Chapter 129
Chapter 129
Chapter 129
“How unfortunate this is! We must work harder so that Professor Baek’s sacrifice is not in vain!”
“……”
Even though Professor Baek had collapsed due to overwork, the professors remained silent.
There was nothing they could do.
Professor En Drode's argument now bordered on shamelessness, yet they couldn't possibly use Professor Baekgyung as a basis to argue against it.
Doing so would likely tarnish Professor Baekgyung's reputation, especially when compared to Professor En Drode.
In fact, Professor En Drode had single-handedly revamped the entire curriculum for alchemy.
So, it was better to cover it up this way rather than admit Professor Baekgyung failed.
They, too, belonged to the virtuous kind chosen by Tia, and thus could not bring themselves to suggest sacrificing a single person.
“Professor Discreet! Could you take over Professor Baekgyung’s work?”
“……”
Discreet felt utterly dismayed.
To be honest, it was a problem he could have fully anticipated the moment Professor Baek collapsed.
Discreet was competent.
He was one of the few professors who steadily pushed forward with educational reforms while most professors were struggling.
This was partly because he was a soldier, making him somewhat familiar with such systems, but it didn't really matter to the other professors.
“Let’s all support Professor Discreet! Look at his spirit of sacrifice, even though he hasn’t been at Scientia for long!”
“……”
Discreet didn't offer a single word of affirmation, yet the meeting's outcome, as if naturally, made him Professor Baek's replacement.
As Professor Aira Merlin looked at Discreet with a sense of camaraderie, Discreet let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.
“……Recently, during the vacation, there were two students who trespassed into a restricted area for staff only.”
Discreet knew the outcome would be this way anyway. If so, he would make the most of it.
At this moment, when everyone was most favorable towards him, he would be able to steer the conversation.
“You mean Oz and Noah. That is regrettable. However, I learned much from their determination. Therefore…!”
“Professor En. How about you listen until the end first?”
“My apologies. I was too hasty.”
“……It's fine.”
Discreet briefly scanned the weary-looking professors.
The evaluation of Oz and Eleanor was at its worst. Even Professor Aira Merlin, who felt indebted to Oz, didn't look kindly upon them.
If he tried to advocate for them here, he would fail. The outcome would be the same, but it had to feel like they were being punished.
“Originally, it was decided that this matter would be discussed when Lady Tiamart returned.”
“That’s right.”
“But now, Lady Tiamart’s return is uncertain.”
“What’s the rush? She’ll return eventually. For us to decide that is….”
There were many negative opinions.
It seemed they didn’t want to worry about such matters on top of their already heavy workload. However, there were also professors who advocated for punishment beyond suspension.
Discreet skillfully mediated between them, creating a flow.
“That’s right. Ultimately, it’s a matter for the Academy Head to resolve. But at the same time, questions are being raised among the students. Those who committed wrongdoings received no punishment beyond a formal detention.”
“Then?”
“Coincidentally, many classes are stagnant due to the educational curriculum reform. In that case, how about we assign them off-campus community service?”
“That would be….”
A few began to grasp Discreet's underlying intention.
Absolute power was needed to stop the cunning Professor En Drode.
That would require Tia, the Academy Head, but the professors were currently unable to act.
Through this series of events, the professors who caught on to Discreet's true intentions began to agree one by one.
“If it’s off-campus service, where to?”
“Bongnaesan in the Lunar Federation. It’s a place long known as a sacred site for training. Since the Academy Head is also there, they can combine service with mental and physical cultivation.”
“But won't it be dangerous?”
Naturally, questions were raised. Sending students to such a distant place was logically unthinkable.
Moreover, wasn't it the Federation?
There were many dangerous places in the Federation due to the yogi of the [Death King].
“To that end, I plan to ask for help from two people. Arietta Domine, the head of the student disciplinary committee, and Baekyang, a goblin from the Federation.”
“Would they accept such a unilateral request? Furthermore, for the head of the student disciplinary committee to be absent during this chaotic time is a bit….”
“It is to quell the chaos.”
The longer Tia's absence, the greater the chaos at [Scientia] would become.
Therefore, it was better to call her back, even if it meant taking some risks. That was the most justifiable argument Discreet could make.
Of course, that argument was also full of holes…
“That’s an absurd…!”
“Good.”
“That’s acceptable.”
“Wouldn’t increasing educational methods in this way also be the direction ‘we’ professors, as you said, should strive for, Professor En Drode?”
“Students cannot remain within a safe fence forever. Furthermore, for combat-oriented students, that level of danger is naturally a part of everyday life.”
“Moreover, even if they are students, isn't he the successor to the Mage King? To coddle someone as capable as most professors simply because he is a student could, conversely, be an insult.”
“……”
Many people agreed with him.
In the face of that united will, Professor En Drode couldn't even properly retort. It was the result of perfectly coordinated efforts.
“This agenda item will adopt Professor Discreet’s proposal. Additionally, there’s a proposal to temporarily accept a new professor. Recently, a renowned….”
Discreet relaxed the fists he had clenched in tension and scanned his surroundings once more.
Many professors were looking at him with trust.
Countless unspoken requests for a handshake.
It was the moment Discreet, who had long been half-avoided as an outsider, truly became integrated into [Scientia].
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After 30 minutes of waiting at the appointed place, restraining Eleanor who would bolt away if I merely looked away for a moment.
Finally, Discreet appeared with a calm yet somewhat triumphant expression. It seemed things had gone well.
“The plan succeeded. The official departure date is three days from now. If you wish, you can depart immediately.”
“Really? It doesn’t matter to me, but the others need to prepare, so I’ll let them know first.”
“How about the Saintess’s persuasion?”
“As expected, the 'Shield of Light' guys put up a strong resistance.”
Arietta was the Saintess of the Papal States before being the head of the student disciplinary committee.
Sending her on such a dangerous journey would naturally be a very cautious matter.
“I’ve trampled on anyone who voiced an objection, so there won’t be any more worries.”
“Didn’t you say you persuaded them?”
“I did persuade them, didn't I?”
Showing skill is faster than a hundred words. That's the quickest proof they desire.
“If Olivia Blue hadn’t stepped in, I would have ended up quite messy, though.”
If she hadn't stopped it from becoming a dogfight, I would have been covered in mud.
“So this trip will be Noah, Baekyang, Arietta, me, and Lucia, making five?”
That's quite a large group.
With two 'trollers' among them, it seems I'll have a bit of a headache.
“Prince Oz. That’s not right.”
“……”
At that moment, someone interrupted the conversation. Only one person could so easily enter a discussion between Discreet, the head of [Tenebris], and me.
“May I ask what you mean, Princess Stacia?”
“It’s exactly as I said. I’m not giving up Lady Lucia. Oh, before that, I thoroughly absorbed the blood you gave me last time. I was quite sad when I realized I’d been deceived.”
“……”
Is this perhaps a grudge?
The future Empress is acting quite childishly. I never imagined she would be this petty.
“Indeed, it was a remarkable memory.”
“……What memory did you see?”
The blood I gave her was just a single drop at most. With that amount, she should only see fragmented memories.
Just a piece of a fragment, unable to grasp the context.
That’s why I handed over the blood without hesitation… It seems she saw some interesting memories.
“I saw Princess Eleanor making incomprehensible noises and destroying a fire hydrant. I couldn’t understand the reason at all. Human emotions are truly difficult to comprehend.”
“It’s fine; understanding that would mean you’re no longer human.”
Well, naturally, it doesn't seem like she saw any special memory.
Speaking of which, Eleanor, that brat, finally destroyed that fire hydrant.
I can't even guess when she managed to smash it.
“Then, to return to the subject, the reason I cannot hand over Lady Lucia is because she is under orders to assist me.”
“Indeed….”
Considering what Discreet had said initially, this outcome was inevitable.
The Emperor had his eyes on Lucia.
Discreet’s concern was that Lucia might become Stacia's plaything and be sacrificed.
There was an opportunity to escape that, but we ruined that opportunity.
“Are you worried Lucia might be harmed while you’re away?”
“Is this a negotiation?”
I observe Discreet, who has been kneeling since Stacia appeared. Given the choice he made that day, Discreet wouldn't remain idle.
He would have chosen to protect her.
Even if Stacia tried any tricks, Discreet would stop her.
But…
“Well, alright.”
She only desires one thing.
My blood.
It wouldn't matter to give her some. A single drop should be enough anyway.
Stacia said even that much caused her to experience an overwhelming wave of memories. Would it be any different this time?
It's only been less than a month. Even if her abilities have significantly grown, it's impossible.
She probably knows that too. What she truly desires is…
“Slurp…”
She just wants to taste my blood.
It’s almost blatant.
Even that feeling is quite burdensome, but it probably won't lead to anything as dangerous as I feared.
“Then.”
With a simple spell, I pricked my finger, and a red droplet of blood welled up.
While I was looking for something to hold the blood,
“With this…”
“Don’t worry. I will take good care of Lady Lucia so she can live a safe and comfortable life.”
Before I could even finish speaking, Stacia immediately concluded her response on the spot, then absorbed the blood on my fingertip as if licking it. For a moment, I was flustered by the unexpected situation.
“Ah….”
Stacia collapsed. She looked intoxicated, just like last time.
The only difference might be that the surroundings weren't covered in blood this time?
“……Huh? I didn’t drink any blood today….”
Seeing Stacia's slurred speech and swaying, I couldn't help but feel suspicious.
The quantity of blood is the quantity of memories.
The blood a person holds contains their entire life.
I certainly know that.
But can it really exceed its capacity with just one drop?
Even if the memories I possess are Oz's memories and my own memories, a total of two people's worth, it's strange.
She should be able to absorb the blood of more than 20 people a day.
“Hmm…?”
A wizard's perspective is different from that of an ordinary person. Moreover, I have [Contemplation].
Even when looking at the same scenery, I can take in more things.
If that's the reason, then it's possible.
Other than that, there's nothing else I can guess. But still…
“That’s odd.”
I feel suspicious. It seems there’s still much about Oz that I don’t know.
“……First, I don’t know about anything else, but I think I need to leave as quickly as possible.”
Seeing Stacia's lustful eyes, which were clear even in her drunken state, it seems staying here for long wouldn't be good.
Looking at her, she might continue to negotiate over Lucia like that shameless tiger who said she wouldn't eat you if you gave her a rice cake.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Including myself, Eleanor, Arietta, Baekyang, and Ulla, who replaced Lucia, captured by Stacia.
Thus began the journey of a total of five people. Well, it's not some grand adventure exploring a fantasy world.
If anything, it was merely a cozy and comfortable trip so far.
“Master! This is so fast!”
“Sit still, Noah. What's the fuss about?”
The magical levitation train that spans the entire empire. This time, there was no particular reason to move secretly, so we decided to comfortably take the train.
The magical levitation train isn't just fast; it even passes through [Warp Gates] occasionally installed in partnership with elder-rank wizards.
Creating just one of those gates would have cost astronomical sums.
Considering its value, it's likely we would reach the Federation's border in about two days.
“Oz, I feel the surroundings changing at an incredible speed.”
“That must be an unfamiliar sensation, Arietta. It's fine. It's just a train, isn't it? There will be no problems.”
“……What blatant discrimination.”
Eleanor pouted and complained.
What I just said was a bit harsh. Did I want to pour cold water on her? But the other person is Eleanor.
If I responded to her mood here, her consciousness might flow in an unknown direction. I'd prefer to go peacefully inside the train.
“I think Oz was harsh just now. How about considering her feelings?”
“Ha! Is that leniency? I don’t need such cheap pity, you know?!”
“……Noah is a difficult person to get close to.”
“I have no intention of getting close!”
It was my fault. It was wrong to gather them in one place, thinking it would only help increase their power.
Arietta aside, Eleanor is too prickly.
I know why, but if I intervene, it would be like fanning a fire, so there’s no solution.
“Why don’t you come in and talk instead of staying out there?”
I called Ulla, who must be watching from afar through the communicator connected to my ear. Fortunately, since her identity was revealed, there was no tragedy of Eleanor smashing the communicator.
Instead, she asked if the 'fairy' was Ulla… I honestly told her it was Lucia here.
Lucia will handle the aftermath of this. It’s a gift for this trip.
- Ahahaha, I don’t like such places; they make me uncomfortable. Why am I Lucia’s substitute anyway?
“Since we’re going to pick up Alexios too, it’s only natural that you, who are in charge, go. If you had a complaint, why didn’t you tell Discreet to switch you out?”
- How could I say that…?
“Then what can you do? You just have to enjoy this unavoidable military life.”
I wonder if she can enjoy it.
Still, since she's a professional soldier, wouldn't she be fine?