*
The athletics festival planning was swift!
No matter how much I reinforced the protective barrier around the Academy or sprinkled anti-tracking magic in the Swordsmanship Training Hall,
I couldn’t stop the Emperor from coming after me.
If he swings his axe just once, the Academy will be half-destroyed.
It’s my bare minimum of defense. After all, he wouldn’t wield an axe at an event where parents could attend, right?
“Hey! Move that structure to the left!”
Before long, the Academy bustled with noise as construction work was underway everywhere.
“Don’t touch this room, it’s being remodeled!”
Dwarves were running around holding blueprints. Civil engineers showing their quick movements.
“Suddenly having an athletics event is surprising. Kai…”
“Yeah, it was famous for happening around this time, after all.”
Having nowhere to go while wandering around preparing for the event, we settled at the cafeteria.
“I heard the Emperor is coming to catch the guy who harassed his daughter. Is that the reason?”
Ariel exclaimed loudly, as if a good thought had occurred to her while eating spaghetti.
Her keen intuition felt frustratingly sharp.
I mean, anyone could tell she was talking about me.
Yesterday, I shared sweets in Pina’s room and almost kissed her out of nowhere, after all.
“…”
Even if that wasn’t the case, Rock might have caught onto all the misdeeds I had done to her.
Considering the mixed bathing up north and various incidents that happened at the Academy,
There’s hardly anything I could defend myself with in this situation.
“I really don’t know who it is. But I did put a leash on the princess.”
“Right! I saw it at the social club!”
The Hero couple began to snicker while looking at Pina and me. Come to think of it, this must be Ariel’s first time seeing my face.
“Our Kai is a bit better-looking, but I guess that’s the level of a partner!”
No, it was a choker, not a leash! I really don’t get why people in this game are so sensitive about the necklace Pina wore.
There was even a noble lady with animal ears whispering such things at the social club.
“Which lecher attached himself to the princess, that she’s already wearing a collar…!”
In the game, everyone wore accessories like dogs or cows.
They’re just ornaments, right? You wear them to boost stats.
Even the Nameless Saintess had a cross necklace when she was around.
The cross buried within her pure white saintly robes.
Just thinking about it made my face burn. Maybe it was because I had seen Pina Granxia in casual clothes yesterday, but her image kept flashing in my mind.
No matter how loose the clothing was, the contours of her fierce body were still visible.
While she had a similar all-white appearance from head to toe, the strangely alluring clumsiness also shone through.
Maybe wearing heavy armor now is actually a blessing.
If she had been in casual clothes around the Academy, she would have been overwhelmed by all those male suitors.
“…I’d have to fend them off from the side.”
In the past, they would have arranged a pretty good guy for her to go with, but now, I have no desire to let her go.
“Mr. Mardol, do you know anything…?”
I asked while glancing at Pina. Again, I exchanged looks with the golden-eyed wolf.
“Ah, huh…?”
She’s been staring at me for a while now, caught off guard, Pina Granxia was fumbling with her words.
“I think the Emperor is coming… but the Imperial Guard will probably keep him at bay.”
After all, it’s the princess herself saying it, so it must be true.
The ones holding Rock down are the guards directly under the royal family.
I could have had my limbs torn off in front of Rock.
So it means they are somehow delaying his arrival here.
If it weren’t for them, my head would’ve probably been rolling around the Academy by now?
Even imagining that makes me short of breath, and my face runs cold. An ominous chill creeps up my spine.
“You’re doing a great job…”
I sighed and commended the guards for their hard work. The food gets stuck in my throat.
What a hassle for everyone because of me. I hadn’t done anything particularly notable to earn their goodwill.
Maybe they were looking favorably at me for everything I did to protect Pina.
“So, I hear there’s the opening ceremony for the athletics festival soon. Don’t you want to eat just this and go? Helmet?”
Ariel smiled brightly as she spoke. I tried to nod eagerly in response, but…
“..Licht is not a helmet.”
Pina’s sharp remark cut me off. Her cold tone made the atmosphere grow tense.
“But… you’re always wearing a helmet…”
“Still, I can’t allow just the two of us to go to the opening ceremony.”
Why is Pina commenting on the title Ariel uses? She crossed her arms and pulled me to the side.
“..Huh? Just the two of us? No! Mardol!”
Our suddenly close distance made my heart race.
“Hmm? It doesn’t seem like Ariel meant it that way?”
“Mardol. What I meant is that we should all go together!”
At that moment, the Hero couple corrected themselves with expressions indicating they misunderstood.
“Ah..? It was that we were going together…?”
Pina, realizing she misunderstood, released the arm she had linked with mine.
“..I misunderstood. I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head apologetically.
Recently, she seems to be gaining an obsession with monopolizing me.
The same was true at the social club, where Pina acted impulsively to introduce me to all the nobles.
Every time noble ladies who’d sent me invitations gaped and fled upon seeing my face…
I can’t help but think I won’t be put in a jealous situation like that.
Although the brooch on her chest is different from others, surely that’s not the reason?
“Mardol, don’t think such bad thoughts, just have more cake.”
I slid the cake plate I had just received toward her. I kept a spare just in case, you never know.
Pina loved strawberry cake. I had paid attention to what she liked at the bakery before.
“Oh, thank you… Licht. I’ll enjoy this.”
I have no idea how many plates she’s demolished by now. It’s amazing she doesn’t gain weight eating like that.
Ariel stopped dieting after dating Kainel, but Pina doesn’t seem to be managing it either.
Could it really be that they’re all collapsing in one direction?
“…Just had a weird thought.”
“No..?”
Ugh, my inappropriate thought was caught by Pina.
She glared at me, her eyes fierce. How does she always figure me out when I think such things?
“Licht, are you really a pervy mutt…?”
I don’t know if it’s her sharp eyesight or if she can sense my heartbeat racing. Maybe it’s an instinct she was born with.
“Well, the princess is pretty, so I guess I thought of her a bit.”
I decided to be bold about it here.
Since I’m already marked as her partner within the Academy, might as well flaunt it proudly.
“Let’s create more flags!”
For Pina’s Grand Route ending, I have to make use of every possible likeability and choice option I can!
“…”
Clang, my fork fell. The cutlery Pina dropped collided with the plate, creating a metallic sound.
She’s blushing; I can see the joining line between her sure neck and armor.
I think I succeeded. The wolf ears peeking from behind the glass wall are perked up. They were drooping before.
“Mardol? Is there a problem?”
I playfully inspected Pina’s expression and teased her.
My father used to whisper such concerns to my mother often. I wonder if it will go well.
*
We left the cafeteria and stepped toward the athletics festival opening ceremony.
“Hello, students.”
Just like at the entrance ceremony, a green-haired man stood on the podium. It was Laplace.
“I have an important message to share with you all.”
Taking a deep breath, he began speaking, his face serious enough that it made me shiver.
Did he sense the killing intent coming from afar? His lips continued to twitch.
“..It is…”
Laplace quickly snapped his fingers. Using his power, the sky turned dark as night.
The surroundings that had been bright just now became as if painted over with black paint.
In an instant, the blackened clouds gave off a terrifying vibe.
The moment everything plunged into darkness, Laplace snapped his fingers again.
“Grand Hertz Academy! Announcing the autumn athletics festival!”
The magical lights surrounding the venue started to illuminate the Academy.
“There will be various events in the athletics festival! The team that collects the most magical runes will win!”
The words “Grand Hertz Academy” were being created with starlight.
So, he can use his power this way. It seems that as long as there’s light, he can switch it on or off.
“With the spirits, a game escaping the Academy!”
Bam, boom. Fireworks lit up the night sky with loud sounds.
Red phoenix-shaped and orange wolf-shaped fireworks decorated the sky.
“And finally, the highlight of the autumn athletics festival!”
The green-haired man spread his arms wide.
True to his nature, he exaggeratedly acted out, knowing the Emperor was racing toward the Academy.
“Doing a relay with Pandora’s Box!”
At that moment, a firework exploded in the shape of a box with a question mark.
It’s not some game featuring a plumber with a red hat, calling it Pandora’s Box is quite unique.
“Last Hope will be underway!”
As Laplace finished speaking, he hopped off the podium. He seemed rushed, likely not knowing when Rock would arrive.
“…The athletics festival.”
Pina murmured softly, gazing at the fireworks next to me.
In the glass armor, a cute girl bearing wolf ears was hidden—something I alone knew.
I lightly grasped her hand, feeling her flinch and tremble. Even without words, I could sense her racing heart.
“Are you not excited? Mardol?”
“Uh…?”
Though Pina Granxia had hidden her identity inside a masterpiece, I think I could guess her expression.
“I’m a little worried…”
“It’ll be okay. No matter who comes, I’ll protect you.”
I whispered softly while looking at Pina. Having already protected her from both Emperor Rock and the Demon King once,
If I couldn’t do it just once, how could I not do it again?
“So, let’s enjoy the athletics festival, Mardol.”
She linked her pinky with my glass gloves, sealing our promise.
*
