Chapter 148

Ah…, feels good.

A grin spread across my face as a wave of pleasure washed over me.

After getting thoroughly beaten up by Maria, I headed with her toward a bustling open space where we’d find the “Reading Club President” Maria had mentioned last night.

If she sees some poor girl crying on a bench, Maria will feel sympathy and consider joining the reading club.

Truth be told, considering how she ditched the Pantera crew to follow me earlier, she’d probably join just if I asked…

Still, if I can keep things flowing as they originally did, that’s for the best. The fewer variables, the better I can use my knowledge of the future.

“Is your stomach alright?”

Maria asks, her worried gaze flickering toward my abdomen.

Seeing her concern, mischief bubbles up within me. I clutch my stomach and bend over.

“Gwah…! You hit me too much…!”

“E, Evans-sama?! Ah…! So you were enduring pain this whole time…!”

Maria panics and rushes to my side, placing her hands near my stomach as she channels holy power.

I shouldn’t tease Maria just for fun… Rising back up, I spread my arms wide and declare in a playful tone:

“Tada~ I’m perfectly fine!”

“W, what is this?! You weren’t in pain at all?!”

“Of course it was a lie! Do you really think I’d get hurt from Maria’s cotton candy punches?”

“Ugh…! Don’t play tricks like that…! You scared me!”

Maria scolds me immediately, but relief clearly shines through her expression.

“Haa… Still, I’m glad you’re not hurt. I thought my heart would stop.”

“Heheh, I thought it was funny.”

“That’s because you’re the one playing the prank, Evans-sama! Try seeing it from my perspective! How worried would you be?”

Seeing it from my perspective? Hmm…

If I had punched Maria in the stomach, causing her to collapse while clutching her belly…

Whoa.

Maria’s right – switching perspectives makes me realize no one would take that as a joke. It felt like the sky was falling. That was an ominous thought.

Which is why I like it. I’ll keep pulling pranks like this since I’m not the one suffering.

“Alright, alright. Calm down.”

“You should calm down first, Evans-sama. And wipe those tears from the corners of your eyes.”

“Hmph, got it.”

I wiped away the tears streaming from laughing so hard it hurt my stomach. Maria’s cheeks puff out indignantly.

However… why…

We’ve been walking around for quite a while, but why can’t I see the crying young lady?

Maria said she’d be around here somewhere.

I brought her here to find the Reading Club president.

What’s she planning by not showing up? I looked around more carefully, but all I see are other students. No one who looks like a club president.

“Evans-sama, what are you looking for? You keep glancing around.”

“Hm? Ah, I’m looking for someone.”

“Who are you looking for?”

“The Reading Club president from the academy. But I don’t see her.”

Hearing my words, Maria follows my gaze, her white sclera reflecting various scenes.

During this, Maria points to a corner with her finger.

“Isn’t that her?”

I shift my gaze to where Maria’s finger points.

There, a girl with nighttime roll hair carries over a dozen books as she walks on the pavement, occasionally dropping glistening droplets. Her expression suggests she’s about to burst into tears any moment now.

Ah, that’s why I couldn’t find her earlier – I came too soon.

The roll-haired girl approaches a park bench, sits down after adjusting her skirt, places the books on her thin thighs, and lays her face on top before bursting into tears.

“Waaaah…! What will happen to our club…!”

Her tears flow so much that the book covers are getting soaked. The drizzle of tears has turned into a downpour.

“That’s probably her. Shall we approach?”

“Approach?!”

“I’m curious, aren’t you? Why is she crying so pitifully?”

Actually, I’m trying to connect you with this roll-haired president.

Grabbing Maria’s wrist, I lead her toward the roll-haired girl and greet her as cheerfully as possible.

“Looks like a senior, and you’re crying so sadly we couldn’t just pass by. Is something wrong?”

Clap.

Placing my hand on her shoulder, I ask, causing her to flinch. Her tear-filled face turns upward toward me.

“Sob… W, who are you…?”

“I’m a first-year who entered a few days ago. Aren’t you a senior?”

“A, yes! I’m Charlotte, the president of the Academy Reading Club! Sob…”

The roll-haired girl continues crying while speaking. I pull out the handkerchief I prepared this morning, hand it to her, and naturally sit next to her.

Curious, Maria also sits next to the roll-haired girl like me.

“So, is there something going on? This must be fate – please explain!”

“Sob… W, well… Since you might become new members…”

The story continues like this:

Because it was considered boring and dull, the Reading Club wasn’t popular in the academy.

When the president, Charlotte-something, got on the bad side of a popular third-year senior, people started avoiding the club.

Eventually, even the original two members left.

New students who used to join once or twice a year stopped coming altogether.

Now that Charlotte-something-roll-hair is a third-year preparing for employment and graduation, she can no longer stay in the club.

As a result, the club faces closure. That’s why Charlotte-something-roll-hair broke down in tears, having deep affection for the club.

After hearing the whole story, Maria hugged Charlotte-something in deep empathy. Honestly, I didn’t feel anything, but I still patted her sobbing shoulders to pretend I cared.

“Waaaah… To me, the club was like family… Knowing it will close…”

“Oh dear, that must be so sad. Go ahead and cry.”

“Waaaaahhh…!”

The roll-haired girl cried loudly while hugging her younger-by-two-years junior. Maria gently stroked her back.

Truly, she’s so warm even to someone she just met. Maria is still Maria. She must have been like this when she embraced me in the Babel Tower in my previous life.

I’m envious. That Maria is being kind to someone other than me. Call it jealousy if you want.

Was Maria in the Babel Tower, nailed to the cross for 500 years, feeling this way? Whatever it was, it’s not a pleasant feeling.

“Then, Senior! How about this?”

“Uh, uh-huh…?”

So I shouted. Because I didn’t want anyone other than me in Maria’s embrace.

“I’ll join that Reading Club! I didn’t have anywhere else to join anyway. Right, Maria? Isn’t this a good plan?”

“B, but is that really okay? If you join, you might get labeled by that third-year senior who dislikes me…”

“Pfft, it’s fine. It’s no big deal.”

This wasn’t originally part of the plan. The goal was for Maria to offer to join first, then I’d follow.

But my mind changed. I don’t like seeing Maria hugging this roll-haired girl. I need to separate them quickly.

“Um, I’ll join too! If Evans-sama joins…!”

“Really? Both of you…? Is it really okay…?”

“It’s not like the club is disappearing naturally. It’s being unjustly shut down by some unnamed third-year senior. I learned that helping such people is called ‘righteousness’.”

Wow, righteousness! It’s what the Saintess taught me on the third day in the Babel Tower. Hearing it from young Maria too…

“You two…! You’ll surely be blessed! I, I’ll help you a lot!”

The roll-haired girl exclaimed in gratitude, her reddened eyes now filled with joy instead of sadness.

“Alright, then let’s head to the library. Is that okay?”

“O, of course! Now that you’re members! I’ll handle all the applications for you! Oh, by the way… What are your names?”

“My name is Evans. Evans Grant. This girl’s name is Maria.”

“I see. Got it. I’ll make sure to complete all the paperwork for you… Wait, what? Maria? As in the freshman Saintess?”

“Haha… There’s no need to praise me so much. I’m not someone who deserves to be called ‘sama’ by you, Senior. Just treat me casually.”

Realizing Maria’s identity, the roll-haired girl froze in astonishment. No matter what, the title of “Saint of the Holy Order” carries significant weight, even for a third-year.

“You’re truly wonderful… Just as the rumors say, you’re a kind saint…”

“Not at all. Actually, Evans-sama who volunteered first is far more impressive, right? Isn’t that so, Evans-sama?”

With genuine gratitude, the roll-haired girl beams at Maria, who returns a bright smile. Watching her brings joy and feels like the fragrance of spring.

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