Change of Pace

Having purchased the Black Wisp, I immediately returned to Earth.

[10:09 | Monday]

I had already checked it earlier while I was waiting, but despite spending almost fifty hours in the Illusory World, barely three passed in real life.

Needless to say, since I'd been up for over twenty-four hours, my eyelids felt like lead, and my body seemed to want nothing more than to collapse right here.

Alas, I had stuff to do before that, and while I remembered to do it, I should. 

Firstly, I checked my emails.

"Let's see... Ah."

As I thought, the reply to my request came; an appointment was scheduled for next Monday, in exactly one week's time.

"..."

[Enki...? Perhaps, is everything alright...?]

Suddenly, the Librarian's quizzical voice pierced through, snapping me out of the stuporous state I abruptly fell into.

"Hm? What's that?"

[Ah! You froze for a moment there, I was beginning to fret! Shouldn't you take the time to rest? A weary body and mind is always pernicious, most particularly in the long term, you know!]

Glancing again at the time displayed, I smiled and shook my head.

"Eh, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."

Even though the Librarian wasn't physically there, for some reason, I still felt the need to force it as if she could see me... Although, even if she was there, she wouldn't be able to see it with those veiled, likely blind eyes of hers, anyway.

Of course, even if it was useless, it was just an instinctive reaction.

'Monday...'

Engraving the date and time of the scheduled appointment into my mind, I switched off my phone before depositing both the magic academy uniform and the accompanying wand into the Storage.

It wasn't that it was particularly uncomfortable or anything, but I belatedly realised the fresh blood stains that drenched the hem of my uniform's cloak, shoes and trousers, were not few, so the only choice I had was to remove them.

If I didn't have the Storage, I would probably have no choice but to burn them alongside the knight outfit too, but at least everything could stay in there for now.

"I should eat, too..."

Enervated my mind and body were, the gnawing of an empty stomach would never acquiesce. So, since I ended up skipping on breakfast due to the scheme, I decided to grab something to eat before heading to bed for the day.

I had brought some snacks with me, but they were already gone the previous day.

Incidentally, I didn't know if eating my last meal of the day at this time would be considered breakfast or dinner, but either way, I didn't have long to contemplate that quandary.

It didn't matter, anyway.

On my way to the kitchen, I heard two voices. They were quite distinct, so even though they were muffled, I could still recognise them even beyond the doors.

'I thought everyone would be out by now...'

Flinching at the realisation, I felt unquestionably conflicted at the notion of presenting my exhausted self to others. I didn't have any residual blood on me, did I...? Not that I could see.

Either way, persevering through such discomfort, I steeled myself and entered the room.

"―I know, right?! And-- Oh! Good morning, Enk-- Wow, you look like a zombie! Are you okay? I said you might have died since we haven't seen you in days, but it was only a joke! It's not my fault, right...?"

The first: A rather energetic, candid young lady with long blonde curls and a sports bag at her feet.

"Mia... That's a bit much, don't you think? Good morning, Enki."

The second: A composed young man with gelled, neat dark hair and an identical sports bag as the other. The two also donned black-and-blue sportswear.

"Oh, Luke, come on~! I'm not being rude, I'm just concerned! Enki, I'm sorry if I offended you, okay?"

Facing them, I flashed a smile.

"No, it's fine. I had to stay up for something important, so I didn't get much sleep."

Even though I called it a "kitchen", it was in reality combined with the living room to create a larger communal space, so there was plenty of room even with three people... Er, to put it simply, it was open-plan.

The young couple sat beside each other on one of those beige sofas, seemingly having just finished eating as I moved towards the room's opposite end.

"Alright. But really, what on earth happened to you? We were really beginning to get worried."

Puzzled as to how to answer Mia's frankly unneeded concern, I contemplated in silence for a moment before saying something vague.

"Nothing really 'happened'. I've just been a bit busy recently. Uh. New job."

"Oh, you got a job? Wow, that's sudden! Where do you work?"

'Damn it.'

I had only replied thoughtlessly, but immediately hesitated upon Mia's question. Pausing for just a moment, I grimaced internally before squeezing out something ambiguous.

"Just a local library. It's quiet and out the way, so it's nice."

Whether she believed me or not, she didn't push it.

"Interesting... Well, maybe Harriet might find you one of these days! Or, Ella also reads, right? I remember them discussing a book together before..."

I shrugged, turning towards the reason I entered the kitchen in the first place; in the meantime, I passively listened to the two of them talk.

"Oh right, that reminds me! I wanted to suggest for everyone to go out sometime soon! I think it would be a lot of fun since it's been a while, and especially with Christmas Break right around the corner, everyone will be real busy soon. What do you guys think?"

"I think it'd be nice to get together. And you're right about Christmas Break. Enki?"

As I finally decided on the flavour of noodle I wanted to eat―which was, incidentally, curry flavour―Luke called my name.

"What, drinking? Uh..."

Standing with my mouth subtly agape, I momentarily recalled what happened the last time I went drinking.

"Little knight, little knight...! Are you there, little knight...?"

'Eugh...'

Feeling a sudden shudder assault my body, I put a stop to it as fast as I could. The nights of abuse, both physical and verbal, from the Jackass Hero―would not repeat themselves ever again.

I had to remember that these people were normal. Surely, they wouldn't treat me like a dog...

"...Sounds fun. It's nice to go out every once in a while."

Right. It wouldn't be like that at all.

"Of course! It's completely fine not to drink also, so don't worry about it if you don't feel like it. I'll most likely only stick to a couple myself... Hmm, I'm feeling it now. Ooh, actually, I can't wait already...! I'll go ahead and text the others right now."

Luke and I briefly glanced at each other as Mia started tapping away at her phone furiously, swinging her feet up and down in her seat. Meanwhile, the obtained noodles in hand, I turned back and walked over to the kettle, filling it up with water and turning it on.

"They said yes to going out on Saturday!"

"Wh-- That was quick."

"'What time are you thinking', hm... '8 PM'? How's that for you guys?"

With the kettle having finished heating up, I poured boiling water into the pot until the stated 'fill line' before resealing it with the foil cover.

"Sounds perfect."

"'Perfect'... Nice! And Enki, how about you?"

Gulp.

Taking in the mouth-watering smell of curry that proceeded to waft into my nostrils, I contemplated the question in silence. Today was Monday, but after eating these noodles I was going straight to sleep, so I would probably wake up at night.

Either way, from now until Saturday, I wasn't busy. The only real "plans" I had at the moment were to clear more Contracts, I guess...

I didn't have anything else to do, so I might as well.

In that regard, I only needed to make sure I was back on Earth by Monday for my meeting. Going out on Saturday evening would mean to limit my Contract timer by an additional one-and-a-half days.

Although, considering what I was going to be doing, that might not matter. I was planning to take on that arena fighter Contract, which shouldn't take too long anyway.

Theoretically, all I would need to do is somehow find a way to make myself the Protagonist's fighting opponent, but even if that's impossible, so long as I can find her backstage, it should be plenty possible to kill her outside of the arena itself with the Black Wisp.

If all goes well, it won't take half as long as the time I spent on either of the past two Contracts. I might even be able to clear it in a matter of hours.

'The only potential concern I can think of would be the time difference, but if you think about it, finding a place that would turn hours into days is extraordinarily unlikely. Besides, I have all the time from Tuesday to Saturday to clear it, so I'd still have time even if that was the case.'

I subtly nodded to myself.

'There should be no problem.'

"Eight's fine with me."

Thus, I gave such an answer.

"Great! Saturday at eight it is, then!"

With that sorted, I revealed the soaked block of curry noodles that had been sufficiently hydrated. Loosening them up, I began to stir them around the cup with a fork I already prepared.

As I did so, Mia shared some gossip with me.

"Oh yeah. Enki, did you hear? There's been some creep going around campus recently."

I checked the noodles, but they were still a bit too raw just yet, so I continued stirring, making sure to occasionally flip what was once a solid block upside down, drenching everything in the curry-infused marination that wafted up to my nostrils.

At the same time, I raised an eyebrow.

"A creep?"

"Mhm. It's some drama student, apparently. Hmph! Figures, honestly. Those guys are always weird in one way or another. Tsk. Listen to this, he approached Harriet and Ella the other day, and I tell you what it's fortunate Sami was with them otherwise I'd have gone and kicked his nuts in reverse myself."

'Ow.'

Examining the noodles again, they appeared to finally have been stirred enough―not any crunch, at least not from what I could tell. Re-sealing the cover, I let it sit to marinate a bit more.

"What'd he do? Did he not get into trouble with the police or something?"

"Not from what I've heard, but until those two return later today, I suppose we won't know. Either way, I'll be keeping a watchful eye, he can bet his sorry ass on that."

I was sure she would. Peeling the cover off the pot, I binned it and picked up my freshly-made cup of noodles.

'Ah.'

Then, I immediately put it back down because it was too hot.

"Sounds rough. They're both alright?"

At that moment, I heard a shuffling sound behind me.

"If they weren't, a certain someone would be in A&E. Anyway, we're gonna play some tennis now, so we'll see you later! You should really come play with us some time, it'd be fun!"

"Oh, maybe. I'll think about it."

'Tennis isn't bad, but I probably won't.'

I wasn't a very physical person in any regard, let alone someone who played sports. I didn't think that knight training could be considered a sport, but even before then, I never really did anything that could be considered as such. It's always been too much effort for what I got out of it, so I never bothered.

As I thought that, the two made their way to the front door, calling out to me through the hallway.

"Alright, well, let me know if you ever want to...! We have spare rackets, so don't worry about anything like that! Okay, we're off now! Bye~~!"

"Have a good time--"

And 'slam' the door went.

"..."

Lightly, I sighed.

Mia was always a little too spirited for me to keep up with, but her ability to drive a conversation on her own was impeccable, so at least I didn't have to say much.

Durings times she went too far, Luke would also usually step in, acting as a sort of limiter.

'...Well. It's a nice change of pace every now and then.'

Glancing back to my noodles, a faint smile floated onto my face.

'I wonder if there's a good video to watch...'

Alas, I would inevitably end up falling asleep before I could finish it.