Chapter 104
Chapter 104
As I said before, the third term consisted of external activities.
Lasting nearly two months, it was a mandatory process one had to go through to advance to the second year.
In the original work, the protagonist’s party set their direction toward a certain territory in the southwestern part of the Empire.
That territory later became the foothold where the protagonist’s power took root, and entertaining episodes unfolded there, such as purging serial murder cases or underground organizations that had already established themselves.
But I had no intention of deliberately choosing that place.
When the Emperor told me to speak of what I wanted after the previous sparring match, I asked for a different territory.
One more prosperous and stable than the place the protagonist had chosen.
With good land already in my hands, there was no reason to go somewhere where nothing but trouble awaited.
That was why I planned to ask Chris to take care of the third term exam and let it pass by vaguely enough.
My grades were overwhelmingly dominant anyway, so no matter what I did, first place was practically guaranteed.
However, the words that came out of her mouth were something I had not expected.
“The Holy Kingdom contacted us saying they want to interact with Bayern Academy students. Since it coincides with the third term schedule, they’re asking whether we’d like to select a few representatives and hold an exchange meeting.”
“So that means.”
“It means you, as the top first-year student, are naturally included.”
“Ugh…….”
A groan slipped out on its own.
To think they’d come at me like this right after I rejected the invitation through the Chancellor.
No—did they perhaps already know I’d refuse from the start and lay this groundwork? I knew they were persistent, but I never imagined they’d go this far.
“I was actually about to ask you about this.”
“You were going to go to the Holy Kingdom?”
“No, the opposite. I was going to ask them to assign me somewhere nearby, anywhere was fine.”
At that, Chris shook her head, saying it was already decided.
“They made an offer we couldn’t refuse. They said they’d hand over one ancient magic grimoire they possess. When they heard that, the professors from the magic department went berserk.”
“An ancient magic grimoire?”
“Yeah, the Holy Kingdom’s been big on heresy trials since ancient times, right? I heard that in the process they acquired and stored all sorts of items. Ancient magic grimoires are valuable academically to begin with, so they couldn’t help but go crazy. No matter how much they research them, they probably won’t even be able to use them.”
She shrugged and muttered words of condolence for her subordinates.
They had already accepted the Holy Kingdom’s proposal, and there was no justification to refuse now.
“…Should I break a my leg or something.”
Seeing how serious they were about inviting me only made me want to go even less.
As I muttered in an attempt to avoid it, Chris let out a small snort and said,
“Did you forget? The other side is the Holy Kingdom. They’d probably welcome you even more, saying they’d show you a miracle of healing.”
“…That’s true too.”
Since it sounded plausible, I leaned back against the chair and looked up at the sky.
I didn’t want to create unnecessary variables, but the world wasn’t about to leave me alone.
“So this is the life of a popular person.”
“…There you go again with nonsense.”
She waved her hand dismissively, saying we should head back now.
Just like that, we returned to the dean’s office, and Chris overlaid herself with the appearance of a middle-aged old man.
“Are you planning to return to South Yorkshire now?”
“I am. But hearing you call yourself ‘you’ in that appearance is a bit creepy.”
“Be quiet before I hug you. Anyway, South Yorkshire, huh.”
Chris showed interest at my words.
Thinking she might have some personal connection, I looked at her, and she twirled her hair with a distant expression, as if recalling old memories.
“I was a bit close with the countess from three generations ago. It wouldn’t be bad to stop by and say hello after so long.”
“Three generations ago, huh…….”
That was ancient history.
I was curious what kind of story there was back then, but she rarely talked about the past.
Since there was no need to ask, I changed the subject.
“Want to come together?”
“Hmm…….”
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded.
Seeing that, it seemed she’d been more bored than I’d thought.
“Then what about your appearance?”
“Since I’m going anyway, I should enjoy it too. If I go looking this shabby, even people trying to solicit customers will run away.”
Indeed, the position of Bayern Academy’s dean was not something to be taken lightly.
If it became known that she had headed to the Sheffield family’s territory together with the Third Prince, rumors might spread about some sort of collusion between us.
“Since we’re going anyway, let’s just teleport together.”
“You say that like you can use it yourself.”
She sighed with a look of disbelief, but told me to wait an hour in the dining hall while she finished up what she was doing.
I took a seat at an empty table and enjoyed a leisurely tea time.
With none of the bustle of the school term, the dining hall felt—if I exaggerated a little—like I’d rented the place out entirely.
As I was calmly sipping black tea while gazing at the scenery outside the window, I sensed someone approaching me.
“So you said you were going to South Yorkshire, and yet I find you in a place like this.”
“Petra.”
A smile naturally came to my face at the familiar sight.
She, like us, was on break, but she was busy with student council work and various other matters.
I had once suggested we go to South Yorkshire together, but she had refused at the time, which had left me quite disappointed.
“You looked tired back then, but you seem fine today.”
“I’ve taken care of most of the busy work.
Have you heard about the Holy Kingdom matter? If it weren’t for that, I could’ve finished two days earlier.”
“…Ah, that’s because of me.
I put you through unnecessary trouble.”
“Pardon?”
I explained to her, as she looked at me with a puzzled expression, that the Holy Kingdom had invited me because I obtained Excalibur.
Petra let out a small sigh and gave a bitter smile.
“You really do carry trouble with you wherever you go.”
“The fate of a popular person, I suppose.”
At that, she chuckled softly, asking what that was supposed to mean.
“So once things are roughly settled, are you going back to your hometown? You didn’t go during the first term because you were busy.”
“Yes, it’s about time I return. And I heard the atmosphere in the territory isn’t exactly normal…….”
“Not normal?”
At my question, she made an ‘oops’ face.
“…I wasn’t planning on talking about that.”
As if the words had slipped out unintentionally, she covered her mouth.
I set down my teacup and looked at Petra with narrowed eyes.
“Didn’t you swear to become my person?”
“…That doesn’t mean I wanted to burden you one-sidedly.”
It seemed that the ‘not normal’ atmosphere in the territory wasn’t in a good sense.
I briefly rummaged through my memories.
There had been a few episodes involving the Leipzig territory as well.
But I remembered most of them being tied to Leios and taking place past Part 2.
“An increase in monster appearances, or suspicious people showing up?”
“…You already knew?”
When I answered that it was just a guess, Petra let out a small sigh and spoke.
“As you said, reports have come in that the number of monsters has increased significantly.
We’re not usually lax in our defenses, but due to such sudden attacks, parts of the territory suffered damage.”
“The number of monsters increased…….”
The monsters in the Britain mountain range going on a rampage had partly been caused by me, but the root cause had been a demon race manipulating them.
Then what was the cause on the Leipzig side?
‘…Don’t tell me.’
Around the middle of Part 2, a Majin appeared in Leipzig as well.
In the original work, Petra fought that Majin to save her homeland, but ultimately met her death.
Monsters had increased, and the territory had been attacked.
The current situation bore similarities to that time.
It was still only speculation, but with the plot already twisted, there was no telling what couldn’t happen.
‘This isn’t the time to be leisurely.’
“It’ll probably be nothing.
It’s just a bit early this year, but it’s something that’s happened before.
If we go and help out a bit and make the rounds of a few villages, we should be able to come back before the third term starts.”
Perhaps seeing my expression, she hurriedly tried to reassure me.
But my resolve had already solidified.
“I’ll get to see my father-in-law’s face after a long time.”
The image of the Count of Leipzig, with his short legs and plump body, came to mind.
Petra seemed like she wanted to say more, but soon lowered her head with a bitter smile.
“This is why I didn’t want to say anything. I didn’t want to make you worry.”
“Well, they say husband and wife are of one mind and body.
We’re only engaged for now, but we’ve already shared our feelings, so that should be enough.”
At my words, Petra’s face turned red, but unlike before, she didn’t turn her head away.
“Father will be pleased. He liked you.”
“More accurately, he liked my background. I’m not exactly a good son-in-law.”
“Well, looking at you now, I’m not so sure.”
At that, I laughed, thinking she might be right.
A little while later, Chris finished her work and approached me.
She had returned to her original appearance rather than the dean’s guise.
“Ostia.”
As an unfamiliar woman casually called my name and walked over, Petra, who had been chatting amiably, closed her mouth and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“There’s been an issue in her territory. Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t be able to go together.”
When I gestured toward Petra, Chris spoke to me with a look of disbelief.
“You were the one who suggested it. …I’d like to say that, but your fiancée’s gaze is so intense I can’t even tease you.”
Toward the end, she leaned in close and spoke quietly so Petra couldn’t hear, which seemed like her own way of being considerate.
‘Though Petra’s gaze only grew sharper.’
“There’s something I’d like to ask instead.”
“You want me to pass a message along to your party, right? If it’s not that urgent, why not talk to them yourself before heading out?”
“I want to, but they’re the kind who’d insist on coming along no matter what.”
When I answered with a shrug, Chris, who knew my companions well, couldn’t refute it and laughed.
Then she waved her hand, saying she’d explain things properly on her end.
The way she glanced over at Petra at the end made me feel like I’d have to repay her properly later.
“Then shall we go too?”
“…She’s a woman I’ve never seen before. And very beautiful at that.”
As I stood up from my seat, Petra, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
That was all she said, but her gaze was asking a multitude of questions—where I had met that woman, what kind of person she was, and so on.
Since Petra had become my person as well, it would be fine to tell her about me to some extent.
But not now.
“Let’s head to the Leipzig territory first. Is right now okay?”
“…Yes. I was planning to go right away anyway.”
She soon returned to her room and brought back a simple bundle of luggage.
Without delay, we moved to use the teleport gate, but the mage there told us something unexpected.
“Leipzig has been declared under wartime conditions by the lord as of early this morning. As such, movement is impossible except for those related to the Imperial Army.”
“Even for direct blood relatives?”
“Yes. Unless it’s the count himself or someone with his full authority…….”
Despite Petra’s words, the mage only repeated that it was difficult.
So I took out a pure white plaque from my chest and held it out to him.
“I am Leios von Ribera. I happen to have business there.”