studiobondurri Chapter 248 : Chapter 248
Chapter 248 : Chapter 248
Ianco and Yuria left Roenberg City and returned to Icata.Because of the spirit beast Bandal, there were some ups and downs until boarding the airship, but thanks to Yuria’s status as an Academy Hero Cadet, they passed safely.
Like that, Icata returned after finishing a long journey.
"Are you returning immediately?"
At Ianco’s question, Yuria nodded.
"I have to."
"Hmm. Then can I follow too? Since I am your dad. As it happens, people everywhere were making noise about it being the continent's best academy, so I was very curious what kind of place it was, and I got to see it like this. This is why one must raise their child well."
Ianco spoke with an expression full of expectation and burst into loud laughter.
However, his laughter did not last long.
"......I don't think that will work."
"What? No, why!"
"Even if you are family, you cannot enter the campus outside of open periods. And visitation probably won't be allowed right now either."
Currently, Yuria was in a state of long-term unauthorized absence.
It was obvious she would be called to the Personnel Office immediately, so a visitation again?
"I will get scolded by the Personnel Officer."
Ianco became sullen.
"And."
Yuria handed Bandal, whom she was holding in her arms, over to Ianco.
"Hm?"
"I wish I could take him to the Academy, but bringing pets except for summons is prohibited on campus. Dad, please take care of him."
"N, no. What. Yuria......."
Whimper...... Whimper.......
Bandal’s ears, held in Ianco’s arms, folded sullenly.
Like this, Ianco ended up taking care of even Bandal bewilderedly.
"Then, when will going out be possible?"
"Since the semester starts in two days. I think I will be busy for a few days."
"......Really? Well, if you are busy, I can just go. Did you say they accept visitation applications too? Is it possible tomorrow?"
Yuria shook her head.
"It probably won't work tomorrow. Because I don't know what kind of disciplinary action I will receive for unauthorized absence."
"......."
Then, doesn't it mean there is no promise when they will see each other again?
Ianco couldn't hide his regret.
In the meantime, one building bustling with many crowds caught his eye.
[Parnaci of the Plaza]
The smell of food wafting gently stimulated his appetite strongly.
Seeing many customers, it seemed to be a popular restaurant in its own way in Icata.
"Have you been there, Yuria?"
"No. But I have heard of it. They say it is very popular among travelers or adventurers. They said it is a course one must visit at least once if coming to Icata."
"Oh, really?"
"Why? Are you curious? Shall we go?"
At Yuria’s question, the human's and the dog's heads nodded simultaneously.
Yuria smirked.
"Let's go."
Even if he didn't say so, she was also regretting parting like this.
"Welco......me!"
As they entered the store, the man at the counter welcomed them.
He was a middle-aged man with a good physique and a good impression without wrinkles on his face, but he flinched for a moment seeing Yuria.
Yuria felt that too, but she didn't show any particular reaction.
Since her photo appeared in Royal Dream a few times, there were quite a few people who recognized her.
Of course, most were the upper class subscribing to Royal Dream, but there was nothing strange about a restaurant person recognizing her.
"Are you the owner?"
"Ah, haha. That is correct. Are there two of you in total?"
"That is so."
"If you wait here for a moment, I will help guide you."
Saying so, the restaurant owner called an employee below.
And he whispered something, but Yuria felt something strange there.
Because the employee listening to the whisper looked at her once in the middle.
And meeting her eyes, the employee hurriedly avoided her gaze, as if hearing a story about her.
"Understood."
Afterward, that employee went back inside the hall.
Although pretending nothing was wrong, her moving footsteps were very busy.
"......."
Yuria frowned slightly at the creeping unpleasant feeling.
"Why? Is there some problem?"
"It's noth......."
It was then.
Bandal, who was staring somewhere intently, suddenly popped out of Ianco’s bosom.
Woof!
"Hey, you rascal!"
"Bandal?"
The two were startled and reached out their hands, but Bandal had already pierced through the waiting line and disappeared inside the hall.
Faces dyed with embarrassment.
"I will quickly find him and come back!"
"N, no! Customer, wait......!"
Yuria went inside urgently.
The restaurant owner's dissuading voice followed, but it didn't enter her ears.
Because her head was full of worry about Bandal, the confusion that would visit the restaurant because of Bandal, and the worry caused by that.
However──,
Chaos happened not in the restaurant, but inside her head.
Woof! Woof!
The place she entered following the barking sound.
There, a man was standing awkwardly holding Bandal, and seeing that man's face, Yuria’s thought circuit broke down for a moment.
"......Senior Gerard?"
Even so, her mouth reflexively contained his name, but up to here, although surprising, it was plausible enough.
Since it is Icata.
Gerard must have gone out too.
But if there is a problem, it was Bandal.
Pant! Pant!
Bandal, wagging his tail madly and licking Gerard’s cheek, was looking at Gerard and saying he is Skull Mask.
This was the source of chaos.
***
Just hearing the barking sound, I thought 'no way'.
But hearing the thudding running sound and seeing the identity with my eyes, I thought 'oops'.
'......Damn it.'
Half-Moon Wolf cub.
I hugged the guy jumping into my arms with even his tongue fluttering.
Him being here means Yuria is also here.
Following that, Yuria arrived and met my gaze.
"......Senior Gerard?"
Pitch-black eyes fluctuating madly as if an earthquake happened.
I knew she could read a spirit beast's mood and even communicate based on that.
So I think I roughly know the meaning of the emotions swirling inside those eyes.
'She can't believe it.'
It must be so.
Actually, although I had been suspected of being Skull Mask twice, I proved both were false.
However, even so, it cannot be denied that it is a bad situation.
Well, my identity, it doesn't matter if Yuria knows.
As I said, even if she knows I am Skull Mask, Yuria won't hate or push me away. A trust that cannot be broken by just that existed between us.
However, there are methods and steps to everything.
I wanted to tell her directly with my own mouth in a situation where everything is perfectly prepared.
Being caught unilaterally by Yuria like this is declined.
'And here of all places.'
If suspected here, Yuria might even find out that Mr. Parnaci and this restaurant are Shadow's branch.
At least suspicion regarding that part had to be resolved.
"Yu, Yuria?"
I started acting.
"Just where did you go!? This...... what is this puppy? By any chance, is it your puppy?"
"......That is."
"No. Right now the puppy isn't the problem! The Academy is in an uproar right now! Because you suddenly disappeared during visitation! Do you know? What happened?"
I deliberately corner her, submerged in embarrassment.
Pouring questions so she can't collect her mind, keeping her tied to the present so she can't think other thoughts.
"Do you know how much I looked for you all this time? Say something. Huh?"
By continuously using a strong tone there, I cast a suggestion that I was really worried about you and had been looking for you here all along.
'Since it's not a complete lie either.'
As expected, Yuria didn't know what to do.
"No. That is......."
"Okay. Tell me slowly."
Just in time, Mr. Parnaci was approaching here. Behind him, another employee was holding food, and Mr. Parnaci and I quickly exchanged glances.
[Please pretend to know me. I stopped by briefly to eat while looking for Yuria.]
Quick-witted Mr. Parnaci sent a finger sign as if he received it.
He immediately took the food from the employee and came to us directly.
"Did you wait long? The meat soup you like is here, Gerard."
"Ah. Please put it here."
Mr. Parnaci put the food on the table.
Then seeing the wolf cub and Yuria standing blankly, he tilted his head.
"Uh? But are you two acquainted?"
"Of course I know her. She is my junior. Didn't you see the Royal Dream?"
"Just because she's a junior doesn't mean you know everyone, right? Haha. Uh? Wait. Don't tell me the junior you looked for so much all this time perhaps?"
"That's right, her."
"Hoh. You went around like that and eventually...... Come to think of it, a gentleman outside has been waiting continuously?"
At those words, Yuria snapped to her senses.
"Ah! He is my dad."
"What. Father came together too? Quickly usher him here."
"B, but......."
"You have to wait anyway since there are no seats. It is okay, right, mister?"
"Of course."
Like that, a peculiar meal gathering formed with Yuria’s father joining too.
"Is it this person, my daughter?"
"......Yes. But why do you suddenly call me 'my daughter'. Just call me as you usually did."
"Didn't I usually call you that? Anyway...... Hmm."
Ianco suddenly stroked his chin and scanned my body up and down with sharp eyes.
And mumbling, the meaning was.
"Isn't his eyes a bit slanted? Dark circles are too dark too, and what is the scar? Tsk. Physiognomy is too poor......."
I was so dumbfounded I just stayed still.
'......Why is this human like this?'
Did I invite him for nothing?
Since I have to lessen Yuria’s suspicion, I invited him because asking where and what he did during that time seemed more natural, but I feel like I made a mistake.
"......What are you doing, Dad."
"Evaluation."
"Evaluation, what evaluation suddenly. Senior is uncomfortable."
"Tsk. Just stay still. Since ancient times, men are better known when men see them."
"What are you saying...... Please stop it, Dad."
It seemed she heard some story about me on the way to Icata.
I don't know just what story she heard to act like that, but anyway, what is important is that the current atmosphere turned out as I intended.
'Since she doesn't seem to suspect anymore.'
Yuria was sweating hard trying to stop Ianco’s incomprehensible sudden actions.
Woof! Woof!
Like that, the meal gathering, which was pretentious to someone, serious to someone, and like a bed of thorns to someone else, ended without any particular result for each.
***
"Was it very uncomfortable?"
"No. It was fun."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Your father was very cheerful."
Yuria only smirked.
"......Thank you. And I'm sorry. For making you worry."
"Eh? No. Rather, it's a relief you returned safely without big trouble even though such things happened."
While eating, Gerard could hear the rough circumstances of what Yuria went through.
Of course, that was a significantly adapted story.
Parts about Ianco and the Green Circle, or that Yuria grew up there in the past.
Naturally, the most important story about the Divine Beast was also missing.
Therefore, in the adapted story, the Beltus Cult became a very bad organization.
Well, although they were bad guys originally too.
"Cult bastards. To think they would approach in such a way...... Surely it wouldn't be because of me? Since you are my mentee. They laid a hand on you first to drag me in."
"Isn't that too much self-consciousness?"
"Ah, is it?"
Gerard laughed awkwardly.
"Anyway, you suffered a lot. Do I really not have to go to the Personnel Office with you?"
"Of course. You don't need to hear the story you heard again."
"Personnel Officer Rodrig. Given that witch's personality, she will scold you tremendously."
"I am not a child. Then I will go in."
"Right. See you tomorrow."
As they expected, Personnel Officer Rodrig, seeing Yuria, screamed at the top of her lungs and got angry.
However, it didn't go as far as disciplinary action because it was an accident due to external pressure, not her own will.
So Yuria was able to go out for visitation the very next day.
If Ianco had heard this fact, he would have been extremely happy.
However, she did not apply for visitation.
Because Ianco made many mistakes for Gerard at the meal gathering?
......Of course, such a reason is not completely absent, but.
Because there was something she had to check.
"Personnel Officer. By any chance, can I check the overnight stayer list? I want to see if there are remaining spots."
"You intend to go out overnight even after causing such an accident?"
"I'm sorry. I will only check."
"......Do it."
Yuria opened the outing and overnight stay list hanging on the wall.
The dates she wanted to check were the day before yesterday and yesterday.
Gerard clearly said he had been searching Icata looking for Yuria until now.
Then his name should be written side by side on the outing list.
However.
Gerard’s name was nowhere on the outing list.
"......."
Yuria searched the documents further, and soon she could find the place where Gerard’s name was written.
Not on the outing list, but on the overnight stayer list.
Exactly on that date when Skull Mask appeared in the Ludain Mountain Range.