Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Even If I Cry, I Won't Fall (3)
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Today was special in many ways. It was because Sophia—who had come to the cafe last time following Big Sis Cosetica, tears and snot streaming down her face—and Natalie, who had gotten injured buying time against Danil back then, had both stopped by to express their gratitude.
Of course, they hadn't come empty-handed. They brought a letter written by Professor Selene.
A letter could have easily been sent through Karin, but for some reason, the two of them had appealed to her, and Karin had taken the time to escort them both here.
Natalie bowed her head right away, while Sophia hesitated at first but quickly flashed her cheeky grin. Surprisingly, both had positive reactions to the coffee.
Well, espresso has that image of being an adult taste, but since they're all grown-ups anyway, as long as the aroma was good, they could handle the bitterness just fine.
Natalie politely handed over the letter first, then set down her half-empty Americano cup and spoke.
"Thank you so much for helping us last time. You came right away and saved our lives."
"No, no. It wasn't anything that impressive."
"That's too modest. When I only knew you by name in the past, I thought the rumors were a bit exaggerated, but it turns out they're understated."
Honestly, it was incredibly burdensome. Back when I was deeply immersed in high society, the people I met were mostly high-ranking due to the Etman family's role guarding one of the Imir Kingdom's most vital borders, so they rarely bowed like this.
A noble lowering their head also meant humbling the honor of their house, lands, and the people living there—it wasn't something that happened as often as one might think.
Groveling to superiors was more common among court nobles with no real responsibilities or wealthy bourgeois with nothing but money.
And even those types only bowed in private, away from their underlings' eyes.
Anyway, she seemed to be Natalie Etman, daughter of the Etman family that produced knights almost hereditarily. Her attitude was stuck flat to the ground out of gratitude and deference to the difference in our houses, which was a bit exhausting.
"Natalie. The cafe manager doesn't like that sort of thing."
"...I could never call him 'Cafe Manager.'"
"Ehehe. Real manners are doing what the other person wants. Cafe Manager~ Got any cake here?"
"We do."
In contrast, Sophia waved her hand at me energetically while slurping her iced Americano with a super friendly vibe as she ordered. Her energy felt a tad excessive, but considering it might be her way of forgetting the recent trauma, it was also kind of heartbreaking.
Sophia Ishtvan was the youngest of the Ishtvan family, famous for having a ton of kids. Unless something special happened, she probably had no real combat experience.
Unfortunately, the first criterion for succession was age, and the second was talent and skill.
As the youngest—and a latecomer at that—there'd been no reason to give her field experience.
No need to raise her harshly.
And then, right in front of her, her friend and senior nearly died, leaving her to evacuate alone and seek help. Who knows what state her mind was in.
I brought out a simple tart to snack on, a pastry that might be a bit much, and a hefty slice of fresh cream cake.
Karin naturally picked up her fork. Sophia glanced at me slyly before diving in. Natalie’s eyes trembled as she hesitated to even touch her fork.
"Eat comfortably."
"Um, that..."
"Yes."
"Could you at least drop the formal speech?"
"...If that makes you comfortable."
Natalie let out a sigh of relief, then swiftly grabbed her fork and cut off a massive chunk of the fresh cream cake.
"Whoa, hey, hey, hey. Why are you taking that much all for yourself?"
"Knights need a lot of calories."
"Mages do too, you know? We recover mana by eating and sleeping."
Knowing she couldn't overpower Natalie physically to snag the cake, Sophia neatly claimed half of what was left.
While the two bickered for a moment, Karin steadily devoured the tart made from mysterious fruit from the labyrinth and the pastries I liked.
Bread went into her right cheek, chewed by molars, shifted to the left cheek while fresh bread filled the right—a conveyor belt in her mouth. Her mouth, right cheek, left cheek, and throat were always working nonstop, holding at least three or four bites at any time.
This must be her true self around friends. It made me smile for no reason.
"Dem-dang-nim."
"Yeah?"
"Wae u-seo-yo."
"Swallow what's in your mouth first."
"Mm. Okay."
"...You're actually eating it all. Just makes me happy to see. Getting along with friends is important. I never had any."
"Oh, the academy heartthrob drops a bombshell."
I ignored Sophia's excited fussing beside me and spoke to Karin.
"Well, this academy might be different, but basically, the people you meet there can become key connections later. Say you're working at the Magic Tower and want a project from the Imperial Knights. Turns out the contact was your old lunch buddy. Stuff like that."
"True. But I got on the wrong side of my seniors, so these two are my only friends."
"Not my fault, but why do I feel like I should apologize?"
"What do you mean 'this time might be different'?"
Sophia perked up at the question and looked at me. Natalie carefully set down her cake, which she'd been devouring heartily.
"With an incident like this, the academy goes into emergency mode. Real combat training ramps up max, outsiders are restricted, and depending, even heading home for break won't be easy. Not the time to peacefully make friends."
"...Speaking of real combat."
"Yeah?"
"The skill gap is huge, so I doubt it'd help much, but... could you take a look at my swordsmanship sometime?"
Just as I was about to reply, Dras—who'd been leisurely sipping his coffee cocktail and listening to the young folks—spoke up.
"I think you should give it a shot."
"I was gonna turn her down."
"The cafe manager's power direction is a bit unique. Great talent as a swordsman, but not outrageously so—just brute physical strength, exquisite mana control, and a masterpiece forged by the goddess's grace."
"So as a swordsman, there's not much I can critique."
"That's something you gotta see first."
True enough. People's skills don't always develop evenly. Some parts flow naturally with overflowing talent, becoming effortless. Others refuse to budge no matter what.
I'd been overly tense for way too long, strength locking my body.
"Can't argue with that."
"...So you'll do it?"
"Not sure if I'll have advice, though."
This was the first time I'd seen Natalie smile today.
Sophia and Karin eyed her with subtle expressions—must be a rare sight for them too.
An awkward silence hung for a moment.
And breaking it was Big Sis Cosetica.
"Oh! You guys are really here. Remember me?"
"Yep. I do~"
"Don't copy my speech."
The sis giggled as she plopped into the last empty seat at the four-person table and launched into chatter. Her personality was great to begin with, but her guild master suffering had honed her social skills—her outward affability was top-notch.
Natalie, watching blankly alone, bowed deeply after introductions, but Sis waved it off, clearly burdened by the formality just like me.
I slipped away during their exchange to prepare an Einspänner and presented it to Sis.
"Huh. Guild Master Sis gets a different drink."
"Our regulars each have their go-to order."
"I don't really have one..."
"You haven't been coming often."
And as I figured, once my existence went public, she'd either move more freely or get shut down— one or the other.
"So if we come often and pick a menu, that becomes our thing? Like, 'Bartender. The usual.'"
"It works."
"Hey, Karin. Gotta work on my little bucket list item."
"...Bring you every time?"
"Obviously!"
Watching those two banter made me smile again.
In my past life, trauma kept friends away. In this one, status and role did the same.
Might just be my lack of social skills, but seeing that made me feel a twinge of inferiority and envy for never having it— and gratitude that at least they did.
Dras chuckled at my expression and said,
"Hey. My much younger best buddy. Can you prep a new drink before this glass empties?"
"...As a friend, one word: drink in moderation."
Dras drained two more glasses after that.