Chapter 614: The Season is Autumn (3)
Chapter 614: The Season is Autumn (3)
The Academy is often called ‘Humanity’s Forge.’
It gathers talented individuals and molds them into exceptional human resources. These students go on to become influential figures in various nations, advancing civilization and growing into the pillars that support the future of humanity.
However, the process of refining the raw ore is somewhat cruel.
Every year, grades are evaluated, and students below a certain rank are ‘held back’ and sent home in disgrace. As a result, the number of upperclassmen at the Academy is significantly smaller than that of the lowerclassmen.
In exchange, they receive a proportional amount of concentrated support.
The place I had moved to was one of the privileges granted only to upperclassmen. Upperclassmen in the Magic or Alchemy Departments are assigned a ‘workshop’ within their respective faculty buildings, and the facilities and size of these workshops vary depending on their grades.
This was Senior Elsie’s workshop.
Despite the many controversies surrounding her actions, Senior Elsie had always been a top-tier student competing for the highest ranks. Furthermore, her family’s wealth was more than sufficient, so the quality of her workshop was remarkably high.
High enough, in fact, to have a separate area specifically for receiving guests.
I sipped my tea in silence, taking in its fragrant aroma. Sitting across from me was a cute girl wearing a pointed hat, and beside her was a boy whose eyes burned with intense wariness.
There was no need to call them by name at this point.
The owner of the workshop and my fiancée slowly parted her lips.
“So, what you’re saying is, you need the ‘me’ from the other future? And for that to happen, I have to lose consciousness?”
“I heard that in the future, you researched ways to save the victims of the vampires.”
Adding my thoughts to Senior Elsie’s summary, I chose my words carefully.
“Even if you didn't find the ultimate answer, the results of years of research should still be in your head. If you continue the research with Master…”
“Why?”
Just one word.
A short but fundamental counter-question was thrown at me. Senior Elsie sipped her tea from across the table, casting an unreadable gaze my way.
“Why do you care so much about those ‘victims’?”
“Well, they’re innocent civilians, and…”
“And that’s why you came rushing here to find me? Wrapped in bandages from head to toe?”
Senior Elsie’s eyes narrowed slowly.
She was blatantly trying to pry into my true intentions. In the past, she would have been trembling, unable to even meet my eyes.
Is this the power of time?
However, I wasn't entirely without a guilty conscience, so my gaze slid slightly to the side.
There sat Lupin, glaring at me with smoldering eyes. He looked like a cat with its fur standing on end.
The older sister is a puppy, and the younger brother is a cat.
While I was lost in these idle thoughts, Lupin’s anger boiled over.
“How could you! You’re going to hit my sister because of some… some useless humans?!”
“It’s dozens of lives. If they can be saved, we should save them.”
“Don’t give me that! It’s because it’s another woman anyway!”
He hit the nail right on the head.
My mouth, which had been about to offer a rebuttal, clamped shut. Naturally, Lupin’s rage flared even brighter, and the boy’s palm struck the desk in righteous indignation.
Tap, tap.
It was a bit regrettable that his strength was still lacking, so it sounded more like a light tapping than a loud ‘bang.’
Regardless, Lupin was very angry.
“Hey, you brat! You said you were getting engaged to my sister! Then you should just live happily ever after, huh? Cross the line a bit, have two daughters and two sons, and live a happy life, you bastard!”
“First of all, thank you for the blessing…”
“It’s not a blessing! This is part of my grand plan… No, more importantly, what exactly is your problem? Why are you getting involved with another woman again and telling my sister what to do?!”
Lupin looked like he was about to charge at me, his eyes practically rolling back in his head.
The problem was that his point was actually quite rational, leaving me with nothing to say.
A groan escaped my lips. In truth, there was another reason why I was so concerned.
Lady Ruphesia.
She was a woman I had become connected with starting from the incident where she bullied Emma. Naturally, we weren't close, but the issue was Emma.
Lady Ruphesia was one of Emma’s close friends.
I had heard that for some reason, the high-ranking noblewoman who used to look down on commoners had taken a liking to Emma and they hung out often. The kind-hearted Emma was likely losing sleep over the calamity that had befallen her friend.
The reason I had sought out Senior Elsie so urgently was not unrelated to this.
“I can’t take this anymore… You, come outside! Let’s settle this like men in a one-on-one duel!”
“No, you’ll die if we do that…”
“Look at him making excuses because he’s scared!”
Lupin was starting to lose his mind. He was no match for me before, but now that I had reached High Expert?
A single blow would be fatal.
Just as I was stuck in this awkward predicament…
“…Fine, I’ll do it.”
Those were the words Senior Elsie uttered as she sipped her tea.
At that, Lupin’s eyes, which had been burning with misplaced fighting spirit, widened. I was equally taken aback.
As two pairs of eyes fixed on her, Senior Elsie calmly added her reasoning.
“We have to save them anyway. And if it’s a ‘woman’… it’s probably someone I know. I heard there’s a certain noble lady who hangs around with a commoner girl?”
‘Commoner girl.’
There was only one person that blatant phrasing could point to.
And she was, in fact, correct.
I tilted my teacup in silence. Feeling apologetic, my gaze lowered slightly.
“Hmm, well… fine. Accepting a concubine is also the role of a wife.”
“No, Sis! What kind of nonsense are you talking about… I told you love is war! What kind of husband treats his primary wife like this just to save a concubine… Gwaaaaah!”
Lupin’s protest, unable to contain his anger, continued, but it was easily resolved by Senior Elsie’s lightning magic.
Lupin collapsed face-first, his muscles twitching. He probably wouldn't be able to get up for a while.
I glanced at the man who would become my brother-in-law with a look of pity.
Try to be born stronger in your next life.
Regardless, Senior Elsie simply continued speaking with a triumphant look on her face.
“More than anything, I owe that commoner girl a debt. You could call it a sort of ‘alliance’…”
“An alliance?”
“Hehe, it’s only natural for a concubine to line up behind the primary wife. I’m broad-minded, so I can tolerate that much.”
It seemed Senior Elsie had gained some peace of mind after our engagement was confirmed. It felt as though she had gained the confidence that she was the furthest ahead in her relationship with me.
I wondered what would happen if she found out that I already had a wife and that I had shared a kiss with Emma.
I was truly curious, but I was the one in need right now. I cleared my throat and decided to wait patiently.
“Because I’m the ‘fiancée’ now. Yes, ‘engaged’… Hehe.”
Anyway, I figured as long as Senior Elsie was happy, it was fine.
And so, after reaching a reasonable agreement with the giggling Senior Elsie, we decided to call upon the ‘Senior Elsie’ from the future. Though at the last moment, the current Senior Elsie trembled like a leaf, unable to overcome her fear.
With a heavy heart, I knocked Senior Elsie unconscious.
In conclusion, the plan was a success. I had been somewhat worried, but the ‘Senior Elsie’ from the future appeared quite readily. It seemed the influence of the ‘boundary’ disrupted by the vampire’s barrier still remained.
The real headache was something else.
“…I can’t.”
Those were the first words from the ‘Senior Elsie’ who appeared with a sulky expression.
I felt a surge of frustration and tried to persuade her, but the girl’s palm blocked my path before I could speak.
A signal to calm down.
As I hesitated, Senior Elsie laid out her reasons without hesitation.
“Hey, even if the vampire is gone, do you think separating a soul from a body is easy? Even with that old hag around, staying up for weeks wouldn't be enough. Do I even have that much time left?”
“But, the civilians…”
“It’s a miracle that only tens of thousands died or were injured after taking down a vampire. Let’s think rationally.”
As she spoke, elegantly tilting her teacup, Senior Elsie’s resolve seemed firm. Ordinary persuasion wouldn't work on her.
In that case, I had only one bargaining chip left.
“…Your Senior Brother.”
Twitch.
The bait I threw got an immediate reaction from the fish. Even as she tried to act nonchalant, she couldn't hide the desperation in her heart.
Then, I delivered the follow-up blow.
“Shouldn't you see his face at least once? If you just cooperate, I’ll somehow…”
“Hey, you… you wicked bastard!”
The answer the girl gave to my continued persuasion was unique.
A flying teacup accompanied by a curse.
I tilted my head slightly to dodge the incoming cup. The tea spilled onto the ground with a miserable splash.
“Are you going to keep playing with a young girl’s pure heart?! You said you’d let me meet him last time, too!”
“And you did meet him, didn't you?”
“Th-that! Right, that was…!”
And then, silence.
Recalling a painful memory, Senior Elsie became visibly dejected. The shoulders of the crestfallen woman slumped naturally.
She glanced at me, her lips parting and closing, for quite some time.
Finally, giving up on her bravado, the hidden truth leaked from the girl’s mouth.
“…What if I get ignored again?”
That must have been the true fear the woman harbored.
She had her first love, died for her first love, and even after traveling back through time, she wandered in search of her first love.
A girl’s agonizing story of pure devotion was right here.
That’s why I was even more certain.
“I’ll talk to him… I’m sure everything he said back then wasn't entirely sincere.”
The girl would grant my wish.
“H-how can you be so sure…?”
And I, too, would grant the girl’s wish.
“Because that man is ‘me,’ after all.”
That was the right conclusion to this story.
The sweltering heat fades, and the time of harvest arrives.
Autumn was the season when hard work was rewarded.
*
The negotiations concluded well.
The ‘Senior Elsie’ from the future decided to stay by the Great Witch’s side for a while and immerse herself in research. It was uncertain how long ‘Senior Elsie’ would remain in this timeline, but for now, we had no choice but to do our best.
All that remained was to pray to God.
It was while I was walking with a somewhat lighter heart.
“Saint Lucia is looking for you.”
Hearing the sudden message from a priest, I couldn't help but look bewildered.
“No, well… I heard she had to stay in the Holy Kingdom for a while…”
“I was told she suddenly decided to head to the Academy for some reason.”
As he spoke, the priest’s eyes subtly scanned my entire body. My appearance, wrapped in bandages, was the very image of a patient to anyone who saw me.
His suspicious gaze was telling me:
‘Isn't this because of you?’
I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my spine.
“Anyway, she seems quite angry. This might be overstepping, but… at times like this, it’s better to go and soothe her heart as soon as possible.”
“But I need some time to prepare myself mentally…”
“Saint Lucia has already headed to your room, Brother.”
At the shocking news that followed, I had no choice but to jump in surprise.
It was simply unthinkable.
“I-is that allowed? What about maintaining her purity as a Saint…!”
But the priest’s gaze remained cold.
His face asked what kind of nonsense I was talking about. Instinctively sensing the implication, I ended up averting my eyes.
He knows.
The awkward atmosphere was enough to make me clear my throat involuntarily.
“Well then, that is all for the message. However… please tell Saint Lucia this.”
As the priest departed, he went out of his way to mention how he had realized the nature of my relationship with the Saintess.
“Please, try not to leave too many ‘stigmata’ tonight.”
‘Hickeys.’
My palm covered my face as I instantly understood the situation. After parting with the priest, I walked and walked until I finally stood before my room door.
Hesitantly, my hand reached for the doorknob. What on earth should I say when we meet?
There was no need to hesitate.
Before I could even pull the handle, the door swung open on its own.
And there.
My wife stood there, wearing a feigned expression of anger.
“It’s been a while, Ian.”
She gave off a breathtakingly sweet scent.
Fading away with the summer, the time was now evening.
Night had not yet arrived.
I could only force out a single sentence with an awkward smile.
“……Hi, honey.”
It was time to face the music.
And, well.
Many things would happen.
It was autumn.