Chapter 136

It didn’t make sense to skip sword art class just because I saw two men kissing. I entered the large training ground for the advanced sword art class.

But why did I feel like running away every time I saw Walter Orgen’s face? It was something I couldn’t fully figure out or find an answer for.

When I faced Walter Orgen, everything I had told myself—that it was fine, that it didn’t matter—seemed to be in vain.

Perhaps my gaze had followed him without my realizing it, because Walter, with his usual friendly smile, met my eyes. He immediately asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why do you always braid your hair up… does it have something to do with your lover liking long hair?”

“Huh?”

Walter’s expression contorted. His cheeks puffed out, his cheekbones twitched, and finally, unable to hold it in, he threw his head back and laughed with a voice so loud it was almost painful. Watching him, I wondered if I had said something funny.

As Walter clutched his stomach, laughing, curious eyes turned towards him. A few people approached and peered, but Walter paid them no mind, wiping tears from his eyes with the back of his hand as he explained.

“When you tie your hair up like that, it swings around, you see.”

“…Right.”

“Then it gets dusty, like sand, and becomes frizzy.”

“Oh…”

Is that so? Come to think of it, Lucilla used to wear her hair like that. I glanced once at Lucilla’s hair, always tied high like a ponytail, swaying gently, then turned my gaze back to Walter.

Walter continued, still struggling to suppress his laughter, “Every morning, I wash it with a clear mind, dry it thoroughly, and regardless of the season, I apply rose oil and brush it well to get this much shine. Do you know how difficult that is?”

“…Hoo.”

Was he going through all that trouble, like a peacock?

After a moment of thought, I asked again, “Then why do you let your hair down as soon as class is over?”

“If the hair is curly, it tangles when you stroke it. Straight hair is better.”

“…”

It seemed Professor Calypse often stroked Walter’s hair.

The image was hard to imagine. I regretted asking a foolish question and closed my mouth. However, the most important question remained.

I lowered my voice. I knew others could still hear, but since there was no subject and Walter was so confident, it felt like it would be alright.

“Do you like it that much?”

Walter didn’t answer immediately.

I felt that if one were to draw his expression, it would be like the moment when the sun sets and a star-filled night descends. I kept my eyes fixed on his face as his laughter slowly subsided.

The child looked at me, then briefly at the sky, and then rubbed his cheeks with his wide, open palm.

I understood Shayden’s words. I couldn’t help but root for this child.

Anyone who saw the love that bloomed in Walter’s eyes, like the moon, must have felt the same as I did.

Instead of answering, Walter grinned again and ruffled my hair.

Today, Matt Nico had won a sparring match against a senior. The boy’s round nose, flushed with excitement from his proud victory, looked like a rabbit’s and was adorable.

When I told Rubel about it, the child asked me, “So, is Matt also pretty and cute?”

“Excuse me?”

I let out a confused sound, not immediately understanding what he meant, but the child shook his head and blushed.

Only then did I realize he was recalling what I had said during our conversation in my reception room the other day, about how all the children I met at the academy were cute and pretty.

Stroking Rubel’s soft hair, I whispered in his ear, “The senior is cuter.”

“…”

Suddenly, I wondered if Rubel also had such smooth, pretty hair, polished with rose oil every morning.

Not wanting to ask the reason, I just kept the thought to myself.

In the afternoon, during World Geography, we continued learning about the Yuil Mountains.

I didn’t know much about mines or minerals. For me, mountains were for climbing and sightseeing, not places to be dug up for wood or stone.

The only time I ever thought about digging into mountains was when I hoped to find some Spiritual Medicine lying around. Since I had never found anything good, it was just a joke.

However, Professor Casablanca insisted that the Yuil Mountains were the source that allowed the Sierran Empire to stand as a strong nation.

Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Sierran Empire’s Knights in defeating monsters, the Duke Widro Family and the Duke Grimsbein Family were able to bring wizards and laborers to the edges of the Yuil Mountains.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Grimsbein mines all the jewels of the Sierran Empire. This is especially true for gems that require high pressure and long periods of time, like rubies, sapphires, and gold ore.”

Having never held gold or jewels even in the Central Plains, I listened to the explanation while trying to match the colors and shapes of the gems to those I had received as birthday presents.

“There have been ongoing theories that the original form of gems is the Mana Stone or carcasses of monsters. In fact, research is underway to create artificial gems by forcibly applying pressure to Mana Stones.”

At this point, I realized that what Professor Briana Casablanca was teaching about the Yuil Mountains in World Geography was not what I had hoped for.

Still, hearing about the approximate distribution of ore veins and the directions the Imperial Knight Order moved each season was a small achievement.

The Basic First Aid class that followed World Geography was even more so. I sighed as I tightly wrapped a bandage around a log. Marianne proudly showed off her quickly and neatly tied knot and smiled.

“This is actually quite fun once you get into it.”

“It’s good that you find it fun.”

“Don’t you find it fun, Michael?”

There was no way I found it fun.

Ray Gibson’s first aid methods were not much different from those of the Central Plains.

If a leg was broken, a splint was applied and bandaged; if body temperature dropped, branches were rubbed together to start a fire. If bitten by poison, one was told to suck out the venom and spit it out, then rinse the mouth with clean water.

I had apparently forgotten that Sierren was also a place where people lived. After seeing only wondrous and amazing things, it felt awkward to deal with immediate problems without Magic or Alchemic drugs.

I felt this should be taught in an Exploration and Survival course, not Basic First Aid.

When I said that, Marianne laughed heartily and told me that Ray Gibson was famously known as a survival expert in Sierren.

I was dumbfounded by the tales of him getting covered in dirt and avoiding bears. It sounded like a lie. The bear should have avoided him; how could he have avoided the bear?

Grumbling inwardly, I finished tying the knot.

Still, it was good that I had become proficient after a few tries, unlike last year when I struggled to make a trap in alchemy class. The result looked neat and presentable.

“Good, good! Everyone tied it properly. The bandage needs to be this taut to effectively stop bleeding. However, depending on the severity and intensity of the wound, you’ll need to check the skin color periodically to ensure it doesn’t necrotize.”

“Yes.”

“In the event of an emergency, what is the most important thing to pay attention to?”

“Maintaining body temperature!”

“That’s right! Exactly three things: check breathing, disinfect and stop bleeding, and maintain body temperature. If you pay attention to these three, you can survive any situation!”

Ray Gibson, who had been writing on the board with a booming voice, suddenly slammed his hand down on the blackboard. The blackboard, which had merely served to be written on, looked pathetic as it dented from the blow.

When I subtly mentioned this, Marianne suppressed her laughter until tears welled up.

We were repeatedly told obvious things like lighting a campfire, pressing bare skin against another person, or layering dry clothes to maintain body temperature.

Still, since it would be on the exam, I diligently took notes. Worrying about being stranded, I thought I should acquire some Artifacts that could help maintain body temperature.

Throughout the afternoon classes, I kept thinking of Rubel’s warm ears.

Rubel, that kid, would get warm with just a few words, so there would be no need to start a fire. Thinking this, I chuckled to myself, but when Marianne invited me to laugh along, I pretended not to notice.

❖ ❖ ❖

Wednesday. I had grown accustomed to Bill Brown’s clinginess.

Before the intermediate sword art class began, the boy would sometimes hug me tightly and let go, or rest his arm on my shoulder or back and follow me around. It was substantial, but not bothersome.

In fact, it was partly because Rubel, seeing that, would sometimes extend his arms asking to be hugged, that I let it be.

In the morning, I would hug and pat Bill, then enjoy stroking the back of Rubel as he folded his large body into my embrace and whined.

Even after our various conversations, I still didn’t know how to be averse to physical contact between males. While I couldn’t grasp a girl’s shoulder, I naturally pulled a boy’s shoulder to guide him.

After satisfyingly comforting and petting the children and bidding them farewell, I learned Imperial Swordsmanship, guided by Maelo Sanson.

The intermediate sword art class had begun to fill me with joy day by day, making the mornings enjoyable again. I looked forward to waking up each day.

However, by Wednesday afternoon, my heart felt uneasy.

It was the day for Imperial Genealogy class. Today, there were no bruises on Professor Calypse Agrigent’s neck. I confirmed that last week’s marks had faded and no new ones had been imprinted.

But it turned out to be more difficult than I expected to hold the professor back after class to discuss personal matters.

Professor Calypse attended class punctually every week, so I could have requested a private meeting. But the problem was me.

Wanting to learn as much as possible, I was taking eight courses, while others took seven, and nine if you included the time with Douglas, leaving me with no free time.

Moreover, I couldn’t possibly ask about potential issues with his lover during class. I was consumed by worry.