Clara had always felt there was something off about this girl's way of speaking. After hearing my story, Freyja immediately accused me of having a reason for becoming mentally challenged. I responded with a slightly indignant tone.
"Waaah~⪠That's so mean~â"
"B-but... saying that... won't change anything... I wasn't planning to say anything either... Now that I look at you... y-you're quite... p-pitiful..."
"Oooh~â Say mean things like that and I'll hate you~â"
"Perhaps th-that's just the... shitty f-fate... you'll have to bear."
I couldn't collect my thoughts amid the endless stream of criticism.
*This is all my own doing, so I can't really argue.*
True, I had been playing up various personas.
But to receive such harsh condemnation for that?
Still, Freyja seemed to soften her attitude somewhat.
"B-both you... and I... are equally... slaves to 'Fate'..."
"...?"
Freyja gazed at me, her purple eyes glowing softly like gemstones. That color reminded me of amethysts embedded deep in a cave... which made it slightly frightening.
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like thaaaat~âª"
Instead of answering, Freyja approached me. With a composed face, she climbed onto Red Hare and lightly tapped my back while speaking in her timid manner.
Tap
Tap
"Wh-what are you doing, scoundrel? Hurry up and ride the bicycle... I'm getting... h-hungry..."
"O-okay~â"
"Y-you scoundrel... your speech is foolish, and you're insensitive... but your cycling speed is excellent... Instead of living like a beggar as you do now... you could make a good living... p-pulling rickshaws in Golden Street..."
"Ahaha...â"
"Th-then I'll... reserve a special seat... and y-you can serve me well..."
"Ahaha..."
"C-consider it an honor... There are... t-tons of workers wanting jobs in Golden Street..."
"..."
Though her words were sharp despite her timid tone, I could feel her closed heart opening slightly, with friendly emotions showing through her actions. Thanks to that, the subtle distance between Freyja and me seemed to have disappeared.
But I also felt a little... just a tiny bit annoyed.
*She's really taking advantage of my quiet acceptance to timidly lord it over me non-stop...*
Is this how Bangchu Teacher felt when equipment started talking back? I seriously considered playing another cute prank on our Bangchu Teacher sometime.
ï¼
We quickly returned to school riding Red Hare.
Because we had taken our time walking earlier, the sun had completely set and darkness had fallen. The facilities at Central Prism Academy were brightly lit and more vibrant than ever, thanks to all the repairs Maya and Kara had been doing.
Freyja looked at this and commented in her timid yet haughty manner.
"H-hmm... it's just a slum with some lights... but it's m-more romantic than I expected..."
"Hey~â This place holds girls' dreams too~â"
"H-honestly, I don't know what kind of vision you and your... r-ragtag bunch have... but c-certainly... one of them is... somewhat impressive..."
Freyja nodded as she muttered, apparently finding Rota's unusual interpretation of the Golden Witch's magic quite impressive.
*Normally, Freyja, who's an outsider even within the school, wouldn't have encountered Rota, a main story protagonist... I wonder if Rota's awakening will happen earlier than in the original story?*
Rota's talent, which hasn't even sprouted yet at this point.
The Violet Spindle, the strongest magician in Academy City, recognized it quickly.
It's the first time I've seen her, usually indifferent to others, speak so favorably.
I sensed an opportunity and started getting excited.
*If Freyja could possibly give her private lessons, the synergy would be amazing!*
Couldn't she stir up a little wind for her junior?
I decided to subtly appeal to Freyja's pride as a graduate of a prestigious magic school. Maybe this timid yet arrogant girl would eagerly agree to tutor Rota.
Recalling Rota's future from the original story, I put some sincerity into my exaggerated reaction.
"Oh my~â If a picky stray cat like you acknowledges her with such nodding~â Could our cute house cat have amazing magical talent⪠Oh! Could Central Prism Academy be taking the title of Prestigious School of Magic now~♡"
"D-don't get ahead of yourself... Talent isn't known until it's fully explored... A s-scoundrel who doesn't know the first thing about magic..."
"..."
I was shut down immediately.
I felt too deflated to say anything more.
*I'm sorry my dad was incompetent...*
As we parked the bicycle and headed toward the dormitory, I sensed a presence and quietly smiled with satisfaction.
Freyja also perked up her ears and looked in one direction.
"...Heheâª"
"Hmm."
In the distance, a girl with orange hair came fluttering toward us.
"Senior~!!"
The first to greet us was Rota.
She welcomed us wearing an apron and headscarf, flapping both hands excitedly.
It was adorable watching her short limbs bounce as she quickly approached.
*Aww... how sweet.*
I waved back and ran toward Rota.
"Senior~!"
"Waaah~♡"
*Hug*
We expressed the joy of our small reunion with a hug.
Rota, who had grown closer to me over the past few days, now nestled into my arms without hesitation. Her orange hair swished and tickled the back of my hand. As I bent down due to our height difference, I could smell the savory scent of bread from her cat ears.
*Better than cats... is a cat that cooks for you...*
This must be heaven.
A cat that welcomes you, hugs you, and even cooks for you.
Academy City is paradise for cat lovers.
*...Though there's also a stray cat with a timid voice who never stops acting superior.*
Feeling the warmth of those cat ears and the embrace, I said to Rota:
"I'm back~â"
"Welcome back, Senior! Welcome to you too, Senior Freyja!"
"I-I'll go at my own pace..."
"Oh... yes, take your time..."
"Wh-why are you giving me instructions... I'll go as I p-please..."
"...?"
With a tilted head and swaying orange cat ears.
Rota was bewildered by Freyja's constant retorts.
But Freyja paid no attention to that reaction and walked proudly toward the dining hall.
"...?"
"...?"
Watching the purple stray cat's retreating figure.
I spoke to Rota, whose eyes were full of question marks.
"Were you waiting because you were worried? I'm happy, but~â I'm perfectly fine now~âª"
"No... I just finished preparing dinner and came out just now."
"Hehe~â I see~âª"
I'd already caught her waiting anxiously for us...
Rota had finished dinner preparations and had been waiting continuously.
*She's still quite worried about me.*
Delicious smells wafted from the dormitory dining hall.
Students finished their tasks and gathered, drawn by those aromas.
The table was filled with various dishes.
Smoked fish, baked ham, and vegetable and meat stews.
And baskets piled high with warm bread.
Freyja sat primly, eating them as if it were her due.
"B-better than... I expected..."
"..."
I stared at her in disbelief. Just then, Alvitr entered the dining hall, having finished cleaning a room for the new guest and taken a shower.
"Rota!! Meat, meat~! Today's specialty is meat dishes, right?!"
"Hmm? What are you talking about? I always prepare meat dishes?"
"A table full of just meat is a meat dish! Rota, what you always serve with... those plants and flour things... those aren't meat dishes!"
"Hisssss!!"
The blasphemy of the carnivorous Alvitr.
Rota hissed, seemingly offended about her cooking skills.
I waved to Alvitr, who was giggling at the sight.
"Welcome back, Alvitr~â"
"Oh, you're back? Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes~â Completely fineâ"
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Aww~⪠So meanâ"
Alvitr ignored my words completely.
She came over and examined my wrists and calves with her rough hands.
The wounds and bruises on my limbs had faded completely, with no need for bandages anymore. But the scar on my neck, visible through my uniform collar, remained vivid.
The wounds had healed... but the scars seemed like they would remain forever.
"..."
Alvitr looked dejected seeing this, but quickly changed her expression and smiled at me.
"This much is... hmm. Acceptable."
"Yay, I'm so happy~â"
"But you still shouldn't overdo it."
"Yes~âª"
Freyja glanced at us briefly, then lowered her head again and concentrated on her meal.
The dining hall became lively as Maya and Kara joined us. Dinner at Central Prism Academy was a boisterous affair with everyone eating together. After the storm of mealtime passed, everyone quietly sipped tea.
Through the open windows, we could hear a broadcast from the United Student Council's media department.
[Good evening, everyone in Academy City. This is the evening news from the United Student Council's media department.]
[I'm Her, a second-year student from the United Student Council's media department, always bringing you the latest news. The time for midterm exams at many schools is approaching.]
[For your first semester, first exam preparation... I hope everyone achieves results according to their preparation. To all student councils, I, Her from the United Student Council's media department, will pray to the light that you can conduct your exams safely.]
Upon hearing this, Freyja spoke in a low voice.
"Th-that Her person... must be a Pointy-ears... the white kind... from Divine Alfheim High School..."
Maya answered while sipping her tea.
"Ah yes... certainly that talk of light and prayers is common among those kids. The black ones from Svart Industrial High School don't pray for anything except money."
"Indeed, those black ones worship only mammonism and materialism."
"Yes, that's right."
Since Kara and Maya were also from Mimir Technical High School,
they seemed to harbor ill feelings toward the Dark Elf students of Svart Industrial High School.
"Ahaha...â"
I flinched at their casually racist conversation.
*Now that Rota is at our school too... I should probably tone down my own thoughts about furry creatures and such.*
Even if I only thought these things to myself,
I might make a huge mistake and say them out loud someday.
*The Pretty Filter sometimes lets sharp comments slip through...*
With these thoughts, I glanced at Rota drinking her tea.
Glancing...
Fortunately, Rota was holding her teacup with her small hands, repeatedly blowing on it to cool it down. Even though the tea had been poured quite a while ago and was probably lukewarm, she still hadn't drunk it.
Alvitr, sitting next to Rota, suddenly looked at me and said:
"Senior, how will our school handle midterms? I only know that the student council is supposed to run it directly..."
"Schools with fewer than 50 students don't need the student council to do it~â You just need to submit a simple assignment at your local United Student Council branchâª"
"Ehh... I've been worrying about that for a while."
"Hehe, hang in there, Student Council President~â"
"Y-yes..."
*Sip*
Silence returned.
Then Freyja spoke again.
"C-come to think of it... those noble faction jerks at our school who have no ability but blue blood... are r-replacing their thesis presentations with... d-dungeon conquest results for midterms... Illiterates trying to avoid studying..."
Freyja continued in an aggrieved voice while sipping her tea.
"Wh-when I criticized this... as the research faction representative... th-they secretly came while I was alone exploring a dungeon... and set fire to my camp... I l-lost all my belongings and maps because of that..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What did you say?"
The sudden revelation of why Freyja had been wandering the wilderness.
The comfortable silence until now turned chillingly cold.
I couldn't help but be surprised by this revelation.
*I knew from the original story that Freyja was disliked by the noble faction students... but I thought she left home on her own this time...? Even so, to actually sabotage The Violet Spindle like that.*
If Freyja returns to school, it will definitely be a life-or-death confrontation.
Even in the original story, she only engaged in timid checks and balances out of fear.
What were these noble faction students thinking? How did they plan to deal with the consequences?
*No... how could you only tell us something this important now...!*
That's why I'd been carefully asking questions all this time.
She kept being vague, so I thought it wasn't a big deal.
I closed my eyes tightly at Freyja's shocking announcement.
The Noble Faction, a group of aristocratic students.
The Research Faction, a group of students dedicated to magical studies.
These two factions determined the direction of Public Vana Boarding School.
*But in the story... at this point, the Research Faction relied solely on Freyja's reputation, while the Noble Faction students completely controlled the student council.*
Freyja felt sick of such a school and spent most of her time wandering. Despite that, the Noble Faction, who didn't dare touch her before... had now done something.
"..."
"..."
We could only stare in shock.
Freyja, unconcerned with our gazes, muttered in a chilling voice that didn't match her teary eyes.
"I th-thought I'd wander for at least a few days... but if I return tomorrow... I'll h-have to teach them a lesson... They think I'm s-some kind of fool because I've only been running away..."
At that moment.
Her's voice, which had been calmly delivering news from outside, changed to one of confusion.
[And... What? Ah... Yes. I understand.]
[Urgent notice to students residing in the northeast area of Academy City.]
[We have reports of multiple armed students appearing in the northeastern wilderness. Um... and.]
The sound of paper rustling came through clearly.
[Th-those students are believed to be from...]
[...Public Vana Boarding School. Forceful breakthrough by high-level Aether users is expected, so students residing in the northeast, including those from Mimir Technical High School, are advised to exercise caution.]
"..."
I was speechless after hearing this news.
*So the dungeon conquest... meant other people's dungeons...*
What's going on...?
Even though these furry creatures were arrogant, they weren't usually this reckless...?