Chapter 29: The Gathering(4)
Chapter 29: The Gathering(4)
How many situations are there where time feels like it’s flying? Everyone has different criteria, but they generally fall into two categories.
The first is when you’re doing something incredibly fun or interesting. As the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun"—when a person is focused on something, time tends to shoot past like an arrow. Afterward, you're left with a sense of regret, blaming the clock for not having enough hours.
The second is when your daily life becomes a repetitive routine. This case is a bit different. The process itself is incredibly tedious, but when you look back, you realize that a massive chunk of time has vanished in an instant.
Currently, I was experiencing both. The lectures I wanted to hear were so engaging that time flew by, and during the boring ones, I just spaced out until they were over.
As a result, it felt like only yesterday that I went to buy formal attire with my sister, but it was already Friday. Since I didn't take the Economics elective—the last lecture on Fridays—all my classes ended at 3:00 PM.
"That concludes today's lecture. I hope you all have a wonderful time at tomorrow's gathering."
As the professor with the short-cropped hair gave a polite bow, the lecture hall filled with the sound of applause. I also joined in, clapping vigorously in response to his excellent lecture.
The class I had just finished, 'Military Science,' was originally just a course I took to earn easy credits, but the professor was so good at explaining things that I naturally became interested. Whenever I asked questions based on my historical knowledge from my previous life, he would explain things in a way that was easy for me to understand.
"And, Student Isaac?"
"Yes?"
Just as the applause began to die down, the professor called my name. I flinched, stopping mid-clap.
Maintaining his characteristically stern expression, the professor spoke with an emphasizing nuance.
"As I mentioned earlier, naval battles fought on the sea are entirely different from land warfare. Even if there were an 'Incarnation' as you suggested, the power derived from an overwhelming difference in scale cannot be overcome."
"Ah... I see."
"Still, it was a very good question. A situation where a force with no notable martial power manages to overturn a disadvantageous battlefield through pure command... However, keep in mind that a wise commander would never have entered such a battle in the first place. That is all."
The Military Science professor gave his concise explanation and left the room. Even after he was gone, I couldn't help but feel a bit dazed.
Then how did the Battle of Myeongnyang end in a victory?
The topic I had questioned during the lecture was the 'Battle of Myeongnyang.' It was the crowning achievement of the Great Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a historical truth that no Korean could possibly be ignorant of.
Of course, I didn't explain the specific historical background; I adapted it to fit this world. Even in the Battle of Myeongnyang, while the Joseon navy was lacking in numbers, their individual specs were excellent, so I made sure to add those details. I had sat quietly through two weeks of lectures just for this one moment, finally asking the question today.
However, the Military Science professor had been blunt. He said that while it might be possible to inflict heavy damage on the enemy, claiming victory was absolutely 'impossible.' Even if the commander was an 'Incarnation' chosen by the gods.
Was my analogy too weird? Or is it just...
I couldn't tell if it was because Earth and this world were just too different, or if the existence of Yi Sun-sin was truly that nonsensical.
In fact, the actual historical situation was even worse than the one I had described to the professor. I had even tweaked the background and conditions to be slightly more favorable just in case, yet the professor still deemed it impossible.
"Why the serious face? Even to my ears, that story sounded like total nonsense."
While I was agonizing over how to add more realism to the scenario, Marie, who was sitting next to me, let out a chuckle. I stopped my train of thought and looked at her.
Marie had one corner of her mouth quirked up, wearing an expression that clearly said, 'Be realistic.'
"...You think so too?"
"Of course. How could a mere 12 ships defeat a fleet of over a hundred? If it were me, I would have cut off the head of any commander who attempted such a battle. It would be better to preserve those forces and merge them with another unit. From a soldier's perspective, there's no death more meaningless than that."
And yet, Admiral Yi Sun-sin won. He was half-abandoned by his king, and the fleet he built with his own hands had been completely ruined by Won Gyun right before that.
But those words would never leave my mouth. I simply gave a foolish laugh and agreed with her.
"Hahaha... I guess you're right. It is a bit far-fetched, isn't it?"
"You really have a bit of a kooky side sometimes."
Marie said that as she stood up. I also rose from my seat to head back to the dorms.
"Are you leaving?"
As the two of us stood up, Lina, who was sitting behind us, asked in a soft voice. For the record, Cecile was sitting next to her.
Originally, Cecile was supposed to sit apart from Lina until she finished reading Volume 8 of the Xenon Chronicle, but that was no longer the case. It seemed she had finished the book.
"You know Isaac and I don't take Economics. Why do you ask?"
Marie replied in a tone laced with her usual prickliness. I had noticed it before, but as time went on, Marie seemed to find Lina increasingly uncomfortable. If she had been subtly wary before, she was now being almost openly sharp.
However, Lina simply shrugged with an air of relaxed confidence. The small smile playing on her lips made it clear that she wasn't bothered by Marie's behavior.
"I'm just disappointed. I wanted to talk with you both a bit more."
"Could you please stop saying things you don't mean? Let's go, Isaac."
"Uh... yeah."
"See you both at the gathering tomorrow~!"
Before I could move, Cecile waved at me with a bright smile. I waved back almost reflexively before hurrying after Marie.
Even as I followed her, I didn't forget to bid Lina farewell. When I gave a polite nod, Lina's smile deepened.
That smile gave me a slight sense of unease, but I tried to shake it off.
"Honestly... I hate that annoying smile no matter how many times I see it."
Marie grumbled as we left the lecture hall and headed toward the dorms. It wasn't just grumbling; it was practically badmouthing.
I was curious about why Marie disliked Lina so much, but I didn't voice it. I usually refrain from prying into such things unless the person brings it up themselves.
Instead, it was better to change the subject. I glanced at Marie's expression and spoke cautiously.
"You're attending the gathering tomorrow too, right?"
"I have to, even if I don't want to. I'm the daughter of Duke Rekilis, after all. I need to build connections in advance."
Nicole had described the gathering as an event for freshmen to laugh, talk, and have fun, but from Marie's perspective, it seemed to be something else entirely.
As she said, the most important thing for a noble is their network—their connections.
Without a network, there would be no one to help in a crisis, and above all, politics is an inseparable part of noble life.
To a commoner, the freshman gathering is just an event, but for a noble, it's a space to build connections. Simply put, it's a rehearsal for the future.
"You said you're attending too, right? I heard from Lina."
Marie looked at me and asked. I wasn't sure when she had heard, but since it was true, I nodded.
When I confirmed it, Marie's fine brow furrowed slightly. Her discomfort was plain to see.
"She really has a talent for making people uncomfortable. Lina didn't pressure you into it, did she? Tell me the truth."
"Not at all. I'm participating of my own free will."
"Hmm..."
At my denial, Marie opened her blue eyes wide and stared straight at me. As Cecile had mentioned before, my thoughts tend to show on my face.
While Marie couldn't read my expressions with the level of mind-reading Cecile possessed, she was good at guessing based on my complexion. So, I did my best to calm my mind and keep my face neutral.
After a moment of staring intently at my face, Marie backed off with an ambiguous expression. Fortunately, it seemed my face hadn't betrayed me.
"It's really voluntary? Lina didn't say something like, 'I'd love it if you attended'?"
"Absolutely not."
Marie knew Lina well, perhaps because she disliked her so much.
"And I even bought formal attire."
"Formal attire?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph..."
At the mention of me buying a suit, Marie let out a strange hum and scanned me from head to toe. Her gaze felt like she was appraising me, which made me feel a bit awkward.
Eventually, Marie finished her appraisal (?) and nodded. Her voice sounded satisfied.
"It'll probably suit you quite well. Whose work did you buy?"
"Uh... I don't know. My sister picked it out for me."
"How much was it?"
"Was it 7 gold and 99 silver?"
"Eh? It only cost that much?"
I suppose this was the 'class' of a Duke's daughter. She treated a suit that cost 8 gold—roughly 800,000 won in Korean currency—as 'only that much.'
I was reminded once again of her family background and asked in return.
"What about you?"
"I have something I brought from home. My father gave it to me as a birthday present—it's a dress made specifically for me by the famous Zelt."
Marie spoke with a boastful, confident air, but I had no idea who Zelt was. Probably a master craftsman related to tailoring.
In this world, the fabrics for making clothes are quite well-developed, as seen in training gear or leggings. This is because alchemy can substitute for chemistry, and recipes are widely spread, allowing for a certain degree of mass production.
However, constructing the clothes is a different story.
Sewing machines haven't been invented here yet, so every stitch must be done by hand. Thus, while commoner clothes might be affordable, noble attire is crafted by masters and is terrifyingly expensive.
"It must be incredibly pricey."
"Of course. It would easily exceed 100 gold. Well, it's actually on the cheaper side for something made by Zelt."
To think a single dress costs 10 million won... I really can't understand the world of the rich.
As we talked, a mischievous streak seemed to hit Marie, and she flashed a bratty grin. Then, with a surge of confidence, she declared to me:
"Don't go falling for me when you see me in my dress. Even my brother grudgingly admitted I looked pretty."
I countered that joke with a single sentence.
"You're pretty even now."
"...Eh?"
"I'm saying you're already plenty beautiful."
"Uh... uh-huh..."
Did she realize I was being blunt but sincere? Her skin, as white as a rice cake, turned red in an instant. My answer seemed to have caught her completely off guard.
But it was an undeniable fact that Marie was a stunning beauty. I had simply stated the truth as it was.
"Uh... well... that is... ugh..."
After that, Marie fidgeted for a long time, unable to find her words. Her face was so red it looked like red juice would drip out if I poked it with a finger.
Seeing that, I wondered if I shouldn't have said it, but she was the one who started the teasing. Honestly, it was hard to even call it a joke since I meant it, so I had no intention of taking it back.
"Uh... well... thanks. It's a bit flustering to hear that from you, of all people."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean... you're blunt, and your face gives you away whenever you lie, right? So... anyway, yeah."
Marie nodded with her flushed face and fell silent again.
After a bit of time passed, Marie, who had been walking while staring at the ground, stole a glance at me.
"...Isaac."
"Yeah."
"Am I really pretty?"
"If you don't believe me, ask someone else. Ten out of ten people would say you're beautiful."
"...Hehe."
Is she really that happy about it?
Marie giggled at my blunt response. Unlike her initial brash impression, she was now showing the fresh innocence of a teenage girl.
Marie's different side was so refreshing that a satisfied smile crept onto my face without me realizing it.
"Isaac."
"Yeah."
"You're definitely coming to our estate during the break, right?"
Was it just my imagination that those words felt like they were heading in a strange direction? The current harmonious atmosphere and Marie's reaction felt a bit peculiar.
Regardless, I had a decent reason to go, so I had no intention of refusing.
"Of course I'll go. You said the author of the Xenon Chronicle is coming, right?"
After hearing that from Marie, I had sent a letter to my father. He replied that he had never been caught and that the person was very likely an impostor.
I was relieved, but I became even more curious about the impostor's identity. Just what kind of gutsy person would try to scam a Duke, of all people?
Marie seemed to think for a moment at my words, blinking her eyes before informing me as if she had just remembered.
"Ah~ that? I forgot to tell you. My dad said that person was a fraud."
"What?"
"He was an impostor. There were several suspicious circumstances, so they investigated and found out he was a famous con artist from before. Since the Xenon Chronicle is famous now, he tried to pose as the author but got caught by us."
It was a bit startling yet anticlimactic, but in hindsight, it was the natural outcome. A Duke wouldn't believe someone so easily and would have had them thoroughly investigated.
In essence, the impostor had dug his own grave. He probably thought he could make a big score, but he picked the absolute worst target.
"And my dad said he suspected him from the start because he didn't have the calluses that people who have written for a long time have. Don't you have them too, Isaac?"
"This?"
I raised my hand and showed her the 'writer's callus' she was describing. Marie checked the callus on my middle finger and nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, yeah. That's it. My dad has calluses there too from all his paperwork. But yours look even worse than my dad's?"
"I'm the type who studies very hard."
I could handle this much with ease now. Marie looked at me with an 'I see' expression before asking in a worried voice.
"...Then you won't come to our estate?"
"Hmm..."
I thought deeply about her question. I felt bad for Marie, but since the invited author turned out to be a fraud, there was no reason for me to visit her estate.
There's no need to go and take unnecessary risks...
The Duke might have caught the impostor through his subordinates, but hearing Marie's story, it was clear he was a man of keen observation. Therefore, the moment I met the Duke and shook his hand, there was a high chance he would notice my writer's callus.
I could claim it was from studying hard, as I told Marie, but suspicion is something that grows rapidly once it's planted.
Especially since the Duke would consider all possibilities; he wouldn't necessarily assume the author of the Xenon Chronicle was an elderly sage.
Above all, I wasn't a masochist; there was no reason to stick my head into a tiger's open maw while knowing the danger.
I glanced at Marie's anxious face and carefully began my answer. I felt sorry for her, but I had to refuse what needed to be refused.
"...Probably not?"
"Aw, man... I shouldn't have said... no, wait."
Marie grumbled in disappointment, then seemed to have a sudden flash of inspiration and muttered something to herself. She stroked her chin, her expression becoming incredibly serious as if she were plotting something.
Just what kind of scheme was she cooking up to look that serious? It was the first time I'd seen such a look on her face since I'd known her, so I couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"If it's not working, make it work... if he won't come, make him come..."
"..."
"...Alright. Isaac?"
Marie, who had been muttering in a barely audible voice, called my name with a bright smile. Feeling a surge of foreboding, I answered stiffly.
"What."
"Even if it's not me inviting you, would you refuse if my dad invited you?"
"...Hey."
Now she was using her dad's influence to pull an unblockable move. Even though I looked at her with an incredulous expression, Marie just kept grinning.
"And I didn't mention it, but my dad is actually interested in you. He said, 'Just how broad is this student's knowledge that he's teaching history?' Plus, if I get good grades in history here, he'll be even more interested, right?"
"..."
"What'll it be? Will you come when I ask, or will you come when my dad asks?"
"Fine. I'll go. I'll go, okay? Seriously, that's playing dirty."
"Yes!"
When I answered with a tone of surrender, Marie pumped her fists in joy. I shook my head as I watched her celebrate.
I only accepted because it was Marie; if it had been anyone else, I would have refused unconditionally. Marie probably didn't realize it, but what she just did was a blatant use of 'power.' It was an act far removed from the ideology of her family, the Rekilis.
However, if I told her that now, she might be deeply shocked. It was better for both of us to keep this thought buried in my heart.
Besides, seeing Marie jumping around in joy made even my negative feelings melt away.
"Then it's a promise, okay? If you suddenly say you can't come, you're in trouble."
"I get it. That won't happen, so don't worry."
"Okay. Then see you at the gathering tomorrow! Bye~!"
Marie waved energetically as she headed toward the girls' dormitory. I also waved back and returned to my own room.
As soon as I got back, I tossed off my school uniform and threw myself onto the bed. The soft sensation seeped into my body, and I felt a strong urge to just rest like this.
The Duke's estate aside, tomorrow's gathering...
The gathering was an event where not only Literature students but also Martial Studies students would congregate. Nicole said there was no need to worry, but I was still concerned.
After all, Jackson was practically foaming at the mouth to get at me. I wondered what kind of insults I'd have to endure at the gathering. Of course, since I viewed Jackson as a mere child, it wouldn't bother me.
A kid whose ears are still wet behind the ears screaming at me wouldn't stir any emotion. His elitist attitude just felt like a bad case of eighth-grade syndrome, so it didn't really land.
By the way, will Leona attend?
I suddenly thought of Leona, the Beastkin. Would she show up at tomorrow's gathering? Honestly, given her circumstances, there was a high probability she wouldn't.
I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, then turned my head slightly. My formal attire for tomorrow was hanging on the clothes rack. That suit alone cost over 800,000 won.
I hope it's worth the price.
With that thought, I sat up abruptly. It was too much of a waste to just kill time like this. In times like these, it was better to work on my manuscript.
I sat at my desk and opened a notebook—not my lecture notes, but the one where I organized the plot. It contained carefully arranged plot points and episodes, as well as character traits and rough descriptions.
For Wrath among the Seven Deadly Sins... let's make them a Beastkin. If I add a setting where their family was slaughtered by humans, and they were even betrayed by their own kind...
I pulled the magic pen my father had given me from my front pocket and began to write.