Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Title is ■■■■?
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"Haa-"
Even though I was living the life of my dreams, a sigh escaped my lips.
The best women and a carefree existence without money worries. In my book, nothing topped this ideal lifestyle, yet my heart was a mess right now.
'Feels stuffy inside...'
My body was tough enough that I could stand on my head and devour sweet potato fries without getting indigestion, but it felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on my chest.
The weather was clear, but with a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, my mind had been a whirlwind lately.
'Has it already opened? Could Robert have dealt with it...?'
The odds of that were practically zero. He wasn't strong enough to take on the second Wanderer and escape.
Still, there were plenty of possibilities. With my already limited brainpower stretched thin trying to consider them all, no wonder the sighs kept coming.
Robert and Isaac had met, which lined up perfectly with the timing for the second dimension to open, but with no news whatsoever, I couldn't just relax and enjoy this quiet, leisurely vibe.
I let my gaze sweep over the majestic lineup of Lofty Academy buildings from my bench.
The peaceful scene felt like the calm before a storm, or maybe just an ordinary day unconnected to any particular event.
"Tch..."
The only reason I'd come to the academy on a day with no classes was obvious: to keep tabs on Robert and Isaac's movements.
I could've trained at home and waited for Rike, since there were no real obligations, but Murphy's Law was a terrifying thing.
I saw it not as random chance but as misfortune born from laziness—with my luck, skipping a single day of vigilance might lead to Robert causing an incident that hurt Rike, and I'd spend the rest of my life wracked with guilt and trauma.
I didn't want to see Eclair sad either, so I had to protect Chloe somehow. Seria, Liliane's little sister... if possible.
At least it was a relief that Rike, Chloe, and Seria spent a fair amount of time together. That meant I only had to focus on one spot at a time.
'While I'm thinking about it, maybe swing by Eclair's place today too...'
Lately, she'd been pulling all-nighters or staying late, so even visiting her study at night, I rarely caught her.
Yesterday, I'd lost track of time pondering Rike and Gleipnir, missing the chance to check if she'd come back to the mansion after work.
I wanted to show Gleipnir to Eclair too and see her reaction.
"Hmm~"
What to get her as a gift this time before heading to her study? That was a tough call in itself.
'Wine for a change today?'
Given Eclair's tastes, she'd probably like something low in sugar—the kind people call dry, rich in tannins.
She always said it was too much, but she couldn't hide how happy she was even with modest gifts that paled next to her wealth and status. Going empty-handed was out of the question.
On days she wasn't around, I'd taken to wedging items in her study window or hanging them from a string before leaving.
Recently, the gifts I'd left for her had vanished, replaced by her cynical yet grateful notes, so she was stopping by home—just our schedules weren't syncing.
'She's so stoic, but trying to show affection in her own way is adorable~'
Eclair's notes revealed a lot.
Knowing her usual sharp, precise handwriting, I could tell she'd agonized over the short messages she left for me.
Ink bloomed in circles where she'd pressed the pen too long at the start, or there were hesitations mid-phrase—each note was a treasure that made me smile involuntarily.
Sometimes, late-night mood got to her, and she'd leave something sentimental, the gap utterly disarming.
She never let me bring it up in person—too embarrassed, probably.
'The romance of an era without cell phones.'
My handwriting was so bad that even if I left notes, they'd lose all charm... I wondered how she felt about them.
'She never comments on them, so probably doesn't hate it...?'
In this age where mail was standard and without special magic tools, notes were essential.
I didn't just do it for Eclair—I always left them for Rike too, to keep her from worrying.
Typical times: stepping out briefly or heading to the Adventurer's Guild.
If Rike was sleeping off exhaustion from our nights together or off at the academy, I'd leave a note just in case before heading out.
I'd been shocked to learn she collected them into an album. My scrawl preserved like priceless art was mortifying...
But I couldn't tell her to stop—she enjoyed it too much. As long as my woman was happy.
Eclair didn't seem the type to organize them neatly. I wondered what she did with mine.
'Next time, ask what she does with the notes?'
For my part, I stacked their letters and memos neatly in a box. In a world without messengers, that's what people became.
—
As I sat there, extending my senses toward the academy boundaries, one gaze stood out amid the stares—free of hostility, remarkably pure.
'Huh?'
It was a presence I'd grown used to whenever visiting the academy, almost as familiar as Rike's.
I turned to see Chloe approaching hesitantly from afar.
Not sure if she was heading my way, but our eyes met, so I gave a small wave. Greeting first would put her at ease, given her personality and position.
Her small but clear nod in return quickened her steps.
The hesitation vanished—not just faster pace, but a refreshing decisiveness in her movements.
'Coming over here?'
Tak.
She halted crisply in front of the bench, then seconds later—confidence gone—clasped her hands, fidgeting, eyes dropping again.
It was so perfectly the Chloe from my settings that I swallowed a laugh and tossed out the first topic.
"Doing well?"
"Y-Yes, thanks to you!"
There were plenty of sticky stares on Chloe from afar—mostly from male students.
'She's pretty popular, huh?'
Wooong-
Mindful of the eyes, I muffled the sound appropriately, then slipped into the casual tone from our last one-on-one to set a relaxed mood.
"On break?"
Enveloped in the familiar barrier of mana senses, Chloe's face softened as she spoke.
"Y-Yes! I, um, had something to tell you... and some advice I wanted too... i-if you're not too busy...!"
"Advice, huh... Go ahead. I've got time to spare."
Counseling from an instructor's perspective at the academy—sans classes, very on-brand.
'Not sword advice, since she lives with Eclair. Maybe questions about adventuring or real combat?'
I waited patiently as she murmured to herself, preparing.
"Th-Thank you so much for the cake last time...!"
Meow-!
What masterful timing—like a pro comic duo. Impeccably precise.
A sleek white cat, plump and glossy for a stray, padded up beside Chloe, who'd just started after finishing her prep.
Chloe ignored it rubbing against her calf and loafer, pressing on.
"Th-That cake you gave me last time...!"
Meooow!
"..."
Another perfect interruption with a yowl. Chloe shot the cat a resentful glare.
'They rehearsed a comedy bit together or what...?'
Nah, probably not.
As she tried again, I scooped up the chubby menace before it could derail her once more.
"Pig or cat... Shoo!"
Hiss!!
'Definitely a tomcat.'
It bolted with clear disdain for male hands, baring teeth.
"...Ugh."
Whatever plan derailed, Chloe was at a loss. To keep things from getting awkward, I picked up where she'd left off.
"Yeah, was the cake good? Heard the place is famous."
"It was... ugh..."
Snap!
I snapped my fingers to refocus her swirling, dazed eyes.
From the dessert cafe, I'd learned: with Chloe, yes/no questions worked best.
"Tasty?"
"...Yes!"
Snap! She perked up, nodding vigorously to confirm it suited her.
"Good enough. Here to say thanks for the cake? No need, really—it was payback for passing Eclair's message."
"N-No! I still had to thank you... And sis asked me to pass on her thanks for the dessert and her regards too..."
"Appreciate it. Haven't seen much of Eclair lately. Super busy?"
"Seems like it... She's been coming back at dawn or not at all a lot recently..."
"Mm-hm."
I hummed agreement, waiting as she gathered her thoughts.
"Oh, but we have dinner plans today, so maybe it'll ease up now!"
Great news. Perfect—I'd been planning to visit anyway. Grab two bottles of wine on the way back.
One for Rike, one for Eclair.
"Oh right, you mentioned advice. Sit?"
"Ex-Excuse me."
There was a small bench against the tree opposite—no need to stand.
After a one-second eye contact, Chloe looked down, tried a few more glances, then gave up and stared at her hands to begin.
"It might be rude... If it's a bother or a problem, please tell me straight...!"
"I'm an instructor, but adventurer at heart—no worries. Adventurers get called rude for being too polite."
Depends on who you're talking to.
With Chloe, I could share combat tips for free.
"Last time... at the cafe, you mentioned honorifics..."
I remembered the dessert cafe chat.
"Yeah?"
"In the future, if you marry sis... or even before, visiting the family home... we'll meet outside the academy sometimes, so..."
"Want to settle on a title beforehand to avoid mix-ups?"
"...Yes!"
She brightened, my phrasing spot-on.
'Fair enough—outside, calling me 'Instructor' forever would be weird...'
Like old Rike's 'Adventurer sir'—and we're practically family. But 'brother-in-law' assumes marriage.
"I thought of one... but sis said ask you directly..."
"Directly? What is it?"
Chloe volunteering a solution? Priceless.
"O..."
"O?"
Her lips stilled, cheeks flushing deep red.
"O-Orabuni..."