Chapter 4: Ranked #1 Heroine Most Likely to Survive Being Stranded on a Deserted Island
The day before the field exercise, I found myself waiting at the main gate for a certain group of girls to arrive.
I’d left my room a little too early, so I still had some time before our meeting. Just as I was wondering how to kill the minutes, I saw them walking toward me from the direction of the girls' dormitory.
“I am so sorry for keeping you waiting, Lord Hugh!” Rosalie chirped, her pink drill-pigtails bouncing as she bowed.
“Our deepest apologies for the delay,” Cicely added with a polite nod.
“No, please, don’t worry about it. I only just got here myself,” I said, waving my hands dismissively.
I was the one who had shown up ahead of schedule; they were actually more than ten minutes early. I felt a bit bad for making them feel like they’d kept me waiting.
“Good morning, Hugh-san,” Lecty said softly. She was accompanying Rosalie and Cicely.
Now that everyone was here, we climbed into the carriage arranged by the Kingdom Knights. Our destination was the hospital adjacent to the knights' training grounds.
“I’m glad you got permission to leave the Academy, Rosalie-san,” Lecty said once the carriage started moving.
Rosalie gave a gentle smile and nodded. “Indeed. I have been pestering Alyssa-sensei for quite some time, as I simply had to see him before the field exercise. Prince Lucas finally granted his permission yesterday, so at last, I can go. I truly appreciate you two accompanying me today. Even with Cicely by my side, I found myself feeling rather nervous...”
As she gave a self-deprecating laugh, I noticed faint dark circles under her eyes. It looked like she hadn't been sleeping well again. She said she was only "rather nervous," but the tension was likely immense. After all, the person we were going to see was someone very special to her, in more ways than one.
“...I do hope Grandfather is doing well,” she whispered.
Malicious, the former Cardinal of the Divine Grant Religion.
As Rosalie’s foster father, he was currently being held in a hospital under the knights' supervision. After being slammed into a wall by the monsterized Rosalie, his life had been miraculously saved by Lecty’s healing.
“I must thank you once again, Lecty, for saving Grandfather after he sustained such terrible injuries. To think he would tumble down the stairs while I was unconscious... truly, one cannot defy the ravages of old age,” Rosalie sighed, shaking her head in a joking, exasperated manner.
Lecty and I could only offer strained smiles in response.
The full truth of the incident at the cathedral had been kept from Rosalie. After consulting with Prince Lucas, we’d concluded that it was better for her not to know that she had been turned into a monster. Consequently, Rosalie still looked up to Malicious as her beloved “Grandfather.”
Knowing the truth—how Malicious had treated her and what he had put her through—made the situation complicated for those of us in the loop. But for Rosalie’s own happiness, it was probably best that she never learned she had been turned into an eldritch horror.
The carriage arrived at the hospital in about thirty minutes. Since our paperwork had been processed in advance, we were smoothly escorted to Malicious’s private room.
“Um...”
Rosalie froze in front of the door. Sensing her hesitation, Lecty gently took Rosalie’s left hand in both of her own, offering a reassuring squeeze.
“It will be alright, Rosalie-san.”
“...Yes. Thank you, Lecty.”
The tension seemed to leave her shoulders. Rosalie knocked on the door three times.
“Grandfather, it is Rosalie. I am coming in.”
She opened the door without waiting for an answer. It was a small, six-mat private room. An old man sitting on the bed by the window widened his eyes as we entered.
Wait... that’s Malicious?
For a moment, I didn't recognize him. The man sitting on the bed was so gaunt and aged that he looked like a different person. Less than a month had passed since the cathedral incident, but his features had changed completely.
“It is good to see you in high spirits, Grandfather. Though you look quite haggard—are you eating properly? You mustn't be a picky eater, you know!”
“Rosalie...? I... I did something... something unforgivable to you...!”
“Grandfather!”
Malicious reached out for her but lost his balance, nearly falling off the bed. Rosalie rushed over to catch him.
“Goodness, you must compose yourself!”
“Rosalie... is it really you? Are you truly Rosalie...?”
“Whatever are you saying, Grandfather? I am Rosalie Saint through and through. It is far too early for you to start going senile!”
“Ah... it is the real Rosalie. Thank God... oh, thank God...!”
Malicious let out a long breath of pure relief. Then, his gaze shifted toward Lecty and me.
“Did you two... save Rosalie? Thank you... thank you so much...!”
He bowed his head deeply, leaving Lecty and me exchanging confused glances. It seemed he hadn't known of Rosalie’s safety until this moment, but that wasn't what struck me. The affection I felt from Malicious toward Rosalie seemed genuine. I couldn't believe this was the same man whose obsession with the "Saint" had led him to turn her into a monster. It was as if a demonic possession had been lifted.
“I haven't a clue what you are talking about, but more importantly, look! This is the Royal Academy uniform! I have finally achieved my dream of becoming a student there!”
“Ah, I see... I’m so happy for you, Rosalie.” Malicious smiled through tearful eyes, looking for all the world like a doting grandfather.
I glanced at Cicely, who was watching their exchange with the same bewildered expression.
“I only became Lady Rosalie’s Holy Knight after she was ordained as a Saint,” Cicely whispered. “I never saw her life with Malicious before that... I suppose this was how they always were.”
“I think this is their true relationship,” Lecty added softly.
“...Probably,” I agreed.
No matter how cruelly Malicious had treated her during the incident, Rosalie had never condemned him. It was because the memory of being raised with love was real to her. Maybe she had even sensed that something had gone wrong with him...
“Hugh, you got a second?”
A voice called my name from behind, followed by a knock. I turned to see a knight peeking into the room from the hallway. He was a lean, middle-aged man with messy, dark-brown hair and stubble. Despite his slouching, somewhat disheveled appearance, this man was the strongest knight in the Kingdom of Reese, possessing the skill 《Sword Master》.
Vice Commander of the Kingdom Knights, Roan Ashblade.
He gestured for me to come over.
“Lecty, Cicely-san, I’m going to step out for a moment. Call me if you need anything.”
I excused myself and followed Roan. He started walking, gesturing for me to stay close. I hurried to catch up and walked alongside him.
“Sorry to interrupt, Hugh.”
“It’s fine. But what are you doing here, Roan-san? Aren’t you in the middle of training?”
“Nah, I’m on an errand for the Prince today. Usually, he sends Alyssa, but she turned him down, saying she was too busy.”
“I see...”
Alyssa-san had been swamped with preparations for the field exercise lately. On top of that, she was supposed to be at the Puridy estate acting as Lucretia’s bodyguard. She definitely didn't have time to run errands.
As for why Lucretia was at the Puridy estate... that was thanks to Lily. When I’d consulted Lily about buying a birthday present for Tia, she’d offered to take her off my hands for the day. Right now, under the guise of preparing for the exercise, she was likely looking at goods from the Puridy family’s private merchants. Lily told me she’d keep her busy until evening, so I planned to have Lecty help me find a gift after this.
“This should be good,” Roan said, stopping at a lounge area on the same floor. The area was deserted and silent, save for the distant sounds of the knights' shouts from the training grounds next door.
“The Prince wanted me to give you the results of Malicious’s interrogation.”
“Did you find anything...?”
“Yeah. The info is sparse, but even that is a lead. First off, Malicious’s bizarre obsession with the Saint? That was definitely amplified by someone else.”
“...I knew it.”
“Malicious had doubts about the Divine Grant Religion for a long time, apparently. His line of thinking was that God gives humans skills, but everything else is just trials and disasters. According to him, the only one in the scriptures who truly tried to save people was the Saint. He believed she was the only one worthy of worship.”
“I mean, I can see where he’s coming from, but that’s a straight-up heresy in their church.”
“Exactly. So while he thought it, he never acted on it or told anyone.”
“...Until suddenly, that changed?”
“The trigger was a man who visited the cathedral. Wore a pitch-black hooded robe, face mostly hidden. But Malicious clearly remembers one thing: the man’s red eyes.”
“...The same as the merchant who was seen at Duke Letchery’s estate.”
“Whether he’s actually a merchant is doubtful now, but the Prince sees them as the same person. He’s the one who gave Malicious the monsterization drug. Malicious was led to believe it was a drug to awaken a skill.”
“Led to believe...”
It was true that Malicious believed until the very last moment that the drug would awaken Rosalie’s power. If that belief was the result of a skill, then what kind of power was it? I hadn't come across any skill that could do that in my research with Lily, Idiot, or Lugue. A completely unknown skill for manipulating people...
“The knights are looking for the guy, but we haven't found much. Given the circumstances, we can't exactly do a public search, so I wouldn't hold my breath.”
“Should I stay on standby then?”
“I don’t know what your skill is, kid, but you don’t need to go looking for extra work. The succession struggle is about to hit its peak. Even if your skill could find him, the Prince doesn't have the luxury of dealing with him right now. ...And besides.”
“Besides?”
Roan paused and let out an incredibly weary sigh. I could see his grimacing face reflected in the window glass.
“It just feels wrong. I can’t wrap my head around it, and I don’t get the goal. What did that guy want to achieve by manipulating Malicious?”
“...Turning Rosalie into a monster doesn't seem like the end goal,” I noted.
If it were, it would be far too roundabout. If the guy had a manipulation skill, he wouldn't need Malicious; he could have just manipulated Rosalie into taking the drug himself. Maybe the skill has limitations? No, even then, there would be easier ways. I understood why Roan felt a sense of unease. There’s nothing scarier than a dangerous person whose logic you can't comprehend.
“Well, whatever the case, it’s better if we don’t get involved. It doesn't seem like his primary goal is to sabotage the Prince, at least.”
“I suppose...”
So far, the incidents with Letchery and Malicious had actually worked in Prince Lucas’s favor. It was true that this shadowy figure wasn't currently hindering the Prince’s bid for the throne. But if the person who kidnapped Lecty is the same man or an accomplice, I’m not going to let it go. I won’t go looking for him, but if he shows up in front of me... I’ll catch him, even if I have to use my 《Brainwashing》 skill.
“Oh, right. I had a message from the Prince. Almost forgot.”
“A message?”
Did he send a Vice Commander all the way here just for a message? Even if the hospital was close to the castle, it seemed excessive.
“He said, ‘I’m counting on you tomorrow.’”
“Huh? Oh... right. Of course. Tell him I’ve got Lugue covered during the exercise.”
I was a bit taken aback by such an obvious message. Roan saw my expression, gave a small chuckle, and waved as he walked away. “I’m heading out. Later.”
Did he really come here just for that? Maybe the Vice Commander of the Kingdom Knights is actually bored.
I returned to Malicious’s room to find Lecty, Rosalie, and Cicely waiting outside.
“Are you done with the visit?”
“No, Cicely and I are going to talk with Grandfather a bit longer. Can you believe it, Lord Hugh? He thought I was dead and had stopped eating! I must ask the doctor to keep a close eye on him so he doesn't kick the bucket while I am away on the field exercise.”
Rosalie shrugged with a playful, "good grief" expression. Her face was full of relief. Haggard or not, seeing Malicious alive had clearly set her mind at ease.
“You and Lecty have plans, do you not? Let us part ways here for today.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Thank you for today, Lord Hugh, Lecty. It would be quite rude of me to keep you both any longer—and even ruder to get in the way of your date.”
“R-Rosalie-san! I told you, it’s not a date...!” Lecty stammered.
“Oh? But are you two not going to have a private lunch and go browse the shops? Cicely, would you not call that a date?”
“Indeed. It sounds like a date to me,” Cicely replied with a small smirk.
I mean, it was hard to deny, but calling a trip to find a gift for another girl a "date" felt a bit wrong.
“Rosalie, Lecty is just helping me find a birthday present for Lugue.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Fufu, if you say so,” Rosalie giggled, clearly not believing a word of it. It seemed my excuse about the gift was being taken as a cover story for our romantic outing. Well, naturally, asking a girl to help find a gift for your male roommate is a bit weird if you don’t know the truth. I guess the misunderstanding was unavoidable.
Rosalie stepped behind Lecty, placed her hands on her shoulders, and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“(I’m rooting for you, Lecty. Lily-san is a formidable rival, but I know you can win Lord Hugh’s heart.)”
“Wh-wha...?!”
“Do tell me all about the date later! Have a wonderful time!”
“Hyaaa?!”
Rosalie gave Lecty a playful shove, sending her stumbling toward me. I caught her in my arms, and she turned a vivid shade of red, tears of embarrassment pricking at her eyes.
“I-I-I’m so sorry, Hugh-san!”
“No, you don’t have to apologize, Lecty. Rosalie, stop teasing her.”
“It is merely a friend’s encouragement! Please, take your time!”
Rosalie waved cheerfully and disappeared back into Malicious’s room. Cicely gave me a polite bow and followed her.
Good grief.
“U-um... Hugh-san...?”
“Hmm? What is it, Lecty?”
“Th-thank you for catching me. ...But you can... let me go now...”
“Oh! Sorry!”
I realized I’d been holding her in my arms for way too long. No wonder I’d been noticing a gentle, sweet scent like chamomile for the past few seconds. I quickly stepped back, and Lecty placed a hand over her heart, taking several deep breaths to calm down.
We decided to head outside.
“I-I’m so sorry, Hugh-san! I didn't mean for Rosalie-san to get the wrong idea...!” Lecty bowed her head, looking genuinely apologetic as we walked.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s an easy mistake to make.”
I couldn't tell Rosalie the truth about Lugue, so there was no way to explain the situation any further.
“B-but... if rumors spread that you’re dating someone like me, won’t it hurt your reputation...?”
“Hurt it?”
What reputation was she talking about? Lecty’s self-esteem was so low it led to some very strange concerns. I barely had a reputation to begin with, and if dating someone like Lecty was considered "damage," I’d consider it a badge of honor.
“I don’t really get it, but if a little ‘damage’ is the price for a date with you, I’d say it’s a bargain.”
I had a feeling almost every guy in our class—including Idiot—would gladly take that deal. That was how charming Lecty was.
“Hauh... Hugh-san, you’re not fair,” Lecty whispered, covering her face with her hands. I was trying to be mindful of my words to help her gain some confidence, but I was starting to worry if I was actually overdoing it.
We left the hospital grounds and started looking for a place to eat.
“Is there anything specific you want to eat, Lecty?”
“N-no! Anything is fine! As long as it’s edible and won’t make my stomach hurt, I can eat anything!”
“I... I see.”
She wasn't just being polite; she sounded like she genuinely meant it. Having grown up in the slums after losing her parents, food had probably been nothing more than a means of survival. I couldn't help but be glad she’d made it through. The limbs that had been as thin as dry twigs when she first arrived had finally started to fill out over the past two months. Her gaunt face didn't look unhealthy anymore.
“Hugh-san...?”
“Oh, sorry. Let’s head back toward the Academy and find a place on the way.”
“Okay!”
It was quite a walk to the Academy, so we were bound to find something. As we started walking, I felt a familiar internal panic.
Wait... what am I supposed to talk about with Lecty?!
Now that I thought about it, had I ever been alone with her before? Looking back, Lily or Lugue were always there. The only times we’d been alone were in the infirmary after the mock battle and after the cathedral incident...
Wait, didn't I kiss her back then?
This was our first time talking alone since then. Now that I was aware of it, my heart started racing. I’d been talking to her normally just a second ago, but now I had no idea what to say.
C-calm down. Don’t get weird. I glanced sideways to check on her, only to lock eyes with her amethyst gaze.
““Ah.””
We both looked away instantly. It seemed she’d been checking on me, too. My silence must have made her anxious.
Lecty and I were actually quite similar at our cores. We were both on the "introverted" side of the spectrum. Neither of us was particularly good at leading a conversation. I usually relied on Lugue or Lily to keep things moving. Left to our own devices, we just ended up in silence. Maybe one day this silence would feel comfortable, but right now, it was agonizing.
I racked my brain for a topic. Oh... right. I hadn't thanked her properly yet.
“Um... thanks for coming with me today, Lecty. I appreciate it.”
“N-no! I haven't done anything to deserve thanks yet. And... are you really sure you wanted me to come? To help find a gift for Lugue-san... I agreed because of Rosalie-san, but I feel like Lily-chan would have been much better at this...”
“Well, Lily definitely has better taste, but the budget was the issue.”
“I... I see...”
I’d consulted Lily about the gift beforehand, but every item she suggested was way, way over my budget.
“Lily was the one who told me to ask you, since she couldn't help,” I explained.
“Oh, I see. (......Lily-chan, did you do this on purpose just so I could be alone with Hugh-san...?)”
Yeah, that sounded like something she’d do.
By the way, I’d switched my skill to 《Ninja》 just in case something happened at the hospital. Because of that, I’d heard Lecty’s whisper perfectly. I should probably tell her eventually that my hearing is enhanced by my skills...
“So, what kind of gift would make you happy on your birthday, Lecty?”
“Huh? M-me? Well, um...” Lecty started tapping her index fingers together, her cheeks flushing as she looked up at me. “If it’s a gift from you, Hugh-san... I would be happy with anything.”
“O-oh. Right.”
Hearing that point-blank was a bit embarrassing.
“I-I’m sorry for not being more helpful! B-but I’m sure Lugue-san feels the same way. I think he’ll be happy with whatever you choose, Hugh-san.”
“...Yeah. I hope so.”
I couldn't imagine Lucretia not being happy with a gift, unless it was something truly bizarre. Maybe I was being a bit self-centered, but I was aware of how much she loved me. But that was exactly why I felt this way.
“I want to give her something she’ll love more than anything else.”
“...An engagement ring?”
“That’s way too fast!”
I reflexively snapped back at Lecty’s mumble. She hadn't meant for me to hear it; she’d just spoken her thought aloud. She widened her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands.
I mean, of course I want that eventually, but we both have our positions, and I have my promise to Prince Lucas. More importantly, I have to confess my feelings first. Nothing starts until I tell her I love her.
But in that sense, maybe a ring was an option? Back in my old world, giving a ring with a confession would be way too heavy and creepy, but in this world, maybe it was a valid choice. It would certainly communicate my feelings more clearly than anything else. I knew Lucretia would love a ring.
“Lecty, what do you think about a normal ring? Not an engagement one, just a gift.”
“I think it would be lovely! ...But,” she trailed off.
“But?”
“Will the budget... be okay?”
“Ah...”
I’d received a decent amount from Ryug for the job, but it wasn't enough to buy a ring at a high-end boutique. Budget-wise, I’d have to look at street stalls for jewelry, but those were often poor quality, cursed, or even stolen. I couldn't give something like that to Lucretia.
I guess I’d have to use my trump card.
“Lecty, can you wait here for a second?”
“Huh? Is something wrong...?”
“Um...”
I checked our surroundings and leaned in close to her ear. “I’m going to go swap my skills. I’ll be right back.”
“Hya—hyai! I’ll wait!” Lecty stammered, her face turning red as her voice cracked.
Maybe I’d gotten a bit too close. I stepped away from her and ducked into a nearby alley. Once I was sure I was alone, I pulled the hand mirror from my pocket and switched from 《Ninja》.
“Release 〈Brainwashing〉. Hugh Pnocis, your skill is 《Appraisal》.”
I felt the familiar click in my mind.
【Skill: Appraisal Lv. Max ...... Discerns the authenticity and value of any object.】
I tested the skill on my hand mirror, and information floated into my vision: Quality: C, Rarity: D, Fair Price... slightly lower than what I’d paid.
I see. It even tells me the creator’s name, the owner, and the materials. Back in the Letchery case, a noble with 《Appraisal》 had been used to verify handwriting—they must have been looking at the "Creator Name." If I tried to forge something, this skill would catch me instantly. I’m glad I didn't have to write the confession letters while under my own brainwashing...
Anyway, with this, I could browse the street stalls with confidence. Just as I was about to head back to Lecty—
“Kyaaa?!”
A short scream erupted from the main street.
“Lecty?!”
I bolted out of the alley and toward the sound. What I saw when I emerged was—
It was Tina—and she was currently squeezing the life out of Lecty in a massive bear hug.
“...Huh?”
A dumbfounded sound escaped my lips at the surreal sight. Tina had her face practically buried in Lecty’s chest, clinging to her with everything she had. Lecty, for her part, was just standing there with her hands hovering awkwardly in mid-air, her amethyst eyes blinking in total bewilderment. She looked like she didn’t have the slightest clue what was happening.
“T-Tina! Let go! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Standing right next to them was a frantic-looking Ryug. He seemed torn between wanting to physically pry his sister off and being afraid of offending a stranger.
“Um... could someone explain the situation?”
“Ah! Hugh-san?!” Ryug spun around and started bowing repeatedly. “I am so, so sorry! My sister... I don’t know what’s gotten into her!”
“I’ll pull her off right now! Tina, enough already!” Ryug reached out, but he was stopped by the person being hugged.
“W-wait, please.”
Lecty reached around and began to gently stroke Tina’s back, soothing her even as the girl clung to her. She whispered something into Tina’s ear, and for a long moment, the two of them just stayed there, locked in that embrace.
I didn't really understand what was going on, but I had the distinct feeling that I shouldn't interfere. I glanced at Ryug; he was watching them with an expression that looked like he was about to burst into tears.
Does this have something to do with how much they look alike? I wondered.
When I’d first seen Tina, I’d had that nagging feeling that she reminded me of someone. Looking at them now, I realized it was Lecty. Tina was taller, and her hair was a pale, almost silvery-white compared to Lecty’s purple, but their facial features and the way their expressions shifted were strikingly similar.
Long-lost sisters? No, maybe cousins? Or some distant relative?
After about thirty seconds, Tina finally seemed satisfied and pulled away. She wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and forced a playful smile.
“Sorry, sorry! She was just so cute, I couldn't help myself!” Tina stuck her tongue out with a cheeky “te-he.”
Ryug just clutched his head in exasperation. It wasn't an excuse at all, but I figured pressing the issue would just make things awkward.
“Um, Hugh-san? Are they your friends?” Lecty asked.
“Yeah. This is Ryug and Tina. They’re adventurers who helped me and Idiot at the guild a while back. They’ve been hired by the Academy to help out with the field exercise starting tomorrow.”
“I see. My name is Lecty. It’s nice to meet you.”
Lecty gave a polite bow, which sent Ryug into another flurry of formal bowing. “T-the pleasure is all ours! My sister was incredibly rude just now. I don’t know how to apologize...”
“N-no, it’s fine! It was a bit of a shock, but I’m okay. I think I... understand how Tina-chan was feeling.”
“You do...?”
“Yes.” Lecty gave a soft, knowing smile as she looked at Tina.
Tina’s cheeks flushed red, and she quickly averted her gaze. It was obvious Tina was carrying some kind of heavy emotional baggage, and Lecty had somehow sensed it. That was probably what she meant.
“What are the odds of bumping into you in the middle of the city?” I asked. “Are you out on a job today?”
“No,” Ryug replied. “We’re actually just heading back from the Academy. We were finalizing the details and confirming our assigned dungeons. Tia and I will be looking after the class heading to the 『Drefon Great Labyrinth』.”
“Seriously?! That’s our class!”
“So it would seem.” Ryug didn’t look surprised at all; he’d probably seen the class roster already. I felt a bit embarrassed for getting so hyped up over it.
Still, knowing the accompanying adventurers were people I knew was a huge relief.
“I’ll be in your care tomorrow, Hugh-san.”
“Likewise. Looking forward to it, Tina.”
“U-um, yeah! I’ll do my best!” Tina chirped, looking a bit shy as she pumped her fists in front of her chest.
The breezy, aloof air she’d had during our first meeting was gone, replaced by what looked like genuine nerves.
“Um, Hugh-san? If you’re okay with it, would you like to invite them to lunch?” Lecty asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, absolutely.” I was thinking the exact same thing. I turned to the siblings. “What do you think? Hungry?”
Ryug and Tina looked at each other.
“I’m sorry, it’s a lovely offer, but...”
“We just finished a huge meal before we ran into you,” Tina explained. “Sorry, Hugh-san... and Lecty-san.”
“Ah, I see. No worries then.” I didn't want to force them to sit through another meal. Besides, as professionals, they were probably busier with preparations than we were.
“We’ll be together for a while starting tomorrow,” Ryug said. “Let’s do it another time.”
“Definitely. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the class then.”
“We look forward to it. Well, we should be going.”
With a polite farewell, Ryug and Tina headed off in the direction we’d come from.
“See you tomorrow, Tina-chan!” Lecty called out. Tina looked back and gave a bashful wave before disappearing into the crowd.
I watched them go until they were out of sight, then turned back toward the main street. I really hadn't expected to run into them here... but the biggest shock was definitely Tina’s reaction to Lecty. She said it was just because Lecty was cute, but I knew that was a lie.
“Lecty, what did you say to her while you were hugging?” I asked. Since I’d just swapped to 《Appraisal》, I hadn't been able to hear her whisper.
Lecty looked a bit troubled. “Well... she was shaking, so I just told her it would be okay. I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I felt like I needed to comfort her.”
“I see...”
“I think Tina-chan might have seen her mother in me. Right before she grabbed me, I heard her whisper ‘Mother...’ Maybe her mother is... no longer with them?”
“...Sounds like they’ve got a complicated situation.”
Ryug had mentioned they were half-siblings, and being adventurers on their own at such a young age usually meant there was a story behind it. If Lecty’s guess was right, then as someone who had also lost her parents, she probably did understand Tina better than anyone.
Still, Lecty as a “mother” figure? It was hard to imagine, but since they looked so much alike, Tina’s mother must have been a real beauty, just like Lecty.
After walking for a while longer, we decided to duck into a cafe along the main road. It looked like a second location of the place I’d visited with Lugue and Lily before. The layout was almost identical, right down to the sandwiches and drinks on the menu.
“Lecty, lunch is on me today as thanks for coming along. Pick whatever you want.”
“No, Hugh-san! I should pay! We can't let my lunch cut into your budget for the gift!”
“Wait, but...” Lecty was supposed to be broke, wasn't she? I didn't recall her having a part-time job.
“It’s okay! I have money!” She pulled a small pouch from her skirt pocket.
“Did Lily lend that to you?”
“It’s an advance! I’m going to be working as a maid at Lily-chan’s mansion during the summer break, and I asked for a very early paycheck!”
“I... see...”
Lily, you meddling genius. You just want to see Lecty in a maid outfit, don't you?
Maybe I should drop by while she’s working... Not because I want to see her in a maid outfit, obviously. I had a perfectly logical reason. Summer break was two months long, but the carriage ride back to Pnocis was a month each way. I’d spend the entire vacation just traveling.
That meant I’d be staying at the Academy, and spending two months alone with Lucretia in a dorm room was... dangerous. My self-restraint would be tested to its absolute limit. I’d probably blow past the first, second, and third lines of defense before the first week was out.
So, visiting the Puridy estate was the only logical choice. And if Lecty just happened to be there in a maid uniform, well, that was just a coincidence.
“Alright, if you insist, I’ll take you up on it.”
“Great! Please, order whatever looks good!”
With Lecty’s encouragement, I ordered the same sandwich and drink set as last time, plus an extra croissant. I worried it was too much, but Lecty looked so happy when I placed the order that I knew I’d made the right call.
After lunch on the terrace, we spent the afternoon browsing the jewelry stalls on our way back to the Academy. Since many of these vendors were traveling merchants from outside the capital, there was a lot of shady-looking stuff. If I hadn't swapped to 《Appraisal》, I probably would have been scammed.
But even in a pile of junk, there are treasures to be found. At the third stall, I finally saw it.
A ring. Quality: A. Rarity: C. The stone was Iolite—a beautiful deep blue that was the perfect match for Lucretia’s eyes. Best of all was the price. It was listed for nearly thirty percent less than its fair value.
When I asked the owner why, he told me it was made by a young apprentice. Because the craftsman had no name and the stone was small and understated, no one wanted to buy it.
“A gift for your lovely girlfriend?” the merchant asked with a grin.
“U-um, yeah. Something like that.”
“I’ll give you a special price since she’s so pretty!”
He obviously thought Lecty was my girlfriend. Correcting him seemed like it would just lead to more questions, so I let it slide. Technically, it wasn't even for a "girlfriend" yet, but there was no point explaining that to a stranger.
The owner dropped the price another twenty percent, making it half of its actual value. It was well within my budget. Honestly, I felt a little guilty for getting such a steal, but the merchant was a pro.
“Tell you what, I’ve got earrings and a necklace from the same apprentice. Why don’t you take a look at those too?” He jumped on the opportunity to upsell.
I was suspicious, but they were actually good. Both the earrings and the necklace were Quality: A, but their Rarity was E. They were made with common stones that were easy to find, which kept their market value low. The necklace was Amethyst, and the earrings were Jade...
“The apprentice made them for practice after he finished the ring. They were too good not to buy, but I haven't had any luck moving them. People in the capital only care about big, flashy gems. But you’ve got a real eye for quality, kid. You know what these are worth, don't you? You wouldn't happen to have an 《Appraisal》 skill, would you?”
“Um... well, something like that.”
The merchant’s intuition was terrifying. For a second, I worried he had a skill to detect other skills.
“How about it? I’ll give you a set price for all three. I’ll make it worth your while. What do you say?”
The price he quoted was exactly the limit of my budget. If I bought them, I’d be left with practically nothing. I’d be broke all over again.
I could have just bought the ring. Then I’d have half my money left to spend on a real date with Lucretia after we got back from the exercise. Logically, I should have saved the money.
...Or at least, I would have thought that if the stones hadn't been Amethyst and Jade. The coincidence was so perfect it felt like destiny. Or fate. Or divine providence.
“Alright. I’ll take them all.”
I asked for gift boxes for each one and handed over my entire coin pouch. The merchant checked the contents with a satisfied “Pleasure doing business!” and packed the ring, necklace, and earrings into three separate cases.
“You’ve got yourself a good boyfriend, little lady!”
“E-eh? Um... yes.” Lecty gave a strained smile, her eyebrows furrowing in embarrassment.
The merchant seemed confused by her reaction and gave me a suspicious look. I figured it was time to leave before he started prying.
“Thanks again. Ready to go, Lecty?”
“Y-yes!”
I took the three boxes, and we headed back toward the Academy. On the way, we decided to stop at a park we were passing. We found a bench in the shade to hide from the early summer sun. We had plenty of time to get back before sunset.
“I’m so glad you found such a wonderful gift, Hugh-san.”
“I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks, Lecty.”
“No! I just stood there!”
She was being humble, but I knew that if I’d been alone, I would have spent all night agonizing over what to get. Thanks to her, I’d found the ring and stumbled upon some incredible deals.
“Fufu. I had a really good time today, Hugh-san.”
I’d been worried about how things would go with just the two of us, but the awkwardness had melted away somewhere along the line. Now, our conversation felt natural. Even the quiet moments felt comfortable rather than stiff. I hoped she felt the same way.
“By the way, you bought those other accessories too. Are they gifts?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Something like that.”
An amethyst necklace and jade earrings. They were definitely gifts, but they weren't for Lucretia. I knew I was being simplistic, but I’d decided to give the amethyst to Lecty and the jade to Lily.
I wanted them to wear things I’d given them. I knew that feeling was pure possessiveness. I was fully aware of how greedy and scummy that made me. But at the same time, I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else having them.
These gifts were my way of promising that I would be the one to make them happy.
...Though, I’d wait until after we got back from the field exercise to give them out. Lucretia had asked to be my "first" for everything after the kiss, so I had to make her the priority.
“I hope Lugue-san is happy with his gift.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
For now, the priority was giving the ring to Lucretia and finally telling her how I feel.
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