Chapter 7.2

<They said I’d be participating as a new researcher in the newly established academy curriculum.>

<So, you’re joining the magical studies?>

<Yes, the practical magical studies course. Anyway, I’m supposed to meet Professor Ruyten, who will sponsor my research……>

Brienne recalled that incomprehensible conversation and fell into thought. The way they talked about magic made them seem like entirely different people, even if only for a moment.

A sense of distance she couldn’t even measure.

When Brienne felt that distance, her chest tightened, and before she knew it, she was clenching her hand.

She thought, ‘Miss Diashi and Herace share a world of their own.’

Brienne wanted to have a world like theirs too—a world where she could share knowledge about magic and discuss the advancement of a better society.

With her heart full of hope, Brienne turned her gaze back to the library. Just thinking about finally visiting the library she’d always wanted to see made her feel a tickle of excitement. Since she’d decided, she grabbed the wallet Garzen had given her and headed out.

She didn’t forget to lock the door tightly and take her notebook.

However—

“What? This is the Student President’s notebook……?”

Brienne’s face clouded with confusion as she arrived at the library.

“Yes, I’m sorry, but you can’t enter with that…… It looks like your notebook got switched somewhere. Ah! Did Felix give you the academy tour today?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Oh dear, he’s been so nervous about the academic conference that he’s barely been able to prepare. I knew this would happen.”

The librarian, who managed the library entry list, sighed. She looked up at Brienne with genuine sympathy.

“Anyway, rules are rules. Sorry. I’ll tell Felix to get his act together.”

“……No, thank you for your help. I’ll come back when I get my notebook.”

Brienne, deeply disappointed, looked down at Felix’s notebook and went back down the stairs. To enter the library, she needed her own notebook, which meant she had to find Felix……

<T-then, I’ll be off now. There’s an academic conference on the shopping street up ahead.>

<The conference today—is it at Schurten Bookstore?>

<Yes! That’s right.>

Brienne couldn’t recall the name of the bookstore, but she knew Felix wasn’t at the academy.

‘It hasn’t been long since he left, so I might be able to catch up…….’

How was she supposed to get to the shopping street?

Brienne groaned softly as she looked around the wide campus.  

Just then, a familiar face caught her eye.

‘Oh? That person is…….’

* * *

“Huh, this is bad……!”

Aaron, whose pale green eyes met Brienne’s, hurriedly pulled up his collar to hide his face.

Aaron’s secret mission ended when he confirmed that Miss Ford had safely entered the academy and been assigned a dormitory. But he could not return to Herace.

<Make sure Brienne gets to the academy safely. Escort her without getting caught or making her uncomfortable. Absolutely do not let anyone else see you.>

He’d completed that difficult order, feeling proud as he boarded the carriage, but then suddenly remembered he hadn’t replenished the money he’d spent on fortune-telling.

He considered asking a passerby if he could walk to the Association, but that would mean being seen by others. If he did that……

<As expected, you never handle anything properly. After eating that luxurious steak, even stealing my plate, you wasted your allowance buying useless fortune-telling tickets?>

Of course, his master would never say such a thing, but Aaron’s imagination ran wild. He still regretted coveting Herace’s plate out of hunger. The price he learned while lurking on the first floor to buy a fortune-telling ticket was outrageous……

Anyway, that’s why Aaron had no money and didn’t know the way to the Association. He couldn’t even speak to passersby.

Just as the fortune-telling ticket had predicted, today was truly a day of bad luck for Aaron.

Aaron looked at Brienne, who was approaching him, with a dazed expression.

“You’re Herace’s escort, right?”

“……”

“I didn’t see you on the ship. What brings you here?”

To avoid arousing suspicion from someone he trusted, he had to behave properly……

After a moment’s hesitation, Aaron swallowed hard.

‘……Forget it!’

He’d spent all his money and didn’t know the way to the Association. This wasn’t Rontiano, so he had to take care of himself first……!

“My name is Aaron……!”

Having made up his mind, Aaron lowered his collar and bowed deeply.

“I was ordered to escort you, Lady Brienne!”

“……Pardon?”

Brienne looked quite flustered at the sudden report. As she tried to understand the situation, her eyes narrowed.

‘Ordered to escort?’

……It must be Herace’s command.

He must have been hiding on the ship as well.

Realizing this, Brienne let out a sigh. Assigning her an escort was just like Herace, but somehow it left her feeling deflated.

She thought she was managing well on her own. She believed this achievement was something she’d accomplished without relying on him……

She felt a bit let down.

But Brienne soon nodded.

“All right.”

“……Huh?”

The anxiety she’d felt since the incident in Rontiano still lingered deep in her heart. When she met Herace on the passenger ship, Brienne truly felt relieved. Her current feelings weren’t much different.

Even the short distance from the dormitory to the library had made her uneasy. The truth was, she couldn’t protect herself on her own.

She had to admit it, even if she didn’t like it.

No matter how much she disliked it, the reality was that she couldn’t even handle magic properly.

So asking why he’d secretly assigned her an escort, or whether he didn’t trust her……

‘He must have been worried because I came without any precautions.’

It was a bit much that he hadn’t mentioned it at all, but Brienne thought she understood why Herace kept it secret. Even if he’d offered her an escort, she wouldn’t have accepted.

Knowing herself too well, Brienne decided she might as well take advantage of Herace’s kindness.

‘……Of course, I’ll have to talk to Herace about not doing this again.’

Brienne sighed and took a step closer to Aaron, who was watching her nervously.

“You said you were assigned to escort me, right?”

“……”

“I’m heading out, to the shopping street.”

Brienne pointed outside the academy’s main gate and looked at Aaron. Only then did Aaron realize what he had to do, and his face brightened as he nodded.

“Ah……! I’ll get a carriage right away!”

* * *

“This means the plan was perfectly successful, right?”

Inside the Mage Association after the trial, Diashi whispered quietly, glancing at the temporary verdict in Herace’s hand. Herace nodded.

“Yes, you did even better than I expected. As promised, I’ll replace your lab equipment soon.”

“As soon as possible, please! I want to try the new equipment before I die from Professor Ruyten’s nagging. Did you see his face when I stood up earlier? Professor’s expression, ugh……”

Diashi shook her head and looked toward the closed door. She’d gotten new equipment for her lab in exchange for helping Herace, but she was a little worried about what would come next.

And for some reason, even though the plan had succeeded, Herace didn’t seem very pleased. He just stared at the verdict with a blank face.

“But why did you insist on turning the verdict into an assistant position?”

Finally, Diashi, frustrated, asked first.

“Normally, you could have just paid the fine. The trial was going well even without my help.”

“Well, since our deal is over, I don’t think I need to tell you the reason.”

Herace organized the verdict and turned his gaze away from Diashi. Seeing he wasn’t going to answer, Diashi looked disappointed.

“Still, if I helped with something like this, you should at least tell me! That’s basic in any deal……”

“You asked for new equipment in exchange for helping me.”

“Wow, you’re really cold……!”

“I know.”

Herace glanced at his wristwatch and smiled faintly. It was the clear, familiar smile Diashi had often seen from him during their academy days. Diashi felt a little unfair, having disappointed her respected professor just to help Herace.

‘……Well, even so, Professor won’t have lost out too much, right?’

He’d gained the talented Herace Belif he’d wanted so badly. But no matter how she looked at it, Professor Ruyten wasn’t someone who would easily overlook such things.

“Oh, my heart’s pounding. I can’t take it. I’ll hide before Professor comes out. Since our deal is over, let’s just look after ourselves from now on!”

As soon as the courtroom door opened, Diashi dashed behind a nearby pillar. Professor Ruyten, the last to leave the trial, looked around as if searching for someone.

“Professor.”

Herace approached him first.

“I’m sorry to have to meet you over something like this.”

He bowed his head slightly. Professor Ruyten’s gaze softened as he looked him up and down. He sighed and spoke.

“……I have no idea what’s going on. What scheme did you and Diashi cook up this time?”

Herace just looked at him, saying nothing. His familiar habit of answering awkward questions with a smile made Professor Ruyten rub his forehead in frustration

“I was worried you’d lost your mind. But seeing you dodge my scolding like this, you seem fine. Thankfully, as always.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Herace gave a courteous smile and bowed his head. Professor Ruyten glanced at him and shook his head.

“No, spare me apologies that don’t feel sincere. I don’t know what got into you, but right now, my misfortune is that I have to turn you into a perfect assistant within a month.”

“You’re taking charge of me, Professor?”

“Yes. Honestly, the other professors can’t be trusted. They couldn’t hide their joy at finally getting you as an assistant, but this whole thing is my fault for giving Diashi a seat at the hearing.”

Her grumbling made Herace laugh softly.