Seirei Gensou Ki
/ Seirei Gensou Ki Volume 1 Chapter 4
–
Part 1Vanessa called Celia to come into the basement where Rio received interrogation.
Because right now Rio's wariness was strong, she was thinking that it would be better to bring a person who he knew even for just a little rather than someone who was completely unknown.
Although, at present when picking someone who Rio was acquainted with, hard to feel wariness against, and could also magic of healing, there was nobody else but Celia who fit the criteria.
Celia readily accepted and went to the basement but,
「Err, he is unconscious isn't he?」
Rio was unconscious from meeting his limit both physically and mentally.
「He must be at his limit because of the pain, exhaustion, and stress.」
Vanessa's face clouded in helplessness.
「Uu……」
A groan leaked out from Rio's mouth.
「……This is terrible injury. It looks like his whole body is strongly beaten up. If he is unlucky there might fractures in his bones. He has to be treated immediately.」
While saying that, Celia gently took off the cloth on Rio's upper body and began checking his injury by touch.
「Please. It looks like he was terribly tormented by Lord Arbeau's interrogation.」
「What an unpleasant man. Doing such thing to a child this small. Even though he can just interrogate normally.」
「This is just my suspicion but the interrogation must be only his pretension on the surface. His position in royal guards is in danger due to the case this time. He is becoming desperate to obtain achievement even just for a little bit more.」
「……That's detestable, for a gentleman to not know when to give up like that.」
Celia muttered and frowned.
「Truly. That's especially the case when it comes to noble.」
Vanessa agreed with a bitter smile.
「Then I'll start the healing now. Heal.」
Celia finished checking Rio's state and chanted the spell of healing. Then, geometrical magic circle surfaced on her hand. Gentle light was enveloping Rio's body, healing the injury.
「That's amazing. I heard that there will be difference in effect depending on the user, but to use Heal this splendid, even among the royal court mages you won't be able to find that many who are able to do the same.」
Vanessa spoke in admiration seeing the swelling was receding in the blink of eye.
「……Thank you for the praise.」
Celia nodded shortly. She took a deep breath while continuing to focus still. And then, the treatment finished before long and the magic's movement halted.
「For the time being he is healed to the point that he can at least move. Well, he is asleep though. I think it will be better to continue after bringing him to bed. Let's allow him to rest.」
「It looks like there are various scars on his body but……, those are old scars. I wonder if he was also receiving abuse in the slum?」
Vanessa spoke after discovering several old scars on Rio's upper body.
「Yes, most likely. Those are that type of scar.」
「Is it impossible to erase the scars?」
「I'm sorry. It will be a different story if it's right after the injury happen, but after time has passed, it's impossible to heal a scar cleanly.」
「I see……」
Both of them made a cheerless expression.
「Let's bring him to the guest room.」
「Yes.」
And then, Rio was moved from there while still unconscious.
–
Part 2Rio opened his eyes on a warm and fluffy bed in a guest room of the royal castle.
「Nn……」
His eyelids opened slowly. Then, an unfamiliar ceiling entered his sight.
(This place……)
He tilted his head while lying down and confirmed the inside of the room with sleepy eyes.
It was a spacious and clean room. The ceiling was high, furniture that looked high class were placed everywhere. The extravagant interior produced a classic atmosphere.
It was greatly different from the isolated basement's solitary cell that only provoked one's despair.
Rio lifted up his upper body and tried to obtain even more detailed information. But the movement of his strangely listless body was dull. When he gave up lifting his body and entrusted his body once more on the bed,
「Oops, looks like you woke up. Good morning. How are you feeling?」
A girl's voice came timidly from the side.
When Rio turned his gaze to the direction of the voice's source, there were two girls sitting on a leather sofa. Their age was around in the middle of their secondary growth period.
One was a petite girl wearing lovely noble outfit. Her pure white hair extended gently until her back. She had lovely features like a winter fairy.
The other girl had blond short hair. Although there was still trace of childishness remaining in her body build, she had a completely beautiful look that was like a sculpture. Her appearance was the so called waiter uniform, with color of white and navy blue that truly brought about elegant atmosphere.
It seemed these two beautiful girls were having tea right beside the sleeping Rio.
「You still have to rest. Your wounds are healed by magic, but it doesn't mean that your weakened stamina has also returned. Besides healing by magic forcefully recover the injury, but the backlash from that make it easier for inconvenience to result in the places that were injured.」
The white haired girl said that while standing up from the sofa and walked toward Rio.
「Err, you are?」
Rio kept lying on the bad while asking for name with a bit of wariness.
「I am Celia. Celia Clair. I talked with you for a bit at the slum right? Though at that time I was wearing a hood.」
「Aah, you were……」
Now that she mentioned it he had heard her voice before. It was a warm and gentle voice that sounded pleasant in ear.
Rio immediately noticed that Celia was the petite person at that time.
「Fufu, best regards. And this girl here is──」
Celia turned around and she was going to introduce the girl in waitress uniform behind her, it was then,
「Nice to meet you. I am called Aria Gavaness. I am employed in the castle as a head servant. At this occasion I am appointed with the responsibility of assisting Rio-sama. Please kindly treat me well.」
The girl who introduced herself as Aria courteously bowed and introduced herself. Her tone was businesslike and completely monotone, but her way of talking was respectful and didn't give the person hearing it unpleasant feeling.
「Nice to meet you. I am……called Rio.」
Rio used Aria's speech as reference and returned a courteous greeting even though somewhat crudely.
If the other party interacted courteously with him, he too would endeavor to interact courteously with them, that was the stance of the human called Rio──no, the human called Amakawa Haruto.
「Excuse me, where could this be?」
Rio asked timidly.
「This is a guest room in the castle. You were unconscious, so you were healed with magic and then brought to this room.」
Celia smiled softly and explained.
「I……see. Thank you very much.」
Rio made a complicated expression and told his thanks. He couldn't let his guard down seeing how the two before him were also people of the same country with those who hurt him, and his feeling became harsh when he recalled the nightmare that occurred in the underground room, but it didn't change the fact that he had received help from them.
「It's fine. I heard the story. Rather it's who is in the position that has to apologize. I'm sorry that you have to meet such terrible experience.」
Celia bowed her head and apologized with grieving heart.
Not the slightest feeling of discrimination toward the orphan Rio could be felt from her. Come to think of it when they met at first at the slum it was also only Celia who interacted gently with him.
Honestly speaking, currently Rio was harboring disgust toward the existence called royalty and nobility.
Because the majority of the royalty and nobility that he had encountered until now consisted from only highhanded and arrogant people, he was unable to clear away his bias toward people of the privileged class.
But, among them there were also people like Celia. When thinking so, there was no way he could decide that all royalty and nobility were unconditionally detestable human. Rio corrected his perception slightly.
「It's not like you were the one who did anything bad.」
Rio looked down and spoke with an emotionally suppressed voice.
「No, but still……」
Celia was at a loss for words while looking like she wanted to run away.
Just as Rio said, it wasn't like Celia had done anything terrible to Rio.
Even so, when thinking that her fellow countrymen had given unreasonable treatment toward Rio, Celia couldn't help but feeling guilt.
「More importantly, what will happen to me after this?」
「For the time being you should be asked to have audience with his majesty the king tomorrow, but after that I also don't know what will happen. You are the benefactor of Florsama……her highness the second princess, so I think nothing bad will happen to you but……」
「Do I really have to meet the king no matter what?」
「Yes. Because a formal thanks need to be given to you in regard to the case this time.」
Rio frowned with a conflicted expression at Celia's explanation.
Honestly speaking, he wished to immediately bid farewell from this kind of castle, that was his true feeling. To say nothing of how absurd it was for him to have something like an audience with the king. But, this place was inside the castle, and the other party was the rule of a country. There was no way Rio's opinion would be accepted if he said that he didn't want to meet the king.
He instantly understood that and he made a heavy sigh.
「It's not like I have done anything significant……」
「That's not true. You had done various things at the behest of Florsama's request. Surely you will be awarded with a reward. I understand that you must be feeling heavy, but it's better to receive what you can receive. Right, Aria?」
Celia turned toward Aria who was staying quiet.
「I think so. I can guess at how you are feeling, but it will be difficult to reject this. In that case perhaps it would be better to have a positive thinking as much as possible.」
Aria talked with a detached tone.
「I see. Certainly that might be so.」
Rio made a slight smile with a feeling of resignation. The mature smile that didn't match the age of his external appearance caused the eyes of Celia and Aria to widen slightly.
「I'm sorry but, can you teach me about the manner of being in the audience of the king? Like the etiquette or the manner of speech. As expected I also cannot just meet the king while staying ignorant.」
Rio asked and bowed his head.
「Yes, of course.」
「If that's your wish, because that is my job.」
Celia and Aria immediately replied and accepted Rio's request.
–
Part 3Around that time, at the throne room inside Beltram Castle.
The king Philip Beltram──alias Philip III was sitting on the throne. In front of him a lot of nobles were gathered. Each of them was influential people who were involved with the national politics.
The nobles in this place were divided into three factions, the factions were divided to left and right where they huddled together with their fellow faction members.
At the left from the throne was the faction of Duke Arbeau that possessed the greatest number of member, while at the right side from the throne were the faction of Duke Huguenot that possessed the second greatest number and the faction of Duke Fontaine that possessed the third greatest number.
Here was the simple explanation regarding the current political background and power relations surrounding Beltram Kingdom.
First, the king Philip III still hadn't reached thirty years old. He was a young king who still hadn't ascended to the throne for long.
It seemed that inexperience became a negative effect for him, when the previous king died from sickness, Duke Arbeau who was a top authority at that time skillfully influenced him.
Duke Arbeau was trusted by the previous king and he gained the right to appoint royal guards, but just before the previous king died, he misused that appointment right and sold favor to the younger people of influential nobles who were unable to succeed their house's peerage and took them into the royal guards. As the result, Duke Arbeau possessed the position as the royal guards captain while reaching this point where he boasted tremendous influence inside the royal court.
Duke Huguenot and Duke Fontaine who incidentally inherited their peerage around the time when Philip III ascended to the throne were late by a step and for a long time they continued to taste hardship from the faction of Duke Arbeau.
Duke Arbeau who possessed influence in the government while also having military authority was an existence that was like a thorn not just for Philip III, but also for the factions of Duke Huguenot and Duke Fontaine.
As time passed and Duke Arbeau's authority was increasing, he seemed to be growing impudent, or perhaps it was his true nature coming out. In the recent years he was starting to get really arrogant. The prominence of Duke Arbeau was viewed by others as a great problem.
In such timing, the abduction case of Flora occurred.
The royal guards that protected the royal family allowed the kidnapping of the second princess Flora to happen. That was why it was a great failure that Duke Arbeau, the captain of the royal guard couldn't shut his eyes from.
In actuality it was his son Charles who was in charge of the security at the scene, but naturally the security responsibility also fell on Duke Arbeau. Or rather, this was the perfect chance to make Duke Arbeau took responsibility.
「As expected, the incident this time is proving that the quality of the royal guards is decreasing, isn't that correct?」
Duek Huguenot spoke with chilly voice.
Marquis Rodin who belonged to his faction agreed to that statement.
「It's indeed as you say. For the royal guards to be outwitted by lowly bandit, I think this is a little bit too careless for them.」
「The security was……flawless.」
Due Arbeau gave an excuse with a faltering tone. But, there was no way a proper excuse that could cover up this failure existed.
「Even if you stated that the security was flawless or whatever, it's meaningless if it's not accompanied with result. It's fortunate that Florsama was safely found, but I wonder, how are you planning to take responsibility about this matter?」
Duke Huguenot asked about the responsibility with a chilly expression.
「……The mastermind behind the kidnapping and their base still haven't been exposed. I believe it won't be too late even if I take responsibility after that matter is finished.」
Duke Arbeau made a face as though he was sucking a sour grape while answering.
But, Duke Huguenot and Marquis Rodin looked like they were in their element hearing that,
「What are you saying? That's exactly why you ought to take responsibility immediately.」
「I agree. The investigation can be done even if it's not by the royal guards. Above all else the current royal guards that overlooked the bandit's infiltration and kidnapping cannot be trusted with this important work.」
They immediately rebutted like that. Duke Arbeau made a bitter face and stared at Duke Huguenot and Marquis Rodin whose age was about half of his age.
(These, greenhorns……)
Duke Arbeau cursed inside his heart.
「It's just as the two of them said, Helmut.」
Philip III who had been silently watching the argument until now opened his mouth. Helmut was the name of Duke Arbeau.
「Yo, your majesty……」
Duke Arbeau faltered. His complexion obviously looked bad.
「Recently the decrease in quality of the royal guards is becoming a problem. Perhaps there is necessity to attempt the reformation of the royal guards after the incident this time.」
When Philip III said that, the people who belonged to Duke Huguenot's faction nodded in satisfaction.
The people who belonged to Duke Fontaine's faction also showed an understanding expression.
「From here on, the right to appoint royal guards will return to us. I'll have you resign from the seat of royal guards captain and ordered a demotion punishment to Charles who was in charge of the security at the scene of the incident. The seat of captain and vice captain will become empty because of that, but Alfred Aimard will fill that empty spot.」
Philip III disclosed the content of the punishment. Although he was the king, it was hard to take back an authority that was once given by the previous king without reason, but it was a different story if there was a failure committed. Of course, he couldn't forgive that his cute beloved daughter was kidnapped, but the incident this time was also truly fortuitous for him.
「Kuh……」
Duke Arbeau's face almost turned into a grimace. The glory of his family that he had built painstakingly until now had crumbled instantly. Thinking about that, it wouldn't be strange even if he went hysteric.
But, as expected from a great noble with long history Duke Arbeau suppressed his emotion and formed a smile and immediately performed the salute of a vassal.
「By your will.」
Noticing that Duke Huguenot was grinning sarcastically, muddy black emotion was welling up inside his heart. However, even then Duke Arbeau's smile didn't crumble.
It was only now that man could feel full of himself. Someday he would make a comeback. At that time he would return this humiliation many times more. And then, he absolutely wouldn't forgive the person who caused the incident this time.
Duke Arbeau hardened his determination inside his heart.
Duke Arbeau was suspecting someone among the enemy factions as the mastermind behind this incident, but it was hard to imagine that the faction of Duke Fontaine who was loyal to the king was the one that caused the kidnapping of a princess this time.
The possibility was high that it was Duke Huguenot's faction. But, even if that was actually the case, there was no way that they would do anything that would easily expose their scheme. There was no objective proof or anything remaining behind, and even the man who seemed to be an assassin which could become prominent source of information had died.
The young boy called Rio who was accidentally there was also suspicious, but seeing that Duke Huguenot wasn't looking anxious at all, perhaps that boy was really unrelated. Duke Arbeau was thinking like that.
But, he thought that he also should perform the preparatory step from now,
「Your majesty, what are you planning regarding the treatment of the aforementioned orphan named Rio?」
Duke Arbeau asked while vigilantly gazing at the reaction of Duke Huguenot's faction.
「Hmm, he is an important witness who grasped this case's information, but he is also Flora's benefactor. Even if he is just an orphan, there is also no way we can be ungrateful. We are thinking to grant him some form of reward.」
「However, is it not dangerous? There is also no guarantee that boy isn't involved with any kind of force.」
「Hou, I heard that your son had performed enough interrogation toward that boy though. Don't tell me you are asking for a freedom to do even more torture? You are saying there is a need for that without even providing any definite proof?」
Phillip III asked with his eyes narrowing quietly.
「Of course, I'm not asking to inflict torture toward a benefactor of her highness the princess. But, it's also a fact that there is no proof that boy is completely innocent.」
The roundabout insistence of Duke Arbeau caused Philip III to frown slightly.
「Then, what are you proposing?」
「Yes-, in my humble opinion we should monitor that boy for a while.」
「Hmm, we too are thinking about that. Flora is feeling really grateful to that boy, so we are quiet reluctant to do so, but as expected that is necessary. ……Garcia.」
After saying that, Philip III sent his gaze toward the faction of Duke Fontaine.
「Good gracious, was I called?」
A man of old age came forward from inside the group. He was a man with a straight back and a face that looked gentle in a glance. But, other people were opening path for the old man with a cautious look.
His name was Garcia Fontaine. He was the previous head of the house of Fontaine two generations ago, but even now he possessed an influence that wasn't little as the king's advisor.
「We are thinking to enroll the aforementioned orphan to the royal academy. We wish to entrust you to do the necessary procedure for that.
A commotion that wasn't small was spreading in the throne room because of Philip III's words.
Beltram Royal Academy──, it was an academy organization that was placed at the peak of Beltram Kingdom whether as a research institution or educational institution. Several educational institutions or coaching school for wealthy people existed in the regional towns and cities, but other than this Beltram Royal Academy, there was no other academic organization that was managed by the government.
The location was adjacent with the royal castle. It boasted vast size of ground and owned elementary school, middle school, and high school, but the middle school and high school, rather than an educational institution, it was markedly pronounced as research institution for special fields.
Every year the academy churned out a lot of specialists in various fields like martial arts, magic, scholarship, etc. Among the royalty and nobility, graduating from the royal academy would become a great status. The academy was a gateway for success both in name and reality.
Although there was entrance examination to be enrolled, pedigree and wealth played a big role. Most of the students were the young people of the royalty and nobility, it had no history of opening its door to the commoner. In other words, people who could enrolled were really limited even among the young people of royalty and nobility.
The nobles inside of the room were understandably surprised because an orphan with unknown background was going to enroll into such influential and prestigious educational institution.
But, Garcia stroked his chin and made an understanding look by himself.
「I see. So that brat's personage can just be entrusted to the academy.」
「That's right. Enroll him within these few days. We will leave it to you.」
「By your will. It's nice timing that girl of Clair is working as a teacher at the academy's first year elementary course. I will enter that brat into her class.」
Garcia put his hand on his chest and bowed his head deeply.
–
Part 4And then, the time for Rio to have audience with Philip III finally came. The throne room was also called the audience room. A formal audience with the king would be held in this place.
Solemn atmosphere was drifting inside the room. The ceiling was high. Inside the rectangle space, everywhere had extravagant and beautiful decoration applied. It displayed an authority that would overwhelm those entering.
Right ahead from the entrance, on the platform at the deepest part of the room, the king's family──the king Phillip III, his legal wife Beatrix, the first princes Christina, the second princess Flora──were sitting on chairs in dressed up appearance. They were looking down the inside of the room.
The elder sister Christina was making a firm and tense expression with a face that still had trace of childishness remaining, but her little sister Flora looked a bit awkward perhaps because she was nervous.
On the other hand, the nobles who were employed in the royal court were lined up at both sides f the passage. As expected they too were dressed up really formally. They were the people who were in attendance to watch the audience that would start from now.
「The young boy who saved her majesty princess Flora will enter the place now.」
The signal of the announcer resounded clearly inside the silent space. Then, the big door of the audience hall slowly opened. All the people inside sent their gaze toward the door.
There, a black haired boy was standing. It was Rio. His hair had been cut. Although there was still trace of innocence remaining in his looks, it exposed his well featured and androgynous face openly.
The black hair that was hard to find in this country brought forth exotic atmosphere. Coupled with his well ordered face that attracted notice, the royalty and nobility inside the hall stared at Rio with curiosity.
「So that's the child who saved her highness princess Flora.」
「He has a rare hair color. Looks like he is a child of immigrant.」
While the audience hall was stirred, Rio tensed his handsome face and walked calmly on the red carpet that was stretching through until the throne. The stylish formal outfit that was tailored for children was still looking imbalanced. Normally the feeling of kid forcing themselves to act like an adult might be distinctively felt from such appearance.
But, in contrast with the outward appearance, Rio's expression looked terribly grown up. Yes, if a youngster noble his same age was in his position right now, it wouldn't be strange for them to be paralyzed with nervousness and trembled, and yet Rio's movement was really calm.
There were also people who were sending admiring gaze toward such dignified attitude but,
「Hmph, a mere lowly poor orphan acting like that……」
「Well, he is unexpectedly doing good there. He is moving following the etiquette.」
「Somehow, it looks really queer.」
And so on, many of the gazes watching Rio were filled with discrimination. Whispering conversations were spreading. In contrast, Rio treated those like a passing wind. He was slowly walking with a cool expression.
And then, Rio arrived before the stair that continued to above the platform. He came to a stop there, kneeled, and bowed down his head. And then he followed the etiquette that was taught to him and waited quietly until he was addressed.
「Rio, raise your face.」
The king Philip III announced solemnly.
「Yes-, I'm honored.」
Rio reverently replied, then he slowly raised his face. Ahead of his gaze was the king's family. Philip III was on the throne at the highest spot, his legal wife Beatrix, the first princess Christina, and the second princess Flora were sitting side by side on the chairs a step below.
Flora was looking down on Rio embarrassedly while acting strangely fidgety.
On the other hand, Christina was sitting with her back straight, although she was staring fixedly on Rio's face with dubiousness. Perhaps after Rio's long messy hair was cut off, the impression he gave to her was completely different from before.
Both Christina and Flora were beautiful girls with light purple hair. It was clear from a glance that they were sisters, but the atmosphere they gave was really different as though the polar opposite from each other.
Flora's purple almond shaped eyes were sparkling radiantly. Her skin was white but slightly reddening. In contrast Christina was frowning as though she was in a bad mood, and when her gaze met Rio, she averted her face in a huff.
「You have done well in rescuing our daughter at this chance. Truly a great achievement. We gave you our thanks.」
Phillip III expressed his thanks to Rio with a pompous tone.
「I am extremely delighted to receive such words that are unworthy for me.」
Rio replied reverently.
「You are showing a really splendid behavior. Have you learned the manner for having audience beforehand?」
「I have no words. It's nothing more than a half-baked preparation that I only hastily learned, but I manage to avoid any disrespect is wholly thanks to the assistance of the people who bestowed me their aid.」
Phillip III gave a hint of admiration in his expression at Rio's manner of speech.
「We have told beforehand to never mind the etiquette that is too stiffening, but your endeavor is laudable. We heard that you were living in the slum quarters but, were your birthplace in this country?」
「Yes-. I was born and raised in this royal capital Beltram.」
「Hou, and your parents……?」
「I heard that my father and mother were adventurers who traveled across countries. It seemed they migrated to this country from the far east, settled down here and gave birth to me, but both of them had departed from this world.」
「I see. Immigrants from the east. And then you ended up living in the slum quarters. Looks like you have a really eventful past in that age. We have asked you something painful. Pardon us.」
「No. It's already a matter of the past.」
Rio made a troubled expression and shook his head.
「I see. By the way, I'm thinking to grant you a reward in regard to the case this time but──」
After speaking that far, Phillip III cut off his speech for a moment and gazed at Rio.
「How about it, won't you try getting enrolled into our Beltram Royal Academy's elementary school as a scholarship student? If you wish it they you will also receive preferential treatment for employment when you graduated. If you cultivated satisfactory grades, then we will also support your advancement to the middle school and further.」
The king spoke the content of the reward in specific. Rio's eyes turned wide at the talk that suddenly took place.
「That is, ……a reward that really surpassed this one's wildest imagination.」
Although Rio said that, he was showing a face that looked slightly hesitating.
Certainly, Rio who was raised as an orphan was overwhelmingly lacking in this world's culture and common sense. Being able to attend an exclusive educational institution wasn't really a bad offer.
But, from the civilization level of this world, he could easily imagined that all the students who attended Beltram Royal Academy consisted of the younger people of royalty and nobility. What would happen to Rio if he went to that kind of place as someone without any status at all? His feeling became really heavy when imagining that.
Although, the current Rio had no choice at all. If he refused, it was unclear whether they would really let him go quietly, on top of that he was also someone with no definite means of how he would live starting from tomorrow.
Rio instantly finished calculating about those matters in his mind and,
「If your majesty allow, then I wish to accept your majesty's kind offer by all means.」
He obediently accepted the reward proposal.
Phillip III nodded deeply.
「Right, then it's decided. We will take responsibility of your necessary expense from your enrollment until your graduation. Other than that, we will also bestow you with a hundred gold coin as reward money.」
The inside of the hall became slightly noisy. That was because it was an exceptional treatment.
The currency that was circulating in the market was small bronze coin, large bronze coin, small silver coin, large silver coin, gold coin, and magic gold coin. Six kind of coins existed. From the small bronze coin until gold coin, the exchange rate between each type of coin was by the factor of ten toward the type of above and below each type.
For example, ten pieces of small bronze coin could be exchanged with one large bronze coin, and ten large bronze coins could be exchanged with one small silver coin.
However, it was only magic gold coin that was treated specially. The amount of that coin which was circulated in the market was few, consequently gold coin became the currency with highest value that was used for normal transaction.
The enrollment fee into Beltram Royal Academy elementary school was ten gold coins, and the tuition fee each year was thirty gold coins. In other words, it cost forty gold coins in total for first year, and every year after that it would cost thirty gold coins every year.
The average yearly income of nobles without territory was forty gold coins. From there it could be understood just how much value this reward had.
In the first place, for the people who were obsessed with discrimination principle even among the nobilities, just the fact that a lowborn orphan enrolling into the prestigious Beltram Royal Academy was already a really disagreeable situation. If that orphan was given that much money in addition, there was no way they wouldn't feel animosity.
Rio somehow noticed that the atmosphere inside the hall had changed, but,
「My sincere gratitude for the extraordinary kindness your majesty bestowed to this one.」
Ignoring that, he deeply bowed his head.
–
Part 5The headmaster office of Beltram Royal Academy was located in the highest floor of the spire in the main building.
The headmaster Garcia Fontaine called the teacher in charge of elementary school first year, Celia Clair to his office.
When Celia entered inside, Garcia sat down on a stately official chair inside the room. From the balcony behind him, the scenery of royal capital Beltram was spreading out.
「Headmaster Fontaine, excuse me. Are you calling for me?」
「Yes. Thank you for coming.」
After Celia greeted, Garcia nodded with exaggerated gesture.
The wrinkles that were carved on his face showed his advanced age, but even in his old age, Garcia was an old man with youthful dominating aura.
「I'm calling for you is none other than about the orphan whose enrollment was decided at the audience the other day.」
「Is it about Rio?」
「That's right. It's decided that he will be entered into the class that you are in charge of.」
「I see, I understand.」
If it was normal teacher, it wouldn't be strange even if they showed reluctance that an orphan who seemed like would become a source of trouble was entered into their class. But, Celia accepted it without making any particular objection.
「You are still young and it haven't been long since you became teacher, but I'm holding expectation for you. I'll leave this to you.」
「Yes. I will do my best to answer that expectation.」
Celia tensed her expression seriously and replied.
「Hmm, about that. The main topic will be from here but……. Celikun, what do you think after interacting with that aforementioned orphan? I want you to tell me your opinion frankly.」
「Let's……see. I think he is mature for his age, it seems he is a really intelligent kid.」
Celia answered after thinking for a few moments.
「Hou, can you give me an example about what you mean?」
Garcia asked looking really interested.
「First, he properly understood the situation he was put in. On top of that, I was also able to see his attitude that greedily attempted to learn what he is lacking of. Perhaps his discernment, adaptability, and learning ability are really excellent.」
Celia explained her impression about Rio systematically.
「Hmm. He got dragged into the princess's kidnapping incident and then taken away into the castle. He received an interrogation that was practically torture. He was forced to enroll into royal academy after receiving the order that was under the guise of reward. Did he show any dissatisfaction regarding those matters? IgnitionIgnition Magic.」
Garcia asked that before chanting a spell. A small magic circle floated on his fingertip and a fire was lit. He brought the fire close to the pipe in his mouth and then inhaled. Smoke was starting to puff up.
「He might looked reluctant, but he didn't speak out any dissatisfaction.」
「I see.」
Saying that, Garcia blew out smoke from his mouth. He then stared at the smoke drifting in the air and made a pondering face.
「Err, is there something about Rio?」
Celia asked when she was unable to read the purpose of this talk.
「It's nothing, I'm just thinking that his reaction is really unlike a child.」
Garcia answered ambiguously.
「A reaction like a child, is it?」
A question mark floated above Celia's head and she tilted her head.
「Right. For example, Celikun. If you suddenly got thrown into prison, beaten up by unknown men, and then after that you were safely released, what would you think?」
「……That's the worst. It will undoubtedly become a trauma. I might become unable to trust other people after that.」
Celia answered with a sorrowful face. When she tried imagining herself in Rio's place, she could feel that it was a gruesome happening that surpassed her imagination.
「That's how it is. You are a girl so perhaps you find it excessively terrifying but, isn't that reaction fitting for a child──no, for a human? Such thing will make anyone want to mutter their hatred, resentment toward the other party that carried out such unreasonableness even if only once. Among them surely there will be calm people who can suppress their emotion and be mindful of their position, but few people can do that even among adult.」
Garcia's way of speaking was strangely filled with significance. Celia narrowed her eyes quietly.
「……In other words, what does headmaster wish to say?」
「What, based from what I heard from you, it looks like he isn't showing reaction like a normal child. The etiquettes he showed in the audience hall also looked really appropriate that it was unthinkable that it was really only a hasty preparation.」
「That's, it was because I taught him the necessary etiquettes. At first he didn't know anything at all about such thing.」
Celia was getting sullen without her noticing it herself and replied as though to cover for Rio.
「Right, when I asked it seemed that it was the boy who asked to be taught the etiquettes, isn't that right? But, a normal child won't be thinking that far.」
「That's why, I thought that he is an intelligent child.」
Celia cut in at Garcia's roundabout talk with a hard voice.
「Certainly he might be an intelligent child. There are also existences like Princess Christina and you who make the title of genius seem like nothing when you aren't even twelve years old. It also won't be strange if the harsh environment of the slum was nurturing him to be like that. Or perhaps, it could be──」
After saying that far, Garcia's face quietly turned expressionless.
「Or perhaps, what?」
Celia asked with a serious face.
「No, it's nothing. It seems that he will be facing various difficulties from now on. I want you to indirectly pay attention to that as his homeroom teacher. If there is something that catch your attention then report it to me. I can entrust this job only to you.」
Garcia made a composed smile and said so.
「Yes, I don't mind that but……」
Celia felt befuddled. She made an expression that wasn't really convinced.
「Of course I understand that you are busy with your research. Surely you coming and going from the castle these few days would also cause delay to it. I don't mind if you do what I'm asking only to the degree that won't cause any hindrance to your research.」
「……Yes. Understood. Is that all?」
She was curious about what he was thinking, but it didn't seem like he would tell her if she asked. Celia wanted to quickly leave from this place.
「Yeah, you can leave now.」
「Then, excuse me.」
Celia bowed briefly and turned around.
(It's really difficult for me to deal with this person.)
Celia let out a small sigh while thinking of such thing.
–
Part 6Rio put his hand through the sleeve of Bertram Royal Academy's uniform and walked in the corridor of the academy following the guidance of his homeroom teacher Celia. He was following the small back that felt slightly unreliable to be a teacher.
「How does the uniform feel?」
Celia looked back while walking and talked to Rio.
「It's not bad. The fabric feels durable, and it really easy to move in it.」
He answered and lightly moved both his hands to ascertain the sensation of the uniform.
「That's because it's a custom made article that was created based on the demands of the students throughout the successive generations. It also doubled as battle clothes.」
「I see. So that's why it's designed to look like knight uniform.」
「Yes, stylish right? The uniform of the female students is also cute you know?」
Celia said that with a slightly playful smile.
「Ahaha.」
Rio was troubled about how to react and smiled wryly. Putting aside whether he should look forward to the female student's uniform or not, certainly the uniform of Beltram Royal Academy was fashionable.
Just as Rio said, it had a design like knight uniform. The boy wore trouser, while the girl wore skirt. There was also disparity in design that was matched with the difference between male and female, but there wasn't that much gap in performance between them.
「We arrived.」
They were walking while talking. And then Celia stopped in front of a certain classroom.
A noisy atmosphere could be felt from the other side of the room. Inside there were a lot of young people of nobility that would be hard to deal with. Surely they were amusing themselves with conversation before the homeroom.
(So it's here.)
Rio recalled the path that he walked until this classroom and compared it with the geography of the school's ground. He should be able to come until this classroom starting tomorrow without getting lost.
「It looks like you aren't really nervous.」
「That's not true.」
Rio shrugged his shoulders slightly and denied that.
「Is that so? Your expression is really nonchalant considering that though.」
「That's because I was often told even in the slum that I'm someone whose emotion doesn't really come out to my expression.」
Rio answered with a wry smile.
「I see……, well that's fine. Let's go in.」
Saying that, Celia opened the door.
The next moment, inside the classroom that was overflowing with commotion became dead silent.
「Everyone, good morning. From today there is a newly enrolled student who is joining this class. Rio, come in.」
Celia spoke while entering inside the classroom briskly and came up on the teacher's podium.
「Excuse me.」
Rio lightly bowed and entered the classroom, following behind Celia.
It was spacious inside the classroom, as though it was a small hall. From the front where the teacher podium was located until the back of the class, the floor was slanting up in the shape of stair. Desks and chairs that were bolted on the spot were lined up.
The number of students in each class was around 40. There were a total of three classes for each grade.
When Rio came up on the podium, the gaze of the students inside the classroom pierced him. Conversation in small voices were breaking out everywhere.
「Hee, so that guy is the orphan new student.」
「Orphan? That kind of guy is enrolling into this glorious royal academy?」
「Yeah, from what my father told me, it seemed he raised an achievement and his enrollment into the royal academy was recognized.」
「……Isn't it some kind of mistake?」
And so on, the male students were carrying out conversations curiously. It seemed the rumor that an orphan would enroll had been spreading already.
On the other hand, speaking of the female students' reaction,
「Black hair is really unusual isn't it?」
「Yes, I was wondering what kind of beast would come.」
「His look is unexpectedly cute don't you think?」
「If he is dressed with female clothing and wig, it feels like he can pass as a girl.」
「Hmmm, well, his face isn't bad but, he is still an orphan.」
Mainly they were giving various evaluations at Rio's looks.
The reaction of the boys and girls were really odious, but they already had the sense of values as noble living in a society that emphasized social position imprinted into them. The gazes that were directed to Rio were filled with discriminating emotion.
「Now, everyone please be quiet. He will introduce himself now.」
Celia looked over the classroom while sighing and saying that.
After confirming that the whispered conversations of the students had stopped, Rio took a step forward,
「I am called Rio. At this chance because of the boon from his majesty's good office, I am allowed to attend this hall of learning even as unworthy as I am. There are many aspects that I am lacking at, but I will give my best effort to not be a bother for everyone, so please take care of me.」
He deeply bowed while introducing himself and giving a greeting.
It was a courteous self-introduction that was really faultless, or rather it was too overdoing it for a seven years old.
But, if he had to introduce himself toward the young nobles, it was just fine to act too menially. It was a greeting line that was created by the cooperation of Celia too.
In the end, was that prediction not mistaken or not,
「My, it seems he understand the minimum manners.」
「Yeah, seems like he can at least talk like a servant.」
「An orphan is talking in that kind of way.」
And so on, for the time being he didn't earn their displeasure by using such speech.
Although, there wasn't even a single applause. They were talking as though they were watching a rare animal. They were observing Rio while obviously belittling him.
Even if from today he became a student of the royal academy like them, in their eyes Rio who was an orphan living in the slum until recently was an inferior existence, he wasn't an equal existence to them.
(I'll have to attend to this kind of place for six years at the very least……)
Rio was making a dejected sigh inside his heart when feeling the atmosphere that felt really unpleasant. He wouldn't be troubled about this clothing, food, and living place here, but when he was imagining his life ahead from now, he was becoming depressed.
(But, this is better than staying in that slum quarters. I'll learn everything that is useful.)
If not, there would be no meaning in him coming to this academy.
Rio understood from his heart the necessity of education. Without knowledge or skill, the job he could obtain in the future would be limited, and in life one wouldn't know what would be useful and where.
Although it was because of the course of events that he attended this academy, now that it had become like this he had to make use of the merit to the maximum effect.
When he lifted his bowing head, Rio briefly looked across the classroom. There,
(……Hm?)
Among the students inside the classroom who were showering him with their gaze, he found a familiar face.
The position was at the back of the classroom near the window──, that person had straight long hair with purple color, which was loosely tied by a barrette. Beside her sat a cute girl with blonde roll hair.
When the girl with light purple hair──Christina Beltram's gaze met Rio's, 「hmph」, she huffed slightly and looked aside. He had thought this in the audience hall too but, it seemed he was really hated. After all their first encounter with each other was like that, so it was understandable.
(Well, it's best to not get involved. The other side is also planning to do that.)
It was certain that Christina wasn't harboring a good feeling toward Rio. Rio too didn't have the slightest feeling of getting involved with Christina.
「Then, from today Rio too will become a member of this class. Surely there are various things that he is unfamiliar with, so help him if he asks a question or looking troubled okay? Get along well with each other.」
Celia spoke with a bright voice to erase the strange atmosphere drifting inside the classroom.
But, there was no reply from the students. Celia sighed lightly.
「……Then Rio, you can sit anywhere at the empty seat. That will become your seat from then on. My recommendation is the seat at the very front.」
That way it would be easier for Celia too to watch out for him somehow.
「Understood. Then」
Rio moved to an empty seat at the front of the classroom and sat down.
「Then, today there is also no particular notification, so let's move to the lesson right away.」
–
Part 7In Bertram Royal Academy, each subject had different teacher in charge. Even though they were called teacher in charge, there was no way they could be in charge of all the lectures. But, perhaps it was fortunate that Celia was in charge of the lecture of arithmetic which was the first lecture he received in Bertram Royal Academy.
「I think everyone who passed the entrance examination is already able to do the simple four fundamental rule of arithmetic, but today I'll ask all of you to solve a problem with a bit higher difficulty.」
While saying that, Celia was writing the questions on the large slate that was standing on the teaching podium. The content of the questions was something simple that the students of Japan's lower grades of primary school could solve.
「Then, please solve the questions I'm writing on the slate now.」
Celia said after finishing writing several questions on the slate. The students immediately moved their feather pen and began to solve the questions. After confirming that, Celia moved to Rio's front.
「Now, Rio. I am still unable to grasp how much you can do, so I want to confirm it. Can you solve the questions written on the slate?」
「I'm sorry. In the first place I am unable to read letters.」
Rio answered the question that Celia whispered.
「I see. It's necessary to teach you starting from letters and numbers then.」
Celia made a worried expression. She was pondering for a few moments like that then,
「Then, I will give you personal guidance, so after school can you go to my research room……at the basement of the tower that has the library? For today please keep receiving the lectures as it is.」
She said that in consideration of the progress of the whole class too.
「Yes. I understand.」
Rio obeyed that decision obediently. It wasn't his intention to delay the progress of the class just for his sake alone. After that the lesson continued without any hindrance and the first hour of the arithmetic was finished.
–
Part 8The first hour of lectures finished and now was a break time.
Celia left the class for her next class and only the students were left in the classroom.
Then, a strange atmosphere started to fill the classroom. A blank space was created around the seat where Rio was sitting alone at the front of the classroom. Countless gazes were showering him.
Whisper whisper whisper whisper.
「It looks like that guy cannot do arithmetic. He was only listening to the teacher's talk all along the class.」
「Yeah, it must be that. He enrolled here without receiving the entrance examination.」
「After all he is an orphan you know, orphan. There is no way he has received proper education. In the first place can he even read letters?」
「Uwaa, why is that kind of guy entered this academy huh.」
Perhaps the existence of orphan that originally they would never be involved with was curious for them, the students were staring at Rio from a distance while talking with a small voice.
And then, mocking chuckles could be heard──.
(Well, they will get bored of it before long.)
Although he was feeling discomfort as though he was put on a bed of nails, there was no real harm that reached him. He could ignore it if it was just this much. He was becoming a spectacle like this for now, but he thought that the more time passed, all of them would lose interest. Rio made a small sigh.
「Say, you. Do you have a minute?」
Then, at that time, a girl's voice resounded. That voice was addressing Rio from a girl who was walking down the passage calmly from the back of the classroom. It was a familiar voice, furthermore he had heard it really recently.
Rio's gaze was pulled toward the voice's owner. There, the cute girl with blonde roll hair sitting beside Christina was standing there.
The girl's strong willed eyes that were opened wide were staring at Rio in exasperation.
(Could she be the girl who was together with Princess Christina at the slum?)
Because Rio had familiarity with the girl's voice and tone, he guessed her identity. He didn't really know her face at the time because she was wearing robe, but if he remembered correctly her name should be Roana.
「Do you have some kind of business with me?」
「What do you mean 『Do you have some kind of business with me?』. At the lecture just now, what is the meaning of that?」
The girl who seemed to be Roana sighed exaggeratedly and spoke briskly.
「……My apologizes. What could you possibly mean?」
Rio tilted his head when he was still unable to guess the purpose of the talk.
「It seems that you have learned the minimum manners in talking, but you, you cannot even read numbers right?」
「Yes.」
Rio calmly acknowledged it. Then, the girl raised her eyebrow.
「Can you stop fooling around? This Beltram Royal Academy is a learning hall that boasted prestigious tradition and social standing. All of us are here after clearing through the difficult examination. And yet you, to be unable to even read letters, that's not any different from a monkey.」
The girl spoke in indignation. There an agreeing voice came from the side.
「No, truly, it's just as Miss Roana said.」
The new voice that interrupted came from a handsome boy with well ordered face. Rio and the girl──Roana who was talking to him turned their gaze toward the boy.
「What is it Alphonse? Right now I'm still talking with him.」
Roana seemed to be displeased that someone interrupted her. Her eyes quietly narrowed while asking.
「Pardon my rudeness. It's just that, although it's already displeasing simply when a lowborn enter the sight, for one of them to enter this Beltram Royal Academy, it is truly a nightmare.」
The boy who was called Alphonse talked coldly.
「The enrollment of this person was decided by his majesty the king. If you are expressing your objection about that, that would be barking up the wrong tree you know?」
「Yes. It's just as you say. But, while that may be true, it won't be amusing if this guy hold a misunderstanding. And so, I'm thinking to make it clear in this chance.」
Alphonse formed a smug smile on his lips and agreed, then he looked over the students inside the classroom.
「What do you mean?」
Roana asked suspiciously.
「Don't think that you have become equal to us, that's what I mean. The people here are the chosen even among the royalty and nobility. It will be unpleasant if a lowborn misunderstood and act over-familiar with us.」
After saying that, Alphonse glared at Rio without even trying to hide his scorn. Surely it would be pointless no matter what he said to someone whose bigotry was this strong.
Would this boy be satisfied if he lined up speech that abased himself appropriately──while thinking of such thing, Rio accepted the boy's gaze without any change in his expression.
「I won't dare to do such impudence──」
「I haven't given you any permission to speak, lowlife. Don't butt into the conversation of nobles. It's unpleasant.」
When Rio opened his mouth, Alphonse formed a triumphant smile as though he had been waiting for it and made his statement. Then, the inside of the classroom fell silent for a moment.
The next instant, chuckles and cold laughter welled up from here and there.
Alphonse watched such reaction of the students while making a satisfied smile. Rio made a faint cold smile and kept silent.
「Alphonse, that's enough. If you come just for ridiculing like this then leave right away.」
Roana spoke with a voice that was tinged in exasperation.
「Yes, well then. Excuse me.」
Alphonse nodded and returned to the back of the classroom with brisk footsteps and a satisfied expression.
Roana turned her gaze to Rio and opened her mouth once more.
「It's the continuation of before that interruption. Frankly speaking right now you aren't worthy for this academy.」
「My deepest apologies. I am just someone ignorant and illiterate.」
「It seems so. But, the more you are left behind, the more you will also drag us back, and it will also throw mud at the academy's name.」
Roana accepted Rio's humble words as it was.
「It's just as you say.」
「Then work as hard as you can. And then show a result. There will be an examination at the end of term in this Beltram Royal Academy. That's all that I wish to say.」
「Certainly. I swear to endeavor with my all so that I won't be a hindrance to everyone. Roansama, thank you very much for your consideration.」
Rio expressed his thanks and bowed his head courteously.
「That's fine. This too is a duty of me who is serving as this class's representative in the place of Christinsama. Even if that's not the case, it's the role of noble to guide the commoner.」
Surely she was saying that from her heart. Roana was trying to guide Rio as the class's representative and a noble. Such sense of purpose and responsibility could be felt from her. Because of that, Rio felt no malicious hostility like Alphonse from Roana's statement.
–
Part 9After school of the first day Rio received classes, he visited the library tower where the teachers set up their laboratory.
The first floors until the third floor of the tower were used as library. The parts other than that were allocated as the laboratory of the teachers who worked in the academy. Celia's laboratory was located at the basement of the library tower.
After entering the tower from the entrance of the library's first floor, there were a great number of books inside the building. They were all packed tightly into the bookshelves and divided based on the field of study.
Rio was interested what kind of books the library had, but unfortunately he was visiting today for a different matter. He took care of the necessary procedure in the reception and then he headed straight to the laboratory underground.
A long corridor was stretching underground. Magic lamps were illuminating the passage.
「Here huh.」
Because the receptionist had taught him where Celia's room was, Rio was able to arrive without getting lost. He was unable to read the letters written on the name plate that was attached on the door, but there should be no mistake.
*Knock knock*. Rio slowly knocked the door.
However, no reply came from the other side of the door.
「Is she not here?」
Rio tilted his head in puzzlement and knocked one more time. This time he tried knocking stronger than before. *Knock knock*. But, there was no reply again.
「Celisenseiteacher, is she not here?」
*Knock knock*. He continued to knock while saying that. If there would still be no reply with this, he would give up for today and went back. When Rio was thinking such thing, the door was opened hard.
Rio jerked in surprise. The door was opened to the inside, but if the door was a type that opened to the outside, it might collided on him dangerously.
「Aaaah, geez! That's noisy! Can't you read the letters on the plate? Right now I'm in a good part that's, why……」
Celia came out from inside the room while raising a protesting voice, but when she saw Rio's face, her momentum weakened bit by bit.
Rio was dumbfounded seeing such Celia. His image of Celia until now which was that of a pure and secluded young lady was crumbling down.
「Err, I'm coming about the matter of the personal guidance though……」
Rio made a twitching smile and timidly broached the matter of his business here.
「Heh? Ah, yes. Tha, that's right. It's good that you have come. I have been waiting, right!」
Celia made a pondering face, gasped, then she put up a lovely smile and spoke to cover up her mistake.
(She completely forgot.)
Thinking that, Rio made a wry smile. But, just in case he matched his talk with her.
「I'm sorry, sensei need to take your time for my sake like this.」
「It's fine. As a teacher there is also no way that I can just leave you behind by yourself.」
Saying that, Celia smiled a bit awkwardly.
「Thank you very much.」
「Yes. Then, don't keep standing over there, come inside. ……ah」
When she turned around to invite Rio inside the room, Celia stiffened.
(This is bad. I forgot that this boy is coming, so I didn't clean up my room!)
「Is something the matter?」
Celia was anxious inside her heart. Rio called out to her from behind.
「Eh? A, aa, no. Yep. Right now the inside of the room is just slightly messy but, that's, don't you mind it.」
Celia made a fake smile with all her might and spoke misleadingly.
「Yes, it'll be fine.」
Rio nodded. Like that he entered inside the room.
(……This is, just a bit?)
Rio's expression cramped seeing the chaos inside that surpassed his imagination.
The room boasted quite the size which was around twenty tatami mats.
But, books, documents, and tools with unknown utility were scattered all over the floor. The top of the tables were also overflowing with books, documents, and even a plate filled with half-eaten light meal or cup of tea and so on. It was unthinkable that this was a room of a really cute maiden.
「No, normally the room is more in order! Right now I'm a bit busy and my research has reached the good part, so it's like, I was putting off the cleaning up……」
Perhaps Celia had noticed the change in Rio's complexion, she was making excuse with blushing cheeks.
「The, there are a lot of books that look difficult isn't it? Sensei look really young so it's amazing!」
Rio was unable to find a skillful reply and pointed at random book that entered his sight and praised Celia. That was Rio's attempt to forcefully changed the topic and covered up the awkwardness but,
「Eh? A, aa, yep. I am still twelve years old after all. Originally I should still be attending the elementary school but, I skipped grade and has graduated from even the high school!」
'Ehem', Celia puffed up her chest that had a size which was fitting for her age and boasted. Her cheeks were still slightly red, but it seemed she had got on the diverted topic.
「That's, really amazing.」
「We, well yes! Actually I want to specialize in research of magic and focus completely into it. But researcher here has to do teacher work in their spare time no matter what.」
Celia spoke talkatively.
Her acting like a grown up was cute. Rio made a small smile.
「Err, then I will make some space, so you wait for a bit.」
Saying that, Celia started to tidy up the mess on the chair and table at the center of the room that were used of reception. The things seemed to be placed disorderly but perhaps there was an order to it because Celia was performing the separation of the various items there quickly.
It looked like it would be bad if he carelessly tampered with the position of the books and documents, so Rio was staring at that scene from behind, but.
「Tsu……」
Because Celia was bending down while doing her work, her fluttery skirt moved, and sometimes it felt like he could catch a glimpse of the inside. The legs that were stretching out smoothly brought about an alluring charm that didn't suit her age.
Rio quickly averted his gaze and let out a small sigh at Celia's defenselessness.
After that her work was finished in a few minutes and Rio sat on the chair while facing Celia who was sitting on the other side. Writing materials were put on the table.
「Then, let's begin.」
「Yes.」
「Having said that, what should I start teaching you from? ……Let's see, then, do you understand what is the meaning of number?」
「I understand.」
Rio immediately answered Celia's question.
「Hmmm, then, there are five books here. Rio has finished reading three of them. How many books you haven't read?」
Celia gave a simple question in order to confirm whether Rio really understood.
「Two books.」
Rio answered instantly as expected.
「My, so you really understand.」
Celia's eyes opened wide in surprise.
「You are able to do subtraction means you can also do addition right? Then, what is the meaning of this?」
After saying that, Celia moved the feather pen on the table.
She was writing a simple addition problem on a paper.
「Err, I cannot read letters so……」
Rio answered with a troubled look.
「That's, right isn't it. In other words, you cannot read number but you can do calculation?」
「That is the case.」
「That's mismatched. Well, it's not impossible, I think? Paper is expensive after all……」
Celia made a pondering face and reached understanding by herself.
「Then, for now it's fine if I only teach you numeric characters. Then it will save me a lot of time, that's something welcome for me. I will write the number of zero until nine here, will you be able to remember it?」
Celia smoothly wrote numeric characters while speaking.
「I understand.」
「From the left is zero, one, two, and so on. The number is getting bigger by the order. Tell me if you finished memorizing them. I will give you arithmetic questions to test how much you can do.」
「Yes.」
Even while nodding, Rio was moving his finger and memorized the numbers. The numeric characters written on the paper had really simple shapes. He finished memorizing in only a short time.
「I finished.」
「Eh, already? Then, write the number zero until nine on here.」
Celia flipped the paper and handed it to Rio. Rio quickly wrote the numbers.
「Correct. Your writing is beautiful. Then let's quickly have you try solving addition and subtraction problems. I'll also teach you the arithmetic symbols.」
Celia spoke in admiration.
「Yes. Can sensei give me questions at the same level that is being taught in the class right now? I wish to confirm how much I can do.」
「If it's the same level like the class, the four fundamental rules of arithmetic……multiplication and division will also be included, but as expected that's excessive right?」
「Perhaps I'll be fine. For multiplication, if six children are going to be given five apples each, how many apples are needed in total? It's that kind of problem right? And then the division is the reverse of that.」
「Ye, yes. That's right, where did you learn that?」
Celia asked in wonder.
「……I learned from my mother.」
It was a lie. He simply had finished learning the four fundamental rules of arithmetic in the previous world's compulsory education a long time ago. For Rio, as long as he was taught the numeric characters and arithmetic symbols, that would be enough. But there was no way he could tell Celia the truth.
If he said that he learned from his dead mother, there would be no way to confirm the truth, because of that surely no one would investigate too much. Like that, Rio would be able to omit the majority of the pointless process.
「I see, your mother was really cultured wasn't she?」
Thinking that she had asked something bad, Celia's expression was slightly clouded.
「Yes, she was a kind, and warm person……」
Rio's expression also clouded slightly.
「Err, then, if that's the case, you are able to do the four fundamental arithmetic then. I'll give you questions at the same level like in the class. Try to solve them.」
Rio nodded 「Yes」, then Celia took out a new paper. There she was writing questions one after another. There were twenty questions, and they included all four of the fundamental arithmetic.
「I wrote the symbols that are used when writing the symbols of the four fundamental arithmetic. From left is addition symbol, subtraction symbol, multiplication symbol, and division symbol. Then begin.」
After Celia gave the signal, Rio quickly took a look at the questions. From the view point of Rio as Amakawa Haruto, they were only a collection of extremely simple questions.
「I finished.」
Rio solved all the problems in only ten-odd seconds. Because he concentrated too much, he didn't notice Celia was watching him while in shock.
「All the answers are correct……」
Celia seemed to have checked the answer while Rio was answering the questions. She immediately told him the result.
「Then it doesn't look like I have a problem with arithmetic. Next I have to memorize letters but, compared to number letters has more variation isn't it?」
「Eh? Ah, yes. That's right……」
「Is something the matter?」
Rio noticed Celia's ambiguous reply and asked that in wonder.
「How should I say it. Rio, you are able to do mental arithmetic really quickly aren't you?」
「Is, that so? Aren't everyone in the class also able to do this much?」
「Not that fast. In my class perhaps only Princess Christina can do that. Roansan is also quiet fast but, she isn't as fast as Rio.」
Celia talked with a twitching smile.
Here Rio noticed his own blunder. He was thinking that most of the students possessed really high education level because this was the greatest educational institution of the country.
He had seen the students acting proudly about their own scholarly ability, and he heard that it was necessary to learn the four fundamental rules of arithmetic for the entrance examination. From there, Rio misunderstood that obviously they could do this much.
「Well, I often performed calculation in my head. My mother, she told me it would surely be useful someday.」
Rio was slightly agitated while quickly preparing excuses.
「Is, that so……」
Celia stared at Rio in suspicion. Rio nonchalantly ignored that gaze of Celia and,
「Sensei, is there books to learn letters that are intended for children?」
He asked.
Celia made a slightly complicated expression but,
「……There are. I'll teach you, so you can borrow them in the library when going back.」
She sighed slightly and replied like that.
「Thank you very much.」
「It's fine. This too is the job of a teacher. By the way, what do you think of the life in the academy after spending this one day here? Tell me if there is something you are unhappy about.」
Celia made a face of a homeroom teacher and asked.
The event that happened at the break time today crossed at the back of Rio's mind. But he didn't feel any particular need to report that to Celia. This was still his first day enrolling here, and in the end the opponent was only kids.
「No, there is nothing particular.」
「Is that so?」
When Rio easily shook his head, Celia made a slightly surprised face. She looked like she wanted to ask something, but she didn't know what to say.
「Err, you see. Like, were you able to make friend……」
Finally Celia asked timidly.
「Friend? No, everyone is a noble, there is no way I can interact with them over-familiarly.」
Rio answered calmly. Then, Celia's face turned troubled,
「Hmm, well, that's the case but……you see. Is it difficult just as I thought?」
Celia sighed. Rio tilted his head.
「What is it?」
「No, if possible I too want to cooperate so you can make friend. But you know, the human relations of nobles are troublesome in various aspects. There also children who are annoying about things like social status or pecking order. If I carelessly meddle then children who feel dissatisfied might come out instead.」
Celia spoke inarticulately.
「Sensei is also a noble aren't you?」
「Well, that's true.」
Celia smiled wryly and sighed.
「For me it's not really a problem. I wish to focus on studying for the time being.」
「Ahaha……. Your attitude like that, should I call it grown up or dry?」
When Rio spoke decisively, Celia let out a dry laugh.
「Is that so?」
「That's so. The children of nobles too are really grown up for their age but, at heart they are just children. Their desire to show off is really strong. But you are different. It feels like you are taking action after thinking which is necessary and not.」
「……I see.」
「Well, just because of that doesn't mean that it's problematic or anything. It's just, I'm simply feeling a bit perplexed because you are unexpectedly not a handful. Sorry, I'm saying strange things.」
「No, thank you very much for thinking of me by that much.」
Saying that, Rio deeply bowed his head. If it was other teacher there might not be anyone else who would treat him this cordially.
「I told you. That's is the job of teacher. If something happen then come and talk with me without reservation. I don't know whether I will be able to render assistance, but I'll at least listen to you.」
「Yes.」
Celia talked with a warm smile. Rio replied with a soft smile.
–
Part 10After borrowing a book to learn letters from the library, Rio returned to a dormitory tower that was located inside the academy's ground.
The room that was lent to Rio was located at the highest floor.
The view was good but it was troublesome to climb up until there. Because of that the location wasn't popular and there was empty room which was allotted for him. From here on he would be staying in this room for at least six years.
For high ranked nobles, they would have another residence in the capital other than their own residence in their territory. There were a lot of students who commuted to school from their own residences, even so just as to be expected from a facility where the younger people of royalty and nobility lived at, the room of the dormitory was really spacious.
The size easily reached 20 tatami mats or more. Necessary furniture was also completely provided. It seemed it was also possible to bring maid from home or paid a certain amount of money to hire an exclusive maid in the academy. It was truly more than satisfactory.
The time was evening. Rio put a chair near the window and stared at the scenery outside.
The sky was dyed red. Because the dormitory inside the academy's ground was located at a high ground even within the capital Beltrand, the city and the surrounding farms could be seen from above there.
Although, the majority of the scenery that was reflected in his view consisted of mother nature. Forest with plants growing thickly was spreading, mountains that were towering high could be seen, there were only few areas that were touched by human's hand.
It was absolutely impossible to see this kind of scenery in Japan.
Within several days since his memory returned, the change in his environment was too dizzying. He didn't even have the leeway to ponder about the change that happened with his body, but now when he was able to make a time alone, his feeling was strangely turning sentimental and various emotions were flooding him.
「So this place is another world as expected.」
Rio muttered and sighed deeply. He didn't know of any country like Beltram Kingdom, and the civilization level here was also too different from earth. And above all else something like magic was existing as though it was only natural.
It was like a world of game with fantasy theme.
He wanted to believe that this was a dream. But, it wasn't a dream. This place wasn't Japan, it wasn't even at earth.
「I died. Yes, died. Died……. Ha, haha……」
Dry laugh spontaneously slipped out from Rio's mouth. With the fusing of Haruto and Rio's consciousness, there was a continuation of ego, because of that the death of Amakawa Haruto didn't feel really real until now, but when he spoke out the fact, a hard to describe emotion welled up.
The current him wasn't Amakawa Haruto but a different person called Rio. In this world it was only him alone who knew about Amakawa Haruto. When he thought that, he wanted to go home to earth very much.
He missed his family. And then, he wanted to meet with Miharu just one more time. He was dreaming of meeting her and telling her his feeling. He wondered if it was alright to call this kind of feeling homesickness.
But, it didn't seem like there was any way to return back to earth, he also didn't understand how did he get reborn, in the first place there was no way a dead person could come back to life──.
What remained for Rio who was living in this world was only his important memory with his mother and his violent emotion toward the man who trampled that. There was only reality remaining for him.
Like this wasn't it just too unreasonable? Wasn't it too merciless?
Rio gritted his teeth strongly and stared at the scenery spreading outside the window with sharp eyes.
There the sky that was so callously beautiful was spreading. Right about now the evening sun was going to sink at the far away horizon. Seeing that, Rio swore inside his heart, he would live.
There was no way he could stop now.
If he stood still then Rio would lose his meaning of life.
Dying in this kind place while not understanding anything and without achieving anything, he couldn't accept something like that. He couldn't accept giving up. He would live strongly and persistently.
He thought that. It was something that Rio himself swore a long time ago, but now that the personality and memory of Amakawa Haruto was dwelling inside him, Rio renewed his determination once more.
But, that would be a far, long, and harsh path. Perhaps Rio was still unable to understand its harshness. The brittle, transient, grim, and empty thing that was ahead of that path.
–
Part 11In the outdoor practice ground of Beltram Royal Academy, there were the figures of small students wrapped in their uniform gathering there in groups. Rio was also among those figures.
「Noble has to learn the minimum martial arts.」
The muscular man standing in front of the students said that. At present, Rio and others were receiving martial arts class. The male students were holding wooden sword and shield, the female students were holding wooden pole.
「Continuing from before, today too you all will learn about form. Do five set of the form that was taught at the previous class, with one set consisting of ten times repeating the form. Do it slowly to confirm your motion. When you finished, form a group of two with other student and do five more set while checking each other's form.」
After the instructor commanded that, the students──especially the male students were starting to swing their wooden sword in high spirits.
「Rio. You still don't know the form, so I'll teach you directly. Come with me.」
Instructed by the instructor, Rio obediently followed him. Their destination was a spot that was distanced from the other students. The two of them faced each other with moderate distance between them.
「Rio, you, have you held a sword before?」
「Yes. More or less.」
Rio confirmed. However, strictly speaking he had never held a sword but a katana. He was only holding the katana that his grandfather at the previous life had.
「Hrm, I see. Then, first I'll check how much you can do. Try hitting me once with that sword. Come at me anytime.」
Right after the instructor said that, he took a stance with his sword.
(How should I say it, this person is really sports-minded.)
The simple development of the conversation caused Rio to make a hint of wry smile.
This instructor must be a type of person who let the body did the talking rather than with words. Although, from Rio's point of view, the instructor's stance was practical with no pointlessness. His strength should be the real thing.
(But, I wonder why.)
Rio pondered while confirming the grip of the sword.
He still didn't understand the principle, but if he used magic power and increased his body's physical ability, most likely he would be able to land a hit. Rio had that confidence.
But, if he showed a movement that surpassed the limit of not just a kid but even adult even though he hadn't even learned magic, there was no doubt the instructor would think that something wasn't normal. If that happened he wouldn't be able to avoid giving explanation.
(It's safer to do it with my base physical ability. Let's do it suitably.)
Rio decided so and took a normal kendo stance. Although, because he had never learned the sword art that combined the use of sword and shield, he took a stance that somehow resembled that.
「Is that an original stance?」
「Yes, that's right.」
「I see. Looks like you have some talent.」
The instructor grinned.
The next moment, Rio started running straight forward.
Approach and slash. Sword art was something like that. In order to carry that out, Rio approached the instructor and swung his sword with the intention of testing the water.
Then, the instructor easily blocked Rio's sword. 「Hou」, he muttered in admiration. The he stared intently at the way Rio held his sword and how he directed the blade.
「That's good swordsmanship. That was you also won't hurt your wrist.」
As expected from an instructor, his discernment seemed to be an excellent one, Rio judged.
He was thinking to hide the fundamental skill that he had learned in the previous life, but it wasn't something that could be hidden so easily. Although, because he wasn't used in handling a shield, his stance became slightly unique.
Rio swung his wooden sword. Swung, and swung.
But, the instructor beautifully handled all of those attacks. It was obvious. There was no way a child's strength would be able to surpass the instructor in a contest of strength, furthermore it was also the same with his speed.
If there was a possibility for him to land a hit, it would only be by relying on technique, but if he fought by making full use of the skill that he learned from his grandfather in his previous existence, as expected the instructor would think that it was abnormal.
(Well, this person too surely isn't thinking that I would be able to land a hit.)
Rio judged the situation calmly.
「Hm. That's good Rio! You are slightly lacking in passion, but you are suited to become a knight!」
The instructor said with a smile. As expected he seemed to be a hot-blooded person. Honestly speaking, it felt slightly stuffy.
「Unfortunately I have no interest in becoming knight.」
「What? Well, it's fine to do it in the academy life. I'll teach you the sword art of knight so don't worry.」
He wondered just where did a factor that wouldn't make him worried existed in that. In the first place their talk didn't connect with each other.
Rio smiled wryly while swinging his sword. Then, there,
Suddenly a sharp attack from the instructor came at Rio. Rio reflexively backstepped and dodged.
「Hou. So you can react to that attack just now.」
The instructor muttered in admiration.
「Sensei isn't supposed to attack right?」
「There is no such rule! But, I understand your true strength. It's enough.」
Saying that, the instructor lowered down his wooden sword. Rio followed and lowered his sword too.
「Your power and speed aren't really anything much because you are a kid, but your movement is extremely fluid. You are really talented in handling a sword. It would be even better if you used the shield to make a strike among your attacks.」
「Thank you very much.」
「Right. Then I'll teach you the form now.」
「Please.」
Rio bowed his head briefly.
For a while after that, Rio studied the style of Beltram Kingdom's sword art from the instructor.
Because Rio was able to easily copy the movement just from watching the form several times, the instructor also got amused and displayed the other forms one after another. Like that they forgot the passage of time and,
「Oops, it will be time to return soon. Looks like some of the students are starting to finish too.」
Rio walked together with the instructor toward the spot where the students gathered.
Then, suddenly, he felt a gaze. Rio sent a glance toward that direction. Ahead of there, he found Christina and Roana.
The other students didn't even pay attention to Rio who was at some distance away. The boys were swinging their sword enthusiastically to show off their good side to the girls, while the girls were watching that while talking noisily.
「Hmph」
Christina huffed in a bad mood and immediately averted her eyes. Roana who was paired with her was staring still at Rio with a slightly taken aback expression.
(Did they saw that?)
Rio thought wonderingly. But, even if they actually saw him just now, it wasn't like he was doing anything special.
'Well, it doesn't matter', Rio immediately lost interest and averted his gaze from the two.
–
Part 12Like that, half a year passed since Rio enrolled into Beltram Royal Academy.
At first he gathered attention as though he was a spectacle and there were a lot of interference from the students who were half in jest, but as time passed, the students' interest toward Rio was also thinning down. They had gotten bored.
It would be interesting if he got red and objected when they were looking down on him, and yet Rio didn't say anything back no matter what they were saying to him. He did nothing but lowered his head and only replied back with safe comment.
Even so there were still students who meddled with Rio, but their foul language toward him was becoming repetitive and was completely waning down.
The students became apathetic toward Rio, and right now he was treated as an existence that didn't matter whether he was in the classroom or not. Rio too didn't do anything at the slightest to try to get involved with the students.
Thanks to that Rio too was able to pass his time concentrating into his study and training for a while.
He received classes in the academy from the morning until the afternoon. After school he would shut himself inside the library and studied. When he returned to the dormitory he would practice swinging sword so his body's movement wouldn't dull.
Everyday he repeated that and spent days without any variation in it.
But, there was worth in doing that. Rio was able to steadily grow stronger.
And then, the day when his result took shape arrived.
It was the day when the second semester started. Beltram Royal Academy adopted the semester system where the schedule was divided into first semester and second semester. Every semester an end-of-term examination would be held. Today was the day the result of that examination would be displayed. The general rule was to notify each student about their grades individually, but it was a custom that limited to the top ten ranking, they would have their rank along with their full name displayed on the bulletin.
A lot of students were crowding in front of the bulletin board that was set up at the corridor of the first year. Everyone there was agitated without being unable to hide their shock and bewilderment.
「Don't screw around! That filthy lowborn is this academy's number one?」
The second son of the house of Marquis Rodin, Alphonse yelled with trembling body. Ahead of his gaze was the result sheet of the end-of-term examination that was put up on the bulletin board.
There Rio and Christina were tied for the first place. At the third place was Roana's name, and Alphonse's name was put at sixth place.
In other words, with the exception of Christina, all the students in the first year lost to Rio.
A lowly orphan who didn't even have family name. A poor student who just half a year ago couldn't even read letters. Someone who they were looking down at the beginning because of that reason. A bug who wasn't even registered in their eyes anymore.
It was a humiliation that was hard to endure. To the degree that they spontaneously doubted the authenticity of the fact.
「This is some kind of mistake! There is no doubt that he was cheating!」
Alphonse yelled loudly.
Then, his friends around him unanimously agreed 「That's right, that's right!」.
They were the chosen existences. They had worked hard in studying since they were little until now and passed the hurdle of the entrance examination of Beltram Royal Academy. And yet, an inferior existence who couldn't even read letters a few months ago, a lowly orphan surpassed them. There was no way such thing could happen──, there was no way such thing was allowed to happen.
Therefore, there was no doubt that there was some kind of mistake with the result of this exam. There was no doubt that Rio was cheating. Alphonse and others couldn't help but think so.
Beside Alphonse and others who were making commotion like that, there were two girls who were staring quietly at the bulletin board. Christina and Roana.
Although, the looks of the two were far different. Christina was staring at the bulletin board with a sullen expression like usual, in contrast Roana was making a dumbfounded face while being speechless.
(This me am third? It's natural that I'm not a match against Christinsama, but I lost against that boy who couldn't even read numbers?)
Roana didn't harbor any doubt that she would be second place. She possessed the absolute confidence that it would be the natural result with her talent and the effort she had piled up until now.
However, when the lid of the matter was opened, Roana was at the third place.
Considering that Beltram Royal Academy was the educational institution that was the top in the country, and there were more than one hundred students just in the first year alone, being in the third place wasn't a bad achievement at all. It was a position that she should be proud of.
But, even so──.
'Right now you aren't worthy for this academy'──suddenly Roana recalled the words that she told Rio half a year ago.
She was exasperated at Rio who was unable to even read letters, and then she spoke those words with the sense of purpose and responsibility that as a noble it was her duty to guide the commoner and that as the class representative she mustn't let the academy's quality decreased.
(It's me who am not worthy!)
Roana felt her face heating up from shame. The words that she spoke toward someone weak as someone overwhelmingly stronger became a boomerang that returned back to her. It was unbearably embarrassing.
「You bastard!」
Suddenly a loud voice resounded nearby.
Roana's body jerked and trembled. Her gaze moved toward where the voice came from. There several students led by Alphonse were surrounding Rio.
「Say it, what kind of dishonesty that you did?」
Alphonse pressed Rio for an answer with a pressure as though he was going to seize his collar.
「There is no such thing. I was simply receiving the exam normally.」
Rio answered calmly.
「Don't lie! There is no way you can reach that position if you didn't cheat!」
「I don't understand what you could possibly mean……」
Rio spoke half in exasperation at the one-sided false accusation.
Alphonse glared at Rio with bright red face.
「You must have bribed the examiner or cheating!」
「I think there is no way such acts are possible though……」
「I don't care. You must be using some kind of dirty trick anyway!」
「I was only working hard after being told not to hold back everyone else.」
「There is no way that's true!」
Rio made a small sigh at Alphonse who wasn't listening at all. Even though he had repeatedly said not to hold them back beforehand, when now Rio obtained a result that was better than them it became like this.
(If I know it will become like this perhaps it would be better if I cut corners……)
Because Rio had no friend in the academy and most of the time he was learning things like the letters or common knowledge of this world, Rio was unable to measure where he was standing in comparison to the students around him.
In order to grasp that, he seriously tackled the exam this time without cutting corners, and it ended up with this kind of result. By the way his grades were perfect score at every subject.
He thought that perhaps he would get high ranking, so he planned to peek at only the result and then left quickly, but he was found out by Alphonse and it became like this.
(What should I do……)
If it was possible he wished to leave from this place quickly, but it didn't seem likely that the other party would quietly pull back even if he talked with them. Then, he wondered if he should just leave forcefully.
When he was having such thinking,
「Oi, say something?」
Alphonse talked to him in displeasure. Then,
「Stop it, Alphonse. The jealousy of a gentleman is unsightly to see.」
Roana had approached unnoticed and interrupted.
Alphonse's face stiffened from those words that hit the mark.
「I, I can't allow that false remark to pass. I am simply trying to expose a dishonesty to light……」
「The position of first isn't something that can be easily obtained just by being dishonest. Do you have some kind of concrete proof of what kind of dishonesty it was that he did?」
「Tha, that is……」
Roana talked smoothly. Alphonse was at a loss of how to respond.
「If you don't have proof, what you are doing is nothing but a one-sided false accusation. It's an act that is dirtying the academy's dignity. I cannot overlook that as the class representative.」
Roana spoke with a strong tone. Furthermore as though to deal further blow,
「I heard the story although it was only from the middle. It's just as Roansan said, Alphonse-kun.」
Celia suddenly appeared out of nowhere and spoke that.
「Cla, Claire-sensei……」
「There is no fact that a dishonest mean has been at work toward the academy, so there is also no reason that an accusation of dishonesty can be accepted. The result this time is completely something that Rio gained from his effort. I'll be the one to guarantee that.」
Celia spoke decisively.
「Kuh……」
Alphonse was completely at a loss for words and his expression distorted in frustration, then,
「H, hmph, I won't recognize this!」
Leaving behind that parting remark, he left with quick footsteps. His hangers-on followed behind him.
「Everyone, if you finished confirming the results quickly head to the classroom. The homeroom will be starting.」
After Celia clapped her hands while saying that, the onlookers at the surrounding began to scatter to all directions. Like that, when Rio was liberated from the situation where he was turned into spectacle,
「Thank you very much.」
Rio lowered his head and thanked Roana and Celia.
Roana huffed「Hmph」 and,
「……It's not like I interfered for your sake. I won't lose next time.」
She refused his thanks bluntly and turned around. Without pause she left with a quick pace.
Rio and Celia watched her back from behind.
「She isn't a bad girl. Though her pride is high and her sense of responsibility and purpose is strong, that's why she is harsh both to herself and other people.」
Celia talked with a wry smile.
「Looks like it.」
Rio shrugged his shoulders causally and agreed.
「By the way, Rio will also study at the library today after school?」
「Yes, that's my plan.」
「I see. Then, let's have tea in my lab. I'll call out to you at a suitable time.」
「Yes, I understand.」
–
And then, after school that day.
Rio visited Celia's laboratory and brewed tea with hand manners without any pointless motion in it.
When he finished the broad process and reached the point where the tea was moderately heated, he poured the tea inside teh teapot into the tea cups. Then, a floral aromatic scent began to drift inside the room.
After pouring the last drop of tea into the tea cups, Rio presented a cup to Celia.
「It's done, enjoy.」
「Thank you. As I thought the tea has to be brewed by Rio. Even though it's the same tea leaves, when it was me who brewed it, the aroma was completely different.」
Celia enjoyed the aroma drifting from the tea while saying that.
「I'm only brewing it following the instruction in book. Everyone can do it if they learn the method.」
「That's not true. There is method to make it delicious, but the difference will come out depending on the maker.」
Celia made a cheerful smile while drinking the tea with an elegant pose.
The main occupation of teachers belonging to Beltram Royal Academy was fundamentally as researcher. Being a teacher was till the end nothing more than a duty that was assigned to them as something to do sparingly.
Because of that, even homeroom teachers would have thin interest for their students. There were few teachers who had the vigor to proactively try to get involved with the students outside the class. To say nothing of this kind of case where a teacher was intimately holding a 『tea party』 with a student frequently like this, it was extremely rare.
But, Rio's relationship with Celia had curiously grown into where they periodically drank tea together like this. The impetus was when Celia invited Rio who was striving to study by himself by visiting the library every day.
In a glance Celia simply looked like a pure and quiet young lady, but in contrast with that appearance, inside her personality was unexpectedly amiable and uninhibited.
Though she got the unfortuante flaw that when she got passionate about her research, the voice from around her wouldn't reach her.
Celia was different from any royalty and nobility that Rio had met until now. She wasn't haughty toward Rio who was a former orphan and she also didn't make any speech or conduct that was looking down on him.
Perhaps because of that, the two immediately hit it off with each other since they started doing this tea party, and now their relationship had become so close they could talk naturally with each other.
In his school life where he was surrounded by enemies from all side, Celia was the only one who could make Rio ease up.
「Also, congratulations with your first place in the end-of-term examination. That's amazing. I know that you are working hard every day, but that's not a ranking that anyone can get.」
「……Thank you very much.」
Rio expressed his thanks with a bit of embarrassment.
「But, it's a bit worrying.」
Celia made a gloomy expression.
「What is it?」
「It's about Alphonse-kun. He made a strange false accusation to Rio right?」
「Yes, well.[
「I think you already understand well enough but, the students in this academy has strong sense of competition. There are a lot of children who hate to lose. The noble's characteristic status consciousness is mixed into it, so it's troublesome in various aspects. For example, there is also child like Alphonse-kun today who goes wild.」
「Putting aside when I enrolled at first, for a while now it was peaceful though.」
Rio made a wry smile while saying that.
「I think at first they were picking trouble because of curiously but, they soon lost interest. Also that was because they were perceiving Rio as someone who is definitely lower than them. They were telling you various things as they pleased right? It's admirable that you didn't flare up to them.」
「Even if I got angry and objected, it would be just like pouring oil into fire.」
Rio shrugged his shoulders slightly while replying.
「Exactly. It's no good to properly react when they are finding fault with you. But, with the exam this time everyone should have reevaluated Rio as an existence that is threatening their position. That's why, perhaps they will be finding fault at you even more than before.」
Celia spoke with cloudy expression.
「Even so, as I thought I will be fine. I'm already used to it.」
Rio answered nonchalantly.
「But, ……noble's bullying is nasty you know?」
Celia spoke a bit uneasily.
Was that based on her own experience? ──Rio thought.
「I know that Celisensei was an excellent student but, could it be you were also having similar problem?」
「Well, various things would happen in human relationship. I received various unacceptable words from girls whose family has higher status than mine.」
「And then, sensei couldn't endure that?」
「No way, I ignored them all.」
「That's what I thought.」
Rio let out a smile at Celia who was easily telling him that.
「Muu, but it was really terrible! That's, in my case I had more friend than Rio, that was why I was fine……. I'm worried because Rio is alone!」
Celia said with a pout.
「Then, I too will be fine.」
Saying that, Rio made a wide smile.
「……Why?」
Had Rio made friend in the place that she didn't know──Celia thought.
But, Rio's answer was unexpected for Celia.
「I have Celisensei after all.」
Rio said that unabashedly. For a moment Celia was open mouthed,
「Eh, ah, that……」
She instantly became embarrassed and looked down with bright red face.
「……Ah, yo, you are making fun of me right? You are treating me like a child!」
Before long she was unable to endure the silence and said such thing.
「No way, isn't sensei older than me?」
「That's, right but, no matter what it feels like you are treating me like a kid! Because, that's, you are thinking of me like your friend right?」
「Yes. Is that no good?」
Rio asked that and stared intently at Celia.
But, Celia was unable to stare at Rio's face directly.
「Uu……」
「Aah, of course I'm also thinking of sensei as my teacher. If sensei say that you don't like it, I too will rethink about our distance with each other for a bit though……」
Then, a hoarse voice came from Celia's mouth.
「……I don't」
「Eh?」
「I don't……dislike it.」
This time he could hear clearly. But, it made Rio wanted to be slightly mischievous.
「Please say that one more time.[
「Uu……」
Celia's face was bright red. Rio was peering at her face that was like that.
「Sensei?」
「I, I said that I don't dislike it! Rio you meanie! Guess it from the atmosphere, geez!」
It seemed her embarrassment had reached the limit. Celia clamored with her cheeks blushing.
「I'm sorry. I wanted to hear it clearly, so I unconsciously…」
Rio chuckled in amusement and apologized.
「Hmph.」
Celia glared at Rio with reproachful eyes before looking aside.
「When I'm troubled with interpersonal relationship, please allow me to consult with sensei, both as a teacher and also a friend.」
「Tha, that's fine. I'll lend Rio my chest when you are crying because you get bullied.」
When Rio asked that, Celia glanced briefly at him and replied.
「Celisensei is tiny so it looks like the position will be just right for hugging.」
「Do, don't call me tiny! I'm still at my growth period!」
Celia's face went red and she objected.
Like that Rio was smiling in amusement again.
Eventually Celia was also smiling together with him.
It was an unchanging everyday but, Rio thought that it was fulfilling somehow.
It was inadvertently irreplaceable ordinary day. That was something that Rio had lost a long time ago.
The desire for revenge that was silently blazing inside his heart was still there, but he felt his heart lightening slightly when laughing like this.
Perhaps because of that, Rio thought. So that this kind of ordinary day would continue no matter what. Even though he knew that it wouldn't continue forever, it would be great if it continued as long as possible.
–
But, in contrast with such feeling of Rio, the days in the academy passed in the blink of eye.
As expected, the exam this time became the impetus that strengthened the oppression from the students of the academy on Rio right away. And then, various incidents were happening.
It was judged that although Rio could handle sorcery, he couldn't learn magic at all and was made fun of.
When he went up to the next grade, he received confession from a noble young lady. When he rejected her, a malicious rumor was spread about him.
He was receiving malicious bullying that was incomparable from before.
But, Rio continued to advance forward.
There was no leeway for him to stop still.
No, he was vaguely afraid of stopping still. He didn't understand if he was really advancing forward but, he would feel at ease if he was doing something.
Although he was harboring such vague uneasiness that he couldn't explain, it was only his time of tea party with Celia that could make Rio smile from the bottom of his heart.
That was why, he could feel the time was passing both slowly and also quickly.
Like that, days and months passed for five years──.
Chapter end
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