第１１００堀：まずは一安心 (Part1)
**Chapter 1100: A Moment of Relief**
**Side: Nairua Nonford, Lancer Magic Academy First Rank, Daughter of the Concubine of the Traitor Nok of Enaria**
"…Well now, I wonder what sort of decision he’ll make."
I murmur this to myself, gazing out the window at the sky. Outside, the blue stretches on into an infinite horizon, and I can see birds flapping their wings, drifting through that vast expanse as they please.
Ah, freedom.
They risk their very lives to revel in it. It’s a far cry from someone like me.
In the past, I was a pawn for my shitty father and shitty mother. Now, I’ve done nothing but accept the Academy Principal’s proposals, never acting on my own initiative, keeping myself locked away like a bird in a cage.
Or perhaps I should say I’ve locked myself away by choice?
After all, as long as I stay quiet here, the Principal provides for all my needs—food, clothing, and shelter. I figured that was far better than wandering out into a world where I didn't know left from right, only to die in a ditch. Besides, more than anything, as long as I’m here, I can study magic to my heart’s content and push all the unpleasantness out of my mind.
I carry the blood of that absolute piece of trash, a man called Nok.
My shitty mother caught his eye and entered the Nonford household as one of his many concubines. It doesn’t seem like there was any bullying involved; she was just one of many, after all. And then, after they did what they did, I was born.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—I possessed an aptitude for magic. Because of that, they pinned meaningless expectations on me and literally drove me forward with a whip. Before they realized I could use magic, neither of them saw any value in me; they just worked me to the bone as a common maid.
Well, back then, I was so desperate just to eat every day that I didn't even have the time to feel that my circumstances were unfortunate. But the moment they realized I could use magic, they did a complete about-face. That was when I truly learned how ugly people can be.
In the end, to those two, I was nothing more than a convenient tool. My shitty father, as a matter of course, started talking about having me assist his heir in the future. And become his mistress on the side, too.
Don’t make me laugh. I’m not a loose woman like my shitty mother.
When I ended up at this Lancer Magic Academy, I had resolved to study desperately, hone my magic, and stand in a position above those pieces of trash to take my revenge. But, as fate would have it, those shitty parents of mine had their heads lopped off and their lives ended. I didn't even have to lift a finger.
It was a cathartic feeling.
But while it was good that they died, the problem was that the fallout reached me, too. After that trash died, I was in a daze, following orders, and hadn't made any preparations. If not for the Principal’s proposal, I would have had my head cut off right along with them.
That is why I am truly grateful to the Principal.
Even so, an order had been issued that everyone connected to the Nonford house was to be slaughtered. If things stayed as they were, my only options would have been to hole up in the Academy forever or wander as a refugee in some foreign land.
Well, I’ve lived through hell and back in the past. Returning to the life of a commoner wouldn't have been so bad, but that was when my interest was finally piqued. There was a rumor that the man who had been turning Enaria upside down was here at this Academy.
So, I thought I’d play a little prank.
I’d tell him that I was the daughter of the man he had trapped.
Would he be scared? Or would he try to kill me? I wondered how he’d react, but then I learned something even more incredible.
He is, apparently, royalty from a "Different Continent."
I thought it was some kind of joke at first, but it seems it’s actually true.
"That is exactly why I decided to rely on him."
As long as I stay on this continent, my life is in constant danger, and I have almost no freedom. If that’s the case, it’s only logical to say goodbye to this world and head to someone who might value me highly.
Well, he’s a pervert who has his hands full with many wives and still goes after the likes of Cleena and Samantha. If selling my body is enough to secure that kind of outcome, I suppose that’s fine.
"Wait? Does that make me just like my shitty mother? Ahaha."
What’s this? Doing the same thing as the parents I despised so much—in the end, is the child of trash just trash?
Ah, I suddenly feel like dying.
Just as my thoughts turned gloomy, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
I asked, though I already knew. I never know when an assassin might come, so I keep a magic spell active that lets me identify whoever is on the other side of the door.
And standing there was none other than him.
What’s more, he has his wives trailing behind him in a line. But they have a completely different look on their faces than my shitty father’s concubines. Those are the faces of women who are together with him because they want to be. And, wasn't there something about magic students from a different continent? I’m interested in that, too.
"It’s Yuki. I’ve come to continue our conversation from earlier."
Good. It seems I’ve succeeded in setting up a proper place to talk with Yuki. Now, I just need to make my case and get him to accept my demands.
"Heh. It’s unlocked, come on in."
*Ngh*, that’s bad. I haven't interacted with people properly in so long that I’ve forgotten how to laugh. No, wait, there was nothing to laugh about in that situation anyway.
…This is bad. If I don't get back to normal, he’ll think I’m some hopeless case who can't even communicate, and I won't be able to go to the New Continent. That would be no laughing matter.
"Pardon the intrusion… Ah, was it a bad idea to enter a woman’s room? Should I go borrow a conference room?"
"No, it’s fine. I don't really care. You’re surprisingly gentlemanly, aren't you? Or is that just natural when you have so many women waiting on you?"
"Who knows. I only really worry about my wives. I’m actually quite careless with everyone else."
"Oh? Then will I be treated carelessly, too?"
"If that were my intention, I wouldn't have bothered coming here to listen to you. Anyway, I’ve heard about your standing from Principal Popuri and the people involved with Enaria."
"…I see."
Well, I knew that would be necessary. Since I’m asking for help, I have to explain my circumstances in full at some point. It just happened sooner than I expected.
Still, this is dangerous. Have they even brought in people connected to Enaria…?
*Sigh*, depending on how things go, I might need to run away as fast as I can.
"So, am I going to be captured and beheaded as is?"
"No, I won't do that. It would mean betraying the trust of Popuri, who asked me to help you."
Heh, that’s completely unexpected. To think he’d keep his promise even after accurately grasping my background.
"I think that could lead to a deterioration of relations between Enaria and the entire If Continent, though? Aha."
"…Seeing you laugh like that, I’ve decided that leaving you be would be more troublesome. Well, I have my reasons, and I’ll push them through. I won't go around telling everyone in Enaria that I’ve taken you in just yet—explaining that is too much of a hassle."
"Ahaha, if there’s a way to do that, I’d love to hear it."
Honestly, what a boring lie. If there were such an incredible way to do it, he would have done it already.
"Right, it helps that you’re quick on the uptake."
"Eh?"
"To put it simply: if I leave Nairua as she is, or throw her out, the chances of her living safely are slim. In fact, there’s a possibility she could be taken in by factions that hold a grudge against the Lancer Magic Academy. So, it’s better if I take you in myself."
"Eh? Eh?"
He just said something incredibly strange. Wait a second, my head can't keep up with this.