episode_0122

It’s an afterthought–rather, it’s something that happened after that day.

Spring is now completely over, and half of the first semester is over.

“Then, please check your test scores and carefully select the majors you will choose for the next semester.”

The test scores came out, and of course, Hermel and I gave up on the test midway and went to save Ceria, but we almost failed.

In addition to the fact that the situation was very special, the result was that the achievement of saving Ceria was recognized.

“Charles! This time, I was recognized for saving Ceria, so I was able to take swordsmanship classes!”

“Hehe, congratulations. But can’t you take other classes besides swordsmanship?”

“But, honestly, it’s meaningless. It’s not like I’m taking any classes other than swordsmanship.”

“That’s true too.”

You can now take the classes you want regardless of whether you have an exam or not.

Of course, it will be next semester before Hermel will be able to take the swordsmanship class he wants as his major.

As I was nodding my head, Hermel sighed and pouted his mouth.

“Still, it’s a bit disappointing that I didn’t receive the medal.”

“I can’t help it. Even though it was a small elite group, they moved the knights without saying anything.”

If you exclude everything else, it is a sufficient decoration, but he did not receive the medal because he moved the knights without any report to the king.

Well, that’s what he says, but he doesn’t seem to care at all, saying, ‘If I can learn swordsmanship, that’s fine.’

“What didn’t Charles get?”

“Huh? me? What… … . I said I would give it to you. Although I refused.”

“Yes, yes. It’s like that――right?”

Hermel nodded and looked at me with wide eyes.

why. Is there a problem with me not accepting it because I don’t want to receive it?

When I looked straight at Hermel and shrugged, Hermel, with puffy eyes under his eyes, grabbed my arm and shouted.

“You refused a medal bestowed directly by the king!? Why!?”

“Why… … . Just?”

As early as this year. I will receive a medal from a country that will be destroyed next year at the latest and use it for something.

I couldn’t say those words in front of Hermel, a member of the royal family, so I just glossed over them.

“If that’s the case with Charles, then so be it… … . Isn’t it a waste? Or did you receive any other compensation?”

“Compensation… … I did receive it.”

I nodded slowly, remembering the unexpected reward.

After Hermel heard that, he smiled and nodded as if he was relieved.

“Okay, as long as I received something, that’s fine!”

Hermel, who was laughing bitterly, seemed to think of something and clapped his hands lightly as he spoke.

“Oh, right. Did you hear that story? That’s Seria, the one we saved.”

“Huh? Why Seria?”

“There was a rumor that you were moving to the Knight Academy this time?”

“Ah, that.”

okay. Seria, whom I gave a gentle push on the back that day, began to stand on her own, perhaps because of that.

He said he would no longer just rely on someone.

It seemed like all the advice he gave me, telling me not to carry it alone because there are a lot of people around you who can help you, was meaningless, so I poked around a little and this is what he said.

‘I feel like if I rely on others, I’ll become complacent.’

Honestly, I was surprised.

Although I personally said, ‘If you overcome it, you will grow further,’ I never thought I would say that on the spot.

Even though he has a similar character to those who are called saints in the world, he is still just a student with a mental power that is slightly better than that of the average person.

Not long ago, I needed to connect with the crown prince, but I didn’t know what to do. I was a student who was talking about the same thing.

How could such a student make such a decision and say such a thing on the spot, even before the shock had subsided, even though he could have died if he had not done so?

‘There’s something… … .’

okay. It is clear that something external was at work. Whether it’s a blessing or something.

Well, I guess that’s okay because it’s something you can find out slowly later.

This is the end of the story about Seria. From that day on, other than the few times I saw him go in and out of the Knight Academy, saying he wanted to learn how to use a sword professionally, I never saw him again, so I have nothing more to say.

“That’s a lie. Well, it’s a bit difficult to say outright that it’s a lie. I think this is just a story that came up after I visited the Knight Academy often.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Hermel nodded roughly as if he was not interested.

“Oh, that’s right. It’s summer soon. What are you going to do during summer vacation?”

“During summer vacation?”

“Yes. If you don’t have any other plans, let’s go to the beach with me.”

Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I haven’t seen the sea. The last thing I saw was… … . It’s been several decades already.

“The sea… … . The sea is nice.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and thought of the sea, then slowly blinked and looked at Hermel.

As I looked at Hermel, who was looking at me with eyes full of anticipation, I couldn’t bring myself to say that I couldn’t go.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t just accept it. Because you never know what variables might arise along the way and throw a wrench in your plan.

“Okay. If there is nothing special, I will follow you.”

“Hehehe, yes!”

Although there was an assumption that if nothing special happened. Hermel nodded vigorously, as if it had already been confirmed in his mind that I would follow him to the sea.

I really think I’d be sorry if something came up and I couldn’t go… … .

After roughly running the simulation in my head, I realized that there was a very high probability that I wouldn’t be able to go, so I slowly averted my eyes.

As I was looking for something to talk about, I remembered that it was lunch time and called Hermel.

“Hermel.”

“Huh?”

“Shall we go for lunch?”

“Ah, has it already been so long? Good!”

Hermel blinked and said that, then immediately turned his back and started heading towards the restaurant.

“Ah, Hermel!”

“Huh?”

“Do you want to go to the restaurant first? I’ll follow you soon.”

“Okay! You have to come quickly!”

I smiled and nodded, and Hermel waved his hand and headed back to the restaurant.

I looked at Hermel’s back for a while, and when I could no longer see Hermel’s back, I slowly looked back.

“Okay… … . It’s been so long, Mel.”

There stood Mel, whose complexion had improved considerably.

“How have you been? How is your body? Is Mia keeping up with her education?”

As I was looking at Mel with a painted smile, Mel, who had been quietly lowering her head, slowly lowered her head.

“Thanks to the lady’s warmth, everything is going well. Mia is following my education well, and my body… … . It has improved a lot.”

“Really? That’s a good thing.”

I smiled and stretched out my hand to Mel’s stomach. After thinking for a moment, I lowered my arm.

okay. It will take care of itself now, so there is no need to do anything.

“Your complexion has improved a lot. Do you think the medicine I gave you worked?”

“… … .”

Seeing Mel startled by my words, I shook my head.

“It’s okay. Because I have no intention of taking it away again.”

“At the lady’s intention… … . Thank you very much.”

Pretending not to do anything, Mel placed her hands gently on her stomach and bent down.

okay. What I received as a reward this time was just one drop of the real ‘Elixir’ stored in the basement of the royal palace.

Since it’s an elixir, it doesn’t feel like it’s too much of a reward to receive, but considering that I only received one drop from a cup’s worth of elixir, it’s not that big of a reward.

“So, the reason you came to see me wasn’t just to show me the condition of your body. Did something special happen?”

“A letter has arrived addressed to the young lady.”

The letter Mel handed me while saying that had the family seal stamped on it.

“Hmm… … .”

There is only one person who can write a letter like this to me right now.

I roughly opened the letter and checked its contents.

[It’s been a while, daughter. How have you been?]

Unlike last time, the letter began without any qualifications.

The letters are smeared here and there and the handwriting is unstable and trembles.

I thought there wouldn’t be any good content in it, so I slowly read the letter.

[I heard that you performed well at the Academy and received a big award. It’s really great.]

I chuckled when I saw that the end of one letter was connected to the beginning of the next letter.

You seem to be quite anxious. If your emotional agitation is expressed in your writing, it is definitely not normal.

[I’m sorry for starting the story without any hesitation. I hope you understand. A little bit now… … .]

just as expected. Unlike last time, where I opened the story with various small daily stories, I went straight to the main topic.

I felt like the contents of the letter came to mind even if I didn’t read any further, so I smiled and continued reading.

[Your father is very unwell. He reacts violently to trivial things and says that even the slightest movement makes his body hurt. I think it’s because you drink wine too often, so you don’t need to send any more wine.]

okay. Sure enough, the text was about the family head’s health, how it is these days, and what it looks like tomorrow.

Well, in reality, I’m not addicted to wine, but to opium.

As I was flipping through the pages and reading a handwritten letter from my mother, the wet and smudged writing caught my eye.

[Originally, I wouldn’t have asked for this, but… … . If you receive this letter, please pass this letter and the accompanying letter to a professor named ‘Priscilla’.]

[That professor will definitely help with this matter, by all means. I would like you to give me the letter.]

Please hand this letter to Priscilla… … .

I looked back and forth between the letter I was reading and another letter enclosed with it, and smiled.

Ah, yes. I got a great idea.

I smiled faintly and put the letter I was reading and the enclosed letter into my arms.