Ethylen's expression was complicated.

It wasn't about the money—what concerned him was the thought that perhaps the Traverse family wasn't giving Luca even an allowance, or maybe their finances were so troubled they couldn't afford to.

"Y-young master. Bella manages all the allowance money from the family, so if there's anything you need, please tell me anytime!"

Bella, seemingly flustered as well, whispered quickly into his ear.

Luca replied impassively.

"To be honest, I'd prefer to start classes as soon as next week, but that's impossible, isn't it?"

"You want to take classes next week?"

Ethylen looked even more alarmed than before.

He'd heard about Luca's condition. It was said to be a severe injury, requiring at least a month of hospitalization.

And yet, he wanted to attend classes starting tomorrow?

That was absolutely out of the question.

'I knew he wasn't an ordinary student, but I didn't think it would be to this extent.'

He already knew Luca had good grades and that he was a diligent student who practiced on his own every day.

But Ethylen hadn't expected Luca to say something like this even after suffering terrible injuries with nearly all his bones broken.

"I don't particularly have any other wishes. If you really want to do something for me, then this is the only thing I can ask. I don't want to trouble the family for luxuries unless absolutely necessary."

"Hmmm... is that so..."

"If you think buying luxury goods for a student is an ethical issue as an educator, you don't have to do it. I don't have any other requests, so I'd rather you just let it be."

This incident was clearly a case of academy failure in student safety management, so letting it pass wouldn't be right.

The upper hand was clearly with Luca.

Of course, Ethylen didn't think Luca would later use this incident for his gain, but it was important not to leave any potential for future problems.

'But still... it bothers me a little.'

Ethylen felt somewhat uneasy watching Luca's calm expression.

'His negotiation style doesn't seem like that of a first-year.'

Whether it was a coincidence or not, the way Luca made his requests seemed a bit sly.

Not enough to be called impressive, but just enough to be a bit unnerving.

Looking at his apathetic face, it didn't seem like he was doing it on purpose, but that made it even more uncomfortable.

'No, I shouldn't doubt a student.'

Ethylen collected himself, recalling what she'd said only a few hours earlier.

"Understood. I'll give you my communication code, so choose the brand and product you want and send it to me later."

"Yes."

After giving Luca his communication code, Ethylen hesitated for a moment as if in deep thought, then spoke carefully.

"I say this out of concern, but not only should you avoid classes next week, you need to rest until before the exam. I'll overlook your participation in the festival, but you're absolutely forbidden from joining classes, doing individual training, or anything overexerting your body. Understood?"

"......"

"Understood?"

When Luca didn't answer, Ethylen pressed him again. He had no choice but to answer quietly.

"Yes."

Satisfied that he at least responded, Ethylen sighed in relief and stood up.

"Well then, I'll be going now. Please take care of yourself."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

"... Ah, and the student supervisor will be putting Luca Traverse under close protection for a while. Even if you receive too much attention, I hope you'll be patient."

Once Ethylen exited the sick room, Luca let out a sigh.

"Finally, I can get some rest."

"Young master, why do you suddenly want to buy accessories?"

Bella looked bewildered, as if she couldn't guess his intent.

Luca wore a disinterested expression.

"I asked for something he would dislike just because he kept pestering me even though I'd already said I wanted nothing. I didn't think he was the type to buy accessories for a student, but that was unexpected."

"His face definitely looked reluctant."

Bella touched her cheek, tilting her head in confusion but then smiled brightly.

"But young master, if you get a gift from the vice-headmaster, who are you going to give it to? Miss Pasmo Ti-e?"

"......"

"Oh, everyone knows already, so don't make that face~."

Seeing Luca's slight frown, Bella giggled.

"Enough nonsense. Go tell them I'm not accepting any more visitors."

"Yes!"

As Bella left the room, Luca turned his head toward the window.

Pi-iik!

There was Whistle, riding a cloud.

"What's with that look?"

"I'm suppressing the power of the demonic eye!"

"Hoo."

Now that he thought about it, Whistle had mentioned gaining the power of clouds.

He had wanted to ask about this power anyway. Now was a good time.

"You seem curious about the power of clouds. Unlike the absolute destructive power of lightning, clouds are ever-changing—that is, versatile power."

Whistle fluttered over and sat in front of Luca.

"Clouds can hide even the greatest sun, form the basis for other phenomena like rain and lightning, and can transform into countless forms."

"In other words, a power to hide anything, a power to strengthen the forces of other skies, and a power to change shape?"

"Not exactly, but you could say that."

After saying this, Whistle got off the cloud and spread it out like wings. From within, a foreboding magic power began to radiate.

"This is..."

"Don't worry. I've already covered the area with the power of clouds."

Somehow, the clouds had already sealed off the room.Luca looked in awe at the small cloud.

A reddish demonic eye exuding a sticky mist-like aura.

It had belonged to Martin, and now it was enclosed in the cloud.

Whistle gathered the cloud again to conceal it.

"The purity of devil's power is higher than I expected. Absorbing it right away would be impossible."

"Even if you use my lifespan?"

"If I did, you'd have to burn through so much lifespan it would harm you this time. I don't want that either."

Whistle shook her beak side to side to show her refusal, and tapped the cloud containing the demonic eye.

"I won't absorb this until I recover the next memory at least."

"Cautious."

Luca admired Whistle, who seemed more mature than before. She was indeed growing.

Whistle lightly brushed her beak with a wing.

"I really felt it this time. Master has a very deep connection with devils."

"Well, it seems that way."

"And both master and I are too weak to protect ourselves from such devils. In fact, your survival this time was a miracle."

Indeed, surviving this incident was close to a miracle.

Several gambles happened to succeed, and if even one thing had gone wrong, there would have been no telling what would've become of him.

"Master needs to become stronger."

"I wish to do so as well."

"Then let's go into closed-door training right away!"

At Whistle's words, Luca tilted his head.

"Closed-door training?"

"I overheard it, hiding under the window! That master doesn't have to attend class right now!"

"Well... that's true, but I'm probably not allowed to leave the hospital room until the festival, right?"

Until the festival, at least, he wouldn't be allowed out of this hospital room.

"That's not a problem! We have the power of clouds!"

"Hoo."

This indeed sounded interesting.

He'd heard the explanation, but he still didn't have a clear sense of what the power of clouds really was.

Seeing it in action would make it real.

"The power of clouds is so versatile that mastering it completely is truly difficult. None of the previous masters fully controlled the power of clouds—except for one."

"One person?"

"...my memory is hazy. I think it was the first master."

While speaking, Whistle looked momentarily dazed, then shook his beak.

"In any case, you don't have to force yourself to master it perfectly. Master can already instinctively use the power of clouds, so just practice using it at will!"

"I can use it instinctively?"

"You did when you killed the owner of the demonic eye."

Luca recalled the battle with Martin.

But his memory was blurry.

'Back then, it was almost Luca Traverse himself fighting.'

In reality, it was the inner, instinctual Luca Traverse that was fighting in his place, so Luca himself had only hazy recollections.

"I was already half-unconscious, so I don't remember."

"That's okay. If you used it instinctively at least once, your body will remember to some extent—just learn the knack."

Seeing Whistle's confidence, Luca smacked his lips and nodded.

"Alright. Since there's nothing else to do in the hospital room, I'll go along with this closed-door training of yours."

"Young master~ I've just come back from filing the no-visitors request... huh?!"

Returning from registering Luca's refusal of visitors, Bella looked flustered at the sight of the room sealed off by clouds.

"Whistle, clear the clouds."

"Okay."

Ssssh!

The clouds sealing the room disappeared, and Bella came inside.

"Young master, what was that just now?!"

"Well, as I said before, it's a power of the sky. This guy's power."

Luca looked at Whistle as he spoke.

"Pi-iik!"

Whistle cried as if in response, and Luca shook his head.

"It's okay to speak in front of Bella."

"She won't understand me anyway."

"?"

At Whistle's answer, Luca looked at Bella curiously.She was watching his expression.

"Um, young master? Can Whistle speak human language?"

"She can't hear you?"

"To me, it only sounds like a bird's chirping..."

Bella spoke apologetically, and Whistle answered, matter-of-factly:"Master and I are connected by life, so we can communicate. I can't match with other creatures yet."

"I see."

Luca scratched his cheek, then explained to Bella that he would be training.

"Young master, your body isn't in normal condition... do you really have to train?"

Knowing how obsessed Luca Traverse had been with training in the past, Bella voiced a careful objection.

"Whistle, this isn't a type of training that will overstrain my body, right?"

"Of course not! It'll actually help your body recover!"

"She says it'll speed up my recovery."

From an outsider's perspective, it looked like Luca was talking to a bird, listening to chirping, and then interpreting back.

Bella seemed momentarily unsure how to react, but finally nodded.

"If that's what young master wishes, I won't oppose it. But if your condition worsens, promise you'll see a doctor!"

"If you think something's wrong, just take me there. I won't resist."

"Yes!"

Bella looked as if she'd sling Luca over her shoulder and dash to the doctor at a moment's notice.

"Shall we begin, master?"

"Right now?"

"Just a little demonstration!"

Whistle was full of enthusiasm; Luca was surprised, but soon nodded.

"A little should be fine."

"Here we go!"

Tsu-tsu-tsu!

Whistle immediately soared into the air and scattered clouds.They multiplied instantly, filling the room.

Luca and Bella closed their eyes briefly against the clouds, then opened them.

"Hoo."

"Oh my goodness."

They couldn't help but be amazed.

Because they were no longer in the hospital room.

They stood in the middle of a beautiful field, ablaze with bright flowers.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Can't really have Luca lazing about, can we?Closed-door training time!【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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