Ch.34Summer Break (4)

On the last day of vacation, Lael was lingering near the workshop.

Is he really planning to stay only in the workshop?

She had been waiting for two hours already but hadn’t seen even his shadow, let alone him in person.

When they were in the party together, he would definitely come out on days off to go shopping together.

How did he end up like this?

No matter how she thought about it, the reason could only be Riano.

After meeting her, Crow had changed considerably.

Not that I’m completely blameless…

Anyway, to deal with a rival who had secured the optimal position of living together, she needed to take an active approach.

Now was the time to wait for that opportunity.

Whether Crow came out or Riano came out, she would charge forward as soon as either one appeared.

Just as she was thinking this, the back door of the workshop opened and Riano appeared.

Lael hid herself in a darker spot and watched.

“I’m going out for a delivery.”

“Take care, Master.”

“You should go outside too. How can you stay in the workshop for three whole days?”

That’s right, how can he stay in the workshop for three whole days!

“I’m going now. If a pretty woman comes, don’t open the door and just wait.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Lael’s lips curled up at Riano’s words, which seemed like a warning directed at her.

Was she being acknowledged as a rival by her strongest competitor?

That feels kind of good.

After confirming that Riano had moved away from the workshop, Lael carefully approached the back door without being noticed.

She grabbed the doorknob and pulled it carefully to avoid making noise. The door opened with a smooth glide.

No, you should lock the door properly.

What if some woman with bad intentions sneaks in?

…Like Derin.

* * * * *

I was brewing tea in the kitchen when suddenly everything went dark.

As if a warlock had cast Blackout on me.

But judging by the touch, it wasn’t an attack from a warlock.

Is it Master?

But Master doesn’t play pranks like this…

I carefully removed the hands covering my eyes and turned around to find…

Lael standing there.

“Did I surprise you?”

“No.”

Honestly, I was expecting it.

I could see the alley where Lael was hiding from my room window.

She probably didn’t know because I had kept the curtains drawn for three days.

“So what brings you here today?”

“Well, you know… I just wanted to spend some time with you.”

“Would you like some tea?”

“I guess not, right? I’m sorry. I’ll just go…”

Lael’s eyes widened, but she couldn’t continue speaking.

Did I say something wrong?

Actually, after having drinks with Master that day, I had been thinking a lot on my own.

About how to handle my relationship with Lael and with the party going forward.

Honestly, after learning the truth that day, the negative feelings I had whenever I saw Lael started to disappear.

That process just accelerated after the conversation with Master.

In this situation, rejecting Lael when she’s showing goodwill would make me uncomfortable.

Well, I’m not sure how Master will react though.

“You don’t want tea?”

At my response, Lael shook her head vigorously in denial.

“No! I do! I do! Two cups! No, even three!”

“Alright, then sit at that table and wait.”

When I pointed to the table, Lael nodded and left the kitchen.

Come to think of it, Lael has changed a lot too.

She used to rarely express her emotions and had a very plain personality.

Now she feels just like a girl her age.

Well, either way, she’s still Lael, so it doesn’t matter.

I placed a teacup in front of her and another across from it, then sat down.

Lael, unable to hide her good mood, smiled and spoke.

“Professor, what’s with the sudden change?”

“Huh? Nothing special. By the way, when it’s just the two of us, you can call me Crow.”

Lael’s eyes lit up.

At the Academy, we have to maintain the professor-student relationship, but when meeting privately, either way is fine.

Besides, we knew each other before I became a professor.

“T-then, Crow?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Crow.”

“What?”

“Crow, Crow, Crow.”

Lael was snorting like a bison.

She’s clearly not in her right mind.

“This isn’t working. Just call me Professor.”

Lael seemed to realize her behavior was inappropriate and hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.

“Okay. Just keep it reasonable.”

Lael nodded and lowered her hand.

“Oh, by the way, why did you come to the Adventurer’s Guild that time?”

It’s not that Academy students can’t work as adventurers.

But being part of the Academy means they need to report it.

But I don’t remember hearing about it.

Of course, she might have reported to another professor, but then that professor would have mentioned something.

“Back then, I was so obvious about wanting you to ask, but you didn’t. Now you’re curious?”

Back then, I hadn’t fully sorted out my feelings yet.

“Well, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”

“I just left a message for the party.”

A message…?

“What kind of message?”

“That’s a secret.”

Lael’s answer irritated me a bit, but I didn’t feel like pressing the issue.

I’m no longer part of that party anyway, and I have no interest in hearing what the women talk about among themselves.

Well, she probably just asked how they were doing.

Accepting that explanation, I changed the subject.

“By the way, what happened with that leader we took down?”

“Oh! Right!”

Lael clapped her hands as if remembering something she had forgotten. Then she rummaged through her magic pouch and placed a small pouch on the table.

“This is yours. Open it.”

I opened the pouch with a nod and saw it.

Dazzlingly bright gold.

Now that things have turned out this way, it looks like I asked about it because I wanted money.

“It’s fine. It belongs to your party.”

When I pushed the money pouch away with my hand, she pushed it back toward me and said:

“No, really, it’s okay. I have more money than I know what to do with.”

That’s not the response I was looking for.

“Besides, it was yours to begin with. You caught it by yourself. It’s only a third of the share, but please take at least that much.”

Huh?

This is just a third?

Surprised, I looked at the money pouch again.

It looks like at least twice the reward of an A-rank party.

So the total is six times that…

No wonder S-rank parties are wealthy.

“Are you really not going to take it? Then I’ll donate it to the Academy.”

“What are you saying? It’s mine.”

I snatched the money pouch from the table and put it in my magic pouch.

Donating itself is good.

Just not to the Academy.

It’s funny that I, as a professor, think this way, but the Academy is clearly overflowing with money.

Rather than giving money to such a place, it’s a hundred times better for me to buy something delicious.

And it’s mine to begin with, right?

Lael smiled, seemingly pleased that I had accepted the money, and said:

“Hey, remember when we went to that…”

“I’m back.”

With heavy footsteps, Master appeared with a deeply furrowed brow.

“Not even a greeting when I say I’m back… what…”

Thud. The bag Master was holding fell to the floor.

“Disciple, I demand an explanation of what’s going on.”

“I was talking with Lael.”

“Why? How? Your master doesn’t understand.”

I completely understand Master’s reaction.

After all, I had buried my face in her chest and cried my eyes out that day.

She’s probably saying this out of concern for me.

“Master, I’m fine.”

“Really…? But I don’t like it.”

Master stared intently at Lael and spoke.

“My disciple may forgive you, but I can’t. You made someone who’s like family to me sad?”

Lael couldn’t say anything and hung her head low.

Master pressed her further.

“I even used black magic to save you because he cared about you. Why should my disciple have to suffer?”

“T-that…”

“That you didn’t have bad intentions? I acknowledge that. But someone who cares about my disciple…”

“Why didn’t you think about how my disciple would feel when you didn’t hold on to him!”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Get out.”

“What…?”

“I said get out. Leave. Now.”

Lael ran out with her head bowed low.

Master took the seat where Lael had been sitting and suddenly hit me on the head.

Thwack! A dull sound echoed, and I felt pain in my head.

“My disciple, I understand a hundred times over that you forgive her. She was important to you, and what happened that day was ultimately a misunderstanding.”

“Then why…”

“Because I’m your master. I don’t like people who hurt my disciple. That’s all.”

With those final words, Master stood up.

I felt grateful for Master’s words but also confused.

Why did I get hit…?

The anger was directed at Lael, wasn’t it?

When I touched the spot where I was hit, I could feel a bump.

It seems she couldn’t control her strength again today…

* * * * *

While escorting a carriage, Derin heard surprising news from her client, Kelvin.

“Recently, I saw a magician with talent in three attributes.”

A magician with three attributes…?

The only ones I know are Crow and the Sage.

“Did he have shaggy long hair and wear a black robe?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say that much…”

“I have steamed potatoes if you want.”

When Derin took out a steamed potato from her magic pouch and handed it to him, Kelvin covered his mouth with his hand and whispered:

“Actually, what you said is correct.”

A merchant selling information for one steamed potato?

You should quit being a merchant…