TAMWSFB 63

Chapter 63

My First Friend

If I don’t understand something, I should just ask, right?

“It’s all right. My name is Leticia Rosenberg. I look forward to spending this year with you.”

Fufufufu.

Well, it has been thirteen years since I became Leticia.

My noble-lady speech is flawless!
And combined with the cuteness I inherited from Mother—

I feel a little embarrassed saying it myself, but I think I grew up pretty cute.
Not as perfect as my brother’s beauty, of course. Actually, it’s not even a competition.

When I smiled gently, the girl in front of me turned bright red.

“A-A-Um, I-I’m Maria.”

Maria… I do feel like I’ve heard that name before. Maybe because it’s common.

She has no family name, so she must be a commoner.

For a commoner to enter this academy, they need to be special cases—like Abel, a Hero, or possessing extraordinary magic.

This school is essentially for noble children.

So she must have some rare magical ability.

And even if I don’t remember her clearly, she probably appears in the original novel too.

In that case—I have to become her friend!

“If you’d like, want to sit together? That spot looks nice.”

I said that and quickly sat by the window, beckoning her over.
Maria froze for a second, then awkwardly sat beside me.

The three girls who had been after my brother earlier glared at Maria resentfully.

Ahh… this is the “resentment” pattern.

I’m sorry, Maria-chan. That was my shortsightedness.

It is strange for a noble to ignore all other nobles and suddenly approach a commoner.

But the Rosenberg ducal family doesn’t care about noble reputation anyway, so I don’t care.

More importantly, I need to watch over Maria so she doesn’t get bullied.
Because honestly, she might be the only person I can be friends with.

Maria, who had no idea I had unilaterally declared her my friend, took out her textbooks from her school-issued bag.

Same with Abel—commoners entering the academy can’t afford the expensive bags or uniforms.

So they receive school supplies for free. Essentially like scholarship students.

Nobles provide their own, of course.
But even among nobles, some are nobles only in name and live like commoners.

Those students have to get secondhand uniforms through connections.

It looks like several students in this class are like that.

Compared to them, Maria’s uniform is shiny and brand new.

If I remember right, Abel was bullied because he wore a brand-new uniform and was forced to trade it for a used one.

I need to make sure that doesn’t happen to Maria!

“I’ve always been weak and couldn’t go outside much, so it’s my first time being somewhere with so many people. So I’m a bit nervous…”

Maria flinched when I spoke to her, but when she saw I was friendly and also seemed inexperienced socially, she relaxed a little.

Good, good.
Friendship GET!

“I see… I mean—Is that so? Um, how is your health now…?”

So kind!
The first thing she does is worry about my health—what a good kid!

My instincts were right!

“I’m completely cured now. They finally developed a special medicine for magic overload.”

I purposely said it loud enough for nearby students to hear.

It’s my way of saying:
I used to be sick only because of magic overload, but now I’m perfectly fine.

As long as I don’t get too overwhelmed by my brother, I’ll be OK.
I sparkle a bit, but as long as I carry a magic stone and have Moco with me, it’s fine.

That Moco was curled up on my lap.
Maria kept glancing at him curiously.

Of course she would wonder why only I brought a pet to school.
Though Moco isn’t really a pet.

“This child is a type of spirit. His name is Moco. Even though I’m cured, there’s always a chance of sudden symptoms, so I received special permission to bring him.”

I made sure to glance around the room as I said it.

If I tell everyone Moco is a spirit and not a beast, they won’t fear him or try anything stupid.

Not that anyone would dare challenge the Rosenbergs, but still—precaution is important.

I’m a girl who knows how to prepare. Ehem.

“I see… he’s adorable…”

Maria’s blue droopy eyes drooped even more sweetly.

Yes, yes—this is the kind of person I want as a friend.

Not like those noble girls earlier who only know how to play mind games.

—Wait.

Maybe this is the first friend I’ve ever had.
Including my previous life.

My chest fluttered.
I hurriedly gripped the magic stone in my pocket.

It’s okay, only a tiny bit leaked. Safe, safe.

“My childhood friend also had magic overload.”

“Oh my, that must have been very difficult.”

A commoner with magic overload… that must have been terribly harsh.
Unless the symptoms were mild, survival sounds unlikely.

But from the way Maria said it, they didn’t die.

“He’s completely better now, and he’s attending this academy.”

…Huh?

Wait a second.

A commoner.
Magic overload.
Attending this academy.

There’s only one possibility—

“His name is Abel.”

THAT’S THE HERO!!!