房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

Surou raised his brow and motioned at the stunned black-haired boy.

"...I see you also broke the door, you sure gained even more proficiency with your darkness magic... I can't imagine a dutiful person like you showing up here even though you should be at the Academy with young lady Espine... I see, although you no longer have the scar, you still bear a grudge against me... have you come to take your revenge...?"

The second prince furrowed his brows as his clear blue eyes seemed to be looking right through Zoemi.

Surou was a prince, a member of the royal family, and as one of course he knew the story about the Ghosts of Bellcephora's treason.

Well, he certainly wasn't aware that those exact people were still alive and kicking, but even so, he knew how dangerous and spiteful the darkness magicians were supposed to be.

And one of those darkness magicians was standing in front of his door...

And it was someone who has all the right to hate him and want him dead.

Even while all those thoughts passed through the blue-haired boy's head, his voice remained calm.

"Revenge? For what?"

The black-haired boy shook his head and asked, sounding genuinely shocked.

"Overusing my power, to begin with. Not to mention sentencing you to whipping. I might have not been fully conscious back then, but the responsibility still lies with me. It's okay, I understand. But I would appreciate it if you would not kill me – or at least wait until I give you the warning to pass on to my brother before you attempt to take my life."

Surou released his spell, making the water spear in his hand disappear completely, and raised his hands showing that he means no harm.

"...whew... Hold on, my prince."

Zoemi closed his eyes and breathed out in an attempt to compose himself.

"First of all, I do not hold any grudges against you. Second of all, I did not come here to harm you, the opposite, actually. And third – what do you mean you were not fully conscious back then?! Oh, and fourth – what happened to you?! The way you are – you are... well, you are still yourself, but... you seem smart! And you seem to actually plan and think things thought!"

The black-haired boy sighed, counting all the things that bothered him about the situation while pointing at the room as a whole with the evidence supporting Surou's preparations in plain sight.

"Good heavens... your opinion of me is so low...? That makes me think that I actually am missing more memories than I originally thought..."

*click*

"!!!"

The second prince breathed out heavily before snapping his finger and causing the excess moisture caused by the flood to be drained from his and Zoemi's clothes.

Then, the gathered water floated towards the empty doorway and created an ice wall in place of the heavy door that Zoemi's sentinel melted away.

"...I will be warned when someone will show up in the hallway leading to this room, my prince, would you mind explaining what exactly you mean. You seemed plenty conscious each time I have seen you..."

The black-haired boy pointed out while raising his brow after calming down a little bit.

"No, not really. Since you are so weirded out about me making actual plans and preparing in advance, that means that we never properly met."

But in response, the blue-haired boy merely shook his head with a grim expression while shrugging his shoulders.

This...

This Surou, confident and cold felt more like the character Zoemi knew from the game.

That's how the character of the second prince would be before the heroine cleared the first major story event for his route.

Not by coincidence, that kind of behavior was also reserved for everyone else who the blue-haired boy did not trust.

But... wasn't this world Surou supposed to be different?

"Interesting... I would love to learn more about your take on that but this place might not be an optimal spot to discuss things in detail... I came here to check whether Burushi was right about you being under the influence of the mysterious supporter while in the academy or were you just, pardon the crude wording – a shortsighted dumbass – and the answer is rather clear."

Zoemi glanced at the ice wall created by the blue-haired prince and declared.

The barrier was good considering the amount of mana at the second prince's disposal, but in the end, a few good kicks from a normal commoner, let alone a magician, would manage to break it.

"Honestly, I would also prefer to discuss things in a more friendly environment – but the problem is I can't really leave this place without becoming a wanting fugitive within the borders of the Bellcephora kingdom, sir Auequas. What is your suggestion?"

Surou asked, raising his brow and squinting his eyes, intrigued.

"..."

"Sir Auequas...?"

Since Zoemi went quiet and was just staring at Surou, the blue-haired boy leaned back a bit and asked in hesitation, doing his best not to glance over at the gaping hole in the wall that was now his only way of escape in case the black-haired boy would turn murderous after all.

"You were completely cut off from the outside world information, weren't you, my prince?"

"...?"

Zoemi asked suddenly, making Surou raise his brow.

"Yes. That was literally the whole point of exiling me here. Still, I can't say it turned out to be all that bad – after all, without the hexes messing with my head all the time I could piece together the puzzle of what led to this point - although honestly, there are still a few pieces missing... But it doesn't seem like that's what you are referring to."

The second prince confirmed and shrugged his shoulders looking down, before raising his head and staring back at the black-haired boy's face.

"Well, I am not an Auequas anymore, sorry to be self-centered all of a sudden, but slightly under ten months ago, I have been officially recognized as the heir to the Benemor family. That means I should reintroduce myself, my prince. Zoemi Benevi Banemor. And I am not a darkness magician. If it makes things easier, you can think about me as a very strong shadow magician... although that also isn't exactly my attribute either."

Zoemi responded in an official tone before bowing down to the shocked Surou.

"Well, well, well, if that isn't an upgrade..."

The second prince blinked a few times, looking to the side.

"While I am updating you on the outside world I think it would be best to tell you about another fact – Burushi has been expelled from the Aspakeony Academy and is taking shelter within my territory. She is safe but..."

"..."

The black-haired boy was in the middle of explaining when the atmosphere changed.

One glance at the Surou was enough to say how furious he was, and it made Zoemi hesitate whether he should actually say anything else.

Well, the best indicator of that would be to know the reason for the second prince's anger.

"First, the teachers would not lift a finger even when miss Burushiitto was bullied, not even look into things properly p and now you say that she was forced to leave...? And did you say she is taking shelter within your territory...? Even without properly graduating, with such a special variant attribute she should be sought out by not only every noble family but the royal family itself...! WHO DARES TO TRY TO HARM HER, HAVEN'T THEY HAVE ENOUGH?!"

"...whew..."

Although he was doing his best to stay calm, in the end, Surou ended up erupting into a furious roar while clenching his fist so hard that his fingernails ended up drawing blood – but ironically enough, that kind of reaction made Zoemi breathe out in relief.

|He wasn't jealous and possessive, he was worried about her. I say he has passed the test with a positive grade.|

The black-haired boy thought to himself.

"(Maybe...? Still hesitant...)"

"(Master, don't be too hasty...)"

His sentinels responded using the message spells sounding a bit worried still.

|Huh...? Oh! No, no, no! I don't mean I will reunite them immediately – I just mean that I think that Surou is clear for the next step of the plan we talked about.|

Zoemi gasped internally, before breathing out with relief at the realization and explaining it to the sentinels.

"(Oooooohhhh...!)"

"(Okay, for that it's okay!)"

They responded cheerfully.