Previously: Professor Goldrun received a request from a high-ranking noble to cure his daughter’s illness.
The sun was sinking below the western horizon, and the sky was changing from a deep red to a light, dusky grey.
Zenos, having finished his training for the day, was heading back to the dormitory when he noticed a familiar figure standing at the entrance.
A white coat of the Royal Institute, and glasses. Blue hair swayed in the twilight breeze.
“What’s up, Umin?”
“Oh, hello, Zenos… Zeno-san.”
When he called out, Umin bowed her head slightly and checked her surroundings.
“Um… if you’re okay with it, would you like to go for a short walk?”
“A walk? Sure, I don’t mind.”
Zenos followed behind Umin as he started walking.
They walked along a grassy path, listening to the calls of birds in the distance.
The grounds were vast.
Two weeks had passed since he came to the Royal Institute, but he probably hadn’t even set foot in one-hundredth of the entire place.
Zenos followed Umin up a small hill.
After passing through the trees, the view suddenly opened up.
“Is there something here?”
“Oh, no. I simply like this place because of the view.”
“…”
Zenos looked straight ahead.
The Royal Institute was located in the administrative special district within the noble district.
It had a panoramic view of the rolling hills and the stately buildings with lights beginning to appear in the windows, and it was indeed quite a nice place. It was a far cry from the scenery of the slums, lined with dilapidated buildings.
Zenos scratched his cheek and shifted his gaze to Umin beside him.
“So, is there something you wanted to talk about?”
“Yes, well…”
Umin hesitated for a moment, then raised her face and said:
“Um… I’m sorry!”
“…?”
When Zenos tilted his head, Umin continued, as if making an excuse.
“Oh, no. I mean, I just forced Zeno-san to get involved in an internal matter, and I haven’t been able to do anything myself…”
“…”
“If I had more ability in the first place, I would have caught Professor Goldrun’s eye, and I wouldn’t have had to trouble you. I feel more and more sorry.”
Seeing Umin’s dejected expression, Zenos spoke.
“Did you invite me for a walk just to say that?”
“Oh, yes… I know that being apologized to by someone like me won’t do you any good, but…”
“Well, don’t worry, I’ll get paid properly by Becker for my labor. Don’t worry about it too much.”
In fact, he had already received some money as an advance.
“That may be so, but…”
“Besides, I wouldn’t have had the chance to set foot in the Royal Institute otherwise, and I wouldn’t have found any clues about my master. I took the job because it also benefits me. So, really, don’t worry about it.”
“I’m really sorry for relying on you so much… Please tell me if there’s anything I can do.”
Umin bowed her head with an apologetic look. She seemed to have a serious or perhaps dutiful personality. She was probably one of the few sensible people among the women around Zenos.
Umin, as if she just had a thought, said.
“By the way, what kind of person is Zeno-san’s master?”
“That’s what I don’t know. He was a shady guy, but he was also a benefactor who taught me a lot of things.”
“He’s someone like Becker-sensei is to me, then.”
“Becker is your benefactor?”
“Of course,” Umin nodded.
“I lost my mother in an accident when I was young. Becker-sensei was the one who took care of me.”
“Why is Becker coming up here?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? Becker-sensei is my mother’s younger brother, my uncle.”
“Huh…”
Umin hung her head slightly and sighed.
“But I’m not very good at magic or research, and I haven’t been helpful in the search for Alfred… I haven’t been able to repay him for anything…”
“By the way, what are you researching, Umin?”
“Um, to put it simply, it’s about the management of medicines. Things like what temperature, humidity, and storage method are best. …It’s pretty mundane, right?”
“It is mundane.”
“Ouch…”
“But, the important things are usually mundane.”
“Zeno-san…”
“Well, that’s just something my master used to say.”
Umin, who had raised her face, had a slight smile on her lips.
“I’m sorry, I was going to apologize, but instead, it seems like you’ve cheered me up.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to rely on others, isn’t it? I rely on the people around me for my daily life. I can’t even wake up properly in the morning by myself.”
Umin smiled a little.
“Zeno-san, you’re an interesting person.”
— Hehehe, a romantic comedy episode…
“Huh? What?”
“Don’t worry about it. It seems we were being followed.”
“Huh? By whom?”
— However, it wasn’t as exciting as I expected. One star.
“Don’t grade us, Wraith!”
“Wraith!? Huh, where?”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. It was just my imagination, forget it.”
Zenos took a deep breath and suggested that Umin return. He had recently been spending time with relatively sensible people and had almost forgotten, but basically, Zenos was surrounded by unusual creatures.
When they returned to the entrance of the dormitory, another familiar figure was standing in front of the dormitory. A man with slightly curled hair at the tips. Professor Goldrun’s beloved dog caretaker, Cresson.
When Cresson recognized Zenos, he rushed over at full speed.
“Special trainee broooother!”
“Huh?”
Did he just say ‘brother’? Cresson slid in front of Zenos with a thud and placed both hands on the ground.
“P-Please. Help meeee!”
“Um, what are you talking about?”
“The professor summoned me, and I’m being forced into a dangerous situation. Please help meeee!”
Cresson cried out in a pained voice. Zenos had just told Umin that it was sometimes necessary to rely on others, but Cresson’s appearance, throwing away his pride and relying on others with all his might, somehow looked admirable.
— This looks interesting. Three stars.
“So, will you stop grading us, you bystander?”
However, from Cresson’s unusual atmosphere, he had a premonition that something was about to begin.
A/N: Hehehe…