"Why you?!"
Milia almost shouted.
Fortunately, Isella, who anticipated this, covered her mouth, preventing any such mishap.
With her mouth covered, Milia's eyes were trembling violently.
'Isn't that Oborea Kachl? Why would the only daughter of the Kachl ducal family ask Ottbo?'
Oborea Kachl.
As one could tell from her distinctive na, she was from another kingdom.
The Kachl ducal family of the Lux Kingdom was renowned as a house of alchemy, and in foreign lands, a duke ranked slightly above even a marquis in the empire.
So, to put it simply, Oborea Kachl's status was higher than even Archiond Robette, and the Kachl family's standing in the alchemy association was above the Robette family's.
And now, Oborea Kachl, the only daughter of such a family, had asked Ottbo to be her partner.
'The Kachl family is famous for being elite, so why Ottbo? Huh?'
As befitting a ducal family supporting the Lux Kingdom, the Kachl family invested trendously into the cultivation of talent.
Oborea Kachl herself was known for her diligence, winning the overall first place in the Alchemy Departnt's first sester at Hernan Academy.
For a family like Kachl, a top student from another departnt would certainly be an attractive prospect.
And the overall first place in the Magic Departnt's first-year, first sester was—
'Ottbo... right?'
Ottbo, who took first place alongside Luca in practice, midterms, and finals.
Naturally, he was the current number one in the Magic Departnt's first year.
It was no wonder Oborea Kachl was interested in him.
'But... that's... huh...?'
At first, Ottbo was just an extra clinging to Luca.
Yet sohow, he'd beco one of the most acclaid rookies at the academy—a fact that was difficult for Milia to reconcile.
"Sorry. I already have a prior engagent."
"!"
At that, Ottbo was heard rejecting Oborea Kachl's proposal.
Milia felt an odd sense of relief.
'Hmph. Of course. Ottbo is totally into .'
While she was secretly grinning triumphantly, Isella whispered to her.
"That's ten people."
"Huh? Ten what?"
"Partner requests Ottbo Gress has turned down so far. Including Oborea Kachl just now, it makes ten."
Milia blinked, not understanding at first.
As if expecting this, Isella nodded slowly.
"I thought you might not believe it. That's why I wanted to show you. Many other female students besides Oborea Kachl will be asking Ottbo Gress to be their partner."
"But... is it because he ranked first in the Magic Departnt's first year?"
Milia stamred in embarrassnt.
But Isella shook her head.
"That's part of it, but many girls like how he used to be on the lean side, but recently has beco sturdier and healthier, with a more masculine appearance."
"Masculine appearance?"
"Running beside Luca Traverse during basic physical strength training also made him popular. Many find his sweaty look sexy, and say his freckles are cute."
Truth be told, Ottbo was always rather handso.
Though not quite on Luca's level, he still ranked among the top twenty most handso boys in the Hernan Empire, as chosen by Monthly Party People.
However, his lack of confidence from not being able to use magic, his aversion to exercise due to fear of 'magic loss,' and poor nutrition from barely eating at ho gave him a sowhat disheveled look overall.
But as he spent ti with Luca, Ottbo changed.
He grew in confidence, gained a sturdy physique through training, and began eating more thanks to Luca's influence, looking more energetic.
Combined with his already attractive face, the change created an incredible synergy.
Now, Ottbo had beco a charming man who could easily enter the top ten most handso boys in the empire.
"... Really...?"
Milia hadn't noticed—she was always around him.
She didn't realize how attractive Ottbo had beco.
As she mulled over this with a sour expression, soone approached.
"Hey? What are you guys doing here?"
"!"
It was Ottbo.
* * *
A little earlier, after Luca had finished speaking with Pasmo and notified Isella about accepting her duel challenge—
Luca and Ottbo were having lunch as usual.
Luca recounted that he had accepted a duel with Isella.
"Since that's happening, I'll train alone for a while. Sorry, but you'll have to handle afternoon training by yourself."
"No problem. Professor Strethel said she wants to continue the project anyway."
"Is that so."
There was only one reason Luca wanted to practice swordsmanship alone:
—I want to cross swords with the Knight of Moonlight, but this ti it's not my turn.
'Why?!'
—I don't want to get involved in your love life. Handle it yourself. But if you want, I can help you train swordsmanship inside the mindscape.
He did it to receive swordsmanship lessons from the inner Luca Traverse.
'Ugh... I was counting on you...'
Frankly, he had hoped the inner Luca Traverse would just take care of things sohow.
But that Luca firmly refused to ddle.
—Training with in the mindscape will be a valuable experience for you as well.
'... Fine.'
And so, Ottbo couldn't train with him.
"Uh... Ottbo Gress..."
"?"
"Please... take this!"
Then a group of won approached as they were eating.
One girl shyly handed Ottbo sothing and hurried away.
Ottbo looked at it and sighed deeply.
"It's a bit awkward getting these things."
"Don't you feel good? You always wanted to be popular, didn't you?"
Luca grinned.
Recently, more people had been asking Ottbo to be their partner.
There were classmates who gave him letters and communication codes before running off.
Seniors who dragged him into quiet corners to ask directly.
Others who sent servants to hand over partner request forms.
Ottbo refused them all.
"I like being popular... but honestly... it doesn't make that happy."
Ottbo wore a troubled expression.
Luca said softly,
"Is it because the person you really like treats you the sa as always?"
"That's part of it."
Ottbo scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Tsk. Didn't you learn anything from seeing what happened with and Isella? She's trash through and through."
"A-aren't you being a bit harsh...?"
"I'm the one who went through it, so I can say it."
Being the one who fell for her prank, even Milia herself would accept that much.
Ottbo smiled at him.
"Haha, but that's actually pretty cute, isn't it?"
"You're hopelessly whipped."
"I think so too. But what can I do? I fell for her."
Luca clicked his tongue admiringly, then looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Then... why haven't you asked her to be your partner?"
"After everything, she didn't say anything to . Maybe Milia has no plans to join the dance, or already asked soone else she wants on her team?"
"Well... given it's her, maybe..."
Luca spoke with an ambiguous expression.
"That girl sotis dreams of things like a classic maiden."
"Still, I don't think she'd want to ask."
Saying that, Ottbo gave a faint smile.
"I'll just try harder until the day Milia wants ."
"Tsk. Sha. To spend Harvest Festival alone."
"Haha, I'll just ask Professor Strethel if it cos to that!"
"That's... a bit sad."
"Eh?"
As Ottbo watched Luca's rare, slightly sad expression, he scratched his cheek in embarrassnt.
"There's still plenty of ti until the festival. I'll just think it over slowly."
"Do that. I wish you a good result."
* * *
Returning to the present—
"I see... yes, of course. Sorry."
With a sorrowful expression, Oborea Kachl lowered her head and left after Ottbo refused her.
Watching her go, Ottbo felt a pang of regret.
'Sorry about that.'
Refusing soone's request to their face was never easy.
For a boy in his pri, refusing a favor from a pretty girl his age was even harder.
"Haa."
With a sigh, Ottbo turned toward the arcane science departnt.
But feeling a presence, he glanced back—and found Isella watching him quietly, and Milia with a look of confusion.
"Hey? What are you guys doing here?"
"!"
Milia looked startled, while Isella comnted blankly.
"Popular as always, Ottbo Gress."
"!"
"Haha, did you see all that?"
Isella's directness unnerved Milia, but Ottbo answered calmly.
"Sorry about that. I had to lie."
"...."
"Well, I'll get going. I hope it goes well for you two."
With that, Ottbo started to leave as if fleeing.
Milia bit her lip watching him go.
'Why isn't he asking to be his partner?'
Normally, Ottbo would nervously ask if she had a partner for the Harvest Festival.
Yet now, as he said nothing at all, Milia experienced a strange feeling.
'Could he be holding out for soone?'
Milia knew.
She knew she'd been too harsh toward Ottbo.
Yet she didn't actually dislike his constant devotion.
He was Luca's best friend and helped start their organization, so he did carry so influence.
Not that Ottbo himself was so prodigy, but she thought he was good enough to keep around.
And she had always assud he'd always like her.
'Right? Guys never forget their first love. Ottbo has liked since first sight.'
From the mont they first t after the placent exam, Milia could tell.
That Ottbo Gress liked her.
But honestly, that never interested her.
Luca was there, and Ottbo wasn't anyone remarkable enough to pique her interest.
She was only with him because of Luca, and never felt a flutter of excitent.
It was fun to tease him, but that was all—she never felt any romantic attraction.
'Masculine... appearance...'
Milia suddenly recalled what Isella had said, and looked at Ottbo.
'Now that I see... he does look broader...'
His shoulders were now squared.
His forearms, his thighs, even his hands were bigger than before.
The uniform that was a bit loose six months ago now looked a little tight.
"......."
Milia felt sothing strange watching him.
Her chest tightened and her face grew hot.
"Miss."
Isella called to her.
Milia snapped out of it and looked at her.
Isella spoke dispassionately.
"You once told you wanted to be more honest with your emotions. Are you being honest with your feelings right now?"
"......"
Milia had once asked Isella about her true feelings.
Now, Isella was asking Milia the sa.
"Now, I know what you feel when you look at , miss. So, I'll say this, too."
Isella said with nonchalant eyes.
"It would be good for you to be honest."
"... Haa."
Milia sighed.
She bit her lip, sighed again, then called to the departing Ottbo.
"Ottbo!"
"?"
Ottbo, who had been walking away, turned and looked at her in confusion.
The mont she saw Ottbo's face, Milia hesitated.
For so reason, all she could see were the freckles under his eyes.
'Freckles... cute, huh...'
Milia recalled soone's comnt that Isella had told her, then licked her lips, squeezed her eyes shut, and shouted,
"Do you have soone for the Harvest Festival yet?"
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