Erekaya del Pendragon does not particularly like Altina von Rudel Seryas.

Though they have known each other and interacted since they were very young, it doesn’t mean Erekaya feels a sense of familiarity or any sweet affection towards Altina.

After all, the House of Count Seryas is merely a cadet branch of the House of Pendragon, and Altina is, in essence, in a position where she ought to serve Erekaya as a vassal.

It has been far too long since the House of Seryas split from the House of Pendragon, and given that all students maintain equal status within Nineveh, they keep up a ‘friendship’ with each other. However, under normal circumstances, the two would not be in a position to regard each other as equals.

Well, Erekaya doesn’t particularly wish to rummage through centuries-old family trees to establish the hierarchy between herself and Altina.

It’s simply that every time she faces Altina, she inexplicably feels that Altina is somehow beneath her, which hinders her ability to pursue a serious relationship with her.

However, setting aside external issues like bloodlines or hierarchies, Erekaya does not particularly like Altina as a person either.

In fact, Erekaya has a slight aversion to Altina.

This is because Altina von Rudel Seryas has everything that Erekaya lacks.

Erekaya del Pendragon has no friends by her side.

Many people find the esteemed House of Pendragon, known as the top family of the Empire, burdensome, and given Erekaya’s own not-so-sociable nature, others tend to hesitate to approach her.

However, Altina von Rudel Seryas is always surrounded by many friends.

Her inherently bright personality, abundant consideration for others, and ever-confident demeanor naturally draw many towards her without them realizing it.

Though she has become somewhat neglectful of her social interactions lately, spending much of her time training in the training hall with Jin, it’s undeniable that Altina remains an indispensable figure in Class A and acts as a lubricant in their interactions.

Erekaya del Pendragon has no blood relatives.

The House of Pendragon is famously known for having an exceptionally small number of blood members in comparison to its status. It was once considered remarkable that their lineage had not been broken over time, given how rare their bloodline is.

For Erekaya, her only close blood relatives are her father and mother.

As for a ‘family’ where she can share her heart, cherish one another, and depend on each other… such a concept does not exist for her.

On the other hand, Altina von Rudel Seryas has many siblings.

She has an older sister who adores and cherishes her, and a younger brother who looks up to and likes her.

Laughter is always present by Altina von Rudel Seryas’s side, and happiness never fades from her life.

Erekaya del Pendragon lacks a mentor.

Of course, there are figures who could be considered her mentors, like the Duke of Pendragon, who taught her swordsmanship since childhood, or the Chairperson, who guided her after she reached the level of Master.

However, the Duke of Pendragon imparted the family vision, known as the ‘Dance of the Dragon’, to Erekaya in order for her to eventually inherit the House of Pendragon, while the Chairperson merely elevated her to a higher level out of courtesy as a vassal.

A mentor unconditionally appreciates their disciple, and the disciple respects and reveres such a mentor.

It is a relationship tied not by any specific purpose of teaching but merely through affection and love.

At least, Erekaya does not feel that she resides within such a mentor-disciple relationship.

However, Altina von Rudel Seryas is different.

To be honest, Erekaya has little interest or curiosity about ‘the usual Altina’.
She had never cared about what kind of environment Altina was in, how she lived her daily life, or the people she associated with.

However, even she couldn’t help but be concerned about the news that Altina von Rudel Seryas had become entangled with that man, gradually drawing closer to him, and ultimately forming a bond as ‘mentor and disciple.’

And that did not sit well with Erekaya at all.

It had always been this way. Altina von Rudel Seryas was an unfair existence, overflowing with things that Erekaya could never possess.

Altina had many close friends and trusted family members, all the things that were lacking in Erekaya’s life, as if Altina was a greedy person hoarding everything.

Erekaya had never thought of it as envy; their paths were incredibly different.

Even if Altina possessed elements that Erekaya could admire, that was Altina’s path, not the path of Erekaya del Pendragon.

…Yes, at least until this very moment.

Erekaya does not like Altina. This is because Altina, who has it all, is now trying to take away the only man that Erekaya has left.

Jin could be Erekaya’s only friend. But Altina became friends with Jin before Erekaya did.

Jin is clearly Erekaya’s only blood relative. Yet Altina has grown closer to him and interacts with him more freely than even blood relatives.

Jin could have been a mentor to Erekaya.

However, unbeknownst to Erekaya, Altina von Rudel Seryas had already established a mentor-disciple relationship with Jin.

…Ah, how frustrating. This is so very petty and unfair.

Why is it that you always take away everything I cannot have? Even though you already possess everything, are you now trying to take the one thing I have left?

Are you attempting to snatch away the one person who could be my friend, my blood, and even my mentor?

Burdened with such dark thoughts tucked away in a corner of her heart, Erekaya stepped into the hospital room where Altina lay.

Yet, beyond all those emotions, Erekaya had something she needed to ask Altina.

“So, Altina. Are you feeling any better?”

“…Not really.”

In a way, it was a somewhat amusing scene. Though Erekaya had been severely injured in the duel that day, she had already returned to normal, while Altina, who had no visible injuries aside from internal bruising, lay in the hospital bed.

However, it wasn’t completely surprising regarding Altina’s condition.

In the final moments, she had simultaneously stacked aura, transcendental abilities, and will, causing the backlash to hit her body hard, so it was no wonder that her insides would be a mess.

“Here. Though it’s not much of a gift for visiting, I brought something that will facilitate your recovery.”

With that, Erekaya tossed something contained in a tiny glass vial to Altina.

“Oh? Thanks. But what is it?”

“An elixir.”

“…W-what?”

An elixir.

It was an extremely rare potion named after the legendary panacea, produced only in limited quantities—about one or two bottles a year—by the Magic Association.

Rumor has it that this small glass vial is worth approximately the value of an entire castle.

Yet, to think such a precious and valuable item would be casually distributed as a hospital gift?

“I’ll decline the refusal. Surely you don’t think the House of Pendragon is such a poor family that it can’t afford to give you a single potion?”
Erekaya found herself inwardly amazed at how Altina could dismiss such a valuable and precious elixir with a casual mention of it being ‘just a potion.’ However, as Erekaya had pointed out, refusing it would be considered quite rude given how much effort she had put into this gesture.

“…Thank you. I promise I will repay this favor someday.”

“Favor? Don’t worry about it. We’re friends after all, right?”

Altina remained blissfully unaware of the strange resonance in Erekaya’s use of the word ‘friends.’

“By the way, others have really been too much. You’re lying here injured from our duel, and yet none of them have even bothered to come visit you.”

Erekaya sighed dramatically as she spoke, to which Altina responded with a wry smile, shaking her head as if to counter Erekaya’s claim.

“That’s not true. Many people have come to visit me. In fact, Claire and Jin come here every day.”

“…Jin? Why is he here?”

“Like I mentioned before, Jin has been acting as my mentor. He feels responsible for my injury as if it were his fault for not teaching me correctly. Honestly, it’s as if he thinks I’m a child left out on the streets. There’s no need for that level of overprotection.”

On the surface, one might interpret her tone as a sign of annoyance regarding his frequent visits. Yet, Erekaya did not miss the underlying sense of pride and self-satisfaction woven into Altina’s words.

“…I see, so he visits here every day.”

An unknown emotion wriggled within Erekaya’s chest. She felt a strange discomfort, as if the blood in her fingertips had ceased to flow.

However, she would never let that show on her face. In front of anyone else, perhaps, but certainly not in front of Altina von Rudel Seryas.

Fortunately, wearing that mask was not particularly difficult for her, as she had grown accustomed to that act in front of others.

Yet today, putting that mask on felt… more difficult than usual.

The empty space he had left from his daily visits felt overwhelmingly large to Erekaya.

“Well, in a way, it might be even. I have been to his dormitory as well. Whether Jin comes to visit me every day or I enter his dorm, it’s no different, right?”

In that moment, something welled up inside Erekaya.

She had known that Altina had visited his room.

After all, wasn’t that the very reason Erekaya had come to visit her in the first place, to confirm that fact? It was hardly surprising.

So, Erekaya knew she must maintain her composure. She needed to extract information from Altina.

But still… hearing those words from Altina made her head spin. Her heart raced, and her tongue felt dry; she couldn’t bring herself to speak hastily.

Altina, what kind of relationship do you have with that man? What sort of connection allows you to visit each other’s spaces so casually?

And why is it that you always take away what I want the most?

Though Altina spoke something before her, Erekaya could no longer hear the words.

Ah, I hate this. I hate everything. I hate it all.

…Altina, you are not a bad woman. You are not an annoying woman to me.

You are, truly, a cruel woman to me.

And I really, truly, hate that about you.