Chapter 149 - A Premonition Hits the Mark (1)

I'll be honest. When Arien first asked me to dance, I was quite flustered.

It wasn't the first or second time I had been flustered by Arien's actions after falling into this world of Arche, but this time was especially so.

-I was thinking.

-Thinking?

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

Even though Arien's way of speaking was inherently direct, anyone would be stirred upon hearing such words. Even someone like me, who wasn't very emotionally expressive.

‘⋯⋯No way.’

Arien's words also gave rise to a rather audacious thought.

Should I call it audacious, or presumptuous? A thought not even worth putting into words.

‘⋯⋯No, having come this far, maybe it’s not necessarily like that.’

Seeing Arien reveal a closeness towards me that exceeded my expectations so far, I felt it was becoming difficult to dismiss such thoughts as nonsense.

But those stray thoughts didn't last long. At most, they continued until the dance began.

“⋯⋯.”

Even though Arien's expression didn't change a bit after the dance started, her face somehow looked consistently happy⋯⋯ making me, who was lost in other thoughts, feel like a fool.

Well, it was a bit lengthy, but the core was simple.

Seeing her happy makes me happy. Isn't that a simple principle?

Yes, the story was that she wouldn't allow me to be lost in such idle thoughts.

That's why I just danced. As Serene had taught me, I just focused on each movement of the dance, and I enjoyed it.

Even though neither of us showed it on our faces.

Chuck.

That's why, because I was happy, I might have laughed even louder at the pose she struck after the song ended.

Remembering that afternoon street with the band that we had once seen together.

***

Then let's rewind time a bit.

Pleta, while sipping wine from her glass and surveying the Exchange Meeting, was able to spot a girl sitting alone among the large crowd in the distance.

The renowned prodigy of the Magic Tower, a girl with a doll-like appearance so exquisite that it felt almost unreal, Arien Ortega.

‘Fufufu, what a feast for the eyes⋯⋯.’

Perhaps Pleta, who loved looking at so-called 'cute' girls, was able to spot Arien more easily because of it.

After her appreciation of Arien's appearance passed, what caught Pleta's eye was the behavior of the girl named Arien herself.

The girl simply sat still in her seat, despite the crowd surrounding her and the number of people trying to talk to her, without actively participating in conversations.

The girl seemed more interested in the scenery beyond the people surrounding her, her gaze directed towards the view of the hall.

‘It’s almost like she’s constantly looking for something⋯⋯.’

Arien's asocial nature was quite famous in high society, so Pleta, who was watching, was not surprised.

What really surprised her was something else.

“⋯⋯What?”

It was the fact that the girl, who had only been sitting still, got up from her seat and approached someone.

Arien, who was infamous for her indifference to others.

“Hah⋯⋯.”

Seeing such a scene, Pleta couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. Arien was one thing, but the person the girl approached with a brightened expression also surprised Pleta.

“This is⋯⋯ was he an outrageous big shot? My junior.”

Just as Pleta muttered while scratching her head, the person Arien approached was the sickly-looking black-haired boy she had seen earlier, Rain Enlight.

“I wanted to invite him to work under me after graduation⋯⋯.”

Even though Pleta, who was muttering so, was a respectable Master Knight, a big shot in her own right, the people Rain was associating with were in a different league.

The first princess of the Empire and the undisputed next Master of the Magic Tower.

“⋯⋯.”

But even amidst such feelings of admiration, one thing came to Pleta's mind, and that was a concern about something.

Pleta slowly turned her head and looked towards the table where various foods were neatly plated.

“Hehe⋯⋯.”

To be precise, she was looking at Yuna, who was there, unable to hide her excited expression as she chose her food.

Pat.

Seeing Yuna like that, Pleta slowly approached her and stroked her head.

“Huh, eh. Senior? Did I do something⋯⋯.”

The person in question must have been utterly bewildered.

“No, just eat a lot and cheer up⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯? Yes!”

It was a small encouragement she could give to the girl who would have to fight a difficult battle.

And at the same time, she thought it would be better not to show Yuna the sight of Rain with someone else.

⋯⋯But.

“⋯⋯Why is he over there?”

As if to mock that thought, it wasn't long before Yuna discovered Rain with Arien.

She had spotted them in the center of the hall while wandering around and looking about.

The two of them dancing—Rain Enlight and Arien Ortega.

Throb.

Pleta, caught in that situation, squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her fingers between her glasses.

It felt like a bad premonition had hit the mark.

“⋯⋯.”

Pleta slowly turned her head and looked to her left.

The direction where Yuna would be standing.

“⋯⋯.”

Sure enough. The girl was silently staring in that direction.

‘And somehow⋯⋯ her eyes look dead⋯⋯.’

Looking at Yuna like that, and looking at Rain so far, one thing came to Pleta's mind.

‘⋯⋯Why are they all girls?’

It was a newfound fact.

And that newfound fact also made Pleta think of a possibility.

‘Was my junior actually a huge playboy⋯⋯?’

Was it a wild guess, or a rational speculation?

***

Well, nothing particularly special happened after that.

The hall did get a little noisy due to Arien's finishing pose and me bursting out laughing, but that didn't last long either.

“Hmph.”

Arien hummed a monotonous tune, and I led her out from the center of the hall.

What now. I was thinking of talking with the other guys soon. As I was lost in that thought⋯⋯.

“Hmm?”

I was able to spot two people standing right near us.

‘It’s Yuna and Pleta.’

Seeing the two of them together, I let out a sigh of relief for no reason.

I knew that Pleta and Yuna would get along well, but the thought of 'what if Pleta has to go somewhere else, leaving Yuna behind?' had been nagging at the back of my mind.

Seeing them getting along well was reassuring. It was a simple story like that.

Was this the heart of a father worrying about his daughter?

“Ms. Arien, would it be alright if I went over there to say hello for a moment?”

I asked Arien, intending to check on Yuna a bit and thank Pleta.

“Yes. I don't mind, Rain.”

As expected, a ready answer came back from Arien, and I slowly moved my feet towards where the two were.

⋯⋯But, the atmosphere was a little strange.

“⋯⋯You’re here.”

The way Yuna treated me was⋯⋯ uh, how should I put it? It felt blunt compared to usual.

She wasn't originally an affectionate person, but it was more so than usual.

‘Is it because I left her among strangers?’

Thinking of it that way, her reaction was understandable. Even with Pleta next to her, the difference in status was enough to create a wall.

Not to mention the other knights and nobles at the Exchange Meeting.

It seems my consideration was certainly lacking in that area. Though, if I had taken her to where Regina was, a bigger disaster would have occurred.

“Uhm, yes. How was the Exchange Meeting? I’m sorry for leaving you alone, Ms. Yuna⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯I had fun without you, okay? I got close with Senior Pleta, and it wasn't awkward at all, it was great, okay? Huh?”

I lowered my voice to apologize, speaking softly enough for Pleta not to hear, but Yuna raised her voice in response.

“Haha⋯⋯.”

Pleta, who heard the story, scratched her cheek and laughed from the side⋯⋯.

‘⋯⋯Then what’s the problem?’

I was once again plunged into contemplation or confusion, and was in the middle of trying to solve that difficult problem when.

Click-clack.

I heard the sound of someone's heeled shoes approaching in this direction.

A balanced gait, from which I could clearly feel a lack of wavering just by listening.

It was a sound from which I could feel strength just from the footsteps, though it's strange to say.

I instinctively turned my head towards the direction of the familiar footsteps.

And, I could spot a girl approaching from that direction.

Golden braided hair, emerald eyes.

The elements that made up the girl's appearance were already familiar to my eyes as I had seen them often for a semester, but it was undeniable that they had been touched by a more delicate hand of adornment.

What made me feel the specialness of the occasion more than anything was the deep green dress the girl was wearing, which made me momentarily forget the familiarity I usually had with her⋯⋯ hmm, yes.

She was beautiful. I'll put it that way. Though it feels a bit embarrassing.

“Ms. Serene.”

Feeling Serene approaching, I slowly turned my back and looked in that direction.

“Ah, Mr. Rain. And everyone, good evening. I saw a lot of familiar faces, so I stopped by.”

Serene smiled coolly as usual and returned my greeting.

She exchanged greetings with Arien, Yuna, and Pleta one by one, but for some reason, in Pleta's case⋯⋯.

“⋯⋯Ugh.”

After greeting her, when Serene started talking to Yuna, she was scratching her head with a complicated expression.

‘What is it?’

In the original work, there was nothing particularly distant or awkward in their relationship.

Just one more mystery was added.