Chapter 64
“Fairies aren’t monsters… so why are they considered a side effect of black magic?”
“When we traced back where this fairy swarm originated, we found the hideout of a black magician who was arrested not long ago. Considering that fairy swarms usually only appear in the spring, the fact that they’re showing up at this time of year strongly suggests it’s due to black magic.”
It truly felt like black magic was tangled up in my life no matter where I went. And always in the worst ways.
So this is what a side effect of black magic looks like…
Just like how I paid with my most precious memory when I used a black magic artifact, it sounded like that black magician used black magic and, as a side effect, ended up spawning a massive fairy swarm.
Whenever black magic is invoked, something negative always happens.
And somehow, we’re the ones suffering for it. Damn it!
“They say black magicians are getting bolder these days. We’re probably going to have a rough time for a while.”
…Damn it, April, fighting.
Every time I end up cheering for April like this, it seriously hurts my pride…
While I was silently praying that April would break this entire world to pieces, Yuri finally began explaining how to deal with the fairy swarm.
“We can’t let the fairies enter any buildings. So we need to seal off all entrances.”
But when she said that, Yuri wore an expression like she was recalling something from the distant past.
Her attitude didn’t feel like someone encountering fairies for the first time, so I asked curiously,
“Have you dealt with fairies before, Yuri-nim?”
“Of course…”
Yuri spoke in a strangely sorrowful voice.
“It was about half a year before you enlisted, Sarubia. And back then…”
Yuri’s eyes suddenly turned emotional.
“Lady April was there…”
“Oh…”
I too felt my expression soften with nostalgia.
I knew all too well that April absolutely hated dirt and despised bugs, so imagining her dealing with a fairy swarm…
“Lady April personally checked every entrance for even the slightest gap. She was that thorough.”
I didn’t even want to imagine how badly the juniors would’ve suffered if there had been the slightest crack.
“And back then, she was about… six times more sensitive than usual.”
“That’s impossible…”
Six times more sensitive April? Could that still even be called human? That’s just a walking natural disaster.
Yuri nodded seriously.
“So this time, we must block this fairy swarm with no gaps… with Lady April’s spirit.”
“Yes, ma’am…”
…Isn’t it possible original Sarubia died from over-preparing for a fairy swarm? I mean, these things are basically monsters…
✦✦✦
Discharge D-1902.
A war against insects was declared, and training was suspended.
Instead, we spent the time sealing the armory and the supply storage building. We taped every crack in the doors and windows, and even blocked the ventilation ducts.
Then we sealed the dining hall. Everyone working there was moved to the squad building.
Finally, we began sealing the squad building where our dorm was located. Every window, every air vent was covered, and Yuri checked even the bathroom drains with terrifying intensity.
Only after enough food was supplied—enough to last several days—were we ready to close the only remaining door. Since guard duty still needed to rotate, we hadn’t fully sealed it yet.
“Ah, I’m exhausted…”
My arms ached after taping everything, and I rubbed them while walking down the corridor. Yes, there wouldn’t be training for a while and I’d get to rest in the dorm, but honestly—I preferred training.
I really don’t have time to be preparing for things like this.
Of course, a fairy swarm was a serious issue, but the thing I needed to prepare for more urgently was… my death!
“Ishina-nim.”
When I called his name with a serious face, Ishina slowly turned to look at me.
“What, Sarubia?”
“What do you think I should improve?”
“…What?”
“I mean—what should I improve about myself?”
Earlier, I had tried asking Ishina what he thought about Patty, Matty, and Jason’s situation, but he gave me such a suspicious look that I had no choice but to drop it.
With that sharp insight of his, he probably suspected I was plotting something. So unfair…
Well, whatever. Their mess is their problem. They can fix it themselves…
I should focus on my own problems—like preventing my death. Or analyzing my weaknesses.
And since Ishina had great insight, maybe he could advise me on those weaknesses.
“Haaa…”
But Ishina, after staring at me from head to toe, let out a deep sigh.
“First, tie your hair properly. And your shirt collar keeps folding weird so fix that. And tie your shoelaces properly. Okay?”
Not… what I meant…
“Yes, sir…”
“I know you hate hassle, but you should still dress properly…”
His words sounded suspiciously like nagging. When I answered quietly, he sighed deeply again and gestured me closer.
Then, just like during the march before, he skillfully tied my hair again. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it—I just didn’t feel like it…
“Oh.”
I touched the finished hairstyle and let out a small exclamation. He really had professional-level skill.
“Why are you so good at this? Did you have a younger sister?”
“No, not exactly…”
Ishina opened his mouth.
“I was an only child, but I wanted a younger sister. So I practiced, so I could explain to my parents why we needed one.”
“Ohhh.”
This backstory wasn’t even in the original. My eyes sparkled.
“Is there a reason you wanted a younger sister?”
“Mm, nothing special. Just, you know—kids always want a younger sibling.”
He looked nostalgic.
“There were already plenty of boys my age in the neighborhood, and they were loud. So I wanted a little sister instead.”
“Ah.”
“But in the end, I never got one.”
He shrugged lightly. Then he stared at my face for a moment before saying,
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t…”
“Huh? Why?”
“I didn’t know back then, but… she probably wouldn’t listen. At all.”
“…Haha.”
“Seriously. Not. At. All.”
✦✦✦
“Haa…”
I stopped walking when I saw Jason coming out of the men’s restroom with a heavy sigh. His dark circles were now almost half as dark as Taro’s.
…Should I really just leave him alone? Will they truly get closer on their own?
“Hey, Jason, you okay?”
“Ah, Sarubia-nim… Yes, I’m fine…”
“Your batchmates didn’t cause trouble again today, right?”
“No, not yet…”
But before he could finish—
El ran down the hallway, shouting angrily.
“HEY, JASON! Keep an eye on your batchmates! The two of them tripped over each other, fell, and passed out!”
“…What?”
Jason’s face went blank.
Then suddenly, he brightened.
“If they’re unconscious… then they can’t cause trouble… so for about an hour, everything should be okay…”
…I wanted to make a jab at that, but he genuinely looked relieved, so I let it go.
“Well… at least you aren’t a problem.”
I patted his shoulder. Thank goodness Jason wasn’t a troublemaker.
Right now it already felt like problem child + problem child, and if Jason were one too, it would be problem child + problem child + problem child, and everyone would suffer.
The fact that there would eventually be someone capable of controlling Patty and Matty was a blessing. Though that wouldn’t happen for a while.
Just then, Dream came sprinting down the hallway and yelled,
“Jason! A fairy got separated from the swarm and got inside the building! It went into the room where Patty and Matty fainted, and they woke up screaming their heads off!”
“…Life…”
Jason muttered bitterly, and I couldn’t even think of a way to console him, so I quietly left.
The bugs were doing the job of tormenting him in Patty and Matty’s place…
✦✦✦
Smoke rose from beyond the mountain.
The moment the seniors saw it, they moved instantly.
“Emergency! The fairy swarm has appeared!”
“Block the doors!”
Smoke rising in the distance—that was the signal announcing the fairies’ arrival.
The moment the news spread, even the captain and NCOs rushed out and began shouting orders.
We quickly checked all the windows we had blocked over the past three days, and then began sealing the last door.
And finally, when every entrance had been closed—
Thud thud thud thud—!
Something struck the windows from outside.
Each time it happened, I flinched. The sound of something huge hitting the glass filled me with chills.
The insect swarm attack had begun.
