Part 38: Episode 35: Anghel's Increasing Presence

The return to school was mostly uneventful. At least, it seemed that way to start. Well, it all started while I was thinking about this new semester…



We’re planning to do a café, but we haven’t decided on the theme yet…

Huh?

There’s a student ID card lying on the floor. Did somebirdie drop it here?

Umm… Akagi Yoshio, 2-2. Who’s that? I guess I should take this to the faculty room.

As I turned towards the faculty room, though…
The sound of glass breaking is heard.

Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!
!? Wh-what’s going on, Anghel?



Eeeeh…!?

This ID card’s owner is going to cause the end of the world?
…and what is “Pandora’s Gate”?

Anghel, are you actually Akag--
Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!
E-Edel Blau! Seek you to torture this Servant of God!?

*pant*… *pant*…
Perhaps… my wish was not granted…?

Oh no! Now he’s sad.

I wasn’t quite sure what to tell him, but I certainly didn’t want him to be sad. I thought of how I could turn this around.

Accept the contract offered to you, fool!
Wh… What…?
You cannot have forgotten, Edel Blau. You, the Angel of Fire, who drove me from this world and imprisoned me in an eternal cage of ice!
Are you saying… you will join me…?
You are not alone, Anghel!
Yes…!

Anghel scribbles some sort of indecipherable symbol or script on the ID card, and smiles happily.

This shall be proof of our alliance! Keep it with you.
Eh, eeeh…?

He places his ID card in my hand and strides away.
Why do I have to carry this around for you???




The first elective day back, and I decided to see if my hunting skills were still up to par.

Cooo! (Take this! OKOSAN SMASH!)
Have at you!

Well, it may not have to do with hunting, but it looks like my volleyball skills are pretty great.

Goon leveled up!
Vitality increased by 5!



A week and a half later, and it felt like it was going to be a good day.
The cafeteria switches to the fall menu today, right? I wonder what they have!

Is Goon in here?
Y-Yuuya!?
What is it? Usually I’m the one looking for you!
Are you finally being drawn in by my Sexy and Gradual style?
Exactly. Your bountiful allure stands out from afar, drawing me ever nearer. Like a guiding Polaris, smelling of udon.
…But that’s not what I came here to talk to you about.

!?

Yuuya lifts Anghel up by the nape of his neck, and holds him out towards me.

Wh-what are you two doing together…?
Do not fear, Edel Blau. This man is not our foe.
Umm, what exactly…
Well, I was going to clean up the infirmary, and…



Hey, you. What’s up?
!
You…! Be you a Fiend of Darkness, spawned from the deep Pits of Erebus!?
Well, I may be a little bit of a creature of the night, but I wouldn’t exactly call myself a fiend, no.
My proper title would be… The Midnight Rose! Or something like that.

Apostle of the Violet Rose… Sounds like the dashing, masked hero in some shoujo manga. Suits me just fine.
That aside, I’d advise you not to go in there. If you value your life, anyway.
Warnings from those who follow the Violet Rose are heeded well by all but fools and dead men.
The doctor works in here all night, sometimes. His concentration is admirable, but it does take a toll on his patience.
If somebody were to barge in while he was in the middle of something, well… Let’s just say it would be a pity if that mark on your chest got any larger, you know?
!
Would the Dark Magician be so cruel!?

No, stop! I told you, man… Going in there is suicide!


I wouldn’t be calling it “OK”, Yuuya… Why are you bringing him to me?
He said you were his friend.
I thought it was wise to report these discoveries to you, Edel Blau.
Anyway, that’s what that was all about. I’ll let you take it for here, mon amie. Adieu!
Yuuya, wait!

Why do I have to babysit Anghel??

Um…
Well, let’s go get lunch, Anghel.
!?

Whatever! Break is almost over, so let’s hurry.

And so I was able to enjoy a (mostly) quiet lunch with Anghel. He’s not too bad of company, as long as you can get him to lower his voice a bit.



A couple weeks later and the campus was alive with avians.

I don’t have anything to do, so I guess I’ll go look around.
Isn’t there a manga club here? I wonder if they’re doing a zine or something for the festival…
I think I’ll go look!


!?
Anghel! Are you a member of the manga club, then?
Indeed. This… is my weapon.

Anghel produces a mapping pen with a dramatic flourish.

Whoa… that looks like it would hurt if you got poked.
It has stained many a day with the gore of friend and for alike.

Are you sure it’s not just that you’re careless and end up stabbing yourself a lot…?


!
My scarlet breast stirs… No! Why now…!?
I shall leave this to you, Edel Blau. I must go…!

In other words, it’s your turn to run the stand and you want me to do it for you?

I mean, it’s not like I was interested in much else at the festival anyways. Plus, I get to check out the manga club booth behind the scenes, so I still get to do what I came here for.

Do what must be done, Crimson Angel of Judecca!
I shall follow the Covenant of my Blood to the End! Haah!

He nimbly leaps over a stack of books and runs off into the courtyard.
It’s not like I have anything better to do, so I’ll take his shift for him.