**chapter 80**
—
Yenika closed her mouth as her eyes met Elin’s.
“…Yenika?”
At Arthur’s call, Yenika belatedly came to her senses and muttered.
“She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“My friend?”
“Yes. Elin Leverkusen.”
Arthur let out an exclamation.
“Oh, really? I was worried for nothing.”
With those words, Arthur stepped away.
The warmth that vanished with him made Yenika’s body flinch involuntarily.
Meanwhile, Arthur waved his hand in greeting.
“Elin! Hello!”
Elin, who had been standing with her mouth open, jolted in surprise just like Yenika.
“Uh, uh, hi…”
“Yes. But what brings you here?”
At Arthur’s question, Elin stammered as she tried to explain.
“N-no… I had something to talk about, so I was on my way to find you, but we just happened to run into each other…”
“Oh really? What is it you wanted to talk about?”
“Uh… but you look busy?”
Arthur tilted his head at her words.
“No? I’m not busy at all.”
Elin fell silent.
Seeing the embarrassment and unease written on her face, Yenika let out a soft laugh.
‘Cute. Girls that age…’
With that thought, Yenika shifted her gaze.
‘…But why is this guy not cute at all? They’re the same age, yet…’
Clicking her tongue, Yenika deliberated for a moment before stepping forward.
“Hello, Miss Elin.”
“…Hello, Yenika.”
“I was just discussing a group project with Arthur. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get the wrong idea.”
Elin’s eyes widened.
“H-huh? Why would I get the wrong idea…!”
Seeing her flustered expression, Yenika let out another soft laugh before turning her body away.
She could have teased her more, but today wasn’t the day.
‘In any case, I owe him a debt.’
Arthur Bayern might say it was fine, but that wasn’t in her nature.
Besides, thanks to this presentation, she had earned the image of a model student. And considering the ‘item’ she needed to locate in this school in the future, that image would surely be useful.
For that reason, she had no intention of spoiling this relationship.
Just as she was about to step aside for Arthur and Elin—
Arthur suddenly grabbed her arm.
“……!”
Startled, Yenika turned her head, only to see Arthur tilting his head as he asked.
“Didn’t you have something to talk to me about today, Yenika?”
Yenika stammered in confusion.
“W-what do you mean, Arthur?”
“…? That’s what you should be asking me. You said you had something to discuss today and asked me to make time.”
At those words, Yenika fell silent.
Now that she thought about it, Arthur was right—she had meant to talk to him today.
A bizarre rumor spreading in the underworld a few days ago.
And to ask about Marshal Dust, the industrial spy.
‘I completely forgot. But still…’
Trailing off, Yenika glanced sideways.
There was Elin Leverkusen, her expression even shakier than before.
‘I don’t want to have this conversation while being misunderstood like this.’
Letting out a sigh, Yenika debated, then finally refused.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Hmm… I don’t mind, but it feels like our conversation keeps getting delayed.”
“So what? It’s not like you’d tell me for free anyway.”
Arthur shrugged.
At the same time, the hand holding her let go. Yenika glanced at it for a moment, then dipped her head slightly.
“See you.”
Leaving those words behind, she walked away.
Watching her departing figure, Arthur slowly turned his gaze toward Elin.
“So, Elin, what did you want to say… hmm?”
“……”
“Why that expression, Elin?”
Elin, unable to hide the trembling of her lips, asked.
“You two… seem pretty close?”
“Me and Yenika?”
“Yes. When did you get that close?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“We’re not close, though?”
“…?”
“Seems you’re mistaken, Elin. Yenika and I aren’t close.”
Elin’s eyes narrowed.
“Lies.”
“I’m serious.”
“Then why were you two standing so close together?”
“Because someone suddenly hid their presence and snuck up on us?”
Elin flinched.
“T-that’s because you two suddenly lowered your heads and crouched down!”
Arthur shrugged.
From his perspective, Elin had been the one hiding her presence.
But there was no need to point that out, so he changed the subject.
“Anyway, what did you want to talk about, Elin?”
Elin shut her mouth.
Arthur blinked at her vaguely angry expression, while Elin muttered inwardly.
‘So just because I looked away for a second, you got tangled up with another girl?’
She had always sensed that Arthur spent time with Yenika Hazel, but it hadn’t seemed like this before.
That was why Elin felt a peculiar sense of crisis.
She couldn’t quite define what that crisis was, but she was certain she couldn’t leave things as they were.
‘I’ll need to make things clear between us first. Then I can plan my next move.’
With that thought, Elin’s eyes gleamed as she snapped her fingers.
“I had something to say, but suddenly I can’t remember?”
“…?”
“So let’s go eat something delicious. If I have something sweet, I’m sure I’ll remember.”
Arthur blinked at the ridiculous suggestion.
But soon he burst out laughing and nodded.
Because this sort of suggestion, said so casually, was exactly what Elin Leverkusen would do.
“Sure, why not. Where should we go, Elin?”
—
—
There were three cafés at Arcane University.
Each was located at the base of one of the three towers, and the most popular by far was the *Strawberry* Café.
It boasted a wide variety of menu items and a spacious outdoor terrace that could accommodate the most students.
Because of that, countless students frequented the café at lunchtime, and Elin and Arthur also found a seat there to talk.
“Strawberry shake, cheesecake… and some macarons too, please.”
After placing her order, Elin looked at Arthur.
Under her gaze, Arthur mentioned his favorite menu item.
“I’ll have an Americano with five extra shots, please.”
The waiter blinked in surprise.
“E-excuse me, five shots? That’ll be very bitter…”
“It’s fine. Please make it like that.”
The waiter gave Arthur a curious look, then scribbled down the order.
“So, one strawberry shake, an Americano with five shots, cheesecake, and macarons. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
At his reply, the waiter left.
As she watched him go, Elin quickly turned back to Arthur.
“Arthur, can I ask you something?”
Arthur nodded at once.
“Of course. Ask me anything.”
“How did you meet that girl, Yenika?”
“…Yenika?”
Arthur echoed the name, and Elin nodded eagerly.
“Hmm… I first met her here at the academy.”
“At the academy? But that girl, Yenika, immediately sat next to you.”
“Oh. That’s because I already knew some of the people she’s associated with.”
Elin’s eyes widened.
‘So someone from her side has ties to the Bayern family?’
If it were anyone else, she might have doubted it, but since it was the Bayern family, it wasn’t so strange.
If it was the Empire’s greatest noble house and Hazel, one of Arcane’s largest corporations, then it wasn’t odd for there to be connections.
‘…So the Hazel family deliberately pushed her toward him.’
Elin smiled coldly at the thought.
Not that it was surprising.
He may once have been mocked as the “mute young lord,” but now Arthur was the legitimate heir of House Bayern.
Trying to cozy up to him and maneuver situations wasn’t anything new—it was practically cliché.
‘Cliché, yes, but straightforward and effective.’
With that thought, Elin sighed.
She had been careless, letting her confidence blind her to such an opening.
‘Still, good thing I realized it now… that Yenika girl.’
Elin recalled the way Yenika had looked at Arthur—affectionate, sweet even.
She bit her lip at the memory.
At that moment, Arthur broke the silence.
“Can I ask you something too, Elin?”
“…Huh?”
“I just suddenly got curious.”
Elin nodded readily.
Given her permission, Arthur took a sip of the Americano that had been set down at some point and said—
“Elin, do you dislike me getting along with Yenika?”
“……!”
Elin’s mouth fell open in shock.
Arthur tilted his head at her fluster.
“Huh? You really do dislike it?”
Snapping out of it, Elin stammered a denial.
“W-what? W-what are you talking about all of a sudden? Why would I care if you get along with that Yenika girl?”
Arthur scratched his head.
“Hmm… you’re lying, aren’t you?”
Elin fell silent.
“……”
Caught in conflict, she finally lowered her head and murmured softly—almost a whisper.
“…And what if I said yes?”
Arthur tilted his head again, but answered without hesitation.
“Then I won’t get close to her.”
“……”
“Honestly, we’re not close anyway. And I have no reason to get closer.”
Elin slowly lifted her head.
“Isn’t that an unreasonable request?”
“Not at all. Like I said, I have no reason to get close to her.”
Her expression wavered.
‘…Is he being considerate of me?’
The situation certainly seemed that way.
Arthur Bayern, worrying about her feelings, saying—even if only as lip service—that he wouldn’t get close to Yenika.
That was how it could be taken.
Elin’s mood brightened, and a smile tugged at her lips.
‘He’s good at this push-and-pull… Arthur Bayern.’
She had sensed it before—he had a knack for tugging at her heart unexpectedly, shaking her up in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
‘He must just be naturally gifted… and he said he’s never had a girlfriend before, too.’
She liked it, but that didn’t mean she’d let him have the upper hand.
After all, push-and-pull only works if you push back when the other pulls.
Which meant this was the time to step back—under the guise of a reasonable excuse.
“Well… it’s fine if you get close, but you’re the heir to the Bayern dukedom, right?”
“…?”
“So you always have to be careful. Children of high nobility are always surrounded by rumors. Of course, someone like Yenika isn’t really an issue, but you never know.”
Arthur let out an exclamation at her explanation.
“Oh… so that’s what you meant?”
“Exactly. So no matter who you’re with, don’t ever do anything that could be criticized.”
Arthur nodded.
‘As expected of Elin. So that’s what she was hinting at?’
It made sense. Someone as socially astute as Elin would naturally pick up on Yenika’s slyness.
‘So she’s warning me because she’s worried about me getting mixed up with Yenika.’
That was just like kind-hearted Elin.
To meddle on behalf of someone who was only a friend.
Arthur, feeling good, smiled.
“Got it, Elin. I’ll keep my distance from Yenika.”
“Well… if that’s how you want it, then sure!”
With that, Elin tossed aside her gloomy expression and smiled brightly.
Arthur watched her smile for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and asked—
“Oh, by the way, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”
Elin let out a small exclamation.
“Oh, right…”
“…?”
“I almost forgot to mention it.”
With that, Elin explained.
“Your opponent for the swordsmanship class midterm sparring has been decided.”
“The midterm?”
“The professor announced it, remember? We’re having the midterm in a week. And now the sparring partners have been set.”
At her words, Arthur recalled belatedly.
‘Come to think of it, it’s midterm season already.’
It had been five months since he enrolled at Arcane University.
Which meant, of course, it was midterm time.
And, as Elin said, the midterm for swordsmanship class was fought through sparring matches.
‘So the partners have been decided, huh… Wonder who mine is.’
Honestly, it didn’t matter.
With or without mana, with his current ability, there was no one he couldn’t beat.
So Arthur asked the question with ease.
“Hmm… I see. Then who’s your opponent, Elin?”
“You.”
“…?”
“You, Arthur.”
Arthur’s eyes widened at her words.
Meanwhile, Elin’s eyes sparkled with eager anticipation.
“This midterm… it looks like you and I are going head to head.”
—
