do that, they’ll open their heart right away.
“Patrick-kun, was there something difficult that happened?” (Jack)
“Higu… U, U… Uu…… Un…” (Patrick)
Patrick-kun showed a reaction immediately.
As expected of Shia Randall… she’s well-versed in handling children.
“Is there something troubling you that I can help with?” (Jack)
“……U, Ugg… I… I… passed out right after enrolling… Ugh…” (Patrick)
“Un un” (Jack)
That’s my fault. I’m truly sorry.
“And then, on the schoolyard… I saw a suspicious man… Uu… that man attacked me…” (Patrick)
“Un un” (Jack)
That’s also me. I’m truly sorry.
“So, I… I’m worried if I can even keep studying at this school… and so… U, Uah… Uahhh…” (Patrick)
Perhaps remembering various things, Patrick-kun started crying again.
I see. So, that’s why he was hiding in the restroom crying. In other words, it’s all my fault. No one knows that I caused Patrick-kun to faint in the classroom. It seems that he himself thinks he just passed out due to nerves or something. He looks like the type of boy who gets nervous easily. That made him anxious. And then, in the woods after school, he witnessed my sword juggling.
I wasn’t aiming for Patrick-kun, but I ended up smashing a replica sword into a tree right next to him. That probably made him scared of this school space. I have some responsibility in this. I have to help him regain his confidence.
“Don’t cry, Patrick-kun!” (Jack)
“Ha, Hahi…” (Patrick)
At my shouted voice, he snapped to attention.
“Especially in front of the classmates, girls even, don’t cry so pitifully!” (Jack)
“Ah… Rinalee-chan…” (Patrick)
Rinalee was calmly watching Patrick-kun.
She looked like she was somewhat bored.
“We’re currently investigating the Seven Mysteries of this school. Let’s investigate together, and prove that there’s nothing scary in this school!” (Jack)
“…Eh… but the ones who investigate the Seven Mysteries end up being kidnapped by gods…” (Patrick)
“I’ll prove that such things don’t even exist!” (Jack)
“Eh, Eeehhhhh!!” (Patrick)
Patrick-kun was completely terrified.
But in this world, cowards are laughed at. Even if he can’t do anything, I’ll forcefully drag him around. Then, whether or not he solves the truth behind the Seven Mysteries, he’ll still be able to hold his head high in the class. It’s my responsibility too, so I’ll let him have that kind of honor.
Show your manhood here, Patrick-kun. Whether it’s fighting a gargoyle, solving the Seven Mysteries, or whatever. A man needs medals.
…Speaking of which, the first of the Seven Mysteries is about him, right? Could it be that the rest of the Seven Mysteries are also…? A slight unease crossed my mind. I’ll take another look at that memo.
…No way.
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