Atelier Tanaka

Dorm Life 2

The next day there was only one thing all of the students were talking about.

Simon Hagenbeck, the Minister of Finance, tried to have Elizabeth FitzClarence killed.

It’s a bit of a ridiculous story, but the source of the rumour is himself, so there’s no way to deny it. Last night, after hearing about the death of his son Uz, Simon Hagenbeck tried to flee from the city.

It appears Uz’s father was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Ester-chan the other day. Believing that his son was killed because of this, he began to panic.

As a result of that panic, he quickly got into a carriage and started racing through the streets before crashing into a carriage carrying another noble family. Even more of a ridiculous coincidence, the carriage he crashed into happened to be carrying members of the FitzClarence family.

He was still sure that he had been found out, so he began begging for his life on the spot.

As for us, we just got incredibly lucky.

I’ll have to worship Sophia-chan even more now. I’m sure it’s thanks to her high LUK stat that we were so fortunate. This time both Ester-chan and I benefited from her LUK. Otherwise, it was just pure coincidence that Ester-chan decided to kill the son of a high-ranking noble that just so happened to be plotting to assassinate her.

What’s the saying? Two birds with one stone?

“As expected of you, FitzClarence-sama!” “I knew you had a plan!” “I adore you, FitzClarence-sama!” “The next time we have tea, I want to hear all about your bravery during the fight, FitzClarence-sama!” “I’d like to hear about it as well!”

Thanks to that, Ester-chan’s popularity in school has skyrocketed.

I’m also benefiting from it. Her popularity is allowing my faux harem to increase.

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Ah, such a wonderful, humble attitude, FitzClarence-sama!” “Amazing, FitzClarence-sama!” “FitzClarence-sama, if you don’t mind, would you please join me for tea!?” “Hey, I asked FitzClarence-sama to join me for tea first!”

Wow, the crowd is really bustling.

It really is terrible to think that the mistake of his son caused Simon Hagenbecks entire family to collapse. It seems that the rest of noble families have broken all ties with any surviving members of the Hagenbeck family.

His daughter, Lyrisha, who was also a student here, was apparently captured and tortured to find out any further information. It seems that it’s been decided that she will be publicly executed. This was also due to Ester-chan’s actions.

The FitzClarence family truly is dangerous.

Their political power is impressive.

I think it might be smart if I decided to get closer to them in the future.

“You look troubled. Is something wrong?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong, Ester-san.”

“Really? If there’s anything troubling you, you have to tell me!”

“No, no, I wouldn’t want to bother you with anything trivial.”

“I’d be very happy if you’d rely on me! You don’t need to hold back.”

“No, no, no, I would never ask anything of a close friend like you.”

This loli noble is the ultimate weapon. It seems like she acted without even considering the consequences. An honourable young lady from a noble family doing something like that.

I think it might be best if I put some distance between us.

“E-Ester!”

Someone suddenly called out her name.

The schoolgirls surrounding us moved away so we could see the source of the voice. After the crowd cleared I could see someone I recognized. The ikemen knight, Allen.

“…Allen? What are you doing here?”

“I have to speak with you!”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Please, just give me a little of your time.”

“That’s fine. Just don’t try to tell me how much you love me again. I can give you some of my time as a friend, but that’s all. I’ve already told you that I love someone else.”

I felt Ester-chan’s gaze fall on me.

She’s still saying she loves me.

It’s unbearable.

This didn’t seem to change Allen’s mind.

“….”

While clenching his fist tightly Allen continued.

“I know. Ester, I know already.”

“Really? I’m still not sure you understand.”

“I’ll quit the knight squadron and abandoned the name of Allen. I will leave this country but I will never give up on you. I will definitely come back. I will come back to you as a man worthy of you! At that time, I’ll win your heart again!”

What’s with this ikemen? He suddenly started talking about such serious things.

I mean why would he quit the knights?

And I’m sure he’d be able to find a good job here.

I’ve also heard rumours that he is already the most successful person from his family.

“Umm, Allen, I don’t think quitting the knight squadron is the best idea.”

I understand how important something like the title of knight is to him.

“No, I’ve already made up my mind!”

Allen has been suffering.

Ikemen and women have a low tolerance for being alone. If he goes too long without getting attention from someone he desires, he’ll fall into depression. Only an elite busamen like myself is capable of going years without interacting with another person. (TN: A busamen is an unattractive man)

“Allen, you don’t need to act so rashly.”

I should really stop him from making a huge mistake.

He’s a handsome guy and very skilled, so I’m sure that wherever he went, he’d be able to do fine. Unless there’s a homosexual country out there, I’m sure he’d prosper wherever he went. At least, that’s how I feel. On top of that, I’m sure he’d be able to gather a harem of exotic girls from all over the world as he travelled. I have no doubt about that.

I’m sure it would be an amazing adventure.

More important than that, I’m sure that Ester-chan will regain her love for Allen soon.

“The two of you aren’t in the right state of mind to be talking about this. Take some time to think things over.”

Then, once Ester-chan regains her love for Allen, she’ll cause all kinds of trouble trying to find him. And, of course, I’d be near her and get dragged into it.

It’s best to just avoid that situation entirely.

I’m sorry for ever getting involved in this yarichin and that loli bitch’s love affair.

No, Tanaka-san, I’m already calm.”

“You should really reconsider, Allen.”

“You truly are an amazing person. There’s no way I can compare to you. I have to improve myself until I can equal you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re already a better person than me.”

Why do these two have to be so difficult? I don’t know what I can say to stop him.

To make matters worse, the ikemen is yelling out loud and he’s starting to draw an even larger crowd.

Would you give me a break?

“I am honoured that Tanaka-san would say so.”

“No, well, Allen….”

Allen looks like a hero that is determined to complete his mission.

If I look around at the crowd, there are several schoolgirls that look like they’ve fallen in love with Allen. Why are you making other girls fall in love with you while you’re professing your love for another girl?

But Ester-chan still looked calm.

“Yes, I understand your determination, Allen.”

“Yes, Ester.”

“You can do whatever you please, but my feelings will never change.”

“I’ll definitely change them.”

The two people exchanged fiery stares.

An attractive man and a beautiful woman looking at each other in a picturesque scene.

It’s also made even more impressive due to the beautifully designed school corridor.

It looks like a scene out of a movie.

And my disgusting busamen face is ruining the scene.

“Well then, Allen, make sure to take care of yourself.”

“I told you, I’m no longer Allen.”

“R-Right, but…it’s rather inconvenient not having a name for you.”

He seriously looks cool now.

Allen’s cool figure suddenly turned to me.

“Tanaka-san, I have one request I’d like to make of you.”

“Ah, sure, what is it?”

“I really want you to be the one to give me a new name.”

“Eh….”

Seriously?

This is just too sudden.

“I want a name worthy of a man that can stand next to you as an equal. As someone that I have deemed my rival, I feel confident leaving it up to you.”

“I-Is that so?”

Even if he tells me to suddenly give him a name, I don’t know what to say.

Is this like some strange custom of this country?

Or is this ikemen just going with the flow?

Either way, I don’t really know what to do.

I can’t just say nothing either.

Then —

“I’ll give you the name Saito.”

This was the best name I could think of.

And not just a name, but a family name.

“Thank you. From today on, I will be known as Saito.”

“S-Sure. I’m glad you like it.”

I don’t think anyone in this country will understand that name.

I mean nobody has said anything about ‘Tanaka.’

Is this really okay, Allen?

“Well, I’ll excuse myself because I have places I need to go.”

“Y-Yeah, sure….”

“Yes, goodbye, Saito.”

Ester-chan is already calling him Saito.

She made the switch incredibly fast.

“….”

“….”

As Ester-chan and I stood surrounded by the group of students, Saito turned to leave. Even with his back turned to us he looked like a handsome man. Up until the moment he left he was cool. This man is exactly the type of person I want to be.

But what is this? Why do I feel like I remember that name from somewhere?

But I can’t remember from where.

“….”

I’m sure it’ll be fine.

I’m sure it won’t cause any problems.

I stopped thinking about it and decided to head to my class.

I heard that there’s a test happening.