Volume 2
Chapter Three: The Encounter of the Queen and the Princess
At the bustling magical arena, filled with academy students, in a corner of the passageway through the spectator stands...
There stood a peculiar pair, a man and a woman, clad in matching black suits and cloaks.
One was a young man, perhaps in his early twenties. From beneath his long, indigo-tinged black hair, a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes peered out. Tall and lean, yet sturdy, his demeanor was less calm than coldly detached, exuding a fatal sharpness that seemed to warn against any touch—a man with an air of concealed danger.
The other was a girl, barely in her mid-teens. Her unkempt, freely grown azure hair was carelessly tied back at the nape, and her striking lapis lazuli eyes were perpetually half-closed, as if drowsy. Her petite, delicate frame and exquisitely refined features evoked the image of an antique doll. A smile would surely make her captivating, but her expression was utterly devoid of emotion, not a single trace of feeling discernible.
Their cloaks were reinforced at key points with metal plates, rivets, and protective runic engravings, clearly designed for magical combat.
In the lively spectator stands teeming with academy students, the pair stood out starkly. It wasn’t just their attire; the aura they exuded was unmistakably far from ordinary.
Yet, strangely, no curious glances fell upon them. It was as if they were mere pebbles on the roadside, their presence unnoticed.
“—Glenn, huh,”
The young man muttered coldly.
“…Nn. No matter how you look at it, it’s Glenn,” the girl replied, her murmur equally devoid of emotion.
Their gazes were fixed on the central competition field, where Glenn, having just finished the “Mental Defense” event, was caught in a heated exchange, flanked by a blonde and a silver-haired girl.
“To think he left without a word to us… and ended up in a place like this,” the young man said, his raptor-like eyes narrowing coldly as if sizing up prey.
Silently, the girl beside him began walking toward the central field where Glenn stood.
“Wait,” the young man commanded in a hard, menacing tone, reaching out and mercilessly grabbing her tied-back hair.
With a jerk, the girl’s head tilted backward.
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“…What are you doing, Albert?” she asked, her expression unchanging, not a hint of emotion in her voice.
“That’s my line. What are you planning, Re=L?”
Re=L, as she was called, answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s obvious. …I’m going to settle things with Glenn.”
With a tug, Albert pulled her hair harder.
“Ow. Why are you pulling?”
“Don’t do anything unnecessary. Have you forgotten our mission?”
“Mission?” Re=L paused, as if pondering. “…Settling things with Glenn?”
Albert’s stern expression didn’t falter as he fell silent. A heavy silence hung between them.
“…Our current mission has two objectives. One of them is to monitor the Royal Guard, currently tasked with protecting Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Why? They’re our allies.”
“We’re not a monolith. The Royalists, the Collateral Royalists, the Anti-Royalists, the Radical Right, the Conservative Feudalists, the Macbethian Reformist Left, the Imperial Church Right… and within each, the Blue Bloods and the Red Bloods. The Alzano Empire is a chaotic den of swirling ideologies and factions.”
“I see. I don’t really understand, though.”
“As expected.”
Another silence settled between them.
“According to intelligence, there have been unsettling movements within the Royal Guard, the leading faction of the Right, particularly since a new bill regarding the discrimination of Espers was proposed at the Round Table. They believe Espers are the devil’s reincarnations, and laws are enacted in Her Majesty’s name. Protecting Espers under her name would tarnish the sacred prestige of the royal family.”
“I see. I don’t really understand, though.”
“As expected.”
Yet another silence.
“Thus, we’re monitoring the Royal Guard. The likelihood is near zero, but there’s a chance they might take action against Her Majesty during her visit to the academy. Should that happen, it would significantly impact the factional struggles at the top of the government.”
“I understand,” Re=L nodded, as if everything had clicked. “In summary, I need to settle things with Glenn… is that it?”
Albert’s stern expression remained unmoved as he fell silent once more. The silence returned.
“…Nn. I’ll do my best.”
“Don’t.”
As Re=L began walking again, Albert mercilessly tugged her hair once more.
“Does Albert not want to see Glenn?” Re=L asked flatly, despite being interrupted twice.
“…Don’t be ridiculous. I have plenty to say to that man,” Albert replied, a faint edge of anger in his tone.
“Then I’ll beat Glenn up, and Albert can say whatever he wants.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to wait. It’s better if we don’t meet him.”
“Why?”
“Seeing him now, after so long, made it clear. The world where he belongs… it’s not the blood-soaked darkness we dwell in.”
Their eyes turned back to the arena. For some reason, Glenn was now groveling at the silver-haired girl’s feet, while the blonde girl seemed to be calming her down.
“His place is there, in the dazzling light. That’s likely where Glenn truly comes alive.”
“At a girl’s feet? That’s rather peculiar.”
Albert’s stern expression remained as he fell silent again. Another silence stretched between them.
“…?”
Re=L tilted her head slightly at Albert’s demeanor, and the strange silence continued to linger.
The Magical Festival was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with a brief hour-long lunch break in between. The students gathered at the arena began dispersing—some heading to the academy’s cafeteria, others to restaurants outside, and some with homemade bentos—moving in droves.
Glenn’s class also disbanded temporarily, scattering to have their lunch.
“Haa… now what do I do…?” Glenn muttered, his face a mix of exhaustion and resigned acceptance.
He was starving. His stomach felt like it was sticking to his spine, no joke.
Some of his students had started spreading out their homemade bentos right there, flaunting them. Staying in this spot was mentally taxing.
But with no money, he had no prospects for a meal. Resigned, Glenn decided to retreat tactically from the delicious aromas wafting around, planning to scavenge for Shirotte branches—his emergency food—as he stood from his seat.
“Um… Sensei…?”
He turned at the voice to see a small, timid girl with an almost animal-like air. It was Lynn, one of his students.
“…What’s up, Lynn?”
“W-Well… I wanted to talk about something… um…”
“Talk?” Glenn scratched his head, glancing around. “…Is this the kind of thing we can’t discuss here?”
“Uh, y-yes… if possible, somewhere with fewer people…”
Honestly, it was a hassle. He barely had the energy to deal with consultations right now.
But seeing Lynn on the verge of tears, even Glenn, the world champion of deadbeat men, couldn’t bring himself to brush her off.
“…Alright. Let’s move somewhere else.”
And so, Glenn led Lynn away from the arena to the academy’s courtyard.
The lush green lawn, meticulously tended trees, and colorful flowerbeds blooming at the edges greeted them—a familiar sight.
Normally, the courtyard would be crowded with students eating lunch, but today, with the arena open, many chose to eat there instead. The courtyard was deserted.
“So? What’s this consultation about? If it’s not about money, I’ll hear you out.”
“W-Well…” Lynn fidgeted, slowly gathering her thoughts. “I-I’m supposed to compete in the ‘Transformation’ event, but… I’m not confident…”
“…Huh?”
“I’ve been practicing transformation magic so hard, but… today, I got nervous, and now it’s not working at all… So, I was wondering if you could replace me with someone else…”
“…”
“E-Everyone in the class is working so hard together to aim for victory… If I drag them down, I’d feel so bad… So… please… replace me with someone else…!”
Lynn’s shoulders trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she pleaded.
Glenn scratched his head, sighing. “…Is that really okay with you? Don’t you actually want to compete?”
“W-Well…”
“Be clear about that first. Otherwise, I can’t say anything.”
Lynn fell silent, as if searching her heart, and then—
“I… I do want to compete… But I don’t want to burden everyone…”
“Then it’s settled.” Glenn placed a hand on her head. “Compete. No problem.”
“Eh!? B-But! If I compete, I’ll—”
“Look, the Magical Festival is a festival, right? There’s no such thing as dragging others down or being a burden at a festival.”
“B-But everyone’s so excited about aiming for the win… Sensei said so too…”
“…Ah, right. That’s what’s got you so pressured, huh…” Glenn regretted his careless words. “Sure, I got carried away and said that stuff because of some selfish reasons. But forget it. The main thing is for you all to have fun. Winning on top of that would be great, but that’s about it. Don’t stress.”
“…Is that… how it is?”
“Yeah. So forget about dragging others down or winning. Just enjoy it. You like transformation magic, don’t you?”
“Y-Yes… I’ve always been timid and indecisive, but… transformation magic feels like… I can become someone else…”
“Then that’s enough.”
But even after all this, Lynn still looked anxious.
“…Fine. Let’s have a special lecture, then.”
On a whim, Glenn decided to meddle a bit with the unconfident Lynn.
Lynn looked up, surprised, her downcast eyes meeting his. “…Special lecture?”
“Yeah. First, a review, Lynn. There are two types of transformation magic, right? [Self • Polymorph] and [Self • Illusion]. Can you tell me the difference?”
Lynn thought for a moment before answering. “Um… [Self • Polymorph] is white magic, and [Self • Illusion] is black magic.”
“Haha, sixty points!”
“S-Sorry… Um, uh… [Self • Polymorph]… it’s a spell that restructures the body itself to transform… and [Self • Illusion] is an illusion spell that manipulates light to make it look like you’ve transformed.”
“Close enough. So, [Self • Polymorph] is white magic that manipulates body and mind, while [Self • Illusion] is black magic that manipulates motion and energy.”
Glenn rolled up his right sleeve and chanted a three-rune spell.
His right arm began to transform with a creak—muscles bulged, black bristles sprouted, claws extended… In moments, it became a wolf’s foreleg.
“[Self • Polymorph] is fixed by the spell’s formula. For example, a [Self • Polymorph] to become a wolf turns you into a wolf, one for a dragon turns you into a dragon. There’s a risk of not being able to revert if it fails, but you gain the abilities of what you transform into. A horse lets you run at a horse’s speed, a bird lets you fly, a dragon lets you breathe fire.”
With another chant, Glenn’s wolf arm reverted to normal.
“But [Self • Illusion] doesn’t work that way. It’s just manipulating light to create the appearance. So, turning into a horse won’t make you faster, and turning into a bird won’t let you fly. Does that mean [Self • Polymorph] is better for transformation? Not necessarily. For example…”
Glenn tapped his temple and chanted a [Self • Illusion] spell.
The space around him shimmered briefly, his form blurring… and when it refocused—
“R-Rumia…!?” Lynn gasped.
Glenn was gone, replaced by Rumia, arms crossed and smirking confidently. The illusion was so lifelike it seemed she was truly standing there.
“Well, something like this,” Glenn said, his voice now Rumia’s, apparently having improvised the vocal wavelength and frequency.
“Unlike [Self • Polymorph], which is tied one-to-one with the transformation target, [Self • Illusion] incorporates a formula that reflects the caster’s imagination. That means you can transform into anything you imagine, though it’s just a facade.”
Still in Rumia’s form and voice, but with Glenn’s mannerisms, he continued explaining.
“In short, if your [Self • Illusion] transformation isn’t working, your mental image is still vague. But if you solidify that image, it’ll work. I’d bet my neck on it.”
Grinning slyly as Rumia, Glenn asked, “So, Lynn, you’re participating in the ‘Transformation’ event with [Self • Illusion], right? What are you planning to transform into?”
“Uh, um… I was thinking of transforming into an angel… The ‘Angel of Time,’ La-Tirika-sama…”
“Jeez, picking a legendary figure as your basis? That’s a tough one… Well, fine. In that case, head to the academy’s library now and borrow a collection of holy paintings. Keep staring at them until the event starts. That should make a big difference.”
“G-Got it. I’ll try it right away!”
Finally, Glenn, still as Rumia, faced Lynn directly and said, “Listen, Lynn. You’ll be fine. You’re far more capable than you think. You just lack a bit of confidence. I guarantee your strength.”
“S-Sensei…”
“Don’t worry about failing. I said to aim for the win, but it’s a festival, right? No one’s gonna die, and no one’s gonna complain. If someone blames you for losing, I’ll personally knock some sense into them. So relax, got it?”
At that, Lynn couldn’t hold back anymore. Clutching her stomach, she let out a soft, muffled kusukusu laugh.
“…Why’re you laughing?” Glenn grumbled, annoyed that his serious talk didn’t land properly.
“I-It’s just… Sensei saying all these cool things in Rumia’s form and voice… It’s kinda funny…”
“Guh… Y-Yeah, fair point…”
He had to admit, she was right. He should’ve dispelled the illusion before getting serious.
With a sigh, Glenn scratched his head, about to undo the spell, when—
“Rumia, there you are! I was looking for you!”
Sistine had appeared in the courtyard, unnoticed until now.
“Sisti! What’s up?” Lynn responded, noticing her first.
“Haha, I had something to talk to Rumia about.”
“No, wait, I’m—” Before Glenn could reveal himself, Sistine smiled at him and said, “Let’s eat lunch, Rumia. I told you, didn’t I? I made enough for you too today. There’s even your favorite tomato sandwich!”
“L-Lunch…?” Glenn’s eyes widened.
Sistine was holding a large basket.
(Could it be…!?)
Glenn swallowed hard.
“And then there’s that guy… Where the heck did he go…?” Sistine muttered something incomprehensible, but Glenn was too distracted.
Sistine, who’d brought a homemade lunch, had mistaken Glenn—transformed into Rumia via illusion—for the real Rumia. This… could this be an incredible opportunity?
If he played his cards right, he might get to eat Sistine’s sandwiches!
(…No, wait, calm down, Glenn!)
He mentally scolded himself, sweat beading on his forehead.
(A teacher tricking a student to steal their lunch? That’s low, even for me! I’m not that desperate! I won’t sink that low!)
“Rumia?” Sistine tilted her head, puzzled, as Glenn turned away, muttering to himself and clutching his head.
(It’s my own fault anyway… Taking it out on my students? As a teacher, as a man, as a human, how could I? It’s a golden chance, but I should dispel the illusion and handle this like an adult…)
Grrrrrr…
His stomach let out a thunderous growl.
“Pfft, haha! Rumia, are you that hungry?” Sistine laughed.
(… I guess... I can't substitute my back for my belly¹, huh.)
[TL Note: This is a Japanese idiom (背に腹は代えられない, se ni hara wa kaerarenai). It literally means "One cannot substitute the back for the belly," and it's used to express that when faced with basic needs (like food for the belly), less essential things (like dignity or principles, metaphorically represented by the back) must be sacrificed.]
As Rumia, Glenn grabbed Sistine’s shoulders and leaned in. “…Let’s eat right now, Sisti! I-I mean, I’m super hungry, haha, hahahaha…!”
“W-Wow, you’re intense…” Sistine faltered, intimidated by the strange pressure from “Rumia.”
“Oh, but wait! We need to find that guy first.”
“Huh? That guy?”
“Yeah, that guy. I mean… I kinda made his share too, since I was already making ours… Just, y’know, as an afterthought, totally not a big deal…” Sistine turned away, her cheeks faintly flushed.
“No need to look! I don’t know who that guy is, but forget him!” Glenn-as-Rumia blurted out.
“Rumia?”
“If Rumia finds out—er, I mean! I’m so hungry, Sisti! I might actually die if we don’t eat soon! So—”
“Um… Sensei…?” Lynn poked Glenn’s back, her voice hesitant.
Glenn whirled around, clinging to Lynn and whispering frantically so only she could hear. “Please, Lynn-sama! Have mercy! Let this slide!”
“N-No, it’s not that…”
“It’s fine! I won’t eat all of Rumia’s share! Just a slice or two, I swear! Please, just this once!”
“Um… It’s hard to say, but… the real one…”
“…Huh?”
Glenn froze.
“Hey, Sisti, you’re here?” A familiar voice called from behind. “Sorry for making you wait. I had something to—huh?”
Rumia, the real one, approached, tilting her head at the sight of her doppelgänger.
…
An overwhelmingly awkward silence engulfed the scene.
“W-What’s going on…!? T-Two of me!? N-No way, one of them’s a fake… Oh no! They’re so identical, how will we know which is—?”
“《Let power return to naught》” Sistine muttered, casting [Dispel • Force].
Instantly, the transformation spell on Glenn was neutralized, his disguise stripped away.
“…Well, that’s that,” Glenn said with a cocky grin, brushing back his hair and turning on his heel. “Glenn-sensei makes his cool exit.”
As he tried to walk away nonchalantly…
“You idiot—!” Sistine roared, unleashing a [Gale • Blow] that blasted him with a merciless gust.
“GYAAAAAAAH—!?” Glenn’s pathetic scream echoed as he was blown away.
“Unbelievable! Disgusting! A teacher trying to steal a student’s lunch!? I woke up early to make it… Ugh, forget it!” Sistine fumed, her face red with anger.
Lynn sighed, while Rumia blinked, still processing the situation.
Recovered from the spell’s damage, Glenn set out to scavenge lunch.
With no money, a proper meal was out of the question. For days, his only sustenance had been Shirotte branches.
Shirotte, a deciduous tree with star-shaped leaves, had young branches containing sugary sap. By chewing them, one could ingest some nutrients.
A week ago, Glenn had found a Shirotte tree near the entrance to the academy’s northern “Forest of Bewilderment.” Since then, he’d frequented the spot during lunch, collecting branches to stave off hunger.
“Still, though…” Glenn slumped on a courtyard bench, a Shirotte branch in his mouth. “I feel like I’m sinking lower as a human… Damn it… Never gambling again… sniff.”
Tearing up as he chewed, Glenn stared into the distance with dull, clouded eyes. “Heh… Something’s getting in my eyes today…”
Grrrrrr… His stomach roared again.
“Sensei!”
Rumia, who’d been looking around, spotted him and hurried over, clutching something carefully.
“…Rumia? What’s up?”
“I brought you a little something.”
“A little something?”
Glenn eyed her warily as she held out a cloth bundle.
“It’s a sandwich. You’ve seemed really hungry lately, so I thought you might like it—”
“Thank you, Angel-sama! I humbly accept!”
Glenn snatched the bundle with manic glee, tearing it open. Inside were ordinary sandwiches—tomato, ham, nothing special—but to Glenn, they were a royal feast.
“UOOOOH!? Living is amazing—!”
“You’re so dramatic…” Rumia giggled.
Glenn tore into a sandwich. The fresh tang of tomato, the savory ham, the rich cheese, all danced on his starving tongue, heightened by the spicy, aromatic black pepper. Tears of joy streamed down his face.
“Did you make these, Rumia?” he asked between bites.
“I’d love to say I did, but nope!” She grinned mischievously. “I’m kinda clumsy with cooking…”
“Oh? Then who made ‘em?”
“It’s a secret. The person who made them asked me not to say… Let’s just say it was a cute girl from our class.”
“Huh. Well, I don’t care where they came from. They’re great.”
“Actually, this cute girl made them for a guy she’s kinda interested in, as a thank-you for something he did for her. She got up early to make them, but she’s not great at being honest and missed her chance to give them to him…”
“Whoever that guy is, tough luck,” Glenn sighed sympathetically. “But man, that dude’s clueless. If a girl makes you a bento, you gotta pick up on it. What a dense playboy. Bet he’s no good anyway. That girl’s got bad taste in men.”
“Haha…”
Rumia sweated nervously, but Glenn didn’t notice.
“Anyway, she was gonna throw the bento out, so I took it instead of letting it go to waste and brought it to you.”
“Jeez, I’m a garbage bin now? Whatever, it’s fine. Saved my life.”
Glenn snorted sulkily but continued munching on the sandwich.
“Hey, Sensei. How is it? Are the sandwiches good?”
Prompted, Glenn reflected on the flavors spreading through his mouth.
“Delicious,” he said bluntly, voicing his honest thoughts. “No fancy tricks, but they’re carefully made. Classic, but damn good.”
“Fufu, that’s great to hear. I’m sure the girl who made them would be thrilled,”
Rumia replied with a bright smile, as if she herself had been praised for her cooking.
Before long, the rather generous bundle of sandwiches was completely empty.
“Phew, I ate, I ate… Thanks for the meal,” Glenn said.
“Fufu, you’re welcome… or, well, I shouldn’t be the one saying that,” Rumia teased.
“This probably extended my lifespan by three days… Alright, I can just about make it,” Glenn muttered cryptically.
“…?” Rumia tilted her head, puzzled by his odd remark.
“Well, I feel human again. Time to head back to the arena,” Glenn said, standing from the bench.
“Yes,” Rumia agreed, rising with him.
Just then—
“You’re Glenn, right? Could I… have a moment of your time?” a woman’s voice called from behind as they started to leave.
Glenn turned around, visibly annoyed.
“Yeah, yeah, no time at all—we’re super busy right n—whaAAAAAT!?”
Upon recognizing the speaker, Glenn let out a comical shriek.
“Th-The Queen Majesty!?” he stammered.
Standing there was none other than Alicia VII, Queen of the Alzano Empire herself…
“So, did Alice manage to make contact smoothly?”
In the balcony-like VIP seats, Celica sipped tea, enjoying an elegant moment.
“That was hilarious, though! The looks on the Royal Guard’s faces when they realized Alice was gone!” Celica said, her shoulders shaking as she stifled laughter.
“You’re as fearless as ever, Celica-kun,” said Headmaster Rick, exasperated by her attitude.
“Hahaha, what’re you talking about, Headmaster? If you ask me, humans are scarier than gods. Gods just have overwhelming, absolute power and are ridiculously strong, but humans, on the other hand—”
As Celica chatted merrily, Eleanor approached with a grave expression.
“Celica-sama…”
“Hm? What’s up?” Celica asked.
“Something serious has happened… I need to inform you immediately.”
“…What’s going on?” Celica’s expression sharpened at Eleanor’s ominous tone.
And then—
“Actually…” Eleanor whispered something in her ear.
“What—!? That’s absurd!” Celica’s face paled, her eyes wide as she stared at Eleanor.
“H-H-How could someone as noble as Your Majesty be in a place like this, mingling with commoners, without any escorts!?”
Glenn stammered, utterly overwhelmed by the queen’s sudden appearance.
“N-No, I mean, I’m sorry for being rude earlier!”
His usual brash, irreverent demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Glenn dropped to one knee, bowing deeply in reverence.
“Please, raise your head, Glenn. Today, I’m not the Alzano Empire’s Queen Alicia VII. I’m just Alicia, a citizen of the empire. Come now, stand,”
“E-Even so… P-Pardon me…”
Glenn stood hesitantly, still shrinking with awe.
“Fufu. It’s been a year, hasn’t it, Glenn? Have you been well?”
“Y-Yes, absolutely. Y-Your Majesty seems as radiant as ever…”
“…I’ve always wanted to apologize to you,” Alicia said suddenly, her eyes lowering.
“A-Apologize…? N-No, that’s…”
“You devoted yourself tirelessly to me and this country, yet… I allowed you to be discharged from the Imperial Court Mage Corps in such a dishonorable way. Words cannot express my shame and regret for my own inadequacy…”
“N-No, no, I don’t mind at all! Really! Honestly, I’m just a coward who quit because I got sick of the job! Seriously!”
Glenn waved his hands frantically, dismissing her apology.
“Yes… I relied on you too much, without understanding your pain or struggles. I’m a failure as a queen. Thinking back, three years ago, during that time…”
“No, no, no, no! A queen like you shouldn’t bow to a social misfit like me! What if someone saw!?”
Glenn glanced around nervously. Conveniently—perhaps too conveniently—no one was nearby, but he remained on edge.
“So, Your Majesty… what brings you here today…?” Glenn ventured cautiously.
“Fufu, yes. Today…” Alicia’s gaze shifted to the side.
Her eyes landed on Rumia, who stood frozen, staring in shock.
“…It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Ermiana?” Alicia said softly, addressing Rumia.
“…”
Rumia’s gaze drifted to Alicia’s neck, where a gold necklace with an emerald gem rested. Confirming its presence, she lowered her eyes for some reason.
“Have you been well? My, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you. And you’ve become so beautiful—almost like a younger version of me, fufu♪” Alicia continued warmly.
“…” Rumia remained silent, her body stiff.
“How is life with the Fibel family? Are you comfortable? Are you eating properly? You’re still growing, so no reckless dieting, alright? And no matter how busy you are, you must bathe daily. You’re a young lady of marriageable age, so you need to take care of yourself…”
Alicia went on, her voice brimming with genuine joy.
“…”
Rumia stayed rigid, unable to respond.
“It feels like a dream… To be able to speak with you like this again…” Overcome with emotion, Alicia reached out to touch Rumia. “Ermiana…”
But—
“…With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Rumia said, dropping to one knee and bowing deeply, evading Alicia’s hand.
“!” Alicia froze.
“Your Majesty… forgive my rudeness, but you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Rumia murmured.
Alicia, who had been beaming with joy, stiffened at her words.
“I am Rumia. Rumia Tingel. It seems Your Majesty has confused me with Her Highness Ermiana Yel Kel Alzano, who tragically passed away three years ago. I understand you must be weary from your duties. Please take care of yourself…”
“…”
Alicia and Glenn fell into an awkward silence at Rumia’s formal words.
“…Yes, you’re right,” Alicia said softly, her smile tinged with loneliness as she lowered her eyes. “That child… Ermiana passed away three years ago from an epidemic, didn’t she? Oh my, how could I make such a mistake? Fufu, I suppose age is catching up with me…”
Glenn scratched his head, his expression complicated, at Alicia’s melancholic words.
Rumia continued calmly, “Even if it was a mistake, I’m deeply grateful that Your Majesty, with your boundless compassion, would speak so kindly to a lowly commoner of red blood like me…”
“No, no, I’m the one who should apologize for causing you discomfort,”
A heavy silence enveloped them.
Rumia said nothing. Alicia opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it, as if giving up. The cycle repeated.
Finally—
“…It’s about time,” Alicia said, turning to Glenn as if shaking off her lingering attachment. “Glenn, please take care of… Rumia, alright?”
“…Understood, Your Majesty,” Glenn replied, his expression hinting at unspoken thoughts as he watched her leave.
As Alicia’s figure disappeared from the courtyard, Rumia, still kneeling respectfully, never once looked at her departing back.
“She still won’t acknowledge me as her mother… Of course she wouldn’t…”
Alicia murmured, her shoulders slumped as she trudged toward the arena’s VIP seats.
Despite walking openly through the crowd, no one noticed her presence, thanks to Celica’s advanced [People • Repelling Magic].
“Ermiana…”
Alicia thought of her daughter, who had treated her like a stranger when she reached out.
No matter the reasons, Alicia had undeniably betrayed and abandoned her daughter. She had declared Ermiana dead, negating the life she had lived as that girl.
Ermiana was a bright child. She likely understood that her mother, as both a queen and a parent, had no choice. But understanding with the mind and accepting with the heart were different. At the time of her exile, Ermiana was still so young. Reports indicated that she had been deeply troubled after being cast out from the palace. At such a tender, impressionable age, being abruptly abandoned would understandably devastate anyone.
Yet, she had grown into a kind girl, beloved by all. Not as Ermiana, the abandoned princess, but as Rumia, who chose to forge a new life as a member of the Fibel family.
Indeed, the girl who stood before Alicia earlier was not Ermiana… but Rumia.
“…What a pity. Truly…”
Alicia sighed.
Perhaps she should have listened to Celica and Eleanor and kept her distance, observing from afar, instead of subjecting herself to such painful misery.
But she couldn’t blame them. It was her own desire to see her daughter. Celica and Eleanor had merely acted on the unspoken longing smoldering in her heart.
Lost in dark thoughts, Alicia continued toward the arena.
“…Your Majesty,” a voice called.
Alicia looked up, scanning her surroundings. In the shade of the trees lining the pathway stood a familiar figure.
It was Zelos, the Commander of the Royal Guard, his expression grim and urgent as he watched her.
(How odd. How could he recognize me? Celica’s magic should still be active…)
Alicia wondered, but she addressed the loyal guard warmly.
“Oh my, you’ve found me. I’m sorry for wandering off on my own, Zelos. By the way… is something wrong?”
“I need to speak with you, Your Majesty,” Zelos said, stepping silently from the shadows and raising his hand.
As if on cue—
“—!?”
Several guards appeared from nowhere, swiftly surrounding Alicia.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
Alicia asked calmly, unfazed by the tense atmosphere.
“Please forgive our insolence, Your Majesty. For a time, we must detain you, by force if necessary. But know this is not an act of hostility against you or the empire. It is solely out of loyalty to you and our homeland. We ask for your patience,”
“Zelos…”
Alicia was no novice. While far from Celica’s level, she was a competent mage of considerable rank, capable of defending herself against common threats.
But surrounded at close range by several elite guards clad in anti-magic gear and skilled in close combat, she was powerless.
“…Very well. Let’s hear what you have to say,” Alicia said, resigning herself to follow Zelos.
“…Unbelievable,”
Albert said, his voice calm and composed despite his words.
“What’s wrong? What did you see with your [Far-Sight Magic]?” Re=L asked.
“The Royal Guard—they’ve made their move.”
“…? Of course they’d move. They’re living people, after all.”
“…”
Albert’s stern expression didn’t waver as silence fell between them.
“The Royal Guard has used force to place Her Majesty under their full surveillance. This is effectively house arrest. Commander Zelos… I didn’t think he was the type to act so rashly, but I need to reassess,” Albert said.
“I see,”
Re=L replied, immediately starting to walk without hesitation.
“Where are you going?” Albert asked, grabbing her tied-back hair.
“It’s obvious. I’ll cut down all the enemies,” Re=L said matter-of-factly.
“Wait. There are too many. Even you can’t handle them.”
“If their forces are stronger, we just need to surpass them.”
“Calling for reinforcements?”
“No. Guts.”
“…”
Albert’s stern expression remained as silence fell again.
“The Imperial Royal Guard is the pinnacle of the Royalist Right, the most loyal to Her Majesty. It’s unthinkable they’d directly harm her. There must be some motive behind this reckless action. We need to uncover their intent and resolve the situation,”
“I see. I don’t really understand, though.”
“As expected.”
Silence. The odd tableau of a man holding a girl’s hair persisted.
Re=L broke the silence first. “I’ve got a plan. I charge the enemy head-on. Albert, you charge head-on after me.”
“…”
Albert’s stern expression didn’t budge, and silence returned, as always.
The Magical Festival’s afternoon session began.
The first event was [Telekinetic Weightlifting], a psychokinetic object manipulation contest using the white magic spell [Psy • Telekinesis]. Competitors lifted lead-filled bags into the air without touching them, earning more points for heavier bags.
After his encounter with Alicia, Glenn returned to the arena with a dejected Rumia. While his class buzzed with excitement as in the morning, Glenn watched the weightlifting event absentmindedly.
His thoughts, naturally, were on Rumia and Alicia.
As one of the few privy to Rumia’s true identity and complex circumstances—disclosed in strict confidence by government officials after last month’s incident—Glenn understood both Alicia’s longing to see Rumia despite the risks and Rumia’s reasons for rejecting her.
He understood, but—
(…What am I supposed to do about it?)
Ultimately, the issue between them could only be resolved by the two of them. An outsider’s words, no matter how well-intentioned, would ring hollow. When the root of the problem was emotion, not reason, no logic, advice, or comfort would help.
“…Tch, what a mess,” Glenn sighed deeply. Problems kept piling up, leaving him no time to breathe. His hyper-energetic students seemed like they belonged to another world.
As Glenn lost himself in thought—
“…Sensei,”
Sistine said suddenly, approaching with a sulky, puffed-up expression.
“Wah!? W-What, White Cat!? You wanna fight!?” Glenn recoiled, recalling their lunchtime exchange, and instinctively raised his fists.
“…Rumia’s gone,”
“Huh!?”
“Now that I think about it, ever since she went to see you and came back, she’s been acting strange,”
“Wait, how do you know I met with Rumia?”
“Shut up!”
“Eek! Sorry!” Glenn shrank back pathetically.
“She doesn’t have any events in the afternoon, but she’s not the type to skip out without a word. It’s weird that she just disappeared,” Sistine said.
“…Yeah, you’re right,”
Like Glenn, Sistine was one of the few who knew about Rumia’s circumstances. However, she didn’t know about Rumia’s secret meeting with her mother, the queen. Her concern was based on intuition.
Since Sistine was involved, Glenn decided she deserved to know what happened. “Hey, White Cat. Come here. Lend me your ear.”
“…?” Sistine looked puzzled as Glenn whispered the details of Alicia and Rumia’s encounter.
“That’s what happened…”
“So, her disappearing probably means…”
“Nine times out of ten, it’s what you’re thinking. In her shoes, I’d want to be alone too,” Glenn said, sighing. “But while I get wanting to be alone, isolating herself too much isn’t good. It won’t solve anything, but hanging out with friends might lift her spirits a bit. It’s not like brooding alone will fix this. I’ll find her and bring her back.”
Scratching his head and grumbling, Glenn stood.
“White Cat, you coming?”
“Yeah, I’ll—” Sistine started to nod reflexively, then stopped. “—No, I’ll stay here. Sensei, you go get her. I’ll keep the class together until you’re back.”
“Huh? That’s cold. Aren’t you two best friends?”
“Because we’re best friends,” Sistine said, turning away with a huff. “At a time like this… I know who she’d want by her side most… even if I don’t like it…”
Her profile was a mix of anger, resignation, sulkiness, jealousy—an impossibly complex expression as she muttered to herself.
“No clue what’s going on, but you’re leaving it to me, right?” Glenn said, starting to walk off to find Rumia.
“…Wait a sec,” Sistine called after him.
“What now?” Glenn glanced back, turning only his head. Sistine still looked grumpy.
“I’ve got one question. Did… Rumia give you anything?”
“Yeah, she gave me sandwiches. Said she saved some that someone was gonna throw out. Why?”
“…How were they?”
“Huh?”
“They were probably gross, right? Hmph… Poor you, stuck with garbage duty,”
“…Nah, they were crazy good,” Glenn replied casually.
Suddenly, Sistine spun around, turning her back to him.
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Glenn frowned, scratching his cheek as he offered some advice. “…Look, I don’t care, but don’t say stuff like that about the person who made them. It’s rude, and it’s not like you. You’re supposed to be nice to everyone but me.”
“I-I know that! Just go already!” Sistine snapped, still facing away. Whatever about his words had upset her wasn’t clear, but her ears were red with anger.
“Tch… what a pain,” Glenn muttered.
Sistine was always tricky to deal with. He could never figure out what she was thinking, and she got mad so easily. If only she had even a fraction of Rumia’s straightforward charm, things would be easier.
Musing on such futile wishes, Glenn headed out of the arena.
Rumia wasn’t in the courtyard from earlier.
With no other choice, Glenn wandered the academy on instinct.
“This is bad… Where the hell did she go…?”
He circled the main building, west wing, and east wing, hurried through the library and its plaza, and checked the entrance to the Forest of Bewilderment, the herb garden, and the magic experiment tower.
No sign of Rumia. Undeterred, he kept roaming the now-deserted academy grounds, searching endlessly as the arena drew most of the crowd.
Just as Glenn started to panic, he caught a glimpse of familiar blonde hair in the shade of evenly spaced trees near the iron fence at the academy’s southwestern edge.
“…Found her,” he muttered, approaching the tree.
There was Rumia, leaning against the trunk, gazing solemnly at something in her hands.
“…Rumia? What’re you looking at? …A locket?”
He hadn’t meant to pry, but the angle and height difference gave him an accidental view of her hands. She held a simple locket pendant, its lid open as she stared inside.
“There’s nothing in this locket…” Rumia said, snapping it shut and clutching it as she noticed Glenn’s approach. “I feel like it used to hold portraits of people who were important to me… but at some point, they were gone.”
“…” Glenn stayed silent.
Rumia gave a lonely smile, slipping the locket’s chain around her neck and tucking the pendant into her clothes.
“It’s not even valuable, yet… it’s strange, isn’t it? That I still carry this thing with me, never letting it go.”
“…Ain’t strange at all,” Glenn said gruffly, looking away and scratching his head. “I don’t know how you lost what was inside, but… doesn’t it still hold something important? That’s what it feels like.”
“…Sensei,” Rumia said, her voice firm as if resolving herself. “You know, don’t you? About my relationship with Her Majesty.”
“Yeah. The bigwigs in the government told me after last month’s incident,” Glenn admitted, turning his back to her. “But that doesn’t matter. C’mon, Rumia. Everyone’s waiting for you. The fun, fun Magic game Festival’s afternoon session is starting, yeah?”
He started to walk away, but—
“Fufu, Sensei’s always Sensei,” Rumia said with a faint kusuri smile. “This is the part where you’re supposed to say something kind to cheer up a sad girl, you know?”
“Honestly, I got no clue what to say,” Glenn admitted shamelessly.
Rumia let out a soft kusukusu laugh at his bluntness.
“Then… could you listen to me just a little longer?”
“…Sure.”
Rumia leaned back against the tree, and Glenn, still facing away, looked up at the sky.
She began to speak, her words meandering.
She spoke of her time as a princess. Of a kind mother who, despite her busy duties, made time to play with her. Of a gentle older sister who always looked after her. Days as a royal daughter, free of want yet somehow constrained. Still, those were undeniably happy memories.
These were likely the memories Rumia, stripped of her title and exiled from the palace, had tried to forget as she joined the Fibel family—yet they lingered, smoldering deep in her heart.
“…What should I have done?” Rumia asked quietly after recounting her memories. “I understand why Her Majesty had to abandon me. It was necessary for the royal family, for the country’s future. But… part of me can’t forgive her. I think… I’m angry.”
“Well, that stuff ain’t about logic,” l
“But I also want to call her ‘Mother’ again, to be held by her… That feeling’s there too. It’s unfair, isn’t it? Me…”
“Yeah, that stuff ain’t logical either,” Glenn replied.
“But if I call her ‘Mother,’ it feels like betraying Sistine’s parents, who took me in and loved me like their own. I feel so guilty…”
“Yup, definitely not logical,” Glenn said.
“So I don’t know. What I should do, what I should’ve done…” Rumia said, her eyes downcast.
Glenn sighed, scratching his head. “Here’s my take. Humans are creatures that can’t seem to make choices or decisions in life without regret or pain. People always say to choose the path with no regrets, right? I’m telling you, that’s a lie. It’s impossible.”
“Is that… how it is?” Rumia asked.
Glenn nodded. “Don’t you think God’s kind of a jerk? No matter how much you agonize and choose one of two paths, you’ll always wonder if the other was better. You’ll regret something. And if you avoid choosing altogether? You’ll just torment yourself later for not choosing. What a crappy design.”
Glenn reflected on himself. Once, he’d dreamed of becoming a mage of justice from a storybook and pursued that path. Now, he bitterly regretted that naive choice. He’d thought countless times that he’d picked the wrong path, that another would’ve been better.
But if he’d abandoned his dream and chosen differently, would he have been free of pain and regret? No—he’d likely torment himself forever for not pursuing his dream, regretting what he didn’t choose.
“That’s why I think your true feelings matter,” l
“…True feelings?” Rumia echoed.
“Yeah. If you’re gonna regret either way, don’t you think it’s better to choose based on your true feelings? Doesn’t it feel like, after all the regret, you might be able to move forward?”
“B-But… I don’t even know what my heart wants…” Rumia said.
Glenn scratched his head again. “I used to be a mage in the Imperial Army. …Surprising, huh?”
Rumia looked confused by his sudden confession and its unclear intent.
“I had to visit the palace a lot for work, and I saw someone important there wearing the exact same thing you were staring at so fondly earlier. …You get what I’m saying, right?”
“…!”
Rumia gasped, instinctively clutching her chest.
“That matching thing you’ve kept close all this time, never letting it go. You’ve had plenty of chances to toss it. …Don’t you already have your answer?” Glenn said.
“My answer…” Rumia murmured.
“Whether it’s resentment, complaints, or whatever, just start by throwing your words at her. Running away from facing it, like you did earlier, won’t change anything. Not that I’m one to talk, having dodged plenty myself,” Glenn added.
Rumia fell silent, her head bowed.
Glenn waited quietly for her response, still facing away.
Finally—
“…I’m scared,” Rumia whispered, her voice faint. “Until the day before I was exiled, she was so kind. But that day, when she summoned me, all these stern-faced important people were there… and she looked at me with such cold eyes, like she was a different person…”
“…” Glenn listened silently.
“She was so kind earlier, but… I’m terrified that she might suddenly turn those cold eyes on me again. That’s why…” Rumia steeled herself and looked directly at Glenn’s back. “Sensei, will you come with me?”
“…Jeez, didn’t know you had such a childish side,” Glenn said, shrugging with a wry smile as he turned to face her. “Fine. I’ll tag along.”
“Really?”
“…If I said no now, I’d just be a total scumbag, right?”
“Honestly, Sensei!” Rumia laughed.
Glenn sighed, exasperated, while Rumia giggled softly.
He started walking, Rumia following. A calm, easy atmosphere flowed between them.
That said, how was he supposed to arrange this? Realizing he’d taken on yet another troublesome task, Glenn began to fret.
But then—
“…Hm?”
Glenn noticed a strange group approaching them.
They were all clad in light armor protecting vital areas, wearing scarlet haori coats and carrying slender swords at their waists.
Five in total.
Forming a crescent-shaped formation, they approached swiftly from down the street.
“Those haori… the Royal Guard?”
The Royal Guard were the elite of the Imperial Army, composed of those most loyal to the queen, tasked with protecting the royal family above all else—the guardians of the crown.
As such, they should have been guarding the queen during her academy visit, yet—
“Why’re they wandering around here, ditching Her Majesty’s protection?” Glenn wondered, tilting his head.
The Royal Guard stopped in front of Glenn and Rumia, silently fanning out to surround them with precise, noiseless steps.
“Rumia Tingel… correct?” the apparent leader of the group asked in a low voice.
Glenn and Rumia exchanged glances.
“You are Rumia Tingel, yes?” the guard pressed.
“Uh, y-yes… that’s me…” Rumia answered, bewildered.
The moment she confirmed—
The guards drew their swords in unison, like springs uncoiling, and pointed their blades at Rumia.
“—!?”
Rumia froze at the sharp tips aimed at her.
“…What’s the meaning of this?” Glenn growled, stepping in front of Rumia to shield her, his voice menacing.
“Hear us. We are the executors of the queen’s will,” the leader said, glaring at Glenn irritably before proclaiming loudly, “Rumia Tingel, your heinous plot to assassinate Her Majesty Alicia VII and overthrow the state leaves no room for defense! For the crimes of lèse-majesté and high treason, you are to be executed on sight by Her Majesty’s decree!”
The surreal accusation left Glenn and Rumia stunned, frozen in disbelief.
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