NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
“…Do you have any expectations?”
Ethan didn’t even realize he was being followed. However, he didn’t say anything foolish to Gloria about feeling nothing at all.
If someone of her caliber existed, it was as good as confirmed. And since she was an Apostle that could fit in one hand, it was almost certain.
Ethan was convinced that finding someone of her skill level among the Academy’s professors would be quite rare. If there was, it would be like his physical education teacher.
“I suspect it might be one of Stephanie’s lackeys. Otherwise, there’s no reason she’d have a powerful magical tool with such a strong presence.”
Ethan recognized the name Stephanie. She was the reason Gloria had come directly to the Academy.
To capture her, who could be termed the de facto leader of the demon worshipers remaining on the continent, the Church had dispatched Gloria.
However, it seemed that she was so meticulous that even the first Apostle was only able to grasp a mere clue, making Ethan believe that if it were him, he would’ve been caught in her schemes and disappeared without a trace in no time.
“…So you think it’s a case of eavesdropping?”
“Isn’t that so? There’s no way I was being followed, and a fresh-faced newcomer like you has almost no chance of being tailed by someone looking like a thug. I think they were just loitering with Stephanie’s magical tool and happened to overhear our conversation.”
While the Goddess is all-powerful, the Church is not. Ethan wondered if it was right for her to say such things, but he decided not to think too deeply about it.
In reality, the Church was not omnipotent, so her statement wasn’t entirely wrong.
“…However, aside from the magical tool’s performance, they appear quite clumsy. Their footsteps are too loud for someone tailing us, and seeing them loiter around makes it seem like they’re just a common noble trying to get in good with her.”
Ethan couldn’t feel any of the things she mentioned. He didn’t hear footsteps, nor did he get the slightest inkling that someone was hanging around.
Truly, the Church’s best was it? Ethan felt the stark contrast between himself and Gloria. Although he possessed a somewhat rare talent for detecting magical energy, it felt pitiful compared to her.
Standing next to her, with her magical talents and physical strength exceeding his and hers commanding divine power that he couldn’t even sense, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being diminutive.
“It’s better to handle this.”
“No, we shouldn’t do that, Decatria. There’s no benefit in messing with a lackey. We’ll only end up getting disciplined for no reason.”
Did she know this from personal experience? Ethan felt a strange sense of kinship. But as if reading his thoughts, Gloria immediately crushed that semblance of connection he held.
“I only slapped them once for being so bothersome, yet I ended up suspended for about three days. If I were to ‘handle’ it as you might be thinking, I wouldn’t have any idea what might happen to me either.”
“…Then what do you think we should do?”
Of course, Ethan thought. Since she was sent from the Papal office, there was no need for her to deal with such dirty work.
If necessary, they could just use someone like him instead.
“Since they seem unaware that we’ve caught on, it’s better to part ways here. If it’s discovered, it would mar my reputation. A nun hanging out with a thug… would certainly raise some eyebrows.”
“…I still haven’t reported about the White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter, but is that okay?”
“I believe it’s best to trust you and leave it to you. As much as I’d like to help, I’m just barely managing with Stephanie alone. Decatria, let me give you one piece of advice: your usual methods won’t work here. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes. Then today, we’ve never met here.”
“Right.”
Gloria bid farewell and kicked off the wall of the building, quickly disappearing from Ethan’s view. He couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh, thinking he wouldn’t be outdone in terms of physical ability, even if he lacked her strength.
It was impossible for him to kick off the wall and leap across the roof, so feeling deflated, he dragged his feet into the depths of the alley, resenting the absurdity of talent.
—
Golden Sun hadn’t yet made a move on the nun, but they were still heading deep into the alley. Were they perhaps trying to be considerate by doing something naughty in a hidden area, despite being outdoors?
He almost reevaluated Golden Sun. After all, he was definitely trash trying to force himself onto a woman. Whatever they were talking about, he was sure it involved plans on how to take her today and how to continue taking advantage of her in the future.
It probably was that way. Typical of that genre of manga. Although he couldn’t hear their conversation clearly, this was practically a given.
When a nun and a thug head to a secluded alley together, what else could come to mind? It sent shivers down his spine. How could I be in the same class as that guy.
…Wait, were we in the same class? It’s surprising I didn’t notice a guy that noticeable, but seeing that we’d had physical education together, I was certainly in the same class.
Thinking that I’d have to endure a whole year of classes alongside a potential sex offender was even more suffocating. We couldn’t just let them be; I needed to confirm what they were up to for my own safety.
But what would happen if I were caught by someone so cruel they’d even mess with a clergy member? It was obvious. A guy who acts so recklessly wouldn’t hesitate to pounce, no matter what family I came from.
As they seemed to drift farther away during my hesitation, I considered that under normal circumstances, I would have just sulked it out, but now I seriously thought about asking the Goddess for help.
I clearly used mana breathing techniques in physical education, so a half-hearted attack wouldn’t even scratch me, but it should be enough to bind their feet.
Still hesitant about calling on the Goddess, I thought if my fears turned out to be correct.
In this novel, I hoped that Golden Sun would be that overly cliché, anti-cliché character, and I sprinted toward the last place I’d heard their footsteps.
And there was no one there.
I wondered if they changed locations, straining my ears to listen, but I didn’t hear anything in particular. The absence of the scent of night flowers made me think they hadn’t done anything there after all.
…Is it safe to assume I’m in the clear? I didn’t know where they’d vanished to, but since I hadn’t found any traces of wrongdoing, it seemed they’d realized they were being followed and decided to bail.
Thinking I had overreacted a bit, I felt a bit drained, but at least nothing had happened, so I was relieved.
As I turned to return the way I came, I found three forks in the road. Ah, so this place has that kind of structure. It was easy to come in, but leaving was a different story.
In short, I was lost again. I couldn’t help but wonder just how many times I could get lost in a single day, but it didn’t seem to be my fault.
It was all the Academy’s fault for not having a simple map installed. Who puts maps in an alley anyway? But still.
So, where to go now? I figured it would still lead to the Academy regardless of where I went, but there was no guarantee it was where I wanted to go. Since I had come out purely to avoid trouble, I didn’t really have anywhere to head to.
In that case, I supposed it wouldn’t matter where I ended up. Just then, unexpectedly, I ran into someone.
It was Han Dogon. He seemed just as surprised to run into me here as I was, looking rather foolish.
“…What brings the White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter here?”
How to explain this? I had been sneakily watching Golden Sun in the library when it looked like he was about to do something bad to the nun, and I had dashed out thoughtlessly, only to find that nothing had happened, which put me at ease would be too embarrassing to admit. Regardless of my intentions, I had still acted foolishly. Claiming I’d simply gotten lost during a walk would seem more plausible.
“I got lost.”
“You seem to get lost frequently.”
Though Dogon stated a fact, it didn’t hurt my feelings since it wasn’t really my fault.
“The paths are so complicated.”
“Do you have anywhere in particular you’re trying to get to?”
Anywhere to go? I wanted to go back to the library and finish reading, but I should unpack my things first. If I kept delaying it, I’d just keep putting it off until the end of the semester, so it’d be best to sort it out now while I had the time.
“…I’d like to go to Dormitory 4. Do you happen to know the way?”
“Do you have a room there?”
“Indeed.”
Though I might forget other things, I certainly hadn’t forgotten where my dorm was assigned. Room 44 in Dormitory 4.
It was somewhat ominous, but that made it easy to remember. I could easily recall it like, ‘Where’s my room? Oh right, 4!’, so I felt somewhat satisfied with that.
“What a remarkable coincidence. My room is also in Dormitory 4.”
“Oh, I see.”
“…Then shall I guide you?”
“Please do.”
The awkwardness in the conversation wasn’t due to me but rather the way my father had taught me to speak. I thought that as I followed behind him.