LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 2 - Johanna Freya
✦ Chapter 2 – Johanna Freya ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
“That thing you showed the child earlier,”
It was the first thing Johanna said after we parted ways with the child. I had been gazing absentmindedly at her face, so my response was slightly delayed.
That thing I showed the child… She must be referring to the illusion.
“Ah, you mean this?”
Snap—!
With a clear snap of my fingers, a butterfly appeared, fluttering its wings in midair.
She stopped walking and gazed intently at the butterfly.
I, walking beside her, halted as well.
Standing still in the middle of the street, we couldn’t help but draw attention from passersby. While we had been getting stares since earlier, standing still made it more obvious.
Was it her stunning beauty that drew the attention, or my peculiar attire? I couldn’t tell.
“…It’s unnatural.”
After a long while, she spoke.
Unnatural? I shifted my gaze from her to the butterfly. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like an ordinary butterfly.
“Unnatural? In what way?”
“The way it flutters its wings.”
Listening to Johanna, I scrutinized the wing movements closely, but I couldn’t discern any difference from a normal butterfly.
“Hmm. No matter how much I look, I can’t tell!”
However, I couldn’t just dismiss her words. When using illusions, I had to envision the exact image of what I wanted to create. My initial attempts barely formed recognizable shapes.
Given Johanna’s keen perception, often mentioned in Croaka, she might have noticed subtle differences that I couldn’t.
“Thank you for the advice! I’ll keep striving to improve.”
She looked at me intently, seemingly surprised by my response. Her gaze made me feel shy.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable? What do you mean?”
“That unique magic of yours.”
Could she be worried about having criticized my unique skill?
It’s true that among the people here, commenting on someone’s magic or swordsmanship, especially if you weren’t their mentor, was akin to picking a fight. But that’s for them; I am not from this world.
“I actually appreciate having my unique magic critiqued. Embracing such feedback only makes me stronger.”
Johanna looked at me with her mouth slightly open as if quite amazed. For someone whose emotions didn’t show easily, her reaction seemed quite surprised. Not to mention, her surprised expression was adorable!
“An unusual person.”
With that, she resumed walking.
“Being unusual is fine, but I’d prefer to be remembered as special.”
Her lips curled up ever so slightly at my words. Even the slight lift made her look even more beautiful. Was that a smile?
“Did you just smile?”
“…No.”
Although her smile faded quickly, her lips had definitely curved upwards.
“I’m sure I saw you smile.”
“You must have seen wrong.”
“I saw it clearly!”
“………..”
Johanna gave me a pouty look. Not sure if she was pouting or embarrassed, but it was incredibly cute!
Without saying a word, she increased her walking speed.
“Senior Johanna! Wait for me!”
I chattered excitedly next to her as she walked quickly, asking about her favorite foods and local eateries. Though she mostly ignored my questions, probably out of embarrassment, I found even that enjoyable.
“Senior Johanna, don’t you have any questions for me~?”
At my question, she suddenly stopped and timidly pointed at the staff I was holding with one hand.
“That sword.”
I was surprised she recognized my staff as a sword. It was indeed a sword, though I hadn’t known that when I first got it. The fact that she saw through it immediately spoke volumes about her keen perception.
“Wow~ How did you know it was a sword? Most people just see it as a staff. As expected, academy seniors are amazing!”
As I infused mana into the staff, its seemingly ordinary tip sharpened into a blade.
“Ta-da~.”
I showed her the staff transformed into a sword. Her eyes didn’t leave the weapon. Now that I thought about it, Johanna’s only interest in Croaka was swords.
“If you’d like, you can hold it.”
“…Is it okay?”
She looked at me with sparkling eyes. Her normally stoic eyes looked adorable when sparkling with interest!
“Yes! Of course. For Senior Johanna, I’d even take off and give my most treasured mask!”
I handed her the staff-turned-sword. For a swordsman, their sword was like their life, but to me, it was just a pointy stick.
“I don’t need the mask.”
“Ouch! That hurts!”
I made a dramatic noise and sunk to the ground, drawing circles in the dirt with my finger. She paid no mind and closely inspected the staff-sword.
After examining it for a while, she handed it back to me.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I’m grateful for your company on the way to the academy.”
“…Would you like to hold my sword too?”
For Johanna, who was serious about swords, to offer such a thing! But unlike her, I had little interest in swords.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“….”
Ahhh, she seemed upset.
“I was joking! I would love to see your sword, Johanna senior!”
“…Really?”
“Yes, of course! I’m very curious about the sword you wield. I only hesitated because I wasn’t sure if someone like me could handle it.”
“It’s okay.”
Johanna handed me her sword, and I cautiously accepted it. Given her prestigious family, it was a rather unassuming sword. But the well-maintained blade indicated how much care she had put into it.
After inspecting her sword thoroughly, I handed it back to her.
“…………..”
As I returned the sword, Johanna looked at me intently, saying nothing. What is it? Could it be—!
“It’s… an excellent sword.”
Nod—!
She wordlessly nodded in agreement.
So cute!
.
.
.
Following her lead, we eventually arrived at the academy.
I was immediately overwhelmed by the sight of the academy in person.
Its size was incomparable to any real-world university. The buildings, aged and historical, didn’t appear worn out but rather majestic. This was the stage of Croaka!
I felt glad that I had come to the academy. Of course, getting admitted was easier than avoiding expulsion, but I was confident I wouldn’t get expelled.
The academy guards eyed my suspicious attire warily but let me through when they recognized who was beside me. This wasn’t just because she was a duke’s daughter but also because she was a member of the academy’s disciplinary committee.
“Johanna!”
A voice called out from a distance, and a girl came running towards us. With her short brown hair, round glasses, and the armband of the disciplinary committee, she was ‘Jenna Suguro,’ Johanna’s close friend in Croaka.
Jenna stopped and looked at me warily before running to Johanna. Though I appeared as a mere clown, her suspicious look puzzled me.
“Who are you?”
I was about to make a grand introduction, but Johanna spoke faster than I could strike a pose.
“A freshman.”
“Got it. But wait! The entrance ceremony is about to start, what are you doing here? Freshman, you should hurry to the auditorium before you’re late.”
Leaving those words behind, Jenna started dragging Johanna away.
The reason the Count’s daughter, Jenna Suguro, could be so casual with the Duke’s daughter, Johanna, was not just because of the academy’s principles of equality but also their close friendship. With a dazed expression, I waved both my hands high and shouted towards Johanna as she was being pulled away.
“See you later, Senior Johanna!”
Johanna lifted her hand and waved back shyly even as she was being dragged away. So cute! I must get a camera to capture this moment!
Determined to buy a camera as soon as I had enough money, I walked to the academy auditorium.
Even on my way to the auditorium, many people gave me curious glances and whispered among themselves. It seems even a mask covering my entire face couldn’t hide my looks. Ah, being too handsome can be troublesome.
As I entered the auditorium, the murmuring voices grew louder. Have they never seen a good-looking person before? I found an empty seat and sat down. Initially, the whispers persisted, but over time, they quieted down somewhat.
I was staring blankly ahead when suddenly the noise level around me escalated several times higher than when I first arrived.
“Is this seat taken?”
The reason for the commotion became clear when I saw the man speaking to me. With golden hair and golden eyes — a symbol of royalty — and a nearly handsome face (though not as handsome as mine), he was Lucas Leonhart, the Crown Prince of the empire and the protagonist of Croaka 1.
“Yes, the seat next to me is always available! Though for some strange reason, no one ever sits there.”
“I’m Lucas Leonhart. Just call me Lucas.”
As Lucas sat next to me, I could hear sighs of disappointment from the surrounding students. They probably planned to sit next to him and flatter him. Sorry, but flattery is my forte.
“Lucas, isn’t it amazing?”
“Huh? What is?”
“The academy! Look at this magnificent building. I get to attend such an academy because I am an imperial citizen. Therefore, I want to dedicate all this glory to His Majesty the Emperor. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”
While others might subtly flatter, I do it outright!
My extravagant flattery left everyone around me with their mouths agape.
“…Pwahahaha!”
Lucas, who seemed stunned by my flattery skills to the point of silence, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Pfft… Haha! Oh, my stomach hurts. What’s your name?”
“Loki. Just call me Loki.”
— End of Chapter —
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