Azusa had gone out alone late at night, and to a place like this. It was clear she had come to see someone.
I closed my eyes tightly, letting the voices that reached my ears sound even clearer than when I used my abilities alone.
"Hiyori," Azusa addressed the girl, "why is it you who came today?"
"Ugh… I-I didn't want to come either…"
The girl called Hiyori, her voice tone and style suggested a somewhat timid, gloomy student spoke even more quietly:
"The Leader is still on a secret mission, so no one can watch over Misaki… After she met you the day before yesterday, she seemed to want to try that thing again on the way back… she didn't succeed, but you know… that night it rained heavily, and she didn't know where she put her umbrella, got soaked for a long time, and now she has a high fever…"
…Misaki?
I immediately recalled that rainy night when I had also tried to track Azusa but failed, the incomprehensibly dejected girl, and the folding umbrella that had been tossed to me casually.
If Misaki and Azusa knew each other, everything made sense. That was why she had been at that place at that time.
Back then, I had just barely missed the clues.
"…She's doing that thing again, huh."
Azusa's tone carried a complex emotion I couldn't fully discern.
"Life is always full of suffering… hehe… sometimes I envy Misaki's courage to do things on her own…"
But what exactly was the "thing" they referred to?
Could it be deliberate self-harm by getting soaked in the rain…? Yet it seemed slightly different somehow…
At that moment, Azusa abruptly cut in: "Hiyori, let's get back on topic."
"Ah! Y-yes… th-then… um… Princess can't go out, and someone needs to take care of Misaki… so… I'm the one who had to come…"
"I see." Azusa paused, then asked with concern, "Do you still have enough medical supplies on your side? Considering the importance of this mission, even she should provide the squad with medicine."
Mission… squad… and she…
"Hehe! About that, Azusa, listen!"
Hiyori suddenly switched to a secretive, yet clearly boastful tone:
"The other day, I found an iron box in the trash! It looked a bit old on the outside… but inside were plenty of basic medicines, hehe~ including fever reducers. If we use that, Misaki should recover soon, right?"
A box from the trash, already looking old... That probably meant it was expired!
Azusa, however, seemed relieved: "Hm, that's really good. Even if everything in this world is vanity and futility, sometimes luck happens."
"Hehe~ yes, exactly! And I even found this super rare magazine in the recycling bin…!"
"…Hmm? I see." Azusa suddenly seemed uninterested.
"…Ah, sorry, please forget I said that." Hiyori sounded as if someone had doused her enthusiasm with cold water.
Meanwhile, I, listening from afar, fell into thought.
The living conditions of Arius students had already deteriorated to this extent…?
From what I'd heard, I could now more or less confirm Hiyori's identity and that of Misaki, whom I had encountered a few days ago, as she spoke with Azusa.
The keywords in their conversation also reminded me of a worry that had existed for a long time, shared by more than just me.
Even if Mika approached Arius with goodwill to seek cooperation, would the Arius faction, who bore grudges against Trinity, truly relent peacefully?
Previously, based on Azusa's excellent performance, I had ranked this suspicion as lower priority.
Now, it seemed… at least Arius' motives were not entirely pure.
Someone, referred to by Azusa and Hiyori as she, may have entrusted Azusa with a secret mission.
Did Mika know about this?
At this moment, however, these questions were not the most important.
Though countless thoughts churned in my mind, the only thing I could do now was continue listening.
"Um… Azusa-chan, how have things been on your end lately?"
"Hmm. Everything is progressing smoothly. Scores have risen to the level required to pass the retest. It won't affect the plan."
"Hehe, that's good… And, um… no one has become suspicious, right? Like that sensei from Schale… I-I heard that person is really scary…"
"Hm? Where did you hear that?"
"On an anonymous forum… many students posted that they were called by Schale's sensei to do odd chores… Though the comments said not to fantasize… but since such rumors exist, there must be some truth to them, right?"
Who was spreading these baseless rumors about me!? I would have to find that forum and set things straight.
Wait, which side was being "forced" according to Hiyori?
At this point, Azusa defended me righteously: "Sensei isn't that kind of person. It's only because sensei is too good that people slander him like this. After all, this world is vanity. Everything is meaningless."
"Is that so…? Hmm, Azusa-chan seems to have received a lot of care from sensei… But, um… the Leader told me not to casually accept favors from others…"
"I know. Even if someone says it's fine, there must be something hidden in that kindness, right? Saori told me the same before transferring schools."
"Ah, I was speaking out of turn…"
The conversation between former and current Arius students continued.
I suddenly opened my eyes and smiled silently.
Saori… the Leader… a secret mission…
I see now.
Beatrice.
I had finally glimpsed the tip of the iceberg of a conspiracy and identified a sufficiently clear enemy.
Though I didn't yet know how that person controlled Arius' students or what they planned against Trinity, I knew it could be nothing good.
Then what I needed to do was simple.
After that, the two girls revealed nothing more of value, chatting casually before ending what felt like a routine report.
I exhaled deeply and stood up.
Gazing at the halo suspended in the sky, full of determination.