Chapter 43

■ Chapter 42. Crisis (1) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

Since Aira fled from the group, the group project proceeded smoothly, contrary to my worries.

As they say, a loach stirs the water, and with that loach gone, the murky water naturally cleared up.

I've always said that I could handle the project on my own, but since it was a group project, I put in a lot of effort. If Benjamin and Leona came up with plausible hypotheses, I would either refute them or add more detail.

Thanks to this, we produced a very satisfying result. Of course, since I added the details to the hypotheses they organized, I took charge of the presentation.

"But didn't you say you found Xeon's biography boring? It looked like you read it in depth."

"Shut up! I was just curious about the next part!"

When Benjamin was away, I could have various conversations with Leona. I realized that she was an enthusiastic reader of Xeon's biography, despite her usual talk.

Her ears, which twitched slightly whenever she got excited, were a bit annoying, but since Leona only showed her true self around me, it wasn't a big problem.

"Can you really do a good job with the presentation? If it's too difficult, I can do it."

Leona, who had calmed down for a moment, asked me with her characteristic cynical tone. Although she crossed her arms and looked at me coolly, her eyes were filled with worry and concern.

I'm not sure if she doesn't trust me or if she feels guilty about me taking on the presentation, but based on Leona's personality, I assume it's the latter.

"I can do it. Just trust me. Or do you want to try?"

"Fine. It's the day of the presentation tomorrow, so what are you planning to do now? Anyway, I'm leaving. See you tomorrow."

"Sure. See you tomorrow."

As Leona waved and left, I waved back to see her off. The place where Leona and I had just been was rarely visited, so we could talk freely.

A moment later, I moved on after seeing Leona disappear. I plan to do a final check and spend the remaining time resting and writing.

'I wish I could become a third-year student soon. Then I'll have more free time.'

Back in the dorm, I threw myself onto the bed and thought about the future. As Professor Virius explained during the first class, to advance to the next year, you need to score a certain grade or higher until the second year.

However, once you become a third-year student, you can choose the major you want to focus on and concentrate on it. This is information I learned when I reported Aira's situation to Professor Virius last Monday.

If the first two years are a combination of high school and college, then from the third year onward, you become a college student who focuses on one subject. There's no need for grades; you just need to focus on your major and get good scores.

'What about me…'

Naturally, my goal is history. There's no major in this world that interests me as much as history.

I want to become a third-year student as soon as possible, quickly finish writing Xeon's biography, and start my next work—a modern story that would be considered fantasy in this world.

However, unlike Xeon's biography, which will have a tragic war story, it won't have heroic deeds.

'No, no. Instead of thinking about the next work, I should focus on Xeon's biography now.'

If I start working on it, it might become a sprawling mess, and the quality of the work might suffer. For now, it's better to concentrate on Xeon's biography.

Of course, I plan to slowly establish the setting when only two volumes are left to the end. By then, it should be fine.

'…I should think about this when the time comes.'

Even this idle time feels precious. Recently, with Aira's problem and other things to worry about, I've been a bit tired, but it's manageable.

Most importantly, if I fall asleep now, I won't be able to wake up tomorrow morning. It would be better to finish at least one part before going to bed.

With this in mind, I dragged my tired body to the desk. On the desk, the manuscript I had been writing until just before leaving the dorm was neatly placed.

'I wonder how they're doing?'

While infusing mana into the magic pen, I suddenly thought of the grand party. It seemed fine at first, but as time went on, cracks were clearly visible.

Lina, who always had a relaxed expression, became expressionless, and Cecil's bright expression whenever she saw me quickly darkened. Maria, who seemed to have given up halfway, occasionally let out a bitter laugh.

Most notably, Jackson, who had been trying to form a bond, was gradually becoming annoyed with them.

Furthermore, he occasionally sent me envious (!) glances. I could roughly guess how serious the situation was.

It must have been a significant blow from the group project. After all, it was a combination that couldn't mix, like water and oil.

'They're quite pitiful. We only had one…'

Drip—

While thinking, a liquid started to flow from my nose. I snapped out of my thoughts and put my hand to my nose, feeling a slightly sticky sensation.

To my surprise, when I pulled my hand away, it was covered in bright red blood. It was a nosebleed.

I had been feeling tired today, and it seemed my body was sending a warning.

Drip— Drip—

While staring blankly at the blood on my hand, it started to drip onto the manuscript. I was startled and quickly moved the manuscript away.

Fortunately, the blood only stained the edge, not the center, so I avoided the disaster of having to rewrite the manuscript. Still, I needed to stop the bleeding quickly.

"Huh, tissue…"

It seemed I should take a break from writing today.

* * *

Time passed, and the day of the presentation arrived. It meant the end of the group project, which had caused many problems.

"Hey, did you guys really finish everything?"

"We did."

"Hmph. Really? Got it. Since I'm the group leader, I'll accept you if you apologize…"

"Go to hell."

Just before class started, Aira suddenly appeared and acted boldly, but I strongly cursed her again.

When I cursed, Maria, who was sitting next to me, looked at me with a surprised expression, but I ignored it.

After all, she had overturned the table and now wanted to stick her spoon into someone else's bowl. Aira's audacity was beyond comprehension, and I couldn't help but curse her.

"You…! You'll see! I'll really write to my dad!"

"Do as you please."

In any case, Aira left, leaving behind the words that she would regret it. I watched her walk back to her seat and shook my head.

How far must one go to act like that? In a different sense, she's more impressive than Jackson.

"Did you fight with her?"

While I was sighing inwardly, Maria, who was sitting next to me, asked a question. Her question was filled with curiosity.

I answered in a low voice without looking at her, still feeling angry about Aira's audacity.

"We fought. She said something she shouldn't have."

"What did she say?"

"A few weeks ago, my brother joined the Navy Knights. And she's the daughter of the Marquis Mathias. Do you understand?"

"I think I get it."

Even if I said that much, Maria nodded as if she understood. After all, it's a well-known noble family, so it would be strange if she didn't know.

I looked at her nodding and asked tentatively, worried that she might also look down on soldiers like Aira.

"Maria, what do you think of soldiers?"

"Huh? Why?"

"I fought with Aira partly because of my brother, but also because she treated soldiers like guard dogs. I wondered if all nobles think that way."

Of course, I don't think Maria has that mindset. But I was worried that most nobles might think that way.

Given that a military family's daughter could say such things, I couldn't gauge what other nobles might think.

Maria frowned and said, as if questioning my seriousness.

"…Are you crazy? If you say that, you'll be forced to enlist."

"Forced to enlist?"

"Yeah. It's one of the well-known punishments among nobles. If a noble's child insults a soldier, their parents are forced to enlist as soldiers. Most can't last a month, but they have to serve for two years. It's legally defined, so even nobles can't avoid it."

That's a novel and effective punishment. If you've been in the military, you know how terrifying the punishment Maria mentioned is.

You'll learn how warm a home is, how good family and society are, and how terrible the military is.

Moreover, in this world, without smartphones or televisions, there are many injustices. For noble children raised in a greenhouse, there's no more efficient punishment.

"What if the parents, not the child, insult a soldier?"

"Such cases are rare, but they probably won't end well. If the daughter of the Mathias family really insulted a soldier, the impact would be enormous. Enlistment is certain, and in the worst case, she might be expelled from the family."

Enlistment… That sounds interesting. I wonder if Aira will soon feel the pain of the second day of boot camp.

I chuckled, hoping that moment would come soon. She needs to suffer to come to her senses.

"Anyway, did your group finish everything?"

While I was chuckling, Maria asked me cautiously.

I answered her question, looking at her cautiously.

"We're all done. What about your group?"

"…I don't feel the need to answer."

From her resigned smile, it seemed they had messed up as expected.

Still, I was curious, so I asked, disregarding the rudeness.

"At least did you participate?"

"We participated, but we didn't do anything substantial. We just gathered and chatted. We did that twice."

"Then what about the research and presentation?"

"Who do you think did all that? For your information, I didn't do anything."

"… …"

When Maria asked in return, I was left speechless.

No wonder Jackson looked so gloomy. I felt a sense of empathy and pity.

"I gave up from the moment the groups were assigned. The grade will be a bit painful, but it won't be too bad. If it really doesn't work out, I'll focus on another major."

"Majors… What major will you choose when you become a third-year student?"

I suddenly became curious and asked. I had chosen history as my definite major, but I didn't know about others.

Of course, it might be a bit early to ask since we haven't even finished the first semester. But maybe she had something in mind.

Maria, hearing my question, rested her chin and thought for a moment before quietly saying.

"Majors… I don't know. I'd like to study political science, but Lina will be there, so I'll pass. Right now, I don't have anything specific in mind. I just want to graduate. What about you?"

"Of course, history."

I answered without hesitation, and Maria made a face as if she had heard something strange.

"Is history really that interesting? I can't understand it."

"You might think so, but I don't. History is so interesting."

"Okay, okay. That's why you're so knowledgeable about history. Why don't you write a book? You got praised for your writing by Professor Elena last time."

"Uh…"

Her sudden jab left me speechless for a moment. She probably meant it as a joke, but it wasn't a joke to me.

Maria, observing my face, said with a curious expression.

"What's that look? Are you really writing a book?"

"No?"

"Hmm…"

When I denied it, she stared at my face and then looked down. Her gaze was fixed on my right hand, where the pen holder was.

I almost instinctively tried to hide my hand but suppressed the urge to avoid arousing suspicion. Maria, seemingly satisfied that I wasn't suspicious, turned her gaze forward and spoke.

"Well… If you say you're not, then you're not. But if you really write a book, show it to me. I'm curious."

"I'm not writing one, I tell you."

"Who cares? Oh, of course, I can ask my dad to sponsor you."

"Ah, stop it."

Even though I grumbled, Maria just chuckled. Fortunately, it seemed to be a joke rather than a serious offer.

But it was still unsettling. It hit me so suddenly that it was hard to respond.

'How long do I have to live in fear?'

I want to reveal it, but I'm afraid of the aftermath. Moreover, I have to endure for my father, who is struggling to keep my identity hidden.

Anyway, the class started, and the presentations, the highlight of the group project, began. As expected, Jackson from Maria's group was the presenter, and he appeared exhausted, evoking sympathy.

'You've really suffered.'

I doubt the harassment will decrease after this. I looked at him with a sympathetic expression as he weakly returned to his seat.

Did he feel my gaze? When our eyes met, Jackson only let out a hollow laugh without any reaction.

Thus, all the presentations ended, and the humanities class concluded. The other classes proceeded without any issues.

After all the classes ended, I had dinner with my group members and returned to the dorm.

"Hmm?"

When I opened the dorm door and entered, I saw a letter envelope lying on the floor.

I picked it up and saw it was from home. Since I hadn't sent any mail to my parents recently, I was naturally curious.

'What's happened?'

I sat on the bed, tore open the envelope, and took out the letter. The letter turned out to be…

A warning written in my father's handwriting.

"… …"

I blinked as I read the warning.