We're still not making progress. Her and I, I mean… Sadie, and me.

I wish she wasn't so dense, but I suppose it's part of her charm… she seems so innocent at times, although I'll admit that she's changing. And not entirely for the better.

I know it's whatever that evil god did to her though.

Malevolence? Really? Why now?

Why her?

…

Why not literally anyone else?

…

…

"Is something amiss, Miss Shaya?"

Flinching enough to fumble my equipment, I turn to face the beast I hadn't realized was even there.

"Hm? Ah, oh, no, um. No, all is well," I stammer back. She isn't the first terrifyingly powerful creature I've spoken to – that honor goes to the greater ancestors of the wood – but this?

The ancestors might have been mischievous, but Alice is downright malicious. Even if she's never acted on it, I can see it in her eyes; to her we aren't even refuse but dirt to be swept from the premises.

…Or more likely, prey.

It almost makes me wish I was a student.

"If you wish to accompany the young miss so strongly then why, exactly, are you not also a student here?"

I flinch even harder. Did she just read my mind!?

The maid smiles. "In case you are wondering, no; I am not in fact a mind reader. You simply convey your thoughts on your face. Rather plainly, I might add. All but the young miss are likely to read them."

Disconcerting, but I suppose it's good to know.

"I can't attend. It's expensive and I can't afford it." And it's true. It's not like those of us in the colony make much actual money, most of what we live from is the bounty of the wood at the grace of the ancestors.

Her predatory smile is growing. There's no way what she's about to say can be any good.

"Then borrow the funds from Her Highness. I might be persuaded to ask on your behalf, should you so desire it."

And there it is.

…

"And what exactly would that 'persuasion' cost me?" I ask cautiously.

Stolen novel; please report.

Alice casually turns away and idly walks toward an unnecessarily fancy vase on a corner pedestal, pulling a feather duster from her dimensional storage and flicking it across the pottery's surface.

"Oh, not much at all, no, oho! Not much at all," she answers dismissively.

"And what exactly is 'not much' to you?"

I feel the pressure of her presence as she says, "A favor. One simple favor."

…

…

Am… I about to make a deal with the proverbial devil?

***

And sure enough, here I am. In the same courses as her, despite not needing some of the knowledge due to having actually been in a party and delved dungeons before.

But that's fine.

The demon empress even gave me a translation device, since I still don't speak human common… a small earpiece integrated into a ucomm, so the feeling of it there isn't much different from usual.

The one real difference though… while it offers me the ability to speak and understand the common human language, it ignores everything that Sadie says… and similarly, anything I say sounds like garbled nonsense to her.

I wonder how that works?

My musings are interrupted by the instructor entering the room… an 'Instructor Aimes', apparently. And just as smoothly as he enters, everyone takes their seats.

"He's really strict," Sadie whispers to me, but of course I have no idea what she's said. So I simply smile back. She tilts her head for a moment before I subtly move my hands below the edge of the interjoined counter that functions as a shared desk.

「Speak,」 I sign to which she gasps in realization.

"The very beginning of class? What is it this time, Miss Vossen?" Sadie flinches and immediately sits stiff, her back ramrod straight. "N-nothing, Instructor Aimes! Just, uh. Excited to learn? Maybe?"

The human man releases a heavy sigh before saying, "After class. You already know where."

I think that's what they call 'detention'? Alice did give me a short primer on what to expect… and this is definitely some kind of punitive measure. But really… one single offense?

「One?」

「First, negative,」 she replies.

Ah. I see. So this has happened… more than once? Maybe several times?

Alright. I think I understand.

…

So I've… that, for a delinquent. My parents would be so proud. The ancestors though… they may actually approve, considering the level of mischief they routinely cause.

…

…

This isn't a particularly useful class either. Mathematics? Haven't all of these students learned plenty of it in their earlier education? My parents taught me this before I'd even had group education with the other colony children.

…

And even so, my erstwhile interest is visibly struggling as she attempts to keep up with what the instructor writes on the board at the front.

I suppose that shouldn't surprise me; she certainly isn't the brightest, after all. But… I suppose this does offer me an opportunity.

So I tap her on the shoulder, causing her to look up. I give her a little wave and point to my own notebook. Instructor Aimes raises an eyebrow but at least has the mercy to leave us be for now… I'm a model student after all, at least according to my transcripts. I have stellar marks.

Clearly I'm doing something right, because after a moment Sadie nods in surprise and understanding before turning to attempt it in her own notebook at my gesture…

...And promptly does it wrong again, causing me to furrow my brow and sigh lightly.

So much for her math scores, I guess.

After a seemingly endless amount of time, made to feel longer yet by watching Sadie struggle and fail to perform basic algebra, class finally ended and we made our way toward the cafeteria.

Why not the mansion inside her personal hole in the world? Isn't it obvious?

Despite the fact that Alice undoubtedly waited patiently with some kind of ridiculously high-class menu, her presence itself was enough of a dissuasion. And considering the uncomfortable smile my party leader offered before pulling me toward the communal space instead, it's clear that she agrees with me.

Five minutes of walking later and we've reached our goal… a space that looks not dissimilar to the food court at the transport station not too far from home.

...And another five minutes later, the furry fae man who follows us seemingly steps from nowhere and promptly begins whining, leading to another disagreement between them.

"Uh, sorry," he quickly says to me while Sadie glares. "She left me behind at the portable home again. I'm not really sure why I keep waiting for her there, or any of you really? I mean. My moms keep setting aside a good menu for us, even compared to what we usually have at the castle, but everyone still refuses? I don't get it. Is it something I did?"

I shake my head mildly. "It isn't you, no. It's, well. It's… let's say it's the atmosphere. It's thick with… hmm."

"Oh. Sorry, I guess."

Excellent. I'm glad Joy is at least less dense than-

"It's the furnishings, isn't it? Or the size? I know it's kind of big. And fancy, it gets to me too I'll admit. My place back on Caelum Astraea is basically a shack, but Master Omorth suggested I should try to rough it for at least a few years to simplify my needs and desires. I'm still there now though, it grew on me so I didn't see a point in leaving until mom told me to come here."

"I see."

…

Nevermind. Maybe everyone but myself and the book mage is dense, although I can't confirm it for sure since she's never so much as attempted to speak with me. Which is well enough I suppose, since the relationship between her and Sadie seems mercenary at best from what I've seen.

Speaking of the book mage, Lyra was already in the cafeteria when we arrived, and much to her visible chagrin we'd made a beeline for her as soon as she came into view.

After more of what seemed like unnecessary disagreements and borderline arguing, Sadie offers me a quick gesture.

「One Mimic returns」

…

…

She didn't even terminate the sentence, but… well. She's trying I guess.

In her own way.

…

The mage offers me a visible disgusted look after pointedly flicking her glance to Sadie and back, so I smile apologetically. What am I even supposed to do in this situation? I didn't ask for this!

I didn't ask for any of this, but I'm still not going to lie about it.

Our halfling party leader returns a few moments later with a tray of meat stew and a few rolls, one of which is already soaking up the brown juices, and as she moves to sit Lyra is already leaning defensively over her own meal. Which clearly isn't enough considering it takes only a moment of them continuing their bickering for the mage to cross her arms and look away in a huff…

Offering the perfect opportunity for Sadie to quickly lift her tray and tip a small amount of thick broth on Lyra's half-eaten sandwich, an act that half the people in the cafeteria are sure to have noticed considering that our party is often the center of attention for obvious reasons. I bury my face in my hands in embarrassment.

Why, oh my ancestors? Why me? Why… this?

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