CH 120

[The Hated Hero Works Hard to Set Up the Venue]

After looking at the match list, Tayte and I visited the student council room.

The battle between Raul and a member of his original harem… it made me a bit concerned, but let’s just wait and see. I didn’t want to move around carelessly and make things complicated.

They shouldn’t know each other yet, anyway.

Tayte and I ended up having to separate for a while; I was sent to set up the venue for the dress competition that would be held tomorrow, whereas Tayte was sent out to make final adjustments to her dress.

“Barrett, I can’t find the toolset, did you see it?”

“I think I saw Joan brought it with him.”

“Oh, right! That guy just borrowed it!”

“Barrett, I made it as you asked, how does it look?”

“Oh! It’s perfect! Thanks, Celia.”

I was working with my friends to set up the venue, but… how do I put it? It felt kind of surreal, considering how they had treated me originally.

Back then, the students were all terrified of me.

Unlike with Tayte, Jarvis, and Raul, it took me a really long time to get to the point where I could interact so casually with them.

I wanted to cherish this relationship.

That was my honest thought.

――While I was feeling deeply moved, the sound of the door opening echoed.

I just thought, “Someone came in, huh?” but for some reason, the other students reacted strangely. The air became tense.

I looked up, wondering if some high-ranking personage had come to inspect, and there I found an unexpected person followed by quite a few entourage.

“?! Lady Lilia!?”

“My, it’s been a while, Barrett.”

It was Tayte’s mother, Lady Lilia.

“What brings you here today?!”

I hurriedly rushed over to her, and Lady Lilia replied with a graceful smile. “Tomorrow will be Tayte’s big moment, will it not?”

Oh right.

Lady Lilia loved her daughter Tayte dearly.

With my relationship with Tayte having improved recently, her condition had gotten better, and she had become quite active.

“After hearing Tayte will be showcasing a beautiful dress, I can’t possibly miss out on it now, can I?”

“A-as expected of Lady Lilia.”

“…But aren’t you looking forward to tomorrow as well, Barrett?”

“Of course I am!”

Lady Lilia and I exchanged a firm handshake.

…Wait, didn’t this happen before?

By the way, Lord Alonso apparently had been planning to come as well but canceled it due to a sudden urgent business. Most likely, he was shedding tears of blood as he performed his official duties as we speak.

“Speaking of, I heard you will be participating in the martial arts tournament.”

“Yes.”

“The martial arts tournament, hm… how nostalgic.” Lady Lilia stared into the distance.

Ah, she must be recalling a fond memory.

“Back in the day, when I was a student, I met my husband for the first time there.”

“Huh? You met in the martial arts tournament?”

“Yes. I couldn’t take part since I had a weak constitution, but I still came to the venue because I wanted to at least see what sorts of people were fighting.”

It seemed she fell in love with Lord Alonso when she saw how he fought.

From the point of view of Lady Lilia, who was sickly and unable to do vigorous activity, the figure of Lord Alonso fighting fiercely in the martial arts tournament back then must have looked very radiant.

“By the way, I can’t seem to find Tayte around…”

“If you’re looking for Tayte, she should be trying on her dress right about no—”

“Barrett~♪.” Speak of the devil, Tayte came in the middle of our conversation. Furthermore, she was in a dress. Maybe she went out of her way to come here just to show it to me.

Oh, right.

I forgot about Lady Lilia.

“There she is, Lady Lilia.”

“……”

“Lady Lilia?”

Worried about Lady Lilia who had suddenly fallen silent, I tried to approach her, but she immediately collapsed.

“?! Lady Lilia?!”

“Huh?! Mother?!”

Could it be that her physical condition had deteriorated?!

As her entourage began to make a fuss…

“My daughter… is too cute…”

…Lady Lilia muttered so in a feeble voice.

…Hm.

It was good that she was fine.