Chapter 116
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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Everyone’s Mornings
After showing her guild card as identification, Paula Nohra entered the town of Scholarzard . It was still early morning, only two hours past daybreak .
Their carriage got delayed, only managing to reach the neighboring town by yesterday . After finding out that departure would be at noon the next day to give the horse time to rest, Lavia suggested they walk and that they would leave at dawn .
Paula had no say in the matter . Throughout their trip, Lavia chose the carriage, inn, restaurant, and even the food .
Was she always this terrifying? Paula wondered .
Back when Paula saw her in Pond — where she was introduced as Hikaru’s partner and thought to be a boy —– she looked to be the quiet type . But Paula was proven wrong .
Lavia didn’t talk much, but she spoke clearly, and while their journey was wrought with worry as they were only two young girls, she always maintained a clear mind .
Incidentally, Lavia shouldered all the expenses . Paula didn’t bring much with her as she expected a big reward from the monster hunt in Un el Portan .
「Let’s buy some food . 」
「O-Okay!」
Lavia’s words brought Paula back to her senses . The town of Scholarzard was orderly, but there weren’t a lot of people . It felt like a typical suburban town .
Compared to the towns in Ponsonia, houses here were bigger, with plenty of space between blocks .
They bought bread, cheese, sandwiches, and roasted meat .
「You’re not going to cook?」Paula asked .
The food they bought were all takeaway . When Paula was still with Pia and Priscilla, they would borrow a place to cook and make their own food . By sharing ingredients with other adventurers, they could save on food expenses .
But during her time with Lavia, they never did that . She thought maybe because they were in a hurry . But they were now in Scholarzard where Lavia and Hikaru stayed . The fact that Lavia still bought takeout food meant that they didn’t really cook in the first place .
「Sometimes when we’re together, but I guess we’re both not really interested in cooking . 」
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「But you love eating . 」
「Yup . 」
From Paula’s perspective, Lavia was extremely picky about food . She often frowned after eating a mouthful of food at restaurants . It would’ve been adorable if her only comment was “It’s too salty”, but she complained about specific things — “they didn’t eliminate the smell of the meat enough”, “the veggies lost their flavor due to preboiling” were a few of her observations .
There was one place that satisfied Lavia . For Paula, the food there was too good . And too expensive . And spicy .
Paula felt terrified when Lavia said Hikaru was much more picky than her .
「You can cook if you want to . 」Lavia said .
「I, uhh…」Paula hesitated . Lavia seemed to have realized why .
「Are you worried about money?」
「Yes . 」
「It’s fine . Hikaru’s rich . 」
「But I feel uncomfortable about relying on him for expenses…」
「Then you should polish your healing skills so you don’t feel too bad . I’m sure you can use advanced healing right now . 」
「About that…」
「We’re here . 」
Paula was surprised to find out that they lived right next to the academy . They should’ve paid a lot for this . She was led to the highest level of the three-story building, in a spacious room with a balcony .
「Wow…」
The place was tidy, bearing only a few furniture . But they all looked to be of fine quality — from the tablecloth, the tableware on the shelves, to the sofa .
Must be nice…
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The kind of place Paula dreamt of having — planned to have once she had enough money — was right before her eyes . But the tableware here was good for two . The chairs on the table as well . When she realized this was Lavia and Hikaru’s home, she felt depressed . She didn’t have a place here .
「Let’s eat . 」Lavia said .
Paula was starving . They only had a few fruits along the way . Lavia placed the food they bought on the table and offered Paula a chair .
「We have to talk about the future . 」
「Ah, y-yes . 」
Hikaru told her to devote her life to him . But he already had a girlfriend, and an incredibly lovely one at that . What does the future have in store for Paula?
「In a way, I’m glad Hikaru isn’t around . I can be straightforward with you . 」
What are we going to talk about? Paula braced herself .
「I’ll get straight to the point . How do you feel about Hikaru? I mean, as a member of the opposite sex . 」
「It’s about time, Lord League . 」
「Okay . 」
Wearing elegant clothes—the kind he would never have worn in the academy—League “Green Ogre” Rumania stepped out of his room and made his way to the mansion’s hall . His father appeared at the other end of the hallway . As always, he had a hard look on his face, though it felt just a bit softer today .
「Let’s go, League . 」
「Okay . 」
They both left the residence together . A coach waited for them by the entrance, and as soon as they got in, it started moving . Following behind them were carriages carrying the butlers and servants .
It wasn’t just League’s residence, but it was happening everywhere else as well—distinguished families in Rumania heading to the Foundation Anniversary . Naturally, League’s family’s convoy was the grandest of them all .
「That was close . 」League’s father said .
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Only League and his father were in the coach .
「What was close?」
「The monsters’ activity in Un el Portan . They seemed to have made it to Borderzard, but they were successfully driven back . If the people failed, the event would have been cancelled . 」
「I suppose . 」
「Word is even a dragon appeared . They probably just made that up, though . If a dragon showed up, the army would have been deployed . It’s not something adventurers can handle . 」
League was silent .
「You seemed to believe that the monster hunt would go well . Why is that?」
「It’s a yearly event . There could be a few blunders, but they wouldn’t be that big . 」League answered, trying to be as calm as possible .
He couldn’t possibly say that he believed his friend would kill the dragon . League learned about Hikaru’s status through a letter from Claude . Hailing from Kirihal’s Zahad family, Claude’s letter would be too conspicuous . League would’ve preferred it if he didn’t send one at all, but Claude had a matter he had to tell him about—whether or not he succeeded in persuading Jarazack . Hikaru’s status was added as a postscript .
League was worried . Hikaru might be strong, but he was only human . He couldn’t possibly fight a dragon . But Claude’s letter mentioned that Hikaru was brimming with confidence, so League thought he had some sort of a plan .
Hikaru might have some special connections . Maybe he has friends who are C, B… or even ranked adventurers .
Either way, Hikaru said he was going to deal with the monster, so he would do just that for sure . League only had one thing to do: go to the event as planned .
「By the way, I heard something strange is going on in the academy . 」his father said .
「Strange how?」
「Apparently a youngster from Kirihal’s Zahad family fought Alexei of Jarazack . 」
「That is… indeed strange . 」
League almost slipped . His father already knew about it . That meant he had a spy in Jarazack .
「Do you know anything?」
「I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear of it in the academy . Can you please tell me the details? Something might come to mind . 」
「Let’s see… I heard this youngster challenged Alexei to a one-on-one duel and won . 」
「Do you know why he challenged Alexei?」
「I don’t . 」
League felt relief . Claude’s letter said “Lots of spectators, victory . He said he’ll keep his word . ” The fact that his father didn’t know what was at stake meant his spy wasn’t in the center of Jarazack .
「Next year’s event will be your official debut . 」
League’s eyes widened . His father had told him to quit the academy before winter next year . The debut was probably in preparation for that .
「Don’t worry . You will have a capable assistant . Look . 」
His father opened the window . League could see the towns drifting by . He was surprised to see the person riding on horseback beside their coach . A familiar blonde hair—Roy “Yellow Tiger” Rumania .
The Yellow Tiger clan had a close relationship with League’s family . But Roy was the black sheep of the family .
How did he end up as my assistant? Wait, it can’t be…
League could guess his father’s motive . Billion hired Roy to watch him . Roy wouldn’t be able to find success in life in Rumania if he stayed with his family . He wouldn’t be able to refuse if he was asked to help League, his friend, and a member of Rumania’s head family .
Noticing League, Roy gave a triumphant smile . The young man didn’t realize he was being used . League knew that his father wouldn’t offer a youth a good position just to help their career .
Somewhere, someday… My father will urge Roy to tell him my secret .
It was certainly possible . His father didn’t trust his own son, after all . A chill went down his spine . Right now it didn’t seem like Roy said anything yet . League could only pray that his father wouldn’t have the opportunity to interrogate Roy, at least not before the event ended . If his father found out about the student alliance and the mass wedding now, he’d thwart it right away .
A few more days…
League couldn’t tell Roy about this . He might not even believe that he was being used . It would be risky as well if his attitude suddenly changed . His father might fire him quickly, but not after he learned of League’s secret . Roy wouldn’t be able to keep his mouth shut . Billion might know about three or four of Roy’s soft spots .
The Foundation Anniversary was fast approaching . Everything was ready, and they secured four of the seven votes . But to League, it felt like the path to success was an extremely narrow one .