Chapter 77: 77

Determination and Bewilderment

Sheila had Leidyrune heal her with healing magic, but he advised her to rest for the time being, so she didn’t return to class.

She returned to the dormitory and waited for everyone while reading a book in the common room. Not long after that, Cody and the others returned.

Cody, Zechs, and even Hyderion looked uncomfortable. Even when Sheila told them that there was nothing wrong and that she would be able to attend classes as usual tomorrow, their expressions didn’t clear up.

Cody seemed to be bothered that he was the one who survived unscathed. Sheila saved him on her own accord, but she ended up feeling apologetic for him.

The way he dropped made the atmosphere awkward when the three of them were together. Usually, with Cody calmly watching over them, Sheila and Zechs could have silly conversations without any worries, but now….

The next day after classes were over, the aura between them was still filled with a subtle air of awkwardness.

Sheila was about to head to the staff building to report that everything was fine and that Leidyrune had found out the truth about her, but there was no problem. However, Cody stood in front of her.

Next to him were Zechs and Hyderion, both of whom had serious faces. Somewhat uneasy, Sheila furrowed her eyebrows.

“What’s wrong…?”

Cody stepped forward. His dark brown eyes showed a strong determination.

“――Sorry!”

Sheila’s shoulders jumped up as they suddenly bowed to her.

It was unthinkable for an aristocrat to bow to a commoner. The classroom was abuzz at once.

But Cody didn’t seem to care for any of it. He just stared directly at Sheila.

“Sheila, I’m so sorry. I’ve caused you to get hurt because I was so useless.”

“I did that on my own, and since I was healed by magic already, it’s not something you should feel responsible for.”

Hyderion denied Sheila’s words, even though she hurriedly asked him to raise his head.

“No, we weren’t good enough. Even if your injuries already healed, that fact will never go away.”

“I couldn’t move to protect you as quickly as I could. If I had been able to move, you wouldn’t have been injured to that extent.”

Even Zechs spit out his words with frustration, which made Sheila’s heart ache with guilt.

“Well…. I didn’t do the whole thing with good intentions either, you know. If you fall on top of each other, you’ll be more seriously injured if you’re under it, right? There was a possibility that I would be the one underneath, so you could say that I planned it for my own sake.”

“No. Sheila is wrong.”

She honestly revealed her selfish intentions, but Cody flatly denied it for some reason.

“You’re strong. No matter what the situation is, you can act for someone on the spur of the moment. That’s something I can’t imitate now.”

“Eh…”

That was definitely an overestimation. Cody was a better human being than she was.

Cody bent down a little to look into Sheila. At times like this, she noticed he was taller than when they first met. Now, she had to look up at him.

He was growing up even faster than her.

“――But you are a little reckless. You try to help even at the cost of yourself, which makes me nervous when I’m with you. I know it’s not right for me to say that, since I’m the one being protected, though.”

After saying that, Cody looked at Zechs and Hyderion. They gave each other a small nod and looked at Sheila again.

“That’s why we decided to become stronger. If we don’t catch up with you, something like this will happen again, and I’m sure I’ll regret it again. I want to be able to reach out to you every time you do something reckless.”

Staring at his manly smile, Sheila was at a loss for words.

Cody said they were going straight to the training hall, so they parted at the doorway. Sheila went to the staff building as originally planned.

‘The boys grew up faster and faster before you know it….’

While walking, Sheila looked up at the sky. The incoming clouds over the mountains loomed with an almost touchable texture.

Cody said he wanted to catch up, but Sheila was somewhat worried that she might be left behind. Their backs seemed bigger and more dependable than ever as they made their way to the training hall.

In the teacher’s office, Clauschezade was going about his business as usual. She was almost afraid that he would soon merge with the chair. 

“Excuse me, Clauschezade-sensei.”

Claushezade immediately looked up from the document as Sheila entered.

“I see you’re feeling better. Are you sure you don’t need to rest more?”

“Yes. Leidyrune-senpai used advanced healing magic on me. He also promised to keep quiet about the incident.”

While answering, Sheila proceeded to the back of the room to make some tea.

Claushezade blinked his eyes in surprise.

“…. Leidyrune Centrix can use advanced healing magic?”

“Yes. That’s what he said, but…. is it strange?”

“It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it. However, only a handful of people can use advanced healing magic. And to be able to use it while still a student is quite rare.”

Sheila understood how amazing that was by seeing Claushezade be impressed. He rarely praised others.

“That means that there was no problem in entrusting you with him during the competency test. I’m relieved to see that you’re not suffering from any aftereffects.”

“It’s kind of uncool that the teacher is worse at healing magic than the student, though.”

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“….”

Claushezade glared at Sheila when she laughed teasingly while carrying the tea.

His hand quickly came closer. That was a sure sign that he was going to pinch her cheek. Feeling his warmth on her cheek, Sheila immediately distanced herself from him.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence.

“――What’s wrong?’

“…. Uh, my body on its own?”

“What?”

Claushezade frowned suspiciously. Sheila, too, tilted her head in puzzlement, unable to stop her body, which moved on its own.

Claushezade had pinched her cheeks several times because he seemed to find it amusing that she could stretch her cheeks so much. Up until now, Sheila had reluctantly allowed him to do it if it would make him feel better. Had she gotten tired of it after being laughed at by Leidyrune for her octopus face?

Sheila changed the subject with a deceptive smile.

“Anyway, can you keep quiet about this matter to Felix? Just this once?”

It was a blatant distraction from the topic, but Claushezade accepted the change in subject. He reached for the tea that Sheila had put down.

“Let’s see…. I have no choice but to report it.”

“Fine, then I’ll tell him about it myself. Claushezade-sensei don’t have to do it.”

“I don’t mind, but please report the details properly. There is nothing to be gained by deceiving.”

“I understand. I don’t know why, with Felix, I can’t hide anything from him.”

While talking, Sheila suddenly noticed. Why did she comfortably say “I” in front of Claushezade?[1]

‘I’m trying to be careful…. I’ll have to be more careful from now on.’

As Sheila nodded deeply to herself, Claushezade gave her a suspicious look.

“What?”

“Well…. If you’re as easy to understand as you are, I’m sure Felix-sama will be able to figure out what’s going on.”

“Eh? Were my thoughts that transparent on my face?”

Sheila was flustered. For some reason, the thought that he could read her thoughts was oddly embarrassing.

“Um, erm, I was thinking that Claushezade-sensei’s name is too long and difficult to call. I never thought of anything suspicious, no, not at all.”

“…. Well, let’s just leave it at that.”

Sheila’s head rapidly cooled down as she was given a sympathetic look. He really didn’t think much of it, so what was she panicking about…?

Claushezade opened his mouth as he gracefully sipped his tea.

“Many of the nobles are named after gods. Many gods have long names, so it’s no wonder they are hard to call.”

“Ah, Leidyrune-senpai and Jornwerner-sensei both have long names, don’t they? Also, His Highness Wilfrecht.”

“My name is associated with the God of Victory. Jornwerner’s name is probably related to the Goddess of Wisdom.”

Hearing that, Sheila was reminded of the names of the gods that she had recently learned.

“It’s Claudianus and Lirnoverne, right? If you ask me, they are indeed similar to both of you.”

Then, Leidyrune was from the Goddess of Grace, Lendreen, and Wilfrecht was from the God of the Stars, Vilestalit.

Perhaps the reason why there was no one named after the God, Faril, might be that it was discourteous to be associated with the name of the God of Creation, the God who controls all things.

“It’s hard to call you by your full name, so can I shorten it to ‘Claushe’ or something like that? Oh, but it’s hard to say ‘Claushe-sensei,’ and it ends up being too long too.”

For now, Sheila would like to simplify the name of Claushezade, with whom she had many opportunities for conversation. But she knew she would be rejected once she suggested it anyway.

“…. Don’t omit my name in public. If it’s in the absence of others, you don’t even need the honorifics.”

It was a very roundabout way of saying things, but did that mean that permission was granted?

“Let’s see… How does ‘Claushe-sama’ sound?”

“I told you, there’s no need for honorifics.”

“No, but ‘Claushe’ is, on the contrary, hard to call…”

Claushezade tried to touch Sheila’s forehead, who was lying face down and mumbling. Sheila backed away again. He stared at his abandoned hand a little uncomfortably.

“What’s the matter with you today? Are you sure you don’t have a fever?”

“… Maybe I do….”

She couldn’t believe that just the thought of being touched made her feel hot.

‘Tomorrow is finally the day of the appointment, and it’s definitely not good if I’m not in perfect physical condition…’

The person she was meeting was someone you should never pass on a cold to.

Sheila quickly finished helping Claushezade and ran away under the pretense of taking a good rest.

Translator Notes:

1. Just like in previous chapters, she said “I” in feminine form. ↵

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