The summer vacation was about to enter its second week.

I was already longing for the date I had with Alice a few days ago. I wanted to go out with her again as soon as possible, but I couldn’t just drag her outside recklessly. Even our last date had only happened because Alice was feeling exceptionally well that day, and I had to persuade Kanna, her chaperone, to allow it.

Besides, Alice seemed to have things of her own to do, and lately, she had been staying in her room. Meanwhile, I had been making frequent visits to Eisel’s workshop, where the sword I had requested from Red-Winged Bat was being forged. It was a little lonely not having Alice around, but I didn’t want to be too clingy and risk annoying her. So today, I had resigned myself to going to the city alone—

“Where are you going?”

Freesia, who had recently been honing her stealth techniques, suddenly appeared beside me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Whoa… When did you get there?”

“I was here from the beginning.”

“……”

I instinctively asked, but the answer was obvious. I shouldn’t have asked… The way she was looking at me was unsettling… Actually, it was downright scary.

Trying to keep my composure, I answered her question.

“I’m going to Red-Winged Bat… The smithy.”

“Again? You’ve been going a lot lately.”

She tilted her head suspiciously. It seemed she didn’t believe me at all.

“Didn’t I tell you before? I’m having a new sword made, and for that, my blood and magic power are needed.”

This was all because I had decided to make a sword that could kill a dragon without any compromise. There was nothing suspicious about it in the slightest.

“Hmmm…”

And yet, the interrogator-like young lady still seemed doubtful. What exactly about my statement seemed questionable? There wasn’t a single thing to be suspicious of, right? Why was she even probing me like this?

“…What?”

Unable to endure her relentless gaze, I asked. She looked away and continued speaking.

“You say you’re going to the smithy, but you always come back late… C-Could it be that you’re actually sneaking off to some… indecent establishment!?”

“…Hah?”

What nonsense was this airheaded lady spouting now? How did she even reach that conclusion?

“I come home late because I spend time with Eisel working on the sword, trying out different designs, or helping with the forging. Before I know it, it’s night.”

“E-Even so, isn’t it happening too often?”

No matter how much I explained, Freesia remained unconvinced.

—What’s with her today? She’s being unusually persistent…

Come to think of it, Freesia had been strangely suspicious lately. If she doubted me that much—

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you come along?”

“Eh! I-I can!?”

“I don’t mind, but… It’s not going to be fun. The workshop is unbearably hot… Aren’t you bad with heat?”

“Heat is nothing! Besides, if I’m with you, I won’t be bored at all!!”

Despite my warning, she seemed eager. If this would clear my name, then so be it.

“Alright then… Let’s go.”

“Yes!!”

And so, with Freesia suddenly joining me, I headed toward the city once again.

By midday, the city was bustling with people as usual. We were walking through the market street toward Red-Winged Bat when—

“Hey, Clay! What’s that!?”

“……”

For someone who had been so suspicious earlier, Freesia was now completely engrossed in the market stalls, excitedly pulling me along.

—I should’ve just left her behind…

We would take a few steps, only for her to stop and stare at a stall, then take a few more steps before getting distracted by a food cart. At this point, we had completely abandoned our original destination.

Why?

The reason was obvious. It was all because of the overly enthusiastic noble girl beside me. She looked absolutely delighted.

—I should’ve brought Weiss instead…

Not that it was an option. The so-called Hero was busy training with Grand Uncle again today. He had no time to sneak away to the city.

—Levia, for some reason, was also helping out the servants at my place…

Which left only me and Freesia. Honestly, it felt a little strange.

Now that I thought about it, I had never walked through the city with her like this before—not in my first life, and not in this second one either. We spent a lot of time together at the academy, but we had never gone out like this.

—Is this… a da—no, let’s not go there.

Shaking off a dangerous thought before it could take root, I turned to see Freesia still brimming with excitement.

“Hey, hey, Clay! Look at that!!”

“What now…”

She tugged insistently at my sleeve, pointing at something. If she kept pulling like that, my clothes were going to stretch… I reluctantly followed her gaze to find a poster pasted on a wall.

It featured an imposing knight brandishing a sword, with bold letters declaring:

“The Royal Founding Festival’s Main Event!! Applications Open for the Royal Swordsmanship Tournament!!”

The Royal Founding Festival

It was an annual event held at this time of year to celebrate the founding of the Chronostaria Kingdom.

The festival lasted an entire day, from morning until night, filled with various events and attractions. The swordsmanship tournament advertised on the poster was one of its highlights.

“Oh yeah, that’s in three days, isn’t it…”

Seeing the poster reminded me of the festival. Looking around, the decorations and preparations were already well underway. Now that I thought about it, Eisel had mentioned that his workshop was swamped with orders for festival-related items.

“Of course, you’re going to participate, right!?”

“Nah, I’m not interested.”

“Why not!?”

Freesia looked at me in disbelief. But I had no reason to join. I didn’t want to stand out—academy life had already been more than enough. To be honest, I had completely forgotten the festival was even happening.

—I’ve been training as usual, festival or not…

The last time I participated was in my first life. In this second life, I had never joined, nor had I the time to.

“If you want to participate, go ahead—former top-ranked finalist, Freesia Greyfrost?”

I had no intention of joining the tournament this time. I wasn’t in the mindset to enjoy such things, and if someone like me participated, it would just ruin the mood.

—Besides, with her current skill, she could win the whole thing. Watching her victory would be enjoyable enough.

Just as I was thinking that, Freesia suddenly fell silent.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“…Why won’t you enter?”

“I don’t really have a reason to.”

“Then you should! You’d win easily…”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Even if I had never participated before, I knew the tournament wouldn’t be easy. Maybe in the past, I would have joined to gain combat experience, but I no longer needed that.

“I’ll pass.”

“…Then it’s meaningless.”

She muttered, lowering her head.

I wasn’t clueless enough to not understand what she meant.

“Sigh…”