Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

65 – Mistaken Assumption

Ultimately, unable to discover a solution that night,

I attended the Academy as planned.

Even squeezing my mind dry with every conceivable thought

only resulted in wasted time.

But today, the atmosphere within the Academy felt strange.

It was never a particularly tranquil place,

but never so boisterous as this.

Especially not in the morning, when everyone was still dragging.

Yet the students’ mouths did not cease.

No, they seemed to quicken.

“Did you hear about the Order?

“The rumors say it’s a special task force sent from the Empire…”

“That they resent the Order monopolizing the priests…”

The tales circulating through the students’ lips

largely concerned an attack on the Order.

Fortunately, my name was absent,

assuring me that the Order was safeguarding my secret well.

The Saintess was absent, so

it seemed the funeral rites were still underway within the Order.

I had no particular concern for the Order’s affairs;

rather, it was another rumor that captured my attention.

“Ah, speaking of which…I heard the elven princess

is coming to the Academy…?”

“That arrogant race?”

“Said it’s to strengthen ties with the Empire…”

Elf

A race dwelling in the Great Forest, exceedingly proud,

possessed of pointed ears and beauty remarkable regardless of gender.

Since they live within the forest from birth,

they harbor a profound attachment to nature.

The mere sight of them revering trees as sacred groves

reveals the depth of their affection for the natural world.

Furthermore, owing to their racial traits, their eyesight is exceptional,

making them exceptionally skilled with the bow, and their magical talent is also outstanding.

Especially their spirit magic,

which remains a subject of study for all mages.

To a mage who expends mana for every spell,

a spirit that, once summoned, automatically unleashes magic,

is an experimental subject worthy of considerable research.

Moreover, spirits only deign to acknowledge,

let alone reveal themselves to, creatures with high affinity to nature.

Thus, the elves are esteemed for dwelling with them, witnessing their forms,

and even conversing with them.

Even setting all this aside,

to simply behold an elf is a rare occurrence.

They are excessively devoted to nature,

rejecting the trappings of civilization as if they had erected a stele of exclusion.

Naturally, their venturing beyond the forest is

a very uncommon event, but this time, it is somewhat different.

The elves were not fools.

They realized that if they shunned civilization,

progress would be forever denied to them.

And at last, they decided to engage in exchange with the Empire,

offering their knowledge and magic in return

for access to the Empire’s store of civil advancements.

So now, very occasionally, one might glimpse an elf

upon the streets, but it was by no means a frequent sight.

Still divided into factions, pro- and anti-civilization,

they are reluctant to embrace the modern world.

All the more so, the opportunity to see an elf of high status, like a princess,

could be counted on one’s fingers.

Therefore, the academy’s interior was now,

in an instant, filled with tales and whispers of elves.

“I heard whispers myself… but was it meant for today?”

“Yes, if we could only bring her into our circle…”

Some sought to exploit her elven princess status,

desperate to forge connections and reap the rewards.

“An Elf… hmmm, I wonder if her beauty warrants offering her a place as my concubine?”

“If only I could secure an Elf male who would heed my commands…”

Others reveled in impossible fantasies fueled by their striking beauty.

“Is there a way to acquire elven bows…”

“If only I could learn their spirit magic…”

Still others, driven by a thirst for knowledge,

yearned to master the Elves’ unique skills.

Of course, I belonged to none of these groups.

Becoming entangled with an elf princess of high standing

and inevitably dragged into more troublesome affairs was the last thing I wanted.

I simply didn’t have the luxury of concerning myself with such matters.

At last, the door creaked open, and Professor Bruce, our newly appointed instructor,

strode into the room.

With a verdant presence in tow.

The eyes of many students converged upon them,

but she seemed accustomed to the attention.

Radiant locks of jade cascaded around her, framing skin of alabaster,

and sharply pointed ears hinted at her non-human heritage.

Below a cool gaze, long lashes cast delicate shadows.

Her emerald eyes, mirroring the color of her hair,

shone with a brilliance rivaled only by precious jewels.

The bow slung across her back

seemed to hum with an aura of extraordinary power.

Though the academy uniform she wore was identical to ours,

it seemed to glow with a light all its own.

While countless male students surrendered their gazes to her,

and the female students cast envious glances,

Professor Bruce stifled a yawn behind his massive hand,

tapping the desk with his other.

The desk resonated beneath his thick fingers,

and briefly, attention shifted to him.

“Quiet, quiet everyone.”

“””….”””

His deep, gravelly voice filled the room,

No student dared to speak out of turn.

After all, Professor Bruce was a survivor,

a powerhouse who had lived through an Upper Gate.

Some criticized him as a coward who alone escaped,

but anyone with a semblance of sense knew

how difficult it was to survive an Upper Gate.

Why he became a professor was unknown, though

most speculated about his connections with the Chairman.

In other words, while perhaps not on the Chairman’s level,

he was a force to be reckoned with, one deserving of respect.

So when such a man told them to be quiet,

no fool would dare disobey.

With the classroom atmosphere finally settled,

a presence that had been quietly observing finally spoke.

“Greetings, Sylvia Restonil. That is my name.”

Truly, an arrogant and simple introduction.

So brief, in fact, that Bruce even questioned if she had more to say,

but she shook her head as if there was nothing else.

“Well, the rumors seem to have spread enough already, but

starting today, you will be sharing this class with an elven princess.”

“Gasp…!”

“S-she really is a princess.”

Leaving the astonished students behind,

he told her to sit wherever she pleased,

and Sylvia nodded in acknowledgement.

The simple introduction barely concluded,

a throng of students immediately swarmed her.

“Excuse me, do you perhaps do anything special for your skin…”

“Such a captivating beauty…”

Some were simply entranced by her alluring visage,

while others…

“Lady Sylvia? Would you perhaps consider joining our group…”

“Lady Sylvia, allow us to invite you to our family’s estate…”

“Join us for a tea party…”

These were mostly the kind who sought to gain some advantage

by bringing her into their circle.

Of course, I, too, shifted my gaze toward her.

Not out of personal interest,

but because of the things floating around her.

“…What’s that?”

[Giggle!]

[Giggle–]

Floating around her were a small, adorable girl with skin like the summer sky, and a boy whose colours swirled between emerald and earth.

It was a sight plenty mysterious enough, yet stranger still was that not a single soul around her seemed to pay them any heed.

Despite the scene being entirely worthy of attention.

As I kept my gaze fixed on the pair suspended in the air, I felt a pair of eyes settle upon me from somewhere, and looking in the direction of that attention,

Two green irises stared back.

Round and wide with surprise, they were.

“….”

‘…What is it?’

For some reason, the elf was staring right through me.

Even surrounded by such a crowd.

Making an effort to ignore that stare, I rose from my seat and left the room.

Until I passed through the back door, that gaze remained fixed upon me, and that burdensome weight followed me throughout the entire lesson.

Only as the last class ended did her eyes finally leave me, and I thought, *Finally, some peace*.

“Professor, I am not sure of the

location of the dormitory I was assigned.”

Until she uttered those words.

“Oh? Well, someone can show you..”

“I would like to choose who provides the escort.”

“Hmm? Someone who caught your eye, perhaps?”

Brude spoke in a semi-jesting tone, but

Sylvia nodded with utmost sincerity.

A few students let out whistles of admiration,

while other male students, suddenly filled with confidence, began compulsively smoothing down their hair.

The female students, too, were regarding the situation with eyes full of curiosity.

The other female cadets, green with envy,

leaned in, piqued with curiosity.

All eyes were fixed on her,

as she took her first step forward.

With each stride she took,

a palpable mix of anticipation and regret filled the air.

The male cadet who believed he was destined to be chosen

ceased fussing with his hair.

The cadet who dared not to dream,

clung to a fragile hope as she neared.

Her steps continued, unwavering.

Finally, those steps…

halted right before me.

“Pray, grant me guidance.”

‘…Fuck.’

*

Naturally, the outcry was fierce.

Nearly every male cadet rose in protest.

“That one’s a notorious rake, whispered about throughout the academy!”

“I… I was nearly harassed by him as well…!”

“Lady Silvia, let me, not him, be the one to attend to your…”

A chorus of male cadets decried her choice,

and a female cadet, a face I’d never seen, stepped forward, claiming harassment.

For me, desperate to refuse her request,

this was the perfect excuse. But she remained resolute.

“It is this man whose guidance I desire.”

“Gr… Dammit all!”

“Figures, all it takes is a pretty face…”

And so, here I am, alone with Princess Silvia,

walking down the corridor of the female dormitories.

I can feel the burning gaze of the surrounding female cadets, but

what am I to do? I certainly don’t intend to linger.

With the sole intention of quickly guiding her and returning to my dorm,

I quickened my pace, but someone seized my wrist from behind.

“Wait, I have a question.”

“…?”

“Perhaps…”

She drew out the word, taking an eternity,

making sure no one was nearby before finally speaking.

“Perhaps you are, a half-elf?”

“….?”