12 Rumors

That evening, Lilith didn't say anything to me and just went to sleep.

I didn't know why, but she seemed upset about something.

Today's morning, I saw that people was looking at me with different eyes.

Then Hildagea asked to spar with me.

I accepted, and with the agreement of the teachers to let me practice in the warrior arena, we are currently sparring.

I've not fought her since the day we had a big fight 6 years ago.

And I lost.

The inexperienced me, that was.

And now, to be honest, I'm impressed.

She somehow manages to catch up with me, but still a bit lackluster.

Her speed is great, I even have a hard time following her, but she lacks skills, and experience.

And after our spar, we go to rest on a bench nearby.

I can see that Lilith is training Hiiro over there.

"Swing your sword 100 times more."

"Yes, Master!"

He's enthusiastic.

I think he can learn one or two things from Lilith if he's willing to go all the way through.

I saw her way of fighting.

Those are of a veteran.

Or at least it looks like one.

But...why does her style of fighting so similar to those of Father's?

While I continue to think about it, Hildagea starts to talk which shocks me.

"Erm...Yari?"

"Huh?"

"Is it true that you like boys?"

"Wait. What!?"

Hold up.

Where did she get this idea from?

"...Can you tell me where you heard this from?"

"I heard it from the chatting girls around this school."

Oh boy.

"They said something about Lilithos belong to you and all of that..."

...

"...It's a misunderstanding. I merely helped him from his falling, that's all."

Well, rest time's over.

"Let's go continue our spar."

"U-Umm."

After the training session is over, I go back to my room first.

On my way there, I meet the Marigold twins.

The older sister looks at me for a moment.

"So you're interested in the same gender, huh?"

Again.

Rumors spread fast.

"Sorry, but no. I helped Lilithos from his falling, some girls saw it and misunderstood the situation and started spreading weird rumors about me."

"Sure. Let's go with that then. But don't make any excuses if you fail your test this evening as I'll be the one to stand on top of all."

She's still rambling about that?

After saying that, she goes away.

...

I need to put a stop to this.

When I arrive at the room, I see no sign of the pink-haired girl.

Good.

I quickly prepare all of the necessary for afternoon test and then take a quick nap.

I'm tired.

...

She's back.

"Yaritsuke!"

"What now?"

"It's your fault that there's a strange rumor about me and you being a couple, and then people started asking me some weird stuffs!!"

"...Hah..."

I can only sigh.

I didn't expect things to turn out this way.

I'd planned to let it slide if it was a harmless rumor, but clearly it isn't.

After that, she looks at me as if there's still something she wants to say.

"What do you want?"

"...Erm...Can you help me with the test this afternoon?"

"Why?"

"Eh...I slept through the class that period, so..."

I sigh again.

Well, teaching her can relieve some stress for me.

"Then, let's get to it now, shall we?"

"Oi...Yaritsuke...That's a scary face you're making there?"

"Oh...I'll be sure to teach you every nook and cranny."

I'll make her go through what I've been enduring the past week.

After that, it's finally the afternoon test.

"...2 multiplies by 2 is 4...9 multiplies by 8 is 72..."

Lilith is next to me, mumbling about the things I just taught her.

Well, I made sure she remembered all of them, but seemed that I went a bit overboard.

But that was a good stress-reliever.

I'm still not satisfied yet, but tomorrow is the day off.

I might take a trip back to the town and say hi to Iris-nee-san.

...I also want to go back to my old village, but I doubt that they've forgiven me for the thing I've done to them.

I meet the Marigold sisters in front of the classroom.

They pass me a look before entering.

Well.

Let's do this.