<Chapter 16>

Recently, monster activity had intensified. The duchess ensured a constant deployment of private soldiers to prevent attacks on goods during distribution. She had hired soldiers scaled to the size of the moving mountains and seas of cargo, and they had operated sufficiently within the damage zones.

However, lately, the number of attacks had increased to the point where the soldiers were insufficient. Though it was the season when animal breeding was vigorous, the level of aggression far exceeded what could be attributed to mere reproductive sensitivity. This was not merely a problem for the Mercantia Dukedom but an issue that needed to be recognized on an imperial scale.

“My lady!”

“Oh my, Naias.”

The duchess’s furrowed brow brightened at the arrival of this welcome guest. Her headache-inducing daily life had regained vitality lately, thanks to the young elf scampering about the Mercantia Dukedom.

A few days ago, Kana had returned holding the small elf’s hand, expressing a desire to live with her. The duchess had gladly granted Kana’s wish. After all, she too had seen Laren’s ring glittering around Naias’s neck.

The sudden glimpse into her daughter’s well-being only heightened the duchess’s curiosity. Knowing her daughter’s tendency not to reverse decisions once made, she had resigned herself to the runaway incident, but her safety remained a profound concern.

However, Kana was one who would not open her mouth on matters related to Laren, and Naias was equally tight-lipped when it came to her.

Naias, who had once been on high alert, had recently begun showing signs of opening up to the people of the Mercantia household beyond Kana and the duchess.

She didn’t quite mesh with Radiel’s personality—perhaps they were more like rivals. Apparently, Naias, who had initially complied with Radiel’s desire to dress her up in various ways, had eventually staged a rebellion.

“You said it was fine to call you Mother instead of My Lady. Or call me something else. My Lady sounds too stiff.”

“Uh…”

When Kana used the term My Lady, Naias followed suit. The duchess, who doted on Naias unusually, found the word deeply disappointing.

“What were you doing?”

“I was practicing spirit arts.”

“Hehe, and your studies?”

Naias had recently begun learning the Frican Empire’s language from a dedicated tutor. Her acquisition speed showed great cleverness, but she wasn’t particularly fond of academics.

‘My lady, the headaches won’t stop because of Miss Naias.’

‘My lady, Miss Naias has run off again today.’

‘My lady, Miss Naias…’

‘My lady…’

Sir Nutz, who oversaw the lessons, frequently came to the duchess to complain about Naias darting here and there. Frequently? More like all day long.

She was the spitting image of Laren as a child, evoking a strange joy rather than reproach. It felt like raising another daughter.

The way she immersed herself in what interested her was identical too—Naias practiced summoning spirits at every opportunity. The duchess pulled the evasive Naias close and sat her on her lap.

“By the way, what is a childhood friend?”

“Childhood friend?”

Naias tilted her head, recalling the teatime with Ensis a few days ago. When asked about Laren, Ensis had replied that she was a childhood friend.

She understood the meaning of friend, but childhood friend was an utterly unfamiliar term. When Naias asked its meaning, Ensis had trailed off vaguely.

“It means a close friend you’ve grown up with since childhood.”

“Hmm, so that’s what it means.”

“Where did you hear it?”

“From a human man named En.”

Naias replied while munching on the cookie the duchess offered. En. The duchess’s pupils dilated slightly at the unexpected name. Lost in thought for a moment, she curved a peculiar smile at her lips.

“En said that, did he?”

“Yes, why?”

Naias blinked, puzzled, but the duchess shook her head as if it were nothing. Who would have thought Ensis Tatio would give such an answer? Having encountered this intriguing fact, the duchess hummed a tune while stroking Naias.

“♬♩♪~.”

Naias glanced up briefly at the duchess before picking up another piece of cookie. Suddenly, she recalled Laren’s outburst about having her bag of handmade cookies stolen.

‘Was that cookie the same as this one? No wonder she was so upset.’

Naias thought as she chewed the cookie. She hoped Laren would soon break the curse and return so they could share these cookies.

* * *

“The sparring period is approaching. As last year, form pairs and submit reports by the end of this month. It would be helpful if you paired with a student from another department whenever possible.”

The professor left the lecture hall after delivering this cryptic announcement. Laren’s frustration reached its peak.

Even though he was the only new student this year, a bit more detail would have been nice. Having to figure everything out from scratch made it feel like he’d succumb to academy life before even finding the cursed one.

‘What the heck is a sparring period?’

Laren wore a weary expression. Thanks to pulling an all-nighter for assignments, dark cracks shadowed his eyes.

It would be simple to ask, but his classmates were unlikely to answer a commoner’s question. Three days had passed since enrollment, yet the disdain toward the commoner persisted—if it didn’t worsen, that was a relief. Laren’s shoulders slumped dejectedly.

“Ren, the notice came out this time. What are you doing for a pair?”

Zian bounded over to the side of the dejected figure. Since their introduction, despite being in different classes, he frequently sought Laren out to chat. The D Class students always shot sharp glares, but Zian seemed unbothered.

“What’s a sparring period, and what’s a pair?”

“Ah, you wouldn’t know!”

“Of course not. I’m a freshman, after all.”

Lately, having stuck close, Zian treated Laren as if he’d been at the academy for ages.

“Since the new dean took office last year, they’ve held this ‘sparring period’—a competition where we hunt monsters.”

‘No wonder he seemed younger than expected.’

Laren, listening intently, recalled the dean. With the change in Ledithern’s lord, the academy’s dean must have changed as well.

Shifts in power herald new eras, especially in academic authority, which wields significant influence. It was highly likely the lord had planted one of his own.

“They’re doing it again this year, apparently. Two students form a pair to make a team.”

“Really? Already sounds like a hassle. I’ll pass.”

It seemed the young dean was introducing many new initiatives to suit his tastes, but Laren had no desire to add more complications here. At Laren’s indifferent response, Zian explained more fervently to pique interest.

“Listen closely—this sparring period is a golden opportunity to showcase your skills!”

Laren watched Zian’s exaggerated gestures as he explained, a surge of inner gratitude welling up. Without Zian, academy life would have been twice as arduous.

It was Zian who had approached Laren on the first day to offer help, and the first to show kindness. If only he didn’t occasionally unleash verbal barbs, he’d be perfect.

“Ren, are you listening? With that dazed look, you’re thinking about the cafeteria menu again, aren’t you? Please, eat a little less.”

That kind of verbal barb.

“It’s quite a fun event, so the students really enjoy it. You don’t have to pair with someone from the same department, so magic students sometimes propose to swordsmanship students they’re interested in. But since there are far more swordsmanship students, most pairs are probably within swordsmanship?”

It was intriguing, yet it struck him as a bit juvenile. Wasn’t it just a fancy pretext for expressing feelings? However, pairing swordsmanship and magic was a solid approach, regardless of the underlying motive.

‘A pair… Come to think of it…’

Suddenly, the memory of coordinating with Kar in the slave caravan surfaced. Swordsmen and mages complemented each other’s weaknesses, forming the optimal party (combat team) synergy. The swordsman covered the casting time for magic summons, while the mage expanded the short-range swordsman’s attack radius.

‘I didn’t even get to greet him properly back then.’

In truth, rather than the coordination itself, Kar’s plump cheeks and indigo eyes came to mind. Lost in a hazy reverie, Laren smacked his lips in regret.

“If your hunting prowess is strong, they select first place and award prize money too.”

“…What? Prize money?”

Laren’s head, which had been half-listening indifferently, snapped around at once. Seeing the first spark of interest in the pairing, an excited Zian elaborated.

“It was around 100 Fushia, I think? It’s not a small sum, so everyone aims for it pretty seriously.”

“100 Fushia?!”

100 Fushia was by no means a small amount! It was more than enough to lavishly cover Laren’s snacks for five months and still leave plenty over. The meals provided by the academy were woefully inadequate to satisfy Laren’s appetite.

The funds he’d brought when leaving Mercantia had been lost in the slave caravan, and Viscount Helian’s reward was dwindling after purchases of uniforms, textbooks, and a modest supply of snacks—he’d been growing anxious. Spotting the flash in those blue eyes, Zian hesitated and stepped back.

“…Ren?”

“First place is mine.”

At the sight of him solemnly declaring his resolve the moment he heard “prize money,” Zian shook his head. Ren really likes money, huh. Probably struggling with hardship as a commoner.

“How are you planning to find a pair?”

“Who are you pairing with, Zian? Let’s do it together.”

Laren brimmed with confidence that he could win even with Zian as his partner. Zian, in Magic C Class, was a 2nd-circle Terra (earth) Qualitas, and as long as he could protect himself, that was fine. Beating down monsters was Laren’s role. At the proposal, Zian touched his hair awkwardly.

“I think I’ll pair with my cousin from swordsmanship, the one I did it with last year.”

“You have a cousin?”

“…Please pay some attention—I told you!”

‘A cousin, huh.’

He probably hadn’t heard because he’d been listening casually, but Laren suddenly grew curious about this cousin of Zian’s. Zian was noble, but from a fallen family whose title had been revoked.

Zian Lobaine. Three years ago, a sudden monster assault had unleashed a bloodbath on the Lobaine territory, leaving it in an irreparable state to this day.

The Lobaine family had poured funds into recovery efforts but couldn’t cope with the unexpectedly massive damage, steering them down the path to ruin.

With the stigma of fallen nobility stamped on him, students’ attitudes toward Zian weren’t particularly welcoming. Even for a cousin, many prioritized social appearances, so curiosity stirred about someone who associated with Zian without bias.

“Who’s your cousin?”

“Just… a kid with some issues.”

“Issues?”

“You’ll see when you meet. I’ll introduce you if the chance comes up later!”

Issues, huh—maybe, like Zian, the child of fallen nobility? He wanted to probe further but sealed his lips, sensing reluctance. He’d find out upon meeting. More pressing was finding a willing pair partner.

‘But I… have no friends.’

Securing someone to pair with a commoner was harder than plucking stars from the sky. Exceptions might include Pygone and his three stooges, who had bestowed the honor of a swollen cheek on the first day.

Despite being in different classes, they frequently appeared to harass him, likely seeking him out on purpose. Such utmost devotion was undeniable.

Classmates avoided the commoner even more fervently. Associating with him might needlessly earn Pygone’s group’s ire. In that sense, Laren found Zian somewhat impressive.

‘Approaching without a care?’

Lost in contemplation, Laren’s steps halted before the dormitory. Using the key to open the door, he found it locked instead.

‘Strange—I definitely checked that I locked it before leaving?’

Turning the key the other way produced a click, the sound of the door unlocking. A spark lit in Laren’s expression.

Had the mysterious roommate, prone to frequent overnight absences, returned? The one he hadn’t encountered once since enrollment!

He suddenly understood why merchants layered lengthy explanations and built suspense when selling wares. The greater the anticipation, the higher it built.

About the roommate, Zian had evaded with a nuance of see for yourself.

In swordsmanship, D Class, the sole commoner like Laren. What had been mere curiosity about the roommate now soared to pierce the heavens. With a pounding heart, he cautiously entered the dormitory… only to find no one inside. Laren’s expression soured sharply.

‘What the—how annoying.’

Maybe he didn’t exist from the start? But the unlocked dormitory door was suspicious.