Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: 14. Closer Than Friendship, Farther Than Love (16)
“Professor Selene. It's Ermina.”
“Come in.”
Selene welcomed Ermina, who wore a slightly anxious expression, with a soft smile. She had always been quite gentle and mild when dealing with students before, but after sharing her past life, she had become even more so.
It was because all her worries—about whether she was now putting on a false act, and about not being able to reveal the details even while confessing her past mistakes—had been resolved.
She still seemed to have some lingering attachment to her previous life, but facing her with such a refreshed expression only made Ermina shrink back.
“Actually, I came to hear a little more about what I mentioned last time...”
“How to interact with Yulius, right?”
“Y-Yes. It's partly my fault that Yulius left, but when he accepted me as a comrade midway, it seemed like he didn't hate me. Yet I still haven't been able to help much.”
“Yulius doesn't judge people by success, failure, or ability. Well, he does get twice as angry at capable people who slack off.”
“Then...”
“Just convey all those thoughts plainly, like I told you last time.”
Ermina bowed her head. No matter how much she thought about it, she lacked the confidence to converse smoothly in front of Yulius.
And seeing that, Selene thought to herself. Well, if everyone had that kind of courage, even her past self would have overcome the bullying with that child and reached a beautiful ending.
With no other choice, Selene suggested they go out.
Yulius was currently meeting with the Magic Tower Master anyway, so the two still had time.
“Does Student Ermina have a clear goal in mind?”
“A goal...?”
“I want to get married. I want to be in a romantic relationship. Even as a concubine, I want to be loved. Things like that.”
“No, not yet.”
“Then say that too. That you like him and want to be together, but including the practical issues, you don't really know 'how' to stay by his side.”
“Professor, you seem to know a lot about romance.”
“From the moment I was born, I've run endless simulations in my head alongside my regrets. About what kind of self I should have shown the boy I actually liked.”
Hearing that, Ermina fell silent.
It was because she had seen glimpses of Selene's past and witnessed her confessing it all in remorse afterward.
Had she agonized that much herself?
Had she regretted it that deeply?
In the end, was it right for her to cling like this, unable to even imagine herself as 'Ermina by Yulius's side'?
While she fidgeted without a clear answer, footsteps approached from outside.
“Oh, you're both here together.”
“Did your talk with the Magic Tower Master go well?”
“Yes. We've always exchanged various stories, so aside from a few things, there wasn't much need for lengthy discussion.”
“Well, you did keep meeting because of that talk about an internal enemy, right?”
“Yeah. We covered that and had some tea time, so we've built up some personal rapport.”
Whether for their sake or not, Professor Selene smiled brightly, said she would pack up and prepare to leave, and excused herself, leaving the two alone.
“Ermina. It must not have been easy living out in the provinces, right? Are you okay?”
“H-Honestly, it was a bit tough at first, but I'm much better now.”
“That's a relief. Being in the north, the climate is so different, and the Magic Tower mages have such distinct cultural differences, so I worried you'd struggle.”
“Yes. A little, actually. Hehe.”
A brief silence followed. Yulius seemed to find such quiet comfortable, but for Ermina, it was stifling and difficult.
Unable to bear it any longer, Ermina spoke first.
“Yulius.”
“Yes.”
“I feel like I wasn't able to help properly this time either...”
“No. You've always performed exactly as expected.”
“Truthfully, I wanted to do something helpful for you, Yulius.”
“You don't need to feel that burdened.”
“No, that's not what I mean.”
Ermina paused for a moment. Professor Selene had told her to speak straightforwardly without holding back.
“I want to gain the qualifications and ability to stand by your side, Yulius.”
At those words, Yulius's expression stiffened slightly, then relaxed.
“So I've started noble etiquette training. I'm always trying hard to make good use of the power I have. But even with all that effort, you still feel so distant.”
“First off, thank you. Regardless of the results, it's not easy to strive like that for my sake.”
But.
With that, Yulius also fell into a short silence.
“To be honest, I don't harbor any particular ill will toward you, Miss Ermina. But looking back comprehensively on life at the academy, it's true that you were a major cause.”
“Yes.”
“So among the connections I made after leaving the academy, some don't think fondly of you. They say things like, 'How dare she show her face after causing it...'”
Ermina clamped her mouth shut and lowered her head.
It was the truth, so she had no choice.
“Still, the reason I have no complaints about working with you is that I know you don't have flaws in your character or skills.”
“Is that... so?”
“Everyone makes mistakes. As long as they're not repeated the same way over and over, or used maliciously, they can be forgiven. And for you, Miss Ermina, I believe it's possible—no matter what others think.”
At those words, thick tears began streaming from Ermina's eyes. Not in small drops, but as if pouring out every bit from her tear glands, large droplets fell.
“So please don't rush things. I don't know how my future plans will turn out, but maybe a better solution will come along?”
“Sniff. Can I really think of it that positively?”
“Yes. The power you have is truly necessary and important to me and to others. I might need your help anytime too.”
“Do you really have no ill feelings toward me?”
“Honestly, I did at first. But after some time apart, and hearing stories from people like Spiegel in the south who you've helped, I got the impression that you're living diligently and doing your utmost to aid others. Even good people can become enemies depending on circumstances and timing...”
“...You seem much more refreshed and generous than before.”
“Maybe I've lightened one of my burdens and feel more at ease?”
His faint smile evoked no noble splendor or the diligence of a cafe owner—just the image of a child reconciling with a friend after a fight.
What was it? What had happened?
He was brushing it off with a smile, so he clearly wouldn't answer, but it was undoubtedly something good.
“Yulius.”
“Yes.”
“Once these complicated, tough matters are resolved and your plans are set, will you take me with you?”
“Ahaha.”
A troubled laugh. But in the atmosphere that wasn't an outright refusal, Ermina harbored a bit of hope.
And she resolved herself. To try even harder.
If she walked the right path, then someday, when they met again in the same place, Yulius would look upon her even more favorably than now.
“Right. You'll be at the academy until break after heading back this time, yes?”
“Yes...”
“Then, how about stopping by Astraea on the way? I could give you a little something as a gift.”
“Sure!”
She didn't know what it was, but hearing that Yulius had prepared a gift for her made her inexplicably happy.
Looking back, her love seemed to have deepened after he left the academy.
Aspects she hadn't known.
Deeper than any facade.
A personality that helps people even after casting aside authority.
All of it perfectly matched Ermina's ideal in a man.
It would be wonderful if they could be together forever like this.
“Ermina, we still have time—want some tea or coffee?”
“Hmm. Tea here.”
“Black tea is fine?”
“Honestly, anything is good if you brew it, Yulius.”
“That's a bit tricky for me right now.”
With a wry smile, steam rose from the kettle, and as if measuring time with the sensitive biological clock of an unmanned operator, he poured a perfect ruby-red black tea.
“Yulius, I think you would've lived well anywhere, even without being a noble.”
“Is that so? Truthfully, I'm the type who doesn't give my all without a special reason, so I might've ended up as a mediocre fool.”
“Then you've always had a reason until now.”
“Yeah. That's why it was tough, and I didn't want to. They say there's no paradise in escape, and even after quitting, I'm running around cleaning up demon messes.”
“Y-You'll definitely get to rest later!”
Matching the now clearly brighter Yulius, Ermina was able to spend a happy time.