Chapter 73
The inner thoughts of minor villains are obvious. Aren’t they just trying to use me as a prop?
When the conversation runs out, they’ll say, “Sol, you’re from an orphanage, right? Could you tell us about it?” while treating me like a zoo monkey.
Ah, the development is so predictable.
……I could already see Pasta-head going, “How did you know that?!”
Just as I thought.
“Sigh…”
“What, you’re unhappy with my kindness?”
“That’s not kindness.”
“Hm?”
“You just want to use me as a sideshow, don’t you? You’ll tell me to show up in a school uniform while you all show up in dresses.”
“W–what, how did you…!”
Pasta-head clamped her hand over her mouth at her own slip. Too late though, I already caught on.
“Anyway, you’re short on people and you need an extra, right? Fine, I’ll help you.”
“…What?”
“I’ll wear the uniform and come, just like you want. Just tell me the date and place.”
“Wait—what’s your scheme?!”
“You’re one to talk.”
Guess she lost her conscience somewhere.
The girls started whispering among themselves. Bun-head shook her head hard like, “No way! She’s unreliable!” But that didn’t seem to be the majority opinion. Especially since their leader, Pasta, had that I’ll crush her underfoot look.
Soon, Pasta turned back to me.
“You may attend. Just make sure you wear something appropriate for your level, so people won’t mistake you as one of us.”
“When, where, and what event?”
“The day after tomorrow, in the Temple Knights’ training grounds. The young lords will be coming to learn sacred swordsmanship. Don’t scream like some country bumpkin.”
“Oh, the young lords and the Temple Knights are having a real sword fight?”
Pasta nearly jumped.
“It’s just training! Obviously not real combat!”
“Then why mention screaming? Schlägers wouldn’t be startled by a little training.”
“….”
“When I was ten, the Duke barged into the orphanage, broke down the door, drew his sword, and the first thing he cut was—”
“S–stop! See you the day after tomorrow!”
The ladies clapped their hands over their ears and ran away. It hadn’t even started yet. Well, thanks to that, the conversation wrapped up neatly.
Should I thank the Duke for this?
“Duke, thank you so much for setting such a fine example for minors.”
Still, aren’t they curious why I suddenly agreed to attend?
Well, soon enough they’ll realize Bun-head’s judgment was correct.
* * *
I wondered if Pasta had also invited Seraphina. She’s a noble too.
But Seraphina shook her head.
“I didn’t hear anything. I thought Pasta and I were good friends… Maybe she figured I’d be too busy.”
“…Friends? When was the last time you two chatted?”
“Last month, I think? Pasta forgot her prayer and was just moving her lips, so I helped her memorize it!”
“Wow, really. You are truly a good friend to Pasta.”
“Hehe, thanks for noticing! And it’s Pasté, not Pasta.”
Seraphina was completely serious to the end. She was like that in the original story too.
Protagonists who are only kind usually get cursed as frustrating. But Seraphina was that rare type whose goodness drove villains crazy.
Because of that, she got nicknames like Sweet Potato Mine, Anti-Tank Sweet Potato, Ballistic Sweet Potato…
By then, even the readers were like, “Fine, heroine, just help all the villains too!” and gave up.
And that was how Seraphina was loved. By every character in Rank 99. And by the readers who didn’t drop the story.
But not me.
Maybe that’s why I was dropped here—to meet the divine one’s favorite in person. To be forced to love the child who was impossible not to love.
“Sol? What’s with that face? Are you scared to go to the gathering alone?”
“No, it’s just… you’re pretty.”
“Thanks! Sol, you’re pretty too.”
Seraphina really is a good kid. With self-esteem high enough not to twist compliments, and kind enough to return them right away.
Maybe Pasta didn’t invite her because she didn’t want to be compared.
“Seraphina, you really don’t want to go?”
“On weekdays, I have the scripture-reading group. But tell me all about it afterward, okay?”
“Of course!”
It’s going to be pretty fun.
* * *
Finally, Wednesday came.
Almost ten noble boys and girls gathered in the training hall’s stands.
The girls were all dressed up beautifully. Their tiny floral muslin dresses blended perfectly with the spring atmosphere of the great temple.
The noble boys were no different, all dressed sharply. I don’t know much about men’s clothes, but even I could tell embroidered-name collars weren’t cheap.
The young lords kept brushing their hair back and sneaking glances at the ladies. The ladies pretended not to notice, fiddling with their handkerchiefs while showing off their graceful profiles.
…But wasn’t this supposed to be about learning swordsmanship? This felt more like a group blind date.
Even the Temple Knights who showed up didn’t seem all that serious about teaching.
“I’ll give a demonstration. If anyone wants to try holding a sword, just let me know.”
Like anyone will volunteer! You have to make them do it! Am I the only one here with standards?
While the instructor twirled his blade, the group gathering—excluding me—progressed smoothly. A young man who seemed like their leader exchanged greetings with Pasta.
“Lady Arsen, it’s been a while. Do you remember me?”
“Of course! It’s the first time since last autumn.”
“Honestly, I feared I might never see you again. Gruner Vant is like a palace fortress of a school. But I’m glad I came to the capital without giving up.”
“Fufu, it must have been your heart that brought us together again. Ah, could you introduce me to the others?”
After endless empty greetings, the other students who had been waiting awkwardly finally butted in with coughs.
Ugh, it feels like sitting between two blind-date tables during introductions.
Before I lost my appetite completely, I slipped off to the side. Whenever their conversations hit a lull, they’d awkwardly bring me up.
“Who’s that?”
“She’s a classmate. Recently adopted into a noble family, and we brought her along to teach her how to join in community activities.”
“Ahh, I see…”
So that’s why I was dragged here.
They looked me up and down, whispered among themselves, and burst into laughter. Clearly, some of it was mocking.
One lady did give me an apologetic glance, but it wasn’t much comfort.
The mood-maker among them was Pasta. If I want to move around this school freely, I’ll have to get rid of her.
Alright, what nonsense will you spout in ten seconds?
Ah, the development is so predi—
“What is this supposed to be? A circus, seniors?”
A loud male voice rang across the training grounds.
Startled, I looked up—and there he was. Carrying a huge sword, walking in, was a Temple Knight: big brother Eugene. His sheer size and voice pulled everyone’s attention.
The senior knight looked flustered.
“Circus?! I—I told you, it’s a demonstration of sacred swordsmanship for the noble visitors!”
“As I recall, it was supposed to be a lesson, wasn’t it? Besides, they’re not even watching—they’re just chatting among themselves.”
“H–hey! Ignatz!”
The nobles’ faces stiffened instantly at the blunt words. Some even glared at him openly. But Eugene wasn’t the type to cower.
His body was Ignatz Schläger—the man who abandoned “that Duke Schläger” and ran away.
But his soul was my brother Eugene. A man from a world without nobles, who especially hated arrogance.
Eugene smirked.
“Now I’ve got your attention. So, gentlemen—what did you come here for today?”
“…”
“If it was just to meet girls, I’ll step aside.”
When he openly mocked them, the young lords finally opened their mouths one by one.
“We came to learn about the Temple Knights’ ‘swordsmanship to protect people.’”
“That’s what I thought. Hmm… You dressed comfortably for it, right? You can actually swing a sword?”
“Do you take us for dolls who can’t even hold one?!”
“Well, your shirts are just as pretty as dolls’.”
At that, the senior knight patted Eugene on the shoulder, probably meaning that’s enough.
Eugene frowned but barely restrained himself and drew his sword.
“Let’s assume a 2-on-1 street fight scenario. The lady I’ll be protecting is this senior here. She’s not believable, but just play along.”
“Hey!”
That joke actually made the nobles laugh. Eugene then drew his sword with an exaggeratedly serious expression.
With the mood a little lighter, his blade began to move—
“…Wow.”
The nobles couldn’t help but gasp.
Even to my untrained eyes, his skill was incredible. The sword moved as lightly as grass fluff, yet the wind it stirred was sharp. Dust flew everywhere.
Two against one, he said? Already one imaginary opponent was down, while the other’s strike had been blocked…
The boys clenched their fists, some even pretending to swing an invisible blade. Eugene might just get them to actually train today.
As I watched, strangely excited myself, someone sat down next to me.
I thought it was another girl, or maybe a boy with odd taste.
“Hi, Sol.”
…That voice. Familiar—no, I shouldn’t call it that. It’s been six years. But the cheerfulness that even puberty couldn’t erase was unmistakable.
The blond boy who came to my side—
“Long time no see.”
“…Kai?”
“Yeah!”
Kai grabbed my hand tightly. His beautiful face was full of a bright smile.
“You remembered me! Even by my nickname!”
“N–no, I mean… you introduced yourself as Kai from the start. But more importantly…”
Why are you here? No—before that.
“Your eye… what happened?”
The green eye looking at me was still as lovely as summer leaves. But only the left one. His right was hidden beneath a black eyepatch, with a vertical scar running above and below it.
Had he been attacked by some villain?
My gaze went straight to the eyepatch, but Kai didn’t flinch. He even smiled, like it was amusing.
“Stuff happened. Want me to show you?”
“N–no!”
Honestly, it wasn’t even the eye that shocked me the most. The real question was—
Kai, are you really the same as in the original? Why did you come up to the capital so early? What are you doing here?
Even while I was caught in my thoughts, Kai didn’t stop. He held my hand tighter, and then—wait, was he about to kiss the back of it…?
