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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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She ran away…?
And while crying?
I was frozen in shock at Yuria’s unexpected reaction.
I looked towards the corner where Yuria had disappeared, feeling a chilling sensation.
And sure enough, a pure-looking girl with azure hair lightly and gracefully jumped in front of me.
“Senior! I’ve been looking for you because I couldn’t see you!”
Seeing Livia’s seemingly energetic smile, I had an ominous feeling.
“Was that the student council president earlier? Imperial Princess Yuria? I saw her running away crying. Senior, did something… happen?”
“Nothing happened. Don’t worry about it.”
I said as I put away the box containing the earrings and slipped it into my pocket.
Livia looked at me doing this and widened her eyes in surprise.
For some reason, an emotion that I could identify as sadness surfaced from the depths of Livia’s eyes.
Along with that, the sharp sensation spreading throughout my body due to my danger detection special ability informed me that Livia was harboring strong killing intent.
It wasn’t killing intent towards me but towards someone else.
The size of the signal was different from when she had harbored it towards Nias, indicating how large this killing intent was.
‘Surely not…’
No, it wasn’t a matter of ‘surely not.’
I didn’t know what she had misunderstood, but she had developed a strong killing intent towards Yuria.
‘Wait, misunderstanding?’
When I heard the word ‘misunderstanding,’ I realized the meaning behind Yuria’s recent reaction.
Yuria Rodmas was misunderstanding something.
‘But what did she misunderstand?’
Thinking back to that moment, the point at which the misunderstanding began was clear.
Yuria’s sudden tears.
Her words seemed to reject me emotionally.
Even her turning around and running away hurriedly, like a scene from an old movie I had seen.
I came to a conclusion.
In other words, Yuria had mistakenly thought that I had confessed to her.
‘…Why?!’
Unable to understand the situation, I unconsciously frowned.
“Senior…”
Livia’s pretty violet eyes clouded over.
However, she had interpreted my expression.
“Oh, poor thing. I understand what happened. Our senior. How did it…”
When did I become ‘our senior’?
“It’s just a misunderstanding. I was just trying to ask to join the student council…”
As I tried to explain, Livia gently grasped the sleeve of my clothes with her slender fingers, wearing an even more pitying expression.
Yuria slightly bit her lower lip and shook her head gently like a flower.
“Senior… I understand everything. Don’t worry.”
Livia gently took a step towards me.
“I’ll comfort you.”
The hand holding my sleeve warmly moved up to my forearm.
A sweet scent like honey from flowers tickled my nose.
Livia’s beautiful face, seemingly torn with sadness, filled my vision.
For a moment, my heart pounded at the feeling of being enchanted by Livia’s sympathetic face.
There was also a fluttering feeling at Livia’s shy, flower-like appearance.
However, more than that…
*Ding!*
It was terrifying.
The system window had never been this helpful before.
I reminded myself once again that nothing could take me further from future peace than having my heart shaken by Livia, and I spoke with a fabricated smile, almost like a sigh.
“It’s true.”
Of course, given how the situation turned out, it would sound like an excuse.
Livia’s face was changing to an even stronger conviction.
‘This is dangerous.’
It was indeed a fatal misunderstanding.
Yuria’s body might be found torn apart by magical beasts in a few days, made to look like an accidental death.
Of course, she wouldn’t be able to kill her immediately, but I couldn’t know what creative means Livia might devise.
Just as I was about to try to clear up the misunderstanding somehow,
“Hey, you two!”
At that moment, a thick voice rang out.
A slim, dry middle-aged man with brown curly hair was walking towards Livia and me with angry steps.
Judging by his picky-looking face and eyes twisted with ill temper, he didn’t seem like someone who would be easy to deal with.
‘Surely… the teacher Roman Rager. He was the magic studies professor.’
He was a professor who would be teaching me in the future.
He was also a character who played the role of the protagonist’s Professor in the novel, a man with excellent magical skills.
That is if you exclude his twisted personality of wanting to give a C- to all students.
“Why are you still here, without being guided by the teachers? You haven’t been granted the right to wander around the campus as you please yet.”
There was no point in being assertive here; it wouldn’t be a good choice.
Whatever I do, it would be better to act as a model student on the surface for later.
Livia seemed to think the same, immediately taking on a polite posture.
“Yes. We’re sorry.”
“We’re sorry, Professor.”
As I and Livia bowed our heads, Roman Rager opened his mouth, slightly raising his chin grumpily.
“You have good manners. All you have is manners. You kids who rebel from the start…”
As he said this, Roman’s gaze fixed on my face momentarily.
His eyebrows raised upwards discontentedly as if he had recognized me.
“…You’re the son of Duke Deinhart.”
Roman was the man who had competed with my father for the title of Five Orbs, the highest title for magicians.
Because of this, in the novel, he is a character who immensely dislikes the protagonist and often causes various hindrances.
As a result, the protagonist faced life-threatening situations several times.
Of course, I had no intention of suffering like the protagonist, so I came prepared to start my relationship with him properly.
“Yes. Professor Roman Rager of Magic Studies. I am Leonhart Deinhart, son of Raon Deinhart.”
Roman opened his eyes wide in surprise.
“You know me?”
“I know you well. I heard you competed with my father until the end for the position of Five Orbs. I’ve heard about you many times from my father. He said you were a person who was superior to him in many aspects.”
Emotion flickered in his eyes.
“Duke Raon… said such things?”
“Yes! That’s why I’ve been greatly looking forward to the day I could learn from Professor Roman Rager. I will learn well from you and show you that I can become an excellent magician.”
At my words, Roman coughed a couple of times.
He seemed pleased to hear such words from the child of his former competitor.
As if his anger had subsided, he twitched the corners of his twisted mouth a few times, then managed not to smile and spoke in his still picky voice.
“It is indeed your mistake… I’ll let it slide just this once. It’s perhaps natural for new students not to know. Follow me. I’ll guide you to the dormitory.”
I let out a small sigh and began to move my reluctant feet.
For now, my relationship with Roman has started as expected, but the problem still remains.
‘It would be better to clear up the misunderstanding right now.’
I looked at Livia, moving lightly beside me, following the Professor.
At that moment, our eyes met as Livia turned her head, sensing my gaze.
Livia pushed her azure hair, shining naturally in the sunlight, behind her ear and moved her lips with an unmistakable eye smile.
‘We’ll talk later, Senior.’
I got goosebumps all over.
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The dormitory of Ellentia Academy boasted a splendor and size like a palace.
It could only be achieved because it was an academy sponsored by numerous nobles.
Luxurious chandeliers were an essential feature, and the dormitory was filled with high-quality fabrics and decorations that seemed to have been invested in generously.
Among the new students, many who had lived far from wealth stood blankly, not knowing where to look in the face of such splendor.
Although it had been mentioned a few times in the novel, the experience was different.
While shivering with excitement as usual at directly experiencing the novel’s setting, I recalled a few settings that could benefit me.
‘When I have time, I should secretly visit the moving statue in the central hall at night.’
I smiled faintly as I recalled the setting that came to mind first.
Although it’s tricky, I can get something interesting from the statue.
“The boys’ dormitory is on the left, the girls’ dormitory is on the right. When you get to your room, your luggage will have arrived, so unpack.”
Roman, who had escorted me and Livia to the dormitory, added sternly as if warning,
“Since you two seem close, I’ll tell you this. While romantic relationships between male and female students are not prohibited, you cannot enter the dormitory of the opposite sex at night. Don’t have any impure thoughts.”
It was useless advice since I never intended to have such a relationship with Livia.
However, on the contrary, Livia cupped her cheeks with both hands and blushed slightly.
“…Do we look like that?”
“Hm?”
Noticing Roman’s eyebrows twisting, I immediately stepped in and cut off the conversation.
“I understand well, Professor. We won’t let such things happen.”
Roman nodded at my words.
“Hmph. You speak well. Let’s see how long you stay that way. Move along now.”
Roman left these grumpy words and glared at me and Livia.
It seemed he intended to leave after seeing us properly separate.
“Senior. See you later!”
Unexpectedly, Livia waved her hand lightly and turned her body first.
I had no other choice, so I decided to head to my assigned room.
What Ellentia Academy valued most was fairness.
They believed this fairness should also naturally apply to the comfort of the educational environment.
This fairness included things like the size of the dormitory rooms or the quality of the beds.
This strict rule of Ellentia Academy led to unexpected results.
Nobles who couldn’t tolerate their children sleeping in uncomfortable environments for the sake of fairness invested massive amounts of money.
As a result, the dormitory rooms were as splendid as any noble’s private room.
“Young Master! You’re here?”
Nias said, taking out the shabby mat at the bottom of the luggage she had packed first, last.
“Pig. You still have that?”
When I pointed at that mat, Nias hugged it tightly to her chest as if she couldn’t let it be taken away.
“It’s, it’s precious to me-”
“…Fine. Do as you please.”
I replied grumpily.
Seeing Nias smiling broadly at those words made me feel like all the hardships until now were melting away.
As I lay down on the bed with my tired body, I noticed three teacups on my room’s desk.
The fragrant scent of tea was still lingering in the room.
“Lady Elena and Lady Elin came by earlier. They wanted to see you, but they were called away soon after…”
“Is that so?”
Due to my changed development, it seemed the academy was having difficulties.
What could be done about it?
It’s all for the sake of peace.
“By the way, about that tea…”
“Oh, Lady Elena said she just bought a magical teapot that brews tea right away, so we brewed and drank together with that. It was delicious! I’m sure you would have enjoyed it too if you had been here, Young Master…”
It seems they brewed and drank together in front of the two.
There probably wasn’t time to put in hypnotic drugs, so my anxiety was resolved.
“I see.”
After I said that and sat quietly as if tired, Nias had somehow sat down next to me, leaving about a hand’s width of space.
When I turned my gaze to look beside me, she quickly closed even that hand’s width and pressed her shoulder against mine.
“You worked hard.”
Nias’ fingers lightly bumped against my fingers.
The warm sensation from that brief contact and the soft scent of tea remaining in the room made me feel comfortable.
Perhaps it was because of Nias, who was always by my side.
“Yeah.”
At my brief response, perhaps due to my frailty, Nias smiled and rested her head on my shoulder.
I looked at Nias for a moment, then thinking this much would be fine, I gently patted her head.
Watching Nias laugh as if it tickled, I decided to rest for today.
‘How to clear up the misunderstanding…’
I hoped the situation wouldn’t become more complicated due to the misunderstandings that had accumulated so far.
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The next day.
I was sitting in the magic department classroom, reading a book.
The classroom desks were more comfortable than expected and suitable for reading books.
Although it was still before the morning assembly time, students had already gathered.
They were probably there to build friendships and familiarize themselves with each other before officially starting academy life.
Among them, especially the students from noble backgrounds, were out early, talking to each other.
Of course, I would be included in the list of people they wanted to befriend, but almost no one was approaching me to talk.
“I can’t approach him. How can even his book-reading posture look so noble?”
“Compared to His Highness the Prince, he’s much… in a different sense, I just can’t bring myself to talk to him.”
Even though I tried to appear indifferent, my face itched at the voices of girls whispering from afar.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have used sensory expansion.’
Honestly, I regret it a little every time this happens.
“Should we try talking to him? The Deinhart family is the top magical noble family. If we build connections early…”
“No, I heard his personality is really bad. They say he severely mistreats his servants. Do you want to get into big trouble?”
In a different sense, the boys were keeping their distance and not approaching me.
‘This is a bit…’
Rumors of my infamy had spread in Deinhart Castle to fulfill Nias’s masochistic tendencies.
Had those rumors spread even here?
It seemed I would have to do something to improve my image.
But then,
Bang!
Suddenly, the classroom door was roughly pushed open.
“…Young Lord Leonhart Deinhart! Are you here?”
The classroom filled with chattering voices fell silent in an instant, and all the students’ gazes turned in that direction.
A boy with gray hair and a wolf-like impression was standing there with a reddened expression of indignation.
‘…Isn’t that the student council guy who was sticking close to Yuria yesterday?’
Just as I frowned without answering, the guy who had spotted me sitting in the classroom rushed towards me without hesitation.
Well,
He probably wasn’t shouting at me because he wanted to be friends.
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