Volume 5 Chapter 1 Prologue - The End Of The Break, A New Beginning
Heating innerwear. Development of heating equipment using geothermal energy. Meeting between the Shadler family and the Dukedom Government.
Winter vacation was busy with the birth festival in the royal capital and various events, but the second half was filled with quiet winter days.
Thanks to the official apology from the government and Shadler, along with a stable supply of magic ore, the construction of Port City, which had been delayed, was picking up speed.
Randy and Liz were enjoying a peaceful daily life, focusing on rune research in between training and work... even though they had burned part of the mansion and got scolded by Alan.
Anyway, the calm winter days flew by, the new year began, and soon it was almost time for school to start. Randy and Liz were busy preparing to head to the royal capital.
"Uh-oh. I have no school supplies at all."
"Why didn't you prepare in advance?"
Liz, with a glare, was angry, saying, "Didn't we get a message before the new year?" She was talking about the letter from the school that arrived before the new year.
'The third term will start as scheduled.'
Following that message, Randy and Liz were supposed to return to the royal capital this afternoon, but when the time came, Randy suddenly said he didn't have any necessary items like writing tools or notebooks.
"When the traveling merchant came after the new year, didn't you ask, 'Are your school supplies okay?'"
"Yeah."
"And what did you say?"
"...I don't know?"
"'It's fine. I'm not that much of a kid'."
Clarice, who was watching nearby, let out a big sigh, clearly exasperated with her brother who hadn't grown up at all.
"Ah, well. We have no choice. Let's head back a bit early and buy more at Cory's place."
"That's the only option."
In the flurry of an early departure, Clarice sighed and said, "I'll go call everyone."
So, the people Clarice called gathered in front of the mansion to say goodbye...
"Did you forget anything?"
Grace asked Randy, Liz, Harrison, and Rita.
"Yep."
"All good!"
"I'm fine too!"
"I don't know! Maybe I did!"
For some reason, everyone was worried when Randy confidently said, "I forgot something."
"...Randolph. Make sure to enjoy your school life this semester."
Alan grabbed Randy's shoulder tightly, looking like he was saying, "Please, be careful." It's understandable. Randy and Liz are tempted by the 'runes,' which are way more interesting than schoolwork. The joke about getting expelled could easily become real.
All winter, Alan kept saying, "Researching runes at school is banned," but since they already burned part of the mansion, he must be really worried.
"It's okay. I have enough sense for that."
Randy snorted, but it didn't sound convincing at all. After all, he had already messed up 3 times this winter vacation alone with the pseudo-dragon breath, super-repulsion trampoline, and the cafeteria fireplace incident.
Trust is buried deeper than geothermal heating equipment. Randy frowned at the suspicious looks everyone was giving him.
"I'm telling you, it's fine. I won't do any research at school. I'll choose the right place for it."
"I mean it."
Alan managed to squeeze out those words, but Liz, who was holding the reins, had a crazy monster lurking inside her too. Alan looked like he might cry blood, and Harrison and Rita raised their hands to say, "We'll help keep things in check."
"We're not kids. Don't worry."
Randy pouted, but being not a kid made it worse. Yet, no one said anything. They just stared at him with distrust... Even though it was his own fault, Randy felt really uncomfortable.
Trying to escape those looks, he said, "W-well, it's time to leave," and waved to the people saying goodbye, urging Liz to teleport to the capital.
"I hope everything will be okay?"
"Everything will be fine... I think. When it's time to do it, I can do it."
Alan told himself this, and Grace nodded, saying "Yeah," while looking at the spot where Randy and the others had been standing for a while.
A few hours later...
"I forgot my uniform!"
...Randy went back to get his huge forgotten item, and his parents were left shaking their heads, but that's another story.
* * *
While Randy was busy getting ready to head to the capital, at the royal castle in Alexandria...
The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed in the courtyard since morning.
Holding wooden swords, Crown Prince Edgar and his servant, Arthur, who is also the son of the Knight Captain, were hard at work in a mock battle.
Even though it was a winter morning, both of them were sweating like beads, and their fight seemed evenly matched.
"Alright, that's enough!"
A big man in armor, who was watching, nodded with satisfaction.
"Your Highness, you've really improved during this break."
"I received direct training from the Knight Captain. I have to grow stronger."
Edgar, receiving a towel from a maid, showed a refreshing smile.
"I was worried about what would happen when my foolish son was so focused on Saint."
The Knight Captain laughed heartily, and Edgar made a slightly embarrassed face.
"Just lost ourselves for a bit."
Edgar chuckled self-deprecatingly and took off his sweaty shirt. The maid who had brought a change of clothes blushed, but Edgar didn't mind and grabbed the clothes.
"Finally, the third term is starting."
As Edgar put on the new clothes, he muttered "finally" again and looked up at the sun.
With a nostalgic and distant look in his eyes, Arthur grinned mischievously at Edgar.
"Want me to guess what you're thinking right now?"
With Arthur's mischievous grin, Edgar replied with a smile that didn't quite match his words, "Just stop. It's impossible."
"You're thinking about meeting Miss Elizabeth... right?"
At Arthur's words, Edgar smiled softly and looked up at the sun again.
"I just want to apologize."
Edgar shows a soft expression, but Arthur shakes his head silently.
"That's a lie. Your face says 'I want to see you'."
Arthur laughs, and even while saying "Stop it," Edgar shows a smile.
"What are you talking about?"
Just then, Dario appears, and Arthur starts teasing Edgar again, saying, "No, Your Highness..."
But they don't know. Women's love is like a saved file. No, for Liz, it wasn't even love. The folders are completely different.
They are still far from waking up from their fantasies.
* * *
At the same time, in a corner of the Cathedral in the royal capital...
"Ah, what? Lady Catherine, what are you doing?"
Annabelle tilts her head at Catherine, who is biting the desk.
"Y-you're not still working on your assignment, are you, Lady Catherine?"
"Of course not. Look at this."
With a sigh, Catherine shows a certain blueprint.
"W-what is it?"
Catherine confidently nods and says, "It's a kotatsu," and starts explaining about it.
"Oh, it looks like an interesting heating equipment."
Annabelle nods with an impressed expression, and Catherine shows a pleased look.
"I'm a reincarnator too. I have at least this much knowledge."
With her nose held high, Catherine crosses her arms and leans back in her chair.
"But, about the materials and production system..."
"That's true."
When faced with the practical issues, Catherine's proud nose suddenly droops. This is something even a Saint can't solve.
Catherine thinks deeply but then turns to Annabelle, remembering something.
"Lady Annabelle, why are you here?"
With a very natural question, Annabelle finally remembers her purpose and pulls out a letter from her chest.
"Sir Leon's servant application has been approved."
Catherine took the letter Annabelle handed her and said, "Thanks," while looking down at the letter.
Church Knight Leon Cardias. He was the young knight who accompanied Catherine on the Church's dungeon investigation and worked with Randy and the others during the Christmas festival. He is a year younger than Catherine, meaning he is the same age as Annabelle and the others, but this time he was allowed to accompany Catherine as a servant at the request of the Church.
Due to the Church's scandals and the Crown Prince's suspicious connections, Catherine's position at the academy is very weak. On the other hand, thanks to the Christmas festival, her reputation in town is not bad... in fact, it has been improving lately. So...
To avoid being alone at the academy.
And to avoid fan encounters in town.
With these two goals in mind, Leon was chosen to accompany Catherine starting from the third term.
"Then for the third term, Leon will be my bodyguard."
Catherine shrugged, but she didn't seem too unhappy. Having someone she knows well nearby must be comforting.
"Lady Annabelle, let's have tea at the academy sometime."
"Y-yes. Please invite me anytime."
Catherine smiled back at Annabelle's cheerful expression.
A woman's love is like saving over a file. Perhaps Edgar and the others will find out about this from Catherine.
The third term, filled with the young people's plans, is about to begin soon──
* * *
"I asked if you were okay with the assignment, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember what you said then?"
"...I don't know?"
"'I'm fine. No problem.'."
With Liz's pressure on his back, Randy was pushing himself during the last few days of his break, but that's another story.
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