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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“Haa…”
It was a peaceful afternoon, the warm sunlight filled the cafeteria, but the atmosphere was anything but peaceful.
A group of people sat together, radiating a gloomy aura.
“Ugh…”
“It’s been canceled…”
Eilly, Elisha, and Melina; they all sighed deeply, their faces filled with disappointment, the air around them heavy with their dejection.
Their demeanors were so different from normal that it was unsettling.
“All that effort for nothing~ Haa…”
What had happened?
“Um… Are you girls alright? Did something happen?”
““……. ””
Varis was the first to break the silence, his expression filled with concern. But his question was met with only sidelong glances, their lips pressed firmly together, as if they found even his question bothersome.
“Arnold, did something happen to them?”
“I don’t know… They’ve been like this for a while.”
“Could you ask them? You’re closer to them than I am.”
Varis whispered, his voice a mix of caution and concern.
“Everyone has things they don’t want to talk about.”
“Well… that’s true, but if it’s something serious, shouldn’t we help them?”
He had initially intended to ignore Varis’s request, but his words made sense. If it was something serious, they should help.
“Is there something you don’t want to tell me?”
He asked, raising his voice slightly so everyone could hear, but his gaze was fixed on Eilly.
It was a cowardly tactic, but he had a better chance of getting an answer from her.
“W-Well… I’m sorry, but it’s a bit… difficult to explain, Master…”
But even Eilly hesitated, lowering her head.
However, as soon as he heard Eilly’s words, he had a vague idea. The other two girls also fidgeted, as if sharing her unease.
He instinctively knew there was something they weren’t telling him.
“I just want to help if something’s wrong. Don’t hesitate to tell me.”
He asked again, his voice gentle, and Eilly finally spoke.
“The truth is…”
A brief silence followed. Eilly took a small breath and then revealed the reason.
“Before the exam, the three of us made a bet. The one with the highest score would get to spend a day alone with you, Master…”
He felt his mind go blank for a moment. Not from shock, but from the sheer triviality of the reason behind their dejection.
“What?”
“That’s why we’re so down~”
Elisha added, her chin resting on the table, her expression slightly sullen.
“We all tried our best to win, but the exam was canceled because of that unexpected incident.”
Melina nodded silently, her long blonde hair swaying, her expression a mix of disappointment and frustration.
“It’s so frustrating… All that effort for nothing…”
Starting with Eilly, they each poured out their feelings, sighing in unison.
“…….”
He was honestly bewildered.
He was surprised that they had made such a bet without his knowledge, but their dejected reactions to the cancellation were even more surprising.
A mix of emotions washed over him as he saw their downcast faces.
“…Well, it’s not much of a reward, but how about we go to the royal capital for a change of pace sometime?”
He made a lighthearted suggestion, trying to cheer them up.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the three of them slammed their hands on the table and straightened up, their previously gloomy faces suddenly regaining their color.
“Really?!”
“A-Are you asking us on a date?!”
“I’m definitely in!”
But their excitement was short-lived. A moment later, they began glaring at each other, their sharp gazes clashing like wild animals defending their territory.
“Huh? Why are you two so excited? It’s only natural that I should spend time with Master.”
Eilly was the first to voice her displeasure, challenging the other two, showing no signs of backing down.
“What are you talking about? It should obviously be me, his fiancée.”
Elisha was equally determined, crossing her arms and glaring at them, asserting her rights.
“Well, you two are already close enough… I think I deserve a chance too~”
Melina stepped forward with a relaxed smile, but there was a hint of hostility in her eyes. She wasn’t going to back down either.
He sighed and raised his hands, trying to calm them down.
“We’ll all go together.”
He finally made a decision. He had intended for them all to go together, but they seemed to have misunderstood.
“Huh…?”
“We’re all going? But then I won’t be able to spend time alone with you… Ugh.”
“Eh~ We won’t have him all to ourselves? But if that’s what you want…”
“Oh? Then me too?”
They all seemed a bit disappointed but eventually accepted his decision, their expressions a mixture of reluctance and anticipation.
“Anyway, we’ll go together when we have time, so keep that in mind.”
He concluded the conversation. His offer seemed to have cheered them up, and the atmosphere brightened considerably.
“Then how about after lunch this afternoon? We don’t have any classes scheduled for the afternoon.”
“I’m free. The academy is still busy with the aftermath of the Lamia incident.”
“We’ve only had morning classes lately. I’m free too.”
“Then it’s settled!”
Their initial gloom vanished, replaced by renewed energy, the atmosphere much lighter.
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After lunch at the academy, they headed for the royal capital.
The city was bustling with activity in the midday sun.
The cries of merchants, the music of street performers, and the laughter of passersby blended together, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
“So, where should we go?”
Eilly asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked around, her expression like that of a child eager to explore a new place.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm, I don’t have anything in particular in mind…”
Just then, Elisha spoke up confidently,
“If you don’t mind, how about we go to that fortune teller everyone’s talking about?”
“A fortune teller?”
He frowned slightly at the unexpected suggestion. A fortune teller? But then, a particular place came to mind.
“Yes, there’s a new fortune teller who’s become really popular lately. They say their predictions are incredibly accurate.”
Elisha nodded confidently. Her assertive tone was convincing, but he also sensed a hidden motive.
“I’ve heard of them. They’re especially good at predicting romantic fortunes, right?”
Melina nodded, her voice laced with anticipation.
“Oh, that’s right! I heard that too. And the line is so long that you have to wait for ages!” Eilly chimed in excitedly.
Judging by their reactions, there seemed to be more to this fortune teller than just rumors. And he knew which place they were talking about.
There was a place called the “Suspicious Fortune Teller” in the original story.
You could pay for a fortune and receive a random effect for a certain period.
“Then shall we go there?”
He was intrigued by the idea of visiting the place he had only seen in the game.
They cheered at his agreement, and their destination was decided.
“I know where it is. I’ll lead the way.”
Varis, also seemingly familiar with the fortune teller, confidently took the lead.
They followed him, the scenery around them gradually changing as they walked.
They started in a bustling commercial district filled with shops and people, but soon they found themselves in a quiet alleyway. But even there, a long line of people snaked through the narrow street.
“This must be the place.”
It seemed they had almost arrived. But at the end of the line, they encountered an unexpected person—
“Oh? It’s you…”
“Professor?”
Her long, red hair swayed. Her ruby eyes flickered with surprise, as if she had encountered someone she wasn’t supposed to meet.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
