Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 44

“I missed you so much!”

 

“We saw you on vacation.”

 

“Cordelia, not you.”

 

It was the first weekend back after a hectic week that Eileen, Cordelia, Lucian, and Felix were properly together.

 

Gathering in the café on campus early in the morning, they sat down to enjoy a long-overdue cup of tea.

 

“It’s really good! I wasn’t expecting much since it’s a school cafe.”

 

“That’s right, I ate here first and liked it, so I brought you here.”

 

Eileen smiled contentedly as she sipped her flavorful latte. Lucian, who was looking at her with pride, spoke up a little excitedly.

 

“There’s tons of good food just down the street. Let’s all go.”

 

Felix asked Eileen, who nodded in satisfaction.

 

“Anything hard?”

 

“Well, I was shocked that the classes were more intense than I expected.”

 

Having breezed through her regular education in her previous life, Eileen actually looked forward to the academy classes.

 

But education in this world, where students are expected to enter the political arena or fight for succession immediately after graduation, was not all it was cracked up to be.

 

“It’s a little too hectic compared to my tutoring days. Let me know if you need notes or anything. I’ve saved notes for classes like the common majors and liberal arts.”

 

“Felix!”

 

Eileen’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She turned to Cordelia, who was cutting the cake into slices.

 

“Cordelia, did you make many friends in the School of Swords and Sorcery?”

 

Though they passed each other in the dining hall every day, they tended to eat alone, so she hadn’t seen anyone who looked like a friend of hers.

 

“Friends, if you’re a swordsman, I suppose. I’m the youngest daughter of a family that specializes in swordsmanship, so I expected that.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“Plus, the training grounds are spacious, and we’ve already had our 17th duel…”

 

Eileen nodded as she looked at Cordelia, who was talking excitedly with a slightly heightened sense of urgency. It wasn’t the direction she’d expected, but she seemed to be getting along just fine.

 

“So, Eileen, what about you?”

 

“Me?”

 

Eileen thought back over the past week. The first thing that came to mind was her cat-like roommate, who seemed to have gotten to know her.

 

‘I guess I shouldn’t call it getting to know her…’

 

She hadn’t really talked to her much, although she’d brought snacks to the table with odd frequency, including lemon-flavored candy on her bed. Whenever she tries to strike up a conversation, Jessie’s mouth has clamped shut in an awkward frown.

 

In class, she was too busy observing Laquerta and keeping up with her progress to be motivated enough to say they were friends yet.

 

“What? Maybe I’m the one you’re worried about?”

 

Eileen gulped down the rest of her latte, feeling a sense of crisis.

 

“Uh, we’re getting closer!”

 

Cordelia whispered in a low voice as she pushed the bowl of cookies away.

 

“I’m still Eileen’s best friend, though, right?”

 

At that, Eileen remembered a time when Cordelia hadn’t been at the orphanage for long.

 

The face of the tiny child who had insisted on sleeping next to her was superimposed on her own, now grown up. Eileen’s voice was full of conviction, and she was happy to oblige.

 

“Of course, Cordelia.”

 

Cordelia’s shoulders slumped, satisfied with her answer. Lucian smirked at the sight and changed the subject.

 

“Well, how about we all go out on the town next weekend? I know a place with great pasta.”

 

“The crepes next door are good, too.”

 

“Sounds great!”

 

They talked about their plans for next weekend long after their tea cups were empty.

 

“Is something wrong with my eyes? I think Felix is smiling.”

 

“So is Lucian. I’ve never seen him smile so brightly.”

 

The eyes of the people in the café darted in and out of Felix and Lucian’s direction. No matter what was going on around them, it was still tea time for them.

 

 

***

 

 

“I can’t believe we still have class.”

 

“Well, we’re really done with history, Eileen.”

 

Cordelia patted Eileen’s shoulder quietly as she slumped over her desk, exhausted from the long lecture.

 

“We haven’t even gotten to Elementalism yet, and if we add that to next week, we’re going to die during finals.”

 

Elementalism had been delayed by a week at the professor’s insistence, and the already explosive pace of the other classes had Eileen panicking.

 

“Is this right? Adolescents, no, quasi-adults in this world, but still, aren’t young people entitled to too few rights?”

 

What was frustrating was that with all the talented students from all over the Empire, everyone seemed to be able to handle the schedule with ease.

 

‘I remember how terrible the Gosam exams were, and I feel like I’m going through it all over again.’

 

Eileen snorted through moisturized eyes as she opened the book, accepting the reality of the situation.

 

“I thought you said he was a reptilian.”

 

“Oh, I can’t sit next to him. I don’t like snakes.”

 

“Oh, come on, reptiles. Small animals have cute flavors.”

 

Eileen’s head snapped around at the sound of a commotion. Laquerta was walking into the classroom.

 

History was a general education class, so there were a lot more eyes on him since all the faculties were there. Vague prejudice against the reptilian Suyin became a giant arrowhead, pointed at him.

 

‘Laquerta…’

 

The first time she took a full liberal arts class, she was nervous about Cordelia and Laquerta seeing each other, worried that they would ignite a fire between them that she couldn’t contain.

 

But after a quick glance at Laquerta, Cordelia had only one comment.

 

“Those biceps and thighs. He’d be a good fighter with a greatsword.”

 

“Heh.”

 

That made Eileen’s anxiety melt away like cotton candy in water, but she was starting to feel bad for him for another reason.

 

No matter how much the Academy claimed to value equality, it was impossible to change the students’ perceptions of the Reptilian Waterman, who had spent most of his life in a position of superiority, overnight.

 

The piercing stares, insensitive remarks, and righteous sneers were directed at Laquerta’s back.

 

But despite looking as if he might fly into a rage at any moment, he remained steadfast. He hadn’t raised his voice since Gray, and he sat in the far corner of the room, listening as intently as anyone in the class.

 

‘His eyes are so simple.’

 

The sight of him, his huge body crumpled into a tiny ball, scribbling furiously in his textbooks and notebooks, haunted her. In all the futures she’d seen, he was always in a state of rage, cursing the heavens. But…

 

‘I thought he was going to be terrifying, but when I see him like that, he just looks like a kid my age.’

 

The moment she saw him as a normal student, her maternal instinct was triggered.

 

‘Maybe it’s because I’ve been an adult once, but it’s nice to see someone who doesn’t give up and works hard.’

 

She didn’t realize that she was projecting herself onto him, a girl who was working part-time jobs just to get by.

 

‘…look at your eyes.’

 

A student not far from where Laquerta was about to sit snapped his mouth shut. His pupils had split vertically again, as if in English.

 

The rumblings around him grew louder as he revealed the unfiltered glare of his feral eyes.

 

“Ah.”

 

Unable to hold it in any longer, Laquerta dabbed at the corners of his eyes and turned on his heel to leave the room. His steps were harsh and urgent, like he was leaving a toxic space.

 

Class began shortly after he left, but he did not return. Eileen’s heart sank.

 

“If he can’t take notes, he’ll have a hard time keeping up.”

 

The history professor was the kind of person who would go beyond the textbook and incorporate analysis of primary sources into the class. It was clear that he would miss out if he didn’t attend class.

 

‘There’s no one to show him notes!’

 

Eileen thought in anguish as she pictured the big man crouching down to take notes. As she’d always said, she didn’t want to be bothered.

 

But…

 

‘Fine, I’ll just sneak him the notes!’

 

Making a choice she might one day regret, Eileen balled her fists and picked up the pen. 

 

Unaware that Cordelia was watching her through clouded eyes as if she knew what to expect, Eileen began to scribble.

 

 

***

 

 

On one side of the first floor of the Academy’s lecture hall was a cabinet. It was used to store textbooks for students who couldn’t always make it up and down the six floors of dormitories.

 

“Star, is anyone there?”

 

“Chew?”

 

“Got it.”

 

Eileen, tearing up her hastily finished notes, scanned the hallway and crept over to Laquerta’s cabinet.

 

All she had to do was deliver the note safely and anonymously. Gently sliding the notes through the crack in the locked cabinet, she turned around and patted her chest.

 

“Wow, mission accomplished. Now I can finally stretch out and sleep.”

 

Picking up Star as it scuttled across the floor, she strode off down the hall with light steps.

 

“…ha.”

 

But what Eileen didn’t realize was that a true professional knows how to look out for her surroundings, not just when she’s doing her job, but when she’s done.

 

Laquerta walked up the hallway she’d disappeared down. He spotted Eileen shoving the papers in, and he approached at a brisk pace, yanking the cabinet door open with a force that threatened to shatter it.

 

“It’s a curse, I’m sure, or some sort of insult to the Suyin.”

 

He crumpled the paper without looking at it, then strode over to the trash can. Just as he was about to throw it in the trash, he stopped, reading the words he could see.

 

[By order of King Laurent III, each estate is to have a…]

 

“This?”

 

Laquerta carefully unfolded the crumpled paper. The white paper was filled with the details of the lesson. It was sloppy handwriting, as if she’d actually written down what she’d heard in class rather than just summarizing the main points.

 

“What’s this for?”

 

Remembering the brown-haired girl disappearing down the hall, Laquerta stared down at the note for a moment before tucking it into his school jacket and walking away.

 

“Bad writing.”

 

His brief comment echoed down the empty hallway.