Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

25 – Dinner Appointment

Today is another ordinary day.

Or, perhaps today is slightly different from the norm.

“Ella, I will be home late today.

Don’t wait for me for dinner, go ahead and eat.”

“Young master, where are you off to?”

“..Meeting a friend.”

Ella seemed quite overcome that I had a friend,

covering her mouth, her eyes wide with something akin to awe.

She tried so hard not to show such emotion,

but the expression that flashed across her face was undeniable.

“Yes! Don’t worry about me, young master, and enjoy your time

with your friends. Have a good time, young master!”

“..Alright.”

‘What image of me does Ella even have…?’

Even if I seemed to lack friends,

I didn’t expect even Ella to worry.

Well, not having any friends was the truth, though.

Thinking so, I left the dormitory, leaving Ella behind already

contemplating how to properly host my friends.

The classes were always the same.

Tedious, dull, uninteresting lessons.

The only difference, if there was one,

was the increased frequency of sparring in class.

There were probably many reasons for this,

but one would be to establish dominance and gain real-world experience.

Those who wanted to show the students how strong they were,

hoping to deter them from recklessly challenging them in the midterm evaluations,

and those who simply sought to experience practical combat and improve their weaknesses

in the hopes of a better grade.

Because of these reasons, duels erupted like rainfall in body-oriented classes,

and the professors, used to it, would act as referees,

stopping overly aggressive sparring became commonplace.

Of course, I received a few challenges, mostly fueled by spite,

but I refused them all.

There was no reason to accept,

and my real-world combat capabilities were more than sufficient already.

Ignoring the muttering behind me of cowardly and luck-based accusations,

I devoted my time to pondering strategies suitable for Rianna and me,

spending the entirety of the academy’s class time.

*

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes… Yes I have.”

“Let’s at least eat while we talk.”

She must have been hungry as well,

nodding shyly, agreeing to my suggestion.

But I hadn’t visited any restaurants in this neighborhood,

and Rianna, noticing this, it seemed,

offered to take me to a place she frequented.

I didn’t particularly have anything I wanted to eat, so

I followed her to her regular spot.

Engaging in small talk with her, after never

having really had a personal conversation, was quite awkward,

and walking in silence, we arrived before I knew it.

The shop, bearing the sign ‘Street Night’,

certainly wasn’t the kind of place nobles would visit, but

the boisterous chatter of the crowd

and the aroma of food wafting from within

brought to mind an image of the market I’d forgotten,

making it more enjoyable than expected.

“Umm… Are you perhaps uncomfortable with this…?”

“No. It’s not a bad place.”

“Ah… Okay!”

Relieved like that, she and I stepped inside,

taking a seat at the only available table, and ordered our food, but

the server taking our order was distracted, his eyes

wandering off somewhere.

Following his gaze, sure enough, it was towards

Rianna’s seat, and

from other tables, several men were glancing

over in this direction as well.

Well, her beauty was quite famous, even within the Academy.

Even nobles were envious of her, so

this kind of reaction was to be expected.

But she didn’t seem to notice, and

feeling like any more delay would only worsen my hunger,

I tapped the table once with my finger.

Only then did the server seem to snap out of it,

apologizing and taking our order, and

while we waited, we decided to discuss the original

purpose for coming here.

“Then let’s slowly start talking about it.”

“Yes!”

“First, Lianna, what is your ability?”

“Uh…I have『Transmutation』.”

Transmutation.

The power to change something into something else.

The ability to change anything you set your mind to.

It sounded like a remarkable ability in words alone, but it also had its drawbacks.

The more complex the constituent materials or structure,

the more mana was required for transmutation.

And, unlike me, she absolutely needed a

medium to activate it.

“Hmm…For reference, how often can you use your ability?”

“Uh…I can’t use it much…

My mana isn’t that high, so…”

“For example?”

“Something complex, maybe…three times is my limit…”

Three times, huh?

What was the standard for ‘complex’?

How much mana was consumed from Lianna’s mana pool?

Was there a way to increase the number of uses?

What were the criteria for the objects she could transmute?

I continued to bombard Lianna with these kinds of questions,

and Lianna diligently continued to answer my queries.

Meanwhile, steaming hot dishes had already been placed before us,

and since Lianna and I were both somewhat hungry,

we decided to eat first and talk later.

Lianna and I didn’t dislike meat, so

we ordered Grill Bear steak,

which was the most popular item on the menu, renowned for its

rich juices and flavor.

We were eating our meal with gusto when

Lianna spoke to me.

“Um…Master Jenison…?”

“Just call me Jenison. I’m a commoner now.”

“Ah…no! How could I…”

“I said call me that, to be comfortable.”

“…But still…”

“Comfortable.”

“I… I get it… Jennison…”

“Good… what is it you wanted to ask?”

Hearing my words, Lianna seemed to remember and

threw the question back at me.

“Wh-why did Jennison make me that offer?”

“Offer?”

“To give me money on the condition of tormenting me…”

“Ah… I didn’t explain it?”

She nodded her head furiously, wearing

an expression that demanded an explanation.

Even so, I had no intention of explaining.

There was no particular reason to, and

if it were to spread,

all my efforts thus far would be for naught.

“I can’t tell you. And I have no intention of telling you.”

“O-okay…”

“And the fact that *I* made that offer to you

is also a secret. I included the cost in what I gave you.”

“H-huh?… But is that really okay…?”

“I have no intention of improving my reputation, so it’s fine.”

Lianna’s face showed that she didn’t understand my words, but

she said she understood anyway, and began eating again.

After finishing the meal, I told her about the

preparations she needed to make.

“Lianna, for the midterm evaluation, bring the simplest and lightest

things possible.”

“Huh? Why?”

“If there are no limits to the objects you can transform, then

conserving your mana will help you survive.”

“Ah…”

“And to conserve mana, the most efficient method is to

prepare objects with the simplest structures separately.”

“So that’s why you’re telling me to pack things like that separately?”

“That’s right.”

Lianna quickly understood my point, then

began asking me what items would be good to bring,

what kind of objects she should make if she were to make something,

and if it would be better to find out about items that would help her survive.

All traces of discomfort toward me had vanished from her face.

She seemed utterly relaxed, in a way I hadn’t seen before.

While answering her questions,

we’d somehow arrived at the dorms.

It was here we’d part ways.

“Well… we’re already here.”

“So it seems.”

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Jennison?”

“Hold on.”

“Huh?”

I made her wait a moment,

then pulled out the earnings from selling the scrolls from my pocket.

Despite the scrolls’ exorbitant price,

there was demand, and since these were mass-produced,

a rather considerable sum had quickly come my way.

Before I knew it, I’d amassed enough for roughly half a year of Academy tuition.

“Take this.”

“What’s this?”

She accepted it, checked the contents,

then, startled, tried to hand it back.

“You… you’re crazy!! Why is there so much money?”

“Use it for your tuition.”

“That’s insane! This is too much!!”

She said the words, but I could see the tremor in her eyes.

Originally, thanks to my suggestion, her tuition worries

weren’t all that severe.

But now that my offer had ended,

she’d have to rush to earn the funds,

and a typical job wouldn’t cover the Academy’s costs.

So, right now, she was desperately in need of money,

and offering this much would undoubtedly help her.

Or so I thought, but it seemed she didn’t see it that way.

She lowered her head slightly and asked me, her voice trembling.

“Why…?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you… being so kind to me?”

“…”

“I’m a coward who didn’t speak up against the rumors about you…

Someone who gave up without even trying much…”

Her voice was already thick with unshed tears,

and I could sense it held a great burden of guilt and gratitude.

“It’s not your fault.”

“…”

“I’m just taking responsibility since I was the one who asked.”

“…”

“There’s no need for you to endure harm unnecessarily.”

“Still…!”

“I don’t want you to be in pain, not if I can help it.”

From the start, the money I offered her was meant as

compensation for accepting this job and keeping the secret.

It meant she didn’t need to suffer alone worrying about my rumors.

She hung her head upon hearing my words, and

when she looked up again, the sunset painted her in its glow.

Her sky-blue hair, kissed by the twilight,

was awash in shades of crimson,

and her face mirrored that rosy hue.

Emerald eyes shone beautifully, and

her delicate voice emerged as her

rose-colored lips parted with difficulty.

“…You’re kind, Jennison.”

“Nonsense.”

“Hehe…I’ll go in first. See you later!”

Perhaps it was only natural to find her beautiful today,

with the sky painted such a breathtaking sunset.

Thinking that, I returned to the dormitory, and

Ella greeted me, bringing the day to a close.