497 Chapter 497: A Campy Chapter (1/2)

”It's like a dream!”

Rossetti was squealing in joy when she set foot into the camp building. Or to be more precise, the camp dormitory room for the staff. She was clasping her hands, her eyes shining with delight as she took in every nook and cranny of the…well, dilapidated room.

I glanced at the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, studied the paint that was peeling from half-rotting wooden walls, and then at the sorry-looking, plain white mattresses that served as our beds. True to form, it was a double decker bed, so one would be sleeping on top and the other at the bottom. I would probably pick the bottom, but honestly I was either way.

Being the gentleman, I would allow Rossetti to pick whichever bunk she wanted.

”It's been a while since I've gone on a camping trip! This is so exciting!”

Rossetti hauled herself up onto the top bed and began rolling around in delight, causing the whole wooden frame to creak and shake. I couldn't help but be alarmed at the noise. It sounded like the old bedframe would fall apart at any time.

Damn it, I really didn't want to be sleeping at the bottom when then whole thing gave in and crashed on top of me. Being on the top bunk was less assuring, given that I also didn't want to be falling from that height when the bedframe eventually collapsed.

”Camping! Camping! I'm camping again!”

Rossetti was singing happily as she rolled about, ignoring the dangerous sounds and the trembling of the old bedframe. I glared at her.

”Oi, stop that. Otherwise the whole bedframe will fall apart. Do you want to sleep on the floor instead?”

”That's right.”

I almost jumped out of my skin when the elderly lady who managed the camp premises came up behind us, her voice strict. She was smiling, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

”If you break the bed, you'll have to pay for it. I'll be deducting it from your pay. And you'll be sleeping on the floor.”

Immediately, Rossetti jolted up and sat in seiza, adopting a stance of repentance. A bead of cold perspiration ran down her face. As for me, I slowly turned back and lowered my head apologetically, but the old lady waved me away.

”Richard Huang, Rossetti Picket,” she greeted us in a dignified manner. ”The two of you are not students, but while you stay here for the next five days, I expect you to abide by the same rules.”

”Yes, ma'am,” I replied. The elderly woman nodded, and smiled.

”Of course, I am aware that the two of you are proper mages, employed by the prestigious academy of Saint Teresa, and have displayed upstanding behavior, and I believe you will act as proper adults, unlike the restless children from the middle school section, who are still wet behind the ears and prone to mischief.” She placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip strong and firm. I couldn't help but feel a chill as she leaned closer to me, her eyes hard and her smile cold. ”So please refrain from committing any impure deeds, and remember to exercise some restraint.”

”Y…yes, ma'am,” I stammered nervously, wondering what she was trying to say. Did she think I was up to no good?

”Especially you, young man. Please behave like a gentleman at all times, and do not allow your baser instincts to control you.”

Oh…so that was what this was about. She was worried about this situation where a teenage boy and a teenage girl were placed in the same room. Being a woman, she of course harbored some sort of suspicion toward me, and was concerned that I would make an unethical move on the vulnerable-looking Rossetti.

She was in for a surprise. Rossetti was more than capable of defending herself. If I didn't want to be limping away, clutching myself between my legs, I wasn't going to do anything.

Watching the elderly camp manager leave, I sighed and shook my head. I could still feel the cold sweat pouring down my face.

”Sorry about this,” I apologized to Rossetti. ”I know there aren't many rooms in this campsite, but I can't believe they assigned us to the same room.”

”Oh no, I don't mind.” Rossetti waved her hands frantically. ”In fact, Headmistress Taylor should be blamed for springing this on the camp staff all of a sudden.”

Yeah, thanks to her intervention, the camp staff were flustered and in an uproar, struggling to find a spare room to accommodate the two of us. As it turned out, this was the best they could do. It wasn't ideal, but at least we weren't forced to sleep out in the open.

Not that I minded. Having trained in the military before, I could sleep in the open without any qualms. All I needed was a mosquito net and I would be golden.

”I promise I won't do anything to you, or touch you.” I was holding up my hands and swearing. Rossetti giggled at that.

”Don't worry, I trust you. In fact, I'm glad that you're the one who got assigned to the same bunk as me. That puts me more at ease.”

”Uh, really?”

”Ah, but don't let Miura know, though. She'll get really mad.”

Ugh…I could picture that. For some reason, the black-haired beauty was obsessed with me, but I had managed to give her a slip. One good thing about participating in this camp was that I could escape from her for five days. Well, even if it wasn't for this camp, I would have returned to Jing Tian City for the summer, but I wouldn't put it past her to drop by and pay me an unwanted visit.

”I don't want her to know either,” I muttered, and Rossetti giggled again. I glanced at her curiously when I realized something. ”Did Headmistress Taylor approach you for this job too?”

”Hmm, yeah. I had nothing to do over the summer, so I agreed.”

Huh. I was actually wondering why Taylor chose Rossetti. It wasn't that she was unreliable, but the selection seemed pretty random. Wouldn't Kufa Van Peer be a better choice for this mission, for example?

Obviously I couldn't ask that out loud, or it would seem like I was questioning Rossetti's abilities. I knew from experience that she wasn't that weak. I had seen her fight before, even dueled against her once. I think.

”Sensei.”

There was a knock on the door, and both Rossetti and I exchanged a glance before I called back out.

”Yeah, what's up? Go ahead and come in.”

Melina opened the door, smiling brightly. Next to her, Adrian poked his head in.