2 Years Ago

Granny took Wulette away, making Nova and Mune's job of sorting everything out a lot easier.

『Okay, so you said that you saw a girl with a strawberry hairpin, right?』[Mune]

『Yeah. She smiled at me and looked really kind. She also healed me of my wounds.』[Nova]

Mune stayed quiet for a moment before nodding to himself.

『...Her name is Wendy.』[Mune]

『Wendy?』[Nova]

『...The girl I liked.』[Mune]

『Oh! Where is she now?』[Nova]

Mune's expression turned downcast once Nova asked.

『...It was 2 years ago. 』[Mune]

Nova noticed that he hit a sore spot and decided to shut up.

『In your second year, you're supposed to go to the outskirts of the kingdom and do tasks that they give you, in exchange for Cryst and merit. You go with your entire year and teachers that get cycled out.』[Mune]

Nova nodded, following along.

『I went with Reagan's class, who is your current teacher, right?』[Mune]

『Yeah. He doesn't want many students to join in his class though.』[Nova]

『...Because it's easier to manage?』[Mune]

『Right. Because it's easy to manage and takes less time is what he said.』[Nova]

Mune shook his head.

『...No. That's a facade. Reagan cared for his students very much. We were his first class, and all the students loved him. But...』[Mune]

Mune took a moment to take a bag out of his pocket and reach in.

『I got some new Stardrops from Granny Rika. I'll share some more with you later.』[Mune]

『Oh! Thank you.』[Nova]

He pulled out a Stardrop and popped it into his mouth before continuing to talk.

『Right. There was an incident. The other staff members of the school told us that there was a monster attack, but there was no trace of it. Reagan and I tried to investigate, but they didn't allow us to.』[Mune]

『..So, the class?!』[Nova]

『Missing. No trace of death. Although more unlikely than not, they were taken away somewhere.』[Mune]

『So, they can still be alive, right?!』[Nova]

『Yeah. And I'm gonna find them.』[Mune]

Mune had a soft smile on his face.

『Right! If you need my help, I'll join!』[Nova]

『Hahaha! We'll need to develop your powers a bit before that happens.』[Mune]

『Oh… right. I do need to become stronger first.』[Nova]

『Well, if you ever want to become a walking taxi cab, it works for me.』[Mune]

『Uh… I'll be more than that! I swear!』[Nova]

Mune laughed for a bit, but now it was his turn to ask.

『So, Reischneid is your guardian.』[Mune]

『Yeah! I didn't expect Lucifius to be your guardian!』[Nova]

『He's been there for me since I was in my 2nd year, not long after the incident. He's a good person, even though he acts like that.』[Mune]

『...Act like what, Mune?』[Lucifius]

Mune smirked.

『Like that.』[Mune]

『Pfft! Oh wait, is Reischneid still sitting on you, Lucifius?』[Nova]

『Of course I am! He's secretly happy.』[Reischneid]

『Am not.』[Lucifius]

『Are too!』[Reischneid]

Mune cleared his throat.

『Anyways, I'm glad to see the two best friends reunited. And the apartment- what was that about? Do you know?』[Mune]

Nova felt a chill run down his spine.

『...Should we find out?』[Nova]

『Define find out.』[Reischneid]

『Well, I formed a contract with her- 』[Nova]

『You what?』[Mune]

『...I formed a contract with the-』[Nova]

『Oh, shit. I didn't mishear. Or did I?』[Mune]

He went into a backroom, looking to grab something.

As he left, a chill entered the room and her voice whispered in Nova's ear.

『...Yes? Did you call for me?』[Asmodasiah]

『Uh… what are you?』[Nova]

Her tired voice talked back.

『...Put simply, I am the antithesis of life. I am a higher plane existence that was called here. Requiring a host that agreed with my tastes was all I needed.』[Asmodasiah]

Nova tried to comprehend all of what she said…. to no avail.

『...Right. I understood none of that.』[Nova]

The feeling of fear that he got from her seemed to have completely vanished, however.

『Also, I don't hear your voice inside of my head like Reischneid. Why is that?』[Nova]

『...Simply put, I do not wish to dwell as a spirit does. I exist as a separate being from you. If I wanted to, I could materialize myself and walk around as I pleased.』[Asmodasiah]

『...Haah… I see. I… uh.. So, you just needed a host in order to exist freely in this plane?』[Nova]

『...Correct. I require mana in order to exist. I could also use other energies, but simply put, you don't have any other energies, do you?』[Asmodasiah]

Nova had no idea why, but he felt like he was being bullied a little.

『...No. I don't...』[Nova]

『...Very well. Do you have any other questions?』[Asmodasiah]

『Uh… No. Thank you.』[Nova]

The chill disappeared and Reischneid began to speak.

『...God damn it, Nova. Let me know before you call her! You nearly gave me a heart attack!』[Reischneid]

『Huh?! Why?』[Nova]

『Because, Nova. She's a GHOST! She's a PHANTOM! I don't deal with those!』[Reischneid]

Mune walked back into the room at this point.

『...Why is Lucifius screaming like a girl?』[Mune]

『...Pfft.』[Nova]