The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 82
EP.82 Suspicion (2)
“…May I ask what you mean by ‘dangerous’?”
A cautious voice spoke. It was Lena Meyer’s.
On weekends like today, it was rare for students to stay in their rooms. The academy offered various social spaces for nobles, from salons to clubs, minor banquets, or afternoon teas. Nobles, even the younger ones, always spent time networking and consolidating their influence. Only those who were distinctly uninterested in mingling, or simply had no need for it, avoided such gatherings.
Thankfully, the hallway was empty, making it easier to overhear snippets of their conversation even at a lowered volume. I slowed my pace before rounding the corner. Knowing who Lena Meyer was speaking with would allow me to prepare accordingly.
“Sylvia Fangriffon is…”
The person speaking with Lena Meyer seemed hesitant, unsure where to start. They seemed to know about me but were reluctant to share everything.
Hearing that voice gave me a boost of confidence.
Letting my footsteps ring out more confidently, I rounded the corner. My heels echoed sharply in the otherwise quiet corridor.
“…Ah.”
Mia Crowfield’s startled voice reached my ears.
Turning the corner, I saw Mia standing outside Lena Meyer’s door, which was only partially open. Lena hadn’t poked her head out; she simply gazed at Mia through the slightly opened door, her eyes wary.
“Lady Crowfield.”
“Sylvia.”
At my greeting, Mia stepped back and bowed slightly, and I returned the gesture. While I thought Mia and I had grown a little closer, she was still understandably conflicted about fully befriending the person responsible for her father’s death. I could understand. Although I’d hinted at my reasons and told her to seek me out once she learned the truth, enough time hadn’t passed for her to piece everything together.
“Your Highness.”
The moment Lena saw me, she stepped fully out of her room, a stark contrast to her reserved demeanor with Mia. Seeing her close the door right away, it was clear she was mindful of keeping her room’s interior private.
……But wouldn’t such blatant behavior make Mia Crowfield even more suspicious?
Then again, it didn’t seem like Lena cared about that.
“As I mentioned before, there’s no need to address me as ‘Your Highness’ within the academy. Technically, it’s against the school regulations, too.”
The academy rules dictated that all students were to be treated equally and casually with one another—at least on paper. The reality was that neither the instructors nor the students took that rule particularly seriously.
“Lady Crowfield.”
“Y-Yes!?”
Surprised that I’d addressed her so suddenly, Mia Crowfield nearly jumped in place. I asked her calmly,
“Just a moment ago, you called me ‘Sylvia,’ correct?”
“Y-Yes, I did.”
Until recently, she hadn’t even used my name properly. But at some point, Mia Crowfield had started calling me by name. At the very least, it meant she had relaxed her guard toward me a bit.
“Have I ever expressed any objections about that?”
“N-No, you haven’t.”
She replied cautiously, clearly bewildered by my unexpected question.
I nodded in response and turned back to Lena Meyer. Her typically impassive face seemed tinged with a hint of tension. Was she wary of me as well?
“So, calling me by my name will suffice. Considering there’s another person in Class A with the same surname, using our names directly would avoid confusion, wouldn’t it?”
Besides, the title “Your Highness” could technically apply to both Alice and me.
“…Understood.”
Lena replied, seeming to accept my reasoning.
Though she remained in a stiff, at-attention stance, at least she didn’t salute me the moment we met.
Still, I sensed a faint hesitation in her. Despite holding her formal stance, there was a subtle aura suggesting she wanted to say something. It seemed her practiced expressionlessness was not quite as thorough as mine.
……Should I help her refine that expressionless act a bit more? That way, I could prevent her concept from breaking before mine.
“Is there something you want to say?”
I asked, and Lena Meyer paused for about three seconds before speaking.
“In that case, could you also address me by my name?”
Her boldness in making the request was impressive.
“…Very well. If that’s what you prefer.”
For a split second, her eyes seemed to sparkle—but I decided to dismiss it as a trick of my imagination.
Turning, I looked over at Mia Crowfield.
“N-No, there’s no need to go that far for me!”
She said, waving her hands in refusal.
…That response stung a little. Besides, that wasn’t what I wanted to ask her.
It was slightly annoying that, though she called me “Miss Sylvia,” she felt no need for me to use her first name. What I actually wanted to know was why she had come here.
“May I ask what brings you here?”
“That would be—”
Lena started to answer my question, but—
“I-It’s for personal reasons!”
Before she could finish, Mia Crowfield interrupted, shouting in a flustered voice.
“……”
“……”
Momentarily at a loss for words, Lena and I simply stared at Mia Crowfield, who slowly turned bright red. Her flushed face stood out vividly against her pale skin, made all the more striking by her dark hair.
“W-Well then, what brings you here, Miss Sylvia?”
So she wanted to brush it off like that?
I couldn’t help but think her attempt to change the topic was rather clumsy, but since I had already overheard Mia’s reason for being here, I decided to let it slide.
“I came to speak with Lena… on a personal matter.”
I turned my gaze to Lena, whose already stiff expression tightened further. It seemed my direct approach had only added to her tension.
“A… personal matter?”
Mia Crowfield mumbled, glancing back and forth between Lena and me. There was a hint of understanding in her eyes, but I had no clue what conclusions she was drawing. Most likely, she thought I was plotting something dubious again.
“Miss Lena, you mentioned you come from a military family.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Lena responded, instantly assuming a rigid, standing-at-attention posture. It was likely her way of showing pride. This era was like that. The concept of nationality was just beginning to form, and nationalism and militarism were sweeping through most countries. The romanticism of risking one’s life to protect the nation and its people was still prevalent.
In this world, that sentiment would likely last much longer. There were no televisions, and radio was not yet properly developed. Most communication was wired. There was practically no way to show the general public the harsh realities of the battlefield.
So, it was understandable that being born and raised in a military family, one that had produced several commanders, was a source of pride.
“Do you know how to handle firearms?”
“Of course.”
“I see.”
I turned to Mia Crowfield and spoke.
“There are very few in the noble class who can handle firearms. While anyone can pull a trigger, those who use it as their primary weapon and wield it skillfully are rare.”
In the game, the party members who used firearms were typically of commoner origin, like Lottie.
“So, I came to assess Lena’s proficiency with firearms. If we ever have to practice later, it would be advantageous to collaborate with someone who can handle firearms like myself.”
I sensed Lena was taking a small breath.
“……What do you think?”
I turned my gaze back to Lena.
“Would you be interested in joining me on a mission?”
“……”
For a moment, Lena said nothing. Then, with an unwavering voice, she answered,
“I will go.”
Thanks to her response, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.