Chapter 58
Erica slowly opened her eyes.
It had been a long sleep.
It was the first time in years she had slept this well in a day.
She could see the form of a man illuminated by the gentle light of the night sky.
He spoke.
“Are you awake?”
“…Where is this?”
“As you can see, it’s the airship returning to Academia. The curfew has long passed, though.”
“…….”
The professors were continuing the investigation at the scene of the incident, and only Vargan and Erica were returning on a separate airship. Next to them was a staff member who seemed to be so exhausted that he was sleeping.
Erica’s eyes widened as she grasped the situation. She urgently called out to Vargan and asked about the details.
“What happened to Altife…?! And you….”
Vargan smirked.
“He’s dead. And there’s no need to worry about me.”
“…….”
Erica’s eyelids drooped, as if a butterfly had landed on them. After a moment of silence, she added that she hadn’t worried about him at all.
“…Were the people there safe? It was packed with an audience.”
Vargan shrugged.
“There were no spectators or many actors to begin with. The only thing on stage was one monster.”
“So the entrance was a trap from the start?”
“Exactly.”
“Right… But why us…?”
Vargan shook his head. He didn’t know the exact reason and suggested that perhaps they were just unlucky to get caught up in it.
“There was no one presumed to be from the Portlet Family. Well, if there had been, you wouldn’t have been in danger at all.”
“…So it was just bad luck.”
Erica didn’t try to gauge the true meaning behind his words. She was too overwhelmed just accepting the information he was relaying.
The ticket her mother had sent her.
The bishop-level Altife lurking in that theater.
The family member who wasn’t assigned today.
All these were connected by a single thread of ‘bad luck.’
“Ha….”
Erica sighed. That sigh contained relief, self-reproach, and more.
Vargan recognized Altife’s trap and dealt with him.
On the other hand, what about her?
The daughter of the Portlet Family had clumsily stumbled into a trap set by a monster. Not only that, but she had actually ended up owing a huge debt to the resentful man, Schugenharz.
“…….”
“If you want to apologize for being a burden, you can do it later. We’ll have plenty of chances to see each other again.”
“…….”
Erica looked up at the man who had an indifferent expression. She felt a mix of disbelief and amusement. After going through such a big deal as facing Altife’s bishop, he was still able to be so nonchalant.
He looked up at the man who was building something. It was ridiculous. After going through the ordeal of facing the bishop of Altife, he could still be this relaxed.
In a way, it even filled her with a sense of respect, making her feel even more insignificant.
Was that it?
Erica spat out words that weren’t really in her heart, or perhaps they were just a little bit.
“…You should’ve just abandoned me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Erica lowered her head. She couldn’t bear to look at him.
“I mean… when you realized it was a trap, you should’ve just left me behind.”
She said it in a voice barely above a whisper, her confidence having already hit rock bottom.
If he had abandoned her, this dreadful relationship could have been easily resolved. An engagement neither of them wanted.
As luck would have it, the ticket had been prepared by the Portlet Family.
Had Vargan realized it was a trap and left her behind, he could have easily canceled the engagement and secured his legitimacy.
The place prepared by the Portlet Family turned out to be where Altife was, and although she barely escaped, she couldn’t take her fiancée with her.
If only she had announced her position like that, it would have all ended neatly.
There may have been some whispers, but most of the arrows could have been avoided.
“…”
“Erica.”
Vargan called her name.
Erica didn’t raise her head. A complex mix of emotions refused to let her look up.
Then she heard a long sigh near her ear.
Naturally, it was Vargan’s.
“I asked what you were talking about.”
“…”
In a tone that seemed scolding, Vargan continued.
“Are you pointing out that if I had abandoned you, I could have shaped the story to my liking?”
“…Yeah.”
Erica’s head nodded slightly.
Once again, another long sigh from him.
From the sound, it seemed he was somewhat angry.
“If I had done that… No, you’re right. If I had, then this engagement could have been concluded easily.”
“…”
“No, perhaps I could have used this incident to my advantage. When you died miserably and became fertilizer. I could have held the Portlet Family accountable for killing my lovely fiancée and putting me in danger.”
“…”
“I could have aggressively attacked the Portlet’s honor and demanded hefty compensation. I could have squandered that money carelessly, wasting it like water.”
“…!”
Unable to endure his harsh words, Erica swiftly lifted her face.
A few tears welled up in her eyes.
Vargan noticed those tears.
And he smiled.
“At last, you’re lifting your head.”
“…You… You…!”
Erica hurriedly wiped the tears that were about to spill. Before she could even finish her sentence, Vargan interrupted her.
“Sure, as you said, that could have been the case. I could have cut everything off in an instant.”
“Then?!”
“But you see, I didn’t.”
Vargan laid bare the reality she was facing.
“Such hypothetical scenarios mean nothing. Right now, you’re breathing right in front of me. Not only that, but you’re holding your trembling hands tightly, hiding those tears of yours.”
Erica, you are alive like this.
I didn’t abandon you.
Don’t try to mask your feelings with harsh words.
Looking into Vargan’s eyes, Erica felt that he was saying just that.
Erica, looking on, felt that he was saying such things.
…I don’t know.
Schugenharz, I don’t understand you.
Why did you save me? Why didn’t you cut me off?
Why… why….
Why are you coming closer again….
“What do you want to say?”
Vargan shot back at her. He wouldn’t let Erica hide behind the curtain.
“Or did you really want to say something like that?”
“…….”
She tried to steady her trembling gaze and faced Vargan directly.
No. She didn’t want to say this.
She didn’t want to bind herself with negative assumptions. Not being honest even in moments like this was one of her flaws.
That thought crossed her mind, but on the other hand, a sense of pride unwilling to bow before this guy, who crushed her precious person like a bug in the room, flared up.
…….
Erica took a deep breath.
The current her was not rational.
She was overly emotional.
At this rate, nothing will change. There would be no progress, not even a little.
?This can’t go on.
She made a firm resolution.
Vargan was reflected in her eyes.
“I still resent you. I will continue to do so in the future.”
Probably for a lifetime, I’ll live hating you.
“I don’t feel any positive emotions toward you. I don’t even want to say thank you.”
“Well, I figured you’d react like this.”
“But!”
That one short word changed the flow of air.
“But… as the second daughter of Portlet Family… as the representative of my family… I would like to express my gratitude.”
Erica straightened up and bowed her head. She pulled one leg back and held the hem of her dress with both hands.
A clean motion. A subtle light shimmering around her.
That picturesque scene seemed to draw the beholder in.
“Thank you for saving me… for not leaving me alone…”
Erica didn’t raise her head. She maintained the position for a long time.
Vargan could somewhat predict what kind of expression she was making without seeing her face.
At least, he knew she wouldn’t be drowned in sadness or anger.
?Daldaldal.
The airship trembled lightly.
In the silence created between the two, it sounded particularly loud.
?Daldaldal.
He felt the small vibrations.
*
On the way back to the dormitory.
Tomorrow, when the sun rises, I’ll have to go through the troublesome process of recounting what happened today. Being a student is really inconvenient at times like this.
Walking with Erica, she said there was no need for him to walk her home and stepped inside immediately. It wasn’t her usual sharp voice; she sounded a bit deflated.
“Hmm?”
As he arrived in front of his door, he saw a familiar face. Her head turned, and their eyes met.
“Welcome. Young Master.”
Alicia flashed a gentle smile.
Wrapped in elegance, she welcomed him.
“…So you’ve been waiting here the whole time.”
“I didn’t know when you would arrive, so I was on standby.”
She nodded as if it was no big deal.
She had stood in front of the door for over four long hours without moving an inch, waiting for him.
“…Foolish girl.”
He had told her to wait until he came back, but normally, if she thought it was getting too late, she would have gone home… Ah, well, expecting common sense from her wasn’t quite right. That was my mistake.
That’s not quite right. It’s my mistake.
“I didn’t waste my meaningless time as I waited while expanding the total mana or removing impurities inside.”
“Well done.”
Alicia zeroed in on the point as if she intended to scratch an itch.
To be honest, it wasn’t that I was worried about her progress; I was just dumbfounded by this ridiculous situation. It seems she misunderstood my reaction.
“Excuse me for a moment.” Alicia said, carefully scanning my full body.
Her meticulous gaze touched various places.
“I’m relieved to see you don’t have any injuries.”
“That’s obvious.”
I can’t let a low-level monster see my blood. If conditions are right, I can easily take down a bishop level like this.
“……”
She lowered her head and looked at my feet. Maybe it was just my imagination, but she seemed somewhat anxious and serious, as if there was something she wanted to ask.
She broke the silence.
“It’s getting late, and since the Young Master looks tired, I’ll head back now.”
Fidgeting with her hands, she bent deeply at the waist once more.
It’s true that we’ve passed the usual time for checking her progress, but I don’t look tired at all…
Wait, what the heck is she doing?
“Y-Young Master…?!”
I seized Alicia’s hand strongly and dragged her into the room. I tossed her onto the chair right in front of me.
I observed her flustered expression as she sat down in confusion, not knowing what was happening. Her face was red and hot. Her eyes widened as they darted around.
Confirming it’s not a sickness or injury, I flicked her forehead.
“Ah?!”
It’s been a while since my finger stung.
“Who said you could sulk and go back without taking your position as a swordsman? Preposterous!”
“Y-yes…? B-but… it’s already too late, and you seem to be accumulating fatigue…”
“Then what were you waiting for?”
“Well… to confirm that you returned safely? Aah!”
After I struck the same spot twice, tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes. Seeing such an impressive act made me feel even more irritated.
“I will acknowledge that your gaze has improved in checking up on me, but you seem completely unaware of your own condition lately, so I’ll teach you today.”
“W-what do you mean…? No way?”
“After putting effort into raising your self-esteem for such a long time, hasn’t it been dropping again recently? You pathetic thing!”
*Whack!*
A third strike to the same place.
Her forehead turned bright red. My finger did too.
“Y-Young Master… that hurts too much…”
“That’s your current state. You’re mentally hurting somewhere. But don’t worry. I’ll definitely fix this and forcibly lift your plummeting self-esteem.”
“Y-you mean…!”
Alicia’s face, which was as red as a ripe peach, turned pale. Her eyes filled with shock.
“You’ll want to cover your forehead closely with your bangs tomorrow if you don’t want to be embarrassed.”
“Y-y-young Master…!”
And thus.
The clear sound ringing from the male dormitory.
Continued until dawn.
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