Chapter 43: Elective Class (6)

After class ended, while she was busy cleaning up, the red-haired woman felt an intentionally made presence and slowly lifted her head.

There, a man was standing still, waiting for her.

‘That man is definitely…….’

He was the elf who had drawn attention in many ways during the class just a moment ago.

She instinctively swept her eyes over him once more.

‘Strong.’

Though he looked slender at a glance, his body showed traces of harsh training here and there.

The way he had approached silently, right up to a close distance, carried with it a subtle yet heavy aura.

She reached the conclusion once again that this man was not someone who could be easily underestimated.

‘Even if that fool Pappleton and I attacked together, we wouldn’t stand a chance against him, let alone win.’

Thinking so, the red-haired woman opened her mouth.

The badge symbolizing an assistant jingled faintly on her chest.

“Do you have some business?”

“I wish to see Professor Deiare.”

The elf, Jeil Envarso, spoke in a quiet voice.

The red-haired assistant blinked and asked him again.

“Do you perhaps have a question left over from class? If so, I can help you instead.”

“No.”

He slowly shook his head.

“It isn’t a question. I just wish to have a brief conversation.”

“Hmm…… what matter is it?”

“It isn’t something to share with others, so I must speak directly with her.”

“Just to be sure, did you schedule an appointment with the professor beforehand?”

“That as well, no.”

At his words, the woman’s brow began to furrow.

Of course, she could not simply let someone meet the professor when it wasn’t about class and without prior arrangement.

All the more so considering Deiare’s position and circumstances.

“I’m sorry, but perhaps you could arrange a meeting for another time……”

Just as she was about to voice her refusal after brief thought.

Ttakak.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves rang out.

“It’s fine, Miss Revice.”

“Professor?”

The red-haired assistant, Revice, turned her head to look at Deiare.

Deiare was staring fixedly at the elf with her characteristically clear eyes.

“I’ve known him for a long time. I’d like to speak with him for a while, so could you step aside? I’ll finish the cleanup after our conversation.”

“In that case, I’ll wait outside until then. Once your conversation ends and you call me, I will……”

“No.”

Deiare smiled as she spoke.

It was stiff and awkward, unlike her usual gentle smile.

“This will probably take long. I cannot keep you waiting all that time, can I? Please, do me this favor.”

“……Understood, Professor. I’m sorry for troubling you with needless concern.”

Revice bowed deeply with formal posture, then withdrew immediately.

Only once her presence could no longer be felt did Jeil Envarso slowly open his mouth.

“She has a pure and kind nature.”

He glanced once toward the direction Revice had disappeared, then shifted his gaze back to Deiare.

“And talent as well—more than enough, even excessive. If guided and refined properly, she’ll surely leave behind a name.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Deiare bowed stiffly.

As if he had been waiting for it, Envarso also bowed.

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“After hearing the news, I wondered when you would come find me. I didn’t expect you to actually attend my class in person, however.”

After finishing her words, Deiare cautiously looked at him.

“But why are you addressing me so formally……?”

To her question, he replied.

“No matter what I am outside, here I am merely a student, and you are the one teaching me. Then it’s only proper that I show respect fitting to that.”

“……I see.”

From his words just now, Deiare easily understood that he wanted her to treat him as nothing more than Jeil Envarso, a student of the Academy.

Which also meant he was asking her to conceal his true identity from others.

Normally, such a suspicious request would have been rejected outright……

But for him, things were a little different, so Deiare nodded as if to say she understood.

‘Well, he isn’t the type to do anything strange.’

It wasn’t her place to meddle further.

After sorting her thoughts, Deiare asked him.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

“There is one thing I wish to ask.”

“Yes, please speak. I’ll answer anything.”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Jeil Envarso asked in a subdued voice.

“Where is the Cathedral?”

“The Cathedral, you mean?”

Envarso nodded.

Deiare silently looked at his face, which betrayed no expression, then explained in detail the road leading to the Cathedral.

“Thank you.”

“Is there perhaps anything more you need, or anything else I can assist with?”

“There’s nothing more I need. I’ve already come holding everything I require.”

Just as he was about to leave with those puzzling words, he suddenly added, “Come to think of it……”

“There are many interesting students.”

He whispered in a quiet tone.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many seedlings gathered together, each possessing talents that could easily be called dangerous.”

“……What do you mean by dangerous?”

“Talent, great or small, always carries with it a certain demonic charm.”

At Envarso’s words, Deiare pressed her lips shut.

She understood better than anyone what he meant by that.

“I’ve seen more than a few who were consumed by it and ruined both their bodies and their lives.”

Here, he faintly lifted the corner of his mouth and murmured in a low voice.

“Of course, I have no doubt that you, Professor Deiare, will hold them steady so they don’t go astray. Especially since it’s you, not anyone else.”

“……”

“Then I hope we’ll have another chance to meet. It was a pleasure to converse again after so long.”

With those words, he left without hesitation, his pace unhurried.

Classes at Arpentia Academy were divided into common classes, specialized classes, and professional classes.

These were broadly separated into three categories.

Common classes were mandatory for all students, teaching various basic knowledge along with the minimum foundations.

Specialized classes aimed to provide students the opportunity to experience diverse and wide-ranging fields, while teaching each dormitory’s specialized area.

Lastly, professional classes were meant to help students, who had begun to decide their career paths and majors, accumulate experience and knowledge.

Each student decided and selected among these three kinds of classes according to their own level and career.

Through this, Arpentia Academy earned a reputation for cultivating more specialized and diverse talents, but as with everything, there was always a dual nature.

To explain further…… while some students devoted themselves to self-development, on the other hand, not a few sought out only lenient classes that were easy to earn credits from.

And in my previous life, I had belonged perfectly to the latter.

Now, however, it was the complete opposite.

“It seems time is already up. Today’s class will end here. In our next session, we’ll cover the overall changes across the Empire’s ancient, medieval, and modern eras, so please keep that in mind.”

Standing on the lecture platform, Yul Runberg concluded the class with his final remarks.

As soon as class ended, Allen, who had been taking diligent notes at the seat beside me, stretched with a heavy sigh as if he had been waiting for it.

“Phew…… it’s finally over.”

Seeing him nearly half-dead, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“You managed to survive without dying, huh.”

“Unlike you, Lian, I’m not exactly smart.”

Allen shook his head and let out a sigh of relief.

“At least I’m glad that this is my last class for today. I’ll probably grab a bite and rest a bit.”

“Ugh, I still have one more left.”

Unlike Allen, today I had one class from each of the three types.

First, Professor Deiare’s specialized class in the morning.

Then the common class with Professor Yul Runberg, which had just ended.

And finally, Sister Roberta’s professional class, which I would be attending shortly.

……It felt a little like overexertion, but better to suffer now than regret later.

“Still, since there’s a good bit of time left before it starts, let’s have lunch together.”

“In that case, let’s go right now.”

Allen answered brightly, as though he had been waiting for me to say that.

“I skipped a proper breakfast, so I’m starving to death here.”

With an embarrassed laugh, he quickly began packing up his things.

It seemed the previous lesson on “changes in people’s lifestyles depending on architectural styles” had drained his spirit completely.

‘But…….’

As I was also packing up and rising from my seat, I glanced around.

Even though she should have attended the class with us, the person I was searching for was nowhere to be seen.

Normally, she stood out so much that I could have spotted her even from a distance.

‘Does she not want to talk in front of others?’

I had wanted to briefly discuss training matters with her, but she was nowhere in sight.

In the end, I had no choice but to give up on finding Cecilia.

“Lian, aren’t you ready yet?”

“Oh, no. Sorry, I zoned out for a second.”

Well, she probably had her own reasons for being busy.

I followed Allen as we began walking.

“Lian, by the way, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“About the large merchant group that came nearby.”

“Hm?”

Where there was a city, there were always merchant groups.

The larger the city, the larger and more frequent the groups that visited, so caravans arriving in the capital were nothing unusual.

To me, it sounded trivial, but Allen smiled knowingly, as if he had expected that reaction.

“Of course, ordinary merchants wouldn’t be anything special. But this time, the group in question is a bit—no, extremely unusual.”

Wait, could this be……?

I asked him cautiously, as if testing him.

“What, are the merchants demons or something?”

“What, so you already knew?”

Allen looked deflated by my answer.

While smiling faintly, I began to quietly recall my memories.

‘Right, come to think of it, I do remember a big fuss about demons, circuses, and whatnot.’

Not all demons were hostile toward humans.

Just as even among humans there were different nations, races, and cultures, leading some to be hostile while others were friendly, demons too maintained various kinds of relationships.

In fact, there were some demons who established friendly ties, conducting trade and exchanges with humans or other races.

Still, compared to those hostile to humans, their numbers were quite small.

Especially for them to even come as far as the capital.

‘Hmm….’

I tried to recall further, but shook my head slightly.

Back then, I had been in no state to care, so I knew nothing more.

At that time in my past life, everyone had been in mourning and restraint due to the Dungeon Field Class tragedy.

With close to a hundred dead, no one had the composure to enjoy circuses or performances.

Moreover, I had shut myself in my room for quite a while from the shock of the incident, so much so that I only learned later that the demon merchant group had even visited at all.

‘Ah, so that’s why…….’

I could guess the reason Professor Shagas had excused himself, saying he had something to do.

He had always disliked demons, and since he was also involved in eliminating Cultists of the Evil God, he was likely preparing for contingencies.

‘Yuran also not being around lately is probably for a similar reason.’

As I thought that.

“So, what do you say, Lian? Want to go check it out this weekend?”

“I don’t mind.”

At Allen’s suggestion, the image of Cecilia briefly crossed my mind, and I asked him in return.

“Would it be okay if I brought one more person?”

“I don’t mind, as long as that person doesn’t find me bothersome.”

“Mm, she wouldn’t.”

Even as I said that, I was half doubtful whether she would actually come along.

“Unless she decides not to go because she feels uncomfortable, that is.”

“In that case, it’s fine.”

Allen nodded, his voice slightly excited.

“Demonic metallurgy and smithing are said to rival that of the dwarves. Especially since they specialize in forging weapons…… we might even get a look at blades crafted by them.”

“Indeed, demonic weapons are famous. Most of those unsettling things like cursed swords and such are made by demons, aren’t they.”

So it was, while chatting idly with him on the way to the dining hall.

“Oh, junior?”

“Senior?”

Before long, I unexpectedly ran into Lancia in the corridor.

She was holding various things in her arms, most notably a large basket.

“Wow, what a strange, surprising coincidence.”

Upon spotting me, Lancia greeted me with a bright smile.

Her words were a little stiff, but that was probably because she was tired from carrying things.

I too responded with a smile and asked her.

“Are you also on your way to eat, senior?”

“Oh, no. I’m delivering some things I was asked to carry.”

She tapped her chest lightly with her fist as she spoke.

“Believe it or not, the professors like me a lot, so I’m a bit busy.”

Grinning continuously, she suddenly remembered something and asked me with a startled expression.

“Come to think of it, I heard you were slightly injured in that incident…… are you all right now?”

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine now.”

“That’s really a relief. Ah, right!”

From her basket, she rummaged around and pulled something out to show me.

The basket was full of herbs and medicinal plants such as mugwort, lemon balm, and chamomile.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to take some mugwort or other herbs? I still have leftovers from the last time I gathered them. I preserved them well, so they’re in good condition. They’re good for applying on wounds, and also beneficial if brewed as tea.”

Her eyes sparkled too brightly for me to refuse.

I lowered my head slightly in thanks and answered.

“In that case, may I just take a little?”

“Hehe, here you go. Take as much as you’d like, junior.”

“Yes, thank you very much, senior.”

I picked a few bundles of herbs good for sleep and relaxation from her basket.

“You could take more if you want.”

“No, this is more than enough.”

“Is that so?”

Lancia laughed, then noticed Allen quietly standing beside me, and gave an awkward smile.

“Would you like some too, junior?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Oh, I see……. But it’s really fine if you take some.”

“No, really, I’m fine. I appreciate the thought, senior.”

Allen declined with a gentle but slightly awkward smile.

In turn, Lancia nodded her head a few times with the same awkward smile.

It was clear as day that both found it difficult to face each other.

“…Ah! Come to think of it, you said you were going to eat, right? I’ve been holding you up without realizing.”

As if she had suddenly remembered, she waved her hand lightly.

“Then I’ll get going now, junior. Take care of yourself, and I hope we can go out for volunteer work together again sometime.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to visit you later.”

With that, she waved broadly once more before leaving.

And a little while later.

I ran into her again in the lecture hall where Sister Roberta’s class was about to begin.

“Huh, eh?”

Upon spotting me, Lancia looked flustered, clearly not having expected this.

Honestly, I was just as embarrassed.

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