Truce, Snowmen, and Academy Anxieties
"Got it. I'll do as Theo says. Looking forward to it, Estelle."
The first to speak up after listening to me and falling deep into thought was Iris.
"...Honestly, I'm not thrilled about it, but fine. Looking forward to it, Iris."
Estelle knew full well that if Iris extended her hand first, holding back would just leave her as the lone "Saintess." With a reluctant expression, she spat out the pleasantry.
"Great, then how about a hug to seal the reconciliation?"
I grinned and suggested it, but the two of them recoiled in horror at the exact same moment.
"Eek, no way—we're not that close yet, right? Right, Saint... I mean, Estelle?"
"Y-yeah... same here. This is a bit much, even if our heads get it. We're not that close."
Seeing them both freak out and step back, I smacked my forehead. But I couldn't force them if they weren't into it.
Plus, they were at each other's throats just a minute ago. A hug might be pushing it.
I admitted it was too soon and changed tack.
"Alright, let's just settle for a handshake then."
With that historic handshake between the crown princess and the saintess, the three of us managed to wrap things up on reasonably friendly terms.
I figured I'd gotten the most out of it, but Iris and Estelle saw it differently.
I'll be seeing Theo all the time anyway while teaching him magic. I've got way more chances to get closer than that Iris girl.
By the original schedule, I'd head home after today, but Estelle's sticking with Theo. Wonder if there's a way I can hang around longer...
The two of them were scheming for even more gains—Iris in her way, Estelle in hers—each plotting how to get closer to me.
Half a year flew by.
Before I knew it, I could wield basic magic as naturally as breathing, and in swordsmanship, my master was telling me there was nothing left to teach—time to head down the mountain.
Considering he'd been a top-tier swordsman once, it probably meant I'd reached academy level, so that was that.
Honestly, he was busy enough with the butcher shop, and he'd already taught me plenty. I couldn't beg for more.
Anyway, I'd learn the rest in depth at the academy.
And my real goal was a happy ending with Estelle and Iris—not becoming a swordsman or mage.
"Theo! Tomorrow's finally the entrance ceremony!"
Now, a quick update on Iris and Estelle from the past half year.
These women—were they nuts or what?
They ditched their own duties, using the academy as an excuse to glue themselves to my side. It was hell prying them off.
Estelle at least had the cover of teaching me magic, so I could somewhat force her back to the Holy Empire when she refused to leave.
But Iris? She wasn't even teaching me anything. She'd show up just because the saintess was here, ignore Estelle's shock, chat only with me, then whine about not wanting to go home.
And that's not all—they bickered nonstop over nothing, leaving me to train in swordsmanship, study magic, and play referee in a nonstop frenzy.
The events I expected to kick off at the academy were unfolding way too fast...
"Whoa, these snow-covered fields are gorgeous."
"Yeah. We're on the same page today. Snow doesn't fall much in the Holy Empire, right?"
"Nope, it's pretty rare there."
Sometimes they'd sit side by side like that, painting a pretty picture.
"Truth be told, even I only get to see scenery like this when I'm out inspecting rural villages."
"Doesn't snow much in the capital?"
"Yeah, they clear it right away, so you don't get views like this."
Going from growling and refusing to share even basic info about their empires to casually swapping trivia like snowfall was a huge sign their relationship had improved.
They wouldn't even budge on stuff like that at first, let alone state secrets.
"Theo, whatcha doing there?"
"What's that you're making?"
"Oh, building a snowman."
Spotting me rolling snowballs for a snowman, they scampered over like eager squirrels.
"This is the body. Stack a smaller snowball on top for the head, and boom—snowman complete."
I easily levitated another snowball onto the body with magic, then pulled out a carrot and buttons.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Carrot? Is that our snack?"
I handed buttons to curious Iris and the carrot to snack-hunting Estelle.
"Use these for the face."
"Face? Oh, like this?"
Iris got it right away and used the buttons for eyes.
"Exactly! You're a natural!"
"...! M-me too! I can do it! This is the mouth, right?"
Praising Iris set Estelle off; she jammed the carrot horizontally into the snowman's face for a mouth, making me burst out laughing.
"Haha, it works as a mouth, sure. But usually, it's the nose."
"Ehh? Nose? Isn't that nose huge?"
"Huh, yeah, the nose does look massive."
These little moments together... I doubted we'd have many after the academy.
Half a year in close quarters had made me fond of them, but they were destined to be lovers.
Once they coupled up safely and settled in, I'd return here to my family.
But that's later. For now...
The real hurdle was the academy entrance exam.
"Dunno if I'll even pass."
They were already guaranteed spots, so they could goof off worry-free.
Couldn't help feeling guilty for slacking, though.
The commoner exam—one of the academy's last tests—was coming up soon.
"Psh, you'll be fine, Theo."
"Totally. You'll ace it first try. You know I don't say stuff I don't mean."
"Save that for yourselves."
I'd trained hard, in swordplay and magic.
I could use everyday spells now, plus decent attack and defense ones.
Teleportation wasn't long-range yet, but I could reach the far paddy fields.
"Theo worries too much. You'll top the commoner exam. I guarantee it."
"Why're you guaranteeing it, Iris? That's my job."
"Don't talk nonsense. Theo's an Ermunt citizen, so of course I guarantee it."
"This bitch dividing people into Ermunt and Holy Empire folks again?! Wanna get beat?!"
"Ugh, such crude talk from a saintess."
Now I just let spats like that play out.
Most bad-end fights were serious ones like before.
This petty sniping was their default mode in the game anyway.
I ignored them and cast a preservation spell to keep the snowman intact longer.
"Mm, perfect. This'll hold it together another four or five days even after the snow melts."
Sigh, but seriously—not the time to be preservation-spelling snowmen.
Real worries here.
"Anyway, need a sparring partner for more practice?"
"Me!"
"No, me!"
Both were magic prodigies, so great for mana practice without worry.
Though they held back a ton since they outclassed me.
"Snowy day like today—maybe try ice magic."
"Oh, that's me then."
Estelle stepped up.
"Yeah, ice is my weak spot."
Iris specialized in high-level fire magic, which clashed badly with water/ice affinities.
"Okay, here goes."
I cooled my mana icy-cold, like before with Estelle's lessons.
Expel the frozen mana, visualize the attack, and slam it home.
"Ice Slasher!"
Chunks of ice mana formed around me and rained precisely on Estelle.
"Ngh, Shield!"
Her holy power shields were one of the few things only she and the Holy Emperor could wield freely.
We kept at it, her blocking while taking hits.
"Ow, got me on the arm."
"Whoa, you okay, Estelle?"
I rushed over to check on her—she'd blocked everything before, but this time it clipped her.