Chapter 410: Strata Magic School (3-21)
"Are you that famous blockhead Jeff?"
"...What?"
Jeff just stared at me with a blank expression, either not understanding my words or the situation itself.
I repeated myself toward him.
"I'm asking if you're that famous blockhead."
"You, you... Do you have any idea who you're talking to right now...?"
Jeff ground his teeth, too agitated to even respond properly.
From watching his behavior earlier, it was clear how he'd treated commoners up until now—and how he'd been treated himself.
A guy who'd spent his life looking down on others and getting fawned over couldn't possibly tolerate hearing that from me.
Jeff trembled as he finally forced his mouth open.
"Are you insane? Fuck, do you think you can talk to me like that?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"What? You, what the! Urgh!"
I placed my hand on Jeff's shoulder and started applying pressure.
Even though it was just a shoulder massage level of force, he couldn't break free and could only glare at me.
"You, you bastard! If I tell my dad about this, someone like you is—!"
"Your dad? Count Pots?"
"You fucking bastard... Count? You don't even call him Count?"
"Yeah... that might've been a bit much."
"Right... If you show some respect now... Urgh!"
I whispered quietly into Jeff's ear so only he could hear, as he struggled to escape my grip.
"No need to use 'Count' for a corpse, right?"
"...What?"
"What do you think Professor Sonya would do if I told her what you just said?"
"What I said? W-what are you talking about?"
I smirked and whispered.
"You just badmouthed the Dean a minute ago, didn't you?"
"...Huh?"
Jeff blanked out for a moment, his face scrunching as he tried to recall his own words.
Fat chance. He never said anything like that to begin with.
"If I tell the Dean and Professor Sonya that you insulted the Dean, what do you think they'll do?"
"Where the hell is this bullshit coming from? I never said anything like—!"
"Whose side do you think the Dean and Professor Sonya will take?"
"This... Urghhh!"
He seemed to grasp the situation now.
Jeff had seen how the Dean and Sonya treated me, so he knew who they'd believe.
True to his Disposition, he couldn't easily swallow the humiliation, but he eventually did, veins bulging on his forehead like red earthworms.
"You... What do you want?"
"What I want? Simple..."
I released his shoulder, dusted it off, and smiled.
"Be my errand boy for a while."
Jeff didn't bow his head and submit to my blackmail right away.
Of course there was resistance, expressed through a barrage of curses.
But those curses soon became the leash around his neck.
"Remember, just behave during this trip. Got it?"
"F-fuck... Yeah, I got it."
"One more curse and... I won't hold back for real."
"O-okay..."
I'd considered making him use formal speech, but decided against it—pushing that far might ruin my image.
Besides, I had no desire to hear honorifics from a dwarf-looking guy pushing forty.
With his fat build and long beard, he'd pass for a dwarf without much effort.
Or maybe paint him green and turn him into a goblin? That'd be easier.
Just slap some body paint on him.
"Alright, now I'll tell you exactly what to do."
"..."
Jeff gnashed his teeth in protest but didn't talk back anymore.
Most of my instructions involved the Dean.
Assist with his meals, travel—jump in whenever he needed anything nearby.
In short, attend to the Dean.
"Meal time's coming up. You're on assist duty."
"What? Don't I need to eat too? Let me finish first..."
"That might be your last meal in this world."
"Urgh... F..."
He cursed under his breath, but I pretended not to hear.
"Alright, then..."
Just as I was about to head to the Dean with Jeff in tow.
...I figured she'd take interest. Faster than expected.
Karin Brandt Rupf
[Political Skill], [Talent Obsession], [Psychological Insight], [Perfectionism], [Boldness]….
The Disposition window visible beyond the carriage where Jeff and I stood came clearly into view.
Disposition windows were total cheats.
Not only did they reveal the opponent's tendencies and abilities, they even pierced stealth.
At any rate, it was clear Karin Brandt Rupf was interested in me—or Jeff. Or both.
Whatever. She'd approach on her own if I waited.
With that thought, I left the area with Jeff, where Karin remained.
Silk Road.
The term for the path we were taking to the Levin Kingdom.
Pots County was Levin's top trade city, and between such a hub and the kingdom lay vast trade routes for caravans.
Smooth logistics were the backbone of any nation.
And those smooth, wide roads were the trade routes—the Silk Road we traveled now.
Thanks to it, the journey that would've taken days by carriage was cut to two.
Filling that two-day gap was Pots County's satellite city, Bellus.
Bellus, bridging the trade route's midpoint, lacked Pots County's grandeur but had sturdy walls and basic urban facilities.
As a trade hub, it brimmed with inns and warehouses; its streets teemed more with travelers and merchants than locals.
After a smooth Silk Road trek, we arrived in Bellus and received the delegation's briefing.
"If we depart early tomorrow, we'll reach Levin before sunset."
The long-awaited Levin Kingdom was finally in sight.
Upon arrival, the delegation would disband, and we'd receive a formal invitation from the Brandt Rupf family.
In other words... today was their last chance.
"Seong Su-ho... sir? Or what should I call you?"
"Strata alum, so Student Seong Su-ho?"
"I know a great bar here. Care to join?"
"Haha... Sorry, I'm beat."
I politely brushed off the clingy nobles and bolted to the inn the delegation had prepared.
With luxury rooms offering in-house dining, I had no interest in playing celebrity surrounded by nobles.
Your popularity has skyrocketed in one day.
Being mobbed by school kids is way better... Nobles are all a pain.
Students approached me at Strata for my skills; nobles here wanted favors.
No one useful among them anyway...
But even in my room, there wasn't much to do.
Unlike Pots County, no sights here... Might as well sleep.
Won't you meet Luna Staatfeld?
You saw those nobles swarming earlier. Meeting her risks rumors if we're spotted.
[....]
I saw no need to insert my ambitions into Luna's future.
We could meet plenty at school if needed.
As I lay on the bed seeking sleep.
Knock, knock, knock.
A cheerful knock made me crack my eyes open.
"Who is it?"
(It's me.)
"Huh?"
Recognizing the voice, I rushed to the door and flung it open.
Luna, in her Strata uniform, looked up at me with surprise.
"Jeez... Why'd you open it so fast?"
"Haha... Startled me half-awake."
"Were you seriously gonna sleep without changing?"
"...Yeah?"
"Good lord..."
Luna sighed in exasperation and slipped into my room like it was hers.
She straightened my clothes while nagging.
"Change before bed. It's bad for sleep, and your clothes wrinkle."
"So what? Shake 'em out next morning, good as new."
"You're not a kid..."
Luna shook her head with a chuckle.
After checking my wrinkles, she got to the point.
"Mind if I sit and talk?"
"Sure."
I led her to the table, pulled out a chair, and seated her.
We sat side by side, but Luna stayed silent, gazing at me endlessly.
I waited; she finally spoke, face resolute.
"Five days north of Bellus, there's a city."
"A city?"
"Yes. It used to be... a territory, but now it's a Levin commercial city."
"..."
A former territory turned mere trade hub.
Considering Luna's past, I could guess: the Staatfeld family's land.
Seized for treason, repurposed by the kingdom.
My silence told her I understood; she smiled bitterly.
"If you're okay with it... not now, but next year or the year after... would you go with me?"
"..."
I moved behind her seated form, hugged her, closed my eyes, and murmured.
"No."
"...Pardon?"
Her voice trembled; I buried my face in her hair, smiling.
"We'll stop by during this trip. And of course later too..."
"...Thank you."
Eyes shut, I felt her palm cup my face, warm soft lips meeting mine.