Chapter 95
Chapter 95
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: I Won't Be the One, Though
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The graduate program will be a new beacon in my life. One that lets me cast aside my weak self."
What the hell is she saying? This girl's completely lost it.
No wonder people say things fell apart.
Isolde Cruel.
To put it simply, she's a 【zealot who never doubts the path she believes in】.
So, for a while, Wolfram von Loengrin was the object of her faith. But now that he's fallen from grace, the graduate program has become her new conviction.
For real.
She truly believes in the graduate program.
Believes it's the lighthouse illuminating her path forward.
Of course, it's not just the graduate program she believes in.
That's what makes her truly insane.
Ah, this is such a hassle.
"......【I see. Do your best, then】"
"Yes, President."
"【However, Isolde Cruel, allow me one piece of advice. Hear me out sweetly.】"
"Please, speak."
"【Don't get too lost in the abyss.】"
"......Pardon?"
Well, that's all I've got for her.
The rest is up to you.
Just... if you go too far...
I might have to clean things up.
"Then devote yourself fully to your graduate life. I'll be cheering for you from afar."
"......Yes."
What am I supposed to advise a girl who's heading to the Knight Division's graduate program?
A liberal arts grad student would be preferable.
With that, Isolde Cruel left the scene, and I cast my gaze around.
Not that I stared too openly—everyone would avert their eyes, bow their heads, and start trembling if I did—so I just rolled my eyeballs.
And there, in the distance, my eyes met it.
Aila was standing right next to it, all smug and proud, which made it stand out, but it wasn't even looking at her.
Unlike the other nobles, it was staring straight at me.
With my measly 2 Endurance, I mustered all my strength and walked over there. It's fine. This body can still move.
"Wolfram?"
Aila's eyes widened round. Why'd you come all the way here?
These two are sworn enemies, so if I talked to Regina and ended up hit by Aila's Black Crystal, I wouldn't even break even.
So, first, I need to shake off Aila.
"Aila. Can I entrust the distribution of the things we've prepared to you?"
"Oh? Weren't you going to do it yourself, Wolfram?"
"I want to leave that stage to you. I still need to stay in the shadows, after all."
"Hehe. That grand endeavor? I'll take it on for a bit. But since you're using me, I'll add a little flair?"
"Mm."
I nodded, and Aila beamed before departing.
After sending her off, I turned my gaze to Regina Cielra standing before me.
Whoa.
Look at that slight cloudiness in her eyes.
Wait. Isn't this already starting to go bad?
This must be... stage 1?
If you don't manage it here, the haze in her eyes worsens. By stages 4 or 5, it goes completely.
And then she drags Kelters to the flower field...
Ugh.
"......I greet Prince Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Lady of House Cierra. Have you been well?"
"Yes. Thanks to Your Highness's consideration."
"Cut the formalities. We're not close enough for you to speak to me that way."
I need to detach this crazy girl somehow.
No. That's not the priority right now. I have something to give her.
But first, one question. If she already has it...
it won't be much help.
"Lady of House Cierra."
"Yes, Your Highness. Please speak."
"Did you obtain the item I mentioned before?"
"You mean the blessed artifact? My abilities are lacking, so I haven't acquired it yet."
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue without thinking. Guess I have to give it to her, then.
Otherwise, someone at Jefrin Academy dies.
Not me, though.
"But why did Your Highness ask me to obtain such a thing? May I ask the reason?"
Should I brush it off?
No.
If the truth gets back to Eve's ears, I'll have to spill everything about how much and why I know. But Regina Cielra isn't on great terms with Eve to begin with.
She harbors massive inferiority toward Eve.
So, telling her shouldn't be a problem.
I already told her to get a blessed item; glossing over the reason would be tough.
"Don't tell anyone. A merchant's lips are cheaper than most, but they won't open without the right price."
"Quite right. I shall keep it secret."
"【Will you swear it?】"
"Yes!"
......Good.
I've got her oath on words spoken through Imperial Bloodline; she won't blab easily.
"A curse is approaching Jefrin."
"......Pardon?"
"That's why I told you to prepare a blessed item."
"Yes. My failings... If that's true, am I... the target of the curse...?"
"Quick on the uptake."
"Ah... ahh... ah."
Regina's eyes cloud over further.
This is tricky.
If she gets cursed here, it's really dangerous. The curse accelerates her 'haze'.
Let's think.
Regina Cielra takes pride in being 'the eldest daughter of the empire's greatest merchant house'.
While despairing over the 'imperial family that could kill her anytime'.
What moves her is her 'merchant heiress' status and her Magic Power of 21.
But the curse renders her powerless. Despairs her. Makes her Magic Power useless.
So if she gets cursed, she breaks faster. The time limit is brutally short.
That's why the Regina route is so hard.
Anyway, if Regina goes mad, someone's getting the throat-slitting-in-the-flower-field ending.
Not me, though.
"Take this. It'll let you evade it. A blessed artifact. For you."
"......Pardon?"
So, how to avoid Regina's haze?
Simple.
Treat her with complete sincerity in every way.
No lies, just push forward with the truth.
Whether Kelters's sincerity reaches her heart is the core of the Regina Cielra route.
So...
First, throw it out purely.
"I figured you wouldn't have prepared it. It's a blessed talisman—and a snack. Don't eat it."
"Why give this to me...? For a prince of the imperial blood to give me a blessed item...?"
Regina's eyes fixate on me intently.
The haze clears a bit. Honestly, that's scarier.
Hold it together.
My legs are shaking in fear; I want to run right now.
But this isn't the time to flee in terror. It's time to take one more step forward!
To save some nameless soul from the flower-field throat-slitting ending someday!
Listen up, nameless one. Know that I'm saving you right now!
"There's a reason. But it's not a grand one."
"Please, tell me your true intent... I beg you."
Regina Cielra clasps her hands to her chest, gazing at me.
That desperate look is annoying.
Really clingy, this.
Well.
To be blunt, I have no personal feelings for Regina Cielra.
I just like this D/Z SAGA.
Even if real-life Jefrin differs a bit from my expectations, it's still fun.
Not like Yi Young-jin, who couldn't survive without painkillers for his herniated disc due to zero stamina.
And Regina Cielra is a heroine I saw to the end, even if I never fully understood her.
I don't really want to see her hit rock bottom completely.
So, strip out the emotions and wrap it more broadly.
"Curious, isn't it?"
"......Pardon?"
"Knowing someone's headed for misfortune in the future—do you need a reason to stop it?"
"......Ah... ahh."
Her voice trembles violently at those words.
Why's she like this?
"Then keep it safe."
"P-Prince Wolfram von Loengrin. Grant me one request."
"What."
"Could you... call me just 'Regina'? Not Regina Cielra, not Lady of House Cierra—just once?"
Ah, this...
Hmm, no. It was a line on the path to Regina's happy ending, I think. Or not.
What was it? That cafe member from Regina Squad, 【Call Her Cierra-chan】 or something said.
'Calling her name once is a big trigger.' Was that the biggest foreshadowing...? Right?
"......"
"Please."
Was there such a flag?
I gave up understanding her psyche ages ago, so I'm not sure.
What do I care about the despair of a sheltered girl who has everything?
As I pondered, the whole hall stirred.
"Ahem. Everyone in the audience, could you focus here for a moment?"
From somewhere came the voice of betrayal I knew all too well.
Aila struck a cool pose, amplifying her voice with magic to echo through the hall.
Pretty advanced technique. Requires fine Magic Power control.
And she was even using Black Crystal to make stairs and a podium, delivering her speech from atop it.
How insanely well does she handle her Magic Power? A monster.
"Thank you all for making today shine. Though not as much as me and Prince Wolfram von Loengrin, of course! We're shining the most rebelliously!"
Is that a greeting or a provocation?
So very Aila.
"Of course, some might not like my rebellious attitude, but what can you do? It's a fact! I'm the top third-year now!"
Tanking aggro from the whole room, huh?
Wow. Aila's amazing.
"But I'm not just talking. Today, the revived—no, greater than ever—House Trista will unveil a new 'rebellious concept' in distribution! Come on in!"
With that command from Aila, carts rolled in.
Piled high with snack sets.
Those are the leftovers from the snacks I made for training.
Brought them thinking they might appeal to the nobles.
"Those who've heard the rumors know, but this is the new 'rebellious item'! Eat it, and all kinds of buffs activate instantly! Regardless of your Magic Power! You get how huge this is, right?"
The audience buzzes in confusion.
Right. 'Purely benevolent positive buffs' aren't affected by Magic Resistance.
Is that still not fully known in this era?
Whatever.
"I won't say who the great one is. Just speculate among yourselves. That's all for the rebellious gifts."
With a bright smile, Aila descended the Black Crystal stairs slowly and stood before me.
"Ahem. Wolfram. I'm back."
"Advertising it as rebellion outright? Isn't rebellion supposed to be subtle?"
"Oh? Don't you think it's time I started being great too?"
"......"
Aila started with a cheeky grin but soon laughed it off like usual.
Well, yeah. They're snacks we brought to give away, so packaging them like this is fine.
"Isn't it time we head back, Wolfram?"
"Mm. You're right."
More than anything, my stamina's at its limit.
Can I even walk back...? Should've brought Partrasu.
As I thought that, something rose up beneath my feet.
A transparent, smooth Black Crystal platform emerged under me, firmly securing my ankles.
"......There. Now I can pull you with magic, right?"
"......Ha. Indeed. You've learned some fine magic, Aila."
"I can't slack on my own training. If magic engine stones make carriages, sliding Black Crystal should do something similar, right?"
"Excellent."
Amazing. Aila's amazing!
"Then, Miss Cierra? Prince Wolfram von Loengrin is complaining of fatigue. We'll be off."
With a polite smile, Aila lightly took my arm.
It's moving with your magic, so no need for that, right? But Aila showed no sign of letting go.
Shake it off myself? Haha, good one.
"Ah..."
Regina Cielra stared intently.
Hmm. What was it again?
She wanted me to call her by name?
Kept calling her 'Lady' and I might really get stabbed, so... compromise.
I called her that at the tea party last time, so it should be fine.
"Then, 'Regina Cielra', we'll be going."
"......Ah."
Regina clenched her fists tight.
"Let's go, Aila."
"Yes, Wolfram!"
With that, Aila quietly slid the platform forward.
Oh, ooh. More fun than I thought.
Feels like riding the world's safest electric scooter.
I felt Regina Cielra watching from behind, but I desperately ignored it.
"Yes... for now... with this... someday, definitely."
Regina's voice, scattering in the growing distance, didn't form a complete sentence.