13. The Two of Them
13. The Two of Them
Ever since summer break began, students have naturally been leaving the [Dormitory] and heading home one by one.
No matter how good a school it is.
In the end, for the students, school was just a place to escape from once vacation started.
It was only natural that a pair of childhood friends, born and raised in a rather quiet village in the Empire, would return home.
"Noah, how were your [Final Exams] results?"
"Hmm... they're decent. I didn't think I'd make it into the middle tier, but overall, I'm above average."
"Oh, wow, that's great! Is it because you got such good grades in your major, swordsmanship?"
"Yeah, probably. My other classes... from history to literature, my grades are all bad, but it seems like I got near-perfect scores in swordsmanship."
"Hehe, that's a relief. When you told your parents you were going to take the Academy entrance exam, and even when you passed... they were so worried. You'll be able to brag about it nicely."
"Brag... yeah, I guess I can."
Noah and Iris, who were riding the carriage back to their hometown together.
There wasn't really anything fun to do inside the carriage, and since Noah didn't have a hobby of reading books, conversation was all they had.
It would take at least two days to reach their hometown, so they had nothing to do but talk, as if they were settling the accounts for the semester.
"By the way, Noah, you said you couldn't even rest properly during break and had to go back up, right? Are you sure that's okay?"
"My Master teaches me a lot. I'm a bit tired, but I feel like I'm growing, so I think there are more... good points to it."
"Hmm... well, that's a relief, but I'm worried. You aren't overdoing it for no reason, are you?"
"It's not overdoing it. If anything, since I'm training, I feel like my body is getting better, so the training itself is fun."
"I see."
Iris, smiling brightly, kept talking to Noah.
Her gaze was fixed solely on Noah, just as it always was.
They had known each other in the same neighborhood since they were young, since before they could even remember, and since there was nothing to do in their boring countryside town other than play together, she was even more comfortable with these one-on-one conversations.
"By the way, Noah, when you go back up... should I go back to the Academy with you?"
"Huh?"
"Well, you know. Carriage fare isn't cheap... and if I ride alone, I feel like it'll be too expensive. Wouldn't it be better if we split the cost together?"
"Ah, that's true. Thinking about the carriage fare when I go up alone, it would be expensive."
"So I was just thinking it might be better if I went up with you when you go back."
"Hmm... well, there's no reason to spend money like water. I guess that's fine?"
"Puhuhu, right? You think so too, right, Noah?"
"Yeah."
Just like that, such conversations continued in the carriage.
A black-haired beautiful girl giggling, and a black-haired boy responding normally to her words.
The two's conversation continued until the carriage arrived at an inn where they could rest halfway.
'...I wonder if Nuna-nim went to work today.'
Even while the conversation continued like that, Noah was quietly thinking of Skadi without showing it.
"Kuh... Skadi, there really is nothing as delicious as the beer in front of the Academy."
"There's a reason why the 3rd-year Academy kids always drink beer here to celebrate becoming adults."
"Exactly. Entering at 17 and turning 19... honestly, I find the Academy entrance age and all that quite strange? If they were going to do it, wouldn't it be better to enter at 16, graduate at 18, and then have the coming-of-age ceremony at 19—the family coming-of-age ceremony?"
"I'm not a noble, so I wouldn't know."
"Ah, that's right. Anyway, isn't it a bit annoying? I feel like it would be better to spend your coming-of-age birthday at home with your family..."
I was drinking with Vivian at a small pub located on the street near the Academy.
Today, I finished the convenience store business cleanly and normally, just as I had announced.
After that, I ended up out drinking with Vivian, who was staying at an inn...
And today, as usual, useless conversation was flowing.
"Anyway, the beer here is delicious every time I come."
"Even though it's been almost 10 years."
"10 years... come to think of it, this was also where we had our first drink. That was so fun back then."
"I felt like shit back then, you know? Because of someone."
"Haha, it wasn't because of me, right?"
"It was because of you. You bitch."
"Oops."
Well, she could be annoying at times, but in the end, she was a bitch I'd kept a connection with for over 10 years.
Aside from being business partners... it was true that we were quite close.
I didn't have that many connections from my Academy days that I was still in contact with, and among them, Vivian was definitely close enough.
"Vivian, I've been wondering this for a few years now. Why does your makeup keep getting heavier?"
"Huh?"
"Your lips... and your eyeliner too. It's getting heavier compared to before."
"Isn't it pretty? Doesn't this look more alluring?"
"It just looks like an old lady."
"...What."
Back in our Academy days, she was just a normal, pretty girl.
Somehow, she felt like she was getting older as time went on.
28 isn't really that old yet, though...
"The eyeliner, and the lipstick, it's not getting lighter. Plus, the earrings are too flashy; it's really not great."
"......Is it that bad?"
Of course, it could just be that I don't have much interest in dressing up.
Because of the [Snow Woman] race's unique appearance, I could have a quite flashy look even without makeup.
Perhaps it was because of the memory of being a man in my past life...
I never really had the thought to wear makeup.
The only times I'd wear makeup were... back in the day, a long, long time ago... it's already been 10 years, when I was forced to wear makeup to enter something like an Academy beauty contest?
"And I've said this before. White pants and a white shirt. A red jacket over that...? Honestly, that's not a style that makes you look young, is it?"
"......Isn't it pretty?"
"Pretty, cool. Leaving that aside, there's clothes that fit your age, and an age that fits your clothes."
"But you've never dated, you're not interested in dating. And you're not interested in dressing up either. So how can I trust your words?"
"...Crazy bitch."
Even when I give advice, she's like this.
I'm the one who actually sees the fresh, youthful sprouts at the Academy all day long.
Why is a bitch who only meets middle-aged men and women in their 40s and 50s while running her business acting like this?
"Tsk tsk..."
"Right now, for you to say anything about fashion... what are you wearing? You've been in jeans and a shirt for days now, right?"
"That's because it's my work clothes. You crazy bitch."
"Haa... wearing nothing but work clothes every single day, how dare you criticize fashion, Skadi. Your fashion cannot make me understand."
"...Why are you suddenly talking like you're something special? You sound like that guy who used to hit on me back in my 1st year of Academy."
"...Wow, you just said something really unpleasant. Do you know that?"
"Yeah, I said it on purpose."
"Huh......"
Well, I didn't really have many chances to talk like this usually.
There really wasn't anyone to talk to lightly like this.
Since there were only kids inside the Academy.
The only person I could talk to... was that kid, Noah.
...It wasn't just the kids in the Academy; there was literally no one else to talk to besides him.
I didn't have any close friends among the staff, and no acquaintances at the surrounding shops...
...I suddenly thought about how lonely I lived by myself.
"Sigh..."
"Why are you sighing all of a sudden? What are you trying to do?"
"Just thinking about how I ended up like this."
"No, are my clothes really that unflattering...? Isn't it pretty? I think I picked this jacket out pretty well."
"......Sigh."
This bitch, calling herself a friend...
"Hey, just drink more beer."
"Yeah."
She was frustrating in many ways, and it was absurd, but Vivian had been this kind of bitch since way back.
I didn't really pay attention to it and started drinking.
It wasn't whiskey or vodka, just beer.
As I gulped it down...
"Kuh... it is delicious."
"Exactly."
"I've definitely been feeling it lately, maybe because I'm getting older. It is boring."
"See? You think so too, right? I'm not particularly weird, am I?"
"...Back in Academy days, you were the one who made such a fuss about not being interested in dating, but as soon as you turned 20, you were talking about wanting to date and wanting to get married every single day. Seeing that, you are definitely weird."
"...No, you're not going to empathize with this? You're a 28-year-old virgin just like me, aren't you?"
"Sigh."
"Vulgar bitch."
I don't know why she says even weirder things than me, who came from a man.
"But you really should meet more people, okay? You need to live a little."
"...I know, roughly."
"It's not about age; it's just that you're living inside the Academy here, and you don't have anyone to talk to, right? Actually, there are peers who attended the Academy at the same time as us, but you're the one who isn't looking for them."
"Half of them are probably guys who confessed to me."
"Ah."
It was true that I had told Vivian this and that.
Anyway, it was true that I was living a boring daily life.
In the process of living inside the Academy, conversation was always just about calculating at the convenience store, telling them to stop spilling soup, or when they were throwing away trash wrong?
"How about you just hang out with the kids who go here instead?"
"......Huh. You're really crazy, aren't you?"
"...No, you were the one who asked me last time how it would be to meet a younger guy."
"A younger guy is a younger guy, but the kids here aren't even adults, you know?"
"That's not what I meant...! I just meant literally, just have some conversations with the kids. Living alone while just doing business is too boring, right? You don't really have any hobbies either."
"That's true, but..."
Actually, I was already doing that much, having conversations.
Not that we're close, though.
I do have normal conversations...
Though there was only one person I did that with.
"...But why are you reacting like that?"
"What?"
"No, it's just... I thought you'd tell me not to say weird things again. But this time, you're reacting like it's nothing?"
"...What are you saying."
"Sigh."
As expected, she was a friend who wasn't particularly helpful outside of the convenience store business.
Anyway, that was that.
"Hmm...?"
"Just drink your beer."
So I just drank more beer.