Schubik the Information Broker
"Guys!"
The door flew open with a burst of energy the moment Bayul set down the scripture he'd brought back to the dormitory. Quinn, quietly reading in bed, frowned at him, but fortunately the visitor seemed entirely oblivious to that expression.
"Huh? I figured you'd all be gathered here, but nope?"
Finding only two people in the room instead of the crowd he'd expected, Schubik scratched the back of his neck.
"Well, this won't do at all……"
"What's the matter, Schubik? Is there some new news?"
When the resident gossip hound carried on like this, it meant there was something interesting afoot. When Bayul helpfully offered him a chair and asked, Schubik gladly accepted and planted himself down on it without a moment's hesitation.
"There's always plenty of news. But I came today for something else."
"Something else?"
"Yep. Professor Rothius sent me on an errand—but more importantly, you guys are all gathering at the Sterbenrauch Library to study again this time, right? Let me join you! I scored pretty well last time!"
He couldn't match someone like Eli for the top spot, but his results had been respectable enough that Schubik had celebrated at the time.
"For finals, I'm going to work even harder and crack the top ten for sure!"
As sorry as he felt to crush the boy's resolve, Bayul had no choice but to deliver the bad news.
"Oh dear, what to tell you? We've decided not to study for exams at the library this time……"
"Whaaat? Really? No, why not?"
Why? Because I don't want a noisy nuisance like you barging in, that's why.
Quinn's cold gaze said exactly that as he closed his book and rose to his feet, but Schubik was too busy making his own case to notice.
"We all studied together for midterms and our grades were great, remember? Let's gather up again this time too! Huh?"
"We're perfectly fine studying on our own."
"Eli!"
The instant Bayul started squirming under Schubik's pleading, Eli swept into the room and delivered a killing blow.
"Do you have any idea how much my ears suffered from all your racket back then? You show up supposedly to study, then bury us in pointless chatter. I swore a solemn oath that I would never study with you again."
Eli gave a graceful smile, as if administering medicine, then flopped down onto Bayul's bed.
"Hey, Eli! Aren't you being way too harsh? What, did I talk that much that you had to go and swear an oath about it?"
"The perpetrator never knows. They can't possibly understand what the victim endured."
"Gah! So you're saying I'm the perpetrator and you're the victim?"
All he'd done was suggest they study together, and now he was being labeled a criminal. He was so dumbfounded that, uncharacteristically, Schubik couldn't find his next words.
"Eli, you can't say that. Schubik was a bit of a handful, sure, but calling him a perpetrator is going too far."
Bayul immediately stepped in to mediate. He had a fair idea why Eli was reacting so sharply. The boy wasn't really sniping at Schubik at all—it was his adoptive father, Rayegar, who had him wound up like this. He had certainly grown unusually touchy of late.
"Bayul, you agree, right? You took the department's top score and this is the kind of nonsense you have to put up with. Wow! Unbelievable! Make one joke about studying together twice and I might get sued!"
"……Sorry. I was out of line."
Eli's apology came quickly. Shaking his head as though shaking something off, he turned to Schubik.
"There's been something stressing me out lately, so I snapped at you."
"What happened?"
When Eli—famous for his good temper—came out swinging like this, it was only natural for Schubik's curiosity to ignite. But Eli had absolutely no intention of opening up to him, least of all to Schubik.
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Sounds like a family matter. Got it!"
True to his own creed of never touching on anyone's family, Schubik asked nothing further.
"Anyway, so we're not studying together then?"
"No, sorry, but no."
"Eli, come on……!"
"I'll lend you my review notes instead. That's the best I can offer, so no more asking."
When Eli drew the line so firmly, Schubik had no choice but to back off. He'd at least gotten the notes, after all. It stung, but he resolved to be satisfied with that much.
"Oh, right! I meant to ask about this and completely forgot! Bayul, word is you went toe-to-toe with House Hector at the Crown Prince's birthday party? They say this stunningly beautiful knight ran the commander of the Yeager Knights through with a single stroke—tell me everything! You know her well, don't you?"
"I knew you'd show up doing this!"
Aidan strolled in through the open door, muttering "of course, of course" under his breath.
"Aidan, you made it!"
"Library shift finally over, I take it?"
"Ugh, I hauled hundreds of books today. My arms are about to fall off."
"Come rest over here."
Eli obligingly stirred himself and surrendered half the bed to his friend.
"Heh heh, I got here early on purpose, knowing you'd all gather like this. Tell us about that duel in Vergara. Everyone's in an absolute frenzy over it!"
What happened at the imperial palace had spread thick and fast among the students since the weekend. With Jared getting expelled on top of everything, there could be no better material for gossip. Most of the students, crowing that the father and son had been disgraced in one fell swoop, were apparently filing complaints of their own.
"You've all heard the story already—what more do you want? Sir Hayes broke the Yeager commander. That's the whole of it."
Aidan kicked off his shoes and flung himself face-down onto the bed.
"Ahh, I'm exhausted! I wish a windfall would just fall out of the sky! Why is life so hard!"
"None of that—tell us everything about that day, every last detail! How exactly did Sir Hayes defend against the Yeager commander's attack? How did the commander declare his surrender? Spare no detail!"
"Out of my own mouth?"
Aidan rolled over and deployed a skill he'd picked up from the Chairman a few days ago. Eli clicked his tongue in exasperation at the boy's spot-on impression, down to the tone of voice.
"I'm always happy to make a trade, though. You're curious about Jared, aren't you? I can tell you what he was up to last weekend."
"Where is that bastard now?"
Last weekend—the historic (?) day when, thanks to Jared, they had faced a threat to their lives for the first time ever.
"Didn't he go back to his family's territory?"
"Would you have gone somewhere that scary?"
With the heir to a dukedom expelled in disgrace, there was no slipping away quietly. His house might well impose its own discipline. It was entirely his own doing, so there was nothing particularly to pity—but the fact that he was still lingering in this city did nag at the mind.
"From what I hear, he called up a whole pack of his friends and threw a party. Something about a farewell bash before he leaves. He even prepared expensive gifts to hand out, so it sounds like quite a few students showed up."
"He threw a party in the middle of all that?"
Laughter burst out of them, beyond sheer disbelief.
"Is that bastard insane? He pulls that kind of stunt on us and then throws a party? He's a lunatic among lunatics—the top-tier of all lunatics!"
"That stunt? What else did he do to you?"
"……No, to Nathan. The guy's still struggling, and the least he could do was put on a show of remorse!"
"As if that bastard knows the meaning of remorse. You still don't get Jared?"
No—I understand him completely now. Which is exactly why I'm trying to figure out how to answer for it.
"Now then, your turn. Is Sir Hayes really that pretty?"
Deciding the outrage could wait, Schubik scooted closer and thrust his rear end out invitingly.
"Hey, it's cramped! If you want to lie down, go lie over there!"
"Can't you see Quinn's bed is free?"
As Aidan and Eli grumbled, Schubik half-crouched and shot a glance back at Quinn.
"……!"
His gaze collided with a pair of ice-blue eyes so frigid that the air itself seemed about to freeze solid.
"……On second thought, that won't work, guys."
"What?"
"Why not?"
Schubik answered by silently pointing at Quinn. Anyone who could act after seeing that face would have to be made of extraordinary steel. He was not nearly so brave.
"Quinn, don't tell me you won't let anyone sit on your bed?"
"What's the harm in friends sharing a little?"
"Filthy."
Quinn fired back, arms crossed, in his haughtiest posture.
"And what makes you think I'll surrender my bed just because of whatever's been clinging to your clothes? Uncleanliness is something I simply cannot abide."
"Oh ho, is that so?"
"So we're the dirty ones, are we?"
Eli and Aidan united as one.
Don't tell me……
The moment Bayul's suspicion stirred, the two were already in motion. There was no time to stop them. They sprang up in a flash and dove headfirst onto Quinn's bed.
"You— you two…… are you insane?"
Caught completely off guard by this ambush, Quinn stammered and trembled from head to toe.
But the depredations of Aidan and Eli did not end there. Quite brazenly, they proceeded to rub their faces and bodies all over Quinn's pillow and blanket.
"Tonight, our very essence shall sleep beside you!"
"Let its sweet fragrance lull you into the deepest of slumbers!"
"……Haah. So that's how it is?"
Once the shock wore off, what remained was fury. The corner of Quinn's mouth curled up wickedly, and the water left half-filling his glass rippled.
WHOOSH!
A wind swept in from somewhere, and the open window clattered shut.
"Quinn! I've got a spare blanket—use mine! I'll lend it to you!"
He had to stop it before a bigger disaster broke out. Bayul darted over and whispered to Quinn.
"And you could always ask Innocent. She'll wash it spotless and have it dry in no time."
"I can manage that much myself, you know?"
"……W-well, yes, of course……"
It wasn't as if Quinn couldn't do his own laundry. It was the sheer ignorance and disrespect of the two of them that had riled him up.
"Haven't I been putting up with a lot lately?"
If it was partly his own fault for letting so much of their mischief slide—well, so be it. He could bear it no longer.
SPLASH!
At Quinn's command, the water that had lain quietly sleeping surged upward—and then, slowly, began to take on a shape.
"Bayul, how was your trip to the temple?"
"Logan!"
A timely entrance by a most welcome ally. At the sight of Logan appearing with a kite in hand, Bayul let out a sigh of relief.
"Is something going on? It seems a bit chaotic in here?"
"Nope! Nothing at all!"
"But what's with the kite? For flying?"
Sensing their chance, Aidan and Eli scrambled off the bed and hid behind Logan. Schubik, though guilty of nothing, had already drifted over to join the huddle.
"Wanted to get some practice in early. Have you all made your kites yet?"
"Huh? Why would we make kites?"
"The Kite Flying Tournament is right after finals. It's an Academy tradition held every year before summer break—didn't you know?"
"Oh, right! I remember that tradition now!"
Aidan, a Carrington native, clapped his hands as though only just remembering. Bayul and Eli blinked, hearing it all for the first time, while Schubik slumped his shoulders and sighed in lament.
"I've given up on it. I was briefly tempted by the prize money, but I've already seen them in action."
"Seen what?"
"The fourth-years practicing. It's no joke. Some of them have apparently abandoned studying for exams entirely just to throw themselves at it."
"How big is this prize?"
Aidan's and Eli's eyes gleamed at the same instant. Prize money. If they could win it, they'd be liberated from their labors.
"A whopping……!"
Schubik spread all five fingers wide.
"Fifty kuna?"
"Nope."
"Don't tell me—five hundred kuna?"
"Ding ding ding!"
"Whoa! Seriously? The prize is that huge?"
"It's the hottest topic around these days—you two are the weird ones for not knowing. Maybe it got buried under all the Jared business?"
He'd gone to the imperial palace with the diplomatic delegation, and the moment he'd returned, the whole affair with Nathan and Jared had erupted. On top of that, Aidan had been consumed by the question of Ingrid's true nature, and Eli, likewise, had his hands full with the Chairman. Even if Bayul and Quinn had known earlier, they wouldn't have paid it much mind. Frankly, now that they did know, that hadn't changed.
"Logan, if there was an event like this, you should've told us ages ago! Are you trying to keep the spoils all to yourself?"
"I fail to see why I should have to listen to that. To explain: Professor Janet simply issued a decree that every Black Falcon dormitory resident must participate. That's all."
"……Still, you were the only one who knew! You heartless schemer!"
"Aidan, you can't really pin that all on Logan……"
"Enough! Let's do it too! That prize money is mine!"
"I'm in! Time to finally break free from weekend work!"
Never mind that finals came first—Aidan and Eli burned with single-minded determination. And then, quite suddenly, Schubik shouted.
"Oh no no, Bayul! I forgot! Professor Rothius asked me to fetch you—I only just remembered. Sorry!"
"The professor wanted to see me……?"
"Yeah, hurry to his office. And don't tell him I'm the reason you're late!"
His shameless dodge was a little galling, but there was no time to quibble over it now.
What could he want with me?
With a hasty farewell promising to catch up at the dining hall, Bayul sprinted out the door.