Chapter 50: Belly Bread

After a while.

Unable to wait any longer, I asked Justia for guidance.

With the guidance of Her Highness the Princess herself, we all headed towards the faculty residence.

Justia, who had been glancing at Liliana with a peculiar expression, finally spoke up.

“Ah, by the way, Liliana. There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Well, I was curious about the reason you’re staying at the Debellion family’s residence. Could you tell me?”

“T-the reason? It’s a bit complicated to explain…”

Liliana trailed off, flustered by the difficult question.

Her face showed she was struggling to figure out how to explain.

Seeing her like that, a question arose in my mind.

‘That’s strange. I already told her about that. Why is she asking again?’

The fact that Liliana was staying at the residence to repay me.

Someone as sharp as Justia wouldn’t have forgotten that.

So there was no need to ask Liliana again.

Curious about her intentions, I glanced at Justia’s face, and her golden eyes seemed to be scrutinizing Liliana.

Ah, I see. 

She wants to assess Liliana herself.

To see what kind of person she is.

To make sure she’s not lying to her.

Since Liliana is someone close to me, Justia is being cautious in her own way.

As I watched the situation with interest, Liliana slowly began to speak.

“Well, the truth is… I owe a debt of gratitude to Lord Behirit. I want to repay him somehow, so I’m staying at the residence.”

“A debt of gratitude?”

“Yes. Actually, Lord Behirit saved me and my younger sister from slave hunters. It’s something I can never thank him enough for… I really want to repay him.”

“I see. It must have been something you’d rather forget, so thank you for being honest with me. It seems we’re similar, Liliana.”

“Similar… how?”

Liliana tilted her head in confusion.

Seeing that, Justia smiled softly and continued.

“I, too, have received immense help from the Grand Duke. I understand the feeling of wanting to repay that kindness with all my heart.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So, let’s get along well from now on, Liliana. Let’s be good friends.”

“Y-yes, let’s get along!”

As Justia flashed a radiant smile, Liliana responded with a touched expression.

Indeed. 

Both of them are good women.

I was a bit worried earlier, but it seems they’ll get along just fine, so I felt relieved.

In that warm atmosphere.

After walking a bit further, we arrived at the faculty residence.

“Here we are. It’s not as far from the main building as you might think, right?”

“Indeed. The accessibility seems good, and it should be convenient for commuting to the lecture halls.”

I nodded as I looked at the two-story residence in front of me.

Compared to the family’s main residence, it was modest, but it had a well-maintained feel.

Honestly, it looked better than the house I lived in before I transmigrated.

“Wow, there’s a garden! It’s even bigger than the one next to the student dormitory!”

At that moment, Liliana noticed the garden and her face lit up with joy.

The garden, lush under the summer sun, and Liliana’s smile, brighter than the sunlight.

A refreshing breeze blew, gently swaying the hem of her skirt.

The plump thighs hidden beneath her short skirt peeked out slightly.

Truly a breathtaking sight.

[Master. I don’t think now is the time for this.]

‘Huh?’

But as I was admiring Liliana’s delicious-looking thighs.

Cheonryeo sent a warning into my mind.

What is this guy trying to say now?

Without taking my eyes off Liliana’s thighs, I bluntly asked Cheonryeo.

‘What do you mean? Explain yourself so I can understand.’

[How should I put this… I sense an incredibly deep and negative emotion nearby.]

‘Negative emotion?’

[Yes. I think you should check it out right now.]

Cheonryeo spoke with a hint of fear in his voice.

What is this guy talking about? 

Justia is the only one next to me.

Wondering if something was wrong, I turned my head towards her.

“…”

“Grand Duke. If you don’t mind, could you explain what’s going on here?”

In the middle of a summer afternoon.

Justia, with a face as cold as ice.

Exuding a frosty aura, she pointed at the ring on Liliana’s left ring finger.

…I’m screwed.

***

To cut to the chase, fortunately, I wasn’t screwed.

Because I immediately explained.

Thinking that showing solid evidence would be better than a hundred words, I quickly pulled out the artifact from my pocket.

Seeing the ring glinting in the sunlight, Justia smiled brighter than ever.

“Well, I’ll be going now. I must maintain the top class to uphold the reputation of the royal family…”

As Liliana went inside the residence to quickly unpack, leaving just the two of us.

Justia fiddled with the ring on her left ring finger and spoke.

‘…She’s wearing it on her ring finger too.’

Honestly, I was a bit worried when I prepared the artifact as a gift, thinking the ring form might be burdensome.

But my worries were unfounded.

Everyone cherished my gift equally.

It must be thanks to the effort I put in for them over what felt like both a short and long time.

With a deep sense of pride welling up from within.

I gently held Justia’s hand and said.

“I understand. Then, you can wear that artifact on my behalf.”

“On your behalf?”

“Yes. Since it’s a gift from me. When you wear the ring, think of me as being by your side.”

“…Then I’ll wear it all the time. During lectures, meals, and even… when I’m bathing or sleeping…”

Justia said, her cheeks turning red.

She mumbled the last part so softly that she probably thought I wouldn’t hear it.

But I’m not the kind of harem protagonist who can’t hear the heroine’s whispers, so I heard it clearly.

‘By the way, I want to spend some time alone with her while we’re at the academy.’

I should ask her out on a date when I have the chance.

With that thought, I waved goodbye to her as she walked away to attend her lecture.

Once Justia was out of sight.

I turned and walked towards the residence.

[I don’t know what to say. Master, you’re quite the man.]

‘What do you mean?’

[It’s a compliment, a compliment.]

Cheonryeo said in a meaningful tone.

I patted him lightly and stopped at the entrance of the residence, looking around.

The beautiful garden spread out wide and the splendid buildings scattered around.

Despite all the things that happened, we finally arrived at the academy.

I’ll be staying here for the next month.

Just imagining it filled me with an undeniable sense of anticipation.

I went inside to rest for a while.

As time passed.

When the reddish evening sunset was setting.

I found the top-class training ground, just a five-minute walk from the residence.

“You can’t come to the academy and miss this place.”

The training ground was so vast that my muttering echoed.

I stood still and placed my hand on the scabbard.

This was the place where Luke, the original protagonist, and the top-class students of the knight department used to train.

As expected of its level, the walls were inscribed with magic formulas, and the armory was stocked with decent practice swords and spears.

[Heh. You seem pretty excited. But it’s not much compared to the family’s training ground, right?]

‘What do you know? Just stay quiet for now. I’ll infuse you with mana before we start training.’

[Ooh! Give me your thick stuff quickly!]

Cheonryeo exclaimed excitedly.

Since it’s lucky that the student cafeteria is open and no one is around, I can go all out.

I was about to draw him from the scabbard and prepare to infuse mana when a clear voice came from the entrance.

“Master!”

“Elda?”

“So it’s true that you’ve come to the academy!”

Hearing that embarrassing title after a long time, I turned to see Elda running towards me from the entrance.

She must have come here to train after her lecture, during the time when students are usually absent.

And she’s still using that embarrassing title.

I subtly relaxed my stance as I watched Elda, who was wagging her tail like a female wolf, running towards me.

[Master, huh? Really?]

‘Don’t ask me. Even though we’re not that close yet, she’s making me embarrassed too.’

[Hmm. I see. I thought you might have indulged in some irresponsible pleasure or something.]

“…”

What does she take me for?

I smoothly ignored her words and spoke to Elda.

“It’s been a while, Elda. Are you here to train?”

“Yes! It’s the time when professors usually use this place. By the way, I heard the news from the faculty office. You’ve been appointed as a visiting professor this time, right?”

Elda leaned in closer as she spoke.

I thought we weren’t in contact, but the news had already reached her.

I put Cheonryeo back into the scabbard and answered.

“Yes. I’ll be staying at the academy for about a month. I came here to do some training.”

“Ah, I see. Even though you’re so strong, you still don’t neglect your training. That’s just like the person I admire.”

Elda narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Feeling shy from her compliment, I silently nodded, and Elda flipped her long hair and said.

“Hey. If you don’t mind, how about sparring with me?”

“Sparring?”

“Yes. Without using aura.”

“Hmm.”

I was intrigued by Elda’s offer.

She is one of the top ten strongest in the empire.

Sparring with such a strong person is always welcome.

I came here to train anyway, so there’s no reason to refuse.

Without hesitation, I readily accepted her offer.

We slowly moved to create some distance.

Step, step-

“So, who will take the first move?”

“You go first. I’m stronger, so I can’t take the first move too.”

“Alright. But aren’t you going to draw your sword?”

About ten meters apart.

Elda tilted her head and asked.

I tapped the perverted sword at my waist and said.

“I’m still in the process of taming it. For now, I’ll go bare-handed.”

“Confident, aren’t you? Then I’ll go bare-handed too.”

Elda sheathed her sword and said.

She’s following my lead and going bare-handed too.

As expected of someone from the northern tribes, her fighting spirit is impressive.

But it didn’t matter whether she used a sword or went bare-handed.

I would end it as soon as it started.

“…”

After Elda sheathed her sword.

We stood in silence, staring intently at each other.

Elda, a professor at the academy’s knight department and the heroine of the original story.

What is she thinking right now?

A heavy silence filled the space between the two of us.

The air in the training ground grew tense.

Time seemed to slow down as our concentration peaked.

Crack!

Elda kicked off the ground and charged at me.

‘Fast.’

From what I know, Elda’s aura amplifies her strength and speed.

Even without activating her aura, she was faster than any ordinary knight could handle.

‘But no matter how fast you are, if your feet are tied, it’s useless.’

Shall we give it a try?

As Elda charged at me.

I raised my foot high and then stomped it down hard on the ground.

Boom!

[Using authority.]

[The target resists.]

“Hah, not a chance!”

Elda bared her fangs and smiled confidently.

As expected, it was blocked.

But through my training, I had learned something.

When blocking the Heavenly Demon’s Descent, the opponent consumes a large amount of mana to resist the intrusion of my mana.

Well, a Swordmaster might be different.

But most opponents become vulnerable for a split second as they reorganize their mana.

And that’s when they show an opening.

Whoosh!

“Huh!?”

As I charged back and closed the distance, Elda’s eyes widened.

Did she sense the danger?

The usually confident black-haired, black-eyed beauty looked flustered, which oddly aroused a sadistic pleasure in me.

‘It’s just a spar, so a light tap on the stomach should be fine.’

I felt bad about ending the spar so quickly, and I didn’t want to hurt her.

I raised my right fist slightly.

Aiming for just below her stomach, I hesitated.

‘…’

I instinctively knew.

This was a precious place.

I must not touch it.

So, a bit higher.

Between the navel and the solar plexus.

I lightly tapped it with my fist.

Whoosh.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

My large, firm fist sank into Elda’s abdomen.

She bent over, clutching her knees and coughing.

“Hey, are you okay…?”

“I-I’m… fine… huff… huff…”

I gently placed my hand on her back and asked, but she continued to struggle for breath.

No… I didn’t hit her that hard.

I didn’t expect a warrior as trained as her to be in so much pain.

Is she really okay?

As I worried, Cheonryeo, who had been silent, spoke up.

[Hey. Master.]

‘Yeah?’

[I get that you’re worried about her, but if what I’m sensing is correct, she should be fine.]

‘What nonsense. She’s clearly in pain right now.’

[No. Just hear me out.]

Cheonryeo spoke with a rare tone of confidence.

What is it? 

Is it really as okay as he says?

I don’t know what he’s trying to say, but I guess I should listen for now.

I continued to gently pat Elda’s back as she coughed and drooled.

I focused all my attention on what Cheonryeo was about to say.

And then, after a moment.

Her words echoed in my mind.

[This woman… seems to like being hit on the stomach.]