A New Friend?

A night had passed since yesterday's shocking news, and we spent the day following our usual routine.

Hearing that didn't mean there was anything we could do right away, so it couldn't be helped.

I couldn't forget what we'd discussed yesterday, but for now, all I could do was continue with my usual routine. Nothing would change no matter how worried I was. Still, I decided to focus more than before on developing my offensive power.

Another thing I thought about last night was that I wanted to visit the Forest of Monsters at least once. It's difficult to picture it properly just from hearing about it, and I thought that seeing it even once would help me understand how I should train my magic and swordsmanship.

Next time, I think I'll talk to Richard-sama about it.

However, I couldn't spend all day thinking about the Forest of Monsters. Today, I attended classes as usual, and next was fourth-period magic class. Starting today, the Healing Magic group would be going to the Knight Order's training grounds for practical lessons.

I was really looking forward to it.

"Leon, I'm heading back now. I'll do my best at the stall."

"Yeah! Good luck. I'm off to magic class."

"You're going to the Knight Order's training grounds, right?"

"That's right. It's going to be a practical lesson!"

"Leon... Why are you so excited?"

Ronnie looked at me with exasperation. Why? Because the Knight Order's training grounds were every man's dream!

"Of course I'm excited! We get to go to the Knight Order's training grounds!"

"But most of the knights are nobles, aren't they? Aren't powerful nobles scary?"

"Hmm, do you think so? I'm not particularly worried."

Since I could use magic and protect myself in an emergency, I didn't really feel afraid. It was far more frightening to me if someone targeted my family or friends instead of me.

"That's so like you. Well, good luck."

"Yeah! See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

With that, I said goodbye to Ronnie and headed for the training grounds.

After I arrived and waited there for a while, one of the students came. There were four students in the Healing Magic group: Martine and me, along with one boy and one girl.

The boy didn't openly show it, but he seemed not to think very highly of me. The girl, on the other hand, seemed gentle and kind, and she had even smiled at me. That was quite rare at this school. People generally either disliked me or were afraid of me.

And the person who had just arrived was the girl. We hadn't been able to talk last time, but I wondered if it would be all right to speak to her...

She never looked at me with disdain, and she didn't seem particularly afraid of me, either. I'd be happy if we could become friends...

As I agonized over it, the girl approached me.

"Nice to meet you. I am Stacy Daligard, third daughter of House Daligard. Please call me Stacy. There aren't many people with the Healing attribute, so I would be happy if we could become friends."

Stacy-sama said that with a bright smile.

To think someone would treat me like this at the Royal Academy...! I was so moved that I nearly cried. I never expected someone to simply treat me normally and be friendly with me.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Leon. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"You can be more casual with me. Shall we become friends?"

"I-Is it really all right for someone like me...? I know it may sound strange for me to say this, but I'm a commoner."

"What does that matter? Aren't we all the same living creatures? Flowers, trees, insects, and animals—everything that lives is my friend."

Living things? This conversation had suddenly taken a very strange turn.

Um... Was this girl an eccentric? A natural airhead, perhaps?

"So you mean that everything living is your friend?"

"Yes, exactly. That is why I dislike eating. I cannot imagine eating my friends. However, my father and mother insist that I eat, so I take a portion from the vegetables and eat it. I reluctantly take some of their leaves, roots, and fruits. My father told me that I was only taking things they did not need, like hair that falls out from people's heads, and that convinced me."

This girl was an eccentric on a whole other level... She was so far gone that she wasn't even the sort of person who would get bullied.

Her father and mother must have been kind people. An ordinary noble family might have thrown her out, or even if they hadn't, they might not have let her attend the Royal Academy.

For that matter, did she even know how to behave toward people of higher status? If she thought all living things were friends, she probably didn't think status mattered... No, if that were really the case, they wouldn't have let her attend the Royal Academy. She must at least know the basics of etiquette.

But although she was an eccentric of alarming proportions, I was even happier that she had spoken to me normally.

"Plants often grow better when their leaves and fruit are removed in moderation, so perhaps they are actually pleased when you take their excess parts."

"Really?! Then I'm glad. From now on, I will ask them every day whether there are any leaves or fruits they would like me to take."

Ask them? Who was she going to ask?

...Maybe it would be better not to question that too closely.

"Perhaps they would be happy if you did that."

"I'm glad I became friends with you, Leon. May I introduce you to my friends sometime?"

"Your friends...?"

"First, let me introduce you to the ones in the vegetable garden at my estate."

So they really weren't human! I couldn't help imagining Stacy-sama introducing me to the vegetables in her garden.

"Heehee... Hahahaha..."

This was bad... It had hit me right in the funny bone! I couldn't stop laughing. Someone, please help me!

Stacy-sama tilted her head in confusion.

I somehow managed to suppress my laughter and apologized to Stacy-sama.

"Stacy-sama, I sincerely apologize. I got excited imagining myself visiting your estate."

"Oh my, so you're looking forward to meeting my friends that much!"

Stacy-sama said that with a radiant smile. No, Stacy-sama. That's not it. Not at all.

I almost burst out laughing again, so I tensed my abdominal muscles and somehow held it back. However, I couldn't do anything about the unnatural grin on my face.

As we continued having that strange conversation, another boy entered the training grounds, and Martine arrived right after him.

I decided to stop talking and took a step away from Stacy-sama, but then she suddenly raised her voice.

"Ah! I forgot!"

Startled by her voice, I turned toward Stacy-sama again. She looked apologetic as she spoke.

"Leon, I forgot about the flowers in my room. I'll be scolded. I have to introduce you to them first. I'm terribly sorry, even though you were looking forward to meeting the ones in the garden..."

"Pfft..."

I accidentally burst out laughing and hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand. Wait, that's not fair. Was she trying to make me laugh?

And the other boy and Martine had both heard her!

I knew it would be bad if I laughed here, so I somehow managed to suppress it. As expected, Stacy-sama really didn't read the room!

"Stacy-sama, either one can come first. If I get the opportunity to visit your estate, I would be happy to meet them then. Let's discuss this another time. Class is about to begin..."

"You're right! I'm looking forward to it."

Somehow, I had ended up being invited to House Daligard's estate. I didn't mind, but I didn't know what kind of noble family they were, so I would have to ask Richard-sama... That part was a little troublesome.

Even if Stacy-sama didn't care that I was a commoner, the others might feel differently... Still, I was truly grateful and happy that there was one more person at the Royal Academy who would speak to me normally.

Just as I was thinking that, I felt a strong gaze and turned toward it. My eyes met Martine's.

Um... Are you angry? Your aura is a little frightening. I haven't done anything wrong!?

Martine strode toward me.

"Leon, you seemed to be having a great time just now. What were you talking about?"

What were we talking about? That was a difficult question... If I had to say, vegetables? Or perhaps friends?

"Stacy-sama's friends."

That was the only answer I could give!

"Friends...? Do you have friends in common?"

Martine's expression immediately turned puzzled. I understood. That was what anyone would normally think. But that wasn't it.

As I wondered how to explain it, Stacy-sama joined the conversation from the side.

"Your Highness, I am Stacy Daligard, third daughter of House Daligard. Leon and I were discussing the friends in my garden."

"Your friends in your garden...?"

"Yes! They are so very cute. They are delighted whenever I give them water, and they listen earnestly whenever I tell them my troubles. We are very close."

"Th-that's wonderful to hear..."

"Yes! Please visit my estate as well, Your Highness. I would love to introduce you to my friends."

"I-I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to visit your estate."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Why was she asking? It was obvious, wasn't it!?

Martine was thoroughly bewildered. Stacy-sama seemed to understand that Martine was of higher status, but she apparently thought all she needed to do was speak politely!? That's completely wrong!

Stacy-sama's father and mother! Your daughter is dangerously naive!

Martine looked at me as though asking for help. I didn't know what to do even if she asked me for help, but I had to say something.

"Stacy-sama, I don't think it would be easy for Martine-sama to visit your estate. I can visit anytime, so would it be all right if I came alone?"

"Leon... I am sorry. I promised you first, so I shouldn't have made plans with anyone else..."

That's completely wrong! But fine, let's leave it at that.

"In any case, I will be the one to visit your estate, not Martine-sama."

"Understood. We will all be waiting for you, Leon."

Good... At least I had managed to divert her attention away from Martine. However, my visiting Stacy-sama's estate had

become a foregone conclusion.

Well, there was nothing I could do about it now. Richard-sama, I'm truly sorry if this turns into something troublesome!

Once we'd finished discussing that, Ossen-sensei entered the training grounds.