Although I felt a strange tugging at their reactions, I didn't mention it or anything, and the three of us, including Noin-san, lightly exchanged banter.
　After a while of idle conversation, Fear-sensei, as if remembering, brought the conversation back to the first topic.

''Come to think of it, Miyama-kun?　What is it that you want with me after all?
'Yes, I know this may not be necessary since Mr. Noin is here, but...'
Yeah?

　Noin-san is Kuro's family, so I'm sure he has an invitation, and if he and Fea-sensei are best friends, it's not surprising that he's already invited her to the Six King Festival.
　Well, however, it's not like I'm going to lose anything by suggesting it, so I'll just invite him.
　While nodding my head curiously, I tell the main topic to Fea-sensei, who is about to get up with the pot to prepare another cup of herbal tea.

''It's the Sixth King Festival, which starts on the 24th day of the Moon of Light, would you like to go too, Fea-sensei?
...What?

　Immediately after, the pot slipped out of Dr. Fea's hand, hitting the floor and shattering with a loud noise.
　Huh?　What is this reaction.......what is this?　This storm-like emotion.........
　The moment I called out to her, my sensory magic read the various emotions that appeared as they erupted from Fea-sensei.

　Fea-sensei's expression hasn't changed. He only looks a little surprised........but the emotions felt by the sensory magic were tremendous like a murky stream.
　
　Then, Noin-san unexpectedly got up from her chair and approached Dr. Fea.

''........Oh, no, you can't, Fea. As usual, you're still the same 'doofus'.
'Oh, haha, yeah. Sorry, my hand slipped...

　The usual screw-up?　Are you sure about that?　Because right now, Fea-sensei looked more like he dropped the pot because he was upset........rather than his hand slipped by accident.
　 His expression should have been calm, but I felt as if I had touched something that I shouldn't have.

".........Miyama-kun.
'What?　Oh, yes!
'I'm sorry. I've been invited to join you, but I have a lot of patients I have to visit, so I don't have much time.

　...it's a lie. You don't need to use your sensor magic to know that. But I can't say anything.
　Even Fear-sensei knows that if he lies about it in his current state, he'll be exposed.

''I see........I'm sorry for asking you to do this.
'Nope. I'm glad you felt that way, Miyama. Thank you for inviting me.

　I don't know. How did this happen?　I was just trying to invite Fea-sensei to the Sixth King Festival.......
　Why is this person........so full of sad emotions, yet still smiling as usual?　I don't know, and I can't ask.
　Because I had a feeling that........if I asked her about it, Fear-sensei would be extremely hurt.

　In the end, the awkwardness remained afterwards, and without much conversation, I decided to return to the mansion when the time was right.








　
　Fea-sensei's emotions at that time seemed to make it hard for me to feel them, and they were so dark and cold that I couldn't even imagine them from Fea-sensei, who always smiled so calmly.

　Part of me wants to know the reason for that, and the other part of me thinks I shouldn't go any further into it.
　Perhaps, though.........maybe it has something to do with the 'sin' that Fea-sensei had mentioned before?
　To begin with, I had always been skeptical that Dr. Fea had killed the same number of people as the cross that was in that church.

　No, even if it were true, I'd interpreted it that way, as a doctor.......maybe it was the result of trying to save a life that he couldn't save.
　

　But then I don't understand more and more. Would that gentle Fea-sensei take the lives of others for no reason?　No, they won't.......I want to believe that they won't.
　But I don't know the "reason" for it... no matter how much I think about it, there's no way I'm going to get an answer.

　With a hazy head, I casually raise my upper body up, and at exactly the right moment a magical bird appears in front of me, shining in front of me.

".........Hummingbird?

　A means of communication that comes in handy in this world, such as magic-powered email. Who would it be from at this hour?　Thinking about it, I touch the Hummingbird and a glowing letter appears in the air.

'Sorry it's so late at night. Can you come to church now?　Fear

　A short and concise sentence..........................but I felt like it was filled with a very heavy nanika.

　As soon as I saw those words, I got up out of bed and changed my clothes.......Activate the transference magic tool.
　I'm supposed to visit Fia-sensei's clinic on a regular basis for Noah-san's treatment, so I've registered just before the clinic.
　In an instant, my body was enveloped in light and transported to my intended location.







　In the dimly lit church, illuminated by the moonlight through the stained glass windows, Dr. Fea stood in front of the altar.
　He wasn't offering a prayer, but was standing with his face slightly raised, as if he were staring at the moon beyond the stained glass windows, and there was a fantastic beauty to it.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to call you out at this hour.
No.

　Fea-sensei's voice echoed in the quiet space, and the expression on her face as she slowly turned around.......it was as if she was about to start crying.

　Dear Mom, Dad--Fea-sensei is kind and cheerful, yet there is something out of place about her. She was such a friendly woman... but when I think back, there was definitely an air of hiding something heavy all along. And now, I'm certain of it. The content of what is about to be told is - a secret that has been hidden for a long time....