Chapter 19 – The Freshman is Busy

Around the time Deus was heading toward the hospital room with Nefertiti…

“Hm, where did he go…?”

Holding a can of cat food in one hand, Yurisia was peering around the back garden.

Ever since Deus introduced her to the kitten, Jojo.

She had grown quite fond of the little one in a short span.

They had much in common. Both shy and reserved.

If Deus heard that, he’d probably shake his head, saying it was nonsense.

But in reality, Jojo hardly allowed anyone close except for him.

Yurisia didn’t properly converse with anyone except Deus either.

The only one Jojo gleefully unleashed his kitten punches on. The one he approached without hesitation.

The one Yurisia stammered to, yet spoke to nonetheless. The one who helped her overcome her shyness.

All the same single person. Though the person in question was likely unaware.

“Meow? Ah, no. Jojo?”

Calling out like that usually coaxed a shy head to peek out from somewhere, accompanied by a ‘nyaang’.

Then Yurisia would open the can, and he would gobble it down with gusto.

He offered his presence. Didn’t run when she approached. Even rubbed against her.

But he wouldn’t allow her to touch him. If she extended a hand, he would retreat.

He still didn’t seem to follow her as much as he did Deus, Yurisia thought.

—Nyaaang

After calling a few times, Jojo finally emerged hesitantly.

Yurisia’s eyes, about to greet him warmly, clouded with alarm.

“Jojo?”

—Nyaang

“You, uh, were fighting.”

He wasn’t hurt. But it looked like he had been in a fairly rough scuffle.

There wasn’t just one cat in the cradle.

There were several. And surely some were territorial.

Perhaps he was one of those sorts who’d tormented young Jojo.

“Are you alright? Th-thankfully, it doesn’t look like you’re hurt.”

—Nyaaang!!

A cry filled with remarkable force. Almost like a reply.

‘Who exactly do you think *I* am, you insignificant thing!’ it seemed to say.

“That’s a relief. Deus would be so sad if you were hurt.”

And I’m not sure how that sadness would manifest itself.

At Yurisiah’s words, Jojo ‘nyaanged’ and resumed his grooming.

‘As if *that* human would worry about me?’ he seemed to retort.

“Anyway. I’ve given you food, so I should be going. I’m starting a part-time job today….”

—Nyaaang

“T-to be honest, I’m not confident. I’m worried, too. And embarrassed…. I’m still regretting whether I’ve done something foolish….”

But.

“But. Still, I’m going to try. I want to become like Deus too, you see. Kind and warm, yet confident in front of anyone. To do that, I need to, even just a little… shed this timidity.”

—Nyaang

Jojo came closer to Yurisiah, and gently pawed at her leg.

Was he asking for more food? Or, perhaps, cheering her on?

Whatever it was, that adorable gesture alone gave Yurisiah great strength.

“…Jojo?”

However, this she had not foreseen.

The part-time job that Yurisiah was to undertake today was as a one-day staff member at a cafe.

With the influx of new students, the owner and one employee were finding it impossible to cope.

Thus, they had urgently sought someone, and Yurisiah had been chosen as a result.

But Jojo had followed her even to this cafe. Or rather, inside it.

“Uh, excuse me, student? What’s with the cat?”

“Th-that is! Well, um….”

“Hmm. Seeing him like this, he’s quite cute. Just a moment.”

The owner hurriedly fetched a basket from somewhere, intending to transfer Jojo into it.

Of course, he was immediately repelled by a hiss.

“Y-you want Jojo to go inside this?”

“That’s right, student. Do you think it’s possible? This one’s fiercer than I thought.”

“Jojo? Would you, perhaps, go inside this…?”

—Nyaang

Very well. Jojo promptly entered the basket.

The owner immediately placed the basket at the border between the outside and the cafe.

So that all the students passing by could see this small, adorable creature.

And one hour later.

“Kyaaang! So cute!”

“What’s this one’s name?!”

“If you want to know his name, buy a cup of coffee!”

JoJo had become the owner of this cafe faster than he’d anticipated.

*

Meanwhile, Nefertiti, returned to the hospital room, announced she had to leave in haste.

It seemed something else had cropped up in the student council.

“I’m so sorry, senior. You came all this way, and I’m already leaving.”

“Nonsense. I knew you were busy. You should go. Student council president.”

“I’ll see you again later, Luciel-sunbae.”

“Ah… yes. Deus-hubae too. Ahem. Farewell.”

The door to the sickroom closed, the voices murmuring faded into the distance.

Luciel watched them go for a moment, then turned his gaze sideways.

“You can come out now.”

And then, from beneath the window, a figure abruptly materialized.

“I greet Her Imperial Highness.”

“It’s been a while.”

The middle-aged man bowed deeply before stepping into the room.

Curiously, though he moved, not a sound or even a trace of his presence could be perceived.

“I am sorry to trouble you. To make someone as busy as you come and go like this.”

“Please. I beg you, do not say such things. This is simply my duty.”

The man straightened and looked at the door the two students had just disappeared through.

“Did you see them? What did you think?”

“In truth, I could not observe them closely. He is a sharp youth, that one. Had I approached any further, he might have sensed my presence.”

“He is that perceptive?”

“Perhaps he sensed it at the very last moment.”

Or perhaps… perhaps he had known all along, and simply pretended not to.

…No. Surely not. Am I not among the most adept at stealth in the Empire?

Even the strongest, Shabel, could not find me if I truly wished to remain hidden.

“What are they saying in the Imperial Palace?”

“Both concern and welcome are being expressed.”

A freshman with an almost unbelievable level of skill had appeared.

The Empire, which desired qualitative improvement, could only welcome this.

Perhaps the greatest talent after Shabel had emerged.

Yet this freshman had defeated the Empire’s princess, of all people.

A simple friendly match. No impure intentions, just a student sparring with another.

Even so, the very nature of the ‘Empire’ meant there would be talk.

“The welcome I understand. The concern, I can roughly surmise.”

The authority of the Imperial family has waned. The sycophants will murmur that.

The incompetence of the Imperial family has been exposed. Those are the words of a few disloyal dogs.

“This fact has already leaked beyond the cradle. Before long, radical elements will likely raise the banner of ‘ability supremacism’ once more.”

“How unfortunate.”

Ability supremacists.

Those who cry out that the world must be reshaped only by virtue of one’s Ability, not status or anything else.

Radicals raving about overthrowing the Empire altogether and building a new nation for the Gifted.

“If you deem them pitiable…”

“They attempt to exploit the fact that a commoner defeated royalty. Though they value Ability, they still reveal themselves to be bound by status. To me, it was merely an instance of one Gifted clashing with another, exerting their strength.”

They proclaim equality on the surface, but.

In the end, aren’t they simply trying to create another hierarchy based on the strength of their Abilities?

A sigh escapes. It’s already burdensome enough with the Gates and the Monsters.

Instead of using the divine power to save people and the world, they consider themselves gods.

And for that absurd delusion, they seek to destroy everything.

“…One more thing, Lady Shabel has also heard the news.”

“Master? Ugh. If it reached her ears, she’s not one to sit idly by.”

“Indeed. The Commander barely managed to stop her from immediately going to the Cradle.”

“Everyone’s suffering because of me.”

At that, the man kneels, declaring such words utterly unfounded.

How could it be Her Highness’s fault? It is no one’s fault, he insists.

“Anyway. Please tell them I’m truly alright. Rather, my heart is racing more than ever. I’m genuinely looking forward to this final year.”

“It seems this young man, Deus, has captivated your heart.”

At the man’s words, Luciel pauses in thought, then breaks into a smile.

Startled by her expression, the man stares at her.

“Your Highness?”

It was the first time. Since her mentor, the first person who understood her romantic ideals.

Beyond understanding, someone who called it beautiful. Praised its radiance and offered encouragement.

When everyone else merely focused on the efficiency of Abilities, tilting their heads in confusion.

Perhaps. Like her, he too harbors some grand ambition.

A sense of justice that would never allow him to ignore the misfortune of others.

A benevolent heart that compels him to aid anyone in need.

‘And. Like me, who possesses a romance for the sword.’

Without wielding anything else. Only with that body of steel.

A mountain of a man battling all the wicked forces of the world.