Chapter 120
"I... found someone I want to be friends with."
Rezé's bombshell statement came out of nowhere as we were heading to the dormitory.
It was natural for us to be taken aback.
"Really? That's great. Who is it?"
"That, that is..."
Rezé stared intently at Luna.
Her mouth moved restlessly as if she wanted to say something, and her hands couldn't stay still.
‘Look at this?’
I immediately realized.
Rezé wanted to be friends with Luna.
"Huh? Who is it? Who?"
"It's a, a secret... a secret..."
"Hmm~ Well, yeah. It could be embarrassing."
Of course, Luna didn't catch on at all.
She was a child devoid of any sense of subtlety.
"Whatever it is, just tell us. We'll support you with all our might!"
"Keke, I don't really want to help, though?"
"See? Zero's willing to help too."
"...?"
Did I say something wrong, or was Luna not listening?
I wasn't sure which it was, but one thing was certain.
‘This is going to be troublesome.’
I hadn't yet unraveled Rezé's secret.
Given my situation, where I must fight the Four Heavenly Kings and demons, legion commanders, having a comrade with inferior combat abilities was something to avoid at all costs.
Before even considering her combat abilities, Rezé’s tendency to flee made it impossible to accept her as a comrade.
There was a glimmer of hope during the battle with Bineus, but that too ended with her fleeing.
‘Above all, there’s no guarantee I can uncover the secret.’
Many veterans had researched how to utilize Rezé, but in the end, they discarded her for failing to overcome her ‘coward’ trait.
It was regrettable she had no friends, but I still couldn't accept her as a comrade.
She might end up being a burden.
Meanwhile, Luna was in the midst of counseling Rezé.
It had been a while since I saw Luna's counseling booth. I had used it once myself.
"How can I become closer to them?"
"Bang bang! You have to go out boldly. It's important to make your presence known first... Does the other person know you exist?"
"Uh, umm... I think so."
Rezé, what do you mean you think so?
We've been together for days now... Even though Luna is dense, she wouldn't forget someone as unique as you.
"Is it a boy?"
"No, it's a girl. Unlike me... very cute, pretty, and strong."
Rezé emphasized each word as she spoke, not forgetting to glance at Luna.
However.
"Hmm... A perfect girl, huh? This might be a bit difficult. There seems to be a lot to adjust to."
"No, it's not like that! Rather, she adjusts to me."
"Tsk tsk, the more reason to be cautious. You're completely smitten, smitten."
"Smitten?"
"Yes! The other person did a little for you, and you fell hard. This is, this is... severe, severe. You need objectification first."
Luna banged the table and started attacking Rezé’s psyche.
"That girl surely has a nasty temper, doesn't she?"
She knows well.
"Although she may appear cute on the outside, there's a monster living inside. She'd easily bite someone's head off."
Spot on.
"It's obvious. She probably has people under her, right? She must torment them quite a bit."
Wow, I really didn't expect Luna to be so good at self-awareness.
I was clapping and nodding in agreement from behind.
Squeeze-.
Rezé clenched her small fist.
"No, that's not it."
"Huh?"
"That's not the kind of person she is. I can tell. Though she may seem fierce on the outside, she's kinder and more fragile than anyone else on the inside."
Rezé directly contradicted Luna's opinion.
A rabbit standing up to a killing machine.
That's quite brave.
"Even if that person tries to use me... even then... I want to be friends?"
"Are you serious?"
Rezé nodded.
Enough to make Luna stop her teasing.
"Well, then I guess I have to teach you properly. Start with giving a gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes. No one dislikes receiving gifts. Make sure your presence is deeply imprinted, and then we'll decide how to proceed based on their reaction. How about that?"
"That sounds good."
That's how the first counseling session ended.
***
The next morning.
As students began entering the classroom one by one.
A heavy atmosphere pervaded the principal's office.
This was because Lucia, her nanny, and Principal Dwener were all present.
Dwener, who had been avoiding meeting at all costs, managed to schedule an appointment for the following morning, thanks to Rodelin's power. And that was now.
Of course, in the process, Rodelin had to use her real power(?) to cause a minor incident.
But that was merely a trivial issue.
‘Lu, LuLuLu, Lucia!’
Dwener felt like he might faint at any moment.
One of the empire's heroes, Lucia de Lucid, was sitting right in front of him. His mind was reeling.
‘This is why I was avoiding this...!’
Forced into it by Rodelin's coercion, Dwener desperately clung to his senses.
"Ha, haha... What brings Lady Lucia here?"
"Oh, just because."
Just because? I see...
Dwener drank his tea, saying nothing more. It was more about not knowing what to say than trying to ease the tension.
Watching Dwener, Lucia thought.
‘See? Not only does he not treat me properly, but I also have to lead the conversation? Such arrogance.’
It could be one of three things.
Either he's a naive fool with an empty head, someone who doesn't know his place, or.
‘Someone who knows how to think a few steps ahead.’
The annoying part is, it's most likely the latter.
Lucia, pondering various calculations in her head, smiled and asked.
"There were traces of One Flash in the forest where the demon was killed. Do you know anything about this?"
Launching straight into the main topic to catch the enemy off guard was Lucia's strategy.
However.
"One Flash? What is that?"
Lucia had no choice but to be taken aback.
Dwener displayed innocent eyes, which was why.
His reaction seemed genuinely clueless. No, it was a reaction that didn't even know what "One Flash" was.
'No, that can't be.'
There couldn't be a noble who didn't know about the Lester Family's One Flash.
It meant Dwener's acting skills were that impressive.
To the point of deceiving even himself.
'This... Despite the clueless face, he's quite skilled, isn't he? Being the principal isn't just for show. Extracting information from him won't be easy.'
Tap tap-.
Lucia tapped her fingernails on the desk.
Extracting information from Dwener seemed to require more time.
'I might need to stay at the academy for a while. Would that be okay? I hope it doesn't cause trouble for my father.'
It was then that Lucia was calmly calculating.
Knock knock-.
"Principal, a letter for you."
"Just leave it there."
"It's sealed with the emperor's seal."
Dwener immediately rushed to receive the letter.
As he said, it bore the eagle emblem seal that only the Emperor of Annwood could use.
It was indeed an imperial decree sent by the emperor.
"..."
After receiving the letter and sitting back down, Dwener seemed to lose consciousness for about 3 seconds.
He was afraid of facing the reality that he had to read the decree.
'A dismissal notice... it has come.'
Let's see, it's been a month and two weeks since this semester started.
Let's list the events that have occurred at the academy.
The demon's shard, a teacher contracting with a demon sword, and an attack by a fourth-grade demon.
He had no words if he were to be dismissed. It would rather be a relief if he weren't decapitated.
"Ha, haha... His Majesty has sent another letter."
"Do you often communicate with His Majesty?"
"Well, yes. Being the principal of the academy, after all."
"Hmm..."
Actually, this was the second letter.
The first was at the time of his appointment when Paval brought the appointment letter and another letter.
A letter filled with clichéd phrases.
'You're in front of a hero. You can't show a disgraceful appearance!'
That's why Dwener boasted.
He didn't want to show a disgraceful appearance in front of a hero.
'100% it's a dismissal. Unless...'
Surely, it's not an execution order!?
Terrifying. No matter how he thought about it, he was too scared to open it.
Maybe he should open it in about a week. By then, his mind should be more settled.
However.
"Open it. It might be something urgent."
Lucia's consideration... no, command.
Dwener had no choice but to open the letter.
"Well, then... Excuse me for a moment."
He sliced the seal with a paper knife and extracted the contents with trembling hands.
At the same time, Dwener's eyes widened.
"What does it say? Is there a demon?"
"It says... I'm being awarded the 7th grade honor."
Dwener dropped the letter on the desk.
It was a reaction from being too shocked, but from Lucia's perspective...
'What's with that reaction? He's not even happy. Is this level of recognition expected for him?'
The 7th class honor at that.
From the 7th class upward, the meaning changes. It's considered a high honor.
Hence, the process is extremely stringent.
It's said to be harder to receive a 7th order honor than an 8th order.
'He's trusted by His Majesty... This is going to be troublesome. I can't even threaten him, can I?'
Her plans have been constantly thwarted since a while ago. It's really strange.
'Wait, if Dwener had calculated this moment from when he received the letter?'
A slight chill ran down Lucia's back.
It's been years since she last felt such a chill.
Eventually, Lucia admitted.
Dwener wasn't an opponent she could easily overcome.
Gathering information, dominating the surroundings, and finding weaknesses.
It would take time before she could fight on equal footing.
"Principal, I'd like to stay at the academy for a while... Is that possible?"
"Hmm... But you'll have to guide the students. Is that okay with you?"
Lucia's eyebrows twitched.
Daring to propose a deal to one of the Empire's Ten Swords, to the eldest daughter of the Lucid family at that.
Of course, Dwener said it without much thought.
Thinking that the hero guiding them would be beneficial for the students.
But from Lucia's perspective.
'Hmm~ He's thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity, isn't he?'
Indeed, he's no easy opponent.
"I won't teach classes. However, I'll make an effort to teach the children I'm concerned about. How about that, does it make a deal?"
"That's sufficient."
"Then, I'll be in your care during my stay, Principal."
Lucia left the principal's office with a meaningful smile.
Dwener thought.
It was surprising enough to receive the 7th order honor, but to have Lucia teach the children too!
Indeed.
"Ha, I'm just too competent."
Laughter filled the principal's office.
***
Just before morning classes started.
Arriving at the classroom, we were bound to be surprised.
The desk was piled high with gifts for Luna.
Flowers, carrots, carrot-flavored snacks, carrot-shaped pens, a carrot wooden box(?), etc.
Looking at the carrot-flavored snacks, Luna murmured.
"The gifts are too much. And why give them to me? I told her to give them to a child who she wants to be friends with..."
Luna scratched her head.
It seemed she couldn't imagine that she was the friend in question.
"Well, my counseling skills were indeed good. What do you think, Zero? About this sister's skills."
Sigh, what sister. It's a comedy I can't even watch with open eyes.
'I guess I should help.'
Before it's a party member's issue, because Rezé is just too pitiful.
Like a poor girl being dragged around by a bad boy without giving her heart.
"Do you really not understand why Miss Rezé is doing this?"
"Huh? Because she's grateful?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
"She wants to be friends."
Luna paused for a moment. Her expression was quite a sight.
The words that came out were even more remarkable.
"With you? But Rezé said it was a girl... Were you a girl?"
Would I be a girl?
Well, if I were a girl, I might have been the prettiest girl in the region.
But that's not important right now, so let's move on.
"No, the friend Miss Rezé wants to make is not me..."
It's you, Luna.
About 3 seconds later.
Luna's expression was filled with shock.
--TL Notes--
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