Chapter 145
“Now, now-, take a seat. Your teacher will make it easy to learn.”
Yusti-ah, who was teaching the doctrine, looked excited for some reason.
He wasn’t sure, but perhaps the act of teaching suited her aptitude.
Otherwise, there was no way she would be excited about such a bothersome task.
“The Followers of the Goddess Church, who worship the Goddess Luan, all possess generous hearts and…”
“Yusti-ah, just leave the book. It would probably be faster for me to read and memorize it myself.”
Would it just be the doctrine? If she wanted, he could memorize the entire history of the Goddess Church by heart.
Like the majority of Mages, Franz also had a disposition for self-study and contemplation.
Because of that, the act of learning something from someone else was not very familiar to him.
Except for when he was young, he didn’t really have any memories of learning anything.
However, Yusti-ah was not one to easily give up this opportunity.
“I find it hard to understand how the Saint can say he will memorize it without feeling it in his heart.”
Speaking in a thoroughly calm voice as if to tease Franz, she wore a subtle smile.
Of course, he couldn’t exactly say her words were wrong.
After all, religion was a matter of personal conviction and faith, not an academic study.
It was just that he hadn’t expected her, who used to hate the Goddess Church and the Goddess, to say such a thing.
“If you say so…”
In the end, Franz yielded and decided to give his time to Yusti-ah.
Since she seemed to be enjoying this time in her own way.
He also felt a little sorry for having postponed the lessons due to various matters until now.
“Then I will start again. The Followers of the Goddess Church must all possess generous hearts to forgive and love others. The Clerics who have devoted themselves to the order must especially hold that heart…”
The distance between him and Yusti-ah, who was explaining the doctrine earnestly, felt strangely close.
It felt even more so because they were sitting side by side on the sofa for convenience.
Feeling inexplicably uncomfortable with that, Franz subtly shifted to the side.
Then, tap-, Yusti-ah’s slender hand came up onto his thigh.
“Didn’t we agree to listen to the lesson quietly?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Then stay still.”
Yusti-ah spoke firmly and subtly shifted her hips toward Franz.
The distance closed again to the point where their shoulders brushed.
It felt strangely uncomfortable, but Franz sighed inwardly and gave up.
Because it was obvious Yusti-ah would follow if he moved.
If he kept moving like that, he would bump into the armrest of the sofa and have nowhere left to escape.
“Ah, really-. I forgot where I was.”
Yusti-ah said that and swept her fallen hair behind her ear.
Franz didn’t know it, but the tips of her ears were dyed slightly red.
For the next few days, similar days continued.
He took care of Seri-ah and Zeni-ah, worked with Arian, and took doctrine lessons from Yusti-ah.
Perhaps Yusti-ah’s appearance that day had been quite shocking, as Arian’s attitude toward her had become a bit cautious.
“Would you like some tea…?”
“I will gratefully drink it if you offer.”
To Franz, that sight felt rather unsettling.
It was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.
He worried that the two might have a huge fight someday, like an explosion from continuously accumulating stress.
As time passed, Seri-ah’s condition gradually recovered until she was now well enough for outdoor activities.
Still, just in case, Franz decided to do one last overall checkup.
Poke-.
Franz lightly poked Seri-ah’s stomach with his finger.
The pure white, soft stomach pushed in along with his finger.
“…Pervert.”
“What are you talking about. Just tell me how it feels.”
“It feels like something long and hard is poking and entering me.”
…Should he have turned away coldly that day?
Franz sighed inwardly at the pranks that were getting worse by the day.
Still, there was no need to worry too much about it.
Even like that, she clearly distinguished between public and private matters, so if her condition was truly bad, she would have said so honestly.
“It looks like he’s already done, Zeni-ah.”
“I know, right. The Magic Tower master is a weakling too, Seri-ah.”
The two looked at each other and giggled.
Franz tried hard to ignore them and prepared Spatial Movement Magic.
A magic circle began to be drawn beneath their feet.
“When we go up, Arian will explain this and that. Like the room you’ll be staying in, or the work you’ll have to do from now on. Don’t cause any unnecessary headaches and follow her well.”
“Uuuugh-, can’t you do it for us?”
“Y-yeah, secretary Arian is a bit scary…”
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah looked terrified, like puppies that had met a tiger.
In Franz’s memory, Arian had been nothing but endlessly kind to them, so he was just a bit puzzled.
But apart from that, it felt like a perfect excuse to use.
“Sorry, I’m busy too. Follow Arian well for the time being.”
“…”
“…”
The completed magic circle beneath the silent duo began to shine, and the Spatial Movement Magic activated.
Arian was waiting in the Magic Tower master’s office when they arrived.
Arian smiled and said.
“You’ve been through a lot staying down there. Shall we have a quick cup of tea before we head out?”
“…Y-yeah.”
“…Hiccup-.”
At their reactions, a laugh almost burst out of Franz for a moment, but he rolled his lips inward and somehow held it back.
Because it was obvious that if he burst into laughter now, their pranks would only get worse.
“Shall I get you some tea as well, Magic Tower master?”
“Ah, yeah. Sounds good.”
Arian headed to the pantry to make tea.
Thus, he was left alone with the two for a brief moment.
“You did that on purpose…!”
“Because you can’t win on your own, you play dirty…!”
With their lips jutting out in a pout, the two strode over to Franz as if they had been waiting.
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’d want to show you around myself if I had the time, but I’m really busy so it couldn’t be helped.”
Of course, he had plenty of time to spare for them.
The Magic Tower was large, but there was no need to show them everything, so it wouldn’t take that long anyway.
However, he hadn’t made up a complete lie.
Because if he devoted time to them, his work would become busy afterward.
Arian had volunteered to do it herself, and there was no good reason to refuse her either.
“You expect us to…”
“That makes no sense…”
Unable to believe Franz’s words, the two were just about to spit something out.
“What were you talking about?”
As Arian came out of the pantry, the two naturally shut their mouths and averted their gazes.
It seemed Arian really was scary to them.
He had no idea why they were scared of her, but the reason wasn’t particularly important.
“What is it? It doesn’t feel very nice to be left out of the conversation, you know?”
“W-well, the Magic Tower master and I were talking about how pretty secretary Arian is. Right, Seri-ah?”
“O-of course, Zeni-ah. The Magic Tower master is just too shy to say it right now.”
A hollow laugh escaped Franz at how naturally they lied.
For one thing, it was now certain that they were good at navigating social situations.
The problem was that Arian’s gaze was now directed this way.
“Magic Tower master…? Did you really say such things…”
“Well, your makeup seems to be done particularly well today. And your clothes suit you nicely…”
Franz ended up going along with their lie in his bewilderment.
It was because Arian’s gaze was full of anticipation.
He wasn’t confident he could withstand the aftermath of disappointing her.
Still, well…
'It’s not like I said something untrue.'
The fact that Arian was pretty was certain even from an objective standpoint.
“Would you like some refreshments too…? It just so happens my family home sent some as a gift today.”
“Yeah. I’ll have some.”
“T-then I’ll be right back from the secretary’s office.”
Arian set down the things she was holding on the table and dashed-, running outside.
It seemed she had left the refreshments in the secretary’s office.
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah, who were blankly staring at her retreating back, sighed at the same time.
“Secretary Arian goes through a lot too.”
“A weakling who can’t even eat when he’s spoon-fed…”
Though Franz, unable to understand their reactions, was just blinking his eyes.
Arian returned not long after, her face quite red and her breathing heavily ragged, as if she had been running.
“I-it took a little long, didn’t it? I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s not like the tea has gotten cold.”
As Franz said that and sat on the sofa, Arian naturally took the seat next to him.
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah sat opposite the two of them.
The teacups were filled with tea, and they enjoyed a light teatime with the refreshments Arian had brought.
During that time, Arian kept shifting her legs back and forth, as if something was uncomfortable.
Even when he asked just in case, the only answer he received was that she was fine.
After that brief, relaxing time passed, Arian took the two with her and left the Magic Tower master’s Office.
Left alone, I tapped my finger on the table, tap-tap-, and thought.
“Should I go see Hera…?”
Hadn’t I met the World Tree not too long ago?
She had grumbled about not being able to have a conversation, so I had to drop by at least once anyway.
I also had something I wanted to ask her while I was at it.
Now that I had made the decision, all that was left was to move.
Franz immediately got up from his seat.