The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

“Are you a homeless person?”

“I knew it… You made a promise and everything, so what’s going on? And I’m not a homeless person.”

“No, it’s just… I’m sorry. But where exactly is your home? This mat isn’t a home, is it?”

“Of course not. Over there, at the end.”

Stella’s finger, glancing at me as if she expected this, pointed to the edge of the slum.

Yeah. Stella’s home is in the slum.

Actually, it’s more like somewhere near the drainage system, awkwardly referred to as a neighborhood.

Is this the daughter of a marquis, or just some street rat?

“There are a lot of dips in the middle, so be careful when you follow. Don’t trip for no reason.”

Casually saying this, Stella started walking, wrapping her mana around her white sneakers to avoid the mud.

At the same time, Stella’s purple mana surrounded our shoes too.

Meanwhile, Yurasia looks quite shocked. Sara also doesn’t show it outwardly, but she’s just as stunned.

I expected she would have run away for some reason, wandering the Demon Realm and then returning to the Empire at an age suitable to enter the Academy. I never imagined she would be living in a place like this.

Looking at the staff she’s holding, I can see it has a rather valuable magic stone embedded in it. It’s probably more expensive than the black iron sword I gifted Yurasia.

Not to mention that ragged outfit from before. I heard it’s supposed to be the most expensive clothing brand among adventurers.

Why is she living in a place like this?

Is she the type to abandon all for the sake of virtue, forgoing food and shelter?

Of course, since I lived like that in my previous life, I can’t say I don’t understand it, but I can’t grasp the reason behind such actions.

I lived with the mindset that I’d do anything as long as I could kill the Demon King. The same goes for the other companions.

Does that mean Stella is like that too?

Does she have something she desperately wants to achieve, something she must achieve, just like how we wanted to kill the Demon King?

That’s a bit…

“…That’s impressive.”

It’s not a choice anyone can make.

Still, being a street rat is the same. I muttered to myself as I looked at Stella’s back, stepping where her feet had touched.

About five minutes later, we finally arrived at the place called Stella’s home.

“…Are you really calling this a home?”

“It is a home.”

“If this is a home, then a wall and a cover would make anything a home, right?”

“Well, that’s not it, but it’s a home because I live here.”

“…Yeah. That’s true.”

Behind Stella, I see a crumbling shack.

If I made it with my own hands, it would be better than that, no, it would actually be well made. After all, I made plenty back in Gebihenum.

But isn’t that a bit extreme?

“Did you make this?”

“…No?”

“Oh. Then who made it?”

At least if someone made it for her—

“I rented it with money.”

Slap! I hit my forehead.

“…How much?”

Stella, who had been mumbling and hesitating to speak, whispered quite small.

“300,000 Cel per month.”

“I’m not even surprised anymore.”

“Ugh… But it’s the most expensive shack in this neighborhood.”

“Neighborhood? You’re the only one living around here. And what does expensive shack even mean? Aren’t all shacks the same?”

“…Everyone moved away. Originally, there were a bit more.”

“Do people move to prison too? Well, they do give you food, clothes, and a place to sleep, so I guess that could be a home.”

On the way up, there were lots of documents related to imprisonment scattered all over the floor.

Tongue click, I sighed as I opened the shabby door.

“Ha…”

I don’t know how many times I sighed since I got here. I don’t know, but it just keeps coming out.

“Hey, hasn’t this been ransacked?”

“…No.”

“Not ransacked?”

“…I organized it somewhat.”

“Can you really call this organized?”

“Yeah.”

Thud— Stella, pushing my shoulder, began rummaging through the one-room space without even taking off her shoes.

Then she pulled a bunch of odds and ends from a worn-out backpack.

“Hey. Why are you taking that? Just put it down—”

“It was a gift from my mom.”

“—Just leaving it there would make the room so much prettier. Right, Yurasia?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

Behrhaigen Marquis.

I don’t know if she’s famous or not, but with her title and this shabby shack, Yurasia has been silent for a while now, feeling confused.

Sara is similarly confused, but prioritizing vigilance over it.

I’m also on edge, wondering if there might be a surprise attack, but so far, I can’t feel a thing.

“I’ve packed everything now. And just so you won’t misunderstand, I have a real home elsewhere.”

“Of course you do.”

“It’s true! It’s at the entrance of Gebihenum. It’s way cleaner and more spacious than here. There’s a bed too. This is just a temporary place before going to the Academy.”

“…Really?”

This is somewhat good news.

It’ll be very helpful when we go to the Demon Realm during the vacation.

“Yeah, so don’t misunderstand. There’s no need to think of me as pathetic.”

With no money to buy lunch, getting scammed for an artifact, getting attacked by dark mages while searching for 5 million Cel, ending up with nothing but debt, and packing up in a shack, saying something like that only adds to the sadness.

I just nodded.

“It’s my choice…”

Yeah. It’s her choice after all.

As I picked one of the bags she was carrying and started walking, she exclaimed, “Ah!”

“If you’ve packed everything, let’s go.”

“If I carry it—”

“What are you going to carry with that pitiful body?”

“What…? Huh, seriously! You’re smaller than me!”

“Did I say that? I said it would be hard because you’re a mage, so you have some serious insecurities, huh?”

“No way! It’s not!”

“Of course it isn’t.”

“Don’t say that again!”

*

“…You know what? Let’s go buy some clothes tomorrow.”

“Why? This is enough.”

“This, this. The one with a hole in the back. This is enough?”

“…Fashion.”

“That’s nonsense. Sara, I’ll need your help tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

After returning to the lodging without any issues.

Stella organized the things she had been packing diligently.

In the process, she threw away all the useless stuff and ripped and worn clothes.

After that, only two decent outfits, two shabby clothes, and a few faded accessories and dolls that her mother gifted her remained.

“Why… why are you being so nice to me? Is it because you feel sorry for me? Don’t think like that—”

“No? The things I’m giving aren’t just given out casually.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ll make sure to get something in return later. Why would I give you free things because you’re cute?”

“Well, you don’t have to buy me anything. After all, the Academy has separate uniforms. I mean, we’re in Signia, so we’re getting four outfits. So… I’m good.”

“I don’t want to. It’s embarrassing to walk around together.”

“What?! E-embarrassing… Huh, you’re ridiculous. Who said I’d walk with you? I’m not going to walk with you!”

“Even if you don’t want to, you’ll have to walk with me.”

“I don’t want to! I really don’t!”

Sitting on the floor, hugging the clothes I was about to throw away, Stella shot me a glare.

I crouched in front of her.

“Now. Listen carefully to what I’m saying.”

Hmph! Stella turned her head away.

I grabbed her chin and turned her face towards me so we could meet eye to eye.

“Ugh… What… what are you doing?!”

“You owe me a debt. Right?”

“That’s… I owe you… 7 million Cel. But I can pay it back soon.”

“What about your life?”

“…Huh?”

“I saved you.”

“Are you counting that too?!”

“Isn’t it a given?”

Her violet eyes started to tremble uncontrollably.

“…How much is my life worth?”

“Why should I decide that? You have to decide.”

Stella, whose lips were quivering, shrank her shoulders.

“Ugh… How much… do I need to repay?”

“Can your life be converted to money? I don’t think so.”

“Then… how should I repay… or what should I repay with?”

It’s going to be hard to answer.

If I say a low number, it seems her life is worth cheap. But if I say a high number, it would be hard to repay.

However, I did not bring it up in such a lowly manner.

I have no intention of receiving money from Stella.

I did what I wanted because I wanted to do it.

Of course, the money I’m using now is all from my family’s funds, but I’m confident I can repay… no, return it, so I’m using it without thought.

Three years at the Academy.

I have enough time to repay and more.

I have the ability and the time.

So I don’t have to accept money from Stella.

“Then, until you think this is enough—”

What I need to gain is not money, but…

“—is trust.”

To build a mutual trust.

And someday, after preparing everything, I want to receive the promise that we will go to the Demon Realm together without any betrayal, no matter what happens.

Stella Behrhaigen.

This absurd and secretive little girl might just be an astounding talent who could reach even a level higher than Kaloso.

“…Uh, wait? B-b-body… huh…? What are you saying…? Ah…”

I gently lowered her chin and slipped a peach-flavored candy between her slightly parted lips.

And with a bright smile that I had practiced endlessly at home, I said,

“Well, we’ll need to get close from now on, right?”

I tidied up Stella’s messy hair.

At the same time—

Bang! Stella’s face flushed red like it had been hit.

“Huh, huh… Huh…? You’re crazy, huh…?”

For every sound that came from her, a faint peach scent filled the air.

Snicker, I chuckled and waved my hand as I walked out of the room.

“For now, wear my clothes until we go buy some tomorrow. There are some in the closet, so just wear what you like; the size should fit you… roughly.”

Creek — Bang!

Even after the door closed, I couldn’t hear Stella moving.

She seemed to have caught a serious heat, but what can be done?

If she’s annoyed, let her be stronger than me.

“Hmph.”

With my steps a bit lighter than usual, I strolled through the lodging. No, rather than lodging, I wandered inside the mansion.

Next, it’s time to give a necklace to Yurasia.

*

“Yurasia—”

“Yes!”

Before I could finish my sentence, the door swung open.

“Young Lady!”

Behind the opened door stood Yurasia, looking as if she had just gotten out of the shower, welcoming me with bright eyes.

“…You opened the door really quickly?”

“I happened to be in front of the door! Please come in!”

With a smile clearer than usual, Yurasia pulled me in, radiating overwhelming excitement.

She’s been holding in this much anticipation, waiting all this time. That’s impressive.

No matter how I see it, she looks like a large dog.

If my previous self saw her, she’d seem like a small dog, but to me now, she’s definitely a large dog.

Snicker, I giggled and followed Yurasia’s inviting gesture into the room.

“What brings you here?”

Beaming– fidgeting—

She already knows everything yet dances around it, asking, which is quite adorable.

“I came to give you a gift.”

Following Yurasia’s expectations, I replied.

“Wow! This is the 10th gift from you, Young Lady!”

“What? Have I already given you that many?”

“Yes! You’ve been giving me birthday gifts steadily since five years ago!”

“…Then, if we count that, it’s five, plus the sword and this one, making it the seventh, right?”

Upon hearing my question, Yurasia chuckled lightly, whispering almost conspiratorially.

“Hehe… The remaining three are a secret.”

“Uh? How is it a secret if I’m the one who gave you the gifts?”

“There’s something like that! Now, please sit here!”

Yurasia’s gentle hand led me to the brown sofa.

I flopped myself down and started rummaging through my pocket to pull out a box the size of my palm.

“Well, I don’t know if you’ll like it, but if you don’t, it can’t be helped. I can’t change it. So, just… wear it… this… order… Really, just take a look.”

Cutting myself off, I opened the box.

And from it, sparkle—cherry blossoms bloomed.

“…Huh?”

Yurasia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wow… It’s a necklace?”

“…Yeah, it’s a necklace.”

“The cherry blossoms… are the same color as the Young Lady!”

“Exactly! I originally requested a blue one, like your eye color, but they said it would be better to make it like this if it’s a gift… So I trusted them.”

I held the necklace out a bit more.

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

“Yeah. It’s amazing…”

“Well, that’s a relief. Overall, it’s an artifact with spells that help recover stamina and energy, you know? It’s quite weak, but it will still help during training.”

“…Wait?! This is a custom artifact?!”

“Yeah, sorta…”

Yurasia’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

Her previously bright eyes widened as if they were about to burst.

“Wow… Can I touch it?”

“Of course! It’s yours now.”

As she reached for the necklace, I pulled her hand back to wipe it on my clothes.

Yurasia, with her fingers fidgeting, lifted the necklace.

“Just in case, I made the strap with northern ore. It won’t break easily.”

The shining platinum strap glimmered gracefully in the light.

“And the stone in the middle is the celestial cherry stone from the Eustetia Duchy. You know about it, right?”

The cherry blossom reflecting the color of spring, encapsulating my hair and eye color, glimmered at the strap’s center.

Should I explain the other magical aspects? I decided to stay quiet.

Yurasia, in her current state, seems like she wouldn’t absorb those details anyway.

So, I just smiled warmly.

In the meantime, as Yurasia was closely examining the necklace, she placed it in my palm and turned her back.

“Young Lady.”

Bringing her luscious blonde hair to the front, she shyly whispered.

“…Could you please put it on?”

“Me?”

“Yes. I think it would be hard for me to do it alone… Is that okay?”

Her delicate shoulders blushed a deep crimson, almost puffing up as if she were about to burst from embarrassment, the moisture still glistening from her recent shower.

“W-well… I guess it’s fine.”

“Yay! Thank you!”

Feeling a little flustered, I inched closer to Yurasia.

A different aroma drifted from her, warm and gentle, floral.

“Hmm? Did you change your soap?”

“It’s not soap; it’s body wash… But, how did you know?”

“What’s there to know? I just do.”

With a chuckle escaping my lips, Yurasia trembled slightly.

“Could you lift your hair up a bit more?”

“Yes, yes…”

Once her neck was fully revealed, I reached out with both hands. As I held the necklace and pulled it gently away, I ensured not to touch Yurasia’s neck.

“Is the length okay?”

“…It fits perfectly.”

“More than looking good, it should be comfortable when you wield your sword. If you mess up because you’re worried about it, it could be extremely dangerous—”

“Young Lady.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s really okay… Please just do it here.”

“U-uh…Alright.”

I fell silent and carefully clasped the necklace’s latch.

I’d learned this just in case, and I had learned it well.

“Done.”

Her flowing golden hair draped down like flowing silk.

At the same moment, a gentle ripple stirred in the air.

“How do I look?”

Yurasia turned around.

“Do I look good?”

Honestly, I thought it wouldn’t match at all since it’s entirely different from her color.

But seeing it in person, I had to admit,

“…Yeah. It doesn’t look bad.”

In truth, it suits her very well.

“Not bad? That’s it?”

“That’s right. Shut your mouth.”

“Yeah…”

As she sulked for a bit while checking herself in a hand mirror, Yurasia suddenly spoke up.

“Young Lady.”

Gently stroking the necklace with her flushed fingers, she beamed.

“Thank you.”

That smile resembled none she had shown me before, one she had never shown to anyone else.

“…Yeah.”

I was a bit surprised.

*

Time passed.

“Huff, huff… huff… Aah… Do you think I’ll do okay?”

“Yeah. Just do as you usually do.”

“Ahh… What do I do? I’m so nervous!”

“Why are you so nervous about everything? There’s a calming pill in that bag, eat that.”

“Calming… pill? What’s that?”

“It calms you down.”

“Wow, does that really work?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Ugh…?”

“Hey… Can I really wear this?”

“I told you to wear it!”

“No, it’s too… expensive for me, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is expensive.”

“Ugh… But why would you give something like this to me?!”

“Because Sara picked out these clothes and said they’re just expensive but the design is terrible?! Let’s just burn it!”

“I’ll do that! I’ll set it on fire and leave no trace! After that, I’ll bring something else to Stella-nim!”

“What the heck are you saying?! No. Sara, that’s not what I meant! Ugh, never mind! I’ll wear it! I want to wear it! I’m sorry! Thank you!”

The entrance ceremony at Karela Academy was approaching.

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