Nostalgic Voice

After giving some harsh training to that idiot prince(Gilbert), I received a strict reminder from Rose.

Well, I was aware that I overdid it a little bit. I even prepared to receive a penalty from Babel's management, but the reminder turned out to signal the end of the matter. Well, even if they tried to punish me, I never intended to surrender to Babel peacefully, even though I would feel bad for Rose's almamater, I would fight back.

Royalty aside, it was a fact that I grabbed her brother's head, and forced him to eat from ground. I was pretty much prepared to hear Rose's complaints about this matter, but the she only said, 「This'll be a good medicine for Gil」 with strangely refreshed look on her face.

Originally, Rose was supposed to be a kind of person who hated these methods. No matter how notorious the other party was, she wouldn't stoop so low as doing the same deed as the other party. And yet, her reaction showed that she was really satisfied with my actions. Maybe that showed just how much she couldn't put up with the shi*tty personality of her brother anymore. I mean, informally speaking, her reaction was still too kind for someone who had almost been sold to the empire, or become a pervert's plaything by her shi*tty brother's conspiracy.

Well, various things happened and our lives in Babel had only just started.

We never met Lumine or Lyla after that, Lumine must be begging Lyla to change their inn. For some reason, Lumine had been thinking I would take away Lyla from her.

Thus, after one week tour around Babel, we finally arrived on the exam day.

To be honest, I was reluctant to take the exam but finally gave in, under Rose's relentless-and annoying-ranting.

According to the news from the information broker, it seems that the hero team was also staying in this city and they're frequently going in and out of Gilbert faction's mansion. Seeing that sage Satoru of the hero team was Gilbert's royal guard of for this crown contest, it wouldn't take someone smart to guess that the hero was also part of Gilbert's faction.

In short, this city itself had already turned into den of Rose's enemies. I just happened to be poking my nose into this matter. Not that I had the intention to abandon Rose halfway too. Anyhow, since it was literally impossible for me to leave Rose's side in this place, the most rational option was me to play along with this playing school life.

「Kai, as usual, please show some restraint. Safety is our top priority.」

I headed toward the Babel's center where the examination was to be held, seen off by Rose, who used a mother-type language with me.

The first floor of the giant tower was covered with red carpet, an ornament resembling a divine bird decorated the wall. It somehow reminded me of hunter guild but then, I came to know that the founder of the hunter guild was the first headmaster and founder of Babel tower.

Nevertheless, even that spacious first floor was filled with examinees.

Lining up for a long time left me at the reception, my turn was here.

「This is my admission ticket.」

I handed over the admission ticket I got from Rose. The male receptionist with split hair manned the reception. I received a plate with number [20456] written in it and schedule for the examination,

「Please head to the examination hall with that plate.」

Examination hall, eh. There were various writings in the pamphlet.

I scanned the contents, and sure enough, it was the exam schedule.

Aptitude test in the morning and afternoon was reserved for practical test.

According to Rose, aptitude test was to examine whether the applicant had the minimum amount of knowledge to study in Babel. The most important part was the practical test, the aptitude test was to see whether the examinee fulfilled the minimum requirement. Well, my gift was『The Most Incompetent in This World』. Not to mention that I couldn't use attribute-magic. Though I could breeze through the aptitude test, that was the limit of what I could do. Not that I wanted to participate in this playing a student anyway. If I really don't pass the test, I guess I would to think another way to protect Rose during her stay.

On the way toward examination hall,

「WHY ARE YOU IN THIS PLACE TOO!」

I heard familiar shout and turned, sure enough, I saw the figure of blonde-haired girl with bob-cut, snarling toward a brown-haired, handsome youth.

「I SHOULD BE THE ONE TO SAY THAT!」

The brown-haired youth snarled back at the girl.

Yes, they were Roman and Lumine. Seeing this, I came to a conclusion.

Lyla was also taking the exam.

So this was the reason why she told me that I didn't have to send a letter to her before departing from Lamour back then. From the very beginning, she wanted to move in to Babel and make this place as the base of her activity. I mean, why should I send a letter for her since both of us would end up living in Babel anyway.

「THAT'S ONLY NATURAL SINCE I'LL GO WHEREVER MY SISTER GOES TO!」

「I'M GOING FOR TRAINING IN BABEL! YOU CAN'T TELL ME OFF!」

These two are really peas in the same pod. I mean, their level of arguments sound so childish.

And then, when I was looking at their childish quarrel from afar,

「Kai?」

I heard an extremely nostalgic voice. I turned toward voice, there―― stood a beautiful girl with long, blonde-hair. Her appearance hadn't changed a bit since the last time I saw her, she examined me with surprised look on her face.

「Ly… la?」

And of all things, the first word coming out of my mouth was a question,

「Geez! Who else you see beside me then!?」

Lyla ended up pouting .

「Ah, my bad, just a slip of tongue.」

I patted Lyla in the head, just like how I did long time ago. That action had helped me regain my composure, which shook for the first time in a really long time.

「…」

Lyla raised her face to see me for a while.

「Kai, have you grown up a bit?」

Why did she ask the exact same question as my mother?

「Well, maybe because I've been experiencing so many things nowadays.」

I replied with a wry smile. Nevertheless, this was bad news. Unlike with my mother, I couldn't revert back to my old tone at this timing.

「AAH, KAI HEINEMAN, GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!!」

「KAI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?」

The childish pair who discovered me at the same shouted at me at once.

Good grief, they really are peas in the same pod.

「Well, I'm living in this city for the time being. Let's meet again later.」

I waved toward them as I turned around and left. I left with a remark that didn't sound like me, and blended in amongst the group examinees.