Published: August 25, 2025
Today, three chapters are posted simultaneously.
This story is the second chapter.
With many fallen leaves making it easier to talk, we moved to the lumber yard to check the staff. That said, the feel of the rake can be confirmed after using it a few times. There’s no real need to specially ask for help with something like this.
“Lord Takebayashi, what can I assist you with?”
“What I’d like to ask of Ms. Eleonora is to prepare some negative emotions for the magic... Simply put, would you accompany me in venting complaints? I apologize for bringing up past matters again, like last night.
To say this may be blunt, but regarding last night, I felt that Ms. Eleonora seemed more honest than others and easier to share complaints with. Of course, I believe everyone else would listen if I spoke with them, and I trust them, but...”
“...I think I understand what you mean. Although our directions differ, I can sense from you, Lord Takebayashi, experience dealing with troublesome people. Beyond trust, I feel that venting complaints requires a certain level of familiarity.”
“I understand. If there’s someone you regularly drink with and share complaints, it might come out smoothly, but without that, it’s tough... Generally, people don’t enjoy hearing complaints, so we tend to suppress them as much as possible.”
Sometimes complaints might slip out unconsciously, but deliberately putting them into words is a different level of difficulty.
There’s the risk of information leakage or harming relationships by venting complaints. With the wrong person, you get “Complaints and such are bad; you need to be more positive,” or “This is how it is!”—denials and lectures that make it troublesome.
I believe everyone I’ve met in this world would listen properly if I complained, but saying it understanding that is a form of reliance or cowardice—I can’t quite explain the aversion. Thinking about that, the honest feeling is that I just don’t vent complaints at all.
“I feel the same. In school and even in the military, there were opportunities, but when the time came, I hesitated and often missed them as the conversation progressed...”
“I’ve had that experience too. Missing the chance is one thing, but if the conversation stops with you, that’s hell.”
“Later, I learned that people present were talking behind my back, saying I was an arrogant bore... That was the whole process. Speaking of which, I’ve always wondered why such people can’t be a little more discreet?
I know it’s pointless to care, but it was sincerely puzzling to see them talk so openly about gossip.”
“Ah... Perhaps they think they’re keeping their voices low and hiding, but from the target’s side it’s obvious. They’re snickering while watching from a corner of the same room.”
Their faces are fully visible, their gaze piercing, and the voices clearly audible. Sometimes I wonder if they’re deliberately trying to annoy me by making me hear it, but then when our eyes meet, they quickly look away, seeming genuinely unaware that I heard them.
“Is it group psychology? ‘Everyone else says so, so it’s okay.’ If gossip spreads, everyone says it. But when your eyes meet suddenly, you realize who’s speaking—that moment isn’t me versus a group but me versus that individual one-on-one, so they hurriedly pretend it’s unrelated.”
“I can understand the reasoning, but... Though children, these are noble children. The academy has not only places hidden from view but even cafés for secret talks. I wonder if they can’t at least move to such places?”
“That’s true. Wait, cafés for secret talks? Does the Royal Capital’s school really have such facilities?”
“More precisely, the academy has a café with private rooms that can be reserved, and students use them for secret conversations. The academy isn’t just a place of learning but also a ‘training ground for social interaction,’ so political maneuvering among students is active.