Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“So buy me food!”

But since Demona made such a demand so confidently, Roan couldn’t help but glare at him instinctively.

‘Come to think of it, this fellow asked me to pay his fine first earlier, didn’t he?’

Although he hesitated for a moment, he nodded again.

‘Still, this class would have been quite troublesome if not for Demona.’

Even though he had been prepared to use his Talents on Uli if necessary, things became much easier thanks to Demona.

Besides, gold coins were quite a large sum of money, though it didn’t feel like it because Demona spent them like water.

‘Since one gold coin is 100 Talents…’

Of course, this exchange rate differed depending on whether one was inside or outside Acherandir.

In any case, it meant he needed to reward Demona in his own way.

“Fine. I will take care of your meals for a few days.”

“Really? Awesome~”

Demona was overjoyed by Roan’s generous decision.

“Leave Professor Uli’s classes to me from now on!”

With that, he snorted heavily and bounded out of the lecture room.

‘It would have turned out that way even if I didn’t say so.’

Roan stared at Demona’s retreating back with slightly sympathetic eyes.

Wringing Talents out of Professor Uli was no easy task.

As much as she valued money, one had to pay the corresponding price in labor.

‘Well, there’s no need to tell him that right now.’

Meanwhile, Hector, who had finished preparing to leave before he knew it, spoke.

“I have some business, so I will head out first.”

Seeing him cradling the Thousand Eye-socket Serpent egg tightly in his arms, it seemed he was truly planning to visit Professor Vulcan.

‘It’s not like Professor Vulcan will buy it for him.’

Vulcan was also a fellow who was crazy about the Holy War, after all.

He wouldn’t show much interest in a Thousand Eye-socket Serpent that couldn’t even compete in the Holy War.

He would probably just tell him to raise it well and offer a few tips.

Or rather, it would be a relief if he didn’t tease Hector.

“Hector looks pale. Did something happen? He is limping, too.”

Lafia asked.

Roan shook his head.

“He fell off a cliff. Multiple times.”

“Uh, really…? Then what about that egg?”

“He found it while doing so.”

“””???”””

Lafia and Riel tilted their heads at the incomprehensible explanation.

Was he heading to the infirmary, then?

“It’s nothing, so let’s go eat.”

“A-All right.”

Lafia and Riel were slightly puzzled, but they did not think deeply.

They had already reached a stage where they instinctively believed Roan whenever he claimed it was nothing.

Meanwhile, Sion, who was still left in the lecture hall, saw the three preparing to leave and tried to follow them stealthily.

‘Well, we’ve already eaten together several times anyway!’

Of course, contrary to Sion’s thoughts, it was only once, and Roan had been excluded back then.

Such details weren’t particularly important.

The other students kept their distance consciously or unconsciously because she was a Saintess candidate,

and only Roan’s friends had treated her without such formality.

…Even though their personalities were eccentric and a bit awkward, that alone was fine.

In any case, it was a bit awkward to ask them to eat together outright, so wouldn’t it work if she pretended to enter the same restaurant by chance?

Let’s use this opportunity to clear up the misunderstandings with Roan, with whom she had only shared unfortunate ill-fated relationships, and get along!

Sion, as a Saintess candidate who had to embrace all people, generously decided to approach first.

The Super Holy Power Source Roan had created during class was a great conversation starter.

While she was making such plans in her mind, Roan and his friends were already right on the verge of leaving the lecture hall.

“Ah… Wait—”

Sion reflexively tried to hold them back, but there was no need.

Suddenly—

It was because someone appeared at the back door of the lecture hall—right in front of Roan’s nose—as if they had been waiting.

“Hello~!”

Recognizing the person, Roan’s and Sion’s eyes widened.

Why was that person suddenly here?

“Kyaa! …Uh?”

Lafia, who was startled by the sudden appearance, also soon recognized who the person was.

“S-Saintess Yushina?!”

She was indeed Yushina.

Yushina asked Lafia with a breathtaking smile.

“Oh~ Do you know who I am, junior?”

“O-Of course! I read many magazines featuring you, Saintess… Though I couldn’t get many because my territory is in the countryside…”

Lafia spoke hesitantly, blushing like a girl who had met her favorite idol.

Indeed, to Lafia, who grew up with commoners in a rural estate, the commoner-born Saintess Yushina was no different from an idol.

Yushina took Lafia’s hand and nodded.

“Thank you~ You were a fan of mine. What is your name, junior?”

“I-I am Lafia Kedan!”

Lafia was startled to the point of losing her breath.

However, she soon straightened her posture like a holy knight and replied.

It was only because Yushina treated her without any formality; originally, holy knights had an obligation to remain loyal to Saintesses, Saints, and the Holy Emperor.

Riel also froze stiffly beside Lafia.

Her already cold impression now seemed at a level that could freeze even sweat!

“And… the friend beside you?”

Even Yushina could be seen flinching slightly upon seeing Riel’s face.

“RielHeilicSaintessHonor.”

“Uh, what?”

No matter if she was a Saintess, understanding Riel’s words, especially when she was extremely tense, was beyond her capability.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen Yushina look that flustered.’

Roan, who stood beside them, spoke in her stead.

“That friend is Riel Heilic. She says it’s an honor to meet the Saintess.”

“Gasp! Roan, what kind of tone is that to use with the Saintess!”

Lafia scolded Roan in horror.

No matter if Roan was the descendant of a great family, speaking informally to the Saintess out of nowhere was unacceptable.

However, Yushina placed her hand on Roan’s shoulder first and shook her head.

“No, no, Roan and I are close~ Right?”

Roan nodded.

If closeness was measured by knowledge, they were indeed close.

Since Roan probably knew more about her than Yushina’s closest friend did.

“More importantly, Lafia, Riel. I’m sorry, but could you give us some space? I have something to say to Roan, and oh, Sion is right over there too. I have something to say to Sion, too.”

“Pardon?!”

Lafia seemed even more shocked than when Roan had created something similar to a Super Holy Power Source.

She then stared at Roan with eyes full of jealousy.

“You… You, when did you and the Saintess…”

But she soon left the place with Riel to comply with the Saintess’s request.

“Be sure to tell me what happened later!”

Leaving those words behind.

“Tell her what…”

Roan shook his head.

Encountering the Saintess continuously was a highly uncomfortable matter.

“Sion, you come here too~”

Yushina gestured to Sion, who had been watching this side blankly from inside the lecture hall.

She hesitated before approaching the two.

Yushina grabbed the hands of Roan and Sion, then spoke with a dazzling smile.

“Let’s eat together! What do you think? Sounds good?”

“…Sure.”

“Yes…”

Roan and Sion nodded reluctantly.

‘I didn’t wish for us to get close so proactively!’

Sion was flustered by suddenly being grouped with Roan,

‘A Saintess and a Saintess candidate…’

and Roan felt as if his saliva wouldn’t go down easily due to the highly uncomfortable combination.

***

“Hello, Saintess!”

“Yes, hello~ Enjoy your lunch, everyone.”

Walking through the school with Yushina was an incredible experience for a freshman.

Regardless of their year, everyone offered greetings happily.

Even professors showed her their own form of respect.

For the position of candidate for the Holy Emperor, there were three Saints and three Saintesses.

However, there were currently only two Saintesses, and of them, Yushina was the only one in Acherandir.

In another fantasy setting, she could be considered an imperial princess who received the abundant love of all people.

Meanwhile, Sion, who was a Saintess candidate but unfamiliar with this kind of atmosphere,

‘This is t-too awkward!’

screamed inwardly and broke out in cold sweat.

She too had met Yushina a few times.

When she stayed at the Holy See, Yushina would visit, asking if she was lonely, and converse with her for a long time.

Living in a foreign country without knowing anyone and constantly walking on eggshells, she of course felt grateful, but.

‘Still, we are competitors…’

Sion’s desolate childhood made Yushina’s unconditional kindness feel burdensome.

Ultimately, wouldn’t only one of the six Saints and Saintesses become the Holy Emperor?

For that reason, Sion had neither pushed Yushina away nor accepted her yet.

Although Yushina did not seem to mind particularly.

Sion, unable to find a place to look, glanced at Roan on the opposite side.

‘What is Darc’s relationship with the Saintess?’

Seeing them even talk informally to each other, they seemed quite close, but she couldn’t guess the reason at all.

Even now, Roan’s characteristic gloomy face, with his inscrutable inner thoughts, remained unchanged.

He walked casually, as if the ones beside him were two scarecrows rather than the Saintess and a Saintess candidate.

Naturally, he didn’t spare a single glance to the people approaching.

‘Truly… an incomprehensible person.’

How deep must the wounds of his childhood be.

Setting aside herself, how could he show no reaction like that with Yushina right beside him!

Even as a woman, she felt her breath catch occasionally whenever their eyes met.

As Sion felt such a complex mix of emotions while looking at Roan.

‘Why did she call me out of the blue?’

Roan was also pondering in his own way.

Unlike at first, he didn’t particularly worry about being caught.

Doubtless, unless it was a matter related to black magic, he couldn’t think of why Yushina would call him separately.

‘Ah. Though, if it’s together with Sion, it must be because of that.’

But he soon found the answer to that as well.

Indeed, at this time, there was only that matter.

After figuring out the reason, he simply walked in a state of empty-mindedness.

‘That Demona fellow, I said I would buy him food.’

A brief thought of Demona, who had run off first, crossed his mind, but it was literally just for a split second.

The Saintess called, so what did Demona matter.

He would whine later, but it was clear he would cool down quickly.

“Now~ Arrived!”

When Yushina, who was walking while exchanging greetings with everyone, finally stopped in front of a building.

—Blue Lake—

To compare it to Earth, this place was like a brunch cafe.

Rather than a formal restaurant, it was a place that served various beverages and simple food.

Roan asked, puzzled.

“Why not go to that place?”

He had assumed they would go to the Gray Whale Restaurant.

“Hm? Ah~”

Yushina tilted her head once, but soon giggled, trying to look ‘somewhat’ gloomy, as she replied.

“If there are too many people, it’s a loss.”

“Hmm.”

Roan nodded as if that alone was enough for him to understand.

Sion dropped her jaw.

‘They already have a restaurant they frequent together?!?’

This was truly unexpected.

She thought he only hung out with Demona and Hector every day, but when had he enjoyed such trysts with the Saintess.

Sion’s mind spun rapidly.

And then, she asked carefully.

“Um… what kind of relation do you have with Darc…?”

“Ah~ We are—”

Yushina tried to reply with a broad smile, but Roan cut her off.

“We met for the first time yesterday.”

“???”

Sion’s eyes widened.

The first time yesterday?

Roan walked ahead casually, and Yushina added to his words.

“No, it’s just that Roan is quite shy. We played together a lot when we were young!”

“Ah…”

Sion nodded as if she finally understood.

“Then let’s go inside!”

Yushina entered the cafe cheerfully.

Only then did Sion feel something strange about Yushina’s reply.

‘Who is what now???’