HTRTO 12

Chapter 12

Let’s Build Trust

By some twist of fate, Nigel’s group had grown to three as they walked together to the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was being held.

“…?!”

On the way, Nigel glared at the golden dragon statue as if it were an enemy. Noticing this, Allen barely suppressed a laugh, while Noah looked back and forth at the two of them, completely baffled.

“Ah, Miss Nigel and Master Noah, please take the seats at the very front. Noah on the far left, Nigel in the center,”

an usher standing at the entrance of the auditorium said to the group.

“And me?”

Allen’s eyes sparkled as he asked.

“You, Master Allen, may sit anywhere you like in the Magic Department section.”

“Yay… It’s nice that the two of them can sit together. See you later, Nigel, Noah.”

Allen slouched his shoulders and lazily waved his hand before walking toward the Magic Department seats. But the moment he met his fellow students, he suddenly perked up and greeted them warmly.

“Huh…”

Nigel and Noah watched this with disbelief, then took their seats at the front.

Someone had mentioned at yesterday’s party that of the three seats, the top student sat in the center, and the others on either side.

It was amusing to think that all the painstaking effort they had put in during their spare time had only earned them the center seat, but sitting there actually felt surprisingly nice.

Even if there was a life-risking bundle of homework sitting next to him.

After much deliberation yesterday, Nigel had come to a conclusion.

For the next year and a half, until the monsters attacked, no matter what it took, he would raise Noah in Sienia to be as capable as in the original story.

And once Noah was properly trained, he would hand him over to the heroine as in the original.

Nigel still had no intention of interfering in the original story, but in a life-or-death situation, this would be an exception.

Knowing the original story was a huge help in achieving his goal.

From yesterday’s events, Nigel had identified a method by which Noah could grow rapidly in a short period. There was even a concrete experimental method that could be applied immediately.

The only problem was that this experiment, if suggested without a solid foundation of trust and a certain level of intimacy, would make Nigel look like a madman.

“Step one of the plan: build trust with Noah Besselion quickly.”

This morning, Nigel had intended to start building that trust right away.

“Are you feeling well?”

But Noah beat him to it.

Because of yesterday’s pitiful behavior, Noah had taken Nigel for a fragile lady.

Nigel immediately wanted to prove otherwise, to demonstrate his physical strength—no, he had to prove it.

“Ah…”

No, that wasn’t right.

Trust. He had to build trust with him.

“…Thanks to you.”

Noah smiled gently at those words.

“Patience pays off!”

A refreshing green light of approval.

“I’m relieved. Ah, in Sienia, the royal magicians regularly install and check protective wards, so you don’t need to worry about incidents like yesterday.”

I know that…

Just as Nigel reflexively opened his mouth to speak, he managed to clamp his hand over it.

Trust. Trust was important.

“…I see.”

As Nigel and Noah engaged in their slow, measured conversation, someone plopped down into the empty seat beside them.

A dark-blond boy whose expression screamed, I’m a noble, had appeared.

The moment he sat, he crossed his legs gracefully and folded his arms.

“Really… the posture matches his face to the letter.”

Nigel observed the boy.

The boy turned sharply and met Nigel’s gaze directly. Nigel met it without blinking.

“What house does your lady belong to? I’ve never heard of the surname ‘As’.”

Goodness… not only the face, but even the dialogue fit the stereotype of a noble to perfection.

The sudden appearance of the male lead, Allen’s endless chatter, the abrupt imperial-level responsibilities—everything that had tested Nigel’s patience was now on the verge of collapsing it with a single arrogant remark.

The one thing that truly made Nigel sensitive, unlike usual, was family.

And here was a brash boy, not even introducing himself, already questioning the household. This was unbelievable!

Even the youngest in the orphanage knew basic things like this without needing to be told.

“…Stay calm. Next to Noah Besselion. Build trust, build trust.”

Nigel clenched his fists and spoke.

“This is a castle I built.”

Even though he controlled his words, his body mimicked the boy’s posture: legs crossed, arms folded.

The boy’s expression softened. He slowly rubbed the corner of his mouth.

“…I’ve heard of houses that give separate castles due to inheritance issues… but I’ve never seen it up close.”

He looked more relaxed than before. A hint of sympathy could be detected on his face.

Nigel, however, was losing his mind over his ignorance—this boy didn’t even know Nigel’s name and was judging his castle based solely on his assumption that all students in Sienia were nobles.

“Well, the start isn’t great… but I look forward to working with you, As. Besselion, too.”

The boy thumped his hand forward.

Even though he had a perfectly good name, he insisted on addressing people by house. The complete stereotype.

“…Alright.”

Nigel recalled trust in his mind and gripped the nameless boy’s hand as firmly as possible.

“…Ah, yes.”

Despite it probably hurting, the boy shook Nigel’s hand calmly, then, with his reddened hand, shook Noah’s as well.

The entrance ceremony began, and only then was the name of the obnoxious boy revealed through another person.

“The representative of the new students of the Department of Politics, Master Sid Cromwell, please come to the stage.”

Sid Cromwell, standing tall, walked confidently to the podium.

Sid Cromwell…

The Cromwell family had produced renowned scholars and ministers for generations.

Nigel even owned two books by an author named Cromwell: one a philosophical treatise on humility as humanity’s highest virtue, the other a historical record of nobles’ obligations and good deeds.

“…Books and reality are different, after all.”

Nigel applauded Sid on the stage for his modest demeanor toward the dean.

During the long and rather boring ceremony, Sid whispered to Nigel.

“As, when preparing for the entrance exam, who taught you? Teller? Ollend? Or both? Somehow, no matter how many times I contacted them, they were lukewarm.”

“Alone.”

Sid tilted his head, as if he’d misheard.

“Alone.”

“What?”

“They say true learning is like a dark tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is always light. Learning is a process of self-exploration.”

“As… you’re quoting Manel Cromwell’s The True Beauty of Humanity: On Humility. I read it as a child and was deeply impressed. I still read it occasionally to keep it in mind.”

Nigel chuckled.

Sid habitually lowered his chin whenever he spoke, but now his face looked more relaxed.

Ding. Ding.

The dull entrance ceremony ended, and lunch began.

“Oh? Where’s Noah?”

Allen approached Nigel happily, stopping when he noticed the empty spot beside him.

“The dean called. He said don’t wait, start eating first.”

Noah, who had naturally followed Nigel after the ceremony, had been stopped by the voice of a red-haired professor.

The voice was so loud that everyone nearby understood why Noah had been called.

“Ah, then Nigel, let’s use the teleport stone!”

Feeling a little hungry, Nigel nodded obediently.

He pulled out the teleport stone from his pocket, holding it in one hand and Allen’s soft hand in the other.