Chapter 195 - Conspiracy (11)

The Sword Master's letter contained only a signature to identify the sender, with no other message written.

But I could somewhat guess what this meant. It was probably telling me to entertain Sion at the ball. I was the only man who had anything resembling a friendship with Sion.

There was much more gold this time. It was a huge amount, equivalent to half a year's salary from when I worked in the workshop. Of course, considering the prices in Rigved, it wasn’t enough for great luxury.

Is there a need to give this much?

Well, maybe he knew that dealing with Sion was no easy task.

I had no intention of becoming Sion's ball partner just because I received a bribe.

Though I didn't place much significance on the ball, I didn't want to choose a partner in such an unprincipled way.

It wasn’t courteous to my two friends who were waiting for my invitation. It wasn’t even good for Sion. How bad would she feel if she knew I asked her to be my partner because of money?

***

After finishing her daily training and bathing in the dormitory's public bath, Sion put on a robe and rested in her designated seat in front of the fireplace in the lounge.

Sitting there, she observed the daytime scenery of the living quarters visible through the large window.

Unlike Sion, one could sense an excited anticipation and thrill from the men and women passing by. What could make them so happy? It was as if characters from a fairy tale where everyone received a happy ending had popped out.

Sion couldn't feel excited or thrilled like them. She couldn't relate to any fairy tales she read, and because of the harsh reality she had faced since childhood, she couldn't indulge in romance or leisure for even a moment.

Feeling irritated by their cheerful appearances, she left the lounge and went up the stairs.

As she proceeded, she stopped in front of her room. There was a bouquet placed in front of the door.

This was the fifth time. At some point, someone unknown had started leaving gifts at her door every other day and running away.

The first couple of times, she had brought them into her room without any ulterior motives, but because she didn't manage them and left them unattended, they withered and became trash, so she either threw them in the garden or left them as they were.

"..."

As the ball season approached, more people started approaching her in this way.

Some even left lollipops in her belongings storage, as if she were candy herself. She couldn't tell if it was real candy.

However, she didn't feel like associating with those who hovered around her but were too scared to show themselves.

She left the bouquet where it was and entered her room.

Then she quickly took off her robe and threw it aside, checking her naked body for any new bruises or wounds. Checking for injuries she might not have noticed during training and reflecting on her mistakes was her main routine.

After her review, she picked up and put on her underwear. While doing so, she heard someone's footsteps in the corridor.

It was quite rare to hear someone's footsteps in Witdruff Hall due to the small number of resident students. When the footsteps stopped abruptly in front of her room and she heard rustling sounds, she sensed it was the stalker from before.

She immediately picked up her magic sword in her underwear, intending to open the door and make sure they never came near again.

And when she opened the door, she was momentarily speechless as she encountered an unexpected figure.

It was that masked man standing there.

He looked alternately at the bouquet placed at his feet and Sion in her underwear, saying as if perplexed, "This isn't what you think."

***

Sion glared at me with aggressive eyes, then pondered for a moment and suppressed her killing intent.

"Have you been doing all this until now?"

Is she talking about the bouquet placed in front of the door? I've been caught at an unlucky moment and might be falsely accused.

"No."

I told you, didn't I? It's not me. I don't know anything about it.

Sion coldly questions back, "Then why are you here?"

"Because I have business."

She briefly looks me up and down.

"...Come in."

Sion just left the door open and turned around abruptly. Then she opened her wardrobe wide and took out training clothes to wear. Peeking slightly, I saw that her wardrobe was filled with ten identical training outfits. Unlike other girls, she seemed to have no interest in dressing up or adorning herself.

The fact that she showed no sign of discomfort despite revealing her underwear made her seem like a man's soul in a woman's body. Perhaps she showed this lack of hesitation because she didn't perceive me as a member of the opposite sex.

I remained standing in front of the door without stepping in and said, "No, I'll set a time for you, so come to the designated place then."

She put on her top and pulled out the hair that had gone inside her collar as she said, "I don't want to."

"..."

"I don't have time except for today. If you want to fight me, finish it today."

"...What's the point of fighting when I'll win?"

"..."

At that, Sion's body stiffened slightly. Then she silently grasped the magic sword that was leaning against the table.

Is she really planning to fight? I can't even make a joke with this woman who's crazy about fighting.

I quickly changed the subject before a real fight could break out, "If you only have time today, come out without the sword. There's something more important than that."

***

As soon as we left the dormitory, I sent out a Stitch to call for a carriage.

Surprisingly, Sion obediently followed my words.

Given her usual behavior of ignoring others' words, doing only what she wanted, and never following anyone, it was strange to see her trailing behind me like a duckling.

Students around the living quarters kept glancing at us, perhaps because it was the first time they'd seen Sion matching someone else's pace. Their stares were quite piercing.

"Wait a moment."

Sion suddenly stopped while following me.

I stopped walking and turned around. This was troublesome in a crowded place.

"I have nothing to say here."

"Before we get to your business, I need to hear an explanation first."

"...Explanation?"

Sion crossed her arms and walked to a bench in the living quarters' garden to sit down. Then she glanced up at me and said, "First, tell me why you've been chasing me every day and leaving bouquets and candy."

"...?"

"I won't move until I hear the reason."

I looked around cautiously. As expected, some students had started whispering while looking at us. 

Is she still misunderstanding that I did those things? I really don't know anything.

"It wasn't me. There's a separate stalker, so deal with it yourself."

"..."

"I'm going to ask someone pretty, well-behaved, and kind-hearted to the ball, not you, so don't worry."

Sion put her hands on her knees and pretended not to hear my words.

The gazes looking at us were steadily increasing. This was about to lead to misunderstandings and even strange rumors.

"Look at this."

I took out the Sword Master's letter from my bosom and waved it in front of her eyes. Sion's eyes widened as if surprised. I immediately grabbed her wrist and pulled her. She followed without much resistance.

Seeing my sudden action, the onlookers murmured, "Oh my, oh my."

I immediately walked to a place where people's gazes couldn't reach.

Although the whispering of those watching us was irritating, it was too late to deal with it.

I stopped in the middle of the forest path leading to the Guardian Tree and released my hold. Sion rubbed her wrist as if my grip had hurt. Seeing that made me feel a bit sorry.

Sion first confirmed that there was no one around and asked, "Why did you receive a letter from my master?"

"That's what I want to know. And there's nothing written here. It just flew in with a pouch containing something."

Just in case, I hid the mention of money for now.

"..."

Her face darkened somewhat.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't have received it?"

"..."

She clearly seemed to have something to say, but she hesitated to answer.

"It might have been sent to me by mistake, not intended for me."

Sion shook her head.

"My master doesn't make mistakes like that. He must have specifically designated you."

Then she hesitated for a moment and muttered as if to herself, "He hasn't... sent me any news for months..."

I understand the situation now. She was upset because her master hadn't sent any word to his only disciple, Sion, but suddenly sent a letter to me.

"He only sent me his signature too."

"My master treats important letters with chemicals to hide the contents."

"Then how can we check it?"

"We need to sprinkle shade grass powder on it."

I had heard of that ingredient before. I knew shade grass powder was a rare material that couldn't be obtained in this region.

Perhaps the gold coins weren't intended for something else but were included to decode the letter.

If so, the Sword Master's intention became unclear again.

If it's not for playing the role of Sion's daily friend, then...?

How important was this message to hide the contents? Something that wasn't conveyed to Sion, but only to me...

"I'm leaving. That letter has nothing to do with me."

She turned around abruptly and started to leave.

I immediately ran and grabbed Sion's wrist.

"No, you need to come with me to Rigved too."

***

Cecil, sitting in the front row of the classroom for her liberal arts class, listened to the sounds coming from behind her.

"Can you believe it, that Sion..."

"The masked guy just..."

"Ball... chasing..."

The students who had just entered the classroom were excitedly chattering as if something interesting had just happened.

The individuals mentioned in that conversation were Sion and the masked man.

Hearing those two mentioned together made Cecil's heart sink.

She remembered seeing those two having a secret meeting in Rigved right after the circulatory system practical ended.

As she nervously chewed her lips, her friend Elias suddenly appeared and took a seat next to her.

"Cecil, what are you doing?"

"..."

Elias sensed something was off, seeing Cecil frozen and not even turning her head.

"You... what's wrong? Is someone chasing you asking to dance again?"

"No," Cecil coldly responded as if uncomfortable with Elias's concern and covered her face with her textbook.

Meanwhile, other students filled the rows behind Cecil and continued their conversation, "Well, they say that Sion was following the masked guy around, picking a fight."

"Is she still obsessed with sparring?"

"I don't know. It seems like there's some kind of relationship between them. Because when the masked guy ignored Sion, she got angry and started shouting."

"What did she say?"

"She said to choose between fighting her or dancing with her at the ball."

"Crazy... Did they develop feelings while bickering?"

"But you know what's even funnier? The masked guy flatly refused."

"Oh my."

"He said he already has feelings for someone pretty, smart, and with huge breasts."

"Ah... he really sounds like a pervert. Why chase after someone like that?"

"Exactly."

Elias, who had been quietly observing Cecil, poked her arm.

"Cecil? Are you okay?"

Soon after, sensing something was off, she gently pushed down the book covering Cecil's face.

Cecil's arm came down limply. Her revealed face was flushed bright red like a radish.

"Are you... sick?"

Cecil silently turned her gaze to the window and gulped down a potion bottle as if trying to cool down her heat.