Surviving Winter (5)
Lortel smiled.
I heard a rumor that there were a lot of big names among the new students coming this year, and I had a rough idea of their identities.
If you look at Tanya with slightly open eyes, you will see that she looks a lot like my brother.
The sharp eyes and bright blonde hair are clearly the same. However, his behavior feels particularly different from Ed.
Ed Rothtaylor’s strange sense of life and stoutness have largely died down, and his dignified demeanor as an aristocrat has taken its place.
You feel confident, but not arrogant. Is this the elegance of a young lady who has been educated for a long time?
It may not be a very pleasant impression on Lortel, who came from the bottom, but he is still Ed Rothtaylor’s younger brother.
There is nothing good about looking ugly, so they say they should have dressed up enough to show up, so they are saying that they are going to kick Ed out.
“Have you ever met that man, Senior Lortel?”
“Yes, there is.”
The reason I can let go of the conversation without thinking about it is because of the one-year crisis.
In Sylvania, the land of learning, even nobles must show the minimum courtesy according to their grade. Of course, since you can’t treat a noble like that, it’s closer to bowing down and bowing down.
The only people who can transcend this principle are those who are like the heart of the continent, such as the royal family or saints.
“Then there is no need for a long explanation. You know very well what kind of man he is.”
“I know.”
“He is a stain on the Ross Taylor family and a disgusting person. I have lived with that man since I was a child, so I know him well. He is a shallow person full of bravado and lacking in elegance. Such a person is not in the position of heir to the family just because he is older. While… how much I lamented to the world.”
Lortel instantly turned his head as he drank his tea.
I feel a bit embarrassed by the sudden situation, but anyway, looking at the situation, it’s not that complicated.
The question is how to deal with it.
What is certain is that closing the door is not a good option here.
“Still, I believed that everything in the world was going in the right direction and that he would fall for my vanity someday. I acted like a quiet daughter, calling him a brother and a brother in front of his eyes, but after that, I stayed up all night studying and improving myself. ”
“It must have been difficult.”
“He is nothing compared to senior Lortel, who rose from the bottom. In any case, such a person should not be allowed to set foot in Sylvania. He is a person who will one day tarnish the reputation of the noble Sylvania Academy, and it is a disgrace to our Rothtaylor family. ”
Basically, it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the daughter of the Ross Taylor family.
Even though Lortel is a senior within Sylvania Academy, his social status cannot be regarded as negligible.
He is loved by Crepin and has great potential to become a person who will one day seize power.
Also, Tanya harbors ill feelings toward Ed, but it is unclear whether Ed may also view Tanya as an enemy. If Ed hurts his younger brother for no reason, his feelings may be greatly hurt.
In fact, it is also a problem before the emotional part.
The asset of personal connections is much more honest than gold coins.
It becomes wider and deeper in direct proportion to the time and effort put into it.
And Tanya Rosstaylor is a very good asset. For Lortel, which views everything in the world from a business perspective, there is no other investment opportunity like this.
In that case, the correct answer would be to win the other person’s favor by pretending to cooperate moderately. From now on, no matter what plot you plot, you just have to do it without your opponent knowing.
If I had to pick the correct answer, it would be this, but…
“The more I listen, the more I wonder how on earth Lord Telos allowed a person like this to have the blood of Rostaylor. I’ve taken fighting lessons since I was young, but I’ve never had any real results. . He was a man who fell for the gossip of his vassals and was filled with pride, believing that he was talented.”
“Yes, I see.”
“I don’t have the courage to try various fields, but in the end, I give up after only scratching the surface. However, my pride is so high that I never admit my incompetence. I managed to become a great
wizard of any kind with just a little bit of awareness of magic power. ” I was so shocked when I entered Sylvania with my voice raised and barely able to do pull-ups. Well, I was so relieved to see him end up like this after getting into an accident after not even being able to go for a few years.
”
I can’t describe the resentment that Tanya has towards Ed. .
Tanya worked day and night all her life to protect the name and dignity of Ross Taylor, but she could not do her part and had to live under the pressure of Ed, who was full of vanity.
It was bearable until the eldest daughter Arwen was alive.
At least Arwen was a role model who possessed everything a member of Los Tailor should have. As a daughter, I lived with the thought that it would be nice if I could at least touch Arwen’s toes.
However, after Arwen died mysteriously and the pathetic Ed took over as successor, he was in pain and trembled at the irrationality of the world.
How frustrating it was to know that Rosstaylor’s future was entrusted to a man whose capabilities were not even that of an ordinary nobleman, let alone Arwen.
“I lived my life acting like an obedient, kind, and simple younger brother in front of that man, but now there’s no need to do that anymore. Now that man’s true origins have been revealed to the world. He’s full of vanity and pride, and can’t find a single trace of substance. Someone as senior as Lortel would have guessed that he was that kind of man in an instant.”
“so?”
“Yes. So, this opportunity… um…”
I started talking excitedly but suddenly found myself speechless. Tanya only now realized the unnaturalness of the conversation.
There is no back and forth in conversation. From earlier, Lortel had been answering Tanya’s words with only short answers.
I looked at Lortel’s face again, wondering if I had done something rude, but he was still smiling.
A blue rose hairpin on top of neatly curled auburn hair. Although it looks simple, the hem of the dress, with its sometimes flashy frills, doesn’t even move.
It looks like a still image, but the hair is steadily shaking due to gravity.
There is no particular emotional expression. Just smiling.
“I… that…”
“Why?”
“No… did I do something rude?”
“no.”
In any case, there is a high possibility that the person sent by Crepin as an agent has potential or talent in a certain field.
He is not a person who is driven by affection and wastes his money on someone. Unless you have some sort of talent… or something of value, you are the type of person who doesn’t have any expectations from the beginning.
However, in Lortel’s eyes, that possibility was not yet clear.
I don’t know what kind of talent Tanya was born with, but it doesn’t seem like that talent has blossomed yet.
It seems that there needs to be some kind of opportunity for Tanaria to be able to judge the proper character of a human being… but in fact, this is a problem that came before that.
“No, it looks like you’re angry… I guess it’s my mistake, right?”
“You’re angry. What are you talking about?”
Lortel is a person of cold reason who does not lose logic in the face of any variables or crises. He is famous as a role model for merchants by always making reasonable choices.
Tanya also knew that very well. This is because Crepin told us in advance.
But unfortunately… there was a variable that neither Crepin nor Tanya could calculate.
The real power of Elte Company, the Golden Daughter, the devil who sold her soul for gold coins, the great savior… What we end up forgetting because of her actions filled with all kinds of rhetoric… is that, in the end, she is also a girl of that age.
Although she never loses rationality in the face of all kinds of variables, there is definitely one unpleasant thing that should not be touched.
The cross veins protruding above his forehead proved that fact.
“By the way, have you finished your tea?”
Plans are quickly formed over Lortel’s cold head.
* [Book of Learning: Lieutenant Magic – ‘One Point Explosion’]
[Book of Learning: Lieutenant Magic – ‘Wind of Origin’]
Last night, I crossed the camp with a few magic books I had brought from Professor Glast’s library under my arm.
It’s not a very valuable book. Although you can only borrow items from the student library, it was very convenient not to have to worry about return dates.
– ‘Thank you for today. I only have to do simple document processing tomorrow, so please come by one more time the day after tomorrow when I’m working on building the test site. Other than that, all you have to do is help with supervision on the day of the test.’
The first day of undergraduate scholarship work was somewhat completed. I feel like Anise suffered more than me.
It was annoying because there was a lot of moving around, but compared to physical labor, it wasn’t that difficult.
The sun is already setting. Winter is a season like that. If you let your guard down for a moment, darkness will soon take over the sky.
I was thinking about going into the cabin early, but I just sat by the campfire.
On days when the fierce wind is blowing, just being outside is hard work, but on days like today when the warmth remains after the snow has fallen, it is worth staying outside even if you just light a bonfire.
He habitually manifests his magic power and casts ignition magic towards the bonfire.
But the fire did not start.
“Ah… That’s right…”
I can’t use my magical power right now. If possible, I thought I would read a book outside in the fresh air, but it’s a bit awkward if there’s no campfire at all.
I raised my head and looked around the camp. I mainly looked at the trees and the flat rocks on the roof of the cabin, but I couldn’t see anything in particular.
After thinking about it for a while, I got up from my seat and headed towards the cabin.
When I opened the wooden door of the rather nice-looking cabin and looked towards the bed, I saw that the inside of the blanket was bulging.
In the past, it was something that would pop out in various ways in many unimaginable places, but these days it feels like it’s become a bit of a pattern. Or maybe I’m just used to it and can see through this guy’s range of actions.
“Hey Lucy.”
When I take off the blanket, there is Lucy, curled up and asleep. The place where I am exhaling slowly is completely my home.
As I gently lift Lucy’s witch hat, a small hand comes up and grabs the hat.
“Light a fire.”
Lucy raised her upper body with sleepy eyes and tilted her head. When I quickly took out a piece of beef jerky from the bag and held it out to him, he took it in his mouth without any hesitation.
And when he lifts both hands in a flash, it takes on the appearance of asking to be picked up and lifted up. It’s my fault, so I’m not really complaining. Anyway, Lucy’s weight is so light that you wonder if it’s okay for a person to be like this.
As I went out to the bonfire with Lucy in my arms, the fire burst into flames before I could say anything. I roughly thanked her and pretended to let her into the cabin again, but Lucy quickly grabbed me by the collar.
“I want to stay outside too.”
“Sure.”
Anyway, while I can’t use my magic, I plan to get a lot of help from Lucy in various ways. I needed some help from Lucy, at least during this winter.
When I went near the flat rock next to the campfire without any complaints, Lucy came down quickly, sat down first, and tapped the empty seat next to her with a cheerful gesture.
I took the magic book and sat down, and Lucy lay down with her head in my lap and her arms outstretched. I can’t tell if I’m treating a person as a pillow or a pillow as a person.
– I have heard the sound of a crackling
bonfire burning so many times that I feel like it is now filtered out by my ears.
It’s a little dark because of the time. I frowned, thinking that reading the book by the light of the campfire alone would be a bit difficult, and a flame floating in the air burst into my ear.
It is warm and provides an appropriate light source for reading books. The person who used that fire magic fell down on my lap and was just resting, looking blankly into space. This guy is strangely delicate in these areas…
A winter forest with no wind is especially quiet.
The sound of turning the pages of a book several times. The sound of a bonfire burning. Those two are all you hear.
The sound of insects chirping all year round can be heard, so when you sit quietly in the cold air, it feels as if the whole world has stopped.
“Hmm…”
I quietly turned the pages and reviewed the theories. You are mostly familiar with the theories learned in elemental science classes, but if you actually want to master a specific mid-level magic, you will need more in-depth information.
Because the intermediate magic each student wants to learn is different, it is not easy to learn appropriately with only comprehensive class content.
In the end, some degree of self-study is inevitably necessary.
Since you can’t use magic, you won’t be able to practice on your own, but if you at least master the theory… by the time vacation is over, you’ll be able to even master mid-level magic.
The mid-level magic I’m aiming for is ‘One Point Explosion’ and ‘Wind of Origin’.
Based on numerous training experiences, if you want to efficiently increase your combat ability by appropriately combining fire magic and wind magic, the combination of these two magics is the best.
Once you learn intermediate magic, you will be able to call yourself a person who has learned magic professionally. The key is how many you can learn, but it would be a good idea to learn at least those two anyway.
“I smell perfume.”
Suddenly, Lucy, who was lying still, said something out of the blue.
“okay?”
After working all day at school and hanging out with Anise, the scent of the flower seemed to be on my body. Perhaps the decisive factor was when Anise accidentally slipped on the mountain she climbed.
Lucy puts her nose to the sleeve of her dress and sniffs it, then immediately puts her nose to my chest again and sniffs it. Then he pushed my chest with his arms, raised his upper body, and tilted his head.
“Fever? Are you sick?”
“Is it obvious?”
“Don’t get sick. If you get sick, you could die.”
Now I am living with a mild fever. It was a side effect of using Professor Glast’s ring.
This is what she felt when she collapsed from overwork, but Lucy hates it when someone around her collapses from illness. I guess it’s because of my experience of losing someone to illness.
“It’s not a fatal disease, so don’t worry.”
“If you’ve lost your magic, I’ll free you.”
After saying that, I pressed my chest tightly, but I quickly realized what was happening.
It’s not that the magic power is twisted. It was empty because it had no magical power.
For a moment, Lucy looked like she was wondering what this was, but quickly nodded as if she understood.
“…I did something reckless.”
“It’s manageable.”
“Once winter is over… I guess I’ll get a lot stronger…”
Lucy muttered those words before relaxing her body again and lying down on her stomach.
Anyway, there was so much to do during the winter. Although the warmth after the snow has now enveloped the forest, there will certainly be many days when bitter cold, heavy snow, and sharp winds will hit the camp.
The cabin needs some more reinforcement. I could somehow provide food, but the durability of the camp itself was something I had no choice but to do.
“You know, can I ask you one strange favor?”
“Strange request?”
Lucy took off her witch hat and flashed her pure white hair.
“Do you want to pat your head?”
When I looked at him with a puzzled expression, he quickly grabbed my wrist and placed it on top of his head.
As I patted her, Lucy continued to moan and slowly fell asleep.
The way he slowly drifts into sleep as if he is remembering something… I think I have seen it many times.
When the peaceful winter ends and spring comes, it will definitely be time to wake up from winter sleep.
In some ways, this winter… was Lucy Mayril’s never-ending break.
1. Establish a plan to organize the workshop v 2. Build a warehouse to store materials 3. Expand the cabin 4. Check the scenario v 5. Check the work of the bachelor’s scholarship student v 6. Raise your magic engineering proficiency by three levels or more 7. Acquire bow-related special skills 8. Mastering intermediate magic theory v 9. Making a contract with a high-ranking spirit v
“…”
How much time had passed? A sound was heard coming through the grass.
Lortel was not dressed in flashy clothes like usual, but rather wore a simple semi-robe with his hair tied down on one side.
I’ve often heard that Elte Trading Company has become incredibly busy as the vacation season approaches. I was thinking that there was nothing I could do about it, even if the work related to the magic engineering supplies I had requested was pushed back and became sluggish.
“Oh Lortel.”
“It’s been a while, Senior Ed. I came here because I had something to tell you. There are also some things I want to ask you.”
“You mean the things I asked you to do last time? Just tell me to come to the Elte Company and I will come find you. Why did you come all the way to the camp? Why bother?”
“Oh no… it’s okay…”
Lortel stopped speaking and was lost in thought for a moment.
He was staring blankly at Lucy for a long time, running his finger over his chin.
*
“That’s it.”
A guardian of the northern pastures brought in and raised by the Islan family.
Spear of Vegetation Zix Eiffelstein.
This is one of the people that Golden Daughter Lortel recommended to Tanya. I heard that among the seniors who will soon be in their second year, except for Lucy, a rare genius wizard, he is the one with the highest level of power in the Ministry of Magic.
The amount of magic he was born with wasn’t that great, and the power of magic alone might be enough to put him behind other Class A students… I heard that he has a fighting sense that is unparalleled in one-on-one battles.
In addition, I heard that he has a deep reputation and is trusted by most prospective second-year students… Lortel’s advice was that if you want to recruit prospective second-year students, you must first recruit Ziggs.
You won’t be full after the first drink, so make sure to at least meet your palate first. It was truly her advice.
The location was at the beginning of the road leading to Lorail Hall, an honor student dormitory on the outskirts of the living building.
The first impression of Ziggs was that he was truly impressive. He was carrying six or seven suitcases the size of a person’s upper body, stacked on top of each other, by himself.
Behind Ziggs, librarian Elka Islan was following along, carrying a small luggage bag. From anyone’s perspective, it looks like they are going somewhere to migrate on a large scale.
“It’s a bit of a long story, but thank you for listening to the end. The point is simple.”
Tanya smiles and greets you politely.
“If you follow me and help me punish that man, I will give you the best reward I can. I can promise this in the name of the Ross Taylor family and with a notarization from the Elte Company. The forms of the case can vary. For example. Listen… The Islan family has many renowned archaeological researchers, right? I could share with you some of the ancient art pieces in the Rosstaylor family warehouse.”
“Really?! …Oops…”
It was Ziggs’ lover, Elka Islan, who responded to those words.
Ziggs and Elka were in the process of packing up their belongings as they were planning to go back to their parents’ house during the vacation.
Ziggs, who had been listening for a moment after putting down all his luggage and sitting roughly on a large wooden bag, narrowed his eyes.
“Okay…”
Ziggs kicked off his bag and stood up, walking towards Tanya and getting close to her.
Compared to his sturdy body, Ziggs is not overwhelmingly large. Still, she was quite large compared to the relatively small Tanya, so she had no choice but to naturally swallow dry saliva.
You can clearly feel the magical energy flowing through your body. Ziggs’ eyes, looking down at Tanya with a cold gaze, give me goosebumps.
“You…are senior Ed’s younger brother?”
“Yeah…hehe.”
In an instant, the tail of the horse went up. Tanya quickly took a deep breath, but Ziggs let out a cold laugh in the tense atmosphere.
“Haha, did you hear, Elka? This is senior Ed’s younger brother.”
The atmosphere is unusual.
By the time Tanya noticed, the situation had already completely passed.
Ziggs put his hand into his chest with dull movements and immediately took out a magic engineering item in the shape of a round bead.
The moment Tanya became nervous, wondering what was going on, Ziggs put magic engineering supplies in Tanya’s hands.
“This is a magical engineering item used in mandatory classes for freshmen. Instead of getting a new one, use this one. It’s used for magic sensitivity training, so it will be convenient because you don’t have to reapply the basic adaptation settings.”
“…yes?”
“Oh, that’s right, Elka. Did you take the genealogy for Professor Delof’s elemental science class?”
“Yes, I packed it. I almost threw it away.”
“Now, take all of this. There is a big difference with or without the class history. The efficiency of class absorption will probably change. The notes and notes are also gathered here. Now, take this too.”
“Yes? Huh? Yes?”
Tanya accepted the pile of notes and documents in confusion.
“Now, this is the magic efficiency training textbook used in Professor Feld’s class. All the important parts are checked, so it’s easier to use this than buying a new book. And this is the staff used in the monster ecology class, and I modified the search magic to suit the terrain of Mt. “I put it down. It will be convenient to use this. Now, take this too.”
“Oh, yes? Yes…”
“Now, take this and this too. This… I guess you don’t need it. Er, I don’t know, take this too. If you don’t need it, throw it away yourself. Did you have any leftovers from Professor Harlen’s class, too? Elka?”
“Yes, here it is. And this is the annual membership to the Laplace Bakery in the living area. It’s so popular that even nobles have to wait in line. There’s still time left during the winter vacation, so you can use this. I’m going back to my family anyway. Now, here. “There’s also a flower crown.”
“Okay, take this too. Oh, I don’t have any hands. Servant. Please take this. This and this will also be useful. This necklace and the wreath… Here, I’ll put them on your head.”
After throwing around useful items and various tips for bachelor life for a while, Ziggs and Elka wiped the sweat with a satisfied look on their faces.
Tanya had no choice but to remain dumbfounded after carrying all the luggage with the employees. I felt like the luggage would collapse at any moment, so I did my best to keep my balance.
“Um… you heard everything I suggested correctly, right?”
“Huh? Well… what can I do with senior Ed… Yes, that’s right. All siblings are supposed to be like dogs and dogs. Anyway, there is no way for them to get along well. Well… such is the misunderstanding of senior Ed’s personality. “It’s also worth living.”
“Ziggs! The ship is leaving soon…! If you want to pack up all your luggage in advance, you have to go now…!”
“Yeah, okay. Elka. Anyway, he’s senior Ed’s younger brother, right…? It’s really nice to see him. I’m Ziggs, a sophomore now, and I’m a senior/junior friend with senior Ed.”
Ziggs packed his bags one by one.
“For one reason or another, we owe each other a lot and have known each other for a while, so we are a special relationship. It’s nice to see you come to the school so early and go out to stamp your face. You are just like your older brother, so looking strong can really do anything. You have a good home and a good family. “It’s a great blessing to be born with children. Yes.”
With a proud face, Ziggs tapped his cute junior on the shoulder a couple of times and shouted energetically with his fists clenched.
“Anyway, fighting…!! Now together… one two three… fighting…!!”
After saying that, Ziggs packed up all his luggage and quickly left for the dock.
The calm after a storm has passed.
Embarrassment rises over time.
“…”
“….??”
“…..?????”
Tanya was just rolling her eyes around as if she was embarrassed, carrying all kinds of baggage.
