-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Lingering Past (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The customers visiting the canteen weren't just students.
The small outdoor seating area was the perfect spot for patrolling guards or professors exhausted from racking their brains over experiments to catch their breath.
Every new semester, rumors about standout students and their families spread fastest through their mouths.
"Professor Marco, I heard a student cast a Rank 2 spell without incantation on the first day of class?"
"Yes... A kid named Kal from southern Montana. He's got quite the talent."
"The overall level of students this year is exceptionally high. I was worried about the inter-class competitions with Liv Lavre and the eldest son of the Cloud Viscount family in second year, but it looks like we'll be fine as is."
"We have the princess too, and rumors say the Holy Kingdom might transfer a student mid-semester... Second years might even get pushed back later."
"I had high hopes for the Roshiar countess's daughter too..."
"...Let's drop that topic. By the way, the regular meeting in Mizarr next month should have Helzev on the agenda."
Their voices, carried on the wind, reached my ears unfiltered as I sat at the counter reading the morning paper.
Adella's reputation is still in the gutter, as expected.
And I didn't know the princess had enrolled. Time flies.
For royalty who don't even need to study magic to enter the academy... These are good times indeed.
"Hello, Louis."
A voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to greet her.
"Welcome, Professor Roilen. Need anything?"
"Not really~. I was just bored."
She approached with quick steps, bringing the fresh citrus scent with her.
She must have found the old professors' chatter dull.
"Why are you hiding your face? Got a pimple or something?"
"Just reading the paper."
Ten years can change rivers and mountains, but it's not nearly long enough to forget painful history.
Students are fine, but there might be a professor who's crossed paths with me on the front lines by chance.
I had no desire to get chummy with them, but Professor Roilen started fiddling with items in the canteen to get my attention.
"Wow~. These staves are all magic foci."
"New semester, you know. Most will use family staves or swords, but some might need them, so I prepared."
Magic foci were tools to use magic more efficiently.
Most were staves, but skilled mages weren't bound by form.
Terra carried a cannon around, claiming max firepower.
Never seen an eccentric like her, but mages used all sorts of foci.
"Should I buy one?"
Seeing Professor Roilen tilt her head while holding a staff, her golden hair swaying, I shrugged.
"Isn't that earring your focus?"
"Good eye? Yeah. Made from gold dust dredged from Sachala's canals."
"Didn't know the details."
"Just saying~. Hmm? This one's made of Yageum wood? Not many places handle this material..."
Her instincts were sharp, as expected from a professor around magic items.
Yageum wood was a premium material with superior hardness and mana conductivity over regular wood.
Its living roots resisted magic strongly and resisted axes, making it a lumberjack's nightmare.
"I sourced it."
"You did, Louis?"
"Yeah. Last winter. Workshop handled the processing."
Her expression hardened slightly at my answer.
"I stayed in Pharenchia this year instead of going home, but didn't they ban access to the western forests from December? Monsters everywhere, too dangerous."
"...Ah, last year."
"There was such heavy snow they issued evacuation for the watchposts..."
"..."
I set down the paper after fumbling for a second excuse amid the pointless text.
"Want a staff?"
My mouth runs faster than my brain.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Pleased to meet you all. I'm Erzebet Brunhart de Baor, enrolling a bit late in Pharenchia Academy. Like you, I'm here to learn magic."
Her beautiful blonde hair outshone even the sunlight pouring through the window.
The brooch on her chest bore the royal crest, worn by only one at the academy.
Professor Vincent broke into a cold sweat at the Penheim princess in his class, but the students didn't keep their distance from Erzebet.
Nobles who mingled at socials already knew each other's faces.
"Long time no see, Ansen. Has the flood damage from last autumn settled? We kept taxes low this year too—say hi to Count Chronov."
"Gurmond Confectionery? I know it. Best desserts in the capital. They opened one in Pharenchia? Let's go sometime."
"No salon plans yet. Thinking of running for student council in May's election first."
As class ended, Erzebet greeted the crowding students kindly one by one.
Some nobles stared at the vivid parrot on her shoulder in fascination.
Meanwhile, Erzebet scanned resting classmates for one she hadn't greeted.
Adella Sylvestra de Roshiar, Roshiar second daughter and the only freshman with the Four-Leaf Medal.
She should stand out...
Never seen her in society, but Roshiar caliber should draw crowds like those around her now.
Yet she spotted only a few cliques—no blue, watery Roshiar hair.
"Princess, looking for someone?"
"Yes. Heard the Snow Duke's sister is in this class. Did she skip today?"
"Well..."
An odd tension filled the classroom at her words.
From the far back corner window seat, a voice woke someone.
"Hey, hey, wake up, Adella!"
"Hnnng..."
"The princess is here! She's looking for you!!"
"Hwah?"
A student with her cape flipped like an umbrella and face buried in the desk lifted her head groggily.
Come to think of it, she'd been like that all class... Erzebet approached cautiously.
"Adella? Nice to meet you. I'm Erzebet."
"Yaaawn~. Hi there."
"Our kingdom owes the Roshiar family so much. How's the Snow Duke?"
"Hehe, thanks~. No idea about my big sis. Probably fine?"
An attitude like it had nothing to do with her.
And this distance...?
"I-is that so. Last class of the day, right? Care to join me for dinner if you have time?"
Flustered but composed, Erzebet invited her to dinner.
Rank wasn't official in the academy, but noble customs lingered.
First dinners required proper etiquette.
Inviting lower titles with Roshiar countess present would spark gossip.
But Adella refused without a hint of regret.
"Nah."
"Pardon...?"
"A-Ad-Ad-Adella! Are you insane!? Sorry, Princess! She's a bit slow!!"
Lina, apologizing beside her, grabbed Adella's nape with a smack. Unthinkable considering status.
"Apologize quick! Bow!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! The desk shook.
"Ow, hurts! I gotta go to the canteen. Their bread's yummy..."
"Food down your throat right now!? You idiot! Moron!!"
Erzebet narrowed her eyes at Adella's words amid the scene.
"The canteen...?"
"N-no! She's just nuts... Been babbling the owner's some great mage. Ignore it!"
"It's true! I saw it with my own ey—guh!"
"No, stop, friend. It's fine."
Erzebet halted Lina, who was woodpecker-pecking Adella's head into the desk.
She met eyes with Adella, rubbing her red forehead and nose.
"You're busy, I see. Can't be helped. I wanted to check the canteen anyway—perfect chance."
"Princess?"
"Adella. I'm not familiar with the academy layout yet. Mind showing me?"
"Now?"
Maybe the Roshiar lady knew something.
Erzebet nodded at Adella's outwardly clueless question.
"Yes. Right now."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hellloo~? Anyone hooome~~!?"
"Huh? Where'd he go? Closing early?"
I hid in the counter corner, avoiding Adella peering through the front glass.
Who'd guess catching one thief would lead to this? Her obsession was near pathological.
Too scared to even turn on the upstairs lights.
"Aww, must be asleep early."
Her footsteps faded, and I finally sighed in relief.
Didn't tense up this much fleeing Antiope, one of the Demon King's executives.
Gone?
As I started to rise, I sensed someone and froze.
1 second, 2, 3...
After an eternity, a small mutter.
"Really gone."
My heart chilled. What sin did I commit to Liv in hiding like this?
Adella wasn't alone—chatting voices followed.
"It's usually open now, but maybe out or asleep today."
"Oh? We'll come back then. You go ahead, Adella."
"And you, Princess?"
"I'll wander a bit then head to dorms. So much new since leaving the palace."
Clack clack clack.
Quick steps identified the departer instantly.
Then, a small bird's chirp.
"Piy."
"..."
"Piy! Piy! Piy!!"
"I know you're there. Come out."
Damn it all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇