Ch.76Summer Break (2)

Vacation is the most precious rest time for students. It’s a very suitable time to soothe the mind and body that has been exhausted from only looking forward, or to design the future.

Even if it’s a very short time like one month, it’s enough. One month may seem short at first glance, but if you coordinate well, you can spend it productively.

And during the vacation, I plan to visit Marie’s mansion and then roll around lazily. Not only is academy life too busy, but there have been various incidents that have made me mentally and physically tired.

Now I’ve somewhat changed my mindset, so I can live relatively comfortably, but until I clearly realized my worth, I spent each day worrying.

“Aren’t you coming home, sis?”

“I’m thinking of returning in the middle of the vacation and staying for about a week. I need to spar with father.”

“Why only a week? Just stay the whole time. I’m bored.”

“This kid. If you’re that desperate, why don’t you just stay at your girlfriend’s house? Besides, I have a lot to do at the Halo Academy. I’m about to graduate, and I need to look for a workplace too.”

By the way, it doesn’t really matter if you stay at the academy dormitory instead of home during the vacation. Halo Academy is like a small city, and you can work part-time jobs to earn living expenses.

Especially those whose homes are too far away to commute tend to live at the academy during vacations. For the first two years, vacations are only a month long, so it can’t be helped.

“Then what about Adelia? Is she staying at the academy too?”

“Probably? Adelia’s home is really far away. Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s ever gone home during vacations. Anyway, enjoy your vacation, and don’t be a nuisance when you go to your girlfriend’s house. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I finished my conversation with Nicole before starting my proper vacation. Before meeting her, I had talked with acquaintances, and it seemed like everyone had a lot to do during the vacation.

First, Rina said she planned to pursue the culprit of the manuscript theft case to the end, and Cecilly didn’t tell me specifically. She just smiled sweetly and said it was a secret.

Since she said it was a secret, I didn’t pry further, but the look in her eyes was a bit unsettling. Should I say she was looking for opportunities? It might be purely my imagination, but it seemed to have a deep connection with me.

‘Well, it’s not something I need to worry about.’

By the way, I also asked Leona what she would do during the vacation.

And after making sure no one was around, she answered with her characteristically cynical voice.

“Nothing special. I’ll stay at the academy. It’s too troublesome to go back home, and living here is pretty good too.”

“Really? What about money?”

“I’ll have to do some part-time job or something. It seems like a pretty good experience.”

Leona working part-time… somehow it both suits her and doesn’t at the same time.

When I looked at her with such an expression, Leona slightly frowned and opened her mouth in a blunt voice.

“What? Does it seem strange that I’m doing part-time work?”

“No. I was just wondering what kind of job you’ll do.”

“What do you need to know for? Why, are you going to visit me?”

“If possible.”

Visiting a friend at their workplace isn’t necessarily a bad experience.

After hearing my answer, Leona snickered and waved her hand, telling me to do as I please.

“Anyway, just go now. Isn’t your female waiting for you?”

“Huh? Female? That sounds a bit strange.”

“Ah, sorry. I’m not used to it yet.”

Judging by the way she touched her mouth with an “oops” expression, it really seems like a mistake. And she’s even checking my reaction.

I stared at Leona’s face for a moment and then shrugged. Since we’re different species, I can forgive this kind of verbal mistake. Besides, Leona herself is apologetic.

“Anyway, enjoy your vacation. Don’t get caught in a weird way like I did.”

“Hey. That was really a mistake. If I hadn’t let my guard down, you wouldn’t have caught me.”

“Alright. Then I’m going. Bye.”

“Yeah. Take care, Red Penguin.”

She still calls me a penguin.

Leona waved her hand, giggling regardless of whether I glared at her or not. It’s fortunate that no one is around right now; since she’s hiding her identity, it’s very rare to see her laugh like this.

‘Now that I’ve said goodbye to everyone…’

Now I should start my vacation in earnest. I headed to the meeting place with light steps.

The meeting place was just the academy entrance, but my lovely girlfriend, Marie, would be waiting there.

There’s nothing less attractive than making your lover wait, so my steps naturally quickened.

And…

“Issac!”

As soon as I almost reached the academy entrance, a familiar voice reached my ears.

Turning my head toward the voice, I caught sight of Marie running toward me, her white hair fluttering. She was still wearing her school uniform, not casual clothes.

Nevertheless, it couldn’t hide Marie’s fresh charm. Unlike others, her charm seemed to increase because she was wearing the uniform.

I smiled brightly as I watched Marie approaching, then spread my arms wide. Marie naturally fell into my embrace when I spread my arms.

“Mmm… why are you so late?”

While feeling each other’s warmth, Marie looked up and asked me. Her blue eyes, sparkling like jewels, were full of affection for me.

I gently touched her cheek with my hand and opened my mouth. The smile on my face showed no signs of disappearing.

“I’m sorry. I was late because I was saying goodbye to others. How long have you been waiting?”

“Actually, I just got here too. I was late because I was talking with my brother.”

“Then why did you ask why I was late?”

“Because every minute and second felt like an hour?”

Although we started dating in a somewhat casual way at first, it’s not like that now. Just seeing her face makes me happy, so there’s no reason for me not to like her.

Above all, Marie is beautiful. Extremely so.

No matter how angry I get, the moment I see Marie’s pretty face, the anger in my heart melts away like snow. It’s a kind of healing, I suppose.

That’s how much Marie’s existence has grown for me. To the extent that I don’t care if people passing by stare or whisper.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes! Yes!”

And so, my first vacation began with my cute girlfriend.

*****

At the time when Issac and Marie were starting their proper vacation with a happy time.

The Princess of Helium, Cecilly, returned to Helium even though less than an hour had passed since the vacation began.

Cecilly, as a demon race that is second to none in magic along with elves, and as the next Demon King in waiting, possesses outstanding magical abilities.

Therefore, using teleportation that ignores all spatial constraints is no problem at all, and since she remembers the exact coordinates of the royal palace, she could arrive at the palace faster than anyone else.

Instead, since magic cannot be used inside the academy, she activated it from a slightly distant location.

“I’m back, Dad.”

“Welcome.”

As soon as Cecilly returned to the royal palace of Helium, she met the King of Helium, Deskall. Having already heard the news of Cecilly’s return, Deskall welcomed her with a gentle smile in response to her greeting.

Although she could have had someone sent to bring her back as a princess of a country, Cecilly doesn’t care about such things. She tends to dislike making people below her suffer for her sake.

Deskall, knowing Cecilly’s personality well, wasn’t surprised by her sudden return. After all, Cecilly had sent a letter saying she would return soon, so he had anticipated it.

“So, how was academy life? Was it manageable? Was there anyone who bullied you?”

But the heart of a father with a child is the same everywhere. Deskall asked Cecilly in a voice dripping with worry.

Although the gaze has been diluted now, the demon race was persecuted as devils until a few years ago. So, as a father before being a king, he couldn’t help but worry.

To this, Cecilly smiled brightly and eased Deskall’s concerns.

“It was really satisfying. I made many good friends too. Thanks to the Biography of Xenon, everyone treated me as a human, not a devil.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Ah. Of course, there were some people who had impure thoughts after seeing my face and body.”

“Which bastard?”

Deskall, who had been relieved just a moment ago, immediately frowned and interrogated Cecilly. As a father with only one daughter, this was a story he couldn’t possibly overlook.

Moreover, if that daughter is beautiful beyond words in others’ eyes? Naturally, his eyes would roll back. He would like to find that guy right away and tear him limb from limb.

To this, Cecilly laughed out loud and waved her hand, joking around. Indeed, her father remained the same even as time passed.

“I’m just kidding. Just kidding. There are many other pretty people besides me, so there weren’t many such gazes.”

Of course, there was exactly one. Jackson, the son of a count family, whose gaze would always drift to her chest area whenever they conversed.

But after the group project, Jackson started avoiding her. It was because she had played several pranks on him using the group project as an opportunity.

Moreover, except for Jackson, there were hardly any people approaching her. Even if it’s a beautiful flower, if it has thorns, people hesitate to pick it.

“…I understand. But don’t make such jokes. As a father, it’s something I absolutely cannot overlook.”

“Yes. I understand. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“Well, it seems like you’re doing well in academy life, so I’m relieved. Are you sure nothing else happened?”

“Hmm…”

There were indeed other things. And not just minor incidents.

Cecilly recalled a boy with distinctive red hair and smiled brightly. Just thinking about that boy made her smile involuntarily and her heart race.

Although there was someone by his side, it was no problem. If you can’t attack from the outside, you can slowly conquer from the inside.

Exchanging letters is also part of that conquest. There’s no more effective way to open someone’s heart than showing sincerity.

Even if it takes a long time, Cecilly didn’t mind. She is a demon, one of the long-lived races, and has cultivated “restraint” from a young age, so she has very strong patience.

‘Someday, the opportunity will come.’

Nothing in this world is eternal. This applies to relationships between men and women as well, and it’s as natural as a blazing log gradually dying out.

Cecilly opened her mouth, hoping that moment would come someday. The image of the red-haired boy was still playing in her mind.

“Nothing special happened. Honestly, academy life itself is special for me, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

“By the way, Dad. Is the investigation progressing well?”

Cecilly quickly changed the subject. Although Deskall might be insensitive to certain aspects, if he were to notice by chance, she might be suspected.

If she were to be suspected, attention would naturally turn to Issac, and once attention turns to Issac, he might send people after him. Cecilly wanted to prevent that at all costs.

Fortunately, contrary to her concerns, Deskall didn’t seem to notice. After hearing Cecilly’s question, Deskall stroked his chin and quietly gave his answer.

“If you’re referring to the manuscript theft case, it’s progressing well. We’ve sent a letter to the Empire of Minerva, so we should receive a reply soon.”

“Really? Who do you think stole the manuscript, Dad?”

“According to the empire’s investigation, they’re having trouble because not a single clue has emerged. But I think this itself is a clue. If even the empire couldn’t find a clue, there’s only one possibility left.”

Following this, Deskall speculated about the suspect in a solemn voice.

“Elves. And specifically, dark elves who are highly specialized in the ability to hide in darkness.”

“Why do you think so?”

“As I mentioned earlier, because there’s not a single clue. If the culprit had thought even a little deeply, they would have left some clues. I think the fact that not a single clue has emerged actually strengthens the case for dark elves.”

Deskall took the fact that no clues emerged despite the empire’s investigation as a clue itself. Cecilly nodded in understanding after hearing his words.

There had been no significant connection between demons and dark elves until now. But today, a connection was formed.

The manuscript theft case was enough to fuel the anger of not only humans but also demons. The Biography of Xenon was a treasure among treasures that fulfilled the wishes of demons, in other words, it was no different from a ‘holy relic’.

From the demons’ perspective, they couldn’t help but feel a kind of ‘sense of mission’ to find the manuscript and return it to its owner. In fact, Helium’s resolute organization ‘Reaper’ had begun to move.

‘We will definitely return it to you, benefactor. Please don’t worry too much.’

Cecilly imagined Issac receiving the manuscript back.

The image of a cute and lovely boy who would be genuinely happy and grateful to her.

Just imagining it made her so happy that she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Haah…”

“…?”

Deskall, completely unaware of Cecilly’s inner thoughts, couldn’t help but wonder.