Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Summer Vacation
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Milmyu was panting for breath.
I felt a little awkward too. It was my first time putting a hairpin on a girl's head.
"Is it okay?"
"Y-yes... S-Senior. I-I'll go clean the inside room for a bit!"
With that, Milmyu slipped into my prep room.
It was probably a bit messy in there. Would she be alright?
But before I could say anything, she was gone.
It won't be heard from here.
Or maybe it already was.
Milmyu plopped down in Wolfram's private room... the place he called his workshop... and clutched at her chest.
Quiet down. Just turn down the heartbeat a little.
I know. I know full well that I went too far.
The senior's step that closed more distance than I'd backed away.
Even the same single step, but drawing so inescapably close that I felt his maleness all over again.
And then that cold voice that followed. The warmth hidden within those words.
The flower brooch he'd made with his own hands.
A design far too dazzling for someone like me.
If I hadn't met this man, it would've been a breathtaking masterpiece I'd never even dare glance at my whole life.
An accessory easily worth tens of millions of lin.
But.
The moment I pinned it on, this gem-like flower became mine.
Since it was already a dreamlike situation, I'd let one bold request slip out.
Please put this flower on me yourself.
Even to such an outrageous ask, his hand approached my head like it was no big deal...
"Waa... Waaaaa... Uwaaa..."
Milmyu buried her face in both hands and started thrashing about.
Did he hear? What if he heard my heartbeat? No way he didn't—my ears are about to burst it's so loud!
"Le-let's do something else. Something else will calm me down. Yeah. It's fine."
Milmyu staggered to her feet and looked around.
First, cleaning. Clearing out everything that needs tidying except my own stuff would boost her spirits and ease her mind.
And...
"I'll clean. There's quite a bit."
She really wasn't kidding.
There was a ton to clean.
"Hmm. Senior lives alone and is so busy, so it's unavoidable, right?"
Honestly,
I have no idea how this happened.
"Senior. How should I sort this?"
"Hmm... No. I'll handle that."
"Senior, just sit. I'll do it."
"......"
I heard rustling from my private workshop-cum-office, so I went in and found Milmyu cleaning up the trash.
"Milmyu?"
"Ah. Senior. Give me a sec. I'm cleaning right now."
"No, I get that, but why are you cleaning?"
"Huh? Because it's dirty. Isn't cleaning the obvious thing to do when it's dirty?"
"Well... yeah, that's true."
Hard to argue with plain logic.
"No, that's not the point. Why are you cleaning my office?"
"Living spaces get stuffy if you don't clean them often, and you catch colds easier. Senior."
"...No..."
That's true too!
"Hehe. Senior, just sit and wait. Oh, and give me some cleaning directions too. You must be exhausted?"
"......Hmm."
Milmyu started leisurely cleaning up my room like that.
"I'll help."
"Sit down. Senior."
"But it's my office."
"Exactly. That's why I'm cleaning it for you. I wouldn't clean just anyone's office, right?"
"......"
True again!
"Milmyu. Let me..."
"Sit."
"But my office..."
"Yes. Your precious office needs to be spotless."
"So let me help..."
"Senior, you're tired."
No winning this.
I endured the bizarre humiliation of having a junior clean my room.
I'll live cleaner from now on.
Afterward, I enjoyed the dinner Milmyu had made.
"I can cook too, you know."
"You think I don't know your cooking skills, Senior? I'll handle everything today."
"......"
This wasn't the Milmyu who'd been getting scary lately sometimes. She felt like the old Milmyu from back then—pure and kind to a fault.
Who was it? Who lifted the curse hanging over this girl?
What Milmyu made was a veggie-packed stew.
"How is it? It's from my eastern village, so it might not suit your tastes, but it's from my hometown..."
"No need to worry like that. It's delicious."
"......Pardon?"
Hmm.
It's true.
Not some fancy gourmet dish, but the kind of home cooking that warms the heart.
My own cooking always felt more like eating out, and lately I'd just been filling up on bread most days.
"Never imagined I'd get food this warm in Jefrin. It's good."
"Th-that's too much praise..."
"Just calling good food good. That's not overkill. It's praise."
"......Ugh. Yes."
Milmyu blushed bright red and bowed her head so low her face nearly hit the plate as she dug into her stew.
I didn't think I'd praised her that much.
"Lately, I've been subsisting more on Shining Patissier's sweets than actual cooking."
"...Huh? That's bad for you!"
"Hmm. Work's piled up lately, though. Can't be helped. And it'll only get busier."
With my agreement with Eve, it wasn't just the convenience store anymore—I'd have Jefrin expeditions too.
"That's no good. Your health's already iffy."
"Hmm."
True once more.
"Hmm, hmm. Right. Then there's a way. But... that's shameless... No. Hmm."
Milmyu paced slowly around me, lost in thought.
What on earth was churning in that head of hers?
Still, with those stats, she was Jefrin's top first-year. Top of the class in knowledge.
I was looking forward to her wise solution.
A way to handle both my health and the Jefrin expeditions!
"Should I come every day and cook for you...?"
"No, that's impossible."
Absolutely not.
"Then... Ah. How about this—we always eat two meals a day together!"
"......Hmm? How? What about the common faculty dorms?"
"......Ugh."
Milmyu sank back into thought. Desperately piecing together an answer again.
"Hmm. That's too extreme. But... let's check the conditions... Magic 8th Faculty here. Empty rooms available... Ah. Hmm. Then? Ah... Aha."
Just like that, thirty minutes passed.
Milmyu finally reached a solution and beamed at me.
"Senior! Then here's the thing..."
Ho.
That solution was pretty inventive?
The next day.
Jefrin Academy's first-semester closing ceremony.
It's not some grand event, really.
Professors hand out independent research assignments, and the area around the warp portals gets busy through vacation.
Some kids have to go home and report the intel they gathered in Jefrin. Others visit allied families to reaffirm bonds.
Or some stay behind to finish unfinished research.
It's no farewell. If anything, it's more freedom.
But we did have one clear goodbye to make.
"Sniff. Sob. I-I'm Spica Trista. I-I learned so much."
Spica Trista.
She's confirmed for next year's enrollment, but that means she's not a Jefrin student right now.
"Spica. I'm looking forward to your enrollment next year."
"Y-yes. Eve President. Sniff... Thank you so much."
"Hehe. You're such an excellent student, so I'm thrilled."
She'd already submitted her sprout report and gotten glowing reviews.
Her relationships with friends around her were solid too. A real all-rounder.
"...Wolfram oppa."
"Spica."
"Revolutions always come with farewells. H-ha, but... it's sad. Unfair..."
"Unfair how?"
To me, she was just a cute little sister who'd picked up bad habits from her big sis, but Spica teared up looking at me anyway.
"I studied so hard to... get closer to Wolfram oppa, but... y-you left me behind for the sea... Sniff. Sob."
"......"
Ah.
Come to think of it, she couldn't go to the sea.
Yeah, that one's on me. For real.
"Once you enroll next year, we'll go see the sea together."
"R-really?"
"Yeah."
"A rev-revolutionary promise! Oppa!"
"Hmm."
Spica and I made that promise.
"Then, Wolfram. Eve and Spica will head to Eden for a bit. Contact us anytime if you need the warp portal."
"Got it."
"Let's go, Spica."
"Wolfram oppa...! Next time we meet, revolution for sure...!"
"That's treason, Spica."
The two stepped into the warp portal.
Eden. The Trista estate, huh.
Come to think of it, I need to head there sometime to adjust the contract revenue splits.
Next up was Nefti.
She was the one who hesitated the most, right up until departure.
I got it completely.
A Royal Guard's duty was protecting imperial blood, no matter what anyone said.
Her going home would be serious negligence.
The kind of heinous crime that could mean execution.
"Truth is, I have to protect you, Senior."
"No. This is an order from your lord. Go home, make your report, spend time talking with your family, get their permission, and come back. My Royal Guard, Nefti."
"I humbly accept your command. My lord."
We shared a look and a light smile. But the trust in it was anything but light.
"Ah, Wolfram. Rudika's heading out."
"In a rush, huh."
"...Yeah. Gotta convince the clan, after all."
"Convince them?"
"Something like that. Spar a bit, check my skills, and more than anything... next time, I have to beat the guy who handed me my first loss."
That's about me?
Ha, this is awkward.
Not gonna fight, though? I rin fair and square? Why fight lol.
"See you second semester. Rudika."
"Yeah. Rudika's best friend, Wolfram. ...I'm off."
"Hmm."
Next was Eve.
"So, when are you heading home?"
"Dunno."
Go back wrong and I'd probably get stabbed in the gut, so no plans there.
"Right. Anyway, I've got imperial reports to make, so I'm going first. But the other brothers are waiting for you too."
"If I feel like it."
"Within summer break?"
"If I feel like it, then within break."
"......Die, trash."
"Ha. Go to grad school."
We flipped each other off and said our goodbyes.
The last farewell was with Milmyu.
"Then, Senior. I'm off too."
"Safe travels."
"...Yes! My home to return to is the convenience store!"
"That, uh. Not wrong, I guess."
"Isn't it? Boss?"
"......No, yeah. Part-timer."
At my reply, Milmyu covered her mouth and giggled.
That day, rattled by my meals and daily life, Milmyu had made a fierce demand.
Her request was simple.
'Then, let me part-time at your convenience store, Senior!'
'...Part-time?'
'Yes! So every shift, we eat dinner together, take walks, chat. Senior!'
'......'
Nefti had been the first to suggest part-timing for me, but after twists and turns, she'd become my Royal Guard.
Truth was, I wanted someone to assist me at the store, even with no customers.
So I approved. Once summer break ended, Milmyu would be my part-timer.
"Then, I'm off!"
"Hmm. Go on."
After that, I chatted with students like Vanilla, Yogurt, Emily, and others.
Just over a month of summer break, but they all said their goodbyes and headed out.
Not like it was a lifelong parting.
Right?
Anyway, I played along with their sentimental vibes, returned to the convenience store, and there she was.
"Oh. Little bro's back?"
"Filtia sis."
"Yeah. Your sis. Farewells go well?"
"Hmm. All good."
"Hehe. Good. Now... down to business?"
"Of course."
Even with everyone heading home, I still had work at the convenience store.
New product research and development.
Jefrin starting early second semester.
And...
"Investigating our great ancestor's legacy for the demon gate."
"Yeah. Papa's treasure hunt. Hehe. Your sis is pumped too."
The grueling first semester ended, and summer break arrived.
But for me, Wolfram von Loengrin, there was no time to rest.