"Fwaaah… What time is it now, I wonder?" (Eri)
Eri, who was wearing nothing at all, let out a big stretch.
"Mm, probably around evening. I'm kind of hungry." (Sumire)
Sumire said, likewise naked, sprawled lazily across the bed.
"You two, at least put some clothes on… You're not going to catch a cold, I guess." (Eugene)
Eri, a Fallen Angel and a Demon Lord. Sumire, an Ifrit.
Their bodies were fundamentally different from ordinary humans, so they wouldn't get sick over something minor.
"I'm thinking of heading to the meeting spot, the student council room, soon." (Eugene)
I brought the Dungeon Master Anemoi into our group, and I managed to share information with Eri.
The bare minimum of what needed to be done was finished.
If I wanted to be completely thorough, I should probably also talk to the members of the Animal Club, my classmates from the Legendary Hero Department, President Robert, and Rebecca-senpai.
But using too much future knowledge is dangerous.
It would apparently draw the attention of the Gods of the Divine Realm and Hell.
It didn't really click with me, but since the Demon God-sama and my mother had warned me with serious expressions, it was probably true.
I already took a pretty conspicuous action by forming a Life Contract with the Dungeon Master.
I decided I should avoid standing out any more than this.
"Eugy-kun, waaaait! I'm going with you too." (Sumire)
"Eeeh, you're both leaving? One of you stay behind with meee." (Eri)
Sumire got up from the bed, while Eri complained unhappily.
"Hey! I can't get dressed if you're like this, Eri-san!" (Sumire)
"You don't have to rush home so much, Sumire." (Eri)
Eri was deliberately getting in Sumire's way as she tried to change.
"Sumire, I'll leave first. Let's meet up later." (Eugene)
"Eugy-kun!? Whyyy!?" (Sumire)
"Ahaha, Sumire's staying behind." (Eri)
"Hey, let go—kyaaaah!" (Sumire)
I saw Sumire get dragged back onto the bed.
…Well, they looked close enough. It should be fine.
Tomorrow is the decisive battle with the Red Dragon.
Eri was Sumire's mentor in magic, and for all her flaws, Eri is the caring type, there is no way she isn't worried about Sumire.
She'd probably give her all kinds of advice.
I decided to leave it to her.
I left the 7th Sealed Prison.
◇◇
When I emerged onto the surface, it was already dusk.
Many rooms in the Lykeion Magic Academy building still had their lights on.
Probably students doing club activities, or magic research classes.
The Dungeon City itself was lively as well.
At this hour, the taverns were starting to heat up.
(Maybe I'll buy something on the way back…) (Eugene)
I used to stock up on emergency rations at the academy shop before heading into dungeon exploration.
They were like hard bread: bland, tough, and with a long shelf life.
Not something you ate because you wanted to, but it filled your stomach well enough.
I could buy enough for everyone… I was thinking that when…
(Eugene…food before a battle is important, you know?) (Eri)
(Eugy-kun, I hate that stuff.) (Sumire)
A thought transmission from Eri and Sumire came through.
This was the first time they used thought transmission together.
(Then, Sumire. What do you want to eat?) (Eugene)
(Umm, anything's fine.) (Sumire)
I could swear she just said it wasn't fine, but…
(Eugene, no cutting corners. All right! Sumire, back to practicing chantless magic, until you get under 0.1 seconds!) (Eri)
(That's impossible! I only just got under one second!) (Sumire)
That was the last thing I heard.
Looks like Eri is giving Sumire some magic training.
She is working hard.
(Then I'll get something good…) (Eugene)
Rewards for hard work are important.
(That said, I'm terrible at picking food places…) (Eugene)
I have always been the type who was fine as long as I could eat something.
After becoming angelified, I feel like I lost even more sense of taste.
If Claude were here, he'd know good places to eat, but he is probably busy.
No helping it. I will look on my own.
I headed toward the entertainment district of the Dungeon City.
The streets are crowded.
Explorers who looked like they just returned from the dungeon, merchants hunting for bargains, craftsmen stopping for a drink after work, and here and there, the uniforms of the Lykeion Magic Academy students.
(Mmh… Too many food places, I can't tell which is which.) (Eugene)
I knew weapons and armor shops fairly well, at least.
And then…
"Eugene Santafield? What are you doing in a place like this?"
Someone called my name.
Long, bluish-silver hair, a slender, graceful figure.
Wearing the Lykeion Magic Academy uniform…
"Lily Whitewind…" (Eugene)
She was my classmate from the Legendary Hero Department.
I stared at her face in a daze.
This was three years in the past.
So Lily being here wasn't strange.
If anything, it was only natural.
And yet…the image of Lily's gravestone I saw back then was burned vividly into my mind.
"What's wrong? …You look like you've just seen a ghost." (Lily)
As Lily tilted her head in confusion…
"Lily!" (Eugene)
I hugged her without thinking.
"E-Eugene!?" (Lily)
Her voice sounded right next to my ear.
Of course it did. I am hugging her.
I hurriedly pulled away.
"S-Sorry! What am I doing…!" (Eugene)
Grabbing a woman out of nowhere, what a terrible thing to do.
I deserve to be cut down on the spot.
"N-No, I was surprised, but…w-what's wrong with you, really?" (Lily)
Lily looked away, her face slightly red.
"I was just…happy to see you. But I'm sorry. Hugging you out of nowhere was the worst possible thing I could've done…" (Eugene)
"!? H-Happy to see me… huh. I see… Is that so…" (Lily)
She kept her gaze averted.
She is probably angry.
How am I supposed to apologize properly?
Damn it…my own lack of social skills is pathetic.
Claude would've known just what to say.
(What are you doing, Eugene?) (Eri)
(Eugy-kun, honestly…) (Sumire)
Eri and Sumire's exasperated thought transmission came through.
(Sorry, Eri, Sumire. I messed up. I know I should avoid acting based on future knowledge…) (Eugene)
When I apologized to them…
(This guy really doesn't get it at all.) (Eri)
(That's Eugy-kun for you. Oh, I'm heading back to the student council room soon. I've got something to talk about later.) (Sumire)
With that, the thought transmission cut off.
"Lily, I'm sorry about before. I'll make it up to you. From the day after tomorrow on… If I am fine then, I'll do anything you ask." (Eugene)
"Anything!?" (Lily)
Lily's eyes went wide.
"Anything within reason, of course." (Eugene)
"Well… if it's within what you can do, there is something." (Lily)
She muttered that.
Did that mean…she has forgiven me?
"Right. Then, I've got somewhere to be—" (Eugene)
"Hey, you never answered my first question. What were you doing out here, anyway?" (Lily)
She was right. I hadn't answered.
"I was looking for a food place. Somewhere with takeout, and preferably something tasty, but I'm clueless when it comes to restaurants." (Eugene)
"Oh? Then how about my recommendation?" (Lily)
"That'd be great. Are you sure?" (Eugene)
Why is she being this kind to a guy who suddenly hugged her?
"Come on, this way." (Lily)
She grabbed my hand.
I let Lily pull me along toward a shop.
◇◇
"Huh. I didn't know a place like this existed." (Eugene)
It was a food shop for dungeon exploration.
Not the bland preserved rations I usually bought, but portable food made with an emphasis on taste.
In exchange, the shelf life was shorter.
"It's pretty well-known among Lykeion students, though." (Lily)
"As long as it's edible, I'm fine with anything." (Eugene)
"Ahaha, that really is you, Eugene." (Lily)
Lily laughed.
She seemed to be in a good mood now.
I bought takeout food for Sumire, Sara, Airi, Claude, and myself.
On top of that, I picked up the shop's most popular sweet.
It was the most expensive item.
"Oh? So you like sweets, Eugene?" (Lily)
Lily leaned in to peek at my face.
"No, not really." (Eugene)
I don't like strong flavors.
I prefer lightly seasoned food.
"…Then why are you buying it?" (Lily)
She gave me an exasperated look.
"You like sweets, right? I heard you talking about it with Sumire and Sara before." (Eugene)
"Huh? Well, yeah… wait, what?" (Lily)
"This is my thanks for showing me the shop." (Eugene)
I handed it to her.
"W-What is this!? You think you can buy my forgiveness with something like this!?" (Lily)
"No, the making-it-up-to-you part is separate. This is just thanks for the recommendation. I'll make it up to you after tomorrow." (Eugene)
If I survive the fight with the Red Dragon, that is.
"Fine. Then the day after tomorrow, meet me at the academy's back gate at XX o'clock. Don't be late!" (Lily)
With that, Lily dashed off.
She's a busy one.
Since she is heading back to the academy dorms anyway, we could've walked part of the way together.
…Ah well.
I headed toward the student council room.
When I rejoined everyone…
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Sumire, Sara, and Airi were glaring at me.
Claude just shook his head, exasperated.
…Why?
I asked, but they wouldn't tell me.
◇◇
"All right, tomorrow's the decisive battle, so let's get some sleep." (Sara)
Sara said.
We all nodded.
After eating dinner together, we spread out our magic sleeping bags in the student council room and lay down.
Any academy student who explored dungeons carried a magic sleeping bag as standard gear.
We turned off the magic lights and crawled into our bags.
Silence filled the room.
'Hey, Eugene.' (Claude)
'What is it, Claude?' (Eugene)
Claude, sleeping next to me, spoke.
'Tomorrow…do you really think we can do something about the Red Dragon?' (Claude)
'We have to try. We've done everything we can.' (Eugene)
'…Yeah.' (Claude)
Claude let out a small sigh, as if steeling himself.
He seemed too nervous to sleep.
I felt the same.
Tomorrow will decide everything.
Whether we could avoid the worst possible future.
(Destiny Goddess, Ilia-sama… Please…) (Eugene)
Sleep refused to come, so I kept praying…and eventually, my consciousness sank into a hazy doze.