Chapter 192: Dream(1)
Chapter 192: Dream(1)
After sending Cherry off, I returned to the History Hall. Since I had given her a map, I planned to wait while reading a few books.
"Listen. Are you really Xenon?"
Of course, it was only natural for Elena to suspect me. Cherry had called me Xenon right in front of her, so it would have been stranger if she didn't ask.
The moment I heard her question, I flinched, my hand pausing as I was pulling a book from the shelf. I turned to look at Elena and saw a look of pure curiosity on her face.
"...Do you think so too, Professor?"
"No? I'm just asking because I'm curious. I didn't understand why that girl suddenly called you Xenon."
Elena replied, pushing up her glasses out of habit. I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
I didn't know what was going on with that student, Cherry, but her impulsive behavior had put my secret at risk of being exposed. For now, my priority was to deny it, but I needed to figure out what Elena was thinking first.
"What if I really am Xenon? What would you do then, Professor?"
"I'd ask if you're a prophet or someone from the future. Or I'd ask if we could conduct joint research. If you're someone who knows forbidden magic that even I didn't know, you must know history even better."
"Is that all?"
"Listen. I'm just an ordinary scholar, not a noble ruling a territory or a soldier defending a country. Do you have any idea how joyful it is to uncover knowledge that others don't know?"
She truly had the mindset of a born scholar. It was likely that thirst for inquiry that allowed her to become a scholar and travel freely in and out of the Holy Land of Albenheim.
Furthermore, the unique racial characteristics of Elves probably played a part. As I’ve mentioned before, Elves tend to dedicate their entire lives to their chosen profession and pay little attention to anything else.
Therefore, even if I revealed to Elena that I was Xenon, it probably wouldn't be a big problem. She’d likely just be delighted that she’d gained a top-tier slave—no, a Teaching Assistant.
From what I had seen of Elena so far, she was a scholar to the bone, not a power-hungry person who would use underhanded tactics.
"So, are you really Xenon?"
"No, I'm not."
Of course, that didn't mean I had any intention of revealing my secret. We hadn't even built a proper relationship of trust yet; I couldn't just give it away.
"That's a shame. Then how are you going to explain it to that girl?"
"Hmm..."
I sat on the sofa and pondered her question. Cherry would arrive by 5:00 PM at the latest, as orientations usually ended early.
However, Cherry was firmly convinced that I was Xenon. Talking in the laboratory was problematic because Elena was there.
Well, based on what I just heard, I didn't suspect she would do anything malicious if she heard my secret. Even if she did, Arwen would likely be able to handle it.
"I'm not sure. I think it's best to clear up the misunderstanding first. And while I'm at it, I should get an apology for her pulling my hair."
"When she gets here, go to a cafe and talk. I'd prefer it if you didn't have personal conversations in the laboratory if possible."
"The laboratory is a space solely for research—is that it?"
"Exactly."
She really did have the mindset of a natural scholar. Since that was my plan anyway, I simply nodded without a word.
It was just as I opened the book I had chosen to pass the time until Cherry arrived.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone quietly knocked on the laboratory door. Since there was still plenty of time before Cherry was supposed to arrive, it seemed to be someone else.
"Yes, coming."
I closed the book and swung the door wide open.
"Who is... Oh?"
"... ..."
The moment I opened the door, I was met with pink hair that seemed to carry the scent of cherry blossoms. There was only one person with pink hair.
"...Student Cherry?"
"Ah, hello..."
It was her—Cherry Blossom Roseberry. When I spoke with a puzzled expression, she gave a small bow and greeted me in her characteristically lifeless voice.
Thinking I might have misread the time, I looked at the clock inside the lab; it was exactly 3:00 PM. Since it was the first day, this was when the orientation should have been taking place.
I faced Cherry, wondering if she had actually skipped the session to come here. Her face was as despondent as before, devoid of even a spark of vitality.
"Did you skip your orientation to come here?"
"...Yes."
"I mean... even so..."
Just as I was about to give her a piece of my mind out of sheer absurdity, I looked down and noticed she was cradling something precious in her arms.
At a glance, they looked like ordinary papers, but they were severely damaged. Quite literally, they looked like they had been torn to shreds and then painstakingly taped back together.
Seeing her hold them like that, I guessed they were something incredibly important to her.
"What is that?"
"Ah. Th-this is..."
When I pointed at the papers and asked, Cherry flinched violently. Shivering, she looked like a terrified squirrel.
I decided that staying here would only waste time, so I chose to move elsewhere.
"...Let's head to a cafe first. Professor?"
"Go ahead. There are no classes today anyway, so go to the cafe and then head straight home to rest."
"Thank you. Student Cherry? Could you follow me for a moment?"
"Yes..."
After getting permission from Elena, I started walking with Cherry.
Grab.
"...Red."
"... ..."
But why had she been grabbing my hair since earlier? According to Mari and Cecile, she said my hair texture was better than hers and she wanted to keep touching it, so that might be the reason.
Normally, I would have snapped at her, asking what she thought she was doing and telling her it was rude to grab someone else's hair. But since Cherry's mental state was clearly fragile, I planned to reason with her gently at the cafe.
In the end, Cherry ended up following me like a little chick, clutching my ponytail, and I let out a sigh as I headed to my favorite cafe.
Even though passersby gave us strange looks, I ignored them completely. I was used to such stares by now, so they didn't bother me.
Besides, with a redhead and a pink-haired girl standing out like this, it was impossible not to draw attention. I decided to just let it be.
"Welcome."
"A private room, please."
"Understood."
After arriving at the cafe, I ordered coffee and entered a private room. Cherry seemed hesitant, as if it were her first time in a cafe, before scurrying inside.
Finally, we were alone. I looked at Cherry, who was still clutching the papers to her chest.
She seemed to have lost the courage to take another step forward after having come this far, and she was fidgeting nervously. She occasionally lifted her head to meet my eyes, but that was it.
"Your drinks are here."
"Thank you."
As we sat in silence, the coffee we ordered arrived. I took a sip of my sweet cappuccino and glanced at Cherry.
She was glancing back and forth between the coffee in front of her and me, gauging my reaction. When I waved my hand as if to tell her it was okay to drink, she finally reached out slowly.
Even as she reached for the cup, she kept the papers cradled protectively in her arms.
"Is it good?"
"...Yes."
Cherry nodded at my question and gave a small reply. I was glad she liked it, but we hadn't even started the real conversation yet.
I gave a slight smile, took another sip of my cappuccino, and carefully set the cup down. The clink echoed loudly in the silent private room.
Then, I interlaced my fingers and rested my chin on them, posing a question to the nervous Cherry.
"So, what is it you want to say to me? Did you want to show me those papers?"
"...Author Xenon... is it really you?"
Cutting through the pleasantries and getting straight to the point, Cherry lifted her head and asked me.
Her characteristic 'dead eyes' were eerie, but her striking beauty managed to neutralize the effect.
I pondered how to answer her question before shrugging my shoulders and acting nonchalant. Since this was our first real meeting, trusting her completely was out of the question.
"I wonder. What would you do if I were Xenon? Do you plan to inform your family, Student Cherry?"
"My family..."
The moment the keyword 'family' was mentioned, the light in Cherry's eyes died even further. To make matters worse, her head slumped forward slowly, like a doll with its strings cut.
Seeing that, I realized one thing: to Cherry, the word 'family' was nothing short of a landmine.
There are quite a few nobles who dislike their own families. However, showing such an extreme reaction like Cherry's was far from common.
Quickly realizing she had some deep-seated issues regarding her family, I hurried to change the subject.
"I-I was just saying that's a possibility, so don't take it too seriously. So, what would you do if I really were Xenon?"
"...Is it really true?"
Fortunately, she seemed to have recovered somewhat, as Cherry slowly lifted her head and asked. Even though there were clues everywhere, she seemed unable to reach a conclusion on her own.
I let out a deep sigh inwardly and agonized over what to do.
Whatever her story was, Cherry hated her family to an extreme degree. I could easily infer that much just from her reaction a moment ago.
Therefore, even if I revealed I was Xenon, the chances of her telling her family were extremely low. Given her mental state, she didn't seem like the type to run her mouth, either.
But I couldn't just come out and say it. First, I had to determine whether she was someone I could trust.
"Student Cherry. You said a red hair came out of the letter, right? And you said my handwriting is the same as the handwriting in the letter."
"...Yes."
"Those things can be evidence, but they're still not enough."
"You're... not denying it."
I simply smiled at Cherry's quiet yet sharp observation. I didn't say it outright, but I was essentially telling her to judge for herself.
Since I was already halfway caught, denying it vehemently would only arouse more suspicion, so it was better to leave things ambiguous like this.
Even if my identity were revealed, I had reliable allies by my side. I was engaged to Mari, the daughter of the Rekilis family, and I even had a friendly relationship with Lina.
Cherry was certainly not the type to blab, but her family might pressure her. Looking at her condition, I could roughly guess what kind of place the Roseberry family was.
"That's for you to decide, Student Cherry. I haven't said anything, have I?"
"Th-then..."
As if my nonchalant answer had given her confirmation, Cherry began to fluster with an urgent expression. She glanced at the papers in her arms, bit her lip, and then politely held them out to me.
Setting aside the fact that they were torn in places, there were even footprints on them; they were, quite literally, a tattered mess.
I stared blankly at the bundle of papers Cherry held out, then looked at her as if asking what this was. But her head was bowed so low I couldn't see her expression.
Left with no choice, I took the papers. They were so damaged I hadn't realized it at first, but they weren't just ordinary papers—they were manuscript paper.
Yes, the very same manuscript paper I always used when writing the Xenon Biography. And on that manuscript paper, a story was written in Cherry's characteristically warm handwriting.
[Red Sunset Once Again.]
What is this? What's with this overly sentimental title?
Because it had been pieced back together like a puzzle with adhesive, the writing was a bit distorted, but the title stood out clearly.
I blinked and stared at the title for a moment before turning my gaze to Cherry across from me. She still had her head bowed low, her hands tucked between her thighs.
"Did you write this, Student Cherry?"
Nod.
Cherry slowly nodded at my question. After a brief look of wonder, I turned my attention back to the manuscript.
It was a bit difficult to read since it had been torn to shreds and painstakingly reassembled, but it wasn't impossible.
However, seeing the clear shoeprint on the first page, I could roughly guess what had happened. It was surely a matter deeply connected to her family.
The act of trampling on an aspiring novelist's manuscript was an act of crushing not just their pride, but their very dream. It was no wonder Cherry's mental state had collapsed.
'I thought they were a family of philosophers...'
Why had the Roseberry family pressured Cherry to the point of pushing her off a cliff? With a heavy heart, I began to read the novel slowly.
It started with sentences filled with a warm sensibility, just like the title. As I had seen in her letters, Cherry's unique sweet and warm writing style was impressive.
But more than anything else, there was one setting that stood out above all...
'...What? It's a regression story?'
Cherry's work, Red Sunset Once Again, was surprisingly a regression story. A common trope where a female protagonist, after experiencing various hardships, returns to the past through a specific event just before her death.
While it was a cliché in my previous life, the genre of 'regression' didn't exist in this world. The fact that she had come up with such an idea spoke volumes about Cherry's brilliance.
Furthermore, her emotional and warm writing style, which suited romance perfectly, made the female protagonist feel even more three-dimensional. The psychological descriptions, in particular, were so exquisite that I found myself lost in them.
And that wasn't all. True to her background in a family of philosophers, various bits of philosophy were woven throughout. The themes were clear enough to make one pause and think, which further strengthened the individuality of the characters.
Finally, there was the appearance and meeting of the male protagonist, which could be called the highlight of a romance novel. Although the pacing was a bit fast in some parts, one thing was for certain.
"Um... Student Cherry?"
"Y-yes?"
The work Cherry had written, Red Sunset Once Again...
"Is there a next volume?"
It was definitely not a work that deserved to be trampled on by anyone.
"... ..."
Cherry looked momentarily stunned by my words. She seemed unable to distinguish whether what she had heard was real or a lie.
To give her reassurance, I pointed at the manuscript and spoke with all my heart.
"This is really interesting. You're sure you wrote this, Student Cherry?"
"... ..."
"Excuse me..."
"Ugh... hic..."
Just as I was about to call her name again, streams of water began to flow from Cherry's pink eyes.
It was a bit unsettling because she was just shedding tears without even blinking, as if a faucet had been turned on.
"Sob... hic... sob..."
"... ..."
After a moment of panic, I waited patiently for Cherry's tears to stop.
"Thank... goodness..."
"... ..."
"It wasn't trampled... It wasn't trampled... hic..."
Though her face was a mess from the tears, Cherry's expression looked much better than before.