Happiness is delicious food.

I gobbled up the stew the bar served me, each bite made me smile a bit more with happiness. Sure, it was a basic meal, but that didnt stop me enjoying it. Basic food has its own appeal. Fully enjoying my meal, I let eyes roam over the scene. The bars patrons were all in all late twenties to forties in age. This made Geist seem pretty young.

I wanted to complain shouldnt people your age have a job? but honestly gathering around like this from noon was a sadly common occurrence.

Though it was busy, the noise level was surprisingly quiet. People are having their conversations in low voices. It wasnt a place where people were rowdy, that just made me like this place even more. Without yelling, everyone could easily converse with everyone on their table.

Theyre at that age when people like to complain about politics. Some things that commonly come up are their thoughts on: Revenue, Policies, this-or-that n.o.ble or Bureaucrat. Occasionally some will ask for my opinion as well.

A genius like me, its no exaggeration to say theres almost nothing I wouldnt be able to answer. Sometimes what they ask just a commoners biased opinion, other times its a fully formed argument about a legitimate concern.Whether I answer in their favour or not, I will never Whether I hear that and agree or reject, I make any promises to act on it. Since soon I will fall to ruin, without having a vested interest I can just exchange normal conversation.

All Im doing is listening. Thats as far as I go.

As we killed time like this, a new customer entered the store.

Oh, if it isnt Leon.

Christina?

My cla.s.smate at the ACademy Leon, raised his voice he was so surprised to see my face. Hes as tall as an adult man now. That childishness and face of a mischievous boy is disappearing to become a tough face.

You, I knew you ditched, but I didnt know you came to a place like this today

Like I can be told that by someone doing the exact same thing

Well, youre not wrong

Even I never expected we could have such a light hearted conversation as this. If only because Leon isnt the sort to pry.

Even as I cross my legs and declare that arrogantly, Leon just shrugs his shoulders. Honestly this place is not somewhere for students of the academy to come to, it isnt even somewhere they should be able to come to. Me and Leon being regular customers is heresy.

Ooh so it was Leon -Calling this fine establishment that kind of place that schools staining you with those n.o.bles. Youll make the old man cry.

Shut it geist. As if you, who brought a young lady like Christina to a place like this, can say anything like that?

Seems he had figured out that this was a meeting place for commers who hated the n.o.bility. Originally in Destiny Labyrinth, Leon became the go to between in negotiation between Michelie and commoners. That Leon occasionally comes to a place like this, its probably that.

Even if we call it a dump/place like this, the reason my existence is tolerated by the members here is because Im a source of money and a source of information. I let them think im a fool who cant see that though.

Big Sis is fine. rather shes more than welcome here.

Yes, yes. besides that I havent forgotten. When we were kids you made me climb the wall of an aristocrats house and then had the nerve to abandon me there

You were the idiot who fell off the wall And anyway, nowadays Im jealous that happened to you adn no me

Hmm? You, do you have any idea how scared I was back then

Quit your chatter

Arent you the one who got scared and ran away first, chattering?

Geist and Leon were said to be childhood friends, but they were really b.u.t.ting heads right now.

Putting that aside, since an honour student like Leon is here means school must have finished for the day.

Hey, im going to start heading off. You good for nothings hanging out in such a place in broad daylight. Ask those questions to leon instead. Hes no match for me, but he still knows a lot.

Eh? Wa- wait a second Big Sis

With that messy remark he stands up clumsily. The other people here as expected of adults were seeing me off with a cackle, Geist stood up in a panic.

Oi Leon. You go back as well. Right now. Quickly.

Wha? whats with you. You tryin ta pick a pick?

Even though Leon who had only just walked in was dumbfounded, Geist dont draw back.

Youre the reason big Sis is leaving! Despite appearances Big Sis has a strong sense of duty, if her excuse for leaving goes then shell stay here longer.

Just how stupid are you. Come back. With that its fine right. She acts tough as if shes the school delinquent, but the reasons hes heading back now is because if shes late then the maid will get angry at her. For Christina, let her leave early.

Oi

Just what is this fool blurting out about me.

Of all things a high ranking n.o.ble such as myself, being afraid of the likes of a maid, of course that would never happen.

I was going to interject into Leons insolent words, but the person in question didnt seem to hear.

Not like I know. ALright, its not a question about that. Thats why its a great thing if Big Sis is fed up with the academy. Thats why beat it, oi

being told that by you, of course id want to stay here. As for me, I want christina to go back to the Academy

I heard from my little sister, how pathetic you are to be wrapped around the finger of that wench from Big Sis enemy faction.

Just try saying that again. b.a.s.t.a.r.d, how dare you talk about my lady like that. Ill beat ya to death

At that one provocation from Geist, Leons face looks ready to murder him.

And just whats with this Big Sis, Big Sis ya keep going on about. Dont tell me youre trying to drag her into one of your schemes?

Big Sis is just as it sounds. Everyone here recognizes her as that.

Christina has drawn a line with how involved with you lot she will be. I can at least see that much.

Since when did Surfania become Leons lady? Anyway, these two childhood friends were currently dragging Surfania and me into their stupid feud. None of the other patrons seemed like they were going to intervene, rather it seemed this was their new fun conversation topic.

I am jealous of how close they are. Even though it seems Ive become their main topic, ignoring that I get the tab from the sales clerk. Since theres still some money left from the down payment i made, they can use up the remaining on the patrons here.

Aah, also Christina. Could you be reasonable and make up with Surfania? You know how stubborn she can be. You keep aggravating her, and I end up having to deal with her bad mood.

Keep suffering.

With a cold wave I exit the bar.

At the refres.h.i.+ng breeze outside, I let myself smile a little.

As a result of her antagonism towards me getting worse, Surfania now has a remarkably bad reputation. But, no, for sure, I know that Surfanias heart hasnt changed at all since the old days.

One way or another, shes a lonely child. Soon will be my end, if im close with Surfania it will just cause her pain. And then, once Im gone Surfania will stop acting rashly like this.

As I walk along, somehow I ended up looking at the sky. The day has ended, the sun is now setting.

Its time to return to the academy. If I stay out too late, the maid at the dormitory will get worried.