Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 120: Special Training 10

After lunch, Sepia and Loki walked across the academy campus together to attend their afternoon class.

The reason was simple: they were both enrolled in the same course.

While they had walked to class together a few times before, Sepia felt unusually self-conscious with Loki by her side today.

Since we’re heading to the same class anyway, it’s just more efficient to walk together. Yeah, exactly. That’s the only reason.

If anyone had asked her exactly how it was more efficient, Sepia wouldn't have had an answer. For the record, she had never once walked to class with any of the other Special Class students.

"Miss Sepia, I am truly sorry about yesterday."

Sepia, who had been stroking a spirit’s head to maintain her composure, was caught off guard by the sudden apology.

"Huh?"

Turning toward him, Sepia’s eyes widened. Loki was bowing deeply at the waist.

She knew he was far from ordinary, but she hadn't expected him to drop into a formal bow right in the middle of the path.

You idiot pushover! What are you doing in front of everyone?!

People were already starting to whisper.

"Wait, isn't that guy bowing over there Lord Loki?"

"Looking at the red cloak, it must be. But why are you calling him 'Lord' Loki?"

"He’s the Emperor’s disciple. Of course you should use a title."

"Is that so? Now that you mention it, I guess you're right."

The pushover is the one making a scene, so why am I the one feeling embarrassed?! Sepia let out a silent scream. Does he really not realize how much of a hot topic he is right now?

It was only yesterday that the news of the "pushover" being the Emperor’s disciple had broken. In other words, he was currently the most talked-about person in the academy.

Whether the stupid pushover didn't know that or simply didn't care, he kept his eyes fixed on her. Of course, it didn't feel bad, but...

No, get a grip! Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.

"What are you doing all of a sudden?"

"I realized I forgot to apologize to you properly, Miss Sepia."

"No! I mean, why are you even apologizing?! And stand up straight! People are staring!"

Only then did the stupid pushover look around. Looking a bit sheepish, he scratched his head and straightened his back.

"Ahaha, when did so many people gather? It must be because you're so beautiful, Miss Sepia."

"...Ha! D-don't try to flatter me! Just answer—what are you apologizing for?"

"About yesterday."

"A lot of things happened yesterday. You have to be specific."

To an outsider, it might have looked like Sepia was being nitpicky. However, she truly had no idea what Loki was apologizing for.

So much happened yesterday!

The fight with Darun and the Disciplinary Board meeting—it had been a chaotic day. But among those events, there wasn't a single thing the pushover needed to apologize for. While she enjoyed seeing him flustered, receiving an apology without a reason didn't sit right with her.

"During the Disciplinary Board meeting yesterday, I asked you to have tea with me. But someone called for me right after it ended, so we couldn't go. I figured you were probably looking forward to it, so..."

So that was it.

But wait a second. He thought I was what?

Sepia snorted, her voice dripping with feigned disbelief.

"Ha! Don't be ridiculous. You think I was disappointed because I couldn't have tea with a pushover like you? Me? Ha!"

Of course, she was! A little! Just a tiny, spirit-fingernail-sized bit disappointed! But the Emperor had summoned him, so it couldn't be helped.

But I'm never going to tell him that.

He already loved teasing her; if he found out she had actually been looking forward to it, there was no telling how much he'd mock her.

"So you weren't looking forward to it at all?"

"O-of course not. W-why would I look forward to having tea with you?"

Unaware that the spirits beside her were shaking their heads in exasperation, Sepia twirled a lock of her pink hair around her finger.

"Then I suppose there's no need to make another appointment. I was going to ask you to have tea next time, but if you weren't looking forward to it..."

"Wait a minute."

Sepia cut him off. He should have said that first! And why was he giving up so easily? He had no persistence at all! Even if she said she hadn't been looking forward to it, he could have at least asked one more time.

Professor Elicia had said the pushover was quick-witted, but she must have misjudged him.

"Is there a problem, Miss Sepia?"

Sepia, who had no way of knowing Loki was smiling behind his mask, quickly scrambled for an excuse.

"Listen carefully. It's not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that I particularly want to have tea with you, but if a prior engagement is broken, it's common courtesy and etiquette to make up for it. Do you understand?"

"Really? I had no idea. As expected of a noble, you know so much, Miss Sepia," ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Loki replied, feigning ignorance.

"Naturally. I'll specially allow you to have tea with me just so you can maintain your manners. I'm emphasizing this again: it's not because I want to, but because I'd feel bad if you became an ill-mannered person."

"Of course, of course. If you say so, Miss Sepia, then that must be it."

"You don't think I'm lying, do you?"

"Pfft—no, of course not. Why would you have any reason to lie to me?"

Loki pinched his thigh hard to suppress a burst of laughter. Anyone could tell that Sepia's claim was a blatant lie. He had never seen someone so bad at acting.

"Miss Sepia, we've already arrived at the classroom. See? Doesn't time just fly when you're with me?"

"...It feels like it's flying because you're giving me a headache."

Oh? That last part didn't sound like a lie.

* * *

The class Sepia took with Loki was taught by Professor Gedra, and nothing particularly special happened until it ended.

...Actually, something did happen.

The water bottle in Sepia's hand crunched under her grip.

Professor Gedra's class involved pairing up to practice with weapons. Her partner was, naturally, the stupid and oblivious pushover. It had been a while since she'd held a sword, but with his help, she had gradually gotten back into the swing of it.

It had been a happy... no, an excellent class session. Until someone approached them while they were sparring.

'Since we're both mages paired together, we were wondering if you could give us some pointers?'

Of course, Sepia had no intention of giving up her excellent class time, so she had coldly rejected them. If she hadn't, what would the pushover have done? Would he have rejected them as coldly as she did? No, if he were the type of person who could do that, she wouldn't be calling him a pushover in the first place.

Or would he have kindly taught them? She didn't like that thought either. They were girls foolish enough to pair up with another mage in a close-combat class anyway. There was no reason for the pushover to waste his time on them.

"...So... how about it... Miss Sepia?"

Loki's voice pulled Sepia out of her thoughts. They were currently walking back from the classroom.

"I was distracted for a second and didn't hear you. Say that again."

"I worked up quite a bit of courage to say that, so I can't just repeat it. I'll just assume you're meeting me after school if you don't have any other plans."

Huh? Today? Meeting the pushover? Why?

Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as Sepia was about to ask for the reason, she remembered what she had said earlier.

'If a prior engagement is broken for whatever reason, it's common courtesy and etiquette to make up for it.'

Did he seriously set up a date right away just because of what she said? How cute... no, how annoying!

Despite thinking it was annoying, Sepia couldn't help but grin. She asked, trying her best to sound indifferent.

"...After school, exactly when are we meeting?"

"Hmm, since it's better to meet as soon as possible, how about right after classes end?"

But what on earth was this stupid pushover talking about? He wants to have tea together looking like this?

Sepia looked down at herself. She was sweaty from swinging a sword, and her clothes were covered in dust.

He's definitely never hung out with a girl before.

It couldn't be helped. She would just have to take care of things herself.

What a drag.

Even as she thought it, the corners of Sepia's mouth were turned way up.

* * *

After setting the time with Loki, Sepia flew home as fast as she could.

"I have absolutely nothing to wear!"

Despite her cry, Sepia's bed was piled high with clothes. She had never been particularly interested in fashion or grooming before. However, because the Marquis and Marchioness Rivayden sent her so many outfits every year, she actually owned many of the latest Imperial trends.

But in Sepia's eyes right now, none of them were good enough.

After an emergency "grand council" with her spirits, she finally chose an outfit and sat before her vanity with the resolve of a warrior heading into battle. It wasn't that she couldn't do it; she just hadn't had a reason to try until now. She had learned how to apply makeup from her mother years ago.

But her hand hesitated as she reached for the cosmetics.

"This isn't right. Why should I go as far as putting on makeup for that pushover? Hmph!"

Sepia stood up abruptly and shoved the makeup back into the drawer.

And then, she sat back down and pulled it out again.

"This is... right! I'm just doing this to see if my skills have gotten rusty!"

* * *

In the end, after even applying perfume, Sepia arrived just in time for their meeting, only to stare blankly at the object in front of her.

"...You want me to wear this?"

"Yes!"

In Loki's hand was the white mask he wore every day, while his own face was now covered by a black mask.

"By the way, won't that one-piece dress ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be uncomfortable for training?"