CH 144

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

“Sapphiras-san, the principal wants to see you. Please go to the principal’s office immediately.”

“Eh?”

Suddenly, a person from the academy office came to the class and told me that. I tilted my head at the summon, which I did not remember at all.

“Sapphiras, what on earth did you do this time?”

A classmate whispers softly.

‘This time’, doesn’t that make it sound like I’m always doing something to get summoned. That’s rude. Besides, I’ve been pretty quiet lately, I haven’t done anything that would get me summoned.

Without a clue, I head for the principal’s office.

“Excuse me. It’s Sapphiras.”

“Please come in.”

I get the principal’s permission and open the door, and there’s His Excellency the Duke. No, really, what’s going on?

“I’m sorry to call you out of the blue.”

His Excellency has been beaming at me, but he’s always like this, so I can’t decide whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.

“No. Did I do something wrong, by any chance?”

“No, that’s not it. The reason I asked you to come here today is because I have an offer for you to study abroad.”

“Ha? Study abroad?”

What’s this about studying abroad? I tilted my head more and more. I’m not doing particularly well, so how in the world did I get such an offer?

“The Crown Prince of Sternkurst has asked me to invite the excellent magician Sapphiras-kun to visit the academy in the royal capital and interact with the students.

“Sternkurst…….”

Sternkurst is the second largest country in terms of territory after Solmontana. However, the culture is very different from this country. Afterall, slavery still exists and the King is rumoured to be a bit of an ambitious man. It’s a country that doesn’t seem to be a good match for me.

I think slavery is crap, and above all, I like a peaceful and pleasant country.

If it were a faraway country, I could just say that such a place still exists, but the trouble is that Sternkurst and Solmontana share some territory. Vanderwall is the one that has been protecting that boundary. Have they realised in the history of warfare that no matter how hard they try to attack us, they will not be able to break down a strong fortress? At present, they seem to be on friendly terms with each other, but we don’t know what is going on in their hearts.

I don’t think such a country would want to welcome a Solmontana student…… I’m not interested in studying abroad at all.

“It seems that they want to deepen the friendship between the two countries through studying abroad, but instead of a student we recommend, they purposely nominated Sapphiras-kun. Sapphiras-kun seems to have caught the attention of the Crown Prince of Sternkurst.”

“Haa.”

I think it was inevitable that I replied in a very unenthusiastic way. I don’t remember doing anything that would catch someone’s eye. Where in the world did that crown prince see me?

“The Crown Prince was at the evening party the other night. At first, it seems that he had my daughter as his target……but the way Sapphiras-kun behaved during that commotion was far beyond the realm of a mere student. Not only your competence as a magician, but also your eye-catching appearance. His highness in that country is probably thinking of acquiring Sapphiras-kun and keeping him by his side in the future. Since ancient times, a beautiful and powerful magician has been a symbol of power. He thought that you, Sapphiras-kun, would be able to fulfil that symbolic role.”

Oi, oi, wait a minute. What on earth do you think a magician is? I couldn’t help but wrinkle my brow.

I see, so the invitation to study abroad had that kind of intention. Aurora, whose relationship with the Second Prince had returned to a blank slate, and since the fact that she was a candidate for the Crown Princess had not yet been made public, they must have thought there might be a chance. However, Aurora, their target, is side-by-side with His Highness the Crown Prince. As expected, they can’t do anything foolish enough to mess with Aurora, who might become the Crown Princess. Their plans were a miss, but they found someone else who could be useful, so I guess it’s okay. Am I just a flint in a ditch1こけたところの火打石 this is a proverb I think? It means that even if you fall/fail, you must get something out of it. So Sapphiras is the something (flint) that they want to get when they fall (in the ditch)?

I don’t know what kind of person the Crown Prince of Sternkurst is, but I definitely can’t get along with him.

“Fortunately, Sapphiras-kun is engaged to the son of Margrave of Vanderwall, who is a key figure in the protection of our country. Should anything happen, the Margrave of Vanderwall will not remain silent. If that is the case, our country, not wanting to make enemies with the Margrave of Vanderwall, cannot force you to do anything……I think that’s enough reason to turn down studying abroad.”

His Excellency is talking on the assumption that I will refuse. Indeed, the usual choice would be not to go. The other party’s intentions are too transparent, and it seems somewhat troublesome, and I don’t get anything. However, there are one or two things that bother me a little.

I’m thinking that the beast flute and the beast slaves brought to the party may have something to do with Sternkurst. After all, it is a country where slavery still exists. That said, I don’t think beast flutes are that easy to obtain even in their country. How did the Marquess of Fargerson obtain such a thing? That’s what was stuck in the corner of my mind. Well, it might not be impossible to get it if you piled up a lot of money. Even so, it is reasonable to assume that there was some help.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that I would know anything just because I went to Sternkurst, and in fact, it might not have anything to do with it at all. Even if that’s the case, if I become an adventurer, I will probably go there at some point, so I should go there with the intention of setting a target while I’m there. Besides, once I go there once, the coming and going is just a matter of the blink of an eye.

“Since it is a rare opportunity, I’ll take you up on that study abroad offer.”

The Duke’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at my answer.

“……Is it okay?”

“Yes. I think it’s important to get to know the neighbouring countries while I’m still a student……but there’s one condition.”

His Excellency smiles in a very amused way. It’s a look that says he doesn’t think I’m going to study abroad just to learn like a normal student. That’s right, though.

“Hoh? What’s that?”

“It’s to study abroad with Percival.”

It’s like an after-the-fact agreement, but it’s fine. If it looks dangerous once we’re there, I’ll run away as soon as possible and ask for forgiveness.

“Of course we don’t mind, I’ll send a wind falcon to the Margrave immediately.”

”

“

“……That’s why I decided to go with you on my own, was that okay?”

When I told Percival about my study abroad while eating dinner, he had a surprised expression on his face at first, but it gradually turned into a smile.

Huh? Did I say something funny?

“I, did I say something funny?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry……I’m just glad that Sapphiras didn’t forget about me.”

“? That’s obvious. How could I forget Percival?”

There’s no way I would forget Percival.

At that time, I didn’t think I said something strange, but when I crawled into my bed to sleep at night, I suddenly realised what Percival was thinking, saying he was happy.

Not so long ago, it was normal for me to be alone, but before I knew it, I was always acting with Percival, and now the two of us are the norm. Percival was happy about that normality.

Once I realised that, an indescribable tickle welled up from deep within my chest.

“……!”

Suppressing the urge to jump out of my bed and run around, I pressed my face into the pillow and moaned unintelligibly.

Get used to it already, me!