Chapter 140
Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Forced into Mullat Contio
140
1
“Are you back safely?”
In the separate palace’s reception room, which was starting to feel familiar, Ludwig asked with a serious expression.
I sank back into the sofa without even a moment to savor being back in the capital after two days away.
My head was still a mess, but… at least it was a relief to have someone here I could mull things over with.
“I’d love to say yes, but it’s not that simple.”
“As expected, something happened. Judging by your reaction, it seems Big Brother didn’t just try to win you over.”
“It would’ve been better if it was just that.”
I leaned forward, resting my arms on my knees.
My bangs fell into my face, but I ignored them and forced my thoughts into order.
“I got dragged to the Colosseum in Merlinside. Not as a participant, just a spectator. Something suspicious happened there.”
“What was it?”
Our eyes met—his green ones holding a grave glint as he simply raised his brows.
I slowly moved my lips, organizing my thoughts as I went.
“A gladiator used a Blooming awakening agent and attacked the audience. It’s not strange for Merlinside, where Apenbru was being traded on the black market, to have Blooming agents… but it seems connected to the Second Prince.”
The timing of the gladiator suddenly using Blooming right then, and Rainer taking no action despite the impending disaster—both were suspicious.
Rainer, who went after anything he wanted, had directly confirmed my abilities but made no contact on the way back.
Not even a single word of persuasion. That said it all.
Even if he wasn’t directly involved in the Colosseum Blooming incident, he was definitely plotting something.
“There’s… no evidence, I assume. Even Big Brother wouldn’t leave proof lying around carelessly.”
“The gladiator who used Blooming is dead, and all related parties are keeping quiet, claiming ignorance. No physical evidence, no witnesses—just a bit of suspicion.”
For now, I planned to commission an investigation through a moonless night contact on how Mycon got the Blooming awakening agent.
But even if I traced the distribution route, it wouldn’t directly link to Rainer.
Power could turn what didn’t happen into what did, and what did into what didn’t.
“It is suspicious…. Did Big Brother take the recovered Apenbru?”
“Yes, all of it.”
“Then there’s ample possibility everything connects.”
With an air of maturity beyond his years, Ludwig ran a hand through his golden hair, different in shade from Rainer’s.
In the end, we were probably thinking the same thing.
The nobles and officials connected to Wifera had all been purged.
If the Second Prince was tangled up in the biggest issues—Apenbru and Blooming—it would be a scandal shaking the entire Tekat Kingdom… no, the whole continent.
If Rainer was involved, it would be enough to disqualify him from succession.
That would leave First Prince Clemens dominating the race unchallenged.
But Ludwig could seize the opening to rise as a prime candidate for the throne.
“I’ll look into it more first.”
Finishing his thoughts, Ludwig nodded, releasing his golden locks.
Whether Ludwig would make his name early as the Prince of Mercy, or bide his time and hide his claws a bit longer… that was entirely up to him.
Either way, I’d be content as long as I could live peacefully.
I hadn’t meant to get this deeply involved in royal affairs….
“If solid info comes up, please share it with me too.”
Sighing now wouldn’t change anything, so I just nodded.
2
“Ugh, when am I packing up…”
The moment I stepped into the dorm, a sigh escaped me.
After being suddenly summoned and returning from Merlinside, I felt utterly drained.
Classes were over anyway—better pack up quick and head home.
Leon would handle whatever happened over winter break just fine.
Meanwhile, I could heal in peace and comfort at home, playing with the kids.
No wonder people dreamed of returning to the countryside.
Maybe I should plan my own farm life while I’m at it.
As long as I could live without watching over my shoulder, anything would do.
Raising Pudding would be easier too.
“…Anyway, there are really a ton of people still in the dorms.”
The lobby was as bustling as during the semester, despite my mutter.
Five days had passed since finals ended and classes wrapped up, but unlike summer break, most students hadn’t gone home.
Because of Mullat Contio.
The annual year-end Mullat Contio was a massive event co-hosted by four academies, including Esterro Academy.
Like last year’s winner Cain, who got a knight order slot, victors received all sorts of perks and privileges.
Even without winning, good performances or impressions spread your name far, so tons of students joined.
The hosting academy rotated yearly… and this year, it was Esterro’s turn.
Naturally, event details weren’t public for regular students.
Home ground advantage meant zilch.
Mullat Contio changed rounds and events every year, so even prior participants had little edge.
Of course, that was the general case.
As long as the butterfly effect hadn’t reached here, I knew this year’s events and contents.
Well, knowing was knowing.
No way in hell I’d enter Mullat Contio.
With full knowledge, it’d be cheating—and above all, a hassle.
“Time to go home.”
I pushed through the crowd toward the stairs.
How to get Pudding to the train station without drawing eyes… wait, ride the train?
As I pondered, someone tapped my shoulder.
“Oh, friend! There you are!”
“Hey, Ethan. You’re still here too. For Mullat Contio?”
“Yeah! Prelims are in a few days! Master said to at least make it to the finals!”
Ah~ I could easily picture Jin scratching his head saying that.
If he was sending him to Mullat Contio, it proved he’d trained him thoroughly—good for him.
Glad Ethan was back to his usual self, satisfied with what he’d learned.
“I wanted to test my skills too! Perfect chance! Thanks, friend! All thanks to you!”
“No need to thank me. You worked hard. I’ll cheer from home—give it your all.”
Of course, Leon would win….
But Jin only asked for finals advancement, which Ethan could manage easily.
As I nodded to part ways, Ethan tilted his head like I’d said something absurd.
“What’s up?”
“Well, you’re participating too. In Mullat Contio.”
“…What?”
Now I was the one tilting my head, not getting what Ethan meant.
He drove it home, raising his voice questioningly.
“Your name’s on the participant list, right?”
What the hell…?
3
“What else? You came and applied yourself, didn’t you?”
Ken Shwelts, looking sharp in his sunglasses as always, answered without hesitation.
I’d rushed to him—the person in charge—after hearing from Ethan that my name was on the Mullat Contio list, but… I hadn’t expected such a straightforward response.
He shoved a few Mullat Contio papers into a drawer amid the mountain on his desk and handed me a neat file.
Opening the labeled “Application Form” file, there was indeed an application with my name.
“See? Your own submission. Any issue?”
Of course there was.
A huge one.
Damn, no going home now.
“When did I supposedly submit this?”
“Yesterday.”
“Ah~ I must’ve forgotten amid the busyness. My mistake.”
“Hmm… Forgetting something like this means you’re exhausted! Prelims are soon—manage your condition well!”
I brushed it off vaguely and left Ken Shwelts’ lab.
The moment I hit the hallway, my head spun with complications.
Yesterday, I’d been en route back from Merlinside.
I’d only reached Etset this morning, so physically submitting it was impossible.
From Ken Shwelts’ reaction, he truly believed I had.
Complete bafflement, a touch of doubt—every physical cue backed it up.
And his firm assertion meant no one just snuck the form in.
Meaning someone disguised as me submitted the Mullat Contio application.
Easy to say… but the disguise had to fool a professor perfectly.
Mask and hat for the face, faking a sore throat—nowhere near enough.
Broken World was magic-filled, but transformation magic was among the trickiest.
Shaping your body with plastic magic made reverting hard, with severe side effects risking life.
Light-bending illusion magic could camouflage appearance somewhat… but limited, and no voice change.
Voice-altering artifacts or spells boosted quality, but not professor-level deception.
Mimicry or transformation spells had clear limits too.
Altering a fixed form entirely was magically tough.
But shift perspectives: it wasn’t impossible.
Magic struggled with changing “fixed forms” to others.
But reshaping something without a fixed form initially? Not so hard.
Like alchemy or steelmaking magic molding metal ingots into shapes.
The forefront magic in that field…?
“Puppetry.”
Puppets inherently lack fixed forms.
Even a featureless mannequin was broadly a human-shaped puppet.
So, turning a blank mannequin into me was simple.
Of course, that only matched looks.
Manipulating the puppet was as hard as perfect disguise.
But I knew someone who pulled it off effortlessly and flawlessly.
Anirja of the Dark Valley.
The puppeteer who called himself a black mage.
I hadn’t grasped his full skills, but his puppetry was top-tier for sure.
Anirja’s puppetry could fool a professor easily.
The issue: why make my puppet and enter me in Mullat Contio…?
“No clue.”
Not a single guess.
Even making sure I knew about it via this stunt didn’t make sense.
A puppet indistinguishable from me roaming secretly.
Thinking what it might do in my face sent chills down my spine.
Knowing let me counter somehow, but ignorance would’ve been more effective.
Forfeiting that meant tying my Mullat Contio participation to his goal.
With such blatant push for my entry, skipping and heading to my territory risked unknown fallout.
What if my puppet went to Mullat Contio and committed murder?
Proving alibi wouldn’t stop the infamy and scandals.
Better to play along with Anirja’s scheme quietly.
Mullat Contio had powerhouses from other academies—whatever happened, they’d handle it.
Plus, with me personally in the big event, the puppet couldn’t pull weird stunts.
“Sigh… Gotta write Erica I’ll be late…”
Ending up in this unwanted Mullat Contio.
I won’t forget this grudge.
I curse you, Anirja…!