[The Principal's Job]
Chronoa Highland was in despair.
In the quiet of the Academy Principal’s office, she had just returned from a quick dinner only to find the mountain of documents waiting on her desk burned into her vision. She let out a long, heavy sigh. It was just past seven in the evening.
"……So, it wasn't a dream after all."
The year was set to end in a matter of days. She asked herself why she was buried in work, and the answer came immediately: these were the duties of an Academy Principal. This wasn't something forced upon her by the "unfair adults" she often grumbled about; it was the inevitable rush of the season, and she had known it was coming.
Still, I have to give it my all. The entrance exams are right around the corner.
The final exam for those aspiring to enter the Imperial Academy’s Special Merit Class was a grueling test conducted in the heart of nature. Ever since the incident in the Baldur Mountains, the exam sites had been scrutinized with extreme caution, and the workload for the Board of Directors had increased exponentially. Chronoa, in particular, had taken it upon herself to personally oversee and verify every detail, adding to her own burden. She believed this was the only way to ensure absolute safety and reliability.
"……Let’s see, this one is……"
She checked the coordination and communication with the surrounding territories.
"Good…… no problems there. The latest investigation is clear."
There were no signs of abnormal monster breeding, either.
"Magic Ship preparations are complete—yes! Everything is on track!"
Confirming things aloud served as a final double-check for her. She meticulously worked through the pile, and slowly but surely, the stack of documents began to shrink. The clock on the wall ticked rhythmically, the long hand circling more times than she cared to count. Chronoa moistened her parched throat with what was likely her fifth cup of coffee and took a breath.
She reached to the side for the next document, repeating the motion of moving a finished sheet to the completed pile. Then, suddenly—
"……?"
Her hand swept across empty space before finally resting on the polished wood of the desk. She moved her fingertips back and forth, but felt nothing but the smooth surface. Chronoa looked down tentatively and saw that the pile was gone.
"――――It’s finish～～ed!"
At long last, she was done. Filled with a surge of accomplishment, she arched her back and stretched while still in her chair. The relief of her stiff muscles relaxing brought a smile to her face and a small cheer to her lips.
By the time the preparations for the entrance exams were finally complete, the day was almost over. It had been hours since her last meal, and hunger was starting to set in. However, she was too exhausted to move. Slumping over the desk, she narrowed her eyes into slits and let out a tired, dry laugh.
"……Maybe I’ll just sleep right here."
She was the Principal, after all. She had worked incredibly hard.
Even as she muttered excuses to herself, the gnawing hunger was starting to become painful. It was snowing outside, which only deepened her desire to stay huddled indoors. Just as she thought the day was over, she heard a sound.
Knock, knock.
Who could it be at this hour? Startled, Chronoa snapped her upper body upright.
"C-Come in!"
She expected a guard, but the person who opened the door was Ren. He stepped inside with his usual calm smile.
"Good evening, Chronoa-san."
Chronoa stared at him, momentarily stunned into silence. When he asked if he could come in, she hurriedly nodded. "Y-Yes! Of course!"
"Ren-kun? Why are you at the academy on a day like this—at this hour?"
Ren walked up to her desk and placed a steaming paper bag in front of her.
"Thank you for working so late, Chronoa-san," he said, smiling again.
Inside the bag were several treats from the bakery Chronoa loved most. For a moment, she felt like she might actually burst into tears of joy. She managed to keep her composure, but her face lit up with delight.
"What am I going to do with you? Maybe I really should have kidnapped you and kept you in the Imperial Capital."
"I live in Erendil now, so there’s probably no need for that. ……Besides, how many times have we had this conversation?" Ren gave a wry smile, remembering their first meeting in Clausel and the similar exchange they’d had after his enrollment. Chronoa seemed to genuinely enjoy the banter.
"Anyway, if it's not a bother, please eat."
"Thank you! Ren-kun, you’ve literally saved my life……!"
"T-That’s a bit of an exaggeration."
"It isn't! A second ago, I looked like I was ready to keel over!"
Chronoa popped a bite-sized sweet bun into her mouth and felt her soul return to her body. The sweetness was divine to her exhausted senses, washing away her fatigue instantly. A sigh of pure bliss escaped her. Seeing Ren chuckle at her reaction, she cleared her throat.
"But Ren-kun, why did you come by so late?"
"You mentioned it before, didn't you? That you're always busy with entrance exam work this time of year and stay late at the academy." Then, Ren seemed to realize something. "Ah…… wait. If you were working on entrance exam materials, I probably shouldn't have just walked in, right?"
"N-No, it’s fine! I just finished, and I’ve already put everything away. I even used my magic to seal them, so nobody can see them anyway!"
Once Ren looked relieved, Chronoa continued. "Are you in the Imperial Capital on an errand?"
"I'm here alone to help Lord Lezard with some business. I just had to deliver a letter to a noble."
He made it sound simple, but it was clear to Chronoa that he had gone out of his way because he was worried about her. Helping Lezard was true, but he didn't want to make her feel burdened by his kindness. Chronoa saw right through his humble expression and smiled.
"――――Come on. Eat with me, Ren-kun!"
Every trace of exhaustion had vanished from her face.
[Winter in That Village]
The snow this year was heavier than usual, falling with a ferocity that threatened to bury the entire village.
Despite the weather, the houses were sturdier than in years past, and the growing population meant there were plenty of hands to help. The cobblestone main street was constantly being cleared, so it remained walkable. Master Roy Ashton, the Knight managing the village, stood on the hill by the Ashton Manor and looked down at the settlement.
"……Man, the snow is really something this year."
The Knights of the Clausel Family standing nearby laughed. They were stationed in this rapidly developing village on a rotating basis.
"It certainly is. A few years back, we’d have been trapped in our houses with nowhere to go."
"Master Roy, look at Sword Rock. The sky is so white it's hard to see, but the rock is completely buried in snow."
"Yeah, you're right," Roy replied, squinting toward the landmark. Sword Rock, a jagged outcropping that pierced the sky like a blade, was the symbol of the region. "No matter how much it snows, that peak is still sharp. It’s a good landmark to have."
Roy pulled his winter gear tight, buttoning it up to his chin. He exhaled a cloud of white mist and stepped into the deep snow. A few days ago, the snow had crunched under his boots, but today it was soft and powdery, requiring a bit more effort to keep his balance.
Accompanied by two Knights, he made his way down to the main street. After the attack by Jelququ had burned most of the village, the community had been rebuilt with the help of Lord Lezard. The new houses were far superior to the old, drafty shacks, and the villagers were much happier for it.
The village wasn't just growing in terms of houses, either. Ever since the new highway had turned the area into a vital waypoint, businesses had flourished. Merchants had moved in, and an inn had been built some time ago. Roy remembered the day the petition for the inn had arrived at the Ashton Manor.
'An inn? You mean like a real building for people to stay in?' he had asked. 'Dear, in this village? Isn't it just a place for people to camp?' Mireille had added. 'Hahaha! Honestly, I thought the same thing!' 'You two, it’s a proper inn for travelers,' the Knight had explained back then.
As it turned out, the inn was desperately needed. Before its construction, visitors had to sleep in their carriages or camp out. Once the doors opened, it became a cornerstone of the village’s economy.
As Roy walked, he exchanged morning greetings with the people on the street. He checked for any houses suffering from the weight of the snow and decided he would head into the forest later to check on the monster activity.
"Master Roy! Thank you for your hard work!"
A tall beastman merchant called out to him. He was part of a group of traders who were already busy setting up stalls despite the cold.
"You're full of energy as always," Roy noted.
"Of course! I’m planning to be the top merchant in this place by the time it officially becomes a town."
"Haha, well, I don't know about that, but I appreciate the sentiment."
As Roy spoke with the merchants and listened to their concerns, the Knights watching him felt a sense of pride. Roy had always been a responsible leader, but he had grown immensely. Though he had never been much of a scholar, he was now capable of handling administrative petitions and navigating the needs of the merchants on his own.
"Alright, I’ve got it. Let’s meet this afternoon to finalize the details. Does that work for everyone?"
"We look forward to it. Shall we meet at the Meeting Hall that was finished last month? I’ll gather the others."
"Yeah. Let’s do that."
Roy turned to leave, but the merchant spoke up one last time.
"By the way, I was in the Imperial Capital last month, and I had a long talk with a partner at a trading company I work with."
"Oh? What about?"
"It seems your son has been taking on requests at the Guild recently. They said he was a massive help and told me I had to give his father their regards."
Roy and the Knights all shared a broad smile.
"He's still going strong, it seems."
That was all he needed to hear to know that Ren was thriving and growing.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Back at the Ashton Manor, Mireille smiled warmly as Roy relayed the news about Ren. She stood by the fireplace in the entrance hall, warming her hands.
"……I see. He sounds as energetic as ever."
"Exactly. So, I’ve got to keep working hard this afternoon too."
"This afternoon? Do you have something scheduled?"
"A meeting at the Meeting Hall. Ren is giving it his all over there, so I can't afford to lose to him." Roy gave the same carefree smile that Ren often wore. He had always been reliable, but lately, Mireille found him more dependable than ever.
The two were finishing breakfast and preparing to tackle the morning's housework when there was a knock at the door. Roy answered it to find a Knight standing there.
"Excuse me! Master Roy, it looks like the heavy snow has caused a problem at the Warehouse on the Outskirts of the Village……!"
"Sorry, Mireille! I’ve got to go!"
"Of course! Be careful!"
Roy rushed out of the Ashton Manor, his pace much more hurried than it had been that morning. The sunlight hit the village, catching the ice crystals in the air and making the world sparkle. The village where Ren had been born and raised remained as vibrant and lively as ever.
Watching him go from the doorway, Mireille looked out at the silver landscape.
"――――I wonder if the snow is falling in Erendil today as well."