Master, I Swear I Didn’t Mean To! - Chapter 121

As if sensing Eki’s firm resolve, Venta and Tys exchanged glances and fidgeted.

“Come on, say it already. What’s been going on with Master lately?”

【 I-It’s not so much that something happened to Cassius… 】

【 You could say it happened outside…? 】

Eki tilted her head. What did that mean?

Venta, apparently more afraid of Cassius than of her, kept her mouth tightly shut, but Tys wriggled her fingers and confessed.

【 Last time, Eki’s friend visited, right? He told you about the rumor that the villain named Babel spread. 】

“Ah, yeah.”

【 We told that to Cassius… 】

“What?”

Because it was a rumor no one who knew Cassius would believe, even though truth was mixed in, Eki hadn’t worried about it at all. Now she jolted in surprise and asked,

“Y-You also told him that no one believes it, right?”

【 Did we say that? 】

【 I don’t know. 】

【 I don’t remember either. 】

“You idiots!”

When Eki bared her teeth, the two fairies trembled and clung to each other.

【 S-Sorry. 】

【 We messed up! 】

“So that’s why Master started keeping his distance? Because he was worried that staying with me would cause even worse rumors?”

【 Mm. It seems like he avoided you because he was worried it might harm you. 】

Tys nodded as she answered. At that despairing yet heart fluttering news, Eki’s cheeks flushed red.

“Honestly.”

That stupid master. When had he nagged her to raise her intelligence, and now he was the one doing something so foolish. He had to know it too. That, at the Gailard Association, his image was that of an eccentric, reclusive archmage who didn’t date or even meet people at all.

‘…Does he not know?’

Since her master had shown interest in nothing but magic, it was possible he really didn’t know. Strangely, that clumsy side of him felt cute, and Eki let out a small giggle.

She got angry, then her face turned red, and now she was giggling to herself, leaving the fairies looking bewildered. Taking the opportunity, Venta spoke up this time.

【 Eki, but it seemed like Cassius had another worry besides that. 】

“Another worry?”

【 Yeah. I can’t say the details, but he was even thinking about breaking up with you because of it. 】

“…What?!”

The gentle flutter in her chest vanished at once. Eki stood up, her face pale.

“Is that really true?”

【 Yeah. You can’t tell him we said this. Cassius really hates having his inner thoughts exposed. 】

【 ‘We’ what? I didn’t say that much. Venta’s the one who said everything. 】

【 What? Tys, we said we’d live and die together! 】

【 Umm… 】

Tys slowly edged away from Venta. Venta fluttered their fluffy hair and chased after Tys, but they couldn’t catch up to the speed of a newly born fairy.

Leaving the two fairies circling her room, Eki fell into deep thought. She couldn’t think of any reason why he would want to break up with her.

‘Is it because of his conscience? But if that were the case, we’ve already crossed too many rivers.’

Hadn’t her master even begged her to touch him? Honestly, even if they tried to go back now, he’d only end up looking ridiculous.

‘This won’t do.’

Eki draped a shawl over her thin nightwear and abruptly headed out the door.

As she strode quickly across the dormitory corridor, Venta and Tys flapped their wings and followed after her.

【 Eki, where are you going? 】

“To Master.”

【 Eek. To tattle on what we said? 】

“No. I won’t say anything. I just want to have a serious talk with him.”

And for that, she no longer needed fairies drifting around chaotically in the air. Standing on the spiral staircase, Eki smiled kindly.

“Guys. Thanks for telling me. But you know I have to go alone from here, right?”

【 Ah, why. Let us watch too! 】

【 Venta said lovers’ fights are the most fun. 】

【 Ack— Tys! How can you say that! 】

Eki flicked Venta on the forehead and climbed the stairs. She heard a fairy crying behind her, but ignored it and looked upward. The very top of the Thousand Tower. Cassius would be there.

But just as she reached the upper floor with a determined expression, the tower suddenly began to shake violently.

“Kyaah?!”

Eki staggered and grabbed the railing.