CH 133

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Aurora Steinfeld, daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield

Clawis Omnibus Worstitters/Clawis Garcia, Crown Prince of Worstitters

Rivera Hernández, Clawis’ aide/escort

I can’t help but feel a gaze on me since earlier……

When I stopped suddenly and turned around, several ladies who had been peeping at me from the corner of the corridor, gya-ed! And ran away.

Oi, oi, ladies shouldn’t run. But they certainly screamed when they saw me, didn’t they……? Am I something that makes them scream? Even for me, it makes me feel complicated.

“……”

“What’s the matter, Sapphiras? Stopping here like this.”

As I stood still in the corridor, I was approached by a classmate.

“Ah…… yeah. Somehow, the ladies saw me just now screamed and ran away. Was I uncomfortable enough to scream?”

I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’m not sure what’s going on here. Do I make them uncomfortable enough that they scream?”

I’ve been soaking in the hot water every day, and lately I’ve been taking care of my hair. Thanks to that, it feels smooth to the touch.

“Eh?…… Aah! It’s most likely the young ladies of the first year. They’ve probably come to see the rumoured spirit.”

“The rumoured spirit?”

“What, Sapphiras is the person concerned and you don’t know about it? You’re the Spirit of Obsidian1黒曜 literally translates to ‘black day’ but obsidian (黒曜石) sounds better, I also feel like the author intended for it to be obsidian anyways., and you’re popular among first year students. I guess they were waiting for Sapphiras in a place where you often pass by, just to catch a glimpse of you.”

The Spirit of Obsidian is……another name that doesn’t make sense.

This time last year I was also exposed to curiosity, but I wonder if I’m going to be looked at with curiosity again this year.

“Even though I’m not a spectacle ……’

“Well, isn’t it fine? You’ll get tired of it soon. Besides, if you know Sapphiras’ inner self, you’ll know right away that the spirit is just an illusion! Until then, just be patient.”

Saying this, my classmate clapped me on the shoulder. It’s someone else’s business……no, although it’s probably really someone else’s business.

Even though I am now in the second year, my class is carried over from the first year, and the faces in the classroom are the same.

In addition, since I have roughly understood the flow of the academic year, life in the academy for the second year will be easy

However, there are some things that are not so easy.

The art that had troubled me so much has now transformed into the threat of music and stood in front of me. I had no more connection with music than I had with painting. If they told me to sing or play an instrument, my fight would end there.

I am thoroughly averse to the arts, but His Excellency gave me the opportunity to experience music, and just the other day I was invited to a piano concert at the Duke of Bloomfield’s house.

Someone by the name of Franz something Schubert-san, an up-and-coming musician who, like me, is supported by the ducal family. He is a popular composer and performer in the royal capital.

I dressed up a little more formally and attended the concert with Percival, but I fell asleep halfway through, leaning on Percival. Percival should have woken me up, but people are bad.

Even I know that it’s rude to fall asleep while someone is performing seriously. But as I was listening to them, somehow, I felt really good, and before I knew it, I was being lured into a dream world.

“It’s the power of music to put your mind at ease. If you fell asleep peacefully, it means that my performance was also quite good.”

Schubert-san smiled at me gently and said to me when I was feeling ashamed. What a generous man.

Aside from the other musicians, Schubert-san’s name was firmly etched in my heart.

The second school year started like that.

There are times when it’s a bit noisy, as it was a while ago, but the days are relatively calm.

However! What is not so calm is when Percival walks me back to my room after dinner. Percival always kisses me on the forehead when he leaves.

Because he’s my fi-fiancé. He would at least do that. I guess.

But he does it so naturally and fluidly every time that I can’t prepare myself for it at all. I’m used to it because it happens every day, and I don’t roll around on the floor anymore, but I writhe when I get into my bed. When I close my eyes to go to sleep, no matter what I do, I can’t help but remember.

I’m probably too conscious of it. After all, Percival is as calm as ever. I kind of hate the Knight of the Sun’s composure……

As I was walking along thinking about this, I spotted Clawis and Rivera ahead of me. They had been absent from school for a while, but recently they have become completely accustomed to the academy.

I often see students from the academy talking to them, who are beastmen, without hesitation.

I think that the fact that the academy accepted the injured from Worstitters during the civil unrest last year has eased some of the prejudice against beastmen. That was also thanks to Aurora’s efforts.

“Ya, Clawis, Rivera!”

“Aah, Sapphiras. Are you going to the cafeteria?”

Yes, it’s a special day. I’ve been looking forward to the cafeteria after school since this morning.

“Yes, I am. If you don’t mind, would you like to join me? Today is the day they’re adding a new pastry to the menu.”

“Aah, by all means……”

“……It is truly deplorable that such a filthy beastman is in this great Sun Kingdom’s Creare Academy.”

“Truly, it is.”

As if to interrupt Clawis’ words, a harsh murmur crept in.

A student I’ve never seen before said some ostentatious and pointless words to us. The uniform is brand new, and judging from the atmosphere, it must be a first year.

Rivera, who had only recently become softer towards humans, seemed about to attack at any moment. He looks classy though. I guess Rivera has a bit of a beast quality to him. No matter how hard I try, my roots are the same as common people, and my essence is something that cannot be easily changed. So I understand the feeling.

However, if Rivera, a beastman, creates an uproar here, that’s exactly what these guys want. Maybe these rude guys are working for the Marquess of Fargerson.

I pat Rivera on the chest. Leave this to me.

I don’t know how respectable your family was growing up, but there are some people among the human race who quite conceited. It’s really quite deplorable.