Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Back to the Academy
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9
“See you next time. Take care.”
At Winizden Station, Dray nodded shyly.
The surprise amusement park tour with Anirja had ended, and it was already afternoon.
If we didn’t head back to Esterro Academy soon, we’d be late for tomorrow’s lectures.
Bailey and I were returning, but Dray was staying in Winizden a bit longer before heading to his family home in Hoyman Territory.
“Since I agreed to help with your research, let me know if you need anything.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m four years older than you, but just speak casually. We’ve already hung out once, so it’d be weird to go formal now.”
“Got it….”
His reactions were so transparent, it was almost painful.
Thinking that Dray was only just turning eighteen made his prickliness make perfect sense.
People get prickly as they approach their senior year of high school, after all.
“Anyway, see you later.”
It was about time for the train to depart.
Bailey had boarded ages ago.
As I moved to get on, the hesitant Dray held out a letter.
“What’s this?”
“…Read it or don’t. Whatever.”
With those ambiguous words tossed out unilaterally, Dray turned and hurried off the platform.
Knowing his age somehow made even this inexplicable behavior seem endearing.
I boarded the first-class car with Choco and tore open the letter Dray had given me.
The paper was luxurious, almost like silk.
[To my dear Theo Agrit.]
Spring is fully giving way to the threshold of summer. I hope you’re well, Young Master Agrit. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Dray Hoyman, second son of the Hoynam Viscount family and disciple of Ian Gallagher.
I was utterly shocked when you said you’d help with my research. I still can’t believe it, and I lament my poor writing skills for failing to capture the feeling in words.
But first, I must apologize for my rudeness the other day. Back then……
Hmm…….
Is this really the same person who wrote it?
I glanced out the window absentmindedly, but the train had already departed.
There was no way to spot Dray even if I wanted to.
No matter how you look at it, his outward demeanor and inner self were worlds apart.
In fact, they were so different it was transparent in its own way.
I hadn’t realized he was nobility amid all his nitpicking, but this letter confirmed it.
At that thought, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
No wonder there were so many kids around here with a few screws loose.
“Looks like you’ve made a good connection.”
Bailey said warmly.
As I started to nod, she added meaningfully,
“You’ll come to the next conference together, right?”
“…Why does it have to be like that?”
“To see your friend.”
Do I have to go all the way to the conference to meet him…?
I wasn’t even sure if he was a friend, but we could just meet whenever we had time.
No point responding; it wouldn’t get through.
I gave up answering and stared blankly out the window.
No matter how I looked at it, Bailey clearly lacked any sense of subtlety.
Well, what did it matter if she lacked tact.
Generous and good-hearted was enough.
Still, I didn’t want to attend conferences with Bailey two more times….
10
By the time we returned to Esterro Academy, the sun was beginning to set.
I stretched, gazing up at the orange-tinted sky.
Then I bid Bailey goodbye, saying I’d head off first, grabbed Choco, and bolted for the dorms.
If I lingered, she’d surely drag me off for dinner or something.
A few more times, and she might start inviting me to her personal lab as a matter of course.
The horrifying premonition spurred me to keep glancing back as I fled.
After running for a good while.
Convinced no one was following, I finally looked ahead.
And collided with something, losing my balance and falling flat on my butt.
“Sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going and….”
“It’s fine. Really. Stuff like walking backward happens in life.”
It was a familiar voice.
Looking up, I saw it was Giacomo I’d bumped into.
As suspicious as ever, he smiled gently and offered a hand.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Instead of taking Giacomo’s hand, I stood up on my own and brushed the dirt off.
Choco lightly shook out his fur, then glared at Giacomo.
Looks like Choco found him suspicious too.
“Gotta be careful. That’s a pricey new outfit.”
How does this guy know that?
I froze in shock.
Giacomo grinned.
“The fabric, the design, even the magical enhancements—it’s high quality. You must’ve had it tailored at Babola Tailorshop in Winizden, right?”
Incredibly, he was spot on.
It was a suit for mages, so going to Winizden made sense for custom work.
But out of all the shops there, how did he nail the exact one I visited?
Did he tail me or something?
No, that didn’t make sense.
“Hmm… Lately, Professor Bailey’s been taking a real interest in you. Looks like you went to the Third Magic Tower conference together. Their peppercorn steak at Marmarina Restaurant is famous.”
Marmarina Restaurant was where I’d had dinner.
Nailing the menu too pushed Giacomo’s suspiciousness to the max.
I edged back cautiously.
Giacomo smacked his lips, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke in a soft tone.
“I’m really into fashion. I’ve been to Winizden a few times myself. So don’t think too suspiciously of me.”
That’s a load of nonsense.
Coming from someone who only wears priestly robes.
Besides, the one who insists they’re not suspicious is always the most suspicious.
“…I’ll try.”
Though I doubted I would.
Heeding my instincts’ warning, I gave a vague reply and fled toward the dorms with Choco growling at my side.
11
“Looks like you attended the Third Magic Tower conference.”
Near the main building, Giacomo ran into Bailey Sylvia and asked with a kindly smile.
Nothing to hide, so Bailey nodded readily.
“I went over the weekend. And you, Father Giacomo?”
“Oh, same as always for me. Prayer, hearing the students’ troubles, patrolling the grounds to prevent mishaps. By the way, did student Theo Agrit go with you to the Third Magic Tower conference?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
Bailey’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Giacomo chuckled lightly.
“I just ran into Theo Agrit. He was wearing such nice clothes, so I had a hunch and asked. Looks like I was right.”
He’d seen through it long ago from Theo Agrit’s reaction.
But Bailey merely nodded to Giacomo, who hid the fact behind a cunning smile.
“Theo’s talents need to be shared with the world. Conferences are great for making connections too.”
“Connections are always precious. I hope he makes some.”
“He already did, actually. They’re both young and exceptionally talented, so they hit it off.”
Giacomo just smiled benignly.
On the surface, he was the picture of a kind, good-natured priest.
“But one or two won’t be enough. He’ll be my prized disciple soon, so he needs to build his network now.”
“Is that so?”
Prized disciple.
Giacomo mulled the words over in his mouth a few times.
“This is troubling.”
“Pardon? What was that?”
“Nothing. I’ve kept you too long after your long trip. Take care going in.”
“See you later, Father Giacomo.”
Bailey picked up her bag and headed to her professor’s lab.
Watching her back, Giacomo stroked his chin.
“Troubling. I eyed him first because he seemed fun, but now too many people are noticing him.”
His voice lost its mirth as he muttered.
“Maybe I should just kidnap him before someone else gets him.”
Kidnapping lacked realism.
The cost to perfectly abduct an ordinary person was high enough.
For a noble’s son and academy student? The preparations would be endless.
Above all, Theo Agrit was completely on guard against Giacomo Zailex.
He avoided eye contact, let alone prolonged time in the same space.
Watching him act like a wild rabbit was amusing, but the constant wariness was a pity.
“I’ve been acting not suspicious at all….”
In truth, the only one who found Giacomo Zailex suspicious was Theo Agrit, at most.
Most students and professors alike saw him as a capable priest.
“Does he know my true identity?”
For a moment, he murmured with all emotion drained, utterly calm.
“No way.”
Giacomo stroked his chin and smiled vacantly.
12
“Hotels, whatever—home is still the best….”
After washing up, I dove straight into bed.
This dorm felt like my actual home now, which meant I’d adapted pretty well to this world.
It was bigger and nicer than my old one-room apartment too.
The soft bed cradled my body.
Choco followed suit, diving onto the bed with gusto.
The hotel bed from last night was softer, but this one felt more at ease.
“You prefer it here too, right?”
Choco wriggled over and nodded.
Two days had melted away in an instant, but realizing how precious the dorm was made it worthwhile.
There’d been interruptions, but the amusement park was fun.
And unexpectedly, I’d connected with Dray.
What next?
The ideal plan: Help Dray complete his theory so he doesn’t defect, and ensure no third party can misuse it.
Right now, Anirja was nagging at me more.
A black mage and puppeteer, one of the pioneers not in Broken World.
No clue what Anirja was thinking.
She said she wanted to recruit me… but was it sincere, or a threat?
What bugged me most was that she was a puppeteer.
Her true appearance unknown, and with enough puppets, she could show up in endless forms.
And that warning not to trust the academy—what the hell…?
“…No idea.”
Pondering wouldn’t yield answers.
Unnecessary worrying just gave headaches.
I stopped thinking and petted Choco.
“Anyway, the weekend trip was fun since we went far. Should we go out more often?”
Choco’s eyes sparkled.
He enjoyed the amusement park too—must like the outdoors.
I’d grown curious about his true nature lately, but I’d settled on him just being Choco long ago.
“Summer’s coming, so for outings, valley or beach?”
Which one?
No need to agonize—my heart was set ages ago.
“Beach. Ever been?”
Choco tilted his head.
Didn’t seem to know what that was.
Right, when we went to Bayford City, Choco stayed to guard the house.
“It’s a place where water fills the horizon as far as the eye can see. Like a massive lake or reservoir—get it?”
Nod nod.
Seemed to understand.
This reaction meant he’d love the seaside.
Weekends were perfect for a leisurely trip to Bayford City.
Summer break was coming soon too, so we could take our time.
As I planned our beach outing.
Creeeak….
With an eerie sound, the wardrobe door—no one had touched it—began to slowly creak open.