“Viola, how’s your research assignment going?”
“…Not so well.”
“Haha, that’s normal. Research is basically waving your arms around in the darkness without seeing an inch ahead. Just take your time. No need to rush.”
Viola nodded at the advice from the old professor teaching the advanced alchemy class. Just as he said, there was no need to rush.
If the source of her anxiety wasn’t about research but something else, even more so.
‘Maybe I should just work in the departmental lab today.’
For the time being, she planned to avoid being in the same room as Johann. She couldn’t focus on her research with him around. She had goals to achieve and tasks to complete, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“Professor, may I have permission to use the departmental lab?”
“Of course. I’ll let them know in advance, so you can use it.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
Viola bowed her head in gratitude to the professor. Watching her leave, the old professor chuckled and jokingly asked,
“You haven’t heard any gossip about dating lately, have you, Viola?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s not good to be too absorbed in your research. There are many cases of people fixating on their work and forgetting what’s really important.”
The old professor turned his head to look out the window. Students were leaving class, and couples were clearly visible among them.
“There are things you can only enjoy at this time. Take a moment to breathe and look around you. You have plenty of time until graduation; taking a little break from research to socialize wouldn’t be a bad choice.”
“Thank you for the advice, Professor.”
‘What’s up with everyone lately? I just can’t understand.’
Viola concealed her bubbling feelings and hurried out of the classroom.
“I think good news will be coming soon. Hohoho…”
A pleasant chuckle echoed in the now-empty classroom.
———————-
This should be nearly complete.
I looked at the Dragon Slayer weapon laid out on the workbench.
The weapon had a rather grand name, but it was somewhat oversized for a human. But hey, if I’m going to fight a ridiculously huge dragon, I need a ridiculously huge weapon.
Now all I need to do is gather mithril and other metals to reinforce the remaining parts…
…Great. I’ll leave that for later.
The dragon probably won’t awaken right away, so for now… I should check on Viola.
I recalled how Viola had been avoiding me for a few days. It’s probably because she has her own thoughts, but I hated thinking about whether it would impact her research negatively.
It wasn’t that she was unmotivated; she had been obsessively modifying explosive reagents for some reason. According to Millia, she had been working late into the night at the departmental lab.
…Well, she’ll manage, I guess.
Irking too much could be detrimental to Viola, so I decided to wait for her to calm down on her own. There was already so much to do, and ultimately, it’s her choice to make.
“I’m still worried she might get hurt.”
Researching explosive reagents inherently involves the risk of explosions, making it a potentially dangerous endeavor. Still, when I was around, I could at least provide healing if things went wrong. But over there… No, thinking about it, she probably researched alone before she met me, so she should be fine.
“Johann!”
“Oh, Millia. What’s up?”
“I came to see your face after a long time! But where’s Rue?”
“She’s probably scooting around Yeomyeong-gwan on her kickboard.”
“Mine?”
“You haven’t been using it much lately, have you?”
“Hmm, I’ve been busy lately… gathering friends!”
“You’re really working hard because you want to become student council president. Did you keep tabs on anyone else running for the position?”
“Um~ There’s a knight department student named Olive, and in the magic department, there’s Laferinne, in alchemy, there’s Para, and in the theology department… I don’t know!”
Looks like nothing’s drastically different from the original story. With the alchemy department’s rule of having “at least one from each department,” it’s more of a must than a genuine intent, while the knight and theology departments are the ones seriously gunning for the position.
The magic department isn’t that proactive either.
Probably due to the characteristics of wizards and alchemists, many of them don’t even like those sorts of roles.
“What do you think? Do you have a chance of winning?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure yet! But I will win!”
“Sure. Good luck!”
“Hehe.”
Millia playfully smiled and nestled into my side.
Is she my daughter or girlfriend? I gently patted Millia’s head as she rubbed her face against my belly.
“Hey, let’s go for a walk!”
“Let me organize a bit first.”
“Okay!”
After finishing tidying up the workshop, Millia and I headed out to the garden of Yeomyeong-gwan.
Millia looked in great spirits. With just the two of us around, it seemed she was calculating to enjoy a casual date, even if it was just a little one. Looking down at her happy face clinging to my arm, I thought.
“Hehe.”
“Is that really that great?”
“Yes! I’ve been really busy lately… so it feels nice to be on a date with Johann like this.”
“Don’t overdo it, okay?”
“It’s fine! I can handle this much! It’s way easier than fighting with others!”
So being out here is easier than the life-and-death struggles, huh? Quite a bizarre standard.
Thinking back, it was quite reckless of me to bring someone without combat ability to the battlefield. Next time, I should probably keep her out of it as much as possible.
The coming fights won’t be the kind where I can afford to protect someone while still fighting.
In that sense, Millia becoming student council president is also…
“Johann! Johann! Are you listening to me?”
“Oh, sorry.”
I apologized to Millia, who pouted with a dissatisfied expression. It was wrong to space out while talking with her.
“What were you saying?”
“I was talking about what I’d do if I become student council president!”
“Oh, I see.”
“Hehe, I hope I can be! I’ll need to prepare a speech, too.”
“A speech, huh? I can’t really imagine that.”
“Hehe, just wait and see!”
“Sure. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Let’s sit over there!”
Millia pointed to a bench set up on one side of the garden. A spot where we’d occasionally sit while strolling. Millia walked up to the bench, turned to me, and said,
“Johann! Sit first!”
“Hmm?”
“I want to sit on your lap!”
“Do as you wish.”
I sat on the bench as Millia requested and looked up at her. She hummed a little tune while sitting on my lap, leaning against me.
“Hehe.”
“Is your backside okay?”
“I’m fine! I feel safe…”
“Glad to hear that.”
“Johann, now that a girl’s sitting on your lap, aren’t you going to do anything?”
“Because I’m a gentleman.”
“I’d prefer a beast.”
Millia grabbed my hand and placed it on her thigh.
What’s this? Is she trying to seduce me?
Since she seems to want it, I left my hand there and rested my chin on Millia’s head.
“How’s this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard guys like it when girls do this…”
“Don’t compare me to other guys.”
My patience exceeds anyone’s. If I didn’t have such patience, I wouldn’t have survived ten years on a deserted island.
“Is it because I lack charm?”
“No, you’re definitely charming enough.”
“Then why?”
Millia’s head spun 180 degrees to look up at me, genuinely not understanding. Or perhaps she just didn’t want to understand.
“…It’s not the right time. Just wait one year. Everything needs to settle down before we can do anything.”
Did I want to live a celibate life? Of course not. I’m just trying to minimize variables while the situation is challenging. I don’t want my future to collapse over a single mistake.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I gently kissed Millia’s lips and turned my head away.
“I’ll wait because I trust you, Johann! But if I can’t hold it in… you can pounce on me! I’ll welcome you!”
“That’s a bit…”
“Che.”
“Are you talking about mating?”
What’s with the choice of words?
I glanced toward Rue, who had approached us unknowingly. Rue looked at Millia and me alternately with a curious expression, then squatted down in front of me and asked,
“Why aren’t you doing it?”
“Johann told me to wait a year!”
“Can’t you do it here?”
“What are you suggesting we do in public?”
“But cats and dogs do it outside!”
“Don’t compare humans to animals. If they’re not perverts, humans typically don’t do that outside.”
“If Johann wants, I’m fine with it!”
Can you please just zip it?
I pressed my forehead with both hands, my head throbbing from the combination of Millia and Rue.
I should come up with an excuse to get back indoors quickly…
“…Viola?”
“Huh? Where?”
I thought I saw Viola around the corner of the building.
Could it be my imagination?
“Millia, could you step aside for a moment?”
“Okay.”
Free from Millia’s weight, I walked directly toward the building corner to check for signs of anyone.
…Did I see wrong?
But it was hard to say I was mistaken since the grass right in front of the corner was flattened.
It seemed someone had indeed been there.
…What are you dodging for?
I clicked my tongue and returned to the kids.
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