Volume 3 - CH 17

One month has passed since then.

We were back to school life.

In the morning.

As we walk along the path leading to the cafeteria, students we pass glance back at us.

We could faintly hear them talking.

“Oh, that guy.” “Hey, that’s Ramplog.” “Didn’t he win the Teito sword-fighting tournament?” He won the finals and obliterated his opponent without leaving a trace.” “Without a sword? – No, that’s impossible. “- Hey, isn’t he cute?”

I sighed inwardly.

It’s been like this ever since I got back, but I’m much better now.

There are a lot of misunderstandings, but I’m letting it go because it’s not that bad. At least it’s much better than being talked about behind my back like a year ago.

The rumors will eventually die down.

When I arrived at the cafeteria, I scurried around looking for the person I wanted to see.

It wasn’t long before I found them. Amiyu, Ifa and Mabel were talking with books from the library spread out on the table.

So they were here after all.

I had heard Ifa say before that she and Amiyu sometimes study together in the morning cafeteria, so I thought it might be possible, but it looks like my intuition was right.

I walked up behind the girls and called out.

“Ma-y-be-l”

“Ahhh!”

Mabel jumped up.

She looked back at me with a startled expression and tried to run away in a panic.

I grabbed her hand.

“Don’t run away!”

“No!”

“Seika-kun?”

“When did you get here?”

Ifa and Amiyu seemed to notice me for the first time. Probably because they were concentrating on their books.

I said. 

“I have some business with Mabel.”

“I don’t have any.”

“Why didn’t you come yesterday? I was waiting for you.”

“I don’t want to study with Seika anymore.”

Mabel said with tears in her eyes.

“Study! Study! Study! all the time! When we have classes, we study until late at night and when we don’t have classes, we study the whole day until late at night! It’s been like that for the past month! I mean, even the training center had days off!”

“It can’t be helped.”

I say.

“You have to catch up with your classes and you can’t even solve the entrance exam questions properly, let alone make up for the half month you missed because of the competition. So you have to work harder to make up for that.”

“But…..”

Mabel’s moist eyes go down.

“I’ve never had a reason to learn anything like that before……”

“Hah. Mabel.”

I put my hand on her shoulder.

“Retention comes to everyone equally.”

“Don’t say it like it’s an adage! It’s not right for you to barge into the girls’ dormitory and stay there until late at night!”

“I have permission from the head of the dormitory through the dean. So, Mabel, if I wanted to, I could teach you until morning.”

I’m not allowed to go anywhere but the lounge, as expected.

“I…Ifa. Help me.”

Mabel, who had turned pale, asked Ifa for help.

Perhaps because of the kindness she received at the dormitory, Mabel was instantly attracted to Ifa.

After looking at Mabel with a smile like the legendary Virgin of the West, she tells me. 

“Seika-kun….. I think you’re still sweet.”

“!?”

“She has so much energy. I’m sure Mabel-chan can still do her best.”

“Ugh, no way. Ifa….”

Mabel turns her sullen eyes on Ifa, as if in disbelief that she has been abandoned.

Ifa looked back at Mabel with the Virgin smile.

Her eyes seem distant, if not heartless.

“It’s okay, Mabel-chan. There is a way beyond the “hard” part. We study, sleep at night, eat and study again. You haven’t become such a creature yet, have you, Mabel? Then, you have to work harder and harder.”

“This is scary……”

“What kind of hell have you been through?”

“It was hard.”

Ifa stares into the sky.

Maybe it’s my imagination, but there is some kind of lack of light in her eyes.

“When I was studying while working at the mansion, it was hard work, but I was still able to do my best. I could take a break for work and I could move my body and get rid of distractions. But after the entrance exam approached and I was exempted from work, that didn’t happen anymore…… hehehe, I was studying all the time. At first, the other servants were sarcastic with me, but soon they started to look at me like I was pitiful. On the day I left, they all sent me off crying.”

“……”

“……”

“But it was thanks to Seika-sama that I was able to work so hard. Thank you so much, Seika-sama.”

I replied to Ifa, who looked as if she had a halo shining on her.

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

“Your reply is too light for the current atmosphere!”

“Eh… but, I was just studying and teaching normally. We ust didn’t have time for breaks before the entrance exam.”

Everyone is exaggerating.

“So, Mabel, I’m coming to the girls’ dormitory again today after class. You need to work extra hard over the next few days to make up for yesterday.”

“No….. I don’t want to end up like Ifa…..”

“Do it in moderation.”

Afterwards.

After negotiating with defense attorney Amiyu, it was decided that Mabel would have at least two full days off per month.

Well, she’s been inefficient lately, so I guess it’s just right.

Mabel’s school life has just begun.