Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: The True Heart Carried by the Wind
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That day.
I dreamed of flying through the sky.
The next day.
Strangely enough, I had no muscle soreness.
"Is this a last burst of energy before the end?"
Accept your death sweetly. Is that what it's telling me?
My life as Wolfram. It wasn't so bad.
With that thought, the moment I rose from my seat... a bizarre sensation unfolded.
"Ugh... Eurgh."
No muscle soreness from the neck down. But the instant I tried to turn my head, it hurt like hell.
At that moment, I understood.
"A thousand steps..."
Walking is a full-body workout. Clenching your hands, swinging your arms, moving your legs to propel yourself forward—it means nearly every muscle except the neck is involved in a single 'step.'
Of course, it might not be!
It could be telling me, 'Cut the nonsense, member. Instead of spouting crap, do another set of deadlifts.'
But the judge of this isn't me or a PT trainer—it's the system and the Intermediate Wind Spirit's Blessing skill.
In other words...
If Intermediate Wind Spirit's Blessing deems a step to be a workout using every muscle except the neck... then within a thousand steps, I can be free from soreness in all those muscles.
However, if today's steps exceed a thousand...
"It's over."
I'd find out just how much my neck muscles would scream.
I might even die.
No, I would die.
Just a thousand steps.
That's the limit of walking permitted to me.
Yet...
"If I fear death, I can't survive."
I'll live until I die.
Considering yesterday's sales, I'd put up a huge sign out front today.
I precisely cut the line at 300 people, allowing only one set per person, with Nefti handling the change.
Patrascheu, who had been holding the sign reading 【Sales End Point】 in its mouth, returned inside after the last customer left.
All the cooking was done inside the convenience store using Patrascheu's telekinesis, and the food was kept warm with its magic power.
I had no sense of how many steps I'd taken today, but it definitely wasn't a thousand.
"The master is truly wise."
"If you don't learn from failure, today will be just like yesterday."
"Even so, I feel even more exploited than yesterday."
"But didn't you get all the first-years' attention? They said that red-maned wolf looks cool."
"...True enough."
Then stop complaining, you attention whore.
"Senior! All sorted! I'm heading out! Got some manual labor gig after this! Gotta get to the site quick!"
"Good work, Nefti."
"Yes! See you tomorrow!"
Nefti took off her apron and dashed away.
Watching her live so busily and brightly brought a smile to my face.
She doesn't even need to worry about money, but she seems to just like working.
"Alright, let's head back too, Patrascheu... Hm?"
"Oh, master. Looks like a new customer."
"Everything's sold out today... Who is it?"
A customer staring intently at me from the counter.
Judging by her looks and uniform, she's a first-year. And not in my memory.
Meaning she's not a memorable playable character...
She had slightly curly orange bob hair down to her shoulders. The bright-eyed first-year girl was staring right at me.
"Sorry, but everything's sold out today."
"Ah, no! That's not it! H-Hello!"
"Hello."
"Y-Yes! Hello to you too!"
"......"
What is with this girl?
"Ah... Um, that's not it! I... I really enjoyed it!"
"Hm?"
"I'm Runrun Zauber!"
"Zauber... From the southern Zauber territory?"
It's not a particularly wealthy place.
That's just the southern style to begin with.
The south lives in tribal communities, ruled by the Shadow family. Even Rudika from there doesn't flaunt her wealth.
That's the southern way. The barren land instills frugality.
"Y-Yes! Um, it's not that... Yesterday at lunch, I luckily got to eat your food, senior, and it was so delicious... Th-Thank you for it!"
"I see."
"In the south, it's hard to get ingredients. Until coming to Jefrin, I'd never tasted anything delicious... When I first had Jefrin cafeteria food, I was shocked! The cafeteria food is actually good! I'm glad I came here!"
"Hm."
"B-But your food, senior, was even better... I was really, really surprised!"
I see.
"Glad you enjoyed it. I'll do it occasionally, so come with friends next time."
"...Ah."
"What's wrong?"
"N-No... I heard from other seniors that Wolfram senior is scary... but you're not at all."
I stared silently at Runrun, and she covered her mouth, swallowing a gasp.
"S-Sorry. That was insolent..."
"No. How could I call a customer who thanked me for the meal insolent?"
"...Ah."
"Thanks. Your encouragement gives me strength."
"Y-Yes! Keep it up!"
With that, Runrun bowed deeply and left.
This is something.
Unexpected encouragement and cheers.
"Sometimes, this is nice."
"Took 2 minutes 30 seconds. New record. Another one..."
"...What was that?"
"Nothing."
The next day, I started business as usual.
But the atmosphere was odd.
"Hello, senior!"
"Hm."
Whenever I briefly checked the stall at the counter, first-years stared into my eyes and bowed.
"Really delicious today too! Thanks!"
"Good."
"Yes! I actually wanted two or three sets... Hehe. No dice, right?"
"Too bad."
"Yeah. One set is plenty anyway..."
"Can't ignore a customer's request. Instead, I'll prepare some light sides for later. Just wait a bit."
"...Y-Yes!"
Of course, I know.
Who gets full on one set a day?
Maybe mass-produce fries?
"Senior! Thanks for the meal!"
"Ate well! See you tomorrow!"
"If you ate well, focus on class. That way tomorrow's lunch will be even better."
"Yep!"
"Yes!"
The first-year chicks chirped away.
Yes. This is it.
This is the reliable adult everyone leans on that I wanted to be.
"Senior."
"What."
"You're popular. Must be nice."
Nefti looked at me with a strange expression for the first time.
Like the look Milmyu or the others sometimes give...
Is that so?
Royal Guards walk with royalty.
Indiscriminate friendliness with others could hinder protection.
But understand this.
"Having juniors follow you is joyful for a senior. Especially for me."
"...Ah."
"For a corrupt royal who committed the worst graft, finally gaining a bit of recognition—nothing happier."
"Ugh... Can't argue with that. You can be sly sometimes, senior..."
Sylphia Evergreengrove felt the changes in her body.
"Faster... No, more precise...?"
Borrowing the power of the intermediate wind spirit, Lapis Lazuli, to enhance her sword's 'cutting power'—Sylphia's technique was too dangerous for student spars.
Thus, she'd never fully unleashed her sword dance at full power. Spirit swordsmen are thorough real-combat types. Not great for scoring in tests.
Her knowledge acquisition was decent by her judgment, but her fiery temper often led to misreading questions and wrong answers.
But now was different.
Even without Lapis Lazuli's power, her sword flowed smoothly, more refined. She could immerse herself in theory classes too.
"This is..."
Her head was clear, fatigue gone.
Only one suspected reason.
"That day. The medicine from Wolfram's store. After blacking out, I woke in my room..."
She asked Lapis Lazuli what happened, but the answer was simple.
The medicine was exceptionally effective; she fell into deep sleep and woke refreshed at home.
So, Wolfram von Loengrin's 'medicine' worked.
"I can't accept it."
As his senior, she knew how chaotic his reign was.
Unlike Isolde Cruel, she didn't stick by Wolfram von Loengrin but chose Eve von Loengrin.
But lately—from early semester one—Wolfram had changed.
She denied it at first.
The guy who intimidated, sowed discord, pitted divisions against each other, hoarded treasures from Magic and Knight Divisions, indulged in luxury and pleasure.
How could trash like that change?
His kindness to Eve von Loengrin, his liege, was just survival tactics.
He's no wolf—just a sly snake. She still believed that.
"How can I trust a guy like that?"
When she took his medicine, she planned to report any anomaly to Eve and condemn him.
But the opposite happened.
"Did that medicine actually work?"
No way.
There must be some cunning scheme.
Yet her swordsmanship sharpened, her mind cleared and serene.
Her heart denied, but her body spoke truth.
"Kuh..."
I'll deny it!
First, confront Wolfram and uncover his true intentions.
Soon, she learned his location.
Selling lunch in front of the first-year common building.
He's surely peddling filth. Hiding her presence with wind, she approached.
Other customers gone.
Talking with his designated second-year Royal Guard chief—he'd reveal his heart then.
Her spirit knight senses confirmed she wasn't detected.
Come on, Wolfram.
Spit out your ugly true heart!
Unbelievable sincerity struck Sylphia's mind.
Nefti nodded at my words.
Then scratched her head and asked,
"Come to think of it, why did those bad rumors about you spread, senior? Like pitting Knight and Magic Divisions against each other..."
"You sent first-years during that time and don't know the rumors?"
"I was selling meal tickets for tuition, working, foraging to survive. Didn't pay attention. Things got easier after meeting you."
Ah. Right.
Well.
Honestly, I don't know either. Why Wolfram von Loengrin did such vicious things.
Yi Young-jin.
To be precise, my mindset is 'Now that I'm Wolfram von Loengrin, I'll survive without denying reality.' Never bothered deeply understanding his actions.
More like living as 'Yi Young-jin who became Wolfram.'
So my words are guesses.
Guesses from Yi Young-jin, now Wolfram.
"Because he lacked them. Stats, comrades, sword, magic, friendships... even people by his side. Stamina 2 【Trash Prince】. To the point the Ciella family rejected his engagement to Regina Ciella. Because she was 'too good' for him."
"Such a thing happened...?"
"Yes. So the Trista family, dreaming of central advancement, made the engagement with me and Aila happen."
"...So that's the backstory to the engagement. Top secret, right?"
"Obviously. Idiot. Telling you specially as my Royal Guard. Aila's a good one, of course."
"Yes. She is."
"...Anyway. Seems he obsessed. Wanted what he couldn't have... dragged others in. Temporary chaos from deep deprivation. Maybe."
Just a guess.
"Are you okay now?"
"Fine. Many needs fulfilled. Thanks to you all."
"...Hehe. That makes me happy, senior."
Nefti placed her right hand over her chest and bowed.
"No biggie. Will owe you more ahead."
"Anytime!"
As we smiled at each other, a faint wind sound faded into the distance.