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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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The day never felt properly started without inhaling the training ground’s dawn air. For Crena, who had followed the same routine for the past three years since entering the academy, the air of the not-yet-fully-risen sun was familiar. As she ran around the training grounds, the cautiously emerging sunlight, the chirping of sparrows welcoming the light, and the buzzing of insects from somewhere, all blended together serenely. It was still early for morning, yet someone else besides Crena stood in the training grounds.
“Why?”
Crena, after her usual routine and a good sweat, approached her. The girl, as if waiting, handed Crena a towel.
“Why what? It’s the day we’re going, isn’t it?”
“Do we really have to go?”
“Yes, we really have to go.”
A sigh escaped Crena’s lips. She felt like running away right then and there. If the girl in front of her weren’t in the same club, she would have fled.
“Bell, shopping isn’t fun.”
“That’s because you don’t know how to appreciate it.”
“We went last time too…”
“This time will be different.”
Bell frowned as she spoke. Bell Cardia. The daughter of the Cardia Count , famously known as the lord of Winter Castle in the North. Cardia, who ordinarily would have no reason to associate with a commoner like Crena, cut off Crena’s words with a bright smile. Crena inwardly sighed, wondering how many times she’d been dragged along shopping. Ever since they first spoke after entering the academy, Bell had taken an interest in Crena. Something about how Crena dressed too plainly for her looks.
Honestly, Crena didn’t remember the details, but she nodded. Only then did Bell’s frown relax. Crena was in Class B, while Bell was in Class A. Therefore, if she ran away as soon as class was over, she could survive the day unscathed.
However, Crena didn’t. Or, to be more precise, she couldn’t.
“Crena~ You definitely can’t escape this time.”
Bell had been standing by the door since the moment class ended, a chilling smile on her face.
“Let’s go.”
Crena winced and nodded.
“So, I heard our club has a new member?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“Deron Philasia.”
“Philasia? Surely not the Philasia Ducal family?”
Even knowing that there was only one family with the name Philasia in the empire, Bell made a fuss. Crena nodded, as if used to it.
“I heard he recently caught a demon, though he had help from a professor.”
“Yes.”
“Why would such a promising student join our club? Many people don’t even know our club exists.”
“He said he came because he didn’t want to join any other clubs.”
“Really? I guess he heard the rumors that are going around. Or maybe Duke Philasia told him.”
Muttering to herself, Bell opened the door to the clothing store. It was a luxurious-looking establishment, well-known even in the Imperial Capital. And it was also the place where Crena would temporarily become a human mannequin.
“How about this?”
“Too expensive.”
“This one?”
“Do I have to try it on?”
Bell puffed out her cheeks, but Crena avoided her gaze. The prices in this clothing store were too much for a commoner like her. Clothes ranged from tens of silver to as much as 10 gold. More expensive items soared to 40 or 50 gold. Simple, inexpensive training clothes costing a few silver were much more comfortable than such luxurious outfits. Thinking this, Crena desperately dodged Bell’s recommendations.
Cling.
The door opened and the bell chimed. Someone was coming in. Crena naturally turned her gaze in that direction.
‘Junior?’
The promising student they’d been talking about before coming to the clothing store, the scion of the Philasia Ducal family. Deron Philasia was entering the store. He was holding a slender woman’s hand.
“Wow, an elf?”
Bell, also drawn by the sight, looked towards the entrance. Deron’s elven companion’s appearance seemed to be attracting attention. Indeed, as befitting a race renowned for their beauty, the elf illuminated the store the moment she entered.
“Is that Deron Philasia?”
“Yes.”
“Is he a southern noble too? An elf slave even after entering the academy?”
Crena wasn’t about to criticize Bell’s prejudice stemming from living in the north, but she had a feeling it wasn’t the case. An ability gained from frequently reading people’s minds through Synchronization. She naturally approached Deron.
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“Senior?”
“Yes.”
“You’re here too, Senior?”
“Yeah, I was kidnapped.”
“Huh?”
She’s a bit of a strange one. That thought crossed her mind. She seemed too calm for someone who had been kidnapped.
“Crena, why are you suddenly going over there?!”
Another female student popped up behind her. Someone I remembered, even though she hadn’t appeared in the original story.
“Senior Bell Cardia, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Uh… you’re Deron Philasia?”
“Please, call me Deron.”
He bowed his head slightly. Bell Cardia. Before coming to the academy, he had memorized the faces of most of the important noble children.
‘The Count’s eldest daughter.’
Seeing her, he thought this is good. Wouldn’t it be easier for a woman to help dress another woman, rather than a man like himself?
“I’m out.”
“You want me to pick out some clothes?”
Crena shook her head, and Bell’s eyes sparkled.
It’s a relief that at least one person is willing… or should I say?
“Any restrictions?”
“None. Just bring me something nice and neat, please.”
“As expected of the Duke’s eldest son. Very generous! Okay!”
He had about 100 golds available. Even if the clothes here were expensive, they couldn’t be more than 30 golds at most…
“You’ll regret it.”
“Huh?”
Startled, he looked at Crena. She was looking down at him as if he were a pitiful person. She kept muttering to him that he would regret it. The unsettling atmosphere gave him an eerie feeling.
Come on, no way.
Crena had already taken Medea and entered the dressing room.
Seeing her expression, he had a feeling that this wouldn’t end simply.
“Junior.”
“Yes?”
He was checking the amount of usable gold he had when Crena spoke to him.
“Why did you join our club?”
What does she mean?
“Other clubs require regular classes. This club doesn’t seem to have much of that…”
“Is that really it?”
A cold look he hadn’t seen before emanated from Crena’s eyes, filled with wariness toward him.
“Yes, that’s all.”
Meeting her gaze directly, he nodded. There was nothing to hide. He had clearly come to ‘Haven for the Weary’ believing it offered club hours without the commitment of other clubs.
“Then it’s fine.”
As soon as she heard his answer, her wary gaze softened. She didn’t hesitate, even though she might have had reason to doubt. As if she were certain of something.
“As the rumors say, you don’t really have to show up to our club.”
“…”
“However, everyone must attend on designated days. Except for unavoidable circumstances.”
“Designated days?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t part of his plan, but it was doable. He could use the time he didn’t have to attend club meetings to secure opportunities near the academy. The question was how many of these designated days there were.
“It’s the 12th today?”
“Yes. June 12th.”
Crena nodded and muttered.
“Then the designated day is coming soon.”
“When exactly are the designated days?”
“We don’t know either.”
“Huh?”
“They change every time.”
If they change every time, can you even call them designated days?
Seeing his puzzled expression, she chuckled and opened her mouth.
“Our club president is a bit… unusual.”
“You mean His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. And within the academy, you have to call him President. Because within the academy, status doesn’t matter.”
Crena added that the president himself had said so. He furrowed his brows, wondering if she was serious. The Crown Prince said those words? The Iliad Academy was a place where anyone could attend regardless of status, but even so, there were limits. It was impossible to say that the child of a count and the daughter of a commoner were on the same level. The nobles would never tolerate that.
Yet, the Crown Prince, with the most noble blood in the academy, was saying such things. That might have some serious repercussions.
‘I’ll have to go to this designated day to see for myself.’
“The President is very… unusual.”
“Right?”
The fact that a Margrave’s child and a commoner were conversing freely suggested that to some extent, it was being upheld. Just then, Medea and Bell finished choosing clothes and emerged, so they stopped talking.
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“That’s 68 gold.”
At the clerk’s calm voice, he felt like his head was splitting.
Behind him, Bell, her eyes sparkling, handed the clothes to Medea. She made a bewildered expression but obediently took the bag containing the clothes. The bag itself was worth 4 golds. 4 million won in Korean currency. He felt dizzy. He’d expected it to be 30 golds at most, but how could it possibly reach 68 golds?
‘Just how expensive are these clothes…?!’
The moment he turned to see Medea’s outfit, he couldn’t help but acknowledge Bell’s taste. She had been wearing something resembling a uniform, and he couldn’t find anything more suitable for her than this.
“Here you go, payment received.”
All he could do was desperately ignore Bell’s smile as he paid for the clothes. Crena’s words that he would regret this echoed in his mind.
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