New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

Dizziness

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“The time has come. Put down your writing instruments. Now, I shall collect the question and answer sheets. Once you have submitted yours, you may leave.” (Lirin)

When Lirin-sensei, who served as the proctor, made this declaration from the lectern, several assistant instructors began to make their rounds between the desks. For once, I found myself in a classroom located in a building of the central district rather than the one belonging to the Department of the Way of Magic.

Phew.

Time passed swiftly. Today marked the end of October. Though sunlight streamed in, the day felt cold, perhaps because autumn had deepened.

This week, part of the second period and the entirety of the third period had been canceled, and the final proficiency examinations for the general education subjects were being held. If one passed, credits would be granted without the need to attend the actual lectures.

“Ah, here you go.” (Leon)

Halper-sensei, one of the assistant teachers, had come before me, so I handed over my papers.

Haa. At last, everything is finished.

I placed my writing instruments into my bag.

I feel rather drained. Perhaps I should rest a little before returning.

“Leon-kun.” (Ruida)

“Yes, Ruida-sensei. What is it?” (Leon)

She came beside me and crouched down, her brows faintly drawn together.

Oh, her chest is rather exposed. Is she not cold, dressed so lightly?

I averted my gaze. Looking around, I noticed that the other students had already departed.

“I have seen you quite often in the examination halls this term, even for my own subject. How many subjects have you taken?” (Ruida)

“Eight subjects. I took every one that I am eligible for.” (Leon)

“I see. Well, opinions differ, but since you have paid tuition, it would not hurt to attend the classes, would it?” (Ruida)

I wondered what she meant by that.

“More importantly, have you not been pushing yourself too hard? You look rather pale.” (Ruida)

“Now that you mention it, I do feel a little unwell.” (Leon)

When I woke this morning, my body had felt somewhat heavy. Perhaps this chill I sensed was in fact a feverish chill.

“Would you like to visit the infirmary?” (Ruida)

“No, that will not be necessary. Oh.” (Leon)

As I tried to stand, dizziness overcame me. I hastily strengthened my body through the magic art of physical enhancement and regained balance.

“Are you alright?” (Ruida)

“My boarding house is nearby. I shall return there.” (Leon)

“I see. Tomorrow is a day off from examinations. You should rest well.” (Ruida)

 

—

 

My body felt heavy. Perhaps I had studied too intensely for the examinations and cut too deeply into my sleeping hours. Regret alone would not restore my health. I finally arrived at the boarding house. Though it was but a single district away, I had ridden the horse tram today.

Upon entering the entryway, I saw Leah-san in the back, holding a laundry basket.

“I have returned.” (Leon)

“Oh, welcome ba–… wait.” (Leah)

Hm?

She set down the basket, hurried over to me, wiped her hands on her apron, and placed one palm upon my forehead.

“As I thought, you have quite a fever.” (Leah)

“Yes. I shall go and lie…” (Leon)

 

—

 

“Cold.” (Leon)

A damp towel rested upon my head.

Where am I?

This was my own bedroom. The ceiling, faintly illuminated by a magical lamp, came into view. The last thing I remembered was being on the first floor. For me to be lying here now, Leah-san must have carried me upstairs.

How mortifying. How disgraceful. Perhaps, with the examinations over, my tension has finally broken.

When I closed my eyes, the system clock displayed that it was past seven in the evening. A warning of elevated body temperature appeared. It seemed that my physical enhancement magic art had remained activated.

When I focused on the warning text, a graph appeared showing my body temperature.

Ah, it has risen sharply after three o’clock. Perhaps I had overextended the strengthening. If the possessor and the physical enhancement magic art are both maintained beyond a certain intensity, the body enters a self-healing state.

I should probably deactivate it.

Then again, knowledge surfaced in my mind. Fever during illness aided immune activation. I decided to halve the enhancement level instead.

The door opened.

“Leah-san.” (Leon)

“Oh, you are awake, Leon.” (Leah)

She stepped out into the corridor for a moment, then reentered carrying a tray.

“My apologies. I had promised not to enter your bedroom, but this is an exception.” (Leah)

“Think nothing of it. You even carried me up to the third floor. I am grateful.” (Leon)

“Ah, yes. Though you are slender, you were heavier than expected. I should also apologize. You were drenched in sweat, so I stripped you and changed your clothes.” (Leah)

Stripped…

“That is… most… generous of you.” (Leon)

“I tried my best not to look at your body.” (Leah)

Well, I do not particularly mind.

“Leon, can you sit up? Madam has prepared a chilled winter melon soup for you. It is quite good, and since grated yam has been added, it is also nutritious.” (Leah)

“Please convey my thanks to Madam as well.” (Leon)

When I sat up, I felt a wave of dizziness. It seemed I was still unfit to go downstairs. The white, slightly thick soup was cold and smooth on the throat.

After I finished eating, Leah-san told me to rest well and withdrew.

 

—

 

Fuu. How cool it feels.

Someone was wiping my face. A hand touched my cheek, slender and smooth fingers. That was not Leah-san’s hand.

When I opened my eyes, Adele-san’s face was close to mine, her eyes gently closed.

What is this? Ah, our foreheads touched.

“I am glad. Your fever has gone down.” (Adele)

“Ahhh…” (Leon)

My mouth was so dry that I could barely form words.

“Leon-chan, you are awake? Here, drink some water. It seems your fever has broken.” (Adele)

She brought a small pitcher to my lips.

“Adele-san, why are you here?” (Leon)

Once my throat was moist enough to speak, I asked, though that was a mistake.

“Well, school ended early today, so I stopped by. The maid said you had taken ill with a fever.” (Adele)

I spoke again, this time with the blanket covering my mouth.

“I appreciate your coming, but it would be bad if you caught my cold, so please go home for today.” (Leon)

“No!” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

“The maid said the same thing, but when I pretended to cry, she let me in.” (Adele)

Hmm. Crying on command, how very like her.

“Still…” (Leon)

“No! Even if I catch a cold, it is fine. Okaa-san and Lotte are there, so there is no problem!” (Adele)

“That is not the…” (Leon)

“Haaai. The patient should not argue and should rest quietly. Well, since your fever seems to have eased, you will be fine. More importantly, you must be hungry. I shall make you lunch.” (Adele)

“Haa.” (Leon)

Friday noon, then.

“But before that.” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

She opened the drawer beneath the closet and took out a change of underclothes.

“You have sweated in your sleep, have you not? Let us change you.” (Adele)

Her eyes seemed to sparkle with suspicious delight.

“I can change by myself, thank you.” (Leon)

When I closed my eyes, the warning indicators in the system display faded away.

“No, no. Patients must obey the nurse’s orders. The recovery stage is the most important, after all.” (Adele)

Is she trying to stay in character?

She loosened my sleepwear and slipped it off.

“Now, let us take this off.” (Adele)

So, it seems I am to play the role of a sickly child. She is enjoying this entirely too much.

Once I was bare to the waist, she wiped my body with a towel and dressed me again in a shirt and nightclothes.

“Now, the lower half.” (Adele)

“No, I can manage that myself.” (Leon)

“But that maid also changed you, did she not?” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

Wait, what kind of conversation had those two had?

“So, you refuse my help but accepted hers? That means you trust her more, does it not?” (Adele)

“Eh? No, that happened while I was asleep.” (Leon)

She puffed up her cheeks.

Adorable… no, that is not the point.

“Eh?” (Leon)

Adele-san lifted the blanket and tugged at my sleepwear from below.

I got careless.

“Ah!” (Leon)

Snatching up my undergarments, I rolled off the opposite side of the bed and quickly changed.

“Um, my sleepwear, please.” (Leon)

“Mouu, I was hoping to make some observations.” (Adele)

Observations of what, exactly?

“But you are dressing too quickly. First, you must be wiped down properly.” (Adele)

She wiped my legs and helped me finish dressing.

 

—

 

Bundled up in extra layers, I made my way to the living room.

“Ahhn, no. Even if you look at me with such hungry eyes, you will not have your way.” (Adele)

“Please refrain from making remarks that could be so easily misunderstood.” (Leon)

Granted, I might indeed look a little hungry.

“It is fine, is it not? We are the only ones here.” (Adele)

That would give anyone the wrong idea.

“In any case, the patient must eat only food that is easy to digest.” (Adele)

Indeed, my gaze had been fixed on the food. I was hungry, since last night I had eaten nothing but soup.

Adele-san had prepared a pasta dish. Yet, while her own portion exuded the rich aroma of minced meat sauce, mine consisted only of noodles. Furthermore, prioritizing digestibility, she had boiled the noodles twice as long as usual. They had absorbed water, grown thick, and lost all firmness. Though seasoned with a touch of salt and not unpalatable, they were far from satisfying.

“I shall come again tomorrow. If you are well, I shall cook something delicious for you.” (Adele)

 

—

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