Chapter 70:
The Apple is Too Sweet
Bon Python shouted towards the rippling water.
“Why are you going in there?!”
Python was baffled. The contractor who had said they were just going to cool off suddenly entered the lake.
Did that cute contractor know how to swim? Should I transform into something bigger than a squirrel to pull them out? Goodbye, my healthy 5 months and 2 weeks…
Just as Python was about to resign themselves to spending the rest of the competition like a soaked sponge and use their powers, it happened.
“Riche!”
Someone suddenly appeared, shouting in desperation, and immediately dove into the lake.
Blond hair, and a momentary glow on the face—it seemed to be Morgan Dayal.
‘Did he hear me?’
…No way, that can’t be.
If he had heard, he would have appeared with the contractor right away. Talking squirrels aren’t exactly common.
If he did hear, let’s just say the contractor was practicing voice modulation.
‘That’s a problem for later.’
The important thing now was here. Python gazed at the lake where the two had entered.
Meanwhile, Riche, who had entered the lake to cool their complex thoughts, stared in surprise as Morgan swam toward them.
‘Morgan Dayal?’
The shimmering sunlight seen from underwater. Morgan Dayal shining even brighter than that sunlight.
Riche couldn’t take their eyes off that sight.
It was strange. Morgan looked more radiant and beautiful than any great star. It felt like not just their gaze, but everything about them was bound to the sight of Morgan coming toward them.
An indescribable emotion surged in Riche’s chest.
‘Who are you?’
Riche wanted to ask. Morgan Dayal, who are you that I’m feeling these emotions and want to cry?
Morgan’s hand grabbed Riche’s. His strong hand pulled Riche closer.
‘Let’s get out.’
Morgan pointed upwards and spoke to Riche.
Riche nodded and followed Morgan as they swam towards the surface.
‘Ugh!’
Suddenly, Morgan, who had been swimming, stopped, bending forward in pain.
‘Morgan?’
Startled by the sight, Riche quickly chanted a short spell, and a column of water shot up from below, carrying them both to the shore.
[Contractor!]
“Morgan!”
Morgan collapsed to the ground, and Riche urgently called out to him. Python scampered over to Riche’s side.
[What’s wrong with him?]
“What happened? Are you okay?!”
Was he seriously injured somewhere? Riche, gripping a white star fragment, asked anxiously.
But Morgan’s next words made Riche go limp and sit down on the ground.
“No, I just got a cramp in my leg…”
So, it wasn’t a serious injury. But thinking back, it had been a terrifying moment. Getting a cramp while swimming.
If Morgan had been alone in the water, it could have been dangerous.
“Morgan, you…”
Meanwhile, Morgan sat up. Riche, who had been staring at him, hesitated to speak.
She couldn’t easily say, “I’m glad.” After all, she had witnessed Morgan Dayal go through countless similar incidents in just the four days she had known him.
“You really have the worst luck.”
Riche’s voice was full of genuine sympathy. Python nodded in agreement.
Morgan, surprised to hear such words from Riche, widened his eyes before bursting into laughter.
It wasn’t a compliment. Morgan Dayal, laughing heartily at being told he had bad luck.
**Riche and Python stared at Morgan in bewilderment.**
[Is he really okay?]
‘I’m not sure…’
Seeing him like that, drenched, made Riche feel even more sorry for him. Riche used magic to dry both Morgan and herself.
“Thank you, Traiche,” Morgan said, still unable to stop laughing, and even tears began to well up in his eyes.
“…I think you have a strange sense of humor, Morgan.”
“Do I?” Morgan’s golden eyes fixed on Riche.
Under the bright sky, a silver moon.
‘Riche, you are my life.’
Even if he wasn’t that to Riche.
To him, Riche would be. From now on, forever.
“Riche,” Morgan said with a smile, calling her by a nickname.
Python squeaked, asking why he was acting so familiar with his contractor, but Riche just looked at Morgan, letting it slide.
‘Morgan is quite shameless.’
Riche thought that the golden eyes looking at her seemed kind for some reason. She felt that, even on the day she first met Morgan, his eyes had briefly held that same light.
Morgan, do you know me?
Riche swallowed the words that rose to her throat. It was a question without basis. Even she didn’t know what it meant.
“Can you tell me that I’ll survive?” Morgan spoke again.
Survive? Was he talking about the competition?
He was a competitor, a strong candidate for the academy’s victory.
‘And it’s not like he’s asking if he’ll win.’
It wasn’t something she couldn’t say. No, considering Morgan’s unlucky streak, it was something she definitely wanted to say. Riche nodded.
“You’ll survive.”
Morgan smiled more brightly than anyone at those words.
* * *
After parting with Morgan, Riche returned to the dormitory building.
As she was about to climb the stairs, Jackson spoke to her.
“Traiche, you’ve got mail.”
“For me?”
Was it from her father?
She had just replied to his last letter yesterday, so it was too soon for Blake to have sent another.
“Yeah. It should be in front of your room. The delivery person had quite splendid green hair.”
“Who could it be from? Thanks for letting me know, Jackson.”
“No problem.”
As Riche climbed the stairs, she thought of the people she had exchanged letters with recently.
‘Lily, Lotus, Siegfried and Lowenhaupt… Duke Serdia… Then Anna, Philip, and Yan…’
As she walked, she noticed a box placed in front of her door.
Riche picked up the box and brought it into her room.
[Why is the packaging so fancy?]
“Indeed.”
The velvet-wrapped box was decorated with a silver ribbon and flowers that resembled Riche’s hair.
“Who sent this?”
There was no sender listed, but there was no need.
As she untied the ribbon and opened the box, what caught Riche’s eye was…
“…”
A stuffed dog with a cute face and soft fur, holding a shiny apple.
The doll had a strong presence. There was no need to guess who had sent it.
“Hey, puppy.”
There was only one person who would associate Riche with a dog.
[It’s from Derkedeon. What’s with the apple?]
Python nudged the apple. Riche picked it up as it fell from the dog’s embrace.
Then, she noticed the words engraved on the back.
Sorry.
I was wrong.
The letters were small, but the engraving was precise, with no mistakes.
If he was going to do this, why did he ignore her earlier?
After falling into the lake, Riche’s mind had cleared up somewhat.
Riche’s feelings weren’t completely resolved, but…
“……”
She took a bite of the apple. The crisp texture was accompanied by a sweetness as rich as honey.
It was just like Deon—unable to be anything but excessively sweet.
“Idiot. Deon is such an idiot.”
He always claimed his actions weren’t for her, but in the end, they always were. Even if it meant doing things he disliked.
Like last year’s student council work. This situation was probably similar.
“If you don’t tell anyone, how would they know?”
It’s easy to be misunderstood like this.
Riche lightly tapped the forehead of the stuffed dog with her index finger, just as Deon would do to her. Then, she sat at her desk, took out paper and a pen, and began to write.
* * *
That evening.
“……”
Deon returned to the instructor’s quarters within the tournament grounds, his steps heavy with exhaustion.
After sending a gift to Riche through Philip, he had spent the entire day swinging his sword in an attempt to shake off his anxiety.
“Young master, are you planning to have dinner?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Philip, who was using the adjacent quarters, stepped out when he saw Deon returning and asked.
“Should I bring you something to snack on at least?”
“No need.”
“Meow.”
At that moment, a gray cat slipped between them.
The cat was a frequent sight around the tournament grounds, so it was easy to recognize who it was.
Kaisley. He was Riche’s test instructor.
‘Was the preliminary task hide-and-seek?’
Deon considered that it might be better to capture Kaisley and send him off in a box.
Kaisley, looking at Deon with gleaming red eyes, jumped onto the windowsill and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing.”
“By the way, Rodwick, can you tell me what Traiche likes?”
“……Why do you want to know?”
“Because I want to get closer to her.”
Kaisley flicked his tail.
He was thinking of finding out what Traiche liked so he could win her over.
‘If I want to take Traiche on as my disciple, I need to earn her favor first.’
He would start by appealing to her preferences.
Kaisley looked at Deon, who was still silent, and asked again,
“You’re her brother, so you must know, right? And you two get along well.”
Deon’s face darkened immediately.
Beside him, Philip quickly shook his head at Kaisley, trying to signal him to stop.
“If you get along well, you must talk a lot. So, you should know what she likes-“
“Haha, Instructor Kaisley, our Instructor Deon here didn’t take up his position lightly, you know. During the tournament, he won’t engage in such personal conversations.”
Philip cut off Kaisley’s words and interjected.
Considering the sensitive topic from that disastrous morning, this was dangerous ground for Kaisley. Despite being the second-in-command of the Mage Tower, he wasn’t a match for Deon, who could end his life with a single breath.
“Ask Riche yourself.”
“Right, it’s best if you ask the young lady directly, Instructor…” Philip trailed off in surprise.
But contrary to Philip’s worries, Deon didn’t get angry. He simply answered Kaisley calmly.
Philip, who had been nodding along reflexively, turned around to look at Deon, puzzled, but Deon had already entered his quarters.
“I’m not talking to you anymore, brother.”
Click.
Deon closed the door and lowered his head. Riche was truly angry. This was the second time it had happened.
“Don’t do anything.”
It reminded him of when, at twelve years old, he had stupidly pushed Riche’s hand away. Back then, Riche had avoided even touching him for about a week.
This time, she seemed even more upset.
‘It’ll probably take longer than a week for her to calm down.’
Maybe the entire tournament, maybe even after it ended, maybe forever…
“……”
“Riche, I have a wish.”
“……”
“Before I die, could I have a conversation with you? I’m really hurting right now.”
“……Brother.”
Maybe, in his final moments, Riche would speak to him again.
His sister was too kind-hearted. If he looked pitiful enough, she might speak to him before he died.
Dragging his heavy steps, Deon sat down in a chair.
“……?”
Then he noticed a piece of paper on his desk, which had been empty that morning.
Normally, he would have been suspicious of an intruder and inspected his surroundings, but this time, he just tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
After a long hesitation, Deon finally picked up the paper.
As he turned it over, his nose tingled.
“I’ll forgive you.
And the apple was too sweet.”
