Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Friend
"A perfect attitude for the strong. This one approves."
"Pardon?"
When I asked back in surprise at Dreania's unexpected praise, she didn't even bother replying and just walked off ahead without me.
"...Haha, well, all's well that ends well."
I glanced down at Cappi and saw that all her wounds had healed cleanly.
Of course they had. It was healing magic from a dragonkin like Dreania.
Satisfied at the sight of her pristine recovery, I stood there smiling until Cappi cautiously spoke up.
"...Um."
"Yes? What is it?"
"D-Do people in the Holy Kingdom really not care about bad luck?"
"Well... it varies by individual, but in all my time, I've never met a cleric who discriminated based on race. His Holiness the Pope and the Saintess herself are leading the charge to root out racial prejudice."
"I... see."
She seemed to have nothing more to say, so I headed toward the classroom still carrying her princess-style in my arms.
Cappi hurriedly grabbed my arm.
"I-I'm fine now. I can walk on my own..."
"Are you sure? Even with healing..."
"R-Really, I'm okay."
With no choice, I set her down, and she blushed while fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
"...Your name is Ace, right?"
"That's right, classmate."
"In the Holy Kingdom... could even a witch like me avoid discrimination?"
"Yes."
"In the Holy Kingdom... I could... I could..."
Gathering her courage to ask me something, Cappi trailed off more and more...
"...L-Let's head back to class first. Lunchtime's almost over."
"Understood."
She quickly changed the subject and walked ahead.
I knew what she wanted to ask... but I trusted she'd bring it up properly later with real sincerity.
As we entered the school building, Cappi picked up her pace to put some distance between us.
"My, you're quite the quick walker."
"Eek?!"
But I'd already anticipated that much.
All I had to do was match her speed.
"H-How...?"
"We're classmates in the same class, aren't we?"
"But if they see you with me..."
"What's the problem? We're 'friends,' aren't we?"
"Fri... ends?"
For a moment, her eyes sparkled.
But she hurriedly shook her head, snapping out of it.
"I-If you act like friends with me, you'll end up getting hurt."
"Maybe. But if not you, the only one I could talk to is Dreania. The other classmates don't seem too fond of me."
"That can't be. You're handsome and have a great personality—you've been so kind to me—so you must be super popular."
"Is that so? But in my eyes, you look beautiful and kind too, classmate."
"W-Wha?!"
"So it's even then. Let's go together."
"...Seriously, no—"
"Come on, let's go."
I was usually the one getting dragged around by the heroines... but with Cappi's timid personality, it felt like I was the one leading.
She was so sweet, I couldn't help but want to save her.
For now, though, friends first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Creak.
The moment the back door of the lecture hall opened, every student's gaze in the room snapped toward us.
"What the heck are those two?"
"Hanging out with that witch after all..."
"He's from the Holy Kingdom, and he's with a witch?"
"They've ruined their academy lives."
They weren't even trying to hide it—their curses reached my ears loud and clear.
I'd already been through thick and thin in the slums and built up patience through my faith, so this didn't faze me at all. The problem was Cappi.
"Ugh... as I thought, it's because of me..."
She wasn't upset about the insults aimed at her—she felt sorry that I was getting flak for being with her.
I'm totally fine, though.
If anything, I felt bad for not stepping up.
If they'd insulted Ariana? Fists would fly first.
But since I was undercover, I couldn't make a big scene no matter who around me got trashed.
Cappi... there weren't many witnesses, so she'd be fine.
That Leo guy seemed prideful too, so he probably wouldn't spread rumors.
"Cappi."
"Y-Yes...?"
"I'm truly proud to call you my friend, so please don't apologize needlessly."
"...Really?"
Maybe because witches grew slowly as a trait, the cute-looking Cappi gazed up at me with teary eyes.
"Really. You're cute, Cappi."
"Cu... te?"
Black bobbed hair and pure white eyes.
She looked more like a girl than a woman.
"Really. Now, let's take our seats quickly."
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in my words.
After sending Cappi to her seat and sitting down, Dreania was looking at me with the corner of her mouth slightly raised.
"Something wrong?"
"It's nothing. Don't mind it."
"Is that so...?"
What was it? Her gaze felt different from usual.
Did she decide to change her attitude after praising me earlier?
Whatever it was, her favorability seemed to have gone up.
If anything, that was a good thing.
After that first day, my academy life proceeded smoothly.
For some reason, after getting praised by Dreania, she didn't tell me to shut up or snap at me even when I talked to her the next day.
She just quietly listened to what I said and occasionally replied.
And Cappi.
She'd tried to distance herself at first when I called her a friend, but as I kept approaching and talking to her, she gradually opened up.
And so, our trio of outcasts was formed: me, Dreania, and Cappi.
Time bomb, ill omen, zealot... whatever. I decided not to worry about it.
"Dreania, let's go eat."
"Sure."
"Cappi! Let's grab lunch together!"
"O-Okay..."
I easily led the two to the cafeteria.
It was our usual routine now.
They'd follow wherever I suggested without much fuss.
As we loaded our plates and sat down like always...
"You're the exchange student from the Holy Kingdom, right?"
"Hm? Yes, that's me. And you are?"
A sharp-eyed blonde girl with red eyes approached and spoke to me.
Looking up at her face, I immediately recalled who she was.
The Southern Archduke's daughter.
Southern Archduchess, Cecilia Sauron.
She was the one who'd first discovered Cappi was a witch.
"You might not know since you're from the Holy Kingdom. I'm the first daughter of the Empire's Southern Archduke house, Sauron: Cecilia Sauron."
"Exchange student from the Holy Kingdom, Ace."
"Nice to meet you, Ace. If it's not too much trouble, could you come with me for a quick chat?"
She subtly glanced at Dreania and Cappi.
At that moment, Dreania spoke up.
"How arrogant. Who do you think you're bossing around?"
"...My apologies, Dreania."
She apologized with her mouth, but her eyes blazed with fury like they were about to shoot lasers.
I'd better answer quickly.
"No, I can't."
"Alright, first, if you just follow me— what?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid it won't work."
"...Why not?"
"I have plans to meet another exchange student friend right after finishing lunch quickly."
"Who would that—"
"Ah, Ace!"
As Cecilia scowled and started to ask, Ariana called out to me with a bright smile.
"...Lianna."
"Yes, exactly."
By now, she'd blended seamlessly into academy life, and with her inherently gentle and inclusive personality, she'd already gathered her own faction.
Unlike me, who was called a zealot, her reputation was stellar.
She was practically a celebrity.
Just the group behind her waiting to eat together numbered over thirty.
"Ace, who's this?"
"Lady Cecilia Sauron, eldest daughter of the Southern Archduke house."
"Oh, hello! Is there something with Ace...?"
Cecilia panicked at Ariana's innocent question.
Forcing a stiff smile...
"O-Ohoho... I had something to discuss, but since you have plans with Miss Lianna, I'll take my leave."
"Oh, really?"
Ariana naturally stood by my side.
"I hope I didn't interrupt because of me..."
"Ohoho... Not at all, Miss Lianna. Well then, I'll be off..."
In the end, with all the eyes on us, Cecilia left first.
"...I really didn't interrupt, right?"
"Really. Don't worry about it."
Ariana let out a sigh of relief, then smiled warmly at me.
"Enjoy your meal, and let's meet up later, Ace."
"Yes, Miss Lianna."
The students following Ariana glanced at me curiously before leaving.
As I tried to focus on eating, Cappi said in amazement,
"As expected of you, Ace...!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...You've arrived."
"Yes, Saintess."
After quickly finishing our meal, Ariana and I met in the secret space prepared by the vice principal.
"Saintess, did you find anything?"
"Yes, Is. There were more than one or two suspicious things about someone's behavior. The culprit is..."
Ariana explained the culprit's identity quite logically, and my response to that was...