Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: A Story About My Friend
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This is a story about my friend.
"Huuuugh...!"
-Thwack!
The fixed sandbag exploded, scattering its contents everywhere.
Tsk.
Guess I need to replace it.
I looked around, and training equipment lay broken and shattered all over the place.
Feeling a twinge of guilt toward the servants, I rang the bell.
Ding, ding.
It didn't take long for the bell to ring and for an elderly man with snow-white hair to approach.
"You called for me, miss?"
"Ah, Gramps. Sorry, could you have someone clean this up?"
"Understood."
My mood hadn't improved.
I couldn't forget what had happened.
I was furious that I couldn't fight just because I had no weapon.
I was furious that I had to leave everything to Siu and just watch.
...I was furious that I couldn't comfort my trembling friend after he killed someone.
What had I been doing at that moment?
I'd been shaking.
Shaking over something trivial like seeing a corpse for the first time.
-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
I vented my frustration with a single swift strike.
Then, using my ability to accelerate my speed even further—two, three, four strikes.
It didn't take long for the last remaining sandbag to shatter pathetically, spilling sand everywhere.
The sight reminded me of that villain collapsing and spraying blood, which only fueled my irritation more.
The shock from seeing a corpse for the first time was gone now.
...But the frustration of not being able to help my shocked friend hadn't faded.
Pathetic bitch.
Is that all you can do?
You said you'd stop at nothing to achieve your goals, but you gave up on helping a friend?
At this rate, you're just trash who talks big.
"...Ah, my hand hurts like hell."
Pain shot through my hand, and when I looked down, blood was dripping steadily.
Only noticing it now?
A sigh escaped my lips.
"Miss, here."
"Thanks, Gramps."
I roughly applied the ointment Gramps handed me and wrapped a bandage around my hand.
It's good stuff, so it should heal by morning.
"Miss, has something bad happened? Lately, it seems like you're venting a lot of pent-up anger."
...I couldn't tell him.
Gramps adores me.
If I told him I'd encountered a villain at the Academy, he'd raise hell there.
And that would only lead to trouble.
Guess I'll have to brush it off vaguely.
"It's nothing. ...Just some annoying stuff happened."
"I see. If you have any worries, please tell me. It might help, no?"
Help, huh.
Come to think of it, Siu and I had never asked anyone for help before.
And for good reason—we were afraid of Arte.
We couldn't risk being treated like lunatics for suspecting a friend without evidence.
But what if I sought advice without revealing it's her?
...Maybe I should ask.
"Hey, Gramps."
"Yes, miss."
"I have something I want to ask."
"Go ahead."
Amelia looked at her butler with a serious expression—the man who'd watched over her since childhood.
...He might know.
The answer to the dilemma I was facing now.
Why does Arte show so much interest in Yoo Siu?
"It's not about me—it's about a friend of mine."
"Yes."
"...She's been acting a bit weird."
"In what way, miss?"
Hmm...
In what way is she weird?
How should I put this?
I couldn't mention the major incidents. Just weird stuff in everyday life.
Even after agonizing over it, I couldn't figure out how to explain her suspicious behavior.
What should I say?
Thankfully, Gramps waited patiently for me.
...Ah, got it. Maybe say it like this.
"She pays an unusual amount of attention to a certain guy."
"A male student?"
"Yeah."
Gramps suddenly straightened his posture.
What?
Did his lip twitch?
Am I imagining it?
"Ahem, ahem. Excuse me. ...So? Please continue."
"Ah, yeah."
...Probably nothing.
Amelia decided to let it slide.
"Thing is, she stares at this guy named Siu way too much."
"Hmm, Siu... Ah, you mean Yoo Siu from your class."
"Huh? ...Yeah, but how do you know that?"
"I have my ways."
Same old line.
I didn't pay it much mind.
Probably did a background check or something.
He's been investigating every guy around me since I was little—guess he hasn't kicked the habit.
...Speaking of background checks, Jeffrey's words suddenly came to mind.
He said even one look at her info would make anyone suspicious.
No way he'd checked her out too, right?
A chill shot down my spine in an instant.
"...Do you know Arte? Arte Isis."
"Arte Isis? A classmate? I haven't looked into her, but shall I?"
"No, don't. I already checked."
"Understood."
Amelia let out a sigh of relief.
Good, he hasn't looked.
Better for everyone if he doesn't.
Jeffrey freaked out that much over her.
He's an informant—sensitive to threats to himself, naturally.
No matter how well-off our family is, we can't bring someone who terrifies an informant into the house.
"Anyway! My friend is showing interest in this guy Siu, but it's too much."
"...Too much?"
Ah.
I said it was a friend, but then dropped Arte's name.
Too obvious?
I glanced at Gramps' face, but he didn't look puzzled.
If anything, he seemed intrigued.
He didn't notice?
Whew.
"Yeah. She keeps staring at him even during class."
"Hoo..."
"After school, she follows him whenever she gets the chance."
"I see. Anything else?"
"Else? ...Hmm, ah. She joined his club too. And they were in the same exam group?"
"...!"
"Plus, she doesn't pay much attention to other classmates, but her gaze locks onto him specifically."
Gramps wiped away a tear after hearing it all.
Gramps is acting weird today.
What's the tearjerker part in this story?
"I see. Well, miss, you've finally reached that age..."
"...I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but it's my friend's story."
"Yes, of course. Your friend. I understand."
...Does he really get it?
Something pisses me off.
But I'm the one asking questions, so I'll hold it in.
"But I don't get why. ...Do you know, Gramps?"
"?! Y-You don't know?!"
"W-What? Why are you so shocked? Did I do something wrong?"
"Wrong... no, it's not that. Ahem, sorry. I was just startled."
Ahem, ahem.
Like an MC clearing his throat before a big announcement.
Gramps put on an unnecessarily solemn face and spoke to me seriously.
"I'll tell you. Miss... no, your friend. The reason her gaze follows that boy is...!"
What Gramps said shocked me.
It... makes sense!
As expected from someone with life experience. Is this what they call maturity?
"Thanks, Gramps!"
"No, no trouble at all."
My mood lifted.
This could help Siu!
...The feeling of being able to help a friend melted away the guilt toward him bit by bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Yoo Siu. Come here quick. It's urgent."
"Uh, yeah?!"
Siu panicked.
Amelia had been down the past few days, and it worried him.
She'd looked really off since that incident.
Today, though, her energy was higher than usual.
She looks happy.
Did she finally shake it off?
He followed her hand without resisting into a secluded alley.
Our usual spot for talking.
"...So, what's this sudden thing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we only talk here when it's about..."
Countermeasures against Arte Isis.
Siu shut his mouth before saying it.
She's been through mental shock lately too, so I should be considerate...
"I know. It's about Arte Isis."
"...You okay?"
"With what?"
He'd asked urgently, but she looked puzzled, like what was the problem.
She's totally over it.
He admired her.
If it were me with nothing to distract me, I'd probably hole up in my room for days.
...Recalling that moment always brought back her touch and scent, forcibly snapping me out of depression—which helped a ton.
Guess I'm pretty numb to it now?
To overcome it alone without that...
"...Anyway, fine. Today it's about why she's watching you."
"What?!"
He jumped.
Siu was startled by Amelia's words.
Her goal...!
Her goal was leaking an artifact from a secret room somewhere in the Academy.
No matter how I thought about it, her reason for watching me had zero connection to that.
And she figured it out?
Siu was impressed.
"Y-You figured it out...?!"
"Yeah. Gramps helped."
"...Gramps?"
"My butler. Don't worry. I hid that it was about Arte."
Hmm, okay.
...It felt a bit off, but now wasn't the time to dwell.
We finally knew why Arte was watching me.
"S-So, what is it?"
"Well..."
Well?
Thump, thump.
His heart pounded.
What could be the reason Arte was watching him?
The mystery I'd thought unsolvable was about to be revealed.
"It's love."
"...What?"
Siu reflexively shot back at Amelia.