Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Estelle's Outburst and the Madon Campaign
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After finishing my audience with Bayolaf, I returned to the academy.
I had fallen into a slight slump.
'Erotica.... Me, writing erotica....'
Forget the novel as a whole—could I even write a single proper sentence?
I'd read books and copied them out by hand plenty of times as a kid, but I'd hardly ever tried my hand at creative writing. The closest thing I had to experience was pounding out self-introduction letters back when I was working in the corporate world.
'If it's erotica, the sex scenes are the most important part anyway. Maybe I should start with those.'
But when I actually tried, my imagination just wouldn't cooperate. The biggest issue was that I couldn't picture the heroine's form.
In the end, I had no choice but to substitute people from my surroundings.
The first one who came to mind was Eonia.
'If it were Eonia....'
She'd start off showing a bold side, but once we grew close, she'd reveal an endlessly fragile one.
If I wove that kind of emotional shift for the heroine into the story, it could really resonate with readers.
I wrote out the sex scene as if entranced.
My prose skills were lacking, as expected, but I figured I could cover for that by focusing on the heroine's inner turmoil.
'This is surprisingly fun?'
Maybe I got too immersed. I didn't notice the presence approaching right up to me.
"Als."
A voice suddenly came from beside me.
"Huh!?"
I hurriedly folded the paper and hid it.
'If this gets found out and word spreads....'
I'd drop everything and go into hiding.
"...What are you hiding?"
It was Estelle. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the paper I'd concealed.
"Uh, just a letter."
"A letter? ...Pardon me, but who is it for?"
"Asking that is really rude, you know."
"Sorry. But.... Is it for Miss Salleon, by any chance?"
"It's for my mother."
I tried to brush it off vaguely, but she was persistent.
"But the Ilrain baron's estate is less than thirty minutes from here, right? If you have something to say to Lady Claire, wouldn't it be better to tell her in person rather than sending a letter? I'm sure Lady Claire would be delighted. That said... It's been a while since I've spoken with her too. How about we go together?"
Her smile lit up the surroundings.
It had been eight months since she started her treatments. Now fully recovered, Estelle was displaying the stunning beauty that had once set her territory abuzz.
Her hair had settled into an alluring bob, the subtle red hue drawing everyone's eyes, and instead of any stench, she now exuded a faint, sweet fragrance.
When she smiled, the other boys lost their minds. Even the ones who'd mocked her as a monster. Hubert, who'd picked fights with me before, had the gall to make a pass at her and got shot down spectacularly.
"Um, I lied a little. It's not a letter."
"A lie!? Why would you lie to me...!"
"Everyone has things they want to keep secret, right? Oh, right—that reminds me, I had other business."
It was break time, so I tried to slip away, but thump! Estelle grabbed my arm as I turned to leave. Her grip wasn't strong, but for some reason, it felt firm.
"...Why are you avoiding me?"
"Huh?"
"You've been like this since then. Ever since we got back from Gransel! Erina Salleon—did she tell you to keep your distance? Is that it!?"
"No way. It's just...."
"Just what?"
Her eyes were terrifying. It felt like the temperature around us had dropped at least three degrees.
'I thought she'd gotten better with all the friends she made?'
Right now, she looked like a volcano on the verge of erupting after simmering.
The mood was dangerous, so I decided to come clean.
"You've made a lot of friends now, right? You don't need someone like me around anymore."
"What kind of talk is that?"
Estelle's reply was icy.
"No, I mean—if I'm hanging around, it makes it hard for you to make friends, doesn't it? So...."
"So what? What kind of idiotic idea is that? How can you be so reckless and cruel? Who told you to do that? Who? Erina Salleon? Or was it Miss Lemieu? Who is it!?"
Her shriek silenced the classroom. From their looks, they were all ready to pull out popcorn.
"You said it yourself, Als. That I was only getting close because I'd get pretty once I recovered from my illness. But why? Even after I got better, you're drifting further away. Why? Why──!"
"It's just...."
"I wish I hadn't recovered at all!!"
I had to urgently stop her as she brought her nails to her face like she was about to self-harm.
"Whoa! Calm down! Okay, okay. I'll talk properly. Let's move somewhere else first."
I somehow calmed her down and led her to a quiet spot.
Estelle fixed me with a cold glare, demanding I spill everything.
"Well, we're going to have to part ways when we head to the higher academies anyway. So I was putting some distance between us. I'll be going to Caliper Academy, and you'll be off to Crossing. That's why I backed off—to let you make friends from Crossing. In fact, when I'm around, the Crossing kids don't approach you much."
"For a reason like that."
"It's not just any reason."
"It is. To think it was something so trivial—I could cry."
Even so, her eyes were still scary.
"Fine. I'll accept that your consideration went too far. It's true I'll be going to Crossing Academy.... But please, no more cruel 'consideration' like that from now on."
Only then did I realize how thoughtless I'd been. Or rather, I'd been unconsciously avoiding her.
Up until now, I'd kept a certain distance in my relationships. My mission came first.
Romantic relationships were the same. Thinking about Als from the game, I couldn't afford to get a lover.
After all, in the game, Als ends up in a relationship with Alicia, the Saintess—one of the seven retainers.
I was following the story, and as a bonus, Alicia was my favorite character, so I'd vaguely been waiting for the time to meet her.
Getting deeply involved with Estelle, who dies in the original game, or Erina, who doesn't even appear, would derail the plot, so I'd kept my distance.
'I was thinking too rigidly.'
After visiting my birth mother's grave, I'd changed my mindset.
For Als's happiness—my happiness—I decided not to overthink things. If unexpected problems arose, I'd deal with them then.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I won't let it happen again."
"Hoo...! Sorry for yelling too. Sometimes I can't control my emotions. It feels like my chest is ripping apart, and I can't see anything else."
So she was aware of it.
"Please, Als? Help me so I don't end up like that."
It sounded like she was telling me to behave myself.
Having shaken off her illness, she was starting to resemble Lutger, radiating some kind of pressure.
'No, even Lutger doesn't have this vibe.'
When I didn't answer right away, Estelle pressed harder.
"Please... I'm begging you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And, what was that writing you were doing earlier?"
"You still remember that!?"
I decided to half-truth it: I was writing a novel.
Estelle clapped her hands.
"If that's the case, I can help. While I was sick, all I did was read books. I've written plenty myself."
It was a proposal that made my ears perk up. I was feeling stuck on my own anyway.
"So, you'll help out sometimes?"
As long as she didn't know it was erotica.
And so, I promised to learn writing from Estelle every weekend.
*
*
*
Winter came to Rainpole after autumn passed.
After academy ended, I spent more time in Crossing's office.
This was when the precursors to the Chimera War started appearing. I'd decided not to obsess over the story, but I couldn't ignore what was actually happening.
"I see. From the Eurofe Kingdom...."
"Yes. Both countries are withdrawing their forces simultaneously."
Eurofe and Tunkai Kingdoms—traditional bitter enemies.
The armies that had been stationed long-term along their border were pulling back.
For two nations dying to kill each other to withdraw at the same time? Something else was definitely afoot.
"An alliance between Eurofe and Tunkai.... That's how it has to be."
This was the unmistakable harbinger of the Chimera War. Though the true mastermind was someone else.
Tunkai shaped like a snake's tail, Eurofe like a bull's body. That implied a lion's head at the core.
"What does Juras say?"
"He shares your view, Als. ...'What must come has finally arrived,' he said."
"Then Crossing's preparations are nothing to worry about."
I couldn't tear my eyes from the spot where Eurofe had withdrawn its troops.
"Is something bothering you?"
"No. Just thought of one person."
It was clear. The point where Eurofe pulled back its army was exactly where Bayolaf had first seen combat.
"For now, we'll monitor the situation.... Next item?"
"The academy for the Kurabel people. Permission came through to use the gold mine profits."
"Juras sure is generous. That's more than enough to build an academy, right?"
"Yes, so Administrative Officer Bisceta Clen suggests using the remainder to expand the residential area. Here's her projected layout for the residential district. Please take a look."
"Hm. That big canal we built before—it was positioned for this. And it encircles the planned academy site, so it could grow into an education district."
As expected of someone who'd served as a kingdom's prime minister. Bisceta Clen demonstrated top-notch domestic administration skills.
"Handle it as you see fit. Just make sure to scrutinize every expenditure."
"Understood."
"That's everything? Phew!"
A sigh of fatigue escaped me.
Lately, with the erotica writing and all, my mind was fried—I just wanted to head back and rest. But then Anton changed his tone.
"...My lord, put on your helmet. Someone's coming."
His gaze was directed outside.
'Who at this hour?'
I donned the helmet I'd taken off.
Knock knock. A calm knock—Ymir's.
"Lord Wade, a guest. ...Duke Regnat Helian."
"The Helian Duke? Show him in."
The duke had come discreetly, his face hidden deep in his hood.
"What brings you here so late?"
"Sorry. It's urgent."
"Have a seat first."
I took off the helmet again. As Ymir brought tea, he spoke.
"There's something I want to consult you on—or rather, hear your esteemed opinion."
"Haha, 'esteemed opinion'? You're really humbling yourself."
His words only piqued my curiosity more.
"What are you planning? Trouble with the Salleon faction?"
"I'm not minding those fools. They'll actually be useful this time. Even their fake Wade."
"...You're planning to start a war?"
"Impressive. You deduced that much from so little. Then you probably know the target too."
"Madon."
"Spot on. This is our chance to uproot them."
It was the best move.
Madon's southern location was warm enough—no snow even in winter—so campaigns were feasible year-round.
"But what about food supplies? This year's poor harvest means stocks are low. Even importing from abroad isn't foolproof. The Burran Union might cut off grain exports as an excuse once war breaks out."
"We have countermeasures for that."
His eyes told me he truly had.
'How did they prepare this thoroughly?'
If everything was ready, this Madon expedition was ideal.
Unlike the Albad invasion.
Calipher had signed a one-year non-aggression pact with Albad as a result of that war.
So even if Calipher attacked Madon, Albad couldn't move.
'Above all, Madon probably won't predict this assault.'
As I said, with Calipher's food shortages, no one would expect a sudden winter war.
Plus, Madon's Grand General Julian Craig was under house arrest for his defeat, leaving their military in disarray.
Unless Calipher blundered badly, this was at least a break-even war.
One thing nagged at me: who devised this meticulous plan?
"Did you plan this, Duke?"
"No."
"The Salleon faction then?"
"Not them either. Not the king. This war is...."
I'd found it odd too. He'd been too quiet in the last war.
"Juras Pamillion. He's orchestrated the whole thing."