88. Good News and Better News
88. Good News and Better News
I looked up at Robert, who had suddenly stopped me.
He had a different air about him than during the lecture.
During the lecture, he'd been a bit more stiff and proper, but now, maybe because it was mealtime, he seemed more relaxed and softer than before.
"You seem close with Miss Pina."
At Robert's question, Pina flinched—her body trembled.
"Yes. We're close."
And at my answer, she went all shivery... and relaxed.
"I'm glad to see that Miss Pina, who always went around alone, had a friend like Miss Eliarnes."
"She has other friends besides me now, so she doesn't go around alone anymore. Right?"
Nod nod. I patted the head of Pina, who was nodding away diligently, then looked back at Robert.
"I see. Well, that's a good thing. Haha."
There was no change in his expression for the moment. His tone and face seemed genuinely to mean it.
Am I really suspecting an innocent man?
...Am I seriously just on edge because it's about to be that time of the month?
With my thoughts going back and forth, I scratched the tip of my nose.
"Yes. Well then... enjoy your meal—"
With that, I gave a small bow and tried to leave.
But.
"How was my class today?"
Robert's voice caught my ankle.
"From what I glimpsed, Miss Eliarnes seemed to find my class quite enjoyable today... Haha, or was I mistaken?"
What's the point of asking such pointless questions?
What's he thinking, asking me that?
Was this guy always this talkative?
I subtly shifted my gaze to check Pina's expression.
Her face showed no sign of finding it strange.
So this is just how he normally is.
"Yes, well. It was fun."
"May I ask what parts you found fun? And if there were any issues, I'd like to hear those as well."
"...You seem to expect an awful lot from a mere first-year."
"Of course, that would be true of other students, but I ask because Miss Eliarnes seems to have taken away not so much the content of today's class as the method of the class."
Robert let out an easy "Haha!" and, unexpectedly, hit the nail on the head.
Somehow, he knew that I hadn't been listening to the class itself, but had been learning its method.
"Was I perhaps mistaken?"
I debated how to answer for a moment, then simply nodded.
"You're right, Professor."
"If my eyes had been wrong, I'd have been terribly embarrassed, so I'm relieved. So, how was my lecture in Miss Eliarnes's view?"
"It was certainly... good. The way you unpacked it was fresh, and thanks to the surprisingly simple way you led the explanation, it actually felt easier to understand."
"Fresh and simple explanations. Haha, yes, that's right. That's the method of lecturing I pursue. No matter how high-level the academy students are, in the end, aren't they still first-years? If I used the specialized knowledge and difficult words I know on such freshmen, it would certainly look impressive, but I felt their heads would end up empty, so I adopted a different method from the other professors."
At my praise, Robert got all worked up and went on and on about this and that.
He looked just like the low-ranking magic scholars I'd seen at the Magic Tower four hundred years ago.
He really is just an ordinary magic scholar.
"Yes... I see."
"Yes. That's right. Hahaha! Since I'm a new professor just like all of you, my confidence in lecturing had dropped a bit, but Miss Eliarnes's words have given me confidence. Thank you."
"Glad to hear it."
Nod nod, Robert nodded as if he truly was glad, then checked his wristwatch and put on a thoroughly flustered expression.
"I've stolen the students' precious break time. I'm sorry. Please, hurry along to your meal."
Then he stepped two paces to the side and cleared the way.
I quietly watched Robert do that, then asked in a low voice.
"Professor."
"Yes?"
"Do you like treasure hunting?"
"...Treasure hunting?"
Robert's face went blank for a moment, then he smiled wryly.
"Is there anyone who doesn't like treasure?"
"You might like treasure but still dislike hunting for it."
"Hmm, true. If I had to choose, I don't much like hunting for treasure. It would be a waste of time when the treasure's existence isn't even certain."
Robert shook his head and added.
"However, if the treasure's existence is certain and its location is clear... I think I'd gladly go find it. So, does Miss Eliarnes like treasure hunting?"
"I'm the same as you, Professor. If the treasure's existence is certain and its location is clear, then whether that treasure is on a mountain, in the sea, or—"
I answered while looking straight into Robert's eyes, which still showed no particular reaction.
"—stuffed somewhere in a stinking sewer. I'll go find it no matter what."
Robert gave no answer.
Whether he did or not, I grabbed Pina's hand tightly and started walking.
"Thank you for answering my sudden question so thoughtfully. Enjoy your meal."
Just as I passed Robert and turned the corner.
A grin slipped out.
It seems.
I've found the little thief bastard who's trying to steal my treasure.
*****
Pina and I went straight to the student cafeteria, where she had a ribeye steak and I had cheese pork cutlet.
In the process, I examined the faces of the students Pina had photographed.
None. Neither the three students who'd glared at me in Professor Phaid's lecture hall, nor any of the other students from that class.
For now, it doesn't seem like Pina is being persistently watched, but you never know.
I have to keep in mind that, like Adelia, they might be handling a familiar that even I can't detect.
Anyway, Pina had carried out the order I'd given... no, the favor I'd asked as a friend, very diligently.
So I repaid her as a friend too.
For dessert, we ate muffins, pudding, strawberry yogurt ice cream, mint chocolate pie, crepes, parfaits, and so on—every dessert on today's menu.
With her belly stuffed full, Pina beamed—smiling more happily than anyone in the world—and held out her Device.
[I ate well!]
"I ate well too, thanks to you, Pina."
[You're the one buying, Miss Eliarnes, so why did you eat well thanks to me?]
"If I were alone, I couldn't have eaten that many different desserts. Since you ate all the leftovers, I got to taste a bit of each one."
Normally, Eurasia and Stella would have eaten them with me...
No, in the first place, I don't eat this many desserts.
Today, for some reason, I was craving a lot of things... and without realizing it, I just kept ordering and ordering.
Well... anyway. Thanks to Pina, I got to enjoy a variety of desserts.
It was a very satisfying lunch.
I rubbed my full belly and leaned back in my chair.
While I caught my breath for a moment, Pina tapped at her Device and carefully held it out to me.
[This is a bit out of nowhere, but I like treasure hunting too! Because adventures are always exciting!]
Treasure hunting.
Had she been thinking about it ever since hearing my conversation with Robert earlier?
I giggled and shook my head.
"I don't like it."
Tilt?
[Didn't you say earlier that you liked it?]
"That just meant I'm going to go get the treasure. It's different from the treasure hunting you're thinking of, Pina."
Pina, who had been staring blankly with her mouth open and her head tilted, snapped to attention and tapped at her Device.
[I like just going to get it too! It's still treasure, and the road to get there is ultimately an adventure as well!]
Seeing that desperate answer made me let out a hollow laugh.
"Heh... sure. Let's go find it together later."
Pina's mouth fell open blankly.
[Later? Is there actually real treasure?]
"There is."
[Where is it?!]
"That's a secret."
Disappointment was written all over Pina's face.
But only for a moment—she fidgeted her fingers and typed a new message.
[So, when you go to find that treasure, will you take me with you?]
"Of course."
I giggled and stood up to go to the bathroom.
"We're friends, aren't we?"
"Hic..."
Pina, looking deeply moved, trembled and followed after me.
Her fingers didn't stop moving as she did.
[At that time, will Miss Stella, Miss Eurasia, and Princess Silina all go together too?]
"...Silina? Why her?"
[Aren't you close with Princess Silina, Miss Eliarnes?]
"Me, close with Silina? Nah. She and I are just—"
"Just?"
A voice suddenly cut in, and goosebumps prickled all over me.
"I'm curious about the rest. What were you going to say?"
A voice with all the attitude dried right out of it.
Silina, who had appeared in front of me before I knew it, was looking at me with an odd expression.
"...You startled me. When did you get here?"
I really hadn't noticed.
I hadn't felt her presence at all.
My senses have dulled a lot.
I'd been unsure, but... now I'm certain.
Getting emotional, my mood sinking strangely.
My senses dulling, and craving more food.
My chest prickling and aching, and my lower back feeling stiff.
These are the warning signs of "that day"...
Usually, when these warning signs appear, it starts within five days.
And once it starts... for at least two days, my condition gets bad, and my body gets a lot weaker.
The timing is so fucking awful...
"I came while you were looking at your Device just now. So what's the rest? Am I not close with you?"
"Did you think we were close?"
"At least among our classmates, I thought you, Eliarnes, were the closest to me. I guess it was just my own delusion."
Silina answered primly, then giggled and fluttered a piece of paper in one hand.
"I suppose you wouldn't have the loyalty to give this to someone you're not close with, someone who's just a business relationship? What a shame. This is good news... no, for you especially, it would be even better news."
On the surface, she looked as rude as ever, but having exchanged a few words with Silina, I could tell what state she was in right now.
Silina was extremely excited right then.
Her shoulders were all raised, her nose was in the air, and her self-esteem was sky-high.
Judging by the way the corners of her mouth kept twitching, she seemed to want to brag about something to me like crazy.
"Curious? Want me to tell you?"
I can roughly guess what's written on that paper.
It's probably related to the branch family.
Whether Ophelia brought it after setting aside the Cartel's orders, or whether Silina personally investigated it, I don't know, but it's not urgent right now.
Even without that, I have plenty to think about.
Now that I've found the little thief bastard, I need to think about how to fuck him up.
"Forget it. You don't have to tell me."
Just as I was about to walk past Silina, who was trying to tease me.
"It's about a snake, in the underground of the Imperial Capital."
Words I absolutely couldn't ignore reached my ears.