Ch.255255. School Performance

Darwood Campbell and I had a very different meeting than any of the obstacles I had anticipated.

I thought she would either devise some kind of devious scheme—mostly related to my lower body—or simply barge in with overwhelming force—also mostly related to my lower body.

But the pattern that continued until the day before the school festival went like this:

“…Is it the same today as well?”

When I asked that question, Beatrix, whose face was becoming increasingly familiar after meeting me for several days in a row, sighed and answered.

“Yes.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, but she says she doesn’t want to see anyone right now.”

That was the first sentence I heard from Beatrix, who looked troubled herself, as soon as I went to the student council room to meet Elnore.

I’ve been turned away at the door like this for several days now.

And knowing how awkward it is to ask such a question, I still had no choice but to ask it.

Because the very first question I asked on the first day of being treated this way was:

“…When she says she doesn’t want to see anyone, does that include me?”

“Yeah. She specifically told me that you would definitely come looking for her, so if you showed up, I should absolutely tell you this.”

“…”

It was an embarrassing answer to an embarrassing question.

And Beatrix herself seemed equally perplexed by this situation, knowing how much Elnore had been unable to live without me all this time.

Just look at the question she’s asking me now:

“…Did you do something to make her angry?”

[Well, I don’t even know where to begin.]

“…”

[You gave her a wedding ring and then what did you do with other women just recently?]

Ignoring the unhelpful ghost’s comments, I scratch my head and think.

As Calivan suggests, there’s a decent possibility that she noticed such things and is furious with me.

As they say, if the tail is too long, it gets stepped on. It’s actually surprising that these things haven’t been discovered more seriously until now.

To be honest, Elnore herself seemed to have noticed to some extent that I’ve been entangled with various women here and there.

‘…But no matter how I think about it, that’s not it.’

[Why?]

‘If that were really the case, she wouldn’t be holed up like this—she’d be coming after my neck, and I wouldn’t blame her.’

[…]

Calivan also acknowledged this with his silence.

In truth, Elnore’s tolerance line always seems narrow but is mostly wide.

She sighs but tolerates me meeting other women.

However, the moment someone else does something with me that she “hasn’t done yet,” it’s immediately out.

In other words, the moment that line is crossed, she’ll behead not only me but also any woman who has such a relationship with me.

‘And honestly, there hasn’t been any relationship that would make her do that right now…’

Indeed, that’s true.

The most intimate contacts I’ve had with women were all things I did “first” with Elnore.

Most of them are treading that line precariously right now, but…

“…”

Wait.

Just a moment.

“…What is it?”

Beatrix’s eyes narrowed as she looked at my face.

“Why do you suddenly look like you’ve remembered something?”

“…”

No.

There is one.

Someone who went straight for something even Elnore hasn’t done.

I’m not sure if I should call her a “human,” but she’s even inside Elnore’s body, so the possibility of “contact” with her is extremely high.

“…”

Oh.

This might be more dangerous than I thought—

“…Elnore?”

While I was lost in thought, Beatrix’s words suddenly caught my attention.

Feeling my face turn pale, I turned my head toward her, and indeed, there stood someone with that name.

She looked like she had just come out of the training room attached to the student council room.

Tank top, functional material bottoms, and traces of exercise all over her body.

“…What’s this? I thought you didn’t want to see anyone?”

“…”

Despite Beatrix’s questioning, Elnore didn’t say anything.

Instead, she just quietly held me in her emotionless gaze, making it difficult to read her feelings.

She kept staring like that.

Continuously.

Until I started to feel scared.

“…Um, Elnore?”

So.

I awkwardly smile and greet her.

“It feels like I haven’t seen you in a long time. Have you been well—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Elnore walked straight toward me with determined steps, causing my words to trail off.

There was no hesitation in her movements. It almost looked like she was charging forward without hesitation to attack an enemy.

Uh.

Wait.

This might really, really be dangerous?

“…Um, Elno—”

But before I could say anything, Elnore, who had approached very close to me.

Hugged me tightly.

Her entire body was damp with sweat, which soaked into my clothes, but more than that, there was a fragrant scent.

Then.

[‘Magi’ flow detected!]

The magi is charging.

Actually, that expression is a bit flawed.

More precisely.

With just this one contact, the Grey Demon’s magi in the seal was fully charged.

“…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words as I looked at Elnore, who was hugging me tightly.

Magi is greatly influenced by the vessel’s emotional state.

Considering the kinds of contact I’ve had with other Demonic Vessels, the fact that the seal is fully charged with magi from just this light contact means that Elnore herself is experiencing an enormous flood of emotions.

“…Elnore?”

What is this?

Her actions are so sudden that I can’t keep up.

When I asked with wide eyes, Elnore answered in her usual emotionless voice.

“Hmm.”

“…Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“…I thought you were angry and that’s why I haven’t seen you.”

“I was.”

That answer came bluntly.

Then, still hugging me, Elnore slightly lifted her head.

Her eyes were still difficult to read.

To the point where I felt perplexed just looking at them.

She’s someone who always honestly showed her emotions in front of me. But what is this now?

As if she has something she “absolutely doesn’t want to show me.” Something she wants to hide.

Like that.

“…But, more than that. I saw something more important.”

“Saw what—”

“Darwood.”

“Yes?”

“Even if the entire world turns its back on you, I will remain by your side until the very end.”

“…”

“So, don’t give up.”

Strange words.

Without any context, without any precursor.

Suddenly flowing out, incomprehensible words.

But, even so.

Because the voice carrying those words was strangely “sincere.”

Because it was filled with heartbreaking melancholy and grief.

“…”

As I lost my words and met Elnore’s gaze, she suddenly sighed and moved away from me.

At the same time, the atmosphere returned to “normal.”

Back to the Grand Duchess I know—expressionless on the surface but actually very emotional.

“…The school festival is tomorrow, right?”

“…Y-yes?”

“Do your best.”

“…”

“If anything happens, make sure to call for me.”

That was the last of it.

Leaving only that encouragement, Elnore left the student council room.

As if that was all she had to say.

“…”

“…”

Beatrix and I shared bewildered glances.

Well, I mean.

It ended much more moderately than I had expected.

“…What was that?”

“…What indeed?”

What on earth is going on here?

“Oh, and.”

Suddenly, Beatrix, who seemed to have come to her senses, opened her mouth as if she had remembered something.

“…Stop rubbing your relationship in my face.”

“…”

“I’ve never even dated anyone. You know?”

“…”

I didn’t know that.

●

Despite being an important figure in the Empire, which has formed a peculiar relationship with the Holy Empire, “Sword Saint” Rad Barfon is widely regarded as a truly devout and religious man.

In other words, when faced with unbearable stress, he often visits churches to pour out the frustrations accumulated in his heart.

And currently.

When visiting Elphante Academy to inspect the security of an “important figure whose identity cannot be revealed,” this act was almost essential for him.

It could be considered quite a healthy stress-relieving activity. Even Lucien, who was asked for “counseling,” thought that the Sword Saint’s activity…

Since becoming a Holy Maiden and coming to Elphante, she had experienced all sorts of strange situations, primarily involving Darwood. It seemed the time had finally come to prove her worth as a Holy Maiden…

“Sometimes I want to beat up my direct superior.”

“…”

That is, she thought so until she heard such an outrageous first statement from the other person.

The “projection” of the person on the other side of the confessional clearly looked gloomy.

Being a saint, he seemed capable of creating an autonomously moving projection using only magical power, but even such an impressive technique couldn’t comfort Lucien’s nearly extinguished reason.

This person’s direct superior could only be the Emperor. If he were to say such a thing in public, he could lose his head for blasphemy without any defense.

“Oh dear. My words were a bit strange. I’d like to correct ‘wanting to beat him up.'”

A slight smile of relief appeared on Lucien’s face.

Yes. No matter what, wasn’t that a bit harsh?

“I see, so you—”

“I want to put him over my knee and spank him until he cries.”

“…”

The problem had become even more serious than before.

As Lucien’s face turned pale, the Sword Saint sighed and continued.

“In fact, his position is quite unique. Since childhood, the only person he could really talk to was the Tristan Grand Duchess.”

“…I see.”

Whatever it was, at least now some normal conversation seemed to be starting.

When Lucien barely managed to respond, the Sword Saint muttered again with a gloomy expression.

“Yes. Due to his position, he’s never shown it outwardly, but he’s basically someone who desperately craves being loved.”

Lucien had vaguely heard about that before.

Cecilia XI, the ruler of the Empire, had a particularly difficult childhood due to the influence of political enemies.

With most of her family dying early, there would have been few people to take her side.

“So I understand why she wants to find someone who can be attached to her. I understand, but…”

The Sword Saint let out another heavy sigh.

“…But of all people, why did she choose that damned playboy?”

“…”

I can’t refute that.

Lucien thought while barely maintaining a creaking smile.

Considering what she and her sister had been subjected to by that man a few days ago, though she felt sorry for Darwood, the Sword Saint was hitting the nail on the head.

“W-well, that man has quite a few good points too?”

Lucien said, sweating profusely.

“He’s quite caring, reliable when it counts, and if you look at him, he has many qualities that make him popular with women—”

“If I may be so bold, Holy Maiden.”

“Yes?”

“How exactly do you know such things…?”

“…”

“Somehow it sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience—”

I know what you’re getting at, man.

Read between the lines.

Lucien thought, gritting her teeth, but even she couldn’t say that out loud.

“T-then!”

Instead, she summoned her holy power and tried to change the subject.

“I’ll show you the evidence directly!”

Among the abilities that can be manifested through holy power, there are various types, including “replay” abilities that can show events that occurred elsewhere.

Of course, such an unusual ability would drain enough holy power to exhaust her even with her level of power as a Holy Maiden, but her desire to end this insane confession quickly was much stronger.

Lucien summoned her holy power to search for the most recent “scene of the Emperor with Darwood,” mentally calculating furiously.

If she could show the Sword Saint how much the Emperor was enjoying academy life, it might ease his concerns somewhat.

According to the Chancellor, the Emperor had been smiling much more since coming to the academy! As long as Darwood was in his right mind, he surely wouldn’t have done anything strange to the Emperor!

That was her intention.

It was truly a good intention.

And into the miraculous “scene” created by Lucien, the image of the Emperor, currently elsewhere, was projected.

-In official settings, you always pretend to be pure, pitiful, and benevolent, don’t you?

-So how is it that someone like you, being roughly handled by a good-for-nothing like me, has such a ‘pleased’ expression?

-Y-you…

So, precisely.

What was being shown was Darwood pouring all kinds of degradation on the Emperor, and the Emperor squirming in response, not knowing what to do.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence fell over the chapel.

Ah.

I made a mistake.

By the time Lucien realized this fact.

“…This goddamn good-for-nothing bastard.”

A voice filled with killing intent flowed from the confessional across from her.

“…Holy Maiden.”

“…Yes?”

When Lucien answered with a stiffened voice, the still murderous voice came back from the other side.

“When did you say Elphante’s school festival was?”

Uh.

Oh no.

Things are getting more and more serious.

Lucien thought, inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat.

●

And then, the day of the school festival dawned.

“…”

[…]

“…”

[Why don’t you say something?]

“I don’t know.”

[But still…]

“I know nothing about this.”

I firmly deny it while trying to cut off my nerves.

I didn’t think things would go smoothly.

Has there ever been a time when they did since I became Darwood Campbell?

But even so.

[Faaaaaather-!]

“…”

[Look at your mother just once-!]

Facing a 5-meter giant robot claiming to be my biological mother is not an easy task even for me.

…I’m not saying this wrong.