(EP-156.1) Love #1

156 – Fairy Love #1

We went to a quiet cafe near the Platinum Dormitory to have our conversation.

Stella seemed to have something to say to me, and I also had things to discuss with her, so it was a good time.

“Theo-kun, you and I are close… You’ll appoint me as the champion, won’t you!?”

Professor Stella seemed to naturally assume that she would be chosen as the champion for the upcoming Queen’s trial.

At the same time, she was secretly reaffirming our ‘close’ relationship. But when I thought about it, were we even that close to begin with?

Her thinking was too self-centered.

Stella Bellhawk was such a character.

Someone who thought that the world would stop when they closed their eyes.

They held a strong belief that the world should provide for them rather than them contributing to the world.

As the lady of a prestigious family and a long-lived elven aristocrat, she had effortlessly received favors from others for over a hundred years. It was only natural that such self-centered thinking would develop.

「You have calmly judged the situation!

You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.

All job experience +5」

I turned my gaze away from the system window and looked at Stella. She was explaining why she should become the Queen’s champion.

“The Queen being attacked is an unprecedented situation. This trial by combat is bound to attract immense attention. People will flock. Even if we just put up one at the arena, it will have a significant impact.”

“That’s right.”

“Winning in such a grand event would bring a tremendous amount of honor and glory. This is a great chance to restore the prestige of the Bellhawk’s, solidify my position within the family, and free myself from excommunication.”

As expected, this elf was cunning enough to turn the terrible situation caused by the Hunter Party she brought into an opportunity.

I actually quite like this idea. However, what I didn’t like was her attitude of forcing me to say, “That’s why, choose me!”

“But, is there a specific reason why I must choose you as my champion, Professor?”

I curtly asked like a bee sting, which made Stella raise her thin purple eyebrows.

“You, you confided my secrets to Lady Draco at your own discretion the other day! I’m giving you an opportunity to mend this broken trust. It’s a chance for you to extend kindness to me!”

Stella spoke as if I should be grateful for having been given this chance to help myself. Her self-centered thinking seemed to have reached a whole new level.

But there was no Mirna right now.

I didn’t need to lower myself on purpose to guilt-trip Mirna.

“If you truly look at it, isn’t the Professor wrong for breaking into my room in the first place? So I don’t think you can really use the word ‘trust’ here, no?”

“…….”

Stella remained silent. Then, after a moment, she said, wanting to make a counterargument.

“Theo-kun, aren’t you quite different right now? Is it because Lady Mirna isn’t here?”

“Well, anyway, if you want to become the champion, you’ll need to show me your sincerity.”

“What, are you asking me to kneel in front of you?”

“Well~.”

“…….”

With that, my conversation with Stella briefly ended.

* * *

As the conversation settled, we sat sipping our tea. Stella impatiently looked around before expressing her annoyance.

“Where are these guys? Why aren’t they here yet? Did they go to make it themselves?”

Just then, someone appeared running in a hurry from a distance. It was a girl with red hair tied into two ponytails. Her pointed ears that were poking out weren’t as sharp as those of Elves, but also weren’t quite as round as a Nymph’s either.

“Professor…!”

To put it bluntly, she had the appearance of the ever-youthful Nymphs. The star-shaped tail waving behind her was also different from the Nymphs.

“Professor…! I’ve brought the cake…! I, Tartar, totally wasn’t late because I secretly took a bite of the cake or anything like that…!”

It was the Imp Tartar. The star-tailed Imp who tried to scam Marmar some time ago.

I heard that she was hired as Professor Stella’s assistant. Looking at this, it seemed to be true.

On the plate offered by Tartar was a chocolate cake, and the end part appeared to have been nibbled on.

Tartar must have eaten it.

In response, Stella’s face scrunched up in displeasure.

“Who told you to touch it? This is a limited time cake ordered for Theo-kun. Go get a new one quickly!”

At the Elf’s shouting, the small Tartar trembled. Then she said in a crawling voice.

“T-This was the last cake… And I was so hungry…. Yesterday and today, I wasn’t able to eat because I was working all day…! You vicious Professor, where’s the promised meals…!”

It seemed like Tartar was undergoing various hardships under the tyrannical Elf Professor, Stella. She looked a bit pathetic and pitiful.

Well, Tartar originally tried to harm Marmar.

It could be said that she was being punished for her sins. But seeing her suffer like this reminded me of Marmar, which did make me feel a bit sorry for her.

“And, you’re even getting mad?”

The stern Stella grabbed Tartar’s ear, who had meddled with the food.

In response, Tartar, who was much smaller and weaker than Stella, helplessly tiptoed up the air.

“Hieek…! This, this is imp-phobic behavior…! My short Imp ears are being stretched like a kkanp’s…!”

“Kkanp? What did you just say? What, kkanp? Don’t you know that’s an offensive term for Elves? I’ll deduct 300 coins from your hourly wages!”

“Aaht, I misspoke…! I won’t say kkanp again…!”

“You just said it again!”

She was completely scatterbrained…