43 – At the Edge of Spring
The midterms at the Prussian Federation Academy of Magic take place individually over a period of about a week.
While there may be variations in the difficulty of each lecture, it generally follows the school’s prestige. Difficult, that is.
◈
As the midterm exam approached, the library gradually filled up with students burdened by thick textbooks and notebooks.
May 15th. Finally, today, ten days before the start of the exams, both libraries on campus achieved the feat of being completely full.
“Ugguk….”
I quietly stretched in the solemn atmosphere.
As I concentrated on studying, time seemed to fly by. The clear blue sky had now been dyed with the color of a vivid sunset.
It was spring.
Unlike the winter that quickly fades away, spring takes its time. Since the vernal equinox has already passed, the setting sun meant that evening was approaching.
I put down my pencil and organized my belongings.
“Eating together makes it even more enjoyable.”
Those were the words Susan said with a soft smile.
There was still a strange sense of authority in her words, so no matter how late I studied, I had the habit of returning home before evening.
I started studying on my own. Since it was still considered home, my concentration didn’t waver, so it wasn’t difficult to abide by this unspoken rule.
As Susan said, having meals together was also enjoyable.
After packing my bag, I walked out of the library.
To take a shortcut that quickly led to the main gate, I turned onto the deserted back alley of the library.
That’s when I encountered this situation.
“….”
A person was lying on the ground.
The onomatopoeic word “cheolpeodeok” couldn’t be more fitting.
When someone falls in front of you, it’s considered proper etiquette to quietly step aside to avoid embarrassment, but I approached instead.
From Noble mtl dot com
The fallen female student showed no signs of movement.
I hurriedly helped her up, intending to check her consciousness.
It was exactly as it seemed.
“I’m not sure who you are, but I’m fine. I just slipped because the floor was slippery.”
“!”
The corpse spoke.
No, the female student who had been lying as if dead opened her mouth.
The floor wasn’t slippery; it was a dry stone floor. Nevertheless, the female student elegantly explained the situation as if there was no embarrassment.
As I was trying to keep my mouth shut, she spoke again.
“Oh, if it’s not too much trouble, could you help me get up?”
“Alright.”
“Oh my, you’re a male student. Please, if you don’t mind.”
She laughed casually upon hearing my voice.
But as someone who knew her, it was difficult for me to smile back.
Yulia Muller.
Owner of various titles, starting from being the daughter of a magical university professor. A freshman everyone wanted to befriend.
However, in my current view, there were only two things shining.
The cane rolling on the ground next to her and the still artificial smile.
I remembered her trembling body as she got off the carriage on the day of the entrance ceremony.
It wasn’t a slip. It was a collapse due to not being able to walk.
Perhaps Yulia’s casual tone and laughter mixed with flirtation were her way of hiding the simple truth.
No matter what the truth may be, speculating about it in the current situation is pointless.
“I’ll help you up.”
I grabbed her arm as she lay sprawled on the ground and lifted her up.
Immediately, Yulia’s posture changed, sinking slightly.
This meant that Yulia could finally see my face.
“Phew, thank you.”
As she raised her head to confirm who I was, her lips closed.
Her gentle smile faltered slightly, and her fair skin flushed.
Probably out of embarrassment.
“I showed my disgrace twice.”
“Shall I bring you a cane?”
“Please.”
I picked up the fancy cane that had been rolling on the floor and handed it to her.
“[Levitation].”
I quietly chanted the incantation.
The target of the spell was not me, but Yulia.
“Wha-?”
A rustling sound.
Her chestnut-colored hair fluttered.
In line with her frail body, Yuriya gently floated up in the air. However, she didn’t ascend too high into the sky, only hovering at about waist height.
I didn’t touch her body; I lifted her up to help her stand.
Soon, Yuriya noticed my intention and adjusted her posture, placing her feet firmly on the ground.
Thunk. As the levitation was released, the weight fell onto the staff, which struck the ground forcefully, causing her stance to become unstable.
But Yuriya seemed satisfied with it.
“Thank you for your help. I will definitely show my gratitude without forgetting.”
“No need for gratitude.”
“Hmm…”
As I said that, her gaze slightly sharpened, as if she found something interesting.
After observing me for a while, Yuriya suddenly smiled.
“You must be Eugene Oslo, right?”
It was a smile befitting the child of a high-ranking official like a professor. Her dignified movements and soft yet firm lips stood out.
“I’ll see you next time in ‘Understanding Literary Genres’.”
Saying that, Yuriya slowly passed by my side.
Thunk. Thud. The sound of the staff hitting the ground.
“…”
I didn’t know why she wasn’t in a wheelchair like usual, but Yuriya’s back disappearing into the sunset was genuine.
It was as if she was determined to walk, even if it meant taking baby steps like a newborn animal.
It gives me a sense of deja vu.
I’ve seen that kind of figure somewhere before.
“Ah.”
I remembered.
That was exactly how I looked on the road to escape.
*
“Whew.”
I managed to return to my seat and closed my eyes, feeling somewhat relieved.
In my heart, I wanted to take a deep breath. Just because I went to the restroom, I walked too much and now my heart is pounding and my head feels dizzy. On top of that, the feeling of embarrassment adds to the mix, making me feel even more restless.
But I have to sit calmly.
Someone in this library is surely watching me right now.
Whether it’s a freshman, a senior, or one of my father’s colleagues, someone is definitely watching.
Lately, my university life has become more chaotic.
At the beginning of the semester, it might have been awkward, but I could just lazily respond to the few approaching students who were all female.
But now, one month later, the situation has changed significantly.
Maybe it’s because of the scent of flowers. In the past few weeks, there have been more than a few male students expressing their feelings for me.
Some of them even openly showed their hidden thoughts like, “Even though you have a disabled leg, I can still cherish you.”
I rejected them all.
But now, they seem to be changing their approach under the pretext of helping me with my wheelchair.
It was already difficult to control my anger when I saw them discussing who would be in charge of the wheelchair, even though I didn’t allow any of them, not to mention a dozen or so.
So, I bravely tried to live with a cane instead of a wheelchair.
Actually, I was able to tolerate it quite well during the daytime.
But to think I would make such a mistake in the end.
Sigh. I tightly clenched my hands under the desk.
I recalled the man who had just helped me up.
“Eugene Oslo.”
From what I remember, my first impression of him was the worst.
It was the day of the entrance ceremony when I wasn’t feeling well.
I struggled to get off the carriage and sat in the wheelchair.
That man clearly grimaced when he saw my smile.
He saw through me like no one else could. Even my family couldn’t detect the laughter I practiced over and over again until they couldn’t recognize it.
“……”
When I found out that the man, Eugene, was the top scorer in the entrance exam, I was a little surprised. But that was it.
Since entering school, we haven’t exchanged a single word.
Eugene didn’t approach me, and I didn’t feel the need to approach him either.
The opposite of an elite aristocrat, an outsider from Prusen. We only occasionally hung out as troublemakers in Class 4, but he consistently devoted himself to his studies, wandering alone in the correctional facility.
If things were as they should be, we would never have been involved until graduation…
Wait.
Maybe it was fortunate that Eugene witnessed that scene.
If it had been a female student who clung to me, rumors would have spread throughout the school in no time. And if it had been a male student, he might have taken advantage of the situation and become even more annoying.
But Eugene treated me with absolute professionalism.
As if he could see that I wanted it that way.
“… Hoho.”
Laughter flowed out.
A good idea came to mind.
Perhaps I could use that man to overcome this situation.
If that’s the case, there was something I had to do.
“Yujin. Yujin-ssi. Yujin-nim.”
Just Yujin would be fine. The rest sound unpleasant and using a title among various honorifics would highlight its uniqueness.
How should my expression be?
I took out a mirror and tried various expressions.
A gentle smile? Already seen through since the first day of school. It’s good to smile energetically, but it doesn’t really match my image at university.
Yeah, I’ve decided.
-Sseik.
In the mirror, I drew a smile that resembled a crimson-colored lips.
May 16th. Clear.
“Phew. I’m not late.”
Morning.
Because time was tight, I forcefully opened the door to the classroom for “Understanding Literary Genres” and rushed inside.
I have no friends to exchange greetings with. As long as I don’t catch the professor’s attention.
Without worrying about others, I adjusted my appearance and moved towards an empty seat, simultaneously.
“Oh, you’re a bit late, aren’t you?”
“…Huh?”
Someone spoke to me for the first time.
“Good morning, Eugene.”
Brown hair and a wheelchair. It was Julia Muller.
Her petite face was adorned with a seductive smile, unlike her usual demeanor.
