Nolan broke into a playful grin and said with a teasing tone,
"Heh, who says cutting down enemies on the battlefield is useless? This was a gift from Her Highness herself."
As he spoke, he took the opportunity to watch his teacher's reaction.
Sure enough, the witch seemed to miss the teasing entirely. She showed no reaction at all, her eyes fixed firmly on the notebook.
"Oh, right. I nearly forgot. That professor has always been loyal to the royal family," she said. "But still, something this precious, and you're just handing it over to your teacher?"
Sellen frowned slightly, a trace of confusion flickering in her eyes.
Nolan coughed awkwardly a couple of times and quickly explained,
"Ahem, it's actually because I want to learn it myself. But when it comes to academic research, I really can't compare to you. So I was hoping we could study it together. Mutual progress, you know."
This thick spellbook contained far more than just instructions for using "Miriam's Vanishing." It held an entire trove of carefully summarized magical knowledge.
Every page was a crystallization of Miriam's wisdom. An opportunity this rare naturally demanded careful, serious study.
"Hmph. Very well, then leave it to your teacher," Sellen said. "This kind of magic is quite handy for escaping. Once you learn it, you'll be safer on the battlefield, and I won't have to worry about you all the time."
As a faint, briny breeze drifted through the doors and windows, the Lands Between gradually took on the unmistakable heat of summer.
Ever since Raziel led that nighttime raid, the royal domain had enjoyed an unexpected stretch of peace that lasted a full five days.
Just as Nolan had predicted, the Cuckoo offensive began to slow.
Every day came with plenty of noise but little action, giving the soldiers in the city the impression that the enemy was on the verge of retreat. Even the guards began to relax.
The southern wall of the royal domain was already riddled with damage.
Yet the Cuckoos made no move, and the Caria forces could not afford to send troops out recklessly.
With so few soldiers to begin with, any serious losses would spell disaster, and the royal domain would fall outright.
Still, Raziel did not sit idle. He personally led two raids beyond the walls.
Nolan, in particular, led a group of heavily armored Carian cavalry, cutting through enemy ranks and setting fires as they went.
When the Cuckoo Knights launched their furious counterattack, they withdrew swiftly back into the city, leaving behind only a group of enraged rabble shouting themselves hoarse.
Those who couldn't swallow the frustration chased straight toward the fortress, only to survive less than three seconds before being riddled with arrows like porcupines.
Battles were always both long and fleeting. Once back at the fortress, Nolan quickly shifted gears and returned to being a model student.
With Sellen's help, he soon learned "Miriam's Vanishing." Though still rough, he was at least able to use it.
With some time on his hands, he went to Raziel and secured a position leading patrols from the fortress commander.
It was both repayment for the princess's generosity and a way to create more chances to rack up kills.
"I'll be on patrol tonight. I've already prepared tomorrow's breakfast. Just heat it up in the pot."
"Oh, and your favorite fruit wine is on the second shelf. I tried it. Today's batch is pretty good."
Nolan went on and on, unfazed. His teacher seemed to be growing more backward with age. Without him around, she had practically lost the ability to take care of herself.
There were even times when he came back late, opened the door, and found Sellen sprawled face-down on the table, completely motionless. Anyone walking in blind might have thought she was dead.
"I know, I know. I'm not a child who can't survive without you," Sellen waved him off irritably, then fell silent.
If only that were really the case.
Nolan gave her an uneasy look, sighed in the end, and pulled the door open as he stepped out of the barracks.
Several Carian Knights were gathered together with a helmeted Troll and over a dozen ordinary soldiers, their laughter ringing nonstop.
Nolan summoned Torrent. Three knights approached him. They were the patrol members Raziel had assigned to his command.
The moment he swung up onto the saddle, he sensed a pointed gaze from nearby. Nolan snapped back without courtesy,
"Why are you looking at me like that? That look's downright creepy."
For men, sharing a drink, that sharp liquid burning its way down the throat, could close any distance.
Trading barbs, even heated arguments, only deepened understanding afterward.
Facing life and death together, surviving the same trials, was more than enough to call each other friends.
And they had done all of that.
"Ahem, I'm just admiring you, that's all."
The knight wore a strange grin that didn't quite match his handsome face. He walked over, teasing as he spoke,
"Living with a real beauty, no wonder you're worn out every day. And you still have the energy to go on patrol?"
The barracks erupted with the laughter of hot-blooded young men, cheers and jeers echoing all around.
Someone brought up a perfumer they knew who had a miraculous medicine. Another hurried to warn him that indulging too much at a young age would leave him weak and worn out later in life.
The second one sounded like he spoke from experience.
Crude words, but not entirely wrong. Still, they were way too crude.
Nolan's face darkened at once. He shot back irritably,
"Watch your mouth. That's my teacher."
Seeing this, Raziel raised an eyebrow. A trace of amusement appeared on his face as he slowly lifted a hand to cover his mouth and lowered his voice,
"I know, I know. But doesn't that make it even better? I think the two of you suit each other quite well. You've both got that slightly unhinged streak. Who knows, maybe you'd spark something special."
Hearing this, Nolan felt his head buzz, an overwhelming sense of helplessness rising in his chest.
What rotten luck. How had he ended up mixing with people like this?
What kind of people were these, anyway!?
He found himself completely at a loss for words, all sorts of images flashing through his mind.
Come to think of it, a man and a woman crammed into such a small room every day. Anyone with a normal mind would inevitably start questioning their relationship.
Sigh, there was no way to keep fooling around like this. His teacher really was beautiful. That delicate face, those long, straight legs, and that natural air of elegance…
Damn it all. This was all that woman Marika's fault!
Nolan shot an indignant glare toward the Erdtree on the horizon. He had lived just fine for more than twenty years, and it was that woman who had thrown his resolve into chaos.
He had no interest in wasting words with this guy, but letting his reputation be dragged through the mud was out of the question. He had to strike back.
"Heh, I think you and Bols are a better match. You two are always hanging around together…"
"I don't like men," the massive Troll replied in a low, heavy voice, arms crossed.
The Carian Knight froze on the spot, feeling the pointed stares around him. He couldn't help but punch the Troll's calf.
"Idiot! Why are you answering so seriously? Do you really think I like you or something?"