Chapter 19
“Hmmm….”
“Mmm….”
Press.
Press harder.
Elettra and Maron, the two romance-fantasy heroines, eyed each other warily.
Elettra glared at Maron and thought.
‘Maron Clearias. She’s been pretty obsessed with Gilliam from the very beginning.’
From what the princess had learned through her information network, Maron had been glued to Gilliam’s side from their very first class on the first day.
‘She had her eye on him from the start, huh? Hmph, she has good taste.’
By comparison, Elettra had gotten a late start. It was an undeniable fact.
But if love were first come, first served, every romance novel in the world would end with the childhood friend marrying him.
‘…I won’t let him go.’
—You look prettier when you smile.
The words were etched into her memory.
They would never disappear.
He had always been a man who caught her attention.
Ever since he’d shown up out of nowhere and handed her something for her hobby, then showered her with compliments and left—no, he hadn’t left; Elettra had run away, but whatever, he was the one who left—he’d been on her mind.
That moment.
The moment he’d reached out to her in the darkness.
He was etched into Elettra’s heart.
‘I’ll never let him go.’
But Maron was just as fired up with fighting spirit toward the woman across from her.
‘Princess Elettra Xantias, the Second Princess. Liam came to see her himself on the very first day.’
From the information gathered by a loner nerd skilled at eavesdropping, Gilliam had gone out of his way to attend the first-day party to make a connection with Elettra.
‘She must have had Liam’s attention from the start, right? As expected, Your Highness is just on another level.’
Compared to that, Maron had little going for her. An undeniable fact.
But if dating were about wealth, every romance novel in the world would end with the rich guy buying his partner.
‘…I won’t let him go.’
—I’ll say it again. I think your eyes are very beautiful.
The words were etched into her memory.
They would never disappear.
The more she learned about him, the more he caught her attention.
From when she only knew his reputation as the Everchess delinquent, to when she spent time by his side, and even when she ate with him every day—though she had to eat alone today because Liam had fainted, but anyway—he’d kept drawing her attention more and more.
That moment.
The moment he comforted her with words about the part of herself she was most ashamed of.
He was etched into Maron’s heart.
‘I’ll never let him go.’
The two women exchanged glances, with Gilliam between them.
‘…She won’t back down easily.’
‘She’s… not taking this lightly, either.’
They launched warning shots at each other.
“Your Highness must have plenty to do, so why don’t you leave? I’ll keep an eye on Liam.”
Interpretation: Would a man like him really suit a princess? Please leave Liam to me.
“I do have a lot to do, but this man saved me.”
Interpretation: No matter what anyone else says, I want to choose this man.
“…Wouldn’t Liam feel more comfortable with me by his side than with Your Highness?”
Interpretation: This man would be happier by my side than yours.
“Who knows? Comfort is something you make happen.”
Interpretation: I just need to make him happy, don’t I?
“Ahahaha.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“You’re very considerate of Liam, Your Highness.”
Interpretation: You thieving little cat.
“You care deeply for Gilliam, too. It’s lovely to see.”
Interpretation: You thieving little cat.
It was a murderous exchange that would have made ordinary romance-fantasy characters run away sobbing. Of course, they’d cover their faces with impeccable elegance.
But to the oblivious Gilliam, it sounded like ordinary small talk.
And the problem was getting worse by the minute.
‘…I need to use the bathroom.’
He was starting to need to pee.
It was even harder to hold it in with the two of them pressing down on him from above.
He needed to get up at a reasonable moment, avoiding one that was awkward or too contrived—but when exactly would that moment come?
‘Shit. It’d be the worst if I had to get up at an awkward moment.’
“—Your Highness—”
“—Miss Maron—”
Chatter, chatter. The two women’s romance-fantasy-speak continued until…
It suddenly stopped.
“…Gulp.”
“…Gulp.”
Peeking through narrowed eyes, he saw Elettra and Maron exchanging a look.
What?
What kind of agreement had they just reached with their eyes?
Slowly.
Their gazes turned toward the same place—
“Professor Tonishika, has Everchess woken up?”
Professor Kadisha’s voice.
“!?!?”
“!!!!”
Maron and Elettra each jolted, making their chairs clatter.
Now’s my chance! The perfect opportunity to wake up naturally!
“Uhh…? Haaaahm…!”
“L-Liam! You’re awake!?”
“O-oh, Gilliam, I’m glad you don’t seem to be hurt.”
With a swish, Professor Kadisha opened the curtain and appeared.
Then she narrowed her eyes at the two female students.
“…What were you two doing?”
“Eep….”
The timid loner nerd shrank back as if she’d been caught red-handed committing a crime.
But Elettra was different.
“…There’s nothing strange about checking on a fellow student, is there?”
“That’s true. A fellow student.”
Interpretation: It’s just the friendship between fellow students, right?
“…Yes, Professor. You’re busy too, yet you came to visit.”
Interpretation: Surely you, a professor, aren’t interested in a student, are you?
“I’m your professor, after all.”
Interpretation: It’s only natural for a professor to care about her students. What’s there to misunderstand?
And she followed it up immediately.
“What about you, Miss Xantias? Aren’t you busy?”
Interpretation: Is a princess really allowed to take a personal interest in a man?
“…Everchess is worth the time.”
Interpretation: The House of Everchess is a good enough family for him to become the emperor’s son-in-law, isn’t it?
“Oh dear. It must be hard, being so busy.”
Interpretation: You already have plenty to do at the academy, and now you’re adding romance to the list?
“You too, Professor.”
Interpretation: You’re not really trying to make a move on a student, are you?
“Hmm.”
“Mmm.”
Maron, who understood their conversation perfectly, gulped nervously beside them.
‘Scary…!’
But amid that murderous scene, Gilliam said,
“Can I use the bathroom?”
“….”
“….”
“….”
The three interpreted it like this.
‘Are you telling us not to say anything more pointless than asking to use the bathroom? God, he really is arrogant.’ —Elettra
‘Does he mean to stop spouting nonsense?’ —Kadisha
‘Uu… I think he’s angry….’ —Maron
They exchanged glances.
Kadisha spoke on behalf of the women.
“Do as you please.”
Interpretation: We’ll fight when you’re not here, so don’t lose interest in us.
Expected response: Oh, I’ll go in a little while. What did you need?
“Oh, okay. I’ll be right back.”
Gilliam actually got up and left.
“….”
“….”
“….”
The three women had to endure a strange sense of defeat.
Mela Tonishika, the academy infirmary’s resident healer, crossed her legs and asked,
“What kind of training are you doing, anyway?”
Mela had striking dark circles under her eyes and looked exactly like an infirmary nurse from a subculture game.
“Huh?”
“I checked the results of your physical exam from the entrance test, and they’re completely different from how you are now. How did you suddenly get so strong?”
Maron, Elettra, and Professor Kadisha stood side by side next to my bed.
…Did none of them have anything to do?
Anyway.
“I haven’t done any training.”
It would be good to train if I had the time. It would improve my physical abilities the normal way, after all.
But I could get stronger much faster by using that time to earn Praise Points and raise my stats, or to buy skills and items.
‘…Isn’t this kind of broken?’
If I were an ordinary transmigrator, wouldn’t I have failed to stop the thirteenth Guide of the Underworld’s plan in the first place?
I would’ve had to run around frantically to the church to get holy water, too.
It really was a mythic-grade perk.
“Hmm….”
Professor Mela’s gaze sized me up.
“Professor Kadisha, is that true?”
“I’ve never seen Everchess training separately.”
“…I see.”
Mela crossed her legs the other way.
〈Next Compliment Suggestion (LV.1)〉
【Automatically identifies target→Mela Tonishika】
Recommendation: Decadent charm
What does “decadent charm” even mean?
How am I supposed to compliment her on that?
‘Should I let this one slide?’
Thanks to Elettra handing me 3,000 points out of nowhere, I had some points to spare… no, I didn’t.
‘There’s another major event in two weeks.’
And I wanted to start working on the Bond Quest with Maron, but there was an item I absolutely had to buy for that, too.
‘Praise Points are always in short supply, huh.’
Then, decadent charm.
How could I compliment someone on her decadent charm?
…Should I just say it directly?
“Professor Mela.”
“What is it? Are you confessing your love?”
“I can sense a strong air of decadence about you, Professor.”
Professor Mela blinked.
“…There really are lunatics who confess like that? You think I’d be happy to hear that from a student?”
【The target is happy】
<Praise Points: +50(3150→3200)>