The Sphida Company And The Hero (1)

The last one, the Sphida Company, was said to be a newcomer yet currently the most energetic newspaper company.

According to Lily, who had researched it, they handled a wide range of trending topics from politics to gossip, accepted anything regardless of genre, and turned no one away (though for some reason they never published risqué material). If something struck the heart of the Sphida Company’s head, they would even publish a lost-pet advertisement for free.

The reply from the Sphida Company was an unusually casual letter: “Okay. We’ll listen, so come over.”

“…Are we really at the right place?”

“The address says it is here…”

Cordelia and the others stood there at a loss while looking at the shabby house before them.

Unlike the two newspaper companies they had visited so far, the house in front of them looked no different from an ordinary residence. Worse, weeds in the garden had grown wildly, and something like clay adhesive had been forcibly stuck over cracks in the windows.

“Ah, but it says ‘Sphida Company’ right here!”

Lily pointed at a nearly detached nameplate where the name was written in small, oddly round letters.

“Then this really is the place… For now, let’s go in.”

Cordelia knocked on the door. …But no matter how long she waited, there was no response.

Unlike the other two companies, the Sphida Company had not specified a date and time. They had informed them when they would come, but… perhaps no one was home.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

She knocked several more times, yet still heard nothing from inside.

After exchanging glances with Lily, Cordelia gathered her courage and grasped the doorknob. With a creak, the door slowly opened—and then—

“This is terrible! Someone has collapsed!”

In the middle of a room piled high and scattered with every kind of document, a long-haired black-haired man lay face-down as if buried in paper.

“Ehh!? Is he dead!?”

Lily cried out as she peered in.

“I don’t know! But we have to help him immediately!”

She hurriedly knelt beside the man to check if he was alive. Fortunately he was breathing, but his thin face was deathly pale, and no matter how much she shook him he did not react.

(What were we supposed to do at times like this!? Mouth-to-mouth!? Chest compressions!? Umm, umm, weren’t you supposed to press along with the theme song of a children’s anime!?)

As Cordelia desperately gathered knowledge from her previous life, Lily rapidly smacked her repeatedly. She seemed shaken as well; the force was surprisingly strong. Rather painful, actually.

“My lady! Magic! This is Holy Magic’s turn!”

“Ah, that’s right!”

Apparently people forgot many things when they panicked. Remembering that Holy Magic was certainly faster than chest compressions, Cordelia hurriedly began casting magic on the man.

At first it looked as if nothing happened. But as she continued, color gradually returned to his pale face, and the pained expression softened into a calm one.

Before long, the man’s long eyelashes trembled, and his eyelids slowly opened—

“Fuaaah. I slept well. My body feels light. Sleep really is important for beauty. …Hm? Who are you?”

The young man yawned widely and, scratching his cheek, spoke in an easygoing tone.