“Yeah. Should be in front of your room? The delivery guy had excellent turquoise hair.”

“Who sent it? Thanks for letting me know, Jackson.”

“Whatever.”

While going up the stairs, Reche thought about the people she had exchanged letters with.

‘Lily, Lotus, Zeckbert and Robenhaf… Count Seldia… Also, Anna, Philip, and Yan…’

Walking like that, she found a box in front of her room.

Reche picked up the box and entered her room.

“Yeah.”
The box wrapped in velvet was adorned with a silver ribbon and flowers resembling Reche’s hair.

“I wonder who sent this?”

There was no sender’s name, but it wasn’t necessary.

As Reche untied the ribbon and opened the box, she saw it.

“……. ”

A cute face with a puppy doll with soft fur. In its arms, there was a shiny apple.

A strong presence felt from the doll. Even without saying who sent it, it was clear.

“Hey, doggie.”

There was only one person associated with Reche and a dog – Dercadeon.

Pythonth touched the apple. Reche picked it up as it fell from her arms.

And there was writing on the back.

Sorry.

I was wrong.

However, the letters, carved with great care, were clear without a single mistake.

If he was going to do this, why did I ignore him earlier?

Having fallen into the lake, her head felt somewhat refreshed.

Although the lingering feelings were not completely gone.

“……. ”

Reche took a bite of the apple. It had a crisp texture and a sweetness like honey.

It felt like Dercadeon, who didn’t know when to stop.

“Fool. Dercadeon.”

He always said that his actions were not because of her, but in the end, it was because of Reche. Even if he endured what he disliked.

Last year’s student council president was the same. Perhaps this incident would be similar.

“If only I know, who cares.”

It’s perfect for misunderstanding situations like this.

Reche lightly tapped the forehead of the dog doll with her index finger, just like Dercadeon does to her. Then, she sat at her desk and took out paper and pen.

That evening.

“……. ”

Dercadeon led his weary steps back to the instructor’s residence inside the contest venue.

After sending a gift to Reche through Philip, he spent the whole day swinging a black sword to shake off his uneasy feelings.

“Young master, will you have dinner?”

“I’m not eating.”

Philip, who used the adjacent residence, confirmed that Dercadeon had returned and asked.

“Then, shall I bring it here for you?”

“Fine.”

“Meow.”

A gray cat slipped between the two.

As they frequently moved around the contest venue in this manner, anyone could recognize who it was.

Casley, Reche’s test instructor.

‘Was the preliminary task hide-and-seek?’

It might be better to catch Casley and send her in a box.

Cassley, looking at Dercadeon, leaped onto the window sill with her quick red eyes and asked.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing much.”

“Rather, tell me what Tua Rishe likes, Lodwick.”

“Why are you asking about that?”

“I want to get closer.”

Casley shook her tail.

Dercadeon thought he could figure out what Lodwick liked about Tua Rishe.

‘To make her my disciple, I have to gain her favor first.’

Let’s start with something she likes, perhaps.

Looking at Dercadeon, Casley asked again.

“Since you’re her brother, you must know well, right? They say you get along well with your sister.”

Dercadeon’s face darkened abruptly.
Next to him, Philip nodded rapidly from side to side towards Casley. It’s a peculiar movement for the neck.

“If you get along well, you’ll have a lot to talk about. So, at least something you like -.”

“Haha, Instructor Casley. Our Dercadeon instructor didn’t take up the instructor position lightly. He won’t discuss such personal matters during the contest period.”

Philip cut in and interrupted Casley’s words.

Bringing up the sensitive topic after the chaotic events in the morning. At this rate, this cat instructor might be in big trouble.

Even if he’s an outstanding individual in Matop, would he be a match for my master, who can cut off someone’s breath in an instant?

“Ask Reche directly.”

“That’s right. Of course, it would be better for Instructor Casley to directly ask our young lady…… Huh?”

Contrary to Philip’s concerns, Deon answered Casley without showing any anger.

Feeling something strange about Philip, who was echoing Deon, Casley turned around, but Deon had already entered the dormitory.

“I won’t talk to my brother anymore.”

Snap.

Deon closed the door and bowed his head deeply. Reche was seriously angry. It was only the second time it happened.

“Don’t do anything.”

Since the foolish 12-year-old self had slapped Reche’s hand back then, who had treated her roughly, it was the first time.

It happened about a week when Reche avoided even touching him.

This time, she seems more angry than back then.

‘Releasing her anger will probably take longer than a week.’

Maybe throughout the contest period, maybe after the contest is over, maybe for a lifetime…

“……”

“Reche, I have a wish.”

“……”

“Before I die, can we have a conversation? I’m in a lot of pain right now.”

“…Brother.”

In the end, perhaps only at the end of life, Reche might talk to him.

Since my sister became kind. If she looks pitiful, she might talk to him before she dies.

Dragging heavy steps, Deon sat down on a chair.

“……?”

Then, he found a piece of paper on the desk where there was nothing in the morning.

If it were a usual day, Deon, who would have suspected an intruder and searched around, instead lightly tapped his fingertips on the armrest without saying anything.

After hesitating like that for a while, Deon’s hand slowly picked up the paper.

His nostrils twitched as he looked at the back of the paper.

I’ll let it slide.

And the apple is too sweet.