“Selian is first place, as expected.”
Each of us held our midterm exam score sheets in our hands. The fluctuations of joy and disappointment among the classmates were all down to just a few numbers written on the papers.
It’s the same for us who are comparing each other’s scores, only to a lesser extent compared to the others.
Yuli knows her practical score falls short, and Anne knows her written score is lacking. Because of this, neither of them expected to achieve top grades. However, since the practical scores count for a larger percentage, Anne’s rank is slightly higher.
And Selian? Everyone in the class, including her teachers, recognizes her as a well-rounded and perfect student in both academics and combat skills. She claimed first place overall in the Department of Swordsmanship by taking the top spot in both written and practical sections.
And me?
With Selian in the picture, aiming for first was something I had already half-abandoned. But my academic performance cannot be overlooked given that I aim for a scholarship. While my rank varies slightly depending on the subject, my overall score places me second right behind Selian.
Though we still have final exams, this score is enough to aim for at least a partial scholarship.
“By the way, what’s that cat?”
“Hmm… I don’t really know much about it myself…”
Anne asked about the cat sitting on my lap. It has grown quite friendly with me now, approaching first and claiming a spot on my thigh whenever it sees me, but I still know very little about it. Who’s taking care of it? Where does it live? I can only guess that it’s well-fed based on its shiny fur.
That said, the cat’s wariness of me has almost completely disappeared. It’s time to try again. That forbidden technique that no cat can resist. The failure last time must have been because the cat still had some caution toward me and because I had trouble controlling my strength since it was the first time I touched it in a while.
From the top of its head to the tip of its tail, I carefully, slowly, begin to stroke it. It’s crucial not to let the cat notice my intention.
I’m an assassin. An assassin must have the patience to wait in one spot for days on end and must never miss the single fleeting opportunity that arises. That’s why I endure and wait for that perfect moment.
And that moment finally came.
“Grrr…”
The cat began to purr deeply, a quiet but undeniable sound, its body totally relaxed under my technical caress. I seize that fleeting moment.
Pop
I lightly pat the cat’s bottom.
Startled, the cat raises its tail and tries to jump off me, but I’m no ordinary individual—I’m a former assassin and aspiring Sword Master. With feline agility, it can’t escape my hand.
Pop
I pat the cat’s bottom again before it wriggles free of my grasp. Then another, then another.
With incredible speed leaving no room for escape, while still keeping the force light with only a quick wrist snap, I continue.
The cat’s resistance is surprisingly adorable. First, it tried to escape, then emitted a small shriek, and on the third strike, it even attempted to bite my thigh lightly.
But by the fourth pat, its feline instincts take over, and it gives up resisting altogether. It lightly scratches my thigh without extending its claws and seems to drift aimlessly.
Yes, this is it!
Thrilled by this, I use both hands to perform even more ‘bottom pats.’
It’s only when I realize my friends are staring at me silently, looking somewhat disapproving, that I stop.
I want to continue, but today it might be better to be satisfied with this. Well, I’m satisfied, and judging by the way the cat lies sprawled out, it seems satisfied too.
Look. The cat is looking at me with a satisfied expression,
Pfft
but then it hits me and runs off to a far corner.
Why! You enjoyed it too!
“… Hmm, El probably took things a bit too far.”
Yuli stretches her hand toward the direction where the cat disappeared and comfortingly addresses me, who is experiencing the anguish of real-time heartbreak. Indeed, Yuli is the only one who understands me.
Meanwhile, Selian is looking at me… her gaze directed towards my bottom. That must just be my imagination. Yes, it is.
“Ugh… ThatIan guy having better grades than me… What shame.”
Anne seemed to be more disheartened by her grades being lower than her younger sibling’s than by me getting slapped by the cat.
By the way, Ian’s grades were in the upper ranks of the class compared to Anne. While his practical test scores were a bit lower than Anne’s, his written test scores were overwhelmingly higher. In fact, there are almost no students with written test scores lower than Ian’s.
“Speaking of which, Ian and Anne are twins, but they don’t resemble each other much, do they?”
Thinking of Ian reminded me how difficult it is to find commonalities between Ian and Anne. Maybe they have similar red hair?
The weapons they use, their combat styles, their auras, and even their builds are completely different. Their faces resemble each other somewhat, but the difference in build is so significant that it barely stands out.
“Isn’t that right? Well, even though they’re twins, they’re fraternal.”
“I also have an older brother… but we’re quite different. Unlike me, my brother is…”
Yuli’s slightly melancholic voice suggests that she may have frequently been compared to her brother due to their father’s legacy as a Sword Master.
Yuli undoubtedly trains hard. She swings her sword daily, and she shows no hesitation in learning, freely asking questions and seeking guidance from professors and even our peers without reservation. Despite all her efforts, her skills haven’t improved. I apologize if this seems awkward to say, but Yuli does not resemble her father, the Sword Master at all. If she had inherited even a little of his talent, she would have already surpassed her current level long ago.
“Selian! Selian? Don’t you have an older brother too?”
Anne quickly turned to Selian, probably to lighten the somber atmosphere. If I recall correctly, during the assassination incident, there was information about one older brother of Selian from the Deretia family. Since it is a lineage of heroes, he is also a quite capable swordsman, though he hasn’t made a particularly big name for himself. Hence, the Deretia family’s expectations are placed on Selian, who is the most promising candidate to become a hero.
“Well… I have a large age gap with my older brother. When I was younger, I always tried to follow in his footsteps.”
Wasn’t Selian’s brother about 5 years older than her? I believe he also graduated from the Academy.
“You know, everyone has older brothers…”
Anne has a younger brother, Yuli and Selian have older brothers. I wonder if everyone with siblings only has brothers.
“El also has… oh…!”
Something Yuli was about to say caused her to suddenly jump, covering her mouth with her tiny hands.
“Mi, I’m sorry…”
?
Confused, I finally remembered. The information about Elysia Prentz.
The Prentz House was wiped out during a demonic raid in the past. The only survivor was Elysia Prentz, which was the backstory fabricated by the Assassin’s Guild.
Thus, all the Prentz family, except for Elysia Prentz, perished in that raid, including Elysia’s younger brother, Zeno Prentz.
Yuli, who was friends with Elysia from a young age, must have also been close to Zeno Prentz. Perhaps what Yuli was about to say was related to Zeno.
“It’s fine. It’s been over 10 years since, and I barely remember it anyway.”
If we keep discussing that topic, there’s a possibility I might slip up. Hence, I decided to gloss over it and move on.
Meanwhile, Anne and Selian, who were aware of the tragedy of the Prentz family, had noticed Yuli’s faux pas. Perhaps out of consideration for me, Anne held my hand.
“Hey, El. What do you think about visiting my house during summer vacation? It’s bound to be fun!”
Considering that while they return home during the summer vacation, I would remain alone at the dormitory, this proposal must have been made out of consideration for me. It feels somewhat burdensome, but there’s no real reason to decline.
“Maybe. I’m already looking forward to it.”
“Please visit our place too…”
Selian grabbed my other hand, and asked earnestly. Since I have already accepted Anne’s invitation, I can’t think of a reason to refuse.
“Yeah. Thanks for the invitation.”
“Then how about we all rotate going to each other’s houses every summer vacation? El, maybe visiting my place will remind you of old memories?”
This was another suggestion from Yuli. But although I feel bad about it, Yuli’s idea that going to her house will bring back non-existent memories from the past is a bit far-fetched.
So there we were, having just completed our midterms but already planning for summer vacation.
During our lively chat about whose house we should visit first, we noticed a paper airplane flying down the corridor toward us. Whoever threw it had impeccable precision since the plane was flying steadily without deviating.
It flew far too evenly, not even dipping toward the ground, and it seemed rather unnatural.
Clonk
After flying for some time, the paper plane eventually collided with my forehead and then tumbled to the floor.
It didn’t hurt, but I instinctively rubbed my forehead and then picked up the fallen plane.
Looking around, there seemed to be no one in sight who could have launched the paper airplane.
However, as soon as I held it in my hand, the paper airplane unraveled on its own, transforming from a plane into a letter.
‘Tonight, 10 PM, come to the laboratory. The dormitory staff has already been informed, so there’s no need to worry. – Presia Gatina’
Prior to the midterm exams, I had assisted her with several experiments, starting with an initial acceleration magic trial. During the exam period, she hadn’t called on me, likely out of consideration. But now, with the exams over, the boss has summoned me again.
Still, usually magic experiments were scheduled in the evening at the latest, yet today, for some reason, I’ve been asked to come at night.
What’s more, they’ve even gone so far as to seek the school’s understanding… Come to think of it, our boss isn’t an ordinary magic department student if they were the one skipping classes to nap during the midterms. Is comparing her to Selian from the Magic Department appropriate?
“What is it? What is it?”
“Oh, just someone I know asking me to come.”
“Do you need to go now?”
“No, it’s not until around 10 PM, so no rush right now.”
“10 PM? But that’s right before curfew! Who could that be, calling at such a time?”
It wouldn’t really cause problems if I just told them, but there’s something holding me back from referring to her as my “boss.” If I reveal that I work to earn a meal, my considerate friends might worry needlessly. There’s no real issue, but this isn’t a story I should be the one to share. So, I pondered how I could introduce Presia while avoiding calling her my “boss.”
“Uh, who is it then? Who?”
But Anne insisted on knowing, peppering me with questions. In an absent-minded moment, I blurted out the term I had been contemplating for Presia.
“Master…?”
Creak
Selian, who had been trying to calm Anne down till then, abruptly turned her head toward me with a terrifying momentum. Wasn’t that a frightening sound I just heard?
“Uh…”
Even Yuli’s face had gone bright red. What’s with Yuli?
“W-Wha-What? M.. Master!?”
Anne’s grip on my shoulder grew tighter, shaking me more vigorously this time. The moment Anne heard me use the title “Master,” I realized exactly what misconception they had formed.
Rather than exposing my financial situation, I had to clear up their misunderstanding right away. Thus, I explained what “Master” meant to my friends.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. I just earn a bit of money, that’s all.”
However, despite my attempt at clarification, Anne only became more agitated, shaking my shoulders even more. Meanwhile, Yuli’s face was beet red, her head bowed deeply, and Selian’s eyes had widened so much they couldn’t possibly grow any larger.
Uh… Selian? Your lack of focus is making you seem a little scary. Actually, if you’re smiling with those eyes, you might become even scarier. Just stay like that, alright? Yes, please keep it that way. I implore you.
Ultimately, it took over an hour of persuasion to finally dispel my friends’ misconceptions.
