Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Wilderness Festival
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Deep into the night, when everyone was asleep.
The dormitory was wrapped in silence, not a soul wandering about.
Even the faint lights leaking from windows had one by one gone out.
Only the bright moonlight from the sky and the lights from buildings that hadn't yet been extinguished illuminated the scene.
And taking it all in was me.
I sat alone on the bench in front of the dormitory's main gate, gazing up at the night sky.
'The moon's especially bright tonight.'
The full moon hung in a cloudless night sky, shining with a piercing brilliance like the eye of a goddess.
Basking in its cold light, savoring the serene atmosphere alone, my tangled thoughts seemed to calm a bit.
"…"
Enjoying the peace without interruption from anyone.
This silence felt eternal, keeping my mind steady.
But the unease lingering in a corner of my heart wouldn't easily fade.
"Tundra."
In the profound quiet, not even the chirp of crickets breaking it.
I softly called his name, and soon the shadow at my feet writhed.
From the rippling shadow, like a pool of black water, a now-familiar figure smoothly rose.
"You called, my lord? Tundra's right here."
His posture was impeccably bowed, but.
That signature rough, carefree tone of his remained unchanged.
"…"
At first, his flippant attitude grated on me.
I'd even tried educating him, thinking I couldn't end up with a second Imir.
'Eekya! M-my lord! I won't do it again! Spare me!!'
Every time, he'd scream and swear to change…
But the results? As you can see.
'Whatever. It's fine.'
Now it felt familiar, even comfortable.
I didn't like wasting energy unnecessarily. As long as he did his job well.
"Any findings?"
"Hmm…"
To my question, Tundra stroked his chin, pretending to be serious.
He paused as if pondering, then spoke.
"As you ordered, my lord, I kept watch the whole time."
"Not a single ant crawled near that Iris girl's room. Yep."
"…I see."
"Yes. I kept my distance from that wench all day, but nothing suspicious. Nearly dozed off watching, though?"
I tuned out his pointless chatter.
Sorting through Tundra's report in my head.
'Something's off.'
That incident—where Iris turned the tables on those seniors (read: thugs) who'd ambushed her—had passed over a week ago.
'This shouldn't just pass quietly. Why's it so calm?'
By random event logic, those grudge-holders should've snuck into her room at night by now.
Yet Iris hadn't suffered a scratch.
No, it was too peaceful—suspiciously so.
'They're not the type to let it slide.'
Even without the event, their personalities weren't the sort to take it lying down.
They'd surely retaliate.
This silence made no sense, no matter how I thought about it.
"Hmm."
"My lord. Unlikely, but maybe I missed something? Shall I check again?"
Seeing my serious expression as I silently rubbed my chin.
Tundra, like a thief with guilty feet, eyed me cautiously and asked.
"No need. You wouldn't have missed it."
He wouldn't slack off.
I shook my head. No matter how pathetic and unreliable he seemed.
Tundra's abilities as my limb were quite trustworthy.
If he found nothing, then truly nothing had happened.
But why did that silence feel even more ominous?
"Keep watching. Report the slightest hint."
"Understood! For you, my lord, Tundra'll watch with eyes ablaze!"
Tundra saluted exaggeratedly, then slipped back into the shadows.
I watched his pathetic form pityingly, then alone again, let out a deep sigh.
"Leon's one thing, but this…"
Leon, who should've graduated already, not still enrolled.
And now the absence of the random event that should've triggered.
Since coming to the academy, things had deviated bit by bit from my expectations.
And the reason? Probably my actions.
Little by little—no, from the start, I'd strayed from the script.
"Haa… headache."
The throbbing pain forced me to press my temples.
It wouldn't vanish, but it eased a little.
"What's the next main event…?"
Clutching my head, I recalled The Glory's main storyline.
Entrance ceremony, class placement exam, sparring.
Up to now, I was confident it hadn't strayed much from the big picture.
Nothing extraordinary to derail it.
'…Next is.'
A thought flashed by.
Professor Aria's recent class words.
[Oh, and the Wilderness Festival will be held soon, so look forward to it.]
"Ah!"
I exclaimed without realizing.
Too busy lately, I'd completely forgotten.
'Wilderness Festival… right. That's coming up.'
The festival itself was harmless.
Just a three-day academy bash.
Day markets with food stalls, night fireworks painting the sky—a pure celebration.
Sounds like thrilling academy life fodder.
But for me, who'd played the game, this Wilderness Festival wasn't pure fun.
Rather, I hoped it'd pass quietly.
'That's when it happens. The first major incident.'
On the final night, at the festival's peak.
Infiltrators launch a terrorist attack.
While everyone's distracted enjoying the festivities, they neutralize guards and breach inward.
Their goal: retrieve an artifact stored deep underground.
And the mastermind behind the raid is…
'Aria, that bastard.'
The mask shatters on the friendly, popular professor, revealing his true face.
Not a teacher, but an organization hyena biding time for the artifact.
And this festival was his perfect window.
"…"
In the story, Professor Aria succeeds on the last night with his comrades, stealing the artifact.
But students and staff caught in the crossfire get hurt or die.
Of course, just extras.
Heroine Iris and others survive unscathed—no worries there.
Hero gains fame from the crisis.
Dirty, but a trial to advance plot and spotlight the protagonist.
But.
'Do we have to let them take it?'
If I intervene?
With my power and knowledge, foiling Aria's plan wouldn't be hard.
I know the artifact, infiltration route—all of it.
If I wanted, I could crush them before they twitched.
I wasn't worried about them, but one thing nagged.
What happens after I meddle? Unknown.
'What to do…?'
How to ensure a good outcome?
As I organized my thoughts.
Creeeak.
The dormitory door, sealed against wind, creaked open, slicing the quiet night air.
'At this hour?'
Well past midnight.
Someone else up this late besides me? I turned toward the door.
There, golden hair softly gleaming in the moonlight.
A slender figure in light pajamas and a thin cardigan, cautiously stepping out.
"…Elysia?"
An unexpected face drew a murmur from me.
Why was she up so late? And dressed so thinly?
"…"
She scanned around, as if searching for someone.
Spotting me on the bench, staring blankly, she smiled brightly and approached.
"There you are. I was worried when I didn't see you."
"…Why are you up so late?"
"Oh? Same as you, young master? Hehe."
As I eyed her with a 'why outside at this hour?' look, she stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Truth is, I couldn't sleep. Looking out the window, I saw you."
She naturally sat right beside me.
"Couldn't sleep either?"
"Yes. Especially tonight."
I replied calmly, subtly trying to keep distance. But the more I did.
The closer she scooted, as if determined.
Under the soft moonlight, her white nape and delicate collarbone teasingly visible.
The shampoo scent wafting on the breeze tickled my nose.
'Beautiful every time.'
A feeling every time I saw her—the elf's otherworldly allure, hard to put into words.
Just her profile made my heart race.
"…"
Yet coming out at night like this, defenseless toward a man.
Fearless? Or not seeing me as one?
Fidget, fidget.
Twiddling her slender fingers.
Gazing dreamily at the moon with distant eyes, she quietly spoke.
"Young master. After what happened with Leon, I've thought a lot."
"…"
She bit her lip, hesitating, then after a pause.
Turned to me with resolve.
"I ignored his changes, pretending not to notice. Because I wanted to believe in him. But…"
Recalling old memories?
Loneliness flickered in her eyes.
"Thanks to you, I realized I was wrong. And I can't run anymore."
She looked at me again.
"Thank you, young master."
Her sincere gaze tickled my chest.
Hesitating on a reply, she suddenly made an odd proposal.
"…So, want to share a secret?"
"…A secret?"
"Yes. One secret each we can't tell others. What do you think?"
She stuck out her tongue mischievously.
"I'll go first. Um… truth is."
She glanced around, then whispered in my ear.
"I snore a little when I sleep. Just a tiny bit."
"…"
This is a secret?
Too cute; I nearly laughed.
"Your turn now."
She watched me expectantly.
'Heh… this is awkward.'
Swept into this silly game.
About to brush it off, a thought struck.
If she'll learn soon anyway, a heads-up isn't bad.
"A secret… let's see."
I paused, then softly spoke.