The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 277

Are you doing well, Young Master Ed?

This is your head maid, Bell Maya.

If my assumption is correct, Lady Lucy has left the Rothstaylor Estate and has reached Acken Island. I am sure you have also quickly grasped the situation yourself.

I have nothing to say.

Despite the orders you personally gave me, I failed to watch over Lady Lucy until the end. I won’t give any excuses. The maids in charge, myself included, are prepared to accept whatever disciplinary action you demand.

Perhaps by the time you read this message, the other maid I sent from the mansion will have already reached Acken Island.

I’ve already fully explained the situation to them, so you may leave Lady Lucy with them. We will make sure to watch over her as we bring her back to the estate. Given the gravity of our error, I feel inclined to go to Acken Island myself. However, under Lady Tanya’s orders, I must remain at the mansion. Instead, I must send a representative in my place.

Once again, I would like to express my deepest apologies.

I failed to perform the task you personally ordered me to oversee. This was due to the mistakes of both myself and my staff. As such, if you issue a specific disciplinary order, we will carry out whatever you ask of us.

Bell Maya

* * *

Don’t worry about any disciplinary action.

There are some circumstances, so I will be watching over Lucy myself for the time being.

However, please make as much beef jerky as you can and send it to Acken Island. You can send it to my assistant’s office, located in Trix Hall. Please make it as salty as possible.

Ed Rothstaylor

In front of a group of maids who sat together with terrified expressions on their faces, Bell opened Ed’s letter and she quietly read it with a puzzled expression on her face. Just what was written in that letter for Bell, who was always serious and rational, to have such a strange and unusual expression?

All of the maids who sat together couldn’t help but hold their breath.

* * *

Since I had to deal with Amputator Zellan, it wouldn’t make sense to send Lucy back to the mansion right away. With the situation turning out in such a way, I figured it would be best to take care of the artifact right away.

Also, as I wanted to see how much Lucy had been able to recover while staying at the mansion, I figured it would be a good idea to watch over her for the time being at Acken Island.

“I know how busy you are with your job as a professor. I can’t help but be worried that it’s too much for you to watch over Lady Lucy as well.” said the maid Bell Maya had sent my way plainly and politely as she bowed.

I told her it wasn’t something they needed to worry about, but I could tell from her worried eyes that for them, Lucy Mayreel was a person that was much too difficult for a single person to keep under control. It couldn’t be helped that they thought like that. However, from my point of view, even though it was a bit unfair to them, it wasn’t that bad.

When I sat at my desk, Lucy would come over and sit on my lap or lie on a nearby sofa. She would always spend her time reading through books or staring blankly at the crackling campfire.

Whenever she got lonely, she would press her fingers to her temples and organize her thoughts. When I saw Lucy crouching like that in front of the fire, I would go over and keep her company or hug her. Most of the time, Lucy didn’t care that much, as she crawled up close to me and leaned on my body, but… At other times, she suddenly acted embarrassed and pushed me away.

There was no consistency in the way she acted or treated me, but, either way, Lucy didn’t get in my way. Most of the time, she actually helped me. For that, I was extremely grateful to her.

Lucy didn’t seem to realize that herself. I looked over at her and she had a bright expression on her face.

Regardless, it was fair for the maids to be worried that I might be overdoing it. With rumors spreading across campus that the legendary magician Lucy Mayreel had been spotted there… the two of us continued to spend our time together at Silvenia Academy.

It was more relaxed than I had originally thought, but there was nothing wrong with passing the time without any trouble.

And like that, half of the semester passed by.

“The Imperial Household’s inspection team is scheduled to visit sometime next week,” said the Dean of the Magic Department, Professor McDowell, at the school meeting.

The academic conference hall, which was full of senior professors, had quite a solemn mood. That was because the agenda that was brought up by the head dean was rather important.

“As you know, this is an inspection that only happens once every few years. That’s why, if we don’t do a good job in taking care of it now, it will become troublesome later on.”

McDowell was taking over Headmaster Obel’s duties for the time being, as he was still unable to move property. If the school’s evaluation was lackluster, things would become difficult for Silvenia Academy.

After all, the school was nothing but an institution that was under the Imperial Household. If the evaluation was subpar, funds might be dropped and that sense of trust between the two, as well as the school’s image, would drop tremendously.

“In regards to this, I would like Professor Ed Rothstaylor to personally guide the inspection team when they come to visit…”

The head dean was in charge of dividing duties among the professors. Nevertheless, I raised my hand as I argued against it.

“As this is related to the Imperial Household, I understand why you would believe that it would be more beneficial for me to personally guide them. However…”

I silently glanced at the list of inspectors coming to visit. In particular, the head of the team.

72nd Session – Complete List of the Inspection Team

Head of the Inspection Team- Selah Einer Kroel

The inspection of various institutions was a crucial task for the Imperial Household. In order to check whether an institution was up to standard, it was necessary to have talented individuals personally visit the site to write the reports. After all, those reports needed to be entirely accurate, without being inappropriately influenced. It would be easy for the emperor to do it themselves, but that wasn’t always possible.

That was why the position of head of the inspection team was usually given to a member of the royal family. Before, the first princess Selah Einer Kroel quickly volunteered to take on such tasks. That was because of the fierce competition over the throne.

However, after she had given up the throne, wasn’t she quietly spending her time managing the western and northwestern parts of the Empire instead?

I didn’t know what kind of change of heart she had after giving up on the throne, but… I never imagined that she would continue doing such demanding and physical tasks.

“…To put it bluntly, I don’t have a very good relationship with Her Highness Princess Selah.”

“…But I think it would still be better for you to do it, as you’re more familiar with the members of the Imperial Household…”

“If that is what you think, then I will take care of it. However, I can’t guarantee that things will work out in our favor.”

Because I was being protected by the next empress, Penia Elias Kroel, occasionally I was given such burdens. Whenever there were issues that involved the Imperial Household, they were all quick to point my way to have me take care of them.

However, no matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t think Selah would suddenly treat me warmly just because her sister Penia was on my side.

She occasionally came to the Rothstaylor Mansion, but every time she did, she would always complain. She would stomp her feet on the ground and say that she could never forgive the fact that—despite being protected by the Imperial Household—we lived in such a small house.

“But…um…even at our meetings… Does she need to be here…?” McDowell whispered carefully, afraid to step on a landmine.

I knew exactly what he was trying to say and why he acted like that. Despite the serious mood in the meeting, there was a stranger sitting down right next to me.

It went without saying, but it was Lucy Mayreel.

Lucy sat on my lap with her back towards the table, swinging her feet in the air as if she were bored.

“…I understand your concerns, but… I figured it would be better to carry her around with me rather than having her cause a scene on campus.”

“Student Lucy… No, you’re not a student anymore. If you don’t have anywhere to stay, the school can provide a dormitory for you to—”

“I’m comfortable right here,” Lucy suddenly cut him off.

She pushed her head into my chest as she closed her eyes, holding onto her witch hat tightly. That meant she was getting ready to sleep again.

“I understand why it would cause issues, but… it would be easier if you just think of her as a part of my body.”

There was silence.

“I know how ridiculous I sound, but that is all I can ask…”

“Well, alright… You have contributed greatly to the school, so this is something we can overlook.” McDowell had an awkward smile on his face as he cleared his voice before continuing. “Anyway, once this inspection is over, there won’t be much else to do until the break. So, let’s just make sure to do a good job with the inspection this time.”

All of the professors who sat together agreed in unison. Everyone seemed to be motivated.

* * *

“Well… I figured I’d see you again for the first time in a while…but I never expected to see this.”

The month quickly passed by, and it was finally the day the Imperial Household’s inspectors came to visit Silvenia.

There were many things to prepare, as a member of the royal family was personally visiting the school. It would be too much to explain every single thing that needed to be taken care of.

Selah, who led a large inspection team, gave a brief speech at the student center. She then immediately came over to Trix Hall’s lobby, where I was waiting.

She was a member of the imperial family who inherited the blood of the emperor. Not only did she have a large inspection team with her, but also a large escort team as well.

After being completely pushed out of the race for the throne, Selah was rumored to have become much crueler. Just like before, she continued to look down on the subordinates and aides who followed her. However, there were still quite a large number of people who fully followed her footsteps.

Still, one’s nature could never change easily.

She was still as arrogant and short-tempered as ever. Even her bluish hair looked as cold as her heart.

However, the reason for her anger was understandable. It was because of Lucy Mayreel, who had clung to me to the extent she felt like a part of my body. Seeing Lucy clinging to my body… At that point, even the people within the school were used to it.

Princess Selah, whom I was seeing for the first time in a while, let out a heavy sigh with her hands on her waist. She looked down at Lucy, who was still stuck to me.

“Are you the one who is going to guide me around the school? I already know what the others in the school must have thought… Since you have a good reputation with the Imperial Household, they want to take advantage of you to easily pass the inspection.”

“Rather than that, it’s because I am the most familiar with treating members of the Imperial Household respectfully. We can’t have just anyone greet someone as noble as you, Princess Selah.”

“What a sly tongue. Do you think I’m going to go easy on the evaluation just because it’s you?”

“…I never thought such a thing.”

“Ha! Even though you say that, I can see in your eyes that—”

“…Achoo!”

At that moment, a cute sneeze could be heard throughout the lobby of Trix Hall. A sneeze that interrupted a member of the royal family from talking. However, the person who had just sneezed simply stared at Selah casually, her eyes blank as she held onto my sleeve.

Princess Selah was someone who had seen Lucy many times before. Of course, Lucy couldn’t draw on her full strength at the moment, but the fear imprinted in Selah’s memory wasn’t something that would easily disappear.

She could still easily remember the Lucy who caused chaos inside the Kroel Imperial Household all on her own.

Selah frowned for a moment before she asked in a low tone, “Why did Penia become so obsessed with a man like you?”

I remained quiet.

“I tell you this bluntly, but I hate you. You are no fun, you are not flattering, and you always do whatever you want without caring about others.”

“If I have made a mistake, I will quickly correct it.”

“See! Just like that! You don’t care about me and always show me that pitiful expression.”

No matter what I did, she was irritated. At that point, there was nothing I could do to calm her down. All I could do was wait for Selah to relieve her stress and anger on her own.

“And why are you always so busy, to the point that we can’t ever meet each other casually? Why are you always running around as if you’re the busiest person in the world? One would think you are a construction worker, not a professor of magic. Working so much doesn’t mean you’re any more impressive… Maybe you should go and get yourself examined to see if you’re delusional. Also, the last time I visited your mansion…”

Selah, who had been yelling at me for quite some time, suddenly stopped as she let out a sigh. It seemed she realized how unsightly she was acting.

“…Yeah, what’s the point of saying any of this? That’s just the type of man you are.”

“I apologize.”

“…I’ll tell you this now. Don’t think for one second that the fact you are guiding me will have a positive effect on the inspection evaluation. Not even a little.”

“…I never once thought that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“…Really? Not even once…?”

At that point, it was hard to tell what the hell she wanted.

“I’m well aware that you are someone who clearly separates public from private.”

“You know me well. However, if you say that, doesn’t it imply that I have private feelings towards you?”

“…I didn’t mean that.”

“J-just watch what you say so that you avoid misleading anyone. Language is something that can easily be misunderstood with just one word.”

“Yes… I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was becoming harder to say anything else in response aside from agreeing with whatever she said. As if Princess Selah caught on to how I felt, she quickly turned her back towards me.

“L-like I thought. There’s not one part of you that I like.”

Selah shook her head as she calmed her breathing. She then turned back towards me as she spoke. It was weird to see her try and speak, all while trying to force the corners of her mouth down.

“And when the inspection is over, come to my carriage. I need to see you in private.”

“…Your carriage?”

“Yes, come alone. Not with anyone else. It’s an Imperial Order.”

When I pushed for a moment, thinking about how I should respond, Selah had a dumbfounded expression on her face. She acted as if she belatedly realized she was causing a misunderstanding. In shock, she fanned her face with her fan.

“I-I didn’t mean anything special by that! S-so why are you staying strangely quiet?! Aren’t you making me look strange by suddenly not saying anything?!”

“I was just thinking for a moment. May I ask…what the reason is…?”

“I-I’m telling you this to avoid any misunderstanding… There’s someone you need to meet. As they earnestly asked me to meet with you, I am having them wait in my carriage. It will be worth your time.”

Someone that the princess herself brought in her carriage? Not just anyone, but the arrogant Princess Selah?

I didn’t know who it was, but it was clear that they must be an extraordinary person. All sorts of people came to mind, but it was hard to exactly guess who it was.

However, Princess Selah didn’t wait long before immediately saying the name of that person.

“Amputator Zellan.”

When I heard that name, I frowned.

“I heard you’re the one who wanted to meet with her. Well, it seems she wanted to meet with you, too.”

I opened my eyes wide. Seeing that, Princess Selah put her hands on her waist, puffed out her chest, and had a satisfied smile on her face.

“It seems you now owe me. Huhuhu.”

As if she were in an ecstatic mood, Selah was unable to wipe that smile from her face for quite some time.

She really was an exhausting person to deal with in many ways.