episode_0034

Why are you saying such things？

I don’t want to get involved in complicated and difficult matters.

I ran away in the first place because I didn’t want to get involved in anything that gave me a headache.

I roughly knew what was happening at the academy, but I planned to hide and pretend not to know.

The reason I moved to save Astel was simply out of whim.

But just up to that point.

I didn’t want to get more deeply involved.

Don’t you know it’s me?

Just because I act like a child, or act like a fool, doesn’t mean I’m really stupid.

I may not be very smart, but I have enough intelligence to notice something strange.

The only princess of the kingdom wouldn’t have fallen victim to a mere band of thieves.

Even the elite guards of the royal procession were all defeated, and the band of thieves who aimed to assassinate the princess showed systematic movements.

It was impossible to pretend not to know that this was not a normal occurrence.

Moreover, the same was true for the recent incident with the ma’sek.

The princess of the kingdom enrolling in the kingdom’s academy.

Did the kingdom not even bother to check the regulations?

Items worth over a million leafs are confiscated at the academy.

If they knew this fact, the kingdom’s actions would be limited to two choices.

Either understand that they had to use the ma’sek at the academy due to these circumstances and request understanding.

Or, provide a slightly lower grade ma’sek.

But neither of these happened.

The kingdom provided Astel with a high-grade ma’sek, and the academy confiscated it as if they had not received any request.

Strange.

It was definitely strange.

And the most strange thing was, why did they admit a person who couldn’t communicate properly to the kingdom’s academy?

Is the kingdom’s academy much better?

Not likely.

If we were to divide the academies of the three nations,

The empire’s academy would be 1st, the kingdom’s academy 2nd, and the kingdom’s academy 3rd, as known to the public.

From reading novels, I knew that the gap between the empire and the kingdom was much greater than that between the kingdom and the kingdom.

Therefore, the current situation was not convincing in many ways.

It was strange because it was not convincing.

Astel was strange.

More accurately, it was strange that the kingdom behind Astel was strange.

But it was something I didn’t want to know.

So.

＂I don’t know anything.”

That’s it.

I don’t know anything.

It might be too late to regret, but on the other hand.

It was my choice because it might not be too late yet.

At my words, Astel bowed his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

I shrugged lightly.

It was true that I was very negative about getting deeply involved in Astel’s affairs, but it wasn’t something Astel needed to apologize for.

I didn’t know much about Astel, and I was someone who believed that human nature was inherently evil,

But still, he was a child, and he had never shown me a bad side.

So, I didn’t dislike Astel that much.

This is something I must do.

I decided to reveal a little bit of my true feelings so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

“I like the princess.”

“…What?”

There may be several reasons for this, but first of all, the fact that she recognized me as a steward even though I was a commoner.

And I liked that she was pretty.

“Mysterious, beautiful, and kind, right?”

“…Uh, yes.”

I was giving my best compliments, but if your expression of indifference had been subtle as usual, I might have found it a bit ambiguous. However, knowing that you are someone whose default setting is expressionless, I could continue the conversation with a smile just by seeing a change in your expression.

＂I’ll be clear, I like the princess. However, I have no interest in the troublesome matters associated with her.”

“Is that so？”

“That’s how it is.”

If it’s a situation that I can resolve, I’m willing to help. For example, if someone falls, I can help them up, or if it’s a problem that can be quickly resolved with my assistance, I can step in. But should I intervene in situations where I can’t help resolve them? Should I get involved in situations where it goes beyond being simply unsolvable and becomes risky for me too? A person has to look out for themselves.

“So, the one who saved the princess was the prince, not me.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Astel seemed to understand the meaning of my words and accepted them without resistance, glancing at me briefly before speaking.

“But….”

“But?”

“Still, I meant it sincerely.”

…Even if I didn’t want to hear it, here we go again.

I let out a small sigh, but this time, I’ll make an exception.

“……I’ll accept it this time. Thank you. Let’s get moving quickly!”

There was no time to stand idly in the middle of the road.

“Just a moment.”

“Yes?”

As I tilted my head in response to Astel’s request to stop for a moment, he suddenly grabbed me.

I couldn’t resist.

I was completely caught off guard.

Stiffening in surprise, Astel started running while holding onto me.

“W-what is this?!”

He was even running quite fast.

“The chief’s running speed is too slow, so this way is much faster.”

“No, that’s not it! Th-this is embarrassing!”

I’m wearing pajamas right now, and if you look at it from behind, it might be a bit too revealing.

Of course, even if it’s just a 10-year-old body, there’s nothing to see, but still, I feel embarrassed!

“Let me down.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not!”

“We don’t have much time left, so we need to hurry. But the chief is too slow.”

I reached out and tried to push Astel away, but it was no use.

Why is he so strong?

“…Ugh….”

No, it’s natural for people to pay attention when someone is running around carrying someone else.

Students looked at me and Astel with curiosity, and some even openly laughed.

And among them, a few not only laughed but also waved their hands.

I couldn’t ignore the greeting from someone taller than me, so I reluctantly waved back from my end, my face turning red with embarrassment.

It’s humiliating.

I hope this time ends soon.

I want to cancel Astel’s approval.

But sadly, the merchant district was quite a distance away, and I had to endure being carried for over 10 minutes.

“Let’s quickly finish this and go back… Today has been emotionally exhausting….”

I was already tired, but now I felt even more exhausted.

I sighed and entered the magic stone shop, purchasing a suitable size and grade of magic stone.

I bought two, and immediately replaced one on the spot.

The urgent matter was resolved, and now all that was left was to return.

“Let’s go back now….”

“…Yes, you can get down now.”

“Yes….”

Yes, being carried is definitely better than being grabbed and carried.

Good things are good, she said, putting herself in a trance and obediently closing her eyes.

I wanted to object, but Astel running with me on his back was much faster than me running alone.

My face felt too flushed, so I buried it in Astel’s back.

This guy, running like this and not even sweating, felt smooth.

＂If there wasn’t a Concentration Management Department, which club were you planning to join？”

“The Swordsmanship Club.”

Yeah, that seemed about right.

With this level of stamina, enduring the hellish training of the Swordsmanship Club shouldn’t be too difficult.

It was less embarrassing than the first time, but being second already made me feel a sense of self-loathing.

As we arrived back at the club room, Professor Mosan was sitting with his legs crossed, eyeing us disapprovingly.

“…Even if I give you demerits, you won’t complain….”

Unable to bear it, I interrupted Professor Mosan, glaring at him.

“…Professor Mosan.”

Speaking in a low voice, Professor Mosan looked startled and turned to face me as I approached him.

“…Do you know what humiliation I experienced today?”

“…Was there something that happened today?”

“…Many… things happened today….”

Confiscating Astel’s mana stone?

It was possible.

If he acted according to the rules, there was nothing strange about reporting it.

However, Professor Mosan knew the situation Astel was in, so he should have reported it and returned the mana stone.

He could have returned them all at once or cashed out some of them.

Even if he returned them one by one, he should have given them back with enough time.

Professor Mosan uncrossed his legs in response to my earnest plea.

Sit up straight, Professor Mosan.

I have a lot to tell you about the troubles I faced today.