Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Irene's Mood Goes Up and Down
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“Why did you pretend not to know me?”
Thud.
At Elric's words, Irene's heart sank.
What...?
She had hoped he wouldn't notice. Hoped he wouldn't know anything at all.
Yet after making her feel so hurt...
He had the nerve to turn it around and ask her why she did it.
“......”
Irene bit her lip hard.
Tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.
How could he say something like that...?
Was she nothing to him? Not even worth that much attention?
The misery of realizing she meant nothing to the one she loved.
No matter how hard she tried to stay strong, she couldn't hold back the tears.
...Wait, why am I crying? What did I even do?
Elric was just as baffled. Had his tone been too sharp? It didn't seem like it.
“I'm not blaming you. I was just wondering if there was a reason.”
He added it just in case. But that only made Irene's tears flow more.
“You...”
“Pardon?”
“You stopped sending me letters...!”
“Pardon??”
At this completely unexpected reason, Elric's blank expression cracked into one of utter bewilderment.
Letters? Ones I sent? What letters?
“Up until two months ago, you sent them every couple of weeks even if not often, and we met up sometimes, acting so close... Then suddenly you cut off all contact...!”
“No, wait...”
“So, sob, I was just a little upset, so I did it that one time, hic...!”
Tears streamed down Irene's face.
Elric clutched his head in a daze.
Elric, you bastard...
No, why were there so many things he hadn't done? Was this guy's sense of priorities that different from a normal person's? There had been that incident when they were kids, and they'd exchanged letters and met up—how could he just completely forget someone like that?
“...I'm sorry. I've been busy preparing for the academy.”
For now, he apologized—even though it wasn't really his fault, or rather, the fault of the soul that possessed this body. What else could he do? The usually stoic girl was twisting her face and crying; he had to comfort her.
“It's not an excuse, but since it was my first time enrolling, there was a lot to prepare. I must have forgotten because I was so busy.”
This much was true. Of course, he couldn't say the real reason out loud, but he'd been cramming nonstop to memorize everything about 'Elric.'
“I didn't forget about you, Princess. As soon as I got my class assignment after enrollment, didn't I come straight to where you were? I even suggested we eat lunch together.”
This was a lie, but it fit the situation well enough, didn't it? Sure enough, Irene's tears stopped at his words.
“...Really?”
“Yes.”
“...You haven't completely forgotten about me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Young Lord and I are special to each other, right?”
“Yes. ...Yes?”
Special? What kind of special? Elric stared at her again, his face blank with confusion for the second time.
But Irene didn't notice his expression. He had confirmed they were special. She and Elric.
All the hurt, sadness, and misery from before washed away completely at his words.
Yeah, guys get busy sometimes.
And Elric was a genius to boot. He had a future ahead of him where he'd spread his wings. As the woman who'd become his wife, she couldn't nitpick over things like that.
Looking back, her reaction had been over the top. Blushing with embarrassment, Irene apologized to him.
“Sorry. I think I overreacted.”
“No, it's fine. That can happen.”
“I'll understand from now on. Don't worry.”
“Yes. ...Yes?”
Understand from now on? Understand what?
He hadn't realized this princess had a talent for throwing people off. Elric looked at her with bewilderment for the third time.
“In return.”
“Pardon?”
“Have lunch with me from now on. You might be busy for dinner, but... I want to eat lunch together.”
“Ah... Sure, that much...”
He had to eat anyway. And since he was role-playing as 'Elric,' he didn't have anyone else to eat with. If Irene wanted to join, great.
Oh.
Come to think of it, eating on campus meant he might run into those lunatics at any time. Elric pondered for a moment before speaking up.
“By the way, how about we eat at a restaurant off-campus instead?”
“Pardon?”
“It might be nicer than the student cafeteria.”
Elric said it casually. He couldn't badmouth Joel and Silua since they were this body's family, so he glossed over that part.
Besides, she was a princess—taking her to some mediocre place wouldn't do. She probably had refined tastes, and since he'd suggested eating together, he had to step up.
But hearing that, Irene's imagination kicked into overdrive again.
'It might be nicer (for a date) than the student cafeteria.'
Her Elric-translation skills picked up on the hidden intent(?), and her mood lifted once more.
Oh my, oh my!
No matter the excuse, students found it easiest to eat at the cafeteria. It was close and the food was decent.
And Elric valued efficiency above all. For him, finishing lunch quickly there would let him get back to research or whatever else. He was busy, after all.
Yet here he was, suggesting they go out for lunch!
Kyahhh!
He'd even specified a restaurant. Didn't that mean he definitely saw it as a date?
Irene's teary eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“Sounds good! I'll pick a restaurant. You're busy, after all.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes. Thank you.”
He wasn't that busy he couldn't look one up, but if she wanted to handle it, why not? Elric nodded on reflex.
“Just the two of us, right?”
“Pardon? Sure.”
There was no one else to bring anyway. Who would he invite here?
Oh my, just the two of us at a restaurant date every day...!
At Elric's affirmation, Irene's mood soared past the clouds. Blushing, she spoke in an excited voice.
“Great! I'll come to Class 1-2 right after morning classes!”
“Pardon? Uh, sure.”
“Yes! It's a promise!”
“Yeees...”
Elric nodded with an ambiguous expression. Irene stood up, unable to hide her bubbly excitement.
“All done talking? Let's go! You're busy!”
“Yes, uh, alright.”
Elric stood as well and escorted her. She looked so thrilled it was obvious at a glance.
...No way she likes Elric?
Last time too, and now this—her reactions were...
Nah, no way.
It was that chronic male ailment: 'misinterpreting a smile as interest.' Elric shook his head slightly and led Irene back into the school building.
“Ho, so that's how it plays out.”
In an undefined void of nothingness...
A man was recording something with eyes full of interest.
“Fascinating indeed. Quite the intriguing research material.”
His purple eyes gleamed with curiosity and satisfaction.
“Entertain me more, Yeo Si-un.”
His eyes curved with a sinister glint.
The next day, major classes resumed.
Elric headed to the training grounds with his classmates once more.
'You don't need to go to Professor Rosly every class. Elric is still a first-year, and joint classes have value too. Just visit her once a week.'
Those had been Professor Asel Hershe's words. He had plenty of chances to talk with Professor Rosly outside of major classes—like club activities and such. From what he could tell, she didn't mind him dropping by. No, she seemed excited to chat.
So Elric stood blankly at one side of the training grounds, just like last time. Those who wanted to talk to him backed off again at his ironclad poker face.
“Today's lesson is sparring. I've paired you randomly, but kept skill levels reasonably matched. Partners aren't fixed—you'll rotate a few times, then switch for next class. No high-powered or lethal spells, since it's sparring. Time limit is twenty minutes. After each match, ten-minute break, then next opponent.”
With that, Professor Asel Hershe projected the sparring roster into the air. Elric scanned down for his name.
Uh...
[Round 1 Sparring
...
Elric Raishion : Asuka Sirun]
Asuka Sirun—that was the foreign lady with the flashy outfit, right? If she was matched with him, she must be pretty skilled.
Elric turned to look for her. Her vibrant red hair and unconventional clothes made her easy to spot.
Asuka happened to look his way too. Their eyes met, and she flinched, bowing her head.
...What?
What did I do? We haven't even properly talked.
'M-Me, with Young Lord Elric Raishion...!'
That was him. The man she'd thought was handsome—and he really was, without a doubt.
'W-What do I do, my heart's pounding...!'
Was it because she was facing off against such a cool guy? Or was she just unused to men?
She didn't know. But she was nervous either way, so Asuka took a careful deep breath.
“Lady Asuka Sirun.”
“Eek! Y-Yes...!”
When Elric spoke, she jumped in surprise and responded.
“...Please go easy on me.”
“M-Me too, Young Lord... sir...”
Asuka kept her head bowed, unable to meet his eyes. Her over-the-top reaction left even Elric a bit flustered.
She's not from Professor Rosly's department... Is it because she saw me fight the professor last time?
That could be it. The others had been handled with just two gestures from Professor Hershe, but not him.
Guess I gotta hold back.
Elric knew better than to go all out. Fighting like he did against Professor Hershe could seriously hurt her.
Y-You're too close...!
...Though Asuka's tension stemmed from a very different reason.
“Has everyone found their partner? Get ready. Start when the countdown ends.”
Professor Asel Hershe swept his gaze over the grounds and projected a countdown in the air.
3, 2, 1—the seconds ticked down.
“Begin!”
The group sparring matches started.