You Shouldn't Do That Here, Senior

For a moment Julbert could only stare, words abandoned, struggling to make sense of the absurdity that had just unfolded before him.

Redfrin laughed—a grotesque, crooked sound—and pressed her face close to James.

"Want me to let you breathe?"

James, trembling from head to foot, managed a nod. Redfrin took her hand away, and he collapsed in a heap.

She glanced down at him, let out a short scoff, and made certain he heard every word.

"Try that shit one more time and I'll shatter your jaw."

"Ghk..."

Redfrin swept her pale green hair back and turned her gaze on Julbert.

"Julbert? So. What have you actually been doing?"

"What...?"

"I asked what you did. While Yulia was running around pulling every trick she had, what were you doing?"

"......"

"You idiot. You should've at least rigged the bracket against her, or gotten in the way of Rachel while she was helping. Did you do any of that?"

"What in the world are you saying right now...?"

"God, this is maddening! This is exactly why I said not to bother doing anything with him!"

Redfrin's voice climbed, soaked in madness, and beneath the weight of it Julbert's hand began to tremble.

"You don't seem to be in your right mind."

"Or maybe you're just slow on the uptake. Julbert Mertios."

"......"

"Anyway, this is probably the last time you and I will ever meet. No—maybe much later than that. And if I were you..."

Redfrin ran her tongue along her lips and leaned in to whisper at his ear.

With those words she stroked Julbert's jaw, flashed him a bright smile, and walked out of the gallery.

The moment she was gone, every premise he had carefully laid began to twist out of shape. Helplessness washed over him. He went to James where he lay and bowed his head.

"—So she still hasn't arrived?"

"She has not. You would do well to watch your tongue."

In Mlnébeur's laboratory, she was speaking with Getier of the Magic Bureau through a communication spell.

"You slip up, and then you nitpick the way I phrase things..."

"I'm not nitpicking. I said it because I was worried about you, Getier."

"And what is that supposed to mean, Mlnébeur? You talk as if Lady Lisleia were standing right beside you."

"From the way you speak, I can already picture how you'll talk about her once her back is turned."

"Unbelievable. I conduct myself perfectly well, so spare me the concern."

"Do you? You speak that way even to me, her disciple. Are you quite sure your conduct is as impeccable as you claim?"

"Mlnébeur Morgan. Are you trying to lecture me?"

"No. I'm telling you to do your job. Say what you came to say."

With that, the laboratory fell so still that the cry of a bird outside seemed loud. She finished the coffee she had set out, and only then did a deep sigh travel across the spell. The magic circle lit once more.

"Be advised. If Lady Lisleia does not arrive in Caipol within the appointed time, the Imperial Palace Magic Bureau will have no choice but to depart as well."

"Do as you must."

"That is all."

The communication cut.

Mlnébeur dragged a hand down her face and called up the last conversation she had shared with Lisleia, a week before.

That day was today. December 2nd.

...She should certainly have arrived by now. Had something happened to her?

Mlnébeur let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the floor, and drained her coffee.

Once he had sent Rachel on her way, Blow stopped by the recovery room with a basket of fruit, just as he had promised Yulia.

When he stepped inside, Yulia closed her book and waved, bright as anything. She looked far more alive than she had when she first woke after the duel, her face flushed a soft peach pink.

"Welcome, young master!"

"I thought you might be bored with nothing to nibble on, so I brought some fruit."

"I'm being discharged tomorrow morning anyway. You really didn't have to..."

"If there's any left, share it with Marchen."

"I will. Did you... come alone?"

As if to tease the hope swelling in her, Skadi poked her head in.

...Why is Lady Skadi here?

The sight of her froze Yulia where she sat. Skadi shut the door behind her and wore a smile that said rather a lot.

...And what exactly were the two of them planning to get up to in a recovery room?

The moment she heard it, Skadi decided this would not do, and deployed one of her ultimate techniques: playing oblivious and tagging along.

"Joy is something you multiply by sharing it! And I didn't get to pay my respects earlier, either!"

"That's true, Skadi, but still."

All Yulia had wanted was for the young master to pat her head. That was the whole of her wish, and her face stayed stiff with it. Whether Skadi noticed or not, she beamed and shook two bottles of Ropert Rose.

"In exchange! I brought these!!"

"Don't tell me you took those out of our storeroom."

"Of course I did!"

"Haha. Lady Skadi, already recouping your investment?"

"Obviously! Better to get a head start!"

"Honestly..."

"And, Senior, you were so shocked when you heard we'd been drinking in the recovery room before, remember? I just couldn't stop thinking about it!"

...I wanted to do that with just the two of us.

Yulia had already set a bottle of top-shelf Ropert and two glasses beneath the cupboard. There was nothing for it. She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sighed, and answered.

"All right. For something to eat with it..."

"I prepared that too!"

Skadi produced bacon and cheese at once. Faced with that thoroughness, Yulia truly had no choice but to throw up both hands.

"This breaks academy rules..."

"Only if we get caught! Right, Blow?"

"There are demerits, but they're minor."

"Young master, how would you even know that...?"

"Because I've been caught dozens of times."

Only then did his old reputation come back to her, and Yulia couldn't help a small laugh.

"That's true."

"If it weren't for Founder Whitaker's spirit of freedom, I wouldn't still be here."

"That's boasting, Blow Deblique!!"

"I hear you've been sneaking food in class lately, too."

"No! I've really been paying attention these days!"

"Sure. Why don't you try cracking the top thirty this time?"

"Whoa. Then I could keep a wyvern in Caipol."

"You'd better pull it off. Want me to assign Jane to you?"

"I keep telling you to come east! I'll treat you properly. Ride wyverns until you're sick of them."

...This was supposed to be my time, and Yulia did not like the way the talk kept drifting toward Skadi. She slipped in and filled Blow's glass.

"Everyone, take a glass."

"All right. One drink, then."

"Senior! Congratulations on your victory."

"Thank you, Skadi—and you, young master Blow!"

A little later the three of them touched glasses. The cups had hardly gone around before Yulia's face was red.

"Senior, what if we invited Marchen to lunch tomorrow as well?"

"Yes, yes! You have no idea how grateful I am to our Marchen!!"

"We'll need to settle the menu. A course meal would be best, wouldn't it?"

"Y-yes!"

Yulia's tongue seemed to have grown a little shorter. Watching her, Skadi was profoundly glad she had come, and Blow felt much the same.

"Young master! Tomorrow I get to eat corn cheese!!"

"Ah, we'll have to include that. It's practically your signature, my lady."

"But, young master... why isn't there a dish named after me?"

"Hm?"

"Herbena has Westriver Pork Roast, and Skadi has mussel stew."

"Those came up back when we were deciding the menu..."

"Lady Rachel is going to have Straight Rachel... Jane has Foresti Made..."

...So it had been bothering her. She was listing them off, one after another.

Blow looked at her, thrown, and she went on in a sulky whine, her lip pushed out.

"And even Rosalyn's Ropert Malt!"

"That one was made by House Ropert—"

"Whatever! I'm the only one without anything! Only me!!"

"Then what about naming the trousers you're wearing Yulia Slacks—"

"The trousers are supplied through Karlfeld's shop! I want my name—Yulia Edfolk's name—in Hills, or in the Red Forest!!"

She sounded thoroughly put out. Regretting that he hadn't thought of it sooner, Blow added, gently,

"Then perhaps it's best to put your name on Cheese Corn Cheese, Senior."

"Oh! On the corn cheese?"

"Yes. As Ria Corn Cheese..."

It sounded a little too much like a burger chain from his old world, but... still better than Cheese Corn Cheese.

"Wow, that would be wonderful. Then every time people ordered corn cheese, they'd be saying my name, wouldn't they?"

"That's how it would work, yes."

"Pizza was a dish from Cypress, but corn cheese is something you created, young master! I love it, I love it!!"

Yulia clasped her hands and grinned, soft and silly. Seeing how happy it made her, Blow decided he would change the name first thing tomorrow.

All the while Skadi watched her through narrowed eyes. She swallowed a sigh and quietly slipped in between them.

"That would be nice, I suppose."

"Right. You're the one who drove all the corn cheese sales, my lady."

"Mmm— I'm already in such a good mood, just thinking I get to eat corn cheese."

Humming, Yulia refilled their glasses. Something occurred to Blow then, and he turned to her.

"Then how about this for tomorrow?"

"How?"

She listened through his long explanation, then spoke with care.

"Would that really be all right?"

"Yes. I don't think it'll be much of a problem."

"Hmm, all right. Everything works out when you say so! Look! I even won the duel!"

She covered her mouth and laughed, bright. Blow nodded and poured for her.

"Have a drink."

"Stop talking about work now! It's boring!!"

"As you wish. Skadi looks like she agrees."

"Me? I just hope it goes well, that's all."

"Thank you. For thinking that way!"

A few more glasses went down. For every one that Blow and Yulia drank, Skadi had put away two, and at last she pushed herself up.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom."

"All right. Don't let on that you've been drinking."

"Does it show?"

"...It doesn't."

"What? Anyway, open another bottle."

Skadi stepped out of the recovery room.

The moment she was gone, a triumphant smile touched Yulia's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mouth. At last she could ask him to pat her head. She barely managed to quiet the heartbeat pounding at the thought, cleared her throat for no reason at all, and looked at Blow's hand.

Pale, and firm...

But around the wrist hung a bracelet that did not suit that hand in the slightest.

...It definitely hadn't been there until recently. Had someone given it to him? If they were going to give a gift, they might at least have given him something decent, not that lumpy thing!

Displeased, she tried to make the question sound natural.

"Young master, you've got a bracelet."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Ah, this? It was a gift."

"Was it? Who gave it to you?"

"Herbena did."

"I see..."

"Yes. She said it helps the flow of mana. She made it herself."

He smiled at it, as if the sight pleased him a great deal. Yulia's brow drew tight before she could stop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it. She smoothed the look away and opened her mouth with a gentle smile.

"Then I want to give you a gift, too."

"I'd rather you avoided a bracelet."

"A ring, then?"

Blow's face went stiff, and Yulia hurried to change course.

"I'm joking! A joke, haha!"

"...As you know, a ring is a bit too serious."

"Then I'll give you a watch."

"Hmm..."

"Please? Let me give you a gift."

She pressed him, her lips parting just a little, those clear eyes holding nothing but him. He could find no reason to refuse. Meeting her gaze, he nodded easily enough.

"If it isn't too expensive..."

"Of course. I have that much sense, you know? You even gave me a glass ornament! This is a return gift, so you absolutely have to accept it!"

"Thank you for thinking of me."

"Because you and I are a team!"

"Then allow me to offer a glass, in thanks."

"Thank you."

Blow drank, and was just reaching for the bacon when Yulia, who had been staring at his hand, cleared her throat.

"Young master."

"Yes?"

"Ah—"

She opened her mouth.

Blow stared at her, frozen. The corners of her lips and her shoulders sank.

"I'm a patient. This much is..."

"All right. Bacon, then?"

"No! I want grapes. Young master!!"

Bright again, she opened her mouth toward him.

She looked so much like a baby bird that Blow carefully plucked a grape and brought it to her lips.

Yulia's eyes flew wide, and she bit down on his finger with a soft, decisive snap.