Chapter 122

However... it seems unlikely that this boy will wake up anytime soon.

The victims who were attacked and eaten by that Chameleon Monster Monster now lying in the hospital, fast asleep.

This strange Monster was exceptionally skilled at concealment and hiding, and hardly emitted any aura of Monster.

Moreover, in the previous incidents, the true form of this Monster did not seem to appear, yet victims had already emerged, and the cases were even treated as ordinary serial crimes.

This was the only time she seized an opportunity.

I wonder if the Magic girls have any ideas...

After meeting the Queen, Takanashi and the others participated in the R'lyeh Festival and spent a few days there. Overall, they had a very good time.

After that, they boarded the return train and returned to Earth.

Next, a month-long summer vacation awaits the Magic girls.

During their absence, no Monster incidents occurred in Maple Plain City, and the pre-prepared protective Magic Spell were not needed, which is a cause for celebration.

After all, there are fewer Monster incidents during holidays than during the school year.

Furthermore, Sakaki Chika's idol group recently enjoyed a short break.

They thought they could enjoy their vacation like this, but Sakaki Chika and Takanashi Shiori didn't get their wish.

On a sweltering day approaching 30 degrees Celsius, instead of staying in a cool air-conditioned room, they braved the scorching sun and once again visited Kaedehara High School during this precious vacation.

By the time they arrived at the classroom, they were already drenched in sweat.

While wiping the sweat from his forehead, Takanashi muttered a complaint:

"Why do we have to come to school during the holidays...?"

She had finally managed to negotiate with the college and was assigned to a small, air-conditioned room with a monthly allowance. She was planning to enjoy life on Earth, but then a phone call from a certain woman summoned her to the school.

Also here is Sakaki Chika.

This young idol was wiping away sweat while diligently writing on his test paper with his messy handwriting.

Although Sakaki Chika had applied sunscreen and other skin-protecting products beforehand, it was still hot. Her back was now soaked with sweat, and glistening beads of perspiration dripped from her fair face.

As Takanashi Shiori complained, they heard a soft tapping sound on the table.

Looking up, I saw a woman with an extremely cold gaze sitting behind the lectern, using a small fan to cool herself.

"You'd better reflect on what you've been doing this semester. If you fail these subjects in the make-up exams, you might be stuck in my class next year."

This woman, who seemed even more dissatisfied than Takanashi, was none other than Haihara.

Because of a few Problem Child in her class, the students did terribly on their final exams. Now she has to supervise these students' make-up exams, and she has to spend her vacation here proctoring under the scorching sun.

Sakaki Chika thought for a moment...

Next school year, staying in first grade and listening to Teacher Haihara's lectures seems... pretty good?

However, she didn't want to be scolded, so she didn't say anything.

"Um... teacher, can I take the make-up exam in your office? It should have air conditioning there, right...?"

Takanashi pinched his own face and said pitifully.

"You think I don't want to? Several students are coming to the next subject, and my office can't fit that many people."

At this moment, Haihara was indeed missing the air conditioning in her office.

However, while proctoring the exam, she glanced at her phone again.

On her phone were call records between her and the parent of one of her classmates.

There was supposed to be another student taking a makeup exam for this subject, but the parent told her that the student was hospitalized and couldn't take the exam.

I heard that several teachers in the next class are like that too.

They all provided proof, so they shouldn't be fake.

Are today's students too careless during holidays? Otherwise, why are there so many sudden hospitalizations?

After the exam, Haihara's little fan ran out of power, so she decided to go back to her office to enjoy the air conditioning.

Just as she was about to leave, her clothes were gently tugged. Looking down, she saw Sakaki Chika looking at her cautiously.

"Teacher, are you free next week? I'd like to ask you... um... you know..."

She wanted to say that she wanted to invite the teacher out to dinner.

Or rather, a date.

During this rare holiday, many of her female classmates went on dates with their crushes.

This was a precious period of her youth during her first year of high school, and she didn't want to waste it.

"... Have a meal."

Haihara glanced at her, looking somewhat embarrassed:

"Next week? I need to go back to my hometown around that time."

"I see."

Sakaki Chika was a little disappointed.

"However, if it's in the next few days, I'm available both during the day and at night."

Although Haihara knew that the other person probably meant more than just eating.

"Thank you, teacher!"

Next week, Haihara will indeed be going back to her hometown.

Although she has no relatives left in her hometown, she plans to visit her deceased parents next week.

This is basically the case every year around this time.

Chapter 56 Empty Nest Teacher

Morning or evening, holidays or semesters, make no difference to Kougami Kage. After all, she doesn't work for anyone else now, and her daily routine is already a mess. When she has something she wants to do, she stays up for days without sleep, and when she feels tired, she goes to sleep without a care in the world.

In another sense, however, she still cares quite a bit about whether or not she has a holiday.

If Lily has time off, I can spend more time with her, and they'll have more time to spend together.

[Doctor, the Crystal codenamed 'Ouroboros' has been analyzed.]

In her lab, her AI assistant Haro, keeps her updated on the latest progress of her experiments.

Kougami Kage rubbed his eyes sleepily:

"Let me see it."

She hadn't slept for three days and two nights, and had unknowingly finished all the coffee in the research institute.

Although she had stayed up for much longer in the past, none of these sessions had required as much effort as this one.

Because this research is very important to her.

The Ouroboros was Crystal she discovered underground several years ago during an archaeological expedition while working in Europe.

It was buried approximately three hundred years ago.

Due to technological limitations at the time, Kougami Kage was unable to bring the item back from Europe and had to temporarily entrust it to the Kougami Conglomerate for safekeeping.

In the past two days, she has completed the analysis of that thing and can now produce some of her own results.

That thing should be ready to be finished by tomorrow morning.

Kougami Kage casually picked up the stack of documents and slowly flipped through them, looking somewhat listless.

At times like these, she would lament how fragile the human body truly is.

"A never-before-seen... Devil King Crystal?"

Kougami Kage put the stack of documents back on the table, looked up, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

After reading the information, she instinctively clutched her heart, trying to calm herself down and not recall the time she encountered that Crystal in Europe a few years ago.

Crystal is the condensation of desire, and powerful Crystal can induce the darkest parts of the human heart.

However, she didn't seem to have much desire.

Kougami Kage gently stroked the slightly faded ring on the ring finger of her left hand.

She is already very happy.

"Haro, has Lily heard from you lately?"

However, sometimes she does feel a little lonely.

Kougami Kage wasn't interested in most things, so for her, it was enough to receive attention from people she cared about.

She leaned back slightly in her chair, crossing her arms somewhat awkwardly.

It's been several days... and she hasn't missed any messages from him.

[Yes, it was Ms. Haihara who asked if you had time.]

Kougami Kage paused for a moment, then looked up:

"... real?"

[This was sent an hour ago. Ms. Haihara said: If you have time, could you call her?]

Next, a chibi-style Lily appeared on the screen, making a cute and charming request.

This is obviously an emoji that Kougami made himself.

It will automatically add text messages when Lily texts herself.

Haihara rarely calls her first; she usually sends text messages, though even then, text messages are rare.

Kougami Kage sat in the chair and said with a hint of joy:

"She should be free now, right? Am I replying too late... Anyway, I'd better reply to her quickly."

Previously, she was too focused on her research to check her messages.

After learning that Haihara had sent her a text message, she immediately started typing and sent Haihara a reply.

After excitedly sending the text message, Kougami waited patiently as always, but to his surprise, Haihara replied very quickly this time.

After confirming that Haihara was still awake, she was still very tired, but she immediately called Haihara.

The call was connected.

She asked gently:

"Lily, is there something you need from me?"

It seems to be 11 p. m. now.

Her research room has no windows, so she can't see outside. Therefore, when she doesn't go out, she sometimes loses track of time.

After the call connected, the voice of Kougami Kage.

If I say it's nothing... would that be considered bothering you?

Haihara seemed a little embarrassed as well.

"Of course not, I'm glad you came to see me."

Kougami Kage hugged one of her thighs, feeling a little lost. Her hair clip had fallen out a bit due to her head tilting downwards, and a few strands of hair hung down, obscuring her eyes.

Logically speaking, Kougami Kage should have taken a good rest after finishing her work; she was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

However, after hearing Haihara's voice, Kougami Kage felt that he could hold on a little longer.

[Then come chat with me for a while.]

The usually aloof woman spoke as if seeking solace.

"You can talk for as long as you want."

While chatting with Haihara, Kougami Kage started looking for instant coffee. She seemed to have forgotten that she had finished her coffee, but while idly searching, she found a bag of coffee that she had previously buried among a bunch of utensils.

Skillfully brewing the tea, gently blowing air towards the rim of the cup.