After the rollercoaster first week of school, the weekend finally arrived. As soon as Nigel Ars woke up, she rubbed her dark eye circles and borrowed books from the library. Then she holed up in the study room attached to the library.

Knock knock.

At that moment, someone knocked and opened the study room door at the same time.

“I thought I hadn’t seen you in a while, have you been here all day?”

“……Ashton.”

Nigel, who had been quickly scanning the book as if magic sparks were about to fly from her eyes, closed the book and looked up.

“Ah, so you were studying first. I thought you had forgotten about our group project meeting for History of Theology.”

Ashton leaned back casually and smiled with his eyes. Nigel belatedly realized her mistake.

“Is it already……?”

“Half past two in the afternoon, way past our meeting time.”

Ashton naturally sat down in the chair opposite Nigel.

“Sorry, I forgot.”

Nigel looked mortified at making such a stupid mistake due to being caught up in her emotions.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Thanks to that, I got to do some exercise I don’t usually do. It was fun.”

“But how did you find this place? It must have been difficult.”

Nigel spoke, recalling the wide corridors spread out like a maze leading to this cozy study room.

“I asked Lord Beselion and he knew right away. He said you’d be either in the library or study room 14 on the 3rd floor.”

Flinch.

For a moment, Nigel’s body jerked up and down.

“By the way, ‘Human Psychology’, ‘Various Human Emotions’……”

Ashton recited the names of the books on the desk.

“They’re all books unrelated to the assignment?”

At that moment, Nigel rummaged through her bag and pulled out a thick stack of papers.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already done the research.”

Ashton, flipping through the papers one by one, marveled at the quantity and quality of the material.

“As expected…… You’re not the top of the class for nothing, are you? I was quite proud of what I’d done, but this makes me embarrassed to even show my materials.”

“Anyone can do this if they invest the time. The new perspective you have is something not just anyone can possess.”

Nigel said as she quickly read through Ashton’s materials.

“Everyone focuses only on the merciful aspect of the goddess, but you’re interested in her human side, which others aren’t. Especially in theology, which is supposed to be flawless, it’s even more so.”

“What, are you complimenting me? Coming from the top student, it feels better than when the dean praised me.”

Nigel smiled at Ashton’s glib attitude.

“Ah, you finally smiled.”

At that moment, Ashton’s dark blue eyes came close to Nigel’s face. Nigel blinked indifferently and slowly backed away.

“You, aren’t you a bit too relaxed? Charlotte Primrose’s face would soften immediately when she smiled.”

“Of course, you’re you, and Charlotte is Charlotte.”

Nigel said proudly, crossing her arms.

“Strange, I’ve never been beaten by looks before.”

Ashton turned his face reflected in the window this way and that. It was a handsome face from any angle.

“Congratulations.”

Nigel clapped lifelessly.

“But this is different. You’d lose your mind if Charlotte smiled in front of you, wouldn’t you?”

“No, I absolutely wouldn’t.”

Ashton declared, looking straight at Nigel. Nigel, at a loss for words at his resolute attitude, answered with silence.

“By the way, psychology books, did something happen?”

“……Just. I suddenly became interested.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, tell me. We’re partners after all.”

“Group project partners, right? You’re talking as if we’re dance partners or something.”

“I wouldn’t mind being both.”

Ashton leaned back in his chair casually, hands behind his head.

“So, what’s the matter?”

Faced with Ashton’s attitude of not letting it go easily, Nigel sighed deeply and opened her mouth.

“I’m exploring the name of my emotions. I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Self-reflection? Did puberty hit at seventeen? What exactly is your condition?”

“First of all…… I’m irritated by every little thing.”

“What, lady. Did puberty really hit late?”

Feeling Nigel’s sharp gaze, Ashton chuckled and opened his mouth.

“Sorry. It seems the cause is another person, right?”

Nigel nodded, her brow deeply furrowed.

“I’m irritated whether I see them or not, but it’s better if I can see them in front of me. Also, I hate how their attitude suddenly changed like flipping a pancake one day, and how they act completely differently towards me and others. I wish they’d either completely ignore me or be consistent in their behavior.”

“And you’re looking for that emotion in these books because you don’t know it? The top student solves problems like a top student too.”

“……Yeah!”

Nigel replied gruffly.

“The person you mentioned is Noah Beselion, right?”

“Yeah…… How did you know?”

“It’s obvious to those who know.”

Ashton tapped his head with his finger.

“You think he’s acting strange? Hmm…… But to my eyes, Lord Beselion doesn’t seem to have changed much from before?”

“That’s because you don’t know him. How awful is it that he laughs and jokes with others but acts like he’s dying in front of me. ……Of course, only with me.”

Nigel clenched her fist as if trying to cool her anger.

“If that’s the case, want to observe Noah Beselion with me once?”

“With you? Why should I?”

Nigel tilted her head as if it was an absurd suggestion. Ashton opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

“Well, I’m not as close to Lord Beselion as you are, Nigel. That means I can see your situation more objectively as a third party. I think you’d know the dangers of subjectivity best, Nigel?”

“……If you put it that way.”

“Do you know Lord Beselion’s daily schedule?”

“Yeah, since it’s the weekend, he wakes up at 5:30 AM, does personal training at 6, trains with the Swordsmanship Department people once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and rests in the evening……”

Nigel stopped speaking mid-sentence.

“Wait, don’t tell me you want to go right now?”

“That’s right. Only those who act quickly know the answer.”

“What about the group project?”

“At this point? We’d get full marks just by reciting your materials.”

Ashton stood up and held out his hand to Nigel, who was still sitting in the chair.

“But……”

Nigel stared blankly at the books she hadn’t finished reading.

“Sometimes a moment of experience is worth more than ten books. Trust me and come along.”

Nigel reluctantly took Ashton’s hand.

“My best friend was right after all? He’s right here in the training ground.”

Ashton sat down next to Nigel in the training ground seats. Almost simultaneously, Noah’s gaze followed.

The threat in the gaze Ashton felt disappeared completely when Nigel raised her head.

He’s showing it so obviously, yet the lady is the only one in the whole school who doesn’t know. How unfortunate. Ashton grinned and opened his mouth.

“Lord Beselion! Fighting!”

Just as the threat was about to show in Noah’s eyes, Nigel turned her head, and Noah cowered without showing any sign.

“See that? His eyes were clear when looking at you, but when he looks at me, they’re as dull as a dying fish.”

Seeing Nigel’s displeased face, Ashton barely held back his laughter.

The situation unfolded amusingly. Noah Beselion was telling Nigel with his whole body not to hate him, but Nigel not only didn’t notice, she was seeing it as a negative signal.

In the end, Noah sighed heavily and returned to his group.

Unlike the common classes conducted only with wooden swords, the training of the Swordsmanship Department students was all done with real swords.

The elegant silver swords clashed and fell repeatedly.

Among the swords drawing various forms of arcs and curves, the most outstanding person was undoubtedly Noah.

Noah’s body drew the sword with smooth movements without a single wasted motion.

Even Nigel, who had been frowning deeply at first, couldn’t help but purely admire the series of beautiful movements.

It was truly overwhelming talent. Noah alone seemed to clearly see how much force to apply in what situation, and what movements were efficient.

The keen senses and concentration that didn’t allow the opponent even a moment’s opening, as if cornered in front of a pit full of scorpions, were not something easily imitated.

What he lacked was time to grow and experience. That was all.

It was then.

“Nigel!”

A female student called out to Nigel. It was none other than Lena, the student who had fainted from Nigel’s magic power during their duel in the magic sword competition.

“How about a round after so long?”

Lena strode up to Nigel and held out her hand with a hearty laugh. Seeing that fresh smile with no trace of hard feelings from the magic sword competition, Nigel readily grasped Lena’s hand.

Not only could she test the magic control skills she had honed so far, but there were no physical classes this semester, so she had been feeling stiff.

“Great! Then I look forward to it. Ah, but not to the extent of destroying walls like last time. We’ve asked Professor Heres for so many repair spells that it’s a bit difficult this weekend.”

Nigel chuckled, thinking of Heres who was pushed around like a punching bag.

“Oh, but what should we do? You don’t have a real sword, and there’s only one wooden sword over there.”

Shing.

Suddenly, a cool breeze carrying the scent of a fresh forest tickled Nigel’s hair.

“If you don’t mind, please use this.”

Noah held out his sword to Nigel.