Chapter 194: I Knew This Would Happen (2)
Bang!!
The scarecrow that was set up for the outdoor practical class was engulfed in an explosion as it fell over.
In fact, it was a target that was prepared to be used alternately between students. The students that were gathered widened their eyes upon seeing it fall apart with one magic attack.
Looking at the leftover debris that was seen in the rising smoke, that attack was clearly beyond the level of beginner elemental magic.
Point Explosion.
An intermediate magic that had relatively low firepower. It was combat magic that focused on speed rather than firepower.
Nevertheless, smoke spread out throughout the area due to the aftermath of that rather large explosion.
After a while, the smoke cleared up and everyone could see the magician behind that magic, Ed Rothstaylor. He was standing while shaking the hand that cast that spell.
It must have used quite a bit of magic power, yet he didn't look to be the slightest bit uncomfortable or exhausted. Without a single drop of sweat, he had cast an intermediate magic of that magnitude with just one wave of his hand.
"Alright. That's enough."
Elemental Combat Magic, the practical class.
The third years, who had just taken their first full-fledged intermediate magic course since they started school, were all gathered together and completely nervous.
They were students who were there to learn their first bit of intermediate magic. That was why Ed Rothstaylor was an abnormality, as he had already mastered several spells.
Professor Kaleid turned his drowsy eyes to look at all of the students.
They all had their eyes wide open, as they had just seen that sturdy-looking scarecrow get shattered to pieces.
On top of that, Ed Rothstaylor—the one who cast that spell—didn't look like he struggled one bit casting it.
He was already famous for having reached a high level of elementalism, but no one there had any idea that he was able to use elemental magic so skillfully.
Seeing Ed pat his clothes in the smoke, the students seemed to have lost all sense of hope.
"Ed Rothstaylor. Starting tomorrow, just go to Class A."
"But I haven't gotten my evaluation to transfer classes yet."
"There's no need to wait for that. I'll make the report to Trix Hall, so just get ready to move classes."
It didn't seem like he would have a very good impact on the students who signed up for the class with the expectation of finally being able to learn intermediate magic for the first time. It was a pain for Professor Kaleid to deal with, but he felt the need to act quickly.
In the first place, it didn't make sense for the top third year student to be stuck in such a basic class, all because he was waiting for his transfer evaluation.
"By the looks of it, you're already quite good at intermediate magic. So, just go to Class A and start taking courses in Advanced Magic. Since I'm also in charge of that class, I'll see you there later."
"Alright."
For a while, all of the students began to gossip with each other.
Being told to take an Advanced Magic course was one of the highest honors you could receive as a student in the magic department.
If you were capable of even casting one advanced magic spell before graduation, you would be considered one of the greatest talents of your generation.
Even if you looked at all of the students within Silvenia at that moment, the number of students capable of advanced magic was less than ten.
However, the number was slowly increasing due to the development of the education system. There was a long period of time where no one could have ever imagined that a student would be capable of using advanced magic.
"Just go back for today. You won't learn anything in this class."
Kaleid yawned as if annoyed. Since there was nothing more to teach him there, he waved his hand, telling him to go.
The others were all students who were just starting to learn intermediate magic. Ed wasn't someone who should be mixed in with them.
Ed Rothstaylor looked at Professor Kaleid, dumbfounded. He then nodded his head before heading towards the exit.
Watching Ed leave the room calmly, all the students swallowed their dry saliva.
* * *
From the first day of practical class, I had time to kill.
I was instructed to leave the classroom out of nowhere, so I went to the student plaza.
I needed to go to my elementary studies practical class later, then eat something before going to my monster ecology class. I would need to stop by the library to borrow books on design and ask the maids of Ophelis Hall to give me some training that would help me raise my repair level.
After all of that, I needed to head back to camp to continue trimming the logs, check the hunting traps, prepare the fish, repair the cabin, and then I could finally sleep. I thought about all of the things I had to do that day in my mind.
I didn't like suddenly having free time in my well-organized daily routine.
The hot summer was slowly coming to an end, and the autumn wind was starting to become cooler.
As I sat in the student plaza under the midday sun… I watched the students passing by in a hurry.
I'd never had the chance to idly watch the scenery of the school because I'd always been busy. As I observed my surroundings, I could see why Silvenia was considered a place of study, full of romance and youth.
Seeing the students wear their school uniforms, chatting and having fun, I realized just how peaceful the place really was.
There were a lot of things that I didn't realize because I was living my life miserable and alone. Only after having a little free time was I able to realize just why so many children of aristocrats wanted to go to the school.
Was it pointless for me to live my life without any breaks?
There were times when I had that thought. However, I couldn't help it. That was just the way I was used to living.
"Hmm…"
As I quietly sat on a bench, basking in the sunlight, I suddenly thought of something to do with my free time.
I couldn't leave the school since I had another class later, so I decided to go to Obel Hall, which was right next to the Student Square.
Obel Hall was also home to the student council… So Tanya, who returned to school yesterday, would probably be there.
Since there was a lot to take care of after returning to school, I figured that Tanya would also be quite busy. There was also all the work that had built up while she was on break.
So, I originally planned to visit on the weekend when the student council didn't have any schedules and there were no classes. Unfortunately, I was just as busy on weekdays.
However, since I suddenly had time to kill, I might as well go and see her.
"..."
I remembered seeing Tanya as I left the Rothstaylor mansion.
Standing in front of the collapsed mansion, clutching the flag that was engraved with our house's seal.
Determined to be the next head of House Rothstaylor, she completely put aside any sort of childish attitude as she looked straight ahead. That final image I had of her kept coming to mind.
Not only that, she was also negotiating with the imperial family as a representative of House Rothstaylor. According to Trayciana, it seemed she'd been busy gathering support behind her…
She had become a lot more mature than the first time I saw her. It was particularly noticeable when she acted like a leader of a group.
I needed to exchange information with her about what happened, and if there was some way I could cheer her up, I should do it.
Well, it looked like she'd grown up quite a bit… So, I didn't think there was any need for me to do that.
I was sure she'd be fine on her own. That was because everyone grew in the face of adversity.
* * *
"I want to punch every one of them… Sniff… Sniff…"
Despite such expectations, Tanya, who was sitting in the student council president's office, had not changed at all.
"Obviously, it was my dream to become the student council president and spread the glory of House Rothstaylor. But now, my house has completely fallen. Everywhere I go, people gossip about the head of house, I'm getting pressured by the imperial family, and there's so much work for me to do after returning to school. There is so much I need to take care of as the student council president. I don't want to live like this. I want to forget everything and run away…"
"..."
"A house… Should I build a house…? Give up on school… Gather the leftover inheritance… Maybe somewhere in the Kohelton region, or in the Lamelin Mountain Range, or in a grassland where the wind blows… And after I build a house that is good enough to live in… I can spend my time embroidering in my room, or drawing pictures… It might not be that bad…"
No, to put it bluntly, it was the exact opposite.
Tanya Rothstaylor, who wanted to obtain power and authority more than anyone else, had ended up becoming greedier and more pessimistic than anyone else in the span of one year.
But thinking about what she'd been through, I thought I would be the same.
I tried to cover the tears that welled up in my eyes.
"Sometimes, I can read a book… Or go to a tea house in a nearby village and pretend to be a regular… When I hear the news from the city, I'll casually laugh to blend in and… I'll occasionally show up in town. I can live, pretending to be a woman who has a lot of money… That's not a bad life… Ah… I want to become a farmer… I want to farm… Forget about power and lineage, it's about peace and tranquility. I want to drink tea while enjoying that…"
"You're struggling quite a bit… Tanya…"
"I don't look fine…? Sniff… sniff…"
Burying her head in her large desk, Tanya let out a cry.
"I have to review ninety-seven complaints just today. I have to go to Trix Hall to have a discussion with Headmaster Obel and write a thank-you letter to House Felbron for supporting us as well… I also need to check the maintenance work of the student hall to make sure the construction was handled properly. All while going to class…"
"…Good luck."
"And I also have to take care of House Rothstaylor. Princess Selah keeps throwing strange accusations towards me whenever she has the chance. Our vassals aren't the only ones suffering now. Every day, it's hundreds of different letters. I can barely read through all of them each day. And no one applauds me for working this hard, since I'm now the head of House Rothstaylor… Save me, brother."
"...You can do it!"
In fact, Tanya herself was the one who took the seat of the next head of house. It was also her own choice to run for student council president.
Those decisions were made on Tanya's own judgment, and I didn't have the authority to do anything about it.
"When I saw you at Rothstaylor Mansion before, I thought you were much more imposing."
"Back then… It was because the atmosphere was like that. I felt like I had to act brave. I needed to show that I could be the next leader of the house and pretend that I had a realization…"
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"At the time, my heart was pounding like crazy, but… in reality, the only thing to do is handle the papers and tasks…"
Tanya sighed as she lifted her head, which had been buried on the desk. And when she made eye contact with me, she saw my bandages as she spoke.
"You still have a few injuries, but you've healed a lot, brother. Back at the mansion, you looked seriously injured so I was quite worried."
"Thanks to you, I was able to rest in Silvenia. Something happened while you were back at the mansion taking care of things, but everything worked out in the end."
"That's good. You're going to attend Silvenia until graduation, right?"
"Well, yeah."
I had to take care of Velbrok. Since I was going to school either way, I wanted to get my diploma.
The moment I was thrown into this world, graduating from Silvenia had been my goal. At that point, it felt rather symbolically important to me.
"I wonder if I can even take care of both the school and the house… I'm starting to have my doubts."
"Then… are you thinking of quitting school?"
"I don't know. But there is meaning to graduating. At least for this semester, I'm going to continue going to school while taking care of everything."
She really had grown.
Knowing what she went through, she could throw everything else aside and run away. No one in the world would blame her at that point.
Nevertheless, Tanya returned to school to complete all of the tasks she was responsible for.
Although she whined a lot, it was proof that she was somehow still holding on.
"Still, it's nice that you personally came to visit. For the past few months, I've only been meeting with influential people and talking about serious topics that bear a huge weight… This is the first time I've been able to get things off my chest. I feel so much better…"
"You've gone through a lot…"
"Anyway, things with our House are moving along smoothly. I have also recruited Commander Magnus of House Callamore, Sinir Bloomriver of House Bloomriver, and Erkel Elpelan of House Elpelan."
All of them were famous individuals whose names were well known across the empire. Even though we were House Rothstaylor, it wouldn't have been easy to get them to join our side.
"How did you recruit such individuals?"
"Because I openly showed hostility towards Princess Selah, without holding back."
Tanya sat up straight as she continued to speak. Though, she still seemed to be exhausted.
"Since she won't ever be our ally anyway, I thought it would be best to solidify my position as opposing her, and to gather like-minded people that way."
"So, it was a political decision."
"I don't like Princess Selah all that much. She keeps saying things that irritate me."
Was it simpler than I thought?
"And, well, I don't like the fact that they have so much power because of their blood. Is bloodline all there is? What's so good about that…? It just means you have the same blood…"
I never thought the day would come when those words would come out of Tanya Rothstaylor's mouth.
It was completely different from the Tanya I had seen in
Was she really the villain who risked her life for the prestige of House Rothstaylor, who was always laughing arrogantly? She had changed so much...
"For the time being, I thought it would be better to recruit allies. Well, I can somehow manage any House-related issues on my own. Though, whenever I have trouble or need help, I'll come and ask you."
"Yeah, you can tell me anytime. We're a blood-related family, after all."
It was important that I supported Tanya, who was suffering quite a bit at the moment.
I looked at Tanya as I spoke honestly.
"I know just how hard you are working, and I am sure that the day you will be rewarded for it will come. So, don't be so upset. If you are having a hard time, please tell me any time. I am willing to help as much as I can."
My response may have seemed too textbook, but in any case, they were still words of encouragement. However, Tanya's reaction was more dramatic than I expected.
She opened her eyes wide as she looked at me, as if surprised.
"What's with that strange expression on your face…?"
"Nothing… I'm just grateful that you're encouraging me. It's just… there wasn't anyone else around encouraging me."
"That's because you've been doing a great job."
"Well, thinking of things like that does make me feel better. Anyway… Thank you, brother. I'll do my best."
Tanya smiled as she straightened her back and clenched her fists. It seemed that she was determined to do her best.
It seemed that she was busy with all sorts of work as the student council president. Her desk was completely full of papers.
It wasn't anything major, either. I had only come to talk to her as her blood-related brother, but that alone seemed to make her feel much better.
That was what family was. Even if there wasn't anything particularly important to talk about… just sharing a few words with each other was enough to make you feel better.
"Brother, you will stay on Acken Island for the entire semester, right? Finishing your schoolwork is the most important thing, after all."
"Yes. Though, I may leave Acken Island for a week or so next week. It's not confirmed yet, but I can apply for an excused absence."
"Excused absences? Are you participating in a public event?"
"No, not quite that… It's complicated, so to speak…"
I told Tanya about the same conversation I had with Saint Clarice last night at the camp.
A religious ceremony at Cledric Monastery.
News that Princess Persica and various other distinguished guests were attending.
And finally, what Clarice had told me excitedly.
"She asked me if I could attend with her. She said that if I went with her, it would be a lot more fun."
"Saint Clarice said that? I can't imagine…"
"..."
"Well, I've never seen her long enough to have a private conversation. Still, Saint Clarice… she feels… rather mature… and also benevolent…"
I was suddenly reminded of Clarice standing in my cabin, holding a chair as punishment.
Thinking of when she was standing there with tears welling up in her eyes, I felt a sense of incongruity with what Tanya had said.
"Wait… Cledric Monastery?"
"Yeah. Do you know about it?"
"Of course I know about it. House Rothstaylor was also baptized by the Telos Religious Group. So, they always ask for a representative from houses like ours to attend the ceremony as a matter of courtesy."
"Have you gone before?"
"Well, I did, but I'm not particularly in a rush to do so again…"
She seemed to know why so many distinguished guests attended. Most who were set to attend were heirs to their noble house.
Since they were individuals sent to represent their houses in front of the Telos Religious Group, it must be a rather diverse place.
Tanya bit her lip, uncomfortable as she thought of something.
"But… I don't really recommend you going there…"
"Is that so…?"
"In the first place, it's off -limits to men. And from my childhood memories… I remember it being a really strange place. It would be understandable if a maintenance worker was forced to enter, or a high-ranking cleric like the archbishop, but… For you to go inside, you would stand out too much."
I didn't think it would be a good idea, either.
Attending the ceremony meant I would also have to skip all of my classes for the time being.
For me, who was trying to learn as much as I could to graduate with honors, it wasn't a good idea.
Still… the variable known as Princess Persica would appear there.
"Why would you be allowed inside a place that has strictly forbidden men for over 100 years?"
"I heard that Saint Clarice was going to try and push for my approval, stating some magic-related reason."
"Still, it would be difficult to make such an exception that breaks a long tradition so easily… but maybe it's possible with the authority of the saint."
"..."
"Followers of the Telos Religious Group are eccentric people who sacrifice everything for the safety and convenience of the saint. It's not particularly a big deal, either… Bringing in a man for some reason… Still, she must have some reason for doing this…"
"So, do you think it's better I don't go through with it?"
In response to my question, Tanya nodded her head.
"It's a mysterious place that was built on the coast, only able to be entered at low tide… But from my point of view, after spending a few days there, it's just another space where people are isolated from the rest of the world."
"Well, I'm expecting that, too."
"They are said to be holy nuns who follow the will of God, but they are also troubled daughters who were once exiled or sent away from their houses. There are also many orphans who have been abandoned there and illegitimate children whose births couldn't be publicly revealed."
People who prayed, following the will of God. It was just an excuse to hide the darkness behind their births or their shameful temperaments.
"A place where eccentric believers and the various children of noble backgrounds gather. Anyway, it's just a regular place where those sorts of people gather. The nuns there are rather closed off… and they don't get close with outsiders, either…"
"What do you mean?"
Tanya trembled as if she suddenly had a bad memory.
"So… you know how only men who handle maintenance are allowed inside. Well, those construction workers, most of them are burly, bearded old men."
"..."
"But the nuns would giggle and avoid eye contact with them, acting embarrassed. That's because they have no experience with men. That also means they are people with rather wild imaginations and dreams. So… What I'm trying to say is…. Uhm…"
I think I knew what she was trying to say… But I was too afraid to ask more about it.
"Anyway, I was able to become close with a few of them while I stayed there for a few days. But to them, whenever they make eye contact with a man, they can imagine their entire life unfolding alongside them as lovers…!"
"..."
"Even with those disgusting old men! So, what if someone like you went there… Your age is ideal and you're rather handsome…!"
What kind of memory does she have of that place?
Seeing her seriously hate the idea, I couldn't bear to say anything.
"It's just… a disaster… A real disaster! Things will get complicated, and I'm sure an incident will take place. So… You can't go… I don't recommend it one bit. Thinking about the relationships around you already, I'm completely against the idea!"
After yelling all of that out, Tanya sighed as she buried herself back into her chair.
After taking a moment to calm down… she seemed to realize that she had overreacted.
"That… I got too excited on my own. I'm sorry, brother."
"No… I… I understand your opinion."
Even the faithful Saint Clarice didn't want to go to Cledric Monastery.
So, when Tanya went as a child, I could only imagine how horrible that was.
I didn't know how to respond to Tanya… so there was only an awkward silence in the room for a while.
* * *
Today, Yennekar only had morning classes. She had already returned to camp and was now preparing dinner.
Normally, she would decide on what to eat with Ed after looking at the leftover ingredients. However, that day she was preparing it entirely by herself.
She was pleased just thinking of preparing a meal in advance as she waited for Ed to come back. She rolled up her sleeves as she hummed.
Then, while she was contemplating what to eat while looking at the leftover meat, vegetables, and spices in the camp…
"H-Hello."
A guest had arrived at the camp.
Since Ed's camp was located in a rather remote place in the North Forest, people rarely came by unless they meant to.
Most of the people who came were acquaintances of Ed.
"...?"
Yennekar, who had been looking over the ingredients for a long time, looked up at the owner of the voice with puzzled eyes. It was Patriciana Bloomriver, a fourth year student in the magic department.
They weren't close, but they knew of each other. That was what Yennekar thought.
From Patriciana's point of view, Yennekar Palerover was a famous student within the school, and even though they were not well acquainted, she felt a strange sense of closeness with her.
Still, they weren't close friends. Patriciana shyly spoke to Yennekar.
"Y-Yennekar, right…? You live in this camp…?"
"…Uhm, yes I do… Patriciana?"
"Ah, yeah! You remembered my name! Yeah… That's right, I'm Patriciana."
Seeing Patriciana come suspiciously closer to her, Yennekar tilted her head.
Yennekar didn't know that Patriciana's secret laboratory was in the North Forest. Merilda was aware of that fact, but she didn't bother telling Yennekar about it.
If she reported every single thing that happened in the forest to Yennekar, they would be talking about the forest all day long.
In the end, the only things the spirits told Yennekar about was information that they thought she should know.
"Ed and I are acquaintances after an incident… It wasn't all that pleasant, though… A-Anyway, do you have time?"
Patriciana shyly looked around her.
She then took out a reagent from her pocket, smiling awkwardly.
"I have an interesting item… Do you want to hear about it…?"
Yennekar tilted her head with an innocent yet confused expression on her face.
Then, Patriciana started to give an entire speech about the efficiency of the reagent she held in her hand.
At first, Yennekar was listening, interested… But then her expression began to harden, little by little.
No matter what, it was too much to use a drug to make someone reveal all of their secrets and control them.
She tried to firmly say she had no intention of touching such an insidious thing, but…
Unfortunately, Yennekar was already receiving reports about Ed's every single move, no matter how personal, from her spirits.
Though, honestly speaking, rather than receiving a report… The spirits were just chatting with Yennekar however they felt…
Anyway, she wasn't in a position where she could say anything…!
Yennekar began to realize that fact.
"Wh-What do you think…? It's good, right? With these effects, won't a lot of people be interested…?"
"Uhm… Uhh…"
Yennekar looked at the reagent in Patriciana's hand as if she was imagining something pleasant. She then shook her head.
"Still, this isn't right Patriciana."
"I-Is that so…?"
"It's not polite to the other person… In the long run, this will only ruin a relationship…"
Ed was also conscious to some extent that the spirits talked about him, though he didn't really care.
However, using such a reagent completely against Ed's will wasn't right.
Unfortunately, Yennekar was much too kind to lay her hands on such a reagent.
However, from Patriciana's point of view, she didn't expect such a refusal… She was looking at Yennekar with wide eyes.
"N-No way…"
"I have no intention of using that… Patriciana. That reagent… just take it back with you…"
Patriciana looked at Yennekar, who calmly rejected her.
Seeing her act like that, Patriciana started to have a strange sense of stubbornness.
* * *
"You always do such a good job, Miss Bell."
The hallway of Ophelis Hall.
Trayciana came out of her room as she spoke to Bell, who was cleaning up the hallway.
"Patrin left earlier. Did you see where she went?"
"You mean Lady Patriciana? Do you have business with her? I can have someone deliver a message for you."
"Ah, no… I think I'll have to find that girl myself… Because I… suddenly felt uneasy…."
"…Pardon?"
Trayciana looked at Bell as she squirmed, holding onto her wand tightly, as if nervous.
"It's just… Maybe… There's going to be another incident… Sometimes, I have that gut feeling…"
"I see. If you say that, there must be a reason…"
Bell stopped for a moment, pondering, before she asked,
"Isn't it difficult having to be anxious about something that hasn't even happened yet?"
"You think so…?"
"If something happens, we will take action and report it back to you immediately. So, don't worry too much. How about you rest in your room for the time being?"
"Well, if you say so… Alright…"
Trayciana then nervously went back to her room.
"..."
Bell tilted her head for a moment as she then turned back around to finish cleaning the hallway.
Now that the semester started, her workload suddenly increased. Bell was also extremely busy herself.
-x-X-x-
"Repairing? If you have clothing that needs repairing, please pass them on to the maid in charge of laundry. I will notify her myself."
"No. I want to repair things myself. For practice."
"…Is repairing a hobby of yours?"
When I stopped by Ophelis Hall after my monster ecology class, it seemed that the maids had some free time before they took care of all of their urgent work.
They were usually the busiest right after school started. Only after the students settled back into school and were able to adjust themselves were the maids able to return to their set routines.
However, it seemed that the chaotic period after school started was taken care of quickly. That was why she was now greeting me with a relaxed expression on her face.
"Do you really need to do it yourself? From my point of view, repairing an extra garment or two doesn't make a huge difference in our workload."
"Thanks, but I can't keep coming to Ophelis Hall every time I need minor repairs. To save time, I should be able to do the simple things myself. It's rather far to travel back and forth from here."
The rose garden was one of Ophelis Hall's greatest pride.
There were not only roses, but all different kinds of flowers swaying pleasantly in the cool, early autumn breeze.
The school in the late afternoon was quiet. As if enjoying the atmosphere, several students were walking through the rose garden, taking in the aroma of the flowers.
In the meantime, Bell was checking whether the garden was being well maintained. She walked around the garden looking rather strict. She seemed dissatisfied with the leaves of the under-pruned shrubbery.
If she was taking care of her work inside Ophelis Hall, it would have been difficult to talk to her. That was because even entering the dormitory was a pain in the ass.
Fortunately, she was outside, so I could freely talk to her.
"There are quite a few pieces of clothing that are going to be discarded. Most of them are for the other maids, so they're women's clothes, but… I don't think there will be a problem if you just want to practice simple repairs."
"Then, if you're going to throw them away anyway, can I take some?"
"Of course, but it's a bit too far to carry them all… it would also be strange if people saw you carrying a large amount of women's clothing. I'll instruct another maid to deliver them to you later. How about ten pieces?"
"That will be enough. Thanks for your help."
"You are welcome."
The only skill I needed to raise for Bow Crafting was my repair skill.
Bow Crafting was only possible after I practiced repairing fabric and leather for a certain amount of time.
As long as I practiced, I would be able to unlock it. However, the fact that I didn't know how long it would take was rather heartbreaking.
"Have you eaten? There is a banquet being held today to celebrate the new semester. It's taking place on the second floor hall, so you can go in and eat something. I will inform the staff."
"No, that's okay. I already promised I would have dinner at the camp. It would feel as if I was eating out before going home without saying anything."
"..."
After I said that, Bell looked at me curiously.
These days, it seemed that I'd gotten quite good at reading the expressions of people who didn't show them.
Both Lucy and Bell… I was able to read them somewhat, despite them not being good at expressing their emotions.
Lucy always looked dazed and absent-minded. Bell always seemed calm and collected. The two of them were strangely different.
However, the fact was, if I paid close attention to them, I was able to notice it.
"What is it?"
"…Pardon?"
"You were looking at me as if you had mixed feelings."
"I-I did? I apologize if I looked like that."
"You don't have to apologize for your expression… I was just wondering if there was something you needed to say."
Bell responded, looking rather perplexed.
"N-No, that's not the case… It seems I should pay more attention to my facial expressions. It seems that I've become lax in maintaining my expression. Keeping a poker face is the basics for a maid."
"You're overreacting. There's no need to worry about it."
"I see. Perhaps because you are so good at reading other people, I couldn't help but feel that way."
Bell closed her eyes softly as she spoke.
"It's just… I was once again reminded that you were now living with Lady Yennekar."
"…Does that bother you?"
"That's not it. It's just that I was the one helping Lady Yennekar in her daily life from the moment she came to Silvenia and was struggling to adjust."
Bell spoke elegantly, with proper posture, not moving one bit.
"Back then, I was a senior maid. Now, I am the head maid. I've been promoted quite a bit… However, my feelings towards the job haven't changed, and I wonder if she's doing all right."
"In the first place, that girl came from the countryside. She's capable of taking care of herself, even without the help of the maids."
"That's true… If there are any issues, please contact me right away. Ophelis Hall always purchases a large amount of supplies, so there are always leftover items we throw away."
I was thankful for her words, but I was already receiving more than enough help from Bell and Ophelis Hall.
If I constantly relied on her help for everything, I wouldn't be able to properly deal with emergencies on my own.
So, I could only respond to Bell's offer by saying thanks.
"You must've been busy taking care of Ophelis Hall. How is Lucy?"
"She hasn't come home since she went out this morning. She's probably taking a nap somewhere. Were you planning to visit Lady Lucy?"
"No, I was just asking to see how she was doing. If she's not in her room, she might be at the camp."
"She must have gone through a lot with the new semester ceremony, as well. She's the top student within Silvenia Academy right now, so there are a lot of expectations on her. It's to the point we can look past her penalty points."
A rare, once-in-a-century genius. Something Silvenia Academy might never see again. She was truly in a high seat.
However, at the same time, Lucy was also the person who broke the most rules and had the highest number of penalty points within Ophelis Hall.
Even the worst of the worst only received about 200 points over the school year… But Lucy alone was past 1000. Not only was she the undisputed highest when it came to penalty points, but she was also the undisputed top student.
However, the problem was that Lucy couldn't be controlled through penalty points at all.
Normally, one's penalty points would directly affect their grades. However, her grades were so overwhelmingly high, it didn't even matter.
"Actually, there's someone else I have business with. Can you tell them something for me?"
"Someone within Ophelis Hall? You are already quite familiar with the other students who reside here, though? However, if there's someone else you need to talk to, I will go and call on them."
"Actually, that's okay. They're not someone that I should call to meet with me. I'll just leave them a letter. They're not an easy person to meet with, after all."
"...?"
* * *
"So, you decided to go to Cledric Monastery?"
"Supposedly, Princess Persica is going, and there is something serious I need to discuss with Saint Clarice, as well. There are quite a few things I need to take care of. If I don't go, it'll be hard to talk with them again."
When Ed Rothstaylor returned to camp, Yennekar had already finished preparing dinner and was sitting by the campfire, reading an elementalism book.
When Yennekar took care of basic housework at the camp, she usually tied her hair up and rolled up her sleeves… Every time I saw that, I was reminded that she really was a girl who was born in the countryside.
It gave off a strangely different feeling from when she was dressed in her school uniform, looking like the kind student she was. Students who saw Yennekar in her regular clothes in the commercial district were often shocked.
Things were completely different than when she lived in Ophelis Hall and had maids to help her. If she wanted to dress up, she needed to make the time to do it herself. She was no longer able to live like a princess in a fairy tale.
Watching Yennekar as she pondered what daily necessities she needed to get or what ingredients to buy… The other students couldn't help but have a strange feeling, as if a character from a fairy tale had suddenly come to life.
However, Yennekar rather liked her current position.
That was because, even back in her hometown of Pulan, she often refused offers and kindness from other people who wanted to help her. She preferred taking care of everything herself.
"So, I went to the Ophelis Hall to tell Saint Clarice, but it wasn't easy to meet with her in person. I just left a letter behind with Bell."
"A monastery… A monastery…"
Yennekar repeated that word a few times with the book open on her lap.
Since Tanya had stayed at Cledric Monastery for a few days, she had a lot to say. However, Yennekar shouldn't have known what that place was like.
Except for the fact that it was a religious location near the sea, located along the western coast of the Empire.
Still, hearing the word 'Monastery', there was a particular image that came to mind. For one, it would be the nuns who quietly conducted themselves, following the will of their God. There wasn't anything particularly bad about it, aside from the fact that it seemed like an awfully boring place to be.
Thinking about it, in the end Yennekar had a smile of relief on her face.
"I guess you will need to go if necessary… But if you were to leave now, wouldn't it be difficult to keep up with the curriculum?"
"I'm only going for a week, so it shouldn't be that bad. I'm also going to prepare ahead of time."
"I see. But what do you have to discuss with Saint Clarice? Is it something personal that you need help from someone as influential as her? It seems rather serious…"
Yennekar has a strange admiration and burden towards those of high status.
Though, in actuality, Ed Rothstaylor—who was right in front of her—was also a noble who had recently been brought back into his house.
"..."
"..."
Hearing her question, Ed suddenly looked troubled for a moment.
As if he were contemplating whether to say something or not.
Yennekar continued to stare at him, tilting her head.
"There's something I must take care of before graduating."
The Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok.
Ed, who was about to mention the name, shook his head.
He had a feeling that Yennekar would believe anything he said now.
The resurrection of the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok and how to defeat it… Those were the two major burdens on Ed's shoulders.
Yennekar was always worried about Ed taking on things by himself and getting hurt. So, wouldn't it be fine to lessen that load by telling her?
And above all else, Yennekar was bound to find out once he started gathering forces on his side and taking more drastic public actions.
Still, wouldn't it be better to make some progress first and then slowly explain everything to her? That was what Ed was thinking.
At that point, there was nothing Yennekar could do. Telling her at the moment would only put a weight on her shoulder.
"I have some personal goals. And… Saint Clarice holds a lot of influence. So, since House Rothstaylor is on the verge of disappearing, she's someone that I want to get close to as much as possible."
"If it's a political reason, it can't be helped… I'm not good when it comes to those things… So, I can't be of much help…"
For Yennekar Palerover, the world of 'politics' was just as difficult as trying to read and make sense of a doctor's note.
For a girl who naturally received favors and love from everyone, asking her to understand such a thing was too much.
At the same time, because she didn't understand those things, she could act like Yennekar Palerover.
Ed shrugged as he poured some stew, which had been heated in an iron pot over the campfire, into a bowl. Yennekar had prepared it before he came back.
It was funny to think about him refusing a grand feast in Ophelis Hall only to return to the camp to eat reheated stew.
But the stew was more Ed's style.
"It's good. Did you make it after your classes?"
"Yeah! It was great that there were a lot of spices left! Also, I thought we should eat the smoked meat before it goes bad, so I put plenty inside!"
As if she were excited by his compliment, Yennekar quickly closed her book as she started talking about how she made the stew and how they should buy a new pot.
Ed shoved the stew into his mouth as he listened. He was also thinking about just how many more logs he needed to prepare to upgrade his cabin.
The two of them continued to talk about how they should go about upgrading the cabin. Whether to put Ed's magic engineering workshop on the first or second floor, whether to make a basement, whether to put up a fence, etc.
As the two of them spoke with each other in peace as the sun set, there was a strange feeling of happiness shared between them.
"Bell gave me some recipes. There are so many other dishes I want to try as well… but… I don't want to waste too much food…"
Ed threw the spoon into the iron pot, which was completely empty, as he sat down on a tree stump. He was completely satisfied with his meal.
"By the way, did I tell you? Bell is going to send someone here to give me some clothes."
"Clothes?"
"I personally asked her to give me some so I could practice repairing. Maybe she'll send a maid tomorrow. So, don't panic if a stranger shows up at the camp."
"Alright. Taking care of Ophelis Hall and the camp… Bell really is amazing…"
Bell Maya had been taking care of Yennekar Palerover ever since her first year, when she knew nothing.
Although she was slightly older than Yennekar, she was already in the prestigious position of head maid of Ophelis Hall. Compared to her, Yennekar looked rather young.
Reaching such a status at a young age, one would think she would become arrogant or start to slack. However, she was still as thorough and hardworking as when she first started. She really hadn't changed much at all in the way she thought, either.
While people say it's important to stay true to yourself, if the situation changed, one couldn't help but change their values. Usually, it was something that happened naturally, without effort.
So, one couldn't help but be in awe of her attitude, despite being in such a position. Rather, it felt unnatural that she was able to act like that.
The way she fulfilled her responsibilities and duties to a ridiculous degree was not a level of sincerity you would see in a normal person. There was surely something that made her become like that.
"What was she doing before she started working at Ophelis Hall? Yennekar, do you know?"
"Huh? Well… I know that Bell has been a maid since she was young. And, uhm… I've heard a strange rumor before circulating among the maids."
"A strange rumor?"
"Well… it is a rumor, but they only mentioned that her childhood was rather dark… I don't know the details. Everything about her is a mystery."
Among the students in Ophelis Hall, there were many of them with dark pasts. There had been children of nobles whose families were destroyed in battle, illegitimate children of influential families, and some even had their houses collapse while they were attending school.
Working in Ophelis Hall, you were bound to see a lot of people who had unhappy childhoods. So, for those maids to say that she had a 'dark past'… He had no idea just what kind of life she lived.
Ed tilted his head, thinking about it. His curiosity about the matter isn't something that could be resolved immediately.
"..."
In fact, it wouldn't help in defeating Velbrok, either. It was just his own personal curiosity.
There were many people who wanted to hide their pasts, so continuing to dig any further would only be disrespectful towards them.
With that thought in mind, Ed shook his head as he threw away his useless thoughts.
"Well, Bell is capable of taking care of herself. Right now, I should be taking care of myself."
"Haha… Bell isn't someone we need to worry about, Ed. Are you planning to work on the logs some more before going to bed?"
"Yeah. I should probably do some more. The size of the cabin is going to be bigger than I first thought. Making a design isn't enough to get an accurate estimate, I guess."
"The bigger the better! It's where you're going to live, that's why!"
Yennekar spoke with a lively smile on her face.
Ed stretched his body as he got ready to start working. He still had a few injuries, but it wasn't to the extent that he couldn't move his body.
"Is there still drinking water?"
"Yeah. In the bucket!"
He had just finished eating, so he was rather thirsty. To hydrate, Ed went over to the bucket of drinking water, dipping his wooden mug into it.
Watching Yennekar open up her Elementalism book again, Ed gulped down on the cool water. A pleasant, refreshing sensation spread through his body thanks to the cold water that passed through his throat and down into his body.
And then he started to feel a fever rising.
"...?"
Ed noticed something was wrong from the strangely sweet taste on the tip of his tongue, but it was already too late.
"Cough…"
He started to cough. Yennekar was startled as she looked towards him, worried. She told him to drink slowly, but Ed could barely hear her.
"Cough! Cough! Ke…Keuk…"
He continued to cough as he grabbed the edge of the bucket, falling to his knees. As he tried to bear with the heat rising continuously through his body, he started to realize something strange was happening to his body.
"E-Ed…? Are you okay?"
Yennekar saw his discomfort as she closed her book, putting it down and quickly standing up.
She ran towards Ed, supporting him. She was startled by the heat rising from his body.
Ed was perfectly fine just a moment before, with nothing strange about him. He no longer had to deal with the recoil of the ring, either.
So, what was with his fever?
"E-Ed…? Ed…!"
"C-Cough… W-Wait… Cough…"
Ed was barely able to keep steady as he leaned against the bucket of water, breathing heavily. Yennekar's hands started to tremble watching him.
Where was he hurt? With how suddenly he got so bad so quickly, it must have been a serious illness.
Yennekar bent down as she supported his body. Only then did she see a reagent bottle lying in the grass.
"..."
Goosebumps spread across her arm. She had definitely seen that bottle before.
She didn't even need to think that hard. It was definitely when she had rejected Patriciana's offer.
She remembered Patriciana's strangely dissatisfied and irritated expression as she firmly refused her.
Alchemists often had a strange sense of pride and confidence in their inventions. In fact, most inventors who chased greatness were like that.
These were people who started to show their dark side when their pride was hurt or their inventions, which they put a tremendous amount of effort into, were ignored.
Was Patriciana the same, or was she simply trying to show Yennekar the efficiency of the reagent?
Whatever the case, she could easily infer what happened… Patriciana had secretly poured that reagent into the bucket of drinking water before running away.
"Patriciana…!"
Yennekar supported Ed's body as she yelled out her name in a resentful tone.
Troublemakers. The alchemy students were often called that. But having become a victim herself, she felt that fact even more.
She thought that she should go and find her to scold her later. For the moment, the first thing to do was to help Ed, who was having a hard time.
She thought the first thing to do was to wipe his sweat. Right when she was about to bring over a cloth to use as a towel, Ed's hand gripped Yennekar's wrist tightly.
Yennekar felt a shock run through her body as her breath caught.
"E-Ed…?"
"W-Wait… I think something is wrong with me, Yennekar."
"Y-Yeah. It looks like it! I'll bring something to wipe off your sweat!"
Ed Rothstaylor's mental strength had already far surpassed the other students.
Even though he was drugged to act drunk and lose self-control, that didn't mean he would break down. Rather, he was someone who would overcome even the strongest of reagents.
Nevertheless, the fact that he was suffering didn't change.
"For now… I still have some strength. But still, stay by my side… If I lose consciousness, the only person who can help me is you."
Yennekar's eyes trembled. Since she was well aware of the effects of that reagent, every word he said was like a critical strike.
Knowing that everything Ed said was how he truly felt, it was a killer blow to Yennekar. Especially since she was a girl who had no experience with dating.
Just imagining that made her breath quicken. Yennekar tried to somehow control her eyes, which were spinning out of control.
"E-Ed…! F-First… wipe off your sweat…"
Flick!
Before Yennekar could finish speaking, Ed pulled on Yennekar's wrist, forcing her to sit down next to him.
Yennekar fell onto the grass as she sat.
Ed always treated her gently and caringly… He was always careful about how much strength he used with her. So, feeling him use his real strength, her heart pounded quickly.
To love and be loved. To care and to be cared for.
For her entire life, she had always been loved and treated warmly, so suddenly being pulled like that caught her off guard.
Ed wasn't in a state where he could be considerate towards her. Somehow managing to endure the reagent, he had grabbed onto her wrist tightly, forcefully pulling her to his side.
Yennekar tried to control her beating heart.
Ed's actions of pulling on Yennekar without consideration… Just thinking of that made her heart beat strangely fast.
Her wrist was sore. It felt as if she were constrained, unable to run away. It was a scary situation to be in, yet strangely… Because it was Ed who was doing it, her heart was racing. The strange sensation of being pulled against her will by him. A somewhat immoral and unknown feeling that she couldn't resist…
"Ugh…?!"
No, in the first place, was she not even trying to resist? Realizing that, Yennekar couldn't lie to herself.
At some point in all of it, Yennekar was also breathing heavily. Her eyes widened at the strange feeling she was feeling for the first time in her life.
Still, she needed to resist.
Putting her hand to her cheek, she looked towards Ed, who was somehow enduring the reagent.
Yennekar's face was already getting as hot as his, but she couldn't just sit still and do nothing.
First, she needed to check his condition, wipe off his sweat, and bring him to the cabin to rest. Then, she would talk to him about the reagent, prepare a space for him to recover, and ask Bell for help.
A plan of action flowed through Yennekar's mind.
Even though he was Ed Rothstaylor, she had to be decisive in her actions.
She needed him to let go of her hand. It was sore and it was scary. She hoped that he would be at least a little more caring towards her.
That was why she needed him to listen to her.
Yennekar steeled herself as she raised her voice.
"Hey!"
Her tone of voice was strange, since she was nervous. It came out louder than expected, even Yennekar herself was surprised.
"Keuk!"
But there was no reply from Ed. Rather, he frowned as if his headache got worse from Yennekar's scream.
"Don't raise your voice so much… My head hurts…"
"Ed, you can't do this…!"
"Just stay still… stay by my side…"
Breathing in and out, Ed quietly spoke. It felt as if part of his brain had melted from her loud voice.
"Uh..."
Yennekar was overwhelmed by the atmosphere. She forced herself to speak quieter than a whisper.
"O-Okay… Yeah…"
For the only person who could fix the situation to raise a white flag like that…
She wasn't able to ask anyone for help, either. To make matters worse, for some reason the spirits weren't responding to her either. Usually, there were various spirits gathered around Yennekar, but…
Right now, there really was no answer.
* * *
"♪ ♬ ♩"
A private room was specially prepared for Saint Clarice on the top floor of Ophelis Hall.
Even regular rooms in Ophelis Hall were famous for their magnificent size, but Saint Clarice's private room took up half an entire floor.
Clarice's petite body was lying on a bed that was covered in expensive lace decorations.
The only person in Ophelis Hall who knew about her double life, the head maid Bell Maya, stood slightly next to her.
"In the afternoon, he came to me to deliver this to you."
Clarice hummed as if in a good mood. She opened the letter, holding it above her head as she read it happily.
"He said that he will accompany me to Cledric Monastery. I had a hard time because I had to attend all of the school events today, but now it feels as if I have finally been rewarded!"
Clarice smiled widely. She was supposed to attend a ceremony for several days at Cledric Monastery, where there was no hope of having fun. Now that Ed was going to accompany her, everything would change.
Unlike high-ranking faithful clerics, who had no interest in anything outside of religion… It was nice to have a companion next to her.
Unlike how she usually went to Cledric Monastery every year, she would be able to enjoy it quite a bit. As Clarice acted excited, Bell who was standing next to her spoke.
"Are you talking about Cledric Monastery? I guess it's the time of year they have the ceremony."
"That's right. And since I'm the face of the Telos Religious Group, even though I'm a student I am still required to attend. I'll need to ask for an excused absence from the school."
"But… Is it really okay for Young Master Ed to accompany you to the Monastery? From what I know, Cledric Monastery is…"
"Well, I have authority… So, I can come up with a number of reasons for him to accompany me. I'm sure there won't be any problems."
Clarice was humming happily as she read Ed's handwritten letter.
"You should also know that Ed is someone who takes care of himself and has a strong sense of self-control, right? So, I'm sure nothing will happen in the monastery."
Hearing Clarice speak so confidently, Bell had nothing to say against it.
Ed Rothstaylor was quick-witted and wouldn't even try to make contact with the nuns more than necessary.
"Tomorrow, I'll have to go and submit a letter of excused absence to the school~"
Waving her feet in the air, Clarice smiled.
Seeing her act so happy, Bell quietly stood there.
-x-X-x-
Skill in magic alone wasn't enough to survive in the harsh world.
The first day she succeeded in mastering advanced magic, Trayciana returned to the dorm as she had that very thought, looking up at the moon alone.
Advanced explosion magic, Destruction.
A massive explosion that was cast only after fully concentrating on gathering magic power for several days. It had destroyed all of the several layers of barriers the professor had created for safety.
Thanks to such a feat, Trayciana rose to the position of the top student in the magic department. From then on, she was heavily praised by all of her classmates.
"..."
However, there was Lucy Mayreel, another top student in the magic department. A natural genius that had received a gift from the heavens.
As long as she was alive at the same time as her, becoming the best in the field of magic was an impossible feat.
She had no desire to be the best.
After all, it was difficult to even call the geniuses human. During her four years at Silvenia, Trayciana started to feel that wall more clearly than anyone else.
That just wasn't the case for Trayciana alone.
The current three top students among the fourth years at Silvenia:
Combat Department Top Student, Daike Elpelan.
Magic Department Top Student, Trayciana Bloomriver.
Alchemy Department Top Student, Dorothy Whitefeld.
The general consensus of the three representatives of the fourth years was… a group of 'regulars'.
Completely different from the first years and second years, who were known as the 'Golden Generation'. Then there were the third years who were incredibly gifted individuals, such as Yennekar Palerover, Ed Rothstaylor, Drake, and Atalanta.
Regulars who worked harder than anyone else.
An evaluation that was both a compliment and an insult. Trayciana couldn't deny that fact.
That was why she never tried to define her worth solely with her magic skills.
Even though she rose to the top of the magic department, which was a difficult feat for anyone to accomplish, she never grew complacent by thinking that it was everything she could achieve.
For some, it might have been a dream. But for Trayciana, it was nothing more than a process.
She was now in her second semester of her fourth year, a period where she had to look ahead towards graduation.
Graduation was a new beginning. If she were merely satisfied being a top student at Silvenia, she would never be able to grow further.
Life after graduation.
It wasn't far away. Trayciana didn't act hastily, either.
"..."
In her quiet room at Ophelis Hall, Trayciana closed her elemental studies book.
It was a quiet and peaceful sight. Afternoon classes were over, and everyone was relaxing in the peaceful evening atmosphere.
In half a year, she would no longer be able to see that relaxing evening view outside her window.
Once her time as a student came to an end, she would have to return to House Bloomriver to focus her efforts on reaching the forefront of magic research. It would probably be a fierce life.
Trayciana skimmed through the letters sent by the head of house, Sinir Bloomriver, in her drawer. She kept in close contact with her throughout her entire time at school, as she had high dreams of becoming the next head of House Bloomriver.
Nuisances, troublemakers, problem makers.
House Bloomriver had always been treated as outcasts because they were full of such people. Perhaps the only other house that could match the Bloomrivers in that regard was House Aniston.
In a place that was always causing trouble and incidents, Trayciana was considered an outcast because of her serious and calm temperament.
However, she wasn't alone.
Sinir Bloomriver… The head of house who was both rational and realistic.
Thanks to her, House Bloomriver was able to maintain its recognition as a prestigious House.
And Trayciana Bloomriver was the one who was the most deeply influenced by Sinir.
"Tanya and Ed Rothstaylor…"
It seemed like the structure of power was changing drastically not only within the imperial household, but even among other noble families.
Sinir Bloomriver, the head of her house whom she greatly admired, seemed to be betting on House Rothstaylor in the drastic reorganization of power.
"Tanya Rothstaylor has come up with an interesting plan. So, we will be joining her side."
Right at the start of the semester, Student Council President Tanya Rothstaylor returned to Silvenia.
Many people were heavily interested in her actions. At first glance, she seemed like a sharp and ambitious person… But lately, she seemed to be noticeably tired, grumbling, and sighing deeply.
It looked like she had become exhausted with everything. However, in Trayciana's eyes, Tanya was still as determined as she had been in the beginning.
"There is a chance the most influential families of the empire will fall apart and fight. When that time comes, if we aren't on the winning side, we will be in trouble. That's why, before things start, we need to stick to House Rothstaylor."
Sinir always got straight to the point.
It was as if she had already read Trayciana's mind, who was planning her life after graduation.
"We need to remain their close ally once everything comes to an end. And to become one of their closest allies, when they are the weakest and struggling the most… we have to help them. Only then will we be able to create a long-term relationship with them."
What did Sinir Bloomriver see in House Rothstaylor?
At the moment, Trayciana had no way of knowing, but she never doubted Sinir.
In fact, Trayciana had become closer to Ed Rothstaylor after thoroughly assisting in his request.
Though, it felt like the only reason they got acquainted in the first place was because of Patriciana's incident. Either way, it was good that she was able to create a connection with a member of House Rothstaylor.
"..."
Trayciana put down Sinir's letter as she looked out the window at the sun setting.
After coming to Silvenia, she had become much more realistic, despite her eyes still remaining calm.
"I can't survive in this harsh world with just magic skills."
She said those words over and over again, deep in thought.
Trayciana, whom all fourth year magic department students looked up to. Even for her, she felt just how large a wall of real talent was.
Because of that, she had become somewhat pessimistic and realistic… But that didn't mean she was the type to get frustrated.
"Behavior, understanding the atmosphere, and… networking."
While she didn't know what would become of the empire's powers, ultimately all that mattered was who would stand at the top in the end.
She needed to think smart and bet on them. That was the only way to survive in a world where nobles were rapidly changing.
If Sinir Bloomriver bet on House Rothstaylor, Trayciana would follow.
Since she was a lot older than Tanya Rothstaylor, the current student council president, it was hard to become close to her—there was no real point of contact… but Ed Rothstaylor was different.
They were close in age, got to know each other beforehand, and Trayciana was also his direct upperclassmen in the magic department.
'While they are still weak, we need to help them as much as possible to accumulate debt.' That must have been what Sinir wanted.
The goal was to continue a friendly relationship with Ed Rothstaylor.
An investment for the future.
As she nodded her head, keeping that goal in mind…
Slam!!
"Sister…!"
The troublemaker younger sister Patriciana came in after slamming open Trayciana's door.
Trayciana frowned as she turned to the door.
Patriciana, who had a bunch of loose leaves stuck in her hair as if she had just come from walking through the forest, spoke cheerfully.
"Success! It was a success! The clinical trial…! I told you it would work!"
"…What?"
"It definitely worked! It's amazing!"
The ominous feeling she felt before had indeed become a reality.
"And it seems its effect is greater than I thought! I secretly fed it to him, and… the clinical response is definitely…"
"Are you crazy, Patrin?! You secretly fed it to someone?!"
"N-No… it was just a small amount… just to see if it works…"
"Did you get permission?!"
Trayciana shoved books and letters into her drawer as she yelled at Patriciana.
Patriciana responded, avoiding eye contact, "B-But… it's not even a poison, so…"
"..."
"And, uhm… I wasn't doing something bad… Just like… A missionary of love…? Cupid…? Something like that…"
"..."
Silence.
Trayciana quietly stared at her.
Patriciana began to sweat, feeling the seriousness of the atmosphere.
"B-But… uhm… you know… maybe it's not a bad thing? If I just keep observing for a bit longer, then…"
"I told you to stop doing things on a whim and to seriously think before taking action! So, who was it?! Who did you feed it to?!"
"..."
"You need to tell me so we can apologize and fix this situation… Who did you feed it to?!"
"Uh… uhm… uhh…"
Trayciana started to feel a strange sense of anxiety.
Patriciana had a talent for always making a bad situation even worse. Thus, it was Trayciana's job to fix it.
She continued to fiddle with her fingers, struggling to say his name while avoiding eye contact.
"Ed Rothstaylor."
Trayciana couldn't move her face.
She finally knew what it meant to be shocked still.
Trayciana's eyes widened, as she swallowed her breath as she closed her eyes tightly.
"I knew this would happen! I just can't with you!"
* * *
Lortel stood in front of the bucket with a dumbfounded expression on their faces.
Today, she was extremely busy with both school and overtime work at the store.
Still, the thought of going back to her villa after finishing her work made her delighted.
Unlike living in Ophelis Hall, returning home was fun.
A home was only a place to sleep. Lortel used to live with such a thought process. The new and refreshing feeling of going home caught her by surprise.
However, as soon as she returned to the camp, the first thing she saw was Ed and Yennekar sitting side by side by a large bucket of drinking water.
"Keukkk…"
"Uhhhh… uh…"
"..."
Three people.
First was Ed Rothstaylor.
Unable to deal with his unknown fever, he covered his face with one hand as he moaned.
His other hand was gripping Yennekar's shoulder tightly, as if to keep her by his side and ensure that she didn't go anywhere.
Second was Yennekar Palerover.
She was blushing, awkwardly sitting next to Ed as if she couldn't leave him.
It seemed like she was trying to do something, but she couldn't overpower Ed's strength, so she gave up.
Third was Lortel Kehelland.
She was simply looking at them.
"…What are you doing…?"
Flustered by their sudden skinship, she first demanded an explanation about the situation.
More than anything else, Ed's condition seemed strange. For some reason, it looked like he was having a hard time. She was worried that there was something wrong with his health.
That was why Lortel asked Yennekar, who looked fine, about the situation.
"Uh-Uhm?! Huh?! When did you get here?!"
"Just now."
"You came back early?! Why did you come so early?!"
"The moon is already fully out. It's already late at night."
"Huh? Oh, right! Why did you come so late?!"
As if she could no longer think normally, Yennekar raised her voice as she asked meaningless questions.
"It's cold! No, it's not the season for it to be cold! It's hot! That's not it either! It's early fall now! Is it cold?! Is it hot?! Lortel, what do you think? Is it cold now? Hot?"
"..."
Yennekar Palerover… was broken…
Yennekar's pupils spun round and round, as if her mind were lost.
It was not a very pleasant sight for Lortel.
* * *
"He drank a reagent?!"
She had brought budgeting papers with her to review before going to bed. Holding them tightly to her chest, Lortel sat by the campfire.
Because of the incident, an urgent meeting was held between Lortel and Yennekar, with Ed sitting next to them, covering his face and grunting.
After drinking a new batch of cold water and taking in the cool night breeze for a while, Yennekar finally came to her senses… She told Lortel the whole situation as they sat by the flaming campfire.
"Wh-What is this ridiculous… Despite the situation, you were just sitting next to him like that?! Don't you think you should have put Ed in his bed and let him rest?"
"I-I thought that, too! Really!"
"But this entire time, you've been sitting next to him with his hand on your shoulder, with that stupid expression on your face?!"
Lortel looked at Yennekar with a ridiculous expression on her face.
"Right now, Ed's physical condition is out of control, yet all this time you were just sitting here like that?!"
"Hey, if you say that, it sounds like I'm a strange person…!"
"Am I wrong?!"
"Uhhh…!"
She couldn't refute it.
It was true that she couldn't particularly do anything because of Ed's physical strength, but… Yennekar herself didn't really mind. So, it was still kind of her fault.
Due to her inability to lie, she couldn't refute a single thing Lortel said.
Yennekar wiped her tears as she shut her mouth.
"Don't… raise your voice… My head… It hurts…"
Ed moaned, pressing on his temples. Lortel looked at Ed as she sighed deeply, as if worried.
"Go in and rest. I'll go to the store and bring some painkillers."
"No, that's okay… you don't have to run to the store at this hour."
Although it looked like he was having a hard time, Ed refused Lortel's favor.
"You shouldn't be running around at night. I just need to somehow manage to get over the effects of this reagent… So, Lortel, you should rest… Keuk…"
"B-But Ed. Still…"
"You've been busy all day between your classes and the store. There's no need for you to take care of me over something minor like this. I've already received too much from you, so I don't want to be in your debt even more. Rather, I want to pay it back."
"Wh-What…?"
Ed covered his face as he struggled to speak.
Hearing Ed, Lortel took a deep breath.
"I know that you're struggling yourself, so how can I ask you to suffer more?"
"Th-That's not it…"
"I'm grateful for you, so don't worry too much about me… You should get some rest. If you push yourself too hard, it'll also be difficult for me."
"Uhh…."
Lortel tried to say something, but she was completely speechless as she turned her head.
As if her face were hot, she spoke to Yennekar, flustered.
"Wh-What is this…?!"
"..."
"Th-This might be a bit dangerous…?"
While she could figure out Ed's inner thoughts somewhat, having him speak to her honestly like that was definitely a new level of intensity.
In the first place, Lortel was—surprisingly—not immune to such direct attacks.
She wasn't used to seeing Ed in that drunken state, treating her so softly. It wasn't enough to just call him 'sweet.'
The gap that came from a gruff person suddenly speaking from their heart… It wasn't easy for Lortel to endure such a fatal attack.
From Ed's point of view, he simply couldn't afford to beat around the bush at the moment. However, for Lortel and Yennekar, the way he spoke to them had a completely different meaning and effect.
It went beyond making them feel good!
His kindness… who knew it would be so powerful…?!
"..."
"..."
Yennekar looked back at Lortel.
Lortel, who had been questioning Yennekar until that moment, was now avoiding her gaze.
"Ed has to go to class tomorrow. What should we do…?"
"Since he's in such a condition, wouldn't it be better for him to skip class?"
"That's true, but… he doesn't only have classes… He also has plans to go to Cledric Monastery with the saint…"
"…What? Cledric Monastery…?"
Lortel doubted her ears.
Lortel was much more knowledgeable in terms of news than Yennekar. So, of course she knew about Cledric Monastery, a sacred location of the Telos Religious Group.
Taking Ed to a famous religious area that was off limits to men… It was a ridiculous thing to do, but since it was Saint Clarice's orders, it was possible.
The only thing to be worried about was…
"In this state… He's going to Cledric Monastery…?"
Ed was a regular boy who was always both rational and calm. He never needlessly got into trouble and behaved himself perfectly.
However, with the way he was having a hard time controlling his body and acting unnecessarily sweet and kind… If he went to a place like Cledric Monastery, a major disaster would definitely happen.
However, Saint Clarice's authority within the Telos Religious Group was at a level that could pierce the sky.
If it was her on direct orders, he couldn't easily refuse.
"..."
Blood began to drain from Lortel's face.
Yennekar, unaware of the circumstances, tilted her head with a confused expression on her face. Lortel calmly regained her sanity.
"Hey, I think we need to watch over Ed until he is somehow able to overcome the effects of that drug."
"Uhm, yeah… I agree with that…"
"Then, if possible, it would be better to have him rest back at the store. The medical facilities are good, we have a lot of medicine on hand, and if I look through the inventory, I might be able to find another drug that could neutralize the reagent's ingredients."
Lortel naturally tried to take Ed to the Elte Store using a logical reason, but…
"H-Hey, that's not right…! It would be better for him to lie down and rest in a familiar environment! And even without Ed having to go there, you can find medicine to help…!"
"Still, if that's the case…"
"N-No! No way…!"
Yennekar shook her head at Lortel's opinion.
After all, it didn't make much of a difference whether he was resting at the camp or at the store. In fact, the camp was a much more familiar environment for Ed.
Also, Yennekar wanted to avoid leaving Ed alone with Lortel while he was in a rather emotional state.
"B-Besides… it's better if he's somewhere where he doesn't have to meet with more people than necessary…. So, it's better he rests alone in the camp! Ed wouldn't want to be in this state in front of anyone else, either…!"
"..."
"Th-That's why… Someone he can trust… Yeah! It's better if he's in a place where someone he can trust can take care of him!"
Yennekar raised her voice as she spoke.
Seeing her flushed face and her pouting cheeks… Lortel naturally ended up fighting back.
"I'm sorry, but you seem like the most dangerous person right now…!"
"Me? I do?!"
"Am I wrong?!"
"How can you…"
How can you… yet she can…!
Even in such a situation, she couldn't fight against her innate nature, unable to lie. It couldn't be helped, as she was Yennekar Palerover…
"Still, just because you can think that doesn't mean that I am necessarily dangerous!"
"See that! You're trying to fool yourself with rubbish again!"
Lortel also began to raise her voice. It was extremely rare to see her—always so calm and serious—suddenly act like that.
"K-Keuk…"
Ed started to groan louder as he pressed on his temples while sitting in front of the campfire.
After a moment of silence, Yennekar and Lortel looked at each other again as they calmly made up their minds. It wasn't the time to argue.
"Th-Then… If neither you nor I should take care of him, shouldn't we find a reliable third party?"
"What time is it now? Is there someone with that kind of free time? I don't know if there is such a person available."
"Y-Yeah, but… we can't just leave Ed alone like this…"
After the two of them thought it over for a long time…
"What are you two doing?"
Did help finally arrive?
Someone Yennekar and Lortel could both trust… She had suddenly fallen from the sky.
"..."
Did she come to find Lucy, who didn't come back despite curfew?
Or did she come to manage Lortel's villa, in accordance with her contract?
The head maid, Bell Maya, who made time to come to the camp despite her busy schedule. She had just come out of the bushes, holding a bunch of discarded clothes for repair practice.
After finishing her work at Ophelis Hall to some extent, she came to the camp to stop by.
She was going to send another maid, but Bell Maya ended up bringing the clothes herself.
"...?"
The two of them looked as if they had just seen their savior. Bell couldn't help but have a puzzled expression on her face.
* * *
"The Rothstaylors, the Bloomrivers, and the Callamores are likely to join sides with Princess Penia."
Within the Kroel Imperial Palace, in the second hall of the Rose Palace, was Princess Persica's private room.
"The Elpelans, the Whitefelds, and the Nortondales seem to be on the side of Princess Selah."
A man who served as the leader of the Imperial Knights Templar. A man with an old beard and tall stature, whom everyone within the imperial palace bowed their heads to just hearing his name.
The only ones who didn't have to bow to such authority were the royal family.
As if to prove that fact, behind the man stood a girl who looked up at a large landscape painting of the Rose Palace without moving an inch.
It was a landscape painting by a painter from the Pulan region, depicting the majestic appearance of the Kroel Imperial Palace.
The details of the piece were so beautiful that even Persica, who had seen all sorts of works of art, looked at it in awe.
"Princess Penia and Princess Selah have already gathered the support of influential families. Is it truly okay for us to stand still like this? I humbly ask for your opinion, princess."
Princess Persica looked at the landscape painting quietly as she smiled.
"I think we should look at the atmosphere a little more."
Everyone within the imperial household was paying close attention to the rapidly changing power structure.
Yet in the midst of it all, Princess Persica was acting strangely relaxed. Seeing this, the Imperial Knight Commander Dylux felt very uneasy.