Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Harmonious Siblings (1)
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The next day,
I rested due to muscle soreness.
Of course,
the day after that, I rested due to muscle soreness too.
The day after that, Aila came to visit.
She poked my finger at me sprawled out on the floor of the back office with the counter mat still under me, then tilted her head.
"Are you okay?"
"...F-Fine."
"I heard the story. You caused quite a stir in the first-year dorms, right?"
"Hmph. That's just nonsense from ignorant fools."
"Is that so? From what I heard, the rumor was that Wolfram convinced the graduate students, letting the first-years sleep peacefully."
"...That rumor got around?"
"Yep."
Aila giggled and stood up from her seat.
"Not just the graduate students, but pulling in the first-years too. As expected of Wolfram. Your political insight never fails to amaze me."
"...?"
"The easiest way to build friendly forces is to show a good side to those who are neutral or lack information, right? Neither the first-years nor the graduate students know about your misdeeds. Good judgment."
"...That's not it."
"Sure. Your rebellion has finally raised its first flag. I just want to watch it unfold from the audience."
No.
That's not it, seriously.
"Tired, huh? I'll make you some food."
"...What?"
"Don't worry. I'll make something good for your stomach."
"... ."
With that, Aila left the office with light steps.
No. What the hell are you planning to make? And before that, do you even know how to cook?
Maybe she'll say it's the taste of rebellion and force-feed me an energy drink distilled into a potion. Or boil death soup with energy drinks, claiming it's good for the stomach.
Countless horrifying experiments flashed through my mind, ones I couldn't even bear to imagine.
But with this powerless body, I couldn't do a thing.
I am weak.
That realization sank in.
"Here."
"... ."
"Why are you staring like that? It turned out well, didn't it?"
"No, it's nothing."
I widened my eyes at what Aila had brought.
Should I call it porridge? It was soup.
Chicken soup made by stripping the meat off chicken and throwing it all in together.
A Western patient meal used for nourishment or when you catch a cold.
"You really made this?"
"Of course. I have a cooking skill too, you know. I picked cooking for the skill you get at Dexterity 10. It's around level 4 now, so eat up without worry."
"I see."
Unexpected, but Aila had cooking in her skill tree.
One bite, and warmth spread through my body.
"Good work, Wolfram. Need anything else?"
"I'm fine. ...Thank you."
"Oh my. Pure gratitude from Wolfram. It's always fresh, never gets old."
Aila giggled, waited until I finished eating, quietly cleared the dishes, and left the convenience store.
"Good night, Wolfram. I'll come again."
"... ."
And the next day, the muscle soreness was completely gone.
Student Council Room.
"Hoo."
The pinnacle of Jefrin's one hundred thousand. The heaven-sent genius. Every time Eve von Loengrin exhaled, the entire student council flinched.
Lately, Eve von Loengrin's condition had been off. She'd seem deep in thought, then sigh, focus on work again, and suddenly sigh out of nowhere. It was impossible to pin down.
The imperial descendant, the iron-blooded executor, the student council president of justice—seeing Eve like this drove the executives mad. More precisely, as her vassals, they were hopping mad.
Of course, they had some inkling of the reason.
The ghost commotion at the first-year dormitory.
It was said to have been safely resolved by Eve's efforts, but there were rumors that former student council president Wolfram von Loengrin had intervened.
Whether it was complete nonsense or not. Whether Wolfram really got involved. And if he did, how. It would be great to investigate, but Wolfram was imperial blood too.
Even considering he was a fallen kite with no political base, the name "imperial prince" was above the law. If he left Jefrin and returned to the palace, he could drag down anyone who crossed him, blocking their paths forward.
And with ties to Rudika from the knight division's assassin family? Forget promotion—they might not survive the present world.
In the end, the student council executives could only tremble helplessly between the president's inexplicable sighs and the shadow of the former president.
All except one. Silvia, Eve's guardian knight.
Truth be told, Silvia didn't want to step forward either, but under the silent pressure from those around her, she had no choice but to ask about Eve's condition.
"Lady Eve. Is something troubling you?"
"Hm? ...Oh. Silvia. Thanks. Troubling... not really. It's nothing major."
"But your sighs are so deep, we're all worried."
"Hep!"
"Hup!"
Don't say 'we', say 'you'! Don't drag us in! the executives signaled with their eyes. If it goes wrong, you're coming down with us, Silvia shot back. Truly a heartwarming student council.
"Hm? ...Oh. Right. I've been sighing a lot lately. Sorry."
"No need. But if something's bothering you, please lean on us."
"Hm... yeah. Then, I have one thing I'd like to ask. It's not about me—it's about a friend..."
"I see. A friend's issue."
Everyone there realized it was Eve's story.
"My friend has someone they have bad blood with. But they feel indebted to that person."
"I see."
"They don't know how to repay the debt. Their relationship is awkward too. And since it's a debt of the heart, they don't even know the means."
"I see. Your friend is going through that..."
The entire student council realized Wolfram had done something notable in the first-year dorm ghost incident.
At the center, Silvia cleared her throat a few times and answered carefully.
"Can't you just ignore it and move on? The other side was mostly at fault anyway. Lady Eve doesn't need to mind."
"Y-Yes?"
"A... no. Right. It was your friend's story. Well... the answer to a debt of the heart is to settle it as quickly as possible. Ignoring it is best, but... for now, just throw tens of thousands of rin at it monetarily and call it done?"
"Monetarily... So, convert feelings to money."
"Yes."
Eve nodded at Silvia's advice.
"I'll give it a try."
"Yes, Lady Eve."
The entire student council noticed Eve had switched from "my friend will try" to "I'll try," but no one pointed it out.
They were all lenient toward Eve.
Eve organized her thoughts as she walked toward the convenience store.
Silvia said to convert the debt of the heart to money and toss tens of thousands of rin, but she couldn't do that.
It would mean the burden she felt was worth only that much.
Moreover, Wolfram had done the heavy lifting in resolving the ghost incident, then credited it all to Eve.
[...Even if it's credited to you, no one can complain. I'll speak only the truth before the imperial honor, and Nepthelian will testify too.]
Wolfram had scoffed at the suggestion.
[Say I stepped up and solved it. My infamy improves? Your regime shakes. This time, I'm just a ghost. Make it your achievement.]
[... .]
His calm demeanor showed no attachment to power.
Wolfram had treated her like before.
"Now..."
She took several deep breaths, clenching and unclenching her fists.
"Money should settle it. A debt of the heart can be paid with money."
Yes, if money could wash away feelings, she would become a demon of coin.
Eve von Loengrin had been saving since childhood, had considerable assets, and received decent pocket money.
Of course, she hated pointless spending, so most sat in her account, and she'd dipped into personal funds a bit for student council operations, making it hard to splash freely.
Still, she had money. Plenty!
"Hoo. Yeah. Money. Hit him with money."
Wolfram von Loengrin.
How much would be fitting for the debt of the heart she owed the man she'd dragged to the execution platform by the neck?
Eve still couldn't put an exact price on it.
"Something you want? Nothing."
"...No. I mean. Really nothing?"
Up to now.
With my muscle soreness healed, I was thinking of switching up the morning stock when Eve barged in out of nowhere, declared she'd repay her debt, and asked how much.
What? What is she planning?
"Really nothing."
"...Hoo. There has to be something."
No, why?
Why does there have to be?
"Truly nothing."
"I'm trying to repay a debt, but if you want nothing, what am I supposed to do?! Please, think about it!"
... .
I don't get it, but it feels like I did something wrong.
Material compensation I need right now?
Nothing particular. Even if there was, I'd avoid asking Eve for it.
Clearing the 1-1 episode showed me how much changed due to my involvement. The biggest shifts were with the game protag Coolpis... Kelters, and Eve.
If I hadn't been there, Kelters' stunted growth might've doomed Eve.
She lives her way properly, I go mine separately. Keeping distance as siblings seems right. You grow hard and clear the main story.
"Alright. Then let me propose a few things I've thought of. First, the imperial side is positively considering graduate student rights protection."
"I see."
"To stabilize their psyche, they might temporarily permit sales of model diplomas and graduation rings."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I reported to the palace how you convinced the grad students. Since their efficacy is proven, the approval is for selling custom graduation rings and diplomas to them as toy models for peace of mind. And you hold the exclusive rights."
Eve cleared her throat with an 'ahem' and snorted. Is this her idea of consideration?
Could sell them expensive, sure.
"No plans to sell the graduation rings and diplomas high. Practically at cost."
"Why?"
"What's the point of scamming grad students? Toy level for mental peace is enough."
"...Tch. Saying the right thing again in this situation, Wolfram of all people."
Eve grumbled something, let out a deep sigh, and stared straight into my eyes.
"Wolfram. Wolfram von Loengrin."
"What."
"I'll be honest. I feel indebted to you right now."
Straight to the point.
"So?"
"I was useless in resolving this incident. Just did cleanup. And you credited it all to me. That goes against Eve von Loengrin's philosophy. So I want to repay this debt."
"I see."
"Last question. Is there really nothing I can do for you?"
What. Should've said that from the start.
Forcing it her way, but that's Eve-like in its own right.
As the saying goes, brother and sister should scam each other whenever the chance arises.
To be a proper big brother, I can't refuse Eve's goodwill.
Let's see. Something helpful...
Ah. One thing.
"This store."
"This grocery store?"
"Yeah. Fix that perception first. This is a convenience store. Not a grocery store."
"...Convenience store? First time hearing that."
"A convenience store is a shop centered on convenience, built where people gather. Groceries. Stationery. Toys. Freshly baked bread. Even fruits, veggies. Fried foods. Books."
"A complex shop?"
"Exactly."
"Profitable, sure. But Wolfram."
"What."
"No one comes here? Isn't the premise wrong?"
Got me there.
"...Ahem. Anyway. I conceived this convenience store first and swore to reach the top of the industry. But like you said, Eve, no one sees it as one. They all think grocery store."
"Well, no one knows the concept. ...You thought of that. Hm. So?"
"I want a signboard."
"Aha."
"Need good metal or wood for it."
"Is that right? Perfect. I'll contact Yggdrasil or Maestro. What do you need?"
I had materials in mind.
Ones useful in the main story too, no dungeon needed.
Not metal plate, but wood.
Available within the academy district.
"Want to make it from Sacred Spirit Wood Elwood. Possible?"
"...What? Whaat? S-Sacred Spirit Wood?"
"Available in Yggdrasil autonomous district, right? Tree they sell for money."
"Uh, um. Sure, but... do you know how much?"
"No idea. But you're the one repaying a debt."
At that, Eve clutched her chest with a groan and turned away, muttering.
"Gonna fleece me proper, huh? Weighing it against the debt of the heart? Last year's auction was eight million... Break the savings from age four... Academy ops budget hole, ugh."
What’s she muttering?
"Can you get it? If not, no big deal."
"Th-this! Fine! I'll get it! Yes! The wood for the signboard, I'll bring it for sure!"
Eve made a tearful face and stormed out.
I don't know the exact price, but since my little sister declared it a gift, as big brother, I should accept even if it's pricey.
The bond between the Loengrin siblings studying at Jefrin seemed to deepen another layer, tears of joy blurring my vision.