Don’t Talk to Me

“Is that really true?”

The next day, I told Riel about what I had received in the letter yesterday in the secret room of the Grand Library.

Right now, only Riel and I were in this secret room.

“Yes. Honestly, I thought Knight Captain Ludwig might have been using Allen to wreak havoc on the Duke’s family…”

“Hmm… that knight captain…?”

Riel seemed lost in thought as she looked down.

Albert Ludwig.

He’s a character mentioned in the original story, and as the protagonist’s father, he’s a fairly important figure.

He’s depicted as a middle-aged man who deeply cares for Allen and is devoted to his family, who mastered the kingdom’s military swordsmanship and received a knighthood at a young age, making significant achievements.

Then he met Allen’s mother, had Allen, and began serving the Duke’s family when they moved to the duchy.

However, he didn’t appear directly in the original story.

That’s because he later appears as a corpse, becoming the catalyst that plunges Allen into grief and a desire for revenge.

Moreover, in the original story, the one who killed him was none other than Riel’s sister, Eve Ignis.

This incident causes Allen to completely become hostile toward Eve… that was the flow of the original story.

But the current situation is completely opposite – Eve has discovered and rescued Albert Ludwig, who was on the verge of death.

“Honestly, I don’t have much memory of the Knight Captain, so I don’t know what to say.”

“You rarely met him?”

“Yes, the Captain often went out with my father. So I thought he had gone out with my father this time too…”

And yet that Knight Captain was dying in the barracks of Duke Ignis’s territory…

“…But, does he know about this?”

“No, they’re keeping it a secret for now and attempting treatment because they don’t know what might happen if Allen finds out.”

They decided not to inform Allen about Albert Ludwig’s condition.

While there was concern about what might happen, the bigger issue was not knowing what Allen might do considering his pattern of behavior.

Perhaps he would arbitrarily conclude that Eve did something to his father and cause trouble, just like in the original story.

“Then let’s leave the rest to Eve. She said she would contact us if there’s any progress.”

“…Yes, my sister should be fine.”

There’s nothing we can do right now.

All we can do is deal with what’s in front of us and wait for updates.

“By the way, wasn’t Emilia supposed to be with you?”

“Ah, Emilia went to town because she has a part-time job.”

“Is that so?”

When living at the academy, there are many expenses that come up.

For example, meals are included in the tuition fee and provided for free, but school supplies other than textbooks need to be purchased with one’s own money.

Notebooks, pens, ink, and so on… there are surprisingly many expenses.

Especially quill pens, which are cheap and commonly used by commoners, are treated almost as consumables since they break easily if you press too hard.

Plus, being young, they would want to snack on things besides regular meals, right?

Except for nobles like me and Riel who already have some money, most commoner students cover these expenses with part-time jobs.

Emilia too, while her father supports her tuition, she earns the rest of the money she needs herself.

“More importantly, is your preparation for the Mushin Festival going well?”

“Well, I’ve even been through actual combat recently, so I’m prepared.”

As I’ve said before, honestly, I’m confident I can win.

Given how much I’ve trained in the north, I’m confident I can handle most academy students.

However, I can’t be careless.

Even if Allen isn’t a concern, Senior Iris, who will likely participate in the competition, is a formidable opponent.

Of course, I’m confident I could beat Senior Iris if I could use magic too, but since magic is prohibited in the swordsmanship division of the competition, the outcome is uncertain.

Ah, I’m starting to worry now.

“…I think I’ll go train a bit more today.”

“Co…could I come with you?”

“Huh? You, Riel?”

I suddenly remembered Allen bringing women to the practice ground yesterday.

The way they squealed every time Allen swung his sword, and how the people around looked at them with contempt…

…Hmm, I feel a bit reluctant to invite her.

“…I shouldn’t come after all?”

“……”

…Hmm.

“No, it’s an academy facility, there’s no reason why Riel can’t come, right?”

“Th-That’s right? Hehehe…”

“But since people are seriously training there, you shouldn’t be too noisy!”

“I-I’ll be fine! I’m not a child!”

…If you say that, what does that make those kids who came with Allen yesterday and made a commotion?

Just like yesterday, the training ground was full of people.

No, there might have been even more than yesterday, as finding an empty spot was surprisingly difficult.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Allen, you’re so cool!”

…Judging from the commotion of girls from inside, it seems Allen is here too.

Wow, look at the expressions on people’s faces. Especially the men.

They’re swinging their swords with the sole determination to crush that guy at the Mushin Festival.

Riel must have heard those voices too, as she frowned and said:

“…I think I understand what you meant earlier, Kyo.”

“Ahahaha…”

“What are they doing in a public place?”

Moving forward, we found an empty spot and settled there.

Those women cheering for Allen were visible from there, which made it a bit noisy, but this was the spot furthest away from them.

Looking closely, unlike yesterday, Feris was not visible.

There was something strange about her yesterday and it bothered me a bit, but I decided not to worry about it.

I picked up a wooden sword from the training weapons hanging there and took a stance.

Riel sat on a bench a short distance away, watching me.

Like yesterday, I slowly unfolded my swordsmanship from the beginning, as if reviewing what I had learned.

Riel was sitting on the bench, watching Kyo as he swung his sword diligently.

“Allen! Here, drink some water!”

“I have a towel here!”

Although noisy voices could be heard from far away, Riel just clicked her tongue internally and thoroughly ignored them.

The training ground crowded with people.

Just a few months ago, this was a place Riel wouldn’t have gone near, but now she was inside.

Even entering this place that would have made her suffocate with tension, Riel’s body felt nothing.

Of course, it wasn’t as clean a feeling as when she went to the north, and there was a sensation of slight discomfort poking at her body, but for Riel, it was a much more comfortable environment.

When did it begin, this ability to spend academy life with such a comfortable mind?

No, she knew very well when it had begun.

‘…Thank you.’

To the boy earnestly swinging his sword in front of her.

Riel expressed her gratitude internally.

“Is it okay if I sit here for a moment?”

At the sudden voice, Riel looked to the side.

It was a pretty woman with black hair tied up.

Judging by the color of her training clothes, she was a senior. She seemed to have been training until just now, as she was wiping sweat with a towel.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Then excuse me.”

The woman sat next to Riel and took out a water bottle from her bag to drink.

Riel’s gaze naturally turned toward her.

After finishing the water, she put down the bottle and directed her gaze toward Kyo.

Why toward him…?

As Riel was thinking this and looking at her, the woman noticed Riel’s gaze and smiled brightly.

“Ah, I’m Iris Likenair. Second year.”

“I’m Riel Ignis. First year.”

“Oh, of that Duke Ignis family…? I’ve met another big shot today.”

She extended her hand, so Riel, though a bit hesitant, took her hand and shook it.

“Um… are you perhaps an acquaintance of Kyo’s?”

“No, I just met him yesterday… Could you be his girlfriend or something…?”

“N-No! We’re friends! Friends!”

As Riel shook her head with a bright red face, Iris laughed loudly.

“Ahaha! You don’t have to deny it that much.”

“T-That’s…”

“Haha, it’s fine. I get the gist of it without you saying anything.”

Still smiling, Iris turned her gaze back to Kyo and said:

“His swordsmanship is educational to watch.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, my father is a soldier, so I’ve only diligently learned the kingdom’s military swordsmanship…”

Iris Likenair had been learning swordsmanship from her father since childhood, blooming her talent and showing such genius that she was called a prodigy.

Even after entering the academy, she had developed that talent to the point of being called the strongest in her grade.

Well, in exchange, she was completely hopeless at magic.

“The academy usually only teaches military swordsmanship and most students use the same style, so watching a different style like his is educational.”

“I see.”

The two of them were quietly conversing.

At that moment, noisy chattering voices were heard from the side again.

“Allen! Are you tired? Should I give you a massage?”

“This is a drink I made, it helps with fatigue…”

The bright yellow conversation that continued to fill the charging spirit of the surrounding men echoed throughout the training ground.

The problem was that it not only made the surrounding men’s expressions darken, but even Iris’s expression frowned.

“They were like this yesterday, and they’re at it again today.”

“…So they were like this yesterday too, I see.”

“This won’t do. If we leave them like this, the same thing will happen tomorrow.”

Iris stood up abruptly and walked resolutely toward Allen’s group.

Riel hesitated for a moment, then hastily followed behind Iris.

“You all, please be a bit quieter in the training ground. This isn’t a place just for you to use.”

“What? Who are you to interf…ere?”

The girl who was getting annoyed at Iris’s sudden interruption noticed Iris’s gym clothes and hastily corrected the end of her sentence.

“What do you mean who am I to interfere? Don’t you think your behavior warrants interference?”

“……”

“It’s fine to cheer for your boyfriend, but you should do it quietly, considering other people too.”

“B-Boyfriend…”

The girls bowed their heads with bright red faces.

Iris made a slightly bewildered expression, but quickly corrected her expression and said:

“Anyway, please be a bit quieter in the training ground.”

“Y-Yes…”

“We’re sorry.”

The girls apologized sincerely.

Iris, with a satisfied face, was about to leave the spot.

Riel, who had been worried about a bad situation developing, was also relieved and about to follow Iris away, but.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?”

“Ah, Allen.”

Allen, who had finished a round of sword swinging and returned to get some water, appeared on the scene.

Iris’s gaze naturally turned toward him.

Allen looked at her as well.

“You are…”

“Huh, so the real source of the disturbance in the training ground was that guy I saw earlier?”

Iris remembered the impressive boy she had met recently.

Of course, it was impressive in a bad way.

“What are you doing to these girls… Huh? Riel?”

“Haah…”

Riel shook her head and forcefully exhaled, sighing.

As expected, this guy’s timing is the worst.

“Riel, what happened between this senior and my friends?”

“……”

“Riel? Can you explain it to me?”

“Don’t call my name so casually.”

“……Huh?”

“Don’t talk to me, it’s unpleasant.”