Nighttime, inside the apartment, beside the dining table.
Merlin looked at Riddel sitting across from Naoki.
"I didn't expect Riddel to actually retire, it really surprised me."
"Um, if I'm not mistaken, a few days ago at the Clock Tower, there were still people discussing this matter, it seems they were all Miss Riddel's fans." Gray recalled the events of a few days ago, "Why choose this time to retire? Miss Riddel's popularity is still very high."
Riddel sipped a bit of wine.
"I just feel my age is no longer suitable; after all, I'm already 28 years old. No matter what, at this age, I can't keep being an idol, or else I'll be called an auntie idol."
28 years old, that was indeed an age that could be called "auntie."
"Besides, there are also the Lord's affairs, the Archelot family's affairs... all sorts of matters are piling up, making my time very tight, so I decided to graduate from being an idol altogether. From now on, I have to focus on the power struggle in the Clock Tower."
While saying this, Riddel looked at Naoki, "It's a pity that Naoki has already been decided upon by Lord El-Melloi, otherwise I really wanted to pull you into my Department of Botany."
"What would I do in the Department of Botany? I don't study potions."
"Be a bouncer."
"Huh?"
"The Department of Botany is among the weaker of the twelve departments, often looked down upon and mocked during the Lords' meetings. If there's a great bouncer to keep the situation in check, those old fogeys will at least be a little calmer."
Mentioning those old fogeys, Riddel's expression clearly showed a bit of displeasure; clearly, she was very tormented by those older generation Lords.
Hearing that, Naoki immediately felt rather helpless.
"In that case, it's fine even if I don't go to the Department of Botany. After all, specifically transferring to the Department of Botany just to be your bouncer would also make my position difficult. I still have to repay Professor Kayneth's kindness to me."
Since meeting in the Holy Grail War, Kayneth had openly and secretly helped Naoki a lot. Both emotionally and logically, he had to repay him, plus he himself wasn't uninterested in the Department of Spiritual Evocation.
"But don't worry, if you're in trouble, just contact me, I'll definitely rush to help—as a friend."
"Friend, huh..."
Raising her wine glass, looking at Naoki meaningfully, Riddel finished her wine in one gulp, "Well, I'll accept your words. I hope next time when I'm in trouble, you won't find all sorts of excuses to refuse."
"What exactly am I in your eyes? I thought in these two years I didn't leave a bad impression on you."
"Hmph~"
Seemingly in a good mood, Riddel hummed softly twice and then changed the subject, "By the way, how's your 'Festival' rank promotion going? If I remember correctly, when I came back last time, you seemed to be stuck?"
"That problem has been temporarily solved."
The one who answered Riddel wasn't Naoki, but Waver.
"The biggest problem in Naoki's Magecraft is uncertainty, but recently he's found some kind of operational pattern, able to perform directed summoning of roughly a certain type of fairy. Next, he just needs to continue to figure out the more detailed conditions."
"Rather than saying found, it's more accurate to say Waver noticed it." Naoki said with a laugh, "My initial plan was to find a fixed combination through many test results, but you directly noticed the pattern in it, directly helping me save a lot of effort."
Overcoming one shortcoming in just a month?
Riddel couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Usually, problems in Magecraft research, stagnating in one place for several months or even years, were possible.
"In that case, won't you be able to reach the 'Festival' rank soon? Becoming 'Festival' at twenty-one, truly a child prodigy again."
"Still can't compare to Professor Kayneth." Naoki said, raising his hand, "Alright, let's not talk about my affairs anymore, let's have dinner. Where did you book a hotel this time? I'll take you back after we finish eating."
This had also become a habit between the two of them.
Basically, every time Riddel returned, the two of them would have dinner together, and Naoki would take her back to the hotel before returning to the apartment.
"Today? Today I'm not staying at a hotel."
"Eh? Not staying at a hotel? Then where are you staying?"
Riddel tapped the table.
"Here. I've already had my luggage sent over, estimated to arrive tomorrow. As for today... Mary, can I borrow yours?"
"Of course, it's no problem, but my clothes might be a bit big for you..."
While saying this, whether intentionally or not, Merlin puffed out her chest slightly.
But unfortunately—
"You're not that big either."
Naoki's completely insensitive remark directly froze Merlin's expression. She turned around and very kindly reached out to grab his ear, "Naoki, did you just say something?"
"Ouch ouch ouch... no, nothing, nothing at all!"
"Hmm, that's good."
Smiling as she retracted her hand and patted Naoki's head, Merlin looked at Riddel and asked, "But, Riddel, you just said you were having your luggage sent over... are you going to stay here for a long time?"
"Um, I plan to become a resident here. Of course, I'll pay rent and so on."
"A Lord is going to stay in a student dormitory... may I ask the reason?"
Riddel thought for a moment.
"The most direct reason is that I don't want to go back. After seeing the environment here, I feel the Archelot family's mansion is really gloomy, plus I haven't been back for a long time and don't have a sense of belonging there. Everyone here is my acquaintance, it's also close to the Department of Botany, so I might as well just stay here."
'Well, actually there's a part of the reason due to my personal desire.'
Glancing at Naoki, Riddel sighed softly.
"Of course, even though I say I'm staying here, in reality, I'll only come back to sleep and eat, I won't bring the Lord's work here."
"Hmm... as the landlord, I don't mind, and I'm already familiar with Riddel, but what do you three think?"
Merlin asked Naoki and the others.
A Lord was going to stay in a student dormitory, and moreover, she was the Lord of the Department of Botany who was also a famous idol in the Clock Tower.
If this were to spread, it was estimated that it would cause a storm of gossip in the Clock Tower.
"I don't mind, Gray shouldn't mind either."
"Yes, welcome to stay here, Miss Riddel."
"You all agree, then it seems there's no point in me disagreeing either."
In short, everyone agreed.
The corners of her lips curved into a smile, Riddel looked at Naoki, "Then, please take care of me from now on, Naoki."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Hmph~~~ just guess."