Chapter 16
“It feels kinda weird being back in the dormitory after so long.”
The noble lady would get treated in her A-Class dorm room with all its fancy facilities, complete with a top-tier personal physician, nice and relaxed. But me? With no money or status to my name, I was stuck wasting away in the bare-bones academy infirmary, just a bed and empty walls. No TV or computer or anything—times like this really made me miss modern conveniences. Not that it was worse than attending classes, though. Escaping that stuffy sickroom and returning to my own space felt almost like coming home. Not bad at all.
“Speaking of which, a duke? That gave me a real scare.”
While I was lounging around on my legal sick leave, Duke Euse had paid me a visit. At first, I thought he was furious about me knocking out his precious daughter. But thankfully, as the sole witness and her father, he'd come to hear my account of the incident for a clear picture of what happened.
I didn't want to get too tangled up with a duke's family, and flashing my strength would just drag me into more headaches. So I pinned all the credit on his daughter, showering her with praise throughout the whole conversation. Luckily, he seemed pleased with my rundown of her heroics and left without suspicion. He already knew her magical talent well, so no nitpicking or grilling—just that smug 'Well, of course~ She's my daughter~' look on his face. Annoying, but if it got me off the hook, I'd endure it.
Polo, surprisingly, didn't make a big deal out of it. Right as I was gearing up for discharge, he dropped by to share the academy's official stance. They'd announced it as a glitch in the magic circle's runes causing me and the lady to get forcibly teleported, where we happened to run into a monster. She took it down, exhausted all her power in the process, and was now recovering—that was the line. Students were all praising her exploits in unison.
Of course they'd buy that over some wild tale of a lowly baron's second son swooping in like a hero to save the duke's daughter. A magic prodigy pouring everything she had into beating the beast? Way more believable.
'What's with that look?'
'Why? You took that thing down, Mars.'
I noticed Polo's odd expression while he filled me in, so I asked. He said it like it was obvious—that even with the accident during training, he wasn't too worried because I was there. The guy grinned innocently, leaving me torn between pride and exasperation.
Thinking about it, Polo trained under the world's strongest, Aura Lord Helios Count, right alongside me. He was one of the few who knew my true capabilities. Still, hearing he wasn't that worried hit different, even for me.
The dude had zero game with women, but here he was acting like he knew everything. I couldn't help giving him a light knuckle-rub on the head.
“I can borrow Polo's notes for the classes I missed... and it's about time to schedule the next circle, huh?”
Knock knock— As I tidied up and mulled over my plans, someone rapped on the door.
“Polo?”
The only people who'd visit my room were him or the dorm supervisor, so I opened up casually.
“......Huh?”
“What're you doing? Move aside and let me in.”
There stood the lady, haughty as ever.
* * *
“What is this place? A doghouse? Why's it so cramped?”
People live here too, you know. Sure, nothing like the imperial or ducal suites, but is it that bad?
“It was just a room before. Now that you've graced it, yeah, doghouse fits.”
'Haha, compared to your room, lady, it's totally a doghouse!'
“What......?”
“Ah.”
She'd thrown the doghouse jab first, so I snapped back without thinking—my inner snark slipped out loud. She glared daggers once she caught on, but let it slide with a sigh and plopped down on the edge of my bed.
I eyed her warily and went for the chair, but she clicked her tongue to stop me.
Questioning her with a puzzled look, she jerked her chin toward the floor in front of her.
What else could it be? Sit on the floor, obviously.
Grousing under my breath at her bossy attitude, I sat. Then she got to why she'd come all this way.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“I heard you testified. That I took down that chimera.”
Ah, so that's it. Interrogation time over the rumor. In her memory, she'd dealt zero damage before blacking out—why spread that story?
Waking up a hero overnight must've baffled her enough to come question me herself.
“Yes, that's right.”
“Why lie like that?”
“Lie? I only spoke the truth.”
I doubled down shamelessly. She was out cold—the key witness—so with no one else to contradict me, my word was law.
“I distinctly remember chugging mana and you chopping my neck to knock me out.”
“Me? Knock out you, lady? No way~ Would Duke Euse split me in half for that?”
True story. I'd seen the guy's doting-dad side up close—he'd tear me apart on the spot. Or squash me flat.
“Actually, right after you passed out from mana exhaustion, the chimera charged. That's when this massive aura burst from you, changing the whole vibe.”
“......From me?”
“Yes! Like a hero from legend! You muttered something, unleashed a spell of insane power in a flash, and cleaved the chimera clean in two. Still gives me chills thinking about it.”
She wouldn't know anyway. I embellished the rumor for her.
Reality? I stepped up and halved the thing myself. But wouldn't she feel better hearing she had hidden power too?
For some reason, despite my flowery tale, she didn't buy it right away. Her eyes scanned me head to toe, even probing with mana to check my body. I panicked—had she noticed?—but at my level, I could fully conceal my strength. Only another Lord could gauge it properly. Even the grand magus duke hadn't clocked it; no way she would.
“No matter how I look... your power's pathetic...... Was I overreacting? Or do I really have some hidden something?”
Nope, nothing like that.And you're whispering, but you're right in my face— I hear everything. Maybe keep those thoughts to yourself a bit?
“So you're saying I awakened some hidden power and saved you?”
“Exactly! And as your love manager, I've got skin in the game. Why would I lie and tank my rep?”
“Hmm......”
She mulled it over with a weird look, then suddenly beamed and closed in. Her smile was stunning, but something sinister lurked beneath—I instinctively scooted back.
“So that means I saved your life?”
“W-Well...... yeah?”
Huh? The conversation's veering weird.
Not wrong, but her tone screamed she'd latched onto something. Unease crept in.
“Then I'm your lifesaver, right? Since you didn't save me.”
“Y-Yeah......?”
“So as your lifesaver, I can demand something in return?”
“Ah......!”
Trapped!
Owing her my life meant I had to pay up. She'd tightened the noose in one go, issuing an irresistible—unrefusable—order with a radiant smile.
“Set up a date with me and Polo soon, then. You owe me your life; that's the bare minimum to break even.”
“......Understood.”
I sighed deeply and accepted. She flashed a triumphant grin and headed back to her room.
“......I'm screwed.”
Hoisted by my own petard, huh? Stuck arranging their date, I could only lament my fate with another sigh.