Chapter 19

Two days later,

It was lunchtime at the Academy.

Students were gathered in small groups, enjoying a picnic-like atmosphere on the grass of the podium.

In a corner, under a large tree’s shade, I was sitting on a spacious mat that could easily fit ten people.

Next to me was the academy’s top beauty, a refined girl with silver hair who was the only daughter of the prestigious Bruerd family and ranked first in the Academy, known as the “Silver Lake,” Tirisia Bruerd.

She sat upright in a dignified manner. Her radiant silver hair cascaded like waves, sparkling in the sunlight, radiating an aura that made it seem like she had a halo.

Her skin was as flawless as ivory, adorned with perfectly shaped features. Her clear, aquamarine eyes shone as they scanned the surroundings, while her rosy lips curled into a gentle smile, exuding kindness.

The atmosphere around her seemed to transform into something sacred, and the students passing by couldn’t help but throw admiring and reverent glances at her.

Universally acknowledged as a perfect beauty and an idol on the cliff’s edge, she was Tirisia Bruerd—my ex-girlfriend.

Of course, I knew now that there was another side to her.

But recognizing that darker side didn’t erase the image of her that existed within me.

The Tirisia I knew and loved had shattered into pieces, but the external Tirisia Bruerd remained unchanged.

Even if she harbored unspeakable secrets, she was still Tirisia.

“The weather is nice, isn’t it, Erto?”

Her clear aquamarine eyes turned to me.

“Yeah, the sun feels warm.”

It was a relief that the sky was peaceful, given that the story we were about to unveil was about a somewhat chilly reality.

“By the way, who’s gathering here today?”

“Ah, that is…”

The people I had called to the podium today were acquaintances of both Tirisia and myself.

So, I only informed those who were in our intersection directly and left the rest to spread as rumors among themselves.

Thus, the people who would come were already determined.

“Oh, someone is coming right now!”

I pointed to a girl waving her hands as she approached from the girls’ dormitory.

“Tiriling―♡”

A small girl with cherry-blossom-colored twin tails rushed toward us, all smiles.

It was Rusika Rafisle. She was the first member to arrive.

“Rusika~!”

Tirisia stood up to welcome the girl, who jumped into her arms.

Whoosh—

Rusika was shorter than me, but since Tirisia was taller, Rusika ended up burying her face right into Tirisia’s chest.

Rusika shook her twin tails and rubbed her face against Tirisia.

“I haven’t seen you in ages! Why has it been so tough to catch a glimpse of you, you silly, expensive little girl!”

While she viciously insulted me, her demeanor softened incredibly towards Tirisia.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy with family stuff lately. But I’ll hug you tightly. There, there~”

“Eheheh♡”

As Tirisia patted her head and wrapped her in a loving embrace, Rusika’s face lit up with an expression of bewildered admiration.

“…”

“Huh?”

As I sat next to them, making a disgusted face, Rusika caught my eye and curled her lips into a mischievous grin.

“Ah ha♡ Tiriling, there’s a pervert next to us giving you a creepy look! Are you jealous of this lovely sensation? Well, you’re not getting any!♡ Super gross!”

“…”

Stunned by the stark contrast in attitudes, I shut my eyes tight and turned away.

Tirisia admonished Rusika gently.

“He’s not a pervert; Erto isn’t that kind of person.”

“I saw it! He was scanning your chest with those lecherous eyes!”

What?!

I was only looking at that dumb face squished between you two! There’s no way I was looking at anything else!

But arguing against that would be pointless, so I decided to keep quiet.

“Well, that’s fine. It’s not like they’re getting worn down.”

“They are! That pathetic pervert’s mere gaze diminishes their nobility!”

“No bad words, please!”

As Tirisia gave Rusika a playful whack on the head, it seemed to wash away any bad spirits, and Rusika quieted down.

“Tch…”

But even then, she shot me a disdainful look from behind.

“Come, sit here, Rusika.”

“Okay♡”

Tirisia and Rusika settled down on the other side of me.

The girls were wrapped around each other like deep lovers, holding each other close.

Doing that without any hesitation, I wondered if the friendship between girls fundamentally differed from that of guys.

Of course, having been childhood friends with them for a long time, I wasn’t particularly shocked.

Rusika cherished and adored Tirisia, while I often overlooked and belittled her, which usually left me as the lone wolf when the three of us gathered.

This had always been a boring role-playing game, so I didn’t feel annoyed or anything.

I just had to think of some pranks to get back at Rusika later.

“I knew Rusika would come.”

“Whatever it is, if Tiriling and that pervert have something important to say, I can’t miss out!”

While I was looking at the two of them affectionately like a couple, a chilling voice that seemed to crawl along the ground reached my ears from behind.

“Goooohhh—”

“Huh?”

Turning around, I saw a massive shadow draped over the tree beside us.

A girl just as large as that tree peeked her head from behind the trunk.

“Gooong, Erto gooong—”

This time, she was appearing from a reasonably proper distance, but the ghostly way she called was quite a different story.

I waved my hand and called her name.

“Haidiera, why are you hiding there?”

The giant, hiding her eyes with unkempt black bangs, replied in a voice that crawled out.

“W-why is the noble one in the same place as that divine being…?”

Even if her eyes were hidden, it was obvious who she was referring to as a divine being.

“Well, I said I had something to talk about today, right? Tirisia was going to speak too.”

At that, Haidiera shrank back in shock, mumbling.

“Hiiieek, th-that’s too much…! If I bask under such sacred light, I’ll get enlightened…!”

“It’s not like we’re strangers, c’mon over here.”

“Hiiie…”

As I smiled and waved her over, the huge figure was hesitantly walking up to us from behind the tree.

“Uh, um… nice to meet you… Lady Rafisle, Lady Bruerd…”

Rusika and Tirisia, who had been sticking together like one body, recognized her and greeted her with smiles.

“Haidie♡ You’re still so scared? Your bangs look like they’ve grown longer! Hahaha, you’re so cute♡”

“Isidiel, thank you for coming. Please sit down.”

The tightly-wound Haidiera slowly turned her rigid neck to look for an empty spot.

“U-um, where should I sit?”

“There’s plenty of space on the mat, just sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

“In that case… I’ll sit here.”

Thud.

As she said that, the enormous girl settled right behind me.

Then, the girl clasped my shoulders with both hands like a ghost, turning her gaze away from Tirisia.

“C-can you block that flowing light, Erto…?”

“Do you think I could cover you entirely…?”

If the light showering in front of us was an area-effect spell, we’d both be toast, no doubt about it.

Anyway, since she said it was a comfortable spot, I decided to leave her be.

Seeing Haidiera hiding her head like a pheasant peeking through bushes, Rusika crept over with a wicked grin.

“Yey~♡ Little Heidi wants to show us her eyes♡”

As she pinched Haidiera’s cheeks and swept her bangs aside, a scream like a banshee echoed from behind me.

“Gyahhh—?!”

“Hahaha! The real Heidi is a bear in size but a bunny at heart♡ You gotta act naughty! Yay yay♡”

“P-please stop, Lady Rafisle…! Hiiie…!”

Tirisia giggled, bringing her hand to her mouth as she watched the scene unfold behind me.

“Hehe, those two are still close.”

“How on earth are you seeing that as a close relationship…?”

Is this how it feels when you reach the top of the Academy rankings? The perception gets twisted a bit?

As I was pondering, a high-pitched laugh echoed from afar.

“Oh—hohohoho! Look at this ridiculous scene, Miu! Jury!”

“There’s really nothing dignified about this, Lord Elconja!”

“Inviting Lord Elconja to a place like this is so rude!”

Oh boy, here comes the clown parade.

The gazes of the four seated on the mat turned toward the trio standing in the center of the podium.

Flanked by noble girls with ponytails and bob cuts, there stood Seldienne, her golden curls shining in the sunlight, looking down on us with her crimson eyes.

“The most ridiculous nobles of this Academy have gathered here! A perfect opportunity to wipe them out!”

Just sit down already!