Chapter 147 - Just Like Always (2)

Arien and Rain. Everything between them stemmed from Arien's proactiveness.

There was the reason that they ‘coincidentally’ both had an aptitude for Origin Magic and thus attended Professor Albert's lecture together, but no one could deny that it was thanks to Arien that they had become close so quickly.

It was a short life, but Arien, who had never approached anyone first before, had a very calculated purpose in exercising such proactiveness.

And that purpose was deeply related to a proposal from the girl's nominal father, Tyrion Ortega.

-Daughter, I hear there is a child at the academy who can use Origin Magic like you. Make sure to form a close relationship with that child.

-If you become truly close with that child, I will tell you about your past.

Arien knew the reason why Tyrion had made such a proposal.

He was utterly fascinated by the subject of Origin Magic, and he was a man who would stop at nothing for his research.

He must have been intrigued by the existence of another Origin Magic user besides the homunculus he had artificially created—Arien herself.

And he must have made that proposal to keep that Origin Magic user closer.

Arien, who could understand Tyrion's inner thoughts with her unique intellect as soon as she recognized the proposal, didn't really care about that fact.

All Arien wanted was one thing. Knowledge about the gap between the time the girl was ‘born’ and the time her first memory remained.

Any other factor was merely trivial. Especially when it came to a male student she had never met before.

Arien's objective was clear, and her method, though unfamiliar, was also clear.

That's why Arien approached Rain Enlight. Even going so far as to proactively strike up a conversation, which was unlike her.

And she could pride herself on the fact that her methods were truly diverse.

-I have never made a friend at the academy until now. Therefore, I request this. I would like you to be my friend.

Approaching him directly.

-You seem to have a question, so I will answer first. Mr. Rain, you mentioned during lunchtime yesterday that you would be going out on the holiday to process magic stones.

-That's right.

-Referring to that information, I was hoping to suggest we go out together when you leave.

-⋯⋯.

Suggesting they go out together.

-What's with that clock tower…….

-That clock tower is the largest in the Empire, and its official name is the Cardinal Clocktower. It is known as a landmark of the Empire and is one of the structures symbolizing the revival of Endinium. Construction began in the Imperial year 1630 and was completed in 1643, and it chimes once every hour. In history, this chime has been stopped only once, and its total height reaches 120m. The architects who participated in its construction were…….

-???

Giving useful knowledge that anyone would find interesting while on an outing, and so on.

Yes. It was clearly nothing more than a mechanical process to achieve the girl's objective. It was certainly so.

But from when did it start? Arien had come to feel a certain sensation from the process itself.

And the most fitting name Arien's own intellect gave to that sensation was, precisely, joy.

The incident at the abandoned factory that followed certainly played a large part in her feeling closer to Rain, but⋯⋯ it was undeniable that she had been drawn by that sensation even before the incident.

When exactly did she start to feel that joy?

Arien slowly retraced her memories, searching her mind for that turning point.

It was a story from a week before the day Arien decided to attend the Exchange Meeting.

***

Naturally, the Exchange Meeting was not merely an event for 'exchange between senior knights and junior cadets' as its nominal purpose suggested.

The criteria for cadets to attend the Exchange Meeting was the top 10 in each department by grade.

And due to the nature of the cadet level, where early education plays a large role in addition to innate talent, the proportion of children from prestigious families who could provide high-quality education and care from an early age was overwhelmingly high among the top 10.

Even if one wasn't from a renowned family, if they were self-made enough to make it into the top 10, they would eventually rise to a level where they could stand shoulder to shoulder with knights from prestigious families after becoming a knight.

In other words, for those reasons, the Exchange Meeting also served as a social gathering for renowned families.

This was clear just by looking at the participation of a heavyweight like Jared Augustus, the renowned former Protector of the Nation.

That's why, for the cadets, their conduct at the Exchange Meeting held more meaning than their conduct at other social gatherings. It was a place where all sorts of influential figures were watching.

The events of that place would spread throughout the ruthless social circles of the Empire, which also meant that the gossip of that place would become the gossip of the entire Empire.

♪♫-

In the center of the Exchange Meeting, music flowed in the hall that was like a stage.

There were many who enjoyed dancing, but it was undeniable that most of their dances were performances to strengthen the bonds between families.

Engaged couples, relationships for the purpose of friendship to foster harmony between families, and so on⋯⋯ their social purposes lurked behind the elegant dances.

♪♫-.

As the music reached its finale, their dances also concluded in time with the music.

After the dance was over, they withdrew from the hall and returned to their seats.

Soon the music would flow again, and there would be another chance to dance. With a different tune than before, but with the same musical skill and elegance.

But they would not dance again. There was no reason to.

However, there was something different from before, and that was the fact that two completely unexpected individuals had appeared in the hall as a pair.

A boy with stylish black hair and black eyes, whose sickly and haggard impression couldn't hide his dark aura.

A girl with sky-blue hair and eyes, possessing a doll-like appearance so exquisite that it felt almost unreal, as if carved by the hands of a master craftsman.

As the two of them paired up and advanced towards the center of the hall, the surroundings began to stir. It was because no one had predicted their appearance at this place.

One because of his humble origins, the other because of her well-known disposition in the Empire.

But they were clearly here, and they were advancing towards the center of the hall.

Their purpose was clear without need for explanation. The two of them were clearly heading to the hall to dance.

-Hah, the prodigy of the Magic Tower and the Deceased Duke⋯⋯ I can't believe it.

-Does this mean the friendship between the two families has deepened? But if that's the purpose, there's no reason to have her dance with an illegitimate son⋯⋯.

-It seems the rumors were true. I heard there have been rumors within the academy recently that the relationship between the two is unusual.

-It's treated as a foregone conclusion rather than a rumor.

-I thought it was just a simple rumor⋯⋯.

Everyone was thrown into confusion, and they each added a few words about the two.

While Arien and Rain's closeness was well-known within the academy, it was a natural reaction for the knights and nobles who had never actually seen their actions.

How could they have imagined it? The sight of the humble and the noble holding hands.

But before their eyes, a clear reality was unfolding. Even if they couldn't have imagined it.

This also suggested that the intimacy between the two⋯⋯ furthermore, an act that could be treated as a shared affection, would now spread beyond the academy to the entire social circle of the Empire.

However, between the two parties themselves, there were no complicated schemes or hidden intentions.

“I’m a little nervous, Rain. It’s my first time in a real situation.”

“It’s the same for me.”

They were having such a conversation as they walked. Between their words, there were neither the schemes that politicians expected nor the poignant stories that gossipmongers anticipated.

No, perhaps⋯⋯.

“⋯⋯Haha.”

The black-eyed boy let out a small laugh. So small that it didn't leak into the ears of the others watching.

However, the girl right next to him was able to catch that small laugh.

“Why are you laughing, Rain?”

And she asked. The meaning of that laugh. It was a question truly befitting of her.

“I was just thinking, 'So Ms. Arien feels nervous too.'”

“Hmm.”

At Rain's cool reply, Arien nodded her head. It was a story that could be heard as a rude statement at first glance, but to the girl, it was not rude.

“I agree with the intention of that question. I, too, did not predict this would happen.”

The boy must have known that and asked.

“I can’t even judge if this feeling is properly expressed by the word ‘nervousness.’”

“⋯⋯I see.”

As the sky-blue-eyed girl answered, the boy nodded his head slightly.

“⋯⋯Before the music starts, may I ask you one thing?”

And, he asked again. The curiosity that had been swept away in the midst of confusion had returned to its place, carried by the current of time.

“Of course.”

The girl agreed as if it were natural, and the boy continued the conversation smoothly as if he had expected it.

“Why did you ask me to dance with you?”

It was truly a pure curiosity.

Because in the boy's memory, the girl had never, under any circumstances, danced with anyone.

At the boy's question, the girl blinked her eyes once.

“I was thinking.”

“Thinking?”

“About the topic of when I started to feel joy when I’m with Rain.”

It was the result of an inquiry. That's what Arien was saying. It was a reply truly befitting of her.

“And I remembered. The moment I first felt joy being with Rain.”

The girl, who could derive the correct answer in an instant no matter what difficult problem she faced in the world, uncharacteristically faced a predicament.

It was a problem concerning her own heart, and the girl did not know her own heart. It was a simple story.

That's why Arien went back through her memories. To search for the scene most deeply ingrained in her mind.

♪-♩-♫-.

Music echoed in the girl's head as she traced back her memories.

It was not the near-perfect and elegant music one could feel in a ballroom.

The notes were not harmonious and were somewhat clumsy, and the combination of instruments was not good either.

The dancer's level was also below par. They didn't seem to have properly memorized the choreography and sometimes showcased impromptu dances that didn't match the music.

Nevertheless, the dancer and the band members clearly looked happy.

And Arien, who was watching⋯⋯ although she didn't feel it at the time, was certainly the same.

The girl was happy. It was certain.

‘Ah, it started from back then.’

It was a difficult problem, but Arien found the answer, even if it took time. Just like she always had.

However, it was not yet time to reveal that answer to Rain. It was not yet time to reveal the answer to this difficult problem.

So the girl opened her mouth again.

“I'll show you the answer after the dance is over, Rain.”

Arien smiled, raising the corners of her mouth. And she let out a laugh.

“Fufu.”

Her eyes weren't smiling properly, making it awkward⋯⋯ but it was a clear effort, and a fragment of her humanity.