Chapter 38

‘Yeah. Gideon, I really do like you.’

Lisa thought to herself as she watched Gideon eat.

She had met many people in her life, but Gideon was unlike anyone she had ever encountered before.

‘He’s so much better than those people who do nothing but lie and drag each other down.’

Lisa had always been good at distinguishing liars since she was a child.

That was why she could tell just how honest Gideon was.

‘He never lies to me. Even if he does, it’s only on rare occasions, just to be considerate. And… he never tries that ridiculous flattery either.’

Lisa had never liked the noble society filled with deceit since her youth.

As she grew older, she gradually distanced herself from people.

Those she stayed close to were only her family members, Sara, Jason, and a few members of the Royalty.

She had no intention of expanding her social circle any further, but a new junior who recently joined the Disciplinary Committee had become an exception.

‘I like how hardworking he is too. That clear goal of wanting to restore his fallen family through success… he even said he’d use me if that’s what it took to save it.’

Lisa smiled faintly as she looked at Gideon.

Although Gideon had said he would use her connections, in truth, Lisa now wanted to step forward and help him herself.

She wanted to see him succeed.

“Lady Lisa? Why are you suddenly smiling while looking at me…?”

“Hmm? Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about you for a bit.”

“May I ask why you were smiling while thinking about me…?”

“I just thought you’re a really good person.”

Lisa reached out her hand and began to stroke Gideon’s hair.

Gideon flinched but forced himself to stay composed and continued eating.

Seeing that, Lisa smiled even wider and kept gently touching his hair.

“Gideon, why don’t you discriminate against people?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You may be from a fallen noble family, but you’re still a noble. You have plenty of privileges in this Empire, and you could look down on commoners all you want. Because you’re a noble.”

Lisa looked straight into Gideon’s eyes.

She wanted to confirm whether he was lying or not.

“But you’ve never looked down on commoners. When you worked with me, you treated nobles and commoners the same. I was just wondering if there’s a reason for that.”

“There’s no special reason.”

After a brief hesitation, Gideon finally spoke.

He thought about coming up with an excuse, but he remembered there was no point in lying in front of Lisa.

So he decided to be honest—as much as he could without revealing that he was transmigrated.

“To me, everyone just looks the same as a person.”

“Same as me, then.”

Lisa found it rather fascinating.

She had never met another noble who shared that same belief.

‘He’s not lying this time either. Gideon really does… see people as equals. Just like I do.’

Lisa liked Gideon even more.

At this point, she wondered if it might even be fate, and a question suddenly rose to her mind.

“Have you heard that rumor?”

“What rumor do you mean?”

“The one that says you and I are lovers.”

“Ugh—cough!”

At Lisa’s words, Gideon suddenly choked as if caught off guard.

“Cough… Ah. Y-Yes, I’ve… heard it before.”

“What do you think about it?”

“I considered it just a false rumor and saw no reason to dwell on it. But if it bothers you, I could—”

“No, it doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about what others think of me to begin with.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, but haven’t you ever thought anything about that rumor?”

“Yes, I didn’t… no, I did think about it a little.”

Gideon decided it was better to speak some truth than to tell an unnecessary lie.

“I was worried that I might be causing you some trouble.”

“That was a needless worry. But trouble? You think a rumor about you being my lover would cause me trouble?”

“Yes. It’s just that… you’re the strong next head candidate of the Balmuth Family. Getting involved with a fallen noble like me wouldn’t do you any good…”

“Hmm, I don’t know about that. I actually think you’re more than qualified to be my lover. Ah, hold still for a moment.”

Lisa took out a napkin and wiped the sauce around Gideon’s mouth.

Gideon flinched again but quickly thanked her.

“T-Thank you.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

Lisa wondered for a moment if Gideon might really be fine as her lover.

After all, among all the people she had ever met, Gideon was the one she felt the strongest affection for.

But she quickly erased that thought from her mind.

‘Don’t entertain such feelings. If Gideon becomes my lover, he’ll only end up suffering.’

Lisa knew very well about the power flowing through the Balmuth Family’s blood—and the price that came with it.

‘Since I’ll soon be an adult… is it about time I start consuming human blood?’

With that thought, Lisa looked at Gideon again.

She sincerely hoped Gideon would succeed as a swordsman.

She didn’t want to make him her lover—or worse, her husband—and clip his wings, keeping him trapped by her side for the rest of his life.

She wanted her junior to become a great swordsman who fully bloomed his talent.

“…Haaah.”

Lisa sighed unconsciously.

Looking at reality, she realized just how foolish her earlier thoughts about making Gideon her lover had been.

“Lady Lisa? Are you alright?”

“Hm? Oh, I’m fine. Don’t mind me, just finish your meal.”

“Yes, understood.”

Gideon continued eating with a slightly uneasy look, while Lisa watched him with a faint trace of regret in her expression.

‘Lisa’s behavior is kind of strange.’

Her constantly patting my hair like that… that was something that only happened after quite a bit of affection had been built up.

Though Lisa’s behavior bothered me somewhat, I decided to think about it later.

Being patted on the head wasn’t exactly a big problem, after all.

It would only become one if her affection increased enough for her to act even bolder—but we weren’t at that point yet.

So I decided to just let it slide for now…

“Anyway, Lady Lisa?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it really okay for me to join you on tonight’s night patrol?”

“Of course. If anything, having you with me will make it less boring.”

“Understood.”

I nodded in response.

But then, a question suddenly crossed my mind.

‘Come to think of it, what time did that incident happen tonight?’

The episode that would occur this evening.

I couldn’t remember exactly what time it took place.

No, I had never actually known the exact time.

Even in the game, it was never clearly described when the incident occurred.

It only said it happened in the evening—no specific time was given.

‘It was after sunset, and a few students were wandering around… maybe around nine o’clock?’

I tried to estimate based on the little information I had, but soon gave up on the thought.

Either way, it was certain that it would happen tonight.

So I just needed to stay alert once the sun went down.

Time passed, and it was a little past eight in the evening.

Lisa and I continued our Disciplinary Committee duties as usual.

“There was a report about a giant hornet’s nest being found, and that’s supposed to be it, right?”

“Yes, they said the nest is inside that tree.”

I nodded and replied, then drew my Mistcatcher.

Three large hornets flying nearby were swiftly struck down.

Cha-cha-chang―

“They really are huge.”

Each one was nearly twenty centimeters long.

Their poison supposedly wasn’t that potent compared to their size, but getting stung would definitely hurt a lot.

As I moved to clear away the hornets I had just cut down…

“Kyaaaah!”

“Uh… Lady Lisa?”

When I turned to the side, Lisa was frozen stiff, letting out a shriek.

I didn’t understand what was going on at first, but then I noticed her stepping backward, staring at the hornet corpses on the ground.

“Lady Lisa?”

“…Ah.”

Lisa froze as soon as our eyes met.

Then she quickly turned her head away.

She avoided my gaze, her face redder than I’d ever seen it.

“Pretend you didn’t hear that. And that you didn’t see anything either.”

“Understood.”

It was my first time seeing the usually calm and composed Lisa scream.

But then I remembered something from the game—Lisa had, indeed, shown this kind of reaction before…

“Lady Lisa, could it be that you’re afraid of insec—”

“Don’t say it.”

“…Yes.”

Right, come to think of it, Lisa was canonically afraid of insects.

She clearly found that fact very embarrassing, so it was best not to bring it up again…

“Ah? Please be careful.”

Four giant hornets flew toward us from nearby.

I quickly swung my sword, striking them down midair.

A clean, straightforward slash.

However, during that process, two hornet corpses ended up falling—one onto the top of Lisa’s head, and another on her shoulder.

“……”

“…Ah.”

“…G-Gideon.”

“Yes?”

“P-Please… get them off. Those insects… hurry, get them off me.”

Lisa stood frozen, trembling all over.

She looked like she was about to cry—no, she was crying.

Tears were welling up at the corners of her eyes.

“A-Alright.”

I quickly brushed away the hornet corpses that had landed on her.

The moment they were gone, Lisa’s legs gave out and she sank down to the ground.

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh…”

Lisa’s face was as red as her hair.

Seeing her like this, after being so expressionless all the time, was certainly a refreshing sight—but this wasn’t the time to admire it.

I needed to comfort her somehow…

“Forget what you just saw.”

“Yes, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

“To think I showed such a sight… of all people, in front of you…”

Lisa muttered something under her breath, but I decided to act as if I hadn’t heard.

“I was originally planning to suggest that we take care of that beehive ourselves, but it might be better to call for a magic instructor instead. Judging by the nest’s size, relying on magic would be more efficient than me handling it alone…”

“Sorry. You have to deal with this just because of me…”

“N-No, not at all. Considering the hive’s actual size, requesting help really is the better option…”

I tried my best to lift Lisa’s spirits, which had clearly sunk due to embarrassment.

But just then—

Kraaaah―!

A deafening roar echoed from behind the Academy castle.

The moment I heard it, I immediately realized it.

The episode for tonight had finally begun.

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