Chapter 100
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Proposal
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Count. Are you really okay?
Yeah.
In the afternoon, Bella and I finished patrolling the entire academy and returned to the office.
Most of the professors and students were thrown into disarray by the president's sudden inspection tour.
Still, whether because I was with Bella or due to my changed appearance, people's gazes had softened considerably.
As I sat calmly reviewing the student records, Bella spoke up.
Your face looks a bit dark. Shouldnt you go back to the infirmary?
No problems here.
It hadnt been long since Id collapsed onto the infirmary bed from the backlash of Patience and Envy.
That was pretty much my physical limit at the time.
Like an electronic device with a dead battery, my consciousness had cut out.
Even so, Id only slept for about an hour.
When I woke, Wendy was sleeping soundly in my arms.
Must be what it feels like raising a daughter.
Her childlike, steady breathing as she slept was so cute that I couldnt help smiling like some doting father.
Thats a secret, of course.
Wendy must have been exhausted too.
Shed said shed been pulling all-nighters studying for exams lately.
It was endearing how hard she was working to show me good results.
..
She was clumsy and lacked confidence in everything, but at her core, Wendy was a diligent girl. How could I not cheer on the one who always strove her best and looked only to me?
I quietly draped a blanket over her sleeping form so as not to wake her and left the infirmary.
But one thing nagged at me.
The wish Id vaguely overheard in her sleep.
If I didnt mishear it, she definitely.
What are you thinking about right now?
The sudden voice made me slowly lift my head.
For some reason, Bella was perched on my desk, looking down at me.
Shed changed into training clothescasual skirt and blouse.
She was dressed up more than usual, probably because she had plans with someone later.
I set down the student record Id been holding and said,
I was just pondering students worthy of a special scholarship.
A special scholarship?
Yeah.
The reason Id toured the academy todaythe reason Id become school president.
Id gone through various classes, confirming the unranked students with my own eyes.
I already knew about them from the paperwork. I just wanted one final, direct look.
To see if any of them had the potential to grow.
Im planning to award scholarships to about thirty of them. They seem worth investing expectations in.
Let me see. Hmm. Looks like a lot of freshmen on the list? Even some from my class earlier.
I nodded.
In the original story, they were students who wouldnt even have their names mentioned before vanishing.
Whether theyd shine later was unknown. But if they could rise from extras to at least supporting roles, itd be a huge gain down the line.
Bella tilted her head as she looked over the files.
But isnt this a bit hasty in picking scholarship recipients? Deciding based on records and one glimpse of them in class feels Shouldnt you be betting on these ones instead, the ones with obvious potential?
She was pointing to files on the named students profiles.
Naturally, the named characters had superior grades, so her point was valid.
But I shook my head.
This scholarship is my chance to those whose talents might yet bloom. If they made it into this academy, they must have real skill. The ones whove already bloomed will manage fine on their own.
I stroked my chin.
Im actually looking forward to what flowers might grow from the students who havent bloomed yet.
Hmm. Who was it who threatened to expel the ones without potential?
The ones without potential that I meant are the ones whove given up.
Yeah, yeah. Sure, that makes sense.
As she said that, Bella paused while scanning the records.
Count. I thought you were just some blockhead with no discernment, but youve got a side like this too?
What do you mean?
These students marked as top priority for scholarships. Theyre all from poor families, right?
The files she showed indeed had them checked as priority recipients, just as she said.
Most were commoners or from fallen noble houses.
Families whod tightened their belts to scrape together tuition because they hated wasting their kids talents.
Id investigated separately and known this already, but I decided to keep it under wraps.
Is that so.
Playing dumb?
Not playing dumb. I dont know.
Liar.
Bella laughed as if it was ridiculous and leaned down from the desk to peer at me.
You know what? When you lie, Count, your right eyebrow always twitches.
I wondered if that was true but didnt fluster.
She seemed to be holding back a laugh, after all.
That sounds like the real lie.
You got me. It is a lie. Hmph. As expected from a liaryou dont fall for it.
I dont lie.
Hmm? Really?
Yeah.
Then tell me. When did you learn swordsmanship like that?
Bella eyed me full of suspicion.
I decided to come clean with the truth.
I just learned by watching you.
Liar again.
.
It was unfair, but undeniably true.
The swordsmanship Id shown was just a copy of her movements via Envy.
Even I wouldnt believe it if our positions were reversed.
Izarkhel style isnt something you pick up overnight by watching. You have to swing the sword endlessly for years and observe your masters movements meticulously for ages. But funnily enough, my father never took a disciple. So if youre wielding our familys swordsmanship, it means this.
She continued in a calm voice.
Count, youve actually had genius-level talent in swordsmanship all along. For some reason, you hid it until now. Unless.
Bella swallowed hard.
Then, as if finally voicing what shed bottled up inside, she opened her mouth.
You might have been watching me from afarmuch longer than I ever thought. Long enough to reach the level where you could mimic my swordsmanship perfectly. Am I right?
Her deduction was half right, half wrong.
I didnt have sword talent; I just knew how to handle traits.
And Bella was the heroine Id been watching since the original novel.
Barring my sister the author, no one knew the character Bella better than I did.
I gazed at Bella silently for a moment.
Her eyes pleading for the truth were painful to meet.
I knew exactly the answer she wanted. And because I did I couldnt give it.
If I did, Bellas future might change.
And I couldnt guarantee this worlds future either.
In the end, I opened my heavy mouth.
Sorry, but
Dont answer.
Bella cut me off.
She sat on the desk with her head bowed.
As if wanting to hide the expression she wore now.
But she couldnt hide the hoarseness in her voice.
Youd just lie again anyway.
A heavy silence followed.
I sat in my chair, racking my brain, but no words of comfort came to mind.
Nothat wasnt it. I just couldnt comfort her.
In the end, it was Bella who broke the silence.
Count. You havent forgotten, right?
Forgot what?
In our duel, you promised if I won, youd grant my wish.
My wish you mean?
Youre not planning to play dumb again, are you?
First Wendy, now Bella with a wish.
I felt like Santa Claus.
Yeah. I havent forgotten.
Youll grant my wish?
Let me hear it first, then Ill decide.
No. That defeats the purpose.
There are wishes I cant grant.
Dont worry. I wont wish for anything you cant do. Youll grant it, right? My wish.
Whether trying to shake off her gloom from moments ago, Bella peered down at me with a playful smile.
But her eyes still glistened with moisture.
Tears hovering on the brink, paired with that fragile smile.
Above all, feeling sorry for her, I couldnt refuse her request.
I let out a sigh.
Fine. Ill grant that wish, so tell me.
Really? No take-backs!
Yeah.
It didnt sit well, but what choice did I have?
If this could comfort her heart even a little, itd be a relief.
Besides, whatever she wished for was probably something I could grant anyway.
Like the massive debt the Izarkhel family owed the Ruelverta family.
I could just wipe it clean.
It was a huge sum, but meaningless money to me. The Izarkhels couldnt repay it now anyway, and Id written it off as uncollectable.
Plus. I no longer had need or reason to bind Bella with that debt.
My wish is very simple.
Suddenly, Bella slipped off the ring on her finger.
A modest silver band that gleamed. The magic item Id given her before.
She handed it back to me and said,
Propose to me again. Count.