Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Heaven-Blessed Isle
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The pinnacle of imperial education. Jefrin Academy fundamentally prohibits servants.
Officially, it's to foster students' autonomous learning, and to some extent, that's actually upheld.
However, there are ways to completely flout Jefrin's rules and sneak your subordinates in.
One is exploiting Jefrin's leniency toward faction-building by forming a faction and commanding your underlings.
The other is having your companion take the entrance exam alongside you and pass.
Of course, Jefrin's entrance exam is no walk in the park.
With applicants from the Empire and every kingdom vying for spots, the threshold might as well be hell for untalented commoners.
And even if you get in, the murderous pace of classes makes advancing another beast entirely.
Yet there's a place that mocks all that, slipping a few people into Jefrin every generation.
To be precise, not a place—a family.
The assassin clan of the southern region.
Loyal retainers of the founding Emperor, so skilled that even he admitted, "If I hadn't had even one day to prepare, I would've been dead."
The Hassan Shadow family.
"Lady Rudika."
"......"
Dawn.
Rudika quietly opened her eyes at the girl's voice calling her.
Turning her gaze, she saw a girl standing there.
They shared the same skin tone and eye shape, but this one was slightly larger in build.
"It's time to change clothes. I'll assist you with washing up first."
At those words, Rudika rose from her seat, shook her head in response, quickly finished her morning routine, and changed.
Throughout, she kept her head bowed, saying nothing.
Cecil Shadow.
Knight Division, fourth-year.
The person Rudika had once called sister.
But now, she was merely a retainer serving Rudika Hassan Shadow.
Outwardly, everyone was known as Hassan Shadow, but internally, only one per generation could claim the name Hassan.
The selection was simple.
When the children came of age, they fought battles that could cost their lives.
The survivor claimed victory and received the name Hassan.
But this generation was different—no one got hurt or died.
The reason was straightforward.
A monster had been born.
Rudika Hassan Shadow.
She had crushed all competition from branch families and siblings from the start.
Three years with a wooden dagger. One more with an iron one.
At just seven years old, she subdued her own father—the previous Hassan. A true monster.
"What would you like for lunch today?"
"What about you, Cecil? If there's time, how about Shadows dining together for old times' sake?"
It was a brief suggestion, but Cecil Shadow shook her head.
"That's too much honor. Please withdraw the offer."
"...Yeah. Fine. Then Rudika will eat at the Loengrins'."
"You're heading to Prince Wolfram von Loengrin's residence, I take it. I'll inform the Shadow siblings. Hassan."
"..........Yeah."
Rudika Hassan Shadow simply nodded.
That was the Hassan Shadow family motto.
Only one Shadow per generation.
They lived and died for the one recognized as Hassan.
Memories of sneaking snacks, hiding under blankets for midnight chats, catching sand scorpions for mock battles—all had to be forgotten by creed.
"Then I'll take my leave. Hassan."
The former sister retreated, and Rudika let out a soft sigh.
It felt stifling.
The convenience store's vibe has been off lately.
I want to ask, "What's going on? Let's figure it out together?" and poke around, but I can't muster the guts on my own.
One reason is definitely Nefti.
"...Royal Guard. 200 million rin. 200 million... Five years' service gets me a billion... A mansion in the capital... Five-day weeks, no overtime. Emergency shifts twice a month on rotation... Balancing life and work..."
She's wrestling her inner turmoil, her head full of Royal Guard thoughts.
Eh, just leave her be.
The other is our assassin, Rudika Hassan Shadow.
She's not doing anything dramatic—just staring blankly this way now and then.
"Rudika. Something wrong?"
"Ah, Wolfram... No. Nothing's wrong."
Wait, have I finally been marked? Am I getting assassinated?
What did I even do? Besides roaring at that noble soiree recently.
...
......
Is that it?
"Rudika. If something's bothering you, spill it anytime."
"Hm? Ah, did I make Wolfram worry? Rudika's fine."
She says it with a slightly listless smile, more subdued than usual.
No good. That smile makes me think I'm really done for.
Times like this, I need to fix Rudika's mood—restore my karma somehow.
"...At the noble soiree, I spoke out for good reason."
"Hm? ...Oh, right. I heard. You did well. Showed them our mettle."
"What?"
"That's how a prince of the Shadow family's allegiance proves worthy."
"......"
So the report's already in, judgment passed.
Guess karma's not the issue.
"...So stifling."
"200 million rin..."
Truly inexplicable.
Normally I'd shrug it off, but she's holed up in the shop, all gloomy.
Best cure? Change of scenery. Grab some food out—works every time.
Back as Yi Young-jin, on hot humid summer nights after shifts, I'd bolt to the PC bang, game under the AC.
Virtual trips to England, America via Street View...
Body in the PC bang, slurping instant chapagetti at 3 a.m., hyping, "This clerk nails chapagetti!" sparking a midnight order frenzy...
Ahem. Point is, distraction's the answer when down.
And our trio gels great.
Plenty of spots beyond the central academy district...
Ah.
"Rudika. You and your choice paralysis there."
"200 million rin... Huh? Why call me, senpai?"
"What's up, Wolfram?"
Usually Nefti jumps first.
"No treasures promised, but fancy a mood-boosting trip?"
"Mood-boosting?"
"Mm. A land of minor adventures. Guaranteed fun."
"...Sounds good. Time to clear my head!"
"Yeah! Let's go, Wolfram!"
Rudika, Nefti, and me.
The trio that cleared Sleeping Mountains through Act 1-4 reunited for adventure.
Trudging with gear piled on Patrascheu's cart.
But each step drained the color from their faces.
"...We headed there again? Not that Rudika minds."
"Sleeping Mountains. Mm... Not bad."
We've hit Sleeping Mountains once, so yeah, could feel stale.
"You'll see once we're there. I've got a secret spot. Gear packed?"
"Yup."
"Mm. Expecting fights, so all set."
Their faces darkened most at the Sleeping Mountains entrance. I veered right.
A humming portal awaited.
"Wha... This here?"
"Even Rudika's never heard."
"Promise fun sights and thrills."
Me, Nefti, Rudika.
The adventure-hungry trio entered the hidden map 【Heaven-Blessed Isle】.
【Heaven-Blessed Isle】 lives up to its isolated isle name—it's an island.
Starts in outer forest; head seaward for seafood farming, inland for meat or fruits.
Central mini-mountain hosts a boss at the peak.
Spawn's usually beachside woods.
Dense jungle limits sight, but ocean scent and waves guide you seaside reliably.
Monsters random-spawn, but encounter rates vary. Deeper forest ups stronger foes. Beach isn't foolproof.
"...Nefti! Tank for 3 seconds!"
Nefti blocks a Silver Horn Wolf—decently tough—with her steel shield.
Rudika's dagger surges for its throat.
The wolf's distracted by Nefti but clocks Rudika last-second.
Still, Rudika's speed overwhelms.
A whoosh turns to a grisly slash, repeated precisely.
Two throat cuts in; Rudika rolls back, denying a single blood drop.
Flawless teamwork.
Our trio syncs perfectly!
What'd I do?
"Senpai! This shield rocks!"
"Just sturdy alloy plate."
"Still! Glides blows perfectly! Tough as hell! Worlds from standard issue!"
Provided the item.
"Like it that much? Take it."
"Such loyalty! It's yours!"
Nefti salutes with a grin.
Probably just wanted to sweat out stress.
Rudika's face stayed grim, though.
This won't do.
"Rudika Hassan Shadow."
"...Yeah? What, Wolfram."
"You said you felt stifled alone earlier."
"You heard? Ahaha... Yeah, guess so."
"Hope this helps."
With that, we cleared the forest.
Crashing waves.
A sprinkle of beach sand, endless blue beyond.
"...Wow... Woooow."
"This... is..."
"Normally, to see this from Jefrin, you'd trek from central academy district to eastern, northern, southern, western expedition edges. But here? Different."
Yes.
That's why it's 【Heaven-Blessed Isle】.
A name not wasted on this grace-filled island.
"How's the academy's finest sea feel?"
"So this is the ocean. First time. Gluco was a village. Whoa, a world like this exists."
"Nefti."
"Yes?"
"Patrascheu does fire magic."
"And?"
"Meaning, no matter how much you swim, he can dry your clothes."
"...Ah! W-Wait, senpai. Right now, I'm..."
"Yeah. Go. Clash with nature."
"Off I gooo!!"
Nefti became the wind.
Young and spry. Uncle here's too old for that.
Rudika silently gazed at the sea surface, wordless.
"Rudika. Ever seen the ocean?"
"No, first for Rudika too. So vast. Truly vast."
"Oceans outnumber all land. Even if Loengrin conquered every inch, depths and breadth elude."
"I see."
Rudika finally turned to me.
"How do you know so much, Wolfram? Like you know everything."
"Mm."
Sudden question.
Can't say, "Not everything—just D/Z SAGA."
But setup's perfect for this.
"Devoured palace library tomes onward. To step toward the world, know it first, right?"
"...Aren't you a prince? Can you so casually speak of world-wandering? Don't royals have duties?"
Rudika.
Word choice getting tricky suddenly.
Concept slipping okay?
Wolfram worries.
"Even so, dreaming's free. That's how I studied to behold this sea."
"...Then leaving Jefrin means resuming royal duties?"
Probably. But that's two years off.
Finals not even here yet—why fret post-fourth-year second semester?
"What of it. Still at Jefrin."
"......"
"Only two types must embrace Jefrin's fates and roles."
"Who?"
"One: Eve von Loengrin. The sole official royal."
"The other?"
"Grad students."
"Oh."
Rudika's genuine surprise.
I chuckled softly.
"Fate's for after graduation. Might ease the stifling."
"...Maybe."
"Mm. Jefrin's uncharted spots abound. Might not finish by next year. Waste not to enjoy."
"Truly vast."
"The sea? Vast indeed."
"No... Never mind. Ahaha. So vast. Makes me feel small."
Rudika stared into my eyes, smiling faintly for a while.
"Thanks, Wolfram. You're so vast."
For the first time, it felt like I truly heard Rudika's voice.