[A Troublesome Encounter (1)]

T/N: This bonus chapter is sponsored by Soothsayer (7/10).

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My past statement about not wanting to get involved with the members of the Hero’s party wasn’t just empty words.

What I wanted in this world was a life where I could enjoy the magic and adventures of this world while still being leisurely.

I wanted the life of an adventurer with some skill, who deliberately lived at a relaxed pace without trying to raise their rank, living freely and easily.

So naturally, even within the Academy, I avoided creating points of contact with characters related to the original story as much as possible, except for those I couldn’t avoid getting entangled with.

Especially in the case of first-year Lilia from the Spearmanship Department—I hadn’t even had the slightest point of contact with her, let alone become friends.

“Please help me, Senior Lilith.”

“…Huh?”

So, of course, I couldn’t help but be surprised by Lilia suddenly appearing in front of the Magic Department Building and asking me for help.

“A-Ahem. Are you calling me, Miss Lilia Fionis?”

“Yes, Senior Lilith.”

“…Do you know her, Lilith?”

“No… This is our first meeting, right, Miss Fionis?”

“That’s correct, Senior Lilith.”

…What’s gone wrong this time?

As I just said, I swear to the heavens that I’ve never had any points of contact with Lilia.

Well, not just with Lilia, but I had no interactions with first-years in general. 

Lilia and Caniel were in the Spearmanship and Martial Arts Departments, respectively, so there was no chance for me, from the Magic Department, to encounter them in the first place. 

Serdic was also from the Technical Department, so he was unrelated to me. 

As for Tralia from the Pharmacy Department, whom I might have had a chance to be involved with, since she was friends with Lizzy and Lara, I didn’t need to approach her to ask for potions.

Lilia and I weren’t even seniors and juniors in the same department. 

I knew in advance which main characters would be entering Luminor Academy as freshmen, precisely to avoid getting involved in troublesome situations like this.

I didn’t expect the main character of the game to approach me when I was trying to avoid them. With Machart, at least, I mistakenly caught his interest, but with Lilia, this was literally the first time we’d even made eye contact and spoken.

“Um… Miss Fionis.”

“Yes, Senior Lilith.”

“I don’t know what favor you’re trying to ask… but I don’t think I’ll be able to help you.”

“…Why is that, Senior Lilith?”

“Well, I’m Ethan’s exclusive maid. As his maid, I’m already busy dedicating my time to being responsible for my young master’s school life, so I don’t think I have the leisure to hear your request.”

“You mean you’re busy clinging to Ethan, linking arms, and licking and sucking…”

“Be quiet, Miss Agnes.”

“…”

I didn’t exactly lick and suck. 

…Though I did occasionally link arms with him.

“Then, should I ask Senior Ethan if he could give you enough free time to hear my request…?”

“No, please don’t.”

As expected of a barbarian. She doesn’t understand subtle hints.

It was just an excuse because I didn’t want to get involved, but I don’t know how to respond when she reacts like this.

“I apologize for making you misunderstand, Miss Fionis. While my lack of free time is indeed one reason, even if I did have free time, I probably wouldn’t accept your request.”

“…W-Why is that, Senior Lilith?”

“First, I have no personal connection with you, Miss Fionis. The first reason is that we haven’t built enough of a relationship for me to accept a sudden request. Second, when asking someone for a favor, you need to observe basic courtesy. No one would agree to help when suddenly approached by a stranger with a request. Third, I simply don’t want to because it’s troublesome. I’m already going to be busy preparing for the end-of-term Hunting Festival, so I don’t have the capacity to focus on anything else.”

“…I-I see.”

“If you understand, would you please leave now, Miss Fionis?”

“Understood, Senior Lilith. I apologize for the intrusion.”

“Yes. I recommend observing better manners the next time you ask someone for a favor.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Trudge. Trudge.

“…”

Lilia walked away from me with slumped shoulders and heavy footsteps, looking somewhat deflated.

For a moment, my heart softened at the sight of her back, but I tightly closed my eyes and deliberately ignored that pitiful appearance.

That’s because I had an intuition that if I got involved now, I’d end up entangled countless times with not just Lilia but other main characters until my graduation from the Academy.

“…Are you okay, Lilith?”

“What do you mean, Miss Agnes?”

“You don’t look satisfied with your decision.”

“…Does it seem that way?”

“Don’t worry about it. Kids like that who suddenly approach with their demands only come to you when they need something, and when you actually need help and ask them, they pretend not to hear and run away.”

“…”

I didn’t think Lilia was that type of person.

There was one thing that bothered me, as Agnes had pointed out. Perhaps the request was trivial, and I had rejected it too hastily without even hearing it.

Of course, my desire to avoid getting entangled in the main story of Luminor Academy outweighed that concern, so it was an unavoidable choice. 

If I got more involved, there was a real possibility that my plan for a slow-paced and peaceful life would be ruined.

Especially considering Lilia’s simple yet persistent personality, it was important to shake her off, even if it meant being a bit harsh. Characters like her are like chaos that keeps creeping up once you get involved.

‘Whatever event this is, blocking it in advance would be the wisest choice.’

It was better to maintain a relationship with Lilia where we had no personal connection.

…The problem was that Lilia wasn’t the type to back down just because I didn’t want to get involved.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The next morning…

Not even a few hours after waking up, I started my day feeling dumbfounded for two reasons.

“Good morning, Senior Lilith!”

“…Ah.”

“Good morning! Oh, good morning to you, too, Senior Ethan!”

“…Yes, good morning, Miss Lilia Marasendar Galenhar Soraben Fionis Barbarakus.”

“…”

First, I was dumbfounded by Lilia’s appearance right after Ethan and I left the dormitory dining hall after breakfast.

Second, I was dumbfounded by Ethan calmly greeting Lilia and starting a conversation with her.

“Thank you, Senior Ethan!”

“Is today the joint training day for the Swordsmanship and Spearmanship Departments? That’s the only reason I can think of for you to come looking for us this early.”

“Ah, I deeply apologize to you, Senior Ethan, but today, I came to speak with your fiancée, Senior Lilith!”

“…With Lilith?”

“Yes! If it’s not too presumptuous, would you be so kind as to allow me just a brief moment to speak with Senior Lilith!”

“…”

It was Lilia who appeared before me—the very same Lilia who, just yesterday, I had pointed out for her lack of manners when making requests. 

Now, overnight, she had returned with excessive politeness.

Judging from the dark circles under her eyes, she must have stayed up all night memorizing some book on conversation etiquette. 

Though her mind might be simple, she had the strongest determination among all the female characters of Luminor Academy, so it wasn’t hard to figure out what had happened last night.

“I don’t know the reason, but compared to your usual demeanor, you’ve certainly straightened up.”

“Yes! Yesterday, Senior Lilith pointed out my bad manners, so I stayed up all night learning proper etiquette! So, may I have your permission to speak with Senior Lilith, Senior Ethan!”

“…Lilith?”

“I-I don’t know anything about this, Young Master Ethan. Y-Yesterday, Miss Fionis suddenly made a request of me when we first met, so I simply advised her that it’s better to observe proper manners when asking others for favors.”

I don’t know who taught her etiquette, but her way of speaking was unbearably uncomfortable. I desperately wished she would go back to her original way of speaking.

“What are you going to do, Lilith?”

“…Young Master Ethan, you have a first-period class, so it would be best for you to head to your
lecture hall. I’ll have a brief conversation with her and send her on her way, as my classes don’t start until second period.”

“…Alright, Lilith. Let me know if there’s any trouble.”

“…Yes, Young Master Ethan.”

In truth, this whole situation itself was troublesome, but it wasn’t the kind of trouble that Ethan could solve for me.

After releasing our clasped hands and sending Ethan ahead with a slightly regretful feeling, I glared at Lilia, who had dared to disturb Ethan and me in the morning.

“…”

“Senior Lilith…?”

“What are you trying to do so early in the morning, Miss Fionis? Are you perhaps harboring resentment because I rejected your request yesterday, and now you’ve come to interfere with me?”

“N-No, not at all! I simply wanted to talk with you after establishing a solid foundation of proper etiquette, as you mentioned I was lacking in that area!”

“…Wouldn’t it have been better to come at a more leisurely pace, Miss Fionis? You look quite tired already.”

“N-No! I’m not tired at all!”

“If I say I don’t want to talk today, will you come again tomorrow?”

“…”

“…Sigh.“

Fine, I surrender. No matter how much I want to avoid getting involved, what can I do when she clings to me so forcefully?

Since I’ve already gotten entangled, I might as well find out what the problem is and resolve it quickly, whatever it is.

“I’ll at least listen to what your request is. I have about an hour to spare.”

“Thank you, Senior Lilith!”

“I haven’t said I’ll grant it yet. I’m only going to listen.”

“Understood, Senior Lilith!”

…Ah, this really is exhausting.

Where the hell is Gyeongmwajogyegigwat? What is he doing instead of taking care of his heroines?