69. Son

Hey guys happy new ye—WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S MARCH AND JUST ABOUT APRIL.

Yeah, sorry about that. Everything has been uh, topsy-turvy. Last time I complained about shakeups and stuff at work, and to be honest it’s only gotten worse. In June last year I was just chilling and moving along, and now I’m jettisoning all over the place and regularly having meetings and sometimes dinner with associate vice presidents of my company and in the past month I’ve now been assigned to help out managing an entire geographical region. On the plus side yeah my career advancement is going very well. It’s uh, a whirl, and my free time has diminished greatly. I am way over my target goal though, since I was trying to push this either by Christmas or in January. Dammit.

I’m actually also posting this about an hour before I have to leave the house to get on a plane, so apologies in advance if this isn’t edited as well as usual but I finally caught enough time to work on it and try to proofread it. If there’s any egregious errors I will try to fix them at the airport or when I’m on my layover or when I’ve touched down.

Either way, THIS CHAPTER. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LATTER HALF OF THIS CHAPTER. I sincerely hope it’s finally worth it.

---

It was quiet.
It was decided that Witting would take on the Light attribute, and an assignment was given for her to get better overall grades than Ojou in the first semester. She must have worked hard to get a higher ranking, even if it was small, as her attribute was not yet determined and it was difficult to get evaluation points through practical skills.
I think it’s really amazing because there was no way Ojou would cut corners. On the bulletin board where the top fifty students were posted, Witting was happy to be with Ojou’s friends.
On the day the results were announced, Ojou and Leo went through the formalities to cancel their engagement. It was a simple matter of signing the documents that were prepared.
The engagement was ended quietly in the student council room, neither secretly nor publicly announced. The reason I was there was to give Ojou an excuse to leave first.
The ex-fiances smile and say goodbye. That’s what I thought as I looked at the two of them.
Although I thought it was cool to see Ojou smiling dignifiedly as she told me to go home, I thought in the back of my mind that there was nothing I could do about it.

---

After the final exams, there was a competition.
We would have sparring matches with the Knight Training School attached to the Magic Academy grounds. It’s like a sports festival for students who are tired from studying to relieve stress.
The guys at the knight training school are excited about this as a good opportunity to show off their abilities, and some of the students at the magic academy are also motivated because they can brag about the strength of their magic. There are women among the knight trainees, like Chairman, but only men can participate in the tournament. Pome taught me it’s easier for girls to do things if their abilities aren’t known.

「Hey, do I really have to participate?」

「It would be outrageous for the Ernst family to run away without a fight.」

「That’s right! If you’re Heinz-san’s disciple, show your mettle and aim for the championship!」

No, I’m certainly a servant of the Ernst family, but I’m just an apprentice gardener.
I feel the pressure placed on by Pochi and Chairman as the lady’s escort is unreasonable. Both of them are switched onto a sports team rooting mode. After all, it seems that most of the knight trainees are athletic.
Heinz-san, the butler, my master who taught me Taijutsu, is one of the all-time champions and there’s even a legend that he won the championship without any injuries. That’s why they already admired my master, and when they found out I was being trained, they became unreasonably jealous.
From Pochi’s point of view, it’s probably a good opportunity to prove that he’s streonger. But from my point of view, I knew from the beginning that Pochi was stronger, so it’s too late now.
If Pochi’s strange rivalry with me goe away after this, then there might be a point in participating.

「Geh.」

I thought I’d try my best to avoid getting injured, but when I saw my opponent in the first match in the tournament style format, I thought it might not be possible.
The stadium was made of mortar and cylinder shaped, and to me, who had memories from my previous life, it looked like an amphitheater from a movie set in the Roman Empire. The reason it doesn’t have a dome-shaped roof may be because it gets in the way depending on the power of magic.
A teacher in charge of refereeing is standing in the center of the circular stadium. The referee announced the start of the first match and called out the names of the opponents. My name is called on one side.
I get up on the match stand and face my opponent. The reason why the students in the spectator seats were cheering was probably due to my opponent in front of me. After all, he is the favorite to win this year.

「I never thought I would be blessed with an opportunity like this.」

His eyes that are the same as a clear blue sky are shining with joyful light. He seems happy.

「I’m rather serious, please take it easy on me.」

「Don’t worry, I’m good at stopping.」

The judge orders us to stand ready, and Remias draws his sword and wraps it in blue flame. Even if it stops, I won’t get burned.
I never thought that I would be facing Remias, who I refused when challenged many years ago. I also never thought the day would come when I would use this, I thought, as I placed the knuckles, which I always keep in my pants pockets, on both hands.
Nico had given it to me, so I kept it as a talisman. Whenever the size no longer fits, he gives them to me as a birthday present, so it still fits perfectly on my fingers. If you used your bare hands, you might hurt your hands when you hit them with your fists, he said, so the knuckles are for protection.
Remias holds his sword with full enthusiasm, while I take a readied stance.
The moment the referee gave the signal, a blue flash appeared where my neck was.

「I guess you would avoid it.」

「No, you, my neck……」

If someone aimed at your neck at the same speed as iaijutsu, anyone would avoid it. Remias laughs with amusement at me being able to dodge, but I don’t find it funny at all.
Even while we were exchanging words, he attacked me with thrusts, blows, and slashes, and I was forced to do my best to dodge and dodge, leaving me unable to speak. What’s with this fighting game attack that flows like a combo? This is what I experienced when it comes to attacks that leave no gaps.
Because Remias’ flame blade is hot, it’s not easier to dodge than a normal sword. The amount of water magic I can use with my magical power gets wiped out by Remias’ blue flame. It’s definitely a disadvantage.
It seems difficult to lose without getting hurt against Remias. For someone like Remias who has a large amount of magical power, even if he is a candidate for knighthood, his seat will mainly be at the Magic Academy. The amount of classes is adjusted so that he has time to train at the knight training school, so the curriculum is similar to a physical education course.
There’s no way a student who just studies can beat someone like that who trains on a regular basis.
Since I’m taller, my attacks are often aimed from above. Taking this to my advantage, I lowered myself the moment Remias made a thrust and aimed a kick from below at his wrist holding the sword. I want him to drop the sword and at least shorten the reach.

「How promising!」

Realizing what I was aiming for, Remias was unable to suddenly change his stance, instead he turned the sword around with just his wrist and counterbalanced the attack by hitting the sole of my shoe with the hilt.
The reaction from that impact caused me to lose my balance, and Remias’ arm lifted up into a position where he could swing the sword down. By swinging my legs back as he was pushed back, I gained momentum and shifted my body position, somehow managing to dodge the sword attack.
Seeing me dodge and immediately distance myself, Remias readjusted his sword and laughed happily.

「It really is a taijutsu focused on escape.」

「That’s what I said.」

Instead of a mocking, condescending tone, the comment had a sound of admiration, to which I replied with a weary voice.
I’ll attack if necessary to create an opening to escape, but that’s my last resort. Fighting Remias, who is very strong and leaves no openings which means I have to attack him, is incredibly tiring.
For Remias, who aims to be a knight, this competition where we’re not actually trying to kill each other is probably like a sport, but for me, it’s just a fight where we both get hurt so it’s not fun.
I agree with exercising and relieving stress after exams, but the content doesn’t suit me. If it were a sports festival with something like cavalry battles like in my previous life, I would have participated more actively. I wonder if baseball or something similar will become popular here? There’s enough space for it.
While regaining my distance, I tried to regulate my ragged breathing as much as possible. Against Remias, even a little fatigue would become an opening and lead to defeat. Considering that Remias has more matches after this, it would be better for my stamina to keep running away and not waste time.
I understand that. I understand, but…

Ojou would be worried.

It’s impossible to lose to Remias without getting hurt. But I kept trying to do just that, which made the fight drag on unnecessarily.
As I was debating whether to attack again to create an opening, Remias’s upward slash from below came at me. I dodged it with just my upper body, but then he tried to sweep my legs from below. Before he could, I lifted my feet, planted my hands on the ground, and used them as a pivot to deliver a sweeping side kick.
However, Remias blocked my leg with the arm that wasn’t holding his sword. Immediately, a merciless sword thrust came at me.
There was no way I could dodge in my current position.

「……I told you to relax, didn’t I?」

「Haaah, you really are good. Stopping just in time.」

In the blink of an eye, the flames that had enveloped the blade disappeared, and the tip of the sword stopped precisely a few centimeters from my throat. A few seconds of silence fell over the arena, and the moment the referee declared the winner, a roar of cheers erupted. It was a whirlwind of praise for Remias.
Remias, the victor, sheathed his sword and offered his hand to me, the loser.

「Sorry for making you go through that. But, it was fun.」

「Yeah, right.」

That was a good match, he said, as I accepted Remias’s outstretched hand and got back on my feet. Remias had noticed I was about to lose, and probably launched those relentless, close-call attacks to push me to my limits, just to get a little more practice in.  I realized he hadn’t given up on winning after all.
But, well, thanks to Remias’s strength, the match ended without either of us getting hurt, which was good. In the end, maybe it was a good thing my opponent was Remias.
The Remias I first met, the one who was simply a sore loser, wouldn’t have tolerated someone fighting like me and wouldn’t have held back or shown any mercy. The way he smiled so refreshingly after that match, saying it was a good fight—just like Connie said, Remias has grown too.
With those thoughts in mind, I left the arena and headed towards the spectator seats. Ojou had reserved a seat for me along with her friends. I had a general idea of ​​the location, so I found it pretty quickly.

「……what is this?」

What I saw when I reached the spectator seats was Ojou standing tall, Pochi holding a pocket watch, and about five knight trainees bowing their heads and prostrating themselves before them. What kind of scene is this?

「Six minutes.」

「Ha?」

Pochi pointed to the position of the minute hand of the pocket watch, indicator the time that had passed as I tried to understand what was going on.

「Couldn’t you last at least ten minutes?」

「No, Remias’ attacks are too powerful. I didn’t have that kind of leeway.」

I was being criticized for losing too quickly, but I was doing my best just to dodge, and from my perspective, I lasted quite a while.

「Um…… the money……」

「I’ll give it to you as your tuition. Learn from your mistakes.」

「「「「「Yes, ma’am!」」」」」

Ojou refused the coins one of the knight trainees hesitantly offered, and so they straightened their posture and replied in unison. Then, they scurried away as if fleeing. Was Ojou extorting money from them? No, it seems like she had given them money instead. Why?
While I was still confused, a soft piece of cloth was placed around my neck.

「Zack was being used as the subject for a bet.」

「A bet?」

Nico, who had lent me the cloth to wipe my sweat, explained.
The towel-like cloth was something that had started to become popular among the nobility a few years ago. Nico, who disliked the heat and wasn’t participating in the competition, had probably prepared it specifically for me. I gratefully borrowed it and wiped my sweat.

「Whether or not he could last five minutes against that blue-haired guy.」

Apparently, the knight trainees had been amusedly betting on how long I, a commoner with a known limited amount of magic power, would last against Remias, the son of the Knight Commander. Since they probably spent their days training, I understood their desire to add some entertainment by betting on something trivial. In my previous life, I also used to bet with my friends for small amounts of money or on things like ice cream and juice.
Unlike me, whose reputation as a “mad dog” was just a rumor, they had all witnessed Remias’s abilities during training, so they all bet that I wouldn’t last five minutes, laughing amongst themselves that it wasn’t even a real bet. They didn’t even know Ojou was sitting behind them.
That’s why Ojou got angry, asked them about the betting limit, and the result was what I had just witnessed.

「What was the limit?」

「Ten thousand.」

「Ten thousand!?」

The knight trainees had apparently been betting the minimum of one thousand, so that’s ten times that amount. Even a thousand is a lot for a commoner like me, but Ojou gave them ten thousand?

「Ojou, I’m sorry. I’ll pay it back.」

「I won, didn’t I? I don’t need it.」

「But……」

「I’m not so poor that I have to extort money from them. Besides, the way Zack fought was worthy of my victory, so you should be proud.」

I laughed because Ojou looked so cool. I lost, but yet I was praised. Ojou is kind, not laughing at me for trying not to get hurt rather than winning. I’m happy yet embarrassed, so my smile might look a little strange.

「So, you aren’t hurt?」

「Yeah. Just a bit hot, but I’m fine.」

「Then, that’s good.」

After confirming, I nodded and Ojou sat back in her seat. I smile, thinking that it wasn’t nice that she’s next to Augusto’s daughter. The other girl she’s close with seems to have a fiance, and Witting is probably with Leo because of their alignment. Ojou probably gets along with the other two, but I feel she’s closest to Augusto’s daughter, perhaps because she was her first friend. They’re probably best friends. [T/N: Honestly this paragraph confused the hell out of me. The last time we had anyone named “Augusto” mentioned was back in Chapter 55. Tried to do what I could.]
Nico sat next to Ojou, leaving one seat free, so naturally I ended up sitting next to her. After making sure I had returned, Pochi left his seat for the first round. With some words of encouragement from Ojou, Pochi was in high spirits, sure to return with a win. He seemed motivated enough to even place high.
Just as I was about to see Pochi off and watch the match, someone called out to me.

「Isaac.」

「Bell, you were participating as well?」

Seeing Bell in the same practical uniform as me, I was a little surprised. The Magic Academy has a separate uniform for magic practice that’s durable and can get dirty. It’s called a tracksuit. Therefore, you can tell whether the Magic Academy students are participating in the tournament by whether they’re wearing that tracksuit or their regular uniform.

「Yes.」

Bell nodded, but he looked nervous. That made me feel uneasy.
I know Bell loves watching and practicing magic so much that it’s not an exaggeration to call him a magic fanatic. So, it’s not so strange that he’d want to participate in a tournament that allows him to do both, even though it includes combat. But if that were the case, Bell’s expression would surely be shining with more interest.

「Oh, so you already lost, and you can’t try out your signature spell?」

「No… I won the first round.」

「Then, what happened?」

Nico questioned him, teasingly. Bell shook his head gently. When I asked why he had called out to me, he hesitated.

「……if I win next time, I’ll have a match with Remias. Isaac, whether I win or lose, would you join me afterwards?」

Bell spoke as if it was only natural that Remias would advance, and I realized he was challenging the match knowing the strength of his opponent, someone he’d known for a long time. With the determination in his eyes and the fact that he was asking me for help, I somehow understood why Bell had participated in the tournament.

「Understood.」

「Then, wait for me at the exit.」

「Yeah.」

With just that promise, Bell turned on his heels. I’m sure he can’t afford any leeway right now. Nico just shrugged his shoulders as Bell left, and Ojou looked worried but didn’t ask anything.
Bell’s second round match was decided within minutes. Immediately after starting, he covered the opponent’s head with a water ball, depriving them of their vision and breathing, and suppressing their chanting. I realized that Bell was seriously trying to fight Remias by conserving his magic power as much as possible and defeating him efficiently.
Remias being Remias, he challenged his opponent with all his might and won in an instant. I was impressed by how calm he was, as he immediately sheathed his sword as soon as his opponent admitted defeat.
Then came the third round. Since it was a competition between those with the most magical power in fire and water, Remias and Bell faced each other, attracting the attention of all the students.
As the students watched with bated breath, the signal to start was given, and in an instant, multiple magic circles appeared all over the match table. Without thinking about it, Remias stepped forward and a column of water spouted out at his feet and in front of him like a geyser. It was a trap-type magic circle that activated in response to the opponent’s movements.
Remias avoided the one at his feet, and the water column in the direction of his movement slashed open his field of vision with a flash of flame blade.
Bell appeared with an ice shield and blocked the sword fight that was approaching even though his momentum was being lost. Although the shield collapsed due to Remias’ blow, it fulfilled its role of defense.
Once there was some distance between them and he readied his sword, Remias’ expression looked like he was having a lot of fun. Until now, I don’t think he has ever seriously competed.
Bell uses magic and ingenuity to compensate for his inability to use physical techniques, and he activates his magic as if he were breathing, but this is due to the high precision of his ice shield, which is a combination of water and wind magic, and is due to his high level of magic skill. There are probably not many people who can deploy multiple complex magic circles that activate automatically at the same time.
Remias, on the other hand, has an amazing amount of magical power and precision in cutting down water magic, which is supposed to be disadvantageous, while keeping the blue flame always wrapped around his sword, and his physical ability to instantly avoid the approaching water column with considerable water pressure is outstanding. I don’t think there would be anyone who would look at this fight and make such an unfavorable assessment of him because he was the son of the knight commander. It was a battle where everyone realized that Remias is strong because he is.
When Bell tries to block his movement with a water ball, Remias evaporates it, and when Remias tries to close the distance with a flash of water, Bell fights back by manipulating an ice spear in the air.
The fight continued for so long that I almost forgot to breathe, and the match table was flooded with water and became slippery. It can be seen from a distance that the footing is getting worse, and the students in the audience begin to worry that Remias might lose.
It was at that moment that Remias smiled fearlessly.

「If your footing is bad, just let it dry!」

The moment the declaration was made, the venue was enveloped in a white mist tinged with hot air. Suddenly, my vision turned completely white, and I heard scream-like voices coming from everywhere.

「Ugh, that’s annoying!」

Nico, who was annoyed by the steam Remias had evaporated, used wind magic to blow it away from the venue. Nico hates humidity so much. Magical intervention by a third party during the match is strictly prohibited, but since no one could understand the situation, it was probably safe. The battle had already arrived.
On the field, with clear visibility, Remias’ sword stood still, just one step away from hitting Bell’s throat.
After a hush of silence, the referee announces the winner and a roar of cheers erupts. The noise was incomparable to previous matches.
Perhaps because he had used up most of his magical power, or because he had run out of energy, Bell sank down on the spot. Remias, who had sheathed his sword, held out his hand to Bell.

「How serious you were, I definitely felt it.」

「……but I lost.」

Bell, who stood up with Remias’ help, muttered in frustration. Although it seemed to be drowned out by the voices around him, Remias declared in a voice that could even penetrate the cheers.

「Your determination is genuine. Therefore, in the name of Jeremias von Staden, I will fulfill my promise!」

As he declared this, his line of sight spotted Connie in the audience seats.
Shortly after, Connie rushed to where the two of them were standing at the exit gate.

「Remias, Bell-kun, are you two hurt? Why did you do that……」

「Bell is unharmed. I only got a scratch, but it’ll heal if I lick it.」

「You can’t lick a scar on your face.」

Connie said in a slightly disappointed voice as she used a handkerchief to cover the faint red lines on Remias’ cheeks. When Connie said that she had to disinfect it afterwards, Remias responded with a childish complaint that she didn’t want it because it would sting.

「So, why did you do something so reckless, Bell?」

Connie asked with suspicion, as this was something Bell wouldn’t normally do.

「I offered Remias a bet.」

Connie tilts her head further as Bell smiles bitterly, saying that he lost. Connie can’t think of a reason for these two to make a bet.

「If I won, he would honestly tell me how he feels about Connie.」

Connie is shocked when she hears the details of the bet. It must have been so unexpected.

「Wh, why would you do that, it was so obvious……」

「Because Connie doesn’t understand.」

Bell smiled weakly and directly denied Connie’s opinion.

「During the fight just now, I could see how serious Bell was, so I decided to accept the condition regardless of whether I won or lost.」

「Eh. Hey, wait a minute……」

Connie, who is unprepared for Remias’ lackadaisical response, gets upset. However, in order to fulfill the man’s promise, Remias mercilessly told Connie.

「I’ve never doubted my future with Connie.」

「………eh?」

Connie froze, as if her thoughts had stopped.

「Did you think I was going to be with Connie just because she was the fiance chosen by my parents?」

「But…」

「I’m not playing with Connie. Besides, Connie will teach me things I don’t understand. Even if Bell abandons me.」

「That’s that.」

「I didn’t say anything because it was natural for me to have Connie by my side, but Bell scolded me for making Connie anxious.」

Remias bent his body at right angles and bowed his head, saying he was sorry, and Connie looked at Bell as if she wanted to ask him a question.

「Bell-kun.」

「I’ve been watching you for a long time, so I understand. Come on, let’s realize this. Connie is the only one who can deal with such an idiot.」

Connie understands what was said, a confused expression, and lowers her eyebrows. It’s like I don’t know how to take it. Connie must have always believed that they were just a formal fiancée, as she had said.

「But…… but, I’m, I’m not a social person, and I’m a fujoshi, and my appearance… I don’t think Remias would think I’m a woman either……」

「If I craved you physically, is it no good?」

Geez, Bell said, and without a moment of hesitation, he put his fist into the side of REmias’ head.

「Choose your words carefully, you idiot!」

Bell lectures Remias about his lack of vocabulary, saying there must have been other things he was conscious of when talking to a girl. Even though we were having a serious conversation, the atmosphere seemed to be broken. From Remias’ point of view, he must be very serious, so it’s unnecessary.

「Why, Connie has had a woman’s body for a long time!」

「Then why can you only express yourself in such an animalistic way!! That’s why you’re such a muscle-head! Even if you’re attracted to Connie, you won’t even know it!」

「Is Connie going to back down with just this much?」

「You, do you realize that self-confidence is unpleasant!?」

「……fufu.」

Connie, who couldn’t help but laugh at the usual exchange, started laughing. The two of them, who were supposed to have been in a serious battle just a while ago, were now in front of Connie with familiar faces, so perhaps they let their guard down.

「Yes, this is very Remias-like.」

She won’t back down, Connie said with a girlish smile.

「Bell. You probably used too much magic, so the doctor asked you to come to the infirmary just to be safe.」

「Oh, I see.」

I was waiting at the corner of the hallway leading to the exit, and after removing the shadowy membrane that was obscuring my presence, I called out to Bell. He nodded and left Remias and Connie.

「Bell-kun, I’m sorry I worried you. Thank you.」

「We’ve been friends for a long time.」

Connie thanked him as he left, and Bell chuckled. It also seemed like she was enduring some pain.
As we turned the corner, Bell stumbled a little, so I grabbed his upper arm to support him.

「The timing, was it fine?」

「Yeah. It was good.」

Bell’s expression turned into a grimace, as if thinking he couldn’t stay there any longer. I’d only said it as an excuse to call out to him, but it seemed serious and his magical energy was draining rapidly, making his steps unsteady. I offered him my shoulder and we started walking, heading to the infirmary as planned.
Tears began to spill from Bell’s eyes as he seemingly lost all willpower. There was no one left who he would be embarrassed to be seen by now.

「…he has good eyesight, so he always finds Connie before me. Always, without fail.」

「Yeah.」

Remias spotted Connie immediately in the large, crowded venue. Even when he’d accompanied Leo as his bodyguard at tea parties and royal birthday parties, he’d always been the first to spot her and only had to confirm her location.’

「He didn’t realize he was looking for Connie first. He’s really stupid.」

「That’s true.」

「Connie’s really indifferent to people she’s not interested in. But somehow she always takes care of Remias. And yet she never even looks at him…」

It was odd that even he had been looking for her, Bell thought, sneering. It was a frustrating sight, though he tried to disguise it as a sneer.

「Remias is an idiot, so I don’t care, but Connie has to be happy. So, this is fine.」

Bell said this was the outcome he wanted and was happy with. I don’t doubt that.

「But…… it hurts. It hurts so much.」

「You loved her, didn’t you?」

「Yeah.」

Nodding, Bell let tears flow again.
I didn’t think it was pathetic that Bell was shedding tears in proportion to the pain in his heart. Bell’s determination to accept that pain and compete was incredible. I respected him for that.
The final match of the tournament, held over several days, was a heated battle between two big names: Wolf, the second prince with a lightning attribute, and Remias, the son of the Knight Commander with a fire attribute. In the end, Remias was crowned the winner that year.
I’ll never forget Bell applauding Remias as he was awarded the prize, his eyes dazzling.

---

On the last day of school, someone called out to me.

「Zack-san.」

「Connie.」

It was Connie who called out to me. She wanted to let me know that Bell was feeling better and to thank me for taking him to the infirmary. After his battle with Remias, Bell fell into a deep sleep in his bed in the infirmary, exhausted from all the magic and crying. The school doctor told me to leave the rest to him, so I dropped him off and didn’t know what happened after that.
It seems Bell slept until noon the next day, but he still had an appetite and came to school today in high spirits. I was glad he wasn’t the type to miss a meal because of a broken heart.

「Thank you for telling me.」

「It’s not a problem.」

Seeing Connie’s soft smile, I widened my eyes a little. Noticing, Connie tilted her head.

「What’s wrong?」

「I told you, your expressions are softer than before.」

I lightly poked her cheek and Connie touched hers with one hand to confirm.

Connie touched her face and thought for a moment, then seemed to realize the reason and laughed in amazement at herself.

「Before…… I’d pretty much given up.」

「On what?」

「On being anything more than a mob character.」

That she was just a mob character in a game, with no more value. She’d assumed, unaware, that Ramius only saw her as someone he could easily break off their engagement with. That’s what Connie said.

「Connie is Connie, after all.」

「yes, I only realized that recently.」

Learning that Remias had always thought of her as Connie, she apparently realized that her knowledge of her past life had kept her trapped in her role as a mob character.

「Come to think of it, Elena was struggling with something similar.」

I remember Elena, feeling helpless despite being a support character, desperately trying to use her memories from her past life. I remember telling her at the time to stop being such an idiotic little sister and start thinking about herself a little.

「You too, Zack.」

「Huh? I’m not even a mob character, you know?」

「That’s it.」

Connie returned to her familiar, flat expression and pointed a finger at me.

「Zack, you tend to underestimate yourself because you’re perceived as an outsider. I know I shouldn’t judge others, but you’re probably overlooking something.」

「Really……?」

「Yes. Take it from me, or so they say.」

She nodded solemnly, and I considered what she’d just said. I’d often thought about it assuming she wasn’t a mob character, so even though I thought it wasn’t relevant, maybe my thoughts had been poisoned by otome games to some extent.

「I’ll think about it for a bit.」

Satisfied with my answer, Connie wished me a good summer vacation and left.
Summer vacation began with these challenges in mind. I returned home and spent my days helping out with the Ernst family’s gardening for the first time in a while.
A letter had already arrived at my house, as if knowing I’d read it when I returned. I replied by asking the priest at Merkel Church to pass on the message.
A few days later, on a day off, I was visiting the Marquis Vito household. The letter was from Daniel, who wanted to have dinner with me before returning home for the off-season. We had met regularly before enrolling, so I let him know the earliest holiday I could so our plans wouldn’t be out of sync.

「It’s been a while, Isaac. You’ve grown so much.」

「It’s been a while. And you’ve said that before, Daniel-sama.」

「I think I did.」

「You did. But you really have grown up to look like your father.」

「It’s a little frustrating that I haven’t outgrown my father.」

「You’ve grown too much.」

Caught up in Annika’s laughter, both Daniel and Annika feel comforted when they see them laughing.
I wonder how many times I’ve had dinner at the Vito family table, wearing the clothes Annika prepared for me. The food they’d buy us on the way back from the orphanage was delicious, but once you get used to it, dining with proper etiquette is also enjoyable. Perhaps it’s because the two of them were laughing more and more with each meal, which made it even more enjoyable.
As tea was being served after the meal, Daniel-sama confided in me.

「We’ve been thinking about the future, too. We’re thinking about handing over the family estate to our younger brother and moving back to our territory.」

Daniel’s younger brother and his wife have a son who could succeed the Vito family. After losing Elias, Daniel and his family chose not to adopt a child, but they knew they would have to make a decision someday.

「I see… it’ll be lonely.」

Moving from the royal capital would mean we’d no longer have these opportunities to see each other. Even if it wasn’t for the time being, I was genuinely sad that we wouldn’t be able to see each other so easily.
Seeing my sadness, Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly.

「So, I wanted to repay my friend for his kindness.」

I tilted my head, not understanding what Daniel meant as he smiled gently.

「Isaac, would you like to be our adopted son?」

「Eh?」

This proposal, unlike anything I’d expected from two people who knew the pain of losing a child, left me speechless. I didn’t understand why they’d said that.

「Of course, Isaac is a dear friend to us. I’m not proposing this with the intention of becoming family.」

「Then why……」

「That way you’ll be on equal footing. I want to give you the right to confess your feelings.」

Annika’s words made me freeze. Then, avoiding my teacup, I placed both arms on the table and buried my face in it, knowing it was bad manners.

「……was it that obvious?」

「Well, yes.」

「You only talk about Lydia-chan.」

Uwah. I’d been found out. How embarrassing.

Annika said it matter-of-factly, amused at Daniel’s kind attempt to avoid the obvious. Perhaps because I’d let my guard down with the two of them, I’d unconsciously talked too much about Ojou. It’s not like I was hiding anything in particular. But, when she told me it was so obvious, it was pretty embarrassing. Was I really that obvious?
I didn’t want them to see my blushing face, but I knew the conversation wouldn’t progress if I kept my face buried, so I held back and looked up.

「I appreciate the sentiment, but you don’t owe me anything in return, and I don’t think becoming a noble is something you can just accept so easily.」

「The days we spent together were truly wonderful to us. Even if you don’t think so, they’re a debt we want to repay.」

「Besides, Isaac, I wouldn’t have proposed adopting a child your age unless you had the appropriate qualifications.」

「Eh, but……」

「Your handwriting is beautiful, and I heard you studied hard and ranked 30th in your grade. The etiquette you learned to dine with us, and the education you received as a servant at the Ernst household… everything you’ve learned will be useful even if you become a noble.」

I never thought that something I learned out of curiosity or on the spur of the moment would have such value. I can’t hide my confusion at the sudden arrival of the qualifications to become a noble.
I’m faced with a new set of options that I’ve never had before, and I’m simply overwhelmed. What should I do? It’s all I can think about, and I can’t organize my thoughts properly.

「I want to be a gardener……」

That’s right. I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a gardener. I want to make Ojou smile in the garden I built. But if Ojou marries someone else, I won’t be able to see that anymore…
The more I think about it, the harder it is to put into words.

「Isaac, your tea is getting cold.」

He reminded me of my tea. Prompted by Daniel, I took a sip and let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps it was because I’d taken a breather, but the nausea that had been building up in my throat had eased considerably.
Right now, I told them the one thing I could say.

「I don’t want to talk advantage of you two.」

「No, you should use us.」

「That’s right. We’re giving you the go-ahead.」

Even with his gentle smile, Daniel understood that he was a nobleman and a marquis. He implied that accepting their proposal would require a certain level of resolve.

「That said, you don’t have to make a decision right away. We can wait until Isaac graduates, so think it through carefully.」

「You need to talk to your parents about it, too. They’re your family, after all.」

「Yes.」

I was told I had just under three years left, and I couldn’t decide whether that was a long or short period. Annika-sama urged me to tell my parents too since it was a matter of the future, and I firmly nodded.
But when I got home, I didn’t know how to tell them, so I ended up not telling them that day.

Two days later, I still hadn’t been able to tell them.
I was idly thinking as I watered the red mountain flowers, which bloom like stardust, and tiny white flowers bloom among brightly colored bracts. The flowers are so vibrant that they seem to sharpen your consciousness and they become even more vibrant when wet. And yet, my thoughts were somehow wandering.
At eighteen, I no longer knew what I wanted to be.
The fact that I couldn’t turn down Daniel and Annika’s proposal right away meant that somewhere deep down I wanted to confess my feelings to Ojou. But it’s also true that I love gardening, and I never doubted that this was the job I would do forever.
I’d put aside the fact that I wasn’t confident I could become a noble, and with Daniel and Annika’s assurances, I’d assume that I could. If I started worrying too much, there’d be no end to it.
What was I like in my previous life, as Taichi? That’s right. I rebelled against my stubborn father, went to university, and tried to get a job at a decent company. Looking back, even working at a tofu shop is a respectable job. All I had in mind was rebelling against my father, and I didn’t have any specific dreams or goals.
I can’t help but smile wryly, thinking about how lucky I was to get a job offer.
Unlike in my previous life, I don’t try to compare whether being a gardener or a noble is more impressive. Both are difficult jobs, and they each come with their own responsibilities.
If I were to choose a career I’d like to pursue, I’d say being a gardener, but will I really not regret it?

I wonder what Ojou will do.

After breaking off her engagement with Leo, people at school sympathize with her, as they’re likely heartbroken. They had a reputation for being very close, so everyone seemed to think Ojou had been heartbroken. However, once that dust settles, I’m sure some guy will start courting her.
It was natural for Ojou to be engaged to Leo, so I can’t really imagine anyone other than Leo being by her side.

But I guess he didn’t really like her romantically.

I’d heard directly from Ojou that Leo wasn’t a romantic interest for her, but that was when we were little, so I didn’t know what it was like when she got older. Once I got older, I realized that, so I was simply too scared to ask. Bringing up a love story I’d never had a part in and hearing it directly from Ojou was too much of a stretch.

But, if she can’t fall for a guy like that, perfect in both face and personality, then what kind of guy is Ojou’s type?

The Duke is dazzlingly handsome, so I thought she’d prefer guys with good looks, but maybe that’s not the case. I don’t really understand Ojou.
We’ve never talked about romantic relationships, so Ojou has always been comfortable smiling around me. If she were to start thinking of us as a man and a woman, I’m sure she’d find out my ulterior motives and run away from me. No, since I realized it, Ojou has only gotten cuter and cuter, and she’s grown in so many ways, which has been tough for me.

「Zack.」

Yes, when she comes wearing a white dress like this, the lines of her shoulders and shins are visible in the summer sun, and it’s really bad for my heart. It’s the same level as when a girl’s summer shirt becomes see-through and you get a shock. You can’t see everything, and even if it’s just a little bit, like her shoulders, you can see parts of her that you can’t see in regular clothes, and that’s really bad for a boy of that age.

「Ojou……」

I wanted to think it was a summer mirage, but now that I realized it was the real Ojou, my heart was already a little tired. It even showed in my voice. Why would she choose a dress like that? It’s because it’s hot, I know this.

「What’s wrong?」

I let out a tired voice, and Ojou tilted the parasol she had been holding up in concern, peering into my face.

「I just disliked the summer sun a little.」

「Was it hard to pull out weeds?」

「That’s it.」

I was scared of Ojou’s innocence, as she was satisfied with my casual answer. I couldn’t help but feel guilty about having an ulterior motive.
She invited me to go to the study garden as soon as I finished watering the plants, and I nodded. We were almost done, and had originally planned to take a break. Dad was working on the topiary at the front, and Yan was probably watering the stone paving leading to the front entrance. I’m sure they’ll take a break at their own convenience. Since I’ve been given more tasks to do alone, we’ve been dividing up the gardening work like this lately.
We walked together among the familiar trees. I hummed a little ahead, and Ojou following behind me occasionally hummed along, drawn in by my tunes. In the thick shade of the trees, the sunlight filtering through the trees was dazzling. The occasional breeze, accompanied by the sound of leaves rustling, provided a brief moment of coolness.
When we went under the hedge, a familiar, yet slightly nostalgic, scene unfolded before us.
It’s a small square with only a patch of grass and a small fountain with a stone owl statue sitting on it. After I enrolled, I allowed Yan to use it for self-study, regardless of the season. So I never imagined it would end up like this.

「It’s so small, this place.」

「We’ve grown up.」

I muttered with deep emotion, and Ojou gave a small laugh.

After a few steps, I realized the fountain was still small. It felt much larger when my father gave this place to me.

「But I find the fountain adorable, too.」

Now I can gaze into the stone statue’s eyes, which is just a little below Ojou’s line of sight. Back in the day, Ojou and I would look up at this owl.
At first, it was just Ojou and I’s secret garden, but before I knew it, I’d come here with all sorts of people. Ojou’s sister, Flora, often played here, and I even had fights with Nico. I showed the garden I’d built to Ojou’s guards. Eventually, it wasn’t just me; Yan started gardening here too.
A lot had happened here, and I realized how much had changed.

「It hasn’t changed, but it also has.」

「That’s true.」

It was somehow strange, and a little funny. A smile crossed my face.
A strong wind suddenly blew, blowing into the parasol Ojou was holding. The parasol was about to be blown away, and Ojou’s hand, holding the handle, was pulled, causing her to lose her balance. To stop her from falling over, I quickly grabbed the parasol handle along with her hand, supporting her torso with the other.

「There you are.」

「That surprised me a little. Thank you, Zack.」

Perhaps because she was embarrassed about almost falling, or because of the heat, Ojou blushed a little, and she blushed.
Because I was supporting her, I saw her from so close, and it felt like my heart was being grabbed. Still shaken, I carefully tried not to tense my arms and helped Ojou onto to her feet, and I was relieved to see that she was now a step away from me.

「……it’s going to be tough for the guy who will become Ojou’s husband.」

I wonder how he’ll cope with having such a cute Ojou by his side all the time.

「Eh……?」

「Ah.」

I realized from Ojou’s reaction that I’d blurted it out, and I panicked. The way I said it now sounded like I’d spoken ill of Ojou.

「Well, um, since Ojou is popular, I thought there would be some guys proposing marriage soon…… and to become her husband in that situation would be…..」

Captivated by the trickling drops of water, I couldn’t continue.
Realizing that Ojou was crying, my thoughts stopped.

「……like that.」

Ojou, quietly shedding tears, muttered to herself.

「Why is Zack like that!?」

「Huh?」

My eyes widen as she finally spits out a scolding.
Ojou raises her eyes and glares at me. Then, in a voice deeper with anger, she asks.

「Zack…… you said you’d hit anyone who made me cry, right?」

「Ah, yeah.」

Confirming a promise we made ages ago, but one I’ll never forget, I nod obediently.
Ojou lifts her hand that wasn’t holding her parasol, and the next moment, a light, crisp smack fills the small, sunny garden. A sharp pain stings my cheek.

「That’s fine! I’ll hit you myself!」

Leaving aside the fact that it was more of a slap than a punch, I’m shocked to be confronted with the fact that I’d made Ojou cry. Why is Ojou crying and angry now?

「I hate how Zack always prioritizes me and ignores me……!」

This might be the first time she’s ever said she hates me. Has Ojou finally come to dislike me?

「Why are you talking about someone right in front of me as if he doesn’t exist!?」

Ojou’s pale blue eyes reflect a man with brown hair and eyes and a goofy expression.

「Even if you are Zack, I won’t allow you to belittle the person I love!」 [T/N: FINALLY.]

I am what Ojou sees in her eyes.
Ojou tells me not to leave me out of the conversation. But I’m just a commoner with little magical power and no good looks, so there’s no way I could ever be in her eyes.
I take another look at the man reflected in her pale blue eyes.

But, after all, he’s not even a mob character in an otome game… ah.

I finally realize the oversight Connie pointed out to me. I’d been making the same mistake as Connie. No matter how much I loved Ojou, I thought I wasn’t in her world.
I’d always been in Ojou’s world.
Finally realizing how stupid I’d been, I instinctively crouched down. I clasped my hands together and pressed the base of my thumbs to my forehead, holding back my head from hanging down.
But, Ojou, didn’t you just say you liked me?

「……really?」

「I’m serious.」

Seriously? Even after I confirm it, I was shocked.

「Ojou, you were so defenseless. My heart’s still hurting right now.」

「That is what I should have been saying! It’s Zack who has been giving me a hard time, every time!」

When I finally complained, I got even more criticism. No, I was only saying normal things. It’s normal for Ojou to be cute, and everyone calls her a duke. What on earth was there that made her notice me?
It’s a mystery, but if Ojou says it, it must be true. Ojou wouldn’t tell a lie like that, even as a joke.

「Um…… I know there are a lot of things I need to think about, but right now, there’s just one thing.」

I looked up and there was a girl.
The most beautiful girl in my world.

「I love you too, Ojou. I’m so happy.」 [T/N: LET’S GO.]

My smile probably looked sloppy. I knew it, but I couldn’t help but smile.
Ojou’s face was bright red. Knowing the reason made her even cuter.

---

That evening, when I got home, dinner was my favorite stew.
When something good happens, dinner usually becomes my favorite dish. I think Dad is probably the same, and is surprised when his favorite dish is brought out even though he didn’t ask. Mom is pretty amazing.
Right after dinner ended, I started to talk.

「I have something to tell you two.」

「What is it?」

Dad was about to stand up, but instead silently sat back down. Mom simply dipped her dishes in water and returned to her seat.
As they waited for me to start talking, I wondered where to start. After talking it over with Ojou, we decided that I really needed to tell Dad and the others. I promised Ojou that I would tell her the outcome after we’d discussed it and returned after the off-season.

「Um…… you might already know this, but I like Ojou. And she said she likes me, too.」

「Really? That’s great.」

Mom looked so happy, I was about to just say thank you and leave it at that, but then I remembered the main point and held back.

「That’s true, but…… I happened to know someone from Marquis Vito’s family, and we became close. They asked me if I’d like to be adopted, and…… I’m worried.」

I’m not good at explaining things. I didn’t know how much to say about how I met Daniel and the others, so I ended up skipping parts, which ended up skipping a lot of the plot. It’s probably better than explaining too much and making things complicated.

「Are the Vito family nice people?」

「Oh, yes. They’re very nice.」

「Then it’s up to Zack.」

My explanation seemed to get through to Mom, because she said that with full understanding. I think she should be more surprised, but sometimes she’s too generous.

「……what are you worried about?」

My shoulders jumped when my dad asked me. I was afraid to tell him. I couldn’t help but worry that he’d expel me, saying that I was unfit to be a gardener just for being worried.
My throat went dry with nervousness.

「Because I want to be a gardener……」

My heart pounded uncomfortably, anticipating the next word of rejection. To me, aspiring to become a gardener, my dad was both a goal and a wall. Right now, if that wall were to collapse, I could easily be crushed.

「Why do you want to be a gardener?」

My dad didn’t dismiss my request, but instead asked another question. I answered, my eyes widening.

「Because I love gardening.」

Hearing my answer, my dad closed his eyelids for a moment. Then, slowly, he opened them.

「A gardener normally creates gardens according to the wishes of his employer. It’s rare for us to be able to do as we please like the Ernst family.」

I understood that, so I nodded.

「You don’t have to be a gardener to create a garden.」

I wonder why. I’m not happy when my father tells me I can continue gardening even after becoming a noble. Even though he’s permitting me. He’s supporting me, telling me that even if I do something that would mean cutting ties with the family, even if it’s just for show, so I can be with the girl I love.
His words of affirmation are much more painful than his denial.
I felt so bitter, tears began to flow.

「I, I wanted to follow in dad’s footsteps……!」

Unlike in my previous life, I can honestly say that I aspire to my father’s job, and I could even take over, so why can’t I choose to do so?

「But I love Ojou…… I don’t just want to build a garden, I want to make her smile……」

I know that this is a selfish and greedy wish. I’m a bad person, not willing to give up either one or the other.

「Zack.」

I’d been looking down, caught up by the tears streaming down my face, but when I heard my name being called, I lifted my head.

「What do you want to do?」

My father asked without any accusation. He simply told me to give a simple answer.
Why am I so obsessed with following in my father’s footsteps? Is it because I couldn’t do it in my past life? Is it because I’m still attached to Taichi? It was Taichi who wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.
But for me, as Isaac, what I want to do is……

「I want her to smile in the garden I build.」

「How can you achieve that?」

「By becoming Daniel-sama’s adopted son.」

My tears had subsided. After making sure I’d answered, my dad roughly patted my head. It’d been a long time since I’d gotten a head pat since I’d grown up.

「You’re my son, a gardener.」

It was probably the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. My dad acknowledge me. I was so happy I couldn’t contain my blush.

「I’m glad to be your son.」

No matter where I go, I’ll always be Isaac, Dennis Baumgartner’s son.

---

FI. NA. LY. Both in that I got this out and that we made it to the confession. My goodness, it certainly took them a while, haha, but I like how things played out and how everything ended up coming together for their confession.

Fingers crossed next chapter doesn’t take as long for me to push out but who knows what my next job role is gonna be, geh.