Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Sorry I Can't Recall the Same Memories
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"Pfft... See, I told you? It's easier if you just give up~"
Leah mercilessly prodding at me after I'd been healed by the boundless grace of my mentor, who was like the sky itself.
Her smirking and teasing like that—even I was starting to get heated.
"This is seriously... fine... Was I really like this in my past life?"
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
What kind of school days did I spend in Leah's memories?
As we walked, Leah suddenly stopped in her tracks, and I followed suit.
She closed her eyes for a moment, lost in thought, then a faint smile spread across her face.
"You... No! I'm not telling!"
"Come on, you can at least say that much..."
"You loved me... insanely so..."
Leah's face softened beautifully as she recalled those cherished memories, her gently curved eyes sparkling with beauty.
"In a space just for the two of us, forgetting our statuses and positions, ignoring all the noise around us—we whispered our love to each other."
"..."
"How could we do that? You always act first and think later when you set your mind to something... You know that, right?"
Leah gently took my hand.
"Even if you add up everything I've given you now—everything I could give—it probably wouldn't even reach half of what you gave me..."
What on earth had I given her in her memories that allowed her to smile so beautifully, even after passing through countless lives?
It was frustrating now, almost to the point of suffocation—sorry that only she held those memories.
"Ah! Don't make that face. I'm fine, really."
"Sorry..."
At my apology, Leah's eyes widened round.
"You do get it, huh? Back then, you'd be the one seducing me first and turning me into this... Tsk... But now that I'm the one seducing you, it has a fresh thrill..."
I could see her intent to brush it off with playful banter now that it was getting embarrassing.
I chuckled and roughly ruffled Leah's hair.
She beamed, letting my hand tousle her hair freely.
"Ah! Does that mean you're almost mine? Easy peasy~ Soon enough, heh heh heh..."
But seriously, this...
-Snap!
"Ow! You even used mana?"
"Lucky the professor's hall is empty. What if someone heard?!"
"So what! Heh heh... Feisty is tasty too..."
"You're insane..."
'Was my type really a thunderbolt spitfire?'
Honestly, she looked... really pretty when she talked about love.
I turned away, trying to control my flushing face, and kept walking.
"Hee hee~"
Now Leah was openly linking arms with me.
"Not letting go?"
"No one's around, so it's fine~ Can't my baby do this much for me?"
'Haa... She's driving me crazy.'
Feeling pathetic for softening up, I walked down the corridor in silence.
"Baby~ Should we just grab lunch by ourselves?"
Magic Studies was twice a week for 1 hour 15 minutes each, Swordsmanship once a week for 2 hours 45 minutes, and Theology was the same as Swordsmanship.
The minor liberal arts classes were crammed into one day, leaving a gap in between for the rest of us.
It was nearly lunchtime, and the blood flowing in me refused to let Leah go hungry.
"Timing's awkward... We do have stuff to discuss with everyone later..."
"We'll all meet at the mansion anyway, right? And I'm hungry..."
Her whining about being hungry made my DNA decide on its own.
"We should eat... Tch, this means Tuesdays won't work for group lunches..."
Leah's eyes sparkled as she grabbed my hand and pulled me up.
"Baby! I know a great place! Come on! Teleport to Academy Street Sector 3!"
"But Jenia took over that restaurant..."
"No buts! Hurry, hurry!"
Leah looked thrilled, and curiosity got the better of me, so I teleported us to the spot she mentioned.
Floating in the air after teleporting, I hid our presence with magic and asked for the exact location.
"Whereabouts?"
"There! That inn!"
"...That place?"
The spot Leah pointed to was a rundown inn. The sign read 'Haven of Knowledge,' and a small placard said 'Half price for academy students.'
Not looking very hygienic, and the name evoked a library, but since Leah was urging me on, I opened the door and went in.
Inside the shabby inn, an old woman was dozing off with her head nodding.
Seeing her, Leah smiled brightly and shouted loudly.
"Granny! Two bowls of cabbage soup, please!"
The old woman stared at us blankly, nodded, and headed to the kitchen.
"See? You'll love it! Sit down quick!"
"Doesn't look tasty..."
"No judging till you try it!"
Seeing Leah grinning, I just nodded and sat down.
Soon the old woman placed two bowls with spoons in front of us.
It looked like... tomato soup with veggies and big chunks of meat.
"Isn't this just regular soup?"
"Exactly!"
Her confident declaration made me pick up the spoon and take a sip.
'This...'
Salty yet umami-packed broth, with veggies and meat... Not exactly the same, but it tasted a lot like kimchi stew.
A bit spicier and it'd be even closer?
Tasting a flavor from home after so long, my spoon moved faster and faster.
Leah propped her chin on her hand, watching me contentedly.
As if just watching filled her up.
Then she took a spoonful herself and chewed it thoroughly.
Glancing at me eating midway, she called out...
"Granny! One more bowl of soup here, please!"
By the time I'd polished off two bowls in the blink of an eye and looked up, Leah was smiling warmly.
"How was it? Like it?"
I nodded dazedly.
"Yeah... Haven't eaten that well in ages..."
This was sincere. All the fancy food lately—something hearty felt refreshing.
"Told you you'd like it!"
Seeing her playful grin left me speechless.
"Yeah..."
"Heh heh! All done? Let's go! Next class time."
Leah stood and handed the old woman a gold coin.
The old woman stared at it and shook her head.
"No... change..."
"Granny! Use this to feed the students who can't pay!"
The granny stared at the coin, took it, and nodded.
"Good girl... Thank you..."
"Hee hee, we'll come again!"
Outside, I stared at Leah blankly.
"You really love that soup!"
Why did everything she did make me so grateful...
Leah fidgeted with my hand, then shyly said.
"Don't make that face... Come on! Class is starting—teleport!"
With Leah gripping my hand tight, we teleported.
Her squirming hand mirroring the ticklish feeling.
After a few more classes, we gathered for 'Understanding Dungeons and Magical Beasts,' the one everyone took together.
Meeting on the first floor, we headed to the academy forest.
"Baby~ You ate so well, right~?"
-Crunch...
"Should we go every Tuesday? Our little secret spot!"
"Maybe bring Jenia once..."
"No way."
"..."
Overhearing us, Jenia's eyebrow twitched as she asked.
"My, what did you eat to be so happy, Your High... ness?"
"Uh... that place in sec..."
"Thief cat doesn't need to know!"
"You wanna go?!"
I quickly cast a sound-blocking spell and glared at Leah.
"Leah... We agreed no acting up outside..."
"Yeah, yeah! Sorry!"
Seeing my softened demeanor, Jenia looked betrayed, her expression sour.
"Li... Liam... Already..."
"Oh my! Jenia!"
Veronica supported the wobbling Jenia, while Lancelot shook his head at the sight.
"Where's everyone's dignity gone..."
Everyone stared at Lancelot instantly.
"From your mouth..."
"Those words..."
"Unbelievable..."
Under their gazes like they'd spotted a monster, Lancelot—clearly guilty—sped up his pace.
"Ahem! Alright! Time for the class we've all been waiting for! Let's move!"
"Classic: spits it out sober, swallows drunk. Tsk tsk."
"One-liners are for normal people..."
"Goddess... save this shameless soul... to heaven..."
"He's always so consistent..."
Four portions of scorn poured from behind, but Lancelot's excitement for the 'dungeon' class was unstoppable.
Back during course registration...
"Liam, check this! 'Understanding Dungeons and Magical Beasts!' Doesn't the name alone thrill you?"
"Nah, 'Interpersonal Combat and Guarding Techniques' sounds better..."
"Whyy!! We'll do that next semester— this first!"
"Fine by me... But you already know this stuff?"
"Learning has no end!"
"And you skip notes? Maxim begged me so much before you entered the academy..."
"Sign me up!"
"Crazy bastard..."
Thus our subjects were set.
Thanks to Lancelot, next semester would have more dungeon classes too, but knowing how to handle beasts wasn't bad... Actually, we needed to know... No...
In the forest, our eyes met the waiting students'.
They'd been admiring the surroundings but turned away upon seeing me.
"...?"
Dungeon Studies was for those needing pocket money or dealing with beasts in their territories.
Few nobles—80% commoners... The rest were...
Kamp staring blankly at Veronica, the hero party waving cheerfully, and...
"Owen! Wasn't this political science?"
Lancelot greeting happily.
Owen approached, waving and smiling at us.
"Evening lectures don't overlap with politics, and this class felt essential."
"Fair... Dinner at the mansion after? Cool with you, Liam?"
"Of course."
Comrades are always welcome.
"Great!"
As we shook hands brightly, Ella approached quietly to greet us.
"Nice seeing everyone again."
"Heh heh, weekly from now on?"
"Sounds good to me. And this young lady next to you...?"
Leah sidled up to Ella politely.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Ella Arsen. I'm Leah, recently hired in the imperial palace thanks to His Highness's kind regard."
Ella smiled at the bowing Leah.
"This is the academy, so feel free to be casual next time... Nice to meet you too, Miss Leah."
Leah blinked at Ella's face, then dazedly shook her extended hand.
Finishing greetings, Leah asked Jenia beside her.
-Hey, thief cat... What did you do to that venomous bitch?
-Seriously... Sigh... Nothing much. There was a war, and Liam worked her hard for a few days.
-No way! Got 'educated'?
-Smack!
-Ow, why hit me!
-Not that! Lower your voice! She just grew mentally.
-Heavens... I can still see her snapping her head away at commoners...
-Tch, you know it never happened, right?
-Fine... I'll think about it!
Were they on good terms or bad...?
Probably knowing the future helped bond them.
"Alright! Nice to meet you all!"
A burly, battle-hardened warrior's voice snapped me from my thoughts.
All eyes focused on his booming presence.
"I'm Toolan, in charge of 'Understanding Dungeons and Magical Beasts' starting today! Before we begin—everyone, climb to the mountain peak! Now!"
Kamp and the hero's faces paled, and so did mine...