Chapter 48

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A few days later, today was the day the results of the written exam would be announced. I was with Tütte, looking over two sheets of parchment, about A4 size, posted on the white wall near the entrance of the discussion room.

"There it is, Miss. It seems you're in fifth place."

"Hmm, I was aiming for around tenth. Well, considering my past, I never got first place, so I'll take it."

When Tütte found my name on the posted list and read out the ranking, I sighed with relief but was a bit dissatisfied that it was slightly different from what I had expected. Still, given my past, if I had taken first place, it would have been a bizarre situation where I topped both the practical and written exams. In fact, looking at the top scorer's results, I might have easily taken first place.

(I did consider deliberately doing poorly on the written exam, but if I had scored worse than Zaha, I don't think I could have recovered.)

While thinking such impolite thoughts about him, I skimmed through the posted rankings and noticed familiar names. Safina was in the upper middle, while Zaha was clearly closer to the bottom.

"Ha... Here I am, just as expected."

As I was lost in thought, Safina sighed and looked away from the posted paper, hanging her head.

"Well, well, you're still above average, and you did well in the practical exams too."

To comfort the disappointed Safina, I looked at her and spoke reassuringly. She lifted her head and smiled, seeming to regain some of her spirit. I had heard that Safina's advancement was now certain, which was a great relief to me. On a side note, "That person" had been absent without permission since the tournament and didn't even show up for this exam, so they were either on the verge of dropping out or had already done so. It was certain that their chances of advancing next year were hopeless, but it didn't really matter to me...

"You're right, we prioritize the practical exams more."

"You should study more."

Hearing our conversation, a man in the bottom ten ranks nonchalantly commented without any sign of remorse. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and half-closed my eyes, protesting to Zaha.

"But it's amazing, Miss Mary. Winning the practical exams and ranking fifth in the written exams, it's too perfect."

"It's not that great..."

With her emerald eyes shining, Safina looked at me with admiration, and I shifted half a step away, accepting her praise without any humility, from the bottom of my heart.

"Indeed, the rumor is that if you hadn't been bedridden for two weeks, you could have taken first place."

"Eh? Who's spreading that rumor?"

Hearing about another malicious rumor, I instinctively became wary and tried to find out Zaha's source of information.

"Senior Karlis."

(That senior... He really shouldn't...)

Upon reflection, I had borrowed Senior Karlis's help to study old exam papers to ensure I would rank high in the written exam. It was easy to imagine that he, who had seen me doing this, would make such an unfounded guess. I slumped my shoulders, giving up on resisting the rumor, especially after realizing that my actions during the tournament had only made things worse.

"Oh, really. Miss Mary is in fifth place, that's impressive."

"If what Senior Karlis says is true, you could have taken first place, but because of your health..."

Surrounded by classmates who had gathered, they praised me one after another. Reflecting on it, ever since that misunderstanding, everyone had started to treat me with extraordinary care. They doted on me to the point where if I tried to do anything, they would say things like, "I'll do it, just sit down," or "Aren't you tired? Don't overdo it." I was in a state of being overly protected, to the extent that Tütte, who had come to take care of me, complained about having nothing to do when she got home.

(This is no good. This pattern will ruin me. I have to do something.)

I felt like I was becoming dependent on Tütte again, just like when we lived together as children. I wanted to break out of this situation, so I had been taking action. For example, I tried to show everyone that I was fine by carrying and moving things, but all they did was nod with kind eyes, saying, "We know, don't overdo it," and some even looked away, hiding their mouths, trying not to cry.

(If I showed them my full strength, this misunderstanding would clear up quickly, but if I did, they might not treat me like a human anymore.)

After discussing with Tütte at home, we ultimately reached this conclusion, and nothing changed, leading to this day.

"Miss Mary? Is something wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Safina, who had been looking at me with concern, asked as I hung my head. I abandoned my thoughts and lifted my head.

"Eh, no, I'm fine."

"Maybe you should sit down, everyone, make way."

As I waved my hand to deny, someone in the class suggested, and the crowd around the posted list parted.

"Come, Miss Mary."

Everyone made way for me.

"Ah, thank you."

(Ah... I want to escape this situation.)

I responded with a slightly strained smile to everyone's kindness and left the scene with Safina.

---

A few more days passed, and after finishing my usual class, I returned to the discussion room with Tütte, only to encounter Mr. Ix at the entrance.

"Good timing, Legaria. The principal has called for you, follow me."

Without waiting for my response, she walked out of the discussion room and down the corridor. I exchanged puzzled looks with Tütte, who also had a question mark above her head, and we hurried to follow her.

We left the school building and walked along the stone-paved path in the large courtyard, heading for the clock tower that loomed ahead. I had never known this before, but after learning from my father that the principal was involved, I found out that he had a room on the top floor of the clock tower. I looked up at the tall clock tower, which, while not as ridiculously high as the Tokyo Tower, was about five stories tall and had been there since the school was built, showing its age. Given that the surrounding school buildings were at most three stories high, this tower was quite tall.

We followed Mr. Ix to the clock tower, and upon arriving, we let out an "Oh" as we looked up. The square building, made of stone bricks, had a large clock face embedded in the upper part, with two large iron hands. I was amazed by its size, but what concerned me more was the effort required to climb to the top of the tower.

"What are you doing, this way."

As I stood there in awe, Mr. Ix stopped at the entrance and turned to urge me on, so I hurried to her side.

Inside, the first thing we saw was a large mechanical contraption with many gears meshing together in the center. We let out another "Oh" as we looked up. We followed Mr. Ix and climbed the wide spiral staircase along the wall, passing the mechanical room and heading further up.

The room we entered was a stark contrast to the previous one, made of stone bricks with nothing in it, except for a spiral staircase leading to another room above. The layout of the tower, which I hadn't noticed because of the mechanical room, was quite spacious.

Feeling a bit discouraged at the thought of climbing further, I followed Mr. Ix, who continued up the stairs without a break. I sighed and climbed the spiral staircase, entering a room filled with a cozy atmosphere.

Bookshelves lined the walls, and a brightly colored carpet with geometric patterns was laid on the floor. The ceiling was high, with a two-story open structure, and there were no walls between the first and second floors, only two staircases branching off from the spiral staircase. It was like a library where you could see both floors at once.

"Wait here, I'll go get the principal."

With that, Mr. Ix left us and climbed the stairs, and we naturally followed her with our eyes, unaware of a suspicious shadow creeping up behind us.

Squish!

"Hmm, hmm, what a promising development."

"Ah!"

Tütte, who had been standing behind me, let out a strange scream. I turned around in a panic and saw that her developing chest was being rubbed from behind through her maid uniform.

"What!"

I froze in shock, and then something passed by me at high speed from behind.

"What are you doing, you pervert old man?"

It was none other than Mr. Ix, who had come from behind me, drawing her sword and pointing it at the man who had been committing an indecent act behind Tütte.

"Now, now, Ix, I may look like this, but I am the principal. Choose your words carefully."

"There are no words to choose when it comes to the enemy of women, step away quickly."

Intimidated by Mr. Ix's serious aura, I stood there in a daze as the man behind Tütte stepped away. There stood an elderly man in a luxurious robe, his face etched with wrinkles that still exuded vitality. His long white hair and beard, which reached below his shoulders, were very striking. The only flaw was that his eyes had a somewhat lecherous look.

Tütte, freed from the old man, ran to me with teary eyes, and I instinctively stood protectively in front of her.

"Hehehe, no need to be so wary, that was just a little greeting."

The principal, with a friendly smile, stroked his beard, and Mr. Ix sheathed her sword with a sigh, standing between us and the principal.

"Mr. Ix, what's going on?"

"I understand your confusion, Legaria. This is Fortuna Futurica, the principal of this Arteria Academy."

Not knowing what to think, I turned to Mr. Ix for an explanation, and she introduced the old man with a look of exasperation. I had seen him at the opening ceremony, but I had been fighting sleep and didn't remember him. The cause of the sleep spell? was standing in front of me, and I was more surprised by his name than by the situation.

"Eh! Futurica?"

"Yes, embarrassing as it may be, he is my grandfather."

In response to my shock, Magilka, with her golden pigtails, came down from the back of the second floor, looking apologetic.

"Hehehe, now that everyone is here, let's get to the point."

Before I could process what was happening, the conversation was already moving forward, and everyone was heading upstairs. I decided to follow, trying to sort out my thoughts.

The second floor was a combination of a reception room and an office, with a long table and chairs in front of a large sofa. The school emblem of Arteria Academy was embroidered on a large cloth hanging behind the table.

Magilka and I sat on one sofa, Mr. Ix on the opposite one, and the principal in his chair. Tütte had left to prepare tea, and a middle-aged handsome man sat next to Mr. Ix, looking at us with a gentle expression. Magilka introduced him as the Grand Master of Aleyos, and I was even more confused.

"Alright, Mary."

"Chan?"

The principal's casual words cut through the heavy atmosphere, and I couldn't help but ask.

"I called you here for a bit of a consultation."

My protest was brushed off, and the principal continued with a smile, so I resigned myself to listening.

"What is it?"

"To be blunt, Mary, would you consider transferring to Aleyos next year?"

I was so taken aback by his straightforwardness that I was left speechless.

Thank you for reading this far.