episode_0022

The day I spent with Rachel ended like that.

The second day of the festival has arrived.

Today’s appointment partner is Ira.

As the appointment time was approaching, I got ready and left the dormitory.

However, my steps, which should have been heading straight to the meeting place, stopped immediately after leaving the dormitory.

“Ah, hello… !”

… For some reason, Aira was waiting for me in front of the dormitory.

The meeting place is obviously somewhere else.

No, that’s not the only problem.

‘Did I tell you my dormitory?’

I don’t remember very well.

Maybe I said it, maybe I didn’t.

‘Well, I guess I said it by chance.’

It’s about the dormitory, and it’s not that important information, so it’s probably overlooked.

Probably something I said once.

Or, since I’ve become quite famous recently, it’s possible that you’ve heard about me through rumors.

“Why did you come here instead of waiting at the appointed place? ?”

“Ah, that… Gwae, it would be better to go here together than to go through the trouble for no reason… I think it’s like… .”

Well, after hearing it, it’s not wrong.

I was a little confused at first, but when I thought about it carefully, it saved me a lot of trouble.

“That’s true too. Then shall we go?”

“Yes, yes… !”

So Ira and I started walking side by side.

Wondering how long he had walked like that, I glanced down and looked down at Aira walking next to me, her distinctive dark blue short hair flowing.

Although it was a completely different direction from Rachel, I thought that Aira had a striking appearance.

The impression created by the small body, youthful face, and unique large, innocent dark blue eyes is sure to attract attention.

Although she looks a bit younger than her peers, no one can deny the fact that she is beautiful.

Well, if I were to really ask, it’s a face that would be more appropriate to call cute rather than pretty.

Should I say that there is something so innocent about it that makes me want to pat its head without thinking when I look at it quietly?

I won’t actually pet her because I know it would be very rude for her to give in to that impulse.

I made an appointment like this, hoping that she would enjoy the day as well, so I walked slowly to match her pace.

Today, unlike yesterday, I prepared my own plan.

No, it’s not at a level that can actually be called a plan.

I was just thinking about a rough course.

I planned the course around avoiding the booths I visited yesterday as much as possible, and here and there I included booths and performances with good reputations that I had heard about through word of mouth.

I think that if possible, experiencing things you have never experienced before can lead to a more natural response.

Showing a lukewarm response wouldn’t be polite to Ira, who will be hanging out with me.

Well, I don’t just want to experience something new.

… Anyway, it would be better to stick to the plan for now.

***

Since the last dungeon incident, Ira’s daily life has changed quite a bit.

To be precise, I changed my affiliation to a club called the Historical Research Society.

She originally belonged to a club that explored and trained swordsmanship.

However, rather than being interested in the club itself, it felt more like I was forced to join following the rules.

That’s why I didn’t hesitate when changing clubs.

Of course, the reason she moved to the Historical Research Club was not because she was interested in history.

It was all because of one man, Wade Heblon.

Ira, who received great favor from him during the dungeon incident, wanted to repay him, and for that purpose, she changed her affiliation to the Historical Research Club.

To be by his side, to protect him.

As for the Historical Research Society, I first learned of its existence while researching it.

It is not strange for an unfamiliar club to exist in an academy full of all kinds of strange clubs, but the historical research club had some suspicious aspects in many ways.

Why is the club located in a building that no one is using anymore, and how is the club maintained without meeting the minimum number of people?

However, Ira didn’t pay much attention to such things.

It wasn’t important to her, and there were other things she was more concerned about.

This woman is Rachel Eldred.

Rachel Eldred.

She is the daughter of the famous Eldrid, and she joined the Historical Research Club one step ahead of her.

And, like her, a woman saved by Wade.

Ira had known the rumors about Wade and Rachel before, but he didn’t know that she had joined the same club as him.

Because such trivial details were not circulated as rumors.

That’s why Ira found out about this after joining the Historical Research Club, and at that moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.

I didn’t know where the frustration came from, but it was clear that it wasn’t a very pleasant feeling.

However, that didn’t mean Ira stayed away from Rachel.

Because the woman named Rachel didn’t seem like a bad person.

I also thought that since we were in the same club, it would be better to build friendships.

But that didn’t last long either.

At some point, people over there started showing signs of being wary of her.

Ira figured out the reason relatively immediately.

That Rachel had feelings close to love for him, Wade, and that she recognized him as a competitor.

It was a ridiculous misunderstanding.

She just stays by his side with a pure heart, with the intention of repaying his kindness and protecting him.

However, resolving the misunderstanding would not be easy.

Just because I explain everything to you doesn’t mean they will believe you.

How can this be resolved amicably?

As Ira was contemplating, an idea flashed in her mind.

I thought, ‘Is there any need to resolve the misunderstanding?’

Her purpose is one.

Protecting him and returning the favor.

However, protecting did not simply mean protecting from blades or physical threats.

In a more comprehensive sense, it meant protecting him and his life.

Aside from swords and spears, there are many dangerous things in the world. And one of them is ‘opposite sex’.

Meeting the wrong man or woman can change your life or completely ruin it.

Therefore, I was well aware of the fact that I needed to be careful when meeting the opposite sex through Ai’s book and the words of old wise men.

So, if you really want to protect his life, you may need to pay attention to that aspect.

That realization was born in her mind.

And from that perspective, Rachel Eldred was a woman worth watching.

Her appearance, skills, and grades are flawless, but when I saw her being overly wary, I thought she might have a somewhat obsessive possessiveness.

Ira felt the need to guard against Rachel for his sake.

The good news was that Rachel was not a very active woman.

It seemed clear that she harbored goodwill toward him, but that did not mean she took an active offensive.

Ira lowered her guard a little at that sight, but immediately had to raise her guard again.

Because someone even more dangerous has appeared.

Estelle von Reinberg.

The next emperor of Reinberg and a tyrant recognized by everyone.

Such a person appeared before him.

She was a woman so dangerous that it could not even be compared to Rachel.

It could literally ruin his life in an instant.

Of course, no matter how sharp Aira’s alertness became, she was in no position to actually do anything.

Because the opponent was something Aira could not do anything about.

In the end, Aira had to watch the progress with anxious feelings.

I hope he doesn’t fall for the trick.

Perhaps his earnestness had reached him, but instead of giving in to the trick, he seemed unwavering in his attitude, which made me think that he was reluctant towards Estelle.

However, that did not mean I could be completely reassured.

Even though he seems stubborn now, he might be swayed if he continues to be tempted.

And the event that would fuel that worry was getting closer.

An event called a festival.

Ira realized that the women targeting him would use the festival stage as an opportunity.

The fact that it would be an extremely dangerous move.

How can I prevent that? The answer to that concern turned out to be less difficult than I thought.

Because I realized that I could protect him from danger if I made an appointment in advance and monopolized his time.

Ira went to find him that way.

But by then, Rachel had already hit the ball.

Through various processes, Rachel was eventually able to no longer monopolize him, but it was not a satisfactory result for Ira.

It was a bit disappointing, but we can’t help what has already happened.

Ira decided to take good care of him, even for just one day.

From what I heard, the festival is a promiscuous event where many lovers are born and many affairs are born.

He couldn’t let down his guard because he didn’t know what kind of danger might come after him.

And on the day of the appointment.

Ira decided to wait for him in front of his dormitory instead of the meeting place.

That way I can meet him sooner… No, because I thought I could prevent something unexpected.

There was no problem because I already knew where his dorm was through research.

After waiting in front of the dormitory for dozens of minutes, he finally came out.

He looked a little surprised when he found Aira, but his surprise was soon relieved.

And he and Ira started walking side by side. Toward the festival area.

In the middle of the walk, Aira raised her head and looked up at the man.

The man’s appearance was as usual.

He had the same expression as usual and was walking as usual.

There was not the slightest hint of nervousness in that gesture.

Ira felt a little regret at that fact.

The reason for that regret, she did not know.

However, I quickly shook off that regret.

It’s the most celebrated festival day.

Although the goal was to protect him, it was clear that it would be rude to him if he didn’t enjoy it properly.

Knowing that fact, Ira had created a detailed plan for today, taking every minute into account.

However, she never took out the plan.

Because I found out that he had prepared a separate plan.

Even though it seemed like I wasn’t paying attention, I was paying attention deep down.

He, too, was looking forward to today.

At that fact, the corners of Aira’s mouth curled slightly. Although I didn’t realize it myself.

Was it the fact that she was so excited, or was it the fact that her eyes were fixed on him the whole time while moving that the problem was that Aira ended up colliding with the crowd of people at the festival?

Since she was already small and light, she was pushed by the crowd and lost her balance for a moment.

Her body tilted to the side as if she would fall.

However, this was not a big problem for her.

It wasn’t difficult for her to regain the lost balance in an instant.

Ira moved her body and tried to correct her posture.

At that time, I saw him notice her strange behavior and turn around.

The location was perfect to block her fall path.

It was such an exquisite position that if she couldn’t regain her balance and fell, she would fall into his arms.

Ira, who noticed that fact, inadvertently pictured that future in her head—

I immediately gave up trying to regain balance.

The next moment, Aira fell into his arms, just like the future she had drawn.

Perhaps because of the difference in physique, Aira fell completely into his arms.

His body heat enveloped her, and his scent settled on her.

“Are you okay?”

His voice came from right above my head.

He is worried.

Then you need to quickly remove yourself and show that you are fine.

The head said so, but Aira did not immediately break away from his embrace.

“Mr. Aira?”

Finally, after his worried voice rang out once more, Ira escaped from his arms.

“I’m sorry… I lost my balance for a moment… .”

“It’s nothing to apologize for. Are you feeling better than that?”

“Yes, yes… . Okay, thank you… … .”

Nodding, Aira lowered her head.

“Thank goodness.”

The man nodded with a relieved expression, and the two who had stopped started walking again.

Ira just lost her balance for a moment, but there was really nothing wrong with her, so her walking was fine.

On the outside, that is.

Aira maintained her calmness on the outside, but on the inside, she was reliving the situation from before over and over again, feeling the faint traces of his warmth and scent.

I pretended that my heart was beating faster and that it was just because I was surprised.