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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Johann, are you okay?”
My body felt heavy.
“Johann~ Wake up!”
Dizzy.
“Stop shaking my head.”
“Are you awake?”
Milia was sitting on my stomach, holding my collar and shaking me.
Wasn’t that a bit excessive for waking someone up?
“Yes, now get off.”
Milia obediently climbed off me.
I stretched, my body stiff from sleeping on the floor. My back ached, but at least I wasn’t tired.
“Why were you sleeping here?”
“Don’t you remember what happened yesterday?”
“Um… I was sleeping?”
“In my room.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Did she mistake my room for hers? No, the rooms were completely different.
My room was spartan, with only a table and a suit of armor in the corner.
Milia’s room, on the other hand, was decorated with bright pink wallpaper, befitting a young girl. Unless she was colorblind, there was no way she could mistake the two.
But Milia’s expression was genuinely confused. I couldn’t tell if she was lying or if she genuinely didn’t remember.
“So that’s why you smelled so good…”
“What?”
“Nothing! Anyway, Johann, I need to get ready, so can you leave?”
At her blatant dismissal, I stood up.
Birds were chirping, and sunlight was streaming through the window. It was time for me to get ready as well.
I opened the door and peeked into the quiet hallway.
…It would look strange if I was seen leaving Milia’s room.
It would look like we had done something… inappropriate. There was no need to invite unnecessary misunderstandings.
Though even if someone saw us, they probably wouldn’t think that…
“Johann? What are you doing?”
“Checking if anyone’s around.”
“Why?”
“It would be troublesome if we were seen.”
“Really?”
I looked back at Milia.
She was looking at me with a strange expression.
What was she thinking? I couldn’t read her mind, but I felt a sense of foreboding.
“…I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“Johann?!”
I quickly opened the door and dashed into the hallway.
Fortunately, there was no one aro—
“…Mister Johann?”
“Good morning, Elisa.”
I had forgotten that Milia’s and Elisa’s rooms were close to each other. I racked my brain for an explanation but came up empty.
All I could do was pretend nothing had happened.
“M-Milia’s r-room…”
Ah.
Elisa’s face was as red as a tomato.
She had completely misunderstood. I placed my hand on her shoulder and shook my head.
“You’re mistaken. Milia was sleeping in my room, so I took her back to hers.”
“I-Is that so…?”
She didn’t sound convinced.
I had to stop the rumor before it spread.
Misunderstandings could spiral out of control, and both Milia and I would suffer the consequences.
Though Elisa wasn’t the type to gossip…
“Elisa, do you not trust me?”
I stared intently at Elisa.
She finally met my gaze, seemingly unable to avoid it any longer. I could read a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Embarrassment, surprise, sadness, disappointment.
My A-ranked Insight allowed me to discern a multitude of emotions in a split second.
I spoke again.
“I apologize. I got a little carried away.”
“N-No, it’s okay…”
I removed my hand from her shoulder.
This wasn’t good.
My appearance made even the simplest interactions seem like intimidation. Elisa hesitated, then fidgeted with her hands.
“Y-You’re a man too, Mister Johann… S-So I understand…”
“I didn’t do anything.”
I really didn’t.
“Y-You don’t have to lie…”
This was frustrating.
“Do I look like the type of person who would do that with Milia?”
“W-Well, even if you wouldn’t, M-Milia might… I-I could…”
I doubted Milia would try anything like that.
I wasn’t even sure she had the necessary knowledge. She just seemed like a puppy seeking attention.
“It’s not what you think. I ended up sleeping on the floor because she wouldn’t let go of me.”
Elisa, finally realizing her mistake, apologized in a small voice.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. It was my fault for creating a misunderstanding. Let’s just forget about it.”
Further explanations would only make things worse. I turned and headed towards my room.
I was already late, I had to hurry if I wanted to eat breakfast.
“M-Mister Johann… if you really can’t control yourself… um… never mind! Goodbye!”
Her unusually loud voice made me turn around.
Elisa was scurrying away like a startled cat.
“…This is going to be a long day.”
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‘Idiot! Stupid! Half-wit!’
“Elisa? Is something wrong?”
“N-Nothing!”
Martina Raymond looked at Elisa, who hadn’t even filled half a page of her notebook. Her usually pale face, framed by neatly styled hair, was flushed.
It was clear that something was bothering her. Martina smiled gently.
Some students called it her motherly smile, while others called it the sign that Martina is about to meddle.
Martina was an influential figure among the first-year Magic students.
Especially since she had successfully matched a couple during the first semester.
Martina carefully observed Elisa’s complexion and ventured a guess.
“Are you… on your period?”
“N-No…”
“Or are you feeling unwell?”
‘She doesn’t look sick…’
“N-No…”
Martina continued her gentle interrogation. It wasn’t her period, and she wasn’t sick.
Martina studied Elisa’s face again.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.
She stared at Elisa, lost in thought.
‘Déjà vu… déjà vu…’
Ah.
She remembered an incident from the first semester.
“…Could it be… love…?”
“N-N-N-N-No!”
‘So it is.’
Martina smiled warmly at Elisa’s flustered reaction.
For girls their age, other people’s love lives were a source of endless fascination. The other students, who had been eavesdropping, perked up at the mention of romance.
A love story? What a juicy piece of gossip!
Especially considering Elisa’s dramatic transformation from gloomy ghost to shy beauty.
This was too good to miss.
“Miss Elisa, if you don’t mind… would you like to talk about it?”
“B-But…”
Elisa’s eyes darted around nervously. Martina’s offer was incredibly awkward.
For someone who wasn’t comfortable with social interaction, discussing her feelings was a monumental task. She would rather face a dungeon full of monsters and blast them with second-tier magic.
Martina patiently waited for Elisa to speak. She glanced at the other students, who were eagerly listening, and gave them a look.
The students, catching her eye, coughed awkwardly and looked away.
“If it’s difficult to talk about it here, perhaps we could find a quieter place?”
“Th-There’s no need…”
“I’m just worried. We’re in the same group, aren’t we? I can’t just ignore you while you’re suffering in silence. Tell me everything. I have experience with these things. I successfully matched a couple in the first semester.”
The word couple made Elisa’s eyes widen.
Martina, like a predator spotting its prey, didn’t miss the subtle reaction.
‘I wonder who stole Elisa’s heart?’
“T-Talking about it here is a bit…”
Disappointed groans echoed through the lecture hall at Elisa’s response.
They had been hoping to hear a juicy love story, but Martina’s offer meant they wouldn’t be able to listen in. But Martina wasn’t going to turn Elisa into a spectacle, so she packed her bag and stood up.
“Come with me, Miss Elisa. I know a good place.”
“O-Okay…”
Elisa quietly stood up and followed Martina like a duckling following its mother.
Ignoring the stares of the other students.
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[Your Text Here]
well its good he managed to properly explain, hopefully.