“…I just showed my face here to boost morale, but it’s true that the merchandise is good. I heard that Rotten Crombel of Bellpepper successfully crossbred with Krypton Diamond. There’s a rumor that they’ve put it up for sale.”
“No way. Rotten Crombel, of all things?”
“If the rumors are true, it means there’s strong chance that this year’s winner will come from Bellpepper again.”
Indeed, most of the winners of the Chantal International Academic Conference so far have come from the Bellpepper Empire. For reference, our Ginger Kingdom won once in the literary category ten years ago and never won again. That’s why everyone regretted it. If only Raiden Rensher, from our school, had competed, we would have had a win in the swordmanship category too.
“So, you’re telling me not to do anything dangerous, but you do it yourself?”
Raiden looked at me as if trying to hold back his anger. At Litton Wyler, I’m known as a caretaker. In my childhood, I was indeed the one who made sure Raiden didn’t overdo it with his sword training, but not anymore.
About two years ago—I guess it wasn’t that long ago—Raiden hurt me badly. It was quite serious, and since then, Raiden has been particularly sensitive about my safety.
So, I generally tried to avoid dangerous situations.
I assumed that Raiden came to my lab almost every day because he was worried I might have an accident while experimenting with new medicines.
I barely remember much from the incident, but Raiden, who stayed by my side until I woke up, was deeply shocked. I heard that I hovered between life and death several times.
My heart even stopped twice.
“I’m really sorry. I was almost like I was possessed. Besides, Zeze’s expression… it reminded me so much of you when you were young.”
“Me?”
“You used to look at me with those pitiful and cute eyes, trying to steal my food after finishing yours.”
“Of all examples…”
Raiden sighed deeply.
“So, I really want a veal steak with a blueberry sauce right now. Medium rare. And make sure to put three mint leaves on top.”
“…Now?”
I clasped my hands and sparkled my eyes.
“Oh, and for dessert, I think pudding with strawberries and apples and some green tea ice cream would be nice.”
Knowing that I’d been eating meals with chocolate and carrots lately, Raiden stopped nagging and went outside.
“Wait in your lab.”
“Yes, sir. Please hurry back.”
Raiden told Sir Noah, who was coming in, that he was going out for a while and disappeared almost instantly. It was nearly teleportation-level magic.
Sir Noah had heard roughly what was going on, but Raiden disappearing was another issue, so he gave me a questioning look.
Too embarrassed to admit that I had asked Raiden Rensher, a hero whom people climb rooftops just to catch a glimpse of, to bring me food, I avoided his gaze.
* * *
Raiden’s busy appreciation period ended, and the special guest lectures at Amort Royal Knights Academy, where I work, had stabilized.
After being rescued by Raiden, students no longer bombarded me with questions about how firm Raiden’s chest muscles were, how comfortable it was to be held in his arms, or how fast we moved away from the dragon—questions too hard to put into words.
Honestly, questions about his scent or if his heartbeat was different from normal people felt truly perverse.
Anyway, thanks to my quick thinking, rumors that Raiden and I had known each other since childhood didn’t spread.
Just being held in his arms caused such a fuss that if people found out we actually knew each other, I’d probably have to take a long leave.
“Sigh. I want strawberries.”
I missed the days when I only craved chocolate.
It was easier to find.
Ever since the Chamber Jewelry incident, my appetite had returned, almost to the level of a hypersensitive pig.
I thought of things I wanted to eat several times a day and couldn’t be satisfied until I had them.
My sharp nose detected even the slightest off smells, so sometimes I couldn’t eat even if I found what I wanted.
So I felt a bit sorry for Raiden.
Most of the time, I asked him to get what I wanted. Raiden, worried about my health, told me not to worry and to just tell him, but I did have some shame.
“What kind of illness is this?”
“I think it’s something to ponder while eating strawberries.”
But I crumbled before food. If I had to describe it, Raiden, who owed me his life in many ways, silently opened the window and jumped out.
As soon as Raiden jumped out the window, the infirmary door opened. A student who I’d been seeing a lot lately entered with a bright smile. Damien Shore of Class A, with his striking light blue hair, and his friend.
“What brings you here today?”
Damien Shore held out a finger with a perfectly round drop of blood, as if he’d cut himself on a piece of paper.
“I cut my finger. It hurts a lot.”
“I’m sorry, Professor.”
Damien Shore’s friend had introduced himself on the first day, but I couldn’t remember his name.
Damien Shore, on the other hand, visited the infirmary so often that his name was hard to forget.
As I listened to his friend’s apology, I responded nonchalantly.
“Aren’t you busy with midterms? Is it okay to waste time like this?”
