Chapter 322: The Pajama Party

Due to the magicalization, everyone evacuated, and the academy’s internal roads were left in shambles, ultimately leading to a suspension of classes.

As usual, taking a carriage from the academy’s carriage waiting area was impossible.

So I was inwardly worried that we’d have to walk all the way to the commercial district.

But that worry proved unfounded—when we reached the main gate, I spotted a carriage with the academy crest approaching from afar.

Everyone else seemed unbothered, so it appeared I was the only one concerned about transportation.

As if to prove that, when the carriage stopped and the door opened, it was none other than Dyuf who appeared.

“Ah, the young lord Karbaldr is with you as well?”

Judging by Dyuf’s words, it seemed his arrival here by carriage was no coincidence but a planned event.

‘Did he ride an academy carriage with Fjodra to the Security Force, hand over the villain brothers, and then return immediately?’

From his reaction, Dyuf also seemed surprised that I hadn’t gone to eat with Valtraus.

I hadn’t been asked about it yet, but I knew waiting for the question would only prolong the conversation, so I answered the doubt he was likely feeling.

“Yes, well… that’s how it turned out. My brother said he had matters to discuss with Father regarding today’s events.”

“Ah, I see.”

Dyuf nodded while erasing the confusion from his face, proving my guess was correct.

Reysir and Hailga had also been curious about the same issue, and now Dyuf—though one of them wasn’t blood-related—truly was family.

“Her Imperial Highness the Imperial Princess went to the Imperial Palace for the same reason.”

Since only Dyuf was in the carriage, I had expected that.

Besides, hadn’t Fjodra mentioned in Chapter 286 that there would be an Imperial family gathering this weekend?

Today was Saturday, and she had stayed at the academy, so the gathering was probably scheduled for tomorrow.

‘Besides, the key agenda of that meeting is the duel compensation that House Hailga will receive, isn’t it?’

Sure enough.

Once everyone boarded and the carriage began moving, Dyuf looked at Hailga and said,

“Her Imperial Highness stated that since something like this happened today, the Opraushy Count family will have no energy to worry about the duel compensation. Even if they did, no one would take their side.”

In other words, we could expect to receive a substantial compensation.

After all, the Acid Villain had attempted to harm Karbaldr, the son of a ducal house.

And wasn’t the acid solution used for that purpose—prepared by the villain brothers in advance to splash on Hailga, the duel winner?

If the Opraushy Count family’s pleas were accepted and the compensation was set low, it would be equivalent to snubbing the ducal house.

Not only House Austri but also other ducal houses would take offense.

That was why Fjodra could be so confident.

Moreover, the situation had escalated because the Acid Villain, instead of accepting the duel result and repenting his wrongdoing, had sought revenge.

Surely, an additional penalty for that would be added.

“Wow! When I found out that Drembi tried to splash acid in my face, I was really shaken… But since no one got hurt and we ended up with a good result, I almost feel grateful to him for coming up with that plan?”

Hailga’s delight at Dyuf’s news was perfectly natural.

However, her remark had a problematic element.

“Please don’t say such things, even as a joke. This father’s heart is still uneasy.”

“Ah… sorry.”

“It must be because I’m poor… I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“No, no! I was being thoughtless! What’s a little compensation compared to that…!”

Hailga had to go to great lengths to appease her father.

And then—

“Helly. Shouldn’t you apologize to Karbaldr too? He was the one actually exposed to danger.”

“I’m sorry, Young Lord Karbaldr.”

After her childhood friend’s pointed remark, she had to bow her head and apologize to me as well.

It was an apology I didn’t want.

To be more precise, I wished the topic hadn’t come up.

Because—

“Ah! That reminds me, I haven’t thanked Young Lord Karbaldr yet.”

—words like these were bound to come out of Dyuf’s mouth.

“If it’s about thanking me for today, I’ve heard more than enough from Hailga herself, so let’s move on. It wasn’t done for her sake in the first place.”

“Still, I am grateful.”

“Then keep being grateful.”

“Huh? Ah, um… yes.”

When I firmly refused to let it go, he kept repeating his thanks, but when I changed my tone, the result was entirely different.

His expression, which had been flustered as if unsure how to repay the favor, turned awkward.

‘So this was really the right answer!’

I’ll use this approach next time I’m thanked.

It suits Karbaldr’s character, and I don’t have to feel embarrassed.

I found the perfect solution.

“Ah! Now that I think of it, I have something to tell you all.”

While I was stroking Yor and trying to keep a straight face to hide my satisfaction, Dyuf spoke up again.

“Her Imperial Highness said that starting tomorrow, until the suspension period ends, catering service will be provided in the dormitory lobby.”

“What about you, Father?”

“Of course I’ll go there during meal times. The other professors who stayed at the academy to help with your training will also eat there together.”

This was very welcome news.

I had been thinking that going out for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner was too troublesome.

I could prepare meals using ingredients, but—

‘The problem is that cooking utensils like an Aether induction cooktop aren’t standard in the dorms.’

Making meals for others would go against my character.

And if I only took care of Yor and myself while others struggled to go out or ate preserved food, I’d feel too guilty.

I had been prepared to waste time, but this was truly convenient.

‘And with this, I don’t have to personally prepare Skadi’s meals either.’

Whether it was Fjodra’s decision or Author Senna’s, this was finally something helpful.

Dyuf was very interested in what kind of training we had received over the past two weeks.

So during dinner, Hailga and Reysir chattered about it.

Since the readers already know that content,

I’ll skip the scenes from arriving at the restaurant to eating, and from returning to the dorm to washing up.

I’ll continue the narration from the moment the protagonist of another novel knocked on my door.

“……”

“W-Wait! Why are you trying to close the door again?!”

“Do you really need to ask?!”

The shameless protagonist of another novel would pretend not to know, but my readers truly might not, so I’ll write the reason here.

The problem was his clothing.

Not only was he in his pajamas, but he was also carrying a pillow between his arm and body. Not in his inventory—he deliberately carried it like that to show it off.

‘If I let him in after seeing that state, it’s practically giving him permission to sleep in my room, isn’t it?!’

We could have talked right after we got back from dinner.

But the protagonist of another novel insisted on washing up and changing into comfortable clothes first, then proposed coming to my room an hour later. I should have caught on then.

No, before that—

“The girls said they’re having a pajama party tonight.”

“I know. I was there when they talked about it.”

—When I saw Hailga and Vigdis getting excited together in the carriage on the way back, I should have realized this wasn’t someone else’s problem.

Regretting that, I grabbed the doorknob and glared at the protagonist of another novel.

“Just because they’re having a pajama party doesn’t mean we have to do the same, does it?”

“Are you worried that Liolikin will be upset when he finds out later?”

“If you think I’ll deny that with an embarrassed face and let you in, you’re dreaming.”

“Ah…”

It seemed my guess was correct, because the protagonist of another novel looked visibly disappointed.

‘But if I can’t talk now, I’ll be the one missing out, right?’

I could use the information on my new skill as leverage, but I didn’t want to stoop that low.

That was fortunate for me.

“If you promise to go back to your room as soon as we’re done talking, I’ll let you in.”

“Okay, I promise.”

Knowing how persistent this protagonist could be, I had expected a long struggle.

But contrary to my expectations, he gave a clean answer.

That made me suspicious.

“…You’re not thinking you can just refuse to leave once you’re inside, are you?”

“If I were that kind of person, wouldn’t I have just barged in with force instead of asking for your permission?”

That made sense, actually.

When transitioning from Chapter 233 to 234, he had quietly let himself be kicked out.

“If you’re convinced, will you let me in now?”

“…Fine.”

I let go of the doorknob and stepped back. The protagonist of another novel entered, closed the door, and changed into indoor slippers.

The movement was so smooth and natural.

If a stranger saw it, they’d think he came and went from my room constantly.

“But you’re not in pajamas?”

“I heard a guest was coming.”

“Not because you’re embarrassed to be in just a nightshirt?”

“Definitely not.”

“Then you might as well wear them?”

“……”

He had given up on staying up all night, but he seemed to want to get into the pajama party spirit.

In Chapter 231, I had let him into my room while in my pajamas and claimed that clothing had nothing to do with closeness. It would be inconsistent to change my behavior now.

Since he had made the first concession, I decided to grant his wish.

‘I even prepared pajamas just in case.’

I picked up the new pajamas I had kept in the closet and went into the bathroom.

After changing, I came back out…

“So you were embarrassed to be in just a nightshirt after all?”

The protagonist of another novel made this remark, looking baffled.