65. Unexpected Holiday

"Catherine? Oh, you mean that weird one?"

In Randy's hands, a prototype camera was being shaped with [Craft] and glowed faintly. Based on Corey and other's advice, he had added a mechanism to amplify light within it.

Despite it being Monday morning, Randy and Liz were engrossed in completing the camera prototype. 

The reason they could dedicate this time to their project was that the academy was closed for the time being.

For Randy, this unexpected holiday was a stroke of luck. 

However, Liz mentioned that the cause seemed to be linked to "Catherine," the name he had just mentioned earlier, he couldn't help but say, "What a weird girl."

"Well, she's not that weird…" Liz responded with a wry smile.

"Really?" Randy raised an eyebrow in skepticism.

It's no wonder Randy felt this way. 

To him, Catherine was an enigma whose actions were beyond understanding.

Apparently, once her school life ended, she will need to travel as a saintess, visiting various places to prevent the resurrection of evil beings by offering prayers at spots filled with miasma.

It was an abstract mission that seemed to restrict an individual's actions, but perhaps that was how this world operated.

 Nobles, royalty, and many others lived bound by their origins. 

If one saw it as a form of noblesse oblige, then it wasn't surprising that Catherine's path as a Saintess was predetermined.

…Whether she could accept that or not was another matter.

(Probably, Ellie is that evil being… And Liz's exilement must be related to the game.)

Randy had deduced that Catherine was a reincarnator. 

Because her behaviour was too strange otherwise.

She was the perpetrator behind Liz's exilement and became close to Edgar.

If that were all, he might have dismissed her as a girl destined for a happy ending in a romance game. 

But her actions involving Dario, Cecilia's fiancé candidate, made Randy realize, "Oh, her way of thinking is from that world."

Why would she need to approach another man when she was already winning over one? Her bizarre actions were a clear sign to Randy.

She's a reincarnator who knows about otome games.

As a reincarnator, her odd behaviors could be explained. 

Seducing men, diving into dungeons—she was likely chasing after game events.

Exilement of Liz? Probably just an action within the game's plot.

Randy who was unfamiliar with the main storyline of the game, hadn't known about the trigger for Eleonora's resurrection. 

But thinking of Catherine as a reincarnator connected many dots.

Still, to Randy, she remained an "weird girl" because, even if they were both reincarnators, their fundamental thought processes differed. 

Even if Randy had known the main story, he wouldn't have made those choices.

If he knew where the problem was, he'd go and deal with it himself.

That was Randy's mindset. Of course, he didn't intend to force this way of thinking on someone like Catherine. 

He didn't, but there was one thing he could say for sure:

There's no need to tediously replicate the game.

The moment he, an anomaly, appeared in this world, it ceased to be just a game. There was no need to forcibly follow the plot. That was Randy's belief.

That's why Randy would never be able to understand Catherine's motives, and vice versa.

"So? What's the connection between the Saintess and the academy closure?"

"It was written on the notice, wasn't it? The reason for the closure is because of the Elementals—"

As Liz spoke, Randy recalled what had happened just a while ago.

—-

On the Friday when the ghost materials arrived for Randy, Catherine and her group's night adventure had come to an end. 

Everyone had spent their weekend as they pleased, and then Monday arrived…

"Huh? Academy is closed?"

…Randy and Liz, like the other students, stood in front of the academy gate, reading the notice posted there.

"Due to Elemental issues within the academy building, school will be closed today."

Staring at the notice, Randy furrowed his brow and shifted his gaze to the academy building that was visible through the closed gate.

(Elementals? That Elementals? At the academy?)

As Randy tilted his head in puzzlement, Liz spotted Cecilia and her group, who had just stepped off a carriage. 

"Ah, Cecily!" Liz called out, and began chatting with Cecilia.

"What's this? The academy is closed?" Luke asked as he approached.

"Seems like it. Honestly, I need a break, so it's perfect," Randy shrugged in response.

"I can agree with that… though it's mostly your fault," Luke retorted with a sidelong glance.

"It was fun, so who cares?" Randy chuckled, glancing over at Liz, Cecilia, and Annabelle, who had joined them at some point. 

Unfortunately, Corey was nowhere to be seen, but everyone present had participated in the weekend's harvest festival in Victor's territory.

Despite the fun they had at the festival, it had delayed their work for camera prototype.

For Randy, this unexpected holiday was perfectly timed.

"Luke, we're heading back now," Cecilia called, seemingly finished with her conversation. Luke waved at Randy before returning to her side.

"Randy, shall we head back too?" Liz suggested.

"Yeah, we've got job to do."

After saying goodbye to Annabelle, Randy and Liz returned to the residence. 

The sudden academy closure, though its cause remained unclear, was a opportunity for Randy to quickly return to their house and focus on their prototype, leading to the conversation at the beginning.

　―――――――

"So, you're saying that Saintess Catherine has something to do with the Elementals?"

"I heard from Lady Annabelle that apparently, Lady Catherine and her group are also trying to solve the Seven Mysteries."

"Why would they do that?"

Randy tilted his head, almost dropping the prototype he was working on. 

He quickly caught it and looked at Liz, who just gave a wry smile and shrugged.

"They ignored it until now?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that something the student council should be handling?"

"…Yes."

Randy sighed softly, wondering if they were finally planning to do whatever they pleased, but he figured that probably wasn't the case.

(Then again, maybe this is just something that Saintess really wants to do…)

As Randy mused over this, Liz spoke up again.

"Anyway, the reason for the temporary academy closure seems to be in response with the sixth mystery they uncovered."

Liz handed Randy a piece of photo sensitive paper she had made with a sigh.

"Well, whatever. It's their responsibility if they're doing this exploration, and besides, it was the Elementals, right? She must be fine because she has holy magic."

Randy inserted the photo paper into the prototype camera and took a shot.

"Well, that's what the announcement said…"

Liz looked a bit doubtful as she took the film, which reflected her curious expression. 

She examined it closely. 

Unlike their earlier experiments, this one hadn't changed, which made Liz mutter, "Oh, nothing happened."

"This is—"

"It's just diluted fluid (Varyon fluid). We haven't mix the ghost material yet."

"Okay."

The two continued to inspect the photo for a while. Although it seemed fine for now, there was still a chance the image would fade like cheap ink over time.

"Should we try making a solution with the materials Lady Annabelle gave us?"

"Yeah… We may also need to mix the ratio from scratch…"

As Randy scratched his head, Liz clapped her hands as if she had remembered something.

"Do you mean Lady Catherine is fine because holy magic is effective against the Elementals?"

Liz tilted her head, and Randy raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Isn't that so?"

"I thought it meant they were weak and not much of a problem."

"Have you ever fought them?"

"Of course. My rule is to 'beat them up as soon as I see them.'"

Randy sighed, his face twisting into a frown.

"They act like they're on human's side, but they're worse than magic beasts."

Liz's eyes widened in surprise. "But aren't the Elementals shouldn't be attacked?"

"Yeah, that's what they say, but I don't really care… Just like the Saintess."

The two of them didn't seem to get along at all when it came to this conversation, but when it came to the prototype, they go along in perfect harmony, with Randy said, "Can you write down the mixing ratio of the liquid?" Liz replied, "Okay" 

"When you attack them, they fight back fiercely. That thing, no matter how you look at it, doesn't look like a magic beast."

Randy adjusted the new solution while Liz covered her face with one hand, likely hearing Ellie's exasperated voice in her head, saying, "Just don't attack them."

"Weren't you reprimanded for that?"

"Hmm?"

Randy inserted new photo paper into the prototype and took another shot of Liz.

"At first, yeah—"

He took out the developed photo.

"Tch, it's not showing up,"

"Let's change the mix ratios again."

"Let's try something completely different."

The two nodded and began mixing the photosensitive liquid once more.

"So, you were reprimanded at first… What about after that?"

"Huh? After that? They just said, 'Do whatever you want.'"

Randy grinned, set the photo paper back into the camera, and took another shot of Liz.

"…How is it?"

"Not good."

Randy sighed deeply, muttering, "What's wrong with it?" as he compared the original mix ratio with the two recent trials.

"The sample number is too small to make comparison."

"I was thinking, could it be that it's fixed without showing any image?"

"That's a possibility."

Randy suddenly had an idea and started tinkering with the prototype.

"What are you doing now?"

"I'm thinking… Maybe we can spray the solution right as the light hits the paper."

"Interesting. In that case, why don't we dip the paper in the solution first to test if it settles?"

"Good idea."

　Randy and Liz began working together to liquefy the ghost material.

"…So the result of 'doing whatever you want' is 'smash the Elementals on sight'?"

"Pretty much. They're scum who kidnap people without a second thought. For the sake of the people of Victor's territory-"

"That's a lie."

The one who interrupted Randy was Harrison, who was peeking in through the door.

"A lie?"

"Harrison—"

"It's true that you went on a rampage hunting Elementals. But—"

Harrison grinned and continued, "That whole 'for the people' thing is a lie."

"Come on! I was just fulfilling my noble duty to protect—"

"Lies! You even told us, 'Hey, try killing an Elementals. Their counterattacks are great training for new recruits,' didn't you?"

Randy was choked by Harrison's flat gaze. 

What Harrison said was partly true, but there was no way Randy could fully admit to it. Doing so would mean acknowledging the truth to Liz, who was looking at him with a similar skeptical gaze.

"Are you stupid? I said that because if you guys got stronger, you'd be able to protect the people—"

"Even so, it didn't have to be the Elementals."

"Listen, those things are basically kidnappers! They're not servants of the goddess; they're minions of evil."

As Randy pouted, Liz handed him a bucket, saying, "The solution is ready." 

Randy took it and once again pointed the camera at Liz, taking another shot.

He quickly dipped the photo in the solution.

"How does it look?"

"Yeah, you look cute."

Randy smiled, showing Liz the photo. Liz blushed and stammered, "I don't know if it's cute or not…"

"Alright, enough of that," Harrison grumbled, wrinkling his nose. 

He then remembered his original purpose for being there and spoke up.

"Young Master—"

"Is this a message from Miranda?"

"That's right."

Harrison nodded without any surprise, knowing that Randy would have sensed the presence of the visitor long before.

"What's the message?"

Randy was tinkering with the prototype, trying to see if he could attach a sprayer to it, while Harrison grimaced.

"They're visiting."

"Huh? Visiting?"

"Yes. Tonight, Lord Cedric and Lady Miranda will be visiting…"

Hearing that, Randy glanced at the photos of Liz laid out on the floor and laughed triumphantly. "Looks like we finished just in time."