Chapter 158

Chapter 158

An accompanying professor referred to a professor who went out with the students for external volunteer service.

“Yes, I know.”

After receiving a brief briefing, Roan began to examine the request forms tightly pasted on one side of the wall’s bulletin board.

‘There is no need to worry about the accompanying professor’s evaluation, so as long as the destination matches, it is fine.’

He had beaten Pierrebo and his subordinate black mages into a pulp, saved a dying person, and even used Divine Words that even professors who had attended lectures for over a decade could not use.

If he were to receive a failing grade on his evaluation, nothing would be more unfair than that.

…Although a few of those were things Roan had not wanted to do.

‘Since I’ve drawn so much attention, I should at least gain something from it.’

In the very unlikely event that the accompanying professor was Uli, he might block Roan from going out, telling him to just earn money instead.

However, since the final approval for external volunteer service was Harden’s job, he could put that worry to rest.

In the first place, Uli was too busy making money to even apply for tedious tasks like being an accompanying professor.

With those thoughts in mind, just as Roan was about to slowly look over the requests.

[Master, it seems that person really didn’t follow us.]

Bel nudged him slightly.

Indeed, looking to the side, Yusina was looking at the requests standing at the complete opposite end of the bulletin board, as if she had no interest in Roan at all.

‘We don’t know that yet.’

Roan did not let his guard down completely.

Fortunately, he was able to find a request that perfectly met Roan’s criteria in no time.

“Oh.”

In truth, Roan’s criteria were not that strict either.

Gilsburg, the base city near Akerandir where the Corrupted Holy Emblem was located, was a place they had to pass through anyway.

And the Balance of Light and Dark was just a little further northeast from there.

‘Paladin Merchant Group escort, up to the Edinker Campsite.’

The Edinker Campsite was a rest point for merchant groups and adventurers located northeast of Gilsburg.

It was just a little further from the spot where the Corrupted Holy Emblem was, making it a perfect fit.

Moreover, merchant group escorts had their own charm.

—Reward: 200 dalants—

At a glance, merchant group escorts seemed to have relatively low pay, but this was strictly the official amount.

‘Since once a merchant group escort mission is completed, it is customary for the merchant group to provide additional rewards separately.’

Most merchant groups wanted to build connections with Akerandir students who would later become influential figures of the Empire, so they tended to provide something extra.

Conversely, there was no harm in the students getting acquainted with such merchant groups either.

In fact, if not for those secondary purposes, they wouldn’t have bothered requesting an escort near Akerandir, the sacred land of the Empire, in the first place.

Furthermore, if it was the Paladin Merchant Group, it was a fairly large place, so the risk factors were particularly low.

—Expected Risk: ★—

The single star written below the rough details of the mission proved it.

Tap—

Roan tore off the request form and headed to the reception desk.

—Hmm, you chose a good request for a freshman.

The reception clerk nodded with a satisfied smile.

—However, as I mentioned earlier, applications for freshmen may be canceled. Could you write your name here? …Roan Darc?!

Then, seeing Roan’s name, he gasped in surprise.

“Is there a problem?”

When Roan asked in confusion, the clerk shook his head.

—A-Ah, no. I just thought that fortunately, there’s no way it will be canceled.

‘Just how on earth did the rumors spread…’

Even if the students or professors belonged to the immediate community, so be it.

But wasn’t it a bit strange that even a clerk had heard rumors about him?

The fact that he seemed somewhat terrified suggested that they were probably not good rumors.

Just as Roan completed the application and was about to head back.

The clerk looked behind Roan and asked.

—Would the Saintess like to apply as well?

“Yes, I’ll do the same one as Roan.”

“…?”

Standing there before he knew it was Yusina, smiling brightly.

Roan asked Bel.

‘Even after this, you still say she didn’t follow us?’

Bel replied in a small voice.

[She definitely followed us…]

In any case, Yusina proudly stated she would take on the same request as Roan.

Roan let out a small sigh and said,

“You were planning to take on this request from the beginning, right?”

“Oh! Roan, how did you know? By any chance, did you follow me?”

He hadn’t expected much at this point anyway.

Roan asked again.

“Where is the request for?”

“That… Um… You see…”

Yusina hesitated, then craned her neck and strained to peek at the request form held in the clerk’s hand.

Of course, since there was quite a distance, there was no way she could see it.

‘You should have received Harden’s light more often.’

If it were Roan, whose eyesight had improved considerably thanks to Harden, it might have been possible.

Roan sighed a bit louder.

“This is a merchant group escort mission. If you’re thinking of covering your fine, there are many requests with much better pay.”

Considering how she had tried to steal clubroom supplies last time, it seemed true that she was short on cash, so this was the best way to persuade her.

However, Yusina giggled and shook her head.

“No, I like merchant group escorts, so it’s fine? We really are on the same page~”

It seemed she had absolutely no intention of changing her mind.

Indeed, as Yusina was a fourth-year, she would know more than enough about the hidden secrets of merchant group escort missions.

‘I shouldn’t have come with her from the start.’

Roan slightly regretted his complacency.

If he met Yusina on the street, he should have expected her to cling to him!

Just thinking about being in the same carriage as this Saintess for the entire weekend made him feel dizzy already.

While for other Akerandir students, excluding Roan, it might be a dream-like trip.

‘For me, that dream is a nightmare…’

Roan made up his mind to hold out without using magic as much as possible, no matter what happened.

Meanwhile, the clerk who had been watching the two of them smiled warmly and chimed in.

—The Saintess is truly kind. He must be a close junior, right? It’s good to see.

“Yes, that’s right~”

Furthermore, Roan’s image had improved quite a bit.

Seeing someone of Yusina’s standing act so friendly, it seemed Roan was not as dangerous a person as the rumors suggested.

‘As expected, kids judge people just by their looks.’

Thinking that he himself had been swept up in such prejudice, the clerk smiled to hide his embarrassment.

However.

Goooooo—

“…?”

The moment he met Roan’s gaze, which looked as if he wanted to kill him, he had no choice but to quickly change his mind.

‘Y-You really could judge them just by their looks!’

It was a relief he didn’t raise his black mana because Yusina was beside him; otherwise, his legs would have given out without a doubt.

“We are not close.”

“Haha, why say that, close junior~”

Roan, who looked as if he would cause a bloodbath at any moment, and the beautiful Yusina, smiling innocently beside him.

The clerk nodded, feeling cognitive dissonance.

—I-I see. At any rate, both of you have been registered.

“Yes, then.”

Just as Roan turned around to leave the office.

Creak—

Someone opened the door and entered.

A freshman with the same yellow accent as Roan.

“…Darc?”

It was Sion.

Roan and Sion froze in their respective postures, observing each other for a moment.

‘Why is she here?’

It was a meeting they had not expected at all.

Right then, Yusina gestured to Sion and spoke.

“Oh, Sion! You found the way well?”

“Ah, yes, yes! Saintess. I was a bit late. I am sorry.”

Sion looked tired, as if she had gotten lost for quite a while.

…Actually, even that was a very good job of finding the way for a freshman.

“No~ Roan and I also just arrived.”

Thud—!

Hearing Yusina’s words, Sion turned to Roan with a shocked expression.

He said he had something to do, but was it a promise to meet Yusina?

‘Our situations are basically the same, so why is she shocked?’

Especially since Roan had met her by chance, while Sion had actually made an appointment.

Roan clicked his tongue.

“W-Why!”

“Nothing.”

“Sion, come quick! You can apply for this!”

Flapping—

What was held in Yusina’s hand was the Paladin Merchant Group request form.

In other words, the same as Roan’s.

“Ah, yes!”

Sion ran over and finished her application.

—You are Saintess Candidate Sion, correct? It seems we won’t have to worry about this request.

The freshman of the storm, the Saintess, and even the Saintess candidate.

The clerk seemed slightly surprised by the luxurious members who wouldn’t easily gather even if one tried.

Although two of them were freshmen, at this rate, no matter who the accompanying professor was, they wouldn’t cancel the application.

“Heh, you know it’s all thanks to my name value, right?”

“You’re amazing!”

Yusina folded her arms, closed her eyes slightly, and bragged with her nose held high.

Sion, who did not know the context, played along as if she thought it was indeed the case.

With that, Yusina’s shoulders rose even higher in pride.

“Since I helped you out specially this time, buy me food~”

“…If I have time.”

“You can buy it today!”

Although he didn’t particularly want to buy her food, Roan nodded for now.

Refusing would definitely result in her bothering him all day.

‘If it’s a professor in charge of high-year students, they won’t be able to ignore Yusina’s name value.’

It was because her role did indeed exist in reality.

“By the way, weren’t you planning to go out with just Sion?”

Roan asked as they left Cayler Hall.

“Huh? Didn’t Saintess Yusina call you, Darc?”

At that, Sion asked back in surprise instead.

Roan shook his head.

Seeing that, Yusina wore a sly smile.

“What is it~ Are you jealous because I only called Sion?”

“…What jealousy.”

Roan denied it while glaring at Yusina.

In the first place, he had intended to go out alone if possible, but now two people had attached themselves to him.

…But regardless of that, thinking that Yusina hadn’t said a word to him made him feel a little disappointed deep down.

Yusina clasp her hands behind her head and said,

“Well~ I didn’t say anything because it was obvious Roan would find his way on his own. And you actually did, right?”

“…I suppose so.”

There was no way to verify if it was true, but even so, Yusina, being a Saintess, rarely lied.

Even if she hid information in a way close to lying.

“Keke.”

Yusina laughed mischievously as if everything was according to her plan.

“Stop laughing.”

“Puhahahaha~!”

Yusina laughed, now completely covering her mouth.

Only when Roan stopped walking and glared at her in earnest did she wipe away the tear slipping down the corner of her eye and stop laughing.

Realizing Roan’s atmosphere was unusual, Sion hurriedly changed the subject.

“M-More importantly! Are only the three of us going?”

“…Probably.”

Roan nodded.

Since he had torn the request form off the bulletin board, no one else would join.

However, Yusina, who had completely stopped laughing, asked stealthily.

“Why, are you worried?”

“Yes… After all, even though Darc and the Saintess are together…”

Since it was her first external volunteer service, Sion seemed to be worried.

‘…Are freshmen usually like that?’

Looking at Sion, Roan wondered if he was behaving too naturally.

It was a rather late realization.

“I see. Actually, I am also a bit worried.”

Words spoken out of a desire to act like a freshman to some extent.

“Eeeeh? Roan, did you eat something wrong today?”

“Darc? Why?”

At that, Yusina and Sion responded in unison, widening their eyes as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have.

“…Never mind.”

It seemed he had made a useless effort.

[Do not worry! I am here!]

Unaware of Roan’s feelings, Bel bragged proudly, puffing out his chest.

…It was not particularly reassuring.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much. I’ll also ask someone I know.”

“Ah, really?”

At Yusina’s mention of recruiting one more person, Sion let out a sigh of relief.

‘A Sanctuary member?’

Roan also harbored a slight sense of expectation.

In fact, Yusina sometimes took other Sanctuary members along when going out for external volunteer work.

Since Sanctuary members were hard to meet, this was one of the easiest ways to get acquainted.

…Although he wondered if it was normal to get acquainted with fellow club members in such a way.

“Then! You guys don’t have to worry, just bring yourselves~”

Yusina said confidently, snorting.

“Alright, I’m in a good mood! Since we are going out for external volunteering tomorrow, senior will treat you!”

She then walked triumphantly toward the commercial district, raising one index finger to the sky.

Until Roan’s pathetic voice spoke out.

“You said you have to pay off your fine.”

“A fine? The Saintess?”

“…”

Freeze—

Yusina, who stopped dead in her tracks, slowly turned her head.

Her frozen smile was incredibly awkward.

“T-Today only, let’s have Roan buy…”

[She really seems like a strange person.]

Chirp—

Bel and Charlotte, who had been watching that, shook their heads at the same time.