Chapter 11: Magnus (2)

After what had happened to Haruki, he and Magnus sat on the field, chatting together.

"Is Vila your girlfriend, Haruki?"

"Huh? No. Why are you asking that?"

"Just curious. You and Vila seem really close. I’ve known her since..."

"Since when?"

"It’s nothing."

Haruki’s expression changed slightly.

Magnus noticed the change in Haruki’s expression and decided to change the subject. He invited Haruki to leave the dormitory for a while and explore the city of Arcane.

Haruki fell silent for a moment before agreeing to go out with Magnus. The two of them then went sightseeing around the city.

"C-Cool!"

Magnus smiled as he watched Haruki’s reaction before inviting him to another place.

"Haruki... I know somewhere even better."

"Oh, really?"

Without saying much else, Magnus led Haruki to a magnificent fountain. Beyond the fountain stood the grand Royal Palace of Arcane.

Haruki gazed at the palace in awe, though a hint of anger stirred within him at the sight of the place where the King of Arcane resided.

Not long after that, they heard someone shouting angrily nearby.

Haruki turned towards the commotion and saw a nobleman beating and humiliating a commoner. Without hesitation, Haruki approached the two of them.

"What is going on here?"

"Ugh... Look! This commoner dropped my bread!"

"P-Please forgive me, M-My Lord!" the young commoner pleaded.

"Now then... I want you to eat that bread without picking it up with your hands. Eat like a dog!"

The young man immediately obeyed the nobleman’s command. Meanwhile, the other nobles watching the scene burst into laughter, mercilessly mocking and humiliating him.

"Stop... Just stop, you idiot," Haruki muttered.

"What do you think you’re doing, brat? This is my business, not yours!"

Haruki gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. He pulled the young commoner away before he could continue with such a humiliating act.

Haruki stared directly at the nobleman and began to speak.

"What’s so funny? What’s so entertaining about this?"

"You think another human being’s dignity is nothing more than a toy for you to play with, huh?!"

Magnus looked at Haruki with an unusual expression.

*Those are some good words... So you’re just like me after all. No... You’re even better. You’re braver when it comes to speaking your mind.*

"Why are you defending a commoner, huh?! Wait... That emblem on your uniform... Isn’t that the emblem of Arcane Academy?"

"So what?"

"Shouldn’t every student at that academy be a noble?! Why are you defending this worthless commoner?!"

"Huh? All nobles? I thought the academy accepted commoners too... But then, why were Vila and I able to get in so easily?"

Already fed up with the nobleman’s behaviour, Haruki took some money from Magnus’s pocket and threw it at the nobleman.

"Ahhh, Haruki... That’s my money!"

Haruki walked away with his hands in his pockets, while Magnus followed behind him. Eventually, Haruki decided to return to the dormitory.

"Haruki... Do you hate nobles?"

"I hate them... I hate nobles who don’t treat other people with kindness and respect."

Watching Haruki from behind, Magnus smiled at his answer. His words reminded Magnus of someone who had said the exact same thing to him when he was a child.

*You’re just like Philip, Haruki,* Magnus whispered to himself.

"Did you say something, Magnus?"

"Ah... It’s nothing!"

Haruki turned back towards the front and continued walking.

Meanwhile, a memory from Magnus’s past resurfaced in his mind—a time when he had been looked down upon and insulted simply because he was a commoner.

"Are you okay?" asked a young Philip.

"Huh?" replied a young Magnus.

"I asked if you’re okay," Philip repeated, holding out his hand.

After that, young Philip stood up for Magnus and beat up the bullies who had been picking on him.

"You’re the first noble who ever asked to be my friend, Philip. Even though you’ve probably almost forgotten about me by now because you keep skipping classes."

"Ridiculous," Magnus muttered.

When they arrived at the dormitory, Magnus invited Haruki to take a look at his room. To Haruki’s surprise, Magnus’s room was right next to the rooms belonging to Haruki and Philip.

"Eh? Wait... Our rooms are next to each other?" Haruki asked.

"Yeah! Didn’t you notice, Haruki?"

Just then, Philip stepped out of his room and saw Magnus and Haruki standing there.

"What are you two doing here?" Philip asked.

"Nothing... I was just checking out Magnus’s room," Haruki replied.

"Oh, so our rooms are next to each other, Philip," Philip remarked.

Magnus merely forced a smile while clenching his fist tightly.

Philip then left the two of them behind.

"Hah... You really haven’t changed at all since we were kids, Philip."

"Huh? You two have known each other for a long time?" Haruki asked.

"Yeah... Something like that."

Haruki smiled and turned around, preparing to head back to his room. However, Magnus suddenly placed a hand on Haruki’s shoulder and looked at him seriously.

"You... You’re not from a noble family, are you?"

"W-What?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Sweat trickled down Haruki’s forehead as his face turned pale.

"Pfft! I’m just kidding~"

"Huh?!"

Magnus burst into laughter as he looked at Haruki.

"Your face looked like you’d just seen a ghost! Hahaha!"

"Your jokes are scarier than actual ghosts," Haruki replied.

"Alright, I’m heading into my room. See you in class tomorrow, Haruki!"

Magnus entered his room, and Haruki returned to his own, relieved that Magnus had only been joking.

As soon as Haruki entered his room, he suddenly remembered that Magnus had a habit of making nerve-racking jokes.

"How could I have forgotten?!"

Meanwhile, inside his room, Magnus murmured to himself.

"Haruki... You’re really just like Philip. No... Perhaps Haruki is a little smarter."