Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Academy Visit (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even after the carriage carrying Cynthia faded from view, Tiona kept staring blankly in that direction.
"Can't say I blame her."
It had already been several weeks since I'd first brought Cynthia home.
More than enough time to get used to who she was and form a clear picture of her in my mind.
And then, out of nowhere, she was a saintess. Someone extraordinary.
It was only natural to be shocked.
Cynthia considered Tiona a friend.
Whether Tiona felt the same, I couldn't say for sure.
But probably. Judging from that tightly clenched fist.
"...Arthur, what does it mean that Cynthia's become a saintess?"
"Looks like I need to explain about the saintesses. Shall we talk while we head inside?"
A lot had happened since we arrived, but we were still standing right in front of the academy's main gate.
I took Tiona's hand and led her inside.
The paths inside the academy were paved with cobblestones, and grassy lawns stretched between the buildings.
The buildings themselves were a jumble of styles, just like on any university campus.
Some were stacked brick by brick, others were sturdy stone structures. There were even wooden lecture halls that had somehow been in use for decades.
The exteriors varied wildly too. Some boasted the grandeur of ivory towers, while others had sleek, modern designs that would fit right in today.
A chaotic mishmash of architecture.
The people were the same.
Magic researchers in pointed witch hats, sword instructors with blades at their hips, philosophers clutching armfuls of books, artists hauling massive canvases...
Even the rare heteromorphs back in the Empire—beastkin, elves, dwarves, and more—were far more common here.
"Wowww..."
Tiona marveled at the unfamiliar sights.
And clung to my arm while she did.
Novelty brings wonder, but also fear.
"This is the academy. The most diverse gathering of people in the entire Empire."
"A-Arthur...!"
Tiona suddenly hugged my arm tighter.
"Th-there...! Isn't that a vampire!?"
A female student holding a thick parasol that cast a deep shadow, her skin completely wrapped in cloth to block the sunlight, turned toward us at Tiona's words.
She squinted, then walked over.
"Eek!!"
Tiona hid behind my back.
"Arthur, protect me...!!"
"I'm your home tutor, not your bodyguard."
Lea raised an eyebrow at me.
If she could speak it aloud, it'd be something like, 'Why don't you think back on everything you've done so far before saying that?'
'Fair point.'
I'd been more capable than most bodyguards, come to think of it.
The parasol-wielding student stopped in front of us and leaned toward Tiona.
"Eek..."
Tiona flinched.
The girl was a beautiful young lady with pale skin, white hair, and red eyes.
She spoke.
"I am no vampire."
"Mi...!"
"Call me a vampirkin."
"Aren't you sorry!?"
"You should apologize, miss. 'Vampire' is a discriminatory term. We're the same as everyone else, so 'vampirkin' is the proper word."
Tiona looked at me in horror.
"What are you talking about!? Vampire or vampirkin, it doesn't change that you're after my blood!"
"Not after it."
The vampirkin student frowned.
"And even if someone was, they wouldn't want yours. Looks like you live on sugar—you're practically diabetic."
"Hah!? What do you mean!? I eat bread too, not just sugar!"
"..."
The vampirkin glanced at me.
"Is... your young lady a bit... simple?"
"Not simple!!"
Tiona yelled.
"In the broad sense, sure. But narrowly speaking, no. She's just sorely lacking in common sense—her brain functions fine."
"R-really?"
"And miss."
This time, I leaned toward the vampirkin student.
"What if our young lady really is simple?"
"Huh?"
"You can't just call a simple person simple. You have to say they have 'intellectual challenges.' Our young lady was wrong to use the term 'vampire,' but aren't you doing the exact same thing?"
"B-but I...!"
"Miss, your name?"
"...Pyr Diaphraga."
"New student?"
"Sort of..."
"This is Tiona Krishantimaiu. Shake hands and make up."
Tiona panicked.
"N-no way! What if she takes my blood!?"
"She said she won't, and vampirkin attacks on humans are exceedingly rare anyway. Plus, she'll be your senior once you enroll. It's good to get on friendly terms with a first-year ahead."
"I refuse too! I'm not a child—what is this—"
"Shake hands. Make up."
"Hiiing..."
"Nngh..."
Tiona and Pyr clasped hands.
"Sorry..."
"I... misspoke too..."
They let go.
Pyr shot me a glare.
"Now I see—you're the dangerous one. How did I miss that..."
"Could be."
"Hoo..."
Pyr's red eyes took in Tiona.
"Tiona, was it? If you enroll next year, come find me."
"Eek...!"
"...Whatever you're imagining, you're wrong. I just mean I'll help you out."
"Gasp...!!"
"...At the very least, you won't be bored around her."
Pyr sighed.
"I've got class, so I'll be off. See you later, Tiona. Arthur."
Pyr glanced at me once more, then walked away under her parasol.
I watched her back until she entered the lecture hall and folded the parasol.
Diana muttered.
"Arthur, you have this way of turning everyone around you into kids."
"Don't say such dreadful things."
Especially horrifying from my position of having to raise Tiona.
Raising her, only for her to stay a child forever? Like adding plus and minus and always netting zero?
"Pfft... Would you raise me too if I asked nicely?"
"Miss Diana, you have immense talent as a mage. Won't you please try putting it to use?"
I slipped in some earnest advice amid the teasing atmosphere.
Her response was just a wry smile.
As the four of us toured the campus, Tiona had all sorts of new experiences.
I explained how the dorms worked in detail, what the student cafeteria was, then we all ate there together.
She loved the meat pie smothered in gravy—today's special—so I promised to make it next time.
We fed the ducks in the central lake and chatted in spirit tongue with the naiads living there.
"Just try greeting them."
"「Ah, hello?」"
「Hello...! We welcome new students...!」
Naiads were among the easiest spirits to meet, tied to tangible water sources on the surface.
"Arthur! It really worked!"
"Congratulations. 「Lady of the Lake Naiad, thank you for indulging our young lady.」"
「You're a fine human male...! Play with me before you go...!!」
"Arthur, what did the naiad just say?"
"She said goodbye and to come again."
「I understand human speech too...!!」
"Yes, fare well, miss naiad."
We also ran into a few people I knew, beyond just Granola.
"N-no way... Lord Arthur!?"
"You're... ah... aaah... we meet again..."
"Still out there saving people left and right? Like you did for my family back then."
I occasionally bumped into familiar faces in the capital too, but it happened more often here at the academy. Maybe because talent draws talent.
"Long time. I hope you've been well."
I greeted them warmly but not overly so, then continued the tour.
Finally, we'd seen it all and boarded the carriage to head home.
We dropped Tiona off first since it was closest, then saw Lea and Diana to their homes.
"This is Lea's place?"
"Yeah. Want noodles inside?"
"No thanks. Gotta make dinner for the young lady."
Same with Diana.
"Arthur, wanna drop the formal speech from now on?"
"Appreciate the thought, but it'd make things awkward with the young lady."
"...Fine, I'll go casual then."
"As you wish."
"Hey."
"Yes."
"Nothing else to say?"
"...Pardon?"
"N-never mind... Go!"
As I climbed back into the carriage.
"Thanks for today!"
She shouted that, then slammed the door to her workshop-home shut.
After seeing them off, I finally returned home.
Tiona had asked the maids to bathe her before leaving.
'Should be done by now?'
I ran into Isabelle and Croa in the entryway, assuming they'd both finished.
But they grinned mischievously and told me.
"Sir~ Tiona said...!"
Isabelle whispered in my ear.
The scent of soap tickled my nose.
"From today on, she'll bathe herself!!"
"...Pardon?"