"What is this?"

A teenage girl is talking to herself in a research lab.

She is a cute girl with pink-colored hair. What her cool eyes are currently fixed on is a box of brown-colored objects.

Even when she lifts it up and smells the sweet smell wafting from it, she doesn't know what it is.

If she remembers correctly, the boy who handed these to her had called it 'chocolate'?

"Sherry, what is the matter?"

The person who calls out to her is a middle-aged man.

He has salt and pepper hair in a swept back style.

"Vice Princ.i.p.al Ruslan……"

"You promised to call me father when we are alone."

"Step-father."

Sherry gives an embarra.s.sed laugh.

"So then, what is up with those chocolates?"

"Chocolate? A boy from the Magic Swordsman Academy gave these to me."

"Heh~"

Ruslan strokes his moustache.

"That is an expensive confectionery that's all the rage among girls nowadays. I'm sure it's a present for you."

"Eh? But I didn't know him."

"Then it must have been what they call 'love at first sight.' The one you have there is supposedly a phantom product that even lining up from the break of dawn might not even guarantee you the opportunity to buy it. It seems that that boy has gone to quite the lengths for your sake."

"L-, love at first sight……"

So Sherry whispers, her cheeks slightly dyed.

"What reply will you give him?"

"Reply……?"

"He must be waiting for your reply."

"B-, but I'm……"

Sherry's cheeks are now fully red, and her eyes are swimming.

"It would be good for you to also learn how to get along with other humans, rather than focusing only on your research. This is also what a school is for, after all."

"…… I understand."

Ruslan smiles gently as Sherry hangs her head down.

"So, how's progress on the artifact?"

"There's not much, I'm afraid. I've only just started, after all."

With her cheeks still red, Sherry gives a troubled smile.

"That's true, I suppose."

"But there is one thing that I've determined so far. The text on that artifact is using a very unique code."

"A unique code?"

Sherry begins spreading doc.u.ments before Ruslan.

"I think it's a code used by a specific ancient country or organization. And also…… I think it bears strong resemblance to the code that my mother was working on."

"I see, Luclaire's…… she was also a very exemplary researcher."

Ruslan closes his eyes, as if he's remembering the past.

"The meaning of the cipher that my mother was deciphering before her death, I want to know."

At the moment, Sherry's side profile is exact that of a researcher's, from head to toe.

"This is a good job that you're accepted, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

Ruslan pats her head, and she smiles bashfully.

"So, where is the artifact right now?"

"Oh, the knights in the other room are holding onto it."

"You don't need to have it in hand?"

"Only at times. Since I need to spend time thinking, and I get a bit nervous when I'm with the knights."

"I se- cough, cough, s-, sorry about that……"

Ruslan turns around and coughs.

"Step-father! Are you alright?"

Sherry hurriedly rubs Ruslan's back.

Ruslan's body is thin, and his cheeks are hollow.

"I, I'm fine, I'm fine."

Ruslan slowly gets his breath back.

"I even seemed to be doing a bit better nowadays though. I guess that's just how sicknesses are."

"Step-father……"

"Don't make that worried face. Rather than that, that study abroad offer from Academy City has come again."

"Academy City Rawagas……"

"The world's top brains have already acknowledged your research results. If you go to Rawagas, you can grow a lot more, learn a lot more. I think it's a great idea to go."

Sherry shakes her head.

"You're still sick, there's no way I can go."

"Sherry, you don't have to worry about me, really."

"After my mother died, if you hadn't adopt me, I would definitely have died somewhere. I…… I want to help you, just as you helped me."

Sherry's eyes are tearing up.

"Sherry…… I have such a good daughter indeed."

Ruslan smiles gently.

"Do well with your research then. Also, make sure to eat those chocolates."

"…… Yes, I will."

Ruslan exits the research lab.

Left alone, Sherry reaches out for a piece of chocolate, her cheeks blus.h.i.+ng.

"So sweet…… so delicious……"

And then she reaches for a second piece.

I am enjoying a perfectly peaceful day absent of Hyoro and Jaga and Alexia, just walking back to my dorm.

After I leave the garden that is currently dyed by the setting sun and the number of students near me drops, a female student suddenly approaches me.

She is wearing a second-year's uniform, has dark brown hair down up in buns, and is wearing lame-looking gla.s.ses over her similarly colored eyes.

But I can tell, with my long history as a mob.

That is actually a beautiful person who is only pretending to be a mob to not stand out.

"Hey there, do you have some time?"

I recognize that voice.

"Nyuu, huh."

So I say in a low voice. She nods.

To think that a cla.s.sy lady can change this much with gla.s.ses and cosmetics and a different hairstyle.

We continue talking in low voices.

"You attend this academy?"

"No, this uniform is borrowed. So I can blend in."

"I see."

The academy is so large that the faces you know would be far less than the faces you don't. As long as the other person is wearing a uniform, then why would you give them a second look?

"Where shall we talk?"

"How about that bench over there?"

There is currently no one near that bench that has an unbroken view of the beautiful garden.

At that place where the setting sun is a bit blinding, the two of us sit next to each other.