My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros' Obsession-Chapter 66Vol 2. .2

“...Ugh.”

As Yuri let out a deep sigh, Aquila and Winter finally ended their standoff, looking slightly embarrassed.

Yeah, even they probably realized that this ridiculous cold-vs-fire rivalry was absurd.

“Can you two please stop?”

With her usual nonchalant wave, Yuri motioned for them to get lost.

And just like that, they really disappeared down the hallway.

Just like that.

So easily.

...Was Yuri actually the real power figure of the 78th Class?

“Yuri, I really wanted to see you!”

“You... sigh.”

Yuri stared at my face for a long moment before sighing again.

“Salvia, let me give you some advice.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think is the most important trait in a man?”

“...Huh?”

This was an incredibly random question for the situation, but Yuri looked dead serious.

“Uh... The most important virtues in a person are obviously violence and fear.”

“...No, I mean, what’s the most important trait to look for when choosing a man?”

“Oh.”

Holy hell, was I actually having a discussion about men’s virtues with another lady like this?

Was this what noble ladies in romance fantasy novels talked about in small talk sessions?!

“...Dignity?”

At that, Yuri’s face twisted into something that looked like grief.

“No, Salvia...”

“Then... looks?”

“No.”

“Wealth...?”

“Still wrong.”

“Oh! You mean personality?”

“Not even close, Salvia.”

Yuri suddenly got very serious.

“The most important thing when choosing a man is social skills.”

“...What?”

“Remember this. Social skills matter the most.”

...That was so random.

And also...

“Well, I mean, Yuri....”

“I know I lack social skills. But anyone worse than me is a no-go.”

Now, Yuri was speaking with emphasis on every single word, practically giving a speech.

“If you date someone with no social skills, you’re screwed. Think carefully, Salvia.”

But, like... most romance fantasy male leads lack social skills.

Of course, Yuri wouldn’t know that since she wasn’t from another world like me.

Wait—was she saying this because of Winter and Aquila’s standoff earlier?

“...Are you talking about Winter and Aquila?”

“...No! It’s not them!”

Yuri suddenly strongly denied it and then pointed toward the hallway.

“Look, there’s someone right there who actually has social skills. That’s way better than those guys with none.”

I followed the direction of her finger and saw Altair walking down the hall—with Ishina beside him, carrying a blanket.

...Looked like Ishina had been sent on an errand.

“...Oh, you mean Lord Altair?”

“Are you insane? I mean Ishina!”

“...Ah.”

I squinted at Yuri, trying to analyze her intent.

Then, Altair finally reached us and greeted us casually, as usual.

“Yo, Yuri, Salvia. What’s up?”

Altair, as always, draped an arm around Yuri’s shoulder like they were best friends.

And, as always, Yuri shot him a glare and smacked his arm away.

“We’re having an important discussion, so don’t bother us.”

“Aww, why? What’s the topic?”

Taking my perfect opportunity, I snitched.

“Yuri says she likes men with social skills.”

“...Are you crazy? You’re getting a little too bold lately.”

Yuri glared at me, but she wasn’t actually mad enough to kill me or anything.

Meanwhile, Altair burst into laughter and repeated, “Social skills? Hah! You mean that thing Winter doesn’t have?”

As expected of the 78th Class’s one and only socially competent member, Altair knew full well that Winter had zero social skills.

...But wait.

Was Yuri bringing up social skills some kind of romance fantasy cliché?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Like, was this actually a foreshadowing that Yuri and Altair would end up together in some way?!

I was seriously suspicious.

Then, I locked eyes with Ishina, who was still standing behind Altair, waiting patiently while holding the blanket.

...Oh.

Ishina’s been waiting this whole time.

Maybe we should let the 78th Class members talk among themselves and leave.

So, I decided to drop a conversation bomb before making my exit.

“What will you two do after you get discharged?”

“...Why are you bringing up discharge already? We still have two years left.”

“Well, it’s about time you guys start thinking about it, isn’t it?”

I still had a long way to go before my discharge, so I could joke around, saying things like, "I’ll do this, I’ll do that," but Yuri and Altair were actually at the point where they needed to seriously think about their future.

“Hmm....”

Yuri fell into deep thought.

“...What, what will I do? That’s... that’s a hard question....”

Altair stammered like a high school senior being asked about their future career plans.

Oh.

So this is the perfect conversation topic for people near the end of their service.

I decided to add another bombshell.

“Did you hear? Lady April said she’s joining the Special Black Magic Investigation Force.”

“...What? Really?”

Altair and Yuri’s eyes widened at the same time.

“Ugh, hey, Yuri... Let’s never go anywhere near that place after we’re discharged.”

“Yeah. Absolutely not.”

“You two made the right choice.”

Altair looked bewildered and asked,

“Seriously, who retires from the military just to re-enlist somewhere else? Why the hell would she go there?”

“I don’t know the full details, but she said something about uncovering the secrets of this world....”

“She’s out of her mind, as always. I don’t get it.”

Yuri commented in a cynical tone. Well, she had spent even more time with April than I had.

“In any case, do either of you plan to stay in the Border Defense Army for good...?”

“...Do you have a death wish?”

“I take it back.”

I gave a sly grin, and Yuri shot me a sharp glare before falling into serious thought again.

‘Alright, this is my chance to slip away with Ishina.’

But apparently, Altair wasn’t done with me yet.

“Hey, Salvia. So what exactly does Lady April want to uncover?”

“She said she wanted to figure out why this system has been able to persist.”

“...What system?”

“She talked about how unfair it is that Arcons are forced to keep serving in the Border Defense Army and wanted to know how this situation has been sustained for so long....”

“Wait a second.”

Altair’s face suddenly turned serious.

“Well, obviously, it’s because we signed a contract magic agreement. We follow the magic, and we follow the law, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Of course, no one’s happy with this situation, but... the way Lady April put it, it almost sounds like she’s planning to—”

Altair hesitated before finally saying the word,

“—rebel?”

“Hey! HEY!”

Yuri panicked and clamped a hand over Altair’s mouth, then glared at both me and Ishina with threatening eyes.

“Did you hear anything just now?”

“We heard nothing.”

Ishina and I immediately gave the answer she wanted, wearing expressions of perfect ignorance.

Only then did Yuri remove her hand from Altair’s mouth, but she still shot him a warning look.

“Watch your mouth.”

“But think about it—it’s Lady April we’re talking about.”

“Someone like her might actually—no, shut up!”

The atmosphere grew even heavier. I took the chance to look for another opening to escape.

But Altair ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) wasn’t done with me. Again.

“Salvia. I’ve been thinking—if Lady April is actually planning to—”

“STOP. Do NOT say that word.”

Even though Yuri seemed overly dramatic, the word rebellion was not something any soldier should ever say out loud.

Especially not in an empire ruled by an emperor.

One wrong rumor about rebellion could mean decapitation—or worse, the complete dismemberment of your body.

“Okay, okay. From now on, I’ll just call it ‘That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named.’”

...Weird.

Hearing those words triggered something in my memories.

But well, the people of this world had no idea what they were saying, so whatever.

“In any case, if Lady April isn’t planning to commit That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named, then I thought about what she meant when she said ‘the system.’”

Altair lightly tapped his wrist.

“It’s probably this contract magic. This magic itself is what keeps us trapped in the Border Defense Army.”

“I see...”

So was April trying to find a way to break this contract magic?

Contract magic was an agreement made long ago between the Arcons and the Emperor of the Adolph Empire.

The contract passed through bloodlines and activated through lineage.

That was all I knew about it.

“Altair, do you know anything else about this contract magic?”

When I asked, Altair’s lips curled into a grin.

“Good. The willingness to learn. That’s a fine question.”

Damn it.

I must’ve triggered his inner ‘Lecturer-Altair’ mode.

“Contract magic is... a very vague type of magic.”

“Why?”

“Well, over time, Arcon blood has obviously mixed with the blood of Imperial citizens, diluting it.

So how exactly is the contract determining who is still bound by it?”

“...That is weird.”

“Right? Even the criteria for identifying an Arcon, or the timing for when the contract’s effects take hold and force someone into the army—none of that is clear.

There’s so much about this contract magic that doesn’t add up.”

The more Altair spoke, the more intrigued I became.

This contract magic really was strange.

“But there is one thing that’s certain.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, for starters, contract magic is...”

Altair lowered his voice and said,

“Black magic.”

“...What?”

“...Are you just saying the most obvious thing in the world?”

I stared at Altair in shock, but Yuri just looked exasperated.

Even Ishina, usually composed, seemed caught off guard.

But I couldn’t understand why they weren’t as surprised as I was.

‘Black magic is forbidden.’

The Empire had banned black magic and even formed the Special Black Magic Investigation Force to eradicate it.

So how was it possible that a contract enforced by the Empire itself...

...was black magic?