Ch.146146. Festival Date (1)

As summer was coming to an end.

Students were bustling about in the cool breeze that seemed to reward them for enduring lectures under the scorching sun.

Today was the annual summer festival. Students put down their pens, professors set aside their teaching duties, and everyone took a breather to enjoy the day at leisure.

‘Normally, I would have taken Aria around to various places.’

Of course, in games, when events like this happen, they don’t just pass by without offering various bonus stats, skills, or items.

It was a kind of festival for users too, but.

‘I don’t really need to do that anymore.’

Because Aria is no longer the hero.

There was no need to mechanically take her around from place to place like following a walkthrough.

She should just enjoy whatever she wants to her heart’s content.

It’s not like I would get anything in her place. As a professor, I couldn’t receive most of those benefits anyway, and even if I did, they wouldn’t be useful.

So this festival was just passing by like a flowing stream. A time when I could rest a little.

Perhaps that’s why.

I was sitting alone with my eyes closed in the cool air of my research lab, away from the commotion outside.

There was no chattering Findenai around me, no Dark Spiritmaster who strangely shrinks in my presence, no Owen, no Illuania, no one.

Everyone had gone out to enjoy the festival, so I was taking a moment to rest alone.

It wasn’t completely quiet.

The voices coming through the window were quite lively. But time like this when I could be completely alone was quite precious.

In my previous life, I was constantly bothered by ghosts I couldn’t drive away.

And in this life, I’ve been living much busier than before.

Yes, just a brief rest.

This was enough.

Creeeeak.

But then the lab door opened, and someone entered carefully with light footsteps.

As I slowly opened my eyes, Elenoa Luden Griffin was blinking her large eyes at me.

I knew it was Elenoa. Her footsteps had that light, formal feel, and she was the only one with enough courage to enter my lab without knocking.

“Deus.”

“I believe I told you to call me Professor.”

Usually she called me properly, but whenever she addressed me by name like this, I would give her a demerit.

Each time, she would look upset and apologize. I wondered if someone so intelligent could be so slow to learn, but.

Today was different.

Elenoa giggled and whispered.

“Right now, I’m not a student but a princess.”

“…”

I wondered what she meant, but the answer soon walked into the lab. Though his face was covered with a bizarre mask sold at the festival, the aura emanating from his body revealed his identity.

The formal yet confident stride and inherent dignity were qualities that ordinary nobles couldn’t possess.

When he swiftly removed his mask, golden hair cascaded down, revealing King Orpheus.

“Haha! It’s been a while, Deus!”

He gestured dramatically, trying to surprise me, but.

Upon seeing His Majesty, I slowly stood up and bowed my head. I kept it minimal since he didn’t like excessive formality.

“It’s an honor to see Your Majesty.”

“…You’re really no fun.”

Orpheus looked disappointed. But I showed no particular reaction, and the Grand Mage Rockpellican who followed him also exchanged greetings.

“All the busy work related to the Meias tribe has been sorted out. And since there’s a festival at my sister’s academy, I came secretly.”

“I’ll call the dean.”

I thought they should be properly received, but Orpheus shook his head.

“No, that’s fine. I don’t want to ruin the festival atmosphere because of me. This is a day for the students to be the protagonists.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

As expected of Orpheus.

It was a small gesture of consideration, knowing that if word got out about the king’s surprise visit, attention would shift from the students’ one-day festival to himself.

“Well, Rockpellican and I will enjoy ourselves. But more importantly…”

Orpheus cleared his throat and glanced at Elenoa.

“At festivals like this, men with interest in women tend to approach them, don’t they?”

“That’s generally the case.”

Indeed, the festival’s excitement might give someone the courage to approach another student they’ve had their eye on.

“Ahem, and there might be those with ill intentions targeting our Elenoa? She is beautiful and royalty after all.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Elenoa confronted him with an incredulous expression. Orpheus cleared his throat again and pretended not to hear as he continued.

“So, would you watch over our Elenoa? You don’t need to stay with her all day, just the morning would be enough.”

Elenoa, now understanding Orpheus’s intention, let out a soft exclamation and held her tongue.

She quickly judged with her sharp mind that silence was beneficial right now.

Caught in the siblings’ cunning scheme, I answered calmly.

“Princess Elenoa, do you intend to enjoy the festival as a princess?”

“Ah, umm.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll accompany you. But there will be many restrictions.”

If she was Princess Elenoa rather than student Elenoa, my behavior toward her would naturally be different.

That seemed undesirable to her as she fidgeted.

“Oh, can’t you just accompany her and treat her as a student?”

“That’s impossible. Just my presence as a professor could spread unfavorable rumors about Princess Elenoa.”

If she were acting as a princess, I could naturally stay with her as a guard.

But if she were acting as a student, there would be no need for me to be with her. It would only generate strange rumors.

This was my minimal resistance, but.

“Just do it.”

“…”

“It’s a royal command.”

The king immediately used the royal family’s ultimate move. I looked at Orpheus for a moment and then bowed my head.

“I shall obey.”

* * *

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. And please speak comfortably. I’m now escorting you as a princess.”

The situation had unfolded according to King Orpheus’s wishes. I wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what intention lay behind making Elenoa and me walk together, but.

Even so, I couldn’t act according to that intention. After all, I have a fiancée.

I answered while trying to exclude personal emotions as much as possible, but Elenoa smiled instead.

“R-really? Deus!”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Hehe! I prefer calling you by name like before. Calling you Professor feels like there’s a wall between us, and it overlaps with Aria too.”

I’m not sure about that, but if Princess Elenoa likes it, then it’s fine.

“So, is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Hmm, somewhere not too visible to others would be good, right?”

After pondering for a moment, Elenoa seemed to think of a good place and grabbed my hand.

It was so sudden that I was a bit surprised, but Elenoa was in such a hurry that she started running right away.

At first, it felt like I was being dragged along by a tomboy princess. But seeing her ears turning red, I realized she was gathering quite a bit of courage, so.

I pretended not to notice.

The place Elenoa took me to was the academy’s rooftop. A place with no people, quiet, and with a cool breeze blowing.

“Wait just a moment.”

With a flushed face, Elenoa turned around and went back outside the rooftop, soon returning with a canvas and pen.

“…”

My brow furrowed immediately, given her previous record, but Elenoa hurriedly exclaimed.

“No, no! I won’t draw anything weird! I just wanted to draw Deus while having you right in front of me! It seemed like a good opportunity…”

Her voice trailed off as she seemed to lose confidence in herself while speaking.

“Is that not okay?”

Looking up at me timidly, I answered with a slight sigh.

“Do I need to pose in a specific way?”

“No! No! Just be comfortable!”

She brightened up immediately, took out her pen, and placed a white beret on her head.

Since I didn’t need to pose, I just sat on the bench on the rooftop and gazed at her.

‘She has quite a posture.’

Elenoa’s eyes were quite serious as she glanced at me while drawing.

I was worried she might draw something strange and ruin it, but seeing her earnest expression put me at ease.

It didn’t take long either.

After about 30 minutes of Elenoa diligently sketching, she smiled brightly and handed me the drawing.

She drew quite well.

I remember she was quite good at drawing people before, but now she’s truly at a professional level, comparable to artists in Claren, the city of artists.

A girl with talent in various fields, once she immersed herself in drawing, she grew rapidly.

“It’s excellent.”

“Hehe, right?”

Elenoa sat down next to me, pleased. Then suddenly, she turned her head and asked while looking at me.

“Deus, is this reality?”

Eyes full of expectation.

Normally, I would have ignored it, but.

Yes, just for today.

“Remember the magical girl I mentioned before?”

“Oh! Oh! Yes! Yes!”

Elenoa’s eyes sparkled brightly when I responded and talked about magical girls.

Her expression was so innocent that I had to force myself not to smile as I continued.

“It’s from something called animation. It’s a format where multiple drawings are made to create the illusion of movement.”

“Ah! Like when kids doodle on the corners of books?”

Elenoa understood immediately. I nodded and confirmed she was right.

“There’s also a profession called voice acting, where people add voices to these animations.”

“Voice acting?”

“They speak as if they’ve become magical girls, acting out the roles.”

“Ooh! Voice acting! Voice acting! I’d like to try something like that!”

I thought she might like this since she seemed embarrassed about dressing up as a magical girl, and indeed, Elenoa was stomping her feet in excitement.

I was glad I told her, but suddenly I noticed Elenoa looking at me.

“Oh, that’s not it.”

Elenoa covered her mouth quickly and then smiled playfully.

“What are you saying? Of course this is reality!”

“…Is that what you wanted to do?”

The line she used to tell me she realized it wasn’t a dream back then.

I wondered why she wanted to say it again, but Elenoa answered somewhat shyly.

“It’s the only experience in my life where I felt something like fate. I wanted to do it again and again.”

Then she carefully placed her hand over mine.

“Princess…”

Earlier it was for moving, but now this isn’t appropriate.

As I called her to draw a line, Elenoa firmly cut me off.

“This is an order from me, a royal, Deus.”

Her voice was quite forceful. It was a serious and authoritative attitude, but it was so straightforward that it seemed like it could break easily.

“Just stay like this for a moment.”

“…As you wish.”

Elenoa’s hand gently holding mine had a slight tremor in it. She didn’t look like the girl who was smiling and chattering just moments ago.

“You know, Deus. I really love dreaming since that day.”

“That’s good to hear.”

It was a somewhat abrupt confession, but it wasn’t bad.

It was naturally good news that she, who used to fear falling asleep, now enjoyed it.

“Actually, I sometimes have nightmares, or dreams that are creepy or scary.”

“…”

“To be more honest, those happen more often. I guess I haven’t fully overcome my various traumas yet.”

The emotion I felt from her slightly trembling hand was definitely fear.

I remember when I entered her dream at the royal palace, her mother, Hairan Luden Griffin, appeared as a grotesque figure.

Of course, that was because Griffin’s evil spirit had possessed her body, but.

For Elenoa, regardless of the reason, her mother remained an object of fear inside her.

“And yet you still enjoy dreaming?”

When I carefully asked, Elenoa’s head gently rested on my shoulder.

“Yes, I still like it.”

With her eyes closed tightly, as if dreaming, she poured out her dreamy emotions.

“Because I can see you.”

“…”

“No matter what nightmare I have, no matter what monster chases me. You always come to find me and save me. Deus… no, Shinwoo Kim.”

Elenoa rubbed her face slightly against my shoulder like a child seeking comfort. Still with her eyes closed, she smiled faintly and lowered her head.

“I want to see you again. Not Deus, but you as Shinwoo Kim.”

“…”

“That’s why I like dreaming. Because I can see you. Because I can meet you again.”

And Elenoa continued, adding more.

“That’s probably why I drew you like that. Because when I wake up, it’s ultimately a farewell. Because it’s too regretful.”

Elenoa was holding onto me as if pleading.

I know well what feelings she harbors for me. But if asked whether I could accept them, the answer was no, so.

“I cannot accept your feelings.”

A firm rejection.

Even if it hurt her, I thought I needed to clearly reject those emotions, but.

“Hehe.”

Elenoa lightly bumped her forehead against my shoulder and smiled.

I froze momentarily at her relaxed response, which I hadn’t anticipated at all.

Slowly opening her eyes, Elenoa looked up at me with those transparent golden eyes.

“I told you, right? I always meet you in dreams, and part with you when I wake up.”

“…”

“I meet you every day and lose you every day.”

Elenoa Luden Griffin.

In the game, she was the corrupted princess who dreamed of rebellion, planning to eliminate her brother, the current king Orpheus, and ascend to the throne herself.

“Today too, I’ve lost you.”

I had become accustomed to her transformed innocent appearance and had forgotten.

“I’ll try harder tomorrow.”

How strong a girl she was.