Chapter 70: Preparation for the School Festival Part 4
“Uwaa!”
“Huh?!”
“Hey, isn’t that girl was at the main hall just now?”
“I saw her at the teacher’s office.”
“I saw her at 3rd Year Class C.”
The students were confused after seeing Razé everywhere as she kept using teleportation to run errands.
Activating magic stone required brainpower. When someone used magic while doing an unfamiliar work, they might get sick due to the burden on their brain.
However, among the few elite members of the steering committee, one of them was a soldier who had gone through rigorous training and became one of the Shadow’s Eye. Needless to say, it was Razé. She had endurance that was incomparable to other students.
Razé: “Hugan-sensei, I’ve confirmed the lighting and sound system. We will be able to setup the new equipment tomorrow.”
Hugan: “Granoli, do you have a twin?”
Razé: “Where did that come from?”
She was puzzled why he would suddenly joke with her when she was working diligently.
Hugan: “No… I mean, weren’t you doing something else just now?”
Razé: “Yes, but I already finished that work.”
She passed an equipment application form to Hugan.
“If you continuously use teleportation, won’t you end up getting into an accident?” Hugan took the document from Razé and continued, “Normally when you teleport to an unknown location, won’t you bump into someone or something during landing?”
Razé listened to him with a blank face. “If I’m about to bump into someone or something, I can just teleport to another location.”
Hugan was at a loss for words. After a while, he asked “Are you seriously saying that?”
Razé: “Yes.”
In other words, the moment she arrived at the place she teleported to, she grasped the situation within a second and moved to a safe place. It was hard to believe that someone could do such a trick in the blink of an eye. But so far, no student had made any complaint about her and there was no report about any accident. He decided to not give it any further thought and let the matter go.
Hugan: “… I see. As expected from a scholarship student. Be careful and do your best.”
Razé: “Of course I will!”
Of course she would be very careful. Causing injury to the aristocratic children? Just thinking of it is making me shiver.
It was her duty to protect these students. Harming them was out of the question.
* * *
Razé: “I’m back.”
Adis: “Welcome back.”
Adis mechanically replied to her while focusing on his works. He didn’t even turn to look at her.
It’s been a while since someone said ‘welcome back’ to me.
It was rare for her to hear this greeting and it made her stunned for a moment. It was normal if Folia said it to her. She had never expected to hear this greeting from Adis. Maybe for him it was a trivial matter, but it was a precious word for someone without a family like her.
Adis noticed Razé was standing still not moving. “What’s wrong? Why are you zoning out?”
She immediately shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
She glanced to the side and saw Claude sleeping soundly. She looked at the wall clock. It’s only been 30 minutes.
She pulled a chair and sat at Carna’s desk. “The tasks outside have already been cleared. All that’s left is these documents.”
“How did you manage to clear so many tasks in less than 30 minutes?” Adis looked at the documents in front of him and heaved out a sigh.
“I can do it faster because I don’t need travel time,” Razé answered as she took one of the documents from the pile.
“… You’re such a mysterious person,” Adis said quietly.
“Really? I think I’m an ordinary scholarship student.” Unlike Folia, Razé could answer calmly when she almost got busted.
Adis: “First of all, you can’t call a commoner that become a scholarship student as ordinary. Secondly, you said you’re an adventurer, but there’s no rumor about a person highly skilled at movement magic who fits your character. And the most suspicious thing is you’re acquainted with Sesemann-sama.”
Razé: “Haa～…”
She pulled a sour face when he reminded her of what had happened in Beham. Sesemann was the only one who had never agreed with the plan to let her infiltrated the academy. Back then, he was half-jokingly trying to expose Razé’s identity. Razé was sure that he still wanted her to return to the military immediately.
That person always favors me.
Sesemann always judged people based on their performance. Regardless whether she was a girl, or a young kid, he always treated her according to her capability. When others looked down on her and she was unable to do her work smoothly, he was the first one to support her. She felt a debt of gratitude towards him, so she never hated Sesemann. Surprisingly, he also listened to her selfish requests, so for Razé, he was like a strict grandfather that she never had.
Adis: “That person is the General of Shian Imperial Army. Saying that you’re his friend makes no sense at all. What kind of work do you do that require you to interact with Sesemann-sama?”
His words hit a nerve. And for some reason, it tranquilized her.
Razé: “I used to live in an orphanage that he supported. That’s how I got my job.”
It was an impromptu story she just made up, but the military would be able to adjust her fake profile accordingly. She was glad that the academy was a full boarding school. It wouldn’t be easy for others to verify her information.
Adis continued to stamp the documents while pondering on something. For a moment, there was only the sound of riffling and pen scribbling on papers inside the room. Razé looked at the documents, pretending not to notice the slightly awkward atmosphere.
Adis: “You…”
Razé raised her head to look at him because she felt it was rare for him to speak hesitantly.
Adis: “He said that you’re a courier. Could it be… Did they make you carry dangerous stuffs?”
His silver eyes were staring at her earnestly. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
“Anyway, you don’t have to tell me. But if you’re aware that you’re doing a dangerous job, then you should quit,” Adis said in a calm voice.
Razé’s expression gradually turned sad.
I should quit if it’s a dangerous job…?
Razé was a soldier. She didn’t do the work as what he had imagined; carrying things for a favor or for a dubious contract. Unlike the Knights, the military didn’t have interaction with civilians. She assumed he wouldn’t know what kind of job she did, and wouldn’t even be interested in it. The knights did a glamorous job, while the soldier did behind the scene job. They took the filthy duty. It was nothing new. But still, Razé was proud of her work. And of her comrades too.
His words really struck a raw nerve.
He said to quit a dangerous job, but she was putting her life on the line to protect the people. She felt sad when someone nonchalantly told her to quit. Although he was unaware of the truth, she still felt upset by it.
She forced a dry laugh. “Haha. Are you worried about me? I’m fine. Do you think Sesemann-sama will let me do dangerous job?”
She pretended to act normal. She didn’t want to hear him criticizing her job. “I mean, yes the work is a bit though, but I don’t hate it. You don’t have to worry about me.”
It was pretty clear that she didn’t want to talk about her job anymore. “I’m going out to get some fresh air.”
She was unable to calmed herself down, so she decided to run away before she does anything she would regret later.
* * *
The door slammed shut after she left.
Claude: “Adis. You shouldn’t say those words to her.”
Adis: “You’re awake?”
Claude: “Yes. Sorry I fell asleep just now.”
Adis let out a sigh as Claude woke up from the sofa.
Adis: “I didn’t think I said anything wrong.”
Claude lowered his eyes. He looked at the glove he was wearing and asked, “Then, do you think you can say those words to me?”
Adis was speechless. He was well aware that Claude was an assassin for the royal family. Telling him to quit his job was like denying his effort staining his hands with blood to protect Ruben. There was no way Adis could say it.
Claude: “You shouldn’t tell others to quit their job just based on a conjecture. Please don’t ever mention this matter to Razé-san again. As someone who is working behind the scene, I know how it feel when others tried to pry into or interfere with my personal affairs.”
Adis clenched his jaw when he realized the words that he thought were good advice could have hurt Razé. It was an imprudent remark. If Claude didn’t explain to him, he wouldn’t have noticed that she left the room because he made her feel uncomfortable. If it was an aristocrat lady, he would have been more careful.
Adis gripped his pen in frustration.
