Chapter 31: Save 18 – Lost Days

Once again I had that dream.

I was in a strange and mysterious place of pure white.

The sky, the ground that looks like concrete, there is nothing else in this place.

No matter how far I walk, I see no one, except for a certain part.

The deepest part of the place I find someone crying on his knees.

He always repeats the same words over and over again.

"I'm sorry!"

"Forgive me!"

"I'm very sorry!"

"Why are you crying?" -I want to ask him that.

But when I try to get closer my head starts to hurt and my vision fades.

When I try to get closer I notice how a strange shadow covers the person.

"Wait!!! Why are you crying, who are you?"

Finally, I can't reach him and wake up.

◇

My hand is raised trying to reach for something. I notice how my breathing is heavy and sweat is falling from me in front of my hair.

After wiping myself I notice that it is eleven in the morning.

"I've been having this strange dream for a few weeks now. Ixion is useless at things like this."

It's been two days since spring break started, but for some reason the academy won't let us leave yet.

Since I'm hungry, I'll go get something to eat in town since the dormitory cafeteria is closed.

After leaving my room I noticed a chest, it was a male chest of someone tall like the door.

I was frightened for a brief moment, but when I saw his clothes it was a servant's uniform.

He was more or less toned body, his hair is long, blond and gathered on his shoulder as if he was a lady, green eyes, plus it is very rare to see someone with brown skin around here.

When our gazes met this guy gave me the impression of being annoyed.

"Good morning Baron Bradford." -Said the servant politely with a clearly irritated tone.

"What's the matter, servant." -Just as he answered me, I answered him.

I didn't notice at first, but behind him were three other attractive servants like the guy in front of me.

The brown-skinned guy reminds me a lot of someone, I don't remember who?

"The academy asked the students to stay for a while because of this."

I was a little surprised that he spoke out of the blue to tell me that.

Likewise, he put his hand in his pocket.

I panicked thinking he was going to hit me, I was wrong as what he pulled out was an envelope.

I opened it, there was an invitation which unlike the envelope was not wrinkled. I could tell this guy was annoyed with me, but not that much.

I read the contents and the servant explained its contents as if he couldn't read.

"Because of your help with catching pirates in the surrounding area, the Royal Palace along with the academy paid for a cruise for the students. It will be three different random travel zones for all the students. The cruises will come in three days."

What the servant said was the same, but more polite along with many nice words.

(Apparently, excursions in fantasy worlds are normal. Or, is it because there is more security for me now that this happens?)

I thanked the servant who came expressly to drop this off for me. When I tried to leave, he didn't move.

"What's wrong?" -I asked the servant who didn't move.

I really thought he wanted to hit me. So just in case I used strengthening magic to resist a blow.

It didn't happen, but something else more interesting happened.

"You don't recognize me, do you?"

The servant asked that as I cynically replied "I've never seen you before in my life."

The servant seemed to know I would say that and made a funny face.

After laughing he looked at me and said....

"We only met once, but you are not someone easy to forget. After all, you made our employer no longer here."

I wanted to ask him what the heck he was talking about when I remembered something.

Jokingly opening my mouth and beating like a drum my fist in my hand I answered him.

"Oh, I remember, you're one of dirty bastard Klein's lackeys! Sorry sorry sorry, but since I care about that guy as much as a piece of shit I couldn't remember."

After laughing at that bastard the servants got annoyed with me.

Apparently his manager, the blond brunette, was responding to me.

"I'm glad you do remember our master, thanks to you. We lost our master so our salary now is the basics since we work for the school."

Apparently there are servants working at the academy as a matter of course, while the rich young men bring exclusive servants from their homes.

The difference in status is horrible.

"Thank you, what else can I do for you, do you want me to hire you? No thanks, otherwise you're a beautiful girl I wouldn't."

I replied with my true feelings and seemed to want to say something when someone came, it was a young servant with brown hair and scarlet eyes.

"Keyes-san!!! You're wanted in the headmaster's office. He wants someone to talk to you so hurry up."

"May I know who's calling me, Allen?"

"I don't know, but the principal came out of there telling me to call you."

Apparently the blond guy's name is Keyes and little Allen. For some reason, again. He looks familiar to me this kid.

He noticed my look and gave me a dirty look.

I wanted to punch him for being rude, but an adult like me wouldn't do that.

They went back to talking to each other.

"We're going too, hopefully we won't get on the same cruise as that guy over there."

The rude little guy spoke specifically about me, just for that alone I will oblige your request and find out which cruise they will be going on and change my trip.

After finishing speaking the blond guy ran off in the direction where the unfortunate guy came from.

The other servants went to deliver more letters to other students.

While I continued on to go into town for lunch.

◇

Two days I had to stay at the academy while Ixion finished with Brunhilde's arrangements.

I arrived home a few hours ago and of course my family greeted me with blows after telling them what happened to me.

My parents and siblings were yelling things at me like "You idiot! Do you want us to get killed because of you?" and "I don't want to die because of Rudel!" Obviously, Lyle was the one who said the most pathetic things.

They left the house to go to town, I don't know why. So it was just me and my sweet little sister.

I wanted to see her angelic face so I could erase the memories of the fake happiness I had with those girls. Instead, I was shocked because she was upset puffing out her cheeks seeing me furious.

"Onii-chan, we need to talk." -said my sweet little sister as I knelt down for some reason in front of her.

I proceeded to tell her everything that happened hoping she would understand how I feel, the answer was a hard blow to me.

"Onii-chan, it's partly your fault what happened."

My sweet little sister shattered my heart, I immediately asked her "Why is it my fault? I'm innocent, I didn't do anything wrong."

She kept looking at me angrily with her cheeks puffed out. She was adorable, still.

"In the village I have a commoner friend named Jessica-chan, at first I didn't know she was the daughter of the lord of these lands and she distanced herself from me, I was hurt by that and ran to her house to tell her that I had a lot of fun playing with her, she wasn't there. When I was returning home I found her coming from the same direction of our house, I ran crying to her and she cried too. I told her I wanted to keep playing with her and she equally wanted to play with me."

"So onii-chan it's partly your fault for not understanding her motives. they are your friends aren't they? Fighting with your friends is bad, if the three of you apologize you'll surely go back to the way you were before."

I was amazed how a twelve year old girl can say such strong words like that.

To calm her down I lied to her, I'm sorry, it hurts me to do this to you, but that won't happen.

"You're right, on this trip I will apologize to them."

"It's okay. ♡"

Her cute voice made it hurt me more to lie to her. I remembered the main reason I came home.

"Pola, do you remember what I lent you a few months ago? I need it since I'll be modifying it for use over there."

After lingering for a moment in thought she remembered what he was talking about and ran out to get it.

As I watched her run to her room I looked out the window at the land that me and those girls farmed together, I can't destroy the land, but I really don't want to hear from those girls again or whatever they are doing right now.

◇◇◇

This happened months ago, the Bismarck Household fleet was returning from going to support Rudel in his encounter with the Bluebeard pirates.

Alisa was in her father's office in the Royal Capital.

She told him what happened with one exception.

Her father noticed that she was strange and asked about her downcast face.

"Did something happen there or with Baron Rudel?"

Alisa without changing her mood replied "Nothing is wrong, everything is normal, I'm just tired!"

Her father, Siegwald, listened to what she said and he instead in a calm tone replied "I understand. I have good news for you, it has already been decided who will be your next fiancé."

When Alisa heard that her face drooped she raised her gaze to her father.

He saw her and did not change his expression.

"Why that surprised face? You're sixteen years old, you're the daughter of a duke, it's normal for you to be engaged."

Alisa heard that and her expression wanted to show discomfort about that.

She understood and understood that. But her heart a few weeks ago felt pain because her previous fiancé was unfaithful, verbally abused her and even threatened her to her face.

And now she had to get engaged to a man she probably didn't know.

Her father spoke as he signed documents as if he was talking about something normal.

"He is the heir to Arkwright County.... I think it would be more appropriate to say he would be a marquisate since his father will be promoted in a few months due to the discovery of a magic stone mine on one of the islands in your territory. He is also affiliated with our faction so I consider him to be the best possible candidate to be your husband, his son is in a different room than yours so I recommend that you start establishing communication with him. That's it, you can go back to the academy."

Siegwald finished speaking and continued signing documents until after a few seconds he realized that Alisa had not left.

He looked at her and when he was about to say something.

"I will leave immediately father, goodbye."

Alisa bowed and walked out of the office with her face looking at the floor.

Her father could see that and after she left, he said a few words of discomfort.

"I'm sorry, for putting you through this again. That future marquis has evaded taxes years ago in a mysterious way and I want to know if his son knows something or not, once again I must use you my daughter."

She then continued to sign documents dealing with the investigation of something related to the sale of metals and weapons from possible corrupt nobles towards the Talis Commonwealth.

◇◇◇

Alisa had been back to class for a week now, she was currently in the library, due to being yelled at by Rudel and Airi, she no longer joined them. Mostly because a part of her thinks that the daughter of a duke should not feel bad, let alone care about the opinion of people of low status, that was in her head.

The library was not empty, there were students chatting and bustling about. Apparently many of them were talking about vandalism events among other things related to Rudel.

Alisa only heard that, but she was no longer passing word with Rudel so she had no idea if it was true, a part thought it may be possible considering a peasant doesn't care about his reputation.

"How I was telling you. In today's fencing practice, I surprised the instructor with a big rapier, all the guys were amazed in front of my skills, hahaha."

The person talking about his accomplishments was a boy in a white uniform, he was Alisa's new fiancé, Clovis von Arkwright, a young man of medium height, regular physique, violet hair with some Z-shaped hairpins on the side, the length of his hair reached to his nape with a long fringe combed to his left that covered his cheek and part of one of his beige colored eyes.

The boy already knew that Alisa was going to be his fiancée so he was pathetically trying to brag about his academic achievements.

Alisa was bored listening to him as he spoke nothing but himself.

A thought crossed her mind.

(Rudel talked about more interesting things even though they were also ridiculous).

When she thought that she immediately stood up and said to Clovis "I'm sorry, Count Arkwright, I must go to the powder room on a matter."

She then turned a little red as lines that absurd usually came out of Rudel's mouth, Clovis heard her and a little astonished replied "O-of course... it's normal."

Alisa quickly got out of there and inadvertently bumped into someone in the doorway, her eyes were closed in embarrassment, but when she opened them she noticed that the person was a girl and she was on the floor with several books scattered around her.

But an atrocious panic ran down her spine when she saw the legs of that girl, those legs were familiar to her, she didn't need to see her face to know who it was.

The fallen girl suddenly raised her gaze to see the face of the person who pushed her and ask for forgiveness, since that girl, was a good girl so apologizing was normal for her, for Airi.

Airi watched Alisa's face for a few seconds, it was the first time in a week that they saw each other since she returned her in a boat to the academy after arriving in the capital.

Airi's face had signs that she had cried a lot, her hair was also a mess. She immediately grabbed her books and said words that Alisa never thought to hear from her.

"Forgive me for bumping into you Lady Bismarck, I am just a simple commoner, so I beg your pardon for bumping into an aristocrat."

After standing up she curtsied and ran out of there without looking back, Alisa didn't look in her direction either.

◇◇◇

The school day was almost over, it was Friday so several male students were getting ready to leave.

In her classroom, Airi was sitting writing what they did today.

She heard some boys' voices sounding very loud and something caught her attention.

"Are you serious, Fritz, you single-handedly defeated a strange amorphous creature that turned into a black puddle!"

"Yes. I don't know why he attacked me or where he came from, but that girl's group needed more members and supporting the prince with his friends is a task that we commoners who will get a position in the military must perform."

The boy with brown hair and sapphire green eyes spoke proudly.

Airi only knew of that boy from the introduction of all the students, when he tried to make conversation one of them said he had heard that a commoner who possessed magical power had signed up.

Immediately Fritz made a face of disgust when he heard that and said "A commoner with magical power is the same as a spoiled son, all those who possess magical power are egocentric people with the exception of the Royal Family". Airi kept quiet and has been alone at her desk ever since. This is how she also unintentionally destroyed a bond between the first commoner friend she and Liam would ever make.

The fellow commoners didn't know of her existence before, but after she got together with Rudel they didn't even pay attention to her.

Fritz and his friends kept talking while Airi wrote her notes in a separate notebook.

"Without a doubt, the weird thing about that group that those three, I mean, the prince and those two didn't seem to stay away from that girl. From what I heard, she's a viscountess of class two."

"It's certainly rare, could she be a special girl in magic or will she have some hidden talent?"

"Who knows."

The alarm signaling that classes were over sounded.

The commoner boys and girls wanted to have some fun in the city for a while, everyone was going out. Airi grabbed her things as she headed out, inadvertently walking past Fritz and overheard what they said.

"Are you coming with us to the pub, Fritz?"

"Thanks, but I need to keep improving my fencing skills. So I'll be staying late practicing."

"We understand, have a good one."

"Sure."

Fritz's friends said goodbye to him. He grabbed his things to go to the training camp, no one imagined they wouldn't see him again in a few months.

◇◇◇

It was already evening.

Very late in fact.

Fritz was returning from training to the boys' dormitory.

The commoner and low nobility boys' bathrooms were on the second floor, the high nobility bathrooms on the fourth floor.

Since it was late, he would ask the supervisor for permission to use the bathrooms so late.

On his way to the restroom he encountered an oddity, not to say something that was impossible to believe.

A girl in a black uniform was standing in front of a door.

The rooms were named after the student who slept there.

He knew the girl standing knocking on the door.

She was a girl from his class, a commoner like him. Her name was Irisdina.

He only knew that she was a commoner girl who got together with two nobles.

For Fritz something like nobles and commoners being together was aberrant.

Fritz walked past ignoring what the girl who kept repeating over and over again was saying.

"Rudel-san, are you awake?"

"Rudel-san, can we talk for a while?"

"...Rudel-san, can you at least listen to me?"

(That girl has been doing the same thing for a week now.)-was what she was thinking while heading to the bathrooms.

◇◇◇

Airi had spent the night out of the room again trying to contact Rudel, she didn't know he was somewhere else and hadn't gone to the academy. After the week was over, she stopped insisting on talking to him.

◇◇◇

"Umm... this is a bit complicated."

After sleeping a lot and no longer trying to look for Rudel, the expression on Airi's face had improved.

The days at the academy had progressed normally, she was in the library studying some magic theory books for her class tomorrow.

Life was normally like this for her, all for the sake of meeting that special person according to the plot of the game.

Only there was neither special person nor change in her life. With the exception of two people she met a few months ago, thanks to those people her days were radiant and joyful. There was not a single day when she was not happy, until that incident happened and they cut ties.

She was affected for a while, but little by little everything was getting back to normal. With the exception of strange rumors that were spreading about a certain student by the name of Rudel.

As she was always alone she recovered quickly.

She had these thoughts after a few days.

(I originally came here to study.)

(As a commoner, my chances of excelling in any job in the future other than farming are slim.)

(Loneliness has always been with me since I was a child, I can live with this.)

Suddenly she stopped writing as a doubt arose in her mind about a question.

Normally the teachers would answer, only what with her, they would pass by so as not to have a psychological break down.

"Rudel-san help me with-"

Airi spoke as she looked in a direction to consult a normal question to a certain person.

She stopped and looked back to her notebook.

Although it was noon, there was no one in the library.

She was all alone just as the plot indicated.

◇◇◇

Alisa was in the lunch cafeteria.

She had come alone as her not yet official fiancé, Clovis. Was not available to accompany her.

It is normal to find boys in the girls' cafeteria.

Alisa was sitting in one of the chairs waiting for a servant to come and ask her what she wanted to eat, since girls from important houses don't need to go personally to order.

Alisa remembered when she was with Airi, she would ask her what she wanted to eat and Airi would go and bring the dishes for both of them.

Her face had an uneasiness on it about what she had done wrong to earn her scorn.

She could not forgive Rudel for disrespecting her as a country noble. She was trying to forget both him and her to concentrate on her own life.

It was then that she heard footsteps approaching towards her.

As she looked up she noticed it was a group of boys in white uniforms. She just stared at them while still thinking about why Airi yelled at her.

They mistakenly misinterpreted her expression with one of displeasure.

One of the boys who appeared to be her representative stepped forward to speak on everyone's behalf.

"G-good afternoon Lady Bismarck, you don't remember me, but I am the heir to a household affiliated with yours."

Alisa stared at him, she didn't remember him, but if he was speaking to her it must be because he was one of the boys in her new entourage since the old ones were no longer left.

The still trembling boy spoke nervously.

"S-since a week ago you've been hanging out with the Arkwright heir if I'm not mistaken. I don't see that commoner girl or that country fellow with you either."

Alisa continued to stare at him unblinkingly.

"We all here heard what happened with those pirates. Also of the rumors of him wreaking havoc in the academy."

The boy pointed to the others when he said about Rudel. All the boys attended in unison.

Alisa just looked at him and didn't say a word.

"Maybe that's why you don't hang out with those two anymore... that's where we and the girls at the table over there. We would like to know if you could allow us to be by your side now that you got rid of those inferiors?"

Alisa closed her eyes and directed her hand to a glass on the table. It was empty so she had to refill it with liquid again.

It was there that once again the plot was returning to normal.

"Wow, my carbonated beverage is empty, wonder who could refill it?"

So the boy rep took that hint and energetically grabbed the glass to go refill it not before going to talk to the girls at a distant table.

Alisa continued talking as she looked at the table.

"Today on the menu was Caesar salad and beef stew. I'd like a portion alibied in small pieces and dipped in orange cream."

"I also have a little interest in what spring clothes will be in style for the vacations."

You are reading story World Ixion/SAGA at novel35.com

The remaining boys went off to get what she ordered while a group of girls approached their table.

They all introduced themselves and began chattering about abused things that Alisa never paid attention to, but now she listened to them for one reason only.

Loneliness.

Due to having no one around her from her childhood to her teenage years, the Alisa of the game looking for affection did things that a young girl, let alone a duke's daughter, should do.

She was looking for how to fill that void inside her and, the only thing she had known through disreputable people was only one.

Promiscuity.

No support from anyone, no friends, no family. She had become an obscene woman who, even with spending time with her fiancé Klein, had failed to develop a bond.

The day she knew what she was doing was wrong was when she watched the crown prince chatting happily with a commoner.

Her heart was shattered.

She had to use her body and give a random she doesn't remember his name or face, the most sacred part of a girl. Alisa as revenge for making him see how terrible her life was, decided to torment her so that she would suffer as she did.

She even cruelly humiliated her fiancé as self-satisfaction since he also spent time with that commoner and unlike her, his fiancée, he showed her a smile that perhaps would have brightened her darkness.

She had even decided to join forces with a worst kind of guy named Rudel. She only knew that he had gotten away with disrespecting the crown prince several times.

She thought the same thing would happen again.

She was dead wrong.

Alisa's face was filled with despair and fear when Rudel, on one of the game routes. He fell dead at the hands of the prince.

After that, her family decided to expel her from her home, her engagement broken and with that came the end of the villainess Alicelotte von Bismarck.

A poor, lonely and sad girl who never received a single token of affection that could lighten her heart.

And now she, little by little was beginning to walk the same path.

◇

Finally I was on board the cruise ship.

Three large cruise ships of the transatlantic type had arrived for different places to take us.

One was headed for an island where the climate is arid and created for dangerous sports. No thanks, I don't want to die again.

The second was going to a tropical place with spas. Definitely a great opportunity to learn about the business structure for my resort.

I was selected to go to that one. I would gladly accept, but those idiot servants from the other time were on that boat.

So I decided to bribe some teachers to let me on another cruise ship and a random guy to switch trips with him. Of course, I also paid the bastard to switch.

Apparently this trip will be going to an island that belonged to a country that was one of the four world powers, but after the second world war this country and its ruler were wiped out so their islands needed protection so they became parts of other territories.

I was happy to step into a place of great size and luxury that only Ixion could replicate.

I should be happy, that's right, I should be....

...But in reality I was not. The reason was simple.

"Why are they here?"

I was upset about two things.

The first is that my headache has not gone away, it has gotten worse to the point that I shouldn't even move because of the pain, thanks to a medicine that Ixion created is that I can move with peace of mind as it suppresses the pain as much as possible. It is still there, just until this floating garbage can finds out what is wrong with me I will have to take these pills.

The other, but no less important is that there are three people on this cruise I never wanted to see again... unless a bizarre situation like this happened.

I was in my bed watching a recording of Ixion.

It's supposed to be super old technology, you're showing me a recording, but you can't do a live feed because of lack of technology? What kind of a scam are you!

On the screen were my fake friends.

Irisdina was walking through a lobby towards the bookstore of this ship, I also wanted to look for good reading content so I wouldn't get bored since there are no video games.

Alicelotte was in the game room at a poker table, she was together with a large group of young people not at all trustworthy again. She wasn't gambling, but the others were.

They both had a strange expression of sadness in their eyes. I didn't care if they were in trouble or not.

Now, the biggest disgrace of all was just one person, a certain idiot that I made sure to find out where he was going to be before I switched to this ship.

The stupid prince.

He was scouring all parts of the cruise ship looking for someone.

He was wearing an obvious black wig and dark glasses, more pathetic and obvious he couldn't be.

The teachers seem to know it's him and do nothing, the students don't even notice him.

I'm missing the tour of this place thanks to these three.

I really got off to a bad start this vacation.

◇

After a few hours, almost a day's drive, we finally arrived at the place.

I can't complain about not going out to tour the cruise ship as the view of this place is beautiful.

Everything looks identical to a certain country from my previous life.

There were old wooden buildings in every visible place, the hotel was identical inside as well. The doors were made of paper so you delicately slid them open so as not to break them.

The island was so big that it seemed to be a small country. People wore something similar to a bathrobe, according to the hotel owner who happens to have oriental features from my old life.

He says that this clothing is called [yukata ] and is usually worn during summer seasons and festivals, which again. Coincidentally they are at these times so it looks like I will have more fun.

◇

The cruise was bound for an eastern island for a week, that week had already come to an end.

It was night time and something called a tanabata festival was being held near the rivers.

Liam was not present as he had gotten lost trying to get to the river.

On the grass were people eating, laughing and drinking something called sake. Food stalls around the area selling snacks called okonomiyaki, takoyaki, sushi, etc.

At the other end of the river were giant, beautiful pink trees called cherry blossoms.

Airi had rented a yukata as it was the most economical for her.

Her yukata was the same color as her eyes with embroidered borders of white flowers covering much of her clothing.

She was looking with amazement at such a place, it was very different from her village where there were no festivals and people did not socialize like here.

Suddenly she saw someone she hadn't run into in a while, it was Alisa. Unlike Airi, she was surrounded by a group of young people both girls and boys. Some wore normal clothes and others like Alisa wore more sophisticated traditional clothing called kimono .

Her kimono was identical to her eyes, it had clouds of the same color as her hair embroidered in different parts.

Quickly, so as not to run into her, he hid behind some sake boxes that were stacked nearby.

Alisa and her group were talking as they passed by the boxes.

"Alicelotte-sama shouldn't try that round thing, it's too greasy and would be stained with oil."

"My lady I do not recommend this drink, its taste is something the commoners of these lands enjoy."

"Lady Bismarck, for you it would be better if we went back to the center of town to admire the fireworks they will be launching shortly, you must not join these ragged and rowdy commoners."

Alisa wanted to try typical drinks and dishes from the rural stalls, but her entourage told her not to, as it was frowned upon for a duke's daughter to do the same as a commoner.

Airi came out of hiding and watched as Alisa and her new friends enjoyed the sightseeing.

She turned her gaze to go to the opposite side and enjoy what was left of the festival.

Until she heard a scream.

"Bastard!!!"

"Don't play innocent!!!"

Both she and Alisa turned their faces in the direction where the loud voice came from.

For some reason, their legs moved in that direction and they looked at three people making a racket.

When they reached the place of the commotion they noticed three people. One was a woman in a very, very short skirt leaving nothing to the imagination, next to her was a burly man in a sleeveless shirt revealing his dragon tattoos. And, the last person was...

"Rudel-san!" -shouted Airi after the first time in months seeing him.

◇

I had enjoyed this whole week and come to the festival held on the last day.

I rented a yukata, but I suck at walking so I returned it.

I was in normal clothes so the night heat was very oppressive.

Ixion was examining the island up to this hour looking for anything related to ancient mankind's technology to hide it, I wouldn't want to know what would happen if they recreated something scary.

In the rural stores there was a wide variety of foods that were very similar to what he saw on cooking shows.

As I was about to order something called sukiyaki, I was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder by a tanned guy with no sleeves on his shirt.

He yelled at me weirdness like "You touched my girlfriend's ass!" and "You should pay for touching her!"...what the fuck are you telling me?

After being perplexed by this idiocy I replied - "I don't know what the hell you're talking about? I haven't touched that woman, besides I wouldn't do it either, she doesn't fall into the category of my preferences."

After saying that the guy grabbed my shirt and yelled at me bastard and something else.

I heard the voices of the stall holders mumbling very loudly.

"Yet another victim it seems."

"They must have been watching him for a while it seems."

"Poor foreigner, they'll squeeze every last coin out of him."

Apparently in this land people like this are not at all uncommon, and they are right. I was buying very expensive things for my family and myself.

(Do you think because you are filthy rich you can want to extort money from me?)

(I'll never allow it again!!!!)

(In my previous life something similar happened to me right after I went to work, I will never allow it to happen again).

I grabbed the guy's hand and roughly removed it from my shoulder.

I said grabbing him by his shirt "I don't know how it is here, but you guys don't seem to know the difference between a nobleman and a commoner! So let me give you a lesson so that-"

Before I could finish my sentence like you typical noble oppressor, my ear was pulled from behind.

"It hurts!!! Who the fuck did that?"

I turned around and my right ear was being yanked by....

"Don't pick fights with the locals!!!!! You'll make us look bad."

...Alicelotte.

While with my free eye I watched that other girl, Irisdina apologizing on my behalf.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble you caused them."

For some incomprehensible reason she also ran to pull my free ear as she criticized me.

"No matter if it's a hoax, you shouldn't jump to solve problems with violence."

(Huh?)

(What the hell. Why are these harpies helping me?)

(No one asked for your help. Let go of me! And more importantly... Why am I smiling and not putting up any resistance).

◇

These annoying girls brought me for some reason to a part away from the people.

You could hear folk music and bustle in the distance.

I was sitting annoyed on a staircase leading to a temple. Those girls for some reason were still here.

I'm annoyed with them.

What the hell do they want now?

I noticed that they weren't looking at each other's faces, rather they seemed to avoid looking at each other.

"Umm... this..."

Who spoke in a somewhat timid tone was Irisdina.

"Rudel-san, you've been busy these past few months haven't you?"

(What kind of idiotic question is that? If you haven't seen me all this time it's because I haven't been at the academy... I also saw you the other time down the hallway so I hide in a room where a student and a teacher were doing improper things).

I replied to her plain and simple "it's none of your business my life."

I looked at her as I told her that and my eyes rolled to the next annoyance to tell her the same thing.

"Don't think I'll thank you for something she never asks you to do."

"Do me a favor you two and don't ever meddle in my fucking life again from now on. got it!"

I shouted loudly at them. Irisdina made a sad face and left in tears. Serves you right.

While Alicelotte stood for a while looking at me and a tear came out of one of her eyes, she said goodbye to me after that.

"All right, all the best in life, Baron Bradford."

Without any hidden intention I replied in kind "Same to you, Lady Alicelotte von Bismarck."

As he was leaving, he suddenly stopped and continued after a few seconds.

I heard footsteps in the distance and her group of useless friends came to pick her up.

One girl handed her a handkerchief and Alicelotte accepted it.

Then a small group of idiots came towards me angrily.

"What did you do to my lady, you filthy peasant."

I immediately grabbed the bastard and just as I was about to say something to him.....

"Uhh. Gyahhhhh!!!"

...My head started to hurt.

The guys just stared at me as I writhed in pain on the floor.

"I don't know what's wrong with him, but you sure got what you deserved, let's go."

The guys left after watching me suffer on the floor.

"It hurts! It hurts so much! Help, Ixion!!!"

◇◇◇

The fireworks were minutes away from launching.

People were looking for the best places to watch them.

Airi was sitting on a bench. She had cried a little, but she calmed down after a while.

After wiping her tears she noticed that there were no lonely people waiting for the show. All around her was just her with no company, even the street vendors had people near them keeping them company.

Again she was getting depressed until she saw a girl wearing a yukata. She was alone, Airi thought about inviting her to watch the fireworks being a stranger.

But before a word came out of her mouth a boy arrived with a saucer of food for them.

Airi just put her hands on her knees waiting for this beautiful night to be over already.

◇◇◇

Alisa was watching Airi from behind at a distance where she would not notice her.

Neither she nor her friends managed to reach the center in time so they will have to watch the fireworks from their position.

Alisa noticed a couple of local girls eating a greasy ball of meat. The smell smelled strongly of lard, but that didn't bother her. She simply watched as they smiled as they ate, holding hands.

Alisa tried to do something similar with the girls in her entourage, but they all refused as it was not socially acceptable.

Their eyes only looked at Airi sitting there staring at the floor. They both did not know that they were also being watched by Rudel he who was walking staggering uphill.

◇

The pain in my head was gradually subsiding as I walked away from the spot.

I threw myself backwards in front of a tree from mental exhaustion, that's where those girls came into the range of my vision again.

Truly not my lucky day today.

Suddenly I heard someone approaching, I became alert thinking it was the guy and his slut looking for trouble again, instead who appeared was a strange guy.

"Oiya~? What's a healthy young foreigner doing here alone?"

A peddler wearing clothes that looked like rags.

The weird guy approached me and helped me stand up.

I thanked him as the pain was getting less and less and I was starting to feel better.

Not only his clothes, but also his hair, face and voice looked like he was homeless, although he wasn't as he had a small box with a pendant around his neck, he was a peddler.

For helping me feel better, I don't know if it was really thanks to him, but for feeling so much better this was getting my mood up too. I decided to buy the items he sold from him.

"Dude, I'm in the mood so sell me all your merchandise."

Being the good rich guy that I am I will buy everything from him to show my generosity.

"Sorry, thank you, by the way, but I've already sold everything."

I got a dumb look on my face after hearing that. Tough luck for him.

"But in the warehouse where they were I found these here, they were in a very dirty hidden box, after cleaning them I took them out to polish them, but no one wanted them for some reason."

The old man took out of a sack he had hidden who knows where, three objects in decorative wrappings.

As I said I would buy everything from him I pulled a white gold coin out of my pocket. It's a lot, but I'm in a really good mood right now.

I opened one to see what they were while the old man's eyes sparkled at the coin.

The first wrapper was a woman's accessory, it was a hair pin. It was black all except for the center where there was a beautiful and very distinctive sky blue rose.

"This doesn't fit me. I'm a man and I don't get that kind of innuendo. Besides, my mom hates this stuff and my little sister prefers more useful things than looking good. Next."

I left the brooch in the box hanging on the ragged old man. I opened the second wrapper and there was a pair of earrings in the shape of small diamonds, they were the same color as the brooch, black all but the crystal which was sky blue.

"My mom doesn't wear these tiny things."

I left it in the box. We are going bad, very bad.

I finally decided to open the last wrapper hoping for something useful and the result was very surprising.

I made an "oh!" In front of the beautiful ring just like the other two items, black and sky blue, with little details that in the center was a circle that formed a flower and the surrounding small diamonds that gave it a very precious image.

On my right hand I had to this day worn the beautiful gold ring with red, but this one is new so let's give it a new time of use.

I took off my red ring and replaced it with the new one, it is very beautiful no doubt. Now the problem is these two extras.

(My little sister and mother wouldn't like these, discarding them doesn't sound like a very considerable thing to do since they cost me a white gold coin. I can get more, but it's not the same thing to waste things, what can I do with them?)

While I was thinking about it the old man said to me "onii-san, the fireworks are about to start, you should go with your friends to enjoy the show."

(Friends, huh? I wish I had real friends since I only got fake friends who betrayed me...).

My honest thoughts suddenly stopped and something occurred to me.

"Old man, do me a favor, I'll pay you for it too." -I grabbed the old man to tell him to do this....

◇◇◇

Airi was still sad sitting in the same position for a while now. The fireworks were about to start when she heard footsteps.

As she turned to where the footsteps were heard approaching towards her, she noticed an old man with an object in his hand. She was a little startled when the old man reassured her.

"Good evening, ojou-san I may look like a suspicious person, but I am not. A certain person asked me to deliver this to you and one other person."

Airi noticed that she had not one, but two wrappers in her hands, the one on the right was for her.

After accepting the object a little cautiously, she slowly opened it, her eyes widened as she saw the object inside, and just then....

"Alright everyone, the countdown has started, everyone together!"

...She started the countdown for the show.

"Ten."

"Nine."

People shouted in gleeful happiness at the long-awaited closing event.

Airi was looking at a beautiful hair brooch that had a crystal rose in the center.

The old man was going in another direction when he was called by Airi's voice.

"This... who gave this to you?"

People's voices kept shouting as the old man answered him in a humorous tone.

"Five."

"Well... a not at all honest guy told me to give it to two blonde-haired girls with sad faces. Mind you, he asked me to keep absolute silence so shh!"

Airi stood watching as the old man ran towards Alisa's direction, he seemed to be in trouble for his friends as a bodyguard, but Alisa made a surprised face at something the ragged old man said.

"Three!"

The voices grew louder as Alisa pulled out some beautiful earrings.

"Two!"

Airi watched that and only for a second smiled as an image of three people together appeared in her head.

"One!"

"Tamayaaaa!!!"

The instant both girls looked at that gift from a mysterious person, fireworks were launched illuminating the sky in its entirety. They tightly embraced with their hands that precious souvenir they finally got on this vacation.

◇◇◇

Rudel was hiding looking at everything near a tree.

He said only a few words before leaving to the hotel a bit annoyed, but with a rare smile.

"Tch. I told that old man not to say anything too much."