Ch.42Crisis (1)

After Aira deserted the group, the team project proceeded much more smoothly than I had worried about.

As they say, when the troublemaker disappears, the muddied waters naturally clear up.

As I’ve always said, I could have done the assignment alone, but since this was explicitly a group project, I put in my best effort. When Benjamin and Leona presented plausible hypotheses, I would either refute them or elaborate on them.

Thanks to this, we produced a very satisfactory result. Of course, since I only added substance to the hypotheses they organized, I took responsibility for the presentation myself.

“But didn’t you say the Biography of Xenon was boring? From what I saw, you seem to have read it quite thoroughly.”

“Sh-shut up! I was just curious about what happened next!”

When Benjamin was away, I could have various conversations with Leona. I realized that despite what she said, she was actually an enthusiastic reader of the Biography of Xenon.

Her ears twitching above her head whenever she got excited was a bit distracting, but it wasn’t a big problem since Leona only showed her true self when she was with me.

“Are you really sure you can present well? If it’s too difficult, I could do it for you.”

Leona, having calmed her excitement momentarily, asked me in her characteristically cynical tone. She was looking at me with her arms crossed and a prim expression, but her eyes revealed a mix of concern and worry.

I wasn’t sure if she didn’t trust me or if she felt sorry that I had to handle the presentation as well. Still, knowing Leona’s personality, I assumed it was the latter.

“I can do it well. Trust me for once. Or would you like to try?”

“No thanks. The presentation is tomorrow, what could I do now? Anyway, I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.”

“Sure. See you tomorrow.”

As Leona waved goodbye and left, I waved back to see her off. The place where Leona and I had just been was secluded, so we could talk freely.

A moment later, after seeing Leona disappear, I started walking. Having done the final check, I planned to spend the remaining time resting comfortably and writing.

‘I wish I could become a third-year soon. I’d have plenty of free time then.’

Returning to my dormitory and throwing myself onto the bed, I thought about the future. As Professor Virus explained during our first class, up to the second year, students need to achieve a certain score to advance to the next grade.

But once you become a third-year, you choose a major you want to focus on and concentrate solely on that major. This was information I learned last Monday when I visited Professor Virus separately to report Aira’s situation.

If the first two years are like a combination of high school and university, from the third year on, it’s like being a university student focusing on just one subject. No need for credits or anything like that—just concentrating intensively on that major to get good scores.

‘As for me…’

Of course, my goal is history. There’s no major more interesting to me in this world than history.

I wanted to quickly become a third-year, finish writing the Biography of Xenon, and start on my next work—a modern story that would be considered fantasy in this world.

Instead of heroic deeds like in the Biography of Xenon, it would cover tragic war history.

‘No, no. Rather than thinking about the next work, I should focus on the Biography of Xenon for now.’

If I start dabbling in too many things at once, I might spread myself too thin. That could lower the quality of my work, so it’s better to focus on the Biography of Xenon for now.

Of course, when I’m about two volumes away from completion, I plan to slowly establish the setting for the next work. That should be fine by then.

‘…I should write when I’m thinking like this.’

Even this time spent idling around feels wasteful. Recently, with Aira’s issues and other matters requiring attention, I’ve been a bit tired, but it’s bearable.

Above all, if I close my eyes now, I’ll probably wake up tomorrow morning. It would be better to finish at least one part before sleeping.

With that, I dragged my tired body to the desk. On the desk were manuscript papers neatly arranged, which I had been writing on until just before leaving the dormitory.

‘I wonder how those people are doing?’

While infusing mana into the magic pen, I suddenly thought of the chaotic party. The first day seemed fine, but as time passed, cracks became clearly visible.

Rina, who always wore a relaxed expression, became expressionless, and Cecilly’s bright face whenever she saw me also darkened rapidly. As for Marie, well, she seemed to have half given up, occasionally letting out a wry laugh.

Above all, the most striking person among them was undoubtedly Jackson. Jackson, who had been clingy in an attempt to form a connection, was increasingly becoming uncomfortable around them.

Furthermore, he occasionally gave me envious(!) glances. I could roughly guess how serious the situation was.

It seems they must have been badly burned while working on the group project. From the beginning, they were a combination that couldn’t mix, like oil and water.

‘It’s a bit pitiful. We only had one person…’

Drip-

While lost in thought, liquid flowed from my nose. I snapped out of my reverie and immediately put my hand to my philtrum. It felt slightly sticky.

With a sinking feeling, I removed my hand to find bright red blood on it. It was a nosebleed.

As I was feeling unusually tired today, it seemed my body was finally sending a warning.

Drip- Drip-

While I was blankly staring at the blood on my hand, blood started dripping onto the manuscript paper. I was startled and hurriedly moved the paper away.

Fortunately, the blood stained the edge rather than the center, preventing the catastrophe of having to rewrite the manuscript. Still, I needed to stop the bleeding quickly.

“Huh, tissues…”

It seemed I would have to take a break from writing for today.

*****

Time passed, and the day of the presentation arrived. This marked the end of the group project that had been full of drama and trouble.

“Hey. Don’t tell me you guys actually prepared everything?”

“We did.”

“Hmph. Really? Fine. Since I’m the team leader, if you apologize, I might consider taking you back…”

“Fuck off.”

Just before class started, Aira suddenly appeared and acted shamelessly, but I gave her another strong curse.

Marie, sitting next to me, looked surprised when I cursed, but I didn’t care.

After flipping the table by herself, how dare she try to put her spoon on someone else’s table? Her shamelessness beyond imagination made me feel like vomiting, and I couldn’t help but curse.

“You…! You’ll regret this! I’m really going to send a letter to my father!”

“Do as you please.”

After that, Aira left only saying that I would regret it and returned to her seat. I watched her retreating figure with her short legs and shook my head.

How rotten does one have to be to act like that? In a different sense, she’s more impressive than Jackson.

“Did you fight with her?”

While I was inwardly sighing, Marie asked a question from the seat next to me. Her question was filled with curiosity.

I answered in a subdued voice without even looking at her. No matter how I thought about it, her shamelessness made my anger rise.

“Yes, we fought. She said something she shouldn’t have.”

“What did she say to make you react like that?”

“A few weeks ago, my brother joined the Navy Knights. And she’s the daughter of Marquis Matheus. You understand what I mean, right?”

“I think I get it.”

Even with just that much information, Marie nodded as if she understood. Well, it would be strange if Marie didn’t know about such a famous family.

I watched her nodding and asked with a somewhat concerned voice. I was worried if she also looked down on soldiers like Aira did.

“Marie, what do you think about soldiers?”

“Huh? Why do you ask?”

“The reason I fought with Aira is not just about my siblings, but also because she treated soldiers like house dogs. I was wondering if all nobles think that way.”

Of course, I don’t think Marie has such a mindset. But I was concerned about whether most nobles, not just Marie as an individual, think that way.

When even the daughter of a military family can say such harsh words, I couldn’t gauge how other nobles might think.

And Marie frowned deeply and spoke as if asking if I was serious.

“…Are you crazy? If someone said that, they’d be forcibly enlisted!”

“Forcibly enlisted?”

“Yes. It’s one of the famous punishments among us nobles. If a noble’s child insults soldiers, their parents forcibly enlist them as a soldier. Most can’t endure even a month and end up crying, but they have to serve for two years mandatorily. It’s regulated by law, so being a noble doesn’t matter.”

That’s quite a novel yet effective punishment. Anyone who has served in the military would know how terrifying the punishment Marie mentioned is.

They would painfully realize how warm the nest of home is, how good family and society are, and finally, how shitty the military can be.

Moreover, this world doesn’t have smartphones or televisions, so there must be a lot of absurdities. For noble children raised like flowers in a greenhouse, there’s no more efficient punishment than this.

“What happens if it’s not the child but the parent who insults soldiers?”

“That rarely happens, but I guess they wouldn’t fare well. And if the daughter of the Matheus family really insulted soldiers, the repercussions would be enormous. Enlistment is certain, and in the worst case, she might be expelled from the family.”

Enlistment… that sounds interesting. Soon, Aira might deeply feel the sentiment of the second day in training camp.

I chuckled, hoping that moment would come soon. She needs to experience hardship to come to her senses.

“Anyway, is your group all prepared?”

While I was snickering, Marie asked me in a cautious voice.

I answered her, noticing her careful demeanor.

“We’ve finished everything. What about your group?”

“…I don’t feel the need to answer that.”

Seeing her laugh dejectedly, it seems they’ve messed up as expected.

Still, I was curious, so I risked being impolite and asked.

“Did you at least participate?”

“I just participated, but I didn’t actually do anything. We just gathered and chatted, then it was over. And that was only twice.”

“Then what about the research and presentation?”

“Who do you think did it all? For reference, I didn’t do anything.”

“… …”

When Marie asked me back, I was at a loss for words.

No wonder Jackson’s expression was gloomy; it was because of that. I felt a sense of empathy and sympathy for him.

“Actually, I gave up from the moment the groups were assigned that way. The score might be painful, but it shouldn’t be too severe. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just focus on another major.”

“Major… what major are you planning to choose when you become a third-year?”

I became curious and asked. I had chosen history as a definite major, but I didn’t know about others.

Of course, it might seem a bit early to ask this when the first semester hasn’t even ended. But she might have something in mind.

Marie heard my question, pondered while resting her chin on her hand, and quietly said.

“Major… well? I’d like to enter political science, but Rina will be there, so pass. Right now, I don’t have anything specific in mind. I just want to graduate. What about you?”

“For me, definitely history.”

When I answered without a moment’s hesitation, Marie made a face as if she had heard something strange.

“Is history that interesting? I can’t understand.”

“You might think so, but I don’t. How can history not be interesting?”

“Okay, okay. That’s why you’re so knowledgeable about history. Why don’t you write a book? Professor Elena also praised your writing skills last time.”

“Uh…”

I was momentarily speechless at her sudden jab. She probably meant it as a joke, but for me, it wasn’t something I could dismiss as a joke.

And Marie, observing my face, said with a peculiar expression.

“What’s with that expression? Are you really writing something?”

“No?”

“Hmm…”

When I denied it, she stared at my face intently and then lowered her gaze. Marie’s gaze was directed precisely at my right hand where the pen mark was located.

I almost instinctively hid my hand, but I barely suppressed the urge to avoid suspicion. Marie didn’t seem to suspect further and turned her gaze forward before speaking.

“Well… if you say you’re not, then you’re not. But if you really do write a book, show it to me. I’m curious.”

“I told you I’m not writing anything.”

“Who said anything? Oh, of course, I could ask my father to sponsor you a bit.”

“Ah, come on.”

Even though I grumbled for her to stop, Marie just giggled. Fortunately, it seemed she was joking rather than being serious.

But it was still chilling. It was incredibly unexpected, making it very difficult to respond.

‘How long do I have to live with this anxiety?’

I’d like to just reveal everything, but I feared the aftermath. Plus, for the sake of my father who’s struggling to hide my identity, I need to endure.

Anyway, class started, and the highlight of the group project, the presentations, began. As I expected, the presenter for Marie’s group was Jackson, who appeared looking exhausted, evoking pity.

‘You’ve had it tough too.’

Perhaps after this, his pestering might decrease. I watched him return to his seat weakly with a sympathetic expression.

Perhaps he felt my gaze. When our eyes met, Jackson just let out a hollow laugh without any other reaction.

Thus, all presentations ended, and the humanities class concluded. Other classes also proceeded normally without any incidents.

After all classes ended, I had dinner with my group members and returned to the dormitory.

“Hmm?”

As I opened the door and entered, I noticed an envelope lying on the floor.

Picking it up, I saw it was a letter from home. I couldn’t help but wonder since I hadn’t sent any mail to my parents recently.

‘What could it be?’

So, I sat on the bed, tore open the envelope, and took out the letter. And the content of the letter was…

[The tail has been stepped on. Be careful for a while.]

It was a warning written in my father’s handwriting.

“… …”

I blinked at the warning message.