Chapter 40 Cats, cats, cats 1
Claire, a second-year student in the Department of Magic and close friend to Yenika, had come out near the partially destroyed Ophelius Hall since morning. She wanted to meet someone.
"Ms. Belle, hello."
It had been a day since the occupation of Ophelius Hall had caused significant damage. Although the investigation into the precise cause was still underway, there was a rumor among the students that the maids were involved somehow.
Claire felt that the rumor might not be entirely baseless, though the detailed truth would be concluded by the school's Inspectorate.
"*gasp*"
The scene at the damaged Ophelius Hall was still bustling.
Although only two days had passed and there hadn't yet been substantial repair efforts, the academy staff and maids were busy assessing the extent of the damage.
Claire caught her breath when she came across Belle Mayar, who was busily taking notes near the entrance leading to the rose garden.
Belle Mayar was dressed in a maid's uniform of a dark red color with elaborate decorations, quite different from the usual attire. A blue rose-shaped brooch pinned near her chest and the blue frills trailing down her skirt were unmistakably a uniform only permitted to a Head Maid.
"Miss Yenika's friend, what brings you to Ophelius Hall?"
"Ah, hello, Ms. Belle. Have you been promoted?"
"Due to circumstances, Ms. Ellis can no longer continue as Head Maid, so I, as a senior maid, have received the position temporarily."
The consensus within Ophelius Hall was that Belle would probably take off the 'temporary' label and become the official Head Maid soon, but Belle didn't seem particularly pleased about the situation.
"Well, it seemed like you have been promoted…"
"There's no need to feel uncomfortable. Our main duty is to serve, so if you need anything, please do tell."
"No, it's just… I wanted to consult with you privately… I guess, you seem very busy."
"Um… that might be true."
Belle glanced at the checklist and Ophelius Hall, then shook her head.
"Most of the work is winding down, and no further directives seem necessary, so I was about to take a break."
"Oh, is that so?"
"What's the issue you wanted to discuss?"
"Don't be startled. This is really top-secret. You must not leak this to anyone else, and you can't show any signs of surprise."
Claire stiffened her expression, approached Belle stealthily, and spoke seriously.
Belle, curious about what could be such a shocking secret, listened intently.
"Yenika seems to like Ed… Ed Rothtaylor, that is."
Surprisingly, this was a fact Belle already knew, but she wondered whether she should feign surprise out of politeness.
"I have no idea why someone like Yenika would fall for that rascal… As a friend, I have such mixed feelings."
The location had shifted to a bench in the rose garden. Claire, who glanced around several times to see if anyone was passing by, soon poured out the worries she had been keeping to herself.
"I thought it over day and night, but… Lately, Ed's reputation has improved a bit, and Yenika must have her reasons, so I decided to support her. But I'm still so, so anxious."
While listening to Claire's continuous lament, Belle thought that Yenika was lucky to have such a friend. It's rare to find someone who worries so much about a friend's relationships.
As long as Yenika feels that way about it… As a friend, I hope things turn out well for her and Ed."
"That's good to hear. Miss Claire must have been quite worried."
"But.. that's not the main point!"
When Belle tilted her head in response, Claire brought up another girl's name.
"Lortelle Keheln! You know the name, right? Ms. Belle, being a senior maid at Ophelius Hall!"
"Yes, of course I know it."
"Yenika has been mentioning that name quite often lately. She's a first-year student, and from what I've learned, they've been getting involved in various ways since the joint combat exercise. But something seems off about it."
Again, Claire looked around and then whispered to Belle in a hushed voice.
"So I did some digging and guess what, they both were absent together at the opening ceremony, and they missed their first common class yesterday. Given Yenika's reaction, I think she's in a tight spot."
Indeed, to a young girl, the existence of a rival could feel like a disaster… But Belle's first thought was that it could just be a misunderstanding.
"Ms. Belle, Yenika has told me a lot about you. She said she relies on you a lot and that you always give helpful advice… That you're insightful."
"You flatter me."
"Plus, Ms. Belle, you know both Yenika and that Lortelle girl… So I wanted to ask your opinion."
"Lady Lortelle is famous, so Miss Claire must also be well-informed, aren't you?"
The rumors about the Golden Daughter, Lortelle, were widespread throughout all school years.
"I am, but based on what I've seen… It doesn't look like Yenika stands a chance…"
"I think Miss Yenika is quite charming as well."
"Of course, I think so too. But you know how Lortelle is…"
Claire trailed off, but Belle nodded in understanding.
Indeed, Lortelle Keheln was a sly girl. Always proper and poised, but when the opportunity arose, she wouldn't hesitate to reveal a hidden dark side. Claire knew this well.
Not having lived the merchant life in vain, Lortelle surely must have honed her skills in manipulating relationships and winning over people.
"I'm not particularly experienced in romance… But in the end, relationships are about push and pull…"
At Claire's sigh, Belle could only nod in sympathy.
Yenika Faelover, with her bright and bouncy nature, only knows how to draw in but not how to push away.
And Lortelle? If she couldn't control the pace of her relationships, she wouldn't make a good merchant.
No matter Yenika's natural charm, facing Lortelle's experienced tug-of-war, she could end up as nothing more than a caught fish, given away too willingly.
Claire clenched her fists.
"We can't let that happen! That's why… Yenika needs to learn the art of push and pull!"
"…"
"By any means, I want to instill this in Yenika. It hurts one's pride to be outdone in sophistication by someone a year younger, and losing your chance on top of that. It's better to be jilted by Ed, even if he's the scum of the earth, for at least that's an experience… but to have your fate snatched away leaves only scars!"
Belle wanted to applaud Claire for her passionate concern, but refrained from reacting. A nature as caring as hers, to worry so deeply about a friend's life, brought tears to one's eyes.
"Ms. Belle, what do you think?! I've heard you always speak the truth!"
Now those fiery eyes were directed at Belle. Frankly, Belle felt rather at a loss.
"Um, I'm not really sure…"
Regardless, Belle knew all three parties—Ed, Yenika, and Lortelle—quite well. Compared to the somewhat biased Claire, Belle was in a better position to assess the situation objectively.
"I'm not sure there's a need to insist that Miss Yenika act in a way that doesn't suit her…"
"You think so?"
"It's also possible that your concerns are prejudices. Maybe Miss Yenika is stronger than you think, or maybe Lady Lortelle is not as adept at relationships as you believe."
"Hmm… I find that hard to agree with…"
Regardless, meddling unnecessarily in their love lives was not advisable. That was the conclusion Belle had reached, so there was no intention of pushing a worried Claire any further.
"I mean, I just don't get that guy Ed! Whether he's an imposing fortress or a creepy, sly wolf!"
In the end, Claire's hostility was aimed at Ed Rothtaylor.
"It's ridiculous how he acts unaware, given the way Yenika openly adores him!"
"Well, regarding Master Ed… rather than being a fortress or a wolf… maybe he's just in a situation where it's hard to be interested in romance…"
Ed Rothtaylor was living in a camp in the northern forest, managing all his basic needs on his own.
Though Belle occasionally shared some food, herbs, or medicine with him… in essence, he was surviving alone.
And he was completely immersed in the academy's curriculum, literally dividing his days by the hour.
Being distracted by women even for a few days would mean running out of food and starving. On top of that, fall was approaching, and soon it would be winter, so there was much to prepare for.
"It can't be. Even if being surrounded by women is due to his innate luck… deep down, he must be gloating over his popularity. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps!"
"…"
Belle didn't respond but simply let Claire, shaking and expressing her deep concerns, be. After all, sometimes just venting worries makes them feel resolved.
Belle closed her eyes and contemplated Ed's situation. Busy as he seemed just trying to stay alive, was it even possible for him to be happy about his female attention? It seemed more appropriate to offer him a moment of silence in sympathy.
Considering the women around the boy, varying images popped into Belle's head.
Lortelle Keheln was like a cunning cat eyeing a fish market.
Yenika Faelover was like an innocent kitten trembling before a tiger.
Lucy was… simply a cat.
Regardless, Belle could see how much trouble Ed must be going through among those girls, and sent only inner words of encouragement even though they wouldn't reach him.
Anyway, it seemed necessary to visit Ed's camp sometime soon.
Claire had worried so much that Belle felt the need to check on the situation… and there was also a message from Head Maid Ellis.
Not exactly good news, though.
*
The weather was nice for a change. I decided to wash my face by the stream next to the camp and check my domestic skills once more.
[ Domestic Skills Detailed ]
Grade: Intermediate Master
Specialty: Carpentry
Handcrafting Lv 13
Design Lv 8
Collection Ability Lv 11
Carpentry Lv 12
Hunting Lv 8
Fishing Lv 6
Cooking Lv 6
Mending Lv 5
[ Advanced Crafting Skill Slot: Empty ]
[ Advanced Crafting Skill Slot: Empty ]
With the Advanced Crafting Skill slots now open, acquiring these skills was a priority.
I had already decided which skills to learn: Spirit Infusion, which pairs well with Spirit Magic, and Demon Engineering, beneficial for making both everyday and combat items.
Spirit Infusion can be naturally acquired by contracting with a spirit and creating a product that includes spirit formulas. Meanwhile, Demon Engineering is unlocked by successfully disassembling and assembling at least one advanced Demon Engineering product once.
Compared to combat or magic skills, unlocking crafting skills is straightforward and can be achieved quickly, a strong point of production skills.
I don't want to waste spirit slots unnecessarily, but I must train in Spirit Infusion in advance.
If you wish, it might be good to catch and make a contract with even a lower spirit…
In this case, it seems best to contract with an element I can't handle, like earth or water spirits.
Once I start handling spirits properly, my proficiency in spirit-related skills will start to improve and, if my magical stats support me well, I might be able to contract with a higher spirit sooner than expected.
I might need Yenika's help with this part.
My physical condition isn't great. I feel a bit stiff here and there, and I haven't been overexerting myself with strenuous activities. I guess I pushed myself too hard during the Ophelius Hall occupation and suffered a loss in labor power.
Well, what can I do… It was a necessary sacrifice.
Anyway, I've managed to prevent the exit of Lortelle, one of the most important characters in the scenario, and since there hasn't been any noticeable response from the Elte side, it seems our strategy has somewhat taken effect.
The rest will be fighting it out with the Elte Trading Company's headquarters, and all we could do was wait for a carrier pigeon bearing good news of a victorious outcome.
"Hello, Ed! The weather turned a bit chilly after the rain stopped!"
"Oh, hello. Yenika."
Yenika still visited the camp every day. The fact she brought all sorts of ingredients was a bonus.
"Lortelle's okay?"
"Yes. Resting inside the cabin."
I had told Yenika all about what happened.
Explaining Lortelle's situation, that he needs to lay low for a while, she nodded significantly and has been coming by daily to check on him.
But now it's the start of the school year, and the second-semester curriculum is underway.
Lortelle won't be attending classes until his safety is secured, and I had to borrow and tailor Zix's uniform since mine was a mess. It was tough to go to class before the tailoring was finished.
Neither Lortelle nor I can attend classes until the situation improves. But Yenika, who has no such circumstances, spends the whole day at the camp, reading magic books.
"Yenika, aren't you going to class?"
"Huh? My head hurts too much and I don't have much energy, so I thought I'd rest while catching some wind in the northern forest. When I told the professor, he advised me to take good care of myself."
"Really? It's not because you got hurt helping me out?"
"No, no, absolutely not. You do your own thing, Ed. I'll enjoy some forest bathing and then head back when it's time."
Despite what Yenika said, she looked completely fine, showing no signs of pain.
Sitting by the campfire all day reading a book, occasionally glancing at the cabin with narrowed eyes—her behavior was almost like surveillance.
Apparently, Yenika doesn't fully trust Lortelle. Which makes sense, considering Lortelle's past records.
"That's good to hear, senior Ed. Unfortunately, you can't tell me all the details, but I'm glad to see you're settling your debts."
Zix approached while I was chopping wood at dusk, intending to inquire about the night's events. I briefed him briefly.
"It seems the issue of us wrecking Ophelius Hall has fizzled out. After all, since the building itself was half destroyed, our damage wasn't really noticeable."
"Any disciplinary actions against the students?"
"It looks like that senior named Willain took most of the responsibility, but there are quite a few other students who received minor punishments. The head maid is still being interrogated and won't open her mouth."
From the lack of mention of Lortelle, it seemed that the head maid, Ellis, was still keeping her mouth shut. She can't testify prematurely if she intends to side with the winner between Elte and Lortelle.
I need to contact her as soon as it's safe.
"That's right. Anyway, I owe you one this time."
"No problem. Please let me know if there's anything else. I'll be on my way."
I saw Zix off as he left the forest, throwing down the axe haphazardly and deeply sighing.
It's best if Lortelle stays hidden in the cabin for now.
All we need to do is share some of the supplies and kill time until the victory news arrives and we can return to our regular lives.
Until then, I hope there are no mishaps.
I sat in the autumn-scented forest, taking a break and wishing for peace.
The wounds had mostly healed and were not too bothersome.
*
The quiet isolation of the cabin interior was calming.
Lortelle sat with her back against the rugged wall, quietly waiting for time to pass.
The Ophelius Hall occupation crisis was over, but there was still much for Lortelle to do.
The first task was to regain the influence of the former head maid, Ellis.
According to rumors, head maid Ellis is keeping silent before the investigators. She won't reveal anything until it's clear who the winner is between Elte and Lortelle.
The second task is to establish a basic framework for the acquisition negotiations of The Sage's Seal.
Although Elte's fall happened earlier than expected, the opportunity to purchase The Sage's Seal is here, and I can't let it slip away. If the plan is established, Lortelle's status within the Elte Trading Company will be untouchable, even by the association head.
Despite being busy, Lortelle could only take action after a reply from Elte Trading Company. Hiding in the northern forest for now, I could only return to Sylvania academy life once safety is secure.
For about the next three days, Lortelle had to imprison herself in the cabin—frustrating, but somewhat comforting, thanks to Ed's thorough checks to ensure nothing was amiss.
Going from a life of luxury to the wilderness of a cabin, even if sudden, didn't feel too bad, possibly because of the boy she was with.
Being by Ed Rothtaylor's side quickened her heartbeat.
The unconditional kindness and trust he offered felt as secure as sinking deep into a soft bed.
Such sensations, taken for granted by others, are more precious than gold to someone who's lived her life on cold streets.
Of course, it's not something she's willing to share, especially not with Yenika Faelover.
A girl who has lived the life of a fairytale protagonist, for whom unconditional kindness and trust are so common and obvious, be it family or friends, must have more than enough of it. It's a luxury to have such warm relationships as common as stones on the street.
If they are so abundant, then she should be able to spare one.
But even with such spiteful thoughts, she knows they won't be understood.
Then what is left is only the messy battles in the mud. Regrettably, it's an area where Lortelle excels.
Besides, three days of cohabitation—what a dizzyingly perfect advantage.
"Hmm…"
However, how exactly does a relationship between a man and a woman progress?
Lortelle has countless experiences manipulating people's interests, but there's no guarantee that techniques in the cutthroat world of commerce will work in a tender relationship between a man and a woman.
Unexpectedly weak in this area… Lortelle objectifies herself with a sigh, but she doesn't get disheartened as it's not like her.
"My own way."
Muttering this, she contemplates her own approach.
The easiest way to win someone's favor is usually money.
If the shabby cabin were buried in gold coins, would Ed look her way with shining eyes?
"Cash is short…"
Her personal assets are already stretched thin with various ventures. Although selling real estate like villas or landholdings in the Minae region could potentially create a similar show of wealth.
However, with the thought of a greedy Ed Rothtaylor emerging, she shakes her head no.
After all, a relationship built with money can't truly be emotional. Imagining Ed's greedy smile and affection purely for riches brings a pang to her heart.
But then, doing nothing doesn't seem right either.
Just observing Ed's daily life reveals a hellish existence. He spends every minute and every second grinding to survive.
Before selfishly wanting to receive kindness and love… There's a genuine desire to help him without reason or pity.
But fear of appearing sympathetic prevents action, and the aversion to building a bond based merely on money makes Lortelle hesitate, her feet entangled.
"Perhaps… It wouldn't be bad to help with tuition fees?"
Would offering just enough money to not seem like mere pity make a difference?
Considering the girl has never experienced unconditional kindness, imagining how to offer her money without making it seem like charity is challenging. The cliché lines that come to mind…
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm offering it just for your sake.
Overwhelmed by cheesy embarrassment, Lortelle thumps angrily against the cabin wall. Such lines seem utterly old-fashioned, a stark contrast to a life lived behind a cunning mask, hiding sinister intentions.
With a deep breath, she regains her composure, her frosty merchant-like demeanor resurfacing.
"…"
If she's unsure how to adjust the boundaries of a relationship between a man and a woman, she's willing to take the risk and dive in.
Currently, Ed doesn't see Lortelle as a woman at all. Progression in the relationship would eventually come from a change in perception, and that's where she needs to start.
Lortelle considers a 'plan' within her heart and nods as if decided.
It would be unrealistic for her to realize just how rash that 'plan' might be at this moment.
Lortelle is skilled at manipulating people's emotions but is utterly clumsy when it comes to genuine relationships, perhaps even more so than Yenika.
"Well then… specifically…"
A concrete execution plan will take some time to devise. But with three days to stay hidden in the cabin, she has all the time in the world to think.
With confidence that Yenika should be easily outmaneuvered, a sly smile spreads across Lortelle's face.
"… Would you move over a bit? That's my spot."
But what she didn't expect was the appearance of a new girl.
"… Huh?"
"Yawn…"
The girl in the large witch's hat, oversized uniform, and twin white braids reaching past her waist was familiar. One of the trio from Class A, often seen in Professor Glast's lectures.
It was unclear when she slipped into the cabin—whether through the ceiling or some spatial magic—it always surprised those around her.
"… Lucy…? What are you doing here…"
"You get the best sunlight there."
Pushing Lortelle aside, the girl flung a few sable skins and sprawled out, hugging herself to sleep with a steady, gentle breath.
"…"
Confused, Lortelle swept her hand down her face.
"What is she doing here…??"