Ch.29Conversation (2)

I can understand why you stopped me from killing that priest.

That part was definitely my misunderstanding, and she didn’t do it with bad intentions.

But the problem is that Lael didn’t avoid capturing me because I was a Warlock.

She was just afraid our relationship would fall apart?

How does that make any sense?

If she hadn’t captured me because I was a Warlock, I could at least understand.

At that time, no one knew the Church had fallen.

Taking the hand of a Warlock with a priest present would be like saying, “I’m siding with the Warlock, so deal with it.”

But if that wasn’t the reason, she should have grabbed me.

If her body wouldn’t move, she should have at least said something.

Like, “I’m okay with you being a Warlock.”

Lael, who had been carefully observing my expression, cautiously opened her mouth.

“I’m curious about what you’re thinking right now. How do you feel about me?”

“Not on the positive side. Closer to the negative.”

It irritates me to think that she didn’t take my hand that day for such a ridiculous reason, and how much I suffered because of it.

But it’s slightly different from anger or contempt.

I just dislike her. I hate her so much.

Why did she make that judgment and cause me such hardship?

After hearing my answer, Lael got up with a slight smile.

She seemed ready to leave since there was nothing more to say.

“I’m relieved.”

“About what? I just said it was negative.”

Lael slowly walked toward the door, then turned to look at me.

She was smiling.

More brightly than any smile she had shown at the Academy.

“Crow, I’m so happy right now.”

“What part of this makes you happy?”

I couldn’t understand.

I hadn’t said anything that should make her happy.

“You’re finally starting to see me properly. That’s all I need.”

With those words, she bowed her head slightly and left the professor’s office.

Starting to see her properly…?

It’s true that until now, I deliberately treated her the same as other students.

As a professor, I couldn’t treat one student differently, and I didn’t want to recall the memories of that day.

But she wanted me to see her not as an Academy student, but as the leader of the Black Crow party.

Because that’s what she needed to apologize for what happened that day.

So she’s happy because everything turned out as she wanted?

*Sigh*

I don’t really get it.

I took out a book from my Magic Pouch and opened the last page.

That page filled with the words “I miss you.”

No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem normal.

* * * * *

After that day, Lael began approaching me more aggressively.

She seemed determined to somehow turn my negative feelings into positive ones.

But the more she tried, the more negative my feelings became.

Even when I arrived at work in the morning.

“You must eat breakfast. Here’s a sandwich.”

“I had sandwiches for dinner last night too.”

Even during lectures.

“Professor, if someone is under an illusion spell, can they not come to their senses no matter what they do? Like… pleasure?”

“Please don’t think about using Black Magic for criminal purposes.”

Even when I was leaving after lectures ended.

“Professor, do you have any plans after work today? How about having dinner together?”

“No! I said no! I’m going home to sleep! I’m exhausted!”

Even something that could be appealing becomes unappealing when overdone—why doesn’t she understand that?

At my outburst, Lael flinched and said:

“T-then would tomorrow be okay…?”

Seriously, doesn’t she know when to give up?

I took a deep breath to regain my composure before answering.

“Tomorrow doesn’t work either.”

“Because you’re tired from professor duties?”

“Yes, that’s why it won’t work. Besides, it wouldn’t look good for students to see a professor as…”

“Then what about during the break? It’s only a week away. You won’t have lectures then.”

As she said, there would be no lectures during the two-week break.

But since I had been incredibly busy since becoming a professor, I was planning to rest thoroughly during that period.

So naturally, my answer was:

“Even without lectures, I won’t have dinner with you. It’s MY break. Don’t even think about disturbing it.”

I wasn’t being harsh because it was Lael; I would have given the same answer to any other student.

Of course, my tone might have been different, but the rejection would be the same.

I just valued my break too much and didn’t want to be disturbed by others.

Mess with my precious break? I really won’t let that slide.

“Then can we do something together that won’t disturb your break?”

“Sure, do as you please.”

There’s no way such a method could exist.

After all, I wasn’t planning to take a single step outside the workshop.

But such a method did exist.

A way to have meals with me and enjoy tea time together.

“Master Riano, how is it? Does it suit your taste?”

The morning after the break began, Lael visited the workshop.

With the most famous chef from the Royal Capital in tow.

Is this… the financial power of a duke’s daughter?

Anyway, that was fine.

Whether Lael brought a chef or not, my master could refuse.

The important thing was that my master didn’t refuse but rather welcomed her with open arms.

My master tilted her head when she saw my spoon frozen in mid-air.

“Boy, why aren’t you eating? It’s delicious. Or do you think your master should only eat what you make?”

“That’s not it.”

“I know. It’s obviously jealousy. You’re jealous because your master is eating someone else’s food.”

“That’s definitely not it.”

When I answered firmly, my master shrugged and moved her spoon again.

Honestly, this chef’s food is incredibly delicious.

It’s worth every penny, no matter how much it costs.

I wasn’t jealous either.

If anything, I had been planning to take my master out for a meal.

With a deep sigh, I picked up my spoon and took a bite of the soup in front of me.

A vast natural landscape unfolded before my eyes, and it felt as if the ingredients were alive and breathing.

Indeed, food is innocent.

As I began to move my spoon enthusiastically, the chef gave me a slight smile.

There’s probably no chance of finding hair in this food.

After the luxurious meal ended, the chef prepared tea and then left the workshop.

I asked Lael, who was sipping tea beside me:

“Hey, how much did this cost?”

“Oh, you mean money?”

Lael slowly raised her hand and made the number 3.

It can’t be 3 gold coins, so maybe 30?

“Hey, isn’t 30 coins too much for one meal?”

“30 coins? It was 300.”

The financial sense of a duke’s daughter was beyond what a commoner like me could comprehend.

Hearing this, my master’s hand holding the teacup trembled.

She seemed shocked by the unexpected amount.

Considering that an average commoner uses about 10 gold coins per year, it was certainly shocking.

She had burned through 30 years’ worth of a commoner’s living expenses in one meal.

But Lael sipped her tea as if it was nothing.

“So, Professor, did you enjoy the meal?”

I wanted to firmly say no, but that wasn’t something I could say to someone who had just spent 300 gold coins.

“Uh… well, yes. I enjoyed it.”

“I’m glad.”

Lael put down her teacup quietly and stood up.

“Then I’ll be going now. I shouldn’t disturb your break.”

I hesitated whether to stop her or not, but in the end, I didn’t.

I wasn’t short on money, so there was no reason to stop her.

As she left with a creaking sound, my master put down her teacup with a thud.

Then, as if afraid someone might hear, she whispered:

“My disciple, I think there’s something wrong with her head.”

“I think the same.”

“Even for a duke’s daughter, who spends 300 gold coins on a single meal?”

Did I hit her too hard with the spoon…?

Anyway, from my perspective, it wasn’t bad since she provided a meal without disturbing my break.

As long as I can rest, anything is fine.

But there were quite a few people trying to disturb my break.

On my way to the Academy to retrieve something I’d left in the professor’s office, I ran into Professor Leonhart.

For him, a day off was no different from a day for drinking.

“Ahhh… indeed, breaks are for drinking. Don’t you agree, Professor Crow?”

“Ah… yes. I suppose breaks are for drinking.”

My break had turned into an extension of work without lectures.

Professor Leonhart downed a glass of fermented liquor in one go and said:

“Professor Crow, did you know your reputation has been improving day by day since you became a regular professor?”

“What?”

This is the first I’m hearing of this.

“Professor Ophelia, you know her, right? The one rumored to be the most capable professor at the Academy.”

“Yes, I know her.”

How could I not?

I drank with that woman, dealt with her drunken behavior, carried her, and put her to bed.

I wouldn’t be human if I forgot that.

“Anyway, Professor Ophelia has been praising you so much. And she’s usually so stingy with compliments.”

“Hahaha… I see. I should treat her to a meal sometime.”

A meal, not alcohol.

“So, how’s Lael doing these days?”

“Lael? Doesn’t she also attend your warrior course?”

“The truth is, she’s at a level where she doesn’t need to attend classes, so I told her to just come for evaluations.”

Come to think of it, I think she mentioned receiving warrior training along with swordsmanship at the duke’s mansion when she was young.

The Academy’s top student really is different.

“Does that little one ever give you trouble?”

“Well, about that…”

And so, Professor Leonhart and I talked about Lael for a long time, and somewhere in the middle, my memory cut off.

When I regained consciousness…

I was on my master’s bed.