Chapter 50: Townsperson A Helps a Passerby

Despite having my nerves frayed by the Duke’s warnings, the first semester’s final exams concluded without any drama. Soon enough, the results were posted for all to see.

1st Place: Anastasia Kleiner von Ramslett (500) 1st Place: Margaret von Altmund (500) 1st Place: Allen (500) 4th Place: Isabella von Luyinberg (489) 5th Place: Marcus von Beinz (457) ・ ・ ・ 9th Place: Amy von Braises (421) 10th Place: Oscar von Wimlett (417) ・ ・ ・ 32nd Place: Karlheinz Bartille von Sentlaren (392) ・ ・ ・ 38th Place: Leonard von Jukes (223)

I pulled it off. It wasn’t just Ana; Margaret hit the perfect mark too, and Isabella was only a hair’s breadth away.

On the other hand, Amy—who was supposed to have the "intellectual" character trait—was somehow tanking her grades. Honestly, the curriculum barely felt like it reached the level of a Japanese middle school. Even with memories of her previous life, how was she failing this badly?

Well, whatever. It wasn't like she’d been causing any actual harm lately.

Maybe someone had finally reined her in, because Amy had been quiet for a while. Besides, the Crown Prince and his lackeys were in a state where they were no match for Ana at all. She was beating them by such an overwhelming margin in magic and swordsmanship classes that they’d stopped meddling with her entirely.

Whether they’d spent their winter break being lazy or were just grounded, I didn't know, but it was clear they hadn't bothered with any level-grinding.

At any rate, if they weren't going to interfere with us, I saw no reason to go out of our way to deal with people who didn't matter. I was much more concerned about the succession crisis and our diplomatic relations.

Arguments only happen between equals. And The opposite of love isn’t hate, but indifference. I never expected those clichés to feel so profound.

Today, I had a promise to go to the Adventurer’s Guild with Ana.

Now, before you get the wrong idea—no, I wasn't going there to introduce Ana to my master. If I tried that, my head would literally roll. Wait, you’re saying if it’s not for that reason, then it’s fine? Well, I suppose...

Anyway, we academy students were required to complete an independent research project over the summer vacation. Ana said she wanted to study the role that adventurers played in our kingdom, so we decided to visit the Guild to see if the topic was viable. I’d already contacted the Guild in advance, so there shouldn't have been any issues.

Margaret and Isabella were planning to do their research with us as well, but since they had their own specific interests, they were spending today at the library. We planned to meet up later to finalize our group's theme.

Dressed in plain clothes, we headed toward the Guild on foot, eschewing the Ducal House's carriage to avoid drawing attention. Since Ana stood out far too much, I’d asked her to wear a hooded cloak, though it had to be a bit hot in this weather.

We walked down the main thoroughfare and turned the corner into a side street. Just as we stepped off the main road, I spotted Amy and her entourage in a nearby alley. They were the very people I’d decided didn't matter just moments ago.

"Huh? Is that Amy-sama? And the Crown Prince? What on earth are they doing over there?"

Looking closer, they seemed to be surrounding a small figure in a threadbare hemp robe who was backed up against a wall.

What’s going on here?

Ana and I shared a look, nodded, and quietly approached the group. The person they were cornering looked quite slender; if it were a man, he wouldn't be that thin, so it was almost certainly a woman.

"I told you, we’ll exterminate the monsters for you," Amy said. "So hurry up and lead us to your village."

"We are elites at the top of our class," Leonard added, backing her up. "We cannot abandon someone in distress."

I'm an outlier, so put me aside, but the actual top of the class is Ana. You guys are trailing behind her by a mile. Where did they get the nerve to act so high and mighty?

"H-hic... Like I told you, there aren't any monsters..." The woman argued back, her voice thick with terror.

"To think you would lie to me, your future King," Karlheinz growled.

"I-I'm not lying..."

Should I step in? Her voice sounded familiar.

In contrast to the others, Marcus and Oscar were present but weren't actively participating. I wondered if they had reservations about what was happening, though being a bystander made them just as guilty in my book.

I glanced at Ana. She gave me a firm nod, so I raised my voice.

"Hey. What do you think you’re doing over there?"

Amy whipped around, her face twisting into a demonic scowl.

"You! Are you here to interfere with me again? I won't let you stop me from receiving my Blessing!"

"Uh... what are you talking about?"

I had absolutely no idea what she meant.

In the next instant, the small woman dashed toward us.

"A-Allen! Help me!"

She barreled into my stomach with the force of a runaway freight train.

"Oof! What the—?"

Since Ana was right behind me, I couldn't dodge. I had no choice but to catch her.

"Wait... that voice. Is that you, Sherilralra-san?"

"Yes! Please, these weirdos suddenly started threatening me! Help! I think they're trying to rob me!"

The moment she said that, I felt the air around Ana turn frigid.

Uh-oh. She’s pissed.

"I see," Ana said, her voice dropping to a dangerous chill. "Does Your Highness make a habit of committing highway robbery in the middle of the city? What exactly is your intent?"

"W-what nonsense is this?!" the Crown Prince stammered. "We came here because Amy received a God’s Prophecy—she said someone would appear here seeking help from monsters. This woman appeared at the exact time and in the exact clothes the prophecy described!"

Prophecy? Blessing? Sherilralra-san?

Ah, I got it. This was a "Forced Event" to trigger the quest to save the Elven Village.

"Sherilralra-san," I said, looking down at her. "They’re claiming something like that. Is it true?"

"We aren't being attacked by monsters or anything! I came here specifically to give Allen a job request!" she shouted, clinging to me as if using my back as a shield.

"Well, there you have it. Would you mind leaving now?" I asked.

They continued to glare at me, refusing to budge.

"Your Highness?" Ana prompted, fixing the Crown Prince with a cold stare I hadn't seen in a long time. "Are you truly prepared for the fallout of the Crown Prince being caught mugging people in town?"

Karlheinz looked like he’d finally realized he was beaten.

"Guh... Fine. We're leaving!"

"Wait! Karl-sama!" Amy cried.

Glaring at us—or, in the cases of the more sensible ones, looking thoroughly embarrassed—the group finally beat a retreat.