episode_0028

“Nia?”

A name I didn’t know just came out of my mouth.

“…?!”

Ellen’s stupid hair stood on end.

That’s because I didn’t know Luke could pretend to know.

“Teacher?”

Elin looks at me with eyes that seem to ask what’s going on.

How should I explain it?

Luke ponders for a moment.

“You noticed?”

The girl smiled faintly.

“I didn’t know you wouldn’t recognize me. This is the first time I’ve seen you since you went to the academy.”

“… … I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown so much.”

Actually, I’ve never actually seen it.

It’s been four years since I entered the academy.

It just so happens that Luke was possessed at the same time as entering high school.

Nia’s appearance remained only in Luke Bucklin’s memory.

Knock knock.

The fingers poking my side become more and more violent.

“Do you know him?”

“My cousin. Nia Bucklin.”

Nia Bucklin.

Bucklin, one of the three great magic houses.

He was a descendant of a collateral family different from Luke.

“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. I hope to learn a lot from this exchange.”

Nia bowed her head.

It was a graceful movement, completely different from Fabiana’s attempt to imitate adults.

“… Hello.”

The sharp angle of his eyebrows softened at the mention of cousin.

“I knew my family would attend. I didn’t know Nia would come.”

“Nia… you say?”

The smile hanging at the corner of Nia’s mouth wavered.

“Are you saying this because it’s been a while since I’ve seen you?”

“Yes?”

“You were originally speaking informally.”

How could I know since I wasn’t the owner of the body?

I briefly looked back at the memories that remained in my body.

“… … ”

I spoke to you really informally.

It seems like they were quite close too.

“That… .”

The mouth opens slightly and then closes.

Luke, who always acted shamelessly and confidently.

If I act as I remember this time, I’ll be able to get through it naturally.

But that couldn’t be done.

This is a memory of ‘Luke Bucklin’.

“It’s become a habit. I’ve become accustomed to using polite language.”

“… … Yeah. I see.”

Nia raised the corners of her lips, wondering what he meant.

Is it because of his sickly appearance?

The sight was pitiful.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should say something.

“Okay, then I’ll raise my voice too.”

Nia was one step ahead.

“There is no need for that.”

“Then, can you let me go?”

“That’s….”

“It’s weird that I’m the only one talking.”

“… … ”

There was no answer.

“… Haha. I should have come to you earlier. If I had known it would be this awkward.”

Nia nodded with a lonely smile.

The formal greeting lacked any sense of family intimacy.

“It was nice to meet you, Brother. I will see you later, Your Highness.”

Nia walked away quietly without making a sound.

Elin couldn’t take her eyes off the lonely-looking back.

Then, I made eye contact with Nia, who was walking behind me.

The emotion contained in those eyes was clearly… envy.

“… … ”

Ellen thought.

And faded, gray hair.

And the amber eyes that had little life in them.

I also have a personality where I can’t say what I want to say and just swallow it.

He’s like a teacher who’s lost his balance.

* * * * *

As Nia left the interview room, someone came inside.

Orange hair, orange eyes.

He was a boy with a similar appearance to Lanian, so much so that he could be considered a male version of Lanian, except for the absence of dark circles under his eyes.

“Huh? Brother?”

When I made eye contact with the boy who was wandering around the visiting room.

He’s coming this way with brisk strides.

“Are you Luke, Brother?”

“Are you Felice Rochefort?”

“Oh my, what an honor! You know my name?”

Felice’s eyes sparkled.

“… Ranian’s younger sibling?”

Ellen raised her brow and whispered.

It meant that Elin was exactly like Lanian, so much so that she could be recognized right away.

“But are you close?”

“This is our first time meeting.”

“…? But why do you call me hyung?”

“I don’t know either.”

Felice was so friendly that I almost fooled her.

Luke sees Felice’s face for the first time today.

“I’ve heard a lot from Senior Ranian.”

“Really? That’s strange. There’s no way my sister would go somewhere and talk about me that much.”

Yes, that’s right.

My brother is an awesome fire wizard, that’s all I said.

Felice never said that he was such a sunny boy.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories too! The guy who vehemently rejected his sister’s proposal. The legend of the academy that his sister is obsessed with!”

“… There are so many modifiers that I don’t even know.”

“Hahaha! That makes sense, right? I was so surprised when I heard it. My older sister even asked for it, or at least begged for it.”

Kuk.

Elin’s hand gripping Luke’s collar tightens.

The fool’s hair curled into a question mark shape as if asking what was going on.

“This is a story about graduate school and the rooftop.”

Lanian has a habit of clinging to capable wizards.

Felice just said it in a way that was sure to mislead him.

“I asked for a favor, but I didn’t explain the situation.”

“So the rumors were exaggerated? Well, my sister is not the type of person to go and ask for something like that.”

His cheerful speech was full of pride in his family.

The Rochefort family is also one of the three great magic families, so it makes sense.

however.

“Is it true that you asked me to build a magic tower?”

Lanian, who had come closer, joined the conversation.

“You said you would come in if I built the magic tower, but you didn’t ask me to build it.”

“That’s because I know you won’t do it even if I try. By the way, do you still think the same?”

Lanian’s expression looked much more relaxed after leaving Natia.

“I can set it up for you if you want.”

“That sounds a bit strange. Please give me a subject.”

“Huh? What.”

“… No. It’s nothing.”

I couldn’t explain it to Ellen, so I just glossed over it.

“Oh, it really was. The legend of the academy that my older sister is obsessed with… .”

Felice covered her mouth with both hands.

“Senior, did you know that I have that nickname?”

“I heard it from time to time when I was attending the academy, right? But it’s true, right?”

“That’s not…”

Of course, Lanian thinks Luke is obsessed with magic.

What would you think if you heard that sentence in isolation?

“By the way, where did Senior Dien go?”

“Over there.”

Lanian pointed to a corner with his finger.

“Are you by any chance close with any other wizards besides Lanian?”

“Ah, haha… No? Not really… .”

I was wondering how I got away from Natia.

He sacrificed Dien and escaped alone.

“Then what about the alchemists…?”

“… … Actually, my only close friend is Lanian… .”

“Uh, uhm. Is that so?”

But it seems like Dien’s self-esteem is gradually being eroded.

Natia’s gaze at Dien also became strange.

When I put it in my house, I feel like I’m looking at a decoration that isn’t as pretty as I thought.

“Sup, this won’t work. I have to go save my sister. You shouldn’t just stay with Luke, talk to the other kids too.”

“Okay! Okay, bro! See you later!”

“Yes, see you later… .”

I hesitated under the pressure of the burden.

If Lanian radiates madness from his eyes behind dark circles.

Felice was just a clear-eyed madman.

“Are you by any chance from the Raceton family… .”

While Felice changes her target to Fabiana and moves away.

“… I didn’t do anything, but it’s hard.”

Elin, who was exposed to the aura that radiated like sunlight, had already withered.

“The exchange meeting hasn’t even started yet, and what can I do? Get your energy together.”

He put his hand under Elin’s armpit, who was sobbing, and lifted her up straight.

I was just trying to take a break.

Now the exchange meeting is about to begin.

so.

“If you have anything to say, come and say it.”

“Yes, net?!”

I spoke to a girl who had been loitering around while I was talking to Fabiana.

“Didn’t you come here because you had something to tell me?”

“Ah, that, that’s… That’s right… .”

The girl’s face turned bright red.

Did you think I wouldn’t notice you hanging around so obviously?

Excluding Elin, there were four promising players who attended the exchange meeting.

Among them, there are three great magic powers.

So who is the remaining one?

“Are you from the Nissen family?”

“Yes, yes!”

It was this girl who looked so confused.

Black hair and blue eyes.

His plain, unremarkable attire made him look like a commoner.

Perhaps this girl was the one who came in a normal wooden carriage.

By the way, it’s the Nissen family.

There wasn’t much information about this family since they didn’t appear much in the game.

“What is your name?”

“Be, my name is Bena Nissen! I’m 13 years old. I’m the eldest daughter of the Nissen Baron family, and my specialty is summoning magic. Uh… and my hobby is writing novels… … .”

It’s not like I wanted to find out this much information.

“Calm down.”

“Ugh… Ugh… .”

Bena, who had been introducing her ideal type that she would like to meet in the future, took a breath.

In the end, the only thing that remains in my mind is that I am a summoning wizard.

“You said you were 13?”

“Yes, but… ?”

“That went well.”

He said he was 13 years old.

That also meant that I was the youngest person to participate in the promising young talent exchange.

“The princess is also 13 years old.”

It also meant that I could become friends with Elin, who was the same age as me.

Of course, the latter was much more important to Luke.

“Please come forward, Your Majesty.”

If I had a friend, I wouldn’t be so attached to Luke.

Elin, who was tired of meeting so many people, peeked her head out.

“Cute… Huh!”

Bena, who was about to instinctively say that it was cute, covered her mouth.

It seems that he is nervous because everyone around him is of a much higher status.

“It’s okay. It’s true that the princess is cute.”

Of course, Luke, who did not discriminate against people based on their status, did not think that Benna had been rude at all.

“But, didn’t you come here because you had something to do?”

“Huh?! Ah… It’s not really like that, but since you’re a famous wizard, I wanted to see you in person… … .”

“Um, should I shake your hand?”

I think it came down to my fandom, so I asked that.

“No no no no! Hey, it’s okay!”

Bena shook her head at an invisible speed and quickly ran away.

Since I was going to watch it for two days anyway, I didn’t hold on to it.

“Everyone’s face is exposed before we even start.”

“Because everyone came to see the teacher in person.”

Ellen puffed out her cheeks slightly.

“Why is the teacher so popular?”

I was a little surprised.

Because it was extremely rare for someone to express their emotions in any other way than through goofy hair.

“Well, I guess I’ve been living pretty well.”

Although my academy life was a bit unusual, I never thought I would become this famous.

All the wizards who will be in charge of the empire’s future know.

I patted Elin’s head, who looked very upset.

… But isn’t this a promising stock exchange meeting?

It seems like he only talked to me and not to Elin.

When Luke felt something strange belatedly.

“Ahem. Now that everyone is here, shall we start the real meeting?”

Natia cleared her throat and focused her gaze.

“We have prepared various refreshments and tea for those who attended today.”

Exactly.

As Natia snapped her fingers, the maids who had been preparing came out and set the table.

“I hope you can freely exchange everything about magic, including discussions and demonstrations.”

Since there weren’t many people, the table setting was finished quickly.

“Then, please enjoy it.”

As Natia’s words ended.

“Senior.”

“Brother.”

“Brother!”

“Lu, Luke.”

All the prospects came to Luke.

“Ugh… … !”

At the same time, Ellen’s outfit was turned inside out.