Episode 41: “Someone Like You”

“You overdid it, Fiine.”

After the duel ended, once Andrea had hurried off looking like she was fleeing, that was what Burkhardt said to her.
His gaze was fixed on the school grounds, thoroughly torn to pieces by Fiine’s spellwork.

“S-sorry… I’ll fix it right away.”
“Yes. Please do.”

She hurried to trace a magic circle on the ground.
Since all she needed to do was move the earth back into place, basic earth-attribute magic was enough.
Though given how much ground she’d churned up, it still cost her a considerable amount of magic power to set right.

“Fiine, good work today!”

Yuria came rushing over, then bowed hastily to Burkhardt.
Among the students, Burkhardt was feared as something of a demon instructor.

“U-um, sir! It’s true Fiine went a little overboard and everyone got scared, but Andrea’s the one who picked the fight in the first place! And besides, plenty of people get jealous of Fiine just because she’s talented, so… so it’s not her fault at all!”
“Yuria, um, that’s not really something you need to—”
“Why not?!”
“…B-because I didn’t want to worry you…”

Saying that in front of Burkhardt himself was already far too late.
Yuria’s mouth fell open, frozen for a moment, before she bowed her head. I’m sorry!!

“N-no, it’s fine. I know you didn’t mean anything bad by it.”
“But it’s true I didn’t think it through carefully enough. I’m sorry, Fiine.”
“It’s fine. I know you said it because you were worried about me.”
“No, but, because of me…”

It’s my fault — no, it’s my fault — the two of them kept going back and forth, until Burkhardt, watching them, finally broke into laughter as though he couldn’t hold it back any longer.
Yuria’s eyes went wide at the sight of him.

(He never laughs at all at school, does he, Burkhardt-san.)

He wasn’t exactly expressive at home either, but it wasn’t as though he never laughed there.

(Though, come to think of it, I was surprised too, the first time I saw him smile.)

While she was looking back fondly on those memories, Burkhardt suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair.
A large palm, and just slightly too much force behind it.

“…Burkhardt-san?”

It had been a long time since he’d done that.

“Well done. It got a little flashy in places, but your movements were good, and being able to control five golems at once now shows real growth.”
“…Yes, sir.”

Being praised by Burkhardt always left her chest full to bursting, happy and embarrassed all at once.
She’d never particularly liked magic training itself, but she’d always loved being praised like this.

“I know you’re not the type to challenge someone to a duel on your own. But I also know you’re the type who won’t back down from a fight someone else starts.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“I-instructor! This time, Fiine got provoked because of you, so…!”

Yuria must have thought Fiine was about to be scolded.
Watching her rush to interject, Burkhardt smiled gently.

“—Which is exactly why I’m glad she has a friend like you.”
“…Eh?”
“Fiine. Take good care of your friend. And if there’s any more trouble like this with other people, report it to me.”

Once more, Burkhardt roughly ruffled Fiine’s hair.