Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: New Friend, Three Friends
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Rike was a little surprised when Seria unexpectedly introduced Chloe during lunch, wondering how the two had gotten tangled up, but no complicated thoughts crossed her mind.
Just, Well, that's Seria for you.
The Dreitna family was one Rike naturally knew about as the daughter of Dreitna, so she wasn't completely unaware of Chloe, and it seemed Chloe knew who she was too.
'...She's not enduring some kind of illness, is she?'
Everyone was different, but Chloe had this utterly novel aura and demeanor.
Nothing prickly about her, no sign of any malicious intent.
Just this unique tension, trembling all on her own without a shred of ill will.
Rike half-worried that once Chloe loosened up, she might turn into a chatterbox like Seria, but that didn't seem to be the case, which was a huge relief.
With Chloe chiming in softly with Seria on Rike's behalf, it wasn't a big distraction, and having her around didn't feel like a problem.
But this trio somehow felt...
"Haha! It's like the three misfits have banded together."
"Ehehe... Y-yeah, it does feel that way."
Exactly as Seria said—a perfect match of outsiders.
Rike, with the undeniable rumors linking her family to black magic; Seria, whose reputation got murky after latching onto Rike from the start; and Chloe, always alone in the Knight Department for reasons unknown.
Insist it was artistic, and you'd get a hollow laugh worthy of calling it avant-garde art.
With time to spare before the next class, the three naturally drifted to a quiet spot with fewer people.
"Uwaaah~!! When are we doing the outdoor class?"
Seria, ever the one-track adventurer dreamer, was so excited about learning camping from a Platinum-rank adventurer that she stomped her feet while sitting in her chair.
The academy was currently on high alert with preliminary surveys and reinforcements to prevent another incident like last time.
So the exact schedule was still TBD.
But word was they'd do at least one practical combat session with camping included.
'I want to go soon...'
Rike was confident her own anticipation outstripped Seria's.
She had a brief camping experience before reuniting with her brother. The chance to relive that was always welcome.
"From today's reactions, most of the Knight Department looked unhappy... You okay with it, Chloe?"
"Ah... I think I'll be fine. I don't have outdoor experience, but..."
Seria spoke casually, but Chloe seemed more comfortable with formal speech and didn't drop it.
"It's weird that practical classes aren't popular in the Knight Department... They're the most fun."
Rike nodded furiously in total agreement.
Even the tomboyish Seria transformed during practicals, her eyes blazing with fire.
Rike was always grateful that she listened so intently to her brother's lessons.
"Still, not everyone hates them. I find them useful, and the instructors work so hard..."
'...!'
Rike could tell Chloe's careful words, spoken while fiddling with her teacup, weren't just to go along with the mood.
Pure, unbiased praise for her lover.
No reason to feel bad about that.
Rike, who had stayed quiet until then, met Chloe's eyes and gave a faint smile.
"I think Chloe and I could become good friends."
"-Y-yes?! Th-thank you?"
Seria was nearly as shocked as Chloe by the suddenness, glancing back and forth between them.
"What...? You two?"
The musty smell assaulting the nose upon opening the door was the same as ever.
But entering Isaac's room, now even more devoid of gaps than last time, Robert faced considerable hardship just reaching the central table.
"Isaac... How about having a servant tidy up the room?"
"Hmm— if I do, I'll lose track of where everything is... And I haven't hired a new servant yet."
Isaac pretended to mull it over at Robert's suggestion, who sighed and handed over the book in his hand.
"Here— I thought it'd be quick, but... I searched everywhere and couldn't find another copy. So I had it transcribed into a fresh one."
[Dimensional Magic Experiment Report]
He'd poured money into searches since it wasn't formally published, but no luck anywhere.
In the end, he borrowed it again from the academy library and hired a skilled transcriber to make an exact duplicate.
Copying an academy book could stir trouble if caught, but it was the best option now.
The most crucial page was still missing, but this was it.
Isaac sat, skimming the transcribed book rapidly.
He muttered small admirations at the geometric diagrams and content, nodding as if grasping it, tapping the table with his finger.
"With this, I can drastically cut time to meaningful results. I can even guess at the missing page in the back."
"Phew— glad to hear it."
Robert exhaled in relief that his money and time hadn't been wasted.
Isaac set the book aside and stared at the slouched Robert.
"...Heard the Knight Department has an outdoor class coming up?"
Robert's face twisted instantly at the words.
"Swordsmanship Department is sending half their people too, not just us. Ugh... Such a pain."
"Isn't going out with your fiancée special and fun? Something you can only do at the academy."
Robert's expression hardened at Isaac's words.
'Is this guy deliberately scratching at my nerves?'
Suppressing his bubbling frustration, he glanced at Isaac, who seemed genuinely convinced without malice.
If not for that crazy Chihuahua of a girl... How could a mere baron's daughter have such nerve? What did she plan after graduation?
Whenever he tried approaching Rike, that red mop of a dog would growl and glare, somehow knowing.
The pathetic part? Rike never even looked his way those times.
It wasn't the redhead handling things Rike disliked; Rike simply didn't register him approaching at all.
'When will the family... Damn it.'
He'd contacted the family again yesterday, but only got "don't worry."
He admitted it. Rike had zero interest in men right now.
He could tell from how she viewed male cadets like inanimate objects.
Given her various hardships, it made sense.
And that's why, all the more...
The more he thought no one could have that woman, the stronger Robert's desire grew.
Rike, lately the target of vicious jealousy from female cadets across departments.
Rumors of her wandering his family estate with some guy, baseless chatter—black magic or whatever, Robert could feel her popularity surging.
'Rumors have limits... Women's jealousy is truly nauseating.'
When he confronted the cadet, asking if she could take responsibility for such claims, she backed off. Pathetic.
'A noble lady with a fiancé sneaking off with another man? Even novels get flak for lacking plausibility!'
Reality sometimes hilariously ignored plausibility, but this was nonsense.
Nobles had too much to lose for that choice. Unrealistic.
The world felt like it was testing him with trials and tribulations against his will.
Unlike at first, his pure motives and feelings had warped, but Rike had become a symbol to Robert now.
Whether a man like him could achieve his goal.
God had bestowed everything—top skills, face, perfect plausibility—yet failing bred self-loathing, driving him mad.
Who could he tell?
Robert forced a big laugh instead.
"Yeah, haha—!! Right..."
"As expected of Robert... Actually, I could use some advice myself."
"Huh? From me?"
...
...
The more Isaac explained, the more Robert's expression shifted.
"So, to sum up... You want to keep the engagement for research funds while getting the girl you want?"
"You got it. Any efficient methods? Honestly, I'm hopeless at this—need expert help. Even a formula would be nice."
Why were mages obsessed with "efficiency" in everything?
Yet here he was, asking me, the expert... But saying "skills and looks" wouldn't fly with Isaac's face.
Sure, women flocked around me oddly, but no real method to teach.
Robert pondered what to say to Isaac's sparkling expectant gaze.
"Well... To keep the engagement, ideal is wife for the fiancée, concubine for the one you want, right?"
Impossible in Korea, but common in this polygamy-heavy world.
"Hmm—flawless, perfect method since divorce is off the table. That's why I'm curious about winning her heart."
"Relationship with her?"
"Same academy cadets, but no real friendship. Talked a few times..."
'Even this nutjob falls at first sight?'
Intriguing.
Isaac showed no intent to name her.
Afraid I'd hold it over him?
"How about just asking her on a date?"
"...Everyone knows I have a fiancée. Tough sell. I want her to approach with interest first."
Crazy bastard.
Absolutely.
"Birds of a feather" wasn't always wrong. But not me—I was different.
'...'
Pity the girl Isaac fixated on, but his knowledge was vital, so Robert pondered.
"Create a debt of gratitude? Hire a scary stand-in to put her in danger, then rescue her."
Every guy's fantasy, right?
Saving a damsel in distress.
"Risky if exposed, but disposable actors make it efficient. Dramatic magic rescue doubles as mage appeal."
"Another: the suspension bridge effect."
"Suspension bridge?"
Ah, maybe that term didn't exist here. Some theories and words just didn't translate.
"The suspension bridge effect is—"
The shallower explanation Robert recalled made Isaac's eyes gleam brighter.
"So women's emotions work that way! Scary how many girls you've hooked with this... Tension breeding love from crisis—noble ladies would swoon. Need to carefully plan such a crisis."
Isaac spat excitedly, as if success assured. Robert felt he'd flipped the wrong switch but averted his eyes and closed them.