'Luna, are you okay?'
While I was diligently working on developing a new compound spell, Pixie—the fairy who is always by my side—called out to me.
'Yes, I'm fine, Pixie. Thank you for worrying about me.'
'Good. More importantly, how long are you going to stay here? Sylph said the air here feels stagnant, and the people who talk to you feel weird. Wouldn't it be better to get out of here soon?'
Pixie rarely speaks to me on her own initiative.
She simply watches over me and occasionally lends a hand.
However, after ten days of me being here, even Pixie seemed to have run out of patience.
'What you say makes perfect sense, Pixie. But I'm not allowed to leave here. That's the rule.'
'I see. How long do you have to stay?'
'I don't know. But it'll probably be a while longer.'
'Okay.'
With that murmur, Pixie fell silent again.
Ten days had passed since that day—when Oliver-san and Philly-san destroyed parts of the city, and monster overflow occurred simultaneously.
I am currently in a cell at the criminal detention facility in Tsutorail.
Though it's called a detention facility, my cell has a partitioned toilet and shower area, along with spare clothes.
It seems to be used for detaining people of noble status—the environment is far from harsh.
Honestly, I'm grateful for that.
I wonder why someone like me, who isn't nobility, was assigned here—but since it was given to me, I make full use of it without hesitation.
◇
Ten days ago—after I defeated the water dragon and my stamina was completely depleted—I watched the battle between Orun-san and Oliver-san.
At first glance, golden mana had pierced Orun-san's abdomen, and I feared the worst.
Fortunately, that didn't become reality.
Orun-san healed the wound instantly. Though he took one hit, after that he completely overwhelmed Oliver-san.
I was surprised by that overwhelming strength, but what shocked me most was that—no magic circles appeared… yet multiple unfamiliar spells were being cast.
Magic is the general term for phenomena caused by channeling mana through spell formulas—magic circles.
In other words, a magic circle must appear wherever magic is activated.
Yet Orun-san's black magic produced no circles.
The only thing that can cause magic-like phenomena without circles is an ability.
However, Orun-san's ability—[Mana Convergence]—cannot explain those phenomena.
Could Orun-san's ability not be [Mana Convergence]? —No, the final Heaven Flash in the martial arts tournament finals was unmistakably from [Mana Convergence].
Then it must be something I don't know—neither magic nor an ability.
Titania might know.
I'll ask her next time she comes.
Until then, I'll develop compound spells while considering various possibilities.
After all, I have plenty of time.
After Orun-san and Oliver-san's battle ended and ground monster extermination was mostly finished, I was taken into military custody.
I underwent interrogation, and since then I've spent all my time in this room.
Currently, I am awaiting judgment.
A high-ranking military officer told me that—due to my efforts defending the west gate during the incident—there's a high chance of amnesty.
However, suspicion remains regarding my family's involvement in child abduction, so full acquittal is unlikely.
Child abduction can carry the death penalty in some cases.
Just the fact that possibility has been removed is enough for now.
"Still—no complaints about the room itself, but being unable to verify spell formulas is troublesome."
I couldn't help muttering my dissatisfaction.
The room is already quite privileged, yet human greed knows no bounds…
Magic development is broadly divided into 'creation' and 'verification' of spell formulas.
'Creation' means building the basic formula from scratch.
'Verification' means testing whether the completed formula activates properly.
Verification naturally requires casting the magic. Near completion, fine adjustments often demand repeated short activations.
Repeated casting causes headaches, so verification is typically done using magic tools with sealed formulas.
But this is a prison. Naturally, no magic stones for tool activation are provided.
Without stones, the only option is mental formula construction—but even if constructed, mana infusion is impossible here, so verification can't proceed.
Mana infusion is blocked by the magic tool on my left wrist.
This tool is worn by everyone detained here—it interferes with mana flow.
Obviously necessary—if high-grade spells could be cast, escape would be trivial.
Also, naturally, the magic stone embedded in this tool is rigged to prevent removal.
Complaining won't help.
For now, I'll create basic formulas for compound spells by attribute.
That alone will take enormous time.
If time remains after that—I'll think then.
◇
While writing developing formulas on paper, I heard approaching footsteps—likely a guard.
(…Too early for dinner.)
From the orange light filtering through the embedded upper window, I judged it was around evening.
When the guard reached the door, it unlocked.
Meals were always passed through a small slot near the door, so the full door hadn't opened once in ten days. Was I about to be interrogated?
The door opened. A stern-faced man in guard uniform stood there.
"Luna Flockheart—come out."
The guard spoke in a commanding tone.
This tone wasn't new, but his emotionless, suppressed expression bothered me.
Disobeying orders would bring no good, so I rose from the chair and moved toward the door.
"Don't leave the papers. Take them too."
Take the papers? Not something needed for interrogation…?
Puzzled, I gathered the bundle of formula sheets and stepped outside.
"…Follow me."
The guard said only that, turned his back, and walked briskly.
I hurried after him.
After walking a while, we reached what seemed like the building's rear entrance.
Was I being transferred to another building?
"Raise your left hand slightly."
Lost in thought, I received another order. Following it, I lifted my left hand to chest level.
The guard touched the tool on my wrist—it came off.
Then he handed me the hairpin-shaped storage artifact I had been given before entering the cell.
Confused, I accepted it.
"The contents haven't been touched. But check them later just in case. If anything's missing, report it."
The guard rattled off the explanation.
"…?"
Unable to keep up, I tilted my head—then he said:
"You're free now."
(Free…? Released? Why?)
"It's understandable to be confused. Once outside, you'll grasp the situation to some extent."
As I stood stunned, the guard spoke again.
I stored the paper bundle, then reattached the hairpin to my head.
Trembling, I gripped the door handle.
Then I opened it and stepped outside the building.
◇
Outside, the sun had begun to set. A twilight sky held the moon aloft.
"Ah! Seirei big sis~! Over here, over here!"
As I gazed upward, a girl's voice called from nearby.
This was the second time I'd been called 'Seirei big sis.'
I turned toward the voice—Caroline-chan was waving at me.
Beside her stood Sophia-chan and Logan-kun.
Behind them waited a carriage bearing the moon-and-rabbit emblem of "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky".
(Why are they here? It's almost as if they knew I'd be coming out…)
I had been confused since leaving the cell—but now the confusion deepened.
As I stood bewildered, the door behind me opened again.
"Luna."
A voice called my name.
I could never mistake that voice.
Turning, I saw Orun-san standing there.
"Orun…-san."
"It's been a while. I know you're probably confused about a lot, but—would you get in the carriage for now?"
◇