Chapter 21

In the dim light of dawn, as the sun had just begun to rise, Irene woke up and got dressed. Unlike her servant's uniform, she changed into a shirt and shorts that allowed for easy movement, along with a casual appearance, as she was about to practice her sword skills.

Her short, neatly cut red hair and her doll-like, sharp features gave her the appearance of a handsome male knight, but her slightly protruding chest, well-proportioned figure, and legs that exuded charm even to those of the same sex added a touch of allure.

She had always practiced in this attire and never paid it much mind—there was no time to think about it. However, when she was once seen by a noble's son, who gave her a lecherous look, she felt a strong sense of disgust and since then, she tried to practice at times when she wouldn't be noticed. Fortunately, in the early morning, the nobles were still asleep, and only the busy maids preparing for the day and the guards finishing their night shifts were around, so she was rarely seen.

Even though it was early summer, the early morning was still cool, and the air felt slightly chilly. When she arrived at the usual square, she warmed up with a light run and some stretching exercises before picking up a practice sword and getting into position.

At first, she slowly traced lines in the air, thrust, slashed, and returned to her stance, repeating these movements. Gradually, her movements became rhythmic, almost like a dance, and her speed increased. At a speed that even a layman couldn't follow, she began to think. She felt that her form was particularly good today. Recently, she felt that her skills had improved beyond what she could have imagined. Perhaps it was because she had fought monsters and grown stronger. Since she hadn't sparred with anyone since coming to this academy, she couldn't tell how much stronger she had become, but she felt that her sword strikes were sharper.

As she was lost in these thoughts, her sword began to waver. She stopped, re-gripped the sword, and was about to start over when she had an idea and moved to a tree, kicking it. The tree swayed, and a few leaves fell around her. She aimed at one of the leaves and thrust three times. When she picked up the fallen leaf, the three holes that should have been separate were connected into one large hole.

"…Huh."

It was a trick she had only seen once, but apparently, she could now do it without realizing it. She couldn't believe how much her skills had improved, and a strained smile escaped her lips.

After finishing her training, she cleaned herself and put on her servant's uniform before heading to Alexis's room to wake her up. In the past, Alexis would often stay up late reading and was difficult to wake up in the morning, but now she woke up on her own, reducing the time it took to get her up.

She knocked and called out before entering.

"Alexis, I'm sorry to disturb you."

"Irene."

Her mistress was already awake, sitting in front of the mirror in a negligee, casting an anxious glance at Irene. Her hair was messy from just waking up, and her negligee was rumpled from hurried movements. This was a common sight recently.

"My hair won't stay in place. Oh, why is that?"

"Alexis, please calm down. I'll brush your hair for you."

Thinking that panicking wouldn't help, Irene took the brush from Alexis's hand and began to comb her mistress's hair. Although it was easier for Alexis to wake up on her own, the morning routine had become more complicated.

Alexis, who had never cared much about her appearance, only did the bare minimum and always relied on Irene. After repeatedly urging her to pay attention to her appearance and makeup, Alexis had finally started to do so, which was a positive change. However, considering the circumstances, Irene felt a mix of emotions.

After braiding her hair and changing into her school uniform, Alexis asked Irene in a barely audible voice.

"Irene, is there anything wrong with me?"

Looking up at Irene through the mirror, Alexis's eyes were filled with anxiety.

"How many times have you asked? You look fine. As long as you take care of your appearance, you look beautiful."

"Really?"

Turning around, Alexis's face looked like that of a girl her age. Irene, who usually didn't show much emotion, was discovering new sides to her mistress.

"Yes, really. Do you not believe me?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant."

"If you're so worried, you should take care of your appearance yourself."

"You're being mean today, Irene."

Irene's exasperated voice made Alexis blush with embarrassment and puff out her cheeks. Irene responded with a smile.

When Alexis went to the dining hall for breakfast, she encountered the noble's children who usually gossiped about her at the entrance. They seemed to be planning to say something nasty.

"Oh, Alexis, it's been a while. I haven't seen you around, so I was worried."

Irene was annoyed by the girl's insincere smile, but Alexis responded with a smile.

"Yes, I've been attending extracurricular activities, so I haven't been able to attend lectures often."

"Oh, I see."

"Poor thing. But with your abilities, I'm sure you'll complete your extracurricular activities soon."

They seemed to think that Alexis was still struggling with her extracurricular activities, but in fact, she had already completed them and was actively taking on quests almost every day. In terms of grades, Alexis was far ahead of them, and her skills had also improved significantly. The teachers, who had previously struggled with how to handle her, now tacitly allowed her to focus on her extracurricular activities.

Their sarcastic comments didn't bother Alexis, who was in a good mood. Her genuine smile, without a hint of insincerity, left the noble's children speechless and bewildered.

After finishing breakfast, Alexis went to the library to study, while Irene, not wanting to disturb her, took on other tasks. She had a late breakfast, cleaned Alexis's room, and did the laundry. Although the school employed maids, the servant of a noble usually left such tasks to them, but Irene, who was diligent and had little to do, always did them herself. After finishing, she headed to the library to call Alexis for her extracurricular activities. Recently, Alexis had been restless and fidgety as the time approached.

"Alexis, I'm sorry to bother you, but it's time for your extracurricular activities."

"Understood, I'll go right away."

Alexis responded quickly and hurried back to her room, her speed making Irene chuckle.

At the meeting place, the Adventurer's Guild, Alexis looked around anxiously. When she spotted him, she beamed. Irene felt that this was what a blossoming smile looked like. Chaos noticed them and waved.

"Teacher, I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"Sorry, I'm late."

"No, I just arrived."

Since then, Alexis had started calling Chaos "teacher." Chaos had tried to stop her, blushing (which made Irene try hard not to laugh), but Alexis insisted, so the name stuck. Irene, respecting him as her mistress's teacher, had started to show him more respect, but Chaos, disliking the title, had asked Alexis to stop, and she had relented. To an outsider, it might seem like a servant was being disrespectful to her mistress's teacher, creating a strange dynamic.

They immediately set out on a quest. On the way, Alexis often chatted with Chaos. To an outsider, it might seem like a sweet moment, but today's conversation was different.

"When the evil god was sealed, humans and gods worked together. The battle was so intense that everyone present, including the gods, had to be sealed. The evil god was divided into a physical body and a soul, which were sealed separately."

"I see, so it was divided into a physical body and a soul. Where were they sealed?"

"The physical body was sealed in a temple in the north of this land, and the soul was sealed in another world."

Chaos, telling a story Irene had never heard, piqued Alexis's curiosity, and her eyes sparkled as she asked questions and encouraged him to continue. Today, they were discussing the legends of the evil god. It was a conversation that lacked the usual romantic tension.

After a few hours of monster hunting, they returned to the Adventurer's Guild and parted ways with Chaos. This had become a routine.

Reflecting on it, Chaos's presence was significant to Alexis. She had been like a bird that couldn't fly, and Chaos had given her wings. It was only natural that he occupied a large part of her heart. As a servant, Irene wanted to see how far this bird would fly.

However, if Chaos was a bird that flew alongside her, what would happen?

"Alexis, what does Chaos mean to you?"

Back in Alexis's room at the academy, Irene asked her.

"Teacher, well, he's a trusted mentor and a reliable—like an older brother, perhaps."

Having lost the affection of her family at a young age, Alexis might not realize if this was love. To Irene, it was clear that…

As the daughter of a baron, Alexis could never be with Chaos, a commoner. If she realized her feelings, she would eventually be heartbroken. Irene, as her servant, should advise her to stay away from Chaos.

But it would be like cutting the wings of a bird that had just started to fly. Without Chaos, Alexis might stop moving forward. Considering her difficult past, Irene couldn't bring herself to do it. She wanted this gentle time to last as long as possible. Even if it meant Alexis might end up with a noble's son, Irene thought Chaos, whom she knew better, was a better choice. Her lingering jealousy of him was hard to shake.

(What should I do…)

The red-haired servant's worries remained unresolved.