Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: New Connections
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"Ah, I'm beat."
Unexpectedly cheerful, I spent the whole day roaming the dream campus with Highness.
The knight academy's educational facilities included the library, all sorts of labs and sparring halls, even a ballroom.
I skipped lunch to memorize the layout and buildings.
And so afternoon arrived.
I grabbed dinner with Highness and returned to my room.
Click.
As I gripped the door handle, a faint trace of mana flowed, and the door opened.
It rivaled modern fingerprint locks in performance.
'Something's here!'
The moment I stepped inside with a pleased heart, I sensed a person's presence.
The room had been empty when I left, but now someone was inside.
'What a downer?'
A short, scrawny guy with his back turned, arms crossed, staring at the setting sun outside the window, fully immersed in a moody vibe.
He must have heard the door, but he kept spreading that gloomy aura thick in the air.
"Haha, looks like we've got a guest."
I walked over and greeted him casually.
'What a prick!'
He ignored my greeting completely.
This young punk, who looked barely out of his teens, was gazing at the dying sun like some old man who'd seen it all, polluting the room with an aura of futility.
"Hey, buddy. How about a proper hello?"
I gave him one more chance, since he wasn't the type to ignore.
'Whoa! What the—!'
Just as irritation flared at his indifference, something unfamiliar caught my eye outside the window.
A translucent silver object gliding freely through the air.
'What kind of bird is that? Whoa!'
A bird the size of an eagle slicing through the winter sky at incredible speed.
'Spirits!!'
A sudden realization hit me.
Could that be a spirit, something I'd never seen before?
"Urk...."
The guy suddenly groaned and staggered.
'Huh? For real?'
Before I could react to his abrupt response.
'Nosebleed too?'
"Huh, huff!"
He clutched the windowsill, gasping in agony.
Red drops, likely blood from his nose, plopped onto the floor.
"Damn it. Mana's running low.... Urgh."
My presumed roommate spat curses in a pained voice.
'Totally a spirit summoner.'
I could tell the nosebleed wasn't life-threatening, so I didn't help.
"You okay?"
"Huff! Wh-who's there?"
I couldn't help asking after the hurting guy, and he jolted in surprise.
'Huh? What's with that voice?'
A thin, high-pitched tone, like a boy's voice not yet changed.
'And his face is girly too?'
About 165cm tall, short blue hair, male.
His tanned skin showed signs of hardship, but his soft jawline, straight nose, and eyes were feminine enough to pass for a woman.
"Me? Kayer, the owner of this room."
"K-Kayer.... I'm Russel. N-nice to meet you!"
His voice deepened as he introduced himself as Russel.
"A spirit summoner?"
"H-how'd you know?"
Russel stuttered in surprise again, like it was a hobby.
'You think I'm some idiot son of a bitch?!'
"The eagle flying around earlier—that a spirit?"
"You s-saw it?"
Russel's expression lit up with shock.
His not-weak-looking face and gestures were somewhat to my liking.
"I'm not blind. Of course I saw it. Impressive, though. You're young, but summoning a mid-level spirit."
Thinking about spirits, info popped up: that translucent bird was Shuriel, a mid-level wind spirit.
"Impressive? I'm still lacking. Still...."
'What the hell is with this intense obsession??'
Russel muttered "still" again.
He emanated a murderous aura as he thought.
'This guy's got secrets. Dangerous, dangerous.'
A different warning blared in my head than with Highness.
"Haha! Anyway, let's get along. We'll be roommates from now on."
"Y-yeah. Let's get along, Kayer."
I offered my hand, and he grabbed it hesitantly.
'Huh? Why's his hand so soft?'
It felt like gripping something squishy, like an invertebrate.
A tingle raced through me, similar to holding Ye-rin's hand.
'Ugh, Kang Hyuk. Now you're getting excited over a guy's hand? Is that it?'
I nearly plunged into self-loathing from the inexplicable sensation.
Like anyone else, I had zero interest in the same sex.
Only the opposite!
Preferably a girl who's pretty-faced, great figure, sweet personality—and if I could be greedy, loaded too.
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'The punk locks the door to shower? Like he's not a dude?'
I'd planned to chat all night, but Russel turned in early, tired.
Morning came, and he bolted up, rushing into the bathroom.
Locking the door, like he had something to be shy about.
Clunk.
'Huh?'
Grumbling at his unmanly behavior, the bathroom door opened.
Thanks to magic stones, it supplied hot and cold water like modern plumbing.
Russel emerged smoothly amid the white steam.
Thump thump.
'Why's my heart racing? Ugh!'
Drying his wet short hair with a towel, he appeared.
He'd changed inside; already in trainee uniform.
'I'm losing it.'
Never in my 17 years had my heart pounded like this over a guy.
Plus, a subtle, unfamiliar fragrance wafted faintly.
It didn't suit Russel at all, invading my nose and messing with my head.
"What's with you, standing there like a constipated puppy?"
Russel tossed a remark at me guarding the bathroom door mid-dry.
"N-no. Haha! You looked pretty popping out of the shower like that."
The words slipped out honestly before I knew it.
"Wh-what kind of talk is that?"
'Huh? He's blushing?'
Seeing Russel's peach-flushed face, my inner prankster devil cheered.
"Heh, decent figure, passable face too, Russel."
Mimicking shady mercenaries, I leaned close to his pink face.
"Wh-why?"
He backed away, beet-red like a radish.
I gripped his shoulders with both hands.
Tremble.
He shook like a bird in my grasp.
'Damn, why's his heart pounding so hard?'
I felt his hammering heartbeat through his shoulders.
"You...."
His breath smelled nice, lips just 15cm away.
I gazed deeply into Russel's clear silver eyes.
"....."
He started to say "you" but trailed off, staring blankly in confusion.
The mood felt like setting up for a first kiss with a girl.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without thinking.
'Hyuk, you crazy?'
Started as a joke, but now even I was serious.
"Got a little sister or big sis? Man, seeing you makes me think they'd be blessed with genes. If a guy's making my heart race, no need to ask about the rest."
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
A heavy blow to my gut.
"P-pervy bastard!"
Second time hearing "perv" in this world amid my groan of unfamiliar pain.
'No! I hate pervs more than commies!'
A hot cry rose inside.
But the excruciating pain silenced me.
Slap!
Russel's wet towel to my face.
"You think you'd introduce your sis to a perv in his right mind?"
He stabbed back coldly, giving as good as he got.
"I'm heading down first."
Critical hit landed, he vanished.
'Ugh!'
Called a perv, yet I couldn't tear my eyes from his swaying butt as he left, the faint towel scent tearing at my heart.
Kang Hyuk's 17-year life.
I couldn't help bitterly cursing myself for briefly falling for a guy.
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'It's huge!'
The knight academy's library loomed five stories at the far back.
Near the imperial palace walls where the emperor and royals resided, it was a sight to behold.
Bigger than any academy building, dozens of thick stone pillars supported the front.
Yet hardly anyone passed through today.
The bone-chilling cold kept even palace servants away.
'Guess I should skim the continent's history and culture first?'
I'd picked up knowledge on the road, but how accurate could mercenaries be?
Regular classes started in a fortnight.
I'd gather needed info by then.
'Books on spirits too?'
Suddenly curious about spirits.
My head brimmed with unknown knowledge, but spirit summoning was sparse.
'What level could I summon now?'
Russel summoned a mid-level spirit with modest mana.
With my unified mana hall, surely higher.
'But aren't those palace knights?'
Ten-plus guards in red cloaks, swords at hips.
Out of place in the library, they watched entrants from chairs.
'Cold out, so slacking off?'
The library was toasty warm, incomparable to outside.
Knights would want a break too.
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'Whoa! Incredible!'
Inside the massive building dubbed the Imperial Library.
It held a staggering book collection, rare even in 21st-century Korea.
'All preserved with magic. Building optimized for temp, humidity—perfect for docs. Books over a millennium old, still pristine....'
The more I learned of magic, the more its utility amazed me.
If modern Earth had science, here it was magic.
'At least tens of thousands.'
History and civilization shelves crammed in the palace library.
Leather to thick-paper tomes; I wandered drunk on their scent.
'Huh? What's that kid?'
A ten-ish boy on tiptoes for an out-of-reach book.
Golden blond with red sheen, plush luxury winter coat.
'They accept kids that young?'
Too young for knight academy.
His baby-fat cheeks looked cute.
"Kiddo, want big bro to help?"
Pitied his straining effort to learn.
Zap.
He turned at my voice.
'Huh, sharp eyes for a brat.'
His gaze was fierce, like questioning who dared poke a sleeping lion's whiskers.
"Haha! Cute."
Eyes blinking instead of answering big bro.
I ruffled his neatly combed hair like a neighborhood pup.
'For the great emperor. Looks young.'
Floor had three-four books the kid picked.
"Studying hard, huh? Good. No royal road to study—just read lots, think lots, write lots. Then you'll be great like big bro."
Shared my hard-earned study wisdom earnestly.
"Who are you?"
'Huh? Who are you?'
Expecting thanks, beaming—but out came the standard rude brat line.
"Brat! What kinda home training lets you talk down to big bro? One more time, and it's spanks!"
Scolded him sternly.
"Such nerve! You dare spank me?"
'No way! Starting something?'
This downy youth, botched upbringing sending manners to Andromeda.
Couldn't stand it.
"You punk! Words won't cut it!"
Thud.
Frowning mad, I hiked his pants.
"Let, let go! How dare you!"
Smack!
No need for talk.
Bent knees slightly, set him gentle, smacked his butt hard with my palm.
"Ow! Waaah!"
"Quiet! You snot-nosed punk talking down to big bro without manners! Your folks teach you like that?"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
I'd tolerate anything but rude brats.
Kids advertising "I grew up rude" in restaurants or public.
Meeting one on Kaliyan Continent sparked my inner character educator.
"Waaah! Ouch! Ouch!"
'Kids need spankings to grow right.'
I'd studied life harshly under parents young.
Swallowing tears(?), I smacked generously for his future.
"Gonna talk down or cry to big bro again?"
"Waaah! Sob sob....!"
Not even that hard, but he panicked like first-ever spanking.
"N-no."
Hand rose again; he shook head frantically.
'Hmm, that's right. Know your place, young soul.'
Pleased at education's sure effect.
Ain't there a saying?
Give extra bills to the hated, extra love taps to the promising.
"There, now you're a good kid. What's your name?"
"Sob, sniff. Razsion von Bazran."
Tears like chicken droppings welled as he mumbled his full name.
'Huh? Familiar surname?'
Bazran—not unfamiliar.
'N-no way!'
Nightmare thought jolted me awake.
'B-Bazran....?'
The empire I was in: Bazran.
Current emperor Habitron used Bazran too.
"Y-yeah, Razsion. Nice name."
My voice trembled unwittingly.
"So, what does your dad do?"
Probed his father's job cautiously.
Bazran wasn't emperor-exclusive; branch kin used it.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
Short reply.
'Ugh! God!'
No one to blame for this reality.
Forgot: not law-protected Korea, but power-and-fist Kaliyan Continent.
I'd called emperor and empress "dad" and "mom" freely.
If word got out, lifelong blood feud with Bazran Empire.
Soft woman's voice amid the mess.
'Gasp!'
A woman approached from library depths.
Rustle rustle—ivory dress adorned with golden threads trailed as she descended like a goddess, radiating elegance everywhere.
'An aura!'
That radiant halo seen only on celebs with Ye-rin or Dong-gun.
Mona Lisa-esque subtle smile playing on her lips.
"Sis~!"
'S-Sis?'
The emperor's son, snot-nosed from my beating, toddled to her.
'Dead.'
What else to think?
Kid spills everything, princess lasers me with eyes, rage-shouts summon guards.
Then run till soles blister in rain.
" Razsion? What happened? Why cry?"
Princess wiped his tears with fingers.
Zap.
Kid glared daggers at me.
"Yeah, uh... book fell on my head reaching for it. Hehe."
'Huh? This punk?'
Lied instead of truth—some scheme?
I flashed a grin.
"Sky Knight trainee Kayer greets Your Highness the Princess."
Bowed per noble etiquette I'd seen.
"I am Aegis von Bazran."
Princess Aegis curtsied slightly, dress in hand.
'Such poise.'
Her noble grace unseen before.
Fit for a great empire's princess, I thought.
"A new trainee?"
"Yes. Enrolled a few days ago."
"Big bro's a Sky Knight trainee? Wow! Cooler than he looks!"
'That rice bucket!'
Calling me big bro shamelessly before sis.
Aegis's face flickered embarrassment.
"H-ha, Your Imperial Highness. How can you call a mere trainee 'bro'? I'll humbly accept the sentiment, but please refrain. Eyes are watching... ahem."
Emphasized with glaring eyes while speaking.
'That punk!'
Stuck tongue out at me.
" Razsion, don't say such casually. You may be fine, but Sir Kayer could get in trouble with Father."
Shattered my princess image—Aegis gently stroked his hair, warning.
"Yeah. Got it, sis. I'll be careful now."
Empire's prince nodded, playing good lil bro.
Heartwarming sibling scene.
Warmed my heart watching.
"Sir Kayer, was it?"
"Y-yes? Yes!"
Sky-blue eyes shifted from Razsion to mine, gazing quietly.
"We'll meet soon."
'Soon? Me?'
Aegis dropped the curveball.
Sky Knight trainee or not, palace walls screamed royals weren't casual sightings.
"Very well."
No haughtiness despite princess; casually nodded and turned.
"Hehe. See ya, big bro."
Cute Razsion whispered "big bro" low, despite the beating.
Should be mad, but sweet.
Led by Aegis, they left the third floor.
"Sheesh...."
Believe it or cry? Reality blurred.
I'd spanked the empire's prince like a kid, lumped emperor-empress as failed parents.
Even from 21st-century Earth, my guts were fat.
"God, still thanks! Opened my blind eyes personally today too!"
Crossed myself to library ceiling.
Rare beauty encounter—God's irreplaceable blessing.