Survive in Azure Files

"It's just a minor injury, it's nothing serious. Besides, saliva can also be used as a disinfectant, right?"

"Yes, there is, but the effect is very weak, and there is a risk of deepening the infection." Sina looked at me very seriously, "So, please let me treat your wound."

I couldn't refuse such a kind invitation, so I bought a lunch box for Ako and took Serina back to Xialai.

As I expected, after seeing me take off my shirt and the bite marks and scratches on my body, Serena didn't show any surprise and didn't ask any questions. She just wiped them carefully with a cotton swab dipped in iodine to disinfect me.

"By the way," I said while enjoying the lunch box that Sina prepared for me, "If I remember correctly, Trinity has another exam recently, right?"

I got this news from the after-school dessert department who asked me for tutoring again.

But since I'm quite busy recently, I really can't spare the time to meet with them, so I can only try my best to answer their questions online.

Logically speaking, since Serina has to work for the Knights Rescue and also take exams, she should be very busy during this period.

Qinna nodded, but said something that puzzled me:

"Yes. There is a very important exam coming up soon. Everyone needs to study hard for it. That's why I came to see you."

Could this be a declaration intended to take advantage of the opportunity to sneak away?

Just when I felt that there was something wrong with my guess, Serena spoke again:

"Excuse me, do you have time later? If possible, please accompany me to a place."

I turned my head and took in the girl's solemn expression.

Did you choose the day before the exam that is so important that “no matter who you are” you have to study hard?

Sensing the hidden meaning behind what Sina said, I could smell something unusual.

After a moment's silence, I nodded slightly: "Of course."

Serina smiled: "Thank you very much, teacher."

After finishing the chores, I followed Sina and left Xialai.

The destination was not far away, probably a small town in the suburbs of DU. But we did not use any means of transportation, we just walked on foot. The nurse also took detours along remote paths, and seemed to be consciously avoiding surveillance, so it took quite a while.

To be honest, I was somewhat frightened by the anti-reconnaissance skills that Serina displayed during this period.

Before the sky completely darkened, Qinna finally slowed down her pace, turned around and said to me: "Teacher, thank you for accompanying me for so long. Please hold on for one last step. It's just ahead."

At this moment, we are in a secluded, deep and rarely visited grove.

Hearing what Qinna said, I perked up and regained my curiosity about why Qinna brought me here.

It must be something extremely important that must not be known to others.

Even, it is necessary to choose this time to avoid the eyes and ears of certain people.

For example...who are the ones who hold the highest power in the Holy Trinity?

After walking a few dozen steps while guessing and thinking, he suddenly understood.

Compared to the dense trees around, in a relatively open area, a girl with her back to us was standing quietly in the center.

Hearing the footsteps, the girl with long blue hair suddenly turned around. Her eyes were emerald green and her profile was delicate. She was a dreamlike beauty.

She was probably the person Serena wanted me to meet.

After seeing us clearly, the vigilance in the girl's eyes disappeared and her expression became gentle.

Qinna stepped forward quickly and said, "Captain, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

And from the way Serina addressed the strange girl, I roughly guessed her identity.

Why would the leader of the Knights Rescue ask me to meet him in a place like this?

The blue-haired girl spoke, her voice gentle, clear and healing.

"It's nothing, Sena. I'm used to waiting." Then she looked at me and said, "So, you are Xia Lai's teacher, right?"

"Ah."

"Nice to meet you. I am the leader of the Knights of Rescue, Mine Aomori."

Mine extended her white-gloved hand to me.

After a simple handshake, Mine looked at Serina and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Serina..."

Seeing that her leader was hesitant to speak, Sena shook her head and smiled, "I know, leader. You left suddenly, and suddenly contacted me with an anonymous email, hoping that I would bring the teacher here. There must be a very important reason, right? I will plug my ears and wander around for a while."

However, Mine's expression became more and more awkward: "Uh... although I appreciate your thoughtfulness... but, it may not be over for a while... at least not before curfew..."

"Is that so..." Sena nodded as if she understood something. "I see. Then, in order to not leave any loopholes, I will rush back to school as soon as possible."

After that, the nurse said to me: "Teacher, it is just as you heard. The head of the group wants to discuss something with you alone."

"It's a very important matter." Mine emphasized, her emerald eyes staring at me closely, "And, regarding this matter, you are the only one I can trust."

"…I don't know the exact situation, but since we've come to this point, please feel free to discuss it with me."

I paused. “Of course, I can’t guarantee that I can be of any help.”

Mine said with gratitude: "It is enough that you are willing to believe in the request made by me, a person you have never met. No wonder she trusts you so much."

When I heard this, I had a vague guess in my heart.

"Then please follow me."

After saying goodbye briefly to Serina, I followed Mine out of the woods in another direction and got into a car that looked ordinary but had anti-peeping glass.

The car started and drove onto the road. Sitting in the passenger seat, I asked Mine who was driving:

"Now that we're here, can you give me a general explanation?"

"Indeed." Mine thought for a while and sighed softly, "You should know this too."

Mine stepped lightly on the accelerator and the vehicle gradually accelerated.

Amid the low roar of the engine, the girl's voice, which was kept very low, still reached my ears clearly.

"It's about Saint Ya."

Chapter 78: The unconscious Saint Ya

I should have expected this.

From her farewell-like words when I saw Shengya for the last time, from the incomprehensible message that Mika suddenly sent that night, and from Nagisa's reticence when I asked about related matters.

But why didn't I think of this possibility?

Perhaps, because I knew that Shengya had the ability to predict dreams, I presumptuously assumed that no matter what happened, she would be able to ensure her own safety.

Looking at the frail girl lying flat on the hospital bed, breathing slowly but weakly, with a pale face and eyes closed, showing no signs of waking up, I felt my heart skip a beat.

If I had pressed further at that time, would things have turned out differently?

I probably failed in my duty.

But now, all I can do, all I should do, all I have to do is to try my best to make up for my mistakes.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my tone as calm as possible:

"Mini, could you please repeat what happened from beginning to end?"

"As you wish."

Then, Mine repeated to me the words that she had already told me in the car.

On the night when Shengya was attacked, Mine received a message from Shengya in advance, which included the fact that Shengya herself was about to be attacked, the subsequent arrangements, and also informed the person she could trust when necessary, that is, me.

At about 3 a.m., an explosion occurred in Shengya's room. Mine rushed to the scene immediately and provided the following information to the tea party according to Shengya's instructions:

"Shengya's halo has been destroyed."

After learning of this shocking news, the Tea Party immediately fell into chaos, but still found the remaining strength to block the relevant intelligence and conduct a search.

However, despite the prompt response of the Tea Party, no trace of the criminal was found.

At the same time, Mine took advantage of the chaos and left Holy Trinity with Saint Ya's "body" without informing anyone.

But in fact, Shengya was just injured and not really dead.

All of the above actions were carried out according to Shengya's prior instructions.

Due to Saint Ya's position as the host of the tea party, her strategic identity as a "prophet" and her overly delicate physique, the location of her room was classified as confidential information in Trinity. However, the attacker was able to sneak in accurately without alerting anyone, which was an extremely abnormal situation.

The most likely possibility is that the attacker has accomplices within Trinity.

In order to protect Shengya's personal safety, Mei Ni passed false information to the tea party and secretly hid Shengya in a safe place.

"And besides the mole lurking in Trinity, there is another problem now."

Mine looked at Shengya with concern and said slowly, "The physical injuries have been healed long ago, but Shengya has not woken up yet. Could it be that she has suffered mental damage in the attack? I can't help but feel worried.

"In order to hide my whereabouts, I can't ask for help from others. Even if it's Serina and Hanae... I trust them, but if I ask the members of the Rescue Knights, maybe the mastermind who is still keeping an eye on their movements can find this place.

"So, I could only remain patient in my anxiety and restlessness. Until now, I took advantage of the opportunity when most of the students in Holy Trinity were studying for the unified exam and were weak, and sent an anonymous email to Serena, who was the best at infiltration, reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance in the Knights."

…Although it’s not nice to think like this in such a serious situation, does Serina really have these skills?

It's a little scary.

Mine’s narration was nearing the end: “I asked Sena to bring you, who is trusted by Saint Ya and will not be monitored by the Holy Trinity, here without attracting anyone’s attention. I hope to get your help.

"If Shengya can wake up, we may be able to know the true identity of the attacker and the main messenger... With her wisdom, we will definitely be able to make a wiser decision."

But even though Shengya possesses outstanding talents and can even predict the future, isn’t she lying here now?

I don't understand why this is happening.

Assuming that Shengya’s attack was also part of Shengya’s plan, then why is she unable to regain consciousness now?

But no matter what, Shengya believed in me. In other words, Shengya entrusted her future to me.

I think I can think so.

So, there is no time to be sad or confused.

I should believe in Shengya, and I should believe in myself as Shengya believes in me.

Next, I will do things at my own pace and to the best of my ability.

I held Shengya's hand and murmured to myself:

"The person who provided the information for the attack on Shengya may not be from the Holy Trinity. Perhaps, he is someone who also possesses the ability to predict or counter-predict? But there is no way to rule out the possibility that there is a traitor in the Holy Trinity. It is indeed a reasonable decision to release the false news of Shengya's death now.

"What is the purpose of attacking Shengya? To throw the tea party into chaos? Who has the motive to do this? The information is still too scarce... As expected, the most urgent task is to find a way to wake Shengya up as soon as possible... Or, to contact Shengya in other ways?"

After a moment's silence, I exhaled, let go of Shengya's hand, stood up, and said to Mei Ni:

"I think I have some idea. I don't know if it will succeed, but I will try it as soon as possible."

"Thank you, teacher."

Mine nodded and said, "Then I'll leave everything to you. Because we can't confirm the identity of the culprit, the communication software of the momogroup group cannot be used. Please forgive me for not being able to exchange contact information with you for the time being. You already know the location of this safe house, so you can come directly next time. I will always be waiting here."

I looked at the leader of the Knights Rescue in front of me, and my eyes gradually softened.

For the safety of others, I am willing to endure the loneliness of staying in this house, with no one to communicate with and no ability to go out at will.

What a kind girl she is.

"…Mine, thank you for your hard work during this period."

I couldn't help but hold her hand.

“Teacher?” Mine was startled by my action, but she did not resist. She just smiled and shook her head, “It’s okay, I can…”

However, he couldn't continue speaking halfway.

The girl seemed to be recalling the loneliness she had experienced during this period of time. Her eyes gradually turned red, and ripples appeared in her emerald green eyes.

Then, Mine took a deep breath, took a step forward, and rested her forehead on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry…” Her voice was a little tearful, “Please forgive my weakness and willfulness… and allow me… to be a little… coquettish to you, my Lord…”

I stroked the girl's hair without saying a word, feeling the wetness spreading from her shoulders.

By the way, after this incident, will Mine's liking for me increase significantly?

After all, I am gentle and handsome, so it wouldn’t be surprising if I conquered her directly, right?