MMLP 15

Chapter 15

Even so, this was quite a comfortable environment for studying. Natural light streamed in through the wide windows, the large desk was neatly arranged with a quill, an inkwell, and parchment, and a side table was set with snacks to nibble on.

And yet here he was sulking. Honestly, I don’t even know why I should be the one apologizing. Whether it’s Diego or the fake Rocinante, isn’t the point simply to stop Diego from ascending the throne?

I had been planning to ask him to wait until next year—by then Rocinante would surely be swapped out—but Zerodines showed up late after Rocinante had already left the mansion, and since he didn’t say a single word, I never even got the chance to bring it up.

This is getting irritating. Here I am wringing out the “spy” subplot from the original story just to find a way for both of us to survive, and he acts like he’s some great archmage, too lofty to care?

Finally, my patience hit its limit, and I snapped.

“I said I was sorry, so get over it already. The biggest worry of my day should be what to eat for lunch. But when you keep brooding like that, it’s distracting, you petty human.”

— Levietta Grimlore.

“Wow! You finally said it! I thought I was going to die of frustration.”

— Didn’t I tell you before? Your moves are obvious.

“What? …Ow!”

My left hand, resting on the desk, suddenly moved on its own and poked me in the forehead. Startled at being forced into self-harm, I glared at Zerodines in disbelief.

“Just because I let you once, you think you can borrow my body whenever you want?”

Absolutely not. Maybe for a moment, but I refuse to hand it over completely.

This body isn’t even originally mine. I’m a possessor, too, remember?

Now that it was proven the body of the novel’s sub-villainess Levietta was unusually easy to possess, I couldn’t just let some clingy ghost snatch it away.

I crossed my arms defensively over my chest. He smirked mockingly.

— Well, who knows. I suppose you’ll find out after you become the 13th prince’s consort.

“…How did you know that?”

It’s not like he was there when I talked with Rocinante, nor did I ever tell him the plan.

As I blinked dumbly, he sneered as though amused.

— What are you waiting for? Instead of bowing your head endlessly, shouldn’t you be asking for my help before your magic tutor arrives?

Of course—getting a good evaluation from the tutor was crucial. Otherwise, Wilhelm might cast me aside. And Zerodines had seen that worry of mine from the very beginning.

Resigned, I raised my hands in surrender.

“Even if I don’t marry Diego, I’ve made it clear that I intend to prevent the birth of a tyrant. So quit being petty and just help out as fellow passengers on the same boat.”

— You mean, ‘Please help me.’

“Please help meee.”

— Don’t drag it out.

“Please. Help. Me.”

— Say it all at once. Now’s not the time for pride.

This guy—he wasn’t interested in cooperating; he just wanted to make fun of me.

“Please help me!”

I yelled in frustration.

And exactly five seconds later—

“Levietta!”

The door slammed open as Gilbert stormed in, sword drawn, like a raging tide. Behind him, the tutor who had been just about to enter got shoved to the floor by Gilbert’s charge.

Someone, anyone—just knock me out already.

I clutched my head in both hands.

An awkward silence fell.

With his heightened senses far sharper than any ordinary person’s, Gilbert must have realized right away that nothing was wrong the moment he saw the peaceful study. Before the embers of battle died away, he asked one last time:

“An intruder? A monster?”

“…A bug.”

I muttered, barely audible. Gilbert sheathed his sword, aura fading.

Mortification burned through me. I almost wanted to expose Zerodines for egging me on into this mess.

“Well, I don’t know its name, but anyway it was black, crawling along the wall, then suddenly spread its two pairs of wings wide and flew right at me.”

I couldn’t even lift my head as I made my flimsy excuse. Ridiculous as it sounded, it must have been plausible enough coming from a child.

“Ugh… just hearing that gives me chills. If it were me, I’d have blown up the whole building.”

“Are you scared of bugs too, mister?”

Honestly, a man his size ought to do better.

Relaxing from battle mode, Gilbert lowered his sword and returned to his usual “slightly pathetic adult” self. Running a large, masculine hand through his dark hair, he said:

“I’m not scared, but I don’t like them either. There’s a reason cleaning up insect-type monster corpses became the traditional hazing for rookies.”

“Then you must have done it when you were a rookie, right?”

“I didn’t. For some reason, the seniors always spared me from it.”

I think I know why.

Behind his back, I could practically see flashing comic-style captions reading “Powerful Family Background” and “Unparalleled Genius.”

“Anyway, you’re not hurt, so that’s good. If anything happens, just call for me like before. Even if I’m asleep, I’ll jump right up and come save you.”

“Sorry for waking you.”

“Doesn’t matter. By the way, what were you doing just now?”

Huh? …Ah!

That’s when I remembered the tutor I’d completely forgotten about. Turning my head, Gilbert followed my gaze toward the doorway.

There lay the tutor, still groaning on the floor after suffering what, from his perspective, must have felt like being hit by a dump truck.

“Ow, ow, ow… oh, my back…”

After much flailing in his long, flowing robe, he finally managed to stand.

He was an older man with gray hair. Sharp eyes gleamed under rimless glasses, and his thin frame gave him a nervous, fussy air.

Or maybe that impression came from his irritable voice. Adjusting his glasses, he scolded Gilbert in a piercing tone.

“L-Lord Gilbert! A man of your stature, behaving like this before the lesson has even begun—what is the meaning of this, hm?”

“I just came to check if something was wrong.”

Clicking his tongue, the tutor pushed up his glasses, clearly used to overbearing parents.

“Well, if you’re done checking, please leave. You’re disturbing the lesson.”

“Today’s the long-awaited first class, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“So there’ll be a test.”

“I may, at my discretion, include both theoretical and practical exams to assess a student’s comprehension.”

“What if she gets a perfect score?”

“….”

“And what if it turns out my kid’s a genius—”

“Please leave immediately!”

Shoving the meddling parent out, the tutor placed a hand on the closed door, breathing heavily.

Huff, huff. After composing himself, his expression snapped back to strict formality as he strode to the lectern.

“Greetings.”

“Hello. I’m Levietta.”

“Pepperx.”

For a second, I almost blurted out, Can I call you Pepe? But luckily I stopped myself.

It wasn’t out of consideration for how many times he must have heard that joke before, but rather because Gilbert had already raised expectations unnecessarily—I couldn’t risk irritating him.

He certainly seemed the type who valued a teacher’s authority. And I was right.

“To add further, I graduated top of my class from the Imperial Academy, passed the notoriously difficult Licensed Mage exam in a single attempt, officially joined the capital’s Mage Tower, and have contributed to advancing the Empire’s magical research. In the field of optical magic, I have achieved dazzling results. Any mage who doesn’t know my name may as well be considered a spy.”

How impressive. Meanwhile, I dropped out of high school. Since possessing this body, I don’t even have that much.

But hey, by my side is the magical equivalent of Newton in science or Beethoven in music, hanging around like a keychain!

I shot a glance at Zerodines as if to ask, Do you know this guy? He shook his head vigorously.

— Never heard of him. Graduating top of the class is normal; why would he brag about it? And seriously, are there people who can’t pass an exam on the first try?

I couldn’t agree more. Failing at something as simple as graduating first, building a utopia, or inventing the elixir of immortality—surely only the rarest of fools could manage that.