I have no taste for peeping into other people's private lives. Or rather, I was never interested in it in the first place.

　But if they might be demons, it's legal. In my opinion, though.



　I couldn't see the tubes growing out of his back, which is a concept on a magical level.

　So I thought it was a demon or a demon god who possessed Zahra-senpai who switched to that one.



　To confirm that, I'll have to monitor her secret meetings with Zahra-senpai.



　I put a warding on one of her eyes and connect it to the surveillance warding I put in her room. I also put a warding in one ear, and the sound came from that ear.



"Confession of love ...... is very bold to keep those two away from each other."



"On the face of it, you're not wrong. I'm asking you to marry me because it's true."



He's after your family, isn't he?



What's the matter?　Isn't that basically what marriage between nobles is all about?"



　Zahra-senpai tossed the bouquet of flowers she was carrying to the side of the bed.



"I want to enjoy free love, don't you?"



"After you give me an heir, you are free to do as you please. I will say this, though, as discreetly as possible."



　Zahra sighs in spite of herself.



　He's too dry, though. Is this how noblemen talk about marriage? No dreams, no hopes.

　Well, it's not something I can relate to as I'm trying to live a reclusive life in another world with all my might.



You don't have to give me an answer right now. You can think it over while you're still in school.



"I'll do that."



　However, Zahra senior is a fifth-year student. That's not a very long time.



"So?　So this is where we start to get down to business?"



"It's not that complicated. I'm just trying to answer a simple question about how you got to the point of falling asleep."



　Zahra senior gave me an overtly disapproving look.

　I told her not to say anything about Shiva's involvement or the experiment to raise her magic level.

　One of the purposes of my visit was to remind her of this. （Charu seemed to have genuinely wanted to visit her. Good boy)



　So, it is hard to believe that Zahra-senpai would talk so much.

　I don't believe him to be a man of integrity who keeps his promises, but I trust him to be a man who doesn't hesitate to protect himself for his own sake.



　However, I thought it would be better to control him than to stand idly by...



"Shiva. From this point on, I want you to do exactly as I say."

"What?"



　Zahra, the senior, looks around in surprise. He is acting very suspiciously.

　But he is a person who has survived the aristocratic society where evil spirits of the mountains and rivers abound (probably). Wasn't there a fly flying around? He misled me with a rude remark (to me).



　I whisper in his ear. (I'm trying to make sure that only she can hear me through my wards, and Char in front of me can't hear me either).



"Well, what was it?　Yes, yes, you want to know why I fell asleep."



　Zahra-senpai replied nonchalantly.



"I went to seduce Hart Semphis, and Professor Ruseyaner made me help him with his magic experiments. I heard that something happened to him during that time and he collapsed.



　The "seduction" part was ad-libbed. I must say, the naturalness of the story is very impressive.



"Did you cooperate with the experiment without knowing what it was about?"



　Giggle, giggle, giggle.

"I did ask, but I don't know anything about ancient magic. You said that the reason she collapsed was because of a backflow of magic power.



"I think the professor should be condemned for harming the daughter of a marquess, don't you?"



"I made a good impression on your father and the others. They're counts too, and it would be troublesome if it escalated into a factional mess.



　Zahra-senpai answered quickly before I could even say a word.

　Well, that's what we actually do around here, isn't it? I had planned to send Shiva to try to persuade (or threaten) Zahra if Father Zahra became resentful, but Zahra-senpai seems to have done a good job of it.



"Hmmm. Well, I guess this is just another way of saying that I'm glad I got hurt.



What are you talking about?



"You wanted to seduce Mr. Harte, didn't you?　Even if it was out of obligation that I came to visit you, I think you can welcome the closeness of our relationship."



　How dare you say that to the person you asked to marry you?

　What are you talking about?



"Impossible. She doesn't care about me. I'm not going to waste my effort.



　More importantly," said Zahra, smiling wickedly.



"Are you sure you don't want to make a pass at my sister instead of me?"



"If you say no, I will."



　Ugh," Zahra-senpai's face contorted.

　By the way, I was about to burst out in murderous rage, but I held back. Char-chan is right there. We mustn't scare her.



"I can't say no anymore. ......



　Zahra knows what she's talking about. I hope you will be a bulwark.

　The conversation has taken a strange turn, and there seems to be no point in letting Zahra-senpai talk to me any longer.






　Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

"Is there more to the story?　I'm tired and I want to go to bed.



"Oh, I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. I repeat, take your time to reply.



　Alexei left without a backward glance.

　By this time, Char and I were on our way to the institute in a box carriage.



　The carriage was rocking and swaying.



"Hey Char. What do you want to do with Numbers?



　I asked him straight out.

　Charu stared blankly, then his expression tightened.



"I believe that even those who stand for evil have an unshakable sense of justice at their heart. If we cannot understand each other in words, we have no choice but to talk fist to fist.



　What's wrong, Charles?



"I'm sure that if we fight on the riverbanks, we'll be rubbing shoulders against the sunset afterwards!"



　Not too Showa, is it?



"However, we will welcome Princess Marianne and Prince Lias," Alexei said. We should first try to resolve the issue peacefully through discussion."



　I was convinced when I saw Charu smiling at me.



　It was obvious that Alexei-senpai was trying to rope us in.

　It is hard to believe that he would agree to a discussion.



　Charu thinks that it is a definite matter that the discussion will break down and they will have to go into battle.



　All right, Charu. I'll make sure everything is set up.

　I'll think about the details from now on, but I'll do my best!