Fourteenth Day
While walking through the academy corridors today, I was approached by Lord Rush.
He asked if I knew where Lord Zenon might be. I suggested a few places I thought he might visit, and after thanking me, he headed off in that direction.
Come to think of it, it has been quite a while since I last saw Lord Rush.
He had been keeping a low profile since his defeat in the duel against Lord Yugo, but I do not believe he was the type to shut himself away in his room as Lord Zenon once did.
I wonder where he has been and what he has been doing? And what business could he possibly have with Lord Zenon?
My curiosity got the better of me, so I asked Lord Zenon about it later. It seems he has been having Lord Rush scout Lord Yugo and his companions.
Lord Zenon explained that he intends to expose the foul play that occurred during their previous duel. Certainly, if he can find proof of cheating, he might finally be able to convince Lady Melt of the truth.
However... based on what I have heard, Lord Zenon’s actions strike me as somewhat suspicious.
It feels as though he views Lord Yugo as an enemy more than is strictly necessary, and his obsession with Lady Melt seems remarkably intense... We could be spending our days in peace and joy if only he would let matters rest. Why does he go out of his way to seek out trouble?
What I find most mysterious is that Lord Zenon, despite being a transfer student from the High School Division, harbors such a deep-seated hatred for Lord Yugo.
Had he been a student who promoted from the Elementary or Middle School Divisions, I could understand him resenting Lord Yugo for his past misdeeds.
But Lord Zenon has only just begun his time here at Luminous Academy. It has not even been a month since he first met Lord Yugo.
Even if he had heard the rumors, it feels unnatural to loathe someone to such an extreme degree.
I am surely not the only one who thinks it would be far more natural to interact with him from a neutral standpoint, much as Lady Melt does.
Why does Lord Zenon call him "trash" and revile him so?
...No, I must not dwell on such thoughts.
Lord Zenon is a man of profound justice. He is someone who cares so deeply for others that he challenged Lord Yugo to a duel on behalf of me, a girl he had only just met, simply because he heard I was being treated poorly.
He is surely driven by righteous indignation, hating evil more than most. While this is one of Lord Zenon’s virtues, I also fear it is a bit of a bad habit.
As the one who serves by his side, it is my duty to strive to admonish him for these flaws.
I have finally found something I can do for Lord Zenon's sake, and Claire is greatly relieved.
Fifteenth Day
I spent another pleasant day talking with Lord Zenon, if only for a short while.
Whether I am offering advice or a warning, I believe he is more likely to listen if our hearts are close.
While I simply enjoy our time together, I also do this for the sake of our future.
On a different note, there seems to have been some sort of incident in town today, though I do not know the specifics.
Rumors are circulating about a suspicious individual appearing, or perhaps a magic crystal going haywire and causing an explosion at a local facility.
However, despite how much people are talking, no concrete information has surfaced. I suspect these are merely embellished tales.
In a sudden turn of events, Lord Zenon mentioned that he gave Lord Rush some counsel today.
He seemed genuinely delighted, saying that Lord Rush had finally cast aside his hesitation and started looking toward the future.
To take the time to listen to a friend's troubles... Lord Zenon truly is a kind soul.
So that Claire may become someone capable of supporting Lord Zenon when he falters, I intend to continue refining myself.
Eighteenth Day
I wish I could say these past few days have been truly peaceful, but a dark, unsettling atmosphere has begun to linger.
A string of terrifying disappearances has been occurring in the vicinity of Luminous Academy.
Fortunately, neither I nor Lord Zenon have been touched by these events... yet everything feels "wrong" lately.
The appearance of Magic Armor Beasts on the Marmint Highway, the vague incident in town the other day, and now this rash of missing persons...
Just what is happening to this city?
Lord Zenon seemed concerned about the situation, but he appears to have deferred to my opinion that he should not get involved unnecessarily.
"Spending time getting closer to Claire is more important right now," he told me. His words made me so happy, and they filled me with a sense of security.
I realized then that all my efforts to deepen our bond have not been in vain.
For now, we intend to go about our days quietly. A student's first duty is to their studies, after all.
...Actually, I have noticed that Lord Rush has stopped coming to report to Lord Zenon lately.
He was supposedly monitoring Lord Yugo, but I wonder what became of that?
Perhaps his conversation with Lord Zenon made him realize how foolish it was to be so preoccupied with Lord Yugo, and he simply decided to stop.
If that is proof that he has moved on, then there is no reason to worry.
Twentieth Day
A victim of the disappearances has finally emerged from within the student body. And it is not just one person—several are already reported missing.
The halls are filled with whispers, and anxiety is spreading through the academy like a plague. It is a truly dreadful environment.
Now that matters have escalated to this point, I have begun to fear that my advice to Lord Zenon was a mistake.
If he had investigated sooner, perhaps this could have been avoided... I cannot help but feel a sense of guilt.
My heart aches to hear that a female student from the Middle School Division is among the victims.
I pray from the depths of my soul that she and the others are safe.
As I looked over the names, I realized that the majority of the students who have vanished were acquaintances of Lord Rush.
Could there be some connection...?
Twenty-second Day
Lord Zenon! Lord Zenon...!
It is no use. My heart is in such a state of turmoil that I cannot find the words.
I will take up my pen again once I have composed myself.
Lord Zenon... please, let you be safe...