Chapter 49
“Helaine and I were childhood friends. Even now, I don’t hate her. She was truly a good person…”
Though I didn’t ask, Luri began unraveling her story.
“One day, we went to see a rare antique from a foreign merchant. Kids get curious, right? We saw a suspicious-looking grimoire and decided to check it out at our secret hideout. If the butler hadn’t come and taken it while I went to get snacks, we would’ve.”
The start of misfortune came from something so trivial.
“And ten years passed, maybe. We had our first fight. It was over something silly… Who did I like more, her or an idol group? A cute little fight… But that’s when I learned about the lie from ten years ago.”
An unimaginable, vile power must’ve engulfed her.
“The grimoire wasn’t taken by the butler. She read it and hid it.”
Luri wasn’t angry about what happened to her.
“The demon that latched onto Helaine through the grimoire waited for malicious emotions to feed on and grow.”
Luri only mourned her friend’s end.
“Whatever end Helaine met, I don’t resent her. She did something awful…”
A beautiful friendship. Regardless of the outcome or response.
“I’m grateful instead. For saving Helaine. And I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on her behalf for her wrongs.”
Standing, Luri bowed politely to me, still seated. I felt a strange sensation.
“…I don’t know if it’s something to be thanked for.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Luri leaned down, meeting my eyes as I sat, smiling softly.
“Because I’m thanking you.”
Let’s think. What happened to this girl in the original? Did the demonized Helaine spare her?
The description of demonized Helaine had four arms and four legs, didn’t it?
***
I declined Luri’s offer to stay for a meal and the marquis’ suggestion to name any desire, leaving the Imperium Bank.
Even as I left, Luri kept talking to me warmly.
“So, it’s okay if I say hi at school, right?”
“…Do as you like.”
I saved someone meant to die. I didn’t know how the ripple effects would play out.
On the way home, it was late evening. It was close to Lilac’s quitting time, so I went to find her coffee cart to walk back together.
Near the mage tower’s market, I found Lilac and her cart.
“Here’s your Café Mocha. Oh, I’ll help with payment.”
The lively, vibrant Lilac was busy running the cart alone.
Watching from afar, I furrowed my brow.
‘This is… worse than I thought.’
Even at a glance, the cart had plenty of customers. No, too many. Far too much work for one person.
‘She’ll need a new employee.’
The cart itself was an issue. Too small for the demand. It needed to be a truck, no, a carriage.
‘I need to help.’
I hesitated but approached the cart, hood up. Someone stopped me.
“Hey, you need to get in line.”
As I was about to respond—
“Oh! Master!”
Lilac stopped making coffee and ran to me, greeting me with graceful courtesy. Dozens of waiting customers’ eyes turned to me.
[Woof! Woof!]
Sebastian came to my side, rubbing his face against my leg.
“You’re working hard. I came to help.”
“What? Oh, I can manage alone…”
“Let’s finish quickly and go.”
“Yes!”
Lilac handled orders and payments, while I took over brewing.
‘Alright, it’s been a while.’
Since Lilac took over the cart, I hadn’t brewed myself, but skill levels don’t lie.
“Master, two Caramel Macchiatos.”
“Got it.”
I looked at Lilac’s neatly organized ingredients. Using Movement to its fullest, I quickly made the drinks. I brewed espresso, rapidly stirred steamed milk for foam, and mixed it with prepared caramel sauce.
In no time, two Caramel Macchiatos were done.
“Here.”
“Wow, as expected, Master! So fast!”
Lilac handed the cups to the customers. The two who received them seemed skeptical about the new barista but changed their tune after a sip.
“This is delicious! Really good!”
“Yes! I knew I could trust this place!”
***
The next day, during a quiet afternoon study period at the academy—
“Hey.”
“Alright, let’s decide.”
Several boys and girls, extras in both the original and my perception, began a serious meeting.
“Who’s the most popular guy and girl at Imperium Academy!”
“They’re at it again.”
“Sigh.”
Class A had 45 students. Excluding me, Matthew, and the protagonist party, that’s 38. Naturally, there were various types.
I got it. At their energetic age, boring study periods were tough. It’d be nice if it was at least entertaining to watch.
The protagonist party, tired of dull studying, started observing the chaotic popularity poll.
“First, the guys!”
Female cadets stepped up, writing candidates.
“Of course, number one is Prince Kazaks! Top of the entrance exam, always top-tier in practical and written tests. His stunning looks and cool aloofness need no mention!”
“Tch, tch! But our class’ Gilbert can’t be overlooked! Consistently good grades, kind, warm, and famous for justice!”
“What about Class B’s Muller? Wielding a long spear with a cool, laid-back attitude—that’s his charm!”
“I’m for Bord! Isn’t Bord great?! Big, honest, like a bear who only loves one woman!”
“Matthew! I saw him playing with animals last time—so cute!”
Watching the poll spiral into chaos, male cadets clutched their foreheads or slammed their heads on desks.
I gave up thinking, leaned against the window, and closed my eyes. I’d rather sleep.
But it wasn’t over. Now the male cadets surged forward.
“Top girl is, no question, Lady Elisha! Second in entrance scores! The refined Lady of the Four Great Ducal Families! Known for impeccable conduct and stellar grades!”
“Hey, hey! Mary’s the best! You don’t know charm! Small! Petite! Cute! Her shyness makes you want to protect her!”
“Man, you guys are nuts. Look. True charm isn’t meekness—it’s attitude. Check out Class B’s Shuga! That prickly demeanor! Great skills but a bad temper! If you don’t get this, you’re dead!”
“Shut up! What’s with the attitude?! That’s just a knockoff! Real charm is the ice queen! Look at Lina! Flowing blonde hair! Those indifferent eyes!”
The girls shook their heads or looked away as the guys rambled nonsensically.
Talk about other classes’ cadets, absent here, tended to get spicier.
“Psh, you all don’t know Class B’s Luri! Vibrant! Cute short twin-tails! An angel kind to everyone! A rich girl who’s a total insider! Don’t you get it?!”
“Oh, thanks.”
“…?!”
The male cadet preaching shrank, turning. The back door was open, and Class B’s Luri peeked in.
“Uh, uh, uhh, uhhhh…!”
He shriveled as if crawling into a mouse hole. All eyes turned to the sudden other-class cadet.
Whatever. Luri briskly walked to the corner, the backmost seat, the unnoticed hound’s spot.
Basking in the warm afternoon sun, the hunting dog dozed by the window.
“Cadet Martin.”
“….”
“Cadet Martin, asleep?”
“…?”
I slightly opened my eyes and turned to Luri.
“…Cadet Luri? What’s the matter? During class.”
“Technically, it’s study period. Get up. It’s almost lunch. Cadet Martin, let’s eat together today.”
Gilbert doubted his ears.
Even the usually stoic Lina looked incredulous.
“No thanks.”
“Aww, come on, let’s eat!”
Elisha couldn’t close her gaping mouth, lacking decorum.
“No thanks.”
“Ugh, we’re close enough for a meal together!”
Bord and Mary stared blankly, mirroring the entire class’ expressions.
From that day, rumors that Luri had a crush on Martin spread like wildfire.
***
I wasn’t clueless about why Luri acted this way, but I chalked it up to teenage misconceptions. Like a flower, it’d wilt with time.
Maybe it was the suspension bridge effect—mistaking fear from a dangerous situation for affection toward her rescuer.
…Whatever, the point was, it was annoying.
“This is really good!”
Food kept piling onto my plate—steak, risotto, pasta, spaghetti, meatballs, gambas…
“Um, Cadet Luri, aren’t you eating?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m eating!”
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) is certain. She’s lying.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) confirms. Luri’s spoon hasn’t entered her mouth in nearly 30 minutes. Statistically, 0%.
I didn’t need the advice. I had eyes and sense enough to know.
And the glares around me.
‘What?’
‘What’s that?’
‘What’s going on?’
Hundreds of cadets at the Spring Dining Hall, the academy’s most popular spot, fixed their eyes on me.
“Lady Luri of Elidore with… trash Martin? Is she being coerced?”
“Does that look like coercion to you? More like she’s the one coercing. Look at trash Martin squirming.”
I barely got through lunch, and regular classes began.
Teacher Hectia gathered Class A at the training grounds, where familiar faces from other classes awaited.
“Today’s lesson is a joint battle with Class B. It’s ideal to sync with familiar teammates, but real battles aren’t so kind. Sometimes, you must risk your life with strangers. You’ll pair with an unfamiliar cadet to defeat an opposing duo.”
A lesson with significant cadet record points. Class B’s talents included Prince Kazaks, his lackey Muller, Shuga, and others. Building connections for the future…
“I’ll pair with Class A’s Cadet Martin!”
“Very well, Cadet Luri.”
“…?”
My opinion was irrelevant; the pairing was set.
“Cadet Luri? What’s this…”
“Yup! I suggested it! I wanted to fight as a duo with Martin!”
Why so bold? How was I supposed to react?
Whispers and stares poured in.
What’s their deal? Coercion? Blackmail? What? Really, what?
Murmur, murmur.
“Quiet. Martin, Luri. Your opponents are those two.”
The opponents were two extras from Classes B and A. According to Wild Instinct and Know-It-All, the combat gap was overwhelming.
“Begin!”
I charged forward, attaching a bayonet to my rifle, diving low like a hound and thrusting.
“Argh?!”
The swordsman extra leaned back sharply. I twisted, dodging sideways. As he kicked upward, I was already gone, rushing the archer of their duo.
“Take this!”
An arrow shot, but a burst of flame magic from Luri deflected it and blocked the archer’s retreat. Nice assist. I slashed the archer’s throat with my dagger. His barrier activated, eliminating him.
Meanwhile, I dodged the swordsman’s downward slash behind me, naturally tripping him.
“Clean work.”
Hectia nodded.
“What?”
“Wow.”
“Is he really trash?”
“Trash, yet…”
I barely passed the lesson, but Luri’s advances didn’t end.
“Martin! Wanna hit the new café nearby after this?!”
“…What?”