44
Chapter 44
"Good luck with this semester, and contact me via crystal ball if you run low on allowance."
"I have plenty of allowance. Please don't overwork yourself, and I'll be in touch."
After saying my goodbyes, I boarded the carriage.
Thanks to the gold vein discovered in the territory, our situation had improved greatly, and my father even bought me an expensive communication crystal ball.
He mentioned sending me one gold coin every month, but honestly, I wasn't that excited.
I still had the ten gold coins Instructor Bio had given me when we went out together.
Of course, I felt like I could never actually spend that money.
"Young Lady May, we are departing."
The carriage began to move.
I had looked forward to the new semester so much back during the closing ceremony, but now, I didn't really want to go.
Because Instructor Bio was no longer at Belliard Academy.
Ever since I heard the news, I had felt a lingering regret and wanted to beg him to come back, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Since I had been the subject of the same rumors, I could guess a little bit how difficult things had been for him.
Actually, I hadn't known anything at first.
If I had known even a fraction of his pain, I never would have sent a letter asking if I could receive training during the break.
I wondered how deep his wounds were that he didn't even send a reply....
Perhaps his constant refusal of my rewards for helping the estate was because he didn't want to be involved with anyone from the academy, including me.
I wondered if the other students knew that Instructor Bio had quit.
I contemplated whether I should tell them as soon as I arrived.
But then I decided against it.
If I were the only one who knew, some people might find it strange.
Then again, I worried some might think he was heartless for not mentioning it to those who had even taken private lessons.
While I was lost in thought, we arrived at the Peyton Viscountcy.
"Have a safe trip, Young Lady."
"Thank you for the ride."
"It was my pleasure."
"Get back safely."
After parting with the coachman, I entered the gate and waited a short while before arriving in the capital.
Both the Levi and Peyton territories had become quite warm, but since the capital was further north, it was still rather chilly.
I took a transport carriage and arrived at Belliard Academy.
I showed my student ID and entered.
For some reason, the check felt much more rigorous than when I first entered as a new student.
There were many more guards as well.
Assuming it was because many trainees were arriving for the new semester, I walked until I reached the dormitory.
When I arrived at the room, no one was... Huh?
"Unnie May!"
It was my roommate, Ria.
"Ria, hi... Whoa! What's this?"
Just as I was about to greet her, she suddenly lunged forward and hugged me.
"I missed you!"
She had always been bright, but she seemed even more energetic than before.
"I missed you too. What did you do over the break?"
"Don't even get me started. I went to visit my cousins in the North and got stuck there for two weeks due to heavy snow. My vacation..."
"But didn't you have a great time with your cousins?"
"That's true. Even if it was cold, we couldn't just stay inside. We had snowball fights, sledding, skating—oh, we even built an ice castle! Want to see?"
For someone who complained about losing her vacation, she had certainly made the most of it.
"What did you do during the break, Unnie? You didn't just spend it training, did you?"
"I didn't just train. I visited my maternal side and helped with my father's estate."
"Such a model student! Oh, right. I heard a gold vein was discovered in your estate's mine! I saw it in the Imperial Newspaper! They said it was a total jackpot!"
"I'm not sure about 'jackpot,' but the estate's finances have improved a lot."
"Everyone's going to want to be close to you from now on."
"It's not that big of a deal."
"Then I'll definitely make sure to stay close..."
She said this with a beaming smile; while others might have found it annoying, Ria was different.
Although she had distanced herself slightly when the rumors spread, she was the first to apologize and had been genuinely kind ever since.
Besides, since the most famous mithril mine in the empire was in Ria's territory, she had no reason to cozy up to me just for a gold mine.
I joked that she was being excessive, asking how much closer we could possibly get since we were already friends.
While chatting with Ria and unpacking, the other students began to arrive one by one.
Everyone was busy talking about their break.
I mingled for a bit before quietly standing up.
"Unnie May, you're not going to eat alone, are you?"
"The dining hall probably isn't open yet."
"I saw a sign on my way up saying it opens at six today."
"I'm not going for food; I'm going to train."
"They said regular classes start right after tomorrow's opening ceremony, so just rest for today."
"It's become a habit. I get anxious if I don't do it."
"You're too much. Then how long will you be out?"
"It might take a while."
"We're heading to the dining hall at 6:30, so let's meet in front of it."
I told her okay and left the dormitory.
I could just finish whatever I missed after eating anyway.
Since tomorrow was the start of the term, some trainees were just arriving, and I saw a few instructors.
But Instructor Bio...
No, I can't be like this.
I felt I'd only sink deeper into depression if I kept thinking about it, so I ran toward the Ranger Training Ground.
I arrived in five minutes, but I wasn't tired at all.
I immediately started with push-ups, followed by sit-ups and squats.
Since I was told it's best to gradually increase the load once accustomed, I now do 250 of each.
I also increased my running distance by 2.5 times.
After running for a long time, I checked the clock and stopped.
I hadn't finished everything, so I wasn't completely exhausted, but I lay down on the grass anyway.
Before the break, 200 was my limit, but I'd increased it by 50.
If Instructor Bio were here, he would have praised me...
Ah, I'm thinking about Instructor Bio again...
It can't be helped.
Without Instructor Bio, I wouldn't be who I am today.
****
Tomorrow was the start of the new semester at the academy.
"Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into teaching someone as lacking as me."
"Not at all. I didn't teach you for free, so please don't mention it."
"Still, you truly gave your best to teach me. Thank you."
I bowed my head once more.
"I'm not sure if you noticed, but honestly, I only started teaching you because of a promise I made to that fellow Bio, but your passion and attitude eventually won me over."
"I could tell."
"If it weren't for the condition of becoming an Imperial Palace Wizard, I would have helped you at the academy as well. It seems the Emperor is afraid of your talent."
...If it's my father, it's probably not because he's afraid of my talent, but because he wants to win the bet.
Master Roy probably knows that too, but he speaks kindly of it, likely because he's grown fond of me.
"I will never give up."
"As I said, I will sincerely root for you, Imperial Princess Helena. Although I cannot help you during the semester, please visit me again during the break."
"Yes! I'll definitely come back."
I bowed to Master Roy one last time and left the Merdi Magic Tower.
"Would you like to go straight to the Imperial Palace?"
"No. Let's go to Belliard Academy instead of the palace."
"You want to go today? Departing tomorrow morning would have been enough."
"I've already said my goodbyes to my Master, so why wait? Did my luggage not arrive yet?"
"No. I believe both your luggage and mine were delivered two days ago."
"Then let's head to the academy."
The academy, where I can practice magic in peace, was better than the palace, where my father monitors my every move and I can't even train properly.
I boarded the carriage first and waited a moment until Shine returned, having finished instructions for the coachman.
I cast Soundproofing Magic.
The coachman driving us now had been dedicated to my carriage for over five years, but I couldn't trust him as much as I trusted Shine.
"Still no word from Bio?"
"No. He came by five days ago and told you to focus on your training until he contacts you again; that was the last of it."
"He... he really said he would help, right?"
At first, I wondered if Shine had lied just to reassure me, but there was no reason for that, and Count Daph had said the same thing.
But why hasn't he visited me even once, and where on earth is he...
"T... That is correct."
It was strange that she was stuttering and her face was turning red.
"Shine."
"Yes, Imperial Princess."
"Are you hiding something from me?"
I could assume everyone misunderstood the part about Bio not being in hiding.
But it was strange that someone who had been indifferent to the world's affairs suddenly decided to help me.
Furthermore, Count Daph had mentioned that Shine played a crucial role in changing Bio's mind.
"W... why would you say such a hurtful thing? I have always been truthful with you, Imperial Princess."
"Then tell me how you managed to persuade him."
It was true that Shine was talented enough to become the youngest Expert Highest-grade Knight, but she wasn't particularly skilled in areas outside of swordsmanship.
Moreover, she had always made it obvious that she ignored and disliked Bio, so I couldn't fathom how she had convinced him.
"I... I cannot tell you that."
"Why not?"
"That's... because I made a promise to Bio!"
"A promise to Bio?"
"Yes. I swore on my honor as a knight that I would never tell anyone... I'm sorry."
"No, it's alright. If you've sworn on your honor, there's nothing I can do."
I felt a bit disappointed, and the vague excuse seemed suspicious, but since it involved a knight's honor, I had to let it go.
I could probably find out if I kept pressing her, but if Bio found out she had broken her word, he might stop helping me.
We arrived at the academy before I knew it, but my heart felt uneasy.
It would have been better if Bio had at least let me know in advance how he intended to help...
I wondered where Bio was and what he was doing right now.
****
"I heard you decided to help the escort knight? So, how are you going to do it?"
Early in the morning, Old Man Daph paid me a sudden visit.
I was exhausted because I'd stayed up late reading letters from students, but as soon as he arrived, he confirmed he hadn't been in hiding and immediately jumped to this question.
"Before that, I need to hear something first."
"Hear what? I heard the Imperial Princess's escort knight already explained everything."
"Not that. I want to know why you're helping the Princess. What kind of help did you receive for you to go this far?"
Old Man Daph's loyalty to the Emperor was incredibly strong.
He was the type who would commit suicide without hesitation if the Emperor ordered it, so I was curious why he was helping the Princess against His Majesty's will.
'You've already decided to help, so why ask now?'
'Because I feel like it.'
Ark wasn't wrong, but knowing the reason might make me put in more sincere effort, or perhaps the opposite.
"I first met the Princess six years ago at the place where Anna rests."
"Where Anna is? The National Cemetery? Why was the Princess there?"
"You know the Princess's mother passed away early, right? The aunt who took care of her after she entered the palace is buried right next to Anna."
That explained why she was there.
But Old Man Daph wasn't the type of person to help someone just because they met once at a cemetery, was he?
"We exchanged greetings then, and since they shared the same anniversary, the Princess sent flowers to Anna every time she sent them to her aunt, saying her aunt loved flowers. She didn't just send white chrysanthemums, but all sorts of beautiful blooms."
Wait.
"So the bouquets I saw every year were sent by the Princess?"
"You keep calling her 'the Princess.' Since when were you two friends?"
"What does it matter? It's just the two of us. Anyway, is that all?"
It was surprising, but honestly, it wasn't a particularly grand connection, which felt a bit anticlimactic.
"If that were all, would I have asked you for a favor in Anna's name?"
"Then what else is there?"
"Bio, you were on a mission in the Western Continent at the time, so you wouldn't know, but there was a massive flood in the capital four years ago."
Just as he said, it was news to me.
"You know the area where Anna is located is low-lying. At the time, our Intelligence Agency was so frantic supporting the flood recovery that we didn't think of it."
"You don't mean Anna's grave washed away... No, when I went four years ago, the headstone and location were exactly the same as always."
Since I went every year, I would have noticed even the slightest change.
"Indeed. As you said, it was safe. Thanks to the Princess."
"Huh?"
"The Princess came out personally and used magic to create a wall of earth, protecting her aunt's grave and keeping Anna's grave safe from the floodwaters."
...I had no idea.
I couldn't remember the exact dates, but the final mission of that year four years ago had taken a long time, and I only returned a few days before the end of the year.
"The Princess herself was there?"
"The flood was so severe that almost all the Imperial Palace Wizards, except for a few managing the palace, were mobilized to reduce the damage. The Princess heard that no one was going to the National Cemetery, so she went herself."
"That's... impressive."
I meant it.
She would have been only fourteen years old four years ago.
"When I repeatedly expressed my gratitude, she told me it was nothing. Instead, she blamed herself, saying that if she had been a greater wizard, she could have protected the graves of all those who had earned merit."
I always thought he wasn't a completely bad person, but I didn't realize he was this decent.
I wondered why he treated me that way, but he did say he'd grant all my requests at first.
Then again, everything went wrong the moment he stole my underwear.
"Bio, I couldn't bear to see an Imperial Princess like you spend your whole life in Quasar, plagued by misfortune..."
"That's enough. That's plenty."
Protecting Anna's grave was no small feat; in my eyes, he was practically a benefactor.
"What do you mean, 'enough'?"
I gave a smirk and answered the puzzled old man.
"I mean I'm now truly ready to help."
****
Today was the opening ceremony, the first day of the new semester.
I had no appetite just thinking about some other instructor taking Bio's place.
My roommates, including Ria, practically dragged me along to the dining hall.
"I'm leaving first."
Neither the bread nor the soup tasted like anything.
"Unnie May, are you on a diet?"
"I just don't have much of an appetite today."
"You finally seem human, Unnie."
"Huh?"
"Even a model student like you hates the start of the semester, right?"
"I guess... starting with regular classes right after the ceremony is a bit much."
They seemed to have the wrong idea, but I didn't see a need to correct them, so I just laughed it off and left.
The main stadium, where the ceremony was held, was crowded.
I saw familiar instructors and fellow students from the Ranger Class.
"Unnie May! Class B is over here!"
I joined the group of friends calling me and stood in line.
While chatting, Instructor Amelia approached me.
She looked completely worn out, as if she'd been sent on a grueling mission over the break.
She seemed drained; I wondered if something had happened.
"May, you're early. Could you help me with the attendance for Class B?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. I don't know why the new instructor is so late..."
She handed me the list, patted my head, and walked away with a lonely expression.
So Instructor Amelia already knew.
It made sense; she was an instructor, not a trainee.
After checking the attendance, I stood in line as the instructors gathered on the central podium.
"Huh? I don't see Instructor Bio."
"He's always late, though."
"True, in the beginning, he was late three times a week."
"I wonder if he'll buy us lots of snacks again if we do well on the exams this year."
"I even pre-studied because I was sad I missed out twice last time."
The other students didn't seem to know yet.
I considered telling them, but figured they'd find out soon enough, so I focused on the podium.
Shortly after, the ceremony began. The Dean's speech was boring, as usual, but it wasn't too long.
"And finally, let us introduce the instructors who have newly joined Belliard Academy."
The instructors came out one by one to introduce themselves, most of whom were from the Magic Class.
Wait.
There was no introduction for our Ranger theory instructor.
"Is Instructor Bio still not here?"
"He's often late, but not this late."
"Do you think the Dean is going to rip into him today?"
But Instructor Bio is gone...
The new instructor must be very late.
They'll arrive before the first class anyway, or another instructor will explain it, so everyone will find out once we get to the classroom.
Our first period for Class B today is Ranger Theory.
I lowered my head in sadness, but then...
"Dean? I don't think there's anyone here who doesn't know me. Since I've been reinstated, isn't a formal introduction a bit much? The kids probably don't even know I quit."
I immediately looked up at the sound of a very familiar voice coming from the podium.
He was too far to see clearly, but the voice was enough to make me certain.
"Right, the Dean is a bit stiff, so I'm standing here. No one doesn't know me, right? I'm Bio Rain, the theory instructor for the Ranger Class. Let's have a great semester, everyone."