The rest days vanished in the blink of an eye, and the busy routine of academy work began once more. Various daily occurrences once again filled the lives of those at the academy.
First, another small-scale mana overflow accident occurred in one of the laboratories of the Department of Alchemy. It was rumored that a third-year student had attempted to improve the stability of a Portable Explosion Potion, resulting in half the lab's glassware being coated in a layer of difficult-to-remove colored crystals. The student and their supervising professor also found their hair temporarily transformed into a vibrant rainbow of colors.
Following that, the professor of Magical Botany announced a two-day surprise test covering the characteristics of over three hundred types of magical plants, cultivation essentials, and the principles of elemental compatibility and conflict, leading to widespread wailing among the students.
The Astrology elective, due to thick cloud cover the previous night, saw its observation assignment replaced with a star-chart deduction thesis of over five thousand words.
Amidst the various complaints and tragedies of daily life, the most eye-catching topic of conversation was the injuries Greg Sass could not entirely hide when he returned to the academy on Monday.
Though he tried his best to act as if nothing was wrong, those with sharp eyes could still spot the slight stiffness in his movements, the faint outlines of bandages beneath his uniform, and the fading scratches on his face.
In Glory Cael Magic Academy, where appearance and decorum were always prioritized, this was particularly conspicuous.
Rumors fermented rapidly.
Most people naturally associated this with his past 'achievements,' privately speculating that enemies he had made before had finally found an opportunity now that he had fallen from grace and struck him in secret.
Others thought he had caused trouble outside the school again and bitten off more than he could chew.
In any case, there was little sympathy; most were either gloating or watching with cold indifference.
However, the subsequent development of the situation quickly exceeded everyone's expectations.
As the rumors of Greg's injuries spread, two people immediately intervened in his recovery period with startling enthusiasm.
One was the Second-year Representative of the Department of Alchemy, Chloe Ivy, who was famous for her eccentric temper and sharp tongue.
Using unknown methods, she always managed to appear near Greg during class breaks and lunch hours with various alchemical potions said to aid in recovery and physical strengthening. Her attitude was one of blatant intimacy and protection, and she constantly addressed him as "Big Brother," a term that would surely see them burned to ashes by the FFF Inquisition.
The other was Yelena Furst from the third-year Student Council.
This petite upperclassman, who usually appeared somewhat timid, displayed an unexpected persistence. Using the excuse that "a senior has the responsibility to look after an injured junior," she frequently appeared by Greg's side with homemade bento, medicine, and concern, striving to fulfill her duty of care.
Consequently, the students of the academy often witnessed a peculiar sight:
A handsome blond youth with visible injuries, flanked by two beautiful girls of vastly different styles.
One had slightly curly brown hair, her expression a mix of tsundere pride and unquestionable intimacy; the other was petite and lovely, trying her best to maintain her dignity as a senior while unable to hide her blushing face.
The two often engaged in small disputes over which recovery potion he should drink, how his wounds should be treated, or whether he should rest or engage in light activity. Meanwhile, Greg, at the center of the vortex, wore an expression of utter helplessness.
Just like right now.
"Big Brother, here, try this. It's my latest blend of Energy-Boosting Tonic Soup. It's definitely more nutritious than the ordinary food some people make!"
Chloe held a small silver spoon, scooping up a portion of the golden soup that emitted a strange herbal fragrance. She carefully blew on it before offering it to Greg's lips. Simultaneously, she glanced toward Yelena out of the corner of her eye, her tone dripping with blatant provocation: "So, you small fry over there, just how long are you going to stay in the way? Can't you even read the atmosphere?"
"S-Since my junior is injured, then as his senior, I should fulfill my duty and take good care of him!"
Yelena took a deep breath and tried to puff out her small chest to look more imposing, her voice rising in pitch.
After saying this, she seemed to lose her steam and added in a low mumble, "A-And everyone knows that people from the Department of Alchemy are the most undisciplined... H-How could I feel safe leaving an injured junior to be cared for by someone like you..."
From the surrounding areas, especially where the male students gathered, countless gazes filled with disbelief and extreme jealousy were cast their way.
If gazes had temperature, Greg would likely have been incinerated by now.
"Ha? What did you say?!"
Chloe reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly jumping up as the spoon in her hand wobbled. "You dare to lump me in with those small fry whose brains are filled with nothing but explosions and weird slime?! Where am I undisciplined or lacking in boundaries?!"
"I have never even considered taking advantage of Big Brother's injuries to secretly add a tiny bit of my specially made, colorless, and odorless sedative—the kind that induces deep relaxation and a light state of slumber—into his water or food!"
"And I certainly haven't planned to wait until he's semi-conscious to use a lab cart to transport him to the basement of the Alchemy Building, to my private spare laboratory that's equipped with perfect restraint facilities, excellent soundproofing, and a full set of body monitoring and mana stabilization instruments!"
"I especially wouldn't intend to perform a 'comprehensive and meticulous physical examination' on him there, while perhaps collecting some necessary genetic samples, and then letting him wake up naturally, completely unaware of everything that happened! I haven't considered any of those things at all!"
She finished her outburst in one breath, her face not even turning red, as if she were stating the most normal thing in the world.
Sitting between the two, Greg silently put down the fruit Yelena had handed him, a drop of cold sweat forming on his brow.
"Are you sure? Your 'examples' were a bit too detailed for someone who hasn't considered it, don't you think?"
To be honest, facing this kind of sweet burden, Greg felt a mixture of helplessness and a subtle sense of enjoyment.
After the news of his injuries had inexplicably spread through the academy, this 'sister' of his and this upperclassman who was always easily led by his words had suddenly started competing to take care of him.
Even though he repeatedly emphasized that they were only superficial wounds and nothing serious, their enthusiasm did not wane in the slightest.
Thus, during these few days of having to attend school while injured, Greg spent most of his breaks and lunch hours forced to comfortably enjoy the meticulous care of two beautiful girls and the occasional disputes that erupted between them.
Victoria had also come to find him once because of the sensational rumors about his 'grave' injuries.
But when she saw Greg being served by Chloe and Yelena on both sides, looking like an emperor, and especially when she saw Greg's expression that looked helpless but was actually quite satisfied, her gray eyes immediately shot him a look of extreme disdain.
With a cold snort and without a word, she directly dragged away Silvia, who had seemed interested in joining in, nipping any possibility of a three-way deadlock in the bud.
Rate on N.U.
