129. Daily Shelf Life, 4 Days
“Don’t get me wrong. I have no intention of being an enemy or an ally.”
With that said, Ariel Beheritt took her witch’s book from Myuri’s hand.
“It doesn’t matter if you guys are my friends or enemies. I have a lot of things to do on my own, and I want to avoid troublesome things. ──So please don’t bother me any more.”
Saying that, Ariel Beheritt turned her back.
Marie Ruhelif followed him hesitantly,
Claire Entirus secretly glared at Muri, but followed after a beat.
Ariel Beheritt and his gang disappeared.
And here is Ron holding a box containing Catalyst,
Myuri is holding a pipe in her mouth.
“…Hey, can I leave now?”
And Lucius asked that from the side.
“Yes. Young master is gone, so you can leave.”
With Myuri’s permission granted, Lucius and I came out of the hidden room.
It is a skill called , To put it simply, it is a skill that creates a barrier that forms a safe zone.
You cannot observe the inside of the barrier from outside the barrier.
Only high detection ability…… I also learned in class that only those who have the skills to detect barriers can feel the existence of barriers.
This skill, which can only be used by those with skills among Priests, is yet to be used by Ron.
Since it was Myuri who was ranked 3rd in the 1st year divine combat department, it should be considered a skill that could be used.
“So, how did you feel watching from behind, Lucius?”
“…….”
It is as if we were hiding to overhear the conversation between Ariel Beheritt and Murrie. It must have been Murry who told me to hide and watch from the beginning.
But as if the kind Lucius didn’t mind.
Smile as usual.
“I also thought peeping was bad.”
“Huh…?
“I was happy to know Ariel’s sincerity to some extent, but… Hmm! I don’t like eavesdropping on other people’s conversations either!”
Lucius shouted.
At the unexpected conclusion, Myuri puts on a puzzled expression.
“…Hmm. As I explained before, Lucius. I sold the witch’s book to Prince Beheritt as a prerequisite for reconciliation with you.”
“Yeah, that’s bad first. Murry decides the relationship between us and Ariel! Aren’t you sorry for Ariel?”
“I don’t have anything to say about that. So, what about Princess Tia, the party involved? Will you accept the token of reconciliation?”
“…….”
Ron sneaked up to me and held out a wooden box.
Lucius handed me the envelope that was on top of the wooden box, then opened the wooden box.
There is a jewel inside that seems to hold the night sky.
It was a jewel the size of a fist. It is delicately crafted and has a shape that cannot be found in any other store.
Beautiful…… It’s not just you who thinks so. Even the eyes of Lucius and Ron, who were watching from the side, showed little surprise.
It is not a value that can be ended simply by saying that it is beautiful.
How much did it cost to make this and how many processes were needed…… It’s hard for even me, a wizard, to understand.
“…….”
I saw the letter from Lucius.
If you open an envelope sealed with wax and read the letter…… There is an apology written with quite a lot of modifiers.
Phrases written with expressions unique to nobles. Jewels in front of your eyes. Each one is burdensome.
While I don’t understand what the man, a high-ranking aristocrat, was thinking when he prepared this,
I picked up the Catalyst.
“I never hated him.”
During the placement test, I heard harsh words, and even though there was a conflict with Lucius.
Anyway, it is true that he saved my life.
He said something he hates me so much, but it saved his life.
But if all the words you uttered in front of me at that time could actually be lies.
I,
“…Thank you in return?”
I nodded at Rose’s words.
This is the archeology club room. And we are members of the archeology club.
Originally, it was a room only for Lapisca, who is also Lucius’ older sister, but at some point it became our base. I often spend time here when I am not in class.
At this time, Lucius, Rondo, and Lapisca are all out of business.
I was talking to Rose alone.
“I’ve heard the story, but Ariel probably doesn’t really want anything in return. She seems to have a different reason for giving Miss Tia a birthday present.”
“I know, I do.”
I know, but…… Too heavy
I calculated the production cost as a test, but it turned out to be a huge number. Selling this Catalyst somewhere was more than enough to pay for my graduation tuition.
When I converted that into food expenses again, another terrifying number came out…… I really want to be able to receive something like this.
It’s hard to say that I can’t let go of my heart.
… In what sense do you mean it’s scary?
“It’s burdensome…”
“…Miss Tia, you know how to make that kind of expression.”
With those words, if you take a peek at the mirror hanging on the wall, there is a woman’s face that seems to want to say, ‘I can’t bear to raise my head because it’s too much pressure’.
… I am often told that there is no change in expression, so I was able to make this kind of expression. To be honest, I was surprised even myself.
But I also think it can’t be helped.
This Catalyst is a tremendous item, to the extent that emotions are revealed in its expression.
“I’m going to give it back.”
I said so.
I can’t get this.
It wasn’t because I wanted to give it to myself as a gift, but because I sent it to make a deal with Meuri.
Now that Ariel Beheritt’s deal with Murry is over, wouldn’t it be okay to return it?
I thought.
“It’s useless even if I return it. None of Ariel’s party members use Catalyst.”
Rose says so.
“……Really?”
From noble mtl dot com
“Yes. Ariel is an alchemist, and Miss Claire Entirus is a battle mage, so I heard that her main weapon is a sword. Marie also uses a staff, not a catalyst.”
“But, what if you give it back?”
“I wonder if Ariel won’t accept it. He’s a nobleman too. Taking back something you once gave him is a matter of pride, and it’s rude to return a gift anyway.”
Then Rose explained.
Anyway, on the surface, it’s a ‘gift to apologize to me and a birthday present’.
Giving it back is said to mean ‘I will not accept your apology’ or ‘I will not accept your congratulations’.
“Ariel didn’t seem to be very formal, but Miss Entirus next to her…”
“Cler Entirus…”
I’m deaf to rumors, but I still know the name. An aide to the 1st princess and a real power in the academy.
So, I was warned by Rose several times not to be seen by Claire Antirus. He is said to be a nuisance when turned into an enemy.
‘… Ariel Beheritt is partying with someone like that.’
She
She felt a little sorry for her when she heard that as the only male student she was treated badly. In fact, she felt a strange affinity for him.
… But I wonder if I didn’t have the right to feel sorry for him from the beginning. After receiving this present, it was as if he had realized that that man was in the second highest position in this academy after the princess.
“After all, Ariel is from the duchy and Miss Tia is a commoner. That’s why this Catalyst is a gift given to Miss Tia by the duchy.”
“…It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s huge. If Ariel’s gift to Miss Tia is known, rumors may say that ‘Tia is under the protection of Duke Beheritt’.”
“…….”
Even I, who was dark about the circumstances of the aristocrats, understood at once what that meant.
In a word, it was a story that Ariel Beheritt would be in great trouble if she found out that she had been given a Catalyst as a gift.
Ariel Beheritt is said to be a person in a precarious position where she may be banished from the ducal family.
It was Ariel’s decision to give me a gift, so it could be ‘Ariel’s decision to bring the descendants of the cursed clan under the protection of Duke Beheritt’.
So, if this fact is known…… No matter how much I think about it, it looks like Ariel Beheritt will be banished from the family.
‘Don’t listen….’
Knowing that fact made me even more burdened.
“Yes. So if you react incorrectly, not only will Ariel’s circumstances get in trouble, but you might also touch Miss Entylus’s evil. Miss Entirus is said to be Ariel’s childhood friend.”
“……How should I do it?”
“Just keep the Catalyst. In return… I’d rather not do it. Strange rumors may arise because it stands out to others.”
“Yes…”
I already know. What a clueless human being I am.
… Ariel might be excommunicated if she tried to reciprocate shyly. I don’t have the confidence to handle it, and I don’t have the courage to try.
…… But it’s really burdensome.
“If you’re really uncomfortable, why don’t you write a letter?”
Did you realize that I was uncomfortable? Rose said so.
These days, it feels like people around me are aware of my feelings.
“…A letter?”
“If it’s a letter, I can deliver it. I can secretly send it unnoticed through Marie.”
“…….”
A few letters.
I’ve never written a letter to anyone before, and thinking about the beautiful sentences in the letter of apology I received earlier…… I don’t even have the confidence to give you a proper answer there.
She doesn’t have the writing skills of Ariel Beheritt, and she doesn’t have the money to prepare fancy envelopes.
“Can I say thank you directly…?”
“……You’re going there yourself?”
Saying that, Rose’s eyes were filled with doubt. ‘Are you saying you’re going out because you don’t talk much?’ It’s an expression that seems to want to say.
Certainly, I may not be able to properly express my gratitude because I don’t speak well, but… , …… In fact, she had always felt uncomfortable avoiding Ariel Beheritt.
They say that Ariel Beheritt saved my life and put me to sleep for 5 days.
When she heard that she had woken up through Lucius, she heard that she didn’t want to meet me, so she still hasn’t been able to thank me at that time.
But I knew he was uncomfortable with me, so I avoided him until now.
Unless he actually hates me…….
“I want to be friends.”
“…Really?”
I nodded at Rose’s question.
I realized a lot while going around with Lucius. In the end, if I don’t change myself, it’s the same.
In order to keep my promise to my uncle, I have to find a place for myself, and in order to do that, I have to change.
I want to change.
Become a more positive person.
And a day later,
I am walking through the corridor on the 3rd floor of the Magic Combat Department.
The time was a little past 10:00 AM.
I was pacing around the C classroom.
-“…Tomorrow at around 10:10, go to Classroom C on the 3rd floor of the Magic Combat Department.”
Those were the words Rose said yesterday.
– “Ariel is always with Marie and Miss Antirus. She is rarely alone.”
-“But not all three of them are in the same class, so there are times when Ariel is alone.”
– “At that time, Ariel said she would wait for the two of them in Classroom C on the 3rd floor. She was told by Marie.”
Believing that information, I came here.
The hallway is quiet. Class time has already started, so most of the students must be listening to the lecture.
People who are Gong-gang must have left the building long ago, so this place is no different from a no-man’s-land.
When you quietly open the classroom door,
A man can be seen in the back seat.
“…….”
– Sarak
– Sarak
I can hear the sound of turning the pages quietly.
His face, which was forged with arrogance and steel-like coldness, somehow seems a little softer today.
The figure of a boy reading a book is infinitely quiet. I can’t believe he’s being called an idiot.
If you observe carefully, it is a beautiful face…. No, it’s a fact that you can easily know without looking closely.
It was always clear that he was from a noble background, and even so, the tag ‘sh*t’ that followed him seemed to cover up various truths.
You may not have the right to pity him, but
Still, he cannot deny that he is in a similar position to himself.
Maybe that’s why. That i don’t hate him
Perhaps he himself also walked the path of a madman.
Enter quietly without making a sound and close the door.
-Tak
The sound of the door closing echoed.
Ariel Beheritt took her eyes off the book and looked this way.
“……What is it?”
As soon as I saw it, I raised my eyes violently.
He closed the book and stood up.
“…….”
I have something I want to say, but the moment the words don’t come out.
He is glaring at himself…… Unsurprisingly, he is very tall.
Of course, there are a few girls who are taller than him.
But maybe because he’s a man, he’s not only taller than the people around him, but…… Something threatening
Feeling like the instinct of a mouse ahead of a cat…… There was a magical power that made me want to run away from here.
“Go.”
I have to say thank you… How can i say
Since I’ve never had a conversation with a man alone, I don’t know what to do in a situation like this…….
“Ha…, What is it really?”
Is it because I made you wait too long? Ariel takes a step toward us with an annoyed look on her face.
Then a scream came from outside the window.
“Kyaaa!!!”
An eardrum-shattering scream.
If Ariel is startled and inadvertently tries to look out the window,
-Quaaang!!
The door in front of the classroom was broken.
Then.
A monster appeared.
…… To?