The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 49 – Part 2.
The daily life at the academy once again gave me the sensation that time was flowing leisurely.
A daily routine that repeats day after day.
Well, I’m the only one who feels that way. Others didn’t.
Eo was busy working under Bisketa, and Rutger and Anton were faithfully carrying out their assigned tasks. Gaspar was also surprisingly enthusiastic about security work, wiping out the hooligans of Rainpol one after another.
‘The atmosphere of the academy has changed too.’
As this year marks the end of the middle academy course, things were up in the air in many ways.
Those who gave up on advancing to the high academy started to play properly, while those aiming for advancement began to study with their heads down, dividing into two factions.
‘There’s not much time left to relax.’
Once I enter the high academy, the game’s story will officially begin. So I decided to enjoy this leisurely time as much as possible.
“Um… Elaine?”
As I was absentmindedly looking out the window, a girl cautiously approached me.
“If it’s okay, would you mind teaching me how to study?”
“Uh…”
Recently, such requests have become particularly frequent. It’s partly because my grades are top in the academy, and partly because I’ve been keeping my distance from Estelle lately.
Speaking of Estelle, she was smiling while chatting with Beryl and other girls. As her former close friend, it was a heartwarming sight to see.
“Ah!”
She noticed me talking with the girl and changed her expression, trying to approach.
“Shall we move somewhere else for now?”
“Yes!”
I quickly led the girl out of the classroom. Estelle stopped in surprise and looked at my back with pitiful eyes.
‘It hurts, but… This is the right thing to do.’
I have to separate from Estelle anyway. I’ll be going to Calliper High Academy, and she needs to go to Crossing High Academy.
It was desirable to lower her dependence on me.
As I was spending time studying like that, my master, who had left for the Northeast, returned after two months.
Having nothing particularly to do, I went out with Eo to greet master, but I couldn’t help but pause for a moment.
“Master! What’s that wound?”
Master Ilya had many scars from her rough mercenary work from the beginning, but this time it was worse. Especially the large scar crossing her face was enough to make the viewer feel fear.
Nevertheless, master laughs heartily.
“Hahaha! I went on a training trip with Master Guderian after a long time. Well, most of the training was eliminating bandits. I got this scar then. Even for me, it’s hard to face 30 bandits at once.”
“Let’s go to the priest right away.”
Just like Estelle had her facial scar removed, if done well, scars could be erased.
But master seemed not to understand.
“Why bother? It’s just another mark of experience.”
To this, Eo says, “Anyway, all mercenaries think about is… Don’t you realize you might damage Lord Ars’s reputation by going around looking like that!”
Master didn’t seem to mind Eo’s criticism.
“No need to worry. These scars are like medals of honor. Well, it’s not like I’m not frustrated at all.”
“Frustrated?”
“With this appearance, I don’t think any man will take me away.”
Master, covered in scars all over her body, and now with a hideous wound on her face.
From the beginning, she was often mistaken for a man due to her build and appearance.
In that situation, with more scars added, people who saw master for the first time would freeze as if they’d seen a ghost, regardless of age or gender.
“Even before, there weren’t any men who showed interest in me… But now they completely faint.”
“Those people just don’t have eyes to see. Master, you are a respectable and beautiful woman.”
“Heh, then if no one suitable appears, Ars, would you take me?”
“It would be my honor.”
“Hahaha! Alright. I’ll be in your care then.”
Of course, it was exchanged as a joke, but at this moment, Eo hurriedly intervened.
“Ah, Lord Ars! Me, me too… Please take care of me too!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll take you too, Eo, so don’t worry.”
“Ah…! Thank you!”
This one seems to have a somewhat different nuance…?
As I was thinking that, Anton, who had been looking for me for some business, approached.
“My lord, I’m planning to go to Crosshorn to handle the matter regarding the academy’s establishment. Please forgive my discourtesy for not being able to stay by your side.”
“There’s no need to be so formal. By the way, if you’re going to Crosshorn… Why don’t you go together with master? Didn’t you say you needed to stop by the Mercenary Association in the capital?”
Master nodded.
“I’d be glad if I could catch a ride in a carriage. Would that be alright?”
“…”
Anton was staring intently at master.
Master, thinking he was shocked by her hideous appearance, smiled self-deprecatingly.
Anton is a handsome youth, in a different sense from me. While my face gave a delicate impression, Anton was truly manly and handsome.
Seeing him standing next to Eo, they looked like a perfect couple. I secretly thought they would make a good pair, being the same age, but…
Eo seemed to feel a sense of rivalry towards Anton and was busy growling. Anton also kept criticizing Eo, disliking her sycophantic tendencies.
Well, as they say, fighting can lead to affection, so who knows when they might suddenly start kissing.
“…I apologize for my rudeness. Of course, I can provide a carriage for you. Lady Anfei. Please let me know when you’re ready to depart.”
“Yes, then I’ll prepare my belongings.”
Master Ilya, who headed to Crossing with Anton after packing her things. It was a few weeks later when I saw her again.
***
Our family, having officially received the transfer of Rainpol, was busily reorganizing the territory.
Brother Max was running here and there, even meeting each resident of the territory personally, but as he had not inherited the title long ago, his lack of experience was showing.
In response, Father called all the siblings to help with the management of the territory.
Sister Julia and Brother Ferge, who were in the military, were no exception.
The two made great contributions to the territory’s management, fully utilizing their experience from working in the military. In this way, the residents of Rainpol were gradually accepting the Elaine family.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come to the mansion…”
The mansion I remembered was the Ribel mansion, so I didn’t feel any nostalgia.
Returning to the Elaine mansion, I had to receive the twin youngest siblings who were walking precariously from the entrance.
The two, who had just started walking, clung to my legs while drooling.
Mother, who was watching, smiled contentedly.
“Hold them once. Ars, you don’t come to the mansion often. I’m worried the kids might not remember you.”
“Haha… Yes, I’ll show my face more often. Oops! Chelsea, Elsie. I’m your fourth older brother.”
However, they seemed uncomfortable in my arms and soon burst into tears.
I quickly handed them over to Yumir. Yumir soothed them with professional hands.
“Oh my, their cries are loud. Yumir, you take care of the kids. I’ll go to my room and come back.”
Although I had moved all the necessary belongings when I bought my own mansion, some books were still here. I had business with those books today.
As I tried to unlock the door to my room, I found it was already open.
“Oh? Brother Ferge?”
Brother Ferge was in my room, deeply engrossed in reading, with books piled up.
Looking at the cover of the book, I saw it was the military strategy books I had transcribed.
“Hm? Oh, are you here to tidy up the room?”
“Yes. I came to take some books.”
A few days ago, when he said he wanted to read the books in my room and I agreed, it seems Brother Ferge has been practically living in my room.
“I thought I should improve my skills to support you in the future. By the way… I’m sorry. It looks like I’ve made quite a mess. The bookshelf has become disorganized.”
“It’s okay. It’s not that much anyway.”
“No, I’ll arrange those books for you. You just rest comfortably.”
Brother Ferge could be stubborn at times like this.
So, having nothing to do, I decided to space out in the mansion’s garden.
“Move quickly!”
“Where should I put this!?”
People were bustling in and out of the mansion. Brother Max was directing them while sweating profusely.
Among the crowd was my master, who had returned from Crossing. It seems she had brought laborers hired by Brother Max.
“Ah, Master. You’re back?”
“…!”
When I waved and called out, my master, who seemed to have been looking for me from the start, came running. Then she speaks with an urgent voice.
“Ars. I have something I want to consult about.”
“…?”
Unlike usual, she seemed quite flustered.
“Is it something serious?”
“It is serious. Very much so! Let’s move somewhere else first. I want to talk, just the two of us. Let’s go to your room.”
“Brother Ferge is in my room right now. Can’t we talk here?”
“No! Then, let’s go to the wine cellar. There shouldn’t be anyone there.”
After moving to the mansion’s cellar, my master swallows hard and says, “Ars, you seem to know a lot about relationships between men and women, so I’m asking you…”
“I don’t really know that much.”
It’s just that things get complicated because of my appearance, even though I don’t want it.
“W-Well, anyway…!”
“What’s the matter?”
My master cautiously begins to speak. The content was something I hadn’t expected.
“Anton!?”
“Yes. He asked me out. Saying he’s developed feelings for me…”
The two had first worked together in the previous Three Lions War.
At that time, because Eo was reluctant to mingle with the officers of Crossing, I had entrusted that part to my master, which meant she had to spend a lot of time with Anton, who was the head of those officers.
It wouldn’t be strange if feelings developed between a man and a woman during that time.
Moreover, when my master gave up the second place in military achievements to Eo during the recent public commendation, Anton had admired it and looked at my master with eyes of respect.
“It’s strange. There’s no way someone like me could be the object of affection. It must be some kind of prank. Or maybe a ploy by Crossing!”
“No. There’s no need to think so pessimistically. I told you before, didn’t I? Master, you are a beautiful person.”
“T-That was just…”
“At least I didn’t say it as a mere formality. This is a good opportunity. If you don’t dislike him, I really hope you’ll give dating a try.”
“Ugh…! Is it really okay?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“I… I’ve never done this kind of thing before.”
“Everyone has a first time.”
Maybe my master wasn’t entirely against it either, as her face turned red, and eventually, she nodded.
Whether my advice was effective or not, my master accepted Anton’s proposal to date.
After that, things moved quickly.
Whether they were compatible or destined for each other, I don’t know, but within two months, Anton proposed, and they got engaged.
‘Didn’t they say the quiet cat climbs onto the hearth first?‘[1]
Personally, among the trio of Eo, Yumir, and Master Ilya, I thought Eo would be the first to marry, but instead, my master was the fastest.
I thought there might be a change in Eo’s feelings after seeing my master’s engagement, but…
“Me and Lord Ars… Hehehe!”
For some reason, Eo has been looking happy lately.
Footnotes:
1] Watch out for the quiet ones.
TL NOTE:
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I did not see that coming.
Shame, as I like types like his master, but… Both of the other older potential heroines have non-human blood likely to at least delay aging to the protagonist’s level. It’s possible there’s a trope that the old royal family had a trace of dragon blood or something too, though, which could mess things up again.
I find the sycophant boring, but the events of the game suggest she has the potential to mature, and she’ll be spending the coming arc alongside someone like a mother to her. I’m hoping some life guidance will let her achieve a more balanced state. Kinda doubt it, once harem characters become obsessive, they usually become nothing more than cardboard cutouts. Like how a male anglerfish degrades into a mere appendage upon mating.