episode_0008

“Your achievements have improved noticeably recently, Miss Eldrid.”

As she was leaving the classroom after taking class as usual, magic professor Patrick stopped Rachel.

It was a somewhat unexpected compliment.

Especially if the opponent is Professor Patrick.

Most of the magic professors were outstanding wizards and scholars, and most of them had personalities that suited their personalities, but among them, Professor Patrick was famous for being even more strict.

To be more precise, should we say that the standards are high?

At least the Professor Patrick that Rachel knew was not one to praise anyone.

“Thank you.”

Although it was sudden, Rachel knew that Professor Patrick was not one to make empty remarks, so she obediently expressed her gratitude.

“My theoretical grades were good from the beginning, and my practical skills were also quite excellent. The changes Ms. Eldrid has seen recently are quite surprising. As if I were someone else.”

Professor Patrick’s expression did not change, but he gave Rachel a rare look of interest.

“Anyway, it’s definitely a good thing. I hope you continue to work harder.”

With those words, Professor Patrick left the classroom.

Only then did Rachel encounter the surprise she had been suppressing.

Patrick Reminus is a genius wizard who became an executive of the Sky Magic Tower at the age of just over 30.

I never thought that students in the magic department would receive praise from the professor who was trying so hard to stand out. It was something I could never have imagined.

Whatever the circumstances, it’s good to receive praise.

She left the classroom with a slightly lighter step than usual.

After leaving the classroom, she headed to the club building that was no longer in use, the ‘History Research Club’.

As she got closer to there, Rachel had to consciously slow down her faster pace.

In the club room we reached that way, there was a guest.

“… Hello.”

“Hello. You’re early today.”

“Yes, well… … .”

A black-haired, dark-eyed man greeting me with a somewhat awkward expression.

The moment Rachel saw the man’s face, she felt excited.

Sit at the table, being careful not to reveal it to the outside.

“… … .”

“… … .”

And the room became quiet without any special conversation.

It was always like that. After she joined the Historical Research Club, when she was alone with the man.

However, the silence didn’t feel bad.

On the contrary, it was even enjoyable.

Suddenly, Rachel’s eyes turned to the man.

He was reading a book with boredom on his face.

A book that was probably shelved somewhere in a poor room.

There wasn’t much change, it was just a slow page turn, but Rachel didn’t feel bored at all. No, I wanted to go beyond that and watch it all the time.

Did you say things have changed recently?

Rachel knew. If you’ve changed, it’s probably because of that man.

After meeting the man, after he saved her from the dungeon, everything changed.

The same thing happened right after practice.

“Come back.”

These were the first words I heard from my father through the crystal sphere after I was discharged from the hospital.

“… … .”

I expected it. I never thought I would hear something like this.

However, there was a difference between what I expected and what I actually heard.

My daughter was injured and almost died, but she didn’t even show any signs of concern.

Rachel checked again how her father viewed her.

Originally, the original flow would have been to accept and return to the family without even being able to give a proper answer.

but.

“I don’t like it.”

What came out of Rachel’s mouth today were words of denial.

“… What did you say?”

The matriarch’s eyebrows, reflected through the crystal ball, were twisted.

The expression and power were scary, but Rachel no longer trembled.

“I said no.”

“… … .”

The head of the family sat speechless for a rare occasion.

However, the silence did not last long.

“If you don’t come back, I will cut off all support.”

Academy tuition is expensive. The same was true of the dormitory she was staying in.

As an aristocrat, Rachel cannot receive a tax deduction and cannot pay that much money on her own without support from her family.

Therefore, the head of the household’s choice was likely a valid one.

but.

“Sure.”

“What?”

“I said so.”

Rachel didn’t feel intimidated.

“But if that happens, I can’t guarantee what I will do.”

“… What does that mean?”

At the matriarch’s question, Rachel’s beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

“What can I do with my family’s support cut off? I will struggle in my own way… That might not look very good in people’s eyes.”

“… … .”

“Then my reputation will fall… Any marriage talks that have been planned will be canceled in a hurry. No one wants to bring filth into their house.”

“It’s you─”

“And you know very well that my evaluation does not end with just me. It will also affect the family.”

“… … .”

As with all nobles, the head of the Eldrid family was a person who especially cared about reputation.

There was no way such an act could be tolerated due to the family head’s obsession with increasing the family’s power and reputation.

In the end, the matriarch, who was unable to say anything and looked at Rachel with distorted eyes, immediately cut off communication unilaterally.

So Rachel rebelled against her parents for the first time in her life.

For the first time, he declared that his life was his own.

And the changes didn’t stop there. He became more enthusiastic about everything, and his personality became brighter.

Perhaps it is because of that that things have changed to the extent that Professor Patrick praises them.

All those changes were thanks to that man.

I ended up receiving a favor that I could not easily repay.

Of course, not all situations have been resolved yet.

Although her father took a step back, it was clear that this would not be the end.

He will probably try to attract her by other means and try to keep her under control.

While she’s at the academy, she’ll have something to hold on to, but as soon as the academy period ends, she won’t be able to escape its grasp.

So I had to find a way before that.

A means to escape from Eldrid’s shadow.

She will need to develop skills to escape the pressure of her family, or join a group that can protect her from her family.

Of course, it will not be an easy path. But Rachel had no intention of giving up.

We will fight and move forward. And you will gain complete freedom.

And when that time comes… … .

“… … ?”

The man looked up from his book, perhaps feeling the eyes on him.

Facing those puzzled gazes, Rachel smiled brightly.

***

These days, I feel like there are a lot of things that bother me.

For example, Rachel joined the club.

Even though I saved Rachel because I did it myself, I never thought she would join the Historical Research Club.

Of course, I didn’t say that my contacts increased explosively just because I joined the same club, but I felt like my academy life was going in a direction I didn’t expect, and I didn’t feel comfortable.

It happened one day.

“Wade Heblon.”

“… Yes?”

A truly unexpected person called me.

This is Combat Department Professor Urtga.

What kind of business does a person who, based on his usual behavior, seem to not have a private conversation with his family, call me over?

I looked at Urt with such puzzlement in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He just looks at me with silent eyes.

Then Urt suddenly came towards me and tapped my shoulder.

“Not looking forward to it.”

By giving me words that I don’t understand as a bonus.

It was an act that I couldn’t understand, but Urt left without paying attention to my reaction.

“… … .”

Honestly, I couldn’t predict what kind of intention this guy had for doing that.

When I look at his words and actions, I wonder if he has favor towards me… Honestly, I wonder if that’s possible.

I can’t even guess why, but whatever the reason, winning Urt’s favor was a pretty big problem.

Earning the favor of a professor at the great Ferdion Academy is something every student aspires to do, but honestly, I’m not very… No, it wasn’t very pleasant.

It was because I knew very well that liking the professor would not lead to good results.

The moment I get a suggestion to go to a dungeon on the weekend, my academy life is over.

If I go down that path, I will end up becoming a graduate student.

‘Not a graduate student.’

Not just graduate students. Therefore, it is necessary to lower Professor Urt’s evaluation of me.

It would be appropriate to improve your grades appropriately to be able to receive a scholarship.

And my academy life, which has gone a little off track, should be brought back to its original direction.

Rachel’s matter is a thing of the past, it will no longer interfere with the future, and it will not be connected to the characters of the novel.

With that firm resolve, I left the Combat Department building.

***

No matter how much I think about it, there is a magic in my life.

At this moment, I was realizing that fact again.

“Well, thank you… … .”

A small-sized student who is more appropriate to be called a girl rather than a woman.

Looking at it objectively, the sight of a girl with exceptional looks bowing her head politely would generally be a heartwarming sight, but my taste for seeing it was extremely bitter.

That’s right, because I ended up getting involved with someone I had no intention of getting involved with again.