Chapter 194: Ill-fated Relationship(1)
Chapter 194: Ill-fated Relationship(1)
Some might find it strange. They might ask if I wasn't trying to hide my identity, or why I admitted it so easily over such flimsy evidence.
To be honest, I originally intended to deny it to the bitter end. I hated the idea of things getting unnecessarily complicated.
However, Cherry’s mental state seemed far more precarious than I had anticipated. I felt compelled to reveal the truth implicitly, if only to save a life. It’s no exaggeration to say that if I had feigned ignorance then, she might have been found as a cold corpse in her room later.
Had that happened, I would have lived with the guilt for the rest of my life. The trauma of losing my parents in an instant in my previous life was more than enough for me.
I’ll have to tell the others eventually.
Even after that "counseling" session with Cherry ended, my daily routine remained unchanged.
I would have a simple meal with acquaintances and then go on a date with either Marie or Cecile. After the date, depending on the circumstances, I would either return to my quarters or head to an inn.
The classes the following day, and the day after that, proceeded exactly like the first. It was much the same for the second-year classes.
One might have found the repetitive schedule boring, but I was far too busy to even have time for boredom.
Instead—or perhaps as a result of that busyness—I ran into a face I hadn't seen in a very long time.
"Isaac? Is that really you, Isaac?"
Dark brown hair and eyes. A sharp jawline and keen eyes that gave off an overall cold, stoic impression.
I had reunited with Edin Mavi Signer, the eldest son of the Count Signer family, whom I had met during the freshman orientation.
Naturally, we could only meet briefly after all the classes were over. Since today’s lessons ended here anyway, Professor Elena let it slide without much comment.
"I might look a bit different from the welcoming party, but it's me."
"Wow. You haven't just changed; you're a completely different person. I've seen someone with red hair around occasionally, but I never dreamed it was you."
As I shrugged and replied, Edin marveled at me, looking me up and down. It made sense; during the freshman events, I barely stood over 170 centimeters, but now I was well over 180.
My frame had filled out nicely, and consistent exercise had left me with solid muscle.
Unlike a year ago when I was endlessly frail, my father's genes had finally kicked in.
Edin had also grown taller and his shoulders had broadened slightly over the year, but it wasn't nearly as dramatic a transformation as mine.
"And what's with the hair? It’s grown so long since I last saw you. Does it usually grow that fast?"
"There's a reason for it. Anyway, how have you been?"
"Me? Nothing much to report, really. But are you already working as a Teaching Assistant?"
"The professor thinks highly of me. Are you still reading books lately?"
"Of course."
I was able to share various conversations with Edin. Since we both knew the other was a bibliophile, the conversation never lagged.
Occasionally, people who seemed to be Edin's friends approached, but they quickly scurried away once they realized the topic was books.
"What is your sister up to these days? Is she still a TA?"
"No. She went to take the entrance test for the Navy Knights. It should be about time for her to return..."
Nicole said it would take about a month, so she should be back soon. She’ll probably return looking quite dashing in the uniform provided by the Navy Knights.
I’ve heard the Navy Knights' uniform is particularly stylish, so I’m quite curious. I expect she’ll visit our parents at the mansion first before coming to the Academy.
"The Navy Knights... Come to think of it, didn't you say your older brother is also in the Navy Knights?"
"That's right. I'm planning to become a scholar since I lack the talent for it."
"Looking at your physique, I wouldn't say you're completely without talent. If you got this kind of frame from just simple exercise, you definitely have potential."
"Forget it. They say you have to dig one well to succeed."
Actually, I had recently increased the intensity of my physical training. Since I had to satisfy not just Marie but Cecile as well, it was a necessity, not an option.
Furthermore, since I couldn't receive Divine Power from Mora, I had to rely on physical stamina to endure.
I felt like I was becoming too dependent if I received Divine Power from Luminous, so I planned to increase my base stamina instead.
I just have to hold out until then. I plan to receive plenty of Divine Power this weekend.
"You have a point. By the way, I heard a rumor that you're dating Lady Marie. Is it true?"
"It is, but has that rumor already spread to the Martial Studies Department?"
"Well, she is the daughter of the only Ducal family in the Minerva Empire. So it was true."
Edin looked at me with a look of wonder before nodding as if he had convinced himself.
"Then again, with a face like yours, I suppose anything is possible."
"Look who's talking. What about you? No girlfriend?"
"I don't have the luxury for that. How did you two start dating? I'm a bit curious."
"Hmm..."
Instead of answering immediately, I glanced around.
When the story of the daughter of the only Duke in the Minerva Empire and the son of a mere Baron came up, I saw several people pretending not to listen while clearly straining their ears.
Since the gap in social status between Marie and me was so vast, it was a topic that naturally drew interest, whether they wanted it to or not.
"We just realized we felt the same way and started dating. That's the only way I can explain it."
"Oh. Then..."
"That's enough of that. I don't want things to get complicated, so why don't you tell me your story? Or are there any interesting rumors in the Martial Studies Department?"
When I cut him off firmly, Edin looked disappointed. But that only lasted a moment before he brought up a topic that made me flinch.
"Oh, right. Did you hear? A transfer student came from the Academy in the Kingdom of Ters. And apparently, that transfer student is royalty."
"What? What do you mean... Ah."
Come to think of it, I had heard something about that. It was after the exhibition when I revealed the Maishal Territory as Xenon's birthplace.
There was a rumor that the Kingdom of Ters, feeling the heat, was planning to send one of their royals to Halo Academy.
With Crown Prince Leort and Princess Lina already attending Halo Academy, their motive was transparent. Still, from the Kingdom of Ters' perspective, it was an unavoidable choice.
"Did they come to the Martial Studies Department?"
"Yeah. But I heard they're not a second-year; they've already graduated and came as a TA. Rumor has it it's the Second Princess."
"The Second Princess..."
I had met the Ters royalty during the exhibition. I heard the First Princess was already married and living in another country, so that left only one person.
The cold beauty with sky-blue hair and sky-blue eyes like Adelia: Hiriya Ducard von Kerchers.
Seeing as she wore a uniform instead of a dress at the exhibition, she was definitely an aspiring knight. Since she would be younger than Adelia, she would have been attending an academy.
This isn't great...
Her gaze and attitude toward Adelia back then, while less extreme than the Crown Prince's, were by no means friendly. The expression she had shown Adelia could only be described as hostile.
Moreover, she had even stopped her younger sister, Lara, from approaching Adelia. Having witnessed that situation firsthand, there was no way I could view her favorably.
"...Really? That's a surprising rumor. If she's a TA, she must be out on field training by now, right?"
"Probably? Field training starts from the third year, so I'm not sure. Why, do you want to see her?"
"No."
I had no reason to go see her, nor any intention to. I just hoped we wouldn't cross paths.
I had planned to visit the training grounds this weekend to exercise and watch some sparring, but I thought it would be better to scrap that plan for the time being. If she was a TA, she would be visiting the training grounds every weekend to teach students.
Above all, I needed to let Adelia know. She probably knew nothing about this, and if she were to run into her by chance, she might fall into a panic like she did before.
"I'll be going now. It was good seeing you after so long."
"Yeah. Good luck."
The current time was 3:00 PM. Since I had plenty of time, meeting Adelia now wouldn't be a problem.
After saying goodbye to Edin, I stepped out of the classroom. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt numerous gazes on me. The reason, of course, was this red hair that always stood out.
The Literature Department was one thing, but this was my first time in the Martial Studies building, so the students were looking at me with curious eyes.
The Martial Studies Department definitely has more people.
The places where they took theory classes weren't much different from the Literature building. Since the true essence of Martial Studies came from practical training rather than theory, the buildings were constructed quite normally.
However, because of the sheer difference in the number of people, it was bustling. Most importantly, every single one of them had a formidable physique.
There were male students with bulging muscles like my father, and even the female students were often well over 170cm. My physique wasn't small, but I felt intimidated just looking at them.
Fearing I might get into trouble for no reason, I quickened my pace. If I had to live my school life in a place like this, I felt like I would suffocate. I had to consider myself incredibly lucky to be a literature student.
How did Dave and Nicole manage to work as TAs in a place like this?
I felt a renewed sense of respect for my older brother and sister. The same went for Adelia.
It felt less like a school and more like a kingdom of beasts; the aura the students gave off felt quite fierce. Being at a vigorous age and having trained their bodies since childhood, it seemed like many incidents and accidents would occur.
Feeling a bit rushed, I moved even faster. Just as I was about to exit the building—
"Hey."
For some reason, a familiar, mid-to-low-pitched voice pierced my ears. A mature but stiff, very distinctive voice.
Turning around with a sense of dread, I locked eyes with sky-blue eyes filled with indifference. Along with that, I saw sky-blue hair tied tightly in a ponytail.
The person Edin had just been talking about, Hiriya, had called out to me with her characteristic stoic expression.
"...Me?"
Why on earth was she calling me? When I asked blankly, Hiriya stared intently at my face without saying a word.
Then, she tilted her head slightly, put a fist to her chin, and muttered softly.
"The red hair is certainly right... Are they brothers? But they look too much alike for that..."
"..."
"Do you have a twin brother? He is shorter than you and has shorter hair."
"No. I am that Isaac."
It seemed my red hair, standing out like a sore thumb, had caught Hiriya's eye. Curse this damn red hair.
But I wondered why she was in the theory building if she was a TA. While I harbored such questions, Hiriya spoke to me with a look of wonder.
"Is that so? You've changed far too much since the exhibition..."
"It's because I'm in a growth spurt."
"Hmm... Is that so? I see. Though you look like a girl, the long hair suits you well enough."
Leaving only those words, Hiriya brushed past me. I watched her retreating back with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
Even if she was a princess of the Kingdom of Ters, her personality was... how should I put it? Obnoxious.
Seeing her leave after saying only what she wanted to say, her personality seemed quite autocratic. If it suits me, it suits me; did she really have to add the "like a girl" part?
Are Adelia and that girl Lara the only normal ones among the Ters royalty?
The King of Ters, Friedrich, is publicly known as a legendary romantic, but looking at Adelia, that doesn't seem to be the case either.
There are many suspicious corners in many ways. Looking at this, Leort and Lina, who pressured me like gentlemen, seemed like decent people.
In fact, those two siblings were just a bit hasty; they were actually quite good people, and we still get along well.
I'll definitely have to write about this in a book someday.
A story about a discarded royal illegitimate child overthrowing the kingdom out of revenge. It’s excellent.
However, I won't put it in the Xenon Biography; I'll write it in my next work. To be precise, not a story about World War II, but a sequel to the Xenon Biography.
The problem was that I had become so busy lately that I had to carve out writing time in tiny increments. Because of that, the new volume would be sent to the publisher in a week at the earliest.
I didn't know I'd get this busy.
Who would have thought there would be 150 literature freshmen? During this break, I was so busy playing with Cecile in Helium that I didn't even have time to write the Xenon Biography.
Furthermore, Elena has been asking for my help with her research more frequently lately. This must be because she suspects me of being Xenon.
I have to meet Leona too... Busy, busy.
I heard a lot about Beastkin from my father during the break. To be specific, I used the Beastkin's fighting styles as a reference.
Since Leona knows much more about the Beastkin lifestyle, she is acting as my sole consultant. I plan to ask her for another favor next time, using food as a bribe.
Anyway, I'm curious to see how the Beastkin will react.
I thought of Animus, the nation of Beastkin, which hadn't reacted even though 14 volumes of the Xenon Biography had been released. Even Albenheim had shown a reaction, but Animus was beyond bland—it was silent.
Whether the Xenon Biography is boring from a Beastkin's perspective or if there's some internal problem, I'm sure there will be a reaction in the next volume. I'm certain of it.
Especially since it briefly highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the Beastkin, and at the end, 'Satan' challenges the Grand Chieftain to a Holmgang. And the Grand Chieftain's head is cleanly taken off.
Prick—
"Hmm?"
As I headed toward Adelia's quarters, thinking through the plot points one by one, I suddenly felt a prickling sensation at the back of my head. The feeling that someone was watching me.
When I turned around, there was nothing suspicious. There were only pedestrians on the street.
If it was enough to make the back of my head prickle, it meant someone was sending an intense gaze, but I couldn't help but tilt my head.
...Was it my imagination?
It must be. I concluded as much and moved toward Adelia's quarters.
Even as I walked, the back of my head prickled occasionally, but I tried to ignore it. Every time I looked back, there was nothing suspicious.
Eventually, I arrived at the quarters for the guard knights. Just in case, I looked back one more time and confirmed that no one was there.
Knock, knock, knock.
I knocked lightly on the door to Adelia's room and waited quietly. I could have pressed the summoning stone, but this was more polite.
Click—
"Who is i— Oh? Cutie? What brings you here?"
Before long, the door opened and Adelia appeared. I was about to greet her warmly, but I froze when I saw her attire.
Usually, even if Adelia wore clothes that showed off her figure, she rarely wore anything that exposed much skin. But look at her now.
She was wearing only a sports tank top for her upper body, revealing her toned abs without reservation. And they weren't just any abs; they were the kind that could only be obtained through extreme training.
Added to that was her slightly firm lower belly, her slender waistline, and the hips that followed, radiating her feminine charm.
Finally, her lower body. I knew it even when she wore leather pants, but now that she was wearing short shorts, her strong thighs stood out.
Even her scent was wafting around because she had been sweating, making my heart beat a little faster.
"Cutie?"
"..."
As I stared blankly at her body, Adelia called me again. I quickly snapped out of it and averted my gaze.
I couldn't help but think that appearing like this was a bit much. If it had been Marie or Cecile, I would have just been slightly surprised and laughed it off, but the situation with Adelia was different.
"Uh... Noona? Were you exercising?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Ahem... Your clothes are a bit..."
"...Huh?"
When I spoke while clearing my throat, Adelia blinked her sky-blue eyes and then looked down. Then, as if she had finally realized her attire, her face turned bright red.
"I-I'm sorry!"
SLAM!
Adelia slammed the door so hard it created a gust of wind. I waited, wearing a bitter smile.
[I'm crazy! I'm crazy! What was I thinking!!]
I decided to ignore Adelia's scream-like shout coming from behind the door.
Still...
Seeing this different side of Adelia made her feel a little different to me.