“Senpai. Did you hear? This time, a sprout had a sparring match with the President!”
“Is that so.”
I still occasionally sell things from a cart in front of the Common Faculty dormitory.
And as always, the three chicks came by, clamoring for doughnuts, so I tossed them some and they started chattering.
And what Vanilla said today caught my attention.
“Yes. Apparently that sprout was no joke! She’s the younger sister of Triasta-senpai, right?”
“That’s right. But where did you get that information?”
“Ah, dwarves have a tribal community, and among next year’s freshmen, a child from the Blue Hammer clan is coming in. His name is Gunbold, I think.”
“I see.”
Come to think of it, there was a dwarf among next year’s first-years.
Gunbold of the Blue Hammer has a lower tier than her.
So even if I put a dwarf in the party, I’d rather use Vanilla—the doughnut slaughterer right in front of me.
“So did you hear what kind of fighting style she used?”
“Ah… yes, I heard. She summoned golems? President Eve was overwhelmingly dominant throughout, but apparently she highly praised the tactics themselves.”
Just as I thought.
Showing the aptitude of a war mage from now on means next year’s talent pool is definitely solid.
More than anything, just because restricted areas are lifted doesn’t mean you can go everywhere.
The Burning Volcano and the Desert are child’s play. There’s also the Underground Temple and the Sanctuary of the Sky.
If I have a war mage in the party, the places I can go will expand dramatically starting next year.
“If you marry Triasta-senpai, you’ll get another little sister! Wow, I’m so jealous!”
*Thump.* Mille-feuille, who had been eating doughnuts with us, froze.
Why is she suddenly like that?
“Hic…”
“Mille-feuille! Snap out of it! Mille-feuille!”
Yogurt supported Mille-feuille as she buried her face in the table and started whimpering.
I don’t know the details, but Vanilla kept opening her mouth.
“As expected of Triasta-senpai’s little sister. I was deeply impressed again—bloodline talent really doesn’t go anywhere!”
*Thump.*
I stopped my hand.
If bloodline talent doesn’t go anywhere, then what am I supposed to do…?
“Vanilla.”
“Yes, Senpai!”
“From now on, I’ll only sell you two doughnuts a day. Don’t expect any more.”
“Why!?”
—
Eve von Lohengrin, even if her little sister candidate was taken by Wolfram von Lohengrin, had no intention of giving up.
‘If not a little sister, so what.’
‘If I get close through work by recommending her to the Student Council, won’t we be able to call each other sisters!’
The sprout period is short. At most, about two weeks.
If I can get a definite answer that she’ll join the Student Council within that time, great—even if not, maintaining a good relationship would be more than enough.
And today is the day when Zefflin’s top students meet the sprouts.
Who are Zefflin’s top students?
Needless to say, the top and runner-up.
First-year Common Faculty.
From second year onward, Magic Faculty and Knight Faculty.
Among the academy’s talents with the best grades, those with free time participated in the sprout exchange meeting.
The plan was simple: show what the Student Council—which leads the talents—is all about.
“Alright, I’d like everyone to introduce themselves. If possible, besides your faculty, it’d be great if you could mention your special skills, hobbies, or aspirations.”
“Second-year Knight Faculty top student, Nephtherian. My specialty is manual labor.”
“Third-year Magic Faculty top student, Ayla Triasta. My specialty is rebellion.”
“Third-year Magic Faculty runner-up, Regina Ciela. My specialty is information gathering and overall tracking.”
“Fourth-year Knight Faculty top student, Isolde Cruel. My goal is to enter the Knight Graduate School.”
“…”
Did I… choose the wrong lineup?
Or is Zefflin itself broken?
No. From second year onward, Wolfram raised them.
What I raised is the first-years.
Look here—
These are the first-years that Eve von Lohengrin raised!
“First-year Common Faculty runner-up, Kelter. My specialty is… none.”
…No. Not you.
People aren’t just grades and stats, but perhaps he received far too much support simply because his stats were good.
Eve averted her gaze from Kelter, who had the eyes of a dying fish, and looked at the first-year top student.
“First-year Common Faculty top student, Mille-feuille von Sabre. My specialty is… hard work.”
At Mille-feuille’s words, Eve smiled and nodded.
Hard work—most people who survive in Zefflin work hard.
Where else in a lifetime can you get this much learning?
But those who can call hard work their specialty are truly only a handful.
Despite being born with low stats, Mille-feuille never gave up and honed herself—she is truly the symbol of hard work at Zefflin. Perhaps because Eve is learning that people aren’t just stats, Mille-feuille’s words really struck a chord.
Look, sprouts.
Your senior by one year—the first-year top student—polished herself through nothing but hard work to get all the way there.
Saying that, Eve looked at the sprouts—more precisely, at Spica.
And then she saw Spica’s gaze fix on Mille-feuille.
In addition, Mille-feuille was also staring intently at Spica.
—
Mille-feuille looked at the sprout before her and recalled the conversation she’d had with Vanilla and Yogurt yesterday.
**[Sorry, Mille-feuille! I wasn’t paying attention!]**
**[Really, Vanilla. You need to be more observant.]**
**[…Ugh. I’m sorry. I have no excuse.]**
**[So, Mille-feuille, are you okay?]**
**[Yeah. I’m fine… Don’t worry…]**
**[Wow. That’s a worrisome face.]**
**[But this isn’t something that can end with just worry.]**
**[Huh…? Yogurt, what do you mean?]**
**[Think about it, Mille-feuille. About your relationship with your prince.]**
**[P-prince!?]**
**[That’s right. He’s been demoted from “His Highness” to “prince”!]**
**[Vanilla!]**
**[Anyway. Enough nonsense from both of you. Listen carefully to my cool-headed analysis.]**
**[You’re always like this, Yogurt. Acting like you’re smart while having average grades. Glasses-wearer.]**
**[Vanilla, meet me at the training grounds later. Anyway. Mille-feuille.]**
**[Y-yeah?]**
**[Wolfram-senpai is the former Student Council President, and he’s a person with a great sense of responsibility. You know that, right?]**
**[Yeah.]**
**[Right now, since you’re a first-year junior, he might be giving you extra affection and attention. After all, once you choose your faculty, we’re no longer chicks—we’re proper students who need to stand on our own, right?]**
**[S-so?]**
**[If you don’t produce meaningful results by next year, Wolfram-senpai’s period of protective care might end.]**
**[Ah. That makes sense. Yogurt, you’re smarter than I thought. Even though your grades are average.]**
**[Ugh… Th-then, what should I do?]**
**[First, preliminary investigation. You’re meeting that sprout tomorrow, right? She might be the one who takes away the “chick premium” going forward, so find out what kind of person she is.]**
**[Oh. And drag her behind the dormitory and tell her “Don’t set your sights on senpai!”?]**
**[Knowing Mille-feuille’s personality, that’d probably backfire. Anyway, make sure to investigate properly. Got it?]**
**[…Yeah. Got it.]**
—
*Phew.*
Finishing her recollection, Mille-feuille stared intently at the black-haired little girl before her.
She looked remarkably like Ayla Triasta-senpai, but smaller in build, with even more sparkling eyes.
‘So cute…’
A child who might take away her own cute junior spot next year.
She mustn’t be fooled by that cute appearance.
So… somehow find out about this child and…
‘Find out and do what…?’
At that point, Mille-feuille’s thoughts came to a primary halt.
In the end, she didn’t really know, but thought “I’ll figure it out once I find out” and approached Spica.
“Um…”
“Ah!”
“Eek!?”
“I thought I’d seen you somewhere, but it wasn’t seeing—I heard about you!”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Piyo Punch!”
“…? Huh?”
“Wow! The real thing! My sister told me all about you! That there’s a rebellious… no, revolutionary senior at Zefflin!”
“R-really?”
“Yes! I heard that despite low stats, you reached the top through sheer hard work, and that you even learned Triasta-style self-defense! I wanted to meet you because I respect that revolutionary way! And aren’t we already fellow disciples? Since we both use Triasta-style self-defense!”
“Ah, aah.”
“Would you like to have a conversation at Wolfram-senpai’s store this evening!?”
“U-ugh…”
Mille-feuille was flustered, but facing Spica who approached her with sparkling eyes, she couldn’t resist at all.
Far from getting to know her, the other party already knew everything.
‘Help me. Vanilla, Yogurt…’
She could only close her eyes tightly, calling her friends’ names.
—
Evening at the convenience store.
Using a handy worker, I set up a parasol and tables, laid out chairs, and prepared a basket full of snacks and dishes.
When you think of a convenience store, after all, it’s about some smoked chicken heated up outside at 2 AM and a 500ml beer, isn’t it?
I couldn’t do the exact same thing, but I tried to create a similar atmosphere.
The mood was good today, and the timing seemed right.
Ayla. Eve. Nefty. Mille-feuille and Spica.
With the temporary member Spica added, bringing out the parasol and tables for this evening was perfect, wasn’t it?
“Senpai’s cooking is truly amazing! I’ll enjoy it!”
“Hm. Eat plenty.”
Among the dishes I made, Spica especially enjoyed the grape bean juice and the meat dishes. Holding meat in one hand and twirling her grape juice glass, she smiled lightly.
“It’s not just tasty—it’s a feast fit for a revolutionary!”
“…Is that so.”
Does she think of it as wine and meat? Come to think of it, that does fit.
I watched Spica, who was chattering away as she went to Mille-feuille, then to Eve, then whispered something with Nefty, then was grabbed by Ayla and sat down obediently—and a smile naturally came to my face.
She had a completely different image from Spica in the main story.
‘Sorry, Kelter. I don’t truly trust you.’
‘You know very well what happened to my sister, don’t you? You, the one involved.’
‘I don’t trust anyone who approaches with a smile—especially not you.’
‘So if you want to recruit me for your party, pay a fair price.’
‘Fine. I’ll join this expedition.’
She was unapproachable,
her basic equipment was poor, but her unique traits were second to none—Spica Triasta.
She was also Ayla’s sister, so every time I used her, guilt pricked at my chest… but I see. “Bright Spica” truly sparkles like silver, just as her name suggests.
“What is it? Don’t you dare bid for the Spica Trading Company I was targeting!”
“…Are you drunk?”
“I’m not drunk. You didn’t serve any alcohol anyway!”
“That’s true, but.”
As I was staring at Spica like that, Eve approached from the side. When I asked what she wanted, she hesitated, then let out a deep sigh and looked at Spica.
“She’s an outstanding talent. For the future of the Student Council, I absolutely want to recruit her.”
“Hoh. You want to recruit Spica for the Student Council?”
“Yes. Are you going to interfere?”
“The Student Council is a good place.”
“…U-uh. Yeah. Well then…”
I didn’t want Spica Triasta to just rot away at the convenience store—I wanted her to walk an even better path.
In the main story, as Kelter, I had to defeat Ayla, and she was somewhat twisted somewhere.
Spica—the brightest star of Virgo.
I hope she walks a shining path worthy of her name, just as bright as she is now.
But well.
That’s that.
“However, depending on her growth, I plan to take her on expeditions.”
“Pardon? You’re going to drag that little child on expeditions!?”
“That child’s talent is unparalleled. Don’t think you were the first to find her. More than anything, a war mage is the safest on the battlefield. She sends out golems and just monitors the battlefield from a safe place.”
“…Ugh. That’s true, but. Still, what does a little child know… Isn’t that harsh?”
“Hm.”
No.
With my training method, she’ll grow quickly, and more than anything, it’s safe.
But it’s awkward to try to convince her again.
“Anyway, Spica is going into the Student Council, so no.”
“Hmm…”
While I was choosing words to persuade Eve, I heard the sound of *dododo* running from afar.
“I want to go on expeditions!”
“Spica?”
“I want to go on expeditions with Wolfram orabeo-ni, go out to play, eat the food orabeo-ni makes, and start a revolution!”
I don’t know what that last part means, but Spica’s eyes were sparkling.
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“True affection blooms in the midst of danger!”
“…Affection?”
“Yes! When we adventure together and face danger—helping each other—that’s where true bonds bloom!”
“Wolfram, you really…”
Eve narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
At first I tilted my head at Spica saying she likes me, but then I found it entirely understandable.
“What of it. It’s just a child’s crush.”
“Really? You…”
“Hmph. When you were five too, you said ‘When I grow up, Wolfram—’”
“U-ugh. Shut up!”
I shrugged.
What can I do. I read it in the official setting book too.
She said she couldn’t even bear to say it out loud.
Well, anyway.
A young child saying they like an adult is just a temporary delusion.
I cook well and seem to take good care of her, so she just feels favorably toward me.
“Understand? That’s what a crush is. Looking back, it’s embarrassing, but at the time, there’s no deep thought behind it.”
“Is that so…?”
“That’s how it is.”
“I’ll take it as that, I suppose.”
Only then did Eve nod as if understanding, and I heard a voice calling Spica from afar.
“Spica! Where are you?”
“Ah, my sister is calling me, so I’ll go.”
“Hm.”
Spica, who had been running *dododo*, stopped and looked back at me, waving her hand.
“Orabeo-ni! You absolutely have to take me on expeditions! Not my sister—me!”
At those words, Mille-feuille, who was nearby, flinched for some reason, and Ayla let out a small sigh.
I lightly waved my hand in response.
What. Don’t worry.
I’ll definitely carry you through.
