Chapter 326: A Changed Life(2)
Chapter 326: A Changed Life(2)
It was a path that seemed to lead into the unknown, but fortunately, it had an end. And waiting at that end was none other than the Chancellor of Halo Academy himself.
Aside from the entrance ceremony, I had never seen him before, and this was the first time we were meeting face-to-face.
He must have scrambled to station the knights the moment he heard I was coming. The knights dispatched to the Academy—the security personnel—were entirely under the Chancellor's jurisdiction.
This meant the man who had essentially rolled out the red carpet for me was the Chancellor. It was an experience I’d likely only have a few times in my life, but since the situation was understandable, I let it slide.
"Please, have a seat, Xenon."
And so, we arrived at the Chancellor’s office in the administrative building. Following his lead, I settled onto the guest sofa.
My guard knights, Adelia and Kate, took their seats on either side of me. As they sat, they didn't forget to scan the surroundings.
Being the Chancellor’s office, a few luxury items caught my eye, but it wasn't excessive. It was just enough to befit the rank of Chancellor.
After all, this was an office for personal business. He probably didn't feel the need for unnecessary clutter.
What stood out more than the luxuries were the portraits of past Chancellors. Since Halo Academy hadn't been established that long ago, there weren't many portraits.
In contrast, Ters Academy in the Ters Republic—the land of culture—had been established well over a hundred years ago.
They certainly have a lot of money.
History and time cannot be bought, but most other things can.
And if I were added to the mix? The Ters Republic might slowly enter a period of decline, unfitting of its grand reputation.
Of course, since Maria currently held the throne, there was no telling what might happen. I held no ill will toward her.
"It’s not much, but please, make yourself comfortable."
While I was looking around, the Chancellor appeared with some refreshments. I shifted my gaze to the snacks placed on the table.
There were cookies to tide over a wandering appetite and steaming coffee. I didn't know what beans were used, but it was clearly different from what was sold in cafes.
"This coffee is made from beans from the Basos Region. Its unique aroma is quite exquisite."
"I see."
Taking his explanation into account, I took a sip. To be honest, I didn't know why it was famous, but I drank it anyway.
Still, I could definitely tell it was different from ordinary coffee. Even without adding sugar, there was a harmonious blend of sweetness and acidity.
Furthermore, the rich scent of caffeine filled my nose, making me feel instantly refreshed.
"It feels like my head is clearing up."
"Doesn't it?"
The Chancellor responded with a slight curl of his lips at my comment. I took another sip and studied his face.
He had a clean-shaven head that looked quite refreshing, paired with a well-groomed gray beard. There were fine wrinkles around his eyes, and he had a physique similar to Musk's.
Overall, he looked like a middle-aged man you might find working in a pawn shop. He had the kind of impression that suggested he would slash a seller's asking price in half.
His name was Richard Nelson Girard. He held the rank of Viscount and was renowned within the Empire for his administrative skills alone. This was something I had heard from Lina.
Also, as his appearance suggested, he was a man far removed from martial prowess.
I suppose they need to solidify the foundation first.
As mentioned before, Halo Academy hadn't been established for very long. That was likely why they had placed someone with excellent administrative skills in the Chancellor's seat.
Moreover, Richard was a man who maintained strict political neutrality. Considering the nature of the Academy, they had no choice but to put a neutral party in that position.
Of course, things might change once he stepped down from the post. That wasn't my concern, so I moved on.
"So, has the dormitory issue been fully resolved?"
"Yes. Imperial Princess Lina should be arriving shortly."
I nodded and sipped my coffee. As expected, it seemed Lina would be the one to guide me to the dormitory.
Then again, there was no one else better suited for the task. Still, the fact that an Imperial Princess was personally acting as a guide made me realize my standing once again.
In that case, how should I live my life at the Academy from now on? This was the real reason I had come to see the Chancellor.
"Then, what will my daily life be like? If possible, I would like to stay until graduation."
Even if I was Xenon, at my core, I was a student who loved history. So, if possible, I wanted to major in History under Elena.
However, I knew this would be difficult. It might even cause trouble for Elena and Cindy.
If it would harm them, I was prepared to give it up cleanly, no matter how much I might regret it.
"Hmm... May I speak frankly?"
The Chancellor, seemingly finding it difficult to make a choice, clasped his hands and asked quietly. I immediately gave him an affirmative answer.
"Yes."
"If you can handle it, Xenon, it is possible to continue your studies. It’s just that the probability of unexpected incidents occurring will increase."
"Is this regarding the Demon Worshippers?"
Was it that problem after all? Although nothing had happened yet, it was currently my biggest concern.
Even if they didn't target me directly, they could target those around me. Furthermore, Elena and Cindy were scholars, not warriors.
However, contrary to my expectations, Richard was worried about something else.
"No. You needn't worry about that. You were continuing your studies under Professor Elena, correct?"
"Yes."
"Professor Elena is currently majoring in History, but she also specializes in Archaeology. She once traveled the entire world on expeditions."
"With Cindy?"
"Yes."
Was she like Indiana Jones? Hearing the Chancellor's words, it seemed I didn't need to worry about Elena and Cindy.
Since they had explored the world, they would at least have the ability to protect themselves. Above all, they were Elves, so they would likely be able to use basic magic.
"Then what is the problem I have to handle?"
"It’s something quite trivial. Stalkers, or perhaps missing items, and so on. In particular, someone will likely take even a scrap of paper you’ve discarded. In extreme cases, they might even take a single stray hair."
"..."
Why did Cherry come to mind when I heard that? She was the "great" person who had become certain I was Xenon based on nothing but my handwriting and a single strand of hair.
Of course, back then, Cherry’s state of mind was so dire that it was practically a confession, but her obsession was still quite terrifying.
What if more people like that appeared here? As the Chancellor said, I would have to deal with it all.
It might even be worse than Cherry, as she hadn't caused me any direct harm. In fact, she was working hard as my partner in writing.
"If you are willing to endure such things, you are free to attend classes. However, I would appreciate it if you considered that it is realistically difficult to prevent all such incidents."
"...I see. Now that I hear it, I suppose such things could happen. Thank you. Has anyone else experienced similar incidents?"
"Many. It happens frequently to the Imperial family and high-ranking nobles. Most recently, Prince Leort was a victim."
"Prince Leort?"
My eyes widened in surprise. I hadn't heard about such an incident even from Lina.
Looking to my side, Adelia looked equally surprised. As a Martial Studies Assistant Instructor, she would have heard all sorts of rumors, but seeing as she knew nothing, it must have happened recently.
Seeing our reaction, the Chancellor nodded and spoke in a rather serious tone.
"Prince Leort's personal belongings didn't go missing, but items he had used disappeared. For example, the utensils he used at the cafeteria, or the teacup he used at a cafe. The Prince only noticed the oddity later and took swift action."
"Was the culprit caught?"
"Yes. The culprit's name is Sophia Alain Berdo. Apparently, she had long admired Prince Leort. She has since been expelled and returned to her family home."
The name sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Regardless, if even Leort had been targeted, I wouldn't be any different.
No. It would likely be much worse for me. Unlike Leort, I tended to be a bit clumsy in my actions and often left things behind.
If I left an item somewhere for even a 'moment' and went elsewhere, that item would surely vanish. If that item happened to be a notebook for my writing, the situation would become dire.
"...It’s a more troublesome problem than I thought."
"Yes. Therefore, you will have to be much more careful than usual. That alone will increase your stress, which is why I expressed my concern."
"Phew... I understand for now. I’ll think about this matter gradually, but for the time being, I intend to proceed with my studies. I think that would be best."
"I will follow your choice, Xenon. If you ever change your mind, please feel free to come to me. Ah, and..."
Did he have something else to say from the beginning? The Chancellor took on a very cautious attitude, unlike before.
He clasped his hands, hesitating to speak. I waited quietly to see what he would say.
"This might be an intrusive question, but do you have any plans to share your knowledge, Xenon?"
"My knowledge?"
"Yes."
"About the future?"
At first, I thought the Chancellor was asking because he, too, thought I was a regressor or a prophet.
However, I soon realized that was a mistake.
"No, no. Not at all. I was simply wondering if you could teach the students how to write."
"How to write? You mean composition?"
"Yes. If that was an intrusive question, I apologize."
"There’s no need to apologize..."
I really didn't mind. If anything, I felt a bit awkward.
It seemed the Chancellor treated my writing style as a kind of Secret Technique. Like the secret arts that martial artists pass down to their disciples.
But Secret Technique or not, writing is just about mastering the basics. It just takes time to refine that and create one's own style.
Come to think of it...
I thought about the books published in this world. Papermaking and printing were certainly as developed as they were on Earth in my previous life, but the writing was lacking in many ways.
For example, writing long sentences without breaking them up, redundant word usage, or using sentences that didn't need to be there.
This was true for novels—specifically, web novels from my previous life. One must master the basics before they can delve into fine literature or web novels.
Cherry’s case was very unique. Furthermore, she had a natural talent for writing, to the point where she could even create her own style.
Is he asking me to open a Department of Literary Creation?
It wasn't a bad idea. But realistically speaking, there were too many difficulties.
The moment it opened, the classroom would be overflowing, and my personal time would be significantly reduced. It would be better to postpone this.
"It’s a good idea, but I’ll have to decline. Ah, of course, it’s not that I don't want to teach writing, I just don't have the time right now."
"Hmm... I see. I was being intrusive. My apologies."
"Not at all. I’m actually quite flattered that you’d make such a proposal. Once I’ve settled into my new life, I’ll give it some thought."
Knock, knock, knock—
"Chancellor Richard. It’s Lina. May I come in?"
Just as I finished speaking, Lina arrived with perfect timing. As I stood up, the guards and the Chancellor followed suit.
Now, all that was left was to go to the dormitory where I would be staying. I expressed my gratitude to the Chancellor.
"Thank you for the advice."
"The pleasure is mine. If you ever make up your mind, please come see me anytime."
"I will."
To be honest, it was an appealing option. While I didn't have the qualifications to be a professor, I was at least capable of teaching someone, as seen with Cindy.
And as for the stalker problem...
I think that’s something I’ll have to figure out as I go.
Just in case, I should tell them not to touch the pink-haired girl.
Let’s make an exception for Cherry. Like with Hiriya, she was a stalker who could actually be helpful to me.
But why is Cherry only following me?
I should probably have a talk with her soon.
I also need to find Leona...
There were still so many things left to resolve.