“I will keep an eye on Mia Crowfield.”
At first, I had planned to hide it, but our diligent Crown Princess would come looking for me to study together every weekend. It wasn’t like she was really obsessed with studying all day, but for some reason, she thought it was perfectly normal to review the week’s lessons during the weekends since there weren’t any exams coming up.
Surely, when exam time rolls around, she’ll really start hitting the books.
It’ll be helpful for me too. Well, I tend to rewind time and listen more than a few times when there’s something I don’t understand during class.
In any case, if I didn’t say this beforehand, Alice would definitely come searching for me everywhere.
“…Did Crowfield do something wrong?”
“Not at all.”
I lightly shook my head at Alice’s slightly worried question.
“However, Mia Crowfield might pose a threat.”
In the original game, she was one of the strongest magic dealer characters. If you fully powered up her staff and equipped it with Marmaros properly, she could rain down what others would use as ultimate skills as regular magic. Especially in the not-so-perfectly balanced first game, there were some overpowered Marmaros that made mana regeneration easy, allowing almost infinite spam once it was her turn.
Of course, while this world has some differences from the game… still, some systematic aspects seem to remain. If the magic from the game exists here, even just that ‘part’ could mean the end of my life.
“Are you thinking of eliminating her or something?”
Alice’s expression was full of rejection when she said that. It’s understandable. To her, Mia Crowfield was just a fellow classmate without knowledge of such a future.
And honestly, I don’t harbor any ill feelings toward Mia Crowfield. Her father may be trash, but Mia herself isn’t a bad person. If anything, she leaned more towards being virtuous.
“No, I won’t.”
So I could answer that way.
What I intend is to evade danger and prepare means of defense, not to eliminate Mia Crowfield who might be the cause of it.
I didn’t want that… and what about the body if I kill a student in the academy?
“Really?”
“Really.”
To Alice, who hesitated to ask again, I answered with certainty.
Alice stared at my face, analyzing it, then sighed deeply and nodded.
“…Alright. If you say it with that expression, I have no choice but to believe you.”
…Honestly, I’m not even sure what expression that is. I was just being expressionless as usual.
For a moment, I wondered if Alice had some kind of superpower to read human emotions or something, but I quickly discarded that thought. Given the original settings, I had already read everything in detail. That included character abilities and all.
Of course, parts that would spoil the sequel were not included in the setting book, but still, the settings regarding the protagonist’s group were almost all revealed. Alice didn’t have such a power.
If she did, she would have definitely figured out the Emperor’s plans by now.
“Well, Crowfield’s attitude has changed… if you feel that as a threat, it can’t be overlooked.”
Alice muttered to herself, then suddenly looked at me.
“Do you want me to help?”
“I’m fine.”
“…You answered too quickly.”
Alice seemed a bit hurt by my response.
“The fewer people tailing, the better. It lowers the chance of being caught.”
That was my prepared answer, anticipating Alice might say something like that, and indeed, it was useful.
“But still… what if I get friendlier with Crowfield and extract some information?”
“Crown Princess. You are the Emperor’s daughter, therefore a Crown Princess.”
If the daughter of the person who killed his father approached, he’d definitely be on high alert. It seemed Alice didn’t harbor ill feelings toward her, but even so…
If it took a semester to slowly get close, maybe it would work.
“I suppose that’s true?”
“That’s correct.”
In response to Alice’s slightly disappointed tone, I confirmed again.
No, more so, being alone is much more reassuring. It allows for a little peace of mind.
*
Anyway, thanks to what I said, I could shake Alice off.
I’ve already had the experience of monitoring someone. I had a blast while assassinating the Count. After considering every possible route and rewriting time again and again, I could make it work.
The same strategy could work in the academy as well. I have a well-functioning pair of binoculars and a scope attachment for my gun. Even if I didn’t attach it to my gun, it was useful enough on its own.
Every dorm room definitely has a large window. And it was wide open for a good view of the surroundings. Of course, it wasn’t simply a case of the Academy being the only skyscraper towering alone. Even though the neighborhood was well-kept, it was ultimately in the middle of the city, surrounded by buildings.
Instead, there was a large lawn between those buildings and the dorm, making it a pleasant sight when looking out the window. Although it wasn’t as vast as Central Park right in the middle of New York, the greenery amidst the urban landscape was soothing in itself.
It was the weekend, and students were sprawled there. Couples spreading out mats and happily eating sandwiches, or people lounging around napping. Well, it’s spring.
But the places I need to focus on aren’t those.
Since the windows were quite large for regulating the students’ conditions, if the curtains weren’t drawn, the room would be clearly visible. Especially on a bright, sunny day like today.
At that moment, I knew Mia Crowfield was inside.
In the original, Mia preferred to stay in her room. She was a character who genuinely had lines like, “Outside of the blanket is dangerous…”
She particularly disliked the hot sun.
Gloomy, timid.
Mia Crowfield had such traits fitting her design.
…Maybe the atmosphere softened a bit since her father’s enemy is right next to her.
“Hm.”
I let out a sound of contemplation.
If so many characters have changed because of me being here, isn’t the unfolding ahead going to change drastically?
If the progression alters that much, will the future I already know become useless?
“…”
Regardless of how much I pondered, the conclusion didn’t come easily.
…Well, I’ll think about that when the time comes.
For now, observing Mia Crowfield takes priority.
If it gets too urgent, I could always rewind time, right?
*
“….”
I should have anticipated this.
People who firmly believe in staying home might not want to come out all day.
After half a day of being on top of this residential area, as the sun began to set, Mia Crowfield’s curtains had yet to open.
No, there wasn’t even a glimmer of light inside.
Could she be sleeping?
Thinking seriously, but with no movement after contemplating, no answer came.
“….”
Alright then.
I pulled back the scope I was holding and thought.
Since it has come to this, should I just go to Mia Crowfield’s room?
Come to think of it, Mia avoiding answering properly yesterday in front of so many people might have backfired.
If Mia doesn’t want to be in a situation just by the two of us, then what I need to do is create a situation for just the two of us.
…But wouldn’t that mean I’d also be wasting my time if I go now?
“….”
At this point, since I’ve already wasted time, let’s at least have a conversation with Mia Crowfield.
After conversing, I can then decide whether to rewind time or not.
Thinking like that, I lay down for a moment, tapped my various aching body parts, and stood up.
Fortunately, just before lying down, I had laid out a military poncho.
I sighed deeply while rolling up the poncho.
*
Fortunately, I didn’t run into anyone while making my way back to the dorm. If I had run into someone, those highly sociable individuals wouldn’t have let me be at all.
While going to the café to have a parfait or something would be pretty enjoyable, there were things to do today.
I headed to Mia Crowfield’s room, which was on a different floor from mine and Alice’s.
Standing in front of the large door, I took a deep breath and scanned the surroundings.
Luckily, no one was wandering the hallway yet. Well, it’s Saturday. Many would have gone back home to relax. Or, not exactly relaxing. High-ranking nobles might be getting various education back at home.
But Crowfield territory is far away. It shouldn’t be a distance to bother going back every weekend.
In the game, Mia Crowfield always stayed in her room as well.
Alright.
I raised my hand and gently knocked on the door.
“Crowfield.”
And then I said that.
“….”
I waited a moment, but there was no reply.
I raised my hand again, and this time knocked a little harder.
Knock knock.
…But again, there was no response from beyond the door.
Looking around once more, I pressed my ear against Mia Crowfield’s door to listen for sounds inside.
Nothing at all.
…Is she really not there?
“….”
After some moment of consideration, I glanced around again.
…No one was there.
Alright, then.
There are plenty of opportunities, and time is on my side.
I took a lockpick out of my pocket.
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