episode_0129

“July 2nd, Magic Department 1st Year Evaluation Tournament Pairings

9:00 AM

Magic Department Chief Agnes Elizabeth Blaze / Magic Department Vice Chief Isobel Ravenna Arcana

9:20 AM

Magic Department 3rd place Karan Iris Stormweaver / Magic Department 7th place Siz Trace Lirian

9:40 AM

Magic Department 4th place Lillis Blackwood Rosewood / Technology Department Vice Chief Luke Cruella

…

…

…”

It was a day at the end of June when the pairings for the evaluation tournament to conclude the first semester were announced.

As I checked my name on the Magic Department bracket posted in front of the academy’s main building, a momentary feeling of disbelief surged through me.

“Luke Cruella…?”

The sudden nomination of me as the opponent by Luke, the Vice Chief of the Technology Department, almost made me blurt out the words “crazy bastard” next to Edan. Thankfully, I managed to keep it to myself.

“Lillis…?”

“Yes, Edan-nim.”

“If it’s the Luke Cruella from the Technology Department Vice Chief that I know?”

“Yes. That would be the same Luke who serves as Princess Seraphine’s guard.”

“Why did he suddenly become Lillis’s opponent in the evaluation tournament? Was there any prior consultation about this?”

“No, I’m not sure either.”

I really didn’t know what I was saying. In the game, Luke had never participated in an evaluation tournament against top students from other departments.

Given that Luke, true to his nickname ‘Shadow,’ didn’t like to draw attention to himself, he had requested a less conspicuous guard position for Seraphine, even though he was qualified to be her exclusive maid.

Instead of joining combat or martial arts departments like Seraphine, he had deliberately chosen the Technology Department.

So, the fact that Luke, who usually avoided standing out, had nominated me as his opponent in the evaluation tournament was something I couldn’t understand at all.

“Ever since the professor mentioned that my opponent had already been decided, I’ve been feeling uneasy.”

The top five students in the combat department have the authority to directly select their opponents for the final evaluation tournament.

Of course, just because they can choose their opponents doesn’t mean that students would willingly face the lowest-ranked ones. Most of the high-achieving students at Luminoir Academy have strong egos.

Therefore, it was common practice to choose the strongest opponent within the range one was confident of defeating.

Just like Agnes, who had no one to rival her among the new Magic Department students, openly targeted Isobel.

Originally, I had the authority to choose my opponent, and I had planned to face a student around the 10th place in the evaluation tournament.

I never imagined that Luke, Seraphine’s guard, would nominate me first.

“I never thought I would end up experiencing what I did as a player in my previous life in this way…”

When playing as a protagonist in the game and entering the Technology or Pharmacy Department, the most lacking events were the reputation and experience point events, so it was essential to defeat the top students from other departments in the final evaluation tournament.

But now that I was experiencing that situation with Luke, it was truly unbelievable.

Why was he doing this to me?

“At least it’s not Agnes. I should be grateful for that.”

It was somewhat hopeful that Agnes, who only sought out ‘strong opponents,’ was not my opponent. When I heard that my opponent had been decided, the first person I suspected was Agnes.

Of course, avoiding a match with Agnes didn’t mean that Luke was an easy opponent.

As he already held the position as Seraphine’s guard, his skills were undoubtedly guaranteed, and as I mentioned before, she was also one of the heroines of Luminoir Academy.

At the ‘Luminor Academy,’ the mere title of being a member of the ‘Technical Department,’ which signifies the ability to accompany the heroine on a demon subjugation mission, was not to be taken lightly.

I still have no idea why Luke challenged me to a duel.

Honestly, I have never done anything to provoke Luke directly.

Whether it was leaving only Luke to accompany me in the drawing-room meeting at Blackwood Manor, or giving me the title of Viscountess in place of Luke, who had been loyal to Seraphine for a long time.

Or even when I rejected Seraphine’s offer to be her exclusive maid, causing Luke to become her exclusive maid instead.

There really seems to be no reason for her to hold a grudge against me, other than the fact that her maid uniform strangely resembles mine.

…I really don’t understand the reason.

“Could it be a sign of displeasure from Princess Seraphine? Maybe she felt a little upset because I rejected her offer to be her exclusive maid some time ago.”

“I don’t recall Princess Seraphine being that kind of person… Wait, Lilith. Did you really just say that?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You just said it with your own mouth. That Princess Seraphine offered you the position of her exclusive maid.”

“Oh, yes. It happened once before. Since there was a position available as Ethan’s exclusive maid, I naturally declined.”

“…Wha- What?! Wh- What did you just…”

“It’s awkward. I didn’t think that Princess Seraphine would be angry with me for rejecting that offer. I should apologize to her in person as soon as possible…”

“…That’s a misunderstanding, Lilith. There’s no need for you to apologize to me, Lilith.”

As the conversation between Ethan and me took on a more serious tone, the voice of the princess, which seemed like it had been waiting, interjected.

Both Ethan and I naturally turned our heads back in the direction of Seraphine’s voice.

“It’s been a while, Master Ethan, and Miss Lilith.”

As if she had been waiting, Princess Seraphine appeared behind Ethan and me, accompanied by her guard, Luke.

The other academy students, who had just realized the presence of the third princess, began to murmur a beat late.

The students, who had been focused solely on who their sparring partner was, naturally turned their attention towards us, with Princess Seraphine at the center.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Princess Seraphine.”

“Have you been well, Your Highness?”

“Yes, thanks to all of you, I’ve been doing well.”

Princess Seraphine, who immediately attracted the attention of those around her, greeted Ethan and me with a calm expression as if this kind of crowd was familiar to her.

And behind her, Luke, who had been giving me a strange, sharp look since earlier.

“By the way, Lilith.”

“Yes, Princess Seraphine.”

“I heard that I was angry with you because you rejected my offer… Is that true?”

“Oh, no…! Please just consider that story as the foolish ramblings of a foolish Viscountess…”

“It’s okay, Lilith. You don’t have to apologize. It’s only natural for you to misunderstand my intentions, and I have taken this step to clear up any misunderstandings you may have.”

“Yes, of course.”

…Misunderstanding?

“First of all, it’s an absurd misunderstanding that I would be angry with you, Lilith. Why would I dislike a capable person like you? Isn’t that right?”

“W- Well…. I don’t really have the qualifications to be evaluated as a capable person by Your Highness…”

“In the past, you saved many lives with Lily’s help during the attack on the palace. And now, you are a skilled magician, maintaining the 4th position in the Academy of Magic.”

“…I received overly positive evaluations by chance, but I don’t think it truly reflects my abilities.”

“Being overly humble is not a virtue, you know? Even if Lily herself thinks that way about her own abilities, my evaluation of you remains unchanged.”

“…Yes, I apologize.”

“Anyway, I regret that my plan to keep you by my side as my personal maid fell through, but I am not angry about it. I still want to maintain a good relationship with Lily.”

“I-I’m sorry, Princess Seraphine. I didn’t know about your character…”

“Don’t apologize, Lily.”

…I understand. But what can I do when my body automatically apologizes?

Even though I know that Seraphine is not the type to hold a grudge over trivial matters, the instinctive pressure of the class difference makes my body move and speak on its own.

Unless you spend a long time together like with Ethan, this is an unavoidable phenomenon.

And even though today may not be the day, I, who was once the core player of the ‘Luminor Academy’ in my past life, knew better than anyone that Seraphine sometimes changes in a domineering manner for the greater good.

It was best to avoid causing trouble or debts for no reason.

“Anyway, I came to inform you that the duel with Luke was not my decision but entirely her choice for an evaluation match. This is to prevent any misunderstanding on Lily’s part that may affect my performance in the duel.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Please consider the evaluation duel with Miss Lily as my personal affair, unrelated to Princess Seraphine.”

“…I understand. Since Seraphine Princess and Luke… no, Mr. Luke have come to deliver this message, I will trust it.”

Of course, there was never an option not to trust. Or even if I didn’t trust, it was impossible to show it in front of Seraphine.

Moreover, the fact that Seraphine came to me personally and asked me to give my all in the duel meant that she also hoped for me to approach the match with the same attitude.

So, I could only give my all in the duel.

Of course, even if Seraphine had sent Luke to me out of anger, my approach to the duel would not have changed.

I never intended to miss out on this explosive experience event.

“Is that all you wanted to say, Princess Seraphine?”

“Yes, that’s all, Ethan. I must go now…”

“…Before you leave, there is one thing I must tell you, Princess Seraphine.”

“Hmm, what do you want to say, Ethan?”

Calling Seraphine back as she was about to leave with Luke, Ethan seemed to have something to say. I listened closely to his words, but they somehow felt a bit cold.

“Just now, I heard that Princess Seraphine offered Lily to become her personal maid.”

“….”

“Is that true, Princess Seraphine?”

For some reason, Ethan created a slightly hostile atmosphere and sent a challenging gaze towards Seraphine.

Seraphine seemed to have sensed his slightly suspicious gaze, carefully managing her expression as she nodded her head cautiously.

“Yes, that’s right, Edan Gongja. Lilyss is undoubtedly an excellent person in my opinion, and I have a tendency to keep excellent people close to me.”

“…Lilyss is my personal maid, Princess Seraphine. Even though she has been granted the status of a viscountess with your help.”

“I see, Edan Gongja.”

“Please do not forget that fact.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“Thank you, Princess Seraphine.”

Princess Seraphine nodded her head once in response to Edan’s final words as she walked away.

I simply mentioned the obvious fact that I am Edan’s personal maid, so why did the atmosphere suddenly become so serious?

The conversations of the nobles and high-ranking aristocrats were difficult for me to follow.

Meanwhile, the evaluation match between Luke and me was fast approaching.