Chapter 331 - EASG 25

Since it hadn't been that long since Ophelis Hall had been reconstructed, there was no way that it would be shaken from the snowstorm.

The management staff are all veterans and the majority of students residing there were esteemed and talented, so compared to Dex Hall or Lorail Hall, the atmosphere was rather peaceful.

Preparations were completed to manage heating and the maids had already prepared most of the necessary items that might be needed. Therefore, Ophelis Hall felt as if it was going through a long break rather than an ongoing disaster.

Because it was winter, walking down the corridors could sometimes feel a bit eerie due to how subtly dark it could get. However, the various rooms and facilities inside Ophelis Hall were lit by soft lights, which gave off a rather cozy feeling.

In the middle of each floor of the student hall, it felt like a free space for the students living in Ophelis Hall to socialize. Of course, the space seemed overly large considering what it was being used for.

Throughout the hall, antique wooden beams lined the walls with tables neatly arranged in the area. The desserts and drinks that the maids always prepared in advance were put on a large wooden table in the center near the large hearth.

Most of the students spent time in their own rooms, but constantly staying in the same room could get boring.

That was why the student facilities inside Ophelis Hall were more crowded than usual.

Tables were set up for students to sit down, talk, eat desserts, or read books. Some students played chess and others were training in resonance by using minimal elemental magic.

"You want to duel?"

It hadn't been long since Ziggs had returned from visiting his hometown with Elka.

Since they wanted to arrive before the snowstorm hit, they forced themselves to continue traveling without breaks. From all the difficulties he endured, he thought it would be a good time to steadily recover.

Ziggs, who was sitting at a table in the student hall reading an alchemy book, smiled. He was interested after hearing the impudent comments from the underclassmen that came to greet him.

"Yes, Ziggs."

Ziggs folded the corner of the page in his book before putting it down on the table.

The underclassmen that approached him was Wade Callamore, the number 1 student amongst all the first years.

White hair and light gray eyes. The boy that was so white, you might mistake him for an albino, confidently greeted Ziggs.

And out of the blue, he requested a duel.

"Of course, not right now. I heard that you are one of the strongest people in this entire school, even beyond the magic department. As I am still a mere first year, I am not someone that can confidently ask for a duel."

"I don't really care about that. If all you're asking for is a first-hit match, I can do that much."

Ziggs sat, scratching his chin as he answered indifferently.

"But why?"

"Of course. As your underclassmen, I wanted to learn from you."

"You asked for such a superficial reason?"

After Ziggs spoke, Wade smiled and nodded his head.

"I want to prove my worth. It seems that I have yet to properly show my strength here in school, so I am going up to my upperclassmen that are famous for their strength asking for a duel."

"Ohh… Even though you are the best in your grade, you're still saying that?"

"I am dying to have a duel with you Ziggs, but right now you seem to be exhausted from your journey. There is an order in everything, so right now it's still too early for me to have a duel against you."

Wade had a characteristically bright smile on his face, yet Ziggs felt that he wasn't as pure on the inside.

Ziggs had that same unique feeling towards Tanya, who declared she would take the seat of student council president. Just like her, Wade said he would defeat all his upperclassmen in a duel.

Both of the underclassmen showed the same type of enthusiasm.

"Among the second years, after going up against the top student in the combat department Clevius, the top student in the alchemy department Elvira, I will come and face you."

"But I'm not the top student in the magic department?"

"Isn't the top student among the second-year magic students someone that every student must avoid?"

Wade pulled out a chair as he sat down, calling on one of the maids to get him a cup of tea.

It seemed that Lucy Mayreel was now out of the question for all students when it comes to ranking, grades, or duels.

"Given the situation, I think right now the top student in the second-year magic department is you."

"I'm not sure. I don't really want to think of things like that. Though, it is true that Lucy is stronger than me, so it's not that I disagree."

"I already know of your humble nature, but it's the truth. If I can best you, I can prove that I am at a level where I can compete with the top students in the school."

Did he even know what he was saying right now? Declaring that he would win in front of the opponent could be seen as picking a fight in most circumstances.

However, Ziggs wasn't someone that would get upset over such a thing. And there was a good chance that Wade knew that, too.

"It's hard for me to confidently say that I will be able to defeat you, Ziggs."

"Saying that, it sounds like you think defeating the other top students in the second year will be easy?"

Wade responded with a grin.

"Then, what will you do if you beat me?"

"Then I'll just have to move onto the third-year students. There is Yennekar, who is the number one amongst all third years. There is Drake, who is the top student in the combat department. And personally… I want to compete against Ed who is famous amongst all the third-year magic students."

"It's good to be so motivated, but you need to be careful so that your confidence doesn't turn into arrogance."

Ziggs didn't say that to try and be cheeky. He was just stating the facts as they were.

Wade responded appropriately, thanking him for the advice. Though, it seemed that he didn't really listen.

"Well, the first thing I need to do is set a date to duel Clevius. Since we are in the middle of a snowstorm and have to stay inside, I think he should have plenty of time. I also think that we can use the facility in the basement of Ophelis Hall to have the duel."

Since a week was too long to just stay indoors, Ophelis Hall had prepared several things to help pass the time.

One of which was student dueling.

"But… I'm a bit disappointed, as it seems Clevius wants to avoid having a duel with me."

As Wade spoke, a smile came across his face.

It was obvious. There was not a chance that someone that was always so gloomy and negative like Clevius would accept a duel against an underclassman that was so full of energy and confidence.

Looking at Wade, he seemed like someone that had a strong desire to duel with someone, no matter what. Whether it was by conciliation or clinging on to him, he would try to find some way to face off against Clevius.

"Today, I just came to introduce myself and give you a heads up. The next time I come, I'll ask you for that duel."

"Thanks for being so thoughtful of me. Though, it's useless."

Ziggs smiled as he picked up the alchemy book, flipping through the pages.

"After defeating me, going on to the third year… especially against Yennekar and Ed… I don't think that's a great idea."

"I understand what you mean. I also don't think I'll be able to defeat you so easily."

"That's not what I mean. Hearing the rumors about you, looking at your confidence, and considering your skills, you seem rather talented… But you still need to improve your ability to judge others."

Ziggs turned the pages as he continued to casually talk.

"It seems you don't know anything. You're going to get stopped at Clevius."

"..."

"It's obvious you wouldn't be able to go up against Yennekar or Ed. But you won't even reach me."

Clevius had always been a gloomy, cowardly, pathetic person. Rumors about that had already spread. There was also gossip about how someone like him would even be able to become the top student in the combat department.

Wade tried to express his displeasure by glaring daggers at Ziggs upon hearing that he thought he would lose. Though, Ziggs casually continued to double down on his opinion.

"If you want to beat me, come back when you get a sense of reality."

***

A monster lived out in the North Forest.

Amongst the students that had no idea of Ed's life in the wild, that type of rumor was being spread.

It was understandable that such a strange rumor would spread, as only a few students in the entirety of the school knew about Ed's lifestyle.

Rumors of a man that held the bloody carcasses of wild animals with an eerie smile as he walked across the North Forest spread. Quite a terrifying rumor, but it made sense if you saw him.

Of course, to Bell, who knew the truth, hearing such a story felt strange.

Whooooosh!

"Ugh…"

The snowstorm was blowing in the North Forest. The large needleleaf trees helped block the snow quite a bit, helping to see further ahead. But the strong wind was still hard for someone with a small body like Bell to withstand.

However, she had made the necessary preparations before heading out. She wore layers of thin clothing underneath her maid outfit. She also brought a thick cape, which she wrapped herself in.

After warming herself up a bit with weak fire magic, she started to think it would be more doable than she had originally thought.

The main goal she had decided on was reaching Ed's cabin.

If Saint Clarice traveled out into the North Forest, then the only person she could meet was Ed.

"A footprint…!"

Could it be good news? It seemed it hadn't been long since those footprints had been left and the direction led straight to Ed's cabin.

Students that don't really know Ed said he was a cold person that didn't talk much, but Bell knew him well, as they had talked many times before… Surprisingly, he was someone with common sense, good communication skills, and even though he might not look it, he was also considerate.

It was much better if she ended up running into Ed than someone she didn't know.

There was also the fact he was someone that faithfully completed all of his duties and responsibilities. And that was despite such high-maintenance women like Yennekar, Lortel, and Lucy always flirting with him. At the very least, he was a trustworthy person. That was why it was safe to say that there was no way he would have any bad thoughts or do anything harmful to Clarice.

Even if he came across Clarice, rather than harboring any ill intentions he would definitely try to send her back to Ophelis Hall.

If there was a problem, it was that there were too many unnecessarily complicated relationships that revolved around Ed. And Bell had enough headaches thinking about it already.

Off in the distance, Ed's cabin came into view. It took longer than she thought it would due to the snowstorm.

"Young master Ed… He probably doesn't know about Lady Kylie's true identity, right?"

Kylie's true identity was Saint Clarice, who received protection from Telos.

Even if he didn't know her true identity, he was still someone that would treat her kindly…

Positive that was the case, Bell opened the door to the cabin.

Creaaak!

"..."

Opening the stiff door, she saw Ed and Clarice right in front of her.

"Oh, Bell. It's you. You also came."

Ed was full of anger as he continued to wrap his wounds with bandages.

In the corner of the cabin, she saw Clarice trembling on her knees, holding up a wooden chair with two hands—as if she were being punished.

Bell was already starting to get a headache.

***

The two girls were trembling, but for different reasons.

One was trembling because her arms, which were holding up the chair, were going numb. The other was terrified at the fact that the saint, who is being protected by the Telos Religious Group, was currently being punished.

But still, she couldn't tell Ed of Kylie's true identity… Bell couldn't do anything but sit down at the table and take the tea handed to her.

"U-Uhm… Y-Young master Ed."

As soon as he finished cleaning up the mess in the cabin, he looked over at Bell, wondering why she was calling him.

"I-I heard your explanation, but if I don't take Lady Kylie back with me soon, the snowstorm will only get stronger and then we'll be in real trouble."

Hearing that, Ed thought to himself for a moment before nodding his head.

"That makes sense. It wouldn't be good for the head maid of Ophelis Hall to be gone for an extended period of time."

"Y-Yes, that's right. And…"

Sweating up a storm, Bell glanced over at Clarice, thinking she had to figure out a way to take her back.

"..."

Ed pulled out a wooden chair, sitting right in front of Clarice, who was still in her punishment.

It was an awful sight, seeing her tremble with tears in her eyes as she continued to hold the chair upright.

Ed was still thinking things over.

When Clarice had first arrived in the cabin, he must have been scared out of his wits.

However, it wouldn't take long to think things over and figure out the reason she had come all the way to his cabin.

It was probably because of that little accident that took place during the class assignment exam.

During the battle with Merilda, she had accidentally dropped her brooch. He tried to quickly cover up her mistake, but… it seemed that Clarice had started to think that Ed figured out who she really was because of what he did.

Obviously, Ed's response wasn't the most natural since it was such a sudden and desperate situation. However, there wasn't a better way to deal with things more amicably.

Kylie's true identity was a key plot twist that wasn't revealed until the second half of Act 3.

If Kylie's identity were revealed so soon, she would be placed under the constant protection of the Knights Templar, who would monitor her every move. Thus, it would be impossible to know how that would affect the future.

When Ed tidied things up in the cabin, he had also organized his thoughts.

Kylie already thought that Ed knew her true identity. And as long as that fact didn't change, she would continue to be anxious. But there was currently no way to dispel that thought.

That was why Ed decided to overcome the issue by going the opposite direction.

"I apologize for being so rude to you, Saint. The chair… you may put it down."

Hearing those words, Bell and Clarice began to tremble at the same time.

Clarice pupils widened in an instant as Bell responded with a shaky voice, so unlike her usual tone, to confirm that she wasn't hearing things.

"D-Did you already know…?"

"I am also a believer of the Telos Religious Group and have even been baptized myself. Being that close to you, watching the illusion magic wear off, it was easy to recognize you."

"R-Really…?"

Actually, that was not completely the case.

At the time of the class assignment exam, Kylie's illusion magic hadn't actually completely worn off. And even if that were the case, it was still hard to justify naturally giving her the brooch.

Of course, it was hard to prove anything. So as long as you used a bit of improvisation and quick thinking, she wouldn't have anything to say.

Otherwise, it didn't make any sense that Ed would have already figured out Kylie's identity.

"Th-Then…"

"I told you, you can put the chair down now."

"Ah… O-Okay…"

As for what to do, the basis of it was done.

In any case, Ed didn't want to get involved any further with Saint Clarice.

So, after admitting that he was clearly aware of her true identity, the first thing he had to do was get rid of what was making her so anxious.

The next thing to do was to instill confidence in her that he wouldn't reveal her identity to anyone.

"As a member of the Telos Religious Group, I am sorry to have done such a disgraceful thing to the Saint I so heavily respect. However, it was also my duty to show you the fears that come with freedom."

The dark cabin. The strong winds. The occasional sounds of the wind hitting the roof.

The environment was so poor that it was the complete opposite of the Saint's private bedroom Holy Father Building or Ophelis Hall.

Looking up at Ed, who was sitting on the chair, behind him were walls covered in blood.

There were blood-stained hunting traps and hacksaws, carcasses and organs of wild boars and other animals being dried on hooks, and the smell of blood filled the room.

Of course, given the snowstorm he was forced to bring everything inside the cabin, but Clarice wasn't in a position to think of such things.

However, looking at Ed with his hands clasped together, leaning forwards as he continued to talk… it was the complete opposite of what she thought.

The first time she had ever seen Ed was when he was guarding the altar, looking down at her.

Holding a dagger in one hand while he gathered magic power in the other, he looked down at the first years.

At the time, rather than a human being, he looked more like a wall or ordeal that needed to be overcome… She had not once thought of Ed as a regular human with his own burdens to live with.

"Since you are hiding your identity and trying to casually get by the people at school… It seems that you have a strange romanticization when it comes to freedom. Some would agree with you. And it certainly is… worthwhile."

"Th-That's…"

"I am also in a position where I can live freely, here in the forest. So, I am also well aware of just how frustrating and hard life is when living with restrictions."

The beautiful view that the romantic Adele had sung of.

It wasn't strange to romanticize a world full of colors and the smell of flowers.

However, that path to freedom wasn't one that was always full of flowers.

In fact, just like the cabin, it was full of the smell of blood… There were many times where you would have to hold your breath and push down on your lungs to survive.

"As for the type of life I live… Are you taking a guess?"

An upperclassman two years above her. It was hard to describe him as simply strong and terrifying.

In the corner of the cabin, he sat there not caring about his bleeding wound… surrounded by carcasses of animals that were killed horribly… She could tell that the type of life he lived was entirely different.

Believers of the Telos Religious Group basically knelt in reverence and respect whenever they saw Saint Clarice. The idea of getting angry at and punishing a saint seemed impossible.

And yet, here was a boy that continued to casually look down at the Saint with those cold eyes of his.

He knew the meaning and value that came with faith, but what preceded that was one's survival. At the very least, the boy had grown up and survived in such an environment.

His life… rather than 'living', he was merely 'surviving'… Even though it might seem that the difference between the words was trivial, in reality it was quite big.

In everything, there is light and darkness. Freedom is no different.

If Adele was a bard that glorified the beauty of freedom…

Then he was someone that showed the struggles and darkness that came with freedom more clearly than anyone else.

"It would be best if you went now. Don't come near this cabin again. Even with the Holy Blessing, avoiding distress and starvation is still inevitable."

Ed continued to talk as he lowered his head.

"I am sorry for the bluntness. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone around you, Saint, that can talk to you about such a topic."

He then stood up as he made his decision.

"Now, you should head on back."

From Clarice's point of view, there wasn't even a chance to respond.

Ed quickly turned around. Clarice didn't even have the chance to let out a single word.

***

They had to go back to Ophelis Hall immediately, before the storm got any worse. And with Bell leading the way, they would get back in no time.

Once they go back to Ophelis Hall, she could warm up while eating some delicious soup in a warm and cozy room.

She could sit down in a well-organized room as she peacefully read a book. It would be like an entirely different country, far away from the snowstorm.

As long as you stayed inside Ophelis Hall, the fierce snowstorm would just become a passing story that was happening 'outside the window'.

Leaving the camp while holding onto Bell's hand, Clarice looked back at it with difficulty.

After watching the two of them leave the camp, Ed went back into the cabin with a hand axe on his shoulder.

The inside of the cabin would still be chilly, and the smell of blood would remain. The weight of reality weighed on her shoulders again. That scene, which was engraved in Clarice's mind, would never disappear.

That boy didn't feel any burden from the weight of reality. For him, it was just the weight of life that one must bear to survive.

Clarice had read about it once before in a book. It said that even the most beautiful of swans still kept their ugly feet under the water. And a life of freedom was no different.

Seeing him defend the altar as he stopped the first years, wielding magic against them without a care, it was impossible to imagine everything he was dealing with behind the scenes.

"Ms. Bell."

"Yes, Lady Clarice?"

"I'm sorry for having you come all the way out here because of me…"

"I was only doing what I must. Don't worry about it too much."

Holding Bell's hand through the snowstorm, Clarice kept looking back at the cabin.

Either way, since coming to Silveria, that was the first time she met an upperclassman that she wholeheartedly respected.

At the very least, in the Holy City… she would never have gotten the chance to meet such a person.

"..."

Of course, Bell, unable to figure out what was actually happening, continued to break out into a cold sweat as she watched Clarice look back at Ed as they left him behind.

It can't be. Right? There's no way…? Right? I… I have no idea…

Bell continued to be overwhelmed with such worries.

***

The snowstorm was still ongoing as winter slowly passed. It was obvious, but to each person winter was different.

Some might stay in an underground library studying magic engineering, while others chatted with spirits while sitting at the window in Dex Hall.

Meanwhile, in a private bedroom in Ophelis Hall, there was a girl who sat by herself, taking care of her company's books. Then, there is another girl trapped in her room, constantly watched by the maids as she screamed in pain.

An assistant professor that was working through the break to finish taking care of any paperwork for the school. A failed swordmaster who continued to train diligently. A guardian that came from the northern grasslands, sitting down in the student hall and reading a book on alchemy. A cowardly Ghost Blade that locked himself in his room, unwilling to go out. Everyone had their own way of spending the winter.

And the same went for a platinum blonde girl that sat quietly in her private bedroom at the royal residence, looking out her window.

Watching the raging snowstorm, Princess Penia lowered her sad gaze as she made her decision.

Spring would come and a new semester would begin. A time where many things would change.

The election for the student council president was nearing.

And Penia Elias Kroel, who was trusted by various individuals throughout the school, was considered a strong candidate for student council president.

"I guess, after all… I won't run for student council president…"

From Ed Rothstaylor's point of view, it was the sound of the entire premise behind the story falling to pieces. The beginning of all disasters.

-x-X-x-

[ The thing that had killed the largest number of warriors in the world was none other than arrogance.

Be careful of those that are confident in their abilities and follow their virtues, charging into battle with enthusiasm and valor.

Do not respect those that constantly risk their lives just to prove their existence to the world.

Be afraid, Clevius.

Fear is your weapon.

When it comes time to run away, run.

Don't risk your life on mere pride. And don't be obsessed over such things as honor.

There is no need for you to force yourself to face every crisis and ordeal that comes your way. There is no need to continuously get hurt on your own just to challenge the impossible.

But even if you live like that, there will still come a time when you won't be able to run.

Even if you can still pick up both feet and run away, just like you always have, there will still come a day when you won't be able to turn away.

In front of an ordeal that the entire world calls impossible, you will feel the need to plant both feet onto the ground, stand up straight, and take it head on.

Your whole body will tremble like crazy, but strangely, the hand that holds the sword will strengthen as your grip tightens. Although defeat is certain, it's as if your body is covered in inertia to keep moving forward.

What will put you in that position is completely different from any sort of belief, pride, or honor.

But if you don't feel it, run. Beg for your life in an ugly and humiliating way, if it means you can survive like a coward.

Even if you're forced to live in the dirt and constantly mocked by others, wait for your time. Never do anything that sacrifices your life in pursuit of mere honor and glory.

Don't live the life of a hero. Don't walk on that thorny path that no one is forcing you to take.

The flowers that bloom on the cliff may look sublime, but in the end it's the stubborn weeds that fill the garden that survive in the end. I hope you never forget that fact.

– Application for a duel. ]

"..."

After the snowstorm, Ophelis Hall started to slowly become lively with the students preparing for the upcoming semester.

The first year's top student, Wade Callamore, and his request for a duel against Clevius. It was a challenge that arrived in front of Clevius while the snowstorm was in full swing.

Clevius got up from his bed in his private room as he sat down at a table, where the maids had prepared various refreshments.

In a dark corner of the room, with the curtain always closed shut, Clevius took a handful of refreshments and shoved them in his mouth, chewing on them.

And as his body trembled, he leaned over towards the floor, looking down as he swore out.

"Why… Why the fuck…. Why is it fucking me…?"

A bead of sweat dripped down, past the dark circles around his eyes, as it fell across his gloomy face.

Clevius hadn't even responded to House Callamore's genius swordsman's challenge.

However, in the end he couldn't overcome the public opinion that demanded an answer from him. So, he ended up having to express his intention to abstain from the duel. He didn't want to get hurt and he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of all those people.

Clevius wasn't even upset after everyone responded, thinking that it was something Clevius would do. In fact, it might even be better.

It was better to be called a coward and be forgotten by others than to be beaten and defeated in an embarrassing way in front of everyone.

Clevius timidly peeked out the curtain.

A warm light creeped into the dark corner of his room.

The scenery outside of the window was the near arrival of spring. Winter was nearly over, and new life was starting to come into full bloom.

It was a picture that Gloomy Clevius hated more than anything.

"Given that kid's personality, he will definitely keep coming back to challenge me again…"

Clevius had also heard rumors about Wade.

Rumors said that he was overflowing with talent and the desire to be recognized. And all the first years were getting cocky and riled up, saying that he could defeat all of the upperclassmen.

It was both unfortunate and fortunate that his first opponent was Clevius. That way, when the next challenger stepped up, Clevius would already be long forgotten.

"This shitty life…"

When spring came and the world bloomed with beautiful flowers, Silvenia Academy was once again full of romance.

But Clevius sat in the darkness of his room with his back turned to that radiant romance.

He was certainly a person that belonged in the dark.

It was as if the petals blowing in the nice breeze outside his windows were saying 'what are you going to do?'

It was now the start of a new semester.

***

Spring came when you forgot about it. That was why it was all the more special.

Watching the world that was once covered in snow melt away as the warm sunlight shone down and the flowers bloomed, it made me think.

It's already been a year since I started living like this.

It felt like just last month that I was kicked out of Ophelis Hall, but a year had already passed since I started living out in the forest on my own. I'd built up a camp with a nice cabin that was full of usable furniture.

Jogging to school, my body used to be drenched in sweat. But after training for quite a bit, I could easily manage it.

"Oh my, nice to see you here."

I was on my way back home after taking advantage of my lunch break to purchase some lab supplies from the commercial district. I was planning to bring them back home after school.

There was a girl that I was well familiar with sitting on the terrace seat of Laplace Bakery, the most famous tea shop in Silvenia, near the bridge connecting the commercial district to the education district.

At that point, she was famous enough that anyone would know that her good-natured smile only hid the hundreds of serpents inside her.

"The opening ceremony for the semester just finished, but you're already working hard in the lab, Ed?"

Seeing her casually greet me, I waved my hand as well.

To check how the girl is doing, all you had to do was look at her hair. If that reddish-brown hair of hers was neatly tied to one side and lowered, then she was rather relaxed.

Quite the opposite from when she let her hair flow down, wearing various accessories while taking care of important business or going to formal events.

Either way, she was a person that couldn't be taken lightly, as she held the highest place at The Top.

Lortel smiled as she waved for me to come and have a cup of tea with her.

"It's surprising to see you drinking tea alone at a place like this, Lortel."

"Actually, I was just taking a short break after taking care of business. We finished discussing all the import details, so once my employee finishes checking the inventory here, everything will be done."

"Checking the inventory?"

"Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?"

After sitting down with her legs crossed and smiling, she softly called on a nearby worker. And right away, that worked sprinted off.

The person that left was just a regular worker, but the person that came back was the owner of Laplace Bakery.

A famous aristocrat that used to work in the imperial kitchen, who also owned several famous restaurants in the empire's capital. Sweating, he gently placed another cup of tea on the table.

He then bowed his head, asking if we needed anything else before going back into the kitchen.

Just as Lortel had said, it seemed that they were finishing some business back in the kitchen.

"I've never seen him make that kind of expression before."

"Well… Let's see if there's anything interesting. There's no person that's entirely clean, after all."

"But just what kind of authority do you have to be looking into a bakery's storage? Is it okay to waste so much time on a mere client?"

"We are only business partners, but it is still worth paying extra attention to as they are a bakery that orders all of their important ingredients from the Elte Company. There isn't any other place that can actually take orders from a bakery like this besides Elte."

The quantity needed was large, but Laplace Bakery used many high-quality ingredients as well. And those were ingredients where freshness was crucial. Given the situation, it was difficult to trust just anyone. That was why someone like Lortel, who had accumulated lots of experience in distribution, was necessary.

In your average city, different businesses might compete to win orders from clients. But on Acken Island, where the size was limited, the story was different.

Without ordering and receiving supplies from the Elte Company, Laplace Bakery would struggle to operate the following day.

And with that, Lortel gave off the brightest smile in the whole world.

"Isn't it great to have such a monopoly? It's a new type of power and authority you wouldn't normally have."

"Looking at the face of those workers, it seems that you are the only one who thinks this is fun."

"Oh my, how could you say something so mean? Though, you are right."

Lortel choked as she looked down at her teacup.

"From our point of view, we do have a reason though. It seems that a fake order was discovered."

"Fake order?"

"That's right. It's when someone orders a bunch of things they don't need in advance. And when the delivery date approaches, they suddenly cancel them all. They always end up getting caught, but still people keep on doing it."

I put down my belongings as I sat across from her, gently picking up the teacup that the owner had brought for me. Unlike it usually was, the scent from the cup was mellower and it looked darker.

"This goes without saying, but during the snowstorm there were difficulties supplying Acken Island with supplies. The roads froze over, so the wagons couldn't cross."

"Natural disasters can't be helped."

"That's true. But as a result, most of our business partners here in the commercial district were still waiting on their orders. So, by our judgment we were supplying what we could as quickly as we were able, in order of demand and urgency…"

The rest of what she would say was obvious.

Laplace Bakery, who wanted to quickly receive their supplies, raised the amount of product needed by making a fake order. And once the delivery date approached, they canceled the order, only taking what they needed.

It was a shallow decision to think that the number of extra materials ordered wouldn't be a major issue for the company, as they were so large.

Demand for produce was also high right now. So, all of those canceled orders could be sold elsewhere with no financial loss to the company.

However, right now nearly all of their clients were still waiting for their orders. So, it was a cheap trick to use just so they could get all the supplies they needed first.

"If it's equivalent, a merchant would even sell their soul for a gold coin. But that doesn't mean there aren't certain businesses we have to protect. And from our point of view, every one of our clients are equal business partners."

Lortel was someone that rose through the ranks of the Elte Company. Similar to a king of the underworld, at least that was the case here in the commercial district.

Of course, that didn't mean Lortel directly ruled or governed anyone. She didn't have the position or authority to do so.

However, wherever people gathered, so would confusion. That was why there came the need for someone to control it.

And Lortel's means of control came from money. Looking at the underbelly of the peaceful commercial district, you could see that in the end all the money flowed into her wallet.

Slam!

Suddenly the kitchen door slammed open as a man came out. It was the chef that had just brought me a cup of tea. It looked like the inventory inspection was done.

It wasn't particularly difficult to compare the actual amount used vs the amount ordered.

"M-Miss Lortel! Please, listen to me! Your employee has made a request that is too much! I don't have anything to say about the amount we ordered… However, moving forward, if you are going to limit our orders to this amount…!"

That man would also find out. Without Lortel's approval, there was no way that a staff member in charge would arbitrarily place a limit on order quantity. Everything was done with Lortel's permission.

Despite that, he still came to Lortel as a last-ditch effort.

He continued to explain the situation to her, bowing down at a 90-degree angle.

After several minutes of explaining his personal circumstances, excuses for the excessive order, and the status of the store's operations, Lortel continued to sit still as she closed her eyes and put the teacup to her lips.

"Please… Just take into account the situation of the store…! If you go through with this, then…"

"That's right."

Lortel, who had been listening while drinking her tea, opened her mouth as the man quickly caught his breath.

And the words that followed were directed towards me, not that man.

"I have class in the afternoon. Do you want to go to the education district together?"

From the beginning, Lortel had not listened to a word from that man.

Standing from her seat, she glanced over at the man with a cold gaze.

***

"The student council president election is coming up."

"You don't seem to want to run for president?"

"The power of the student president is quite appealing, but if I take the position and neglect my duties to my company, things might collapse."

Walking through the student square in the education district, the crowd of students was so massive that it really felt like a new semester.

During the break, it was so empty that you wouldn't see a single person. Now there were so many students, you couldn't even see the entirety of the square.

"The best outcome would be if someone who treats me well becomes president. Don't you want to try it, Ed? I'll support you."

"I don't plan on it. Even if I did, there's no guarantee I'd help you."

"That's a shame. Though, I thought you would say that."

Lortel wore a hood over her school uniform blouse as she walked, holding a couple books.

Lortel seemed to be busy, always taking care of her work and her studies. Either way, she was still a student, so it seemed she was putting in as much effort as she could to train in magic.

I was sure she was busy dividing up her busy day, down to the minute.

"Your sister said she was running for office. Her name was Tanya, right? I want to support her."

"Tanya?"

Lortel glanced around a few times before lowering her voice as she spoke to me.

"I'd rather die than support Princess Penia. Though, most of the school seems to already be in support of her… Once she announces her candidacy, she will most likely win."

"I'm not going to explain everything to you, but…"

"I already know."

Lortel lowered her voice.

"I don't know if Tanya knows this herself, but once Princess Penia announces her candidacy, it's safe to say that Tanya won't stand a chance. Even if by some miracle most of the top students in each grade end up supporting her… it probably still won't be enough. Even as the second daughter of House Rothstaylor, the difference in class is too great."

Listening to her, I nodded my head.

In the storyline, Tanya also faced a loss by a ridiculous margin.

She did all she could to try and get even one more vote, no matter how pathetic it made her look, but the overwhelming difference in votes didn't change at all.

Tanya Rothstaylor, the lesser of the two evils.

In front of the disheartening and overwhelming difference in votes, she ended up surprising everyone as she quit school in her anger… She was just another stepping stone villain that came from the Rothstaylor Family.

"By chance… Are you supporting Princess Penia?"

"Me…? I'm not sure. In the first place, right now I don't really have anyone I want to support. Though, I guess I would support Tanya since she's family."

"That's good to hear. I was a little nervous because I thought that you might have been uncomfortable hearing what I said if you did support her. After all, most of the school looks up to her, but… Well, as long as you don't, then that's fine."

It had been a while since I'd been involved with Princess Penia. There were only a few incidents that I was caught up in with her, but I couldn't say that I left the best impression on her.

"In the first place, I'm sure that she despises me."

"Is that so?"

"I'm not entirely sure… But if I were the Princess, I would have a hard time seeing anything good out of someone like me… Yeah, she might even be full of resentment towards me. Or at least just a bad feeling…?"

"That's a relief hearing you say that…"

"…Relief?"

"..."

Lortel grabbed her books as she quickly shook her head.

"You know I see you as a man, right?"

"..."

"Jealousy is a more universal emotion than you think. I'm still a girl, you know."

She then wrapped one arm around me as she looked up at me with a smirk.

Seeing her eyes narrow like a fox, she looked up at me with a sly smile.

"Was that a critical hit?"

"..."

"Can I check your heartbeat?"

In the middle of the square, Lortel was about to push her ear up to my chest. But with one hand I pushed down on her head as I pushed her away. Lortel then shook her head as she smiled at me.

"You're like a giant wall. What bad thing did I do to you?"

"You haven't done anything bad to me, but… until I graduate, I'm in a difficult position."

"…Until you graduate?"

She was a girl that had caught even the smallest of words at the negotiation table thousands of times over, just to seize her opponent's weakness. Even the slightest tone and word choice was information to her.

"When you graduate?"

"Oh my, it feels like I found quite a juicy piece of information."

With her chin tucked into her shoulder, Lortel looked up at me with a sly expression on her face.

"So, it's a time constraint. Is it okay to have given me such a useful piece of information? I don't know what you mean by graduating, but it seems that you're planning to open your heart up once more after your studies."

"..."

"Though, who knows. Maybe I'll be able to tear down your wall even before then~"

Lortel released her arm as she jumped back. She then staggered forward a bit before turning around, putting her hand up to her lips and laughing like a fox.

"Hmm… Graduation seems far away, but it's still only next year for you. Won't that come rather quickly?"

"I don't know how to respond to that…"

"I guess so, huh? Anyway, it seems that you are still healthy and are making steady progress with your studies, so that's a relief. What happened to the magic engineering supplies I gave you last time?"

"I used them all. I also did some magic engineering training over the break."

"Oh, did you have any good results?"

I pondered for a moment, wondering what to say… Then I nodded my head. In terms of results, it was a huge success.

Following a ridiculously cruel schedule, I focused solely on practicing magic engineering for the entire day. And the day right before school started, I had finally completed a prototype of a legendary-grade magically engineered product. Since I hadn't used it yet, it was still just a prototype.

"That's great. It's good news for me to know that I could be of some help. Unfortunately for me, I was busy taking care of my own problems during the break."

"Were there a lot of issues you had to deal with? Just like with Laplace Bakery?"

"Well, that's just part of the problem. The major problem right now is the lack of cash. I need to get some money in my wallet."

Lortel was in need of money. It seems like something that should be impossible, but if you thought about it carefully, it was clear what the real problem was.

Assets and cash were completely different concepts.

"Even if I don't often use cash, a wagon carrying boxes of gold coins from the main branch was involved in an accident. It looks like it was swept away by an avalanche, and it seems that it's going to take a bit of time to check the status of the situation, repair all the damage, and then receive the money. So, the funds we have to use right now aren't going to last long."

There was a problem with one of the trails that the Elte Company used, so they weren't able to receive their regularly expected cash. Disasters like that seemed to happen on a regular basis when you ran a business like that.

"Thanks to that, even though we have so many assets, we still have to be wary when spending money. The main branch is also avoiding unnecessary spending. Personally, I would never unnecessarily spend money, as I always plan to reduce the expenses I have as much as possible."

"Are you that short on cash?"

"It's just a temporary bottleneck, and it's not a dramatic amount of money we're short on. We still have enough to spend on basic maintenance to maintain normal life at a leisurely pace. We just can't afford to spend more than that."

Though in reality even if it was just basic maintenance cost, by Lortel's standards that was a lot of money.

Most of those incidents came from the aftermath of the snowstorm that hit Acken Island. Spring had arrived, but the aftermath of winter still lingered.

"It's not a very pleasant situation. However, yesterday a nervous client of ours requested repayment of a transaction that had been going on for a long time. Unfortunately, we were forced to decline."

"It sounds like they were struggling as well."

"It's a difficult time for everyone right now. In particular, it's a rough time to manage money."

Lortel brushed back her fluttering hair, which was blowing in the spring breeze.

"Well, money management is my specialty. Once I decided to stay strong, I have no intention of increasing unnecessary expenses anymore."

"Still, spending money never goes exactly as you want it to… so it's going to be rough."

"What are you saying, Ed? Do you know who I am? Can a regular person that can't manage their money be at the top? Don't worry, I won't have to increase my expenses for any useless reason."

Lortel said that as she laughed like a fox again.

I remembered those cold eyes of hers as they looked down at the man in the bakery. For whatever reason, Lortel had the temperament to be a cold, ruthless person when it came to business.

"Don't worry about me, Ed. But why don't you have your textbook, even though you are going to class?"

As we entered further into the education district, the classroom wasn't that far away.

"Me? I still have to go to the library to borrow it."

"What? Can you even borrow the textbook and make it to class? If it's at the student library, isn't it all the way near the outskirts of the education district?"

"I just think of it as a quick little bit of exercise. If I don't constantly take care of my physical strength, I'll quickly become rather weak."

"That's not good. It's not a small distance that you can quickly run to. It only cost a few coins, so you should just buy it from the school…"

Lortel stopped talking. The price of books wasn't a small amount for a student once it started to pile up. That was because all the textbooks in Silvenia were of the highest quality.

However, constantly sprinting between the library and the classroom wasn't something a sane person would do. Though, for me, it was just my normal business.

Suddenly, Lortel broke out into a cold sweat. She took out her wallet as she checked the contents with a trembling hand.

Just what was the issue…? After trembling in agony, she hesitated before asking me.

"H-How much is it… After adding it all up…?"

"..."

I politely declined.

***

"Did you check on how I arranged everything in the library, Ed?"

Once the new semester had begun, it became easier to meet with Ziggs.

After finishing Elemental Studies, walking through the crowd and making my way out of the education district, I met Ziggs as he stood with his back against a nearby tree.

"Ah, yeah. It was great. Thanks a lot."

"Don't worry about it. It didn't take long to get the job done with magic. But Ed, have you heard of a student named Wade?"

"Wade? The first year's top student?"

Ziggs nodded his head.

Hearing Ziggs words, I slowly started to remember.

Act 3, Chapter 3. The episode took place during the middle of the student president pre-election.

Breaking Wade Callamore's Seal. From what I knew, that took place all the way up to Act 3, Chapter 5.

As the son of the commander of the corps guarding the northern border, Wade was born with a natural talent in swordsmanship, taking the position as the top student amongst the first-year students with overwhelming force.

Unsatisfied with only the title as the best amongst first years, Wade applied for a match against the top students in each department, defeating them all. Eventually, that led him to even request a duel among the top students in other grades.

Wade, who pushed himself to his absolute limit to win and prove himself, fought against top students and famous students within the school, defeating them one by one… Even against Ziggs, he barely managed to win though a fierce battle, though his body ended up in terrible shape.

Of course, at the time Ziggs was already quite exhausted, so he couldn't use his full power. If he had been in better condition, who knew how the outcome would have changed. But in the end, the fact was that he still faced defeat.

Wade ran wild in the school, acting as if he was going to defeat every single strong student there was. However, in the end he was defeated by Taylee during the joint combat practice.

Given that he was a first-year student, it was an achievement that couldn't be overlooked. Until he was defeated by Taylee, all of his opponents weren't students you could look down upon. He was a student that was suited to be called the ace of the first years.

"Recently, some freshmen that are trying to become promising students have been participating in duels. Hearing about it, it seems that they may have taken an interest in you as well."

"Thanks for letting me know in advance. Take care of yourself, too."

"I heard there is going to be an event tonight, welcoming the new students. Would you like to come along and meet them yourselves as well?"

I was already familiar with what Wade looked like.

"No, it's fine. I already have plans for tonight."

"You already have plans?"

"I'm meeting with Yennekar to have her look over my Elementalism."

The mana suppression that had been caused by the ring had also subsided to some extent. Soon enough, I'd be able to use the full extent of my magic power.

After finishing the mid-ranking Spirit contract, among the third years there would only be one student left that was better at elementalism than me—and that is Yennekar.

In addition to that, once I learned an intermediate magic, raised the remaining stats of my beginner magic, and made some more progress in my magic power resonance training… I thought I'd be among the top 10 students within the third year.

Thanks to having progressed a bit, I was addicted to the taste of training. Having visible results made the training itself more fun. I wondered if that was how people that went to the gym every day felt.

I waved my hand, saying goodbye to Ziggs as I left the square.

Turning my head and looking back at a full view of the square, it was a lively atmosphere, suited for a school.

I thought I was the kind of person that wouldn't care about such things, but after seeing how lively the school had become, I was starting to feel a bit of energy.

The fresh air, which was a characteristic of a new semester, made each step I took pleasant.

I walked over the hills and across the education district as I left.

***

"Hmm… I should have mentioned that."

It was still quite difficult to draw the line in human relationships.

Ziggs muttered to himself, leaning on the tree as he said goodbye to Ed.

In addition to talking about the library, he also gave him a warning about Wade… But he wondered if he should have also mentioned Princess Penia.

Since Ziggs and Penia were in the same grade, they often shared the same classes. Normally, it was difficult to get close to her since she was a princess and constantly surrounded by guards. But when she was in class, it was a different story.

Princess Penia seemed to have no energy after the break.

Though, when Ziggs or other students around them spoke of Ed, he often noticed that she would strangely tilt her head, as if she were listening in.

At first, he thought he was seeing things. However, the more he watched her, the more it felt like she really was reacting to the name Ed Rothstaylor.

"I'm really not quite sure yet…"

Ziggs leaned against a tree in the corner of the square as he stared blankly up at the sky. It was a clear and bright sky.

-x-X-x-

[ To my father, who I have the utmost respect for.

Hello father.

As you are spending a lot of time in the Emperor's Castle, I am notifying you through this letter that I am getting used to and doing well in my daily life.

However, it is worthy to note that I am no longer sending it from the usual Rothstaylor Household but instead, I am now at Silvenia Academy. My days of being cradled in that mansion are over, and I feel I have finally taken a step forward to becoming a proper magician.

As it is my first time living away, there are many things I am not used to. However, just like you have always told me, I am doing my best to live a life without forgetting my honor as a member of House Rothstaylor.

It has already been over a month since my immature self has left the mansion.

At this point, I feel I am starting to understand what challenges I must face on my own. I am starting to understand the importance and reason that the vassals often said I needed to leave the house to broaden my horizons.

I would love to write to you about all of the highs and lows and the interesting stories I've experienced thus far, but it would most likely be multiple pages long. I couldn't possibly take away your time so unnecessarily, as you are always working your utmost for the Empire.

Still, as you were worried about having me go off on my own to study, I wanted to tell you that I am doing well.

At times it was difficult to adjust to Silvenia's atmosphere, where students are all equal, plus the rather tight academic schedule… Still, now I feel like I've become a proper student.

Not only that, but I've also been able to meet many nobles and esteemed people, so it feels like my view of the world has really broadened.

Even though it was only a few words of greetings, I was able to talk with Saint Clarice of the Telos Religious Group. And now we are something like friends… or maybe it's closer to just say classmates. I have also heard that the third princess of the Empire, who is adored by many, Princess Penia is also attending Silvenia. Though, I have yet to meet her, which is a shame.

My goal is still the same as I confidently declared the day that I left home. Thus, I am working hard to become the youngest student council president in Silvenia to raise our family's honor. However, in actuality there are many difficulties that are in the way.

Recently there have been rumors that Princess Penia will also be running for student president, and at this moment beating her is a near impossible task. Though even if it seems impossible, I will clench my fist and continue to move forward.

I also met my upperclassmen Lortel, who you introduced me to. Even though she is only a few years older than me, it feels like she is already a fully grown merchant… It made me think that I still have a long way to go. Soon, negotiations for the Sage's Seal will take place, and I am already worried about whether I am suited enough to be our family's representative.

Other than that, I have met many of my upperclassmen, who are famous within the school. Each and every one of them are individuals that show great talent and skill within their field.

As expected of the land of learning, many of my upperclassmen have skills comparable to those actively in duty, despite still being students. I continue to try my best and strive to be like them. I feel like my passion for learning here at school is burning.

And… even though it's difficult to say anything is certain, as it is still early… there's something to say about my older brother, who had been excommunicated.

It goes without saying that he is a stupid person that brought shame to our family's name. He is someone that stains our family and needs to be taken care of right away.

However, after coming to Silvenia and meeting him… I'm not sure the best way to say it, but something felt different about him.

I'm not sure how you will perceive what I am going to tell you. But to my father, who I have the utmost respect, there is no way I would dare lie to you.

What I'm trying to say is… It definitely felt like my older brother had become hard-working and sincere. They say that people can't be changed, but… It definitely felt as if he was a different person.

You may be taken aback to hear me say these words. It only makes sense… Considering that when I left the house, I was full of zeal to punish him.

I still don't fully trust him yet. As I said, human nature isn't something that could possibly change so easily.

Even if it's already been a year since he was excommunicated, the human brain isn't something that can change so drastically. Even if the entire world continues to say how hard-working my older brother is, it's not something I can easily accept. I have witnessed his true colors for years, after all.

But still, after a busy day, coming up to my private room in Ophelis Hall as I look up at the sunset… A certain memory comes to mind.

It's a distant memory now, but back then… a memory with all three of us siblings, when Arwen was still alive.

At that time, I was still too young to fully remember everything, but fragments of it remain in a distant place beyond my consciousness.

I have a thought that back then, Ed wasn't always such an arrogant and devious bastard… Though, I'm sure in this regard you should know much better than I do.

I once had a strange dream.

It took place in the small garden behind our mansion. It was spring, when the lilacs and daffodils were in full bloom.

I remember climbing up the mountain road that smelled like flowers. It seemed like both of my hands were being held as we went up. One of them was definitely my older sister, Arwen. But the other hand, which was stronger and bigger, it was probably…

As I continue to write it out, it seems that I am getting off topic. It's been a while since I had the chance to write to you about my current situation, so it seems I got overly excited. I wonder if this is just the excitement that comes from leaving the mansion and coming here to study… but just writing a letter to you makes me happy.

Either way, I think I need to continue keeping a close eye on my older brother.

If he really did become a new person after being excommunicated, I wonder what the reason could be. Or maybe the fact that he was excommunicated was enough to trigger such a change.

Thinking over it, rather than turning over a new leaf… for some reason it feels like he returned to his original self. Though, this may just be me overanalyzing everything.

But still… if he really did come back to his senses, why could that be? There is no way that an opportunity to turn over a new leaf would come so easily for a person like him.

Or, if he really did just go back to how he originally was, why did he act like such an idiot in the first place? There couldn't possibly be a decent reason. And even if there for some reason was one, at this point it's impossible to know.

This is another night where I am going to be full of complicated thoughts. Looking out the window at the cherry blossoms at night, my heart feels warm. But on the other hand, I can't help but feel nervous about the unresolved problems and uncertain future that awaits me.

Still, as long as I can calm my mind for a while, my confidence will take the place of my worries. I'm sure I can do well. Confidence is important.

After talking about various things, this letter has become rather long. I hope you aren't having any problems with your work. I am also passionate about doing well in my studies and I will continue to do my best to become a person who does not bring shame to House Rothstaylor.

From Tanya Rothstaylor. A daughter that truly loves her father.]

The letter was folded into thirds before being put inside an envelope.

The office of the empire's prime minister was full of glorious decorations. Krepin Rothstaylor, who was conversing with the famous Prime Minister Bandela, fell into contemplation for a moment.

"What's wrong, Duke Krepin? Was it some important news?"

"I apologize. I just needed a moment to clear my mind."

Pondering the contents of Tanya's letter, Krepin was lost in thought.

He had a significant expression on his face.

***

"Hmm. Hmngh!"

Personally, I call this 'Teacher Mode Yennekar'.

She had both of her hands on her waist as she pushed out her chest.

Her throat didn't seem dry at all, but seeing her let out a fake cough, I can't help but think she looks more adorable than dignified. Though, I'm not sure what she is thinking about this.

"Being able to handle mid-ranking spirits means that you will be treated as a proper Elementalist wherever you go, Ed. Usually, those that can use two or so mid-ranking elementalism spells before graduation will be treated as esteemed honor students."

"It must be quite important then."

"It is normally a level in which those who are naturally gifted with magic power and spiritual resonance from a young age can reach with steady effort."

Yennekar, who was now a third-year student, could handle even high-ranking spirits freely. That alone should state just what level she was at.

"Ed, just a year ago you weren't even able to use a low-ranking spirit. People wouldn't believe me if I told them that you already grew to such a level in just one year."

"Well, I ended up sacrificing my physical health to come this far."

"That's not good, Ed. Achieving something is important, but you also have to think about your health!"

The scenery of the North Forest was certainly worthy of being called a spring day.

It was a time where the fresh vegetation that had been dormant during the winter was finally starting to show itself. Weeds were already starting to grow around the campfire.

The brutal cold that attacked me was now a thing of the past. Even the snow that had stayed around for a while, hiding under the shade, had now completely melted away. And the bees were flying around the flowers, which were blooming in fields of grass.

The scenery was similar around my cabin as well.

The butterfly fluttered through the air as it landed on Lucy's nose as she slept on the roof of the cabin.

Lucy wiggled her sleeves in the air a few times to chase the butterfly away, though it continued to wander back around her nose persistently. Eventually, she got up and slammed it down with her magic power. The butterfly that picked the wrong opponent had just disappeared.

It was a pitiful butterfly.

"Ed, your growth rate is really fast, and your resonance level has also risen quite a bit. You even made a contract with Merilda, so you should be able to handle a mid-ranking spirit contract now."

Yennekar spoke with a smile on her face, as if she were proud. I was grateful to see her so happy, rejoicing in my growth as if it were her own.

"Anyway, there are some mid-ranking spirits I brought over for you to pick from. Would you like to try resonating?"

I nodded as I focused magic power around my eyes. Slowly, my resonance level reached that of a proper Elementalist, revealing the appearance of various spirits all around us.

There were so many spirits around the camp that it would be impossible to count them all. Most of the places Yennekar went ended up like that.

It was truly a spectacle to see dozens of spirits following Yennekar. Something that couldn't be seen unless you had the proper spiritual resonance level. I started to realize once again just how much that girl was loved by the spirits.

Meanwhile, Merilda, who was larger than my entire cabin, was wrapped around a tree. And Takan, who sent a chill down my spine the moment I locked eyes with him, was laying down by the river.

There was so much power gathered in one place that I wondered if it was even okay. But all they did was lay down, relaxing in the nice, cool spring breeze.

Even if it was part of her spirit's corps or a high-ranking spirit, in the end everyone was taking part in the relaxed and drowsy mood.

It would be meaningless to count every single low-ranking spirit there was, but there were six to seven mid-ranking and only two high-ranking spirits. Merilda and Takan.

Yennekar didn't make a contract with every single one that gathered around her, but she had with most of them. And that in itself was surprising.

"Isn't it insane to bring around this many spirits with you regularly? You can't help but have a high level of spiritual resonance, so aren't you always able to see all of them?"

"Hm? I guess that's true. But I'm used to it already, so it's fine. Since everyone says they like me, there's no reason to get rid of them."

Yennekar smiled as she patted a baby snake that climbed up her forearm.

"Mid-ranking spirit contracts are definitely different from that of a low-ranking spirit. Just because you have enough magic power doesn't mean for certain that you will be able to sign a contract. First, you are going to have to find a spirit that has a good resonance with your innate flow of magic power. Even if you have an absurd amount of magic power, this isn't something to worry about. However, you aren't at that level."

"It seems a lot more difficult than when I made a contract with Merilda."

"That's because Merilda got along well with you in the first place. Ed, you are suited towards the elements wind and fire. Though, since we are going with a mid-ranking spirit, in my opinion it would be better to avoid those two when making a contract."

Making a contract with a spirit that was suited towards the elements you worked well with might be easier to do and utilize, but in various real-life situations things would be difficult to deal with.

Even if I wasn't at the same level as Yennekar, who could handle all sorts of every element, it was still best for me to try and make a contract with as many different elements as possible. That way I would still be able to fight, regardless of the terrain or other environmental conditions that I faced.

"Usually, to make a contract with a mid-ranking spirit, you would have to travel through mountains and fields just to find a spirit that matches your wavelength. That's why Elementalists tend to think that making a contract with a mid-ranking spirit is nothing short of fate. But for you, Ed… You're in a special situation."

"Rather than looking around, they are all sitting together here as if it's a market…"

"There's nothing wrong with being able to do it more comfortably, right?"

With a smirk, Yennekar waved her hand.

All kinds of mid-ranking spirits started to appear from the crowds of spirits. They definitely looked different than low-ranking spirits.

Fire birds, deer made from the ground, winds that formed the shape of a leopard, and eagles that were spraying water. The first thing I noticed was that the size of them was at least that of a human's upper body. The bigger ones were nearly the size of an entire tree.

"I already finished talking with the spirits. Now, you can 'nominate' any spirit that has good magic power resonance with you and fits the element you are looking for."

"N-Nominate…"

The Elementalist class characters from suddenly came to mind.

There was a certain romance that came with dealing with nature, walking through forests and rivers, and walking alongside spirits that were fatefully met. Although they weren't as innocent and naive as Yennekar might be, they were still all relaxed and compassionate beings.

When talking about making a contract with a mid-ranking spirit, the first thing that came to mind would be that fateful encounter.

The illustrations that came only with being an Elementalist. That feeling of embracing nature, looking up excitedly at a giant wolf or eagle while surrounded by mother nature. There was that type of romance that came with it.

[Contestant number 1, Mid-Rank Water Spirit Pelo. The Blessing I have is the 'Water Stone Blessing.' I will flap my wings once to show you. Now…]

Sitting by the campfire, I watched the line of mid-ranking spirits come up, one by one.

At some point, Mugg had flown over to my shoulder as he also paid close attention to each spirit, constantly saying 'hmm…'

"Y-Yennekar… Wait… Nominating one of them… Feels a bit strange…"

"Hm? It feels strange? Are you already busy with your schedule today? If today is bad, should we do it another time?"

"Uhm… It's not that… I… Actually… Nevermind…"

[Then, we will continue with contestant number 2…]

As I looked at each spirit that came in one after the other, I felt this weird sense that it was all wrong, though I couldn't really explain what it exactly was.

That romantic encounter with an elemental spirit as you crossed paths through nature. That fateful contract. The refreshing illustration of seeing your character rub their face against a giant wolf in a lush forest.

…Was that right…?

It felt more like trading used cars than making a spirit contract…

…Was that… really okay…?

***

The queen had fallen. It was because she couldn't deal with the knight's blade, which had attacked her side.

The priest that was watching hurriedly cut the throat of the knight, but it was already too late. A dead queen could never come back.

The opposing soldiers advanced forward as the king quickly hid behind a wall.

More knights came out, creating pressure from the other side as the soldiers hastily moved into a defensive line. There was no place to escape to, not anymore.

In the end, the king that hid behind the castle wall watched the soldiers die, one by one, before quietly choosing to commit suicide.

It was checkmate. Now, less than half the chessboard was Penia's pieces.

"Is something bothering you, Princess Penia?"

The freshmen welcome party.

The event held at the student center at the beginning of the semester was just a ceremonial routine for upperclassmen. But for the freshmen, it was a meaningful and exciting day, as it was their first semester.

Their upperclassmen were talented individuals that had been honing their craft for several years in Silvenia. A place that had a history of producing many of history's greatest men. Nearly all of them were individuals that could hold up their end in their respective fields, so the freshmen felt they had to meet them and become closer when given the chance.

However, unlike the freshmen, upperclassmen in Silvenia were not required to participate. Though, there were some students that were recommended by the school to participate.

For each grade level, some of the higher-ranking students must participate to show the difference in skills and make their stances known. It would mean nothing if only the excited freshmen were to participate.

In other words, basically the top students of each grade were encouraged to participate, though if they refused, they weren't forced to attend.

The top second-year student Lucy Mayreel, who was the major cause of interest among the freshmen, reported her absence due to personal reasons (a nap). Of course, the school staff already expected that to some extent.

However, they didn't think that the sincere third-year student Yennekar Palerover, who actively participated in every academic event without exception, would decline due to her own personal circumstances (Ed's Elementalism Class).

Because of that, the freshman welcome party that time around seemed a bit lackluster, as only two upperclassmen attended… But once news came around that Princess Penia would be attending at the request of the school, the news of the other upperclassmen not attending became meaningless.

That was because the freshmen had started to realize just how wide the spectrum of students were at Silvenia with the presence of Penia alone.

Among all the second-year students at Silvenia Academy, she is the most noble one.

Even among all the freshmen students, there were hardly any students that held the status to be able to talk to her face-to-face.

No matter how much Silvenia Academy tried to keep all students equal, when a person of imperial blood was involved, the story completely changed.

Common people and aristocrats that came from the outskirts couldn't even dare try to speak to her. Even high-ranking aristocrats and nobles would only take a glance at her. Children of influential people would try to show their courage by approaching where she was seated but would feel suffocated the moment they got close to her.

In the end, there was only one person that was able to speak properly to her at the freshmen welcome party.

Heir to House Callamore, one of the three great swordsman families and loyal members to the imperial family. First-year student Wade Callamore. An acquaintance of Princess Penia.

"Every time you speak, you sound so nervous."

Her white hair fluttered from the wind that came through the window, sending a chill down his spine.

"That was quite a move, Wade."

"That's not it. If you had properly moved your pieces, I wouldn't have been able to overcome it."

"But I did move my pieces properly."

"No. Even though you knew of my move, you chose to not move your pieces."

Wade picked up some of the fallen soldiers as he rolled them between his fingers a few times.

"You shouldn't be hesitating over sacrificing your soldiers, Princess Penia."

"Thanks for your advice, but it's fine. By applying the theory of monarchy to a game of chess, it's a class that will never end."

"Do you have some sort of bad memory that's like that?"

"When I stayed with the imperial family, the teacher that taught me… with a game like this, they liked to teach me something in a metaphorical way."

Wade and Penia had a quiet conversation.

The students that were far away didn't dare to intervene.

Since Wade came from a family that was traditionally loyal to the imperial family, he was able to have such a conversation with her.

"It's similar to what you were trying to tell me, Wade. If you pay too much attention to the word sacrifice, then you won't be able to see the bigger picture of the entire battle."

"That's correct, Princess Penia."

From the beginning, Wade was reading Penia's dismal expression from her eyes.

The benevolent Princess Penia, who walked the halls of the imperial household, had a completely different atmosphere to her than the current princess.

Back then, she was an adventurous and active monarch that was ready to roll up her sleeves for the sake of her country at any moment.

Despite the dispute over succession between the three princesses, she was a strange girl that would push forward with more momentum and passion than anyone else on even the most unrelated topics.

However, seeing how she was in Silvenia, she was like a balloon that had been deflated.

He didn't know what happened, but the unique self-confidence that she had always worn like armor had now completely disappeared.

Wade knew the reality that came behind those lifeless eyes.

Those were the eyes of someone that had suffered from repeated failure and constant pressure.

"It seems like you've gone through a lot here in Silvenia."

"It's just… I've become more self-reflective."

Princess Penia stared at the chess piece that she held onto. It was a soldier.

Whether they disappeared after being used as a mere scapegoat or got promoted up a rank, in the end they were just puppets that moved and acted in according to a monarch's words.

A single pawn's sacrifice and death. No major cause could be achieved when focusing and worrying on such a microscopic thing.

"I thought I would be better than anyone when it came to insight on people."

"I also think the same. But it's also an important virtue to recognize that sometimes you could also be wrong. Doesn't this mean that you are steadily growing up, Princess?"

"I'm not sure…"

Burying herself on the sofa for the VIP guests, Penia looked up at the ceiling with empty eyes.

The issue that she couldn't deal with that kept coming up was Ed Rothstaylor. It was useless to even try and cover her ears. The news of him would somehow always clearly reach Penia ears.

The reason that soldiers on a battlefield were used as a scapegoat was because it was a necessary strategic decision.

That was only possible because the monarch had a large picture view of the entire battlefield, so that they could make rational decisions.

However, getting rid of Ed Rothstaylor was nothing like a strategic decision. It was simply because her field of view was narrow, and she didn't see the bigger picture.

Even if Ed Rothstaylor was really using Penia for the sake of escaping from the darkness in House Rothstaylor… In the end, it was the same.

Even though Princess Penia recognized such a possibility, she didn't treat Ed any differently.

At first, it felt like a thorn that was pricking her neck. Thinking it was just a small mistake she made, she ignored anything related to Ed.

However, as time went on, he grew his presence within the school and managed to change everyone's evaluation of him in his own way.

Intervening in the school's crisis, he rescued Yennekar. He clenched his teeth as he did his utmost to survive, living in the forest while keeping up with his grades. He received recognition from many students and even rose to the ranks of one of the most talented third-year students. Yet up until the very end, Penia continued to turn her head away from him.

And what was the reason behind it? After a lot of thought, Penia was finally able to find the answer.

And once she realized it, an unbearable shame came over her.

The reason Penia consciously ignored Ed… was because his very existence, living a healthy and exemplary life while making a name for himself through achievements, was proof that Penia made a mistake.

What a childish and one-dimensional feeling.

It was delusional to think that hiding your eyes and looking away from your mistake would be able to free you from that guilt.

Hiding behind the high and noble status of being a princess, she faced a disgusting sense of relief knowing nobody would ask about her sins.

How shameful was it to act like a mere preschooler, committing a mistake only to close their eyes and cover their ears, acting like everything was okay.

The reason she had almost failed to realize that fact was because… she was in Silvenia Academy.

In the Kroel Empire, the imperial family's word was law.

Every chess piece that had been thrown out due to wrong judgment died with a smile. They didn't struggle to overcome any sort of pain. Whatever the consequence of Penia's poor judgement there was, it was all acceptable and right.

However, they were at Silvenia Academy, where the virtue of learning was emphasized over the status of nobles.

Most of those discarded chess pieces… they shed tears of blood, ground their teeth, spat curses, eventually dying a tragic death.

The difference was too massive. And the weight that came upon her shoulders was all too different.

"I was just… afraid."

She closed her eyes, keeping them shut for a moment.

Ed Rothstaylor, who was covered in blood, raised his head up from the abyss.

With a body covered in wounds, he dragged his body along right in front of Princess Penia's face as he spoke. You made me like this. I am a good man and a hardworking person, but my life has been ruined in vain by your poor judgment. Yet, I clenched my teeth and survived all the way until the end to plant my two feet right here and stand in front of you.

I resent you. I despise you.

"Princess?"

"I'm sorry, Wade. I was thinking about something else for a moment."

Penia raised her head energetically as she brushed her elegant platinum hair back, taking a deep breath.

"Still, thanks to you I was able to organize my thoughts. Forever running away from our mistakes isn't something that one should do. It's…a stupid thing to do."

"I'm glad that you are making progress."

Once you have recognized your mistake, you needed to think about how to improve yourself.

Princess Penia was able to stop herself right before falling into the swamp of depression, barely grabbing ahold of herself.

Gathering the chess pieces and putting them back together, she repeated to herself.

Regardless of what had happened thus far, now it was only a matter of fixing the relationship. First things first, she had to brush it all off and apologize for her wrongdoings.

As fast as possible, she needed to meet with Ed Rothstaylor and have a discussion with him.

With that in mind, Princess Penia remembered her schedule.

It's a completely full one. Even if she only took care of the extremely important events in her schedule, it seemed like it would still take four days before she could make time. If she moved quickly, then maybe she could shorten it to three.

Then, with a minimal number of escorts guarding her, she would visit Ed Rothstaylor at his camp. Sitting by the campfire, saying everything that's on her mind, and having a direct conversation with him.

She made up her mind as she nodded her head.

That gloomy energy around her was starting to dissipate a little, as it seemed that there was a clear path that opened up for her to take. It was a refreshing feeling that she hasn't felt in a while.

In the morning, three days later, Princess Penia heard the news of Ed Rothstaylor's death.

***

Imbuing Deadly Poison.

The magic circle engraved along the sharp, dark blue dagger's blade was ominous.

The poison magic that the first-class engraver hired by House Rothstaylor spent days and nights perfecting was finally done. The deadly poison magic was considered one of the worst there was, as you would struggle and die just by touching it a little.

There was no point in even trying to count just how many gold coins went into imbuing such a thing. What was certain was that it was, by no means, a small amount.

Careful, in case even the tip of his finger got cut, Krepin Rothstaylor put the dagger into its sheath. He then held it out to his trusted aid.

The aid that politely took the dagger hid it under his robe. Then, the assistants standing on both sides of him knelt in front of Krepin.

He had told Tanya Rothstaylor in advance through a letter.

It seemed that having her take responsibility for both becoming the student council president and the negotiation for the Sage's Seal with Lortel would be too much. So, he decided to send a trusted vassal to assist her. Even though they were being sent out for business reasons, he was sure that the school would allow it.

Though, the real purpose behind sending the vassal wasn't to help Tanya. Rather, there was a shadier reason hiding beneath the water.

Krepin returned to his room as he took off the glove on his right hand. He placed his hand, engraved with a hideous pattern, on the crystal ball as a huge amount of magic power erupted from his hand.

One of the powers granted to Krepin Rothstaylor by the evil god 'Mebula'. Cause and Effect Determination.

It was one of the highest tiers of magic, one that worked by specifying a certain action or variable that you have caused. Then, the results of such action or variable would be projected onto a crystal ball.

It requires a lot of magic power, so it couldn't be used often. Still, being able to check in advance the consequences of your actions before an important event… It was an incredible ability that was similar to fraud.

Then, before long… the 'result' was shown through the crystal ball.

The scene shown was…

A cliff with rain pouring down. It seemed to be a coastal area near the northern part of Acken Island.

Inside the crystal ball was Ed Rothstaylor. Enduring a brutal and bloody battle, until his body was dripping with blood and covered in injuries. Despite enduring for so long, in the end he was stabbed in the abdomen by the dagger that the vassal pulled out.

Dark red blood spurted from his mouth as he took a step back, little by little.

A girl with light pink hair that arrived too late screamed out. The vassal then pulled out the dagger as he pushes Ed away with his foot. And just like that, Ed fell down the distant cliff.

The rain continued to fall on the girl, who ran towards the cliff.

With her head lowered, she slowly turned around, looking back up at the vassal.

And with that, the crystal ball's projection ended.

"..."

Sitting down at his work table, Krepin put on his glove again as he let out a sigh.

"This isn't a great feeling."

However, the expression on his face didn't budge.

"But still, this is a necessary sacrifice."