🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 10
Rosia glared as if he were standing right in front of her. Then, with a weak hand, she took out her pocket watch to check the time. Ten minutes to one. She had to get moving. If she was even a little late, who knew what harsh words she’d hear again.
She dusted off the hem of her light green skirt, which had gathered a bit of dust from leaning against the wall, and passed through the gate. As the light that whitened her vision faded, the familiar view of Sunflower Hall came into sight.
Since Genios lived up to its nickname of the entire city being a single school, with faculty buildings scattered here and there, I heard the city cooperated with the school to install Teleportation Gate Administrations everywhere.
It was to accommodate the students. Alina, who took ‘Basic Physical’, a liberal arts class opened by the Faculty of Swordsmanship for all students, was a prime example. It would be a hassle to take a shared carriage across the city every time to attend a class in another faculty.
Although senior students in the Faculty of Magic learn Teleportation Gate in ‘Advanced Life Magic’, overuse of magic in daily life wasn’t exactly encouraged. Also, one had to consider students from other faculties unrelated to magic.
In a way, it was a unique feature of Genios. They say the Royal Orchen Academy has a separate campus, so there’s no need to worry about the distance between buildings. Instead, these small gates within the city only connected to school buildings. Even if you stood in front of one and thought about going to Orchen, you’d just end up back at the same place.
To travel outside the city, one had to pay a fair price and use the Teleportation Gate Administration Bureau. Even if it was expensive, wasting time changing carriages over several weeks was a bit… If I did that, half my vacation would fly away, right?
Of course, Rosia knew how to use Teleportation Gate magic too. But since it was a spell that consumed a lot of stamina, she would have to rest for several days if she traveled far, and the fact that she couldn’t travel to places she had never been to before was often annoying.
Furthermore, even if she managed to get home that way, it was obvious she’d be bedridden for a day or two… In that case, it was better to just quietly use the gate. Besides, she couldn’t even go home if it wasn’t vacation time anyway.
And it looked like she’d be stuck in Genios until winter this year. She planned to give up her summer vacation to stay at school and prepare for the graduation exam.
Turning her back on Sunflower Hall and the library, Rosia crossed the wide street where carriages passed and entered a narrow alley between buildings.
It was a shortcut well-known among students; passing through here meant it took less than two minutes to reach the central square. However, the stone pavement was cracked and broken in many places, so if you weren’t careful, you were likely to trip.
Also, the stairs in the middle were quite steep, so drunk students often slipped and nearly said an early goodbye to the world. She lifted her skirt slightly and took careful steps. Once the alley ended, the Genios central square unfolded before her eyes. It was completely different from the relatively quiet Sunflower Hall.
The square was full of people out to enjoy the nice weekend weather and the vitality they radiated. A child holding their parents’ hands pointed somewhere and laughed. Turning her head in that direction inadvertently, she saw soap bubbles glistening in five colors under the sunlight.
A group of children gathered underneath, raising their hands toward the bubbles floating in the wind and jumping up and down in place.
An elderly couple sitting on a bench next to a waffle stand smiled warmly at the sight. The smell of sweet batter mixed in the air was so tempting that her mouth watered.
A young couple, sharing bites of a waffle covered in chocolate syrup, looked around before settling in front of the fountain in the center of the square. The fountain, which didn’t freeze even in winter thanks to magic, was the pride of the Genios central square.
She could hear people admiring the three mermaids delicately carved from marble. Water springing from the basin in their hands flowed down their curved bodies and pooled at their feet.
Among the onlookers standing in front of it was Senior Hayworth. Rosia stopped walking without realizing it and stared at him. Somehow, he looked unreal.
A breeze from somewhere gently ruffled his hair, which resembled the night sky. Sunlight flowing over his straight forehead passed his sharp nose bridge and settled on the tip of his chin. His stubbornly closed lips were a vivid scarlet.
His rare beauty was one thing, but he stood out even more thanks to his height, which was a head taller than those around him. She had wondered how she would find him among so many people, but that worry was pointless.
She muttered discontentedly. Even now, quite a few women were stealing glances at him as he stared into the void with his arms crossed. They giggled while nudging each other’s shoulders, sending lingering gazes his way, but seemingly lacking the courage to approach, they changed direction and disappeared to the other side of the square.
Just then, the clock tower bell rang, signaling 1 o’clock. As if it were a lie, her eyes met the Senior’s. She felt a strange mood. It was because at that very moment, Alina’s teasing words came to mind.
“You know, ‘Understanding Others’ is usually like that. You start by acting dignified meeting only at school, but then you start going outside, right? That’s exactly when it starts. There’s something that makes each other look different. That’s how I started dating my first boyfriend too.”
“Is this your first time in the square? Why are you zoning out like some dimwit?”
Yeah, no. Inside or outside school, Senior is Senior. Rosia scowled as she glared at him approaching with long strides.
“Ah, I haven’t been out in a while, can’t I just look around for a second? It’s not like I’m late.”
“Look at what? Surely not that?”
He pointed at the soap bubbles with his chin. That trademark mean smirk hung on his lips.
“What are you talking about? How old do you think I am! My birthday passed last month, so I’m an adult now, you know?”
“You? You’re eighteen and still this tiny? Did you stop growing?”
He looked her up and down as if measuring her height and snorted. The peaceful moment was brief; irritation surged up. It was sad enough coming out for a Group Project on a golden weekend, but why pick a fight as soon as we meet?
“I’m not small, you’re just big, Senior. Do you see anyone taller than you in this square?”
“Well, let’s say that’s true.”
He glanced around following her agitated gesture, replied indifferently, and walked past her. She glared at the Senior’s back in disbelief, but he didn’t even turn around once and just kept walking away. Worried she might actually lose him, she quickly scurried after him.
“By the way, where are we going?”
“If I tell you, would you know?”
“I might, couldn’t I?”
Even though she muttered discontentedly loud enough for him to hear, the Senior remained silent. Well, she didn’t expect him to tell her obediently anyway. At best, he was probably going to buy parts needed for his own Magic Tools research.
After all, there was no way the Senior would visit a cute cafe or a knick-knack shop. And even if he surprisingly had such tastes, he’d go alone, not drag her along.
However, contrary to her expectations, the place he headed to was the Elzroth family’s potion ingredient shop.
Rosia looked at the Senior, who opened the door and entered without hesitation, with a puzzled expression. Just yesterday, he had instructed her to book a Practice Room and have the materials ready since they would start making the ‘Levitation Potion’ next week. So she had intended to buy the materials while she was out.
Upon entering the shop, a musty smell mixed with dry grass wafted in. It was a familiar scent. The Senior was already approaching the clerk, who was organizing boxes in the back, and speaking to him.
“15 grams each of Swamp Dragonfly Wing and Moonlight Herb powder, please.”
Her Acorn-colored eyes widened. A gaze filled with shock and worry directed at him. Of course, the Senior ignored her as if he didn’t see her. He just stared blankly at the clerk climbing a ladder to rummage through drawers containing the ingredients.
The Moonlight Herb, which could only be harvested on nights with a full moon, was surely even more expensive.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Rosia trudged behind the clerk to the counter. While he weighed the items on a scale and carefully wrapped them with yellowish paper and twine, she rummaged through her bag to take out her wallet.
“Move.”
Pushing her aside as if she were annoying for scraping together every coin she had, the Senior handed the clerk a gold coin and a few Coppers. He even reserved a couple of expensive ingredients needed for the next potion production.
Rosia looked up at him with a bewildered face. Soon, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. It was a bit… difficult to believe that ‘that Senior Hayworth’, of all people, paid for his junior out of simple goodwill. There must be a reason.
“I have money too! Should I give you half the cost? Huh?”
She blocked the Senior’s path as he left the shop, shaking her wallet. The sound of jingling coins rang loudly. A look of irritation quickly appeared on his previously expressionless face.
“Hey. You’re noisy.”
“Carry this.” He shoved the two paper bags containing the ingredients he just bought onto her and started walking again. Rosia, watching his retreating figure blankly, covered her mouth with one hand.
“Senior, Senior, Senior Hayworth.”
“What.”
As if he found her sticking to his side and calling him annoying, a gruff answer returned after several non-responses. Nevertheless, the excited Rosia beamed without a care.
“Ah, just saying thank you.”
The Senior glanced down at her and turned his head away without a word. Even though her gratitude was ignored, she felt great. She was happily chasing after him, hugging the bags preciously.
“Uh, it really is Noah Hayworth? Hey, Noah!”
As soon as the booming voice was heard, the Senior’s brow furrowed ominously. Rosia instinctively turned around. A man with light brown hair and a build as big as a mountain was waving his hand enthusiastically towards them.
