The situation was an absolute mess.
At first glance, it looked like a three-way battle, but it seemed Rin and May were teaming up to deal with the strongest opponent, Elise, by parrying her great sword.
“Fufu! Is this really all you’ve got? You think you can become my master’s girl like this?”
It was a cheap yet effective provocation, and whether it hit the mark or not, a sinister black aura began to emanate from Rin’s body.
The black aura started to eat away at Elise’s magic circle, essentially taking it for herself.
This would have surprised Elise, but she didn’t show a hint of change in her expression and started unleashing her magic recklessly.
“I have my own tricks too!”
At this point, May barged in.
I wondered what May Plov, who was relatively weaker than the other two, could do in this fight, but contrary to my expectations, she was holding her own quite well.
‘Has she used her skills in mana management for physical reinforcement?’
May had been a bit ambiguous until now. Although she primarily used magic, she was surprisingly good at throwing punches like she was picking a fight in a back alley.
It seemed she had created a new fighting style that mixed magic and her fist fighting skills.
‘Oh ho.’
With the dean’s help, her physical reinforcement seemed quite impressive. Since she dedicated her mana solely to it, she could exchange blows with Elise.
Of course, it was only possible because Elise was using only swordsmanship without relying on the support spells from her ring.
‘So she didn’t slack off during vacation after all.’
Nodding in acknowledgment, I continued to fidget with the ring.
“Ugh, how the hell do you use this thing?”
As I exploded in frustration, the eyes of the three girls fixed on me simultaneously.
“Daniel! You’re here!”
“Master!”
“Hey! You crazy girls! I’m trying to take you to the hospital, but it’s a pain!”
“Yeah, you’re making it ridiculously exhausting.”
I sighed and looked at the three of them, wishing I could just crash in my dorm room due to sheer exhaustion.
“Did you get the herbs?”
“Yeah, fortunately.”
Rin, who had been radiating an odd atmosphere just a moment ago, turned back into her usual kind-hearted village girl and nodded.
Meanwhile, May feigned gagging at this scene and asked, “Been a while, huh?”
“Tch, you must have been busy tailing people around during vacation?”
“…Not at all.”
Seriously, talking about me like I’m some kind of expedition Casanova.
“I have a lot I want to say… but first, handle this!”
“Alright, then…”
I turned my gaze towards our blonde princess, who seemed to be the biggest problem.
“Master, you’ve noticed me, haven’t you?”
“Why has she become such a mess? Where’s the maid from before? I want an explanation.”
“Bertia? Just a sec.”
As Elise clapped her hands a few times, Bertia came running from afar.
But here’s the problem.
“…What are you doing?”
“…”
She was wearing our academy’s cafeteria worker uniform. Looking bewildered, I turned to Elise, who responded with a smile.
“It seems I need to keep her close, but having a personal maid at the academy is forbidden, so Bertia decided to work here.”
“I’ll make you delicious meals.”
“…”
From her slow speech, it wasn’t hard to tell she didn’t want to do it. There were even some seasonings smudged on her elegant cheek.
“Well, do as you wish. But why is she in such a state?”
With my question, the cafeteria lady Bertia launched into a rapid-fire explanation, detailing what happened after I defeated her and how she ended up with this mindset.
“…”
“Please, return our princess to her former self. She wasn’t like this before!”
Now she was practically begging, though I felt this was beyond my power to fix.
“I’m already the master’s, so I can’t do anything about it, Bertia.”
I spoke gently like a teacher to a student, but my words lacked any convincing power.
May and Rin glared at me as if expecting an explanation.
But honestly, I didn’t know what was going on either.
“Why are you mine?”
“Since I can’t have you, it’s enough for you to have me.”
What a ridiculous statement with no persuasive value.
“No, this… fine. Just don’t call me master. Or I swear a punch will fly.”
“Master!”
…Huh?
I sincerely expressed my annoyance, but the reaction that came back from them was oddly strange.
“Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master! Master!”
“Damn it, stop already!”
Finally, May couldn’t take it any longer and kicked Elise. The cafeteria lady reacted, but her lips just curled up slightly.
“Hey, treating her like that is like giving feed to a pig.”
“Is that the case?”
“Yeah, that’s how it is.”
Puffing up like a little dragon, May stood between Elise and me. Elise slowly stood up, vexed.
“I didn’t ask for rewards from you.”
“Seriously? That’s exactly what she’s asking for!”
This girl had surely gone off the deep end.
Even amid my headache and confusion, Rin quietly interjected from the side.
“Daniel, what about Michelle?”
Now that Rin had returned to her somewhat normal self, her careful inquiry made my headache return.
I really didn’t want to ask, but I had to remember the kid who had followed me around after my father was arrested.
Gripping my fist, I finally spoke.
“Elise, I need you to do me a favor.”
“…”
Elise suddenly crossed her arms and turned her head away. Given her previous behavior, I guessed she understood what I wanted, so I sighed and continued.
“I’m going to give you an order.”
“Yes! Yes! What can I do? Oh, receiving an order from someone is a first for me—my stomach is tingling!”
I had no clue why her stomach felt that way, but anyway.
I whispered quietly, cautious that May might overhear.
“Please take care of Michelle Portren from your royal palace. She needs food, shelter, and education support.”
“Hmm, if it’s that, we have a secret project in the royal palace’s Talent Development Center. It’d be perfect to place her there.”
I nodded, feeling the name would fit well, considering we owed a debt due to the events in Bethel.
“Got it. But can you do me one favor in return?”
“…What is it?”
As I grimaced, Elise pulled something out from her form.
At first, I thought it was a necklace.
No, it was a collar.
“Could you please put this on me just once?”
“……”
“Give it to me; I’m seriously going to kill her today!”
With May exploding in anger and trying to charge at Elise, the cafeteria lady raised her hands, shouting an apology.
*
Today had been a tough day.
It was hard to fulfill Elise’s arduous request, and I also had to listen to the dean grumble about why he was late.
After such a long time meeting my sister, it was irritating to hear some older guy fussing about how well she was getting along with the elves.
I thought there would be a heartfelt reunion of sorts, but the emotional warmth had completely drained.
Thanks to Tana and Eve, I felt a bit more at ease returning to the academy.
But of course, that led to more trouble in the dorm.
“Shouldn’t we just sleep in my room?”
“No! Today’s my last day, so I’m sleeping with you!”
Hayun was trying to calm Michelle, but the kid was being stubborn. She seemed to want to sleep together, knowing she’d be heading to the royal palace’s Talent Development Center tomorrow.
“Well, let it be. It’s not a big deal to sleep together for a day.”
After all, Michelle was just a little kid.
I didn’t mind sharing a bed with a child; it didn’t make me feel uncomfortable.
“Still, you might be tired.”
“Thanks for worrying.”
Hayun felt a bit flustered at my sincere gratitude but left after acknowledging me.
It was already late at night.
I turned off the lights and lay down next to Michelle, who was already in bed.
“So, what’s the Talent Development Center like?”
“I’m not sure? But they said I wouldn’t have to worry about facilities or treatment. They said it’s a place where only a few geniuses are cherished by the royal family.”
“W-will I do well there?”
I chuckled softly at Michelle’s words and replied, “You don’t have to do well. Just be yourself when you get there.”
Knowing Michelle’s bright personality would surely bring joy to many people, I was confident she’d be adored.
Wasn’t there a Sherpa living in the Forest of the Demon Realm who had grown attached to us in just a week?
“I wished I could stay with you a bit longer, but it’s too bad.”
“Don’t worry; we might meet again.”
“Right?”
“Yeah, and I brought back enough herbs to last a few years, so if you ever run low, just get in touch.”
“Got it.”
As we exchanged various stories, Michelle snuggled up to me, and I gently stroked her hair.
She had lost the chance to meet her father, her family had fallen apart, and now she’d be heading to an unknown place.
It was a harsh situation for an 8-year-old, but I believed Michelle could overcome it and blessed her future.
*
Thump!
“Huh, what the?”
I squinted as a pillow suddenly hit my face. Pushing it away, I noticed a girl with white hair standing in my room.
“Sen?”
“Did you just come back yesterday and not even say hello?”
She spoke bluntly.
Having solved incidents together in Bethel, I wondered if she was miffed about not knowing our results.
“You’re enjoying your sleep with a girl beside you.”
“Is Michelle even a girl? She’s just a kid.”
“A girl is still a girl. So what, is that a boy then?”
“Seriously, what kind of question is that for an 8-year-old… But why are you acting all grumpy now when you didn’t mind before when you saw me sleeping with Rin?”
The previous time, I had let Rin sleep with me because she said she was feeling uneasy, and back then, Sen didn’t say a thing.
Seeing the window open suggested she had climbed in through there.
‘This feels a bit dangerous.’
I felt a sense of urgency thinking about what Sen might be plotting.
It was an ambush I would have never imagined happening before.
No matter how deep into sleep I was, my sharp senses as a Sherpa should have noticed the presence of a magical beast entering my territory.
Yet, I could feel those senses dulling.
‘Sure, this is certainly a comfortable space, but…’
I felt way too relaxed.
While my body was getting stronger in its prime, my senses were becoming blunted.
While I pondered how to sharpen those senses again, Sen muttered.
“There are always requests coming into the Chokugen Faction once a week.”
“…So?”
I wondered if she was suddenly talking about the Chokugen Faction, and with her feet fidgeting, she asked.
“It’s been over a week since we received a mission?”
“…”
“Maybe it’s just a little boring.”
I thought she had changed the expression from ‘request’ to ‘mission,’ noticing her development, but it seemed she hadn’t completely broken out of that format yet.
“I should send Michelle off and have a word with her.”
“A word? With me? About a mission?”
“No, no! Just get out!”
There’s no need to pave your own path.
If there are already footprints laid out before me, I can learn from them.
As much as I didn’t want to, I found myself saying, “How the hell has Ares held up through this?”
I never expected I’d find myself seeking advice from Ares during my lifetime.
