episode_0135

The student council building, just before the spider webs fell, was idyllic. A building that stood alone in a corner of the academy, deep inside.

It’s evening, but the sun hasn’t set yet.

A woman dressed in a maid’s outfit stood in a place where green and sunset were in harmony. She stood with a neat posture, not leaning against a tree, and had been standing upright for quite some time.

She was a woman with a sophisticated impression who did not fit in with the simple buildings and forest.

With her sharp features and deep eyes, her purple pupils shining clearly from under her silver hair covering her forehead were staring blankly at the entrance and exit of the building.

At that moment, click – the door opened and a woman with jet-black hair came out.

It was Beatrice.

I escaped the battlefield and returned to the academy wearing a dress instead of armor.

Julia smiled briefly at Beatrice, then asked with her characteristically polite expression.

“Miss, did you have a nice conversation?”

“… … ”

For a moment, there was silence. Julia could tell from Beatrice’s expression that the conversation was not going as she had hoped.

“David is an old-fashioned man. No, it would be more correct to say he is an honest man.”

“You missed your chance.”

“I’ll stay in the empire. It’s not like I can take you by force, right? Well, the worst traitor shows up and asks me to join him… It’s not normal to join hands.”

“If you use the resentment against the church—”

Julia’s heart ached every time she saw Beatrice’s sad expression.

“Enough. The student council is out of the question.”

Beatrice walked over, forcing a smile.

Standing in front of Julia, the two people’s hair colors contrasted. Like black and white. They were completely different, but they looked surprisingly harmonious and beautiful.

“Did you figure out where Leticia is?”

“Yes, Leticia is in the lab.”

“… It’s always the same.”

Since becoming the professor’s disciple, Leticia has been spending more time in the lab than in the dormitory.

“I’ve been spending too much time at the student council. Should I hurry?”

As she said this, Beatrice prepared her teleportation magic.

Then, Julia cautiously asked Beatrice, who was spreading out both arms and rearranging her mana.

“Lady, as you said, time is running out. The Duke may reveal the identity of the Unknown to the entire empire through communication magic. Convincing even Leticia… … ”

Julia hesitated for a moment, unable to finish her words. She was saying this out of concern for her master, but also because she knew Beatrice’s feelings all too well.

“That kid is a commoner. He’s not like the student council. If he stays in the empire, he might be executed as an example. Just because he was my roommate and friend.”

“But, but—”

Beatrice paused for a moment.

Swish-

And then he said, gently stroking Julia’s fidgeting hair.

“Thank you, Julia. For worrying about me. But it’s okay. I’ll bring her back soon… It won’t be too late.”

“… Okay, I will be observing the academy activities outside the lab.”

As Julia answered, Beatrice spread her arms again. Blue light flashed, and the teleportation magic activated.

Just before the light completely enveloped the two of them, Beatrice looked back at the student council building for a moment.

‘Hello. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun.’

Although I left before I could even complete a semester, my time as a member of the student council wasn’t all that bad.

After saying goodbye, I left the forest where spiders were swarming.

*

“What, what what, what did you say…?”

The lab was gloomy.

The windows were all closed, and books, scrolls, and potions were strewn about the desk in disarray.

“Princess of the Empire, what does that mean?”

Leticia asked back with her eyes wide open, her mouth wide open in disbelief.

I was so surprised that I knocked over my chair and stood up.

“Everything you knew about me was fake. From my name to my origins. I lived in hiding to reclaim the Empire. But not anymore. I revealed my identity to the Duke of Maynor, and soon the entire Empire will know about me.”

I blinked at Beatrice, shocked by the incredible confession. It felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

“My presence will put you in danger too. I’m really sorry.”

“Be, Beatrice… … ”

Beatrice took a step closer to the muttering Leticia. Her brown hair, which was usually tied in a ponytail, was hanging loosely. It meant that she had been studying day and night for several days.

He was tired and half-asleep from his studies, so he pinched his cheek to see if he was hallucinating. However, when he saw Beatrice holding his hand tightly, he realized it was reality.

“Because you’re my roommate, because you’re my friend… I might catch you.”

“Taking it? Who?”

Beatrice lowered her head and looked at Leticia with a gloomy expression.

“Cult… maybe even the Empire.”

“… … ”

“The resentment against the royal family… no, the resentment against me is too deep. But I thought the Empire would be different from the religious order… … ”

At least I thought I could communicate with the Duke of Maynor.

So I expected that Beatrice would be spared from the tyranny of the religious order, even though she had a connection with them.

It was a naive and easygoing expectation.

For a moment, she felt guilty. It was too burdensome to have her very existence threaten those around her. However, Beatrice steeled herself and continued speaking.

“Come with me. I will definitely protect you.”

Unlike the student council, Leticia has no backing.

David comes from a noble family of the United Provinces of Lugo, although the family was extinct.

Moreover, he was a talented person who was being eyed by many countries, including the empire.

Scarlett is the daughter of the Imperial Marquis. It would be excessive to touch her just because of her connection to the princess and the student council.

But Leticia is different.

A character with a background as unconventional as Leticia can be sacrificed as an example at any time. It would be as easy as putting her on the execution stand by falsely accusing her of being a traitor.

So, it is proclaimed throughout the continent.

What will become of the words of those connected to the royal family?

“Beatrice… I, I—”

Feeling the warmth of the hands they held, Leticia was about to answer with trembling eyes.

A door opened inside the lab and a professor wearing a robe appeared.

The owner of the laboratory and a professor at the Imperial Academy. Although he may seem a bit sloppy, he is an authority on magic potions.

He walked over calmly, looked at the two of them, and let out a short sigh.

“You did it anyway, Student Beatrice. Or… Should I call you Her Highness the Princess?”

“Did you eavesdrop?”

Beatrice asked warily at the professor’s words.

“An urgent telegram has arrived for all the faculty of the Academy. Beatrice de Dahlia is actually the princess and unknown. So please take a good look at the Academy before informing the students.”

“… … ”

The response was faster than expected.

The news will already be reaching those with influence, such as academy professors.

“Did you tell them that I was here?”

“I won’t sell out my students or do anything shameless like that. Beatrice is still my student. Officially, at least.”

Beatrice kept her eyes on the professor.

“Besides… Don’t you owe me your life? Beatrice, if it weren’t for you, not only me, but Leticia here would not be alive.”

“Then, it was you, Beatrice, who saved us in the magic potion lecture hall?”

Leticia intervened.

The two recalled the first time Beatrice appeared as an unknown, protecting her students from Fabian’s clutches.

Although, the atmosphere became tense because the sword unknown was bragging about being royalty.

“That, back then… By chance… ”

Beatrice was momentarily taken aback, but soon regained her composure.

“Anyway. There’s no time. Leticia, you have to come with me.”

“Ah. And Leticia is also my disciple.”

The professor took a step forward toward Beatrice, who desperately reached out her hand again toward Leticia.

“She’ll be safe as long as I’m here. So you go alone, Beatrice.”

“Professor! Now that I know who I am, the Order and the Empire will investigate the surroundings. You know what the Imperial Family means to the Order, especially? In this situation, Leticia—”

The professor smiled and cut off Beatrice.

“Don’t underestimate me, Beatrice. The position of professor at the Imperial Academy is not something I got for free.”

“… … ”

“I think it would be more dangerous to follow you and become a fugitive?”

Beatrice looked at the professor for a while and then lowered her head. It was infuriating, but it wasn’t wrong.

Even though he was seen as a researcher who had a hard time dealing with Fabian and was vulnerable to Beatrice, he was clearly an influential figure in the Empire.

But still, there was still a feeling of unease in my heart.

“Beatrice.”

Leticia held Beatrice’s two hands as she pondered.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine as long as I’m with you, Professor.”

“Leticia… ”

“I’m definitely a commoner. I don’t have a family or background that can protect me like the other students at the academy. But you know what? I have a talent for research. Even the professor acknowledged it, right? Right, professor?”

The professor nodded.

“Beatrice, I will not run away. I will stay in the Academy and prove my worth. No one can touch me! I will become a great magician and researcher whose name will go down in history!”

Leticia smiled brightly.

Beatrice wanted to say more, but stopped herself. She didn’t have the courage to break her friend’s resolve.

There was no time.

Now, I have no choice but to trust and leave it to you.

“Okay. Bye, Leticia. I’m so sorry for bothering you.”

“Hi… Beatrice. Don’t mind me too much! We’re friends, right?”

“… … ”

Beatrice took a deep breath and made her decision.

He turned around and headed towards the lab door. Then he turned around and looked at the professor and said.

“Please, protect her.”

“Of course. I swear it on the pride of my magic that I’ve cultivated my entire life.”

“I hope the love potion research goes well. I also wanted to continue researching it, but it’s too bad.”

“Tov Meod! It’s ‘Tov Meod’. It’s not a name like a love potion.”

The once stern professor was momentarily taken aback.

He seemed embarrassed by the embarrassing research topic. So I smiled and answered.

“Ah. I know. Tove Meod. I was just joking. Well, bye.”

So Beatrice left the lab, leaving the two behind.

The professor and Leticia stared at the door that Beatrice had closed for a long time.

“Professor, am I really okay?”

“You have your name on every study I do. So no one can touch this disciple of Archmage Jeremiah.”

“Professor, professor… … ”

Leticia looked at the professor with eyes shining with emotion. The middle-aged face glimpsed through the robe looked more serious than ever.

“But since you specialize in research, you can’t even use a single combat spell properly, so the Archmage is a bit… ”

“Oh my!”

And as Leticia had pointed out, Jeremiah, a researcher who had devoted his entire life to research, blushed.

Even though he borrowed the power of an ancient relic, it was a bit ridiculous to call himself a great wizard while being pushed aside by a student like Fabian.

“Complete the lecture materials by tomorrow morning!”

Professor Jeremiah hurriedly walked toward his personal study inside the lab. He was also mercilessly punishing his impudent student.

thud-

As Jeremiah closed the door to his private study and disappeared, Leticia spoke quietly to herself.

“Thank you, Professor.”

After swallowing my gratitude alone, I thought of Beatrice again.

I put my hands together and prayed secretly.

May God watch over her, even though her path may be filled with darkness.

Please look after it carefully.

I just prayed quietly in my heart for my friend who would have to walk this lonely and solitary path.