CH 129

[Breakfast Before the Storm]

After finishing my morning training, I met up with Tayte then we headed to the dining room.

On the way…

“Fuaaa…”

…Tayte let out a small yawn.

“Did you pull an all-nighter?”

“! N-no I didn’t!” Tayte frantically denied.

Upon closer look, her eyes were… kind of red?

“Are you not feeling well?”

“No, I’m completely fine! …It’s just, I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep,” Tayte replied with an embarrassed look on her face.

Nervous, huh?

Now that I thought about it, it was kind of unreal that Tayte would do modeling given how she was in the original novel. The original Tayte was restricted in a lot of ways by her fiancé, Barrett. It extended to her relationships, and because of that, the original Tayte only had a few friends and she couldn’t participate in events like this one on top of that.

Compared to that, Tayte’s current life was the best for her. I was sure of it.

Though Tayte said she was nervous, I could also see a hint of anticipation in her expression.

I knew that she had worked extra hard for today. Experiences that she could have never experienced in the original novel—they were very valuable to Tayte.

When we arrived at the cafeteria and took our seats…

“Heya, morning, you two.”

…Jarvis appeared.

“Are you just about to have breakfast too, Jarvis?”

“Yeah. More importantly… Barrett.”

“Hm?”

“Today’s martial arts tournament… Be sure to give it your all.”

“Of course.”

At the martial arts tournament in the afternoon, we didn’t use practice swords as we did during exercises.

I would be fighting Jarvis head-on with my Holy Sword.

But, of course, it wouldn’t be a fight to the death.

According to the rules, magical stickers specially made by the principal would be pasted on the head, hands, feet, and torso. When worn, HP would be displayed, and as long as you were within the specified place (the martial art tournament’s arena, in this case), they would absorb all physical and mental damage you took and instead cut down the HP. The moment the HP was reduced to 0, victory or defeat would be decided.

In other words, both Jarvis and I could fight seriously.

“I’m really looking forward to fighting you. This fight may make a big change in my outlook on life.”

“You’re exaggerating. Didn’t we fight before already?”

“But that was just a spar, wasn’t it? No need to hold back today. I want to fight the serious you. Nothing excites me more than it.”

“Well, it is an honor.”

…I wondered why.

I felt a sense of incongruity.

Jarvis—was she always this… battle hungry?

“But before then, I’ll be sure to have my fill of Tayte’s cuteness on stage.”

“Eh?! J-Jarvis, are you going to watch the dress contest?”

“Sure am. Oh, Raul and Eureka will be going to watch, too.”

“Auu…”

She became even more nervous, it seemed.

――Wait, speaking of which,

“Tayte, I know it’s kind of late to ask, but is Eureka not with you?”

Eureka, being Tayte’s personal maid, rarely left her side. The three of us usually had breakfast together, but… she was nowhere to be seen today.

“Eureka is my maid, but at the same time she’s a girl as well as Raul’s girlfriend—so at least for today, I’d like her to spend time with him from the morning.”

“Now that you mention it, Raul was chosen to set up the venue for the opening ceremony. So you sent Eureka to help him there.”

“Yes♪”

“I see.”

Oh Tayte, what a kind mistress you were.

Just that, Raul and Eureka’s flirting, deliberately or not, would surely make the people around them jealous.

…Also, I was guessing that Tayte let her do so partly because Madeline had been weighing heavily on Eureka’s mind.

Though, it was actually her brother Joel.

Madeline’s whereabouts were still unknown.

At this rate, it was going to be Raul vs Joel (crossdressing).

“Oh, right… I have to see the principal.”

“Huh? Why?”

“This early in the morning?”

Tayte and Jarvis asked curiously.

Yeah, thinking normally, it was kind of strange.

“There’s something I’ve got to talk to her as the leader of the Knights of the Academy. I’ll definitely make it in time for Tayte’s dress contest. If the talk hasn’t ended by the time the contest is about to start, I’ll forcefully end it and come running.”

“I-I’m grateful for that, but talk with the principal—”

“Will be postponed.”

My top priority was Tayte.

“Geez… public display of affection this early in the morning?” Jarvis said in amazement.

…Crap.

Looked like I wasn’t in the position to talk about Raul and Eureka.

After putting away the dishes, we went to our respective destinations.

Now then, what exactly was the principal going to push on me?