Chapter 320: Education(4)
Chapter 320: Education(4)
There is a term called 'dark history.' It refers to a past so embarrassing you can't bring it up, or experiences you're loath to even have revealed.
Since there was no better word to replace it, it was a term I used quite frequently in my previous life. Nothing else quite captures the essence of a past you want to erase as succinctly as that.
The reason I’m bringing this up is that our cute Elf Queen has just updated her dark history with a new entry.
It was supposed to be a lesson, but it was a lesson heavily seasoned with her own personal desires. Without realizing it, her inner thoughts had been laid bare.
Things like where she wanted the Dew of the World Tree to be applied, how she wanted their first night to go, and so on.
Compared to her previous 'Elven Communism' remark, this was arguably worse, certainly not better. If there had been a hole in the ground, she would have crawled right into it.
To be honest, she had basically revealed her ideal first night right in front of me; who wouldn't be dying of embarrassment? To make matters worse, Arwen actually has romantic feelings for me.
If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't just hide—I’d run away. I probably wouldn't be able to show my face to that person ever again.
"Excuse me."
"..."
"Arwen?"
That was exactly what Arwen was doing right now. After being sunk by Cecile’s heavy 'fact bomb,' she had practically melted into a puddle.
Fortunately, she hadn't fled via teleportation, but she had squeezed her body into the small space under the desk.
As you know, this was the desk I used to write the Xenon Biography. After looking around for a place to hide, that was the spot she chose.
The space itself was quite large, and since Arwen had a petite frame, she wasn't cramped; she fit quite loosely. It was a bit big for a 'mouse hole,' but it served the purpose well enough.
"Um..."
I scratched my head as I looked at Arwen, who, just like during the Elven Communism incident, refused to show me her face.
She wasn't a child, yet showing only her back was both cute and very much like her.
In particular, Arwen’s greatest strength—her backline—was providing quite a view. The alluring curve of her hips starting from her slender waist was on full display.
Moreover, the dress she wore today had generous cutouts at the sides, fully radiating her charm.
But that was that, and this was this. I called out to Arwen again, who had her face buried between her knees.
"Arwen? Could you give me an answer?"
"..."
I asked in a gentle voice, but Arwen remained motionless. If anything, she buried her face even deeper between her legs.
I gave a bitter smile, lifted my head, and looked around. Mari, Cecile, and Adelia each wore a different expression.
Mari had her arms crossed, one corner of her mouth curled up in amusement; Cecile looked somewhat exasperated; and finally, Adelia wore a strained smile.
Seeing their varied reactions, I let out another awkward laugh before turning my gaze back to Arwen.
I couldn't just leave her like this, and more importantly, now that I knew her true feelings, there was no need to back down.
Poke. Poke.
"Eek...!"
I poked her exposed side with my finger. Since it was direct contact rather than through clothes, Arwen flinched violently.
Thump!
"Ow!"
And she even bumped her head on the desk. I watched with a pitying gaze as Arwen clutched her head, practically wailing.
To the public, she was a wise and charismatic queen, but right now, she was just a total klutz.
That was part of her charm, I suppose, but I needed to clear up this 'misunderstanding'—which wasn't really a misunderstanding—before we could continue the conversation.
"Uuuugh..."
"Come on, let's look at each other and talk. I know you're embarrassed, so stop showing me only your back."
Perhaps it was because I spoke while she was still dazed from the impact, but Arwen began to slowly turn her body while gently stroking her head.
I didn't know why she stayed inside instead of just coming out from under the desk. It seemed she lacked the courage after updating her dark history.
I always think this, but it seems the position really does make the person.
"Are you feeling a bit calmer now?"
"...A little."
Arwen answered while turning her head, though she showed no intention of leaving the underside of the desk. Her flushed face and her ears twitching up and down spoke volumes about her state of mind.
She glanced toward me occasionally, but she didn't seem to have the courage to look me straight in the eye.
I wondered if I should just continue the conversation like this, but deciding against it, I reached out my hand.
"Don't stay in there, come out. It sounds like we have a lot to talk about."
"..."
Arwen looked back and forth between my hand and my face before cautiously reaching out.
After hesitating a few times, she softly placed her hand on top of mine.
I only realized it now, but Arwen’s hand was quite small, matching her stature. Yet, the hand itself was delicate and beautiful.
I hadn't realized it before because I had never held her hand until now.
"...I have shown you a pathetic sight. I am truly sorry."
Following my lead, Arwen crawled out from under the desk and apologized quietly. However, she still couldn't meet my eyes.
"No. It happens... sometimes."
"That answer seemed a bit delayed, didn't it?"
Mari, who had been watching, interjected as if she knew I was saying things I didn't mean.
Since she was someone who could perceive the true intent behind a person's words, I couldn't even offer an excuse. She was right.
The only silver lining was that Arwen didn't crawl back under the desk. I gave the tactless Mari a quick glare before turning my attention back to Arwen.
Regardless of age or gender, people deeply in love occasionally malfunction. It's common for them to fumble or make slips of the tongue when standing before the object of their affection.
There's a reason lovesickness exists, and why people even die from it. Love is an emotion that easily breaks a person's composure.
Just like Arwen right now. I stared blankly at Arwen, who was clutching her collar and acting shy.
Her silver-grey hair and eyes looked as if they held the Milky Way of the night sky. Her beauty was fitting for an Elf, the race often called the incarnation of beauty.
In contrast to Cecile’s mature image, she had a youthful face and a small frame. But her figure was anything but youthful.
"Arwen."
"...Speak."
"Shall we talk for a moment? Something other than the lesson."
I felt like I needed to hear Arwen’s true feelings at least once. At my suggestion, Arwen lifted her gaze and looked at the other women, not me.
Everyone knew what that look meant. I followed Arwen’s gaze and turned my head.
"Cecile, you expected this, right?"
"It would be strange if I didn't. What about you, Lady Adelia?"
"I will follow whatever the Young Master chooses."
"You heard them, right?"
Having heard everyone's opinion, Mari handed the authority over to me. I wasn't sure if she had given up or if she had started to comply the moment I revealed I was Xenon.
But thanks to their consideration and concessions, I was able to make a choice. I turned my head back to Arwen.
Arwen, seemingly having sensed something from their reactions, looked me straight in the eye. Her tightly pursed lips and her clear, shining silver-grey eyes were incredibly cute.
I gave her a soft smile and spoke to her in a slightly cautious voice.
"Arwen."
"S-Speak."
"You probably heard during the presentation, but I'm not as great a person as you think. Even if the hypothesis you're thinking of is correct, the fact that I'm just an ordinary person doesn't change."
It felt a bit like a humblebrag, but it wasn't a lie. As Arwen suspected, I was indeed a person from another world.
However, in that world, I was nothing more than a pebble on the side of the road. Just a writer who did nothing but write novels after the shock of losing his parents in an accident.
Of course, the chances of my past life being revealed were slim, but what if it were? How would they react?
This applied not just to me, but to others as well. Even now, misunderstandings were piling up, and this could eventually return as karma.
"T-Then, is what I am thinking correct? Truly?"
"Uh..."
Contrary to my expectations, however, Arwen seemed to have fixated on a strange point. As soon as she heard my words, her silver-grey eyes began to sparkle.
I debated how to answer, but in the end, I had no choice but to nod. I couldn't lie, especially with Cecile right there.
I would never reveal the fine details, but even this felt like one layer of the shell protecting me had been peeled away.
"That's right. But I can't say any more than that."
"As I thought... In that case, it is likely not a 'restriction,' but a lingering effect caused by 'rebound.' If even a simple teleportation causes a rebound depending on the distance, then for something of that scale..."
Perhaps because she was an Elf with a deep knowledge of magic, Arwen fell into a flight of fancy after hearing my vague answer.
That damn 'restriction' had followed me to the end, and now I was afraid 'rebound' would start catching up too.
"What is she talking about? Rebound? I thought Elves and Demons could use magic however they wanted?"
"That's true, but it's not like there's no rebound at all. For example, if you try to push a boulder with your bare hands, it puts a strain on your muscles. It's similar to that."
"Ah~ I see what you mean."
Mari and Cecile were chatting about something nearby, but I let it go in one ear and out the other. Arwen was much more important than them right now.
I cleared my throat to change the atmosphere. At that, Arwen, who had been lost in her own theories, snapped out of it with a gasp.
"Ahem. Ahem. I have shown you a pathetic sight once again. My apologies."
"It's nothing. Anyway, Arwen."
Now for the main point. I looked Arwen in the eye and asked in a soft, low voice.
"Why do you like me?"
At that question, she gave a beaming smile and answered brightly.
"There are too many reasons to choose just one."
"..."
It was an answer that left me speechless. It was the first time I had seen Arwen smile so radiantly.
I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck before composing myself. If that was the case, there was only one thing left.
"Then..."
"You do not have to say it. No, I would prefer if you did not say it yet."
Just before I could accept her, Arwen shook her head and stopped me.
She had been making it so obvious until just a moment ago, so I raised an eyebrow, wondering what she was up to by suddenly telling me not to say it.
In the meantime, Arwen slowly reached out both hands and gently grasped mine. She even gave them a little squeeze for good measure.
Then, looking at me with a beaming face, she shyly confessed her heart.
"Could you wait just a little longer until I find the courage? I will bring the gift I mentioned back then."
"Is there really a need for that?"
"At least for me, there is. I have only ever received from you, so please allow me to make this meaningful as well."
Her face looked like it was about to melt, but her voice was firm. I felt like I should take a step back here as well.
When I nodded in agreement, Arwen’s smile grew even brighter. I wondered what kind of event it was that required such preparation.
"Ah. By any chance, is there a specific time you would like? I shall ensure the timing matches your wishes."
"Hmm... Then could you give me about a month? There's one person other than you whose situation I need to resolve."
"Is it a woman?"
"..."
Her intuition was sharp. Just as she said, I planned to have a showdown with Leona—or more accurately, her mother.
According to Mari, Leona was looking for me urgently. Her mother was also very likely to be at the Academy.
"I thought as much. Well, it is only natural for a hero who saved the world to have many women. Have you heard the saying, 'Great men have great appetites'?"
"I know it, but that's not a title that fits me..."
"You're quite the bold liar, Sir Xenon! Just look at us!"
Just as I was about to reject the unfitting title, Cecile, feeling mischievous, shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.
...I can't really say anything because my conscience is pricking me. I froze up at her shout.
On the other hand, Arwen let out a faint laugh as if she found it amusing; she seemed to be of the mind that it didn't matter if the number of women around me increased.
"It is fine. Being with you is enough for me. At any rate, we have talked for quite a while. You must have called me here for help, yet I feel apologetic for not being of much assistance."
"You don't have to worry about that. Thanks to you, I've realized what I need to do from now on. Even without the Xenon Biography."
"...That mischievous side of yours is the same as ever."
Arwen seemed to realize who my words were targeting. Her face turned red in an instant, and she looked so cute I wanted to pinch her cheeks.
"Then, I shall take my leave now. I shall see you exactly one month and fifteen days from today. You can look forward to the gift prepared in Albenheim."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
"Wait a moment. Isaac."
Just as the situation was about to wrap up, Mari slowly walked toward us. Come to think of it, there was still one hurdle left.
Arwen looked at her with a puzzled gaze, and Mari stared back at her.
The two women looked at each other for a while. In the midst of the unusual atmosphere, Mari was the first to speak.
"Your talk with Isaac might be over, but your talk with us isn't. Right? Don't even think about slipping away."
"Ah... T-That's right."
"Now! Shall we go? Cecile and Adelia, you come too."
And so, Arwen was dragged off to another room. I didn't know what they were going to talk about, but I just hoped they wouldn't be too hard on her.
How much time had passed since then?
"I-I shall be going now!"
Arwen left the mansion as if she were running away. She even glanced back and forth between my face and my lower half just before leaving.
Feeling curious after seeing her in such a rush for some reason, I asked Mari what they had talked about...
"We just gave her some 'preview lessons.' That's really all."
"...?"
"We were fine, but we thought it might be very difficult for the Queen."
I only received an enigmatic answer.
*
Some time later, when Volume 24 and Volume 24.5 were released.
[The identity of the book released alongside Volume 24 is... none other than A Beautiful Night's Love.]
[It is explicit, yet the psychological state of each character is meticulously described.]
[This must be based on Xenon’s own experiences. But isn't the level of explicitness a bit too high...]
"Ah, right."
I forgot to buy off the press.