Chapter 41

After leaving the branch manager's office, we climbed the stairs and arrived at the studio on the second floor.

"This is the studio. I'm sorry, but there are no private rooms."

"It's fine."

Huh? Is that so? Are you sure you're not forcing it?

"I see... Let me introduce the two of them."

We went to where the two people were in the back.

"Erika, Leonora. I've brought Adelheid."

"Oh, Adelheid! My friend!"

Leonora stood up, overreacting, and hugged Adelheid.

However, Adelheid showed no reaction.

"You two look like sisters. Erika, this is Adelheid."

I introduced Adelheid to Erika, whom she was meeting for the first time.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Erika Rintner."

Erika greeted her with her usual bright and polite smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Adelheid von Jodler. Please take care of me."

"Likewise."

Erika seems to be fine.

"Adelheid, I don't think you need an introduction, but that's Leonora."

I pointed to Leonora, who was still clinging to Adelheid.

"Yes, I know. Leonora, it's been a while."

"Friend... After not seeing you for a year, you're so cold?"

Leonora, whose face was buried in Adelheid's chest due to the height difference, raised her head.

"Well, we did keep in touch occasionally. You're overreacting."

"Don't be so cold. Thanks to you, I've been cheating on you with Erika."

"You always say such nonsense."

Leonora's jokes have been the same since the old days.

"Adelheid, your seat is there, next to Leonora."

I pointed to the seat I had decided on, of course, right in front of me.

"You and I were next to each other in the dorm too..."

"You must be happy."

Leonora poked Adelheid with her finger.

"You're the one who's happy. Well, the welcoming and tour are over... Adelheid, what do you want to do until the welcome party?"

"What do you want me to do... My official duties start tomorrow."

That's true...

"Want to have some tea?"

"Hmm... No, I'll unpack. I won't do anything until I can sleep."

"Right... I'll help you. The bed is heavy, right?"

I said that just now.

"Oh, right. But, Mr. Sieg, aren't you on duty?"

"It's not that busy now, and I'll leave it to them."

"Is that okay?"

Adelheid looked at the two of them.

"It's fine."

"Mr. Sieg is our master and teacher."

"Wow... Mr. Sieg, you really took on a disciple."

Adelheid, who seemed to be used to it, ignored the "master" part.

"I just help with studying and teach them the job."

"Undoubtedly a master-disciple relationship. I can't believe Mr. Sieg would do such a thing."

Maybe so.

"Well, there's nothing to do anyway. I'll help you too. You're taking the 8th grade exam, right?"

"8th grade... Hmm, I don't know."

You should be able to take it.

"Is the timing awkward... Well, it's fine. Let's at least set up the big furniture and equipment."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

Helen and I left the branch and returned to the dorm, entering Adelheid's room. The room was filled with a large number of cardboard boxes and furniture.

"Do you have a plan for where to put things?"

"Yes. I've used spatial magic to place them roughly, so I just need some fine-tuning."

Spatial magic is convenient, but it's hard to place things precisely.

"Got it. I can do that much."

We moved and set up the furniture and other items placed in each room. I was particularly impressed by the bed, which was quite large. After setting everything up, Adelheid and I parted ways, and she went to unpack the rest while I returned to the branch. When I got back, it was an hour before the end of the workday, and with nothing to do, I passed the time reading a book.

"She was a beautiful lady, wasn't she?"

Erika nodded happily.

"Is that so? Oh, no, that's rude... She's beautiful."

I don't know.

"Right? I admire her."

"You're beautiful too."

"It sounds really fake when you say it while reading that book."

Well, the book says to compliment her.

"More importantly, do we have any new jobs?"

There's nothing to do.

"I saw Mr. Rübert the other day, and he said he would send a request within a few days. Also, Lutz said he would send a request."

This seems to be coming all at once... I'm glad Adelheid is here.

"You don't have to work overtime. If it's necessary, I'll do it. Focus on your exams."

"Is that okay?"

"I can't take the 2nd grade exam because I lack practical experience. Besides, we should help each other."

By the way, this is the first time I've said this in decades of my two lives.

"I feel like I'm always being helped..."

"That's not true. I always treat Erika to meals, and I feel bad about it."

Helen is also happy.

"Huh? I haven't done anything?"

Leonora raised her head.

"You...?"

Huh?

"Mr. Sieg, Leonora brightens up the place, doesn't she?"

"That's it."

Indeed, with Leonora around, things never get dull.

"Thanks, kitty... If your master is still single after turning 25, I'll take him."

"You did it, Mr. Sieg! You might avoid being alone!"

You won't be alone because you're here.

"Leonora, didn't you leave home because you didn't want to get married?"

"No, it's not that I don't want to get married. But as a noblewoman, you have to attend women's clubs and show up at various places, so you can't work. That means you have to give up alchemy, which I don't want to do."

She loves alchemy that much.

"Leonora found what she wanted to do and decided to pursue it."

"Right? Isn't that what you did, Mr. Sieg?"

"I wanted to advance in my career. But that goal was cut off when I came to this town."

"Advancement... It's not bad. But from what I see, Mr. Sieg should focus on more fundamental things."

Huh?

"What do you mean?"

"You're not that stubborn. You just try to go as far as you can because you're excellent. That's something you can do, but not necessarily what you want to do. You're a simpler person than you think."

"Am I simple?"

Is that so?

"You seem simple. Which do you enjoy more: being overwhelmed with work in the capital or chatting while working on the job?"

"Well... Now, I guess."

Well, I'm reading a pickup book instead of working.

"Live more carefree. Being carefree is fun?"

Indeed, Leonora, who always talks carelessly, seems to be having fun.

"Hmm..."

"Okay, I'll really take you out on a date. I'll teach you how to have fun. Are you free next weekend?"

"No, I have plans to go fishing with Helen at the sea."

I'll make sashimi for her, even without soy sauce.

"Wow! The sea! That sounds great!"

"Will you come, Leonora?"

"Leave it to me! My hometown is a port town!"

Wow...

"Have you ever gone fishing?"

I've never done it, so I'd like to learn.

"No!"

This guy is really carefree...

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