"Fairy swarms aren’t classified as monsters... so why are they considered a side effect of dark magic?"
"If you trace where this swarm originated, you’ll find it’s near the hideout of a black magic practitioner who was recently captured. Considering fairy swarms usually only appear in spring, the fact that they’re here now strongly suggests dark magic was involved."
It really felt like black magic was woven into every corner of my life, always in the worst way possible.
‘So this is what they mean by the side effects of black magic....’
Just as I had to sacrifice my most precious memory to use a black magic artifact, it seemed that black magician had inadvertently unleashed an entire fairy swarm as a consequence of their spell.
No matter how black magic was used, it always came with a negative ripple effect.
And, of course, we were the ones stuck dealing with it. Damn it!
"They say black magicians are becoming more active these days. It’s going to be a tiring time for all of us."
‘...Damn it, hang in there, April.’
Every time I found myself silently rooting for April to tear this world apart, I felt my pride take a hit.
While I mentally cursed and prayed for April to obliterate the universe, Yuri began explaining how to handle the swarm.
"We can’t let the fairy swarm enter any buildings. That means we need to seal all the entrances."
But as Yuri spoke, her expression seemed to drift into a distant memory.
Her demeanor didn’t match someone encountering fairy swarms for the first time. Curious, I asked, "Yuri, have you dealt with fairies before?"
"Of course..."
Yuri’s voice carried a note of sorrow.
"It was about half a year before you enlisted, Salvia. And back then..."
Her gaze grew wistful, almost mournful.
"April was here."
"Ah..."
I, too, couldn’t help but adopt a wistful expression.
I knew very well how much April hated bugs and how obsessive she was about cleanliness. To think she had endured a fairy swarm attack...
"April personally inspected every entrance to make sure there wasn’t the slightest gap."
I didn’t even want to imagine how much the juniors would have been chewed out if there had been any gaps.
"And during that time, she was about six times more irritable than usual..."
"That’s... absurd."
Six times more irritable than normal? At that level, could you even call her human anymore? That’s just a walking calamity.
Still, Yuri nodded seriously, her expression grim.
"So this time, we’ll make sure the swarm doesn’t breach our defenses. With the spirit of April, we won’t allow a single gap."
"Understood..."
...Is it possible that the original Salvia died trying to fend off a fairy swarm? Honestly, no matter how you look at them, those things are monsters!
***
D-1902 Until Discharge
The war against the bugs had been declared, and all training was suspended.
Instead, we spent our time sealing off the building housing the armory and supply depot. We taped every door and window shut, leaving no gaps, and even blocked the ventilation shafts.
Next, we fortified the dining hall. The staff relocated to the squad building, which was to become our main base.
Finally, we began sealing the squad building itself, our living quarters. Windows and ventilation shafts were taped up, and Yuri meticulously inspected every bathroom drain with a sharp eye.
Only after a supply of food sufficient for several days was delivered did we prepare to seal the building’s sole remaining entrance. For now, the door stayed open, as some were still on guard duty.
"Ah, I’m so tired..."
I walked down the hallway, rubbing my sore arms after taping up gaps for hours. With the work done and training suspended, I could now rest in the barracks. But honestly, I’d have preferred training to this.
‘There’s no time for this. I should be preparing for my own survival.’
The fairy swarm was undoubtedly a major threat, but what mattered more was preparing for my death!
"Ishina."
With a serious expression, I called Ishina’s name. He turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes landing on me.
"What is it, Salvia?"
"What do you think I should work on improving?"
"...What?"
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"I mean, what do you think I should fix about myself?"
Earlier, I’d tried asking Ishina about Jason, Patty, and Matty’s relationship, but his suspicious look had made me drop the subject. It felt like he was already assuming I was plotting something, and honestly, I felt wronged.
‘Well, their problems are theirs to solve. I should focus on other things, like my survival—or figuring out my weaknesses.’
Ishina, with his keen insight, might even give me useful advice about my vulnerabilities.
"Haa..."
After scanning me from head to toe, Ishina let out a long sigh.
"Fix your hair, stop letting your shirt collar wrinkle, and tie your shoelaces properly, alright?"
That wasn’t what I meant at all...
"Understood..."
"I know you hate tedious things, but you’ve got to take care of yourself."
Feeling like I was being lectured, I answered quietly, and Ishina sighed again. Motioning for me to come closer, he deftly tied my hair, just like he had during a previous march.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to tie my hair—I just didn’t bother.
"Oh."
I reached up and touched my hair, impressed by his work. It felt professionally done.
"How are you so good at this? Did you have a younger sister?"
"No, I’m an only child..."
Ishina spoke, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"But I wanted one. I even practiced explaining to my parents why they should give me a little sister."
"Wow."
His childhood story, which hadn’t even been mentioned in the original, caught my interest, and my eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Why did you want a little sister?"
"It wasn’t for any deep reason. Just a kid’s whim, I guess," Ishina replied, his expression soft as he recalled the past.
"There were already plenty of boys in the neighborhood to play with, and they were noisy. I wanted a little sister because she’d be quieter."
"Ah."
"In the end, I didn’t get one."
Ishina shrugged lightly, then looked at me with a faint smile.
"And now I’m glad I didn’t."
"Why?"
"Back then, I didn’t realize how stubborn she would’ve been. I’d have been stuck with a little sister who never listened."
"...Haha."
"Really, she’d have been so hard to deal with..."
***
"Haa..."
Hearing a heavy sigh, I stopped walking and turned to see Jason emerging from the men’s bathroom, looking utterly defeated. His dark circles were now as bad as Taro’s—halfway to full panda mode.
...Was it really okay to leave him like this? Could his group actually sort things out on their own?
"Hey, Jason, you alright?"
"Ah, Salvia... Yes, I’m fine..."
"Your peers haven’t caused any trouble today, have they?"
"No, not yet..."
But as soon as he said that, El came sprinting down the hall, her eyes wide.
"Jason! Handle your peers! They tripped over each other, knocked themselves out, and are unconscious now!"
"...What?"
Jason’s face froze in disbelief.
Then, unexpectedly, a bright smile spread across his face as he muttered, "If they’re unconscious, they can’t cause trouble... That means we’ll have peace for at least an hour."
I wanted to argue, but his genuinely relieved expression made me hold back.
"Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’re Jason."
I patted his shoulder. At least Jason wasn’t a troublemaker himself.
If Jason were a troublemaker too, we’d have a trio of chaos. Having someone to rein in Patty and Matty—even if poorly—was a relief.
But just then, Dream came running down the hall, shouting.
"Jason! A stray fairy got into the building! It’s in the room where Patty and Matty were unconscious, and now they’re awake! God, the screaming!"
"...Life..."
Jason muttered bitterly, and I couldn’t even find the words to console him. I quietly left the scene.
It seemed even the bugs were doing their part as honorary troublemakers.
***
Smoke rose from beyond the mountain.
The senior soldiers moved swiftly at the sight.
"Emergency! The fairy swarm has arrived!"
"Seal the doors!"
The smoke was the signal for the swarm’s arrival.
The moment the news spread, the squad leader and officers burst into action, barking out rapid orders.
Following their lead, we checked the windows we had sealed over the past three days and began shutting the last remaining door.
Finally, all entrances were sealed.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of something large hitting the windows echoed occasionally.
Each time, I flinched, my nerves on edge. The heavy thuds against the glass were bone-chilling.
The attack of the swarm had begun.