CH 111

Do Your Best in Winter!

During the winter, Sheila put as much effort into her studies as she did into her training.

Thanks to the intensive lectures given by Jornwerner and Claushezade, she felt that she was making rapid progress.

“You’re getting better at understanding some of the more difficult grammar and expressions in the ancient language.”

“I managed somehow because the grammar is the same as the current language. Because of Jornwerner-sensei, though, I learned some obscene words along with it.”

“I’d love to hear them in your pretty little bird-like voice.”

“I do not intend to make any perverted remarks.”

Sheila had become accustomed to communicating in the ancient language and was now able to use it well in everyday conversation.

“However, it’s thanks to Jornwerner-sensei that I have been able to talk this much. That’s the only thing I am honestly grateful for.”

“You’re still not perfect at writing, though, so I’ll continue with the lecture.”

“Yes…”

Sheila had thought that maybe she could be set free with this today, but it seemed she was too naive.

As usual, the ancient language still looked like crawling earthworms. Just being able to read the official language in use today was a dramatic growth for Sheila, though.

‘I wonder if I will be able to read the ancient language fluently someday…?’

As Sheila struggled with the difficult questions posed by Jornwerner, he suddenly opened his mouth.

“Shall I give you the lecture on magic that I promised before soon?”

All at once her thoughts that had been lost in a maze became clear. Sheila quickly raised herself up and looked over at Jornwerner, who was standing at the podium.

“Are you serious?”

As she asked back, she remembered that he had made such a promise. Sheila had cooperated with him on several experiments, so she had fulfilled his terms of exchange.

Jornwerner nodded with a hint of a smile.

“I’m indebted to you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“I think it’s strange that a teacher is indebted to a student, but since it was Jornwerner-sensei who said it, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

“You’re really treating me shoddily. This is exciting, though, because I feel like it’s going to open new doors for me.”

“That’s a door that should never be opened, okay?”

Sheila frowned quizzically as she calmly pointed that out.

“I didn’t expect Jornverna-sensei to bring it up, since it was never mentioned again. I’m afraid there might be something behind it.”

The person who had created the smoke screen smiled so perfectly that made him seem even more suspicious.

“You’re so suspicious of me. It’s rare to find someone as sincere and earnest as I am. Look, I’m still devoted to you, aren’t I?”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

Sheila said flatly. 

“Well, if you can learn more about magic, you don’t need to go out of your way to get permission to read the books in the library. If you focus on such a roundabout way, you’ll have less time for me.”

Sheila glanced at him, wondering if that was what he really meant.

“Unfortunately, it won’t go as you expected. I still want to abolish the library system someday.”

She declared as if in provocation to Jornwerner, who raised his eyebrows.

“If I’m the only one who wants to learn magic, it’s certainly enough to attend lectures. But I am sure that in the future, there will be other special students who will think the same way as I do. Isn’t it natural to want to change the system itself for the sake of future generations?”

If even one dissatisfied person raised his or her voice, things could change, whether big or small. It would eventually become a big movement like a ripple spreading.

When opinions were voiced, it didn’t mean that reform would take place immediately. Everything was a stepping stone for the future.

Witnessing Sheila’s enthusiasm, Jornwerner blinked his eyes in surprise.

“I’m sincerely surprised. I can’t believe you thought of such a difficult thing.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to add the word ‘sincerely’ to it. I mean, it’s not that difficult.”

Sheila became depressed by how much she was underestimated. Even though she had a brilliant mind, the opponent was Jornwerner.

“Ah, right. Can Zechs attend the lecture with me at that time?”

Sheila changed her mind and asked a question.

She hadn’t confirmed Zechs’ own intention, but he would probably be interested if she explained that it would be beneficial for him.

Jornwerner shrugged his shoulders in a bored manner, but he agreed.

“It’s not my intention to interrupt our sweet time together, but if that’s what you want, then I guess I have no choice.”

“It’s not a sweet time for me, though. And please don’t drain Zechs’ blood.”

Sheila had just had her blood drawn by Jornwerner the other day.

She couldn’t reject him strongly because she was still being lectured by him, but it was fortunate that it was only a small amount. She would like to believe that Zechs wouldn’t be a target since he couldn’t use the spirit arts.

When Sheila said so firmly, Jornwerner nodded easily.

“Of course. I wouldn’t take blood from someone I wasn’t interested in.”

“That makes it sound like you’re interested in me, so can you please stop…?”

“Oh, that’s cold. It seems that my feelings have not reached you yet.”

According to Jornwerner, Sheila’s blood was nothing out of the ordinary.

When she asked if there was anything unusual about that, he replied that the blood of the nobles in this country was found to contain magic essence, although the levels varied from person to person.

“I see, so that’s why the nobles can use magic.”

“Correct. It’s good for you too because if you don’t have magic essence in your blood, you don’t have to worry about being attacked by monsters.”

“….? Do monsters react to magic essence?”

When Sheila tilted her head at something she had never heard of, Jornwerner raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was only recently that she found out that monsters weren’t fictional creatures in the first place, so she would like to ask him to tolerate her ignorance.

“Don’t you know? Monsters live on magic essence. That’s why they attack people. It’s more efficient than collecting magical elements floating in the air.”

“Uhm. So, the people in danger are, in other words, the aristocrats….?”

“I guess you could say that. That’s why every aristocratic mansion has a basement for disasters.”

“Oh….”

“If monsters appeared now, the most dangerous place would be the royal capital. Generally, the aristocrats return to their territories during the winter, but this year, the first child of His Highness the Crown Prince will be born soon, so most of the aristocrats are in the royal capital right now.”

Sheila’s mood became heavy as she imagined monsters attacking the royal capital in droves. Even if it was a joke, it would be too much of a bad omen.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean that the monsters will avoid people, so even commoners are in danger if they’re in the direction the monsters are traveling, okay?”

“…. I don’t think it’s something to talk about so cheerfully, though.”

Even though he was aware that Sheila’s energy had gone down, he still managed to keep teasing her. As expected, his eccentricity was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

“Getting rid of monsters is troublesome. Even though you can’t fight them without using magic, wizards are the ones most targeted. Don’t you think it’s ironic?”

Sheila blinked as the conversation took an unexpected turn.

“Huh? Jornwerner-sensei, have you ever fought a monster before?”

“Wizards who work in the academic tower are obliged to be sent out in the event of a national crisis. Since I’m conducting research at the government’s expense, I have no choice but to do so. But I’m not very good at swordsmanship, so I was only there to provide logistical support.”

“Then, have you ever seen Claushezade-sensei fight monsters? The one where he fought against three monsters?”

“Yes, we were on the same battlefield. It made my job a lot easier when he was in the vanguard.”

Sheila hadn’t forgotten the story that Clauschezade shared with her during the summer training. She had always been curious about it, although he didn’t tell her much about his battle history because he didn’t seem to think it was something to talk about.

She was prepared to look up history books as a last resort, but she didn’t think she would be able to hear the story from someone who had actually been there.

“He doesn’t like to talk about those things because no matter how he tries, it only leads to bragging. He’s a bit more shy than you might think. Even then, he was awarded a medal for his heroic work in helping to defend the country.”

“Wow~ Claushezade-sensei is really amazing, isn’t he?”

Talking about the battle, her heart fluttered. When Sheila exclaimed with admiration, her eyes shining, Jornwerner stopped moving. Her guarded smile was gone, and her eyes were wide open, defenseless.

“…. smiled.”

“Huh?”

“That’s a first, isn’t it? You smiled in class.”

“Huh. That’s true.”

Sheila wasn’t the kind of person who could smile when she was facing something she wasn’t comfortable with. In the first place, there was no way she could relax when she was alone with the strange man who was the target of caution for most people.

“Um, but what does it matter?”

When Sheila tilted her head and asked, Jornwerner blinked his eyes as if he had just woken up from a dream.

“…. Hmm? No, it doesn’t really mean anything.”

Even if she tilted her head in confusion, she still didn’t understand.

“Jornwerner-sensei does that sometimes, doesn’t he? You’re always saying about difficult things, do you not understand simple things?”

“If you think about it simply, what kind of action principle will my statement now be?”

“I don’t know.”

“…. You’re so lazy, aren’t you?”

He gave her a dumbfounded look.

“I recommend that you try to live by instinct once in a while, like I do.”

“It’s a nice suggestion, but I’m not going to do it. If I don’t use my brain, it will only deteriorate.”

“Does that mean my brain is deteriorating?”

Jornwerner laughed as her lips twitched. Sheila felt like she was wasting a lot of time talking when she was with him.

Looking down at the barely touched answer sheet, Sheila hurriedly returned to her studies.