Chapter 1. Nullification of the Oath_01
Chapter 1. Nullification of the Oath_01
Chapter 1.
Mornings in the republic start early. I gathered my bag.
"You're leaving early. Did you say you were on duty today?"
"Yes. I'll be back."
July 26, Year 207.
I can never forget that summer day when the scorching sunlight beat down.
Because today is the day she dumps me.
*
Arriving at school to the sound of cicadas, the campus is silent. At such an early hour, the only people I might run into are teachers on duty or security guards.
As expected, no one was there when I entered the classroom. Arriving first, I handled the tasks a student on duty had to do. After bringing the attendance book to the podium, I heard footsteps.
It's her. I silently stared at the classroom door.
Deureuk! Revealing herself beyond the open door was a cold-complexioned girl whose ink-black hair suited her well. Serendia Riverett. The one who promised a future with me...
My fiancée.
And today, I get dumped by her.
This was already a predetermined future.
Our family was a ruined noble household. In the republic, it wasn't particularly surprising for a count family that once thrived to end up buried in debt, losing both land and title. In a world facing an era of upheaval, changes occurred constantly, and our family was merely one of them.
The engagement between our families was made about 15 years ago, when my father was still alive. Shortly after she and I were born, the two couples who were close at the time pledged a political marriage, and that pledge has been maintained until now.
However, today is the last day for even that... The expiration date of the political marriage vow was right up to today.
Normally, extending the deadline would suffice, but they wouldn't have any intention of doing that.
After all, as of right now, we are a noble and a commoner—two people who have come to hold different social standings.
"You arrived early."
She greeted me first. As usual, her tone was cold. But there was no reason to be intimidated. Her showing that kind of attitude was a daily occurrence.
"Because I'm on duty. You're early yourself."
I knew she arrived early at school. Ever since I became the student on duty, she was always the first person to step into the classroom.
"...Because I have a lot to do."
She went to her seat and put down her bag.
And as if nothing had happened, she naturally pulled out a book and started studying. Watching her reaction, I spoke up.
"Um... is there anything you want to say?"
"Anything to say...?"
She makes a puzzled expression. Could it be that she doesn't remember?
That the vow between us ends as of today... No, coming to think of it, it's only natural that she wouldn't remember.
Even though Serendia and I were in an engaged relationship through a political marriage, it wasn't as if we had any intimacy between us. In the first place, perhaps because her side had no intention of going through with the marriage after our family fell, she never brought up anything regarding the betrothal.
Above all, her attitude toward me was merely cold, with no further progress beyond that. If I had to compare, I felt more intimacy with the girls in class with whom I had just exchanged names.
To put it simply, she and I were fiancée and fiancé in name only.
"The political marriage vow between our families ends as of today."
Having no choice, I brought up the topic myself. At that, her face went blank, like someone who had been hit over the head.
"That is..."
"Since there's no reason to renew the vow, today will be the last day the documents stay valid."
For some reason, she is silent. I couldn't tell at all what she was thinking behind that cold expression.
"I guess... so. Yeah, this is the end."
"Yeah, this is the end. Which means the stain on Serendia Riverett disappears."
I said it jokingly to lighten the mood, but her face suddenly crumpled.
"Don't talk like that. I..."
However, she couldn't continue her sentence.
Her twitching lips felt as though she had something to say, but soon, biting her lip tightly, she left the room. Her face looked furious; did I make some slip of the tongue?
'I was sure she would be happy about it.'
Or did she wish the engagement hadn't ended? That might be it. Because the fact that she was engaged to me significantly reduced the number of guys hitting on her.
Of course, that didn't mean there weren't guys who approached her regardless... Thinking about it, it's quite an unpleasant thought.
"Now that her fiancé shield is gone... starting tomorrow, it's going to be absolute chaos."
Having watched her since childhood, I could tell that being pretty was also an exhausting thing.
And so, she and I parted ways. Not that... we were actually dating or anything.
*
"So that relationship in name only is finally over?"
This guy chattering beside me is James.
As you can tell by his name, he's just an Extra 1 that you could find anywhere.
"Who's an extra? Who?"
Poking my side with a discontented face, this guy—
I turned my head away from James and looked at Serendia. Though she had an angry look this morning, she now had her usual cold expression.
"Deep down, you feel relieved too, right? Thinking, 'Thank goodness I didn't marry a girl like that.'"
Relieved, huh... Is that really so? Having watched her for a long time, I know. She is... No, having these thoughts now is a meaningless endeavor.
In the end, I couldn't make it in time. That's all there is to it.
"Serendia Riverett. She really fits the description of a well-rounded beauty—neat appearance, upright conduct, top grades, top looks. Even if she looks cold, in reality, she's actually pretty friendly."
Serendia was laughing and talking with the girl sitting next to her. That's right. Her acting cold is something reserved exclusively for me.
No, wait—that includes the guys who confessed and got dumped by her too. Maybe I'm receiving the same treatment as those guys...
"Tsk."
"Whoa~ Where are you going?"
"To buy a drink."
The vending machine in the hallway. It's expensive, so the only people who use it are nobles, but since I'm feeling down, I decided to buy an expensive drink today.
Cream Coffee. The moment I picked a drink that looked sweet at a glance—
Deolkeok! As I picked up the drink, someone spoke to me.
"Al~pen~"
Warak! Calling my name, she clung to my arm.
"Sona... you're heavy. Get off me a bit."
"That's so mean to a delicate maiden! Besides, I'm actually on the really light side, you know?"
Saying so, she hopped backward. Being in the Magic Department, her attire was somewhat antique and different from the uniform I wore.
An outer garment reminiscent of a cloak and a short pleated skirt. At a glance, she looked like a character out of Little Red Riding Hood.
"I heard the news. Did your engagement with Serendia end?"
"The rumor reached all the way over there already? That was fast."
Just who spreads these rumors? It's baffling.
"How do you feel about becoming single, Al~pen~-gun?"
"Just so-so. I guess I'm craving something sweet?"
"Like me? Hehe~"
"Shall I take a bite out of you? Your cheek does look pretty sweet."
As I reached out toward her snow-white cheek while saying that, she slapped my hand away and hurriedly stepped backward.
Pabat!
"W-what! I'm reporting you for sexual harassment?!"
"Who was the one flirting first? Whatever, I'm heading back."
Holding the cream coffee in my hand, as I tried to return to the classroom, she shrieked behind my back, "Ppaek─!"
"Hmph! Go get diabetes!"
"As if I would."
Ttalkak! Opening the tab of the luxurious-looking brown can, a sweet aroma tickled the tip of my nose.
Taking a sip, the taste wasn't bad. True to its name, it tasted like a mix of cream and coffee. It wasn't overly sweet, and I liked how smooth it was.
"Not bad."
Sipping the coffee like that, I looked out the window and saw a towering structure.
【Denaizer's Labyrinth】
"I wish it would just collapse completely."
Whether because of the coffee or something else, a bitter taste lingered in my mouth.
*
The role of the school was simple. Nurturing talented individuals in preparation for the future.
If there were an additional role, it would be experiencing social life at a young age, perhaps? Of course, I don't know how much help the experience here actually is.
"Hey, I heard Serendia ended her engagement with that guy?"
"Finally? In the end, he got dumped."
"They didn't suit each other in the first place. Is a commoner even fitting for the Riverett family?"
They really seem to have nothing to do.
Seeing as they have time to chatter like this.
"Your face is gonna wear out from all the staring. You're quite the popular guy."
"Tell me about it."
Having approached me before I realized it, the corners of James's lips were raised. It seems this situation is quite amusing to him.
"It's fine, pal. Rumors settle down over time anyway."
"Who said I wasn't fine?"
"Your face did. Pfft!"
"I'll fucking kill you. Seriously."
"More importantly, what are you gonna do about the assignment? If you say you'll do it together, I'm okay with it."
At James's question, I tapped the desk with the tip of my index finger.
Tok... tok... James stared intently at me as I sank into thought.
"Judging by your expression, you're planning on doing it alone, aren't you?"
"Sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about? Guaranteeing student freedom. That's our school's ironclad rule, isn't it?"
That's right. Our school is strictly freedom-centered. Doing assignments is the same. It's fine to do it together, and it's fine to do it alone. As long as you get it done.
"But this one won't be easy. It's 3 goblin ears. That means you have to hunt 3 of them."
"Since they have 2 ears, hunting just two of them is more than enough."
"Ah, that's right! Hey, you're smart, huh?"
"Did it ever cross your mind that you're just stupid?"
"That's because my metacognition isn't very outstanding~"
James beamed brightly. At any rate, he's a guy without a shred of seriousness in anything he does.
Right then, a not-so-pleasant scene caught my eye.
"Serendia, if it's alright with you... would you like to do the assignment with me?"
And James, who was watching the scene alongside me, opened his mouth.
"Hey, look over there. That's Leon from the neighboring class. I heard he's the son of a really wealthy merchant."
"How do you know all that stuff?"
"Information is power. That's what I'm talking about."
"You do know this is the Knight Department, right?"
"A knight who handles information among knights. I call that an intelligence knight."
Like such a thing could exist...
Taking my eyes off the pathetic James and looking back toward her, I saw the handsome guy named Leon walking away with a glum face. It seems he got flat-out rejected.
"......"
And then, she made eye contact with me.
I silently turned my gaze away.
"Got shot down. As expected of the princess."
"Princess, my foot."
Feeling like sitting here would only make my mind restless for no good reason, I moved to leave.
"Alpen?"
"Going to do the assignment. See you tomorrow."
3 goblin ears.
I looked at the towering Denaizer's Labyrinth.
And quietly, I set my steps inside the labyrinth.
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