Chapter 48: A Tug-of-War for Sion

“…Then, that concludes today’s lesson-daram!”

““Thank you for the lesson!””

Professor Heriju’s class ended without any issues.

At first, Estroza had moved like a broken wooden puppet, stiff and lifeless.

But after a few minutes, she gradually regained her composure.

“Lady Estroza, are you alright?”

“…I’d like to rest for a bit.”

“L-Let’s get you out of here first!”

The moment class ended, Estroza staggered.

Even with her followers’ concerned voices surrounding her, her expression remained cold and stiff.

It was as if the unbreakable mask she had worn for so long had shattered into pieces.

“Could you help me? I can barely walk…”

“Y-Yes, of course!”

Her ever-loyal followers rushed to support her.

Together, they guided her out of the colosseum.

‘…Did she just make eye contact with me? No, probably not.’

Just before Estroza stepped out, Sion felt as if he had locked eyes with her pale irises.

…Must be my imagination.

“Hey! You crazy bastard!”

“Argh!”

Smack!

As soon as the lesson ended, Patrick smacked Sion hard on the shoulder.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?”

“You’re seriously asking me that? Dude… you’re terrifying.”

“What?”

“I never imagined you’d clap back at her like that! Ugh… I got chills.”

“…?”

Patrick looked at Sion in disbelief.

‘What’s up with him?’

To Sion, this reaction made no sense.

What had he done wrong?

“…Alright, let me explain this step by step. Your conversation with Estroza, translated by yours truly.”

Patrick, an expert at deciphering noble speech patterns, began his interpretation.

“I fear that the kingdom Sion has built will come crumbling down.”

-> She was saying she knew you spread a false rumor.

“I understand. It’s natural to seek the protection of a strong figure. But… don’t you think this is crossing the line?”

-> You made up the lie that you’re Professor Heriju’s disciple. No matter how much she favors you, this is too much.

Hearing that, Sion felt a headache coming on.

“…So Estroza was completely convinced that I made up the rumor?”

“Yeah. I mean, think about it—does it make any sense for a first-year Magic Faculty student to become a personal disciple after just two weeks?”

“…Okay, fair point.”

“That’s why she set you up. You get it now?”

At last, the puzzle pieces in Sion’s mind clicked into place.

“She deliberately spoke loudly in front of everyone…”

“To publicly humiliate you. As many witnesses as possible.”

“Then what about her whole ‘I’m looking out for you’ act?”

“That was complete bullshit.”

“…I see.”

Sion’s head throbbed.

Even for a noble, wasn’t this going too far?

If he hadn’t actually been Heriju’s disciple, he would’ve been branded a liar for life.

“What did I even do wrong?”

“You really don’t know? It’s obviously because of the duel.”

“…Oh.”

Sion pressed his lips together.

I did humiliate her first, didn’t I?

He remembered it vividly.

The sparring session in Professor Mehrdun’s class.

Sion had faced Estroza in a duel…

And within seconds of the match starting, he had completely overwhelmed her.

She had lost her fighting spirit and was sent flying out of the arena, covered in dirt.

The image of her glaring at him, dirt smeared across her face, was still fresh in his mind.

And…

“I won’t forget this.”

That passing whisper.

A voice lower and colder than usual.

…So today was the return of that grudge, like a boomerang.

Though, in the end, the one who got hit wasn’t Sion, but Estroza herself.

“Anyway, you should be careful. She seems like the type to hold grudges for a long time.”

“Hmm? What are you two talking about?”

“…Wah?!?”

Patrick yelped and immediately hid behind Sion.

The one who had suddenly appeared—without making a sound—was a girl rubbing her sleepy eyes.

It was Serene Camillea, the top-ranked first-year in the Magic Faculty.

“Serene, hey.”

“Hey, Sion. Anyway, I came because I needed something.”

“What is it?”

“Wanna go to the magic tool shop with me?”

“…Magic tool shop?”

Sion had heard about it in passing before.

A store that sold magical items—

Magic scrolls, staffs, robes, hats, and various other enchanted equipment.

“Yeah. I was thinking of buying a staff, and I figured, why not ask you? Are you busy?”

Serene looked up at him, her large eyes slightly narrowed.

Patrick, watching from the side, looked between Sion and Serene with a stunned expression.

…What’s with that face?

‘Actually, I was curious about magic tool shops too. Perfect timing.’

He had no real plans after class, aside from some magic training.

And he was genuinely curious about the store’s layout and inventory.

Just as he was about to accept her offer—

“Then let’s head to the magic tool sto—”

“Ah! Sion! I found you-daram!”

A lively, bouncing figure suddenly landed right in front of him.

It was none other than Professor Heriju, fresh from their earlier lesson.

Without hesitation, she grabbed Sion’s right hand and began dragging him away.

…Where the hell is she taking me?

“P-Professor?”

“I still need to finish explaining the sword-daram! Too many people are watching here, so we’ll go to my office instead-daram!”

“Huh? Oh… I mean, that’s fine, but…”

“…Hm?”

Pull.

Sion suddenly stopped in his tracks.

It wasn’t because of Heriju.

Someone else was holding onto his left hand.

“…Sion, you promised me first.”

Serene Camillea firmly clutched his left hand with both of hers.

Heriju, gripping his right hand, didn’t let go either.

And in between the two of them—

‘My arms… are about to be ripped off.’

Creak!

It felt like a punishment from the Joseon era, with both arms being pulled in opposite directions.

What kind of ridiculous situation was this?

His arms ached, and his head spun.

Yet, the silent battle between the two pulling him showed no signs of stopping.

“Sorry, but I’ll be taking Sion with me-daram. I have something to discuss with my disciple-daram.”

“…I already made plans with him first.”

“I promised to explain the sword before class-daram.”

“That was… a one-sided promise.”

“Daram?”

Crackle!

Their gazes clashed midair like lightning.

The eyes of the students who had yet to leave the training hall burned into them.

Sion wished this would end soon.

And then—

“Why don’t we just ask Sion what he wants-daram?”

“…Huh?”

After a suffocating battle of nerves, the responsibility was suddenly thrown onto Sion.

…You want me to choose?

How the hell am I supposed to decide…?

Just as he was caught in a dilemma—

Slip!

Serene suddenly reached into Sion’s pocket and pulled out his student ID.

“…Look at this.”

“What am I supposed to—Daram?!”

Twitch!

Heriju’s tail shot straight up.

What Serene revealed was the back of the student ID.

…There, stuck to it, was a photo of Serene and Sion holding hands, looking quite close.

“W-What is that-daram?”

“I… I have this kind of relationship with Sion. So… please let go.”

“S-Serene…?”

What did she mean by that kind of relationship…?

Before Sion could even ask—

His right arm was suddenly freed.

It was Heriju who let go.

“…Sorry-daram. I’ll explain the sword another time-daram.”

“Professor?”

“I-I’ll be going now-daram!”

Before he could stop her, Heriju bolted from the training hall.

With the speed of a startled squirrel, she was gone before Sion could even think to catch her.

That left only…

“Alright, let’s go, Sion.”

“Huh? Uh…”

“The professor left, so now we’re following the plan.”

Grip.

Serene firmly took hold of Sion’s hand.

She had the victorious look of someone who had won a duel.

…Though, with her half-closed eyes, it was possible Sion was just imagining it.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh… okay.”

Step, step.

Serene led him forward, hand in hand.

No one spoke a word in the heavy silence that followed.

Sion simply followed her.

And at that moment, he noticed something.

‘Her earlobes…’

Her sleepy expression remained unchanged.

But between strands of hair swaying as she walked—

Her earlobes were bright red, as if they were about to burst.

They walked in silence for a few minutes after leaving the training hall.

By the time they reached the academy shopping district, the redness in her ears had faded.

Then, Serene suddenly stopped.

“…Sorry. About what I said earlier.”

“Hm?”

“…I don’t know why I said that. But… if it made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

She bowed her head toward Sion.

‘Was she feeling guilty about what happened earlier?’

Unlike usual, she had spoken a lot.

She had even gone head-to-head with Heriju.

And in the end, she had used the student ID photo.

It was a series of actions unlike her.

Still, there was one thing Sion could say for certain.

“It’s fine. It happens.”

“…It happens?”

Serene looked up at him.

Her expression was blank, as if she didn’t understand.

Sion scratched the back of his head.

“Honestly, I don’t really know what happened, but…”

“…”

“…Friends help each other when they’re in trouble, right? You were just trying to help me, weren’t you?”

“…!”

“That’s why you showed this picture, right?”

Rustle.

Sion pulled his student ID from his pocket and showed her the back.

The photo of them holding hands.

To him, it was simply proof of friendship.

“…We’re friends, right?”

“…Yes. For now, we’re friends.”

“…For now?”

“…You don’t need to know.”

“…O-Okay?”

Sion scratched his head again.

Even now, Serene’s expression hardly changed.

It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Still, there was one thing he was sure of.

‘She’s not a bad person.’

Sion knew about her past.

She had grown up in suffering, unloved even by her own family.

Because she had never received love, she had trouble trusting others.

And yet, despite everything, she had not turned bitter.

She simply closed her heart and kept moving forward.

For that alone, Sion was grateful.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Creak.

They had arrived at the magic tool shop.

Sion and Serene reached for the door handle at the same time and stepped inside.

“…Wow.”

The scent of old books filled the air.

Towering shelves lined with countless tomes.

Walls covered in magical scrolls.

And countless staffs, neatly arranged on display.

The entire place looked like something out of a fantasy novel.

Sion was left speechless by the sight.

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