Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 9

A bizarre sound echoed from the sky, like the trumpets of angels. Vanessa snapped to attention, sensing a surge of immense magical power.

*Thwack!*

A massive beam of light descended, piercing the monster’s head.

“Keeeee!”

Contrary to Vanessa’s expectations, dozens of beams of light rained down, impaling the monster’s head and body. The air filled with the stench of burning flesh from the intense heat.

The monster released Lina in its agonizing pain.

“Aaaagh!”

Lina fell onto the grass as the monster writhed on the ground, emitting a horrifying scream. Its massive tail thrashed violently.

*Screeeeeech!*

“Lina!”

Vanessa rushed forward, pulling Lina to safety.

The three stood speechless, staring at the monster thrashing its massive body, leaving scorched holes wherever it landed. The grass blackened and melted upon contact.

Realizing its end was near, the monster clawed at the ground, spewing venomous smoke from its mouth. It was determined to kill at least that blue-eyed mage; that seemed to be its final purpose.

Just then, Professor Aper and Professor Guido descended from the sky.

Professor Aper shouted something urgently, and a transparent barrier formed between the students and the monster.

Professor Guido narrowed his eyes slightly. The black smoke swirled, then froze in place as if trapped. Gradually, the smoke condensed into a small bead, which fell onto Professor Guido’s palm.

And only the monster’s corpse, breathing its last, and the dazed students remained.

“Who… who fought this thing?” Professor Aper panted, looking at the three of them.

The three just stared blankly at each other.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The man frowned. The letter was concise, but its contents were not pleasant.

「A monster, seemingly pieced together from various creatures, appeared in the lake of Bamberg Academy. Unfortunately, most of the professors were at the academic conference and could not respond immediately, resulting in some damage.

Fortunately, a student nearby managed to deal with the monster.

The monster’s corpse is currently being analyzed. So far, it appears to have the forms of a Gargatus [a large, winged beast], an Alnop [a venomous swamp creature], and a Zapa [a subterranean predator] combined.」

“Bamberg Academy, huh?”

The man put down the documents and stood up.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Teacher,

Teacher, so much happened today. But strangely, my hands won’t move properly. I’m so out of it that my head feels numb.

Anyway, today was a day off, so I spent a day without classes for the first time in a while. It would have been a great day if a monster hadn’t appeared inside the Academy!

As you know, the Academy is protected by layers of barriers built up by many people. Unauthorized individuals can’t dare to enter.

But a monster got inside.

It was the first time in decades, so everyone was shocked and exhausted. The professors became very serious.

I thought it was terrible just seeing it in books, but seeing it in person, it wasn’t just terrible—it was terrifying. When I saw those sharp teeth, I wanted to run away immediately.

I should take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the wizards guarding the borders and to the special combat unit directly under the King.

Lina was almost seriously injured because of the monster.

Fortunately, Lina is fine except for some bruising around her ankle and a slight sprain in her back. Still, she has to rest in the infirmary for today.

So, I’m alone at night for the first time in a long time. Being alone makes the night seem a little scary.

I’ve heard that monsters have been running rampant lately. Could that be why one came all the way into the Academy? I’m very worried.

Are you safe and sound, Teacher? Whenever you go somewhere, you must check for monsters!

Even though my heart is beating so erratically, I can’t believe that assignments are piling up and exams are coming soon.

Oh, I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt.

Completely exhausted,

Vanessa Rose.

p.s. Anyway, I used magic for the third time in my life today. Or, I think I did.

But I don’t know how I used it. Large-scale magic that isn’t established requires conditions, right?

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa was once again enveloped in strange gazes.

She thought she was used to it by now, but it always felt new. In the midst of it, she didn’t even know if her arms and legs were moving in the right order.

Without Lina, there was no one to shield her. And Chebatti wouldn’t be in the next class either!

“Is that her…”

“She’s only been here for a year…”

Vanessa started walking very quickly. If she were truly outstanding, she would be proud of such comments, but she wasn’t feeling that way right now.

Magic. What on earth *is* magic! It works and then it doesn’t; it’s so arbitrary!

Vexed, Vanessa tried to dodge someone approaching without looking, but it was Evan. He opened his mouth casually.

“You shouldn’t avoid people like they’re bugs.”

“Oh!”

Vanessa’s face brightened, and she pulled Evan to cover her right side.

“Walk faster.”

“Why?”

Evan was bewildered but faithfully shielded Vanessa’s side. Soon, he realized the reason for the murmurs nearby.

*Does she not realize that bringing along someone else involved in the incident will only amplify the whispers?*

But to become friends, such truths could be overlooked. After all, they would be spending their fourth year together in September, wouldn’t they? There’s no harm in getting a little closer beforehand.

Evan glanced at Vanessa’s wavy hair and smiled as he walked alongside her.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa took notes even more diligently for Lina, who was lying in the infirmary. She asked a friend she didn’t know well to take notes for the economics class she wasn’t attending. The friend nodded, looking flustered for some reason.

Vanessa was already used to the stares directed at her, so she didn’t even care why the friend was acting that way.

*Had she become too accustomed to things in just three months since the semester started?*

After the afternoon classes, Vanessa headed to the library at a brisk pace.

She chose a secluded spot among the towering bookshelves. The front was a window, offering a view of Bamberg’s scenery as the sun set.

Vanessa put up thick textbooks like shields to block the gazes directed at her and brought additional books to refer to.

Only after organizing the notes for Lina for a long time did she open the textbook for the subject. It was the first subject she had ever gotten first place in, so she really wanted to do well.

As she was writing down as much as she could remember on a blank sheet of paper, someone sat down in the empty seat next to her. Looking over, she saw Evan smiling.

He glanced around and whispered softly.

“Hi.”

Then, he handed Vanessa a jelly candy and began looking into his textbook.

Outside the window, the sunset was settling over the densely packed trees. The library was filled only with the sound of turning pages, thanks to the students busy preparing for exams.

Vanessa didn’t even realize that a lot of time had passed and the surrounding students were all disappearing. Because whenever she turned her head to clear her mind or loosen her neck, Evan was next to her, groaning along.

But when she came to her senses, the night sky was already brilliantly filled with stars, and there seemed to be barely five people left in the huge library.

“You’re amazing. What concentration…” Evan whispered. Vanessa nodded indifferently and packed her things. Evan smiled and stood up with her.

“Weren’t you saying you weren’t going to be able to advance to the 5th grade anyway?”

“Even so, it’s good to pass the exams for the courses I’m taking. The difficulty varies every year.”

As the two walked down the pure white stairs and were about to leave the library, a red-haired girl packed her things and ran out.

“Evan!”

“Ah.”

The red-haired girl glanced at Vanessa and said to Evan.

“Ahem. You have to go to the Star Dormitory. Let’s go together.”

Her voice was confident, but the girl’s eyes were twitching nervously.

Vanessa roughly understood. Evan was quite handsome from an objective point of view, and his family was well-off, so many students must have had feelings for him.

“Um, hello.”

When Vanessa greeted the girl, she looked flustered, probably because she had acted as if Vanessa wasn’t there.

“Ah, yes. I didn’t say hello. Sorry. I’m Tish, a 4th grader.”

“Yes, Tish-sunbae [a term for senior students]. I’m Vanessa Rose. I’m in the Moon Dormitory, so I think I can go alone. It’s dark at night, so go with Evan-sunbae.”

Then Evan frowned.

“What are you talking about? It’s dark!”

“That’s why Evan-sunbae should go with Tish-sunbae. The Moon Dormitory isn’t far.”

Vanessa bowed and hurried away. Evan stared blankly at her retreating figure before ruffling his hair.

Fortunately, the corridors were brightly lit, and small lights floated along the small path, so the way back wasn’t scary at all.

When Vanessa opened the door to the dormitory, she heard rustling inside.

“Lina!”

“Vanessaaaa.”

Lina was leaning against the bed, waving her hand.

Vanessa immediately threw down her bag and jumped onto Lina’s bed.

“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

Lina chuckled as Vanessa’s eyes welled up.

“I had a bit of a nightmare yesterday. That monster’s teeth were chattering below. So, it’s confirmed that you’re the one who defeated that monster?”

Vanessa groaned and got up, placing her bag on the desk.

“Probably. Evan-sunbae said he definitely wasn’t the one. What happened was similar to what I wanted. But I can’t get any power out. Do you know how much I struggled to stand up a water bottle today?”

Lina made an interested humming sound.

“You used a large-scale magic, but you don’t know the conditions properly. Well, that’s not what I asked about.”

Lina gestured to Vanessa’s bed. There were lavishly wrapped boxes piled on it. There were so many that some were rolling on the floor.

“These were sent by my mom, dad, and relatives because you saved me.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened, and Lina smiled brightly and started tearing open the boxes on the bed in Vanessa’s place.

In an instant, torn wrapping paper piled up on the floor.