Chapter 44
"Ah..."
Reina let out a faint voice toward Vincent, who had been struck by the tanuki plushie and collapsed.
The one who took Vincent down in a single blow was a small plushie she had once received from Clael.
Reina generally didn't bring plushies with her to the academy.
Even someone as sheltered as Reina understood that carrying a plushie around or having one walking around the academy was abnormal.
That's why she kept her plushies stationed at the Duke Laurel family's mansion, the Grand Shrine, or around the academy.
She had assumed everything would be fine, thinking there wouldn't be any attackers or kidnappers within the academy... but then, that incident happened.
Reina had resistance to all status ailments, so she only lost consciousness for about a minute, but if the attacker's goal had been her life rather than her chastity, it could have been dangerous.
(Maybe I should bring plushies into the academy too... preferably ones that won't stand out.)
And so the chosen one was the tanuki plushie... 'Raccoon'.
It was small enough to fit in her pocket, so she could carry it around the school without anyone noticing.
Inside Raccoon dwelled a Holy Spirit known for its speed.
Raccoon struck Vincent's chin and quickly returned to Reina's pocket.
To the surrounding students, it probably just looked like Vincent collapsed on his own.
"Ah, Vincent-senpai!"
"What happened to him?! He suddenly collapsed!"
The students around them began to panic. Reina lightly tapped the pocket holding the tanuki plushie and turned her gaze to a nearby male student.
"Ah... perhaps he had a bout of anemia. I'm sorry, could you take him to the infirmary?"
"Y-Yes, of course!"
Blushing bright red from Reina's smile, the male student nodded vigorously and started dragging Vincent toward the infirmary.
"What could be wrong... Vincent-senpai. To think someone said to be the next Knight Captain would faint from anemia..."
"I think he was probably feeling unwell. His behavior was odd too."
Reina spoke to her curious friend, who replied, "That's true."
"He was acting strangely around Lady Reina... Yes, it was definitely odd."
"He must have really not been feeling well... Oh no, it's time already!"
The pre-bell rang. Class would be starting soon.
Reina and her friends hurried down the hallway toward their classroom.
With her head now full of thoughts about the next class, Vincent had completely vanished from Reina's mind.
〇 〇 〇
"Ugh...!?"
Vincent suddenly sat up, surrounded by white curtains.
"Wh-Where is this... No, who am I...?"
"Ah, you're awake."
The curtain was drawn open from the outside.
Standing there was a man in his twenties wearing a white coat.
A familiar face. He was the school's infirmary doctor.
"They say you fainted from anemia in the hallway. There aren't any serious injuries, but I used healing magic just in case. How are you feeling?"
"N-No... I'm fine, but..."
"Good. Then could you hurry up and leave? I can't stand having a guy in my personal space—unless it's a cute girl."
The doctor waved his hand dismissively and said, "Shoo, shoo," with disinterest.
The sheer rudeness of the attitude made Vincent want to yell, but... there was something else occupying his mind.
(Fainted from anemia? Me?)
Anemia was the last thing that could ever apply to him.
If anything, he always had more than enough blood pumping through him.
(No... that's not it. I definitely got punched by that thing...!)
As expected of the son of the Knight Captain.
He might have a lot of flaws, but... his combat potential was among the highest in the story.
Even as he was struck in the chin, Vincent burned the image of the thing that knocked him out into his memory.
"Raccoon...!"
"Huh? Did you hit your head?"
"It's nothing... Anyway, have you ever seen a doll about this size move on its own?"
Vincent gestured with his thumb and index finger to indicate something about ten centimeters tall.
The doctor shrugged in exasperation and looked at him with pity.
"...I'll write you a referral to a hospital. Wait here a minute."
"I told you that's not it! I'm being serious!"
"That's the problem—you're being serious. Don't worry, I know a specialist."
"Don't act all nice now! Damn it!"
While shouting angrily... Vincent pictured the mysterious raccoon plushie in his mind.
(That thing gave me a clean hit... I won't forgive it. I'll definitely get my revenge!)
With flames of determination burning in his eyes, Vincent clenched his fists.