episode_0102

“Aren’t you cold?”

“No, the moderate coolness feels rather pleasant.”

Hearing Joden’s words, I hugged the horse a little tighter. The refreshing coolness transmitted to my body felt good.

“That’s a relief.”

“I like it so much I’d like to ride it regularly.”

“Just say the word, and I’ll make as many as you like.”

It hardly felt like a conversation between a student heading to a disciplinary committee and a student council president escorting them. Currently, I was comfortably riding on a horse made of ice, with Joden leading the way.

Unlike me, who was traveling comfortably, Daron and his subordinates were walking on their own, their arms tied.

“Ugh.”

“Ughhh.”

It seemed Daron’s subordinates hadn’t fully recovered from where I had hit them, as even taking a single step looked difficult for them. Ignoring them, I spoke to Joden.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had many conversations with Joden since coming to the academy.

“Duke Adelien and the Duchess are doing well, I presume?”

“As a matter of fact, my father insisted on bringing our benefactor over quickly last time, but my mother dissuaded him.”

“Haha, I’ll visit them soon.”

The reason Joden was using honorifics instead of informal speech, despite other students being around, was that our conversation couldn’t be heard by others.

‘Sound-blocking magic.’

Of course, since it was only sound-blocking magic, Joden’s face and mine were visible, and seeing our mouths move would make it clear that we were having a conversation. However, because I was wearing a mask, no one noticed me opening my mouth. Joden maintained a cold expression and walked forward, looking straight ahead.

“It’s late, but congratulations on ranking first in the midterm practical exam.”

“Wow~ Thank you. Joden-ssi, you were first in both the written and practical exams again this time, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“That tone of voice, as if it’s obvious! It’s somehow irritating.”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

Joden’s mouth didn’t move even while speaking. This was because I used an illusion to make it look like his mouth was closed. In other words, from the outside, it would appear that I was riding on a horse made of ice, and Joden was walking forward without saying anything.

“Are you confident?”

I didn’t bother asking, “Confident about what?” It was probably about the disciplinary committee.

“Yes! Of course, I am.”

Hearing about the sexual harassment Daron had committed against Sepia, I acted emotionally. So, my initial plan changed a little—no, a lot—but it doesn’t matter. If a plan goes awry, I just need to make a new one. Of course, it’s not as perfect as the previous plan, but it should still be enough to push Daron to the edge of a cliff.

“It’s nice for me since it’s comfortable, but is it alright to show such preferential treatment?”

Although Daron, his subordinates, and I were all headed to the disciplinary committee, we were clearly moving under discriminatory treatment.

“The report received by our student council states that second-year students attacked a first-year student as a group.”

“Although,” Joden continued.

“Although their condition isn’t good, it’s not certain whether our benefactor caused it, so it probably won’t matter much.”

“That’s sophistry. Although, it’s good for me as it’s comfortable.”

As we were moving while talking about various things with Joden, one of the student council members approached Joden.

“Excuse me, Student Council President-nim.”

Joden deactivated the sound-blocking magic, and I also dispelled the illusion. All of this transpired less than a second after the student council member approached Joden and opened their mouth.

“Looking at Daron’s condition now, it seems difficult to open the disciplinary committee immediately.”

Daron was currently walking blankly, with a vacant expression. If one of Daron’s subordinates walking beside him even spoke to him, he would tremble violently, cover his backside with his hands, and collapse to the ground.

“Hmm, in that state, it would be impossible for him to speak properly.”

“President-nim, what should we do?”

“First, contact a priest and have that fellow healed just enough to speak properly. The disciplinary committee will convene after that.”

“Then what about those students in the meantime………”

“Hmm, we can’t keep students who fought in the same space.”

* * *

“You can wait comfortably here.”

I looked at where Joden pointed and was momentarily speechless. I knew Joden was on my side, but I didn’t expect him to go this far.

“………Isn’t this just an empty classroom?”

The place Joden pointed to was just an ordinary classroom. There were a blackboard, multiple desks, and chairs, but no people. However, it didn’t seem to be in use at the moment. Not even a faint warmth could be felt in the classroom.

‘Of course, this place was several times better than the previous one.’

The place Daron’s subordinates had entered to wait earlier was reminiscent of a prison. Moreover, it was cramped and dark for over ten of Daron’s subordinates to fit into.

“It’s a classroom not currently in use. You could say it’s the perfect waiting place for our benefactor.”

“Then, considering Joden-ssi’s sincerity, it would be proper to use this place.”

I entered the classroom and sat at the nearest desk. A creaking sound came from the desk, as if it hadn’t been used in a while.

“How about we have a relaxed conversation over a cup of tea?”

I took out tea and teacups from my subspace and placed them on the desk as I spoke. I still had things to say to Joden.

“I’d like to, but I have a lot of work. If there’s anything you need…..”

Joden stopped speaking and stared at the items on the desk. On the desk were not only teacups, but also books, cookies, cakes, skewers, and even playing cards.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“…….It’s nothing. I’ll be leaving now.”

“See you~”

With Joden gone and no one left to talk to, I ate cookies and read a book.

‘A fantasy novel read in a fantasy world.’

The book’s content was a common story, much like those found in Korea, about a boy living in a village who becomes a hero and defeats the demon lord. Professor Idra had recommended it to me last time, saying it contained detailed explanations of magic formulas. I hadn’t originally intended to read it, but I picked it up thinking I might be able to study with it. However, I couldn’t understand what it was talking about.

‘It feels like reading a novel where enemies are attacked using calculus.’

As I was reading, skipping the parts that explained magic, suddenly, a question flashed through my mind.

‘Is this book considered a fantasy novel here, or not?’

To me, who lived in a modern era without magic, this book was naturally a fantasy novel, but what kind of book would it be to the people here, who had lived in a fantasy world from birth?

Just as I was putting a cookie in my mouth and pondering a somewhat philosophical question,

-Clatter!

The sound of the classroom door being roughly flung open hit my ears. Only the sound of turning pages and eating cookies had been quietly flowing moments before, so the noise felt particularly loud.

‘Is that Joden?’

At first, I thought it was Joden with 95% certainty. After all, Joden had brought me here. Then who was the remaining 5%? It was Sepia, who had finished her conversation with Professor Alicia quickly.

However, the hair of the person who entered the classroom was neither Joden’s black nor Sepia’s pink. It was platinum blonde hair, now familiar, yet still perceived as beautiful. Platinum blonde was the color symbolizing the Freya ducal family, but there was only one member of the Freya family in the academy.

“Johanna Sunbae?”

Whether she had rushed here, or had been swinging a sword just moments before, Johanna was sweating, with strands of hair sticking to her face. It was the first time I had seen Johanna so disheveled.

Of course, she looked beautiful even disheveled like that. But that wasn’t what was important right now. Still, I couldn’t help but look.

“Isn’t it class time right now?”

Johanna didn’t answer my question. With her platinum blonde hair fluttering, she strode purposefully towards me.

Before I knew it, Johanna was right in front of me, extending her hand.

“……..Sunbae?”

Johanna grasped my shoulders with both hands and began examining my body silently, looking everywhere.

‘I feel like I’ve seen this scene somewhere before…..’

Where had I seen it…..

Ah, I remember now!

It was shortly after I entered the academy. In the cafeteria, either Ropri or one of Ropri’s subordinates. I don’t remember clearly now, but I had a brief confrontation with someone, and they definitely checked my body all over like this back then too.

‘The words spoken right after this action were definitely…….’

“Any injuries?”

“Any injuries? Right?”

My voice and Johanna’s voice overlapped, echoing through the classroom. Normally, I would have joked more here, but I couldn’t bring myself to tease Johanna, who was lifting my sleeve to check for injuries. At this rate, Johanna looked as if she was going to strip my clothes to check for injuries.

“Nothing at all, except for a headache. I was healthy yesterday, I’m healthy today, and I’ll be healthy tomorrow.”

I said it to reassure Johanna, but it seems I spoke wrongly.

“…Your head hurts? Why?”