Chapter 161
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161
With the summer training camp over, the first semester drew to a close.
There was no formal graduation or closing ceremony.
“Alright, everyone, you've all worked hard! See you next semester!”
A few parting words from the professors and the report cards sent to each student were all there was to it.
If I had lived in the dorms, I might have felt the vacation atmosphere through the proctors' announcements or the sight of servants packing luggage. But since I’d made my home in the Student Council office, I didn't experience any of that.
I packed some clothes, artifacts, cash, and gold bars into my suitcase and took one last look around the office.
“Nothing’s changed.”
I took in the sight of the Student Council office one final time before leaving. The only difference from when I first arrived was the antique furniture I’d purchased now that I had some financial leeway.
I glanced around the room, patting my pockets.
I’ve got everything.
I wasn't leaving anything important behind. Just as I finished packing and prepared to head out, Ciel arrived.
“Are you ready, Lord Roen?”
She wasn't in her school uniform. Instead, she wore a maid outfit—an elegant blend of black and white—complete with a neat, frilled headband. Seeing in person what I had only ever seen on a game screen felt surreal.
Had she switched from her student persona to her maid identity now that the semester was over?
“The outfit suits you well. I'm ready, so let's go. What about the carriage?”
“I've sent a letter instructing them to have it waiting at Dolores Harbor on the day our ship arrives.”
The journey from Union to the Devalis territory was by no means easy. First, we had to take a ship from the Meteor Archipelago to a continental port, and from there, it was a carriage ride of three weeks or more.
…I can see why the original Roen never wanted to go back to the Devalis territory during vacation.
Summer break lasted about two months, and the round trip between Union and the Devalis territory would consume nearly all of it. It would be a different story if there were a warp system like in the game, but no such thing seemed to exist here.
It turned out Bell wasn't exaggerating at the start of the semester when she said she was late because her home was so far away. In this world, if your home was distant, making it to the academy on time was a genuine struggle.
I sighed, contemplating the vast distance.
It’ll take forever just to get there and back.
The mere thought of spending all day in a butt-numbing carriage was already giving me a headache. Just as I was dreading the arduous journey, Ciel spoke up.
“By the way, the Chairman asked you to stop by before you leave.”
The Chairman? Does he have something for me?
I nodded. “Alright, let's go together.”
*
We headed to the Chairman's office with all our luggage in tow. As always, the Chairman greeted me with his round, jolly face.
“Welcome, Roen.”
There was another guest in the office besides us.
“Freya?”
She was also there, her luggage already packed. The Chairman offered us seats and began to speak.
“The reason I called you both is simple. Since you're returning to your respective territories, and you happen to be heading in the same direction…”
“The same direction, you say?”
He wasn't entirely wrong. We were currently in the Meteor Archipelago on the eastern side of the continent, while both my and Freya's destinations were in the northwest. But… could you really call that ‘the same direction’ given the sheer scale of the distance?
Even though the Gunhild and Devalis territories were adjacent, the distance between our main castles was at least several hundred kilometers.
Seeing the skepticism on my face, the Chairman chuckled cheerfully.
“Just go with it. Anyway, you've been through a lot recently, haven't you, Roen?”
“I won't deny that.”
Because I really had been through the wringer. From the first day I was transported into this world to the recent summer training camp, I couldn't even count how many times I'd stared death in the face.
“In that spirit, I have a gift for you. For you too, Ciel, and you, Freya.”
“Why me…?” Freya tilted her head in confusion.
The Chairman shrugged. “Let's just say I owe Lord Wodanaz a favor. Think of it as a small kindness.”
“So, what is this gift?” I asked. A gift right before the break—I was curious.
“So impatient. You'll like it very much, so try not to be too surprised. Now, everyone, stand up.”
At the Chairman's word, we obediently rose from our seats.
“Hold all your luggage in your hands.”
We picked up the bags we had set on the floor.
“The three of you, place your hands on top of each other.”
It was a strange request, but I did as he said. The Chairman gave us a warm smile.
“Good. Now, everyone, close your eyes and prepare for landing.”
“…”
“Landing?” Freya and Ciel echoed, puzzled.
I, however, realized exactly what the Chairman was about to do.
No way.
The Chairman added, “That's right. Ah, and for the record, the magic is still a bit unstable, so even I don't know exactly where you'll land. Still, it'll be much faster than taking a carriage. Have a good trip.”
Suddenly—
Vwoom—!
A blue magic circle erupted on the floor, and a portal manifested instantly. It was spatial travel—magic that connected two distant points in space.
“Kyaa!”
The three of us fell through the portal and were whisked away.
*
Thud.
Though they had screamed at the sudden turn of events, Ciel and Freya landed on the ground in perfect form. Both possessed excellent reflexes, allowing them to react instinctively even in a situation like this.
I didn't have their level of physical prowess, but because I'd anticipated the Chairman's move at the last second, I managed to land safely.
Whoosh—.
We looked up, but the portal had already dissipated into particles of mana. Freya stared blankly at the empty sky.
“What in the world…”
Ciel, too, blinked in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened. I brushed the dirt from my knees.
“A spatial portal. The Chairman really pulled out all the stops.”
“Spatial travel… was that even possible?”
“Normally, it's impossible.”
It was a feat beyond the capabilities of modern humanity. But for a Grand Mage like the Chairman, performing such a god-like miracle was well within his power.
Still, to use magic so openly in front of Freya and Ciel…
He must feel he doesn't need to hide his identity as carefully anymore. Perhaps it was because his power had been exposed when he subdued Kral, even if he had used the floating ship as a cover. Or maybe he just trusted them.
Ciel turned to me. “Lord Roen, wasn't the Chairman just a figurehead?”
“A figurehead? You could see it that way, but it's more accurate to say he's in a similar position to me.”
I meant a situation where one possesses great power but hides it for a greater cause, wearing a title that's merely a front. But…
“So he is a figurehead.”
“…”
That wasn't how Ciel took it at all.
Meanwhile, Freya, still reeling from the fact that we’d just teleported, demanded an explanation.
“Hey, what was that spatial magic? Roen, do you know something?”
“I don't know the details. I just know the Chairman is quite skilled at magic. But don't go telling anyone else. He doesn't like to draw attention to it.”
“Yes, well…”
Freya wasn't the type to repay the Chairman's kindness with malice; she would keep quiet.
“Anyway, where are we?”
I looked around. The environment was a world away from Union. We were greeted by crisp, clean air and a coniferous forest with trees that seemed to pierce the sky. The color and firmness of the soil were also different.
Ciel touched the bark of a nearby tree. “This is a Churian tree. It seems we really have been dropped on the other side of the continent.”
“It was sudden, but we've saved a lot of time.”
“Indeed.”
Assuming the Chairman sent us somewhere near our territories, we had just bypassed roughly three weeks of travel. Not only that, but he’d spared us the misery of the sea and the bumpy carriage rides. It was, without a doubt, an incredible gift.
Now that we had our bearings, it was time to move.
“Let's follow the path,” I said. “If we find a village, we should be able to figure out exactly where we are.”
“Yes.”
We gathered our things and started walking along the mountain path. I'm not sure how long we walked to the soundtrack of birds and insects, but it was around dusk when we finally came across a settlement.
For a village tucked into a mountain valley, it was quite large, housing perhaps two or three hundred residents.
I don't recognize this place.
I scanned the area, but nothing looked familiar. The number of cities and villages implemented in the game was limited, after all. This was likely a place that hadn't made the cut.
“Yawn.”
As we approached, a man who had been yawning at the village entrance, spear in hand, snapped to attention.
“Wh-who goes there?!”
The man, clearly a village guard, shouted as he leveled his spear at us, but then—
“L-Lord Roen?!”
His face went pale, and he hurriedly bowed his head. The man prostrated himself on the ground as if he'd committed a capital crime, banging his forehead against the dirt.
I looked down at him, frowning.
Who is this guy?
To drop to his knees and grovel the moment he saw me… the sheer terror he was radiating was deeply unpleasant.
Ciel leaned in and whispered, “This is Morefit Village… it is part of the Devalis territory. It's about a three-day walk from the main castle. It would take about a week to reach the Gunhild territory’s main castle from here.”
Ciel approached the trembling man and offered him a hand. “Please, get up. Don't worry. Lord Roen has changed.”
“I-is that true?”
“Yes.”
The man glanced nervously at me, then slowly stood up, his fear still palpable. Once on his feet, he clenched his fists, mustered his courage, and asked, “Wh-what brings you here, Lord Roen?”
I pointed to my school uniform. “It's the school break. My sister summoned me to the family estate, so I'm just passing through.”
“…”
He bit his lip for a moment before asking cautiously, “…Should I gather all the villagers?”
Why on earth would he suddenly gather the villagers?
“Don't do anything unnecessary.”
“Ah, I understand!”
I sighed inwardly. I wondered just how much the original Roen must have tormented these people for him to be in such a state.
That aside…
I'd spent so long in the unique environment of Union that I'd almost forgotten, but this was the standard relationship between nobles and commoners. I'd just grown accustomed to modern thinking and the more egalitarian atmosphere of the academy.
I spoke to the thoroughly intimidated man. “Is there a room where the three of us can stay for the night? Take us to the village chief.”
“O-of course. I will guide you to the village chief right away. Please, come in.”
The three of us followed the man into the village. Passing through the perimeter fence, we were greeted by a pastoral scene of log cabins, scattered fields, and small livestock pens. It was quiet and peaceful—a picturesque medieval village.
However, as soon as we entered, I could sense a strange magic scattered throughout the area.
Knock, knock.
On the outskirts of the village, the man stopped in front of a sturdy log cabin and knocked cautiously.
“Village Chief, it's Henry. I've brought Lord Roen, Lady Ciel, and a guest.”
“…”
There was no answer. After a tense moment—
Creeak—.
The door opened, revealing a stubborn-looking old man. His eyes widened the moment he saw me standing there.
“…”
Grip—.
The old man immediately tightened his grip on his staff and bowed deeply.
“Welcome, Lord Roen. It has been a long time. This humble villager greets you.”
I had no memory of ever seeing him, but I gave a standard reply. “Yes, it has been a while.”
“It is good to see you as well, Lady Ciel. And the person behind you… must be Lady Freya.”
Freya's eyes went wide. “You know me?”
“How could a simple old man from the mountains know someone like you well, Lady Freya? I have only seen you from a distance once or twice. Please, don't just stand there. Come inside.”