Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Time for Two
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“Ha ha ha!”
Elenoa strutted around on the podium, clutching her report card.
She had cleanly claimed the top spot among the first-years this semester, and in her hand was a pass to the Millennium Library.
In front of her, Aria openly wore an irritated expression, while behind her, Leyton hung his head in a daze.
Aria was simply dissatisfied at having lost to Elenoa, but Leyton was devastated because he hadn’t obtained the pass to the Millennium Library.
He had worked so hard for it, yet he ultimately failed to take first place in Deus’s exam.
On top of that, he had even been pushed out of second place by Aria, leaving him with an indescribable sense of loss.
“Ha ha ha ha! Ack! Kek!”
Elenoa, who had been cackling with bloodshot eyes, suddenly choked and started coughing.
She cleared her throat with effort, stopped laughing, and began gloating in a different way.
“Kneel before me, you plebeians! I am the top student!”
“As a princess, isn’t that a pretty dangerous thing to say?”
It was the kind of statement that could easily spark rumors of the princess looking down on the entire kingdom.
At Aria’s advice, Elenoa paused for a moment before thrusting out her hand again and shouting.
“Please kneel, dear plebeians! I’m number one!”
“Hmm, that should be fine.”
Aria nodded in approval at the slightly softened phrasing, and Elenoa waved the Millennium Library pass like a flag, thrilled.
Her face beamed with innocent joy as she savored the sweetness of victory. Rather than a princess, she looked just like any girl her age—refreshing and endearing.
After reveling like that for a while, Elenoa hopped down from the podium, breathing heavily, and approached Leyton.
She plopped the pass right in front of his desk with a thud. Leyton stared at her, not understanding the situation.
Elenoa winked in response.
“I’m a princess, remember? I can just go in anytime. Take it if you need it.”
Elenoa had only studied hard because she wanted to top Deus’s class—she didn’t really need the pass.
“Ah.”
Leyton looked down at the pass placed before him. With trembling hands, he carefully picked it up.
“Why give it to him? I got second.”
“What are you saying? Everyone below first place is just a loser. You loser.”
“You must be thrilled with your high grades. I’ve been summoned by the professor, so I’ll head out.”
“……Why only you? I’m the top student.”
Elenoa pouted and asked, but Aria flashed a teasing smirk and stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Who knows? Stay put and admire your report card, top student. I lost, so I’ll go sit on the professor’s lap and take my punishment for defeat.”
“Hey! Come on, let’s go together!”
“Quit talking nonsense! He only called me!”
“Nonsense? Nonsense?! That’s royal insult—you’re getting the death penalty! I’ll turn you to dust on the execution ground! I’m calling Tairn right now!”
Just casually dropping the Magic Judge’s name like that was enough to make one feel Elenoa’s status.
Unfortunately, her opponent was a being one could call transcendent.
“Yeah, call him! Go ahead and try! Off I go to see the professor, Your Highness!”
“Hey! Let’s go together!”
Aria bolted out of the classroom at tremendous speed, with Elenoa chasing right after her.
The mana backlash from where the two had been standing crashed in, showing just how serious they were.
And there.
Leyton clutched the gifted pass tightly and gazed wistfully at the spot where they had been.
“Your Highness…….”
It was the moment the pitiful boy’s first love blossomed.
* * *
North Wedden Mountains.
It had been a day since Darius of the Verdi Family and Deia had set off for the Bright Family’s territory.
It was quite risky for both to be away at the same time, but they had forcibly made time for Dei-us’s second son’s marriage meeting.
That didn’t mean the mountains’ defenses were lax.
If anything, they were even more rigorously guarded. Any mistake now would bring repercussions from Darius, the family head and Border Count.
Strictly speaking, they shouldn’t have left so casually, but the royals had temporarily permitted it since it involved a necromancer’s marriage.
Filling in for them was another Count Heliun from a nearby territory.
He had a decent rapport with Darius but had distanced himself upon learning Dei-us was a black mage.
He was staying at the Verdi estate and had agreed to oversee the mountains until Darius returned.
In reality, though, he was just idling away the time with indifference.
After all, the only things coming over the mountains from the Clock Republic were slaves, and dealing with them wasn’t hard.
“Even so, it feels a bit much.”
“What does?”
The mountain peak.
Two guards killing time at an outpost with idle chatter.
“I mean Count Heliun. He got a lot of help from our lord in the past, but he was super reluctant to come assist this time.”
“Well, North Wedden’s already getting cold.”
“Tch, as if he’s not just sipping coffee by the estate’s fireplace.”
“That’s true.”
The two burst into hearty laughter, but their sentry duties remained vigilant.
Sensing a presence, they instantly grabbed their spears and turned. Footsteps crunching snow from behind.
“Baguette!”
The password elicited a cheerful reply from the other side.
“Lemon juice. You guys are working hard. Brought some snacks.”
“Oh, it’s you guys?”
It was members of the Scrap Merchants climbing the mountain.
They often helped with odd jobs like this, so they were on familiar terms with the guards now, their relationship close-knit.
“Whew, it’s definitely colder up high.”
“Let’s hurry. We’ve got tribute for the Mountain Lord too.”
Just as the two Scrap Merchants handed over simple snacks and turned to leave.
Crunch.
Snow crunching again.
This time, it came not from the North Wedden side, but from the Clock Republic direction.
The four tensed up simultaneously, eyes tracking the source of the footsteps.
There stood a tall, lanky man who had silently taken position.
A thin frame contrasting his great height.
Black coat and black hat. And pinned to his chest.
An Extermination Squad badge.
“Hey, you there! This is Griffin Kingdom territory beyond this point!”
Despite the guard’s shout, the man’s stride didn’t slow in the least.
He advanced steadily toward them.
“Huh?”
One of the Scrap Merchants spotted the man’s face as he drew closer and gasped in shock.
“Doberman?”
Bang!
That was it.
A bullet from the firearm suddenly in Doberman’s hand pierced the Scrap Merchant’s forehead with a chilling crack.
“Crazy bastard!”
“Call for backup now!”
“Doberman!”
The guards urgently radioed for support, while the surviving Scrap Merchant glared at Doberman, cradling his fallen comrade.
The cool-headed hunting dog who had once shouted for Clock Republic freedom at the forefront alongside Pindenai.
Why was he crossing the mountains alone, wearing an Extermination Squad uniform and badge?
Red eyes glowing, drool dripping, strange mechanical device on the back of his neck.
Seeing it, memories surfaced of the brainwashing devices whispered about like urban legends in the Clock Republic.
Bang!
Another gunshot rang out.
This time, the heart of the guard beside him was pierced, and he collapsed into the snow.
They wanted to respond somehow, but his movements were too fast to counter.
As the squad member tried to move for cover.
Bang!
Yet another distant shot. Impact rocked his head.
Thud.
He heard something collapse, and it didn’t take long to realize it was himself.
His vision blurred red as the sky spun.
The squad member realized he was dying.
And amid it all came Doberman’s voice, choked and halting.
“Pin… den… ai.”
Doberman sought only one woman.
* * *
Winter break at the academy started tomorrow, and I had to head to the Bright Family for the marriage meeting, so I was packing when I heard a knock.
Thinking it was Erika, I opened the door without much thought, but there stood Pindenai, calmly waiting.
“What’s up?”
At my question, Pindenai grinned.
“Just dropped by?”
A bottle of liquor sloshing in her hand—quite high-end stuff. I’d seen it somewhere before.
“Snagged it from the dean’s stash.”
“…….”
One from the dean’s collection, huh. He’d blow a fuse if he found out, but Pindenai shrugged it off like it was nothing, shaking the glass between her fingers as she stepped inside.
“Packing? Don’t people usually make the maids do this?”
“If I left it to you, you wouldn’t do it right, so I’m handling it myself.”
“You know me too well.”
Shrugging, Pindenai plopped into the chair in my room and set down the bottle and glass.
She then drew her short staff from her waist, swung it once, and with a whoosh, it transformed into an axe.
Every time I saw it, the weapon felt woefully inadequate for Pindenai’s skill.
She deftly uncorked the bottle with the axe and handed me a glass.
“Have a drink.”
“……What’s this about?”
Despite my question, Pindenai silently poured into the glass.
She held it out slowly.
For now, I extended my glass in response to her offer.
The glasses clinked with their signature chime, setting the mood.
Under the soft glow of the lamp.
Pindenai gazed down at her glass and replied with a wry smile.
“I’m not a fan of moments like this either. I’d rather laugh, chat, and chomp on meat with everyone.”
“…….”
“But this time feels a little different. I wanted it to be… somewhat special.”
Not her usual boisterous grin.
Not her lewd, crude speech.
Pindenai’s faint, bitter smile sank into me.
“Our last time, at least.”