Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 26. Outing
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The monster horde that devoured the final night of the Wilderness Festival.
That day's catastrophe left a deep, ugly scar on the academy.
Countless students were injured, and in the worst cases, some even lost their lives.
This incident was the most horrific terrorist attack in the academy's history.
Naturally, the academy was thrown into complete uproar.
And the fact that the ringleader of that crime was none other than a professor responsible for the students' safety? That went beyond shock—it instilled pure terror.
The academy immediately took action.
They repaired the collapsed buildings, mourned the victims, and launched a massive security overhaul to prevent any recurrence.
Especially by forming a dedicated investigation team led by Professor Ingrid.
And in cooperation with various kingdoms, a wanted order had been issued for the escaped Professor Aria.
Of course, the Aria they were desperately hunting was no longer of this world.
Before the chaos could even settle, time flowed on.
And Evan, at the center of it all, was busier than anyone.
"Here."
Evan plunked a thick sack down on the desk with a thud.
As the rough sound echoed, the sack's mouth parted slightly, revealing blue moss and all sorts of catalysts and rare herbs he'd gathered bit by bit.
"E-Evan? W-What's all this...?"
She stared in confusion at the sack and Evan alternately, and he spoke to her.
"What do you mean, what? I promised, didn't I? Potions."
At his matter-of-fact reply, Hye-ra finally let out a short "Ah."
She must have forgotten amid the shock of the Wilderness Festival.
"...You didn't forget, right?"
"N-No! Of course I remembered! I-I just... didn't expect this much...?"
Hye-ra's eyes widened as she asked.
And who could blame her? The sack held far more herbs than she'd imagined.
It was the kind of haul a professional herbalist might scrape together after days in the forest.
"...Heh, hehehe."
A strange laugh slipped from her lips as she peered at the precious materials inside.
The flustered look was gone.
Her eyes gleamed with greed—no, fanaticism—as she gazed at the herbs.
With all these materials,
she could finally experiment with the potions she'd only dreamed up in her head.
Her alchemist's blood must be boiling.
"W-What do I do? What first? Right, recovery potions? Or body enhancement? Or... ah, no, not this one? Heh, hehehehe..."
Muttering to herself and giggling maniacally, she looked every inch the mad alchemist.
Her usual timid self was nowhere in sight. Evan could only give a wry smile.
'A born alchemist.'
To snap her out of her trance, he gripped both her shoulders firmly.
"Hye-ra."
"...Huh? Eek! W-What's up, Evan?"
She jolted back to reality, head snapping up.
"I'll resupply if you run out, so just focus on making them. I'll handle the rest. Got it?"
His voice was gentle, like scolding a child, but it carried an irresistible weight.
Overwhelmed by the mood, Hye-ra nodded eagerly, entranced.
Even without his words, her alchemist switch was flipped—she'd have done it anyway.
"Y-Yeah! Leave it to me! I'll make the best potions...!"
"Good. Knew I could count on you."
Satisfied with her determination, Evan smiled faintly and turned.
"Take care."
As he waved lightly and headed for the door,
he grabbed the knob, glanced back, and added one last thing.
"Oh. Profits split half-and-half, remember!"
"Y-Yeah! Got it!"
Leaving her spirited reply behind, Evan hurried off.
His destination: the third floor of the main building.
Where his most annoying opponent awaited.
+ + +
Knock knock.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"..."
No answer to the knock.
Ignoring it, he opened the door. Professor Ingrid, buried in paperwork, lifted her head with effort.
Probably from the Wilderness Festival mess.
Her face was etched with fatigue and irritation.
'Stomach must be killing her.'
The trash bin by her desk overflowed with empty high-caffeine potion bottles.
As the de facto crisis manager, who could blame her?
"...Young Master Evan? What now?"
She peered over her glasses, then dove back into her papers before I could reply.
Her attitude screamed "go away," but I couldn't just leave.
"Here for a weekend outing permit."
Her scribbling pen halted abruptly.
"Outing permit? Again?"
Only then did her eyes leave the papers—for me.
Her gaze screamed annoyance.
Any normal person would crumble under that tone and glare, slinking out.
But I just shrugged.
'Not my first rodeo. Used to it.'
Thud.
She slammed her pen down irritably, forcing her furrowed brow smooth.
"...What for this time?"
Her voice brimmed with suppressed anger.
Post-terror, the academy was on lockdown.
Strict entry controls, tighter student oversight.
And here was a first-year freshman casually demanding an outing in this climate.
Infuriating.
Fine, I get it. Even S-Class kids are still students.
After that trauma, he wants to clear his head outside.
Plus, with fears of more incidents, students were cooped up.
As an adult, I could sympathize.
...But there's a limit, right?
'How many times is this now?'
Not once or twice—he showed up weekly like clockwork for permits.
Enough to drive her mad.
"You know the situation. Academy's on high alert—why go out now?"
"Personal business. Won't take long."
"...Personal business. Didn't you say exactly that every single time?"
"What can I do? It's true. That's why I go."
"Haa..."
At my straight-backed, unapologetic stance,
Ingrid pinched her forehead, speechless.
Not that logic beat her—just that brazen face and her lack of energy for argument.
Of course, I wasn't wrong.
What could she do? It was always personal business.
Whatever it was, his persistence deserved credit.
He stood there, refusing to leave without the signature.
In the end, Ingrid raised the white flag.
"Haa..."
She sighed deeply, removing her glasses and setting them down.
Rubbing her weary eyes, she looked pitiful, but I skipped the awkward comfort.
Better to wrap this up quick—that was real kindness.
"...Fine. But on one condition."
After a long silence, she donned her glasses again, glaring sharply.
"This is the last one. No outings for a while. Understood?"
"Got it. Last one."
I nodded readily.
Once I got what I needed this time, no outings for a bit anyway.
Scrape.
"And one more thing."
She pulled a permit from her drawer, signed it briskly, and added,
"No trouble. If you stir anything up out there, discipline won't cover it."
Like a mom with all the worries.
"Don't worry. Where else you got a student as quiet as me?"
I snatched the signed permit from her hand.
"Thanks for your trouble."
I bolted from the office before she changed her mind.
From beyond the closing door, I caught a mutter of "That brazen..." but brushed it off.
Mission accomplished—what she grumbled now wasn't my problem.
I tucked the permit deep in my pocket. My steps weren't exactly light.
Sure, I'm human too.
Professor Ingrid's piercing stare lingered in my mind.
Couldn't deny at least 30% of those new eye wrinkles were my fault.
'Whatever. Just don't cause trouble.'
I shoved the guilt aside shamelessly.
I had more pressing issues than conscience.
Kaien.
Time had passed since that day, but he still hadn't fully recovered.
Sera's devoted nursing would heal him in time, but that wasn't enough.
She's on borrowed time.
Watching her burn her own candle to save him—I couldn't just wait.
'Need something solid.'
How to heal him fastest, most perfectly?
One answer after agonizing.
Elixir Fragment—a hidden piece in The Glory.
Not the real Elixir, but fragments heal most wounds.
Problem: location.
Closer than I thought.
Forest near the capital.
Dungeon there had it, I remembered.
Luckily, not far.
With an Elixir Fragment, I could heal her even without Sera.