Chapter 39

As usual, the four of us left school together at the end of the day.

“All right, let’s go home.”

“We’ve all been waiting for you, haven’t we?”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t finish my notes.”

“Huh. …… It’s because you’re sleeping in class.”

As Glan hurriedly put his things into his bag, Elysia gave him a reproachful look.

“But classes have been in full swing lately, and if you’re not careful, you’ll soon be left behind.”

Mize said with a wry smile. Elysia said, “Well,” and relaxed her anger.

I watched them in silence.

“Tweight?”

Mize tilted her head to look at me.

“What is it?”

“No, it’s just that… you seemed to be thinking about something.”

“It’s your imagination.”

No – you were right.

Normally, I would be able to fool everyone with a light-hearted joke, but my mind is too occupied to do that right now.

I had no idea that the girl in front of me was a princess from a neighboring country.

I wonder how Glan and Elysia would react if they knew. I imagine they would be wildly surprised.

I also thought about the conversation I had with Chris a little while ago.

“Her Royal Highness’ name is Michelliase Arcadia. At school, she goes by the name Mize Howence.”

As soon as I heard that name, I suddenly felt as if someone pulled out the rug from under me.

When Chris had called me “28,” I had temporarily forgotten who I was as a student, and had regained my old self as a soldier, but I didn’t expect to hear the name of someone I knew at this moment. It was also… it was one of my friends, a part for my everyday life.

My identity as 28 evaporated and the emotions that I felt as Tweight flooded out.

Why Mize? I couldn’t help but think.

–or rather, again….

Last time it was Elysia, now it’s Mize.

Are all my friends troublemakers?

“Let me ask you something. Chris, do you know anything about my friendships at…?”

“Your friendships? No, I don’t… Oh, with the exception of Elysia. I think she’s the only friend of yours that I know of.”

“Right.”

Apparently, it wasn’t something she aimed for.

Chris knows about Elysia because she was a central figure in the assassination plot against Robert last month, but she didn’t know about Mize.

“I’m not looking for that, though ideally you should already be friends with Her Highness. Even though you’re covert, as long as you’re escorting her, it would be better if you knew her at least a little. It’s a good idea to have a little acquaintance, so that you won’t be suspected when the time comes. It’s a good idea to get in touch with the princess first…”

“…Chris, please calm down and listen to me.”

“What?”

“Mize is a friend of mine.”

“…Haaa?”

Chris let out a strange sound.

“What? Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

“Hee… you, wait… your friend, hee…”

Chris was probably putting her hand on her forehead right now. In my mind, I could see a bitter look on her face.

“Can’t you… go out with a more normal girl?

“I just happen to know a lot of people who are like that. It’s not my fault.”

“…like father, like son.”

“Did you say something?”

“No, nothing.”

Maybe she said something, but I couldn’t hear it.

“I’m too stunned to think about it, but I’ll have to share this kind of information with you in the future. Anyway, this is good fortune. As soon as we’re done communicating, you can start escorting them. The enemy is already on the move.”

“Copy that.”

“Also, since this is an official mission for the Bureau, your partner has been approved for use. It should be delivered to your room by the end of the day.”

“That’s great.”

To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll ever have a chance to use my sniper staff on an escort mission, but it’s nice to have a familiar weapon at hand. It is the nature of a soldier who has been on the battlefield for many years.

“I wish you luck.”

Just like when I was a soldier for the Agency, Chris concluded the communication.

After finishing my recollection, I looked at Mize again.

Thinking about it, I had a few thoughts.

Her manners clearly showed good upbringing, and I had long thought that she must be a member of the upper class. I hadn’t expected her to be a member of a royal family, but that didn’t mean it was unreasonable.

“Oh no, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take the quiz tomorrow…”

“There’s no point in studying just for the sake of it. By the time you take the final exam, you’ll have forgotten everything.”

“I’m good at classroom learning, but I’m not good when it comes to practical learning….”

While listening to the conversation between three of them, I thought about my future plans.

I want to protect Mize without her knowing about it.

It’s a little difficult, but as long as there are people out to get her, I have to do my best to protect her.

It’s not just because I’ve been assigned as 28, this is also my intention as a Tweight.

–I can’t let it fall apart.

I’ll make sure that our daily life is protected.