Chapter 69
This Wasn’t the Plan
The incident happened about ten minutes ago.
Morgan Dayal, who came to check the preliminary assignment, sparked the situation by bringing a squirrel he had found in front of the training building.
The squirrel, covered in what looked like powder or dust.
“I think I saw it with Riche before. I thought the instructor might know, so I brought it along.”
A pitiful squeak was heard.
Deon examined the squirrel struggling on Morgan’s palms.
The squirrel, looking somewhat deficient, was indeed Riche’s.
“Where did you find it?”
“Outside the building.”
After hearing Morgan’s words, Deon followed him outside.
At the location where the pecan had fallen, a line of powder similar to what was on the squirrel’s body was spread out.
One might think that the powder created a path as it fell along the pecan’s movement.
‘That fool, he spread too much.’
For such a small body as that peanut-sized squirrel to be covered in powder like this—it was a level of mess that even a wolf-man like Zickbert should have walked through.
And the powder spread in a neat line.
It was a method that only a simple-minded younger sibling would think of.
‘Even helping with such an obvious trick, he says he’s not dating Riche.’
Deon’s red eyes glared at Morgan. Morgan flinched and gave an awkward smile in response to the gaze. It seemed Deon had caught him.
Still, seemingly willing to be deceived, Deon followed the breadcrumb trail without protest.
The place they reached shortly was an old, empty building.
Naturally, Riche was there. Riche, holding the remaining breadcrumb bag in her arms, spoke to Deon.
“Brother! This time, talk to me!”
Since Morgan was the only one watching, Riche tried to convince Deon that this was a chance to talk.
Deon scanned Riche and, after confirming she was fine, turned away.
“Let’s go, Morgan Dayal.”
“But, Instructor. Riche is…….”
“Are you not going to do the assignment?”
“Brother!”
Morgan hesitated next to Deon, and Riche ran over and grabbed Deon’s arm.
And of course. Death followed Morgan.
A broken ceiling tile fell towards Morgan’s head, and just as Morgan and Deon struck the tile away with their swords.
“Ah……!”
The floor Riche was standing on gave way, causing her to fall on her bottom. The bag of breadcrumbs thrown into the air scattered and fell, and Riche ended up covered in powder from head to toe.
“…….”
Riche sat on the floor in a wretched state, speechless.
Deon and Morgan, frozen with outstretched arms towards Riche.
A terrible silence enveloped the three of them.
“Young Master, you’re here—. Ah, Miss?!”
The silence was broken by Philip.
Having gone out to buy breakfast and finding the young master missing from the training ground, he came to this nearby building.
But.
“Miss Riche!”
What is happening to our Miss Riche?
Philip forgot about Deon’s gaze and rushed towards Riche.
“Miss! Are you okay?”
Riche felt even more sorrowful at Philip’s voice.
Even Philip, who never spoke to her before, was talking to her in this situation.
Deon still said nothing. He didn’t explain why he was avoiding her, just ignoring her.
“……Brother.”
Riche lifted her head. The tears welling up in her silver eyes made Deon, Morgan, Philip, and even Pythons feel flustered.
Everyone there, experienced in battle, could read the altered flow of the opponent’s air.
So everyone present felt it.
Riche, Miss Riche, and the Contractor is Furious—Very Much So.
“Riche.”
“Don’t touch me.”
Deon approached Riche belatedly, but she avoided his hand.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“…….”
Thud.
Deon, shocked, froze in place. Meanwhile, Riche got up and left the building with Pythons, but no one could stop the angry Riche.
A few dozen minutes later.
Inside the still old building.
‘I knew this would happen.’
Philip looked at his young master, who was staring blankly in the corner. Though it was the first time he had seen his young master like this, he had always known this day might come.
Deon’s overprotectiveness was the problem. Now that Miss Riche was 16, she was no longer a little sister who needed constant care.
‘It would have been better if the young master had spoken up first. Keeping everything a secret from Miss Riche, from one thing to another.’
At the very least, he could have mentioned that he was going to be a test instructor before coming to Kselfon.
The reason for not doing so was somewhat anticipated. First, that Miss Riche might try to stop him. Second, that Miss Riche might scold him.
‘Even our most outstanding young master tends to twist things when it comes to Miss Riche.’
The fearsome Derkedyion Rodwick’s greatest fear is his younger sister.
If it were Zed, he would have teased Deon for being a fool for his sister by now.
One’s only life is precious. Philip decided to keep quiet.
“…….”
Morgan was also watching Deon’s demeanor.
After Riche left, he stayed in the same space as Deon, unable to bring himself to leave. Though he thought it might be better to leave at this point, he also thought,
‘Since I’m responsible for Miss Riche being angry because I couldn’t refuse her request.’
So he decided to stay a little longer.
“Morgan Dayal.”
“Yes.”
“……Are you close to my sister?”
“Not very close.”
Not very close.
Deon’s eyes twitched, but he didn’t make any further complaints. Then, after brushing his black hair with his hand, he asked Morgan.
“Then, can you relay a message to my sister?”
“Huh? Young Master? I’m not sure if I should—”
Seeing Deon’s stern gaze, Philip backed away, scared.
The bloodshot red eyes were intimidating.
“To Riche?”
Morgan scratched his cheek. While there was nothing he couldn’t do, getting involved with Riche repeatedly was troublesome.
The relationship between the Rodwick siblings was less important than escaping death to twist fate.
‘It feels like death finds me faster when I’m with Riche because of the twisted fate with her. If this continues, Riche might get caught up in it too.’
It was fortunate that the dangers were minor. Yet, he had already been in life-threatening situations several times while with Riche.
Considering that, he was reluctant to keep running into Riche.
I Can’t Refuse Riche’s Request, But Surely I Can Refuse Derkedyion’s Request.
“Well, you see, there are eyes on us from the academy. It’s a bit awkward to say this, but our academy is in competition with the Rocksha Empire’s Imperial Academy. It would be best to avoid meeting Riche as much as possible. Perhaps it would be better if Deputy Instructor Philip delivered the message?”
“No.”
However, Morgan’s refusal, mixed with excuses and persuasion, dispersed into thin air with just one word from Deon.
“I want you to do it, Morgan Dayal.”
Deon stared at Morgan with burning eyes, emphasizing his name.
‘Iandwean Gerwer.’
He didn’t care about the reason for changing the name. But that attitude, which seemed to draw a line with Riche, was unforgivable.
If that were the case, he shouldn’t have approached Riche at all.
“Brother, Iand is missing……”
After making my sister cry for years.
Just when I thought she was finally starting to forget and brighten up.
Seeing Deon, Philip shook his head inwardly.
“It would be faster if you just apologized to Miss Riche yourself……”
“What should I say to Riche?”
“…….”
“Instructor?”
“Say you’re sorry.”
“Apologies should be given personally—”
“This situation is partly your responsibility too.”
“Understood.”
In the end, Morgan couldn’t resist Deon’s pressure and set out to find Riche.
“Riche? I haven’t seen her.”
……
“Morgan Dayal, wouldn’t coming to another academy’s dormitory make the professors worried?”
……
“Oh, that pretty lady! She didn’t come today.”
However, finding the missing Riche wasn’t easy. No one seemed to know her whereabouts. Although Kselfon wasn’t a small city, Riche was noticeable, so he thought there would be witnesses.
“Meow.”
A cat appeared in front of Morgan, meowing.
Since he had seen it just yesterday, he couldn’t mistake it. The familiar gray fur and the collar with a charm.
“Instructor Kaesley?”
“Looking for Riche?”
The cat, Kaesley in disguise, spoke with a human voice.
It wasn’t something you’d get used to after just one sighting. Kaesley had expected Morgan to be surprised, but
‘He’s not surprised? How boring.’
The gleaming blonde man remained calm.
For Morgan, who knew Zickbert and Pythons, speaking animals were nothing unusual.
Morgan asked Kaesley.
“Have you seen Riche?”
“Yes.”
Kaesley flicked its tail. Normally, Kaesley wouldn’t have shared such information, but since it seemed like solving this issue would allow Riche to focus on her preliminary assignment again,
Kaesley obediently pointed out the direction Riche had gone.
“That way.”
Morgan walked in the direction Kaesley had indicated.
It was a road far from the bustling downtown or residential areas.
‘Was there such a place in Kselfon?’
After walking for a while, Morgan came upon a large park. The walking path was flanked by tall, dense trees, with no people in sight.
Morgan walked along the path. If Riche had walked in this direction, this was probably the only place she would have gone.
And then Morgan spotted Riche.
“……”
“Oh, just leave Rodwick behind!”
The scene visible through the trees.
Riche was sitting by the large lake in the park.
Next to her, Pythons was hissing angrily. The voice was loud enough that Morgan instinctively looked around.
There still seemed to be no sign of anyone. Fortunately, it appeared to be a place where no one came. After all, he hadn’t even known this park existed.
“Go to another noble family! Hibetsuman or Serdiya, they’d both welcome you with open arms if it were you!”
Morgan smiled wryly at Pythons’ words. The passage of six years was palpable.
Gerwer was now completely gone.
In Riche’s memory, Iandwean might have been just a friend from childhood.
One whose face she might not even remember now.
“……”
Riche, without responding to Pythons’ words, seemed to be holding back tears, occasionally throwing stones into the lake.
‘Looks like she’s still not calmed down.’
Morgan leaned against a hidden tree, waiting for Riche’s mood to improve before showing himself.
Maybe she’d be more inclined to accept Deon’s apology if she was in a better mood. If she didn’t accept it, that would be her choice, and he wouldn’t try to persuade her.
‘Three years……’
Morgan recalled the remaining time with Riche.
After that time, would we survive safely? Could I confess my identity to you? And would you welcome me warmly?
‘Perhaps Riche might feel awkward.’
She might act as if she’s seeing a stranger.
But that would be fine. Because I’ll be in front of Riche as Iandwean, not Morgan.
Morgan rested his head against the tree and closed his eyes briefly.
Just being in the same space as Riche changed the atmosphere around him. It felt like a breath of fresh air in a life that had always felt chased.
Splash.
“Gah!”
Then, the splash of water was followed by Pythons’ scream.
Morgan’s eyes flew open.
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