Chapter 77

### Chapter 77: Conclusion (5)

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#11

“Do you remember what we talked about earlier? If you're interested, come find me anytime. I'll be waiting on the third floor of the Student Council building!”

“Y-Yes, sure. Be careful on your way in...”

I had already finished eating, but they had no intention of letting me go.

On one side, someone was petting my head like a dog, and on the other, someone was chattering non-stop. Another person was chatting with Senior Reilin. Senior Reilin was just smiling, not bothering to stop them, probably because she was the one who called me over.

I don't even remember what kind of conversation we had. Is it normal to end up looking like a mess after just one meal? Is this really how it should be...?

“I'm about to die.”

I was completely drained. I felt more exhausted than after the meeting this morning.

If it had just been Senior Reilin, I could have gotten up and left after saying I had a good meal. But with several people clinging to me, I couldn't do anything and it was a living hell.

Senior Reilin... I really appreciate and am grateful for her concern for her juniors. But, I think, fundamentally, we just don't match...

I really need to go to bed. I had no energy left to do any more activities.

After being held captive in the restaurant for about an hour, I finally managed to escape. As I was about to head to the dormitory, rubbing my shoulders and neck, I heard a voice.

“Ah.”

“Eh.”

I ran into someone who had just walked out from the side path. It was Rubia, who looked a bit better than before but still not completely fine.

Her eyes showed a hint of surprise.

I greeted her lightly.

“Hi.”

“Ah, hi. Edgio.”

Rubia waved back.

“Where are you going?”

“Taking a walk with the kids...?”

Most of the time, if I ran into Rubia at this hour, she wouldn't be alone.

Sure enough.

Stella, who was smiling shyly and nodding, and Yurie, who was looking at me with a very displeased expression, were there.

Right. The misunderstanding that wasn't really a misunderstanding still hadn't been cleared up. It wasn't a big enough issue to bring up first, so I didn't mention it.

I raised my hand in a casual greeting, and Yurie, with a small nod, slowly backed away. Is that all?

“I see.”

“Y-Yeah.”

I asked.

“But, what about the other side?”

“...Ah.”

I turned my gaze to where she was looking.

There was a new face.

Usually, it was Rubia, Yurie, and Stella. These three, who had become close during the early days of school, often stuck together. Now, there was one more, making a group of four. I looked at the new member, a female student, and Rubia, realizing her mistake, spoke up.

“This is Iris von Hegarde, number 13 in our class. She's from a prestigious knightly family in the Elden Kingdom.”

Number 13, that's right above me and Gabriel.

I had seen her face a few times since we were in the same class, but I had never spoken to her. In fact, I hadn't seen her speak much either.

However, there was a slight difference from the early days of Stella. It wasn't that she was too shy to speak, but rather, she didn't feel the need to open her mouth.

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Iris.”

“...Oh, nice to meet you too. I'm Edgio Kranil.”

“I know. Edgio. Nice to meet you.”

Her tone was intriguing.

When she extended her hand without hesitation, I shook it.

‘...!’

I was a bit surprised.

Despite her small size, her grip was much firmer than I expected. Even though it felt loose, the strength was significant. Is she a physical type like Gabriel? Being from a knightly family, her tone and posture were disciplined, like a well-honed blade.

Her long, dark purple hair and her expressionless face, which exuded a solemn atmosphere, made it impossible to doubt her background. Yet, she seemed more suited to a leisurely terrace in a quiet courtyard than the harsh battlefield. Her sturdy presence was evident in her entire demeanor.

“Since you're from a knightly family... don't you learn swordsmanship?”

“Usually, yes.”

“But why haven't I seen you in the swordsmanship class?”

That's true. I don't remember seeing Iris in the class taught by Professor Abel Leonor.

“...I'm still inexperienced. I'm not ready to show my skills to others. Although I don't think a knight should be ashamed of it.”

Maybe she's not as good with a sword as I thought. Still, it's a mystery.

“Shouldn't you seek more guidance? Practicing alone in the training grounds wouldn't be as effective...”

Iris shook her head slightly.

“No. Until I fully inherit the family's secret techniques, I can't learn other swordsmanship. All my efforts would be wasted. So, I plan to complete the form of the sword before advancing to the second year and then seek guidance when the opportunity for new learning comes to me.”

I don't quite understand, but it sounds like her family has its own unique style. I don't know much about knights, so I can only accept it. I nodded, and Rubia suddenly looked at me with a worried expression.

“You don't look well. Edgio. You look really tired. What happened?”

Even though her own complexion wasn't great. Still, she looked much better than before, which made me feel a bit relieved.

“Just, a bit. I have a group assignment. And I was talking with seniors at the restaurant earlier, which drained my energy. I was planning to go to bed anyway.”

“Seniors...?”

“Yeah. One of the seniors who came to promote a club. She's a good person. But when she brought her friends and sat at the same table as me, it was... tiring in many ways. Sigh.”

“I, I see...”

She seemed to want to ask more but kept her mouth shut.

“By the way, have you joined a club? I haven't yet.”

It wasn't just me who received the promotion. Rubia answered first.

“I haven't either. I want to, but I haven't decided yet. If I do, I might go for a magic-related one...”

Clubs are a good way to pursue hobbies. I wonder how serious she is about it.

“I, I... Well, the seniors are nice, but... I feel more comfortable if I have a friend with me... I haven't joined one yet. The field doesn't really matter... Actually, I want to do some stargazing... but I don't have anyone to go with...”

That was Stella. Stargazing. So typical of her. Who does she want to go with? She seems to be subtly looking up at me, but I'm sorry, I have no interest right now.

She seemed to notice my lukewarm reaction and visibly became dejected. Well, we can always stargaze separately, like we did last time.

The conversation naturally shifted to Yurie, who didn't seem to want to speak to me at all. She turned to Rubia, Stella, and Iris, and spoke in a chattering tone.

“...There's a travel club. They go on trips around the continent during breaks. I'm thinking of joining that. If I can, I'd like to take you guys with me. When you all visit your hometowns and have nothing to do, let's go on a long trip together. It'll be a lot of fun.”

“That sounds fun. Can I join too?”

“W-What? Are you crazy? Why would you join a girls' gathering!”

“I'm joking, man. Do you really think I'd go?”

“D-Don't even joke about that... It's really disgusting. Who would want to be with a lowlife like you...”

Her words were harsh. This brat.

I smiled at Yurie, who shivered as if the thought of traveling with me was terrifying.

I need to clear up the misunderstanding from the last unpleasant incident, but it seems she doesn't hate me enough to avoid speaking to me. It might be easier to resolve than I thought.

Then someone muttered.

“Um, I... I'm fine...?”

“...?”

It was Rubia, speaking cautiously.

“W-What?”

“I, I've been on many trips with Edgio since I was young... If we just have separate rooms, it should be fine, right...?”

“That's not the issue... Fine, Rubia, you're an exception. But I only want to go with you guys. Not him!”

Yurie pointed at me and shouted. Rubia, watching her, just scratched her cheek and laughed.

“And another thing. It's not just up to Rubia. Stella, for example...”

“...I, I think I'm fine...?”

“...?”

“?”

A voice as soft as a mosquito's, but clear enough for us to hear, came from Stella's lips. Yurie's mouth dropped open, as if she had heard wrong.

Moreover, it wasn't just Yurie who was surprised by Stella's sudden okay. Rubia tilted her head in confusion and then slowly turned to look at me, her face blank.

“R-Really...? No, are you joking?”

“...”

“I, I can't believe it... You guys are really okay with sleeping under the same roof with this guy...?”

I shook my head regretfully.

“Looks like you've lost all your allies, Yurie.”

“Shut up!”

“Squeak.”

“H-How did it come to this... No, why, Stella...?”

“Isn't it natural that the more friends you have on a trip, the more fun it is...?”

“Yes, that's true, but... He's a guy! And we're not close! Stella, you're not close with him either, right...?”

Why does she look so desperate?

Stella gave a weak smile.

“Mr. Edgio has been really nice to me...”

“...”

She didn't seem ready to reveal the truth.

This was happening because Yurie didn't know the situation between Stella and me.

Yurie, shocked and frozen in place, looked like she had been betrayed by her trusted friends. So that's how it is.

But, you know.

Listening to this, my heart ached a little.

“I'm right here. You brat. Saying such things openly hurts me, even if it's me. Did you only think of me as a friend?”

“...S-Shut up. That's not the issue right now.”

Yurie, avoiding the question, bit her lip.

“G-Good. Iris will join us on the trip later. Iris...”

At this point, the initial light-hearted question had turned into a desperate plea for allies. The last one, Iris, was the target of Yurie's desperate questioning.

“...”

Iris, who had closed and opened her eyes once, spoke.

“...Sometimes it's necessary to take a break, but unfortunately, it's not a feasible plan for me right now. Go on the trip without me. I'm sorry.”

“S-Such...”

She had never planned to go on the trip.

Yurie's lost gaze turned to me. I crossed my arms and smiled, and Yurie, who had been trembling, clenched her fist as if making a decision. What is she planning?

“You, you guys. You don't know what you're doing. You can't be fooled. Do you know what he did last time? The handkerchief I gave him— Uh! Ugh!”

“Okay. That's enough.”

Instinctively, I covered Yurie's mouth to prevent the ridiculous rumors from spreading.

That's going too far. That's not right.

“Ugh—!”

“Sorry. I'll take her for a moment. Take care of your business.”

If I just told the truth, I couldn't deny it, so I suppressed Yurie, who was struggling to speak, and quietly raised my hand in a polite farewell. Then, I dragged Yurie to a secluded corner of the path.

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