Chapter 14.1

“According to Linus’ research, the problem is not that serious, and their numbers are on the small side, but I won’t be at ease if you get hurt,” Noah said softly while looking down at me.

I was rendered speechless.

Even though I knew he was just worried for my well-being…

“…. You’re very kind.”

And gentle.

How cruel it all was—how could anyone not like Noah?

“I-If you put it like that, I can’t even pester you about it anymore.” Smiling awkwardly, I scratched my cheek.

“But it looks like we’ll be studying monster-related topics next year, and I have magical runes that I’ve revised recently, so….”

“I’m really sorry about this, but I really want to accompany you, so would it really be impossible just this once?”

I stared up at Noah with my most pleading expression.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I’m aware of how good your skills are.”

I knew it was rude of me to ask this of him so suddenly. But when would I ever get to experience something like this ever again?

I opened my mouth and searched for words once more.

“I’ll stick right to your side the entire time.”

“…”

After a pause, Noah silently turned his head.

“I’ll leave it up to you for now.”

“Thank you.”

I’ve passed the first round.

I sorted out the magical runes that I would try out in my head. Though there were a lot that I wanted to use, I narrowed the list down only to those that I was most confident in.

Speaking of which, I wondered if convincing my dad would be the hardest part.

“I’m hungry. Should we go eat?”

Oh, whatever. I’ll think about it after I fill my stomach.

Straightening up my hair, I put the empty dog bowls away and rose to my feet.

***

All throughout lunch, I couldn’t tell if I was eating the food through my mouth or my nose.

The subjugation was tomorrow. When was Noah going to say anything? What if he forgot? Or was he not saying anything because it was too much work?

As the meal was almost over, many questions were swirling in my head. That was when—

“May Katelin accompany us on our monster subjugation tomorrow?”

“Keh!”

The potato got caught in my throat, and I coughed. This was all because Noah had waited until I was finishing up to say something.

Oof, that scared me.

After pounding at my chest and gulping down the water Noah offered me, I opened my mouth.

“Is this something my daughter agreed on?”

“Yes, I was the one who asked him. I was wondering if I could go, too.”

“Kate…!” shouted Dad, as if he was surprised, while Linus tilted his head with a smile.

“I think it may be a little difficult for a young lady.”

“I can’t say that I’ll be of any help, but I will never be in your way. I have pretty good stamina, and I know the geography of Grania Forest well because I used to go there often when I was younger.”

“Dad, please. Don’t tell me you can’t trust your own daughter?”

As I pleaded while pounding my chest, I sent a sparkling gaze to my father, whose face was crumpled in indecision.

“… If I could place her in your care, Sir Linus.”

Unexpectedly, Dad even asked Linus for the favor.

“My daughter is not an untrustworthy child. Whatever happens, I will not hold you responsible.”

“Dad…” I murmured, feeling moved in my chest.

Hearing Dad’s request, Linus’s red eyes shined as he contemplated for a moment. The navy-haired man, Aiden, still did not say a word.

“Are you okay with this, Aiden?”

“Whatever works.”

When Aiden responded as much with a shrug, Linus’s handsome face broke out into a wide smile.

“You can come with us, Lady Katelin. But you cannot move away from Noah’s side.”

“Of course!”

Simply happy from gaining permission, I had a happy smile on my face.

“Anyhow, it’s really quite unbelievable to see Noah asking for something. The two of you must be close.”

Eyes crinkling in a smile, Linus snickered at Noah.

In response, Noah glanced in my direction once before replying with a peaceful expression.

“Yes, we are.”

We are?

Unable to read the atmosphere, my heart began to beat quickly once more.

***

“Haha…”

Leaning against the wall, a despondent laugh leaked from my lips.

I sure was beyond hopelessness.

It was alright: when the next semester began, I just needed to keep my distance from then on. Noah didn’t have any feelings for me anyways. I was just an underclassman he was slightly familiar with. Understand?

“One, two, three.”

Look, when Noah leaves after a week, there will still be three weeks of vacation left. If I live a little busily during that time, I’ll be able to give up by then.

I also happened to have been invited to the Jenkinson Estate for next week. Echo would probably be there, too. Right? I’ll chat the night away and forget him while playing cricket.

“I see you’re already here, Lady Blair.”

I was so excited that there was no way I could’ve been late. I smiled embarrassedly, scratching the back of my head.

Linus pointed at what I held in my hand and tilted his head.

“Is that yours?”

“Oh, yes. I took a lot of notes recently. By any chance, could you take a look at my magic a bit later?”

I lifted the thickest of my notebooks that had all my magical runes notes in them and chuckled.

In it, all the runes that I had learned and familiarized myself with during the last semester were organized.

However, because I was not an incredible veteran who memorized and could use all the magical runes I had learned while in school, I needed something to look at to be able to use a variety of magic.

“I can take a look for you,” Noah said as he came out and squeezed himself in between me and Sir Linus.

I had no idea where he’d come from so suddenly like that, but he was really quite pretty today as well.

His silver hair was tied up, perhaps to keep it out of the way. Long silver eyelashes and sparkling golden pupils. 10 out of 10. Spectacular and magnificent.