The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead Targets Me, Not My Sister — Episode 56
“What do you think? Peculiar, isn’t it?”
……Indeed.
‘I never saw this coming.’
Of course, the ledger contained no words that screamed “this is suspicious” outright.
It was merely standard patronage, nothing more.
The real problem lay with the First Imperial Military Academy itself.
‘They’re offering patronage?’
To be honest, Awakeners were generally insufferable.
They carried the smugness of being chosen among countless millions.
Some even harbored a sense of destiny — that without them, the world had no salvation.
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t imagine those people volunteering to sponsor a Slum Orphanage where they’d gain no credit whatsoever.
So then…….
“I think I should visit the place directly.”
“Pardon?!”
Pepe jolted in surprise.
“The Military Academy? You, Lydia, in person?”
“Yes.”
In truth, the moment the name “First Imperial Military Academy” appeared in the ledger, the target was set.
“There’s a limit to what we can learn from outside. Especially when the target is a military academy. Sooner or later, I’ll need to go in and investigate properly.”
And I’m the only one who can do it.
“I can obtain a visitor’s permit as an alumna.”
It was a perfectly sound argument.
I’d done this sort of thing countless times before.
Yet Pepe’s expression remained tense.
“But…… are you truly certain about this?”
Lydia fell silent for a moment.
Just as Pepe’s worried eyes searched her face, she suddenly raised her head.
“What could possibly go wrong? I’ll do what needs doing.”
Lydia broke into a bright smile and gave Pepe’s back a few hearty pats.
“Don’t worry. When have you ever seen me turn down a job? This isn’t the time to be picky.”
She turned the page of the ledger casually as she continued.
“Applying now means it’ll take a while for the Visitor’s Permit Card to come through. In the meantime, let’s dig up more information. I can’t just walk in unprepared.”
Time was tight. I wanted to complete this before the Empire’s supreme council convened.
Lydia threw herself into planning with rare enthusiasm.
Yet Pepe’s worried expression never quite cleared.
* * *
One week later.
“Here is your Visitor’s Permit Card.”
Lydia accepted the card from the clerk and stepped outside.
“Phew.”
It had been a long time.
The sprawl of the Military Academy grounds came into view.
‘I never thought I’d come back here…….’
I’d sworn I would never return, not even in death.
When I’d chosen early graduation and escaped like a fugitive, I couldn’t have imagined ever setting foot on this ground again.
‘There are hardly any good memories here anyway.’
But what could I do?
Work had to be done.
Lydia lightly tapped her own cheek and steadied herself.
‘Let’s go.’
Three hours later.
‘Figured as much.’
Lydia slumped against the bench, her body going limp.
‘This isn’t going to be easy…….’
Here’s what she’d managed to learn about the patronage during the morning:
“Well, you see, this was already underway before I arrived here……. I’m not sure how the Slum Orphanage was selected. But barring any special circumstances, we typically don’t discontinue patronage once it’s been initiated.”
The current administrator seemed to have been posted here only recently and didn’t know the particulars.
‘It looks like the person in charge has changed several times since the initial selection.’
There was one thing this fact made clear.
‘This sponsorship has been going on for quite a long time.’
According to the ledger, Willeta the Countess began her patronage five years ago.
So Lydia had vaguely assumed the Military Academy’s sponsorship started around the same period.
‘But from what the administrator said, it seemed far older than that.’
Ten years.
Or perhaps decades.
This affair Lydia was pursuing might have a far longer history than she’d initially suspected.
‘……That’s ominous.’
She’d never underestimated her adversary, but a premonition stirred that this fight might prove harder than she’d bargained for.
Lydia, her head beginning to ache, let out a low groan of distress.
‘I really should plan this more carefully…….’
Then, a bell chimed in the distance.
‘Is it getting close to lunchtime?’
Watching the bustling cadets, Lydia found herself lost in memory for a moment.
‘Those were good days.’
Nothing particularly remarkable had happened, yet school days were the sort that lingered in memory.
Ah.
A sudden thought crossed her mind, and Lydia rose from the bench.
‘Since I have time, I should drop by there.’
A change of pace might do her good!
A short while later.
She arrived at a building that stood out as particularly dilapidated and shabby even within the Military Academy grounds.
‘I wonder if they’re still in the same office?’
Her body remembered the familiar path, and soon her destination came into view.
Knock, knock.
“Yes, come in.”
At the sound of that very familiar voice, Lydia’s face brightened.
“Master!”
She pushed open the door and stepped inside, where a pleasant-looking man with brown hair blinked slowly, taking in the situation.
“Lydia?”
Edmund Vice.
Her former instructor.
Edmund broke into a warm smile.
“Well, how long has it been? Have you been well?”
Hah.
Lydia scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
Though the two of them had met in the cold, austere space of the Military Academy, Edmund was a teacher Lydia genuinely respected.
‘A ray of light in my gray schooldays!’
‘The only sunshine in that pit of darkness!’
‘The finest of men!’
Of course, these were purely personal opinions.
“I’ve been doing well, always. I wanted to reach out much sooner, but I’ve been busy with various things. I’ll write you regularly from now on.”
Edmund gazed at his former student with a satisfied smile.
“I’m truly glad to hear it. I’m happy to see you’ve settled in so well.”
Lydia felt her heart warm for the first time in a while.
“Ah, but there’s the matter of this.”
Edmund checked his watch, his brow furrowing apologetically.
“I have a lunch appointment, so I’m afraid I’ll have to go. I’m sorry we couldn’t talk longer after all this time.”
“No, please don’t apologize. I came by unannounced without warning.”
“Still, I wish I had more time.”
Edmund paused in thought, then spoke.
“Will you be staying in town today? Perhaps I could make time this evening. I’d very much like to have dinner together.”
“Really? Can you do that?”
“Of course.”
Edmund smiled warmly at her.
‘He really is a good person.’
Lydia felt moved by his kindness.
After making rough plans, the two of them walked out of the Laboratory together.
“Master.”
Before they parted ways, Lydia called out to him.
“I really do owe you everything, Master. I mean it.”
Edmund tilted his head slightly, as if asking what she meant.
“Back when I wanted to drop out of the Academy.”
Lydia spoke with quiet conviction.
“I only managed to hold on because of you. If you hadn’t supported me, I would have given up long ago.”
Though in the end, it amounted to the same thing—leaving school early through graduation instead.
“Looking back now, I realize that not dropping out was truly the right choice. Without that, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I’d probably be full of regrets.”
Lydia bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you. I’ll never forget your kindness.”
Edmund smiled softly.
He reached out and stroked her hair gently.
“Then let’s talk again soon. We can discuss the details then.”
“Yes!”
Lydia nodded brightly.
The two parted ways, each heading in their own direction.
‘Phew.’
Left alone at last, Lydia let out a breath of relief.
‘I handled that well……!’
Seeing Edmund as kind and gentle as ever, something stirred in her—a strange, restless feeling, as if she’d stepped back into that earlier time.
Excitement? No, that wasn’t quite it…… more like an odd, prickling nervousness.
That was when it happened.
‘Huh?’
A shadow flickered near the entrance to Edmund’s Laboratory.
‘Who’s that?’
The movement seemed deeply suspicious.
Whoever it was, they didn’t appear to be part of the research staff here.
‘……A thief?’
Lydia crept forward, moving silently.
‘No, this is serious. There really is an intruder.’
And the uninvited visitor was actually attempting to force open the locked door!
‘Are they after Master’s research?’
The moment that thought struck her, Lydia moved with purpose toward a steel panel set into the wall and opened it.
‘Found it!’
She grabbed the lever inside and pulled with all her strength.
Whirrrr—
A metallic hum sounded, followed by a sharp clang.
“Ahhhhh!”
Direct hit!
‘Caught red-handed!’
“You crazy——! What is this thing!”
At the man’s panicked cry, Lydia felt a surge of satisfaction.
‘Master’s defensive systems really are flawless.’
And then.
“Huh?”
When Lydia saw the intruder’s face, she was left speechless.
“Oh.”
Recognition flashed across the man’s face as well, and he froze.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence hung between them for a moment.
Karl Lustein, caught red-handed, wiped cold sweat from his brow and forced an awkward smile.
“I…… well, hello there? We meet again? It’s been about a week, hasn’t it?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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