Chapter 161

[Translator – Angel Dust]

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Chapter 161

Another winter break. And another New Year’s celebration to follow.

Up to this point, everything is the same as last year.

You could say it’s a repetitive routine without anything special.

Some might find this repetitive routine boring.

But for me, such a repetitive routine is even more welcome and enjoyable.

Because I wished for this ordinary and repetitive routine, and fought hard for it.

“...In that sense, can’t we just pretend none of this happened?”

“No.”

“S-sorry...”

Eloise, standing there with her hands on her hips, full of confidence.

And beside her, Lefia fidgeting and looking around nervously.

To understand what’s happening, we need to go back about a week.

“Fire!”

“Eek!”

“Extinguishing magic! Extinguishing magic, now!!”

A fire broke out in part of the dormitory where the female students were staying.

The cause of the fire was said to be a malfunction in the magic circuits that were used for heating the room.

Fortunately, no students were killed or injured.

The dormitory did not burn down completely either.

However, since the mana circuit was damaged, major repairs were needed, and it was inevitable that there would be no heating during the repairs.

Therefore, some students had to leave the dormitory and return to their homes during the break.

Since it’s a vacation anyway, it’s not really a problem.

They just need to go home and rest for about two months, and by the time they come back, the dormitory repairs will be finished.

But there was a small problem.

Some students found it difficult to stay anywhere other than the dormitory. And both Eloise and Lefia were among those students!

Of course, the Empire wanted to offer a solution for this.

“The Empire will do its best to accommodate the students who have been inconvenienced by this unfortunate incident—”

So, to summarize, they’re going to prepare temporary accommodations as soon as possible.

In fact, the preparations progressed smoothly, and they ended up with a place even better than the dormitory.

However, in the midst of all this, Eloise came up with a clever scheme.

More precisely, she used her acquaintance with my parents to secure a place as a guest in our home.

When I asked my parents about this absurd situation, their response was truly amazing.

“It’s interesting, don’t you think? For her to do this, knowing who your mother is. If an elf is that confident, she won’t be called a ‘half-elf,’ right?”

“Since your mother said so, I agreed.”

“...”

I think my mother’s words can be summarized as ‘It’s amusing to see an elf sticking her head into a lion’s mouth and laugh.’

Anyway, for that reason, Eloise became a temporary guest at our Friedrich County.

But it didn’t end there.

A few days later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to me with a very troubled look and asked me this out of the blue—

“Young Lord Karl Adelheit. Would it be possible for you to temporarily take in student Lefia?”

They say that when I sweep through, public sentiment naturally stabilizes, and it has a very positive effect.

‘I’m not some kind of totem. What is this?’

...No, wait. Maybe I am a totem. A totem in the truest sense, where all sorts of luck and divine miracles fall around me just by standing there.

“That busy? How can you not rest during the break, Karl?”

Selena comes closer, as if worried, and strokes my forehead.

It’s so kind and touching of her to take care of me first, even though she’s the one who’s actually busier and has less time.

“So, Selena, how about you come along as a temporary research trip for your thesis?”

“Huh?”

“You can say you’re visiting various regions and parishes of the Empire for academic research.”

“B-but isn’t that a lie...?”

Of course, it’s a lie. But it’s not entirely a lie either.

In reality, many historians travel around the Empire to conduct research and investigations.

So it’s definitely not a bad lie. It’s not even a lie. It’s just, like, adding a little excuse or reason.

Your advisor will probably like it too. It’s not often you get the chance to visit all the main churches of each diocese in the Empire, listen to their stories, and research their materials!

With my passionate persuasion, Selena tilts her head and says, ‘I-is that so?’

This is a clear sign that she’s starting to come around.

‘Now, to deliver the final blow, I have to bring up that topic again.’

“That means we’ll be together for at least a month. For the other month, I’ll be staying at my family estate and learning about family matters.”

In other words, for at least a month, she’ll be together with Eloise, Lav, and Lefia.

Selena seemed greatly moved by the fact that she would have half of the two months to herself, even though she would be alone for the other half.

“It sounds a bit strange, but it’s tempting...”

“What can I do? Honestly, I get lonely traveling alone. Sure, there will be people welcoming me everywhere, but it can’t compare to having someone to travel with.”

“That’s true.”

“And... Well, I think we need to make something clear.”

Selena tilted her head at my words.

If it were Eloise, she would have said, ’Are you saying that because you know, or because you don’t?’ But since it’s Selena, I explained it right away.

“Selena and I are not just close. We’re more than that. We travel together and everything. We’re practically a promised couple, except for the engagement.”

“Ah...!”

Externally, this is to announce the engagement between our Adelheit family and Selena’s Ifrit family.

Internally, it’s to make one thing clear to the other girls who keep giving me those looks.

Selena seemed to have finished her calculations in her head after hearing that.

“Wait a minute. I’ll go ask my advisor right now.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Actually, I think the advisor’s answer is already decided.

Think about it. A guy who received the Medal of Honor twice, and on top of that, the Emperor himself came and awarded it to him.

Now, add to that all sorts of other things, and most importantly, he’s received a divine miracle.

And a girl who has a 99.99 percent chance of marrying this guy asks to go on a short trip?

Is there anyone who could say, ‘Absolutely not. A slave should work like a slave’ in front of her?

‘If there is, that person is a true hero.’

“Karl!!”

And exactly 15 minutes later, Selena came running towards me with a bright smile.

[Translator – Angel Dust]

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