Hero Academy (4-1)

The entity known as the Primordial Ether—its original name was simply Primordial Ether—had made an enormous contribution to the birth of all other Ethers.

A being born ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from the accidental fusion of pure energies scattered across the universe.

Craving a vessel to contain it, it wandered the cosmos until it crash-landed on the planet where those girls lived.

Originally, only the Primordial Ether should have existed, but the impact fused it with impurities on the planet, splintering it off into the form the girls wielded. That was the conclusion.

It was just a hypothesis, though.

"Yeah... there had to be a reason they were searching so desperately."

Digging too deep into Ether would just make me look suspicious, like a thief caught red-handed.

Since we'd confirmed Viola's Ether wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠harmful, I decided to stay quiet for the time being.

I placed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a hand on Lena's shoulder and asked her with a serious expression.

"Lena, take care of Viola for me."

Lena listened with all traces of her smile gone, responding as dutifully as if receiving a lord's command.

"I'll do my absolute best, Master."

Normally, I'd have brushed it off with a laugh at her reaction, but not this time.

Lena was the only one who could watch over Viola right by her side.

Armonia would be busy with mission support, and Beatrice wasn't reliable enough for the task.

In the meantime, we'd use the training room I'd set up earlier to check Viola's abilities while training together with Lena.

"Alright, I'll head out then."

I said goodbye to Lena and Armonia before stepping into the warp case.

The moment I returned, I headed straight to the Ivory Tower and into the room assigned to me, starting preparations immediately.

"Eh, nothing for me to pack anyway."

I'd only brought minimal items for the tower visit, so losing anything wouldn't be a big deal.

"Guess I'll go check on the guards and cadets first. And... it's been a while since I've seen Sua."

I was grinning to myself as I tidied up the room and headed for the door when—

Knock, knock, knock.

"Hm? Who's there?"

I opened the door without waiting for a reply.

And standing there was...

"Uh...?"

"Trick or treat."

Yeriel looked up at me with an adorably cute expression.

"..."

"..."

"Munch... munch..."

Inside the luxury car, only the faint sound of candy being sucked on broke the silence.

Thanks to the high-end ride, even the road vibrations were imperceptible.

"Munch, munch."

Never had the sound of candy sucking seemed so loud.

Finally, someone spoke up in the candy-munching quiet of the car.

Seong Sua forced an awkward smile as she addressed Yeriel.

"Y-Yeriel. Are you uncomfortable? You could've come alone more comfortably..."

"Munch, munch... Huh? No, not at all. Munch... I like crowds."

"Haha..."

Well, she must like crowds since she hosted that maze event...

Me, Seong Sua, and Yeriel were riding together to the embassy.

The magic department tour ended today.

After spending the last night, we'd arrive at the embassy to wrap it up completely.

But I never imagined Yeriel would hop into our car.

"..."

"..."

I glanced at Seong Sua and sighed inwardly.

Sigh... Was hoping to catch up after so long. What a perfect cockblock.

Especially since it was her, I couldn't even broach official topics, let alone private ones.

Things like what to do after arrival or how to file reports stayed unsaid.

The silence lasted all the way to the embassy.

The moment the car pulled up, Seong Sua got out and spoke to me.

"Instructor Seong Su-ho, I'll check the student headcount and report to the principal."

"Got it. I'll inspect the guards and head to security division duties."

"Um... Instructor Seong Su-ho. If..."

"Yeah?"

Seong Sua glanced at Yeriel, leaning in to whisper when—

"Sua, I need to head to the principal's office anyway. Let's go together."

"Ah, y-yeah! Sure, then together..."

"And before we go..."

Yeriel slipped quietly between us despite her small stature, looking up at me emphatically.

"I need to talk to him alone. Mind giving us the room?"

"...Sure."

Seong Sua slumped her shoulders with a dejected look, but Yeriel ignored her and gazed up at me.

"Just over here for a sec..."

"Okay."

I followed her to a quiet spot—not far from the car, just somewhere we could talk.

Yeriel confirmed no one was around and spoke softly.

"Thanks. If not for you, I wouldn't be visiting the embassy munching on candy like this."

"Haha... Hope it suits your taste."

"Heh... I'm in a rush, so straight to the point. Remember I said I'd grant you one favor?"

"Ah... yeah. You already did, didn't you?"

When I'd helped in the maze dungeon, she'd offered a favor, and I'd already cashed it in—asking to step out during the tour to meet Cho Seo-hyun.

But Yeriel didn't see it that way.

"No way I'd let something this big slide with a half-assed request."

"Ah, but that was plenty for me..."

"Later, within limits that won't harm the tower's reputation, I'll help you."

She said it not as the tower's leader, but as Yeriel herself.

"If you ever hit a real crisis, just say the word."

"Haha, got it."

I wondered if such a day would ever come.

A truly dire request might endanger her too.

Reading my expression, Yeriel murmured softly.

"I... don't trust men?"

"...?"

Random comment out of nowhere in front of a guy?

She left it at that and headed to Seong Sua.

"Men... have this bad habit of not telling women even in the worst situations because of their pride. I hope you never turn out like that."

"...I'll keep that in mind."

She dropped that heavy line and vanished.

I watched Seong Sua from afar, assembling the cadets and moving them efficiently, and thought.

Guess I'll talk to her after handling security division stuff.

Regretting the missed chat with Seong Sua, I gathered all the guards from the tower tour and headed to security division.

"Everyone, good work. Go rest up today."

"Yes, sir..."

They dispersed with exhausted replies.

No matter how prepared for the job, this level of peril would drain anyone.

Gotta get a solid answer from the principal.

Embassy security paid well, but if conditions worsened further, they'd all bail.

The current pay matched the harsh environment as it was.

Money's tricky, but we need better welfare and rest...

Thinking that, I entered the office and started flipping through the duty rosters.

And right away, one name jumped out.

Go Min-hyuk.

Go Choong-shin... Yeah, gotta figure out why this guy's infiltrated here.

Go Choong-shin's group had attacked the embassy, and he'd even tried to kill me.

My real worry wasn't him, but his organization.

The Church... Tried digging last time, but security was insane.

The church I'd visited for the sword department tour had security beyond tight.

My stealth was kid's hide-and-seek there.

Now that Yoon Ji-ah's in hand, keep using their connection to uncover motives.

A guy hiding his identity and affiliation.

Too elaborate just for a grudge against me.

I nodded, staring holes into Go Min-hyuk's name on the roster.

Alright... Whatever his goal, time to make sure he can't act on it.

Grinning wickedly, I started drafting a new roster.

Yeriel sat alone with the principal at the table, apologizing softly.

"In the end, it was my mistake. Sorry."

"No need."

"I pushed too hard, so it's on me."

The magic department tour, meant to be postponed at the embassy, had gone ahead at Yeriel's request.

But on the final day, it nearly doomed the cadets.

Even if they all survived unscathed...

Good thing we got help from the transcendents. A normal run wouldn't have ended quietly.

Transcendents.

The title for the tower's top mages—nominally below the leader, but equal in power to Yeriel.

The principal smiled gently, belying his massive build.

"Didn't I tell you before?"

"..."

"Those kids will face the world someday. Can't always keep them safe."

You couldn't call yourself a hero if you feared risk.

Someday they'd face mortal danger.

This was just a vaccine they had to get eventually.

Just... a bit early.

"The cadets' safety only helps my future anyway."

"Heh... Appreciate the consideration."

"Haha, grateful you came in person. I'll handle things here."

Yeriel nodded, elegantly lifting her cup with both hands and sipping.

Watching her, the principal scratched his head, gauging her mood.

Confirming his glance, Yeriel set down her cup and spoke demurely.

"Anything else on your mind?"

"Well... How's On Jin-woo doing?"

On Jin-woo.

President of Everica.

The company that pioneered and monopolized VR capsules for sale and rental.

And its president was famously close to Yeriel.

Yeriel tilted her head.

"About... three years now? We're both getting on in age, so it's hard to move around much. We don't meet often. Why the sudden interest?"

"It's..."

The principal frowned, hesitating before speaking.

"About the capsule theft this time... Could you put in a word?"

"The request to return the stolen capsules from back then?"

"Yes. We're still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠searching, but no leads."

"Extending the deadline?"

"No."

"...?"

Yeriel leaned in, wondering if he was asking to let it slide.

But the principal spoke sincerely.

"Just let them know we're doing everything we can."

Yeriel stared blankly for a moment, then smiled and sipped her tea.

"Heh. Gives me an excuse to visit after ages. I'll make sure to pass it on."

"Haha, thanks."

Embassy security runs a six-day week.

Divided into three shifts.

Day, night, deep night.

Day: 8 AM to 4 PM (cadet classes). Night: 4 PM to midnight. Deep night: midnight to 8 AM.

The manager sets these schedules entirely at their discretion.

As long as they don't slack off or botch the rosters, no one interferes.

And crucially, the manager can arbitrarily set holidays too.

For instance, if a guard has urgent business, they might approve a swap.

Duty and days off—all in the manager's hands.

I added the final name to the roster and hummed over comms.

Keh... This schedule oughta fire 'em right up.

Kehehe...

I raised my arm, shining the roster under the ceiling light with a bright grin.