Chapter 45

■ Chapter 44. Crisis (3) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

Although they can successfully overcome the major challenge of the group project, it doesn't mean the semester is entirely over. The fact that they need to achieve a certain score to avoid failing means there must be something to achieve that score.

It could be an exam, or it could be an assignment, or it could be a score obtained through a presentation.

In short, it means they will have to spend each day in a terribly busy manner. Even after overcoming the major mountain of the group project, there are so many hills that they can't help but sweat profusely.

Fortunately, there weren't many subjects that required exams, but instead, there were a crazy number of assignments. They couldn't help but pour their time into assignments, let alone writing.

“Ugh… Save me…”

Mari groaned out loud and buried her face in the desk. Her snow-white hair, as white as snow, fell like a curtain.

It seemed that the last class had completely drained all her energy.

“Seriously… Why are there so many assignments… Not just one, but several, it’s driving me crazy.”

“At least assignments are easier to score, right?”

“That’s only true for you. I’d rather take an exam. I can’t even get a proper rest on the weekend, it’s driving me crazy.”

In my previous life, the university had no more than 8 classes, but at the Hailo Academy, one must take at least 10 or more to avoid failing. Even doing one assignment is already a challenge, and it requires a significant amount of time.

I stared at the grumbling Mari for a moment, then asked her something that suddenly came to mind.

“By the way, history seems to be going well, right? I can’t say I’m a great teacher, but I’ve taught you the basics.”

As everyone knows, I’m teaching history to Mari. Of course, not just Mari, but Cecil as well.

The time is after all the Wednesday classes have ended and we’ve had dinner. Due to various busy schedules, this is the only time I can squeeze out.

Additionally, while teaching them history, I realized that Cecil already knows history at a doctoral level.

She has a lot of knowledge from living over 100 years and is a living witness to human history.

Most importantly, her memory is exceptionally good, so she never forgets anything she learns, which even surprises me.

To the point where I sometimes ask her about things I don’t know.

“Sigh…”

Mari let out a deep sigh, then slowly lifted her head. She propped her chin and answered my question in a troubled tone.

“I’ve memorized everything you taught me. You even took notes to make it easier to understand. Still, it seems hard to get a good score on the exam.”

I smiled bitterly at Mari’s half-given-up face.

She… to put it nicely, was average, and to put it bluntly, had many gaps in her knowledge. When I told her about a specific event, she often only knew the name but not the details.

Anyway, I worked hard teaching Mari history. I’m not a great teacher, so it was a bit difficult.

The good thing is that Mari was enthusiastic and had a good memory, which made it easier. Thanks to this, we could proceed smoothly without any hitches.

“Hang in there. Honestly, it’s tough to focus on history alone when other majors are also very demanding.”

“I agree. So, what are you going to do now?”

As I was about to get up from my seat, Mari asked me with a hopeful look. Her eyes were also sparkling, hoping for a positive answer.

I looked around after hearing Mari’s hopeful question and thought for a moment.

The class that just ended was Alchemy, a unique field of study in this world that replaces chemistry.

Among the students who took Alchemy with me, only Mari was a close friend. Cecil and Lina didn’t seem interested in Alchemy and didn’t attend the class, and although Leo and Benjamin were in my group project, I couldn’t really call them close friends.

I watched the students gradually leave and then spoke in a blunt tone. I felt sorry for Mari, but I had a prior engagement.

“I need to eat. I promised to have dinner with my sister today.”

“Ah… Really? You’re having dinner with your sister?”

“Yeah.”

“Your real sister?”

Why are you asking that? I looked at her with a puzzled expression, and she turned her gaze away, pretending to be indifferent.

She seemed embarrassed by what she said.

Then she glanced at me, extended her index finger, and said in a cautionary tone, a slight blush visible on her cheeks.

“D-Don’t misunderstand. I was just a bit confused because you call Cecil ‘sister’.”

“…I see.”

“Anyway, you’re only having dinner with your real sister, right?”

I reluctantly nodded, and Mari seized the opportunity to ask another question.

Her recently more proactive behavior made me tilt my head, but I decided to tell her the truth first.

“Probably… I’ll have dinner with my sister’s friend. We originally planned to have dinner on the weekend, but she said she was busy with the freshmen. Next week is the practical training, so the training load has increased.”

“Your sister is a martial arts instructor, right? My brother says she’s really scary.”

“Hmm…”

I looked up and thought deeply about what she said. Nicole, who loves her youngest, is a model of a kind sister to me.

Even when I occasionally make mistakes, she only gives me a stern warning, never raising her voice or resorting to physical violence.

However, every weekend when I visit the training ground, she reveals her true nature as a ‘lion.’ If a freshman violates the rules or deliberately provokes her during sparring, she thoroughly crushes them and strictly maintains discipline through punishment afterward.

“Well… She might seem scary to others. But she’s a good person.”

“You two are really unique. My brother and I are always fighting. Is it because of the age difference?”

“It varies from person to person. Isn’t your brother’s personality good?”

“Eh? My brother?”

Mari made a face as if she had heard the most absurd thing. From her expression, it was clear that she and her brother were a typical sibling pair.

However, it’s an undeniable fact that her brother has a good personality. I recalled our first meeting and told her.

“Remember the bookstore where we first met? You were throwing a tantrum because the Zane biography wasn’t available…”

“Aaaah~ I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know~”

Just as I was about to mention it, Mari covered her ears and shook her head from side to side, indicating she didn’t want to hear it.

I looked at her childishly whining with a bewildered expression and then chuckled. Still, I had to say what I needed to say.

“No matter what you think, your brother definitely cares about you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have brought you to the bookstore.”

“…I guess. That’s why it feels strange.”

“Anyway, do you have anything else to say? I have an appointment by 6, so it’s better to go quickly.”

“Hmm…”

When I asked her while tucking my notebook under my arm, Mari showed a thoughtful expression. I waited beside her while she organized her thoughts.

Then she moved her blue eyes to look at me and spoke in a very cautious tone.

“If it’s not too much trouble, can I meet your sister once? Not to have dinner together, just to say hello.”

“That should be fine.”

“Really? Great. Let’s go quickly then.”

As soon as I gave my permission, Mari sprang up from her seat. Her tone was subtly excited, and her upturned lips reflected her mood.

I watched her quickly pack up and then headed towards the lecture hall door. Mari stood beside me and started walking with me.

“Isaac, do you think your sister is pretty by your standards?”

“She’s objectively pretty. Imagine my face as a woman, but with blue hair.”

“Does that mean you admit your face is pretty?”

“I can’t really deny it. I take after my mother more than my father.”

On the way to the meeting place, we had various conversations. Most of them were trivial, but they were enough.

Most importantly, talking to Mari was the most comfortable compared to others. Lina was hard to approach, and Cecil always played pranks, making it difficult to continue a conversation.

Since entering the academy, Mari is undoubtedly the closest person to me. At least in my narrow social circle, no one has been as comfortable as her.

“Do you have any plans after graduation, Isaac?”

Suddenly, Mari asked about my future after graduation. I was slightly puzzled by her question but thought about it.

‘I can’t just keep writing books…’

Although the Zane biography unexpectedly became a huge hit, I can’t rely on just that. Besides, it would be too regretful to just write books in a fantasy world.

At the very least, I should visit various countries and enjoy their cultures. Instead of dangerous adventures like in novels, I want to savor the small moments of daily life.

“Maybe… a world trip? I want to travel the world and experience different cultures outside the empire.”

“A world trip… That doesn’t sound bad.”

“What about you?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“… …”

Seeing her answer with a cheerful laugh, I realized I had been tricked.

I looked at her with a blank face and then shook my head, as if giving up. She giggled at my reaction and then muttered in a barely audible voice.

“…If possible… I’d like to.”

“What?”

“If you didn’t hear it, it’s fine. But isn’t that person your sister over there?”

As Mari changed the topic, I put aside my doubts and looked in the direction she pointed.

She pointed to a fountain in the middle of the square, and sure enough, Nicole was standing there.

Even from a distance, her superior figure and blue hair tied in a ponytail made it clear it was Nicole.

“Wow. Your sister is really cool.”

Mari also let out a sincere exclamation upon seeing Nicole. As she said, Nicole’s current appearance was as impressive as a top model.

Black leather pants that fully revealed her well-defined legs and a black shirt on top. The combination of these two pieces alone exuded coolness and beauty.

She must have come straight after class, and her casual attire suggested it was possible because she was an instructor.

“Hmm? Ah! Isaac~!”

Nicole, who was pacing in front of the fountain, also spotted me and raised her arm to call my name. I raised my arm in response.

As I raised my arm, Nicole seemed to decide to come over first and walked towards me with her long legs. She soon approached and, upon seeing Mari standing beside me, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Who is this?”

“Ah! Hello! I’m Mari Hausen Rekilis of the Rekilis Dukedom!”

As soon as Nicole asked, Mari introduced herself with a strong voice. I had the impression that she was nervous.

During this time, Nicole’s golden eyes widened as she heard Mari introduce herself and her family, then looked at me. Her expression clearly conveyed her thoughts: Why is such a person standing next to you?

I casually explained to clear up her confusion.

“She’s my friend. We became close by chance.”

“…Hello, Miss Rekilis. I’m Nicole Duker Maisal, Isaac’s older sister. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Upon hearing my answer, Nicole also politely introduced herself. However, her suspicious gaze remained even as she greeted.

“Please, you can speak informally. I find it uncomfortable. You know the Rekilis family, right?”

“…I know. Then I’ll speak informally.”

Nicole, who seemed to know the Rekilis family well, didn’t hesitate to speak informally. Then she alternated her gaze between me and Mari and asked with a hint of suspicion.

“Anyway, you and our Isaac are friends?”

Her voice, filled with suspicion, also contained a slight hint of caution. Knowing that I am the author of the Zane biography, she had enough reason to be cautious about Mari.

Mari, who quickly noticed the subtle caution in Nicole’s words, immediately responded. Her voice trembled slightly, indicating her nervousness.

“Yes, we are friends.”

“Hmm… I see. It’s a bit surprising.”

This time, Nicole looked at me. It seemed unexpected to her that I, of all people, had become friends with the daughter of a high-ranking noble.

I also hadn’t expected to become friends with Mari, so I shrugged. This situation often led to dangerous situations, but so far, everything was fine.

Moreover, if I mentioned that I had also become friends with Lina and Cecil, what kind of reaction would Nicole have? I didn’t feel the need to bring it up, so I remained silent.

However, Mari, who was completely unaware of this, asked Nicole about her surprising reaction.

“Surprising? What do you mean?”

“Oh. It’s not about you. I was a bit worried if our Isaac, who is so blunt and only cares about his own business, could make friends. But I didn’t expect him to be friends with a duchess’s daughter.”

I nodded in agreement. I also hadn’t expected to become friends with Mari.

However, it somehow felt like she was badmouthing me. Was it just my imagination? It couldn’t be.

“Sigh…”

Meanwhile, Mari seemed to be relieved and let out a sigh of relief, placing her hand on her chest. Then she said with a brighter expression.

“So, Nicole, you don’t mind if I stay friends with Isaac?”

“Huh? Well… I guess not. It might even be… fine?”

“Really?”

Nicole’s positive response made Mari’s face light up. I wondered why she was so happy.

But as Mari’s happiness increased, Nicole’s unease seemed to grow. She knew how dangerous it would be for me to get close to Mari.

Not only because Mari is the daughter of a duchess, but mainly because I am the author of the Zane biography. The more I get close to her, the higher the risk of my secrets being exposed.

And if I become friends with Mari, my academy life would be easier, but only as long as my secrets remain hidden. From Nicole’s perspective, Mari is a double-ed