Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Ally
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Felix had taken an interest in Carlyle.
Gray had also started to trust him more than before.
That was a fair summary of the changes.
"⋯⋯."
Why had things turned out like this?
Carlyle stared blankly out the window, lost in such thoughts.
Honestly, given his reactions, he hadn't expected a positive response from Felix.
His curiosity had grown, and now some related event was popping up...
'Tame this person?'
Far from taming, he wanted to avoid getting involved as much as possible.
The Holy Sword was warning him, and every meeting brought this strange pressure—he could feel his stomach churning just thinking about seeing her face again.
'Good things are good, right?'
This was the final round anyway. He had to make use of everything available.
If it meant gaining usable skills even at the cost of hardship, it wasn't all bad.
If he could get closer to her somehow, it might even make controlling Gray's actions a bit easier.
Felix seemed to be keeping an eye on things with Cardinal Felix, at least.
Speaking of which, Gray was still right at the center of all the talk—what was her condition now?
"⋯⋯Lady."
"What."
"May I ask what exactly is going on with you?"
Carlyle forced a smile, sweat beading on his forehead as he posed the question.
It had been impressive when Gray demonstrated that technique she'd been practicing during the academy exam.
But ever since then, her state had seemed off.
Normally, she'd dump tasks on him arbitrarily and just toss in complaints about the results.
Now she was glued to him, scrutinizing his every move.
She followed him everywhere, no matter what he did, watching him intently—it felt like being stalked.
"It's my business."
"⋯⋯Don't you have anything else to do?"
"Not for the time being. There aren't that many people who could even teach me anyth—"
Gray's face soured mid-boast.
Because he was right there in front of her.
Someone who could teach her something.
"⋯⋯Lady⋯⋯"
"Shut up and do your work."
"⋯⋯."
The suffocating stalking resumed.
What was this? Some new method of torment she'd discovered?
[She's showing interest.]
'⋯⋯Pardon?'
[If it were me back then, I'd know for sure. She has something to say but feels like she'd lose if she said it outright, so that's her way of handling it.]
'What are you talking about.'
[Her pride won't let her ask directly, so instead, she's declaring she'll figure out the secret of how you can use it on her own.]
Ah.
So she couldn't bring herself to ask why he could use something she couldn't, since that would hurt her pride.
As a compromise, she was observing his every action and gathering all possible information.
Well.
'⋯⋯Her behavior's kinda cute, isn't it?'
He glanced back with a frown at Gray, who was still trailing him closely.
Given her usual demeanor, the normal response would be to grab him by the collar, shake him, and vent about how he knew that technique.
[That's because she's grateful.]
'Grateful for what?'
[Your consistent behavior, whether she's there or not, must have impressed her. Even against a cardinal she had to yield to, you said what needed saying without backing down.]
'Pardon?'
[She overheard your entire conversation with the cardinal—that's what's causing her reaction.]
⋯⋯Ah.
So she'd been listening during that conversation.
Feeling grateful from it, she couldn't treat Carlyle as roughly as usual and was fidgeting like this instead.
"⋯⋯."
That was cute in its own way.
But that was that.
'You knew she was watching back then—why tell me now?'
[You didn't ask.]
'⋯⋯.'
[I don't have to report every little thing to you. Consider how I feel having to admit to something embarrassing my past self did.]
'That makes sense when you put it like that.'
In the first place, if he dug into why she'd eavesdropped...
She'd pretended to leave them alone with the Gray Cardinal, worried what he might suffer, but actually stayed to listen.
Imagining Gray holding her breath outside the door, focusing intently—it made him chuckle for no reason—
"⋯⋯Lady, Lady. No one can read minds."
"You were thinking something rude."
"I wasn't."
Gray, who had clenched her fist with suspicious eyes, tilted her head and lowered her hand.
This girl—her instincts were too sharp.
She made it impossible to even think freely.
"Anyway, Lady."
"What."
"I don't mind being with you as much as you want, but now⋯⋯"
He needed to start attending classes soon.
The first few days had been an adjustment period where freshmen could freely explore the facilities.
But now the semester was truly beginning.
As a regular student, he had no choice but to part from Gray.
"⋯⋯."
She couldn't throw a tantrum about that, apparently—her face soured, but she nodded.
"Have a good academy life."
Huh.
What was this? Was she actually worried?
"If I hear you're lagging behind the others, I'll personally wring your neck."
"⋯⋯."
"Got it? Don't embarrass me."
"⋯⋯Yes, Lady."
Of course it was.
Her version of "do well" apparently meant "do well, or else."
◆
[So, where are you headed now?]
"Let's see⋯⋯I need to find the senior assigned to guide me."
Cradle had a system where a suitable upperclassman mentored each new freshman one-on-one.
To help pick appropriate classes, adjust to academy life, and build strong senior-junior bonds...or so the intent went.
'It's just to instill discipline, isn't it?'
With so many eccentric freshmen, that seemed the real purpose.
He yawned and kept walking. Strolling the sunlit campus grounds brought a certain thought to mind.
⋯⋯He was worried.
Now that he'd parted from Gray, he couldn't shake the anxiety that she might cause some massive incident somewhere.
Like a father leaving his child by the water's edge...
[⋯⋯Even you wouldn't go that far.]
"⋯⋯Yeah? She'll manage on her own to some extent, right?"
Watching Gray when she was young brought it home anew—her actions made her seem surprisingly soft-hearted.
The way feedback came instantly after every action sometimes made her feel like a somewhat twisted, violent child.
Compared to the lone-wolf, stubborn Gray he'd encountered across all rounds, it was night and day.
That raised a certain curiosity.
What exactly were the "academy experiences" that had turned someone like her into such a hopeless case?
"Experiencing horrific incidents one after another in a place like this."
Carlyle gazed across the campus, his voice drawling.
It was the picture of peace. Yet according to Gray, it was a site of endless bloody suspense thrillers.
[Well, it's true. One particularly memorable incident is about to happen soon.]
"What happened?"
[The first encounter with a demon.]
"⋯⋯."
[Of course, it wasn't a real demon—just a devil worshipper—but it was still a horrific experience all the same.]
"⋯⋯Okay, that's explanation enough."
Carlyle chuckled dryly and ran a hand through his hair.
The Holy Sword spoke matter-of-factly, but anything this one called "horrific" was no small matter.
It was the first contact with the forces that would doom humanity.
Blood would flow. No matter how gently one phrased it.
'And then there's this⋯⋯'
Carlyle glanced at his status window.
Events related to Felix and Gray both read "Soon to occur."
It wasn't certain, but it was natural to suspect a link to the incident Gray mentioned.
In that light.
"I need to prepare thoroughly."
[Naturally.]
For the time being, his principle should be smooth handling of the impending "devil worshipper" encounter.
To that end, the first priority was.
[Find someone to help first.]
'Someone to help?'
[Someone in the academy who can fulfill your requests as-is would be ideal.]
But not too conspicuous, and not too weak.
Someone inconspicuous yet good at gathering intel.
"⋯⋯Hmm."
The conditions felt annoyingly specific.
"Why so picky? Why does it have to be someone so vague?"
[Devil worshippers already have considerable influence inside the academy. You know well the level of schemes Hell weaves.]
"⋯⋯."
[To confront shadows, you must enter the shadows. Can't be too noticeable.]
⋯⋯Fair enough.
When Hell's invasion began, the speed at which empires crumbled—including this one—could only be explained by prior internal rot.
It'd be strange to think an academy gathering each nation's elites lacked such infiltration.
What made Hell's demons terrifying was their cunning beyond raw combat power to devour humanity.
Sowing division, bribery, threats, deception...
They schemed every trick imaginable.
'⋯⋯So we need an ally too.'
Handling this kind of covert intrigue alone was the worst move. He needed someone to move with him.
But finding someone fitting Gray's conditions would take thought.
[Someone who'll do the dirty work and can't refuse you for various reasons would be best.]
"What's that supposed to mean."
[Who knows. Maybe someone whose weakness you have?]
As if such a convenient person would just appear.
With that thought, he headed to meet the senior assigned to mentor him one-on-one.
"You're late! How dare a freshman keep their senior waiting!"
A female upperclassman, neck stiff with indignation. She carried a sword.
And.
⋯⋯A familiar face.
"Anastasia, Marchioness Heiress?"
This was her.
The one Carlyle had saved from Gray at the banquet.
"⋯⋯."
Cracks spread across her face as she recognized him.
"W-Why are you here⋯⋯"
Her haughty expression crumpled.
Watching it, a hollow laugh escaped Carlyle's lips.
'Hero.'
[Yes.]
'⋯⋯What about her?'
Somehow, it seemed he'd found his helper.
