—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Coincidentally, today was the day midterm grades were released.
Apparently, they were going to combine all the quiz scores with the midterm scores to calculate the final grade.
The plaza was unusually noisy.
Students had gathered in droves, eagerly waiting for the grade reports to be posted on the bulletin board.
Given the setting of this world, the method of announcing grades was quite archaic.
“Aren’t you going to look?”
“I can see it from here.”
I was on the balcony of the mansion across from the plaza, observing the scene.
With a little concentration, it wasn’t difficult to interpret the visible light from that distance, reading each letter clearly.
“…?”
The plaza suddenly grew even louder.
It turned out to be Sergei and Ludwig, each carrying a large scroll as they approached the bulletin board.
“Looks like they’re about to post the grades.”
“I guess so.”
“Are you nervous?”
“…”
There was no need to be nervous.
For Combat Magic, I already knew I was guaranteed first place, thanks to the transparent grading system for the surprise quizzes.
However, Elemental Magic was a bit uncertain.
First place would be ideal, but…
It wouldn’t be a problem if I wasn’t.
I could always make up for it during the final exams.
So for now, it didn’t matter if I wasn’t first place.
There was no reason to be nervous.
“Yeah. I’m really nervous.”
But I had to admit it.
I was definitely nervous.
As if sensing my anxiety, a warm hand slipped into mine.
Was she trying to calm me down?
I squeezed Emilia’s hand tightly.
“They’re posting them. I can’t see the letters… Can you, oppa?”
“Yes, I can.”
My heart pounded in my chest.
The grade reports unfurled and were fastened to the bulletin board.
1st Year Elemental Magic Midterm and Other Examination Results.
The bold letters were clearly visible.
Below that, countless names were listed.
First, from the top.
From the very top.
Who’s in first place?
1st Place: Schlus Hainkel
“Ha…”
“What? What is it? What?!”
I couldn’t help but sigh.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from Elemental Magic, unlike Combat Magic.
I had gotten a perfect score on the midterm, but I had bombed most of the quizzes.
There were so many questions about the fundamental principles of magic, which weren’t even mentioned in the original work, that I had to study and solve them all without any tricks.
I had been unsure of my answers, filled with anxiety.
But I couldn’t just go and ask Iris or Erica if my answers were correct.
Well, I could have…
But my pride wouldn’t allow it.
Nevertheless, I was proud to have achieved top marks.
It meant all my hard work, spending almost every day cooped up in the training room, had paid off.
“They’re posting the next one.”
Amidst a mixture of sighs and cheers from the plaza, Sergei began to unfurl another scroll on the adjacent bulletin board.
Unlike Elemental Magic, where I had no idea how I scored on the quizzes, I had a relatively good grasp of my position in Combat Magic.
So I was fairly confident.
1st Place: Schlus Hainkel
As expected.
It was a given.
I was about to turn around and head back inside when—
“Ah…”
“Oppa?!”
My legs suddenly gave out.
I collapsed onto the floor, landing unceremoniously on my butt.
Thankfully, Emilia was behind me to catch me.
I was spared the embarrassment of falling backwards and hitting my head.
“What? Did, did you fail that badly?”
“No. I got first place in both.”
“What? What?! First place? Top of the class?”
“Not top of the class yet. We still have the final exams.”
“But still! First place in both majors with a double major! That’s amazing!”
She grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me excitedly.
It was certainly unprecedented.
Those foolish enough to attempt a double major usually dropped out after the second week.
Maintaining top grades in both was as difficult as becoming a Magic Knight.
It required mastery of both internal and external mana.
“Lean…”
“…?”
“Lean and rest. You worked hard, oppa.”
“…”
Emilia gently pulled my head back with her delicate hands.
My head bumped against something hard.
It seemed to be Emilia’s collarbone.
I didn’t even need to look back.
Emilia was kneeling, supporting me from behind.
I relaxed, my entire weight leaning against her.
“Huu…”
“You’re getting a little too comfortable in front of me, aren’t you? We’re on the balcony, you know?”
“Who cares? No one can see us from down there.”
“People might be able to see us from the building across the street.”
“Let them see. What’s wrong with them seeing this?”
“Nothing… wrong… I guess. Yeah, it’s fine.”
The evening breeze, tinged with the colors of sunset, was refreshing.
How many times had I been able to relax like this, free from worry, since coming to this world?
I had come to trust Emilia that much.
I was exposing my vulnerability to the enemy closest to me, the assassin who could still be concealing a dagger in her thigh.
“I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Yes. You should. Erica must have made her decision by now.”
“Oppa.”
“Hmm?”
Emilia’s gentle touch forced me to raise my head.
I met her black eyes, sparkling with mischief.
Emilia, one hand cupping my cheek, was slowly leaning towards me.
‘Ah…’
The moment Emilia’s eyes fluttered closed, I realized what was happening.
I had to pull away, staying still would be like giving consent.
But I couldn’t move.
As if a paralytic agent was coursing through my veins.
The pleasant coolness and the soft touch against my back rendered me immobile.
I gave in.
I slowly closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment.
My rationality couldn’t overcome the sudden surge of desire.
Rustle—
“Hmm?”
I opened my eyes at the rustling sound from my waist.
I saw Emilia, giggling as she waved a handkerchief in front of me.
“I was just trying to get my handkerchief. To replenish its mana before you go. Why? What were you expecting?”
“…”
“Closing your eyes and everything… What exactly were you expecting? Hmm? Hmm?”
“Tsk…”
I had been thoroughly played.
I ruffled Emilia’s teasing hair roughly as I stood up.
“Is it fully charged? Give me back the handkerchief.”
“Not yet…”
“…”
Head lowered, Emilia clutched the handkerchief tightly in both hands.
Three seconds should have been enough.
Yet, Emilia remained motionless, clinging to the handkerchief.
As if time had stopped.
I knew how to get it moving again.
I gently brushed her hair aside, resting my hand on her head.
Then I slowly stroked her hair, following its flow.
And time started to flow again.
“Here…”
Emilia held out the handkerchief, neatly folded with the pretty ribbon facing up.
But her head remained bowed.
“Raise your head, Emilia. I can’t say goodbye like this.”
“…”
“Emilia.”
“Sniff… Sob…”
“Are you crying?”
“N-no…”
Emilia slowly raised her head.
She sniffled, her face contorted, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
But Emilia was smiling as she handed me the handkerchief.
“I’ll be back soon. Just a week.”
“Yes… Take care. Crush them all. Make them surrender so you don’t have to go back.”
“Haha, that might be difficult.”
“Hurry up and go. If you leave now, it’ll be a close call for 7:00.”
“You’re right. I’m going.”
“Yes…”
I took the handkerchief and shoved it into my pocket.
As I pulled away, I messed up Emilia’s hair one last time.
Perhaps annoyed by my playful gesture, Emilia glared at me.
I turned away from her.
I was relieved.
It would have been awkward if she had cried and tried to stop me.
Had the Intelligence Agency predicted that I wouldn’t fall for an emotional appeal?
In any case, it was a good thing.
The post station.
I stood on the bustling platform, where all the stagecoaches in the capital converged.
I thought I was cutting it close.
But to my surprise, none of them had arrived yet.
Those lazy bastards…
“Teacher!”
Trie was the first to arrive.
She was clad in full plate armor, her helmet tucked under her arm.
It was my first time seeing her in such a fully-armed state.
I had seen her wearing light armor in Whist Forest, but this gleaming, formidable figure was both unfamiliar and intriguing.
As expected, all eyes on the platform were drawn to Trie.
“You wore that all the way here?”
“Carrying it would have been tiring, hehe.”
“….”
Indeed.
It was a clear and rational explanation.
It was an excellent choice, as long as she could handle the embarrassment.
“You don’t have any armor, Teacher?”
“I’m not strong enough to run around with that much weight on me. It would only restrict my movements.”
“But wouldn’t it be dangerous in close combat…?”
“That’s when you protect me, right?”
I planned to leave most of the close combat to Trie.
My skills were nothing more than a bubble built upon theory and one-on-one sparring in a controlled environment.
They would likely be useless in a chaotic, real-life battle.
I would be more effective focusing on my role as a mage, rather than a swordsman.
“Whoa…”
“Wow… Who is that?”
“Is, is that the Saintess?”
The noisy platform suddenly fell silent.
I turned around with a sigh.
A woman in a black nun’s habit and veil was slowly approaching.
I had only seen her within the academy grounds and had momentarily forgotten, but she was indeed the Saintess.
“This is a bit too much… Why don’t you change?”
“Change right here? What a strange hobby…”
“No, I meant in the restroom…”
“Hehe, I can’t do that. I cannot hide my identity as the Saintess when I’m out in public.”
“….”
So she said.
Thanks to Iris, it seemed we were going to cause a commotion wherever we went.
“Schlus! You were waiting! Huff… Huff…”
From afar, someone was staggering towards us, carrying a huge sack.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Ainz.
“What’s that?”
“Magic stones! Huff… I thought I was going to die…”
“There will be plenty of magic stones there. Their prices have skyrocketed due to the war.”
“Ah.”
Iris’s sharp remark left Ainz speechless.
Since I had told them to come alone, he had carried the sack all the way from his mansion without any assistance.
I didn’t want his efforts to be wasted.
“There might be plenty of magic stones there, but the price will be at least double. It wouldn’t hurt to bring some. Give it here, let’s share the load.”
“Ugh! You’re the only one who understands me, Schlus!”
“Don’t jump on me…”
I almost threw Ainz, who was about to lunge at me, into the path of the carriages.
Three out of the four people I had invited had arrived.
Now all that was left was the one who hadn’t responded yet.
We waited and waited, glancing at the clock every now and then.
“7:00. Time’s up.”
“…”
The sun had completely set, and the moon hung high in the sky.
It was time to depart.
—Beeeeep!
The coachman of a large carriage in the distance blew a whistle.
It seemed to be the one I had reserved.
I couldn’t wait for the missing person forever.
“It can’t be helped. Her parents must have stopped her.”
“Don’t worry too much about it, Schlus. Her mother is very influential in her family.”
“I, I don’t know the details, but I’m sure Miss Erica wanted to come.”
Iris held a unique position within her family.
No matter where she went, the elders couldn’t openly oppose her.
Ainz’s parents had given up on him, accustomed to his eccentric behavior.
They had basically given him free rein to do whatever he wanted.
Trie’s mother probably worried, but she couldn’t stop her daughter, who had recently picked up the sword again, from seizing this opportunity to gain experience in actual combat.
But Erica’s case was different.
With the formidable Lady Lichtenburg at the helm of the family, there was no way Erica could defy her mother’s wishes.
I hadn’t had high hopes for her participation anyway.
“Get in the carriage. I’ll be the last one in.”
They entered the carriage one by one.
Together, we heaved the sacks of magic stones into the luggage compartment and secured them.
I peeked inside.
They were all seated, staring at me.
It was time to go.
Leaving all regrets behind.
The moment I stepped into the carriage—
“Schlus Hainkel! Wait!!!”
A familiar voice rang out.
A loud, chaotic, and utterly idiotic voice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
Lol
Hero party will depart shortly
Kekeke