BSS 22

Chapter 22

After leaving Dmitri, we arrived at Hailan’s outer city and, for the first time, stayed at an inn. We were assigned rooms and finally had a somewhat richer meal.

The kids were excited that they could finally sleep in beds, and I felt the same. They shared rooms in pairs. Everyone but me.

“Am I some kind of monster?”

The girl assigned to share a room with me threw a fit, insisting she would never stay with Jini Crowell, so I ended up having the room to myself.

Damn it. A two-person room alone isn’t bad at all—spacious and nice.

[Cheer up, Master! I’m here for you.]

“Who asked for your comfort?”

[But you’re being left out…]

“Shut up! I said shut up! I hate kids!”

[Master, you…]

I could crush him.

Gritting my teeth and glaring, Rai fell silent.

Rai was usually the one I trained my fighting spirit against. He always had a way of getting under my skin like this.

“Don’t give me comfort I didn’t ask for! Got it?”

[Yes…]

“Annoying. Seriously.”

Just feeling left out by kids and having my temper flare like this… back when I was only at the academy, having no friends wasn’t a big deal. But outside school, it was obvious.

I hadn’t expected the consequences of being alone to hit me this hard. Still, I had no intention of ingratiating myself with these kids just to get along. My pride wouldn’t allow it.

I sat alone in the two-person room, trying to convince myself how much I enjoyed being by myself.

But it didn’t really help.

Being alone by choice and being alone because others rejected you are two completely different things.

Why is a two-person room unnecessarily so big? A single-person room would be fine. There wasn’t an empty one, though—what a crappy setup.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up.

“Let’s go, Rai.”

Sitting here stewing in annoyance would only waste my elegant temperament. I was already well-rested, it was still daytime, and thinking back, it was my first time leaving Dmitri.

Might as well take the chance to explore the town.

My room was on the third floor, and the teachers’ rooms were on the second.

On the first floor were the reception and dining hall, and I got caught mid-pass while passing the second floor.

“Where do you think you’re going, Jini Crowell?”

What an irritating voice.

The one who grabbed me was one of the two teachers assigned as guides to the delegation, a combat class teacher.

He seemed openly hostile toward me, probably because of Leo. Very immature.

“I just wanted to look around the market.”

“Who gave you permission for that?”

“…Is it not allowed?”

“Of course not. You have no idea how dangerous the world is. A child wandering alone in an unfamiliar town? Absolutely not. I have a duty to ensure your safety. Go back to your room immediately and behave…”

“Teacher Dinel.”

The combat teacher, about to issue a sarcastic prohibition, fell silent when Economics teacher Irito appeared.

I realized it was the first time I’d learned his name was Dinel. He and Irito apparently knew each other already.

“Am I mistaken? I thought students could go out if accompanied by one knight each.”

“Ah… hmm. Was that so?”

“Yes. The combat students got excited and went out as soon as they arrived. Must be their strong stamina.”

Irito wore glasses, rare for this place, giving her an intellectual scholar-like aura. Her speech and behavior were elegant. Personally, one of my favorite teachers.

“Oh, I must have forgotten! You want to go out, Jini?”

Dinel, trying to act friendly and casual after being corrected, wasn’t really appealing to me. Judging by his flushed face and rolling eyes, maybe he liked Irito…

“Jini, I heard you’re staying alone in your room.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If you like, you could come to my room—I’m staying alone too.”

Dinel clearly liked Irito. I couldn’t help but envy him being invited to her room.

“No, thank you. I like being alone.”

“Very well. If you need help, just let me know.”

“So, I just need one knight to accompany me when I go out?”

“Yes, for safety. The outer town isn’t very secure. Go to the first-floor dining hall, the knight commander will be there, just inform him.”

Truly, a kind and beautiful teacher is the best.

I looked up at Irito, smiling gently, then, deliberately, moved closer to nestle into her embrace.

“Thank you, teacher! You’re so kind. I’m so sad because the delegation kids dislike me.”

“Oh my… they’re all just misunderstanding. You’re a good student, Jini. Are you really okay staying alone?”

“If I get lonely, can I come see you? At night.”

“Of course.”

What a kind person. I hugged Irito tightly, smiling at Dinel. Emphasizing the word “night,” I rubbed my face freely between her soft chest and stomach.

Dinel’s expression twisted with displeasure, but I was completely satisfied. Being a child had its advantages.

Jealous, huh? You’re jealous.

I smirked, and Dinel looked utterly annoyed.

Coming down to the dining hall, I saw fully armored knights even indoors. Having seen them every day, I now recognized most of them, and finding the commander wasn’t hard. Just find the most ostentatious one.

“There he is.”

[Master, that knight’s sword…]

[No.]

Is he possessed? He wanted to absorb every fancy sword he saw. Who would think he was starving?

The knight commander, sitting in the best spot in the dining hall, was reading a book, though obviously just for show. Evidence: as I approached, he closed it with a bored expression.

I glanced at the book title and nodded knowingly:

“1,253 Ways to Train Arrogant Subordinates”

Where did that number even come from?

“What is it?”

Being the commander, he spoke to me casually. Other knights always used honorifics.

“I want to go out. Teacher said to check with you, commander.”

“Hmm.”

He seemed high-handed, scolding people constantly. Maybe the knights’ hierarchy was always strict.

“What class are you in?”

“Why do you need to know for going out?”

“Answer my question first.”

“…Spirit class.”

“Spirit? Ah, you’re that one.”

He seemed to sneer at me openly, just like Dinel. Another type who didn’t like me.

“In that case, I’ll assign two knights specially.”

“Two? One is enough.”

“Spirit students are fragile. You’ll silently thank my kindness. Hey, fetch them.”

“Annoying.”

Knights who wield swords often look down on spirit users. Annoying. Spirit users aren’t weak! Well… Water Ball is admittedly weak… Ugh.

“What did you just say?”

“Me?”

“I’m pretty sure you said ‘annoying.’”

“Annoying? I didn’t say that. Why would I find the commander annoying? He’s not!”

“…Enough. Don’t treat adults like fools!”

Did I overdo it? Ugh, he’s an enemy. Still, he is annoying. I hate high-handed people; I can’t stand them.

“But it seems you can’t act your age.”

“No words you can’t say. Arrogant.”

“I am rather smart, right?”

A fool. If I weren’t a child, I might’ve been hit.

If I were his subordinate, he’d probably give me a strict lesson. But I’m a young student, a noble, and specially observed by the king.

The commander could only glare; he couldn’t act otherwise.

Even just having a serious stare-down with a ten-year-old showed he was immature.

While this weird tension continued, three knights approached.

“Commander, we’ve brought her.”

“Hmph. Hansen, Philo? Greet her. This lady is going out.”

Knights are supposed to respect ladies. This commander clearly lacked basic manners! I am a lady, after all.

“Greetings, I’m Hansen of the Fifth Knight Squadron.”

“I’m Philo of the Fifth Knight Squadron.”

Ah, that explains the commander’s proud smile—the knights sent were commoners.

It was obvious from the names, and having commoner knights as escorts was considered humiliating for some. The higher the lady’s status, the more shameful.

“Ah.”

“If you dislike commoner knights, I suggest skipping the outing. Only they are suitable for the Spirit class.”

What surprised me wasn’t that they brought commoner knights, but that I recognized them.

A timid redhead and brown-haired knight—these were the ones I had given water to before.

Seeing familiar faces was a bit comforting. They recognized me too, eyes wide.

Meeting certain knights often made me think there might be a connection.