Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

18 – Awkwardness

Cold moonlight brushed across his eyes.

Deep, dark circles that would make anyone perceive him as weary.

Yet, his appearance made him look more ravaged than sinister.

Truthfully, Jenison wasn’t someone who would be judged as ugly anywhere.

‘If he just stayed still, he’d be quite passable, so why does he have to act like that?’

Looking at him, already asleep, Hildegard silently pondered.

Seeing the tragically scorched marks left on his shoulder,

She harbored an inquiry.

If his shoulder was burned like that, how is his arm unscathed?

That curiosity was fleeting.

Believing it wasn’t something she needed to concern herself with, the Saintess quietly began organizing the list of students who had visited the infirmary today.

In truth, most were students feigning illness, hoping to catch even a single glimpse of the Saintess, famed for her beauty even within the Academy.

Of course, there was no way the Saintess wouldn’t know that.

But still, she *is* the Saintess.

Her image is no different than the Church’s.

A person who has never properly expressed her emotions,

Living by confining herself.

And yet, so fragile that she cannot refuse relationships

with others.

That was the back of the Empire’s Saintess, a figure revered by all.

‘But why do I even feel sympathy for this man…?’

The reason she told Jenison he was out of his mind.

The reason she dragged him, disturbing his rest.

The reason she, who usually stood by, insisted on unconditional healing.

These were actions she would never have taken in her original state.

But in truth, it was unavoidable.

The Saintess was, after all, a representative of the Creator God.

An agent of the divine who inherited the very love for humankind,

their own creation.

The Saintess was someone who, to those seeking salvation,

wished to deliver their lives, just as they desired.

To Jenison, who secretly yearned for his life to improve more than anyone,

the Saintess, even driven by instinct, could not bring herself to treat him badly.

With a sigh at her own inexplicable heart,

she resumed organizing the lists.

*

‘Tired…’

I ended up sleeping soundly in the infirmary until evening,

awakened only by Ella, who had been waiting for me in the dormitory.

“Master… Are you really alright…?”

“I’m fine. It wasn’t a serious injury.”

“But your shoulder was scorched…?”

She muttered softly, so I couldn’t quite hear what she said,

but I could sense her worry for me.

“By the way, Ella. How did you know I was in the infirmary?”

“Ah, the professor told me. His name was… uh…”

“Never mind. I think I know who you mean.”

He probably heard that Ella was in my dormitory after the sparring match

and came to deliver the message.

‘That professor… He might look intimidating, but he’s a kind soul…’

Just as I was thinking that, I felt Ella fiddling with my left arm,

and I turned to look at her.

“Master, your left arm is truly alright, isn’t it?”

“…I said I’m fine. Aren’t you hungry?”

“I haven’t eaten, waiting for you, Master.”

“…Let’s go eat together then.”

“Hehe, okay!”

Seeing Ella smiling so brightly, as if eating was the greatest joy,

I felt the corners of my own lips lift involuntarily.

Though, there was a slight snag.

As soon as I arrived at the dormitory, I intended to eat, just as I’d said, but…

After fifty days spent solely on research with only the bare minimum to eat,

there simply weren’t any proper ingredients to be found.

Left with no choice, I decided to go out and buy some, but…

“Absolutely not. Master, you’re a patient right now!”

She declared she would do the shopping alone, using my being a patient as her reason,

and told me to rest here. I couldn’t dissuade her.

No matter how much I spoke, she wouldn’t listen, it seemed,

and her concern for me felt quite endearing.

Is this what it’s like when a daughter, younger than I, wants to take care of her father,

running little errands for him?

I’d never had a daughter, not once,

but seeing her made it impossible to shake the feeling that she was like one.

I pressed all my remaining savings into her hands, telling her to buy whatever she wanted,

but she seemed less than thrilled.

“This is all of Master’s fortune, isn’t it?! How could I possibly spend this?”

“I’ve made arrangements to get more money, so it’s alright.”

“R…Really?”

“Yes. It’s not a lie, so feel free to use it as you wish.”

“Ugh… I’ll make you a delicious meal!!”

“…Yes, yes.”

Smiling, I watched her leave, and decided to develop a magical artifact to register at the Magic Tower while she was gone.

After all, I needed money.

If I registered a magical artifact with the Magic Tower,

they would take charge of handling and selling it.

They would pass on a set percentage of the profits to me,

making it a perfect way to earn money comfortably without working.

Moreover, as someone who had lived in the 21st century,

I could create tools that were unimaginable in this world.

Creating something based on my own experience of using it was

a difficult task for even the most skilled artisan,

but for me, wielding creation magic, it was easier than eating a cold porridge.

So, the question was, what should I make?

Deciding that was more difficult than I thought.

I had to consider an item that wasn’t common in this world,

that had guaranteed profitability,

and that was suitable for selling at the Magic Tower.

And so, the scroll was the answer.

For adventurers who braved dungeons, seeking treasures and thrills,

the threat to life was an unavoidable constant.

Therefore, what if a scroll appeared on the market, one that, simply by tearing it,

could offer a single instance of protection from death?

Any adventurer who valued their life would have no choice but to buy it, and

while mass production was unsuitable, due to the exacting circuits and

the required control of magical energy…

I excelled at imbuing objects, to begin with, and

if things became truly difficult, I could even create the scroll itself, so there was no need to worry.

Besides, it was clearly classified as a magical item,

so the Magic Tower couldn’t interfere.

Was there any reason *not* to create something

that seemed to have only advantages?

The thought concluded, I immediately began to make the scrolls, and,

absorbed in creating various types of scrolls, I didn’t hear

Ella when she returned, and that evening,

I had no choice but to eat a dinner that had gone cold.

*

The next day,

the weekend arrived at the academy, and

the students were all bustling off somewhere.

Some had expressions full of anticipation, as if

they had plans to go out and play,

and I observed nauseating movements as they tried to pick dating spots with their lovers.

In that lively atmosphere, I was

a little reluctant to head to the Magic Tower alone, but

“The food bill has doubled…I’ll be in trouble if I don’t get some income soon…”

For me, in my circumstances,

refusing to go simply because it didn’t fit the mood

was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

“Young Master, are you going out somewhere?”

“I have business at the Magic Tower. Eat lunch by yourself.”

“You too, Young Master?”

“…Too?”

“I heard that Lady Isabella Luenil is also going to the Magic Tower today.”

????

Why suddenly?

Of course, Isabella’s Luenil Duchy had a special relationship with the Magic Tower.

It was said the House of Renwiell, also called a family of mages,

Had people seen working within the magic towers,

Rumors whispered that the Renwiell ducal house paid the management fees or provided patronage to those towers,

Just seeing the mages’ family and the towers, wasn’t it reasonable to suspect some kind of connection?

But why did it have to be today of all days?

Especially after that thing I said last time, making it awkward to even look each other in the face.

Besides, the magic tower was practically Renwiell territory.

It was no different than tossing feed into their gaping maw.

To make matters worse, her revered mentor resided in the tower.

The one who recognized her talent when she was young and took her on as a student, the one who still cherished her greatly.

That in front of such people,

The word gets around that the daughter of the Renwiell Duke was humiliated in front of the entire academy cohort?

A third-rate mage like me would be ground to dust before I could even raise a finger.

I mulled over whether going to the magic tower today was truly the right choice,

But tomorrow held its own schedule of commitments,

And putting it off until next week was not an option, as my funds were dwindling.

Reluctantly, I had no choice but to visit the magic tower today.

“…Why today of all days…”

Still, it was said her mentor kept to himself, rarely emerging from his quarters,

So at least I wouldn’t have to worry about him.

Her mentor could play with me like a child and kill me with ease.

Just the fact that he wasn’t there was a small comfort.

“Ah, could it be because the young lady’s mentor returned to the tower today?

Is that why?”

Before Ella could completely crush my hopes,

“..What?”

“Her mentor returned today…

So she must be hurrying to visit… Master?”

‘This…damn it.’

Blindsided by the unexpected news,

I clutched the back of my neck.

Ella, perhaps noticing that her words had struck a nerve,

Seemed flustered, a sight that was, admittedly, somewhat endearing.