A few days had passed since the practical evaluation.
To start with the results—of course, the first place went to none other than Lisanna.
‘Well, that was expected.’
Aside from us, the assistant instructors, there weren’t really any students who could compete with those three… No, to be precise, with Lisanna and Willy.
So, it was only natural that those three would take first place.
—Kyuut!
At that mont, Yong-yong softly climbed onto the top of my head.
Ever since the courage test, this little guy had taken a particular liking to perching on my head.
Of course, since he was fairly intelligent, he used invisibility magic when we were outside.
‘As expected of a dragon, a prodigy in the making.’
So people take an absurd amount of ti to learn a single spell, but this guy saw Skaya use invisibility magic a few tis and mastered it in an instant.
Well, invisibility magic is a low-tier spell, so that might have helped.
‘Still, this feels a little unfair.’
Just as I was thinking that and getting ready for school, Kage knocked on my door.
“Master, I’m coming in!”
The next mont, Kage opened the door and entered.
—Kyu…
“……”
Kage and Yong-yong locked eyes with intense glares.
Wait, why were these two always fighting?
I could sowhat understand Yong-yong’s attitude since he hated being touched by anyone other than .
But I had no clue why Kage was looking at him with such hostility.
“Why do you two always fight whenever you get the chance?”
—Kyuuut! Kyuuut!
Yong-yong waved his tiny arms wildly as if explaining sothing passionately, but I couldn’t understand a single word.
Kage smirked as he watched and then muttered,
“What a pathetic little lizard that can’t even speak properly.”
Hatchling or not, dragons couldn’t speak human language yet, but they could still understand it.
Which ant—
—Kyuuuuut!
“Ahh!”
Yong-yong understood that Kage had insulted him.
He imdiately bit down on Kage’s arm, and Kage, in turn, threw him onto the bed.
“Ugh, you guys…”
Just as I sighed deeply and tried to break them up—
“Young Master, it’s about ti to leave for school.”
I heard Lise’s voice from outside the door.
I called out in response.
“Yeah, I’ll be right out.”
Turning back to the two troublemakers, I saw them growling at each other again the mont I looked away.
I narrowed my eyes.
“This won’t do. Both of you, write two full pages of reflection letters before I get back.”
“?!”
Both of them flinched in shock.
Kage imdiately put on a wronged expression.
“Master! That lizard started it! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Whether he started it or not, you still insulted him. You could’ve just ignored it.”
—Kyuu! Kyuu!
Yong-yong nodded smugly as if in agreent.
“And you, Yong-yong, what are you so proud of?”
—Kyuu! Kyuu!
He also protested as if he had been unfairly accused, but…
“I don’t care. If you don’t write it, no snacks for a week.”
“?!”
The ntion of losing snacks hit them hard.
The once-proud dragon and the forr princess of the beastkin both wavered.
The next mont—
“We just have to finish it before you get back, right?”
—Kyuu?
As if they had intended to do it all along, they quickly switched attitudes.
Watching them, I smiled in satisfaction.
“Yeah. If you write it properly, I’ll give you snacks, so do a good job.”
“Okay, Master!”
—Kyuu!
After confirming their agreent, I left the room.
Then—
“Oh, Kaine.”
I saw Lien, Ange’s mother, in my sight.
Looking at her, a thought popped into my head.
‘Co to think of it, Lien used to raise a child.’
Of course, she had no choice but to leave her at the orphanage later, but she still had experience.
So—
“Lien, could you watch over Yong-yong and Kage in my room for a bit?”
“Huh? Watch over them?”
She tilted her head in confusion, so I explained what had just happened.
After hearing it, she nodded confidently.
“Oh, if that’s the case, leave it to . I used to discipline Ange a lot when she was younger.”
“……”
For so reason, I just couldn’t picture Ange getting scolded.
“Anyway, if they don’t listen, just tell them no snacks. And if it gets tough, you can ask Lise for help.”
“Understood.”
“Alright then, I need to head to school now.”
With that, I quickly left the mansion.
On the way to school, a thought crossed my mind—
‘Wait… Can Yong-yong even write?’
But in the end, it didn’t really matter.
Lunchti finally arrived after finishing the morning classes.
After eating, I quickly called Sien.
Not long after—
“Huff… Huff… I’m here, Kaine.”
Sien arrived at the back of the main building, gasping for breath. Since his physical abilities were at the level of an ordinary person now, even a little running left him exhausted.
‘Well, that’s what you get for betraying my expectations.’
If he had just stayed put, things would’ve gone smoother. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
I kindly handed him so water.
“Drink this and catch your breath.”
“Yes.”
Sien gulped it down in a hurry. I waited until he had cald down a bit before asking,
“So? Did you do what I asked?”
“Yes. As per your orders, I spread false information about Andrew.”
“Hm. Doesn’t seem like a lie.”
If he were lying, I would have imdiately received a system warning ssage. Since there was no such reaction, his words must be true.
“Well, that was the most important part. Now, what about the information on dragons and the assassination attempt on ?”
At my question, Sien carefully explained everything he had learned from Andrew in detail.
I listened and fell into thought.
‘An artifact created by the Grand Duke?’
What’s that?
I had never heard of it before. Even in the original story, there was barely any ntion of the Grand Duke.
Just as I was getting lost in deep thought—
[The Goddess of Happiness asks if it could be that thing.]
[The Goddess of Fate tells her to wait a mont while she thinks.]
The two goddesses were exuding an intensely serious atmosphere.
Realizing sothing unusual was going on, I dismissed Sien for now.
“Alright. You did well. Keep playing the double agent role for now. You can go—I need so ti to think.”
“Yes, understood.”
Sien nodded and disappeared, looking sowhat dejected.
Once I was sure there was no one around, I turned to the two goddesses who were having a serious discussion.
“Hey, instead of talking among yourselves, why don’t you let in on it? You both look pretty serious.”
[The Goddess of Fate says she’ll explain right away.]
At my request, she began her explanation.
After hearing it, I finally understood why they were so serious.
At the sa ti—
‘No way. I never expected to see a ti machine… in a ga world.’
I was dumbfounded.
The artifact created by the Grand Duke was none other than a ti machine.
And the reason he made it was even more ridiculous.
‘What kind of lunatic builds a ti machine out of jealousy?’
The Grand Duke had made it because of the Goddess of Dinsions.
Unlike other transcendent beings, she was incomparably powerful and could travel freely through ti and space.
Blinded by envy, the Grand Duke tried to imitate her and built a ti machine—but—
‘It was a half-baked attempt.’
That was because he couldn’t travel to the exact ti he wanted—past or future.
In the end, realizing it was pointless, he buried the ti machine sowhere on the continent.
Since there was nothing more to gain from discussing it further—
“Wait a second. Then… isn’t that thing still active?”
[The Goddess of Fate says they half-destroyed that artifact a few years ago.]
“…Okay. Then putting that aside, does the cult currently have the artifact?”
[The Goddess of Happiness says that since it’s just a doorway, it’s impossible to take it anywhere.]
Hmm. In that case, it doesn’t seem like sothing I need to worry about too much.
I’d always wondered why a hatchling dragon still existed in this era, but if it accidentally used the ti machine, then everything makes sense.
‘A dragon being alive in this era doesn’t make any sense.’
Even if one had survived, an adult dragon would be understandable, but a hatchling was basically impossible—unless it had sealed itself away.
At that mont—
-♬♩♪
The bell signaling the end of lunch rang.
“Ah… damn it.”
I had spent the whole break dealing with this ss instead of resting.
Grumbling, I hurriedly ran to my next class.
.
.
.
After finishing all my classes for the day, I was on my way ho when I heard a familiar voice.
“Darling!!!”
It was none other than Lisanna.
I turned to look at her.
“Hm? What?”
“What do you an ‘what’? I’m calling you so we can walk ho together!”
She spoke in an overly cheerful tone.
I guess she was in a good mood because there were no love rivals around .
And judging by her reaction—
“By the way, no one else is here? I thought for sure soone would be with you.”
She imdiately inquired about the whereabouts of the other girls.
I shrugged and replied,
“Well, I had a different afternoon class, so I finished early. They’re probably still in class.”
“Huh… I see. Anyway, Kaine.”
She nodded with a sly smile before abruptly questioning .
“Why didn’t you tell we’re going to Herrion Village in Gosford Territory for the field trip?”
“…”
Because there was no reason to tell you?
I almost said that out loud but swallowed it when I saw her sharp gaze.
My brain went into overdrive as I tried to find the best response.
And the conclusion I reached—
“Ah… I forgot.”
I pulled out the classic politician’s excuse.
For a mont—
“…I don’t believe you, but whatever. In that case, let’s go together. I was planning on visiting my hotown during the field trip anyway.”
“Hm…”
She gave a seductive smile and invited to join her.
The place I was heading to was indeed Lisana’s hotown.
There was no downside to traveling with her.
However—
“I don’t mind, but I’m not going alone, you know?”
“…Huh?”
That’s right.
I wasn’t traveling alone.
I had companions.
And those companions were—
“Lise, Kaige, and Yong-yong are coming too.”
“Ah… so you’re not going alone… Well, I’d prefer it to be just the two of us, but whatever. I don’t really care which field trip I take anyway.”
Ever since the courage test, Lisanna had been getting even bolder with her advances.
In the end, I gave in and nodded.
“Alright. Then let’s et at the gate tomorrow.”
And just like that, Lisanna beca a part of our trip.
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