Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Departing People
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"N-Nervous, more than I thought?"
Seeing Aldfrick senior muttering as he adjusted his glasses, I couldn't help but chuckle.
He'd been looking forward to this day so much, but now that it was showtime, his trembling made him seem overly dramatic.
"Calm down, Aldfrick senior. You're great at acting."
"R-Right. Thanks. Yeah, gotta nail it here if I want to join a famous theater troupe."
As someone truly passionate about acting, Aldfrick was hands-down the best performer in our theater team.
"More than that, I thought you wouldn't make it for the play. Glad you did."
Rin sidled up next to me.
She'd been found unconscious with Sen during the recent attack but had no serious injuries, so she was able to join without issue.
"Though the stage did change."
We were supposed to perform on the academy lecture hall stage, but the bugs wrecked it completely. Instead, we ended up on the massive stage in Elgrid.
It was a sudden request, but the Dean handled it smoothly. Word was, since royalty was coming to watch, the stage owner happily handed it over.
"Feels like we're real pros now."
Truth be told, the festival was already a bust.
Even on the final day, the stalls were all gone thanks to the bugs, so our play was the start—and end—of the fourth day.
"Alright, everyone. Lots happened, but forget it and let's do our best!"
Professor Bertio reached out his hand with a smile, and the theater team members stacked theirs on top, shouting their cheer to boost morale.
"Hehe."
Across the way, the emerald-haired senior Ceria Deloa winked playfully.
She was already pegged in my mind as "woman Ares," still under the delusion I was just another fish in her pond. I ignored her.
"Something in that bitch's eye? Want me to go dig it out?"
"......"
May bristled, while Rin shot Ceria a cold glare.
Ceria bolted at their intensity, but I had no intention of stopping them.
If anything, I wanted to praise them for a job well done.
"You're not bewitched by her or anything, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Yeah, she gives me the cold shoulder too. Of course you'd say that."
"......"
Maybe I should keep my time with Eris under wraps.
For the record, Eris had snagged a ticket to watch the play today. I'd specially asked Professor Bertio for it and given it to her yesterday.
She was probably munching snacks with Tana and Eve right now, waiting for the show.
"Let's go."
The curtain rose, and Professor Bertio's narration boomed across the grand stage.
*
After the play ended.
"Wow, that was so fun! The best!"
Eve bounced around excitedly, out of character for her, while Tana wore a satisfied smile.
"Who knew Gary had that backstory. That final confession with his eyes closed? So memorable."
"Hmm."
Eris tilted her head, looking puzzled, so I asked casually.
"What? Not your thing?"
"No, it was fun. But I couldn't really relate to the heroines."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Especially the role with my exact name—I couldn't get into it at all. Both heroines end up with the protagonist guy, right?"
"That's true."
Since the names matched, Eris probably immersed herself more easily in Ceria Deloa's "Eris" role.
"How could anyone share their man with another woman? I could never understand that."
"......Yeah?"
I swallowed hard as I asked back, and Eris nodded like it was obvious.
"What woman in the world would want to share her man? The second she sees that, bam!"
Seeing Eris clench her fist and mime snapping something, a chill ran down my spine for no reason.
The two listening beside us latched on, finding it amusing.
"Lady Eris, you've dated a lot, huh?"
"As an elf, you've lived forever. Bet you've tried every kind of romance. Got any advice?"
"Huh? Uh, well......"
Eris's eyes spun in confusion at Eve and Tana's questions.
I didn't know exactly how many years Eris had lived, but at least a century.
Hard to believe she'd never dated in all that time.
She really hasn't.
Back then, to become a guardian, she'd brushed off every guy who approached. Over time, men stopped coming near.
Rumors spread she was an iron wall who hated men.
And once she earned the title "Yggdrasil's Guardian," Eris became a flower atop an unclimbable cliff for other elves.
Our elf had lived long, but in love, she was basically a newbie.
Now I get why she told me all that.
At the time, I'd brushed it off as random chit-chat, but she'd already had feelings for me then.
"Ah, guess I should head out now."
Eris awkwardly extricated herself from their questions. I'd heard she was returning to Yggdrasil today.
The festival was over anyway, and today was basically a rest day, so we'd decided to see her off at Elgrid's entrance.
"Weren't you supposed to teach or watch Ares?"
I wondered if it was okay to leave so suddenly, but Eris clicked her tongue.
"Don't wanna waste my time on that. His level's fine for the next five years or so anyway. I need to head back to Yggdrasil and seriously discuss his punishment."
"Punishment meaning kill him?"
Eve raised her hand to ask, but Eris shook her head.
"No, there's a way to completely strip the power from his body. Of course, it'll hurt so bad he might die anyway."
"......Ugh."
Tana grimaced, but Eris replied firmly.
"Between 100% death or about 50%, obviously the latter. That's the most consideration we can give."
From Ares's perspective, wasn't that a bit unfair? Suddenly gaining power, then risking his life for lacking qualification.
Still, no point saying it—elves had so much time, these things took years. I kept quiet.
"Hey! We're doing after-party drinks, come on!"
"Daniel! Why're you sneaking off alone?"
May and Rin from the theater team came dashing up behind us.
I'd ditched to meet Eris alone, but they'd caught up anyway.
Act cool.
Seeing these ticking time bombs, who might explode if I slipped, I played it off casually.
"Just seeing Eris off since she's leaving."
"Oh?"
"Hmm."
May and Rin eyed me suspiciously but followed for now, saying okay.
At Elgrid's west gate, we bid Eris farewell. Honestly, I didn't want to let her go like this.
But she did grant Yggdrasil access.
I'd made a good impression— she said to visit during break if possible.
Now I had two Yggdrasil passes: one from her, one from Professor Bertio.
Who to take?
Going twice alone wasn't bad, but I doubted I'd have time.
"Well, I'll be off. Short time, but thanks to you all, a lot of my prejudices about humans changed."
"Take care."
"Come back soon."
Eve and Tana waved with smiles, and I added naturally.
"See you."
"Hold up."
"Wait a sec."
What?
Suddenly, May and Rin flanked me.
They alternated serious stares between me and Eris, then leaned in.
"What was that wistful goodbye?"
"Eighteen years knowing Daniel, and I've never heard that tone."
What the hell?
I'd let a bit of emotion slip unconsciously, but they'd caught it?
Now goosebumps prickled—I tried saying what nonsense, but their interrogation continued.
"What? First time meeting that elf yesterday? Or is big chest and blonde your type?"
"Hmm, that kind of girl?"
May with no filter, Rin scanning Eris like prey with dead eyes.
I told the confused Eris to ignore them and tried reining the two in.
Rattle, rattle.
Wheels rolling from behind.
Glancing back, Adriana approached, hooded robe hiding her face, pulling her luggage.
"There you are. Wanted to say goodbye."
Adriana gave a slight smile.
The despair from yesterday was gone; she looked relieved.
"Yeah, you're leaving."
I'd heard from the Dean yesterday, so I replied calmly.
Adriana was quitting Aios Academy to return to her clan in the Demon Realm Forest.
She enrolled because of fate anyway.
With that passed, no need to stay.
"Remember what I asked?"
"Yeah. I'll investigate thoroughly and come back with answers."
"Good. Thanks."
I couldn't go to the Demon Realm Forest yet, so I'd asked her to get info from the black forest witches or ancient beasts on Abiel's "earliest end."
Plenty dangerous, but she'd accepted readily.
Yeah, after I saved her life, that much was fair.
"Gotta, so we can meet again."
"Huh?"
Adriana approached slowly.
I spotted her tiptoeing for a moment, but May and Rin moved faster.
They slapped hands over my mouth and glared at her. Adriana froze, glancing between them.
"What're you doing?"
I asked, flustered, and they answered in turn.
"That look screamed kiss. Use your eyes."
"He's mine."
Not yours.
I brushed their hands away, protesting. Adriana chuckled and asked me.
"Never done more than simulations, so not sure, but is the competition always this fierce?"
"......"
I didn't answer, and she laughed, pulling her luggage past me.
Just leaving without a word? But right beside me, she stopped, turned, and said.
"Thanks to you, I didn't lose myself. I'll keep struggling to survive from now on."
I nodded—it was obvious—and she strode out of Elgrid.
We weren't that close, but saving her once had spiked her inner affinity sky-high. Undeniable.
May and Rin relaxed.
Eve and Tana spectating like background props.
And.
"D-Daniel's more popular than I thought?"
Eris stared at me, realization dawning.
"W-Wait!"
Desperate for an excuse, I reached for her, but she waved awkwardly with a smile.
"Well, I'm off."
And she left.
*
"Thank you so much."
Professor Bertio and the Dean bowed deeply as they left the hotel room.
They'd expressed profound gratitude to the princess, prince, and queen who came to see the play.
"Better than expected, Mother?"
Second Princess Ainis smiled as she spoke, and her mother, Queen Isabel, nodded slightly.
"Bertio's plays were always excellent even at court. Wasn't expecting much from students, but they were splendid."
"Sigh, I was bored out of my mind."
Second Prince Alois sighed oppositely, muttering.
"Wouldn't have come if not for the youngest."
The other two agreed.
They'd dragged themselves to Elgrid hearing the heroine was the youngest, and while student-level high, without her, none would've bothered.
Then, the door opened, and a golden-haired girl entered.
Unlike other students, she carried subtle elegance and a gentle smile, Elise speaking as she entered.
"Mother, thank you for coming."
At Aios Academy, she used the alias Elise and followed Ares, but her real name was Elis de Phrygia.
Third Princess of the Kingdom of Phrygia.