Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Lea (4)
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In the atmosphere so cold it sent shivers down the spine.
Estelle stood at the door with a frosty expression.
Her lips twitched ever so slightly, as if brimming with dissatisfaction.
Hmm, ice magic this intense without any actual ice.
...Estelle can't use ice magic.
“...You. Stay away from Rowen.”
Clearly displeased with the situation, she glared at Lea and pressed on.
Her gaze was so sharp it felt like it could slice right through you.
Before her eyes could turn to me, I'd tried to put some distance between Lea and myself.
Suddenly, Lea lunged forward with a fierce hug, refusing to let me slip away.
Oh. This is really inconvenient right now.
Looking at Lea's face, the tear-streaked expression from moments ago had vanished, replaced by one laced with irritation.
As if she regretted the interruption of such a precious moment.
“Rowen, who's that woman?”
“...Huh?”
“She's not... your girlfriend, right?”
For some reason, Lea felt an inexplicable wave of anxiety.
Estelle as my girlfriend?
That'd be amazing, but what would Estelle see in me to go out with?
From that look on her face, it'd be a miracle if she didn't freeze me solid.
As if to prove it, Estelle's eyes quivered subtly.
“Ahaha, no, Lea. Estelle's just a close friend.”
“Really? Good...”
Lea let out a sigh of relief, her worries unfounded, and flashed a soft smile.
In stark contrast, Estelle's expression remained icy.
If anything, she furrowed her delicate brow even more, as if increasingly displeased...?
What's her deal? Why the attitude?
Shouldn't she be happier now that the misunderstanding's cleared up?
Estelle's face bore a hint of bewilderment.
Confused eyes, as if she couldn't fathom the reason herself.
Seeing that, Lea let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
“Hah? What's with that face? Don't tell me you don't even recognize your own feelings?”
“...What?”
Something ominous was brewing.
Instead of Estelle grilling us, Lea was now turning the tables on her.
A mischievous smile played on her lips, as if she'd seized the upper hand.
“Pfft, and yet you went and burdened Rowen like that? Our sweet, kind-hearted Rowen couldn't even dodge a noble lady coming onto him... Wonder how much stress that put him through.”
“Ugh...! I never did!”
Estelle, teetering on the edge of seeming like a spoiled noble girl, flushed red and bristled.
Lea tilted her head, deliberately feigning a pitiful expression.
“Why the sudden attitude? It's like you really did.”
“I said I didn't!”
“Gotcha~ I believe you~.”
What kind of smooth talk is that...
Just as I resolved to stay on good terms with Lea come hell or high water.
Estelle gazed at me with a wounded look, as if pleading for confirmation.
Feeling a pang at her hurt expression, I opened my mouth to clear things up.
But Lea yanked me closer into her embrace, hugging tighter as if to silence me.
“Shh. You can stay quiet, Rowen. It's fine.”
She leaned in with a playful grin and whispered softly.
“Anyway, I still have stuff to discuss with Rowen, so could you step out, 'friend'?”
“Not just a friend—a close friend...!”
“Ahaha, got it. But here's the thing: Rowen's gonna get way closer to me now.”
Lea treated Estelle like a child she was fondly teasing.
Estelle, deeply resentful, shot a frustrated glare at the beaming Lea.
Ooh, time for popcorn.
I had no idea why, but watching these two beauties squabble was pumping dopamine through my veins.
They say spectating a fire across the river is prime entertainment.
Truly an age-old truth.
But seeing Lea laugh so gleefully, Estelle erupted in anger.
“Who do you think got Rowen hurt that bad? How can you grin so shamelessly? I hope you realize you're the one stressing him out.”
“...What would you know?”
Lea's smile froze, struck right in her sore spot.
Oh no, a real fight would be trouble.
We have to stick together all the way to taking down the Demon King—can't have bad blood this early.
Just as I geared up to intervene before it blew up.
“Alright, that's enough, both of you. Fight all you want, but the patient's rest is priority.”
Serin had slipped into the infirmary and shut it down cold.
Damn it, I knew I could count on her!
Perfect savior timing.
Serin rescued me from agonizing over how to break up Lea and Estelle's spat.
“Lea? I get you're grateful to Rowen, but he looks a bit strangled. Mind letting go now?”
Lea, who'd completely forgotten she was clinging to me, blushed crimson and released her hold.
...It was warm and nice, though.
A strange reluctance washed over me, but I couldn't just stay latched on forever.
“Estelle, you're Rowen's friend, right? Your worry makes sense, but I need to speak with him. Could you wait outside with Lea?”
At that, Lea and Estelle traded glares before muttering agreement and heading out.
Sigh... They really ought to get along.
The thought of endless bickering ahead only piled on the worries.
Meanwhile, outside the infirmary.
Two girls openly radiated discomfort, hating even sharing the same space.
'Estelle, right.'
Snow-white hair, violet eyes.
That signature blunt demeanor—she had to be the top freshman.
The Lumeria family's youngest, from a famed magic lineage.
Heard she was blessed with insane talent and barely spoke to anyone...
Yet somehow, she saw Rowen as a friend.
And slotted into S-Class, they never should've crossed paths.
She must've sniffed out what a catch Rowen is.
'Rowen didn't seem to mind her, either.'
When she showed up to visit, waves of joy, gratitude, happiness hit me.
Thank goodness they weren't dating.
“...Hey, Estelle. Mind if I ask something?”
“...Go ahead.”
Ugh, really don't wanna chat with her, but...
Better to nail this down!
“You like Rowen, don't you?”
“......Huh?”
She was seething with jealousy when I hugged him.
Face gave nothing away, but I can sense emotions, y'know.
“Absolutely not. Being around Rowen feels comfy and happy... but that's just him being thoughtful.”
“...Isn't that what liking someone is?”
Even now, all these soft, warm vibes leaking out...?
Didn't peg her as so dense she'd miss her own heart.
“I like Rowen. Never fallen for anyone my whole life, but one look at him today and bam—crystal clear.”
“...So?”
“He threw himself at Hardin's crew to save me, risked his life, even helped me beat my trauma. How could I not fall hard?”
Honestly, never dreamed I'd tumble head over heels after one day!
But a guy who'd stake his life for me? Irresistible.
“I'm going all-in to win Rowen's heart, so no regrets later!”
“Do whatever...”
I've done plenty to help here.
Wanna edge out rivals fair and square, not dirty.
Her pure little face does prick the conscience a bit...
But she ran her mouth, so a little suffering's fair!
And so, outside the infirmary, tender-hearted Lea wrestled with guilt over pure Estelle.
With Estelle and Lea gone, an awkward silence settled over the infirmary.
“Hey, Rowen? Cool if I drop the formal talk when it's just us?”
“Yeah, of course, Professor Serin.”
Serin always went casual with friends.
In front of students, she'd uphold the Knight Commander's gravitas with a stern tone.
“Ahaha, thanks, Rowen. Gotta stay dignified around the kids.”
Like shrugging off stiff clothes, Serin beamed at me, bright and clear.
Ugh... Way too heart-stopping.
Innocent smile for her, but as her biggest fan, it hit like a truck.
“Lea and Estelle both seem pretty into you. Speaking personally, I'd rather you skip the dating. We've got ongoing training ahead.”
“Got it...?”
Dating? What dating?
No reason Estelle would like me, and Lea had no big cause either.
Just rescued her from jerks, soothed her trauma a tad.
No way that's enough to spark real feelings, right?
“Urgh... That oblivious look. You're perfect otherwise, but the zero awareness...”
Me, oblivious?
Got props for sharp instincts since I was a kid.
Serin must've misread the situation.
“...You might get swarmed by girls later.”
Serin muttered something under her breath.
Eh, probably nothing.
As the chat veered off, Serin clapped sharply to refocus.
“Taking them on solo to save Lea today? Good call. But reckless—you know that better than anyone. They outclassed you; one slip and you'd be toast.”
Couldn't argue.
Had they not bolted, who knows the outcome.
Plus, this body's the 'early-game scrub' archetype: killer potential, but stats and skills all lacking.
So how to power up—that was the big puzzle.
“Figured out what you need most.”
Need? Why the grim tone?
“Wanna learn my swordsmanship?”