Chapter 27

On a day off from school, I sneaked out of the Aviram family's townhouse and headed to the station alone. I was going to a mental hospital. Although I could have run there with body enhancement, it wouldn't take much time, but running at a considerable speed during the day would certainly draw attention, so I decided to use public transportation.

At the station, I bought a ticket and sat on a bench in the waiting room. Since a noble child being alone at the station would be suspicious, I was dressed as a commoner today. I pulled my hunting cap low and waited, and people began to gather and form a group from somewhere.

"The world is controlled by demons! Demons are the enemies of humanity! Strike before they do! Now is the time to declare war!"

"Citizens, wake up! We are already under attack by demons! Who is it that sends monsters to destroy the capital? Who is it that sends Quintus to our country to kill politicians and researchers?"

It seemed to be a group of anti-demon activists. My 'Theater of the Border' is not as radical as this, but it is one of the anti-demon student clubs. The play we performed at the school festival was about a famous detective defeating a masked villain, but it also hinted at the defeat of demons.

A carriage arrived, and I stood up. The man on the driver's platform jumped down and opened the door, and people began to board. One of the group members approached us in line and held up a book.

"This 'Original Sin of Demons' contains their dangerous ideology. You must know. You must not turn away from the truth."

The person in front of me left the line and approached the man with the book, seemingly interested. Then a few more people left the line.

Thanks to the reduced number of people, it was soon my turn to board. Inside the carriage, seats were arranged around the walls, and it was almost full. The boy in front of me, wearing a hunting cap, managed to sit down, and it didn't seem like anyone else could fit. Should I wait for the next carriage?

"Okay, this is the last one, so those who couldn't get on, please wait for the next carriage."

As I was about to give up and step away from the carriage, a station attendant pushed my back. I was squeezed into a corner near the entrance. The boy next to me sighed.

"Can't you squeeze in a bit more?"

I thought he was a boy because of his appearance, but his voice sounded like a girl. It reminded me of someone, but I didn't know anyone who would ride a shared carriage for commoners.

"Hey, are you listening?"

The girl pushed my body more strongly. I moved my eyes to look at her knees. Her legs were tightly closed, and she did indeed look uncomfortable. But it wasn't my fault that it was crowded. I had intended to wait for the next carriage.

"Hey!"

"---Why don't you ask more politely?"

Her way of speaking was not appropriate for a first meeting, let alone when asking for something.

"For a kid, you don't know how to speak to your elders, do you?"

"Can you be quiet? I don't want to feel any more uncomfortable in this already cramped space."

Although I didn't say it out loud, being surrounded by commoners wasn't a good feeling either.

"Hmm, hmm. So that's how you react. I'll admit your courage, but you'll faint when you find out who I am."

"I don't want to faint, so you don't have to tell me."

"Hmm, hmm. Even I, who have endured a bratty brother, am close to my limit."

"Hmm, what happens when you exceed your limit---"

"Hey, be quiet. My head hurts from drinking too much last night."

The bald man in front of me, holding his head, said. He looked quite unpleasant, probably due to a hangover.

"Hmph, I'm sorry. I apologize."

The girl reluctantly apologized to the man. I nodded in agreement, silently praising the man for his good sense.

"Boy, you too."

"Me too?"

"Of course. You two were making a commotion."

"---I'm sorry."

A chuckling sound came from next to me. I turned my eyes to the window, signaling that I didn't want to get involved any further.

After about an hour, we arrived at the station closest to Grayridge Mental Hospital. The driver got off and opened the door, just as when we boarded. I was the first to get off and handed my ticket to the driver. I tried to recall which direction the hospital was, when the girl's voice came from behind.

"Are you going to go straight there?"

I sighed inwardly and turned around. The girl was leaning against the entrance frame, looking down at me. It was then that I saw her face for the first time and was startled.

"I thought you were a rude woman, but it's you."

"What... what, it's you!?"

"---Lady, may I have your hand?"

I raised my hand to Wendy's waist, and she took it, though confused.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

"That's my line."

As she got off the carriage, she said accusingly. It felt uncomfortable, as if we were wearing matching clothes. We were the only ones getting off, and no one was getting on. This station, at the edge of the capital, probably had few people getting off because this route was mainly used for intercity travel.

The carriage left us behind and drove away. Since Wendy was also dressed as a commoner, she must have sneaked out of her house like me. If so, she might have something she didn't want to be known. I had many questions, such as why she had been absent from school for a while and about Liam, but I decided to keep them to myself.

"Then, I have some business to attend to."

"Ah, yeah. Me too."

I parted ways with Wendy and headed to the mental hospital.

I reached the hill leading to the hospital. Glancing back, I saw Wendy following at a distance. I stopped.

"You're not following me, are you?"

Wendy caught up and stood next to me.

"By any chance... do you have business at Grayridge too?"

Grayridge. I remembered the hospital's name was Grayridge Mental Hospital.

"Yes."

"You must be having a tough time."

Wendy lowered her eyebrows and looked at me with concern. I was momentarily puzzled but quickly realized why. She must have mistaken me for someone with a close relative in the hospital.

"No, I'm just visiting an acquaintance. ---What about you, Wendy?"

"Liam. They took him because he had mental issues and was very dangerous."

Her voice was slightly trembling. Not knowing what to say, I remained silent.

"Don't worry about me. It's all his fault. My family is the worst. Really, the worst. Including me."

She glared at the hill and started climbing after a moment. I followed half a step behind.

"My family is similar. It's a miracle I didn't go bad."

"Hey, you think you didn't go bad?"

Wendy looked at me in surprise.

"Looks like a model student to me. I was the student council president at the affiliated school."

"Sure, sure. ---Thanks."

"Huh?"

"Talking to you makes climbing this hill feel less steep than usual."

"Oh, well... I'm glad if I could help."

"Pfft, why are you flustered?"

"N-nothing."

"You're more childish than I thought. You're different from what I heard."

"I don't know what you heard, but I've always been a child."

"Well, when the perfect student council president Roy Aviram enrolled in the academy, it was quite a topic. Many students idolize you as a hero who defeated Quintus. Some even dream about joining 'The Theater of the Border.' But you're so cheeky... What do you think?"

"What do you mean by 'what do you think'?"

The students' fantasies about me are largely due to Persia. He's been building an ideal image of Roy Aviram behind the scenes. As a result, people's expectations of me have inflated like a soap bubble. ---Will it eventually burst?

"Anyway, I kind of like your personality. Did you know that men with a bit of a difficult personality are more attractive?"

"I didn't know that."

"But be careful not to overdo it, or your mouth will start to twist."

"Thank you for the advice."

I pushed up the corners of my mouth with my fingers. My personality is undeniably flawed.

I glanced at Wendy's profile. She had well-defined lips. Although she described her own personality as bad, I didn't think so. She might be strong-willed and tough, but she doesn't mock or belittle others. Despite the resemblance to Liam, her expressions were entirely different, and one wouldn't recognize them as siblings if not told.

"W-what? You've been staring at me."

"No."

"---Do you maybe have a thing for older women?"

"What? Why would you think that?"

"Well, just a feeling. The way you looked at Ruby's mother the other day was a bit suspicious..."

That's unfair. What kind of look did I have? I do have a sense of reverence for Lily and Elsa as fellow researchers, but that's not what Wendy meant.

"Well, I'm not sure. But I think older people are more likely to be my type."

I hadn't thought about it deeply, but I don't think I could consider classmates or younger people as romantic interests. With the memories of my past life, my mental age is probably a bit higher than those around me.

"---Hmm."

Wendy nodded meaningfully.

As we got closer to the hospital, Wendy became quieter. She remained silent from the moment we saw the gray building.

I pushed open the rusted iron gate and stepped into the hospital grounds. Wendy's footsteps behind me were heavy.

I opened the door to the hospital's entrance. The nurse who had guided me and the patrol team the last time was sitting at the front desk.

"You're from the other day."

The nurse said without a smile or inflection.

"Yes, thank you for that."

Voices could be heard from somewhere. Probably from a room behind the counter. It seemed busier than the last time I visited.

"I don't know the details, but the patrol team has been on standby every day since then. They seem very eager to meet that boy's brother."

Noticing my gaze, the nurse preemptively answered my unspoken question.

I see. The patrol team must be waiting for Quintus to show up. Since he will eventually come here, it makes sense to allocate personnel.

"Are you visiting the boy again? Or..."

The nurse glanced at Wendy, who had joined me.

"No, she is---"

"Visiting Liam Dalton. Both of us."

Interrupting me, Wendy spoke from the side. I sent her a protesting look, and she looked anxious.

"Well, you are technically Liam's classmate, right? Go see him."

Her pleading eyes left me no choice but to nod.

We approached the reception desk. The nurse who had guided us last time was there.

"You're from the other day."

The nurse said without a smile or inflection.

"Yes, thank you for that."

Voices could be heard from somewhere. Probably from a room behind the counter. It seemed busier than the last time I visited.

"I don't know the details, but the patrol team has been on standby every day since then. They seem very eager to meet that boy's brother."

Noticing my gaze, the nurse preemptively answered my unspoken question.

I see. The patrol team must be waiting for Quintus to show up. Since he will eventually come here, it makes sense to allocate personnel.

"Are you visiting the boy again? Or..."

The nurse glanced at Wendy, who had joined me.

"No, she is---"

"Visiting Liam Dalton. Both of us."

Interrupting me, Wendy spoke from the side. I sent her a protesting look, and she looked anxious.

"Well, you are technically Liam's classmate, right? Go see him."

Her pleading eyes left me no choice but to nod.