Chapter 128
Chapter 128
Episode 128
The incident occurred one sunny afternoon, in a way no one expected.
"Th-this... Do you guys think this makes sense?!"
A professor closer to a warrior than a scholar.
One of the combat system professors, who rely on physical abilities, finally exploded. Discreet said it wouldn't happen, as he's a scholar, but...
Those who use their bodies felt more like instructors than scholars.
"You're telling me to change the curriculum to be versatile enough to teach a greatsword student how to use a rapier?!"
"..."
It was a desperate and understandable cry. A greatsword, which relies on strength and weight, and a rapier, which focuses on speed and technique.
Even I, ignorant in that area, would find it difficult to create a compatible class for both.
In fact, unless one is at the level of All-Encompassing Mastery like Alexios, it would be impossible to create a class where the two are mutually compatible.
"He's, he's entered a state of internal deviation!"
"Professor Baekgyung has entered a state of internal deviation! Everyone, get away!"
"..."
Some martial arts novel-like term popped out, but it's probably easier to understand it as being so stressed that he can't see straight.
It seems he's from the Federation, so he uses such specialized terms.
I'll probably find out later by asking Baekyang, who is from the Federation, or Alexios, who trained there.
I hope it's not what I'm thinking.
"Professor! It's okay! I'll set you free!"
"NOAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
What is she going to set him free from? His professorship? Or his life?
Eleanor is adding fuel to the fire. Well, yes. Given her personality, she wouldn't leave someone suffering like that.
Moreover, isn't it the intermediate greatsword class that she's learning?
It's possible.
The only flaw is that she doesn't know the cause is herself.
"I'll show you my growth!"
But no chance.
The professors gathered here are at least SR-grade experts in terms of skill alone.
Furthermore, if it's a combat system professor teaching intermediate greatsword, their power is obviously immense.
"Ouch!"
Eleanor flew through the air from Professor Baekgyung's sword swing.
It was a piercing sound, like an orca hitting the water surface.
It's such an obvious result that it's not surprising at all. She's still far from surpassing her master.
"Oh dear."
It wasn't just the piercing sound.
A wave-like force spread from the tip of Professor Baekgyung's sword.
Intermediate Magic
[Stone Wall]
If a casualty were to emerge, the situation would become complicated. I blocked the spreading force wave.
"Mage King's... Successor!"
"It certainly looks like the 'internal deviation' I know..."
Was there such a thing? But I've never heard Eleanor mention it. Perhaps it's a characteristic unique to Federation techniques.
"Haa..."
The fact that a professor and a student fought might be enough for Professor Baekgyung to be stripped of his professorship.
To handle this situation as safely as possible, I shouldn't intervene.
"Should I leave?"
Before I could even move, a figure approaching at incredible speed seamlessly entered Professor Baekgyung's inner space in an instant.
[SSR Infiltrating Shadow]
Discreet Punisher
He appeared.
He had his usual stoic expression, but for some reason, his actions carried a sense of desperation.
"Oh no..."
It's probably because if Professor Baekgyung is dismissed, Discreet would be the most likely person to take over the intermediate greatsword class.
No matter how much of a workaholic he is, he probably doesn't intend to deliberately increase his workload.
"...It's over."
From Discreet, who calmly spoke after knocking Professor Baekgyung unconscious, I felt an inexplicable pathos.
He knows instinctively. That it's already too late. He will now also be in charge of the intermediate greatsword class.
Poor fellow.
"Mage King's Successor. Could you spare some time?"
"A few words aren't difficult. But know that I won't be coming to your office. Lately, there are many professors who recommend graduate students in that way."
"...Understood."
Why? Why is there a pause in his answer? You bastard, surely not...?
The place I went with Discreet was a rather familiar location.
"May I take your order?"
Lucia's part-time job.
More importantly, is she still doing this? Eleanor seems to have quit, but she's quite diligent.
Come to think of it, Discreet might have forced her to do it.
She's gotten used to the work, so she doesn't even frown at me anymore.
Her attitude is strictly professional.
But if she's doing work as a potential graduate student, plus [Tenebris] work, and a part-time job... I shouldn't bother her unnecessarily.
"Would you like something to eat?"
"I'll just have coffee."
"Then I'll have what I always have."
"...Confirming order. One 'coffee' and one 'Petit Petit Forest Animal Friends Parfait, chocolate flavor'. Is that correct?"
"..."
What is this bastard eating?
Is he perhaps aiming for my laughter bell character spot?
If he wants it, he can just have it. I have not the slightest regret.
"This is sudden, but I'll get straight to the point."
Discreet doesn't even blink. This guy is also crazy.
"Go ahead then. I have a rough idea of what the main topic is, but..."
It's probably because of what just happened.
Professor Baekgyung's rampage. This is just the beginning.
"It seems the situation is approaching the third pattern."
"...The solution would be to bring the Headmaster back."
Originally, the plan was to retrieve Tia a little later.
And it should have been an initiative led by the professors, but given the current situation, it seems the professors can't move.
Who among them, living buried in work, would have the leisure for that?
Professor En?
I'm confident that if that man is sent, things will only get worse.
"You want me to go and retrieve the Headmaster?"
"..."
The flow is different from the original, but the conclusion reached is the same.
Regardless, the fact that I'm going to retrieve Tia hasn't changed.
"Couldn't something have happened to the Headmaster?"
I know the reason, but there's no way I can just say it.
Here, the key is how much information the other party has. Although I still don't know about Spina...
"Lady Tiamat headed to Bongnaesan in the Federation. It's a place quite detached from the secular world."
"So, the abode of the White Dragon, Jinsun, you mean."
If Tia is the dragon most favorably inclined towards humans, the White Dragon Jinsun is the most benevolent dragon.
However, unlike Tia, he doesn't interfere with the secular world; he merely resides there.
He is, literally, a hermit-like dragon.
"Dragons are beings that live lives close to eternity. The further they are from the secular world, the fainter their sense of time becomes. This time, we are hoping for that."
"Meaning, you're assuming the Headmaster simply lost track of time?"
"Nothing could have happened to Lady Tiamat or Lady Jinsun, so there's no other direction. As you know, Lady Tiamat has a somewhat headstrong nature."
This is the common viewpoint.
For them, dragons are not much different from objects of worship.
Due to Tia, who is exceptional in many ways, they think that a dragon would never get into trouble.
That's not wrong.
It's rare for dragons to have problems in general.
Even if Tia is protecting Spina, it's highly unlikely that she would be held back. Yes, dragons are certainly overwhelming beings.
Therefore, if there is a being that can threaten such a dragon, it is...
[Yokai King]
Gangcheol.
Only those of the same caliber.
As long as there are geographical features like the Lunar Federation, it's an opponent that even Tia would find difficult to deal with.
"...Well, for now, let's just think of it that way."
But I won't say this.
If I do, I can't accept Discreet's rare offer.
I had to go to the Federation anyway.
"Then all that's left is justification."
No matter what, sending a student to retrieve the Headmaster is problematic. It's not just the next town over, it's a journey to the Federation.
Whatever it is, there has to be a reason.
"I do have something in mind, of course. However, this is a matter that could tarnish your reputation..."
"Should I at least hear it?"
"Volunteer work."
"It's nothing much."
As long as it's not cross-dressing, I'm willing to endure to a certain extent.
Volunteer work, what's the big deal? Considering my usual behavior, it's about time.
"Using the events during the break as grounds, we might be able to send the two of you under the guise of volunteer work."
"...The two of you. Yes, that would be right. It would also be problematic to leave behind the person treated as the instigator of the trouble."
It's unfair, but many professors consider us both the instigators of the trouble.
So, this is a natural policy.
It is certainly a natural policy, but...
I still can't shake the feeling that the flow of destiny is being forced.
Her power is special, and it would definitely be helpful on this journey.
To be honest, she's indispensable. But what is it?
It feels unsettling. This forced flow leaves a faint sense of unease.
"...Well, it doesn't matter. I'll count this as a debt. Is it okay if it's the same flow as with the Papal States?"
"Certainly not. No matter what, sending two students to the Federation without an escort would be unreasonable."
"...I'll tell you in advance, I don't want Professor Aira Merlin."
That person, her head is strange.
Only a future where she causes trouble comes to mind.
"How about Saintess Arietta? I think she could be persuaded."
"That... would be fine."
Arietta, as a member of the disciplinary committee, lacks nothing in terms of power or justification.
Although she is also a student, the status of the disciplinary committee and the student council at [Scientia] can be said to be even higher. It wouldn't be strange to consider them on par with professors.
"And one more person. We'll need someone who can guide us to Bongnaesan in the Federation, which is chaotic due to demon energy. For now, I'll search for people from the Federation."
As it happens, I have someone in mind who's from the Federation.
"I have someone in mind for that, so I'll try to recommend them."
It would be around the time that the event sub-story, dealing with the conflict between the Goblin King and the Moon Shrine Maiden, would be progressing.
Originally, such sub-stories, being heavily event-based, often have somewhat ambiguous and unclear timeframes, but this time is an exception.
After all, there aren't many opportunities to cover the Federation in the main story.
Given the location and timing, it can only be now.
If so, Baekyang, a member of [Chimi Moryang], will also move.
It seems it will be a large-scale expedition.
"Your coffee and Petit Petit Forest Animal Friends Parfait, chocolate flavor, are ready."
"Thank you for your hard work. This is a tip."
Discreet peeled off a cat-shaped cookie from the parfait, decorated with various animal-shaped cookies, and handed it to Lucia. Lucia accepted it with a wrapper as if it were natural.
"You two are siblings, after all."
"...What are you suddenly talking about?"
"Just saying."
Even if one of them wasn't a beast-kin, I would have thought of them as siblings.
They just think exactly alike.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Baekyang, whom I visited after a long time, looked at me disapprovingly with narrowed eyes. This fellow is always like this.
She's very insolent.
"Haa...!"
"I wonder about sighing as soon as you see someone."
"...Do you think there's a reason to joyfully welcome someone who inflicts violence without cause?"
"Well, don't take it too badly. If you knew what a mess it was because of the alcohol you gave me then, you'd understand."
"Violence cannot be justified for any reason."
"It's been a while since I heard that."
It's almost amusing to hear such words in a world where fists are closer than the law. Moreover, isn't it a goblin, whose basic racial trait is to torment people, saying such things?
I can only feel it's ironic.
"Didn't you say you had something to tell me? I came to listen, so stop glaring."
"You're utterly shameless."
Arrogance and self-righteousness are originally my charm. I'm just actively utilizing that charm.
"Usually you don't care, but suddenly you're listening? Your attitude of just listening when you have business is so blatant it's disgusting."
I won't deny it.
But aren't Baekyang and I in a relationship where we can't become close anyway?
She treats me like trash normally, so is there any reason to look good now? I don't think so.
"Well, alright. It was an urgent matter originally, but I also delayed it, so I'll let it slide."
"…?"
If it was truly important, he could have come to tell me anytime.
So I thought it wasn't a very important matter, but...
Was it actually important? And he's just held out until now because he resented me?
That's a little... unsettling.
"To cut to the chase, I heard the Fist King went on a rampage in the Goblin Forest and got caught."
"Oh, really? I thought it was something serious."
I thought something big had happened.
Still, it's a relief to hear it's nothing much.
"...Is, is that so? I thought you two had a family-like relationship... Aren't you worried?"
"Not particularly? Is there any reason for me to care if that bastard went on a rampage and got caught? Anyway, if he got caught while rampaging, there must be something wrong with him."
I clearly tried to stop him once. Yet, he pushed through with it.
Even after I spent my own money to create useful magical tools so he wouldn't get beaten up somewhere...
If he still got caught after all that, he's definitely an idiot.
"Well, I understand the situation for now. So, this time, it's my request. I have to go to the Federation, so could you please guide us?"
"Is that how someone who came to ask for a favor acts? It's so absurd that it's almost marvelous."
"Noah is coming too."
"...I suppose I have no choice."
Since Noah is involved, she reluctantly agreed, as if she's her actual older sister. What on earth makes Baekyang act like that?
"Do you perhaps have a younger sister who looked like Noah?"
"What nonsense are you suddenly spouting...?"
"Never mind then."
There might be something...
But it's probably not a problem I should get involved in. I'll try not to think about it.
If Baekyang, a goblin, handles the guiding, there will be no problem.
They are the ones who live in areas of the Federation where demon energy is particularly dense.
There would be no better guide.
"Then what are you planning to do about the Fist King?"
"I'll retrieve him while I'm at it."
More importantly, he went to meet Lena, so what was he doing that got him caught by the goblins?