episode_0009

I couldn’t help but be surprised by Estelle’s sudden question about the Academy.

What the heck, this guy…? It doesn’t seem like he knows I’m going to the academy…

If I had known, I would not have asked this question, but would have focused on the fact that we were entering together.

Estelle is basically a very direct and honest person, so she can’t say what’s on her mind.

So, he is a character that sometimes draws hostility from people, but on the other hand, that aspect is also charming and makes him likeable.

“Suddenly Academy?”

“Yes, Mr. Theo, you know that I will be going to the Academy with Her Highness the Crown Princess next year, right?”

“I know.”

It was such a big gossip that the whole world was in an uproar.

Even if that weren’t the case, I’m basically a nerd in this game.

In order for the game to progress in any way, the two people have to meet, and since the main stage of this game is the Academy, it is natural that the meeting will take place at the Academy.

“Then do you know that I am actually a very unlovable person?”

“Are you a person who is not free?”

… I guess I’m always the one who gets confused because of Estelle, who keeps talking about settings that didn’t exist in the game.

“Yes, I am… No, no. That’s not something you should say to someone you just met.”

That’s true.

Honestly, why would you say something like that to someone you just met?

But isn’t that the same situation now? Why do you believe in me to teach you magic, and why do you believe in me to come to your house and sleep?

Of course, Mr. Duncan’s trustworthiness may have played a part, but I am literally just a villager who met her for the first time today.

No, should I say village disciple 1…?

“I don’t quite understand, but whatever. Please tell me about it sometime when Estelle is more comfortable.”

I’m not telling you to just blurt out everything I’m curious about.

If you approach her like that, you might ruin your friendship and everything, and Estelle looks a little sad, so it’s awkward to ask her.

At first, I thought it was just a game, but now, one by one, things are starting to become reality and approaching me. It’s no longer a game, but actual reality, so I’m becoming more and more cautious in dealing with people.

Honestly, yes, that’s right. If you think everything is fake, then your family that you created is also fake.

Well, I don’t want to think that way.

Even if it really is a fake world, even if it is a world created by someone.

Because these moments I’m living in are real and not something made by someone else.

“Anyway, let’s go home, eat, and think about it. You know this is the time when I feel the most sentimental, right?”

“Hmm, that’s true. It’s natural to feel sentimental when you see the red sunset. By the way, is it okay for me to go?”

“Yes, I just called my mom and asked her.”

This world is a class society with nobles, so I sometimes forget, but this is definitely modern times.

No, in fact, it’s so blatantly modern that it’s unforgettable.

Everything you see before your eyes has been modernized, and there are even holographic smartphones that are more advanced than the world we lived in before.

“Oh, that model is expensive. I guess your parents were a bit pushy?”

It’s definitely more than enough for a cell phone for a son from the countryside.

However, I can say that what I have is not something I asked to be bought for me, but something that Theo asked me to buy for him when he was a loser son.

Well, honestly, it’s annoying because it feels like I’ve sucked the life out of my parents, but I can’t just throw away what I have and use this crappy thing, right?

Throwing away a perfectly good phone like that and asking for a new old one is one of the most spine-sucking behaviors.

“Well, there was a time when I was reckless.”

“I see. Well, they’re all like that.”

I thought he would complain, saying that his reckless days were relatively recent, but surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to be that bad of a personality, and for some reason he just lets it go.

To this extent, it doesn’t seem like he’d have that many enemies. That’s unusual.

“By the way, how far is Theo’s house from the village?”

“Ah, you can take the bus for about six stops, but if the last bus leaves, you’ll have to walk for about an hour and a half.”

If I had a car or something like a bicycle, I could get there a little faster, but I don’t have a car because I’m struggling to make ends meet, and I left my bicycle behind today.

Besides, even if you bring a bicycle, unless you can pump up some horsepower, it’s just a regular bicycle, so it’ll take you at least an hour to get there, faster than walking.

“Oh, really…? I hope the last train doesn’t run late.”

“Oh, the last train has already left. I guess I’ll have to walk.”

Estelle frowned at my words.

But I also get annoyed.

What really pissed me off was that it said the last bus left just 1 minute ago.

“Haa, so I have to walk for an hour and a half?”

“Well, generally speaking, yes. But wait a minute.”

Honestly, I don’t prefer walking, my parents at home probably don’t prefer it, and Estelle doesn’t seem to like it either, so I’ll try something else.

“What are you going to do?”

“I want to rent a bike.”

There isn’t a specific place to rent out bikes in the neighborhood, but since most of the market shops are familiar with each other, if you have a spare bike, they will lend it to you if you say you will use it today and bring it back tomorrow.

“Estelle, can you use magic?”

“Yes, you can use it.”

“Then I guess I can get there in about 30 minutes. Ma’am! Can I borrow this bike?”

After confirming that only the lady was inside the vegetable store where I had purchased vegetables earlier, I shouted inside and asked.

“Oh, isn’t it Theo? Then, feel free to borrow as much as you want.”

“Thank you! I’ll bring it to you tomorrow!”

“Oh yeah, looks like you missed the bus while running an errand.”

“Yes, the last train has already left. See you tomorrow!”

After greeting the lady and bringing the bike back, Estelle asks with a puzzled look on her face.

“Are you saying we should ride together?”

“Yes, there is only one bike to rent. And I don’t know how to use applied magic.”

If we ride different bikes, it would take me an hour since I don’t know how to apply horsepower, and Estelle would take 30 minutes, so an unfortunate event would occur where we would arrive first.

And, above all, there are no more bikes available for rent.

It’s also the time when everyone is leaving work one by one, and since the greengrocer has a house attached to it, there’s only one delivery bicycle left.

“Let’s go. Take a ride.”

“Shall I ride in front?”

“If you’re going to ride from behind, you can just use your horsepower from behind.”

“Hmm, I’ll ride in the back.”

“Would you like that? Do whatever you want.”

Since Estelle is essentially driving the car anyway since she’s using her horsepower, I don’t really understand why she insists on riding in the back, but I figure if the driver is going to be picky, then I’ll have to pick on him, so I get on the bike first.

“Let’s go.”

***

Estelle, who was excited by the insignificant words, ‘Let’s go’, felt that something was wrong with her heart.

Besides, he said he would ride in the back too.

Since I was going to be driving the bike anyway using horsepower, I kept wondering why he insisted on riding in the back.

‘If I ride behind you… I can hug Mr. Theo’s back… ?”

And I was astonished at the conclusion I reached.

‘What the hell are you thinking? Theo and I are just teacher and student!’

Of course, they were a young man and woman, and there were many situations where it would not have been strange if their hearts had been in harmony.

but.

‘Mr. Theo doesn’t seem interested in me, so what are you harboring?’

The problem was that the guy who was supposed to give the rice cake wasn’t even thinking about it.

No matter how I looked at it, it was obvious that Theo had no feelings for me.

Even if I had feelings for her, we were just friends of the same age who were just getting to know each other.

No wonder, when he deals with Duncan, with the other townspeople, and with Estelle.

There was no difference at all. In fact, I felt more affectionate towards the townspeople and Duncan.

Because you’ve been with them for a long time.

“Estelle, aren’t you going?”

“… Mr. Theo.”

“Huh?”

“Just call me Estelle.”

“Oh, yes. I understand. Okay. Then shall we go, Estelle.”

Maybe it was because Mr. ~ seemed like a slightly distant title.

Without realizing it, I ended up telling him to take out the seeds and sing it.

And I was going to tell Theo that I wanted to call him by his name without the ~, but I ended up giving an ambiguous answer to his suggestion that we leave.

“Oh, uh, yes. I’ll go.”

And immediately Theo started pedaling, and as he was careful to use his horsepower so that it wouldn’t be difficult for him to pedal, the words “let’s drop the ~ and call him Theo” were swallowed as they were.

For her, who believes that she must live her life saying everything she wants to say, this could not have been a more historic moment.