Chapter 276 Friend (2)

Im here for private work, so dont talk formally Kurono-san. Or rather I want to talk informally, is that alright with you Kurono-kun?

She said with a smile more intimate than the one at guild, just how many men could deny her request when she is like this?

At the very least I consented to her without hesitation.

By the way, Erina-san

Its fine to call me Erina

She gave me a perfect wink just like young Lily, and corrected me.

Why is Erina in the Academy?

Im a graduate from the Civil Course. So I came here to meet a junior

I thought some time ago whether she was a graduate from Academy, looks like my guess hit the right spot.

If its fine, how about you also come with me?

No, I need to meet someone so I will refrain from that

This was surely an alluring invitation, but I already have plans to do magic learning with Nell-san.

Oh, you have a previous appointment, too unfortunate

Im sorry

Dont worry, I will invite you later

Is that trueno, this might that thing called lip service, right?

And recently I tend to forget about the fact that I shouldnt be spending this time while playing around.

The time I spent with Nell-san is pleasant, but I am perfectly getting taught about magic and am nourishing my power.

Well since thats the case, I sense some reluctance to go with Erina for just playing around.

Even more when I think that Lily and Fiona might be working hard right now.

I also need to show my powered side by the time they return back.

If possible I want to show my explosion offensive magic that use the flames divine protection, and then make them sayits too showy.

Thats why you have to come to the Guild soon. You havent come recently, its lonely

Shes a person that can say words like its lonely without any problems and might stimulate male instincts.

Putting that aside, its the truth that I havent been to the guild recently.

The last time I went there was after returning to Spada from that bandit subjugation quest, so its already been two weeks.

Currently, the three members ofElement Masterwere scattered, but its not like I cant take on quests alone.

Yeah, that right, now that I have a chance I should try out my newly learned black magic, and also raise up some money.

Sorry, I will come tomorrow, so give me your recommended quest

Ufufu, I will choose a harsh one just for Kurono-kun

Im alone right now, so please not a dangerous one

Maybe after I saved her from the serial murderer Joto, she might be having excessive anticipation for me.

No, lets just say she was joking right now.

Alone? Did the party dissolute?

Dont say something that scary. We are just doing work separately for now

Then we talked and walked.

I told her about the fact that my party members were away from Spada for training, and the fact that I am searching for a certain Rank 5 monster, etc etc, I talked about everything that would be of no problem to talk about.

Well at the same time I heard a lot about Erina.

Like she was searching for boyfriends, her choice of man was a strong and tall one that would save her in dangerous situation, her quite private details were being made public.

Geez, was she trying to seduce a high-schooler male student like me, at least age-wise, by talking like that. Indeed a terrifying receptionist she is.

But I wont be deceived, its my loss if I pay heed to it, its just that.

With this and that, I broke up with Erina at some place, and hurried towards the dorm where Nell-san might be waiting since before.

.

.

.

Kurono-san, I need to talk about something serious, can you hear it?

Eh, dont tell me, the food I made was bad? I dont have a clue about that.

About time I returned back to the dorm, I was apparently a step slower while Nell-san was waiting for me at the entrance.

It was in the calculation error of who would reach dorm first, so I dont particularly care about it, however the problem right now would be that she said that line with a mysterious face as if she were thinking about something.

If I take her words at face value then she seems to have to ask something from me, but well, what might be the problem that is making a princess worry this much about. If it is something too highly political thing then I wont be able to answer her.

For the time being, I need to hear what she wants to say or the talk wont proceed. I invite her in my room which had already turned into Nell-senseis personal classroom.

I sit on the chair with a writing desk in front, while Nell-san sat on the bed. It is the usual position when chatting.

Because of this arrangement my bed gets covered by white wings, but lets leave that alone for now.

So what do you want to talk about?

Ah, yesUmwhat does Kurono-san

It seems like she is having a hard time to speak it, looks like this talk is quite the heavy one, I need to be resolved.

What does Kurono-santhink about me?

The words that came out of her mouth after all the hesitation were quite abstract.

What do I think about Nell-san, well then, what sort of intention did she had when she asked thisno wait, isnt this line like a confirmation for the existence or nonexistence of romantic feelings between a male and female?

No, wait wait, that imagination is just too much.

Thats right, this is nothing more than the second time of today that I heard a word that would make a mans heart misunderstand.

Henceforth, I dont need to quicken up here, and proceed carefu

What does Kurono-san think about me!

Wait a sec Nell-san, Im thinking about it, so dont say it again as if pressing for an answer.

Ah, err, what do you mean what?

My thoughts werent collected, so I could reply in that ambiguous manner.

What meansumm, does Kurono-san think of me as a friend

Her appearance with a blush on her white stainless face, completely personified the flawless charm of an embarrassing girl, however the contents of her line werent something great, but just if I thought of her as a friend or not.

Yeah, it was my loss to expect, no, be consciousness of her words.

I think about Nell-san as a normal friend

I have met her recently, and it has only been the past one week since I have been able to talk to her perfectly, moreover with the cooperative relationship of magic and cooking Ive been thinking that we might have gotten close.

However the difference in social statuses might be the problem. After all she is a princess while I am an adventurer, never can I say we were in equilibrium.

However the thing called friendship cant be defined by social status. At least I think like that, otherwise I wouldnt be able to talk casually with Wil.

The feelings I have for Nell-san will be similar to what a high-schooler would feel when he suddenly started talking with a female classmate.

It might be a strange line to be calling her as a friend, but I think its fine to call her my friend.

But sorry. If Nell-san doesnt think like that, then, I was being overly-familiar

Noo! Its not like that! I also think about Kurono-san as a precious friend!

*shake boing shake*, the two big mountains wrapped in the blouse right in front of my eyes shook violently.

It was because Nell-san bent forward towards me from the my front.

It is quite a surprise for me too that she declared me as her friend with this sort of overreaction.

I-Is that so, thank you very much

Maybe she perceived the atmosphere that seemed to retreat, Nell-san immediately sat back down.

Her wings on the back were flapping probably to hide her embarrassment. Like that again the bed was covered by wings, no, lets ignore it for now.

Well, within the past couple of days of working together with Nell-san, I came to understand that she expressed her emotions greatly, so seeing her reactions would only seem charming to me.

Or rather, shes cute so everything is forgiven! The male nature is so sad.

And, is me being the friend or not the thing you wanted to ask?

Ah, yes, half of it

Then the other half would be?

Err, ummI dont the experience of having many friends

She spoke truly embarrassing words in an embarrassing manner.

Well I also didnt had many friendship relations that I can laugh it off. If just limited to Spada, the person who became my friend would be only Wil, if excluding Nell-san.

Is that, um, a good thing that I should hear in details right now?

Yes, I want Kurono-san to heart it

I see, so the main part of the talk comes now.

As Kurono-san knows, Im the First Princess of Avalon. My abroad studies here in Spada was also officially announced on a great scale, so I doubt there would someone who doesnt know about me in the Academy

Unless the information was blocked to a great extent, theres no way that the topic of a royalty commuting to school wont become a great story.

Even if I hadnt met Wil and Nell-san, I wouldve heard about them from rumours while walking.

If talking about rumours I have also heard about some fame of Nell-san in this Academy.

Nell-san is also called as the Idol of Academy, so I thought you must have many friends

Even if leaving aside the Rank 5 PartyWing Road, if I tried to extract rumours about the princess of Avalon, they would all have good contents.

Not only her beauty like that of an angel, but also her kind-hearted personality, that led her to call out to me and help me, so her image must have been formed by the accumulation of those good deeds.

As an extra there is also Her Highness Princess Nells Fanclub made by those whose head and heart were done in by the beauty and kindness of Nell-san, the people of fanclub call themselves as her elite bodyguards.

Yes, certainly everyone in the Academy is kind towards me, but

But they are treating you as a princess, is that what you want to say?

Yes, thats is exactly it!

So I got the right point. I thought that this clich had occurred a lot in novels and stuff, but this actually even applied in reality

The reason everyone is kind is just because Im a princess

But, I dont think that its the only reason? If you didnt had a good image among students, then even if you were a royalty there would be no good rumours about you

Thats why Wil I have decided to keep your rumours as something I never heard.

I know that in truth youre a truly good guy.

Yes, you are right. I have Telepathy so I know that everyone is not kind towards me just because of self-interest. But even so, the image of the princess comes up first

I see, so even with good will, they still end up looking through rose-coloured glasses.

But, thinking about humans mentality it seems natural, even I treat her as a princess

But Kurono-san was different

Eh?

Unexpectedly an extremely questionable voice leaked out.

But Nell-san continued as though it didnt reach her or she ignored it.

Kurono-san speaks everything to me without holding back. Ufufu, it was shock when you said my food wasnt good, though

Holy moly! Looks like I have been rude towards her.

That time I was in confusion due to sudden developments, no doubt. Thankfully it was Nell-san, but based on circumstances I might have been sentenced with lese majeste.

Looks like I have met quite a fortuitous royalty. That time in the school cafeteria Nero said,

Do you know who they are? They arent people you can touch them thoughtlessly

Looks like that it is common sense in this world and not just some prideful way of speaking.

No, its not like that. Even I am concerned about the fact that Nell-san is a princess

I tried to appeal by returning favour to the princess, but,

Fufu, its fine Kurono-san, I clearly know about that. Kurono-san knows that Im a princess of Avalon but you arent conscious about it at all. Almost like you dont know things like Royalty, as though you are person from a truly faraway country

Ugh, Nell-san you are quite sharp

Im sorry, but you are truly correct. Things like royalty, aristocracy, or difference in social status just dont seem real

Its impossible to evade her anymore. Then, I can only admit my fault and ask for forgiveness.

No dont apologize. I think that only Kurono-san can become my true friend

It saves me if you say it like that

Both sentimentally and realistically.

Looks like my speech and conduct didnt incur Nell-sans wrath, but miraculously gave her a good impression about me.

If it wasnt like that then no matter how much of a kind-hearted person Nell-san is, she wouldnt be hanging out with me every day.

Thats why Kurono-san please be a best friend with me and be with much less restraint

Naturally. I also want to get on good terms with Nell-san

I replied while raising a smile from the bottom of my heart. I dont have rejection in increasing the friendship with my second friend I have made in Spada.

No, more than that, we arent connected by just cooperative relationship now, but also by a friendship relationship.

Thank you very much! Well then, I have to ask for something from Kurono-sanis it fine?

Nell-san again said bashfully. Looks like she is an expert at hearing others wishes, but is bad at telling her wishes.

Her cute red face and her behaviour might incite fire in the sadist hearts, but as I dont have that sort of crooked fetish, so I can only consent to her.

What is it? Nell-san also can speak anything with me without restraint

Did the nuance got through her, that I will do anything if it can be done by me. Nell-san finally seemed to have resolved and opened her mouth bashfully yet happily.

Ummcan I call you as Kurono-kun?

This feeling was like a student was confessed in a classroom after the school when sun was setting down.

Of course I never had such a good experience, but Nell-sans words along with her embarrassed face surely did have an impact of that level.

Calm down me, I persuaded myself again, just how many times have I done that today?

In short, I was quite flustered today that I had to conscious about composure.

I had the guts to hear her request no matter how reckless, but little had I thought that it would such a cute request.

No matter if for friendship, if you speak like that to a man it will surely be misunderstood, Nell-san.

She is an airhead in a different way from Fionaand I will be troubled because I have quite the impurity just like how an high-schooler should be.

Anyhow, I will take on her request itself, I have no reason to complain about it.

Its fine

Maybe the flustering had a lingering effect that I spoke in a curt manner, damn Im even more embarrassed.

I even averted my gaze a bit.

And

The request is still not completed?

Nell-san had her face red, but she didnt seem to stop now from asking me.

Please call me as Nell. In truth Kurono-saKurono-kun doesnt need to talk in honorific language

It is extremely lovable how she tried to change her way of calling me.

No, I shouldnt be praising that,

Eh, err, is that alright? If other students saw me talking casually with Princess then

Dont care about other people! Please do so!!

Nell-san again bent her body forward from bed, she is a person who uses her all in everything.

Well, I talk casually with Wil, so I dont have any excuse for that.

At any rate, the force of other side seemed to have surpassed me, now I cant possibly refuse her.

Yes, got it Nell-san

Kurono-kun?

Ah, got it got it, Nell

I corrected my answer and the Princess of Avalon showed an truly exaggeratedly happy smile to me.

This feels like, there will be no magic learning today