emperor chapter 26

“Here, take this. I just received this book from a senior, but it’s too difficult for me.”

“Uh… uh? …Uh.”

The book I was looking at vanished, replaced by another.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask… Oh, wait, should I be asking you, Minette? Hmm… I have something to do today, so I’ll be going now.”

“Something to do? Wait, Parfait, hold on! Just a…”

Parfait disappeared with the book before I could stop her. Left alone in our four-person dorm room, I awkwardly withdrew my outstretched hand.

The sunlight streaming through the window was warm. It felt strange to be alone in the usually bustling dorm.

“What… what do I do with this…?”

As if handling an explosive, I flipped through the book Parfait had left. Once again, I realized that Miniel’s knowledge hadn’t transferred to me. I couldn’t understand a single thing.

“Sigh.”

I sighed and closed the book.

It had already been a month since I arrived at the Caro Temple. The exam was tomorrow. I had studied in between my various chores, but my confidence wasn’t exactly overflowing.

I went to the common breakroom to clear my head. I thought I was the only apprentice free to use the breakroom in the morning, but someone was already there.

When I smelled the lingering cigarette smoke, I almost closed the door and left. It was a pretty instinctive reaction.

“Huh? The apprentice from before.”

If only the mid-level cleric hadn’t noticed me.

Was his name Arima? He had started to scold Sebek for bothering me but then left abruptly. He didn’t seem entirely kind. I wanted to avoid him if possible.

“What are you doing? Weren’t you coming in? Close the door; it’s cold.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Arima was a man with a cold demeanor. His thin, high-pitched voice, laced with a hint of irritation, became an irresistible command.

I quickly closed the door and looked around the breakroom. Why was there no place to sit except for the sofa in the middle?

“Honestly. Do I have to tell you to sit down? Unlike Sebek, I’m not particularly interested in you.”

“Oh… okay.”

I hadn’t wanted his interest. Somehow, I felt rejected. I answered awkwardly and sat across from him.

I worried he might start a conversation, but I was wrong. Arima didn’t even look at me, simply flipping the page of the book he was reading.

He had explicitly stated his lack of interest, so there was no need to worry. I opened the book I had brought to study.

I preferred cafes to my room, and libraries to cafes. The sound of Arima turning pages created a rather pleasant study atmosphere.

“When’s your exam?”

The silence broke when Arima spoke. He had been looking at me for a while, though I’d thought he was reading.

“Tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Being a cleric is just tedious and tiring. It’s not too late to find another path, you know.”

“Another path… like what, for example?”

“Well, it wouldn’t pay much, but you could continue your studies. Or give up on anything related to divine power.”

“I see. Thank you for the advice.”

Arima tilted his head and closed his book.

“Is that all? Parfait said you seemed quite keen on this path.”

“Ah. There’s been a slight misunderstanding…”

“A misunderstanding?”

“It’s a long story. Anyway, it’s not what Parfait thinks.”

“If it’s not what Parfait said, then you have no intention of becoming a cleric?”

“Of course not. Can’t you see I’m studying hard?”

“Do you want to do this, or not?”

“I don’t want to, but I have to…?”

I didn’t care whether I became a cleric of Caro or not, but I couldn’t just quit my position as a Saint. Even though I was away, it was still considered a leave of absence. Eventually, I had to return to the Imperial Temple in the capital.

That was the best way to summarize my situation.

“Pfft!”

“…?”

It was a strange sight to see a handsome man with a cold demeanor burst out laughing. Arima let out a snort after my reply and then started chuckling to himself.

“You… you’re interesting. I swear I’ve never said this before, but I hope you pass the exam and stay in Caro for a long time. Even if you fail, you can always retake it. I heard you’re not from Caro, right?”

“Yes, that’s true, but what’s so funny?”

“That. Your lack of self-awareness.”

I had no idea what he was talking about.

After offering that unhelpful explanation, Arima suppressed another chuckle. Then, he suddenly leaned closer, a smile playing on his lips. His expression was completely different from our first encounter.

“Try to avoid Sebek. He’s fickle, but once he’s fixated on something, he can be quite persistent.”

“I’d prefer to avoid him as well, but I don’t think there’s any reason for him to be fixated on me.”

“No. I can guarantee it. Sebek and I have the same taste in women.”

Should I make a list titled, ‘Things to be careful of during my stay at the Caro Temple’?

Once again, I hadn’t been able to study properly. And despite my struggles, the exam was fast approaching.

Was I really okay just being here like this? Huh, Raphaerd?