Chapter 292: More Than That…

Around when it passed eight we were waiting for Hilbyid in front of Nifa Inn, but he did not show himself.

Yesterday we had definitely promised to meet at eight, but there was no sign of him coming down. Erika and I looked at each other and tilted our heads.

Hilbyid is not the type to break a promise. Something must have happened. I guessed that and told Rinelle and Micon and Scon to head to the academy first.

They could have waited with us, but I judged it would be bad if they noticed Hilbyid is a woman.

If everyone is late together someone might guess oddly, and as long as I cannot declare that will not happen this is best.

If we are late Hilbyid will take care... and she is kind one way or another, right?

I asked Hiero, who said from today she would guard beside me, to see the three of them safely to the academy. She accepted readily.

I promised to meet Hiero at the academy and saw off the four of them walking toward it.

Even through that exchange Hilbyid showed no sign of coming out of the inn, so I had no choice. Together with Erika I headed to the second floor of the inn, the guest room where Hilbyid was staying.

I told Erika I would wait where I came up the stairs and had her go check the guest room instead.

When Erika knocked there was a little wait, but I saw the door open and she seemed to be talking with someone.

I folded my arms, tilted my head, and watched Erika. She looked a little flustered, as if persuading. I frowned.

Erika shows me a flustered look in front of me, but she does not show it much outside.

That Erika was showing a flustered look and moreover seemed to be trying hard to tell something.

I was curious what happened, but if I went close now I might put her on guard. I watched the outcome quietly, uneasy.

Whether the persuasion worked Erika let out a breath of relief, smiled, nodded, and the sound of the door closing rang in the quiet second-floor hall.

At this hour the adventurers staying have already gone out and it is silent.

So inn cleaning is done in the morning... well. It is rare for anyone but adventurers to stay at Nifa Inn.

Erika coming this way at a short run looked at my face and smiled with a troubled face.

Then Erika came close, took my wrist, pulled as if crouching. I crouched a little as if answering. Erika put her mouth to my ear and told me in a small voice.

Hearing why Hilbyid would not come out of the room I left Erika on the second floor and hurried to Erika’s house to call Melaine-san.

When I explained what happened, it was a maiden’s day... good I did not go check myself.

The thing Erika was trying so hard to persuade was whether it was all right to show Hilbyid to Melaine-san...

As an aside I found Melaine-san and asked in a low voice. She accepted readily.

Only, Melaine-san walked up with a blank face and said in a scolding way, "From next time please give an order, not a request." I got troubled.

I am not a noble... I should talk it out properly with Melaine-san once after all.

I asked Melaine-san to look after Hilbyid. Erika and I walked the main street toward the academy.

Erika held my hand and, maybe remembering the talk with Hilbyid, started speaking with an amused smile.

"Hilbyid-san’s face was so bad you could tell at a glance, and still he was trying to go to the academy. I was troubled."

"...Nn? I thought you were persuading him to let Melaine-san come close. Is that wrong?"

"It is not. I was persuading him to rest. About Melaine, when I explained she is one person Raide-san trusts he accepted at once, so it helped."

"Ah~. Un. I do not know what face to make."

I rubbed the back of my neck with my free left hand and smiled wryly. Erika laughed at me happily.

Being trusted makes me honestly glad, but what about that explanation?

I do trust Melaine-san and have faith in her, but when she is treated the same as Erika it troubles me.

I smiled wryly, turned to Erika, and told her. After going blank she laughed, kus kusu.

Erika eased the held hand a little, laced our fingers, gripped again, then leaned in.

Walking made her swaying chest hit and rub my arm, funi funi. Her beautiful blonde hair streamed in the wind.

Erika kept a kind smile with her eyes narrowed and turned her face this way. I almost stared and rubbed the back of my neck again.

"It is Melaine’s care because I am your lover. Please accept it."

"When even you say that, Erika, it is hard to say stop..."

"Fufufu. Is it not fine. It will become that ’someday,’ will it not?"

"...I give. I am not putting it off. There is something I am looking for."

"Oh my. I am not rushing you. Only, if I did not tell you it felt like Handful things would be done."

I kissed Erika’s forehead meaning apology to her laughing at me happily.

Then I was told "It cannot be helped" and laughed at more. I could only smile with a troubled face.

That aside I noticed it with Hilbyid. There might be students who endure feeling bad on the trip.

I have told the students to report at once when they feel unwell, but... a maiden’s day is hard to say after all.

There will be students embarrassed even among women. Then I thought a little, turned to Erika, and told her what I thought of.

Erika heard my words, put on a serious face as if thinking, then nodded, turned this way, and spoke.

"That is so. It would be hard to tell Roy-san, or Hilbyid-san who is thought to be a man. Even more we cannot tell adventurers who know nothing... of course not you either, Raide-san."

"Right? Then I am sorry to put a burden on you, Erika, but I want you to be the go-between. Erika could see through it even if the students hide something. Sorry, but may I ask?"

"This cannot be helped... I accept. More than that, should you let the words ’see through it’ flow past?"

"No. I did not mean it that way..."

Erika looked at me with flat eyes. I smiled wryly and explained. Seeing my look she burst out and started laughing elegantly.

Then she pressed so close the shape of her chest changed and whispered with a mischievous-child smile, "It is a joke."

The feeling of being played with did not feel bad. Rather it was fresh so I laughed happily too.

When we arrived at the academy we went in and split at the stairs.

Erika to the second-floor classroom. I headed to the third-floor principal’s office to explain why Erika was late.

It was past nine but about twenty minutes off so I think they will forgive it.

But if I do not explain why she was late Erika’s position might get worse, and Erika herself will explain to the faculty I think.

I do not think there are faculty at Filim Academy who would not believe a student’s words, but just in case I meant to tell Croana and have her contact the faculty.

If there are not only the student’s words but mine as an instructor they will believe it is true after all.

I reached the principal’s office, knocked. Croana’s voice answered from inside so I opened the door.

When I opened the door a shadow fell. I guessed and spread both arms as if to catch.

"Morning, Raide!"

"Morning, Lea. Cute today too."

"Ahha. You are cool too, Raide!"

I caught Lea’s small body that floated and jumped in, held her as if supporting with both hands, and smiled.

Lea wrapped both arms around my neck, answered with a lively smile, immediately buried her face in my neck, and sniffed as if smelling.

I looked at the sofa. Hiero who had arrived first was having tea with Fia. I greeted the two of them too, then looked at Croana smiling.

Still holding Lea I came up to the work desk Croana sat at and explained why Erika had been late.

Croana heard my explanation, nodded as if convinced, and at once used communication magic that only works on academy grounds to contact the faculty and tell them.

I meant to lower my head with thanks for the quick move when Lea I was holding stopped my head.

I smiled at Lea with a troubled face. Lea also smiled with a troubled face and spoke while I was stroked, nade nade, on the head with one hand.

"You should not lower your head that much to a lover, should you?"

"That may be so, but right now I want to thank Principal Croana as an instructor."

"Honestly! You say right now but it is always! Right? Croana thinks so too?"

"Yes, Lea-anesama. I think so too. Raide, use a lover’s privilege a little?"

"No, but..."

Croana said it with a kind smile too. I got troubled.

There is also the care not to mix public and private, but as I said sometime I think you must not forget to give thanks.

Behind, Hiero and Fia were laughing happily. "A Handful, right?" "A Handful, is he not."

...Hmm. Then from next time I will give thanks without lowering my head.

I reached that conclusion, smiled, and nodded to Croana. Lea and Croana seeing that smiled happily. I was relieved.

Croana suddenly took a square silver box from somewhere and set it on the desk. I looked at Croana with a startled face.

Then Croana put on an amused smile, set one hand on the box, and spoke.

"It is finished. Try it?"

"...Too unexpected. I have no words. I thought it would take a little more..."

"I meant to finish it taking a little more time too... haha. It was fun and my hands would not stop."

Croana scratched one cheek with her index finger with an embarrassed smile and moved the hand on the box as if stroking it.

I had not thought it would make it before going to Santony so I was truly surprised and went blank.

...Next time I will have her let me watch her make a magic tool.

Croana says she is embarrassed when she is absorbed and will not show me, so I am incredibly interested.

If it is a lover’s privilege I will have her let me use it there.