Chapter 170
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Why Is She Like That?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Why is he like that?
Isaac couldn't help but feel relieved about his own situation as he recalled Robert, who had given up on all sorts of things and completely derailed his objectives, along with his counterpart.
With the generous leave of absence provided to them by Lofty Academy still having plenty of time left, the reason they headed to the capital was...
Robert simply hated his current circumstances and the house in his territory, so he wanted to spend time alone searching for Isaac outside.
Isaac's mind and body were in a rush over the matter of Chloe, which Philip was diligently preparing for.
However, he understood that realistically, the top priority was to proceed with the dimensional experiment to solidify his position as the next family head after his father.
To achieve that, he was in the position of having to coax Robert, who had one arm wrecked and his mind in shambles.
He figured it wouldn't be easy to push forward with the experiment given the shock that had befallen the Knight Department cadet.
But there was also the solid support of his family.
Having prepared a comprehensive package of various baits in his mind, he headed to the capital thinking he'd gauge the mood upon meeting him.
Judging that targeting the group of female followers trailing Robert would be the most efficient, Isaac went to the academy and picked up some unexpected news.
He learned that Robert had stopped by the academy during his leave, searching for him.
The two finally met.
"..."
After searching for each other and finally making contact, the first face-to-face between Robert and Isaac wasn't a greeting or a joke—it was just a wry smile.
In the private room of a tavern where they met, the two looked utterly ridiculous.
The very parties involved in the incident had changed so much that just looking at each other made them burst into absurd laughter.
Robert grabbed the liquor bottle with his awkwardly moving left hand, letting out a chuckle laced with irritation at how ridiculous this situation was no matter how he looked at it.
He filled Isaac's glass naturally and asked,
"When are you planning to head back to the academy?"
"The later the better. The magic classes are all stuff I already know, so I don't see the point in attending those low-level lectures."
"Yeah, academy classes are trash—barbaric as hell... Calling that education."
Watching Robert exude a more negative vibe than before, Isaac gripped his right wrist under the table, feeling the normal sensation.
'Every time we meet, getting away with just losing one eye really feels like the goddess's blessing and mercy.'
It was ridiculous for a mage of the Maloy Count family to think that way.
But if uncertain stats like Luck existed, he was certain his was higher than Robert's.
Though they bonded immediately over shots of liquor, self-deprecating laments, and shared circumstances...
Robert had no intention of sobering up from the start, aiming to drown his recently worsening insomnia.
Isaac, on the other hand, was carefully regulating his state with mana to avoid any mistakes.
"Isaac."
"Hm?"
"I know it's not easy mentally in your state, and that this is a selfish, forced request on my part... but I'd like you to proceed with the experiment again."
Hearing Robert's words, Isaac bit his tongue inside his mouth several times to confirm he wasn't dreaming, then screamed with joy inwardly.
The dubious errand he was dreading had been brought up first by the man himself as a request.
Did he need to bend over backward, pleading cooperation for the experiment because Robert needed it?
Emphasizing the necessity like that was close to a gamble with too much to lose.
What had been plaguing Isaac's mind was resolved in an instant.
'I can't bite too eagerly...!'
Even as a path bathed in sudden light opened before him, Isaac didn't rush in blindly.
To firmly establish the relationship where he was the one helping, he chose to present it clearly as a transaction.
"On that note, shouldn't we handle my business first this time, then proceed to the next experiment? That was the original promise, right?"
Robert downed his glass in one gulp, then flopped back onto the plush sofa, raising the white flag in a half-resigned tone.
"Do whatever~ I've already paid up, so I'm just gonna play around and wait."
"Where should I even start... Seria, it might bore you, but like with Chloe, first up is my childhood—"
Rike laid out her bleak past, as dark as an endless abyss, with a flat expression and emotions fully suppressed, as if recounting someone else's story.
This was the kind of thing that made it impossible not to worry, no matter how much she said not to.
It instantly explained why she hadn't shared it before.
But since she delivered such heavy content so casually, Seria couldn't overreact.
"..."
She just listened quietly, meeting her eyes.
Hoping that by vomiting out the darkness inside, Rike might feel a little lighter.
"Remember that day in the first semester when it rained like a flood? That day, I volunteered to the instructor—"
A smile bloomed on Rike's face, and the atmosphere shifted.
When she mentioned the connection with the instructor that stemmed from those events, she radiated contagious warmth, happiness, and optimism.
It wasn't an act to keep Seria from worrying.
Seeing her truly look like the happiest person in the world—such a contrast to their first meeting—put Seria's mind at ease.
'I still can't picture it...'
Even as lovers, what would they look like together?
Seria didn't think the Practical Combat instructor was a bad person.
She trusted Rike's impeccable judgment above all! But rumors and noise about women were another matter.
If that was her only worry, was it really a worry?
'Argh... I can't even ask Sis the truth...!'
If the instructor asked if she was shocked to hear about his relationship with her friend? Of course she was startled out of her wits.
But she'd vaguely considered it might be possible.
Just looking at the timing when Rike suddenly vanished—it was right after visiting the Adventurer's Guild together, so she suspected some connection.
During Practical Combat classes, she'd noticed Rike's subtle emotional highs, different from her usual self.
Thanks to that!
She didn't knock over her chair or faint from shock upon hearing the story today.
"I always wondered if just me talking and you listening might put those around us in danger."
"Yeah... I get it. I might've felt the same."
Even Seria kept glancing around while listening to the content.
For nobles, it was a remote baron's family on the outskirts versus a marquis family with a name before the incident.
'Same nobles, but their worlds were completely different...'
Seria had thought high nobles were just richer, ate fancier food, and had absurdly huge houses.
But reality surpassed imagination, brutally incomprehensible.
Within the same noble category, their outlooks were worlds apart.
"Just you and Chloe know about this incident. It's dangerous, so don't try anything."
"..."
Realizing that even knowing the truth meant she couldn't help, Seria's lips puffed out like a duck's.
Rike gently pinched the protruding lip with her held hand and smiled to reassure her.
"I have plans for the future too, so just trust me and watch."
"Mmph!! Mmmph!"
"I never want to see my favorite friend get hurt or injured."
..
..
On the way back to the academy from the shop.
Seria's goofy grin wouldn't fade, making Rike uneasy.
"You really like me that much? You don't want me getting hurt?"
Rike's eyebrow twitched at Seria confirming again with sparkling eyes.
"I said so earlier..."
From her tone, Seria intuited.
This... after today, she'll never accept it again!
Conversely?
Today was a special day where she'd accept pretty much anything!
Feeling she'd welcome it differently from usual, Seria linked arms with Rike and headed to the academy.
"Women are that sweet something made of the desire for~ confirmation and approval, right? Knowing it but still wanting to hear it over and over."
Rike nodded seriously after mulling the sentence.
"Not wrong. My desires run that way too."
Seria grinned at her opinion gaining validity and asked again.
"Do you like me, Rike?"
"...Yeah."
"Not that—say it properly like before!"
"..."
Her purple eyes clearly screamed annoyance, but she neither scolded nor sighed.
Seria loved that about her.
"Rike, hold on!"
"What?"
As Seria stopped, Rike had no choice but to halt too, arms linked.
"Hug time!"
"...?"
If she couldn't help, she wanted to comfort with a hug!
With a sigh of permission, Seria hugged Rike for the first time.
If Chloe was an overwhelming volume of soft, sun-warmed warmth pouring over her body,
Rike felt like a cat ready to bolt from the embrace, or on the other hand, a bouquet infused with pleasant spring breeze.
"Just say the word if you need it. I'll hug you anytime."
"...I'll think about it."
After separating, Seria felt conversely healed and comforted, but Rike's expression wasn't bad either.
With arms linked like a lock without a key, they headed to the academy when a familiar figure caught their eyes.
The beautiful girl in view.
"Chlooooooe—!!!"
Seria bellowed at full volume at Chloe standing dazed at the academy's main gate.
From the moment Seria inhaled deeply, Rike had plugged her ears as if reading her actions—a truly bizarre sight.
"Ah... you two."
Normally, Chloe would jolt her shoulders in surprise at Seria's call, blush at the gathered stares, and hurry over.
But today, her reaction was different.
Hearing the shout, she slowly turned her head two beats late, then nodded loosely with distant, unfocused eyes.
Seeing Chloe's state—like she was drunk—Rike and Seria's expressions changed.
"Why is Chloe like that?"
"..."