Moonlight Beneath the Night Sky

"Really? Should I give it a try? To be honest, my arms feel like they're about to fall off."

Nade encouraged him.

"Go for it, go for it! From what I've heard, you project your body's image while in a state of selflessness. Then..."

"I know what it is. Just wait. Let me concentrate."

As his friends fell silent, Shirone closed his eyes and focused on the sensations within his body.

'Just before entering the Spirit Zone... selflessness.'

From there, he had to project his body's image while awakening every sense through insight!

"Uuugh... Uaaah! Ah, no. It's getting even harder."

Iruki held back a laugh as he spoke.

"Idiot, did you really think that would work? Being specialized in the Spirit Zone means it's incompatible with Schema."

"Puhahaha!"

Nade couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter, making Shirone glare at him with dagger-like eyes.

"You little—! I'm not doing it anymore! Someone else carry her!"

In the end, the three of them took turns carrying Shiina.

But Nade barely made it half as far as Shirone before collapsing, and Iruki didn't even manage ten steps.

With trembling arms, Shirone hoisted Shiina onto his back once again, feeling utterly dumbfounded.

"Hey, don't we look really pathetic right now?"

"Shirone, saying things out loud that we all know already is just bad manners."

After Nade's remark, the three of them fell into silence.

It wasn't out of self-pity, though. They were simply too exhausted to talk.

By the time they reached the school, Shirone suddenly spoke up.

"Hey... I think we should drop it."

"Drop what? Be specific."

"The deal we were planning with Shiina-sensei."

"Hmmm."

Nade had to admit, he felt guilty about it too.

But this wasn't just any issue—it was a matter of their research group's survival.

"But do you have any other solution? Any way to keep the research group alive?"

"No. And it's not that I'm against risking things for the group. But this is different. Honestly... today must have been a really painful day for Shiina-sensei."

His words made his friends grow solemn.

She had sacrificed her vision for someone dear to her. And she had bid farewell to someone she'd always cherished. This wasn't something a single night of drinking could wash away.

"Yeah, I know. I really do. But the research group is important to me too. You guys might not understand, but the previous president entrusted me with this. I can't let it fall apart because of me..."

Iruki nodded in agreement.

"I get where you're coming from. The decision is yours. We're just members, after all."

Nade sighed deeply.

"I wouldn't push this so far if it were anyone else. Shiina-sensei is just too hard to deal with. She has no weaknesses. She's strict, meticulous, and leaves no room for error. She even told Shirone to quit the group because she was worried about his Overflow. If we want to win against someone like that, we have to use tricks."

'These guys...'

Shiina, still slung over Shirone's back, felt a surge of emotion.

She had been in a drunken haze when they were spinning her around earlier, but now she was almost completely sober.

"But now we understand, don't we?"

Shirone spoke.

"Why she chose to become a teacher, why she's so obsessed with Overflow. Shiina-sensei doesn't want us to walk the same path she did."

"Tch! I already knew that. To be honest... she's one of the people I respect most."

Nade trailed off, unable to avoid the stares of Shirone and Iruki.

"Alright, alright! Everything we saw today never happened! We keep what happened to Shiina-sensei a secret. As for the research group, we'll think of something else tomorrow. Sound good?"

Iruki agreed.

"No complaints here. If anything, we were the villains in this situation. And we owe Shiina-sensei a lot. She may speak coldly, but when it matters most, she always takes the students' side."

Shirone nodded.

"Then it's settled. No matter what challenges come our way, we never speak of today. It has nothing to do with the research group."

"Agreed. Deal!"

With the decision made, they felt a weight lifted off their shoulders. Feeling much lighter, the trio continued toward the magic school.

None of them realized that Shiina had already opened her eyes.

The school gates came into view.

Shirone, half-dead from exhaustion, noticed a guard holding a torch at the entrance and hesitated. It wasn't past midnight yet, so the night shift hadn't ended.

Shirone stopped.

"What do we do? If we go in looking like this, rumors will spread. And we did sneak out without permission."

"No choice. Let's use magic. I'll float Shiina-sensei, so hold her for a moment."

"Alright. Put her down first. Iruki, help me."

Just as Shirone bent his knees, the weight on his back suddenly vanished.

Startled, he turned around to see Shiina standing perfectly upright. Her drunken stupor was gone, and her eyes gleamed with clarity.

"S-Sensei?"

Shirone collapsed to the ground in sheer disbelief.

If she could walk, then what was all his suffering for?!

Nade asked cautiously, "Are you really okay, Sensei?"

"Of course. Did you really think I'd get that drunk?"

Shirone looked betrayed.

"Then why did you...?!"

"If you eat an expensive meal, you should at least work for it. You didn't really think you'd get off that easily, did you?"

In truth, she had only sobered up a short while ago.

Even for a skilled mage, sheer willpower couldn't instantly eliminate intoxication. The alcohol still coursed through her blood.

"Anyway, follow me if you want to enter quietly."

Shiina strode toward the front gate, and the trio, as if hypnotized, followed her.

Recognizing her face, the drowsy guard straightened up and greeted her.

"Ah! Good evening, Shiina-sensei."

"Yes, good work."

"By any chance... did you take the students out?"

"Yes. I brought them for field study."

"Ah, I see. That must have been tough. Have a good night."

Technically, students weren't allowed to leave at night, but as long as they were with a teacher, it wasn't a violation.

Even so, Shirone and his friends hurried through the gate, terrified the guard might call them back.

As soon as they reached the central courtyard, Shiina suddenly turned to them with a piercing gaze.

"You lot."

"Hick!"

Shirone shivered. He could feel it in his bones—they were back at Alpheas Magic Academy.

"I'll let today slide."

"...Huh?"

"It'll be our little secret. I won't report it, nor will I tell anyone. And I'll give you one more month. That's the best deal I can offer you."

Their hearts swelled.

Coming from Shiina, those words meant everything.

Nade clenched his fists.

"Yes! Just wait and see, Sensei. We'll prove the value of our research group! I bet you'll be surprised!"