Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: The Revealed Truth
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There's been one thing I've been curious about for a while now.
If I keep suffering from muscle pain like this every single day, does that mean I'll never be able to walk more than a thousand steps in my lifetime?
Sure, normally I'd feel strain after just two hundred steps or so, but even then, do I have to keep limiting myself to exactly a thousand?
No way.
There was no way Wolfram von Loengrin had such a limit.
With that in mind, the next day, late at night after all my preparations were complete, I felt the blessing fading as I paced inside the convenience store.
"You sure you're okay, boss?"
"Hmph."
And on the thousandth step. This was definitely a new milestone.
The moment I took it...
Ugh.
I felt an intense strain crash over my entire body.
My body was crumbling. I felt like I could collapse at any second. My will screamed to keep moving my legs, but my vision was dropping lower.
Even so...
'Tripping after finally taking that one step?'
Or
'If I pass out here, Milmyu will see me tomorrow and treat me like a pathetic senior.'
That kind of shame. It pulled me through that one step.
"I won't collapse here!"
And just like that, I didn't fall. I conquered that one step.
"Haha."
I did it.
Today, once again, I survived.
The next day, I boldly took a day off from business.
Even shopkeepers need a rest day sometimes.
And I had classes to attend.
I closed up shop and headed to the lecture hall.
Advanced Magic Studies II turned out to be more interesting than I'd expected, and as always, Aila sat right next to me.
"Wolfram?"
"What?"
"You don't look so good. Are you okay?"
You can tell?
The enhancements from Imperial Bloodline almost never let anything show on my face.
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, it's not obvious at all."
"Then how'd you know?"
"Because I'm your fiancée."
A pure smile.
Unwavering, transparent purple eyes.
"I see."
"Yes. Isn't that obvious?"
"Aila."
"Yes, Wolfram."
"Doesn't saying stuff like that embarrass you...?"
"...A little, sure. But it's just the truth, so what can I do?"
She stuck her tongue out just a bit as she said it.
I nodded, convinced by Aila's words.
Can't argue with the truth.
"I am a bit tired, though."
"I see. What happened?"
"I found a new business opportunity, you see..."
We talked a lot right up until class started.
After class ended, for the first time in ages, Aila and I left the lecture hall alone together.
Under my feet—thankfully—Aila's Black Crystal was attached, so it wasn't me walking; her Black Crystal was just gliding me along effortlessly.
In the game, characters with Telekinesis or Flight were always zipping around.
'That kid' had weak combat stats but floated around all the time.
"I see. Mid-level Wind Spirit's Blessing... That's a rare skill, isn't it?"
"Purely in terms of tier, it's not that high. Second from the bottom, I'd say."
"Got it. Oh, Wolfram. By the way, they're installing mine carts on the railway for the first time."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Trains to transport the ore and dirt we dig up... Other territories opposed it because it would reduce work for mages, so we're starting at Eden's owned mines."
"I see... That's quite meaningful."
"Yes. If this works out, the steel paths you created will span all of Jefrin."
"Hm."
"It's just... impressive. I'm thrilled to be laying the foundation for the world you're envisioning. The world will record our names as the greatest rebels."
?
"What are you talking about?"
"Hehe. Playing innocent?"
"..."
"Laying rails across the entire continent, connecting the whole world as one. If the first emperor 'reformed' the world, we're not satisfied with that great step—we're 'linking' it. Taking the path someone pioneered and connecting it."
"..."
"The great founder protected this world with his great allies, but isn't it a greater 'rebellion' for a feeble descendant of the imperial line and weak nobles to join forces and link the world—surpassing what the first emperor achieved? Hehe. Was that too dangerous to say?"
"........."
"I know. You're the only one I can say this to, Wolfram."
".............."
"I want to see it. A world where one train can take you on adventures anywhere. A reality unbound. The end of that great rebellion... I'll be right by your side to witness it first."
"I see."
"Yes. Exactly."
Aila smiled in satisfaction.
......
I just wanted the world connected by trains. And convenience stores everywhere...
But apparently, in Aila's mind, I came off like some old-regime rebel.
Hm.
Not that the misunderstanding was a problem.
Whatever.
As long as she's happy.
That said...
"Is that your personal take, Aila?"
"What do you mean?"
"That I'm dreaming of rebelling to unite all humanity."
"Well, no one I know thinks that... but I figure anyone on my level or with a broad perspective probably does."
"I see."
Meaning no one but Aila.
Good enough.
Eve von Loengrin frowned as she received the report from Sylphia Evergreen Grow.
"So, this is why you've been skipping lunch breaks these past few days, Sylphia?"
"Yes, that's correct, my lord."
"According to your report... Wolfram von Loengrin's past actions are unforgivable, but if he's truly repenting, it might be worth watching his efforts. Is that it?"
"Yes. He originally committed unforgivable sins. Considering the amounts he extorted from the Knight Division and Magic Division, plus their treasures, it's easily in the billions...
"Hm."
"Even so, since he's showing genuine will to change now, isn't it worth giving him one chance? That's what I think."
"...The thing is."
Eve von Loengrin let out a deep sigh.
"Sylphia, my knight."
"Yes, my lord."
"I'm telling you this because I trust you. Make sure nothing we say here leaves this room. Understood?"
"As a spirit knight and herald of Yggdrasil, I swear on my honor to keep it secret."
"Good. This isn't me defending Wolfram von Loengrin, but we have to acknowledge what's true. He pitted the Knight Division against the Magic Division, siphoned off their treasures, embezzled funds, and definitely weakened both divisions' 'might.' You know that, right?"
"Yes. The Knight Division's famed swords and magic armor. The Magic Division's grimoires and staves—all taken, regardless of quality."
"Exactly. So where do you think those are now?"
"We have them. We ousted him before he could dispose of them."
"Yes, correct. But here's the question. Did Wolfram really... fail to dispose of them?"
".........What?"
Sylphia couldn't close her mouth at those words.
"At first, I thought it was just luck. That we didn't give him time to sell them off and seized the position in the golden hour, absorbing all that power."
"I thought the same."
"But really? Considering the capability he's shown now, did he truly lack the time to dispose of them?"
"......"
She couldn't say for sure.
"And Sylphia, you saw him too, that night we executed the takeover."
"Yes, I did."
"...Do you still remember what he said?"
"How could I forget?"
Midnight in the student council room.
Wolfram sitting alone on the jade throne, basking in moonlight.
Eve and Sylphia charging in from behind, holding the 'imperial decree,' along with the new student council officers.
At that moment, Wolfram turned with a wistful expression and said:
【Yes. Congratulations, Eve. Your rebellion succeeded. That seat is yours from now on.】
【I'll live free from here.】
【If you can't understand, then don't.】
【Finally, I can be free.】
【That throne is heavy, Student Council President.】
"W-wait, my lord. If this is what I think..."
"...Probably."
Goosebumps rose on Sylphia's skin.
"It was all... part of the plan?"
"...Likely, yes."
"He deliberately weakened the Knight and Magic Divisions, committed atrocities to tarnish his image. But why... why do something that only hurts him?"
"After we raised the banner of justice and seized the student council, we gained two big benefits. Legitimacy. And authority."
"Legitimacy and authority..."
"Yes. Think about it. I ousted Wolfram von Loengrin and became president, but I'm only a second-year now. No matter how high my imperial stats, if the Knight and Magic Divisions were strong, I might've been ignored."
"Such insolence...!"
"You don't think so?"
Sylphia couldn't continue.
Truth be told, it was possible.
Before Wolfram's reign, Jefrin had ignored the previous president's orders to some extent because the two divisions held such sway.
If Wolfram had deliberately extorted them, piled sins on himself, then handed it over to Eve...?
Why?
"Isn't this just speculation, my lord?"
"I hoped so. But look at that meticulous man's actions now that he's 'revealed his true nature.' Not a single gap. Everything moves like clockwork. He's got the graduate students, befriended the professors, top students from each division under him, developing new things daily. And adventuring Jefrin itself. Could he have done that as student council president?"
Eve sighed after saying that.
It infuriated her to think everything had danced to that blood-relative's tune.
But.
Thanks to it, she saw a path not to the toy throne of Jefrin's model garden, but to the real 'jade throne.'
If Wolfram had stayed president until next year, Eve's reign would only have been a year.
If he'd calculated even that and stepped down...
How grand a scheme had she been playing in?
And.
How carefully had he positioned her within it?
"...I can't believe it. Then were we... right?"
"It's all guesswork. Forget it."
"My lord?"
"That's why I said not to repeat any of this anywhere. Forget it. For your sake. And ours."
"......Yes. I will."
Right.
Eve's words were all speculation. Nothing more.
There was no evidence Wolfram von Loengrin had actually done it.
Eve was just so brilliant that she over-interpreted that villain Wolfram's actions.
That third-rate villain with only good blood couldn't have done such a thing.
That outlaw.
'Having juniors follow me is a joy as a senior. Especially for me.'
'A corrupt imperial who's done the worst graft finally gaining a bit of recognition—what could be happier?'
Those words the outlaw had said to his royal guard flashed through Sylphia's mind.
She gritted her teeth, gazed at Eve, and swore.
"I'll forget as you command, my lord. It's all inference. Wolfram wouldn't do that. That's what I'll believe."
She voiced a vow she wasn't sure she could keep.