Chapter 40: A Light At The End Of The Tunnel!

As we walk side by side through the spacious corridor that leads to the infirmary, I can see Sofy's face filled with anxiousness. I have known Sofy for almost five years now, and of course I'm worried about her. I see her as my little sister, so I know that even if she act's strong, she's worried about that idiot brother of hers. Not only that, as the President of these school's student council, I can't just go around ignoring my subject's feelings.

Will it be alright if I ask her? But I won't know if I don't. But what if I ended up adding to Sofy's worries? I might not be able to forgive myself. I was dreading with such thought when I felt a tap on my left shoulder. As I shifted my gaze there, Loraine was smiling. Did she know what I was thinking? What a terrifying girl she was.

I… just have to resolve myself!

"Sofy… are you, uhm, worried about your brother?"

I hope this won't make her more anxious. But if it does… As I was thinking this, Sofy stares art me for a second then smiles before shaking her head lightly.

"Mhm. I know brother would be fine. Thank you for worrying about me, big sis Reina."

"I see. If that's the case then, I will ask no more. However, if you feel troubled just tell me, okay? I'll comfort you in that idiot's stead."

"Ehehe. Big sis sure is kind. I'm not worried… it's just."

She makes an anxious expression again.

"It's just?"

"My brother may look calm, strong-willed and seemed callous and never gets angry for his own sake… but, my brother is sensitive when it comes to someone he cares for. If it's true that miss Gauthier was injured and he knew about it, I'm anxious that he might get over board."

I know about it. After all, I have lived with him for years, too. Gleren may be unfeeling when he was involved, but if its someone he cares about then it's entirely a different story. I have witnessed him destroy the whole underground organization of one of Yakuza clan in Japan when they kidnapped both me and Sofy in exchange for some money. He was just thirteen then.

I patted Sofy gently on the head.

"You don't have to worry about that. I know one thing for sure; that idiot won't do something that would make his precious sister sad."

My words must be effective as her expressions started to cheer. Smile suits her better than looking down. It stains her beautiful appearance.

We continued walking. When we were close to the infirmary, we suddenly bumped into three other people.

"Oh! Miss President, why are you here?"

They were the rest of the members I sent to notify the teachers. The third years.

The first to speak was the one with a Chinese outfit over her uniform. Her hair was tied in a twin bun, too. She was already in her third year and a year older than me, but she acts childish and her cheerfulness fits her character very well. She was just a bit taller than Chisaki. Zhao Xiang Xing—an ability holder from China. This senior of mine lives honest to the meaning of her name, every time she speaks, she just sparkles like the stars.

"Could it be that you are visiting the injured ones? Loraine, are you alright now?"

The next one to talk was the tall girl in the middle. White skin as if porcelain, comparable to Sofy. Slatted eyes and long curly lashes. She had her long hair which was blue from the top turning pink to the tip rest on her left shoulder, tied in one bundle. Her body was so defined that it contains no excessive fats—visible through her thin figure. Large breast, thin waist, and shapely hips… she's just like a model. She may seem arrogant but she is a good girl at heart. She loves guiding her juniors, too. I wonder if that idiot Gleren likes girls like her. Her name was Song Cho-hee—a Korean ability user. She turned to Loraine after asking me, she's not even waiting for an answer.

"Yes. It's not a big deal. I was just grazed a little by an earth magic."

"I see. That's good."

"That's fine and all, but you must still be cautious. We don't know if that would have an after effect."

"Yes, miss Dell."

Dell or Edelweiss Schon Alphonse—the former President. With her unmoved emotion, she's proved to be formidable. Behind her clear glasses was her pure-blue marbled eyes, combined with her beautiful blue hair at the length of her shoulders. No one had ever seen smile nor show any emotions. But her way of completing her job at the student council is second to none. She's also my mentor. She's a German ability holder.

"We just checked with Zenith and Serene. There are still unconscious, but they are fine. We will now return to the office."

Senior Cho-hee said while looking at the door of the infirmary.

"Before that. I have something to report."

I nodded at senior Dell's words.

"We have surveyed and warned all the teachers and students of the third-year classes, but just like the other floors, the situation is unfavorable for us. But we have noticed something."

"Something?"

I inquired which she nodded to.

"They may be many in number but the spell they use are simple; Wind, earth, water, and fire. Only ranked F ability. Generic, it I say so myself. However, it still dangerous considering what happened to Loraine and the others. We are at disadvantage."

"I've heard about it from Loraine, too."

I shifted my gaze to Loraine and she nodded. It's the same even at the higher floor, eh. Even so, if we got hit even with such simple magics, without any protection, it might still be very dangerous.

"I see. So, the information is the same. About their number?"

"A hundred at the first—same number at the second. Almost two hundred as we surveyed."

"Mhm. Same number then. We've got a hundred over the third floor, too."

A hundred even at the third floor? That many? This situation seems harder than it already seems. It is inappropriate to hold a meeting at the hallway, but we are at the situation where we want to utilize every second that counts. So, we are discussing the matter while standing in the middle of the corridor.

"Here, here, here!"

Senior Xiang Xing called energetically. She was raising her hand in the air while springing on the spot. She really is full of energy. When we turned to her, she smiled confidently and began to speak.

"I have a theory, you know. How did we not notice it from the start if they are that many? I mean even transporting them in a magic circle should be though, and it would be impossible not to notice. They will inevitably make noise, you know."

She's right. With that many, it would be impossible not to notice if they went their way in a normal route—and if they, as what senior Xiang Xing said, used a teleportation magic—then the light from then and the sound will be immediately noticed even without magic perception.

"And that's where my theory comes in. Eddy, you also noticed what happened when I smashed them with this wonderful first of mine, right?"

Senior Edelweiss nodded in affirmation.

"Yes. They disappeared right?"

"Ping—pong!"

Senior Xiang Xing beamed with a wink—it was as if an indicator that senior Edelweiss got the bingo for an answer.

"So, your deduction?"

"Those are just made guys are just made out of illusion!"

"Illusion? That's…"

"—Hard to believe, I know!"

She said proudly as if she knew what's on my mind.

"But you know, Reina-chin, we are the only one who cannot use an ability. The enemies can. If the enemies are of your caliber, then making an illusionary army of magic users that can inflict true damage will be a piece of cake."

I…can't believe it. It's hard to believe. But if what she said was accurate and all of these magic users are nothing but mere illusions, then there might be light at the end of the tunnel. An exit for this dire situation we are in.

I can tell how happy she was with her proud precise prediction—this genius Chinese senior of mine.

After that, the three of them left for the office. I will leave the interrogation of those two to them—meanwhile, I will find the caster of this illusion and the mastermind behind these all!