Ding!
"Suggestion: Life is Yours! Find What You Need to Do." Achieved: 3/3!
Congratulations!
"Suggestion: Life is Yours! Find What You Need to Do." Success!
'Chapter 1. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (1)' Completed!
'Route 1 — 〈Chapter 2. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (2)〉' Confirmed.
"Finally, it feels better."
I touched my newly cut short hair.
Yes, this is it. If you're going to grow your hair, trim it as it grows, or just cut it off.
Ruka, having neglected it for so long without any intention of growing it, looked like a complete mess.
'At least now I look less shabby.'
Instead of the droopy face that came out unconsciously, I looked in the mirror with no expression.
Unexpectedly, I looked quite decent.
Though my skin was pale, eating well and exercising diligently to bring some color back would make me look much better.
I left the shop and thanked the student following a step behind me.
"Thanks for escorting me. So, we're in the same class?"
"...Y-Yeah. At our school, you stay in the same class until you graduate, Lucas... You didn't know?"
"I knew that."
Since the protagonist was a student here, I knew such information from the novel.
"Oh, really...? Haha! I didn't realize. Haha..."
"So, what's your name?"
"Me?! I-I'm Melvin. But why do you ask...?"
Can't even ask a classmate's name, huh?
And why is he trembling so much?
Feeling like a bully shaking down a kid, I just closed my mouth.
I didn't think much seeing everyone avoiding me, but seeing him tremble one-on-one made me feel oddly guilty.
As we arrived in front of a building, Melvin, his face brightening, pointed at it.
"This is the dorm. I'll go now, see you in class tomorrow."
"Hey, wait a minute."
"Huh...?"
"Where do I go to find my room?"
Melvin, looking near death, led me to the administration office while keeping as much distance as possible.
'His reaction is funny.'
The guilt was fleeting.
Having already adjusted to such reactions, I waved with a smile.
Curious about the level, I checked the likability score, and it was predictably at -10.
"Thanks. See you later."
"Y-Yeah... I'll really go now...!"
Before I could respond, he ran down the corridor.
In the administration office, I asked about my room number and found my way there. Opening the door, my luggage sent from home was already inside.
"Guess I'll start with organizing."
The luggage included a few clothes, books for classes, writing tools, and some medicine. Even the wand, useless to Luca, was tucked away in a corner.
After throwing everything into the wardrobe and desk, the only thing left was the medicine box.
Suppressing the urge to kick the box, I opened the lid. On the black cloth, shielding it from light, lay a cream-colored letter.
I didn't need to check to know who sent it.
I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
[To my dear brother.]
[Hello. By the time you read this, you'll already be at school. You can't imagine how worried I was when you collapsed like that. I wish I could have stayed by your side, but I had to leave early. I didn't know the medicine would hurt you so much. Please forgive me.]
That apology was the lightest in the world. Knowing Luca's fate, I could only laugh.
The rest of the letter contained updates about father, what he said about me, and useless advice to raise my grades to average.
Reading with dull eyes, I finally reached the end of the letter.
[Though I nagged a bit, I believe you know what to prioritize. Always put your health first. Especially these days, there seems to be a lot of change, so let me know if anything happens.]
[May God's blessing always be with you.
Sincerely, your brother.]
A plain, useless letter.
His persistence in writing such a long letter just to appear nice was palpable.
My eyes fell on the most noticeable sentence.
[I believe you know what to prioritize.]
Yes, I do.
I dumped the box into the drawer and locked it.
The poor soul that would drink this medicine was no longer your brother.
'I'd like to just throw it away...'
But I can't.
To incriminate my brother, I need some of this as evidence.
Depending on the remaining effect of the medicine, my plans might change, so for now, I need to check how much magic I can use.
'Three days ago, my brother made me drink a bottle.'
It was practically spat out immediately, so it wouldn't matter. The last time I drank two bottles consecutively was four days ago.
Since the medicine is taken weekly, its effect should be significantly reduced.
So, let's try using magic.
'...But.'
It's been so long since I last used it. Was I twelve?
Anyway, I was born into a mage family, with just a slightly closed core, so I should manage.
I stretched my hand out.
Ping!
At that moment, red magic flickered. Before I could be surprised by the unfamiliar magic, a sharp pain shot through my heart.
"Ugh...!"
It really works. My knees buckled under the pain. It was hard to stand.
'This is with the medicine's effect weakened...'
Feeding such a thing to your brother and still sleeping soundly at night, huh?
It was absurd even as a reader, but experiencing it firsthand was even more so. I could only laugh in disbelief.
'Anyway, the plan is on track.'
Today is the last weekday.
The weekend starts tomorrow. By then, the medicine's effect will be completely gone.
Despite the cold sweat, I laughed.
Yes. First, let's get Leo on my side.
*
The next morning, stepping out of my room, I encountered students preparing for school.
'Surprisingly, they don't avoid me?'
Amazed at the unexpected situation, I looked around.
Then a student walked by nonchalantly, saw my face, and quickly ran off in surprise.
Even in the crowded dormitory lobby, it was the same.