Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 61

Four volunteered to be Eileen’s partner.

 

With a fed-up Eileen in the middle, they came to a clear conclusion.

 

“Whoever pleases Eileen the most by the end of the week before the festival will be her partner!”

 

“Great!”

 

Eileen stared at them in disbelief as they talked about the party, but finally shook her head.

 

“Whatever.”

 

But their wager was temporarily swept under the rug. For as the Empire’s premier academy, Verotanis’s preparations for the festivities were far from favorable.

 

“Hey! The potion rack isn’t level.”

 

“Daniel, third years, the entrance to the artifact display.”

 

“Did anyone see the barrier in here?”

 

With midterms over, the school grounds were bustling with activity in preparation for the festival. 

 

Students with tools and materials were constantly moving around, barriers were being erected, and stalls and displays were being set up everywhere.

 

“Surprisingly, it’s just students here.”

 

Eileen watched the scene with a box of rope in her arms, not wanting to be bothered by the commotion. It was strange to see the students, who seemed so worldly and aristocratic, moving with such enthusiasm and joy for this moment.

 

‘It’s a tight schedule, organizing a club exhibit for a Department of Magic event.’

 

In addition to the ball, the Academy’s summer festival included various experience booths and exhibitions organized by faculties and clubs. It was more than just a school festival, it also served as a performance presentation for the graduating seniors, so everyone was in high spirits.

 

“Eileen, what are you doing here?”

 

“Oh, Felix!”

 

Eileen looked up from her contemplation as she felt the box disappear from her hand. Felix was holding it for her, looking down at her.

 

“I’m in charge of landscaping the path to the artifact exhibit this time. I was thinking we could make a path out of rope and have flowering vines grow along it.”

 

“That would be pretty.”

 

Felix nodded briefly and offered to walk her there, but Eileen shook her head.

 

“No. You’re busy, too.”

 

“But I have plenty of time to walk with you.”

 

Felix grinned and took the lead, walking ahead of Eileen. Eileen’s eyes drifted to his hand, which was holding a box, nonchalant and effortless. The hands of a child had morphed into the hands of a man, with subtle sinews.

 

“You’ve really grown up, now that I think about it.”

 

The image of the child smiling, painfully hiding the pain from the magic circle that replaced his heart’s power, echoed in her mind.

 

‘And then the greenhouse incident. I could have lost Felix in a heartbeat.’

 

Her gaze deepened at the memory, both a childhood memory and a nightmare. Felix looked back at Eileen and noticed the look in her eyes.

 

“Eileen, are you worried about something?”

 

“Huh? No, I’m fine.”

 

Felix, still staring at Eileen, slowly walked to her side. Bending down to make eye contact with her, he grinned mischievously.

 

“What!”

 

Eileen blushed and took a few steps back as those sparkling violet eyes locked on her, and Felix burst out laughing.

 

“If you’re worried about anything, just look at my face. It melts your worries away, doesn’t it?”

 

“Shameless!”

 

“Who made me shameless?”

 

Eileen, who had admired Felix’s face since childhood, clamped her mouth shut. She opened it in a pointed voice.

 

“Oh, yes, you’re handsome, so I’m not worried about you!”

 

“I’m glad. I have to make Eileen happy.”

 

“Is that story still unfinished?”

 

Felix’s eyes widened as Eileen stuck out her tongue, half-joking about the bet.

 

“You didn’t think I was kidding?”

 

He said slowly, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

 

“Then I’ll say it again. I’m not giving up on this bet.”

 

Felix grinned, taking advantage of Eileen’s panic. His eyes were crescent-shaped and the corners of his mouth curved upward.

 

“Because I’m going to be your partner.”

 

When Eileen pursed her lips, unable to find the words to respond, he turned away lightly, as if not waiting for an answer.

 

“Now, if you’re any later, we won’t be done by lunch.”

 

“Felix, wait up!”

 

Eileen called after him, wiping her slightly flushed cheeks. It was still early summer, but the day was hot.

 

 

 * * *

 

 

“Hey, be careful, that artifact is a one-off, and if it blows up before the show day, we’re all doomed.”

 

“Who cast the refrigeration spell here? How will the guests eat if we freeze all the drinks?”

 

“More than that, someone help me set up the statue in the concourse.”

 

Eileen shifted the seedlings, exhausted by the shouting coming from all directions.

 

“This is crazy.”

 

Outside of regular class hours, it was a routine of preparing for the festival until she was about to fall asleep. 

 

The situation was the same in the other faculties, and the normally bustling cafeteria was quiet. 

 

Everyone was either eating outside in preparation for the festival, or if they ate in the cafeteria, they were too weak to speak.

 

“Cordelia, is everything okay in the Swordsmanship Department?”

 

Cordelia, who was slicing a steak with a grimace, glanced up.

 

“Fine.”

 

She doesn’t sound okay.

 

Eileen, who had been looking at her with a strange sort of sympathy, turned to Laquerta, who was also looking very tired, but was shoveling rice into his mouth in a frenzied manner.

 

“But, Laquerta, what were you in charge of? I didn’t see you anywhere near the exhibit hall.”

 

“I’m helping set up the booths in the garden. Mostly quiet people, so nothing stressful.”

 

Eileen nodded, relieved. Inwardly, she was worried about Laquerta running into the others.

 

‘He’s softened up a lot.’

 

Laquerta wasn’t visibly harmed compared to when he hadn’t eaten properly and had been crossing the lake every day, thanks in large part to the absence of people like Gray, who showed open disgust.

 

He didn’t seem to be approaching the others yet, but Eileen figured that was good enough for now.

 

“That’s good.”

 

“Eileen, are you okay?”

 

“Me? I’m a little tired, but I think I’m enjoying myself.”

 

Eileen gave a small laugh as she said that. She was tired from the hard work, but she didn’t hate it.

 

The process of working together to create something and getting to know classmates and seniors she didn’t know before was a turning point for her.

 

“I can’t wait for the festival to come.”

 

Eileen smiled proudly at the thought of the schoolyard being transformed by everyone’s hard work, and Cordelia and Laquerta, seemingly assimilating the sentiment, smiled back and continued eating.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The 37th floor of the Matap Tower.

 

The laboratory of Razavel, the Ice Witch, one of the Empire’s Transcendents, was chilly today.

 

“Rosalia Felze.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

Rosalia hiccupped on her knees at the sound of her wrathful master’s voice.

 

“Thirty-two years old, and you have not changed.”

 

Long jade-colored hair tied high on her head, indigo eyes. Well past her sixties, Razavel looked like she was in her early thirties. She puffed on a cigar and shot Rosalia a sharp glance.

 

“That-that.”

 

Looking down at her foolish apprentice, who was sweating profusely and desperately avoiding her master’s gaze, Razavel clicked her tongue briefly.

 

“Your apprentice, Felix, you know how many old raccoons are after him.”

 

As she uttered Felix’s name, Rosalia snapped her head up to face Razavel, who leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs.

 

“A striking genius, yes, but a child who hasn’t even come of age yet, and how many times have you seen him trampled to death at the hands of old men before he’s even had a chance to grow a bud?”

 

Rosalia bit her lip hard. Razavel pulled the cigar from her mouth and blew out a slow stream of smoke. Her gaze fixed on the smoke; she spoke to Rosalia.

 

“The day after tomorrow. I have a demon-slaying mission at the imperial palace that I’ve been asked to attend. You will go in my place.”

 

Razavel’s eyes slowly turned to Rosalia. She stared at her apprentice, who had long since passed her coming-of-age ceremony but was still a formidable fighter, and then spoke, her voice softening slightly.

 

“You already know you can’t stay a child forever, now that you have a disciple.”

 

Rosalia nodded slowly. Her red curls swayed like flames in time with her movements.

 

“You are more than an Ice Witch, more than Razavel’s second apprentice, you are Felix’s one and only teacher. You have taken him from me, and you must be his steadiest support and broadest shade.”

 

Rosalia Felze.

 

Razavel was deeply worried when the crybaby apprentice told her she had taken a child under her wing. He doubted that Rosalia, who hated being bothered and had a weak sense of responsibility, would be able to fulfill a teacher’s role.

 

But…

 

At that moment, Rosalia, who had been staring at the floor, slowly raised her head. She was still snoring, but her eyes were no longer wavering, and they were firm.

 

“I don’t know if I’ve grown up a bit.”

 

Razavel laughed softly, remembering the red-haired girl who had run up to her shouting for her teacher. Rosalia opened her mouth slowly.

 

“Do you think I could protect him when I’m a little stronger?”

 

“Of course. Whose apprentice do you think you are? I don’t raise my apprentices to be weak enough to lose to raccoons.”

 

Those who have something to defend are never weak. She laughed out loud as she extinguished her cigar, feeling the odd sensation of letting go of a child she thought would never grow up.