Banquet (1)

Banquet (1)

After washing up and returning, I see Rumi dozing off in front of my room while hugging a puppy doll.

If it were an ordinary woman doing this, I would have thought it was strange.

‘… She’s certainly pretty.’

Considering only her appearance, she was so beautiful that I couldn’t even understand why she was being bullied.

Even with her behaving like that, the thought of her being cute came to mind before thinking it was strange.

Realizing this fact, I let out a small laugh before quickly regaining my composure and slowly called out to Rumi.

“Rumi.”

“……”

Seeing no response, it seems she’s fallen into a deep sleep like last time.

Having no choice, I try to carry Rumi to the guest room.

I notice her eyelids trembling ever so slightly.

‘Was she pretending to be asleep?’

I’m not sure why she was acting like that.

Now that I know she’s not really sleeping, there’s no need to carry her.

Thinking this, I was about to tell Rumi to get up, but feeling slightly annoyed that she tried to deceive me, I gave her a strong flick on the forehead instead.

As the sound of the flick echoes, Rumi startles awake, holding her forehead and looking up at me.

Seeing Rumi’s expression of indignation, I feel quite satisfied.

Then, pointing to the guest room, I briefly replied.

“If you’re going to sleep, sleep in the room.”

“……”

Rumi looked at me with a sulky expression, as if something was bothering her.

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she held out the puppy doll she was holding and said.

“Th-thank you for this… I’ve been waiting.”

It seems she came to express her gratitude.

Thinking that she’s still a good kid, I nodded.

Rumi carefully hugged the puppy doll and said.

“I… I’ll try to become the person Deren wants me to be.”

The person I want?

Realizing that the conversation had somewhat twisted, I quickly tried to ask about it.

“So… please watch over me…! I’ll become a great dog!”

But before that, Rumi declared to me with an inexplicable determination.

Then she started running away as if escaping.

‘……’

I sighed, thinking that I had no idea why everyone around me was trying to do things related to dogs.

* * *

The next morning, when I arrived at the Academy, I saw Espin calling me with a face mixed with embarrassment and slight envy.

Apparently, he was calling to talk about what I did yesterday, so I approached him.

He speaks to me, showing the opposite of his usual demeanor.

“I can’t believe you actually did it! Our junior is quite capable!”

Today’s Espin was so different from yesterday’s that they could be considered different people.

From his tone to his expressions and actions, everything showed the opposite feeling.

I briefly spoke, wondering where the Espin who had been attacking me from the start had gone.

“Shut up.”

“……”

At my tone, as if pouring cold water, Espin seemed to come to his senses.

Returning to his original expression, he spoke to me in a somewhat cold voice.

“Anyway, you did well.”

For someone trying to act aloof, his ears are too red.

I realize that he’s pretending not to be, but is actually very embarrassed, as I observe this.

Espin told me about what happened last night.

“Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, with your help and that of the Lercier Family, the story about large-scale human experiments has spread widely to the central government.”

I nodded at those words as if it were obvious.

It wasn’t just an ordinary family, but the Lercier Family with their absolute power involved.

It was inevitable that the story about this incident would spread.

As I nodded at this obvious result,

Espin, seemingly quite excited, spoke to me faster and faster, continuing his words.

“Because of that, the Public Security Department, which had been keeping quiet until now, has entered into a large-scale audit. And there’s talk that our Inspection Department will also be deployed for this case.”

Actually, this isn’t really important.

To be honest, it wasn’t something that greatly concerned me.

So when I nodded somewhat indifferently, Espin cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“So, well… I’m saying you did a good job. I’ll give you a heads up on the details when the investigation starts.”

I nodded with satisfaction at those words.

After all, this was the reason why I deliberately involved Espin in this matter.

I looked at Espin and thought it might be a good time to throw him a carrot, so I casually brought up the subject.

“As a reward for this task, I’ll mention that Inspector Espin was of great help in this case.”

At those words, Espin blinked and looked at me, as if he hadn’t expected me to go that far.

Avoiding his somewhat burdensome gaze, I calmly continued speaking.

“Then I’ll be counting on you next time as well.”

“… Alright.”

Espin nodded, his lips twitching as if he had something more to say.

But then, as if deciding it was better not to, he closed his mouth firmly and just nodded.

I looked at Espin for a moment, then slowly turned my gaze away and headed back to the assigned classroom.

* * *

As I entered the classroom, several people shot blatant glares at me.

I smirked at those malicious gazes and fell into thought.

‘There’s no way the events from dawn could have already spread to ordinary noble students…’

It’s highly likely that those glaring at me are from the Heaven God Cult.

I decided to remember their faces well and deal with them later when I could be certain.

As I sat down with these thoughts, Delia leaned in to greet me.

“Deren Deren.”

An overly familiar tone.

I was already feeling drained and tried to ignore the greeting, but.

Delia, regardless, spoke to me in a rather amused voice.

“The banquet schedule has been decided.”

Come to think of it, you did say it would be soon.

Though it’s bothersome, I nod since I promised, and Delia speaks to me with a playful smile.

“In two days.”

“Two days?”

“Yes. Originally, it was planned for a week later, but… I heard this morning, what was it? I’m not sure, but apparently a big problem came up, and it seems like it’ll take over a month to resolve, so they said they’re doing it in two days.”

“……”

Realizing that the rushed schedule was because of me, I couldn’t help but keep my mouth shut.

As I was inwardly sighing, wondering if I had caused things to move too quickly.

Delia speaks to me with a smile.

“You don’t need to feel burdened. You’re just coming as a guest anyway… Just eat, enjoy yourself, and leave.”

I nodded at those words and looked at Delia.

If it were truly ‘just a casual visit’ as she said, there wouldn’t be any problem.

‘But if the head of the Herdi family has other thoughts.’

It was clear that I would face various troubles at the banquet.

As I was pressing my forehead, thinking that the head of the Herdia family might cause some trouble.

Delia, excited about something, hums a tune and says to me.

“Oh, by the way, when are you going to do that magic modification and reinforcement I mentioned before? Of course, I know I shouldn’t rush you now that you’ve become a dog, but… it would be convenient in many ways if you could give me a rough idea. So, do you have any plans?”

It’s so noisy that my ears hurt.

Feeling like I might go crazy if I keep listening, I try to ignore her and head outside.

Delia grabs me and continues to chatter incessantly.

“Are you ignoring me because I’m not imitating a puppy? Well, I guess I have no choice then. I’ll do it. Okay, here I go… Woof… Woof.”

I coldly spoke while blocking Delia’s mouth as she was about to actually bark.

“Shut up. You’re noisy.”

“……”

At those words, Delia looked at me with a sullen expression.

Then, as if she had thought of something fun, she stuck out her tongue and started licking my palm that was covering her mouth.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Delia do something that an elementary school student might do, and Delia looked at me with a silly smile.

‘What a headache.’

As I was making a mental note to flick her forehead repeatedly later.

Someone lightly knocked on the classroom door and called for me.

“… Lord Deren.”

At those words, I turned around to see Sien looking at me and Delia alternately with an expressionless face.

After approaching me, Sien silently glared at Delia for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze to me and spoke.

“I have something to say. Is now a good time?”

Thinking it would be fine as long as it was before the lecture started, I nodded.

Sien then grabbed my hand that was covering Delia’s mouth and slowly led me outside, as if leading a child.