Just One Day Until the Academic Conference
Bit by bit, people from various countries who were taking an interest in the academic conference were gathering in Istaltin.
"There are definitely more people this year."
Ashytara peered out the window at the scene, asking Denetim with a puzzled look.
"Why?"
"It's because of Ludenberg."
"Me?"
"Yeah. The ruins of the Starting Knight. That's drawn a lot of attention. There were rumors earlier this year that Professor Nah had discovered some kind of ruins, and scholars from all over remember that."
"I see."
"It's probably not widely known to most people. You didn't even know, Ashytara."
"True enough."
"It's not a topic that usually interests anyone unless they're connected to the Setra Church or actual scholars. Plus, you've been studying at Solemnute Adem."
"Come to think of it, doesn't Istaltin have its own educational institutions? I don't recall hearing about any."
"There is the Istaltin public school, but it's not on our level. We've been receiving top-tier education since we were kids. Honestly, learning directly from the Setra Church is better than public school."
Denetim's blunt assessment slipped out casually.
"Hey, even so, is that how you talk about your own country's schools?"
Nadan, lying on the bed with a sleepy face, spoke up to Denetim.
"It's just the truth."
"Fair point, but..."
"The public school teachers are all obsessed with their own research anyway—they couldn't care less about teaching others."
"...Can't argue with that."
"When I or Tradiaan inherit the throne, the first thing we'll do is overhaul the public schools. Those guys take their salaries on time but have zero intention of actually teaching."
"Why?"
"Because they're mad about their research."
"Ah..."
"They put on a show of teaching students while pocketing all that research funding and their paychecks to fuel their own work. I have no idea why they even bother going to public schools to teach kids when the country funds their research anyway."
"Probably the cost. Research expenses add up fast."
"Then they should at least teach properly first!"
"Whoa, whoa. Telling us won't change anything..."
"Anyway, that's why I said I'd never set foot in a public school, even if it kills me."
"...Isn't it normal for a princess to get a professor fired for saying that?"
At Ashytara's question, Denetim sighed in frustration.
"But those guys all have high status, so we can't just fire them willy-nilly. And most public school professors are like that—how could we fire them all? We wouldn't have time to replace them."
"Then why become professors at all? High-status nobles should be pretty wealthy, right?"
Ludenberg, who had been listening quietly, spoke up with a hint of doubt.
"Even high nobles rack up huge expenses buying research materials nonstop. It's just selfishness."
"...I see."
"Anyway, that's why public schools have so many problems."
"You'll fix it all later?"
"Of course. It's ridiculous that they're professors with that lazy attitude in the first place. Just think about the professors at your Solemnute Adem."
"...Fair."
Ludenberg and Ashytara nodded.
Even Professor Nah, sprawled out on the bed right now, poured night and day into making her research accessible to students on top of her own work.
"That's why I'd love to visit Solemnute Adem someday if I get the chance."
"...Yeah, but Solemnute Adem only admits Solemnute citizens."
"I'm really curious about the other gods too—I'd love to learn if I could... It's a shame."
"But Istaltin people basically branched off from Solemnute roots, right? If we talk it up nicely, maybe studying abroad at Solemnute Adem from Istaltin could work?"
At Ashytara's offhand remark, Denetim and Tradiaan's eyes lit up.
"That would be amazing."
"Hmm. I'll bring it up with Father and my sister this time. It'd be more fun with you guys there."
Only then did Denetim and Tradiaan truly register that the girl with dark blue hair before them was Solemnute's Second Imperial Princess.
Matters that would normally require endless debates, and she was just going to suggest it casually...
"But would that actually work that easily?"
"No, talks about allowing foreign students to study abroad have been floating around in the Solem Church for a while. Various proposals have come up, and some solid bills are in the works."
"Really?"
"Yeah. After the friendship tournament, they started pushing the idea of inviting competitive students from other countries to Solemnute Adem."
"I haven't heard about this."
"It's probably just internal Solem Church discussions. I bet it'll come up again before the semester starts."
Ashytara tilted her head slightly at Ludenberg's question.
"I see."
"If it works out...!"
Denetim and Tradiaan's eyes sparkled like stars.
Above all, Denetim had felt oddly wistful being apart from Nadan. And now, the possibility of studying directly at Solemnute Adem had opened up.
She glanced at Ashytara, who nodded back with a smile. A bright grin bloomed on Denetim's face.
At that moment, Nadan's voice cut through the excited mood.
"By the way, don't you guys need to go? With scholars from other countries coming, shouldn't you show your faces?"
"...Ah."
Denetim's expression visibly fell.
"Then we'll just go together. Your research is done anyway, right?"
Ashytara replied to Nadan.
"Huh? Is it?"
"We're foreigners too. It'd be polite to make an appearance."
"Oh, right."
Nadan nodded. With Ashytara's support, Denetim's face bloomed like a flower again.
"Then let's go together!"
"We have something to do first."
"Huh?"
Nadan pointed at Professor Nah as he spoke to the excited Denetim.
"Wake up Big Sis first."
"Ah."
"Ugh..."
Professor Nah still looked exhausted, her face practically ashen.
"I told you to go to bed earlier."
"I had to see it through to the end."
"It's already done. You should've just left the review to me and slept."
"Just chalk it up to my habit. I've been like this for over a decade."
"...True."
Nadan scratched his head vigorously.
"Anyway, where are we headed now? Istaltin Castle?"
"No. The Star Cradle."
"Huh? For real?"
"It's the academic conference, after all. We'll need to set things up in the main hall where it's being held."
"Aha..."
"Haa..."
Everyone looked puzzled at Professor Nah's sudden sigh.
"Big Sis, what's with the sigh all of a sudden?"
"Just... I hope that guy doesn't show up this time."
At the words "that guy," Ludenberg and Ashytara tilted their heads, while Nadan, Denetim, and Tradiaan nodded knowingly.
"Who's that guy?"
"Oh, there's this creep who hits on Big Sis every time he sees her."
"...Huh?"
"Sorry, Professor. We can't really do much about him either."
"Who the hell is he?"
"Sage Ian Kerneph. Know him?"
"Who doesn't?"
Even Ludenberg, who didn't know much about Istaltin, had heard of Ian Kerneph.
Descendant of Hiem Kerneph, one of Istradim's disciples, and the sage of the new era. Istaltin's most renowned scholar.
"It's his son, Austin Kerneph."
"The sage's son...?"
"Yeah. But the guy's a total disaster. Acts however he wants, ruins his dad's reputation, more into partying than research..."
"But why Professor Nah of all people...?"
"No idea. Says she's his type. She hates his guts, though."
"I hope he doesn't come."
Professor Nah ground her teeth, visibly shuddering.
"But you warned him last time, right? Maybe he'll behave this time."
"No way. That guy's hopeless. He's ignored the sage's scoldings since he was a kid. Change now? Ridiculous."
"How old is he?"
"Thirty-two."
"...Pardon?"
"Thirty-two. Older than me. But acts like a damn child."
Professor Nah even threw in some curses as she trashed him.
Whatever bad blood existed between them, for Professor Nah—who never gossiped or lost her composure with anyone—to act like this, he clearly wasn't a good person.
"Calm down, Big Sis."
"Sorry about that. Just thinking about that bas—er, jerk gets my blood boiling."
"...Uh, yeah. Well, is there anything we can do?"
"Nope. Who knows, though. He loses his mind around women."
Her gaze flicked toward Ashytara.
"Ashytara. You be careful too."
"Come on, even if he's out of it, would he mess with Solemnute's Second Imperial Princess?"
"...I'm dead serious. It's possible."
"..."
"Ahaha... No way."
Ashytara laughed awkwardly.
But Ludenberg started paying a little more attention.
"We'll stay on guard. Don't worry."
"...With you there, it should be fine. If he acts up, just punch him in the face. Don't kill him. I'll smooth things over with the sage."
"Got it."
The six entered the Star Cradle and headed straight for the center.
The usually serene Star Cradle buzzed with guests.
No one stopped them. This was the usual scene when the academic conference began.
Countless people crowded the Star Cradle, examining their research results, reviewing them, and debating with others.
Ludenberg and Ashytara, unused to the sight, looked around in fascination.
From people in bizarre outfits to those reeking of musty odors.
They really seemed like folks who'd locked themselves in some attic, buried in research.
"...So this is what an academic conference looks like."
"Yeah. Only the truly research-obsessed come here."
At Professor Nah's words, Ludenberg and Ashytara nodded.
Amid the noisy surroundings, an old man emerged from a spot where people had gathered and books were piled like a grave.
Stepping on books, no less.
Istaltin folk would gasp at such irreverence, but everyone confirmed his face and erupted in applause without a word.
He was worth it.
The one person in Istaltin permitted to tread on books.
Sage Ian Kerneph.