Ch.99EP.26 – The Girl Gained a Family…? (1)

The sunlight was particularly intense in the sky.

The heat proved that the season of strengthening solar energy had arrived gracefully.

The southern continent generally lacked distinct seasons and was characterized by cool weather. However, the territory belonging to Pendragon was exceptionally hot.

Scholars speculated that the fiery energy from “Mount Vulcan,” located near the Pendragon territory, became more active during summer, making the weather hotter than elsewhere.

However, on a continent where magical power, mysteries, and fairy mischief coexisted, such unusual climate phenomena weren’t particularly strange, and few people found them odd.

Rather, from Pendragon’s perspective, merely suffering from heat waves might be considered fortunate compared to the “Great Rainy Season” in the Eastern Continent, where failed magic caused rain for half a year, or the “Great Snowfall” in the Central Continent, where fairies’ anger resulted in year-round snow.

Therefore…

“—Though we call it summer vacation, those who know, know. For the next two months, we’ll be conducting ceremonies for the fairies of Vulcan and others. We must recognize that humans aren’t the only beings living on this continent. We’re merely one of many groups coexisting with numerous races and natural entities. This means we shouldn’t act like the arrogant Empire, pretending to be the masters of the continent, and also…!”

…Well, that’s what they say.

I suppose it could be summarized as needing to be grateful even for the raging heat.

“When will this end?”

“Shh, what if they hear you?”

“I’m saying this because I might collapse from dehydration…”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to just collapse? They’d move you to the recovery room.”

“What are you…! …Are you a genius?”

The students listening to the chancellor’s lengthy speech wore expressions beyond boredom—they looked miserable.

Though they were gathered in the auditorium, with hundreds packed tightly together, the venue remained unbearably hot.

In such sweltering conditions, having to listen to the same speech repeated for over an hour naturally made the students’ expressions desperate.

Yet none of them could say anything to the chancellor.

Who would dare talk back to a former prime minister who was called a great statesman in the era of military gods?

It wasn’t surprising that some students were starting to lose their minds.

“Lady Karin, can’t you stop the chancellor? He’s your grandfather, after all.”

“I’d love to, but once Grandfather starts a speech, not even family can stop him. To interrupt him, we’d need a sudden visit from one of his close friends.”

“Who would that be?”

“Hmm, perhaps the former head of Tristan, or His Majesty the King… or someone like Duchess Felinshia.”

“…I guess it’s wiser to just listen to this speech until the end.”

If any of those people showed up, it would be an even greater disaster.

The noble lady who had placed a glimmer of hope on intervention now shrank back in fear and surrendered.

Karin, with her beautiful violet eyes, maintained a polite smile.

It was somehow like wearing a mask—she showed notably less vitality than when dealing with a certain timid gray-haired boy.

Meanwhile.

“Mmmmm…”

“……”

“Siiigh…”

“…Lady?”

“Siiiiiigh!”

“…Irene?”

“Hm? Did you call me?”

“…Haha, you seemed troubled about something.”

A girl who didn’t respond to “Lady” but reacted to her name.

Though Karin never felt inferior about her appearance elsewhere, she had to admit she fell somewhat short compared to the girl before her.

With mysterious blue jewel-like eyes and golden thread-like hair resembling those of fairies—one of the most beautiful mystical races alongside mermaids and bird-people—the girl was so beautiful she could enchant even other women.

Irene Windler.

The most famous person at the academy, a magician expected to represent not just this generation but the era, and well-known as the adopted daughter of Duke Galahad.

Others wouldn’t dare sit beside or near such a girl, so Karin had no choice but to sit next to her…

But it seemed she should have sat elsewhere.

“Y-you’ve been sighing heavily, so I wondered if something was wrong…”

With such obvious displays of depression, how could she not ask?

Irene kept sighing, and Karin felt compelled to speak to her.

Then.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to show it, but something’s just bothering me.”

“Oh dear. That must be difficult.”

“Well, you see… oh, it’s nothing.”

“If you say so…”

“But still!”

“……”

…Ah, this girl’s personality is annoying.

She sensed it immediately.

Unlike her appearance, this girl was troublesome.

Speaking to her had clearly been the wrong choice.

‘I miss Derrick.’

The boy with reactions as cute as a gray puppy.

She enjoyed his fresh responses, but she had no desire to be a counselor for a girl she barely knew.

However.

“Hm? Lady Karin, are you very hot?”

“What? Oh… it is rather hot, isn’t it?”

“Yes, then.”

*Snap!*

*Whoosh*

“…My goodness?”

“Hehe, feels nice, right?”

“Yes, it really does…”

The girl’s water-like magical power swept over her, and Karin enjoyed unparalleled refreshment.

Not just sweat, but even dust and impurities were washed away instantly.

Yet the refreshing coolness continued to persist.

Karin blinked twice.

“Despite appearances, I’m a water and wind magician. This much is simple, fufu.”

“Oh my! That’s truly impressive!”

Karin now decided to genuinely pamper the girl.

It’s human psychology to increase favorability when someone does something nice first.

Karin Alencia de Guinevere.

It seemed she might be able to become friends with this troublesome girl after all.

* * *

…Irene’s worry wasn’t anything special.

‘Doesn’t my presence seem too faint?’

Whether it was about her presence or the decreasing opportunities to talk with an attractive man…

Somehow…

[Your activity has decreased. It’s like you’re a cameo who appears once and then exits in a movie or drama.]

‘Mmmmm!’

The ghost girl’s cutting remark that couldn’t be denied!

Irene wanted to groan.

But.

‘This makes me look too narrow-minded. I’m glad Levi is safe, but…’

The problem was that there was a culprit making Irene Windler feel even more insecure and causing such worries, yet she couldn’t properly show her distress because it would make her look like a bad person.

Levi Jeanne d’Arc.

A friend who safely returned to the academy, and whose presence had recently threatened Irene’s existence and made her depressed.

‘Am I too narrow-minded?’

[You just realized that now?]

‘You should be on my side!’

[What’s so pretty about that?]

‘…Tch.’

Irene felt utterly miserable.

The girl, Levi, had safely returned to the academy a week ago, and everyone welcomed her back.

– Bear cub, are you okay now??

– I’m glad you returned safely, Lady.

– You shouldn’t disappear without saying anything, miss.

Concerns, relief, and even scolding advice continued for a while, but Levi cheerfully accepted it all.

– Thank you, and… I’m sorry, everyone.

…Though they hadn’t seen her for just a few days, the girl had become much more mature, and her peers simply assumed she had matured due to her recent hardships.

No one asked for details.

They just assumed the instructor had helped her.

…And sure enough.

– In-Instructor?

– What’s with all those bandages!?

– …Did you fight a hundred trolls or something?

The instructor appeared wrapped in bandages.

Knowing his exceptional combat abilities, the students were shocked.

For him to be injured like this…

They even feared that some ancient sealed monster might have been resurrected.

But contrary to their worries and fears, the instructor calmly said:

– Adults have various circumstances that children don’t know about. Don’t ask too many questions.

He dismissed their concerns and nagged as usual.

– …That doesn’t seem like an appropriate example right now…

– Hey!

– ……

– Anyway, everyone should know that the bear cub never submitted any withdrawal forms. She just had a brief rebellious phase and was absent without permission.

– At her age?

– People develop at different rates—some earlier, some later. The bear cub’s phase just came a bit late.

– ……

– Re-spond.

– Ah, yes!

…And so Levi’s escape episode ended rather abruptly, but many questions remained.

Why was the instructor so badly injured, and Levi…

– Ah, you don’t have to call me by the surname Pollet anymore. …I’ve abandoned it.

– ?

Whether she had abandoned her family name, her family…

There were many unresolved questions, but the students set them aside.

Yes, what mattered was that the girl had returned.

They decided not to worry too much about it.

…But not long after.

– Ah, Instructor. Where do I apply to become an academy assistant?

…Faced with her making such an extreme choice, they couldn’t help but pay attention.

People were shocked to see Levi trying to become an assistant.

Especially.

– L-Lady Levi! Why are you voluntarily entering this inferno?!

Damian Pollet.

Ihan’s assistant (slave) had long lost his well-dressed young master appearance from the entrance ceremony and now looked as haggard as a ghoul.

Well, not all assistants were like that.

He was particularly suffering because Ihan dumped all tasks on him.

But everyone knew Levi wanted to become an assistant to work with him, and Damian Pollet couldn’t help but try to dissuade her.

Literally:

‘Hey, that path leads to hell.’

-was all he could say.

Despite such concerns, the girl cheerfully submitted her assistant application and quickly joined the assistants, leaving everyone astonished…

– Hmm, this is quite manageable?

The girl found the assistant work so easy that she could only blink in surprise.

– Huh?

Was Damian exaggerating?

That wasn’t the case.

Even with two assistants now, the work remained laborious.

But the girl’s perception was different.

For someone who had endured 19 years of genuine hardship, adversity, and suffering, these tasks were, well…

– It’s actually surprisingly easy, fufu.

– ……

Yes, it was just easy and comfortable.

Later, it was said this became the moment Damian Pollet began to fear and respect the girl. Levi quickly adapted to the work and continuously showed new sides of herself.

Training harder than before.

Being kinder and gentler to the students than before.

Giving her all more than before…

– Master, how should I do this?

– Master, aren’t you tired?

– Master-!

Respectfully, no, devotedly serving the instructor.

She seemed somehow bolder yet brighter, reminiscent of the freshness of lush vegetation.

Her face showed no darkness, only bright, innocent vitality.

…So the students were newly curious.

What exactly had happened to the girl, or rather, to both the instructor and the girl?

And Irene Windler, watching this…

– Oh?

Discovering traces of pure, absolute affection in the girl’s gaze, she couldn’t help but make a foolish expression.

The direction of that absolute affection…

– [Irene, it seems you’ve got a formidable rival, like a lady-in-waiting?]

– ……

…seemed to be toward the steadfast knight.

Irene felt an enormous sense of crisis.

She already had a formidable rival with the lovable charm of a Golden Retriever and the mysterious allure of a fairy, so why did another such rival have to appear!

So…!

“-Hmm, so you’re feeling complicated because your friend has become your love rival.”

“N-no, that’s not…”

“Don’t deny it. It’s obvious.”

“……”

“Hooo.”

See?

‘This is more interesting than I expected?’

Originally, she had just listened out of boredom, but as she heard more, it became quite fascinating.

Certainly, compared to her grandfather—no, the chancellor—who had been repeating the same speech for an hour, a young girl’s love story was far more interesting and heartwarming.

One must compare what’s comparable.

‘Hmm, he’s quite something, that man.’

While intrigued, she couldn’t help but admire the subject.

To think he had monopolized the love of Lady Levi, who was called the academy’s greatest beauty and first love of many male students, in addition to this…

Well, well.

‘Young Lord Roen, I didn’t see you that way… You know how to capture women’s hearts, don’t you?’

Due to Irene not revealing who the object of affection was, Karin developed a curious misunderstanding. She found herself newly impressed by the lion of the north.

…She couldn’t imagine that the object was actually a certain knight with a distinctive appearance.

* * *

Meanwhile, the knight was absent from the closing ceremony.

No matter how reckless he was, skipping the closing ceremony risked being summoned by the chancellor again, but fortunately…

“Ho ho, we meet again so soon.”

“……”

…Thanks to the power of connections, there was no risk of being summoned.

Marquis Jeminia.

…He had come to meet Ihan.

Ihan didn’t hide his disgruntled expression as he asked.

“Have you come for revenge…sir?”

“Ho ho, drop the formality that doesn’t suit you. It feels awkward.”

“Then I’m comfortable with that.”

“How impertinent, ho ho! But strangely, I like hearing it.”

“……”

…He subtly increased the distance between them.

Seeing the marquis approach with excessive familiarity made him uncomfortable.

“The other day you were as brave as a lion, but now you’re so docile, heh heh.”

“I do know my manners.”

“Does someone who knows manners beat up all my knights like that?”

“As long as none of them died, it’s fine.”

“…This side of you is quite detestable.”

But soon.

“Yet even that appeals to me.”

The marquis, already fond of the knight Ihan, didn’t find fault with his actions or words.

While arrogance from the incompetent is unsightly, confidence from a skilled strong person is justified.

So the marquis said:

“I’m not particularly interested in revenge. Ah, I can’t speak for our knights, though. Many of them are already training despite their injuries. Next time, they won’t be so easy to deal with.”

“That… sounds exciting.”

This was definitely good news.

They weren’t running away but seeking redemption.

This was certainly pleasing news.

…However.

“…What?”

Ihan had to drastically reduce the distance he had created when he heard the marquis’s next statement.

After all.

“Neither of us likes long conversations, right? So I’ll get straight to the point. About that girl who was supposed to marry me—I’ve decided to make her my daughter instead.”

“…You’ve skipped too many steps.”

He started spouting unbelievable nonsense.

This man…

‘Has the heat gotten to him?’

Once again, he couldn’t help but give the marquis an irreverent look.