The day after Li finished her mischievous plotting with the headmaster.

With the exams just around the corner the atmosphere at the academy somehow felt different from usual.

That was what Li had been thinking, but class was still in session.

She was currently learning the history of the kingdom from a veteran instructor.

In the middle of the lecture there was a knock on the door.

Knock knock.

“Hm?”

Just as the instructor responsible for history spoke up.

The male instructor in charge of Li’s class opened the door with a rather awkward expression.

“Lord Barman? What is it? The lecture is still in progress.”

“Sorry. A bit of an emergency has come up. Could you spare a moment?”

Even as he said that the male instructor spoke before waiting for the history instructor’s reply.

His usual drawn-out tone was gone.

Li could sense seriousness in his voice.

“Li Earlychar Karasebed Quewa. You can go home for today. Actually, the ducal house contacted us asking that you return immediately.”

“Do you know any details?”

“No. The head butler from your house came personally.”

“What? Adros?”

Had something happened to her family?

Something inside Li’s mind suddenly burned hot.

She would not lose anyone.

“I understand. Then please excuse me!”

From that moment Li moved quickly.

She left her belongings behind and walked straight out of the classroom.

A noble lady never runs, no matter the situation.

However seeing Li acting so differently caused the atmosphere in the classroom to tense instantly.

But that tension quickly disappeared with a single remark from the history instructor.

“Now then, we will continue the lecture. Pay attention from here. This part might appear on the exam.”

It was a method typical of a veteran instructor who understood student psychology well.

* * *

Meanwhile Li met up with the head butler at the guard station of the escort knights.

“Adros! What happened!”

Seeing Li’s intense expression the head butler quietly lowered his eyes.

That reaction only made Li’s bad feeling grow stronger.

She grabbed his shoulders firmly.

“Adros!”

“No… my apologies. It is not what you are thinking, my lady, so please do not worry.”

“What do you mean? What happened?”

“It is difficult to discuss here.”

The head butler began walking toward the carriage.

Li followed him, still somewhat confused.

‘Just what had happened?’

The moment the carriage began moving Li pressed him again.

“What happened?”

“My deepest apologies. Lady Veronica went on a rampage.”

“My mother? A rampage?”

“You know that Lady Veronica has been deeply absorbed in her research lately, correct?”

‘Ah.’

At that moment Li realized.

It was about the pseudo magical creatures.

Her mother had been extremely enthusiastic about it.

At least it was not the kind of tragedy Li had feared.

She let out a breath.

Then she looked at the head butler.

“What exactly did my mother do?”

“Well… she only said that it was an emergency and that we must bring Lady Li back.”

Li could not help looking up at the sky.

Though all she saw was the carriage ceiling.

She felt a little foolish for worrying so much.

“Ufufu.”

A self-deprecating laugh slipped out.

“Lady Li?”

“I’m glad. I’m truly glad.”

Li muttered quietly.

“You came all the way to the academy, Adros, so I thought something terrible had happened.”

Tears slipped from Li’s eyes.

She was simply relieved.

Seeing this the head butler looked extremely apologetic.

For a while the inside of the carriage was filled with an awkward atmosphere.

Watching Li, whose face had turned slightly red, the head butler thought to himself.

She had always cared deeply about her family, but perhaps even more than he had realized.

He once again understood just how deep Li’s feelings were.

“L-Lord Adros!”

A guard’s voice suddenly came from outside the carriage.

“What is it?”

The head butler was about to answer.

Then he saw it.

Through the carriage window stood a strange giant golem.

Part of the ducal residence had been destroyed and the golem’s head was sticking straight out of the ground.

It looked like a bamboo shoot after rain in early spring.

Like those bamboo shoots that break through asphalt near bamboo forests.

Seeing the head butler’s reaction Li also looked outside.

“G-Gangaru?”

The word Li murmured did not reach the head butler’s ears.