episode_0038

“Oh..? Lilyth, Elly, what are you both doing here.?”

Ropel said, looking at the two women who had burst through his door.

It seems he is already acquainted with the two of them.

His meeting with the two women seemed both flustered and pleased.

On the other hand, Lilyth’s expression was contorted as if something was displeasing her, and the woman called Elly? also had a dark expression shaded by her shaggy hair.

“Don’t answer a question with a question! I’m asking what you two are doing right now?

She, Seraphina Serion, right? Why are you two together right now?

And why are you hugging her? What kind of relationship do you two have?!”

“Ri..Right Ropel… Wh..Why are you two together…? Ye..Yeah, I di..did know you met every evening… Bu..But what kind of relationship do you two have…?

Wh..Why are you… ho..holding her so..so tightly…!”

As the two women pressed him forcefully, Ropel released me from his embrace.

Because his embrace was so warm and comfortable, I felt a little regretful when he took his hand off my waist.

No, of course, it’s not that I held any particular feelings for him or anything like that.

Truly, it’s true.

Really…

“This is nothing significant. I just felt like Seraphina was very anxious and having a hard time because of what she just went through, so I was comforting her…”

“No, even so, does it make sense to bring another woman to your room and hug her tightly when you’re alone together?

Ropel, considering your personality, I know you didn’t have any particularly strange ulterior motives or anything. But even so, you shouldn’t do things like that often.

You’ll definitely make others misunderstand you in a strange way!”

“Ri..Right.. Ropel..! Ev..Even if it’s you, you shouldn’t go around hu..hugging every woman you me..meet..!

Re..Remember that woman you to..took to the infirmary the other day? Don’t you re..remember what kind of mi..misunderstanding you got because you di..did that?

Sa..Same with the dungeon rampage incident… Wi..With that body and that face, you shouldn’t ac..act too carelessly…!”

“…But setting Seraphina aside, who are you? It was suspicious from the start that you knew where Ropel’s room was, but why have you been talking like you know him so well since earlier?”

“I..I’m Ropel’s fri..friend..! We..We’ve also been together ev..ever since the admission ceremony…!”

“Wa..Wait a minute, why are you both so worked up..? Just calm down for now..!”

Unable to watch any longer, Ropel stepped between Lilyth and Ellyzio.

It took him quite some time to calm down the two who were thoroughly agitated.

. . .

“..So first, this woman…. This is Ellyzio Gremlina, the friend you always talked about, the one you became friends with at admission and meet every lunchtime?”

Lilyth Tistina took a sip of the tea Ropel had poured for her and spoke first.

Her tone of voice seemed to carry a lot of dissatisfaction, as if something displeased her.

“Yeah. I’ve told you for quite a while now, haven’t I? That I have a friend I meet during lunchtime.”

“You did, but I didn’t hear that the friend was a girl?”

“No. Because gender isn’t that important…”

“It is important, especially for you, Ropel!”

At Lilyth’s words, Ellyzio also nodded her head.

I only got to know Ropel when we met recently at the sparring grounds, and since we’re just in a relationship where we spar with each other, I don’t know much about his usual self.

Does this man have something about him that I don’t know?

Is it possible that he’s living a significantly inappropriate life regarding issues with women?

…Certainly his appearance is outstanding, but considering his character, I don’t think that’s the case…

“..Leaving aside the fact that she’s a girl, I certainly didn’t hear that this friend would be Ellyzio Gremlina, the one called the genius of the Alchemy Department.”

“I’m sorry for not introducing you properly beforehand…”

Comforting Lilyth, he turned his head towards Ellyzio.

“…So, this here is Lilyth Tistina. I told you about her last time, right Elly?

You know, I said I helped her with something related to romance the other day.

This is the first time you’re seeing each other’s faces, right?”

“Uhm.. I already knew her fa..face from seeing it from a distance… No, no. Ye..Yeah! Th..This is the first time meeting her in person..!”

I thought that now that they knew each other’s identities, they might lower their guard somewhat, but instead, the atmosphere grew even more tense.

“Right. Both Lilyth and Ellyzio are my precious friends, so I would be happy if you could get along well without friction.”

Only after Ropel said that could the strange tension flowing between Lilyth and Ellyzio disappear.

However, it didn’t seem like they had completely given up.

Because Lilyth hooked her arm through Ropel’s and linked arms right in front of Ellyzio, while Ellyzio held Ropel’s hand that was near the floor and interlaced their fingers.

And then, resting her face against Ropel’s chest, or placing her hand on his knee, the silent battle of nerves between them over one man continued.

…Ropel, this man. I was worried that eventually he might get stabbed over women.

Seeing that the conversation wasn’t going to progress any further, I cleared my throat and gathered their attention.

“Hold on, can we continue the conversation we were having earlier.

I’m talking about the sparring test you applied for with Mark as a duel.”

“That’s right! I also ran here right after hearing the news.

Ropel, what on earth happened?

Not only did a student from the Magic Department apply for a duel against a student from the Knight Department in the form of a sparring test.

But the opponent is Mark, who is famous for his recent string of victories!

The Magic Department is in absolute chaos right now!”

“I..I also… was ve..very surprised… Th..The Alchemy Department is re..relatively closed off compared to other departments, so information is slow, but it’s al..already very no..noisy with that rumor…”

Ropel explained in detail what had happened at the sparring grounds that afternoon, from his perspective as an observer.

From the remarks my father made, to Mark’s reaction, and up to his own intervention.

“Th..The Serion family… As I he..heard, they’re very str..strict…”

“Is that so.. So Mark was like that…”

“…As expected, it’s my fault. I apologize to you once again.”

“No, no, there’s no need for you to apologize!

No matter how I think about it, your father and Mark’s actions were too much.

And applying for a sparring match with that Mark, that was entirely my will.

The situation escalating to this point is all my fault, what else could it be.”

“By the way, Ropel, what do you plan to do from now on?

After resolving the dungeon rampage incident last time, Mark is getting stronger at a terrifying speed, you know?

What’s more, Regulus Serion himself is teaching him Serion’s swordsmanship…

He’s clearly going to be the worst possible opponent!”

“Countermeasures… Honestly, I can only say there are none.

There’s no other way than to train as much as possible in the remaining time and do my best in the sparring test…”

“Ho..How about I make some do..doping potions if you need them..?

Th..There would be side effects, but it could ma..make you exert five times the strength..!”

“No, I’ll have to decline that.

To begin with, they thoroughly check weapons before the sparring test, as well as anything you can bring in and your physical condition, so it would be difficult.”

“If so, is there really no other way…”

“Huh? Seraphina, do you have a good idea?”

Ropel asked.

“I will tell you about Serion’s swordsmanship.”

At that remark of mine, not only Lilyth and Ellyzio but Ropel also reacted with surprise.

“Oh dear, I spoke too briefly. I don’t mean that I will teach you Serion’s swordsmanship.

To begin with, Serion’s swordsmanship, due to its characteristics, is not compatible with you.

Therefore, wouldn’t it be better if I at least sparred with you myself using Serion’s techniques and thought up countermeasures?

Time is pressing from now on, so let’s meet every day and spar together.”

I quickly corrected my words again.

“Haha. So that’s what you meant.

Certainly, in the current situation, there’s no other way.”

After that, several other opinions were exchanged, but none resulted in any particularly substantial outcome.

As time passed, the sun set and the moon rose.

Time was too late, and it was impossible to remain in his dorm any longer, so I had to leave now.

Since I wouldn’t be able to return to the mansion, it seems I have no choice but to look for an inn nearby.

Ropel said he would go with me since the night road was dark, but I refused.

Because I couldn’t impose on him any further.

On the dark night road, before long, I felt the presence of someone following me.

That presence followed me, maintaining a constant distance without getting closer or farther.

A strangely awkward atmosphere persisted, and the first one to speak in that atmosphere was me.

In fact, at the point where I had already realized who was following me, I thought it was right for me to speak first..

“…I’m sorry”

“Huh? For what?”

The one following me was Lilyth Tistina, the woman who once admired a man named Mark Visus.

“I’m talking about the time I mocked you in front of Mark.

..Even now, I sincerely regret it.

At that time, I was truly not level-headed.

To be honest… I ended up doing that out of jealousy towards you.

I’m talking about that rude remark where I compared you, a ducal noble… to a servant.”

“…Hmm, so you were properly aware, huh?

Well, that doesn’t matter anymore.

I’ve lost all affection for Mark now too.

Especially after what happened today.

Rather, at this point, I’m even embarrassed about why I fell for a man like that.

And there’s someone else I’m interested in right now.”

“Ropel, are you talking about that man?”

“That’s right, you know well.

Actually, I followed you because I wanted to say something related to him.”

Saying that, she approached right in front of me.

“Ropel is.. really kind… friendly… and a foolish guy who only thinks of others..

He’s like a pushover who extends his hand first even though he knows he’ll only be at a disadvantage..

I already know that this incident is something that happened because Ropel stepped forward himself.

To begin with, I’m not in a position to tell Ropel what to do, so I don’t intend to meddle no matter what choice he makes..

It’s not my business who he meets or who he helps.

But…”

She grabbed my collar and pulled me towards her.

And then she changed her expression to a cold one.

Different from her appearance when she used to follow Mark around like a puppy.

Furthermore, her gaze was so sharp that you couldn’t imagine her being the girl who only showed a foolishly bright face to other students.

“Even though I look like this, being from the Tistina family means I have sharp ears when it comes to things happening here and there.

I’m already well aware of the dirty methods your family has been carrying out behind the scenes.

Although I know this happened because of a conflict between you and your family.

Whether this incident ends well or not,

Don’t you ever dream of using his kindness to use Ropel like your pawn later.

At that time, I will absolutely not let you off.”

Only after those venomous words finished did she release her grip and let me go.

In truth, her strength wasn’t very great, but the spirit emanating from her voice and attitude was tremendous, causing me to shrink back a little.

“…That’s the end of what I wanted to say.

So? What’s your answer?”

“…I will engrave it deeply in my heart.”

Only after that short conversation ended did Lilyth let out a sigh of relief and quickly turn around and disappear into the darkness.