When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 170

Episode 170

“I’m thinking of going back to my country.”

After a long summer vacation, and some time into the second semester at the Tashman Kingdom’s Royal Academy, Jez, Victor, Erin, Miriam, and Seraphina gathered at a café for the first time in a while.

The five of them had deepened their friendship during the summer vacation. But, they had each begun to follow their separate paths since the start of the new semester, reducing the frequency of their meetings.

Erin was involved with the student council, Miriam was working on magical tools, Victor was engrossed in mysterious research, Seraphina was with the church, and Jez was engaged in martial arts training with northern residents and studying internal and external affairs.

On this particular afternoon, when all five of them were finally together again, they were chatting as usual. In the midst of their conversation, Seraphina suddenly uttered a surprising statement.

Erin and Miriam, caught off guard, stopped mid-sip of their tea. Victor, as usual, appeared to be in a state where it was hard to tell if he was actually listening.

Jez, with his arms crossed, looked at Seraphina with an indescribable expression. Erin guessed that Jez had likely been informed about this in advance.

Since the cruise to Capricia after summer vacation, there had been something odd about Jez and Seraphina’s behavior. Erin had been accompanying her mother during her hospitalization, while Victor and Miriam had been helping with various academy matters. It was on that very day that Seraphina and Jez were apparently attacked by someone. Jez sustained serious injuries, but Seraphina treated him, which Erin and Miriam knew about.

However, further details seemed to be classified military and diplomatic information, so Erin and the others had not been informed.

The cruise lasted only a week, but it was an incredibly intense time. Though everything eventually settled smoothly, Erin was left with a sense of unease. She wondered what might have happened if things had gone differently.

After the cruise, they continued to have many summer events, such as going out together, traveling to the Alchemis family’s villa, and being invited to the Stonewell family. However, there were moments when Seraphina and Jez would disappear together.

Erin wondered if her feelings of unease had been conveyed.

As summer ended and the second semester began, a period of time when autumn was beginning to be felt and Seraphina made her unexpected announcement.

“Seraphina, what do you mean by going back to your country?”

Miriam, surprised, asked Seraphina to clarify her intentions.

“Just as I said. I plan to leave the Royal Academy and return to the Divina Papal State.”

Seraphina shrugged as she answered Miriam’s question. Erin watched this exchange with a complex expression.

According to Seraphina, since the incident in Capricia, she had been unable to use holy magic. More precisely, rather than being unable to use it, it had become too powerful to control.

In any case, she could not use holy magic at present. During the summer vacation, she had been experimenting in her free time with bishops of the Solennis faction. She had tried various methods with different teachers at the Royal Academy after the semester began, but with no success.

It seemed she had even consulted Victor, but the root cause was unclear, so a solution was not immediately found. The fact that Victor had a particularly poor affinity with holy magic further complicated the resolution.

At that time, Seraphina had provided Victor with the broken rosary as material to investigate the cause. Seraphina was unaware of what this would lead to in later years, but it was understandable given her situation.

Victor was still just a student at that point. While it would be untrue to say that Seraphina didn’t have somewhat misguided expectations of Victor in a negative sense, it was part of the reality.

Returning to the main topic, after having exhausted all conceivable methods in the Tashman Kingdom, Seraphina decided to return to the Divina Papal State, the heart of holy magic.

The Divina Papal State has a vast accumulation of knowledge on all aspects of holy magic and four saintesses. Consulting with them might offer some breakthroughs.

Although the political situation remains dangerous, as Seraphina was targeted by the cursed dagger in Capricia, the level of danger would not change much regardless of the country she is in.

Rather, it might be safer to act in concert with the esteemed Order of Saint Lucius, which the Lorentzi family prides itself on. After some deliberation, Seraphina ultimately decided to return to her country, leading up to today.

Seeing Seraphina’s firm resolve, the others respected her decision while lamenting the impending farewell. Though sudden, it seemed she would be leaving the Tashman Kingdom in two weeks. This timing was just enough to arrive in the Divina Papal State before winter set in.

・　・　・

That night. Erin was unusually lost in thought in her room when she heard a knock. It was rare to have visitors at this hour. When she opened the door, it was—

“Seraphina?”

“Hi, Erin. Sorry to come so late. Could we talk for a moment?”

Invited by Seraphina, Erin walked through the academy grounds on the increasingly chilly night.

As they strolled aimlessly and chatted about trivial things, Seraphina suddenly stopped. After a brief hesitation, she wore a wistful smile and said,

“Erin, you like Jez, don’t you? …It’s not really something I should be saying, but do your best so you won’t have regrets. …I don’t have that chance anymore.”

Having said this, Seraphina shrugged. And with a sigh, she looked up at the night sky.

“That’s all I wanted to say. …Sorry for being so one-sided. Shall we head back?”

As Seraphina made her way back to the dorms, Erin found herself unable to call out to her.