Chapter 112: The House of Duke Blake

Among all the educational institutions scattered across the continent, the Astoria Imperial Academy boasted one of the largest campuses by far.

At its very heart lay a grand fountain plaza, designed primarily as a place for students to gather, mingle, and build friendships that would last a lifetime. Crystal-clear water arced gracefully into the air before cascading down in shimmering curtains, sunlight scattering into rainbows across the stone.

Because many dormitory students preferred to cook for themselves, it was a common sight during the day to see groups of students seated along the benches, laughing freely as they enjoyed their homemade lunches together. The atmosphere was warm, lively—an oasis of youth and camaraderie amid the rigor of elite education.

“Hey, hey. The Elf-loli Professor’s pharmacology lecture was amazing again today, wasn’t it~?”

“The content is so dense, and she explains everything so clearly. And that baby dragon helping her is adorable… but more than anything…”

““The Elf-loli Professor herself is just too precious!!!””

And then, on rare occasions, there were those unpleasant upper nobles who—driven by arrogant disdain—refused to share meals with commoners or lower-ranking aristocrats. Instead, they would bring extravagant boxed meals from their mansions in the capital and occupy a portion of the courtyard with their noble entourage, as though staking territorial claim to the space itself.

Today, that very upper noble had returned to the courtyard.

“Damn it… my right hand’s still numb. Hard to eat like this…”

“Klim-sama, perhaps it would be better if you continued resting at home?”

“Shut up! I’m sick of rotting away in that mansion! Don’t you dare give me orders when you’re nothing but a count’s son!”

“M-My apologies…”

Radiating a palpable aura of irritation, the trembling young man struggling with his meal was named Klim Blake.

He was the fourth son of a ducal house—and the same unfortunate soul who had once picked a fight with Rena and Alice in the cafeteria. After kicking Rena’s chair, he had been thoroughly cowed by the student council president, Flora Grace… and then, for reasons no one could explain, struck by a sudden bolt of lightning that left him gravely injured.

It had been a busy—and pitiable—day for him.

Though his unpleasant personality was nothing new, today his temper seemed particularly volatile.

His noble companions whispered among themselves, careful to keep their voices low enough that Klim wouldn’t hear.

“Hey… doesn’t Klim-sama seem even angrier than usual today?”

“I was thinking the same. It’s probably about that incident, isn’t it?”

“Obviously it’s about that… I just hope he gets over it soon…”

The “incident” they referred to was the recent dismissal of Klim’s elder brother, Nelson Blake—the second son of the ducal house—from his position as a magic instructor at the academy.

After graduating from the academy, Nelson had advanced to the Imperial Magic Institute, where he had attempted—and failed—to earn a doctorate in Water Magic. And yet, for the baffling reason that his graduation thesis had been “excellent,” he had somehow secured a teaching position at the Imperial Academy through what could only be described as an elevator-like fast track.

In the end, however, his character proved unacceptable.

Forces even greater than the Duke Blake household had moved behind the scenes, and he had been dismissed in the blink of an eye.

“Damn it… why did you have to get fired, Nelson-niisan?!”

Having an elder brother serve as an instructor at the prestigious Imperial Academy had been one of Klim’s few sources of pride.

Now, before he even realized it, that pride had turned into shame.

“Resigning would’ve been one thing, but getting fired…”

“Yeah… and for a duke’s son to be dismissed like that? What on earth did he do?”

Such was the typical reaction among ordinary nobles.

“Huh⁉ What did you just say?!”

“N-Nothing at all…”

“You said ‘fired,’ didn’t you?! I didn’t miss that!”

“W-Well…”

Sensing danger, the entourage hastily changed the subject.

“Oh! Speaking of which, I heard something interesting earlier!”

“…Interesting? Let’s hear it.”

“Apparently, a ridiculously young instructor just joined the academy!”

“Hah? A young instructor? What’s interesting about that?”

“Klim-sama, try not to be shocked. That instructor is only fifteen.”

“F-Fifteen?! That’s our age! No way—that’s impossible!”

“It’s no rumor. That instructor is none other than the recently talked-about Viscount Arden himself…”

“Arden? Isn’t that the idiot first-year girl’s older brother?”

“Yes. And he’s currently in charge of Magic Studies for his sister’s class. …Do you remember which class that is, Klim-sama?”

“Second in the first-year rankings—Class 1-A… which means that’s the class Brother was teaching Water Magic to until recently…!”

“Exactly. Doesn’t that smell suspicious? I don’t think we can call that a coincidence.”

“…There may be something worth investigating here. What’s the viscount’s name?”

“Ryu.”

“Hmm… Ryu, is it…”

Though Klim spoke the name without honorifics, in truth his formal rank—fourth son of a duke—placed him beneath Ryu, the acting head of a viscount house.

It was, strictly speaking, blatant disrespect.

Meanwhile, Ryu himself was—

“Nuhohoho~ Today’s daily set meal is exquisite as ever.”

“I heard the head chef used to cook for the imperial family.”

“To think these brats get to eat food on par with royalty every day… what spoiled little whelps.”

“Gyau.”

He was in the cafeteria with Esther and Homura.

“How are the pharmacology lectures?” Ryu asked.

“Frankly, they’re quite easy. Even if this is the Imperial Academy, for someone like me, the content is basic of the basics. Of course, I do not slack. I approach it with utmost sincerity.”

“As expected of someone who’s fought on the front lines of that field. Truly worthy of praise—Sasute—”

“I will not let thee finish that sentence!!!”

“You’re in top form today.”

“Hmph… ’Tis only because it is I that I overlook such insolence.”

“And how goes thy side?” she asked.

“I mentioned it at the estate. The previous Water Magic instructor was abysmal. I finally finished cleaning up that mess and transitioned fully into Lightning Magic lectures as of yesterday.”

“Hmm… Dividing instructors by magic type must be quite troublesome.”

“It is. But that useless instructor was dismissed, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Thou sayest that with such a calm face, but surely thou pulled the strings? The authority to dismiss a duke’s kin overnight is limited indeed… and I can more or less guess the route.”

A few minutes later, from a distant table, Rena stood up after finishing her meal and waved cheerfully at them—no doubt heading to her next class.

“Look, Rena’s waving.”

“She’s adorable. Thank you for being born.”

“What nonsense art thou spouting…?”

“Gyau…”

The three waved back and continued eating.

Outside the cafeteria, Alice remarked to Rena,

“So Professor Ryu having lunch with Professor Esther means they really do live in the same estate. I honestly thought you were joking.”

“They’re best friends~ Just like us!”

Alice flushed faintly.

“Yeah, yeah. More importantly, I’m looking forward to the next swordsmanship practical.”

“Swordsmanship… practical…”

“It’s fine. I’ll partner with you.”

“Please go easy on me…”

“That depends on you.”

“Hey! Don’t be mean~!”

“Hehehe.”

Laughing together, they headed toward the training grounds.

They crossed the fountain plaza along the way.

“Huh? Two students are arguing.”

“That’s rare—wait, that’s…”

Both of them recognized the figure immediately.

““K-Klim-senpai…””

Alice sighed.

“I can’t believe he’s already back…”

“He’s still got bandages on his hand, though. Maybe he forced himself to come back before fully recovering…”

Before they could get dragged into anything unpleasant, the two quickly left the plaza behind.

“Does Professor Ryu know about Klim-senpai?”

“No… I haven’t told him yet…”

“Shouldn’t you? I’m sure Professor Ryu would protect you if something happened.”

“Yeah… but…”

“But?”

“If I tell Onii-sama… I don’t know what might happen to the Duke Blake family…”

“…What do you mean?”

“N-Never mind! Just forget I said anything! Ahaha…”

“Geez… you’re weird…”

Of course, it had been Ryu who called down that lightning upon Klim.

But the distance had been too great for him to grasp the boy’s full character at the time.

If nothing further occurred, Klim might simply graduate without ever crossing paths with the two girls again.

But what the future held—

That, as yet, no one could predict.