The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 30: The Serious Old Man

Chapter 30: The Serious Old Man

On the library’s roof, there were me and Vorsea.

It felt like we were characters stepping onto the stage from behind the curtains, reaching out to each other.

“Is the headmaster weighing the facility’s condition and the students’ peace against each other?”

“The repair costs will be billed to the Brave family,”

“Please ask the Oldwood Duke’s family for that.”

“Isn’t Alicia under the care of the Brave family?”

“Yes, I’ll be more careful from now on.”

After that was said, it seemed pointless.

Let’s not intentionally damage the facilities.

“But if I were there, things would surely get complicated, right?”

“So, I guess.”

“So, I guess?” Not the response I was hoping for. 

Knowing things could get complicated, I have no intention of being on the front lines.

“Even if I were right there, what could I possibly do?”

This isn’t my battlefield. 

It’s Alicia’s, and I’m just fine being offstage. 

Why should I step onto such a stage with a body stained in blood?

“Then it’s fine to work behind the scenes.”

After all, I was never supposed to be there from the start. 

It’s better that way. 

If things get mixed up, there’s no undoing it.

“You are a student of the academy. You have the right to enjoy your youth.”

“Hah.”

I’m already having enough of my youth, though. 

“Have you given up from the start, before you enrolled?”

“…”

Vorsea’s penetrating words unexpectedly made me bristle. 

Give up and enroll?

That’s not it at all.

I haven’t given up on this crappy second chance at life.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s just three years.

If I can spend these three years peacefully, that’s all I need.

“The one you want to protect isn’t that weak now, is it?”

“Can you stop saying things like you can see right through me?”

“I’m not seeing through anything. But what’s the point of holding it in?”

Things were already serious. 

The old man in front of me was overflowing with seriousness, and all attempts at joking were ineffective.

I felt like injecting some Sebas-like humor into him.

“If the flow you’re trying to hold back eventually breaks through, the one engulfed by the flood will be the very existence you’re trying to protect.”

“If you have something to say, just say it clearly. That’s how it is with a Brave.”

Before it breaks, just drying up the water would be enough. 

There’s also the option of running away from a dam about to break. 

Being flexible is important in times like this.

“Have you forgotten the pride of the Brave since coming to the capital?”

“You better not carelessly provoke me.”

I stopped my fist right in front of Vorsea’s face.

A shockwave passed behind him. 

Without blinking, Vorsea stared right back at me, and I told him,

“I’m only acting this way because this is the situation I desire. But if anything harmful were to happen to Alicia, I won’t show any mercy, even in your little garden.”

“If you wish for that, then show me.”

“What’s with you, really? If you have something to say, please just say it. If not, I have questions I’d like answered.”

“Hou? And what would you like to know?”

He stroked his beard leisurely, a bit of the seriousness seeming to fade. 

Please stop being such a mysteriously serious old man. 

It’s confusing.

“I want all the information about Patricia Kindred, the Sage’s progeny—her parents, past, social connections, and her expertise in magic, everything.”

The only information I managed to gather by monitoring her movements within the academy was her name. 

She’s in a different class from me, what you might call a regular class. 

In class, she usually keeps to herself, ignoring any snide remarks from the surrounding nobles as if she doesn’t hear them at all. 

After class, she’s either with Edward or hanging out with other characters she could potentially get closer to. 

Although she does seem to prefer Edward slightly, she makes an effort to deepen friendships with the other handsome guys whenever she finds the time, like a true protagonist. 

She also participates in town events, so she’s almost certainly a reincarnate like me, aiming for a reverse harem ending.

But beyond that, she remains a mystery.

The Kindred family doesn’t exist in my memory, and finding her real home in the capital city, with a population over a million, is an incredibly difficult task. 

Unlike Mariana, she lives in the dormitory, so that’s that.

That’s why I tried asking Headmaster Vorsea, thinking he might know at least some personal information about his students.

If he hides it, he might become an enemy, depending on the situation.

“That’s too much. It’s better to summarize what you want to know into one question.”

“…What do I want?”

Oh, how roundabout.

“Hmm, if you consider Mariana Ocean someone you protect, I’ll answer one question. I swear on the pride of Cascade, there’s no lie or deceit.”

What’s that all about?

Mariana is an important friend to Alicia and a key figure in future scenarios. 

Of course, I’m determined to protect her.

“Sure, but will you really answer anything?”

For example, would that include Alicia’s measurements? 

If you know that, I’d normally consider you an enemy.

“Hurry up.”

What an impatient old man. 

It starts to feel silly asking about Patricia Kindred obediently.

He seems like a character who knows everything, but who really is he?

To be honest, I just wanted to know about Patricia for informational purposes, I’m not particularly interested in her.

Based on what happened with Mariana recently, it’s clear she’s here at this academy under the sponsorship of the Ignite family. 

The fact that Mariana was intentionally absent from the academy during what seemed to be a game event makes it obvious.

It’s too much of a bad luck, even for someone with a clumsy trait, to accidentally take the wrong public carriage during the event period, and it’s impossible for a commoner to switch carriages.

Considering the people who came to the Brave territory were from the Ignite Duke’s house, it’s highly likely Patricia’s supported by them. 

The Ignite family has no daughter. 

If someone said they could win Edward over, they’d likely support them out of mutual interest, and it seems they actually are supporting her. 

However, there’s one thing I don’t understand.

I can’t figure out how a commoner managed to make connections with the nobility. 

Since the protagonist and Edward met as children, even if there were schemes from back then, they’d likely be dismissed as children’s talk.

If we take everything at face value, would the cunning Ignite family, known for their behind-the-scenes mischief, really give someone the freedom to form a reverse harem? 

If anything goes wrong, it’s the Ignite family that would be in a bad spot.

Their goal isn’t that… at least, that’s what I imagine, but I still don’t know what it is.

“Not going to ask?”

“Ah, just wait.”

So impatient. 

Since I’m being rushed, I might as well ask.

“What’s the real goal of the Ignite family?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Hey.”

After all that air of knowing everything, what’s with this old man? 

I nearly slipped off the roof of the library.

“Weren’t you interested in Patricia Kindred? I don’t know what you’re suspecting, but she wasn’t admitted through any backdoor dealings. She passed the exams and was admitted on her own merits.”

“Huh.”

Really, whose side is he on?

“Is that all your questions?”

“Since you haven’t really answered, I haven’t actually asked yet.”

“Then hurry up. Lunch break is almost over. I won’t allow you to skip classes. You seem to skip from time to time, but don’t forget your duties as a student.”

“Alright, alright.”

Is this old man just acting like a regular teacher?

It seems he can only talk about what he knows, so I decided to ask about something that’s been bothering me and he might know about.

“So, why did you support Mariana’s admission?”

And why insist that I promise to protect her?

If it’s all about fate and this is the center of the story, why bring her back onto the stage after she was kicked off?

Vorsea furrowed his brows for a moment in response to my question.