Doggone Academy - Chapter 59

Chapter 59. Gathering (1)

Weekly Chapter (5/5)

The next morning, they dismissed the evaluators, including Elizabeth.

They stayed at the entrance of the mansion until their carriages disappeared.

Sylverine said,

“I hear you gave Elizabeth a gift?”

“Yes, I did exactly as you recommended.”

“Well done.”

She hesitated a moment.

“I also heard that you gave a gift to the alchemist girl.”

“Yes, that’s why she handed me a strange candy recipe.”

Causalities happened until he obtained that artifact.

The artifact’s effect was beyond his comprehension, but he was happy because it was a gift from a Great Sorceress.

But Sylverine didn’t say anything since he answered. He was curious if she had a problem.

Although she had the same expression, the atmosphere became strange.

It was hard to put it into words.

She wasn’t wearing any accessories today either.

“Is something wrong?”

“Why?”

“You’re not wearing the usual accessories.”

She wouldn’t even look him in the eye. She said,

“I don’t know.”

Her answer seemed cold.

Had he done something she didn’t like?

“……?”

Yesterday she was in a good mood, perhaps something had disturbed her in the evening.

Suddenly she relayed new news to him.

“Yes, an invitation came from Popper. They want us to attend a gathering tomorrow.”

He was thinking so much about the Academy, he had forgotten about the social gathering.

“We can’t turn it down, right?”

“We can’t do it because you said you would attend.”

He remembered that he had agreed after subjugating the ghouls.

“Hmm…I don’t have to dance, right?

In that case, he’d rather cut off his achilles heel.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to. But it’s better if you learn beforehand. Even in Eternia, there’s a ball every semester.”

Every semester there was a ball at Eternia?

It seemed like a bolt of lightning had come from the heavens.

“If you don’t get a partner for the dance, you’ll be miserable. The stigma that you can’t even get a dance partner is going to haunt you for the whole semester. And partners who can’t dance are not popular.”

It was the most tragic thing Sylverine had ever said to him.

Eternia began to scare him.

“Why are you talking so seriously?”

“Yes, a ball can be a great experience.”

“…….”

Then Sylverine entered the mansion.

Her attitude was a bit strange.

Lilia, who observed the situation like the other maids, approached him.

She took the ring off her finger.

“I’ll hide this ring for a while. It’s not because I don’t like it, but I think it would be good to do so….”

Lilia, who kept the ring in her pocket, walked into the mansion.

The maids shook their heads.

“…….”

It seemed that he really was to blame.

***

Everyone was busy in the mansion for one reason or another.

The maids packed supplies for the long journey to Eternia. And he prepared a lot of potions, because he wouldn’t be able to use the fabrication room for a while.

He requested something from the butler amid the bustle.

The butler was taking his body measurements for the tailcoat.

He said with a puzzled expression.

“I can bring you whatever you need.”

“No. Please be sure to sell this meteoric iron ring and bring me the proceeds, no more, no less.”

It would be sold in a hurry, so he wouldn’t get the right price.

But it didn’t make sense to use Sylverine’s money to make a gift for herself.

“Besides, keep this a secret from the master. At least until tomorrow night.”

“Understood.”

He sighed after the butler left.

She had so many fancy accessories that he thought it wouldn’t be necessary to make any items for her, but that wasn’t the case. He would be cautious with gifts henceforth.

He returned to the fabrication room. Lilia was busy making Griffin potions.

He joined in the work. He couldn’t carry all the Griffin blood in the six barrels, so he had to use it in potions as much as he could.

The day passed quickly as he prepared to go to Eternia.

***

The music of the musical instruments resounded.

The sound became clearer as the carriage moved forward.

The murmurs increased when they saw the carriage.

The carriage had a great seal of Eternia, so it attracted attention.

Unlike him, Sylverine looked as comfortable as if she were at home. She had probably been to places like this many times.

When the carriage stopped, the gate opened.

He followed Sylverine, who had gotten out.

There were many antique carriages around him.

The gathering was held at the Knights Order training camp.

There were many people on the wide lawn.

The attendant, who opened the carriage door, led the way.

“The leader is waiting for you.”

***