“……Master!”
At that one word shouted by Elsi as she burrowed into the man’s arms, the temperature on the central boulevard dropped sharply.
Even without that, passersby were already focused on Ian. Perhaps due to the spread of rumors, whispers were tickling their ears.
It was remarkable enough that he had slaughtered dozens of monsters, but he was also an academy student who had defeated a mage that appeared after several years.
It would have been strange if he didn’t become a topic of conversation. It was unavoidable that attention was drawn to Ian.
In that circumstance, Elsi had dropped a bombshell.
The murmurs instantly ceased. Only dozens of wide-open eyes remained, conveying the shock they were all feeling.
Who was Elsi Rainelle?
She was a picky, ill-tempered woman, known for being trouble. There were countless students who had been harassed by her as she led her group around, often spouting abusive language at anyone who even slightly annoyed her.
Contrary to her doll-like lovely appearance, her actions were no different from those of a delinquent. That was why she had gained the nickname ‘little villain.’
There were countless people within the academy who bore resentment against her. Even now, there were those who ground their teeth at the mere mention of her name.
So, when Elsi lost to Ian, the dominant reaction within the academy was one of schadenfreude.
She had a history of karma to contend with. If given even a slight reason, many would love to tear her apart.
Even her justifications were lacking. Seniors had banded together to intimidate juniors, only to be humiliated in the process by their juniors.
The rumor that Elsi had cried and begged for her life quickly spread. This rumor grew to the point where Elsi was eventually portrayed as a coward who wet herself in fear of her junior.
Though it was a malicious rumor, it was not entirely false.
In other words, it meant that Elsi had no choice but to overreact.
When anyone’s hidden inner self was exposed, they tended to react aggressively. Moreover, Elsi was known for her cruelty. Her punishments had become increasingly violent over time.
The one who had put a stop to Elsi’s rampage was Ian.
Since Ian had taken Elsi under his wing for the Hunting Festival, she had become somewhat more subdued, like a leashed dog.
If Elsi were to get caught messing around, she would be publicly threatened with a hatchet, which would surely be witnessed by everyone. For the sake of her pride, Elsi had no choice but to be cautious.
However, after winning the Hunting Festival, Elsi became even more arrogant, though she rarely resorted to violence. This was due to the fact that she was still wary of Ian.
By that point, academy students were snickering and mocking her.
The notorious Elsi Rainelle, reduced to cowardice at the hands of a junior, was a dramatic fall from grace indeed.
But today, the sight of Elsi was beyond anyone’s imagination.
It had only been two weeks, and somehow, Elsi had become dramatically more subdued.
Every so often, she would wear a dazed expression as if recalling someone and would then let out a sorrowful sigh.
Some speculated she had finally found love, exclaiming that spring had finally come to Elsi Rainelle.
It was an astonishing revelation.
The ‘little villain’ who possessed both cruelty and arrogance could love someone, and this became a small topic of debate among the students of the Magic Department.
Elsi had exhibited such dramatic changes. Yet, none in the academy had expected the current scene.
Elsi nestled in Ian’s arms, rubbing her face against him. If she had a tail, it would surely be wagging.
Her face, filled with happiness, and her voice tinged with cuteness.
Passersby on the central boulevard experienced cognitive dissonance.
Trembling pupils and gaping mouths.
Each individual had a different reaction, but all their expressions were dominated by one emotion.
Shock.
Even Ian, the man holding Elsi, sighed as if it were nothing new.
“Senior Elsi, everyone is watching…”
His words seemed to snap Elsi back to reality, and she took a surprised step back, glancing around.
Then, frowning as usual, she made a threatening sound.
“What are you looking at, you bastards? Is it a spectacle? I’ll squirt some ink from your eyes, okay?”
At Elsi’s threats, the passersby were finally brought back to their senses.
Though they still appeared dazed, Elsi’s usual brash demeanor made the earlier scene feel more like a mirage.
They began to walk away, their expressions easing as they heard Elsi’s usual foul mouth.
That Elsi Rainelle, calling a junior ‘Master’ and acting cute, was impossible. They decided to trust their experiences and common sense instead.
However, the moment the passersby shifted their gazes, Elsi looked up at Ian with a gaze full of affection.
She wore a face reminiscent of a puppy waiting for praise.
“Is, is this good now?”
Instead of answering, Ian placed his hand gently on her forehead. He then grabbed Elsi’s wrist and led her into an alley.
As Elsi was pulled along, she tilted her head in confusion.
In the deserted alley, Ian asked Elsi incredulously.
“……Senior Elsi, I get ‘Ian’-ni, but what’s up with ‘Master’?”
“Uh, huh? That, that?”
Possibly an unintentional slip, Elsi’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. She flailed her hands in a futile attempt to cool her flushed cheeks.
Stammering, she tried to explain.
“I, it might have stuck in my subconscious after that weird competition with Delphine, right? Ahahaha… D-Don’t mind it!”
“No, if you call me that in front of others…”
As Ian appeared flustered, Elsi shrunk back and buried her head. Her fidgeting while glancing anxiously at Ian felt somewhat pitiful.
In the end, Ian could do nothing but sigh in resignation.
His eyes inadvertently glanced toward her waist.
He could forcibly correct her with the hatchet, but he had grown fond of Senior Elsi. At least, he had developed an aversion to threats.
If a threat were truly necessary, it wasn’t now.
The moment the man who had been deep in thought felt her waist beside him, he gently rested his hand on the head of the trembling girl.
Soft strokes followed.
Gradually, Elsi’s trembling subsided. Soon, she wore a dazed expression, smiling widely.
She looked just like a puppy receiving a reward.
Ian leaned down slightly, whispering to Elsi.
“Senior Elsi, you’ll listen to me from now on, right?”
“Yes, y-yes… ehehe…”
“Then, from now on, don’t call me Master. It puts me in a tough spot, not to mention especially for you.”
Whatever Ian said, Elsi obediently nodded along. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the sensation of his hand on her head.
The man felt a mix of bewilderment. As he tried to recall how things had turned out like this, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t done anything wrong.
After all, all he had done was threaten her mildly with the hatchet, right?
Life is truly unpredictable.
Ian forced a smile and said.
“You’re born with such a beautiful face; no need to ruin it. Following some stranger around like that will only earn disapproval from your clan.”
It was a throwaway comment. For Ian, it was merely a routine compliment thrown without much thought.
However, upon hearing those words, Elsi’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Having her head petted while maintaining a goofy expression hadn’t happened in a long while.
“…Uh, huh? You, you think I’m pretty?”
In her flustered and stammering voice, Ian looked at Elsi with a puzzled expression.
“You are pretty, objectively… why?”
Upon hearing this, Elsi’s cheeks flushed again as she became shy, lowering her head and hesitating.
Her fidgeting fingers spoke of the ripples forming in her chest. After a moment, Elsi began to step back awkwardly.
“Is, is that so… I’m pretty… then I’ll be going now!”
And as Ian watched Elsi leave with her awkward gait, he tilted his head.
She was still a senior whose principles remained a mystery.
In the end, after running into various familiar people, it was already night by the time I reached Senior Delphine’s room.
The reason I was heading to find Delphine was simple.
Only Senior Delphine hadn’t come to find me. There were several matters to discuss, including the sword I had thrown at the Flesh Nest that day, so I wished to meet her here.
Idalos Lodge.
The dormitory named after the great Conqueror Emperor.
To live in this grand building, wealth, power, and capability were all required.
These were things most people struggled to possess. Yet, sometimes in the world, individuals who had all three would appear.
Senior Delphine was one such person.
As the heir of the prestigious Yuridina clan, she possessed wealth and power while being a standout among the talented individuals gathered at the academy.
She was more than qualified to reside in Idalos Lodge.
This marked my second visit. I had previously come here to meet Senior Delphine.
As before, there was a servant standing at the entrance of the Idalos Lodge.
When I communicated the purpose of visiting Senior Delphine, the servant bore an awkward expression.
“Uh, Lady Yuridina has been refusing all meetings.”
It seemed something else was going on.
After a brief moment of pondering, I flashed a relaxed smile as if already aware.
“That’s alright. Just take me to the door, please.”
The servant continued to look troubled, but after I pressed a few more times, he had no choice but to lead the way.
My reputation within the academy had been soaring lately.
Not only had I won the Hunting Festival, but I had also defeated the mage after a brutal battle and successfully hunted mythical beasts.
In the academy, skill was everything.
In other words, even a servant from Idalos Lodge couldn’t ignore what I said.
Just two months ago, I wouldn’t have imagined this kind of treatment, yet it felt surreal in many ways.
As I kept these thoughts in mind, I soon found myself at the door to Senior Delphine’s room.
The servant still wore a somewhat anxious expression.
I nodded to him, indicating there was no need for him to worry. I gently knocked on the door and called out softly.
“Senior Delphine, it’s me. May I come in?”
However, for quite some time, there was no response from inside.
After a lengthy wait, the only voice I finally heard was a light refusal.
“……I want to be alone.”
It was a small voice clear enough to understand even from beyond the door.
The servant’s cold eyes turned toward me.
It was as if to say he expected this. There was a hint of reproach in his expression for having led me here.
Yet again, I merely smiled with assurance.
And then, the next moment.
With a crack, an ax was pulled out with a thunderous sound, smashing through the door.
The door, having lost the strength to hold its handle, creaked open quickly. It was a high-speed sequence of movements that didn’t allow for any time to intervene.
The servant’s eyes widened. His mouth hung open.
He looked as if he had something to say.
But before he could utter a word, I interrupted him with a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, I’m close with Senior Delphine… and she’ll cover the repair costs, so you don’t need to concern yourself, probably.”
With that, I winked playfully as a greeting.
As I moved to enter Senior Delphine’s room, the servant could only watch me with eyes that seemed to say, “What a crazy person.”
Sadly, it was treatment I had grown accustomed to by now.
