A Transaction's Curious Turn
THUD! WHOOSH! CRACK!!-
Attacks flying from every direction were now blocked with quite a familiar ease.
It wasn't perfect yet, but I could no longer say I was at the level where I saw the technique clearly in my eyes and tried to picture it in my head, only for my body to refuse to follow.
The next day after my meeting with Professor Milaze and Rie, I had a match with Fletia unnie.
Right after morning classes ended, Rie came looking for me once again to challenge me to another duel.
She said that the way to become familiar with anything was to stop at nothing and keep going, so we immediately began the match, but something strange was in the air around Rie.
Up until yesterday—right before her duel with Fletia unnie—she had clearly been in a frenzy, as if chased by something, and it had been painfully obvious to me.
Today, though, she looked nothing like that. She stood before me with a relaxed, almost graceful sword that felt like she was showing off exactly how she liked it.
BOOM!- SLURP!!-
My body was pushed back by Rie's strike.
Today, however, she slowly sheathed her sword as if stopping around here was fine.
That was definitely a different appearance from yesterday—perhaps I should say she seemed more at ease.
“Rie. You didn't do anything else instead of sparring with our unnie yesterday, right?”
“Yes. There was nothing else. Why are you asking something like that out of the blue?”
“No, it's just... you looked strangely happy today.”
I knew both Fletia unnie and Rie were skilled in swordsmanship.
And those kinds of geniuses get extremely excited and feel genuine fun when sharing a sword with an opponent.
Was it that she had gained something from sparring with Fletia unnie, or even without that, she had simply felt a great thrill and this was her reaction?
When I said that, Rie smiled beautifully and answered honestly that she had received good instruction and had even closed a very satisfying deal.
I understood the instruction part right away, but the deal part left me puzzled.
I almost asked exactly what the deal was, but then I recalled the kingdom's saying that it's not proper to ask about the private promises between women, so I kept my mouth shut.
“She still is a wonderful person. Fletia Unnie is truly wonderful.”
“I told you she's wonderful. When a person holds only a sword, they can change too much and it's hard for me to adapt.”
“Is that so? The moment I saw you holding a sword, I thought you looked even more impressive.”
...That can't be just Rie's thought, right?
Right away, even the family knights and the colleagues who had been active near the borders all said that dueling Fletia unnie was like being beaten to death.
But it was impossible that unnie had gone easy on Rie—there was no doubt she had fought ruthlessly.
Yet despite that, being the academy genius and a candidate Sword Master, Rie had been able to stand on equal ground with our unnie.
“More importantly, Lucian. It looks like you're starting to reach above-average level now?”
“That's only defense. It's only half a skill.”
“Of course it's not full, but compared to just a few weeks ago when you couldn't even handle a sword at all, that's already a huge difference.”
My words left me no choice but to slowly nod.
Until not long ago, winning only happened when I desperately struggled with a sword.
Even though the method was a bit weird, with the help of the academy genius I no longer lost helplessly.
“At this point, you can consider me your rival. If you think someone who couldn't properly handle a sword just weeks ago can now exchange blows on equal terms...”
“But if I use my full power, it won't be enough for me to beat you...”
“So if I grow enough that even using full power can't defeat me, that will do. We're freshmen now, Lucian. There's still three more years left—don't worry.”
“By the time that time passes, you'll be in an even more distant place?”
“Don't worry. I'm already in a distant place right now.”
Whoa, the confidence. It was a bit unsettling, but since it was true, there was nothing I could say.
So I made an exaggerated “Ugh!” gesture and Rie puffed her cheeks cutely and grumbled, “Why?! Why?! What's wrong with it?!”
Lunch was still a little while away, so Rie and I headed to the cafe.
She said that since today's duel wasn't bad, I could have a cup of hot chocolate.
At that, I replied with an enthusiastic “Oh!” but then a severe sense of reality hit me hard.
I never thought I'd get this happy over a single cup of hot chocolate. Haa...
Clink-.
“Your reaction isn't very good. Did you not want to drink hot chocolate that much?”
“No way. I feel so foolish seeing myself looking at the hot chocolate I drink every single day with such an ecstatic gaze.”
“That's fortunate to hear. Don't worry, Lucian. If growth ever stops, I'll control that too.”
“...Please just save me, Rie.
I quickly snatched the hot chocolate cup from Rie's hand and gulped down the divine blessing inside.
Now that I think about it, even in my previous life and this world, people treated the cacao fruit as a precious gift from the gods—so it must have been a divine favor for them to live a little sweeter.
“You like chocolate-related food that much?”
Rie, who was holding a tea cup and said she only needed one cup of tea, asked that.
At that question, I explained that while good food was good, without sugar I couldn't even move my head or body like a completely exhausted person.
Especially since my thinking speed was too slow, chocolate was essential.
“Um... I already knew that from before. But... when I see you, I feel like I love chocolate itself more than anything else.”
“That's right? It's my favorite comfort food.”
“Sometimes I feel like I'm jealous of that. I even wonder what you'd choose if you had to pick between me and chocolate.”
“No way. Of course I'd pick you, Rie.”
“Not right away, though. After about five seconds of thinking?”
“...You're letting the tea get cold. Drink it quickly.”
After saying that, I took a loud slurp of the hot chocolate and Rie puffed her cheeks again, saying, “How is there something like that?! You should choose me without any hesitation!”
Haha, Rie. You should at least give me a little more thought.
Even though choosing you was a difficult decision for me, I still picked you!
We were playfully bantering back and forth when I heard footsteps coming from ahead.
The academy cafe had tables placed quite far apart, separated by partition walls, to ensure each person's private space.
Yet here was someone approaching us.
“Um, it seems like Senior Michael.”
“Eh? Wait, how did you know that?”
“He has a distinctive clear aura. He usually doesn't show it much, but by letting people know in advance like this, he seems to be minimizing the parts that would be rude.”
Aura? What aura? No matter how much I concentrated, all I smelled was hot chocolate.
I blinked my eyes wide open and stared blankly at Rie, whispering, “I'll tell you in a moment,” then straightened my posture again, turning Rie back into the academy genius who was no longer my girlfriend.
And shortly after, Senior Michael really did cautiously peek out his face.
“Ah... sorry, kids. I happened to see you while passing by. I came because I had a little story to tell, but I hope I didn't interrupt?”
“No, Senior Michael. We were in the middle of a deep conversation about swordsmanship with Rie.”
It wasn't the wrong timing for any indecent act, and Senior Michael wasn't the kind of guy who would cling to Rie like a delinquent, so there was no reason to feel uncomfortable at all.
On top of that, the Israb viscount family wasn't on bad terms with the Deodore family, so this was definitely one of the connections I needed to watch for the future.
“Did something happen with Rie?”
“That's... not exactly with Rie. Actually, I came to ask you for a favor, Lucian.”
“Me?”
Strange. Why would Senior Michael ask me for something specific?
It couldn't be that he was here to challenge me to a duel.
While I was wondering what the reason could be, Senior Michael stammered out what had brought him here.
“I-It's... well, this is my first time asking a favor, so it's a bit embarrassing. It's... um...”
“Speak freely. Since it's Senior Michael's request, I'll hear anything within reason.”
“Thank you for saying that. Then... Fletia's turn, Lucian.”
“Eh... Fletia unnie?”
“Yes, yes. Senior Fletia. She was in charge of the swordsmanship instructor for our third-years.”
“Yes. Originally she was stationed near the border, but this time she received an assignment order and came to the academy. But why?”
“I was wondering if I could arrange a private spot for her...”
“...Eh?”
Wait a second. What did I just hear? A private spot?
I turned to look at Rie, thinking I might have misheard, and she looked just as startled.
If I had heard wrong, then everything I had thought was wrong was actually correct.
“W-Wait... are you here to duel my unnie?”
“I do have a little expectation of that, but more than that... hrm, c-could you arrange it somewhere else...?”
Senior Michael's face turned as red as if it was about to burst.
If it were Senior Michael, among the third-years he had the best record and popularity.
If he was willing to make such a request, it was clear he possessed not only the respect due to someone skilled in swordsmanship and a knight, but also other feelings.
'She... isn't just exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship.'
Unnie never talked about it, but according to her friends, she was incredibly popular when she was a student at the academy.
It wasn't just swordsmanship—her mother had been beautiful too, and many male students had fallen for her beauty.
Of course, those who just came for her looks fled immediately after meeting her fierce temper.
“I-It's an unreasonable request. You don't have to worry. Just...”
His face was beet red, his hands fidgeting, and his eyes couldn't focus on any one spot.
It was the look of a man completely smitten with his first love. Even though the other party wasn't just anyone—our unnie—Senior Michael's reputation was so good that I couldn't look at it negatively.
Arranging a private spot wasn't difficult in itself.
The only problem was that if the atmosphere in that spot became weird, my position would become extremely awkward, and Senior Michael and Fletia unnie, who I would have to face often, would become very uncomfortable.
So it didn't seem right to decide on something like this right now.
At least after some time passed, if my heart was still burning, I could ask him to come again.
At that moment, I opened my mouth to say so.
“...Lucian Theodore von Deodore?”
At the voice coming from right beside the table, I, Senior Michael, and even Rie all startled and quickly looked to the side.
There stood a girl silently watching us.
How long had she been there? Not a single trace of presence could be felt—no footsteps at all—yet she suddenly appeared like this.
“W-Who are you?”
“...Charlotte Monzen Heinrich.”
Ah, Charlotte Monzen Heinrich...
Wait a second, what? What did you say? Did I mishear?
I hurriedly checked the name tag of the girl standing in front of me, then looked at her face.
The second-year badge pinned to her chest, and the pointed ears poking out beside her neatly wavy hair.
The moment I confirmed all of that, my head went blank—I felt an instantaneous freeze in my brain.
If I hadn't misheard, the elf standing in front of me was definitely...
- It seems I can fulfill your request by tomorrow, Lucian student.
...Professor, this transaction seems a bit strange.
No, why are you sending a princess outright?! Sending the princess outright when I was just going to send some random elf student!!!