Chapter 136 - A Return to Peaceful Days? (1)

Life on the powerless train continued for about a week.

During that time, nothing eventful happened. There were no additional attacks, nor were there any surprising commotions.

“……”

I, however, was designated as a patient and was confined to bed.

Well, to be fair, my injuries warranted it. Although Serene had cast healing magic on me, my side had been pierced by a spear to the point where it was almost completely blown away.

“And I felt you had to be kept in bed because if you were let loose and got bored, you’d probably start training in that condition.”

…Regina, who occasionally came to check on my condition, left those words.

Since she wasn't particularly wrong, I could only respond with silence.

Besides that, Regina occasionally brought me various news.

“The tour is canceled, of course. Even though I consider myself quite tough, I’m not crazy enough to push through in a situation like this.”

The news of the cancellation of the southern tour to Garcia Countdom was a prime example, and it was a sensible decision.

Not only was it too dangerous to go to Garcia Countdom, where the rebels were currently active, but her priority would have been to counter the media blitz the Crown Prince's Faction would launch.

“How could the rebels attack the Empire’s princess? I shall make them pay with their blood-”

The princess even predicted their reaction, mimicking a knight. It was filled with sarcastic intent and was comical, but the strange realism of it was very much like her.

“……If anyone else saw that, they would surely admonish you for your lack of decorum.”

“What does it matter? It’s just the two of us here.”

“That may be so, but.”

I commented on her behavior, but she didn't back down in the slightest.

“And actually, if you think about it, the First Princess of the Empire personally coming in to nurse someone is quite absurd, isn't it~”

“……That is true.”

Hmm. Come to think of it, she was right.

Perhaps I had grown too familiar with Regina.

Our distance had become so close that I was starting to forget she was a princess.

The rescue team arrived surprisingly fast. In about a week, I think.

Considering we were stranded on a railway in the middle of the continent, it was an exceptionally quick response.

Well, given that none other than the princess was involved, perhaps this speed was to be expected. That thought did cross my mind.

And naturally, Croban left before the rescue team arrived.

Although he had helped the princess in this incident, he belonged to the rebel army. He had stayed for a while with the princess's silent approval, but he couldn't stay with us forever.

“Farewell. If we’re still breathing, we’ll meet again someday.”

Croban left those words to the party that saw him off.

Even with the princess present, his informal tone didn't waver, and seeing that, Aisa still didn't look pleased.

“Please bear with it just this once. The princess doesn't seem to be offended either.”

And I had to struggle to stop Aisa from saying something.

Indeed, Regina didn't seem particularly offended by his informal speech.

Perhaps it was because the princess admired that kind of anti-authoritarianism.

Anyway, we were about to see Croban off, but surprisingly, he had a few words for me as well.

His characteristic ponytail and intimidating impression were noticeable, but the words he left for me were surprisingly friendly.

“The previous battle. We didn't fight together for long, but I saw your valor and steadfastness. I look forward to the day we fight back-to-back.”

Honestly, I couldn't help but be surprised to hear that. Not only because it came from Croban, who was generally indifferent to others, but also because Croban Trase was a man with incredibly high standards for skill.

“……Thank you.”

Perhaps due to the suddenness and my bewilderment, I could only offer that simple reply.

Well, it was certainly a good thing. Since Croban was one of the seven protagonists of Arche, building a good relationship with him was important, and it had been bothering me that I couldn't even talk to him properly while being bedridden for the past week.

Leaving a good impression like this was a pleasant development.

“……Fufu.”

And Serene, who heard our conversation, was watching from behind with a pleased smile.

I wish she'd stop with that benevolent, mother-like smile.

It makes me feel like I'm being treated like a child.

Anyway. Leaving those events behind, we finally returned to the academy.

I was worried we wouldn't make it for the semester schedule, but thankfully, I heard we could get in a week before the semester started.

‘To travel that distance at that speed by carriage.’

Our mode of transport was a carriage, and as expected of a world where people could move at the speed of a bullet, the carriage's speed was no joke.

It was faster and more stable than most cars I had ridden in the modern world.

‘The first carriage I rode wasn’t like this, though.’

I recalled the carriage I took right after falling into this world, the one that went from the Duchy of Enlight to Archenia Academy.

That carriage wasn't this fast, but then again, I suppose they wouldn't prepare good horses and a carriage for a guy they were about to kill.

“……Haaah.”

“Is something bothering you?”

“It’s nothing.”

An irritating memory surfaced, and I sighed, leaning against the carriage's window frame.

Even as I leaned, I felt no vibrations.

Serene, who had unerringly caught my discomfort, asked what was wrong… but what was the point in telling her?

“……”

I leaned my head against the window frame and slowly closed my eyes. I was tired from everything that had happened, but I also felt a sense of relief that I could finally catch my breath.

‘When I arrive, Khan will have cleared his story, and after that, there’ll be a gap in the main storyline for a while, so I can rest.’

Yes, let's rest. Rest.

I've been through enough. A break of a few months should be fine.

So I thought…….

***

Sure enough, I found myself in a rather peculiar situation.

“……”

Alright, let me explain the situation. It has now been exactly three days since I returned to the academy.

Nothing special had happened. I studied Origin Magic with Arien, who had returned from the Magic Tower, which had naturally fallen behind, and I also reunited with Yuna, who returned around the same time.

I feigned ignorance about what had happened to Khan and listened to his story to grasp the situation, and I could feel that the story was flowing according to the original Arche plot.

Yes. There were no problems. I didn't think anything special would happen after that.

But on the third day after my return… I was forcibly dragged out by Regina.

Our destination was a clothing store in downtown Endinium that handled high-end suits.

From what I heard on the way, it was one of the places with a tailor who was responsible for the imperial family's clothing.

Perhaps for that reason, it had a rather dazzling exterior. Which made me feel even more awkward.

“Next.”

Regina sat on a sofa, had several suits brought out, and was having a staring contest, alternating her gaze between them and me. I was standing there, serving as a model.

“To bring out his unique atmosphere and looks, a bright color doesn't seem to suit him.

Next.”

“……The color matches, but I don’t like the texture of the fabric. Next.”

“A pattern that’s too flashy won’t suit him either. Next.”

What on earth was this situation? Regina was continuously looking back and forth between me and the suits, putting a great deal of effort into choosing one.

She would ponder a suit for about 10 seconds, move her finger to signal for the next one, and ponder again.

“Aisa, what do you think?”

“In my personal opinion, I believe a tailcoat style would also suit the young master of Enlight.”

“I see, that makes sense.”

Even Aisa, who had come along as a guard, was offering her opinion with great seriousness.

Weren't you the serious-type character? Why are you suddenly playing along so enthusiastically?

“……Isn’t it about time you explained what this is all about?”

Unable to overcome my curiosity, I finally asked Regina after holding it in for so long.

“Oh my. Did I not tell you, Young Master?”

“You dragged me here by force this morning……”

As I was heading to the dining hall for breakfast, the image of Regina approaching me with an excited expression and suggesting we go out was still vivid in my mind.

When I asked where we were going, she just said I’d find out when we got there.

“Oh dear, for someone of my stature to make such a mistake. But with a brilliant mind like yours, Young Master, it shouldn't be difficult to deduce it yourself, don't you think?”

“……”

At Regina's sly response, I let out a small sigh. Small enough not to be heard.

The princess doesn't react like that to questions the other person has no way of knowing.

She only says that when the answer is within the person's reach.

Thinking of it that way, the answer was practically laid out for me. It was as if she was telling me that we were doing this for a reason I could easily guess.

“……Is it because of the Exchange Meeting?”

The Exchange Meeting.

An opportunity for those who ranked in the top 10 of each department to meet active knights, where attendance was granted.

And last semester, I had managed to rank within the top 10 of the Combat Department. To be precise, I had achieved 7th place, and my high written exam scores were a great help.

In other words, I now had the right to attend the Exchange Meeting.

And that exchange meeting takes the form of a party. Thinking of it that way, needing a suit to attend an official event was unavoidable.

“Wow, correct~”

Upon hearing my words, the princess smiled with her eyes and clapped her hands lightly.

Would it have killed her to just tell me sooner?

“……Wouldn’t it be alright to attend in my school uniform?”

“That won’t do, Young Master. What would people say about me if the princess’s aide attended the exchange meeting in such attire?”

“That’s… true.”

…I had certainly overlooked that part. Student-like appearance was one thing, but as the princess's aide, I should have been more mindful.

“Besides, you know I’ve been busy lately, don't you? For me to personally take the time to come here, and even entrust your suit to the tailor who makes clothes for the imperial family, shouldn't you be grateful instead?”

I was in trouble. She was so right that I had nothing to say.

“……Thank you. Forgive my rudeness.”

“I can be generous and overlook it.”

With that thought, I sighed again. And I quietly returned to being a model for suit selection.

Well, yeah. It was something to be grateful for, that she was buying it for me. And the princess, who must be busy cleaning up the mess from the Railroad Mysterium incident, had even taken the time to come here.

“Hmph-hmm.”

But, you know. You said you squeezed this out of your busy schedule. What's with the humming? Don't you look a bit too excited?

Those words lingered at the tip of my tongue, but how could I dare to say such a thing?

I swallowed the words back down my throat and fell silent again.

The exciting suit-picking session continued for another three hours after that.