Chapter 556
A night under the starlight.
Merida was dozing off on a bench beneath a lamp. Simon approached her.
“Merida, wake up.”
She didn’t.
“Merida, it’s time for deployment.”
He shook her to wake her, but she still didn’t stir. Simon let out a deep sigh and sat beside her.
There was still time before the event began. He decided to wait just twenty more minutes. If she still didn’t wake, he’d just carry her like baggage.
Simon was about to pull out his textbook to get some midterm studying in when—
Poff.
A sensation brushed his shoulder.
Ssshh—
Merida had leaned her head on him. A faint breath slipped through her rosy lips.
“……”
Simon brushed his forehead with a tired look.
Not this time. He wasn’t falling for it again. The last time he had tried to stop her from lying down with a blanket, he had gone through all sorts of trouble.
“Twenty minutes. That’s it.”
He declared, and sat silently.
He tried to ignore her, but the street was too crowded. Laughter, whispers about how “cute” they looked, even murmurs about them being a “couple” reached his ears.
‘…Ugh.’
He became conscious of the stares.
Worse, her face was a problem. The makeup she had prepared for tonight’s ball was smudging, and his brand-new tuxedo was being stained with drool. He couldn’t just leave her like this.
‘If she’s going to sleep, might as well do it properly.’
He carefully placed his hands on both her shoulders.
Her white, round shoulders were revealed by the dress she wore. Accidentally touching bare skin made his face grow hot.
Suppressing his reaction, he gently shifted her. Her head slid from his arm, and he adjusted his seat to lay her comfortably on the bench.
Cling!
“?”
Merida’s head latched onto his lap like a magnet.
Simon froze stiff.
“M-Merida?”
In the blink of an eye, she was using his thigh as a pillow. This time, she didn’t even snore. Just open-mouthed, completely passed out.
“Hey, wait a sec!”
Simon tried to slip out, but Merida clung tightly to his trouser leg with both hands, refusing to let go of her perfect sleeping spot.
Uuunnng—
She even let out a protesting little groan. Simon sighed quietly and sat back down.
At this rate, he’d be exhausted before even reaching the festival. Watching Merida sleep soundly without a care, Simon quietly removed his tuxedo jacket.
The shift in his balance had caused her skirt to ride up, exposing her thigh.
‘…How can someone be this defenseless?’
Grumbling under his breath, Simon covered her with his jacket.
Perhaps mistaking it for a blanket, she smiled faintly and clutched it tighter, sinking into a deeper sleep.
“……”
“……”
Twenty minutes passed.
“Merida, wake up.”
No more compromises.
Simon shook her roughly, but she only let out muffled sounds, showing no sign of waking.
“……”
Resting his chin in thought, Simon suddenly came up with a flash of inspiration.
“Phantasus-senior! What brings you here?”
“?!!”
At those words, Merida jolted upright like a fish leaping from water. Her hair was a mess, eyes half-lidded with sleep, drool at the corner of her mouth.
Whip—whip—
She frantically looked around before her gaze locked onto Simon.
“……”
Seeing his smirk, she narrowed her brows and pouted.
“Liar.”
Simon shot back.
“Not exactly something I want to hear from a chronic oversleeper.”
Childish words traded, both turned their heads away. Simon stood, satisfied he had finally gotten even.
“You’re awake now, so let’s hurry into the Tower of Time—urk!”
Suddenly, drowsiness hit him like a wave. Realizing he’d been hit with Sleep, he spun around.
“Merida!”
“You tricked me.”
She looked at him sulkily.
“You wouldn’t wake up, what else was I supposed to do?!”
“I don’t like lies like that.”
Her brows furrowed.
“Never do it again.”
“……”
He had plenty to say, but she was his partner for the entire deployment. Starting a quarrel over this wasn’t wise.
“Fine, I promise.”
At last, Merida snapped her fingers, and the drowsiness lifted. She stood, brushing her dress back into place.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
They walked cautiously to the front gate of the Tower of Time. A butler admitting the guests greeted them warmly.
“Ah! There you are. I saw you two sitting so cozily on the bench, I wondered when you’d come inside.”
Apparently, he had seen everything.
Simon turned his head in embarrassment, while Merida just stood there blankly with a question mark over her face.
They handed over the official documents they’d received from headquarters.
“For deployment duty, we confirm the arrival of Student Council President Simon Follentia of Keyzen, and Student Merida Hugh Ikel. You may enter.”
The butler bowed politely. Simon nodded and stepped forward, but Merida didn’t follow.
“?”
She stood with her hand outstretched, palm up.
“What.”
“You’re a man. I’m a woman.”
Pointing to her chest, she tilted her head.
“Won’t you escort me?”
‘…Seriously.’
Even if they were here on deployment, this was still a grand festival hosted by the Ivory Tower, and partners were partners.
The moment they crossed that threshold, the war of noble etiquette would begin.
Straightening himself like a gentleman, Simon reached to take her hand.
Stumble.
A heavy drowsiness crashed down again. Barely catching himself, Simon wobbled. Merida giggled.
“You got caught again. Dummy.”
“You little—”
Simon started, but Merida stepped closer and linked her arm with his.
“There, I’m not mad anymore.”
“……”
“Let’s go.”
She snapped her fingers, lifting Sleep.
So she was still sulking over being woken with Phantasus’ name.
Whether she held grudges, or whether his prank really had been rude, Simon decided it was best to be careful from now on.
Simon escorted Merida into the banquet hall.
‘Oh.’
An exclamation slipped out.
Each noble banquet reflected the host’s tastes, but there was one thing common to those hosted by high-ranking aristocrats: they were dazzlingly, extravagantly luxurious to the extreme.
“Ah.”
Merida’s eyes sparkled. Following her gaze, Simon turned his head—and saw a perfectly seared steak on a plate.
Even Simon felt his mouth water.
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet, right? Let’s grab some food fir—”
“It looks fluffy!”
“…Huh?”
Instead of the steak, she was pointing with her free arm—at a sofa beside the table.
Dragging Simon along, she rushed forward, plopped down, and started patting the cushions with both hands.
“Density 8, softness 5, comfort 7.”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
She moved to another sofa, sat, then rattled off another bizarre review.
“The finish is linen, a bit disappointing. The spinal support is good, so the back feels comfortable, but the breathability is poor.”
“Merida. What about eating—”
“That chair looks fluffy too!”
Merida dragged Simon around, hunting for cozy spots. She sat, touched, even pressed her face against sofas and chairs.
“Here too!”
If it was warm, even stairs or table tops weren’t spared.
Like a picky bear searching for the perfect den for hibernation, she wandered all around the hall.
“Here!”
She suddenly barged into a table full of guests. The startled nobles cried out as the seemingly well-mannered girl leaned in and rubbed her cheek against their sofa.
“I deeply apologize!”
Cleaning up the mess was, of course, Simon’s job.
In the end—
“Mmnya mmnya.”
Before she caused more chaos, Simon laid her down on a suitable sofa. She tried to get up, insisting she wanted to look around more, but once her face sank into the cushions, she couldn’t resist. Soon she was fast asleep.
“Phew.”
Finally, Simon fixed his tie and allowed himself to look around.
‘Almost all necromancers…’
Darkness pulsed faintly here and there. Most faces were unfamiliar, but one stood out.
And that one was walking toward him.
“Well, well! Look who it is—long time no see!”
An impeccably dressed nobleman in a sharp suit. Short, sky-blue hair and refined glasses gave him an intellectual air.
Simon hurriedly rose to his feet.
It was Daniella Villene, the head of the Ivory Tower’s moderate faction and Maelyn’s father.
“O-oh, it’s been a while! Lord Daniella!”
Simon broke into a nervous sweat. He hadn’t expected to see Maelyn’s father here, not in the Ivory Tower, but in the Tower of Time itself.
“Haha, be at ease, Student Council President.”
Daniella’s smile was warm.
“You’re my daughter’s close friend, yet you call me Lord Daniella? That sounds far too stiff. How about Uncle Daniella instead?”
“M-me, call you that? How could I possibly—!”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
He laughed heartily and took a seat opposite Simon. Simon, flustered, tried to rouse Merida.
“Merida, wake up!”
“Let her sleep.”
Daniella said gently, raising a hand.
“The lady looks quite exhausted.”
“A-ah, yes.”
Simon sat stiffly, fists on his knees, eyes darting nervously. He was wondering how to keep this conversation alive, when Daniella thankfully spoke first.
“How is your uncle faring?”
“Oh! He’s doing well!”
At the advancement ceremony at the end of first year, Richard had met Daniella, disguising himself as Simon’s uncle.
After a brief exchange, the two clinked glasses.
“My daughter speaks often of you, Student Council President.”
“She does?”
Daniella chuckled warmly.
“If I had to divide up her conversations, more than half are about you. Open her mouth, and it’s Simon, Simon.”
“…Ahaha.”
“And the other half is split between Kamibarez and some boy named Feon.”
In other words, Simon accounted for 75% of her words. Embarrassed, Simon asked awkwardly:
“What about Dick?”
“She does mention that name sometimes—though usually while cursing. Things like, ‘worse than that Dick’.”
“…H-ha ha.”
Simon decided this was something Maelyn should never know he’d heard.
“More importantly, I’ve wanted to thank you in person.”
“Thank me?”
“Yes—for appointing my daughter as vice-president.”
Daniella smiled softly as he continued:
“For a while, letters came pouring in. ‘Father! I became vice-president! Father! Can you believe it, I’m the vice-president!’ She was in such a fuss. Thanks to having a daughter who’s Keyzen’s vice-president, even I can walk tall in the Ivory Tower these days. Hahaha!”
If Maelyn ever heard this, she’d probably spit blood. Simon bowed his head politely.
“You flatter me. Truly, it is I who’ve gained much from Maelyn’s help.”
“…Oh-ho.”
Daniella stroked his chin, impressed.
“Well said. If only my daughter showed such maturity. Instead she’s nothing but a reckless troublemaker.”
“Th-that’s not true! Maelyn has many admirable qualities! She works hard, she’s incredibly talented, and she’s honest.”
“Her honesty is written all over her face. She huffs and blurts things she doesn’t mean, but her blushing gives her away every time. Still, she’s a gentle soul inside. Please continue looking after her, President.”
Talking with Daniella was pleasant.
A man of wealth and honor, and yet he lowered himself to Simon’s level, creating such a comfortable atmosphere.
There was no need to force conversation. The more they spoke, the calmer Simon felt. Daniella truly was a good man.
“Ah, yes.”
Finally, Simon sensed he was about to get to the real reason.
“I’d like to speak with you about the Tower of Time.”
At once, tension rose within Simon.
And he was reminded of why he was here.
Simon had entered the Ivory Tower… as a spy.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time