42. Extra Lesson

This scene was practically a duel over the “ownership” of the elven saintess, and the time and place were quickly unilaterally decided by the Grand Princess. It sounded and looked fine enough, and at this point, I couldn’t be bothered to dwell on that princess’s somewhat presumptuous behavior. After all, for me, winning this “duel” against that supporting silver knight was what truly mattered.

On my side, after days of training during the day and “extra lessons” at night, Kephiel finally gave a somewhat encouraging evaluation regarding the power of the new fairy I had barely used before: “There’s finally some progress; it should be about ready.” And so, we arrived at the crucial moment in the script—the night before the duel with the kingdom’s elven silver knight.

Tonight, I didn’t need to continue my night watch to protect Izalis. Rather, the three girls were practically shooing me off to rest, and under such treatment, who could possibly sleep as if I were an emperor? But I didn’t know how long it had been, and just as I was trying to force my eyes shut, a noise from outside made me realize…

Tonight would not end so simply.

“Lord Oujilid~”

However, the one who quietly entered through the slightly ajar door was not Kephiel, who was supposed to give me “extra lessons,” nor Nilu, who would sneak in at midnight to make a fuss. Instead, it was the unexpected guest—the elven saintess, Izalis.

“!”

“What’s wrong? You look quite strange,” she said, her clear and bright eyes still shining in the dim light, a hint of mischievousness in her smile. “Are you really surprised and disappointed to see me here?”

I was indeed surprised, but it wasn’t because of why she was here; it was… how she managed to be here? As for what she meant by “disappointed,” I couldn’t quite grasp what was going on in Izalis’s little head.

Izalis had no intention of giving me a chance to stop her. The next moment, as she closed the door and walked closer, she said to me, “I asked to come in; they’re both waiting outside right now~”

So what are you after? A thrill?

I sighed and got up to greet her. Even though tomorrow was the day of the “duel,” I didn’t feel sleepy at all tonight. Izalis’s late-night appearance also resolved something I had been thinking about all day. After all, she was willing to face Kephiel and Nilu’s “jealousy” just to meet me alone at this moment. According to the script, only one possibility remained.

[Ithalis wanted to express her gratitude.]

This is what Ithalis was thinking at that moment.

“There’s no need for such grand gestures. I should have told you before that accepting the other party’s ‘duel’ was for your sake, as well as for our position in the Kingdom of Rodland, Ithalis.”

“But you can’t expect to always be on my mind, can you?” Ithalis blinked. “After I show up tonight, will you be able to sleep a little easier?”

From the content of the script, it indeed matched what you said. However, dear Elf Saintess, isn’t my concern rooted in your behavior all along? Don’t take this as a form of honor!

So, I came, I welcomed, I expressed my thanks, and yet, my two big shots are still outside eavesdropping. Elf Saintess, shouldn’t you obediently go back and rest?

That’s what I thought, but the next moment I realized: I guessed the beginning, but not the ending.

In the room illuminated only by moonlight, with a hazy and blurred vision, I indeed saw the elf before me take a step forward, but…

That step was not towards the door, but in the completely opposite direction—towards me.

The moment Ithalis stood on her tiptoes, it felt as if time around us had come to a standstill, quiet enough that I could only remain still and feel everything this elf was doing to me.

Until she lowered her tiptoed feet, I finally heard my own breath echoing back to me.

Ithalis, what you just did seems to have nothing to do with “gratitude,” does it?

However, what responded to me was the clear gaze of the elf girl looking up at me, her eyes slightly raised. This indicated that she was clearly aware of what she had just done and was well-prepared, and now, she had cleverly sidestepped my question.

Don’t tell me: this kind of “gratitude” was also permitted by Kephiel and Nilu? It would be surprising if those two agreed.

At least tonight, I wouldn’t be able to get an answer from the elf before me. Because what followed was her revelation of “feelings.”

“Lord Oquilid, regardless of the outcome of your ‘duel’ with the other party tomorrow, I am already prepared.”

Though unspoken, I understood clearly what this “preparation” Ithalis mentioned entailed.

After all…

“After all, ‘order’ has told me so. In the tedious and monotonous ‘civilization’ I have experienced, a ‘change’ like you has emerged, and thus, I have found the direction and meaning to maintain ‘order’ moving forward.”

Just from this speech that sounded like some kind of mystical rhetoric, I roughly understood: regardless of the outcome later, Ithalis would likely choose my side. Perhaps her expression tonight was meant to convey this meaning: win or lose, I have already “won,” but I certainly don’t want to lose my fighting spirit at such a moment.

After all, my plan concerns the future of Izalis, and this elven saintess is absolutely the “key” to us in the current script.

With this in mind, I intended to take a look at the script, hoping to say something nice based on its content to temporarily distract Izalis, so that the atmosphere in this room wouldn’t become increasingly dangerous.

However, it was no big deal not to look, but once I did…

Some strange and dangerous content appeared!

【Izalis’s death.】

This is… the death script that had once disappeared, now reappearing for Izalis!? But… it shouldn’t show up at a time like this!

Because: not to mention the outcome of my ‘duel’ with that supporting character, the Silver Knight, even if I lost, the other party should only use their victory to further pressure Izalis into that troublesome “forced marriage.”

More importantly: clearly, the result of my duel with the Silver Knight hasn’t appeared in the script yet, so why does Izalis’s death script appear first!? It’s like a student who doesn’t even know their own score being preemptively scolded by their parents!

Unless…

Unless.

I grasped Izalis’s hand, stopping her from whatever she was about to do, and then, under her surprised gaze, I lowered my voice as much as possible and spoke.

“Kefir, Nilu, stop eavesdropping outside and come in for a moment.”

“Although it’s already this late, I need to trouble the three of you. Regarding tomorrow’s ‘duel,’ I hope you can help me with some ‘homework’ tonight.”