CHAPTER 61…………….
“How, how…!”
My guess must have been right, because Julian’s violet eyes widened.
Startled out of his wits, Julian quickly pulled his hand away from the arm he was supporting.
“W-wait…! If you let go there—!”
My brain worked fast.
If I didn’t let go too, we’d both fall together.
Resolving without hesitation to abandon the molester, I released my grip.
The mustached man toppled forward, right at the feet of the city guards.
Thud!
“Arghhh!”
Wait a second. That… that sounded like something broke.
I spotted a viciously shaped rock where he had fallen.
‘Why is there a rock shaped like a sea urchin here…?’
Without hesitation, I grabbed Julian and Mion and bolted from the scene.
The molester’s pained screams made the guards rush out in surprise.
“Hold it right there! You again, mustached molester!”
Apparently, he was already infamous. The guards promptly arrested him as he writhed on the ground, clutching his leg.
But then one guard muttered,
“Something’s wrong with this guy’s condition.”
Uh, I don’t know anything about that, officers.
I climbed onto the carriage in a hurry and let out a long sigh.
‘Another exhausting day.’
Mion, catching my gaze, quickly sat down beside Julian and pressed close to him.
Julian looked at the child by his side and asked me,
“Pardon me, but what’s your relation to this child?”
“She’s the third son of the second son of my grandfather’s brother’s daughter.”
“Oh, I see.”
Julian nodded obediently, eyes round. Watching him, I asked,
“So, what exactly do you want Ignis for?”
“I thought maybe using a holy relic could ease my illness, but… I suppose it was just an empty dream.”
He gave a bitter smile as he said it.
‘There it is again. That smile full of hidden stories.’
He had smiled the same way when we ate at Asteria Temple.
And just like then, I pretended not to notice it now.
That expression on that face… it made my heart go strangely soft.
And now I understood why.
‘He looks like him.’
He resembled Melin so much.
At last, I realized why I’d felt a strange familiarity and déjà vu from the moment I met him.
The answer left me feeling clear and light.
“Thank you for the ride.”
Arriving at the academy, I stepped down from Archduke Andreas’s carriage.
“It was nothing. Please take care.”
“Wait a moment, my lord.”
As he was about to leave, I stopped him, unable to ignore one lingering doubt.
“Um… may I ask how you heard Ignis was in the black market?”
For me, it was information Mion had given, but I wondered how Julian had found out.
Asking a nobleman about his sources was sensitive, so I braced myself. But Julian only smiled gently and answered,
“I heard it from Viscount Penelope.”
What?
“The young viscount is quite well-acquainted with the black market.”
So Penelope was a regular there?
‘…That does suit him, though.’
If I had actually run into him there—
The very thought sent a shiver down my spine.
“Then, I hope to see you again.”
Julian left with a fresh smile, bright as a flower.
Watching his carriage disappear, I nudged Mion.
So Penelope was a black market regular!
“You knew, and yet you still went there?”
That was as good as walking into danger knowingly.
Mion pretended ignorance at my scolding and simply said,
“Ignis is set for three days from now. At 9 p.m.”
That’s not the point right now!
Well, no—it was important, but… what followed made me pause.
“But it’s strange. All the faces in my memory look the same.”
Like they were under some curse.
Mion frowned, uneasy.
Just as I was about to ask what she meant, a familiar voice called from behind.
“Professor.”
“Ren? What are you doing out here at this hour?”
I was surprised to see him walking in the square at night.
“I’m on my way back from the training grounds.”
“I see.”
He glanced briefly in the direction I had been looking, then spoke.
“Professor, that man just now was…”
“Hm?”
Uncharacteristically, he bit back his words.
“…Nothing.”
“Come on, now I’m even more curious.”
“I’ll be away for about a week.”
Instead of answering, Lennox changed the subject.
“I heard from Aron—you’ve got special training, right?”
I gave up on his earlier words and recalled Aron’s explanation.
‘Swordsmanship faculty… so they have special training, huh?’
Lennox nodded.
“Where are you going?”
The answer that came back so casually was chilling.
“I was told the Dragon’s Forest.”
What?!
Horrified, I asked again,
“You’re really going there?”
“Yes.”
Lennox looked at me like he couldn’t see the problem.
But there was a problem!
The Dragon’s Forest… that was where Arthur had once thrown Lennox to die, simply because he didn’t like him.
There, Lennox had brushed against death dozens of times. It was a miracle he hadn’t gone mad from it.
I urgently pressed him.
“Wait—when are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
I immediately pulled out my communicator.
I dialed quickly, and as soon as the line connected, I said,
“This is Clemence Jacqueline. On behalf of House Jacqueline, I’d like to order two each of protective magic tools and scrolls of every type. Please deliver them express to Rogan’s laboratory at the academy tomorrow morning. Charge the bill to House Jacqueline.”
—Excuse me? That will cost quite a lot…
“It’s urgent, please hurry.”
—Y-yes!
Thinking of a friend who had scorned such items as ‘hindrances to real combat’ and left them unused, I belatedly asked,
“Ren, don’t tell me you don’t use these either?”
“No.”
Though startled by the sudden situation, Lennox didn’t show any reluctance.
I smiled with satisfaction.
‘Yes, this is how it should be.’
Unlike a certain someone, he valued his own life properly.
But Lennox kept his gaze lowered, lost in thought.
“What is it? Do you need anything else?”
“No… it’s just.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I was thinking… so this is what it feels like to have someone worry about me.”
“Ahem.”
Embarrassed and awkward, I cleared my throat. He went on,
“Professor, don’t you want anything from me?”
“From you?”
I blinked at the unexpected question.
“Well… not really.”
“I want to repay you, no matter what.”
His persistent gaze told me he wouldn’t give up until I gave an answer.
It reminded me of the young Lennox, insisting on a return when we signed our sponsorship contract. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Some things never changed.
“How can you be so sure I want something?”
“If you do, then whatever it is.”
Hearing that, I felt mischievous.
What could possibly fluster him, who had even entered the lab that terrified every student?
Smiling slyly, I said,
“Then how about you marry me when you grow up?”
“…What?”
His eyes went wide, his whole body stiff. I burst out laughing.
His innocent shock at taking my words literally was adorable.
“It’s a joke. Relax your face.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
Even as we walked on, I couldn’t help snickering at the memory of his expression.
His reaction had been much bigger than I’d expected.
‘Do you really dislike the idea that much?’
Well, if he had feelings for Melin, I suppose my remark would have sounded dangerously serious to him.
