“Ah, it’s finally over.”
Having completed my last exam, I let out a sigh of relief. While other students had finished all their final exams before the competition, Tana and I hadn’t taken ours because we went to the royal palace.
However, thanks to the help of Princess Elise and my performance in the competition, we were able to take a make-up exam, and I just finished.
“That was the last exam, right?”
Diana, who had been waiting outside the classroom, approached me. Since fifth graders don’t participate in competitions, she looked much more relaxed, her skin looking even better.
“Yeah, ugh, my head hurts.”
It seemed that I really had no talent when it came to magic. Even if I understood the theory, in practice, my mana was almost depleted, so it was practically useless.
It took me some time, and Tana, who finished earlier, stuck her tongue out and teased me before leaving.
So loyal.
Diana, smiling at my frown, had a faint shimmer on her forehead—evidence of magical intervention to hide the horns that had sprouted from her during transformation.
“Still no contact from Eris, right?”
I asked, to which she replied nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I guess it’s not something that happens quickly.”
It’s been over two months since Eris left Aios. That’s more than enough time to go to the land of the Beastmen and come back.
As time passed, the vague sense of unease was accumulating.
“If it really comes to it, I’ll do something about it.”
“What can you do? When break comes, you should just hide out at home with me.”
“……”
“You’re not thinking of going anywhere, are you?”
I was, but…
As my response was delayed, she rolled her eyes and glared at me.
“I’m graduating now, so I won’t be around for a while. You should stay home during vacation, okay?”
“No, I have things to do, sis.”
“What things?”
It was a bit embarrassing to say.
First, I have to find Heaven Len. I had already told Hayun, so I would probably go with her, Rin, and Ares.
Seeing my silence, Diana seemed displeased, pouting and stepping closer.
“I feel like you’re keeping your distance from me these days. Are you coming to the graduation party?”
“……Why would I go there?”
Why would a third grader like me go to a fifth-grade party? But she answered with an incredulous expression.
“At a fifth-grade graduation party, it’s normal for close friends from the third and fourth grades to come. Since you’re my brother, you absolutely have to come.”
“……Fine.”
“Hehe!”
Come to think of it, after graduation, she would go to the Dragon’s Boundary. It would be much more convenient for her to live there since people who had also undergone dragonkin transformation would be around.
But since it’s a bit far, it’d be harder to meet up quickly like we do now. Thinking about that made me feel slightly sad.
“Let’s go clothes shopping together. You don’t have a suit, right?”
“Oh, then let’s get one for you too. I’ll buy it.”
“Huh? Where’s your money?”
“I have it all. Don’t worry.”
I really do. Quite a lot of it, actually.
Us pirates seem really nice.
Zavalanco and Jesant too. I’ve saved up so much money that I can live comfortably because of it.
‘Maybe I’ll hunt pirates later on.’
If I can take out a few more of their leaders, I’d probably earn enough to live off for a lifetime.
“Well, setting aside who’s buying, let’s go shopping tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow?”
Since I’d be free for about a week with preparations for the ceremony, I agreed.
Seeing Diana humming a tune while looking forward to shopping for the first time in a while made me oddly proud and in a good mood.
Returning to the dormitory, I started organizing my things. Winter vacation was starting soon. I was quite busy visiting Yggdrasil and solving incidents like the Murder Hotel in City Bethel during the summer.
“This winter’s going to be even busier.”
I have to go find Heaven Len first, and I need to contact Eris if possible to check on the current situation.
‘Well, it shouldn’t be dangerous.’
After all, Eris is a woman who boasts of being one of the strongest among elves. Plus, with the witch Adriana, Master Hasim, and the Beast King Regua, they would form a decent combat force as a group of four—enough to handle most situations.
Even if they can’t find a solution for dragonkin transformation, they shouldn’t be in any real danger.
“Ah, then now……”
Knock knock.
Since I had nothing else to do, I was thinking about doing some simple exercises when a knocking sound interrupted me. Most of the kids who come to my room barge in without knocking, so this felt refreshing.
“Who is it?”
Opening the door, I saw someone I never could’ve imagined standing there. We had some connection, but it wasn’t very deep.
It was the fifth grader Belin Mayas.
I’d heard he was busy preparing his graduation speech, so I wondered why he suddenly came looking for me. His expression and movements clearly indicated he wanted to ask for something.
“Uh, Daniel?”
Oh, I can already tell what this is about.
Last time, during the duel with Tana and the twins, he put on such a serious face, but now his voice was trembling at the end.
“I’m sorry, but no.”
As I tried to close the door, Belin half-cried, grabbing the door and shouting.
“Please! You don’t think badly of me, right? Just tell your sister once!”
“Why are you being so clingy after getting turned down last time? If you’re from a prestigious family, at least act like it!”
“Love! Where’s the dignity in love!”
What a madman.
Seeing him charge forward pathetically made it feel less like pity and more like absurdity.
“Daniel! No, Brother-in-Law!”
“Who are you calling Brother-in-Law!”
Crossing the line quite well.
I kicked his stomach out of irritation, and he rolled down the corridor, hitting his head on the opposite door.
Still, he got up immediately, shouting.
“I don’t care what Diana looks like! So please!”
“……!”
The door on the opposite side opened, and a Male Student grumbled about the commotion. Of course, the moment he saw Belin and me, he quickly apologized and shut the door.
However, witnessing his passionate desperation was shifting my thoughts.
Belin Mayas knew that my sister had transformed into a dragonkin. Back then, when the leader of the Tudogs came by, Belin got hurt trying to help Ares.
If he wants to date my sister in her dragonkin state, not only does he have to align feelings, but there could also be a fallout between families.
‘He wouldn’t be clueless about that.’
Seeing the conviction in Belin’s eyes, I could feel how serious he was in asking for my help.
Also, among those who could accept my sister as a dragonkin, Belin was the best candidate in my mind.
‘I can’t let her end up with someone with weird desires.’
There could very well be crazies out there who are excited by just the tail or wings of a dragonkin.
In comparison, Belin had genuinely liked my sister for a long time, and even after her transformation, his feelings had not wavered.
Being a Mayas, he was a high-ranking noble who wanted to befriend anyone.
“……But it has to be a secret from my sister.”
If my sister finds out that I helped him, I have no idea what would happen.
She might unleash her wings and turn the whole place upside down.
“Thank you so much!”
“First, come in. You’re being loud, and others are around.”
A few Male Students murmured about why a fifth grader was in the third-grade dorm. Although it was less than when a female student visited, I still couldn’t ignore the stares.
Belin Mayas stepped inside, but when he opened his mouth, he soon realized he didn’t know what to say.
“Uh, um…… How can I help you?”
“Uh?”
He seemed to be just as flustered.
Sitting on my bed, Belin scratched the back of his head and said.
“You know better than me, right? I heard you’re quite popular with the girls.”
“……”
Now that I couldn’t deny it, I opted for silence.
“Should I just tell you what my sister likes?”
At my suggestion, Belin’s eyes sparkled as he took out a small notebook from his pocket, eager to listen. I pondered for a moment, resting my chin in my hand.
‘Hmm? What does Diana like about me?’
‘That’s pretty! I like that!’
‘Boyfriend? Just hang out with him!’
What’s this?
Realizing the clothes or food my sister liked were all related to me, I understood it was less about preference and more about the fact that her brother was wearing it, or eating it, that made her like it.
“Huh, there’s nothing particularly useful.”
Seeing Belin sulk, I finally steeled my resolve.
“Just wait a moment; let me call an expert.”
“Uh?”
Leaving Belin behind, I headed outside. A little later, I returned to my room with a girl in tow.
“You are?”
Since it was the first time meeting, Hayun lowered her head expressionlessly and introduced herself.
“I’m Hayun. I’m a third grader, in the same class as Daniel.”
“This is a master at her craft!”
I pointed at Hayun, speaking rather animatedly. Giving her a boost might help ease the comedic tension on her currently grim face.
“You can consider her my dating tutor.”
“Ooh!”
Belin immediately bent his head to learn from her. Hayun rubbed her forehead and muttered.
“I’ve never dated anyone……”
Sure, she was 0 for 1 on confessions, getting rejected by Ares because of family orders, but still, she was a master in theory.
