Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Tea Time with the Vice President
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5
“Tea time without the president? You guys are too much.”
Kane casually pulled up a chair.
Her natural demeanor made her look every bit the Tea Club vice president, no matter how you sliced it.
Of all places, running into her here.
My thoughts grew complicated for no reason, so I set down my teacup.
Kane, Kane Hillfenberg.
She was the striking redhead, Leon’s half-sister with no shared blood, and the eldest daughter of the Hillfenberg family.
The so-called genius, already called the strongest in her third year—not just in name, but in skill. At this point in the story, she was stronger than Leon, on par with most knights.
That was just the public side of things, though.
Her real personality was as bold as they come, the type who never looked back.
By the setting, that outgoing nature made her pretty popular…
But despite the lack of blood ties, she actually doted on her little brother Leon.
Leon, on the other hand, kept his distance because he was adopted.
That gap never quite closed, but it would eventually.
Anyway, Kane was a fairly important character in the original Broken World.
Which meant getting involved with her was a hassle.
Leon threw himself into trouble, but Kane dragged it along with her.
She was second on my list of people to avoid at all costs, right after Edmund and the professors, plus the random mob characters.
As I sorted through my thoughts, Kane leaned toward me with a stern voice.
“More importantly, Theo, I hear you’ve been hanging around my little brother lately?”
“Yeah… it just kinda happened.”
“You’re not trying to lead him astray or anything, right?”
Who asks that straight to their face?
But then, Theo Agrit’s notoriety was infamous even among the professors, so Kane knowing wasn’t surprising.
She doted on Leon, so her wariness made sense.
Just what kind of school life had Theo lived to tank his own reputation like that…?
I couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I decided to never bother trying.
Anyway, what should I say?
Affirm it, and I’m the bad guy. Deny it, and I’m the lying bad guy. Dodge it, and I’m the suspicious bad guy.
No good options.
Silence might be best, but even that would look like I’d been caught red-handed and had nothing to say.
A moment of agonizing yielded no answers.
Then, salvation came from an unexpected source.
“He’s been attending lectures on time and turning in assignments promptly these days, so there’s nothing for the vice president to worry about.”
Merrill spoke up smoothly as she tilted the teapot.
“And Theo was the one who delivered the president’s letter.”
“…Is that so?”
Kane still eyed me suspiciously.
I’d be under that gaze for a while.
At least Merrill had my back.
The thought of carrying a stigma for something I didn’t do my whole life made me dizzy.
I’d been through it in college—skipping events and parties because I was busy, only to hear whispers calling me unlucky.
I never expected Merrill to vouch for me, though.
They said three make a tiger; if Ethan or Leon were here, they could spin a tiger out of nothing.
“Did he say anything when he got the letter?”
“Not really. He looked a bit sullen, but he read it fine.”
“…I see.”
Kane crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.
She seemed seriously curious if Leon had read it properly.
Guessing the letter’s contents wasn’t hard… but out of respect for their privacy, I let it go.
Her wariness toward me, writing letters despite being in the same academy—Kane’s concern for Leon was genuine.
No need to stir the pot.
Still, watching from one step removed was frustrating.
One side saw him as family and worried sincerely, while the other held back consciously, afraid of making others uncomfortable by acting too close.
Leon actually cared quite a bit for the Hillfenberg family.
No, that affection made him overthink the details, tangling things up like this.
What a complicated way to live.
I silently prayed for them to sort out their family ties soon.
“Since Merrill vouches for you, I’ll trust it. But if you pull anything shady with my brother…”
“No matter what I do, Leon won’t go astray. You know that better than anyone, Kane-senpai.”
I cut her off.
And why not? Leon Hillfenberg was the model hero.
He’d kneel before hardship and adversity, but no amount of sweet talk would turn him to the dark side.
Too idealistic and rational—though that had twisted him a bit…
Anyway, Kane knew Leon couldn’t be swayed. She was his sister, blood or not.
“Heh, you talk like you know him well.”
Kane asked lightly, as if surprised.
I did know—having slogged through that tinderbox of a storyline together…
No way to explain it, so I just smiled and brushed it off.
“Well, if you were a total sleaze, he wouldn’t hang around you.”
“Exactly. He’d probably reform me instead.”
“That’s true to form for him.”
He’d do it, no question.
Kane nodded a few times, reaching the same conclusion.
Merrill steeped more tea and poured for Kane.
“Hmm, now I see you’ve got a good eye for people.”
“Guess so.”
Kane laughed heartily and lifted her teacup.
Downing black tea in one go felt oddly off-brand…
“Since he picked you, it should be fine… Take good care of Leon from now on.”
“You can flip like that on a dime?”
“Holding onto grudges is poison. Especially for him—he dives into anything righteous without a second thought. I can’t always watch his back, so if he’s got a friend who can read his sullen face, I’ll flip my palm over a hundred times.”
Her boldness bordered on the reckless.
But at its core, it was worry for Leon.
I hadn’t expected this outcome…
But it was rolling in a good direction.
“One favor: if anything special happens with Leon, let me know too.”
Kane’s smile faded as she said it seriously.
I met her gaze and nodded.
“Not a big deal. Sure.”
I never imagined crossing paths with Kane like this.
But we’d built a decent rapport, so all good.
I could even guess why Theo had joined the Tea Club.
Tempting to ask outright… but better not risk misunderstandings.
The Tea Club’s appeal was the free schedule anyway.
I’d make good use of it.
“Then I’ll be off.”
Time to check that easter egg.
As I stood from my chair—
She grabbed my arm.
“Where to?”
“Conversation’s over, right?”
“Personal chat’s done, but club activities aren’t. Sit. Time to teach our promising new recruit proper tea ceremony etiquette.”
Tea ceremony etiquette.
I didn’t want to learn that.
I tried to refuse and pull away…
But it didn’t budge.
Right.
Kane was the strongest in third year…
Pure combat strength, not grades or achievements.
Escaping her grip by force? Impossible.
So I sat back down…
6
“Don’t put the teaspoon in your mouth.”
Merrill snapped sharply the moment I absentmindedly did just that.
I carefully removed it, and only then did she look away.
She said we were learning tea ceremony…
But who knew it’d be corrections from how to hold the cup to every teaspoon detail.
The black tea’s aroma was sweet, but frustration kept me from savoring it…
“…Isn’t this a bit too strict?”
“That’s what makes it tea ceremony. Etiquette and formality are strict by nature.”
Merrill replied instantly.
Her perfect execution was straight out of a textbook.
“There’s such a thing as moderation. Getting tied up in rules this rigid kills the joy of tea…”
“Exactly, Merrill. There’s flexibility, right? As long as you enjoy the tea, the ceremony isn’t that big a—”
Even Kane, who’d insisted I learn it, straightened up with her cup and chimed in.
She didn’t seem to jive with it much either.
But Merrill’s sharp glance made Kane flinch.
“No. Like the vice president says, finding your own way to enjoy tea matters, but without basics, it all falls apart. Tea ceremony is the foundation of foundations. Skip it, and you can’t claim you’ve truly enjoyed tea.”
Kane nodded stiffly under Merrill’s retort.
“Y-yeah… fair point…”
That sealed it.
The real power in the Tea Club…
Was Merrill…
At least while in the club, don’t get on her bad side…
“By the way, Kane-senpai, how’d you end up joining the Tea Club?”
The question slipped out.
Kane chuckled.
“Heard tea ceremony’s great for training mind and body. Wanted that unflappable mindset.”
It sounded plausible, like she’d rehearsed it.
I was impressed inwardly when Merrill added slyly,
“It was the afternoon tea biscuits and tea sets, wasn’t it?”
“Ahem! That was just a bonus. Training mind and body, plus treats—what’s not to love?”
Good thing I hadn’t voiced my admiration.
Tea? No, cakes and biscuits were the goal.
Was it okay for someone like her to be vice president…?
“You can ask me too.”
“Nah, I already know, so no need.”
Merrill turned the arrow on me.
I neatly deflected it, and she clicked her tongue lightly.
She’d clearly planned a whole speech on love of tea.
People shouldn’t be judged by fragments.
I never pegged straitlaced, textbook class rep Merrill for this side.
“Oh, right—Clara the TA said Professor Clayton’s taking an interest? Grad school bound?”
“No way in hell. Pass.”
Merrill lobbed a massive landmine.
One wrong step, and I’d be locked into grad student route. I shot it down fast.
“Clara was hoping. Said she could finally escape hell…”
“Sorry to disappoint, but even if I went grad and became a TA, Clara’s workload wouldn’t shrink. It’d balloon. Professor Edmund would pile on twice as much.”
Do work, and somehow it multiplies.
Classic work duplication bug…
“You know the details, huh?”
“Just overheard.”
I brushed it off, and Merrill shrugged.
She’d let it slide, probably.
“Speaking of, heard rumors of screams from the end of the third-floor hallway in Tartarus Hall?”
“Screams? First I’ve heard.”
Kane replied, slicing sponge cake with her fork.
Merrill tilted her head slightly.
“I’ve heard it. Probably just mishearing the wind, though.”
“Or maybe a ghost?”
“Vice President, ghosts don’t exist.”
Kane bloomed into ghost stories; Merrill shut it down.
I glared at them briefly, then dropped my gaze to my teacup.
The Tartarus Hall screams from the game weren’t wind.
No useful info from the Tea Club…
But curiosity piqued. Time to investigate more.
The rumored mirror was just upstairs.
I’d check it out myself.