Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Holy Academy Pantheon (3)
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Rosette glanced around at the people already waiting in the atelier.
Then, tipping her witch's hat forward, she gave a polite bow from the navel. Her red hair, with its slight curls, swayed gently.
"Hellooo~ Eirin. And Lady Uriel. You both look as pretty as ever today!"
It seemed Rosette was already acquainted with the other two.
"It's been a few months. Good to see you, Rosette."
"How have you been, Rosette?"
Eirin and Uriel greeted her warmly in return, as if they were on friendly terms. Eirin's reaction was especially surprising.
Eirin can make that kind of face too, huh.
It was different from her usual icy expression or the fake smile she'd shown to Lilia. She wasn't beaming, but she was giving Rosette a soft smile that felt out of character for her.
"And hello to you toooo~ Lord Julian!"
Though the order of greetings had shifted a bit, she turned to me next. Her distinctive speech, emphasizing the ends of words, paired with her cheerful expression.
Rosette Rosemarie was a holy priestess of the magic order devoted to the god of magic, Tielrun. In other words, a mage—and a witch, at that.
Her outfit stood out from the other noble ladies' attire.
A plain white blouse that looked far simpler than a lady's dress. And a flare skirt that bared everything below the knee—something no noble lady would ever wear.
Compared to the other noble ladies' clothes, it had a modern vibe. That's why some players favored Rosette. Noble dresses are pretty old-fashioned, after all.
Still, she wore a mage's robe over it, clearly marking her identity.
She exuded an adorable witchy charm in every way. Her face was small, matching her petite frame, but her features were so cute they harmonized perfectly.
The players' nickname for her was the Idol Witch of the Commons.
Unlike the haughty noble ladies of Pantheon, the friendly Rosette was a commoner.
She was also one of the few commoner powerhouses in a place teeming with elite noble-born holy priests. And not just any powerhouse.
Her magic was exceptional enough to make her the second-year cadet representative of the magic order.
As you could see, her bright and lively personality made her the idol of the commoners and mages at Pantheon, backed by overwhelming support.
I replied to her.
"Yeah. Good to see you. What brings you to this atelier?"
"Lord Julian! I'm here to pick up that item I mentioned last time."
"That item?"
I checked the system for a moment. A new quest had activated when Rosette entered.
Art commission? I scanned the atelier, filled with nothing but trashy objets d'art. Not a single thing that screamed "art" in sight...
Then it hit me. My connection to Rosette. And that suspicious wooden box on the worktable.
If Demon King's Son Surviving in the Holy Empire was accurate, that's where the item she'd just mentioned was.
At that moment, Eirin spoke up.
"Looks like it's time to inspect the magic tool—or artwork. Uriel and I will step out for now."
"Understood, Lord Julian. I'll wait nearby with Eirin."
They reacted quickly, as if this wasn't their first time. I nodded, and the two headed outside.
Soon, only Rosette and I remained in the atelier. Tension flickered across her face as she looked at me.
* * *
Confirming Eirin and Uriel were gone, Rosette blurted out in a rush.
"They're both out, right, Julian? But is that thing you mentioned really done? If I don't get it today, I'm in deep trouble. I've got a duel with that scary Chloe of all days! If things go like this, I'll have to admit defeat as a lowly commoner in front of that snooty noble lady. I can't let that happen!"
She'd dropped her quirky, elongated speech.
That was definitely just her persona.
And she was speaking casually to the second-highest noble scion at Pantheon without a hint of reserve.
It wasn't arrogant, though. Just the informal tone you'd use with a same-age friend.
That's right. In truth, Rosette was Julian's one and only friend at Pantheon.
I matched her tone with a casual noble lilt.
"Calm down first, Rosette. The item's already finished."
I soothed her impatience. Glancing around the atelier, I spotted a simple tea set and snacks prepped in advance.
I leisurely brewed her a cup.
"Have some tea first. If you can't keep your cool, that psycho Chloe will wipe the floor with you."
"Psycho? You're the only maniac who'd call the marquess's daughter that. Wait—this is mint choco tea, isn't it?"
Rosette's face flushed bright red.
"Even if we're friends, you can't just hand out something this fancy so casually. It'll give me the wrong idea. Us commoners aren't used to this stuff."
"It's nothing special. Just drink."
I shut down her flustered protests with the tea. She savored the mint choco aroma with rapt delight. I used the time to sort my memories of Rosette.
She speaks casually to me like this, but her personality is just as bright and bubbly as she shows everyone else.
Her quirky speech earlier? Probably just her playing up the cheer for the commoner cadets who adored it—until it stuck. A good kid, through and through.
And finally, I recalled how she'd become friends with Julian.
It started because of these inexplicable trash "art pieces" Julian had made.
Around May last year.
About a month after Julian's atelier was completed. Rosette happened to pass by. She sensed something suspicious.
Her keen magical intuition drew her in, and she opened the door.
Inside: a disheveled wastrel count with wild hair and a scruffy beard, surrounded by the most dubious objets imaginable.
Each one was utterly meaningless, pure chaos. But to the prodigy witch Rosette, it was a new world.
Trash as art, sure. But in her interpretation, each held magical significance—a magic tool in disguise.
Intrigued, Rosette kept visiting.
The atelier's owner was the infamous young lord of the Border Count family. But Rosette's curiosity as a genius mage overpowered her fear.
And when she showed interest in the pieces, the notorious wastrel count turned into a lamb.
For Julian, she was the first person to ever understand his unique art world.
Regular visits turned them into friends, transcending status.
And Rosette had just come of age last year too.
Meaning we were the same age. Still, there was more to why a mere commoner like her could speak casually to a count like Julian...
Before I could dig deeper into the memory, Rosette drained her mint choco tea.
"Haa... A world of flavor. Now I get why nobles shell out for this pricey stuff."
She looked blissful. I stood and moved to the worktable.
Lifting the lid slightly, I was relieved to find exactly what I expected.
True to Demon King's Son Surviving in the Holy Empire, it was mind-blowing.
Is it really okay to give this to Rosette?
But I shook it off. Completing the quest, and more importantly, it would properly provoke the demon king's sleazy side.
"Liked the mint choco tea, huh? Calmer now?"
"Yeah! It was amazing! So, can I see the item? You said it had to age in that special oak box all winter break, and you wouldn't show me before. I was dying of curiosity the whole time!"
Her quirky speech slipped out again unconsciously. As she said, the item felt fully matured from its winter aging.
I reached into the oak box and pulled it out. Then I said,
"Rosette. Your requested artwork. A brand-new design: a magic wand."
Rosette's eyes doubled in size as she saw it.
* * *
"Wh-what the heck is thaaat! Is... is that really a magic wand?"
I set the item on the table. Or rather, since it was wand-shaped, "propped it up" fit better.
"If it's not a magic wand, what is it? Made from special magic tree heartwood, sourced through the Border Count's connections at your request. But this reaction stings."
"S-sorry, Julian. It's just... the shape is kinda..."
"Kinda what?"
"I... even if I'm a virgin..."
"You know it?"
It was the expected reaction. Didn't think she'd blurt out her virginity, though. Mischief bubbled up inside me.
"As expected from my closest friend who gets my art. So, care to say what I sculpted?"
"H-how could I say thaaat! I'm not some loose capital noble lady!"
"Hmph. So it's not even worth mentioning? And here I crafted it just for you, the one who appreciates my world..."
I pouted. Rosette replied apologetically.
"I didn't mean to offend. It's just... no matter how I look at it, it's a... a..."
"A? If it's 'a,' shouldn't it be squarer and thinner?"
"No, not 'a'... a man's..."
"Man's what?"
"A man's cock!"
That's right. The wooden piece Julian carved was a perfect dick replica. Like a wooden dildo whittled from a log. Even the balls at the base were there.
No wonder the virgin Rosette was freaking out.
And whatever he did during break... the texture.
It looked lacquered, glossy and dark red. Over 20cm long, with every vein detailed.
Unmistakably familiar. Definitely modeled after Julian's—my—own cock.
And she's gonna use this as a magic wand?
Overall pillar shape, and with the balls at the "end"... Hold it upside down by the shaft, and yeah, it could pass for a wand or staff.
Performance aside, no sane mage would carry something that grotesque.
But I continued calmly, feigning disappointment.
"How could you call my artwork... a cock? No, a man's genitalia? I poured my heart into it for my friend, even aged it through winter. Such insolence. Wouldn't you say, Rosette Rosemarie?"
"Still..."
"And how does a self-proclaimed virgin recognize a man's cock?"
Rosette flushed crimson and fell silent. She was so cute I wanted to tease her more, but I held back.
As she'd rushed here for her duel with Chloe, she needed the new weapon. Time to hand it over.
But can she actually use it as a magic wand?
I checked the system on the wooden dildo—er, magic wand.
Luckily, despite the looks, it was a legit magic wand. Rare grade too—unattainable for a commoner like her.
I told Rosette,
"Anyway, you're busy, so no more chit-chat. You're a skilled witch, Rosette. Why not inspect it yourself?"
Her face beet red, she nodded.
"Y-yeah. Gotta check it. Ugh... this feels so weird."
With that, she gripped the crimson-black, imposing wooden pillar with trembling hands.