Indeed, taking Axion as a fake lover was the right move.
As soon as Axion made his excuse, rumors spread quickly throughout the Imperial Palace.
It was hard to be with Axion on purpose. To be frank, Axiom was not a pleasant partner to be with for long.
“Is it due to the laws of nature that the magic power values consumed when activating the same magic are all fixed at a certain value, or is it because people pursue efficiency in the same way?”
He talked about magic all day and all night. It was a true mage’s fever of learning, appetite for knowledge, and research.
But the effect was good enough to withstand all of that.
There were those who still stuck to me, saying they wouldn’t mind being a second, but even so, the density of my surrounding population was much thinner than it had been before.
I hummed to myself, enjoying my freedom for the first time in a long time.
My steps were light as I walked down the corridor.
In the middle of enjoying my first photosynthesis in a long time, I saw a familiar figure in the distance, dressed in the captain’s uniform of the Black Knights.
“That… It’s Tragula.”
Without taking the time to look around, he hurried to his feet and quickly disappeared at the end of that hallway.
Staring at Tragula’s back, I soon stopped walking and headed to the lounge where the trio was located.
“Is Sevi here?”
As soon as I appeared, the trio rushed towards me.
There were only three of them as if they had monopolized the break room.
Sevi, who was the first to come running, replied with a slightly angry and mean look on his face.
“Yes! I’ve been waiting for you to come, Vice Commander!”
“Me? Why?”
I wondered and asked back, blinking. Sevi pouted his lips and grumbled.
“Vice Commander, I heard you’re dating Axion!”
“Ah.”
“Why, of all people, would you want to be with that guy? He’s a good wizard, but he’s not a very good person. I don’t like the way he’s always pretending to be gentle and ignores people.”
Since they were both wizards, Axion often gave advice to Sevi, but his attitude was not very kind.
Perhaps that was why. Sevi had considerable hostility, jealousy, and competition against Axion.
Julieta also asked, rolling her eyes.
“But… Are you really dating Axion?”
“Axion is the opposite!”
Sevi jumped up and down shouting. I said while trying to calm down such a Sevi.
“We’re just pretending to be in a relationship. In order to pass this performance report safely.”
“Aha.”
“Hm…”
Only then did Sevi’s raging momentum ease a little.
Nova’s face, which was shadowed, was also bright.
“Vice Commander, why didn’t you tell me if you needed someone to fake date?”
Nova said, sticking out his chest pretending to be mature. He looked like a bird inflating his chest, so I swallowed a small laugh.
“That’s right. You promised to give me a chance.”
Sevi also whined.
Nonsense. From the beginning, I didn’t even consider Sevi or Nova. I shook my head.
“There was a condition that said when you grow up, Sevi. But you’re still 14 years old and your height is the same.”
Sevi stumbled with a shocked face. Nova beat such a Sevi and stepped up.
“I’m tall enough. I don’t think it’s weird to go out with the Vice Commander…”
“Nova, you’re still too immature to keep people away from the social scene. You can’t even lie well enough.”
Nova also seemed shocked by what I said firmly.
It was funny to take it for granted that I would propose in the first place.
No one would believe me if I said I was dating them. It was an inappropriate appointment as the main purpose was to make others believe.
But, if these children, who fell behind in rumors, knew that I was dating Axion, Meyer must have already known…
If not, I was going to tell him today.
I was feeling a little self-conscious about having to give notice after the fact, but if I explain it to him well, he’ll understand. I believed so.
“Anyway, Sevi. I have a favor to ask of you now.”
“Anything under the Vice Commander’s order.”
Sevi pouted his lips and answered carefully.
“Tragula rushed somewhere.”
“Should I follow his tracks?”
“Yes, it’s been a while. Can you do it?”
“Of course. Trust me.”
“I will. Don’t get caught.”
I asked Sevi to do it.
Sevi nodded and flew out of the window of the lounge. As he stepped through the air, he agilely detected the flow of magic.
If I left it to Sevi, he would be able to figure out in detail what kind of dreams Tragula had.
‘Is he already seeing Fabian…’
It was annoying just thinking about it. I looked at Sevi’s back, hoping that my worries would be tilted.
Julieta asked carefully.
“Is Tragula suspicious?”
“It’s not bad to be careful.”
I pretended to be calm and turned around closing the window.
I naturally turned around because I was worried that I would only make the children worry after dragging on this topic for a long time.
“By the way, Julieta, did your parents bother you after that?”
“They’re annoying. Very. It’s a repetition of coming every day and being kicked out.”
The answer came from Nova. Julieta only smiled bitterly.
I frowned at the persistent behavior.
“Are they trying to swing while ignoring you so much the whole time?”
“No. The son poured all his sincerity into Julieta, leaving no trace of where he had treated her coldly. He took precious medicines that were good for her and even holy water from somewhere… Priest August is with us, and Julieta can at least heal herself, so it’s completely useless.”
A pitiful voice drifted in the air, unlike that of Nova, the model student.
He was the one who had confronted Julieta’s parents, so he was disgusted with them.
Julieta murmured quietly.
“It’s useless to wave to a ship that’s already left…”
She seemed to be more determined by the shameless behavior of her family. Relieved, I asked with a slightly relaxed voice.
“How do you feel?”
“Well, I don’t know… But I think it’s better than before. Now that I know how to do something well and I know there’s a place that helps me… And there’s a sense of victory that I went into the place that my parents wanted so much.”
I laughed at Julieta’s bold confession. It was much better to be cruel than to be swayed around, used, and hurt.
Julieta also smiled face to face with me and soon asked anxiously.
“But lies are not easy?”
“Lies?”
“You said I was over the wall in six months. I’m not quite there yet…”
What did I say? I shook my hand without hesitation.
“You’re going to pass it soon. Don’t pay attention to that. There’s no evidence. They wouldn’t even ask you to come and prove your level.”
“Still… In addition, my finger, that was a little too much.”
“What’s wrong with your finger?”
Everything Julietta said came to mind.
Perhaps because I was confused by the “Fabian’s dog” voices, I seemed quite chaotic at the time.
Julieta quietly explained as if she understood me.
“You told them that I could beat my brother in the banquet hall with one finger. It seems that my brother’s self-esteem was hurt by that.”
“Why? You can do it. It’s not like I’ve said anything wrong. Honestly, just by not confronting you in the hall, your brother saved both his honor and his life. If he hadn’t, he’d be dead.”
I answered back as if it were natural. Julieta smiled more broadly than before. She looked very refreshed as if she had let go of her lingering feelings.
At that time, a member of the Black Knights came to the rest area. He looked hectic and was sweating all over.
As soon as he saw me, his face was relieved. It seemed like he kept looking for me.
“Vice Commander.”
He came up to me in a hurry and bowed his head. When I looked closely, his face was white.
As if facing an indescribable fear…
What is there to be so afraid of? Surprised, I hardened my face and urged the member.
“What’s going on?”
After swallowing his saliva, he spoke desperately trying not to stutter.
“The Commander is calling you.”
Oh, shit.
Looking at the expression of the member who came to call me, I didn’t think things would work out as easily as I thought.
I sighed low.
When I arrived, Meyer actually made me stand and said nothing.
It was agonizing to try to stand quietly in front of Meyer, who did not hide his displeasure at all and scattered it all over the place. I tried hard to hold back my desire to twist my body and stood up.
Meyer’s gaze stared at my face and soon turned his head as if he didn’t want to see it. How many times did he repeat that?
After a long silence, Meyer finally opened his mouth.
“Jun Karentia.”
The silence was finally broken, but the pressure was greater than before.
After swallowing my saliva, I waited for what would follow, feeling like a prisoner on death row, guessing when the blade of the guillotine would fall.
“Why Axion?”
“… Pardon?”
Are you really dating Axion, or how long have you been dating Axion, romance between elite troops is a no-no because it may interfere with dungeon strategy, etc.
Not the numerous questions I guessed, but a completely unthinkable question was asked.
‘Because Meyer cares about Axion… Is he unhappy that I’m dating Axion? I don’t think so… Or does he not really like Axion? But it’s not enough for me to hear ‘Why Axion.’’
Either way, he didn’t seem terribly happy about me and Axiom going out.
It was never a good idea to drag my words out like this. I rushed to make an excuse.
“I… I’m not dating Axion. I’m just pretending. I put him out as a shield because a lot of people were sticking to me.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“So.”
Meyer stared at me with his golden eyes.
“Why was it Axion.”
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