Published: September 6, 2025
After the social gathering ended, I returned to the dormitory. As I walked out of the small hall, my thoughts drifted to the children of the old Veronica faction. I wanted to reunite them with their families, but that was impossible. The purge we had to conduct was something that simply had to be done. Since I couldn't stop it, what could I do? What was within my power?
“Lady Rosemine!”
“Raimund.”
Raimund approached from the specialist building for the civilian course, where Hilsure’s laboratory was located. His pale purple cloak fluttered as he came. At the appearance of this noble from Arensbach, the surrounding knight apprentices became alert and quickly took positions to protect the lord candidates.
Raimund widened his eyes in surprise before taking a small step back and calling to me.
“Lady Rosemine, there’s a message from Lord Ferdinand. Would you like to hear it?”
“Did something happen!?”
“No, when I went to show this magic tool, he recorded a message into it…”
He said, pulling out a magic tool. It looked like a slightly miniaturized version of a recording magic tool. Though I was told it could be made even smaller, this was the device into which our message from Ferdinand had been recorded.
“I want to hear it. Please.”
Leaning forward, I urged him on. Raimund nodded and placed his hand on the mana stone part of the magic tool.
“Rosemine, it’s me.”
There was no doubt that the voice flowing from the magic tool was Ferdinand’s. It felt strangely nostalgic, even though it hadn’t been long since he left for Arensbach. But that warm nostalgia was instantly wiped away by his next words.
“I hope you haven’t been neglecting your studies now that I’m gone.”
…Oh no! I haven’t studied at all!
“You promised to be the best, and if Ehrenfest’s overall grades fall behind last year’s, there will be no mercy.”
Yikes! I cupped my cheek as the voice softened just a little.
“I’m not telling you to improve your grades. Just don’t let them drop. Keep them the same as last year. It’s not difficult, is it?”
“The same as last year…? Yes. Now that you say it, I feel like I can do it.”
From behind me, Charlotte muttered quietly.
“I think the top student, my older sister, can’t really improve her grades any further…”
“Shh! She’s motivated now, so be quiet, Charlotte.”
…Ah! That’s true, I couldn’t have done any better! Was I tricked!?
Even as I glared fiercely at the magic tool, Ferdinand’s voice continued.
“Wilfried, Charlotte. The same goes for you two. I expect you to perform well enough to deserve the protective magic tools I gave you. I want to hear the good news at the territory competition that Ehrenfest achieved full passes on the first day.”
“Ugh!”
“That’s…”
For Charlotte, who failed to achieve a full pass on the first day last year, the bar had been raised. The weight of the pressure made her tremble. As I reached out to comfort her, Ferdinand’s voice called out, “Ah, yes. Rosemine.”
…The voice suddenly sounds a bit softer and more ominous?
I shifted my gaze from Charlotte to the magic tool in Raimund’s hand, sensing the peculiar tone before tough demands.
“If your grades drop, talk to Sylvester, and I will take away the library I gave you. Someone who can’t manage themselves certainly can’t be trusted with managing a library.”
“Nooooo! Please don’t take it away, Lord Ferdinand!”
I clung desperately to the magic tool, but it was only a recording—it would not yield to my pleadings.
Since the person who assigned me tasks was gone, and with the depressing purge happening, I was down in the dumps. I hadn’t even read a single book lately. Thinking about my library was my only anchor. If that was taken away, I’d genuinely feel like dying.
“Ah, that’s all the message from Lord Ferdinand. …He also assigned me the task of improving this magic tool. His tasks are tough on both of us. Lady Rosemine, please do your best.”
Raimund said this with an indescribable expression, glancing back and forth between the magic tool and me, then hurriedly left as if to escape.