The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 197

“Are you okay?”

When I felt like I could finally control my body properly, it was already late at night.

I still had a slight fever, but I opened my eyes as I sat up. Looking around, I found myself in a cozy and soft bed.

“…Where?”

“This is my private room in Ophelis Hall. At the request of Lady Yennekar and Lady Lortel, I brought you here.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words at the sight of Bell standing next to me.

All I could remember was suddenly getting dizzy after drinking a cup of water.

It was difficult to accurately judge the situation from that alone, so I asked Bell to explain it to me further.

“It seems that Lady Patriciana caused trouble.”

“Patriciana? That fourth year troublemaker magician?”

“Yes. Have you met her before?”

“…Yeah. It wasn’t on particularly great terms, though.”

Last time, she had gotten hold of Merilda, who was walking around the camp. She started making a fuss about me supposedly abusing her.

Her sister Trayciana had rushed in, grabbing the girl’s head and shoving it down, apologizing over and over. After that, Trayciana helped me with retaking the Elte Company.

Now, that same girl was causing trouble with reagents. I guess some people really couldn’t be fixed.

I took a deep breath as I stared blankly into the air for a moment.

“So, where is she now?”

“She’s being held in Lady Trayciana’s room.”

“Being held…?”

“When I was doing my routine check, I saw her on her knees, practicing apologizing with Lady Trayciana.”

“……”

“She was quite passionate. They’re not even from a military family, so I wonder if they received training elsewhere?”

To be honest, Trayciana never really did anything wrong. However, she always apologized as well, since she felt she was a part of Patriciana’s incidents. She did it the last time, too.

It was clear that she would drag Patriciana by her ear, press down on her head, and apologize from the bottom of her heart once again.

“Well, sooner or later they’ll probably come bearing presents. I think that right now, you should focus on getting some rest.”

“What a life I have.”

“You don’t have to worry about what comes after. Lady Trayciana is an expert in this area…”

“…What area…?”

I got up as I continued pressing on my temples. My headache subsided quite a bit, but the slight fever was still there.

“Whenever Lady Patriciana causes an incident, Trayciana always comes and apologizes… and her apology always differs depending on the case. That’s why she’s known as somewhat of an expert at apologies within the school.”

“……”

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t be interested in this kind of gossip.”

Seeing Bell at the table doing embroidery, I asked her what she was doing.

She was not in her usual maid outfit, which was rather decorated with a rose pattern. It seemed that since it was already late at night and there was nothing left to do, she was wearing comfortable clothes.

Since Bell was always neat and tidy in everything she did, it was almost impossible for a regular student to see her in casual clothes.

Even though she was only wearing a simple pajama dress, her appearance had changed quite drastically.

“I… have been quite unlucky these days…”

“You don’t look great. Do you still not feel well? You should sleep some more.”

“No, I can’t keep occupying someone else’s bed forever. It’s just… I can’t tell if my common sense is lacking or if all of the students at this school are just weird. To the abduction expert, the apology expert… and the drinking water terrorist…”

“…What I’m certain of is that Young Master Ed is a rational person with common sense. So, there’s no need for him to adapt his way of thinking to the environment…”

It really felt like there were only a few sane people at the school—especially among students in the alchemy department. They were always so engrossed and obsessed with alchemy…

Seriously, what was with that department…? It was no joke to call them a department full of outcasts…

“So… why did you have to bring me all the way to your personal room in Ophelis Hall? I feel bad because I already know how busy you are.”

“It was no problem. Either way, I had a bunch of things to take care of tonight.”

“If I just rested back in the cabin, I would have recovered on my own. So, why did you bring me all the way over here?”

“Well… In my personal opinion, leaving you in the camp would have been much more dangerous. As for the details… It’s a bit complicated to explain…”

Bell put the scarf she had been embroidering on the table as she fell into deep thought.

“Just… I think you should rest here tonight. It won’t be a problem since I have to go out and take a watch shift anyway.”

“…When do you even sleep?”

“I sleep for a couple of hours in the morning, and I take a short nap when I have time during the day. My morning schedule is pretty lax, and I was able to rest quite a bit over break.”

A good night’s sleep wasn’t an everyday thing for her, it was an event.

No matter how passionate and sincere a person was, they would eventually become exhausted at some point… Despite that fact, Bell had skin that was more radiant than anyone else’s, and a strong vitality around her.

There were people whose fuel in life was their work. People born with such a mindset usually ended up in high positions.

And that was true for Bell Maya.

” I thought I was living a pretty sincere life, but you’re on a different level.”

“……?”

“…Never mind.”

That was normal. Once someone had that mindset, the question of ‘why do you work so hard’ became strange.

Since I wasn’t in a position to say anything, I just nodded my head.

“Would you like some snacks? Eating sweet things will help speed up your recovery.”

“It’s fine. I have already overcome the effects of that drug to some extent.”

“I see. I heard that you are going to Cledric Monastery some time this week. I was worried that you wouldn’t be able to recover before then.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry. I somehow got over the initial effects of it, but… I wonder if there are any aftereffects.”

“I asked her about that, and she said there was nothing to worry about. Maybe when the sun comes up, they will come visit you to explain.”

I nodded my head as I tried to endure the slight headache that remained.

Slowly, my body and mind started to get better. Only then did I fully see all of Bell’s private room.

Simply put, it was different from what I had imagined.

No one could deny that being the head maid of Ophelis Hall was a prestigious and high-income position. It was a dream position for anyone who worked within the related field.

The attire for the position was also glamorous, making it stand out. It was quite different from a traditional maid, where modesty was considered a necessary virtue. However, it couldn’t be helped.

In fact, as it was a position that directly served all of the distinguished students who studied at Silvenia, she was also somewhat the face of Silvenia.

Since she held such a large responsibility as the face of Silvenia, the school also needed to treat her with as much support and consideration as possible.

For such a position… her room was very small. A small bed, a wooden table and chair, a window with adequate light, and a simple wardrobe with decent storage.

There were also some portraits of historical figures hanging on the wall. On the table, there was a landscape painting and a dagger with a wildcat pattern on it.

“The head maid’s private room is being used as a warehouse.”

Perhaps because she noticed that I was completely puzzled as I looked at the room, Bell spoke first.

“I feel out of place sleeping in a room that is much too large for me… So, I’m still using the same room I used when I was a senior maid.”

“You’re frugal.”

“I’m pretty ordinary.”

Frugality was also a relative concept to some extent.

No matter how frugal a person might be, it was no easy task to maintain such an attitude after working somewhere as luxurious as Ophelis Hall for several years… especially in the position of head maid.

Although she was in a position where there would be no issue with her being a little greedy or extravagant, she remained like that. She was truly a person who could be considered a maid who came down from heaven.

“What were you doing before you became a maid?”

I felt my body’s strength return as I swung my arms around.

I then gently pushed out a question that was hidden in my chest.

Rumors circulated here and there throughout Ophelis Hall, but there wasn’t anything that was particularly revealing.

Although it would be rude to dig too deep into her past, it wouldn’t be too disrespectful to just ask her briefly out of curiosity.

“Hmm…”

However, Bell pondered for a moment before saying,

“It’s not a very interesting story… It’s not really something to talk about.”

Don’t ask.

After seeing that attitude, anyone would be able to interpret what she was trying to say.

I decided to move past it, figuring that she must have her own reasons.

“Yeah, sorry if I was rude. I wasn’t trying to dig into your past or anything.”

It would be rude to delve any deeper into her personal history than necessary. However, after I gave her my apology, Bell suddenly shook her head.

On the contrary, she looked perplexed.

“I… seem to have said something misleading. My apologies, Young Master Ed. It wasn’t a particularly rude question.”

“What?”

“What I’m saying is that… It’s not very pleasant… and it’s rather dark. And I don’t think there’s any particular reason to talk about something dark. It’s not something I’m particularly trying to hide.”

Bell picked up the embroidery she had put down as she fiddled with the needle again. It seemed like it would be a long scarf.

Looking at the scarf she was making, it seemed like it was for a student. It looked like she was embroidering or repairing it. It was something that another maid should have been taking care of, yet she was doing it herself.

“I am the illegitimate child of House Flanchel, from the northeastern part of the Empire. My last name, Maya, comes from my mother’s side of the family.”

Bell suddenly revealed a major truth nonchalantly.

With that one line alone I realized just how unusual Bell’s birth really was. It was easy to see that her life mustn’t have been easy.

“Do you know Baron Flanchel?”

“…I think I’ve heard the name before.”

It was a name that I was rather uncertain of.

However, I was certain that I hadn’t seen him at the social gathering at the Rothstaylor Estate. A gathering where small, medium, and influential aristocrats came in person, and if not, they at least sent gifts.

“Actually, it’s more natural to not know of him. Baron Flanchel produced a lot of bureaucrats, mainly in charge of long-distance diplomacy with areas located on the eastern continent. As it was located in the northeastern part of the empire with rather rough terrain, sea routes were used much more than carriages when heading towards the empire.”

“For him to be a baron, it seems he was quite old.”

“I do not know. Anyway, you won’t be able to find it on the map anymore. It was taken over by Count Melin. In fact, as you are a member of the grand House Rothstaylor, such an incident is a rather minor event.”

“……”

What did it mean for a noble’s territory to merge into the territory of a higher noble? I could think of a variety of possibilities, but most of them weren’t pleasant.

“As a member of a diplomatic family, he went abroad a lot, especially to the distant eastern continent. He tried to introduce new agricultural equipment and sericulture, as well as promote large-scale projects to level the rough land.”

The name Flanchel didn’t ring any bells in my memory.

However, since Bell was able to talk about such details… I started to feel strange.

While he was only a minor baron whom I had passed, to Bell he was the one who took care of her during her childhood.

“There were many attempts to make the estate more prosperous, but most of them didn’t end well.”

“…You were the illegitimate child of that Flanchel family…?”

“Yes. I am an illegitimate child of the official heir, Dalvern.”

“I see… Your life must not have been easy.”

“Perhaps. If I had been a key figure in a fierce battle for power, perhaps my life would have been much different.”

Since he was a minor noble that was losing in a battle for power, he mustn’t have cared about his children… Especially one that was born out of wedlock. Perhaps he saw Bell as a political weakness or a thorn in his side?

“Unexpectedly, during my childhood I was actually cared for, as I lived in the mansion. The forces hardly ever looked towards me, either.”

“……”

“So, there is nothing particularly hurtful about my story. And I have never been ashamed of my identity. However, there are some who are surprised when I say that I am from an aristocratic family.”

I was the same.

It was ironic in some way that the maid who took care of the nobles was actually from a noble family.

“But if you think about it, it actually makes sense. As this is a position that requires hospitality and the management of nobles, it would be more appropriate for individuals who know well about their manners to have the position.”

“If you think about it that way, that makes sense. But where in the world is there a noble who chooses to be a maid?”

“Exactly. Which is what makes me the perfect person for the job. There were times when my status as an illegitimate child was harmful, but at the same time, I am also very grateful for it, as it has made it possible for me to become like this.”

Actually, rather than the fact she came from an aristocratic family, the innate side of her that was so hardworking and sincere was much more influential… However, I decided to not bring up such minor details.

“By the way, isn’t that in the complete opposite direction of Acken Island, which is located southwest of the continent? How did you leave your home and travel such a long distance to become a maid here?”

“The former head maid, Elris, was an acquaintance of my father’s. She was from the eastern continent. One of the many children my father reached out to, since she had nowhere to go… And from the family’s point of view, even if there was no intense greed or desire for power, they wouldn’t want to keep their illegitimate children with them forever. They needed to get rid of us so that we could both live our lives to the fullest.”

At that point I realized it.

As Bell told her story, she was consciously skipping through the depressing and gloomy parts.

Well, she was able to survive, and she was born to a noble family.

Even though she was in a peculiar situation, the way she spoke made it seem as if there weren’t any major hardships in her life.

Perhaps she didn’t want to make me depressed with her story. Such kindness was ingrained in her body.

Seeing Bell Maya act like that… I felt thrown off.

“It must have been difficult.”

“It was not particularly difficult.”

“I know that it was hard for you.”

“There were times like that, but it’s still nice to say I came from a noble family. Though, since you grew up in House Rothstaylor, I can’t possibly brag about such a thing to you.”

Skillfully maneuvering the conversation to compliment me instead. She was truly a master at dealing with uncomfortable situations.

“…Okay.”

So, I threw in the towel.

Bell Maya was conscious of the fact that I had given up. She put her embroidery down for a moment as she looked at me.

“Actually, who doesn’t have a difficult time? Everyone has ups and downs in their life. Especially within Ophelis Hall, I see that more often.”

“I can’t argue with that. My House is also in complete turmoil right now.”

“That’s right. So, I am not one to plead for sympathy because of my misfortune and pitiful life.”

The round moon outside the window.

As always, the moonlight illuminated the world fairly.

Although it shone like a midday sun, it instead gave off a feeling of peace to people’s hearts.

When there was a dazzlingly bright light, sometimes you also needed a softer one behind it.

Bell Maya was such a light. One who didn’t clearly illuminate the stage, yet she was still there.

“Still, it wouldn’t be polite for me to end things here after you showed such curiosity about me.”

“No, it’s fine. I was just a little curious, that’s all. I’m already busy with my own things, so I don’t have the energy to wonder about others. If you don’t want to, you don’t need to tell me any more.”

“No. It’s not that I don’t want to, but rather that I want to say it honestly.”

“……?”

She didn’t want to, yet she wanted to say it?

I had an absurd expression on my face from the contradiction she had just uttered. Bell Maya then spoke with an awkward expression on her face.

“What I just said was rather general. But since it is you who I am telling it to, I’ve had a change of heart.”

“A change of heart? Is there something you want to tell me now?”

“Yes. Well… there is something I want you to hear.”

It was surprising to see a woman who was consistent with her business-like attitude to suddenly act like that.

She was not someone who would have personal feelings for me. Both Bell and I knew that fact.

Rather, our relationship was great because it felt like a work relationship. That was why I was able to throw down the white flag and start speaking casually to Bell, who kept on insisting on me doing so.

“Do you know about the end of the Flanchel family?”

No matter who it was, both tragedy and comedy intersected in their life.

If you looked back on the path you lived, there were surely many times where you were both sad and happy.

I didn’t know how many were in Bell’s past, but my gut feeling was crying out.

At the very least, it seemed that it was Bell’s darkest past that she had kept hidden.

Yet, as always, her elegant and clear tone of voice remained unchanged.

“It was just a minor event in history… A minor aristocrat with no desire for power. Most end up with similar outcomes.”

“Were they discarded in a power struggle between high-ranking nobles?”

“Similar. It’s a rather normal story that doesn’t need to be explained, but I still remember the ending clearly. It happened when I was a child. At that time, the former head maid Elris was visiting the mansion as a guest.”

Bell closed her eyes.

Only Bell herself knew what her life as a child was like. She didn’t give details. She just briefly moved the story along.

“The amount demanded by Count Melin could no longer be met through the tax revenue within the estate. Thus, we were forced to sell our valuables, fire our servants, and were thus robbed of all our personal assets. And like that, the estate’s warehouse grew increasingly empty.”

“……”

I had guessed as much to some extent, but I kept my mouth shut and listened.

“The baron went directly to Count Melin to try and make an appeal, but it was to no avail. When he demanded to be given someone, Baron Flanchel realized it then. The person Count Melin wanted as tribute was just an illegitimate child that wasn’t anything special.”

She spoke like that, but the name of that illegitimate child was probably…

“A person whose name was not even on the family tree. An illegitimate child of House Flanchel… It was fine to sacrifice the child. In fact, perhaps if the child went to Count Melin, it could have lived a happier life. But to give them up with his own hands… It was too cruel.”

“……”

“For some reason, holding that illegitimate child he had raised with his own two hands, he felt an emotional connection. Family love is sometimes referred to as a curse that blocks a person’s path.”

The speed at which she continued to embroider was constant. Bell Maya was a maid who faithfully performed the given task at any time.

“So, he came up with an innovative way to deal with the situation. A way to forcefully publicize the matter so things wouldn’t move according to the unreasonable demands of Count Melin. One that other nobles wouldn’t easily pass up.”

“……”

“It was really quite the method to deal with things. One that would also rid him of all his pain. He wouldn’t have to see the faces of the other nobles that harassed him. He wouldn’t have to feel remorse when looking towards his own people, who he couldn’t protect. And he wouldn’t have to feel heartbroken, looking at the sad expression on his young illegitimate child’s face, the child who didn’t know anything about the world. It was a quick way out.”

“What did he do?” I asked lightly.

However, the answer she gave was quite heavy.

“All he needed was a few supplies. A long rope and an old wooden chair.”

“……”

“The rope should be long enough to make a loop and tie it to the ceiling. The chair should be light enough to be easily knocked over.”

Then, she stopped talking.

Silence.

Thirty seconds? One minute?

Not saying a word to each other, I lowered my gaze in that quiet room.

“However, it’s not a depressing story in the end. You could think of him as a whistleblower? Like a fairy tale, in the end Count Melin met his demise when the news came out, leaving a rather refreshing feeling.”

“I think I’ve heard of that before. That’s something all the older professors know about.”

“That’s right. The story of Count Melin is famous. Two years later, he lost everything. News of his cruel past deeds came to light… It was only natural…”

Bell closed her eyes and spoke.

Normally, she wouldn’t talk about such a thing to another person. However, she wanted to tell me.

Now, I understood what she meant by that.

“But it’s not a good decision to take your own life.”

“……”

“No one knows what will happen in the future.”

If the baron had just closed his eyes and passed the illegitimate child over to him, two years later he might have been laughing at his downfall.

While speaking, Bell slowly opened her eyes as she put the needle through the scarf.

What that young girl must have seen when she opened the baron’s door…

Only Bell could remember just what kind of sight that was.

“I’m sorry for the depressing story.”

“No. There’s nothing to apologize for. Also, I wanted to tell you… I am living life as fruitfully as I can.”

“I know. You’re living a life much harder than anyone else.”

Bell put down her embroidery for a moment as she looked out the moonlit window.

“And that’s a relief.”

* * *

“Please tell me when you go to Cledric Monastery. I’ll prepare you some light refreshments to eat on your way and a few presents.”

“Thank you for the refreshments. But why the presents?”

“The abbess is someone I know well. She has helped me a lot and is a very kind person. I want you to deliver a gift for me since you’re going there. The refreshments are just a bribe for you to hand over the gift on my behalf.”

“You don’t have to bribe me to do that…though, I’ll still gladly take those snacks.”

Bell then lifted a candlestick from the corner of the room, as if she was going to go out and do her nighttime check.

“If possible, I think it would be better for you to sleep here until morning. It’s not a good idea for you to walk through the forest at night unless you’re sure of your condition.”

“Is that so…? I feel like I’ve gotten my grip now, though…”

“Well, you’ve been through a lot of surprising things before. There have also been quite a few times in my life where I was flustered and put in unexpected situations… But whenever that happens, I consciously tell myself this.”

Bell lifted the hem of her dress as she said, politely, “When you are flustered, it’s best to talk things over with yourself.”

Much of Bell’s past was still a mystery. Even though I was told a fragment of it, I couldn’t recklessly try to dig any deeper into it.

It must have been full of hardships that I could not even imagine.

Nevertheless, she continued to push through, talking things over with herself—as if she were hypnotizing herself.

As if she had expected things to turn out like they had from the start. As if there was no need to panic at all. That was the secret behind why she was always able to keep such a calm and serious demeanor.

* * *

“…I knew this would happen.”

The next morning, Patriciana and Trayciana ran in through the door, slamming their heads on the floor.

“We!!! Are!!! Sorry!!!!!!! Forgive us for our crimes!!!!!!!!”

The sequence of opening the door, throwing a pile of presents on the table, and falling to the floor while banging their heads onto the ground was like a performance.

Trayciana was sitting next to Patriciana, holding her head and shoving it onto the floor.

If I had to give a score, it was easily a 100 on a scale of 10 points.

“My sister!!! It’s because she doesn’t know anything!!!!”

“….Ahh…! That hurts…! Ahhhhh… S-Sorry…”

“I’m really, really, really sorry!!!!! Sorry!!!!!”

I sat on the bed with a ridiculous expression on my face, looking down at the twin sisters with their heads bowed.

Seeing my fourth year upper-class students there with their heads lowered… It was an unforgettable sight to see.