[V6C1] Pretty Boy Helpline
Translated by Jodas 6: Secrets of the Wedge Tower“That… is the human who clipped my wings.”
The moment Tia said those words, Wren’s mind went blank.
No way, it can’t be! Why? How? — Countless questions surfaced in his head, but none of them were the issue he should be prioritizing at the moment.
Wren pushed aside the ‘why’s and ‘how’s that occupied his brain to focus desperately on what the best course of action was at this precise moment.
(Whatever happened, I can’t let Tia and Headmaster Möbius meet!)
At this rate, there was a chance Tia could start attacking Headmaster Möbius.
If she did, it would be a lot worse than just her cover being blown. Tia would definitely be killed. Headmaster Möbius was a true powerhouse who used to be in the Extermination Office, after all.
(We need to get out of here…!)
Möbius had just stepped out of the Apprentices’ classroom, along with a few others.
There was still a considerable distance between them. He hasn’t noticed them yet.
They should turn tail and run away. But how would Tia react?
He saw an intense hatred emerge on Tia’s childish face.
Her amber eyes gleamed with anger and her throat was making a disconcerting hissing sound.
A murderous intent ran through her whole body, and she looked like she was about to lunge forward at any moment — but, the fact that she hadn’t jumped yet told him that Tia still had enough of her sanity left to hesitate.
Had she truly lost control of herself, Tia would already have been attacking him by now.
(Still, anything could cause her to attack the Headmaster at any moment, and a delicate pretty boy like me has no hope of stopping Tia…!)
He needed to calm Tia down and get her out of here as soon as possible — but it would be impossible for him to do it alone.
So, Wren decided to hide Tia’s form from Headmaster Möbius by standing directly in front of her.
Then, he asked for help. From the only ally who knew Tia’s true identity.
“Sevil!!”
He didn’t simply call her name. He infused as much of a heartfelt feeling of ‘help me’ in his shout.
Sevil would surely catch on to that subtle difference in pronunciation; to the fact that he was so desperate he was willing to break his pretty boy persona.
(Help me, help me! Tia’s in trouble! Please, I’m counting on you!)
To answer Wren’s plea, Sevil pushed past the teachers and jumped out of the room. It took her less than three seconds.
Sevil did not run, but speed-walked towards Wren, her black hair billowing behind her as she approached.
This was the usual, confident Sevil.
“It was wise of you to call for me, Wren! Now, state your concerns!”
Wren tried to settle down his loud, pounding heartbeats as he glanced back towards the classroom.
Headmaster Möbius, as well as Director Hegelich to his side, looked curiously at them.
They must have noticed that something was off with Tia behind Wren’s back. He could hear Hegelich saying “I wonder what the matter is?”
(…Help me.)
Wren swallowed those words.
He should convey information simply. It’ll be okay. Surely Sevil could tell what he was thinking.
‘Calm down. Do it right.’ He repeated to himself as Wren whispered so only Sevil could hear.
“…It was Headmaster Möbius who cut Tia’s wings.”
Sevil raised one of her eyebrows, then whispered in response.
“I don’t really get it… but I know what I need to do.”
Sevil nodded, then embraced the hissing Tia from the front. To hide her face.
As she did so, Hegelich approached and called out to her.
“What is this commotion about?”
“Is someone feeling unwell?”
Following Hegelich, Headmaster Möbius spoke up. That alone caused Tia’s shoulders to flinch.
(What’s the best way to get out of this situation? Come on, pretty boy brain…!)
While Wren panicked, Sevil calmly held Tia closer.
She held Tia in a hug that pressed Tia’s face into her chest. Then, she spun around to face Hegelich. Like this, Hegelich and Möbius would only be able to see the back of Tia’s head.
“Wren, you said Tia’s condition suddenly worsened?”
“Y- …Yes, I did. I think we should go back to the Medical Office and have them check her out one more time!”
“Her face looks really pale. I think we should get her some fresh air before taking her to the Medical Office.”
He expected nothing less from the Emperor’s sister. At times like this, Sevil’s acting was incredibly natural. Without showing any hints of awkwardness or improvisation, Sevil was always Sevil, as proud and pompous as ever.
Sevil held tightly to Tia’s body with one arm and lightly held the back of Tia’s head with her other arm. Tia buried her face into Sevil’s shoulder and groaned “Vuvuvu…” in a low voice.
This was different from her usual ‘piyo-piyo’ chirping. This was a distress call, filled with unconstrained anger and stress.
Sevil spoke loud enough to render that inaudible.
“I always feel better whenever I breathe the outside air!”
“You’re gonna make a doctor cry, Princess!”
As Sevil walked off with Tia in her arms, Wren tried his hardest to keep up his usual attitude and banter with her. It’s okay. Sevil’s always this loud. They don’t look unnatural at all.
“In that case, please excuse us. Headmaster Möbius, Director Hegelich.”
With those words, Sevil walked off. Wren also gave a quick bow, then followed after Sevil.
Once they’d turned the corner of the hallway, far enough away from Hegelich and Möbius, Sevil restrained her aura and spoke gently to Wren.
“You did well to ask for my assistance, Wren. I owe you my compliments.”
The fact that he nearly cried in relief after hearing those words was a pretty boy secret.
Once they stepped outside, Wren headed to the gardens alongside Sevil, who still held Tia.
While there were some within the Wedge Tower’s campus who grew medicinal plants for research purposes, the garden was completely sectioned off from those plots. Trees were planted at precise intervals and seasonal flowers bloomed shyly in the flowerbeds.
An old man in work clothes silently cared for those flowers.
Aside from mages, there were ordinary people responsible for handling various jobs around the Tower. Among them, there was one who specialized in gardening duties. That was this old man.
It would be an issue if the old man heard their conversation. With that in mind, Wren and the others headed for the gazebo deeper within the garden.
The Wedge Tower’s gazebo was a simple structure with stone pillars and a roof. Sturdy benches were affixed inside.
The space around the gazebo was somewhat open, so they would be able to easily spot anyone approaching them.
As Wren moved to sit on the bench, Sevil wordlessly occupied the center seat on the bench. She placed Tia to her right, and sat Wren on her left.
Sevil then threw her arms out to the sides and hugged both of their shoulders.
“It’s getting colder. Come closer.”
She was probably trying to find a natural excuse to bring their faces closer to discuss secrets.
Nevertheless, Wren responded casually.
“You know, it’s a serious luxury to share warmth with a pretty boy.”
“Just who do you think I am?”
“Yes, yes, of course, Princess.”
By exchanging a little banter, his mood lifted a bit.
The part of his mind that was running around, wondering ‘what do I do, what do I do?’ quieted down, ever so slightly.
(Now that I think about it, we did the same thing when we were chased around by the Snow Boar.)
He recalled the time when they’d fled into the cave, only to be cornered by a Monster that manipulated ice.
That was the day when Wren first learned Tia’s true identity.
“……”
Wren looked around the gazebo. Obviously, this wasn’t the same cave from back then.
Behind them, he could see the castle walls that surrounded the campus. This place seemed to be relatively close to the outer edge of the campus. If the three spires; Golden Needle, White Smoke, and Water Bubble; lined up through the center of the campus, this garden sat on the opposite side of that line from the dormitories.
They could see a tiny shed deeper within the trees. Most likely, that was a shed for the gardeners. It was far enough away from the gazebo that they didn’t have to worry about anyone listening in on their conversation.
“Tia.”
Sevil called her name, and Tia’s shoulders flinched.
Her hissing had stopped. Now, Tia hung her head, concerningly silent.
“Is it true that it was Headmaster Möbius who clipped your flight feathers?”
Tia nodded, then slowly looked up.
Wren observed her face from the other side of Sevil.
At the moment, her face was less hateful and more filled with confusion and shock. Most likely, Tia was in disarray. She was probably thinking ‘Why did I come here?’
(Tia had said that she was saved by a guy named Kai. She’d mentioned that it was him who recommended her to study at the Wedge Tower…)
He had no idea who this individual known as Kai was. Tia herself said she had no clue.
But if that man had known the identity of the man who stole Tia’s wings, then…
— This Kai person had clearly hostile intentions for sending Tia into the Wedge Tower.
Wren’s body shook in response to this terrifying premonition. Sevil grabbed his shoulders and held him tight.