Chapter 31

By the stream inside the mountains where the dark blue night sky had descended.

Lloyd spotted Mikhail crouching in front of the stream and deliberately cleared his throat as he approached.

"Hi, Mikhail."

At the greeting, Mikhail stopped rinsing dishes.

He moved his head to look at Lloyd and gave a light nod.

Lloyd looked at Mikhail's fingertips that had turned red and smiled slightly.

"Oh my, you're supposed to be a noble family's young master, so why are you taking on all these menial tasks? Aren't your hands cold?"

"I lost a bet."

Splash.

Mikhail answered indifferently and dunked another bowl into the water.

Another cleanly washed bowl was added to the mountain of dishes.

Lloyd casually approached and asked.

"A bet? Why bother with that?"

"Why bother?"

"I mean the escorts attached to the wagon. They'd start groveling as soon as you mention your family... You haven't told them yet?"

...Mm.

Mikhail only made that sound and didn't add anything more.

He just rinsed a few more dishes, then picked up the neatly stacked dishes and stood up.

Clatter.

The stacked dishes swayed precariously.

Lloyd strode up beside Mikhail, took about half the dishes, and continued the previous topic with a chuckle.

"Ah, does it not look good to say it yourself? Should I drop a hint? It'll create quite an interesting situation..."

"Lloyd."

Mikhail, who'd been moving silently, cut him off.

At the voice that was slightly firmer than usual, Lloyd flinched and stopped walking, then turned his head.

His shifted gaze met Mikhail's face looking at him.

"Don't."

"......"

"That's not the way we want, is it?"

Lloyd let out a fractured breath.

His fingertips gripping the dishes trembled faintly.

"......"

Lloyd slowly lowered his gaze from Mikhail.

He felt a little twisted inside. Just a little.

But he couldn't show it... no, he shouldn't show it.

"...Ah, right."

Lloyd moved his eyes forward again and raised the corners of his mouth.

Then, acting as if it was no big deal, he shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

"Things with predictable reactions aren't fun, right? You're right."

Lloyd drew his usual smile on his lips and walked again.

Then Mikhail also matched his stride.

"......"

After that, there were no words exchanged between them. The two simply returned to the campsite with their mouths shut.

---

Sizzle.

Ethan lifted his foot and ground out the faintly remaining embers.

As he brushed off his toes and turned, what entered his vision was the spot where Mikhail had stayed until just a few dozen minutes ago.

Ethan stared at the lone remaining tree stump and recalled the previous scene.

"......"

Mikhail's profile as he watched the bonfire had been stubborn.

He'd just been absorbed in his own thoughts without even glancing at the laborers who'd approached.

'To think he'd stay silent until the end like that.'

Ethan chewed his lip with a displeased expression.

If he'd said even one word, Ethan had planned to pick up the topic, soften the atmosphere, then suddenly throw out information related to Maxwell to catch even a small waver...

But Mikhail showed no sign of opening his mouth at all.

"Tsk."

Ethan crumpled his face and ran his hand through his hair.

"......"

However, the annoyance that had spread across his face soon disappeared.

After all, wasn't Mikhail inherently eccentric and completely lacking any social skills?

It wasn't strange if he acted like a brick wall.

'But still... It's troublesome if things stay stuck like this.'

Ethan whipped around toward the wagon standing behind.

He approached the passenger compartment entrance, jumped up, and rummaged through his luggage to pull out two items.

A wooden sword and training gloves.

"......"

Ethan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the items he'd taken out.

No matter what, he was the desperate one.

Especially considering that he wasn't in a position to take it easy when thinking about future academic activities.

So he couldn't leisurely wait for Mikhail to give the reaction he wanted. He had to move directly.

'Even if it's a method I don't like, I do have a plan to draw out Mikhail's magic...'

Ethan closed his eyelids firmly and gripped the wooden sword tight.

A steadying breath flowed between his slightly parted lips.

---

It was on the path where wagons stood lined up.

Clatter.

Mikhail finished organizing the dishes and approached a nearby tree stump to sit down.

【Quest: [Sub] Make an Unexpected Connection Complete】

• Completion Reward: Shop Currency +1

He glanced at the system message that appeared before his eyes, then tilted his head back to look up at the sky.

A peaceful night sky embracing the sounds of crickets.

'The remaining schedule should be free sparring then sleep, right?'

Mikhail was enjoying the tranquil scenery when footsteps from the right gradually approached.

When Mikhail turned his head to the right, his gaze met Ethan's as he approached.

"Mikhail, catch."

Mikhail snatched the item Ethan tossed over.

Thud.

[Magic Tool: Mana Nullification Gloves (Low Grade)]

[Items prepared on campus for the safe training of magic department students. Reduces the destructive power of magic used. Sometimes specially lent during the academic term.]

"What's this?"

Mikhail raised his eyes and asked Ethan. Ethan replied with a composed appearance.

"Training equipment."

"I know that, but why are you giving it to me?"

Ethan glanced around and shrugged.

"We've eaten. Let's move our bodies lightly."

Mikhail looked around without replying.

He saw several students exchanging moves like exercises.

'Hmm...'

Mikhail glanced at Ethan, looked around at the surrounding bushes, and finally looked at the training magic tool he'd received.

...It's a situation where he's proposing training first.

Though it was something he'd never do normally, there must be a reason he was taking the lead.

'Considering the circumstances so far, there's only one intention I can guess...'

Since he still hadn't completely dropped his suspicion, he was trying to draw out behavior that could be a clue from Mikhail himself.

Mikhail considered several possibilities, blinked slowly, and stood up.

He put on the magic tool he'd received and said to Ethan.

"I'm a mage. I'm not confident in defense."

"I know. You just attack. I'll only deflect."

...Like hell you will.

Mikhail narrowed his eyes thinly.

His slowly moving gaze reached Ethan's fingertips. They were pale from gripping the sword hilt hard.

'Would someone who says he'll only defend be this resolute?'

It was the moment Mikhail let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

【Quest: [Sub] Proceed with Free Sparring】

• Quest Reward: Shop Currency +1

As soon as the system message appeared in his vision, Ethan standing in front adjusted his wooden sword and spoke.

"Let's go somewhere quiet. Other people might get caught up if we stay here."

Mikhail looked at the laborers gathered around and nodded.

Rustle.

About ten minutes passed following behind Ethan.

Soon the two reached a clearing inside the bushes.

Ethan opened up a distance of about fifteen steps, then turned toward Mikhail and raised his wooden sword.

"Mikhail, begin."

Mikhail gathered mana above his hand. Light flashed and a dark blue mana sphere about the size of a baseball formed.

Mikhail glanced at Ethan, then launched the sphere formed at his fingertips.

Bang!

Ethan's wooden sword struck away the flying sphere.

Under the dark blue fragments bursting and scattering like dandelion seeds, Mikhail gathered mana again.

Bang! Bang!

Clear sounds of cutting through air echoed repeatedly in the air.

Though they were simply exchanging offense and defense, it was training frequently used when coordinating for the first time since they could observe each other's physical conditions and combat patterns.

...But right now, more than that purpose.

'He probably has something else in mind.'

Mikhail gathered mana again while staring at Ethan.

Ethan was preparing to deflect the mana sphere while maintaining the same calm face as before.

But it was only for a moment. One of Ethan's feet shifted slightly backward and his shoulder rose and fell slightly.

...Proof he was preparing a sudden counterattack.

Fwish.

The moment Mikhail, who'd caught the clue, shot the mana sphere without delay, Ethan's sword thrust forward.

Bang!

The mana sphere shattered into pieces.

However, the sword tip that had shattered the dark blue surface didn't stop. It moved forward as if flying.

Screech.

Ethan and Mikhail's eyes collided in midair, and the blade rushed in aiming right at Mikhail's nose.

Whoosh!

【Quest: [Sub] Proceed with Free Sparring Complete】

• Completion Reward: Shop Currency +1

It was the moment a golden message appeared before his eyes.

Mikhail leaned his entire body backward as if he'd been waiting.

Thud!

All movement stopped. Awkward silence descended.

The stars pouring onto Mikhail's corneas twinkled and laughed.

'...To think he'd suddenly attack to draw out my magic. He must've been quite desperate? Even doing something unlike him.'

Mikhail, who'd been looking at the night sky and organizing his thoughts, soon spoke in a composed tone.

"Ah, I'm tired. Let's end here for today."

Chirp-chirp.

Crickets chirped in agreement while the strong scent of earth tickled his nose.

Ethan outside his vision let out an incredulous laugh.

"What are you doing right now?"

"Can't you see? I said I'm tired and can't do it."

"Ha."

Mikhail rolled his eyes at the footsteps approaching rapidly.

Ethan, who'd approached right beside him, started pressing with a flushed face and gritting his teeth.

"What... Hey. What's tiring! We haven't even done ten minutes!"

"Ten minutes or five minutes, I don't care. I said I'm tired."

"Does that make sense? As a Salvator student you have basic stamina! You were just standing in place casting magic!"

"Ah, you're so noisy. I said I don't feel like doing it no matter what."

At the blatant obstruction, Ethan pressed his forehead and staggered, then bit his lip hard and suddenly lit up his eyes.

He grabbed Mikhail's wrist and pulled as if trying to force him up.

Mikhail resisted as if he'd expected it.

"Don't want to. Won't do it."

"No, seriously, why are you...!"

Ethan seemed to be pressing for something, but the content didn't particularly register.

Mikhail kept his head tilted back and fluttered like paper.

Behind his wavering vision, his thoughts extended.

The quest is finished.

I have no intention of showing my trait as Ethan wants.

All that's left now is to make Ethan give up and leave this place...

"......"

Mikhail let out a groan and closed his eyes tightly. In truth, the solution wasn't particularly difficult.

Wasn't he infamous for being willful?

He just needed to shake him off and stand up.

"......"

But... why?

His mouth wouldn't open easily.

'But I can't just keep bickering pointlessly.'

Ethan needed to move according to the main storyline's flow without focusing on Mikhail himself anymore.

That would be the best path for everyone...

—!

It was after Ethan's pressing continued three or four more times.

Mikhail slowly lifted his eyelids. He let out an empty breath like a sneer and struck away Ethan's hand.

Smack.

At the firm movement, Ethan froze.

Mikhail looked at Ethan, frowned, and said in a sharply snapping voice.

"Knock it off. You're starting to annoy me."