"I will use the largest bedroom."
"Heeek! Yes? Will you?"
Rit showed a bizarre reaction to every single word Lucas said.
"...Don't come out if possible."
-Otherwise, I don't know what I might do to you.
Useless delusions followed.
Her mood was dazed as if drunk.
To be together in the same space, and in this irreverent space called a hotel, no less.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes? Yes! Of course!"
"...Right. Then rest."
Lucas, with a somewhat reluctant expression, closed the door and disappeared.
However, Lucas's unique scent lingered without leaving, making her heart flutter.
"Phew!"
She pushed away the strange thoughts that kept coming with a sigh.
She tried closing her eyes tight and pacing back and forth.
But she just couldn't calm down.
Her throat is parched.
Her throat was parched even after emptying a bottle of water.
She looked for another way to wet her throat.
Something caught Rit's eye—
Alcohol.
It is a kind of thing she has never even touched.
Her throat is parched, and that sloshing golden color is exceptionally tempting.
To relax this tension as well, she decided to drink just one sip.
***
...I stayed up all night with my eyes open.
It's because panic surged at the thought of what if the Holy Empire raided.
Snore-
Snore-
However, that one sleeps soundly, annoyingly enough.
Even snoring.
I clearly gave a warning about the Holy Empire kindly.
I don't really want to say anything, but why in my bed of all places.
Last night, she invaded by knocking on my bedroom door completely drunk, occupied my bed, and is sleeping like that.
I wanted to move to another room, but this place was the best for guarding all directions, and whenever I tried to leave this room even a little, Rit cried sorrowfully.
If she were a male form, I would have just thrown her away, but it is also true that I weaken a little at that appearance where the shell has disappeared.
I didn't intend to sleep anyway.
This body doesn't feel fatigue just because it doesn't sleep, and there is the daily training reward, Super Recovery.
I just stared blankly out the window.
My eyes felt stiff because I was using
However, within that beautiful-looking scenery, I also 'saw' that the Holy Empire bastards were keeping a sharp eye on this side.
Can I stand against them?
Impossible.
Demons at least have 'Evil Crushing' which is a characteristic of Aura, but with those things, it will be a pure physical fight.
If it were about two, I could manage somehow by taking advantage of their carelessness, but I cannot handle that many personnel.
It's just rushing in to die a dog's death.
I thought about raising my stats, but once I raised Stamina, Strength, and Agility to F-rank 100 each, they didn't go up any further.
The fact that I have to do something to activate the next rank is self-evident.
The problem is that I don't have enough leeway to experiment with such things.
To me, points are like mana that activates Aura.
I cannot use them recklessly.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the bastards only watched this side from a certain distance and didn't show any particular action.
Now, dawn began to break in earnest.
The streets began to find vitality gradually, and the crowd began to increase.
The heat of the people was tremendous until late at night yesterday too, but today, that heat seemed to be even more intense.
It was welcome news for me.
A large crowd means the same thing as the Holy Empire bastards not being able to make a move easily.
I should start preparing to check out slowly.
"Rit, I know you are awake."
Flinch!
The blanket heaves greatly.
But thinking she hasn't been caught yet, she continues acting.
I don't want to have a useless tussle.
I recited a spell.
"If you don't get up now, I will put the minibar you ate on your salary."
"Heuhuh!"
She sprang up as if bouncing.
The cost of alcohol she drank in just one day is 30 million Gold.
Flustered eyes entangled with my gaze.
"Wash up. It's 3 hours before the lecture starts."
"Y, yes!"
***
Today is the last day of the 'World Combat Studies Forum' and the day of the main event, Professor Lucas's lecture.
It was the day most people's interest was focused on during the rather long conference schedule, and as much as that interest, a large crowd flocked to
'After all lectures are over, we secure Professor Lucas's person.'
'Yes.'
Those from the Holy Empire had also secured tickets in advance and entered.
Excluding virtual spaces implemented with
In a situation where knights, who can be said to be somewhat bellicose compared to mages, gathered and the discomfort index was only getting higher, order was surprisingly well maintained.
The reason is that there was a threat from Conference Head Alan that he would cancel the lecture and everything if even a small disturbance occurred.
Since most were people who came all the way here just to see Lucas's lecture, that threat was effective.
Of course, the lecture wouldn't actually be canceled just because a disturbance occurred.
It was a threat that wasn't really a threat, due to Alan's personal feelings of thoroughly disliking any noise mixing into Lucas's lecture.
That is how much expectation Lucas's lecture was giving people.
'He is coming.'
'Finally...'
Lucas finally arrived beyond that door.
The knights of the Holy Empire sharpened their senses at Lucas's presence.
'Right, since you prepared such a great lecture, I will watch clearly with my own eyes just how tremendous a lecture you prepared with this great thesis, Professor Lucas.'
'Ah, Lord Lucas! Grant us the grace of knowledge!'
'If only I were born just 30 years later, I would be entering Glasco! Then I could have learned from Professor Lucas directly!'
Alan and his faction also raised their expectations to the peak at Lucas's presence felt from outside the door.
For most people, it was the first time seeing Lucas in person.
The only video of
There were rumors heard, but most were distorted and transformed while going through intermediate processes.
'I heard rumors that he is a tremendous handsome man?'
'Actually, they say there are parts overestimated because of that face.'
'My alumnus works in the Aeroc Royal Knights, and he said he is suuuuper handsome.'
'And rumors of that kind are not to be trusted, I say. Isn't that not the important thing anyway?'
That was a part most people who encountered the rumors were also aware of.
No matter how exaggerated the rumors were, or whatever appearance Professor Lucas had, it wasn't grounds for disappointment.
'But is that important to us?'
'It doesn't matter to us.'
'But why are you explaining Professor Lucas's beauty in such detail?'
'Yeah? Why did I do that?'
'Anyway, the core is the lecture demonstrating this thesis, that itself.'
'Of course! Absolutely.'
Each raising their expectations for the lecture, they waited for Lucas to open that door.
And finally.
Clack-
The door opened, and a man appeared, cutting through the pouring light.
Clack-
Clack-
Very regular steps, neatly arranged hair, undisturbed attire.
Seeing that existence, people all thought the same thing.
That the rumors about Lucas's appearance were distorted.
Tremendous handsome man?
Beauty that bewitches people?
It was too... downplayed.
That wasn't a level that could be explained with such expressions.
***
Certainly, small-scale lectures and large-scale lectures like this differ from the intimidation factor.
I feel like I'm being crushed, but I cannot show it.
Especially because of the Holy Empire bastards looking down on me from that corner over there, I have to gain a lot from this lecture no matter what happens.
"...Nice to meet you. I am Lucas von Kraus. I am teaching Combat Studies at Aeroc's Glasco."
A suffocating silence was continuing.
It would be less awkward if they at least gave a welcoming applause.
Well, my fault is big.
"I apologize for the lecture being delayed from the scheduled date due to a personal schedule."
I even bowed lightly.
Isn't this enough to show sincerity?
Looking up, I see an old man glaring at me with bloodshot eyes as if capillaries would burst right in front.
I could recognize him at once.
'Conference Head Alan.'
The head and supreme power of this conference.
Being able to change the schedule abruptly from the first day to the last day is thanks to that old man's power.
For this, it is proper courtesy to at least say thanks.
Then the atmosphere will relax a bit too.
"Conference Head Alan."
I slowly approached him and offered a handshake first.
The Conference Head grasped my hand with trembling hands.
This must be a sign that he forgives me.
"I deeply thank you for the Conference Head's consideration."
"T, Th...!"
It was a light greeting.
However, it seems it wasn't for him.
Alan suddenly became extremely excited, opened his eyes wide, and just like that…
Thud!
...He collapsed.
The atmosphere froze even colder at this.
Still, I have to do the lecture.
If this gets canceled now, I will become a target for the Holy Empire bastards.
Sweat rises on my spine from embarrassment.
Their gazes feel burdensome.
The Holy Empire bastards are being consciously registered even more strongly.
Panic- seems to be rushing in.
However, at that moment.
[A new notification arrives.]
[k2929 has donated 100G.]
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[n7988_mohani1526 has donated 100G.]
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[Undiho has donated 500G.]
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[Vaporeon has donated 100G.]
[Vaporeon has donated 300G.]
[Vaporeon has donated 500G.]
[Vaporeon has donated 1,000G.]
[Winery has donated 100G.]
[Winery has donated 100G.]
[Winery has donated 100G.]
[Winery has donated 100G.]
[Winery has donated 100G.]
.
.
.
The readers' donation window blocked my view.
Just with that, my roughly beating heart calmed down, and breathing became comfortable.
Done.
I can do it sufficiently.
I turned my body toward the podium and opened my mouth.
"...I will begin the lecture."
***
Why is it so dark?
I clearly...
'I was supposed to be waiting for Professor Lucas's lecture.'
Ah, right.
Clearly, Professor Lucas entered.
It was tremendous.
It was like looking at a single piece of art.
That posture, that dignity.
But why is it so dark?
Like this, I cannot see Professor Lucas's lecture properly.
Someone turn on the lights.
Hurry up!
"Hurry... turn on the lights... quick... ly."
"!#%ead, are @#%enses okay?"
Such impudence, I tell them to turn on the lights and what alien language are they speaking.
"Confer#@Head!"
"Conference Head!"
"Gasp!"
Suddenly pouring light stung and dug into Alan's eyes.
"No, what is this... What, this place is... my room. The lecture, Professor Lucas's lecture that will be held at
Alan looked around and asked.
In front of him, those belonging to his faction stood with somewhat dazed faces, somewhat worried faces.
"S, surely Professor Lucas opened
"Yes, he approached the Conference Head and offered a handshake."
"Right, correct. I remember up to there."
"After that, you collapsed."
"What? Collapsed? Me?"
"Yes."
"It was such a sudden event that we were also greatly flustered."
"T, then the lecture?"
"That is, that lecture..."
Their expressions become dazed again.
"It was really... amazing."
"It was fantastic."
"Words cannot possibly capture it..."
Ah, it's over.
It ended.
"C, Conference Head!"
"Conference Head!"
Alan fainted again, making his waking up pointless.
However, if previously his heart stopped at the unbelievable situation, this time it was due to his blood pressure soaring because of the bastards in front of his eyes who enjoyed that fantastic lecture except for himself.