Ch.219219. Two-Way Traffic (1)

Right? So I spread it all around like I was twisting it?

Huh? You think it’s not just a one or two-day thing?

Gasp, Maria, were you always this sharp…?! I thought you were clueless all this time… Ow ow ow, I-I’m just kidding! More importantly, since you’re curious, can you keep telling me about it? Hehe, okay. If you want me to explain from the beginning… Wait. I need time to organize my thoughts.

Hmm… so about Senior.

At first, I didn’t know much either. Somehow, I was assigned as his partner for the end-of-term evaluation in the first year, third semester. Until then, I knew nothing about him.

So I asked other people first? I needed to know what kind of person Senior Junon was so I could do my best as his partner.

But you know what, Senior’s reputation was really bad.

Oh right, Maria probably doesn’t know much, so I should explain this in detail too!

Now the lowest class is F-class because of Uncle Muniher, but back then E-class was the bottom. My assigned partner used to be in E-class. Hard to believe someone who was the greatest contributor in this recent Sacred Emperor subjugation was from E-class, right?

Anyway, I didn’t care that Senior Junon was in E-class. We’re all students, right? Just different ages and grades, but E-class students are also fellow learners growing together.

But people were badmouthing him, bringing up nicknames and behavior. I wondered why they were saying such terrible things…

When I actually met him, he was completely different?

I didn’t know until then. That from C-class down, so D-class and E-class, they’re all wizards assigned to vanguard positions and support roles.

I had no idea about the corruption in the Academy, and that both professors and students were discriminating against certain positions?

Maria, do you remember? Around that time, I went on an expedition to the Moras Marshlands. After returning to the Empire, something happened at the banquet hall!

Senior was the first to tell me about it. Thanks to him, I went near Alios Hall and saw people fighting… but students from D and E classes weren’t allowed to enter.

It was clearly oppression by force, and those people without weapons were just being victimized.

I couldn’t believe my eyes… I was so angry. I was angry at myself for not knowing, to the point of tears. Position discrimination? It’s absolutely absurd, and it makes no sense that I didn’t know anything about it until then! My mind was just a flower garden until then…

Ah, but now I know everything! I will absolutely, absolutely never let such things happen again!

Anyway, that was the first time I learned about the Academy’s dark side. You might be surprised, but Senior was the one who told me all this?

I found out later that Senior Junon deliberately sent me there so those people could enter the banquet hall! Hehe. If I hadn’t met Senior, I probably would have lived my whole life without knowing that side of things.

And umm… Ah, you said it well, Maria!

When talking about Senior, the end-of-term evaluation is essential. Hehe.

The end-of-term evaluation recreated the Utulum Mountain terrain? There were so many tricky conditions that I ended up holding Senior back.

For example, umm… I used up our break time, or how our passage methods had to match? There were so many hidden conditions.

As soon as we started, we had to cross a rock face. It was a bit gentler than the original, but it still seemed difficult without using magic?

But what’s amazing about Senior is that he threw a hook up to secure it, then climbed up the rocks just holding onto the rope? It took me forever because I couldn’t go fast…!

I was trembling so much because of my fear of heights… Hmph. But I’m better now.

Every time I was about to fall, Senior supported me and taught me well. With enough practice, I think I could climb a real rock face now!

Supporting me… th-that’s just… I-I just followed Senior up. Ahem…!

Was that all the test was? Hehe, Maria. You think that was the end? Uncle Muniher’s tests aren’t that simple.

Surprisingly, that was just the first test. The second was crossing a river? Usually, people freeze the river or just cross using wind magic, right?

This time too, Senior said he’d make a raft without using any magic! Because of that, I think I could still weave a raft with twine now. Hmm… thinking about it now, saving magic like that makes sense. Because on the battlefield, you really need to conserve magic to be prepared for unexpected situations!

The third test was the opposite—climbing down the rock face.

Having to go down from a high place again made me tear up a bit… Going down was scarier than going up! But Senior caught… caught me! Yes! While talking about various things… Huh? He helped me not to tremble…! Ahahaha.

The fourth test was like camping? Senior suggested we take turns resting. Looking back, it seemed like he was treating it as a battlefield and trying to conserve energy. At times like these, Senior seemed like someone who had spent years on the battlefield?

But when we finished camping, the test should have ended, but it started raining and there was a landslide with debris washing down everywhere!

We barely managed to make a tent to take shelter, but we could see someone who couldn’t escape? It was Sister Adel?

Really, if she had stayed there, Sister might have gotten a zero!

That was the end-of-term evaluation that day, and I was so tired that I fell right asleep in the carriage heading back to the mansion! Huh…? Why? Did I do something wrong?

Hehe, my grades? I just followed Senior’s instructions and got back into A-class? But you know what’s really creepy?

All the actions we took were perfect 100-point actions. Uncle Muniher scolded others, saying they couldn’t even do the basics of treating the field like a battlefield, so Senior completed the task perfectly!

Impressive, right? I think so too. It’s really hard to get a perfect score from Uncle Muniher.

You think Senior Junon could get perfect scores multiple times? Wow… Maria, how did you know?

During the beginning-of-term evaluation, Senior faced multiple Giant Kudrats, and thanks to him, we only suffered minimal damage! There were rumors he got another perfect score because of that?

I found out later that he collapsed and was taken to the hospital, which surprised me. But that day I was upset about something… Huh?

Yes, yes, that’s right! Maria, you know about it too.

There were people protesting that the exam evaluation was wrong. It was so frustrating because they were nitpicking about how Senior shouldn’t be in A-class!

I was furious to the point of wanting to step in. I mean, I saw everything with my own eyes, so why shouldn’t Senior be in A-class?

I was angry on Senior’s behalf too. Ugh, I still get mad just thinking about it.

But Senior didn’t even bother with it? I found it really frustrating… but there was a reason for it.

If he had stepped in, it could have increased suspicion and resistance against Uncle Muniher…? Well, anyway, that’s it! I don’t know the details either.

After that, I didn’t see Senior for a while. I had to go out for subjugation because Kanoratlls were pouring out from northern Shute.

But now Maria knows too, right? That Kanoratlls and Osopteras were actually migrating south to escape from Devourers.

Because of that, Osopteras invaded Levrant, which was concerning… but they were successfully repelled. This is just my guess, but I think Senior probably fought brilliantly too!

After finishing two rounds of subjugation and returning, there was a notice about retaking the beginning-of-term evaluation in the form of a duel.

And you know what? They said Senior had done something wrong again! Wow, really. This time it was an illusion duel meant to test only individual capabilities, so what could Senior have possibly done wrong?

I was furious again and rushed over, but Senior was matched against Aunt Denis under the same rules with Ophelia as the referee.

Was I worried? No way. Senior might not be able to use flashy magic, but his mana control and related techniques are better than Ophi’s or mine.

He was about to take down all thirteen opponents, but Professor Nevel arrived and ruined the momentum. Tch.

After that, yes, I got restaurant recommendations from Senior during the festival? And I casually asked what lectures he was taking… Waaah?! N-no! Please forget what I just said?!

What else was there? Umm… Ah! In the street, a horse was trotting by and Senior suddenly g… Kyaaaah!!! Th-this too, forget it, Maria! It’s nothing, nothing at all…!!

Ah, th-th-that’s right! During the festival that day, Senior Hena was kidnapped!

People from the Kutelli family sent someone to take Sister Adel, but when that didn’t work, they took Sister Hena instead. Wh-what?! I-I’m not making excuses, it’s true!

Anyway, since Sister Adel had her circumstances, the three of us—me, Senior Junon, and Senior Senia—carried out an escape operation! It felt like being detectives on a stakeout, which was fun…

But I had to pretend to be Sister Adel?! Ugh…

I had to pretend to be a bride and cause a scene in there.

I was so nervous about getting caught that day… But fortunately, Sister Adel was safe, and we were able to rescue Senior Hena thanks to Senior Senia.

When I heard that Sister Adel met her birth mother who she thought was dead… I cried so much that day. Sniff.

It was all thanks to Senior Junon. Mmhmm. Huh? Why are Maria’s eyes… I didn’t make a mistake! Senior patted my head and said I did well!

Anyway, all the misdeeds of the Kutelli family were spread in the newspapers. I thought it was strange that Senior’s contributions weren’t in the papers… but I let it go at the time.

After all, Senior’s abilities would soon be revealed during the Magic Armor Compatibility Test!

But another incident happened so soon after the previous one. Have you heard of a person named Kayden? He’s a nobleman who was expelled from the Academy.

After being defeated by Senior Junon, he caused trouble at Duve Hall. I was worried everyone might get seriously hurt… but it turned out Kayden’s group suffered the most damage.

Sigh. I don’t understand why people can be so mean. What kind of behavior is that toward someone who worked hard and grew? He received divine punishment. Divine punishment.

That’s not it? You’re right? As Maria says, Senior might have punished him.

Hmm…? Nothing after that? Well… I didn’t meet him again until some time had passed.

I met Senior again when we were moving to subjugate Shanbereshu during the Great Shute Subjugation.

Uncle said he could almost use the magic armor, and since the imperial army couldn’t fight due to the Lemtert plague, they had to call in the third-year students.

When he came back from fighting hard in the rear, his expression looked really bad, so I couldn’t talk to him. I waited a long time… but I’m glad he wasn’t hurt.

I met him briefly at the main force, but after that… hmm, I’m not sure! After he finished talking with Uncle, he returned?

But suddenly rats appeared everywhere, and the army was split in two.

I was worried… but Senior was in the separated unit. I was concerned about increasing casualties… but according to what was revealed later, they fought alongside Sirens!

As Maria knows, the idea that Sirens harm humans was a misunderstanding, right?

This is just my thought, but umm… I think Senior might have tried to help the Sirens. You think that’s too speculative? Come on, Senior could do that.

Maria. You’ve been listening to everything I’ve said, right? Would Senior turn his back on Sirens in crisis?

Right, right? Senior would never abandon people in trouble.

There was also talk that if the rear guard led by Senior had been breached during the Great Shute Subjugation, the main force would have had difficulty subjugating Shanbereshu!

And then at the banquet hall… Huh?! N-no! My face isn’t turning red! I-I’m just feeling hot! Ahahaha…!

Huh? You want to know if there’s anything else?

Well… even if I wanted to tell you more, that’s all there is to Senior’s story. After that, as Maria knows, there’s the faction war, the Duve Hall hostage crisis, and the grand Sacred Emperor subjugation! That’s it.

Looking back at everything I’ve told you, it’s quite a lot, isn’t it?

Applause? Hehehe, that’s right! Applause for Senior~. Clap clap clap clap.

***

…

“My lady.”

After the long story ended, Maria whispered to herself as she looked at the empty seat where Renias had been.

How happy Renias had looked while unraveling her story.

Her mouth corners rose and showed no signs of coming down, and with excited eyes emitting twice her usual energy, it couldn’t have been more obvious.

Her reaction when Maria probed about their private moments. That was embarrassment, and undeniable affection.

“He’s a good person. A really good person, and if my lady doesn’t hold onto him, that would be a problem, wouldn’t it?”

This person called Junon was someone her lady absolutely needed to hold onto.

The only person who could remove the old lump lodged in Renias’s heart.

Come to think of it, it was quite remarkable.

“How she found someone exactly like herself. How romantic.”

Recalling Renias’s flushed cheeks, Maria smiled gently like a mother and chuckled softly.

Though she called it romantic, it doesn’t end there.

If their relationship progresses, the mask that occasionally covered that face full of energy and happiness might drop with a thud.

From then on, her life would change 180 degrees, and the shadow cast over Renias would never return.

“The problem is that it’s still one-way.”

Renias has tender feelings for Junon, but it’s unclear how he feels. In other words, it’s unrequited love.

It would take quite some time for this to lead to a confession, so there were many concerns.

Still, though she’s clumsy with expressing emotions and hasn’t realized it yet, she seemed to understand one thing.

-“Such a person must be popular, right? Good character, excellent grades, and proven skills?”

-“Y-yes! Senior is now… very famous… hmm…!”

“That’s right, my lady. It would be terrible if another woman took him away, wouldn’t it?”

Though she tried to hide other emotions, she didn’t try to hide her jealousy.

Perhaps feeling anxious, she even said she needed to go to the Academy right away.

Maria briefly counseled such a Renias, imparting special lessons that could never be learned at the Academy. Very carefully approaching so that Renias wouldn’t notice.

Even if it starts as unrequited love, couldn’t Renias’s charm turn one-way traffic into two-way?

“You can do it, my lady!”

With both fists clenched, Maria sends her encouragement to her lady who is probably heading to the Academy now.

Looking forward to the day when they come to this mansion hand in hand.

But…

Could it be that Maria’s encouragement had an immediate effect?

Not long after, a somewhat peculiar event occurred between the two.

“S-Senior…”

“No… I… th-that’s dangerous…”

A pink scene unfolded as Junon pulled Renias’s waist close with one arm.

And to top it all off.

“Whew. A kiss right now would be perfect, wouldn’t it?”

It was Senia’s mischievous stoking of the fire, trying to ignite the relationship between the two.