Monogatari no Naka no Hito

Away from the anguished teachers is the dwelling of an unaware and thoughtless magician, the fragrance of dinner fills the Mikarune family’s secondary residence in the royal capital.

“Looks good!”

In high spirits, Riheed is about to start eating at any moment.

“Riheed, wait.”

“Riheed-sama, not yet.”

“Really, you’re restless be it school or home.”

However, he is stopped by the mansion’s master and employees.

Hyph holds his palm out in front of Riheed entirely like he’s stopping a pet, making him stay still.

Aryu cautions Riheed while carrying the cooking and smiling, Mikene who is amazed points that out.

It’s a common scene.

“Mu-muu. I noticed recently, but are you not thinking of me as being your elder!?”

“Were you not in the first half of your twenties. Even so, there’s no out of place feeling if it’s said that your current figure is the real form.”

“Riheed-sama’s age doesn’t correspond with his behavior and conduct.”

Riheed’s argument is immediately shot down by the two women.

“How old are you really?”

“Mu, uuhm… how old?”

Hyph’s question get to the core of the matter, Riheed who is counting on his fingers gives up.

To begin with, he’s a man who has even forgotten his own birthday, the age is something that can’t be counted so an accurate age can’t be found out.

Can’t be bothered except with what he finds interesting, that’s the magician known as Riheed.

Like that, the meal has begun unrelated to Riheed who is recalling and counting on his fingers.

“To not know your own age. Riheed-sama, do you not know your birthday?”

“Mu… yeah.”

“Ara ara. Then let’s say your age is the same as me. And the birthday is the day we met?”

The maid’s question is a critical hit, the master decides the age and birthday as if it’s a trivial thing.

Wa-wait a bit. Do you really not see me as senior to anyone here!?”

“Riheed’s composure and dignity is insufficient.”

“Guwaa.”

The gardener’s single bitter blow with no ill meaning struck a blow to the former shut-in magician.

Afterwards, Mikene humorously talks about Riheed’s first school day filled with trouble, the evening meal continued harmoniously.

The magician, dignity, composure, on the side he softly mutters them like they’re the names of his parent’s enemies.

The next morning, it’s the second day of the magician’s school life.

“Good morning Riheed-sama.”

“Morning Aryu.”

“…?”

First thing in the morning, the maid greets Riheed who entered the dining room.

Hearing the reply, she looks puzzled having an unusual sense incompatibility.

But that doubt vanishes before long, and she returns to preparing breakfast.

“Morning Riheed.”

“Morning Mikene.”

Mikene does her morning greeting with a certain grace, it’s returned by Riheed in the same way.

Likewise looking puzzled with a sense of incompatibility, it was quickly judged to be her imagination as she sat down in her seat.

Soon after Hyph enters after finishing his morning duties and greets everyone.

He likewise is identically puzzled at the change in Riheed’s atmosphere, placing priority on breakfast he sits down on his seat.

Thus breakfast advances with the mansion’s head and employees being perplexed.

It’s noisy at Rhonks Magic School in the morning.

Though students commute back and forth from m the school dorms, like Mikene who has a home in the royal capital, there are some students who attend school going by carriage.

Among them is Riheed and Mikene walking on the way to school.

Though the two employees said they will send them by carriage, the master decided not to do so.

In the first place, Seeing the employees say it’s impossible for the two to go alone, Mikene thinks it’s absurd to go by carriage when there’s not much of a distance, so walking to school is a natural judgement.

Riheed, when hearing the quarrel of the master and employees, proposes that they only have to summon a slightly large bird and get on.

That plan, judged by the quarreling master and employee in consideration of the mental wellbeing of the royal capital citizens, was rejected with all their might.

That being the case, the two don’t have any particular feelings about how they get to school, and it was decided to commute on foot.

“Riheed, how should I put it, class promptly starts today and there’s a practical skills examination, will it be alright?”

“Yea, Kyrie-sensei said that I have no need to participate in the mater, I intend to observe silently.”

“Th-that so…?”

Due to the uproar from the duel, Mikene wasn’t able to prepare much for the examination and had forgotten to confirm with Riheed.

However, Mikene shakes violently due to the behavior which wouldn’t come from the usual Riheed.

Usually he would laugh loudly at being able to test out magic and express delight with his body and words.

He’s not a person who would talk about being quiet by himself.

That conduct, put together with the out of place feelings from this morning, gave Mikene an uneasy feeling.

Incidentally, Rhonks Magic School practical skill examination after a long term holiday is an established event to inspect magic power.

While on break a magic you like is chosen, learn, research, perform it, and show it after the holiday.

It’s an event where a student’s individuality comes forth, and is something the teachers and students look forward to.

Because it’s a practical skills assignment test and performance it is known as the practical skills examination, if anything, this free research project has a large weight.

There are also students making plans on the same day who have forgotten the assignment over the long holidays.

“Are you Riheed-sama?”

With Riheed’s strange state, the troubled Mikene is walking side by side beyond them is a crowd of in front of the school’s gate.

Usually he would stick his head in, but Riheed with his strange state is splendidly ignoring it.

But from the center of the crowd, a voice comes from the cause of the gathering crows, Riheed and Mikene stop where they are.

“Hmm? That’s right.”

“Well, thank goodness. I was afraid you had gone into the school building earlier.”

The crowd is parted to the left and right, and the person from the center approaches Riheed.

“That’s how it is. Though I wasn’t aware, excuse me for keeping a beautiful female like you waiting. Pleased to make your acquaintance, though you already know, my name is Riheed, general magic department year one. If you don’t mind would the beautiful young lady tall me your name.”

Mikene is dumbfounded by Riheed’s attitude which would normally be thought of as unthinkable.

“Sorry for not introducing myself. My name is Mari Meiryus Vertolily. Support magic department year one. Please call me freely by Mari.”

“Hohou! As I thought, the forest princess, or is it the queen’s daughter!”

Hearing the name of Mari who elegantly introduced herself, for an instant Riheed makes his usual reaction.

“Yes! I properly heard about Riheed-sama from mother.”

“That’s how it is, hearing that is scary.”

“No, not like that! I heard that you brought many good things to our place.”

Waving her hands, Mari tells of what she heard from her mother, that charming action causes the surrounding crowd to ignore the contents of the conversation.

“Hahaha, I’m glad if you think that far. Oops, it’s almost time. Though it’s inexcusable to go in the middle, if it’s fine then we can go together.”

“Ye-yes.”

Mari hearing Riheed’s invitation, the answer is returned at once and the two walk towards the school building.

Being left behind so naturally, Mikene ran after the two in a hurry.

“Err, I would like to talk calmly next time. Is that fine?”

“Being invited by a beautiful female, I think it’s delightful as a man, I don’t think it should be declined.”

Riheed in his strange state smoothly emits those words.

“Well, I’m glad for the compliments. The after school, is it fine if we meet in front of the school library?”

Mari is covering her mouth with her hand from shyness, that gesture looks good as well.

“Understood, I’ll be careful not to keep you waiting next time, princess.”

“Mou! After school again”

“Yes, again.”

For a moment an expression of disappointment floats on Mari’s face but it’s immediately smoothed over into a smiling face, waving her hand to Riheed the part from each other.

Seeing the back of Riheed, the color of disappointment on Mari’s face couldn’t be hidden as she head s towards her classroom.

Thus, Riheed’s second day of school life started.