70th Academy Academic Festival #2

I had used magic to transmit sound last time, but this time I intended to utilize magic communication.

The sound transmission method was far too slow for exchanging words between us, making it unsuitable for the important conversations we were having now.

If Edwin-hyung didn't know how to use magic communication, that would be one thing, but since it was swordsmanship and magic alike, it was also a matter of skill, so that presented no problem at all.

After heading toward the magic communication booth, I entered the room inside, and a magic circle automatically activated to block all sound from the outside, preventing any noise from escaping.

Let me check. Was this the magic communication mana structure that Edwin-hyung and I had agreed upon in advance?

I poured mana into it and inputted the agreed-upon password. Soon I felt mana flowing between us.

After a short while, I sensed someone accepting the magic communication, and then the familiar voice came through.

[Is it Lucian?]

"Yes, Edwin-hyung. How have you been holding up?"

[Stop calling me that ancient-sounding word, you old-timer.]

"I learned that from you, Edwin-hyung. It's a good lesson, isn't it?"

[It seems you're up to something again. Spill it.]

It was clearly the tone of a son worried about his father, the old man from the Cloud family.

How did he already know about the favor I was about to ask? This felt like I was losing ground.

I debated how to start the conversation, but Edwin-hyung spoke first.

[Same as last time, it seems you've been busier than ever lately.]

"The academy life is more demanding than I imagined, and there are all kinds of other matters to handle."

[You asked Father for a favor before, didn't you? It seemed to have gone well.]

"Yes. Indeed. Thank you sincerely for your assistance with my personal matters. And so, I have come to request another favor. This request is personal for me as well, but I believe it will also benefit you."

[What on earth do you mean by that?]

As expected, once Edwin-hyung heard something connected to Father, his tone shifted noticeably.

After all, the man who ranked the Cloud old man as the most revered figure in the world was reacting exactly as anyone would.

"How about joining the academic festival?"

[You mean the Minerva Academy academic festival?]

"Yes. This year, Professor Milaze Eindhoven will be presenting a paper on the achievements of the former Prime Minister Dragon Schulz, and I've always been curious about him. Recently, students have been worried that his disappearance might mean something serious has happened to him."

[That won't happen. The man's too healthy to have issues. He's a real pain in the neck.]

"People don't know that. That's why questions linger, and those questions inevitably turn into strange rumors. Right now his reputation still stands, so it might just be idle talk... but..."

[I know what you're getting at. I understand why you're concerned, Lucian.]

"I'm not asking you for help, Edwin-hyung. I know the facts, but others don't, and the awkward situations where people spread those odd words are driving me crazy."

There was only one way to persuade Edwin-hyung.

Mention the name of the man the world revered above all else: Ju Cloud Low Dragonschulz, Edwin-hyung's father.

As I expected, Edwin-hyung remained silent for a while after that.

It seemed like he was deep in thought, but I didn't rush him or interfere.

As someone who knew Edwin-hyung, I knew that after all that deliberation, he would eventually...

[Then are you saying you want me to bring Father to the academic festival? To shut up all those random rumors?]

"For starters, yes."

[People love to interpret visible things according to their own whims. And if Father were to hint at returning to government affairs, it could stir up a storm.]

"Suggest that interpretation. After all, nothing like that will happen, and I'm sure even he already knows what kind of backlash might follow if people keep talking."

What would happen if someone scattered strange words without the slightest awareness or preparation?

The late King had already explained it kindly to everyone.

Why Lebechia had risen as a great power and was still growing steadily.

Because the late King had personally crushed every potential threat to the nation.

Thanks to that, the nobility still existed, but they dared not misuse their authority, kept their tongues silent, and remained hidden in the shadows of the royal palace, crouching as low as possible.

Although absolute monarchy could sometimes harm the nation, it wasn't the case now.

Both the late King and the current King were truly exceptional individuals, so such things wouldn't occur.

That was precisely why the nobility remained cautious in word and deed.

[....]

Edwin-hyung's hesitation grew longer.

As someone who knew him, I figured that if he deliberated this much, the odds of refusal would be high.

It was a little nerve-wracking, wondering if he would eventually say something like "I'm sorry, but this is difficult."

After waiting about five minutes, an answer finally came through the magic communication.

[I understand. I'll try to speak with him. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll aim for the academic festival route as much as possible. Just play it cool and don't reveal anything, Lucian.]

"I don't mind at all, hyung. More importantly, are you sure about this? Even if you don't care, I'm sure that person will refuse because he finds it bothersome."

[That's for me to handle. Honestly, watching Father always chasing fish or farming doesn't bring me much joy either.]

"Of course it doesn't. It's not just any man; it's the Dragon Schulz Prime Minister. For the sake of Lebechia, he should take a proper rest and show his face again."

If the Cloud old man heard this, he would definitely leap up and shout "I don't want to go back, you brats!" But Edwin-hyung and I had both considered that possibility carefully.

The man had some years on him, yet he still managed to govern, and there were countless reasons to return for the sake of the nation.

Leaving under some excuse would only look like running away.

[Then I'll mention it to Father. Don't get your hopes up too high. You know his personality well, Lucian.]

"Of course. Thank you in advance, hyung."

With that, the magic communication with Edwin-hyung ended.

Since I had started the conversation, the only thing left was to wait for the result.

I was about to rise from my seat when a sudden thought struck me, and I sat back down.

As I reached into my pocket, I felt the pocket watch in my hand.

An ornate silver pocket watch that gave off an old-world, aristocratic aura.

At first I had thought it was just a gift, but upon closer inspection, it was an accessory with terrifyingly rare origins.

I hadn't even imagined such an item existed, and for a long time I hadn't worn it because it felt too burdensome.

Even after the face-to-face meeting, Senior Rolex had gathered several seniors and politely requested to see the watch again.

It wasn't something that would wear out, so I had brought the silver watch with me. When Senior Rolex and his acquaintances saw it, they accepted it with the reverence usually reserved for sacred relics.

And after examining it thoroughly, they had even sung in unison: "It's real... this is real... it's the work of a true Veizsäcker... Oh the world! Oh this world!!"

I knew how extraordinary the name Veizsäcker held, but I had never imagined that one of his creations would end up in my hands.

It was simply a gift from an acquaintance who had casually said, "This is a present. When you enter the academy, you'll need a watch, so take this and use it. I don't need to look at watches anymore."

I had assumed it was just an ordinary pocket watch, but it turned out to be something that made those knowledgeable seniors gasp in awe or even scream in ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠disbelief.

"Hmm."

After some thought, I muttered "Should I accept ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it?" and first tested the magic communication.

I had already exchanged the magic communication password in advance for later, but since that person was the kind who frequently disappeared, I had doubted whether the communication would be received.

One minute, three minutes, five minutes passed, yet no response came from the magic communication.

Sure enough, it seemed the acquaintance had stepped away today as well.

If I had received it, I would have asked about the watch, but that was a shame now.

With a click of my tongue, I was about to cut off the mana supply when—

[....The chatterbox?]

"Eh? What is it? Is someone there?"

[Just entered and was reading. It's not a break time, chatterbox.]

"Ah, I see. Sorry, I wasn't thinking about the time."

Incidentally, this person followed a highly eccentric and slightly odd schedule: waking at exactly seven in the morning, bathing for fifteen minutes, eating for fifteen minutes, changing clothes for five minutes, taking a thirty-minute morning walk, and returning home at precisely eight oh-five.

It wasn't even a full daily routine, but just looking at the morning portion was enough to show how rigidly he maintained a schedule that left little room ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to breathe.

That ironclad daily routine continued all day long.

If I had to pick something positive, it was the hour or so of free time he had each day?

So right now, why was this person contacting me during their reading time instead of using the communication during their free hour?

[What's the matter, chatterbox?]

"You still insist on that nickname."

[If I'm not a chatterbox, what am I supposed to be? Chatter-chatter, the little boy who keeps chattering even when told to be quiet comes to mind.]

"Save the nostalgia for later. There is one thing I want to ask."

[The time to answer questions is four hours from now. Ask then.]

"...I have a lecture at that time. Just tell me now."

*Sigh*, the day's been ruined. So what do you want to ask?

After considering the question for a moment, I debated whether to circle around it or ask directly.

Deciding it was best to come straight at this person, I said:

"Do you know anyone named Veizsäcker?"

[The madman obsessed with watches?]

"You know him?"

[He's famous, of course. Why?]

"The watch you gave me before. Do you remember? It turned out to be a Veizsäcker creation."

[....]

"You didn't know? I was told it was an incredibly rare item that couldn't be bought with money."

[Unbelievable. The watch I used every morning, and now that I don't need it anymore, I gave it to you only for it to be the madman's thing? What a waste. If I had sold it, I could have bought something better.]

No, the world considers that the best watch, you idiot.

Saying he sold it to get a better one doesn't even make sense.

It was so absurd I just listened, but a gruff voice came through the magic communication.

[You contacted me to ask about that?]

"For starters, yes. I also wanted to ask how you're doing."

[As you can see, I'm doing just fine. If you hadn't contacted me and disturbed my reading, I would have been even better off. It's a bit of a loss, though.]

"You mean you didn't know it was a Veizsäcker work?"

[I would have given it to the chatterbox if I had known. It's a shame, but the item is already yours.]

"...That's fortunate. Anyway, sorry for interrupting your reading time."

[You know that well but still talk so smoothly. As expected of the chatterbox.]

With that, I had expected him to end the communication immediately.

But instead, he continued.

[Heard about the academic festival. Let's see each other then.]