I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 89

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After My Regression, I Confessed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 89
With the girl’s bright greeting fading, silence settled over the room for a moment.
“…….”
“…….”
Just as Beatrice was casting about for how to break this odd tension, she noticed something.
“Oh!”
The bespectacled woman who had been absorbed in the bookshelves sprang from her seat with a soft exclamation.
She approached the two of them with an expression of someone suddenly coming to her senses.
“I’m so sorry! I just— for a moment I couldn’t quite understand what was happening here. You must be the director Her Majesty mentioned.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Diona Rumbel, a healer specializing in Medicine.”
The woman finished her brief introduction and continued with a bright smile.
“I read your report on Lummenroot with great interest! We’ve put considerable effort into finding common threads among diseases of unknown origin, but I never imagined it could be for this reason.”
“Indeed, there are things visible only in the field, not at a desk. It’s good to meet you, Director. I’m Lehan Lebain.”
The man who had naturally joined their conversation offered a simple handshake.
The dark-haired man clasped Beatrice’s hand, regarding her with keen interest.
“I was eager to meet whoever would be coming as director, especially to learn they were from the Hartwell Family. As a pharmacist specializing in Agronomy and Herbalism, one simply cannot discuss cultivation in the Empire without the Hartwell Countship.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
“Not at all. If you have time later, shall we discuss the toxicity of Lummenroot further? I’m curious what reaction might occur in soil infused with Holy Magic.”
After exchanging pleasantries with Lehan, Beatrice went on to greet several others in much the same manner.
The warmth of their reception, far more generous than she had anticipated, eased her tension considerably.
With a composure far more relaxed than when she had first stood before them, Beatrice turned her attention to Cecilia.
“Now that I think of it, I never did ask what your specialization is, Cecilia.”
“Oh, didn’t I mention it?”
She blinked her wide eyes and broke into a grin, winking at Beatrice.
“I’m a mage specializing in Magic Studies!”
At Cecilia’s spirited reply, Diona added from beside her with a knowing look.
“Ah, Director, Cecilia is also our youngest colleague here. She hasn’t yet come of age, you see.”
Not yet of age? That explained her small frame and youthful appearance.
“Then you’re still…….”
“Yes, a student. But her abilities are truly outstanding, so Her Majesty extended this offer to her, or so I’ve heard. In fact, she’s involved in the most diverse range of research among all of us.”
As Beatrice murmured her admiration at Diona’s explanation, Cecilia quickly waved her hand.
“Please, that’s embarrassing. I just find it all fascinating, so I’ve ended up studying various things, and results naturally followed.”
Wasn’t that precisely what one meant by outstanding ability?
While Beatrice was thinking this, Cecilia suddenly remembered something and approached her, speaking rapidly.
“Oh! Now that I think about it, I wanted to ask you something when we met!”
“Yes?”
“First, thank you for that excellent research on Lummenroot Erosion Syndrome! It was truly fascinating. The academic consensus tends to insist that Holy Magic causes no harm whatsoever, but in a certain sense, it is the Toxification of Holy Magic, isn’t it? I’ve debated this topic with Lehan more times than I can count!”
“Ah, well, thank you for that? So your question is…….”
“Right, the question! It’s about the Orharcon Doll. I’m wondering—what was the purity of that Orharkon? Did you determine the explosion radius when it detonated? And if you were to join us, do you have any research topics in mind?”
Seeing Cecilia’s eyes light up with such enthusiasm, Beatrice found herself laughing without thinking.
Every eye in the room turned toward her.
“Ah, I’m sorry. How can I put this? Truth is, I was terribly nervous before coming here. I’m not a mage, and unlike all of you, I don’t have a specialization in healing or magic.”
“But aren’t you a direct pupil of Jededric? And you deserve credit for discovering Lummenroot Erosion Syndrome, after all.”
At Cecilia’s innocent question, Beatrice nodded lightly.
“Yes. And yet I still felt I was lacking.”
She glanced briefly around the room and continued with a soft smile.
“But now that I’ve met all of you, I realize you’re not trying to judge me.”
“…….”
“Rather, it seems you’re all eager to discuss research. So now I understand.”
What I should do with all of you.
Taking in every person she had greeted, Beatrice smiled broadly and openly.
“Her Majesty asked me to take this directorship because she felt my image and background would make it easier to reach more people. But at least within this space, I’m neither an outsider who must look good, nor do I have a role I must fulfill.”
Her eyes, a fresh spring-green reminiscent of new shoots, gleamed with joy.
“We will encounter diverse and unusual patients and conduct diverse research. So I would be grateful if you would regard me, at least within these walls, as a scholar and colleague with whom you can enjoy sharing ideas, debate, and attempt new things.”
Having spoken her mind with sincerity, Beatrice shrugged with a gentle smile.
“Oh, and by the way, the area I personally wish to research concerns Spacetime, so if anyone is interested, I’d very much like your collaboration!”
People who remain unconscious despite their bodies being perfectly sound, or those who suddenly begin acting like someone else.
And beyond all that, there is the matter of transferring space by utilizing the power of Ley Lines.
At the diverse topics Beatrice enumerated, interest kindled in everyone’s eyes.
Watching those who seemed ready at any moment to scour texts and seek out cases, Beatrice thought to herself:
Perhaps she could make this new challenge the Empress had entrusted to her far more enjoyable than she had imagined.
And if things truly went well…….
“Me! I want to! I want to research Spacetime! Director, have you ever heard the hypothesis that this world might not be singular? I’m fascinated by it—Dimensional Travel and such!”
She might even be able to fulfill the wish that Valois—no, Turner—had so long desired.
This was a kind of intuition.
* * *
While Beatrice was meeting new people and preparing for what lay ahead, Kaerun encountered Elodi as he had planned.
Though one thing differed from what he had expected.
“Cough, cough! Ah……. Kaerun, you came.”
“……Elodi.”
It was that Elodi was gravely ill.
Propped up against a large bed, Elodi reached out her hand to him, her complexion noticeably pale.
“I’m sorry, you came all this way and I can’t even go out. We couldn’t see each other yesterday either—I worried so much.”
“……Your body. Are you injured somewhere? Your fever seems severe.”
“No, no, it’s just that my body got a fright, I think. Cough! There is a fever, but it should subside soon.”
“…….”
Kaerun’s gaze traced carefully across Elodi’s face.
Cheeks flushed from the fever, eyes glistening faintly with tears from coughing, and lips curved in a forced smile aimed at him.
To anyone’s eyes, Elodi appeared to be a patient collapsed in shock from last night’s “abduction” incident.
Only, last night’s event had not been an abduction at all.
“I asked Beatrice to help me hide how awful I look, thinking I didn’t want you to see me like this, but… it ended up like this anyway. I keep feeling like I’m disappointing you, and it breaks my heart.”
At her sincere voice and melancholy gaze, Kaerun grasped her hand and shut his eyes tightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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