Volume 1 Chapter 5: The Secret Confession
“Phew, finally finished the morning classes.”
Ian stretched his arms with a look of utter exhaustion. Since today’s lessons included practical training in swordsmanship and magic, his classmates also appeared equally drained.
“Still, Ash, you haven’t broken a sweat, as usual.”
“I just have that kind of body. I’m actually super tired, you know.”
Even so, with my game knowledge and experience as an adventurer, I honestly found the academy’s practical lessons to be a total cakewalk. The magic exercises were just casting spells at stationary targets that wouldn’t fight back, and the sword training involved activating magic tools to avoid injury.
All of it felt ridiculously safe compared to the life-and-death situations in dungeons.
“So, what are we doing for lunch? Stick with the daily special as usual?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m heading back to the dorm to eat today.”
“That’s rare. Did something happen?”
“I forgot to put away my laundry. See ya!”
I made up a random excuse and headed out of the classroom towards the academy dorm.
The Royal Magic Academy’s lunch break is incredibly long. This is due to the aristocratic obligations like tea parties for faction bonding and reporting back home, which means the academy concentrates lessons in the morning, allowing for a longer lunch break and making afternoon classes optional for attendance.
Meta-wise, if classes were packed like a real school, there wouldn’t be time to level up in dungeons or interact with target characters.
Anyway, back to the point.
The reason I was returning to the dorm was very simple: to check if Fine was still in the room.
I thought locking the door in the morning would keep it safe, but just before lunchtime, I remembered there was that scenario where Fine jumped out of the window, and I was internally panicking ever since.
(Okay, for now, the door’s still locked…)
As I stood in front of my room and inserted the key, I heard a click as it unlocked. Upon entering, I found the large living room window completely shut. It seemed like she hadn’t made an escape from there.
(No, I still can’t relax. There’s a small window in the bedroom too; she might try to force her way out from there…)
Thinking that, I opened the bedroom door and found Fine fast asleep.
(She must have been tense since being kicked out of the academy…)
But since students would start returning to the dorm around this time, I had to wake her just in case and give her a warning.
…Not to mention, I had questions about Elise to ask as well.
“Hey, could you wake up soon?”
“Mmm, mmm… Mother, let me sleep a bit longer…”
The “Mother” she babbled in her sleepy state was probably referring to Mother Hilda, the head of the orphanage she grew up in. I didn’t remember much about her since she only appeared during the summer return event, but I do recall she was strict while genuinely caring for Fine.
“I’m not that Mother Hilda you’re talking about! Please wake up!”
“…Huh? Ash? And where am I…?”
Realizing the situation, Fine’s face turned bright red as she scooted away from me.
“No, no! I did nothing to you! I swear by the all-powerful goddess!”
“I-I’ll believe that, but…”
“But?”
“It’s embarrassing to be sleeping in someone else’s room like this…!”
…It’s true that Fine looked quite disheveled while sleeping. I won’t deny that.
However, if she hadn’t been able to sleep well since being expelled from the academy, I couldn’t make fun of her for that.
“You were probably exhausted. It’s fine.”
“I’m really sorry… Um, how long was I out?”
“Uh, more than half a day?”
“W-What?! Half a day!?”
Upon hearing that, Fine jumped off the bed and bowed deeply before me.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was a mess in someone else’s room, and I occupied the bed for over half a day!”
“I said it before, but you must have been tired, so it’s okay; don’t worry about it. Just stop bowing your head!”
“Ugh… I’m really sorry.”
Fine finally stood up, still looking apologetic.
However, the despair she once held in her eyes, like when I first found her in that alley, seemed to have faded.
Thanks to proper meals and a warm bed, she must have regained some energy.
That’s why I hesitated because discussing what I wanted to share might awaken her bitter memories.
Still, I needed more information to prepare for any unexpected situations.
“Fine, I have a few things I want to confirm. Can you answer me?”
“Y-Yeah, I can, but…”
“First off, do you recognize the name Elise Ringstadt?”
The moment I uttered that name, the brightness on her face vanished.
“…Where did you hear that name?”
“Apparently, yesterday, Prince Alberich announced his engagement to that Elise lady. Along with that, all four knights are also engaged.”
“I see… Yes, I know her.”
“Does she have any connection to you being in that place on that day?”
“…Yes.”
“Could you tell me about that connection?”
“…”
Fine fell silent, her eyes filled with a mix of fear, anger, despair, and resignation—the negative emotions swirling in her gaze.
I knew it was cruel to ask this after she had just begun to regain her brightness, but I continued to speak, hoping to save her from that shadowy alley.
“I know it might be harsh to ask, but this might be necessary to improve your situation.”
Fine took a deep breath and locked eyes with me.
“…Understood. It may take a while to explain, though; is that alright?”
“Yeah. That’s fine.”
Then she began to speak, her voice soft and hesitant.
About what happened to her, and what that Elise lady did.
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