Chapter 199
Eternia was fully immersed in a festive atmosphere.
Even though there was still a day left until the ball, students wearing masks could be seen here and there on campus.
Along the streets, Planteras were carrying materials to decorate the ball venue.
With the ball just a day away, classes were finished by noon to allow time for party preparations.
The Drama Club was busy preparing for a small theatrical performance at the ball, and the Dance Club was also quite busy with their group performance.
The Art Club also had a role for the ball, but it was lighter and simpler compared to the two main clubs above.
"First-year, grab that flower painting. I'll carry the rest."
Our Art Club was moving paintings we had created to decorate the ballroom and other event venues.
While moving paintings with Zenia in the greenhouse, Haley came running urgently and shouted at the Art Club students, "Everyone. We're not just moving paintings, we need to move greenhouse plants too. It's our job to decorate the inside of the ballroom, so we can't be sloppy."
Some students sighed. Most Art Club members were physically weak girls, and the distance to the ballroom was considerable, so it felt overwhelming.
Zenia, with her arms full of paintings, lightly kicked my shin and said, "First-year. You'll have to work hard as much as you're loved."
"Understood."
"Let's go, First-year."
I loaded the paintings onto a handcart and followed Zenia.
After we had moved quite far from the greenhouse, Zenia, walking beside me, said, "First-year have you found a ball partner?"
"Yes."
"Who is it?"
"...I agreed to go with Luna."
"That blonde from the Drama Club? You managed to seduce her. But what about our Art Club?"
"Pardon?"
"You're taking care of the Drama Club, but not the Art Club?"
"That's..."
"It’s a mere jest~ You're smarter than you look, First-year. You know how to survive."
"Survive?"
"How a man survives in a group of women. If you give special treatment to one... it creates a strange sense of discomfort. It's better to choose someone from another club like you did."
I vaguely understood what Zenia meant by that strange sense of discomfort.
It was because of that that I couldn't step in, even when Trisha was being bullied.
"Keep doing that. I'm not saying to be cold to the Art Club. Be friendly while maintaining an appropriate distance."
"I understand."
"Have fun at the ball. I'll just be watching from the sidelines."
"Senior... have you given up on the ball?"
"Yes. How can I dance with my foot like this?"
"I'm sure there were many who wanted to be your partner."
"Thanks for saying that."
Zenia was still limping on one foot even though the ball was just a day away.
Seeing her help with work despite her injury for an event that didn't really concern her made me feel a bit sorry for her.
While she seemed to have a strong and picky personality, she also showed responsible and altruistic sides.
Just then, a group of students ran out in the opposite direction.
"What's going on?"
Zenia also expressed curiosity at the sudden movement.
Judging by the expectant expressions on the faces of those running, it didn't seem to be an urgent matter.
"Erzsebet?"
"Come quickly. They say she's returned to Eternia!"
From what I heard, it seemed that Erzsebet, the owner of the Planteras and the vice principal of Eternia, had returned. The students' reactions were as exaggerated as if a celebrity had arrived.
Some students from the Magic Department even enrolled in Eternia to see Teacher. Perhaps the Magic Engineering students weren't much different.
"First-year. Shall we go see her together?"
"Is that really necessary?"
"I'm saying let's slack off a bit. I'll explain it well to Haley."
Honestly, a small part of me was feeling hopeful. If Erzsebet had returned, I wondered if Teacher might have returned with her.
***
From a distance, Erzsebet walked with two attendants. Was it because of the bright sunlight or her light-colored clothes? Despite her entrance being neither flashy nor authoritative, the area around her seemed to shine brightly.
Other students also gathered like clouds, but they didn't dare approach and only watched from afar.
Erzsebet gave an awkward smile at the densely gathered students and moved forward.
Occasionally she waved her hand and exchanged a few words with her attendants.
Pointed ears. Surreal beauty. A woman with a body in her twenties but a soul of hundreds of years within.
It was the first time I had seen her since the Masters Class evaluation.
Erzsebet's actions were leisurely and calm, giving the impression of a grandmother. The complete opposite of Teacher, one could say.
Perhaps living for hundreds of years had worn away all her rough edges. She looked more benevolent than anyone else in the world.
It seemed like even if someone in rags suddenly ran up and hugged Erzsebet, she wouldn't push them away but would silently embrace them.
"First-year, listen to me. I can't see."
Zenia, who had been jumping up and down in the crowd, suddenly jumped onto my back.
After observing for a moment, she said, "First-year. Do you like women with pointed ears?"
"I just like good people."
The attendants politely persuaded the students to make way.
Meanwhile, Erzsebet slightly turned her head and fixed her gaze in our direction.
It seemed like our eyes met briefly from a distance, but maybe it was my imagination.
She looked in our direction for a moment, giving a silent smile with her eyes, then moved on.
Unfortunately, Teacher was nowhere to be seen.
***
Knock knock.
After finishing my daily routine and returning, I knocked on Trisha's room door, but she still didn't answer.
I wondered if she had gone out today. There were signs that the meal I had prepared had been touched. So she did come out of her room.
How important was the ball to Trisha? Seeing her disappear without even talking to her friend living with her... she must have had high expectations.
"Trisha."
I put my ear to the door, but I couldn't hear any sound.
When I tried turning the doorknob, it was locked as expected.
Even if I tried to console her, it didn't seem like her disappointed heart would improve. I turned around and headed for the stairs.
As I was going down the stairs, Trisha's room door suddenly opened.
"Damian..."
Trisha, with messy white hair and wearing thin silk pajamas, opened the door and spoke, "Trisha?"
"Why..."
"Do you have something to say?"
"Why did it have to be Sis!"
Bang!
She shouted like that and then closed the door.
For a moment, Zenia's words flashed through my mind like lightning. That becoming partners with a close friend was unforgivable.
I quickly ran to shake the doorknob, but it was already locked.
"Trisha."
I could hear her voice through the door.
"I won't play with you."
"...I'll come see you after the ball. Get dressed up nicely and wait."
"I won't play with you."
I guess I could interpret this as her protesting until I played with her.
Anyway, the ball couldn't last all night, and I had to return to the dormitory.
There would be plenty of time to play together. Although I'd have to spend a lot of time soothing her sulky mood.
***
And so, the day of the ball that seemed like it would never come finally dawned.
First, I prepared breakfast for Trisha, and then I made thorough preparations to enjoy the ball with a total of three girls.
I packed the two masks I would use and Luna's mask that I had finished with oil painting, and double-checked what I needed to do.
I hide my wooden sword in the ballroom in case of any unexpected situations. I planned to spend the first part of the ball with Cecil, greet Lilith separately, change my outfit without being caught, and spend the second part with Luna.
It wouldn’t be a difficult mission. I had been through worse in Barbisia, so I wasn't nervous at all about this behind-the-scenes work.
The ball was scheduled for the afternoon, and the morning was reserved for performances by the special departments and congratulatory speeches by invited guests.
I headed to the Art Club room to proceed with the morning events.
There, as if by appointment, I watched the morning events while being held by Zenia's hand. And in the middle, Haley also secretly joined in, naturally becoming a group of three.
In the morning, their expressions were bright, but as the ball time approached, their expressions gradually darkened and their tone became more sensitive.
"First-year. Do you think it makes sense for a woman to not dance at a ball?"
"No. It doesn't make sense at all."
"I should have killed the guy who did this to my ankle."
"..."
They seemed to be quite angry, having to dress up nicely but being unable to do what they wanted and being pushed to a corner.
Even after the lunch banquet ended, they wouldn't let me go.
The ball was right around the corner, but I couldn't escape as if I was tied with a leash.
The two seniors led me to the front of the ballroom.
"First-year, put on your mask."
Zenia and Haley put butterfly-shaped masks on their faces.
Originally, I had planned to enter with Cecil, but with the plan slightly twisted, I ended up entering the ballroom with the Art Club seniors.
The ballroom was full of students dressed elegantly. In one corner of the hall, a band played a majestic march, and chandeliers floating by magic emitted a soft light from the ceiling.
As we entered, we felt the piercing gazes of other students waiting in the ballroom.
It was understandable, as I was the only one who entered arm-in-arm with two women.
Haley whispered in my ear, "This is to boost your confidence, so don't get cocky."
"...Aren't your family members here, Senior?"
"They'll come for the second part. If they see me arm in arm with a man, they'll probably foam at the mouth."
"..."
We found a relatively secluded spot in the ballroom.
While waiting like that, we witnessed the students' gazes focusing on one spot once again.
Zenia spoke as if the situation was obvious, "Ah, looks like that guy has arrived."
"...Why are they acting like that?"
"First-year. Who do you think is the most popular in Eternia?"
"...I don't know."
"You're quite popular too, but you're still lacking compared to that guy. You're still growing, but Elliot is already a finished product."
"Elliot...?"
"You've heard of him, right? He's the best swordsman in Eternia."
My mind froze for a moment. Had I heard correctly?
That name I wanted to erase even more than Lisa Pascal.
I finally heard that name today, the one I was bound to encounter someday after coming to Eternia.
Soon after, a tall man with deep blonde hair strode in from the entrance.
As if focusing light with a magnifying glass, all the students' gazes converged at one point.
He looked exactly the same as when I had seen him from afar long ago. Tall and quite handsome. His presence was so strong that the ballroom froze just from his entrance.
The best swordsman in Eternia, as they called him. It felt like lava was being poured into my heart.
Perhaps that might be true for now.
But a year from now, that assessment would be wrong.
Because I would take that position.
But it seemed I wasn't the only one stimulated by his entrance.
Haley's arm, which was linked with mine, was filled with tension.