STM 028

Retron, who confirmed that everyone was paired up around that time, clapped once more to focus their attention and said.

“Today, I’m going to teach you the basic movements of Martial Magic. Martial Magic is a technique mainly used by Power magic mages, but it will be helpful enough for you to learn the basics of physical skills. Now, I’ll slowly show you the movements. Watch carefully, memorize them, and follow along.”

Then, Retron turned to Zeon and gestured for him to extend his fist. When Zeon showed the appropriate movement, Retron also slowly showed the blocking movement.

He taught various other attack and defense movements as well.

However, they were only movements faithful to the basics, so they weren’t movements that could be used in actual combat.

“That’s it for the demonstration. First, practice what I taught you with your partner. Try to connect the movements as much as possible, and if you succeed in defeating your opponent, switch roles. Next time is… tomorrow, right? I’m thinking of bringing in a teacher who is skilled in Martial Magic, so you can learn complex physical skills with practicality then.”

Then, practice began. The sounds of children exchanging moves and practicing with their partners could be heard. It seemed that some of them had already fallen over since it had only been a short time since they started.

I also sighed softly and turned to Ardian and stood. As soon as our eyes met, he smiled, as if he had been waiting for it, and opened his mouth.

“You can attack first.”

At that, I narrowed my eyes.

‘He’s daring to do me a favor.’

I felt strangely upset because he seemed to be looking down on me.

So, I rushed in first as he wanted. However, he, who had been considerate as if he would go easy on me, blocked my attacks that penetrated the space and didn’t give me any openings.

Although it was a combination where attack and defense movements were fixed, there was no sign of breaking through at all.

In an instant, I felt stubbornness.

I continued the attack movements a little faster. Of course, Ardian easily caught up with my speed as if it was ridiculous.

Without realizing it, I tried to knock him down with physical skills instead of basic movements, but as if he knew that would happen, he, who had been defending and receiving until now, slightly avoided my attack.

“……!”

My body tilted.

Ardian, who had dodged and deflected my attack, wrapped his arms around my waist, which was leaning forward, and took the weight as it was, falling down as if he had tripped on his leg.

If I had fallen alone, I would have braced myself on the floor and corrected my posture, but at this rate, I had fallen awkwardly and tangled up.

“Damn it….”

I frowned and raised my upper body, ending up covering him. I was about to get up as it was, but Ardian pulled my arm slightly, causing my upper body to lean forward again.

“…….”

“…….”

A moment of silence.

The golden eyes I faced up close were half-hidden in the aegyo-sal that folded prettily. I quietly glared at his incomprehensible antics and soon lowered my eyes drowsily.

“Why did you fall on purpose?”

“I just tripped.”

It was a ridiculous lie. I resolutely shook off his arm. He also let go of the arm he was holding willingly. I dusted myself off and stood up, looking down at him, who was still lying down, and lowered my voice.

“What… is your purpose?”

“What?”

“I’m talking about the purpose of approaching me.”

“Would you believe me if I said I fell in love at first sight?”

I was puzzled and raised one eyebrow.

“Aren’t you mistaken? I’m a man like you. I’ve heard that humans don’t do things like courtship between the same gender.”

“What if I’m a man? Anyway, we’re the same human. I would have liked you even if you were an inanimate object… I don’t really care about gender.”

Then, he held out his hand to me as if asking me to grab it.

“…….”

Fell in love, likes me.

I felt strange.

In the first place, I didn’t even know what the emotion of love was. I had memorized enough about the definition of ‘love’ and social norms, but even so, I couldn’t truly understand that emotion.

I didn’t know if he was saying it sincerely or just joking around, and even if he was sincere, I didn’t know what to answer.

In the first place, how much would he know if he knew me?

The words ‘fell in love at first sight’ didn’t resonate with me at all.

Is there another intention after all?

When I didn’t grab his outstretched hand, Ardian gave up and got up on his own. I glared warily. It seemed necessary to keep a closer eye on his behavior in the future.

“Alright, alright! There’s not much time left. Finish up.”

Retron, who was correcting the children’s postures and wandering around, raised his voice. But there was not enough time left to do nothing. In the end, the class ended after exchanging a few more moves with Ardian.

“Ugh. It’s finally over….”

“Yeah. Good job, Tom.”

Tom and Herman, who were partners, talked and approached here. Zeon, who had been sitting comfortably on a chair and resting while Retron was wandering around giving posture corrections, also returned to my side as soon as the class ended.

I went straight back to the dormitory with my servants.

As expected, Ardian followed me and Herman… or rather, my tail, again this time. He insisted on following me up to the 3rd floor hallway under the pretext of escorting me to my room.

“Room 305…. This is Raymond’s room.”

Ardian muttered, looking at room 305.

Then, he suddenly turned to Herman and said.

“It’s a double room, so you two must be sharing the same room?”

It was the first time he had shown interest in Herman first. But Herman only frowned as if he was displeased with the attention. Ardian also narrowed his eyes while facing such Herman, and smiled quietly.

Another silent war of nerves was starting.

It didn’t seem like an answer to Ardian’s question would come from Herman. So, I sighed and answered instead. Otherwise, it seemed like the two of them would be stuck here all day staring at each other.

“It’s a room we share. Now go.”

“…I see.”

Ardian, who replied a beat late, turned back to me and carefully reached out to caress my cheek as if brushing it. It was a touch that fell before I could scold him for being rude, so I could only glare.

And then….

“Okay. I’ll go now. See you tomorrow, ‘Ray’.”

A nickname I didn’t allow.

“…….”

But I didn’t feel any emotion.

In the first place, I didn’t care what the name was for calling this body, and Herman and the family of this body had already been calling me ‘Ray’ for a long time, so there was nothing special about it.

Ardian waved at me, passed Herman, and went down the stairs at the end of the hallway. Herman had a darker face than before, but I couldn’t figure out the reason, so I watched him for a while before going into the room.

He was quietly following me into the room, as if he had no intention of running away to Tom’s room this time.

As always, I took off my uniform, tidied it up, took a refreshing shower, and changed into my pajamas. As I sat on the bed, I felt a comfortable feeling rising up my spine.

“Hoo.”

I moved my body quite a bit, so I felt more tired than usual. Then, I suddenly raised my head. Herman, who was still leaning against the front door and not moving, slowly took off his shoes and walked into the room.

His destination was… right in front of me.

Wondering what it was, I looked up and saw Herman, who had been looking at me for a long time with a shaded face, said something rather out of the blue.

“You’re very kind to that guy, you.”

“That guy?”

“…I’m talking about Ardian.”

“Hmm? Was I?”

I put my chin on my hand and looked back at my past actions.

I really couldn’t think of anything.

In the first place, I had never been particularly kind to human guys intentionally. It would be different if it was Zeon or Tom, but even more so if it was Ardian, who was the object of my wariness.

But Herman’s face didn’t brighten.

Was he thinking that I was lying, like yesterday?

I stared at Herman.

I thought that if I kept watching his face, I might be able to analyze what his emotions and thoughts were.

It was around that time.

Herman, who had been staring at me, eventually avoided my gaze, frowning like a tired person.

He sighed softly, turned back to me, and reached out his hand. The hand gently wrapped around my cheek, like Ardian had done, and caressed it slightly.

“I said that I ‘want to start over as friends with you,’ but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.”

I was about to order him to take away this rude gesture immediately. But Herman suddenly said something I had never heard before, so I wondered what he was talking about again, turned back to him, and listened to the words flowing from his mouth.

“How should I approach you?”

“…….”

“…I’m jealous and I feel like I’m going to die from anxiety. Ray.”

What was he so jealous of, and what was he so anxious about? What did he mean by not giving up, without giving up what? It was even more difficult to grasp his intentions without the subject being completely omitted.

Herman only muttered words that I couldn’t understand until the end, and eventually dropped the fingers that had been stroking my cheek and turned around.

“Go to bed early today. You must be tired.”

Then, he took his pajamas and went into the dressing room before heading straight to the bathroom. During that time, he didn’t even glance at me.

I watched his actions silently and slightly twisted my lips.

‘Strange guy.’

As expected, it was difficult to know what that servant was thinking.