Arc 02: Late Enrollment at the Academy

Chapter 16: The Departure

After defeating the magician who was controlling the magic worms, the outside of the mansion had become remarkably clean.

It was a huge relief, considering the overwhelming amount that had made me feel almost neurotic. 

Additionally, Alicia had taken up gardening as a hobby, which added a lush, appealing look to our modest home.

“It’s a shame we won’t be able to harvest the radishes that grow in twenty days.”

“Should I send them to the academy as they grow?”

“No, can everyone at the mansion eat them? That’s why I grew them.”

Gardening, in this case, refers only to a small area from the gate to the entrance of the mansion; the backyard, on the other hand, is where we normally grow vegetables.

Why did we suddenly start a vegetable garden?

Does every noble lady who stops being a villain start farming?

At first, I was curious, but it turns out she simply wants to try everything she’s never done before. 

Now that she’s part of the Brave family, not a ducal family, she wants to experience things she previously ignored. 

What a good girl, really.

“It’s too precious for us to eat…”

“I wish only the young master would go to the academy…”

“It’s okay for Lady Alicia to stay here at the mansion…”

“All the servants are going to miss you…”

The fact that all the servants were gathering around Alicia with tears in their eyes proved how much of a positive presence she truly was. 

She had become an indispensable part of the Brave family.

She’s amazing. Besides helping with work, she can do cooking, laundry, and cleaning just as well as the professional servants. 

Makes sense, right?

That’s how it is in the Brave territory. 

With not much else to do, she poured all the resources that would have gone into a noble’s education into household chores, turning herself into a hyper-domestic genius.

“Life at the academy is tough! Call us immediately if you need anything!”

“It’s okay. Don’t overdo it just because we’re short on hands. That’s why I learned to live on my own.”

“Lady Alicia, please rely on us whenever you need anything!”

This exchange between Alicia and a servant maid is heartwarming, but I can’t help feeling a bit miffed about being left out.

“Not even a word for me, huh… Hahaha…”

I’ve lived in this mansion my whole life, and now I’m heading to the capital for the first time. 

The capital is far, and we’ll take a carriage to a larger town in the neighboring territory before switching to a train for the rest of the journey. 

It’s my first time leaving our lands, except for enemy countries, but why am I nervous?

“Ah, I have no idea how to ride a train. It’s kind of scary, isn’t it?”

“My, what a childishly amusing thing to say.”

“…Shut up.”

I blurted it out wanting some attention, but Sebas’ comment made me so embarrassed I decided to keep quiet. 

But still, something feels off.

“Lady Alicia, please take good care of the young master!”

“Don’t hesitate to scold him if necessary!”

“We have a collar. It’s something he used to wear when he was younger.”

“You may use it to discipline him, even if it hurts a bit!”

“A collar…? Such discipline…”

Alicia was starting to feel bewildered by the overzealous comments from the servants. 

And yes, I actually had been put in a collar before.

Back then, it was all about the excitement of being in another world, and I would wander into dangerous mountains without a care.

“Sorry, did I keep you waiting too long?”

“No, I’m fine, haha.”

Finally freed, Alicia ran over to where I and Sebas were waiting by the gate, holding the collar in her hand. 

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

“Young master! If anything happens to Lady Alicia, we will never forgive you!”

“All the servants feel the same way!”

“If anything happens, just remember you’ll be drinking coffee made from wrung-out dish rags for the rest of your life!”

“I get it, I get it.”

Our servants are really something else, totally outrageous.

“You’re really loved, Ragna, huh? Fufu, I’m a bit jealous.”

“Well, yeah… I guess.”

When Alicia gave me a carefree smile, I couldn’t say that I was actually envious of how she was treated.

Being from the Brave family, who are always on the front lines, we’re not too keen on ordering others around. This is fine by me.

“Let’s go then. Please, get into the carriage.”

Following Sebas’s voice, Alicia and I climbed into the passenger seats of the carriage parked in front of the gate. 

We were headed to the academy, the setting of our story, where the nobles of the capital gather.

“…”

I heard a slight sound of someone swallowing nervously next to me.

It was just Alicia and me sitting in the passenger seat, so the sound must have been hers. 

Despite her efforts to appear strong, it was clear she was still harboring some unease about going to the academy.

No matter how bravely she acts or tries to hide it, the trauma deeply embedded in her heart is undeniable.

“Alicia, I have a rather embarrassing favor to ask…”

“What is it?”

“When we get to the station, could you show me how to buy a ticket and how to ride the train?”

“…Pfft.”

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing at my awkward request.

“Don’t laugh!”

I was genuinely anxious about riding the train. 

It’s nerve-wracking to use unfamiliar infrastructure in a place I’ve never been to. 

Anyone would be anxious, right? 

Despite being in a world that feels like medieval Europe, the story requires the protagonist and the targets of his affections to travel widely for their reward events, so there’s a fair bit of transportation involved. 

It’s really a bizarre world!

“Fufu, leave it to me. The station in the capital is very busy, so how about I keep you from getting lost by putting a collar on you?”

“Uh, no, I’d rather not do that…”

What kind of play is that? 

If we did something like that, we’d start rumors in the capital even before getting to the academy.