Friend
"Is there nothing today either?"
"...It seems that way."
After discussing with Kania for a while how to prepare for the 'Commoner Dormitory Assault Incident,' we ultimately decided to monitor it together. Of course, if anyone caught us sticking together like this, it would be quite problematic for Kania, so she was currently merged into my shadow.
"It's strange. I thought they'd start moving around now."
"The main quest window is still up in the System, so the assault hasn't happened yet..."
Despite our diligent surveillance over the past few days with no signs of the assault, Kania and I were starting to grow weary. It was exhausting work that required pulling all-nighters while keeping our nerves on edge, taking a toll on both body and mind.
"...Just in case, but the assailants aren't deliberately dragging this out to wear us down, are they?"
"What do you mean?"
"They might have detected our presence or that of the watchers through some method and are delaying the assault to drain our strength."
"Hmm..."
If the assailants had noticed Kania and me watching, a penalty window would have popped up with high probability. But I'd prepared for that by using various items bought from the back alleys a few days ago to mask my presence. And while not as good as my old brooch, I was periodically pulling out black magic artifacts and muttering incantations, so even if someone spotted me, they'd think I was using sorcery.
"So, there's no way our presence has been exposed."
"...I see."
I explained my thoughts to Kania, and she nodded briefly before speaking quietly.
"However, we should continue suspecting that the assailants might be aware of entities trying to block them."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Gazing at the faint sunrise in the distance, I murmured softly.
"...The opponent is the Demon King, after all."
After another fruitless night, I trudged back to the dormitory and suddenly voiced a question that popped into my head to Kania.
"By the way, Kania. What are Perloché and Clana's stances on the 'Commoner Dormitory Assault Incident'?"
"I was planning to report on their recent movements once we reached the dormitory."
"Good, then..."
I nodded at Kania's reliable response, but then I spotted someone approaching from afar and paused.
"...Hello."
Perloché approached with a stiff expression, glaring at me intently once she was right in front of me. Ignoring her and trying to walk past, she suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"What sorcery are you up to, exactly?"
"...Let go."
"Tell me. What are you planning to..."
"I said let go."
I wanted to catch even a short nap before class, so with a cold expression, I tried to shake off her hand. But Perloché clung on even using the Solar God's Blessing and raised her voice.
"Are you planning to assault the commoner dormitory!?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Lately, I've felt an incredibly sinister aura around the commoner dormitory. And right now, that same dark, eerie energy is overflowing from you."
As she spoke, Perloché tried to direct her divine power at me, so I recoiled in alarm. She bit her lip and continued.
"See? As I thought, you're preparing something."
"...So?"
"I know everything. I saw the future... no, the previous time."
Perloché pointed at me with resolute eyes and began.
"Even if we're in a lord-vassal relationship now... if it means many victims... if it's that situation..."
But she trailed off, hanging her head deeply.
".........."
Silence hung between us for a while.
"Come clean my room tonight at 7."
Still unsettled from the dream I'd had about her, I left those words and walked past her, heading to the main building now that she'd released my arm.
"Frey."
But as I headed to the main building, she called my name and grabbed my arm again. My irritation exploded, and I nearly yelled, but...
"Are you really, really planning to cause trouble...?"
I clamped my mouth shut upon seeing her look at me with contempt.
"What's your problem? Is it because I rejected your offer? Or do you have some ulterior motive?"
"What are you even..."
"I want to kill you right now and stop whatever you're planning, but if I did, that recording would be released... and then even that pitiful Clana would be in danger, from my foolish perspective."
"...What?"
"Though I despise you utterly, just as I submitted to you for Clana's sake... for the sake of innocent commoners, I can offer my body as you so desired."
With that, Perloché bit her lip hard, knelt, grabbed my leg, and began pleading.
"This is the judgment and conclusion I reached after agonizing over it for days. So... please accept my offer and spare the commoner dormitory."
Her eyes were still filled with contempt, disgust, and revulsion. Looking down at her quietly, I opened her information with Information Search.
"Though it's utterly revolting and I'll lose my qualification as a saintess... I'll come to you as you demand. So please, refrain from harming the many."
As Perloché squeezed her eyes shut and spoke, I sighed while looking at her goodness value and replied.
"I'll tell you when. Get ready."
Hearing that, Perloché wore a mix of relief and disgust, her voice subdued.
"Under... stood."
Leaving the trembling saintess bowed on the ground, I headed toward the dormitory and casually spoke to Kania still merged in my shadow.
"Kania, can you brainwash Perloché?"
"Impossible. Completely brainwashing Perloché would be impossible without an awakened Demon King."
"...I see."
Discarding my first plan, I racked my brain as I opened the dormitory entrance.
"Kania, I've been thinking..."
"No."
A good idea suddenly struck me, so I spoke to Kania in the shadow again, but she cut me off without hearing me out.
"Um... I haven't even said what yet..."
"When assimilated into a master's shadow, I can faintly sense the shadow's owner's current emotions."
To my slightly flustered expression, Kania responded calmly.
"What dangerous scheme are you plotting this time?"
Her voice carried a hint of anger, so I sighed and explained.
"If we block the commoner dormitory assailant, I'll become the assailant instead."
Saying that, I opened my dormitory room door. Kania emerged from the shadow, frowning as she pressed me.
"Is that really necessary?"
"...I want to unlock the skill shop and item shop as soon as possible. I'm still stuck at the basic stage."
"But Young Master, if you..."
"Enough. We'll talk later... For now, give me that report you mentioned."
Wanting to cut short what could drag on, I urgently asked the slightly sulky Kania for the report.
"First, I'll report on the 'Alliance' up to now."
Kania, now expressionless, pulled out a notepad from her bosom and switched to work mode.
"Overall, the 'Alliance' of Clana, Perloché, and myself is steadily preparing to bring you down."
"I see."
"Yes. As part of that, Perloché is receiving various trainings from Clana, and Clana is receiving church secrets from Perloché."
"Perloché knows the church secrets?"
I tilted my head, unable to imagine her gathering and offering them, so Kania elaborated.
"...She's personally hand-copying every document that seems suspicious to her."
"Can I get those documents too?"
"Of course. I've memorized them all. I'll share them all at once later."
Impressed once more by Kania's competence, I smiled, but she frowned and continued.
"And I'm feeding Clana false information."
"False information?"
"Yes. To hinder their investigation, I'm mixing in various bits. Of course, not handing over anything that could endanger the family."
"You're truly capable. Without you, I'd be out on the streets by now."
At my joking remark, Kania bowed briefly before continuing.
"Also, I'm training with Perloché in remote areas."
"Training?"
"Yes. She requested it a few days ago. She wants to get stronger. And after training with me, she heads straight to Clana for studying, despite hating it."
"...That's why her divine power and intelligence have been rising bit by bit."
Understanding her resolve, I nodded silently. Kania flipped a page in her notepad and continued.
"By the way, as you witnessed earlier, Perloché is trying her best to prevent the 'Commoner Dormitory Assault Incident.'"
"But why suspect me, not the noble who actually did it last time?"
"Clana warned Perloché about 'variables.' So now Perloché suspects you as the assailant."
Her pointing out the sinister aura around me came to mind. Asking Kania about it, she replied calmly.
"Perloché's divine power is indeed growing day by day."
"Hmm... Maybe? Wasn't it because you were in my shadow that she noticed so quickly?"
She shook her head.
"No. I've already excused the shadow assimilation magic to her."
"What excuse?"
"Hiding black magic completely from Perloché is impossible. But details can be fudged. I explained it as a minor curse on your shadow."
"Well done. Then in front of Perloché too... Wait, then why did she try to send divine power at me earlier?"
Flustered, I asked, and Kania gave a wry smile.
"At that moment, Perloché was trying to send divine power at the decoy black magic artifact you were holding and chanting with."
"...She sensed that?"
"Yes. That's why I said her divine power is growing even more."
Her words left me with a strange feeling. Perloché getting smarter and stronger through Clana's training was good for the future, but right now, it'd kill me.
"Then, what's Clana's reaction?"
"Clana... shows willingness to stop it if possible, but the dormitory is different, and she has other priorities now..."
"The ball?"
"Yes."
Asking about Clana's reaction brought back my headache upon hearing about the ball.
"Kania, how's Clana been lately?"
I asked cautiously, and Kania began darkly.
"She's extremely depressed. She tried maintaining confidence in front of us until recently, but now she sighs constantly."
"...Yeah, figures."
"She's expanding her influence much faster than before, but that draws more checks. This engagement is part of it."
Sighing and tapping the desk, I asked softly.
"...Is there no way to stop Clana from rushing too much?"
"Unlikely. She's desperate to seize power as fast as possible."
"Obviously because of me. Sigh, I guess I have to help."
Sighing again and picturing the ball, Kania bit her lip and asked.
"...How will you help Clana?"
"The usual way."
I gave a simple answer and lay on the bed to nap, but Kania sat beside me.
"Sorry to disturb your short sleep, but I must ask this. What exactly are you planning for tomorrow's ball?"
She timidly grabbed and shook my arm. Finding her cute, I chuckled and explained my plan.
"...That's my plan. Satisfied? Wake me just before class."
Having spilled everything, I pulled the covers over to nap, but...
"Young Master."
"Ah."
Kania snatched the blanket with a deadpan look, delaying my sleep.
"Let's talk."
"Later..."
"Shall we meet in your dreams then?"
"........."
Thus began my bickering with the furious Kania. It felt like it'd continue until the bell rang.
"Hello, Clana."
"...Hello."
While Frey and Kania bickered endlessly, Perloché greeted Clana, who was waiting in the library.
"You're working hard. It suits you."
Clana, gloomily skimming documents, smiled faintly as Perloché sat beside her and praised her.
"...Thank you!"
Perloché, still upset from earlier, forced a bright smile in response. The two masked figures began gathering books.
"...This should do. Let's head to the dormitory."
"Yes."
Having gathered their study books, they walked ahead, keeping some distance. With tensions between the imperial family and church, it was necessary.
"...Oh, Clana. Where are you off to so early?"
"......."
As they walked apart down the hall, the First Princess blocked her path.
"...Eek."
Perloché flinched briefly, recalling Clana's warning not to act close in public, squeezed her eyes shut, and hurried down the hall.
"Clana, you're not involved with that idiot saintess, are you?"
"...No."
The First Princess coldly eyed Perloché's retreating figure and asked. Clana denied firmly.
"Of course... Even you, meddling lately, wouldn't approach the saintess. The family's working hard to check the church. Right?"
The First Princess smirked, stroking Clana's shoulder. But Clana, used to such provocations, showed no reaction. Frowning briefly, the princess clapped and continued.
"Oh, right... Tomorrow's the ball, isn't it?"
Clana's eyebrow twitched. Smiling now, the First Princess whispered in her ear.
"All the fiancé candidates were carefully selected by Mother, me, and my brother for you. Grateful?"
"...Yes."
Clana maintained composure, but squeezed her eyes shut at the next words.
"If you skip again or don't choose... prepare yourself."
"But..."
"Mother already resents the church and saintess. She's gunning for you, cozying up to her. Got it?"
Patting Clana's shoulder, the First Princess walked past leisurely.
"...Grit."
Clana ground her teeth in the hall for a while, then remembered her promise with Perloché and slowly headed to her dormitory.
"Cl-Clana... Are you okay..."
"Hm, where had we left off?"
"Ah, um... Page 41."
"Yes, let's start from there."
Entering her dormitory, Clana smiled at the waiting Perloché and opened the book.
"Clana..."
"Yes?"
Perloché looked at her with pitying eyes.
As Perloché gathered divine power in her hand and gently touched Clana's lips, Clana realized she'd bitten them so hard they bled.
"...Thank you."
Suppressing her boiling emotions, Clana quietly thanked her and looked at the book.
"Clana."
"Yes?"
Watching Clana pitifully for a moment, Perloché took her hand, infusing warm divine power, and said.
"You teach a fool like me... So as thanks, I'll be your friend."
"...Friend?"
"Yes, friend."
Clana gazed at the beaming Perloché, nodded with a smile, turned the page, and spoke.
"...Not page 41, seems like page 14."
"Ah, y-yes."
Thus, Perloché and Clana began reading, glancing at their first friends in life.
'Even for Clana's sake, I have no choice but to submit to Frey briefly.''Even for Perloché... I have no choice but to go through with this engagement.'
Worrying for each other like true friends.
Meanwhile, at the border connecting the Western Continent and Sunrise Empire.
"...At this speed, we'll arrive at the capital for tomorrow's ball a bit late, but we'll make it somehow."
"Well, if the young lady says so."
In the carriage speeding toward the capital, Serena chatted idly with her maid.
"...What are you writing now?"
The maid, quietly yawning in the carriage, tilted her head at Serena intently scribbling.
"A love letter."
"Eww."
The maid grimaced and shook her head.
"...Don't you hate Frey at all, miss?"
Pausing her writing, Serena hardened her expression coldly.
"I hate him enough to kill him."
"Then why can't you give up?"
The exasperated maid asked, and Serena sighed quietly.
"Because he's my fiancé."