novelraw Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Chapter 72
(Side Story End)
Jenniferin Pantile's classmate.
Shin Longdagger, the second son of an unbelievably poor viscount family, a noble and also an adventurer, is a monstrosity.
Though he himself, perhaps a product of some miracle, evaluates himself as utterly ordinary.
But Pantile's golden eyes had certainly perceived his true value.
Normally, even with Pantile's appraisal skill, he appeared utterly ordinary, but the appraisal result when he used physical enhancement—like a lid had come off—was enough to shock Jenniferin Pantile, who had appraised countless humans.
She genuinely doubted whether he was even human.
However, among Jenniferin's classmates, there were two bona fide monstrosities.
The Priestess of Light and Erika Solnzari.
Pantile's eyes had judged the two of them to be monsters without a shred of doubt, and when Jenniferin Pantile first saw them, she had actually doubted whether they were truly monsters simply because they looked human.
Their positions and abilities—indeed, they stood out greatly.
One was the Priestess of Light loved by the gods, and the other her best friend, the eldest daughter of the Solnzari family, who was becoming her de facto backer.
Now, if the rumors were true, whoever Solnzari introduced the Priestess of Light to could drastically shift the power balance of noble society.
But Jenniferin's interest in the two wasn't for such reasons.
First-mover advantage was certainly appealing, but Jenniferin preferred to overtake and crush the pioneers from behind—and above all, getting involved with them now would be a hassle.
The reason Jenniferin paid attention to the two was because the monstrosity she had doubted to be human—Shin Longdagger—was paying attention to them.
The suspected monstrosity was still skillfully casting glances their way, ignoring the lesson entirely.
Hm.
Jenniferin Pantile thought it looked interesting.
*
At the academy, there are two tests per year.
That said, it is an academy attended by noble children.
Only in the first year is promotion actually at stake.
After that, even if one falls below average or is branded a failure by the teachers, they can still advance and will not be expelled from the academy.
A proper noble would still consider it shameful to be labeled a failure, even in later years, and might choose to leave the academy.
But Shin Longdagger, a boy detached from such noble shame, wore a truly vacant expression of relief after clearing the first major hurdle of the first year.
"Looking forward to four months from now, Shin."
"Hey now, is it really okay for a friend to try and deliver a fatal blow as a surprise attack?"
Because her friend (Shin) had such a vacant look, she couldn't help but tease him with her first words.
Well, since she got to hear the words "as a friend," it's a net profit, Jenniferin smiled.
"To be smiled at when my status as a friend is in doubt—am I supposed to question whether I'm really a friend?"
"Rest easy, my friend. In my heart, your position is already on firmer ground than a dragon's scale."
"Feels like I'm standing on that firm ground with just one foot," Shin muttered while preparing for the next math class.
Hm, how skillful.
Rather than exasperation, Jenniferin felt admiration first.
He was using his own body skillfully to talk to her, prepare for class, and still naturally and subtly direct his gaze toward those two.
It reminded her of the eyes of scout-type adventurers hired to guard trade caravans.
In other words, her dear friend was watching them—or rather, one of them—with the same mindset as an adventurer staking their livelihood and life.
A sudden doubt floated into her mind.
"Don't tell me—assassination?"
"Is there someone you want dead?"
With eyes both exasperated and suggesting that if it were true, she might actually help, Jenniferin shook her head, hiding the turmoil within as she thought, Oh dear, that's quite the unexpected reaction.
Shin didn't have the air of a noble's political assassin—he had the vibe of someone who wouldn't hesitate to dirty his own hands if necessary.
No, no, this isn't good.
It's not good to so casually scatter around such resolve, my friend.
Heh, Shin, you rascal.
She pulled herself together, realizing this wasn't the time to be amused.
But still, an instant answer? Really? An instant one? Heh heh heh.
"Well then, my friend. It seems there's someone you're interested in, isn't there? Now, which one could it be?"
Jenniferin didn't miss it.
Shin's gaze flicked ever so unnaturally away at her words.
Toward a certain direction.
"Ah, well, those two do stand out."
She found Shin's uncharacteristic display of the art of deception absolutely delightful.
"As a fellow noble, I can't help but follow them with my eyes."
With a face fit for business negotiations, she thought, Oh? You're the one saying that?
That kind of thing is only convincing if you usually act the part, you know?
She found it endlessly amusing that Shin, despite deviating from noble decorum, still tried to hide it.
More precisely, she was delighted that her negotiation partner had finally shown a desire she could understand.
Jenniferin Pantile affirms self-interest.
She believes in those who walk with greed—their unceasing steps are precious and dear.
Oh come on, and yet you try to hide it?
You're keeping it locked in your heart?
——That's not like you, my greedy friend.
What a wicked face you're making.
Jenniferin smiled, unaware that Shin had muttered that while looking at her face.
*
The enemy is Erika Solnzari.
A marquis family, whose current head is the Prime Minister of the kingdom.
Just being the eldest daughter of such a house is enough to make even Pantile hesitate.
Oh my, who would've thought Shin would fall for the Priestess of Light? How amusing.
Though his family is a somewhat peculiar viscount family, even so, going after a royal upper noble seems to be something that even Shin Longdagger must keep to himself.
If it were the beginning of the school year, he might've had more of a chance, but now Erika Solnzari's shield lets no lower nobles near.
A straightforward approach likely won't let Shin get close to the Priestess of Light.
Now then, what to do?
Jenniferin pondered.
She quickly discarded the idea of removing Erika Solnzari from the academy.
She wasn't foolish enough to prioritize her own amusement and plunge the kingdom into chaos.
Besides, if she had to go up against the Solnzari family, it'd be faster and easier to just reduce the country to rubble.
When fighting someone who carries such burdens, it's easier—and more fun—to destroy what they carry than attack the person directly.
Ah, no good—her thoughts were veering toward destruction again.
This is Shin's fault.
It's Shin's fault for creating such a worthy enemy.
But still, she figured he probably wouldn't want that kind of thing.
She had a vague feeling that was just his nature.
But then again——.
Ah, no, wait—that's it.
If Shin Longdagger falling for the Priestess of Light is deemed unworthy of his station——
Then all we have to do is raise Shin Longdagger up.
*
"And so, Shin—how about becoming a hero?"
"Sorry, but I don't know any doctors."
"It's fun how you instantly question my sanity, but Pantile's always been a bit unhinged, so please stop questioning my sanity. It hurts when you make me realize it."
"What a troublesome clan," muttered Shin, pausing his lunch and turning his face toward Jenniferin.
She no longer needed to ask about the skillful glances he cast behind her.
For Jenniferin, that was nothing but a clear answer.
First, about two years of preparation.
When combat training gets added to class, even Shin will have to notice his own abnormality.
Before then, she must have everything in place.
She would sabotage, with full force, all those who got in the way of approaching the Priestess of Light—and when the day came, her dear friend Shin Longdagger would stand at her side as a hero, faster than anyone.
What a delightful end to self-interest this is.
Just imagine the shocked faces of Erika Solnzari and the other royal upper nobles—it'll be quite the spectacle.
I, Jenniferin Pantile, shall be the one to prepare the path to that point.
If there are no enemies, then I'll simply create them.
If great feats are needed, then I'll create trials for him.
This is Faltarl—both are easy to fabricate here.
Smiling, Jenniferin imagined the path she would pave for Shin to become a hero.
Oblivious to Shin's deeply annoyed expression at having his lunch interrupted, Jenniferin felt satisfied with the "investing" method she had finally discovered.
It would be about two years later when she'd end up shouting, "That's what you meant?!"
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Thank you as always for the comments, likes, and so on.
They're a great source of encouragement.
I found myself really enjoying the flashbacks and short stories, to the point where I almost stopped working on the main story.
But now that it's certain my day job is going to get busier, I want to focus more on the main story.
Jen and Shin use first names when the mood is light.
Erika and Shin switch to formal "you" and "you" when they're in their own little world.
That kind of subtle play was really fun to write.
Unfortunately, I'm a slow writer. I really wanted to write about Shin's student adventurer days too.
If the opportunity ever comes again, I'd love to write it someday.