Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: How to Grow Slothfully (1)
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Artel hadn't been feeling great lately.
It was strange.
Objectively speaking, rationally speaking, there was no reason for her to feel down.
In the recent practical sparring placement matches, she'd achieved 6th in A-Rank—higher than her enrollment score.
It was on par with Jeron, who was 5th in A-Rank.
As a result, she'd even received praise from him: "I'm proud of you."
She could feel her ice magic skills and her understanding of magic theory steadily improving.
Every indicator was trending upward.
Ever since she'd gotten close to Jeron, everything had been falling into place like magic.
So why?
Her chest kept feeling stuffy, and she found herself getting irritated over the smallest things.
Truth be told, Artel had a vague idea of the reason.
There was one thing nagging at her.
Lately, every morning, something Jeron and Ciel exchanged with each other.
It was a small, folded note.
She had no idea what it said.
But from their conversations, she could roughly guess.
"Jeron— That thing we did yesterday was so fun—. Let's do it again today—?"
"Huaaah…. This one was so new. Zap zap—! Thump thump—!"
"I stayed up all night because of you yesterday— I'm totally exhausted— Take responsibility—"
It seemed like Ciel and Jeron were doing some secret "something" that only they knew about "every night."
And Ciel had said it was something "new" and "thrilling" for the "first time."
"Jeron—. Can we talk more about it?"
"Ahaha…. Ciel, let's talk details on notes."
Jeron also seemed reluctant to talk about it openly.
'Wh-what the heck are they doing…!'
Why couldn't they just say it outright? Why go out of their way to hide from others and only discuss it through notes?
Such a secretive relationship.
'No way….'
Even Artel, who knew next to nothing about romance, couldn't help but think of it in this situation.
Love letters.
Were they exchanging love letters?
At first, she'd planned to ask directly or, like their first encounter with Ciel, pull her away from Jeron.
In fact, when she'd caught them exchanging notes for the umpteenth time, she'd almost marched right up to Jeron and confronted him.
But.
'Ah.'
She'd witnessed it.
"Hehe…."
Jeron smiling contentedly.
For some reason, Jeron was holding Ciel's note and smiling.
It was the exact same smile he'd given her when they'd skipped class together and he'd petted that cat.
'Why… are you smiling like that?'
Jeron.
Why are you grinning like you just got a gift?
It's not a gift—it's just a note….
'…Does Jeron have feelings for Ciel?'
The moment that thought hit her, Artel's feet froze in place.
If that were even remotely true, wedging herself between them might just upset Jeron.
She didn't like Ciel being by Jeron's side, but what she hated even more—several times over—
Was the possibility of Jeron hating her for it.
So this time, Artel couldn't bring herself to say anything and just stewed in silence.
But today, she couldn't hold back anymore.
Magic theory class.
Him solving an ultra-difficult problem.
She'd known he was a genius in theory too, but after seeing so much already, it wasn't all that surprising.
What really moved her was something else.
He'd erased everyone else's solutions filling the blackboard, yet for some reason, left only hers and built on it from there.
He surely knew.
A genius mage like him couldn't possibly not know.
That it was an idea inspired by watching his magic.
And yet he'd done that….
'…Jeron.'
It felt like he was acknowledging her potential.
The thought of being recognized by him again filled Artel with a secret swell of joy.
But.
The moment class ended, she spotted Ciel rushing to his side and chattering away again.
'…Jeron acknowledged me.'
So why are you the one by his side, Ciel?
She really couldn't stand by any longer.
Of course, Jeron and she were just friends.
Even if he and Ciel were… that, improper kind of couple, she had no right to interfere.
But pretending not to notice left her chest too stuffy.
She'd rather ask directly and confirm.
So, mustering her courage, she approached Jeron.
He was sitting on the windowsill, staring blankly outside.
She threw out the question she most wanted—and feared—to ask him.
"You seem to be exchanging notes with Ciel every morning lately…. Um, are you two, like, that kind of couple…?"
***
'…???'
For a moment, I doubted my own ears.
I was floored.
I'd thought this was the event where she'd ask me to tutor her, but it was a totally different question.
And the content of that question….
'Are Ciel and I that kind of couple?'
That kind meaning dating or something, right?
Obviously not even a little bit.
No way she'd misunderstand our morning proxy tutoring notes as that?
I hadn't seen this coming.
'Artel sure gets jealous easily.'
Of course, not romantic jealousy… just childish jealousy, like when a close friend hangs out more with someone else.
I answered firmly.
"No. We're just friends. The notes are just for tutoring."
"Tutoring…?"
"Yeah. She wants to learn dark magic. I dabble in it as a hobby."
"Oh…. So that's what those comments were…."
Artel seemed to accept my explanation for a moment, then eyed me suspiciously again.
"But…. Why be so secretive with just notes?"
Obviously, because I didn't write them—someone else did the proxy tutoring for me.
I know zilch about dark magic, so I couldn't chat about it.
But I couldn't exactly say that.
I came up with the most Jeron-like excuse.
"That? Too annoying to say out loud."
"…Does that mean talking to Ciel is annoying?"
"Talking study stuff verbally is a hassle. Better to write a note once and be done."
"…O-okay?"
"Anyway, it's really not like that, so don't misunderstand."
"…Y-yeah, got it. S-sorry. I jumped to weird conclusions."
Artel turned away, her face flushing the reddest ever.
But even so, she didn't seem upset.
A moment later, somewhat calmed, she spoke.
"J-Jeron, then… um, could you tutor me too? I'd pay properly, of course…."
The real event popped up at last.
This is purely about teaching her studies, right?
I said notes would be fine.
As for payment, it felt too guilty since I wasn't doing it myself, so I declined.
But Artel wouldn't back down.
"…I can't just keep taking without giving back, so I'll prepare proper compensation."
"Fine, got it. Oh, and after school today, can you spare a bit of time? Got something I want to do."
I'd said that because she was perfect to test it on.
"Something you want to do? Just the two of us?"
"Yeah, that unused training ground by the academy's back gate? Meet me there."
Her eyes went wide like a startled rabbit, and her face flushed again.
"O-okay…."
She accepted, then bolted from the classroom, saying she was heading to the library to study.
Why's she so flustered?
I shrugged, not getting it.
Anyway, it worked out in the end.
I could provide custom tutoring for Artel, and if my experiment today went well, it'd massively power up both Yuria and Artel.
One step closer to getting that hydra egg.
***
'O-oh, meet up after school today?'
Academy library.
Artel plopped down at some random seat and opened a book, but not a single word registered.
Jeron had asked to meet alone after classes.
Her heart pounded so hard she couldn't even look him in the face properly and had fled here.
'Wh-what does he want to do?'
It turned out the thing with Ciel was a misunderstanding.
So, maybe…?
She kept replaying the class scene: him erasing everyone else's solutions but leaving hers to build on.
That moment he'd acknowledged her.
The rest of her classes, her mind floated away; nothing stuck.
Time crawled slower than usual.
Finally, the long, endless day ended.
Artel headed to the meeting spot.
The place he'd mentioned: an old training ground near the academy's back gate, rarely used due to sparse foot traffic.
The new ones had way better facilities, so cadets avoided it.
Why call her to such a secluded spot?
Calming her racing heart, she stepped inside—and Jeron was already there, waiting.
"Ah. You're here?"
His usual languid voice.
But today, it oddly felt expectant.
Artel swallowed dryly and approached.
'What does he want to do with me…?'
If he made some improper demand, what should she say?
He was the type to shamelessly ask for skips or days off at the beach.
No telling what he'd want.
"Artel. Shall we start right away?"
But his serious expression made her mouth move on its own.
"……Yeah. We can do it."
She'd agreed without even knowing what "it" was.
That was when it happened.
Ssssh!
Suddenly, black shadows writhed from Jeron's uniform sleeve like tentacles.
"It's a duel."
"…?"
"I'll yield the first move."
Artel blanked out, unable to process what was happening before her eyes.