Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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In the upper levels of Schutra Magic School, there existed a place called the Aerial Conference Room.
Despite its grandiose name, the interior was surprisingly spartan.
The wallpaper around the edges was frayed and tattered, and aside from a long rectangular table in the center with chairs for sitting, there was no other furniture to be found.
Only ten people sat at the worn table that could seat twenty on each side, excluding the head seat.
The Aerial Conference Room was a place accessible only to full professors, and one wouldn't come here without the dean's summons.
In such a place, ten full professors were waiting for the dean.
The white-haired old woman who looked the oldest, sitting right next to the head seat, spoke up.
"This is the first time we've gathered since the entrance ceremony."
"I didn't expect the dean to call us like this on the weekend."
The full professors varied widely in age.
From an 80-year-old elder to a middle-aged man in his mid-40s.
They appeared to be seated in order of age.
And at the very end sat Wolfgang Davrek, who had taught the magic circle class in Seong Suho's class for the first time.
He was the professor who had given Seong Suho both penalty points and bonus points at the same time.
He looked like the youngest person here.
The white-haired old woman sitting next to the head seat poked her head inward and said to Wolfgang.
"Oh my, our dear Professor Wolfgang~ Did you come looking for your mommy?"
"No! Professor! How old do you think I am? Please stop..."
"Aigoo, you're still at the age where you miss your mommy, aren't you?"
At her words, the surrounding professors began chuckling and laughing.
From the atmosphere alone, it didn't feel like a full professors' meeting at all—it was more like chit-chat at a senior center.
'Phew... This is why I hate coming to these meetings.'
The teasers were grinning ear to ear, but for the one being teased, it was pure torment.
Especially the old woman mischievously teasing Wolfgang—she had been one of the fearsome professors who ruled the school back when he was a student.
She was infamous for showering students with deductions for even the slightest lack of decorum if they spoke out of turn.
But even she treated fellow professors completely differently from how she treated students.
In this Aerial Conference Room, while waiting for the dean, she lived for the fun of teasing the other professors.
"Or did you come looking for grandma?"
"No! Professor!"
"Kahahaha."
Her belly-laughing figure didn't match the dignified, intimidating professor he remembered from his student days at all.
Those professors he had seen back then—overflowing with poise and inspiring fear—were now sitting right beside him.
But they were so different.
Whenever they gathered before a meeting like this, they all turned into playful kids.
Tak.
Someone entered the boisterous Aerial Conference Room amid the lively chatter.
Neat white hair, towering height, and an appearance in his early to mid-30s—he was clearly the youngest-looking person here.
Yet the young man shuffling in sat at the head seat and smiled at the elders.
"Sorry for calling you all here on such a precious weekend."
"When the dean summons us, how could we not come? We'd have to if we don't want to get fired. Tsk tsk."
"Hohoho."
The old woman who fired back playfully was at least 80 years old, if not more.
No one here knew the dean's exact age, but it was estimated to be over 300.
It didn't look like a joke befitting a dean at all.
But the professors here rode the wave and burst into hearty laughter.
Only Wolfgang awkwardly smiled and glanced around, gauging the mood.
'...The atmosphere here is so hard to get used to every time.'
Schutra Magic School had a strictly disciplined atmosphere.
Especially between students and professors—there was an insurmountable wall.
But among the professors themselves, there was a hierarchy, yet it felt like a family.
Forgiving anyone who was a professor if they messed up, and harshly punishing even the best students.
That was Schutra Magic School.
And the one who created that atmosphere was...
"Now, let's get to the main topic."
The great archmage who had dominated an era, Dean Ludwig Rippenstein.
His absolute principle:
Protect allies by any means necessary, and show no mercy to enemies.
If both sides were allies, he sided with whoever he'd known longer and been closer to.
He was the only one who had personally experienced war and built this peaceful era, yet he never abandoned that principle.
Even with that warm smile, he showed no mercy to anyone who harmed his family.
"I've gathered you all here today to get recommendations for someone to fill the assistant professor vacancy."
"..."
Suddenly, everyone fell silent.
Those words didn't mean one of the assistant professors was getting promoted.
It meant one of them was going to be let go.
At Schutra Magic School...
It was hard to even imagine the dean ousting someone.
He protected his own so fiercely that the professors were a bit shocked to see him preparing to do just that.
But the professors didn't ask why—they started suggesting candidates.
A few adjunct professors were nominated.
The dean murmured upon hearing one name.
"Sonya Friedrich, huh..."
"Personally, I think she's the most suitable candidate."
"She's a bit young, though."
"Yes, but I rate her not just on personal skill, but also on her qualities as an educator."
The dean closed his eyes briefly, pondered, and decided.
"Understood. We'll notify all the nominated adjunct professors by the end of this weekend. Next..."
After finishing the meal, I was invited to Sonya's house.
And not just me—Luna and Louis had been invited too.
Louis seemed like he wanted to go somewhere else with Luna after the meal, but he ended up accepting the invitation due to Luna's insistence.
Because Luna had stubbornly insisted on visiting Sonya's house.
As we left the restaurant, two carriages were waiting.
And the passengers were...
Karl Friedrich, Sonya, and Louis rode in the larger carriage, while Luna and I took the smaller one.
Sonya had arranged the seating.
She'd paired her husband with Louis, knowing they got along well in conversation.
I couldn't forget the look on that bastard's face—he couldn't refuse Sonya's request.
'It's good for me, but I have no idea what she's thinking.'
[She probably means to help you out.]
'...Really?'
That night in the lounge, Sonya had spoken as if she wanted to help me.
Honestly, I'd thought it was just lip service.
I figured she'd say something like, date him, but you're mine.
That was my mindset.
Actually, my real personality would demand they both be mine.
Luna stared at me blankly for a moment before saying,
"...You look cool."
"Ah, thanks. You're pretty too."
"Thank you."
Clop, clop, clop.
The quiet carriage interior echoed only with the sound of hooves and wheels hitting the ground.
I broke the silence and opened my mouth.
"So, the thing you had planned for today was meeting Louis?"
"W-Well... yes. He kept clinging, so I had no choice. Really."
"Hmm..."
On a whim, I eyed Luna suspiciously.
Seeing my expression, Luna started babbling like a thief with guilty feet.
"I-I'm telling the truth! I really didn't want to come! But..."
Luna began pouring out excuses to clear up the misunderstanding.
Watching her, Armonia's transmission came through.
[She definitely seems cheered up.]
'Yeah... She's really cute.'
Luna's flustered look was genuinely adorable.
The woman who always seemed so confident and cool on the outside was now baring her true feelings to me.
[But Suho, why did you accept Sonya Friedrich's invitation?]
'Ah...'
During the meal earlier, Sonya had suddenly suggested I spend the night at her house.
I accepted without much hesitation.
Luna's face at that moment looked like she'd lost the entire world.
'Well, Sonya must have her reasons for suggesting it, so let's see how it plays out.'
[...Understood.]
Armonia seemed a bit dissatisfied but stayed quiet.
When we'd received the dinner invitation yesterday, it was Sonya who'd suggested the overnight stay.
Honestly, I'd planned to just get a day pass and head out.
With a husband around, I figured even if I stayed overnight, I'd end up heading back early like last time.
I hadn't expected her to bring it up so boldly during dinner.
Sonya's husband had smiled at me upon hearing her and joined in urging me to stay.
What an inscrutable couple.
As I listened to Luna's excuses, the carriage suddenly stopped, having reached its destination.
I held out my palm to Luna and said,
"So, can I make plans with you next week first?"
"..."
Luna stopped her excuses and looked at me in surprise.
She stared blankly at my hand, then placed hers in my palm and smiled.
"...You have to keep that promise."
"Of course."
Luna and I got out of the carriage and headed to the Friedrich estate.
We enjoyed tea time at a white round table in the garden.
One thing I'd realized since accepting Sonya's invitation today was how bad I was at small talk.
Karl Friedrich and Louis exchanged words eloquently, while Luna and Sonya listened attentively.
Karl Friedrich had knowledge so vast it was hard to believe he was a merchant.
Louis, having attended many social gatherings as a noble, led the conversation smoothly.
In my head, that bastard had been upgraded from "good talker" to "expert talker."
Still, I managed to join in thanks to Karl constantly directing comments my way.
Then the topic shifted to music.
"Ah! So you must be the Karl who came as a guest performer back then."
"Yes, I was honored to be invited to the princess of Levin Kingdom's birthday celebration."
"I was too young to recognize you. After that, I tried so hard to pick up the violin myself."
"Oh, do you play the violin?"
"Haha, no. I put in the effort, but my skill was nowhere near and I gave up."
"The fact that you tried is what matters."
"Haha, thank you."
Karl instructed a waiting servant to fetch the violin from his room.
Upon hearing that, the servant promptly brought a dark green violin case.
Karl carefully opened the case and took out the violin.
The deep brown violin exuded a powerful aura, as if it had endured the test of time.
"With guests here today, I'll play a little, though my skills are humble."
Karl stood, basking in our anticipation, and began playing the violin.
Beautiful tones spread through the garden like waves.
Even I, who only ever listened to game BGM, felt a serene breeze stirring in my chest.
Louis, Luna, Sonya, and even the attending servants absorbed the melody without the slightest movement.
It felt like the violin sounds seeped not into our ears, but into our very bodies.
As the performance ended, the garden filled with applause.
"That was incredible."
"...Truly amazing. I thought it was great when I heard it in the hall back then, but thank you for playing again."
Louis and Luna praised him one after another.
"Wow, you play really well."
Not knowing what to say, I just echoed the others.
Karl turned to Louis and handed him the violin.
"Would you like to give it a try?"
"Oh? Karl... That violin... Are you sure?"
"Of course. Can't offer just any violin to such a distinguished guest."
Louis carefully accepted the violin and took his stance.
"Ah... It's been so long, not sure if it'll go well."
As he began, he played with tremendous vigor.
If Karl's performance was like a gentle breeze, Louis's was like raging waves.
'Fuck! All these talented bastards, drop dead!'
[The world is inherently unfair.]
'Bullshit!'
It was definitely different from Karl's.
Where Karl's made your whole body feel moved, Louis's delighted the ears.
As the performance ended, everyone in the garden clapped.
There weren't enough people to fake it.
'Tch, all die.'
[Suho, your expression is showing too plainly.]
Hearing Armonia, I forced a twitching smile.
Thankfully, no one seemed to notice.
For appearances' sake, I complimented him.
"You play well."
It was the best canned praise I could muster—like bland broth simmered a hundred times.
But that bastard's eyes seemed to mock me as he looked my way.
He turned to Karl and said,
"How about giving my friend here a chance to play too?"
"Ah! Do you play the violin?"
Karl looked at me expectantly.
'...Resonance... No, fell into the bastard's trap.'
[It'll be hard to refuse gracefully, but turning it down won't be a big issue.]
I couldn't force myself to play something I couldn't.
And this wasn't some cheap violin—it was obviously extremely expensive.
"Sorry, I've never played violin before..."
But cutting me off, the bastard shoved the violin at me.
"How about just holding it? You might never get the chance again."
Thwack!
Luna slammed the table and stood, shouting loudly.
"Louis!"
I was the one annoyed, but Luna was the one angry.
'Whoa, she's not even hiding it anymore.'
[...Suho.]
'Yeah?'
[Right now...]
As Armonia started to say something, a heavy silence fell over the garden.
Luna immediately apologized to everyone.
"Sorry. I ruined the mood for no reason..."
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have joked around..."
Louis apologized, but his eyes weren't on me.
It was an apology to the other three, excluding me.
As the two sat back down cautiously,
A vibrating hum from the violin's strings resonated through the garden.
All eyes focused on me.
The tones floated serenely like bubbles drifting over the sea under the sun, yet at times plunged into pitch-black darkness swallowed by fierce storms, obscuring vision ahead.
The gulf stream melody carried everyone in the garden into a vast ocean battered by tempests.
I never once closed my eyes.
Guiding them on a voyage across the sea, my violin brought them back to the garden after about ten minutes.
When I looked around, Karl and Sonya had barely emerged from the melody, gazing at me with moved expressions.
Louis stared at me in shock, mouth agape.
The long silence was broken by one person's applause.
Clap... clap... clap...
It was Luna, looking at me with tears like morning dew streaming down her face.