CH 70

What should I do? I hadn’t thought of anything. Honestly, I don’t have anything to do today. Or rather, there’s nothing I can do today. In the first place, it’s a bit absurd to be told to do something today. So I decided to do what I had been thinking about before I signed the contract with Mist.

“I don’t know how much you and Mr. Yusuk know, so I’m going to give you a test.”

“Huh? A test?”

Yusuk looked disgusted.

“Yes. If I don’t know which parts you can do and which parts you can’t, I won’t be able to teach you well.”

“Hmmm. Well, I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll forgive you as long as you call me Yusuk!”

What is that ridiculous theory? I don’t have to accept such a request, but I don’t want to get into any more trouble, so I nodded my head.

“I guess I’ll call you Yusuk.”

“Yes!”

Yusuk gave a good natured smile. I looked at Kiku next to him and he seemed to be in some kind of hurry, so let’s get on with the test.

“I think we should start the test.”

I said, and they picked up their brushes.

“Okay, first question, what is the origin of this country……?”

“Hold on a second.”

Kiku interrupted me when I tried to raise a question.

“What? A question already? I’m just trying to figure out what you don’t understand for today, so I’ll take your questions another time.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Hmm?”

If not, then what the hell is the matter with you? Aren’t you more serious than you think, trying to ask a non-study question during a test?”

“I know you’re going to ask us questions. But then, what about the original text of the questions? In a memorization subject like history, isn’t it somewhat unreliable to do it without a question paper or textbook?”

Yusuk nodded his head in agreement with Kiku’s statement.

I don’t want to be questioned about it because I haven’t prepared anything…….What I’m going to ask today is almost never going to be on the test, so it’s fine if it’s appropriate. But I can’t just tell them the truth…….

“Hmmm…….Can’t I just say that it’s all in my head without error?”

When I say reluctantly, Kiku’s face clouds up and Yusuk’s face lights up.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust that.”

That’s right. There, you don’t trust me…….

As I pondered what to do, Yusuk stood up and said he had an idea.

“Okay, then. We’ll ask you some questions. How about we trust you if you can answer them?”

Ugh. He’s asking me to do something troublesome. I thought about turning him down, but if I did, I would lose my credibility, and it would be a good opportunity to appeal to the two counts, so I decided to accept.

“All right. Then please ask me.”

When I said that, Alfred, who was sitting on the sofa in the back of the room, let out a whisper to himself.

“What a waste of time.”

Yeah. Well, you came up with a problem as soon as I entered the school, didn’t you? I got back at you, though.

“We want to know what Chris can do.”

“Alfred, sir. I’m with…….”

“I don’t care! Suit yourself!”

He was so frustrated that he suddenly got up and stormed out the door.

“Oh, no. He’s gone.”

“Is that okay?”

I was worried and asked him.

“Don’t worry about it, Chris. It happens all the time.”

Then he laughed.

When I looked at Kiku, I thought he would be distraught, but he didn’t seem to be at all. I guess he’s used to it.

“Chris, here we go.”

“Okay.”

The questions started while I was dismayed at the way Alfred seemed to be treated.

☆☆☆

“That’s great, Chris! You got all the answers right!”

After that, they kept asking me questions.

I kept answering the questions correctly, so Kiku and Yusuk got so worked up that they kept giving me questions outside the scope of the textbook and on other subjects. Perhaps because of this, it was already dark outside.

It was a total waste of time. In the first place, I received a hellish education from Yulis. Even a monkey or a dog would be able to do something like this if only they were educated by Yulis.

“That’s really great, Chris-dono.”

“Not at all.”

I didn’t become this way because I wanted to. Really, seriously. Remembering those hellish days makes me sick.

“Even if Alfred doesn’t like you, he’ll still invite you.”

“You know he hates me, don’t you?”

I was so tired that I honestly asked Yusuk what he meant.

“He hates you so much!”

Yusuk said cheerfully, but my mood only sank. Huh. I don’t really care if he hates me as an individual, but it’s fatal to be hated by the next party leader when the Orrards are gaining the upper hand.

“Do you know why he hates me?”

I asked, hoping to find a solution.

“Why is that again?”

Tilting his head, Yusuk asked Kiku. I know I asked you myself, but it’s because I acted lousy to Alfred.

“I heard him say, ‘He put his own people in danger, and I’m going to destroy him’.”

“Oh. It’s just like Alfred. I’ve never seen a man as proud of his nobility as he is.”

I was amused by the unexpected reason.

“Well, it’s time to go.”

Yusuk stretches and stands up. Kiku agrees, and stands up, too.

“Chris is leaving, too.”

I hurriedly followed them out of the room. Kiku and I just stared at Yusuk as he closed the door, and then he opened his mouth.

“Okay, we’re going this way! See you soon, Chris!”

Yusuk said his goodbyes and pointed in a direction that was neither the dormitory nor the school gate.

“Huh? That way?”

I asked naively.

“Yes. Master Alfred told me to be sociable earlier.”

“Yes, yes. Well, he told me too, so I thought we’d go to the library to look for some books!”

I hadn’t been away from them for a moment since Alfred had told me that. That’s how I know they weren’t having a meeting. And from the two people who casually mentioned it, I could get the vibe that it was natural for them to make an effort for Alfred.

Does Alfred have a charm that attracts people to him? I may have misunderstood Alfred as a person.