Chapter 175 - Vacation
Today was the last day of the academy's semester ceremony—the official end to a tumultuous second term.
"...Time flies, huh."
The clock pointed to 1 p.m. I'd only meant to rest my eyes after breakfast, so how had the hours slipped by like this?
"Ugh."
As I tried to haul my heavy body upright, intense pain surged through me, just as expected. With three penalties stacked up, it felt like my body was barely holding together.
Creak...
I couldn't stay holed up in the academy forever, so I forced myself up and began searching for the cane the main heroines had gifted me. Ever since the third trial ended, they'd reinforced it further, and just gripping it restored some vitality.
"...Damn."
The cane, which I'd left leaning against the bed, had toppled to the floor. Had I knocked it over in my sleep?
"Nngh..."
I considered summoning Kania wirelessly, but calling her just to pick up a cane felt excessive. Gritting my teeth through the stabbing pain in my back, I desperately stretched out my hand while bending at the waist. She was already overprotective, clinging to me all night lately, and she'd get teary-eyed and hug me tight if I so much as coughed. I couldn't let her see me like this.
Come to think of it, something felt off. Kania knew my condition best, sure, but lately Irina and Clana were reacting the same way—pouting whenever I showed even a hint of weakness. This pain was temporary; from here on, it was just a straight shot to a true happy ending. Why were they overreacting like this?
"Here, Frey."
As those thoughts swirled, someone picked up the cane and handed it to me.
"Ah, thanks..."
It felt so natural that I started to take it with a grateful nod—
"...Huh?"
—but I froze, hand outstretched.
"Isn't this what you needed?"
Professor Isolet Arham Bywalk stood before me. She definitely hadn't been there moments ago. Had she slipped in like some master swordsman?
"You hadn't checked out of the dormitory yet. So I got the key from the head maid and came in."
"Ah."
While I was lost in silly thoughts, she provided the answer. Lately, with all the surreal events, my mind kept veering into the absurd.
"So, what brings you here? Come to worry about me now, after all this time?"
I composed myself and probed, but her expression remained as icy as ever. At least that meant she still didn't care ab—
"Take it."
As I thought that, she thrust the cane into my arms with a cold voice.
"...Hoo."
It would've been awkward to refuse, so I gently took it. Vitality immediately coursed through my body.
"I came to deliver a letter for you."
As I caught my breath, gripping the warm cane, she pulled an envelope from her bosom.
"Who sent it that the professor herself is playing messenger? Must be someone pretty important..."
"Shut up and read it."
I knew she despised corrupt nobles and wouldn't play errand girl for them, but I teased anyway. She commanded me in an even chillier tone.
Sorry, I'll be away from home for a while. Don't worry. I'll be staying in a safe place.
—From Aria.
"...Hm."
Overpowered by her intensity, I opened it with feigned calm, but the first line made my composure crack.
It seemed what I'd been expecting had finally arrived.
"You know what this letter means, right?"
I forced a neutral face as I finished reading, and Isolet gazed down at me impassively.
"A declaration of disownment, I suppose. I was wondering why she hadn't done it sooner—about time. Though the timing's a bit la—"
"It hasn't been officially announced, but the entire empire's been buzzing about this slave market incident for months. Tabloids, magazines, the press, high society salons dominating the empire, even street gossip."
"......"
"So, it's only natural Aria can't take it anymore."
Of course. Aria couldn't endure any longer. I'd spread rumors across the empire that I was behind the slave market fiasco and linked to the Demon King's army that appeared there. She was already at her limit, so naturally she'd bolted from home.
Still, it was a relief. At least she wouldn't get dragged into any more trials.
Of course, the coldly staring professor before me...
"Aria's been at my place for a few days now."
"...Really?"
Lost in thought, I blinked wide at the news of her whereabouts.
Of course, I'd tracked her departure from the mansion and destination from the start. I'd planned to send Kania if she headed somewhere dangerous, but since it was Isolet's house, I let it be. There were few safer spots in the current empire.
Isolet would handle any intruders, and with her abysmal luck with men, no scum would dare eye my cute little sister.
"Whatever. Might as well adopt her into the Bywalk family while you're at it..."
The thought oddly comforted me, so I joked, but Isolet scowled deeply and began speaking.
"Do you know how many times Aria rewrote that letter?"
"She did?"
"With tears brimming in her eyes, she rewrote it endlessly."
"...And the final one she sent was the shortest and softest of them all."
"How tou—"
I muttered with sleepy eyes, swallowing the pang in my chest.
"But you...!"
Isolet, who'd maintained her composure until then, suddenly grabbed my collar and glared.
"..........."
A brief silence followed. Her eyes swirled with a storm of emotions: rage, disappointment, disgust, hatred, revulsion, nausea, killing intent.
Raw feelings I was all too familiar with—plainly readable without any skill.
"Gonna kill me...?"
In that moment, I smiled and provoked her. Lately, her reactions felt off, so before the next trial, I needed to solidify her hatred.
"Sis?"
I said what she should despise most.
"...!"
Her eyes wavered suddenly.
"...Urk."
A small groan escaped her lips.
"What the—?"
It oddly overlapped with her broken self from the third trial.
"...Never mind."
As I asked in confusion, she pulled away, quickly recomposing herself.
"Check out of the dormitory within the hour. Countless guards are waiting outside because of you."
I sighed, dismissing it as my imagination at her restored chill.
"By the way, you look pretty sick."
But as she gripped the doorknob and glanced back casually—
"Missing months of classes... yeah, probably won't last the day, huh?"
I had no choice but to use my skill.
"Why do you care?"
A moment later, staring blankly into space, I asked.
"...I don't know."
She muttered with a complicated expression, then turned and spoke flatly.
"To be honest, I want to beat you to death right now."
"Hm."
"Before you've become an even bigger monster, I want to end your life with my own hands."
A terrifying declaration that would've kept anyone else up at night—but I felt no fear.
"But... when I try to act on it..."
Her calm facade crumbled.
"...My body won't move."
Her voice cracked too.
Despite the palpable killing intent, I felt only bewilderment and unease.
"Just now, I tried to kill you."
"What...?"
"I stationed the guards below on purpose, sent Kania on an errand to pull her away, even sliced through your room's protective magic to break in—all to kill you."
Her words pierced my heart amid my confusion.
"I drew my sword several times while you slept. When you strained to reach the fallen cane, when you mocked your sister's letter."
"Ha."
"And just now, grabbing your collar."
Her eyes mirrored my own turmoil.
"...I nearly strangled your frail, sickly self, forsaking my knightly duty."
She finished in a low voice, staring at me.
"So."
Breaking the short silence, I asked calmly.
"Why didn't you?"
She closed her eyes tightly.
"The sword wouldn't come out."
"It wouldn't?"
"No matter how hard I tried, even using every ounce of strength... it wouldn't budge."
She turned away with a hollow expression.
"I tried to choke you, but my hands wouldn't rise."
"One question."
"........."
"Frey, are you really dying? Not an act or a ruse—actually?"
As she asked in a trembling voice, unsure how to respond—
"I-if that's true... it's karma. You've received heaven's punishment, Frey."
—she jumped to her own conclusion.
"No need to dirty my blade on a dying man. Right, no point. So, I'll give up killing you."
"Isolet."
I called her name instinctively, but—
"But remember this, Frey."
—she issued a warning disguised as farewell.
"No matter your state, if you cause one more incident..."
"...I'll cut you down for real."
With that, she opened the door and vanished.
Staring blankly at where Isolet had been, I fixed my gaze on the lingering skill window.
"This is nuts."
Compressing the whirlwind of thoughts into one word, I clutched my head and flopped back onto the bed.
"...What the hell."
I lay there, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
Shooo...
Suddenly, dark energy rose from my shadow on the wall.
"...Young Master, are you alright?"
After a moment, Kania emerged from the shadow and lay demurely beside me, murmuring.
She'd mastered advanced black magic a few days ago; now she wielded shadow magic with ease.
"Now that I'm here, rest assu—"
"Something's off."
"...Pardon?"
I stared into her tense eyes as she lay beside me, then spoke darkly.
"After the last trial ended, I'd verified all the sub-heroines."
"...You mean the surveillance to check if anyone's memories returned?"
"Yeah. Most weren't affected by the third trial at all."
I rubbed my eyes and muttered.
"So why... is Isolet suddenly acting weird?"
"...Young Master."
"I'm sick of variables... I just want a break... Well, I have been resting a lot lately, but..."
"I'll protect you."
Gazing at Kania, I sighed and asked,
"How's Aria? She over her worries about me?"
"It seems..."
Kania paused mid-reply, staring at my face.
"...You look sad."
"No, I'm f—"
"More than ever."
I shook my head to deny it, but—
"...Today looks the hardest."
"........."
She shifted closer, right in front of me, and I fell silent.
Lately, it felt like she could read my every thought. A side effect of shadow magic?
"Uh... Y-Young Master."
As I pondered, Kania began to stutter.
"By any chance, tonight... do you have time?"
"Huh?"
"If you're free, would you... maybe have a drink with me?"
It was an unexpected proposal.
"I like drinking, but lately... I don't even get drunk thanks to my mental fortitude..."
"I-I can make you drunk."
"Huh?"
I started to politely decline, but she averted her gaze.
"I've prepared a way to intoxicate you. And, um... the drinks too..."
"...Alright. If my most valued subordinate asks like that."
Her mention of getting drunk lit up my face, but Kania suddenly looked at me sadly.
"I'll prepare everything so you can enjoy yourself fully..."
"Oh, right—time to get ready to leave."
I stood, ignoring her bowed muttering, and she tensed up.
"...Are you really going today?"
"Yeah. Isolet and Aria have me rattled, and I can't put it off anymore."
I donned my coat with a grim face.
"Today..."
Fingering the Deception Robe on the desk, I muttered coldly.
"...I'll declare war."
Time to meet the hypocritical hero.
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Meanwhile, at that moment.
"Hey, Ruby! Long time no see!"
"Hello~!"
Ruby, visiting the orphanage Frey had founded for the first time in months, greeted the caretaker with a bright smile.
"We were worried when you said you couldn't come for months, but you're fine—such a relief!"
"Ah, yeah... haha."
Her expression flickered for an instant at the words, but she forced an awkward smile and nodded.
"By the way, what a coincidence."
"Pardon?"
"The founder of this orphanage is coming today!"
Her composure shattered again.
"He'll be here soon, so hurry and prep—"
"Y-Yes! Got it!"
She spun on her heel and dashed off.
[Stack: 1]
"...No way, now of all times?"
Frowning at the translucent window, she muttered.
".........."
And a girl watched her from afar.