Chapter 87
Chapter 87
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Academy Professors (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This was the first time I felt an impulse to slam the door shut the moment I saw someone's face.
I debated actually closing it, but that would just come off as a joke, so I forced some strength into my hand.
It wasn't like I wanted to seem even a little lenient.
“What's the matter.”
“Could we possibly have a word for a moment.”
His demeanor was impressively polite, a stark contrast to before.
But that didn't mean I felt any pity for him. After all, it tied directly to the rumors about the shady dealings behind the Zeronia Family.
“It's late at night.”
My response was the same as what I'd told Erika, and Gideon's expression darkened even further.
“It'll just take a moment.”
“Even a moment is too much.”
I started to close the door, but Gideon frantically grabbed it. I scowled immediately, and he bit his lip hard before speaking.
“Our family truly has no connection whatsoever to His Majesty's assassination attempt!”
“…….”
“To be honest with you. It's true that money changed hands separately for close ties with the upper echelons of the church. But calling us accomplices in the assassination over that is truly unjust!”
“…….”
“I heard that you, Necromancer, are leading the investigation into this incident. If our family is suffering because of my past actions...”
“Ridiculous.”
Creak.
Instead, I flung the door wide open. I glared at Gideon and warned him.
“It was an assassination attempt on His Majesty the King. You think your family is under investigation just because of some personal grudge after something like that?”
“Th-that's not...!”
“This is carried out through public justice and righteousness. If your family is clean, His Majesty's blade will naturally pass you by.”
“…….”
Gideon clamped his mouth shut, clenching his fists as if he had nothing to say.
Then, thud.
He dropped to his knees.
“I have no words to offer. However! No family in this kingdom is without blemish!”
“…….”
“His Majesty seems to want something from us beyond that. But we don't know what it is!”
Gideon's voice trembled faintly. It wasn't just concern for the family; it seemed the family had put pressure on him too.
“Our family's businesses are being seized one after another. Especially the pink salt operations in the Parulier Sea region—it's a matter of the family's survival!”
“…….”
“This isn't mere seizure. All of the family's finances are frozen. Dealing with our family is now being labeled as treason, and the territory's people refuse to pay taxes. His Majesty has already branded us as the culprits!”
I'd heard that the Zeronia Family had ventures everywhere.
They'd been expanding their businesses with heavy investments, and now seizures and royal sanctions were hitting them—must be burning them up inside.
Every day must be a chain of massive losses.
“W-wisdom. Please grant me your wisdom.”
I pondered as I looked at Gideon, who bowed his head deeply. To run businesses, the Zeronia Family must have reached out everywhere with open hands.
In my view, it wasn't just a business issue; something they absolutely couldn't let the royals uncover was tangled up in it.
I did have something I wanted from them, and if I had to spell it out, I roughly knew a solution.
“It's late at night.”
I pulled back and tugged the door again. The Zeronia Family still had some leeway left.
Like degassing soda, I planned to wait calmly and squeeze it all out.
“Please!”
But Gideon lunged forward, crossing the threshold.
As a magic swordsman, his strength was greater than expected, nearly making me lose my grip on the doorknob.
“Light.”
A chilling woman's incantation came from behind. A faint beam of light burst forth.
It struck Gideon squarely in the chest, bending him like the letter 'ㄱ' as he crashed into the railing behind him.
“Urk!”
The impact wasn't severe, but it definitely pushed him back. Gideon looked up in bewilderment, his eyes widening.
“E-Erika Bright!”
Erika Bright, the unexpected visitor, had passed me and cast her spell.
She looked down at Gideon with a cold gaze and said.
“I was here first. If you have business, come back later.”
She clasped her hands to cover her pajamas and slammed the door shut.
I, who had been staring blankly from behind, said a word to Erika.
“You should go too.”
“…….”
Erika turned slowly, pouting her lips. It was the expression she'd often shown during the three months we'd attended the academy together, as my fiancée.
“If you leave now, you'll run into Gideon.”
“…….”
“Once he sees I've been with you, he won't dare demand anything more from me.”
Erika nodded in satisfaction. Even if I told her to leave right away, she wouldn't listen, so I turned and sat on the bed.
Erika followed me with quick little steps. It was a childlike reaction that didn't suit her age or cold appearance.
[She's cute, huh? Is this like reverse charm or something?]
The Black Necromancer tilted her head beside me, watching Erika. Indeed, her gestures weren't the cold demeanor she showed students at the academy, nor the worried, anxious look from before.
I took a sip of the tea I'd been drinking earlier.
It had cooled a bit, but that made it much easier to drink.
I moistened my throat and gave a slight smile to Erika, who was gazing at me intently.
“You've changed.”
“Huh?”
Erika flinched in surprise at my words, then slyly smiled.
“Does it seem that way?”
Even though it was an ambiguous compliment, she blushed unnecessarily. Then she began to share her story bit by bit.
“I made it clear to the family. That an engagement to Gideon is impossible. And if they force it, I won't stay quiet.”
“…….”
“So thanks to you, I won't have to marry that guy outside. Thank you.”
It felt like a child bragging about doing well and seeking praise.
The Black Necromancer felt the same, stroking Erika's head and calling her cute.
[Good job.]
The kind of treatment that would have gotten a spell from Erika if she'd seen it. Pretending not to notice the Black Necromancer, I replied.
“Yeah.”
“……No word from the Verdi side? Like when we'll get married or something?”
I answered calmly to her sidelong glance.
“Yeah, nothing like that.”
In Dia's case, upon hearing about the planned breakup, she'd even urged me not to drag it out and just do it quickly if I was going to.
“I see.”
Thinking it was perfect timing as she feigned disappointment, I said.
“Bring the dissolution papers tomorrow if you like. You're now a woman who can stand on her own.”
“Ah…….”
While I was away, she'd used our engagement as a shield in a nerve war with Gideon and the Bright Family.
The woman who had been swayed by love and unable to judge properly was now living confidently and independently again.
Our engagement would only hinder her now.
“No, that's…….”
As I stared at her blankly, Erika waved her hands around and abruptly stood.
“I-it's late! I'll be going.”
Then she bolted out without listening to me.
[The breakup might be pretty tough, huh?]
“……I'm tired.”
There was no need to get the dissolution papers right now anyway. Our engagement had been beneficial for me too.
Like last time when King Orpheus tried to arrange my engagement to the princess—it had been a good excuse to refuse.
“I'm going to sleep now.”
[Yes, sweet dreams.]
Dreams, huh.
I didn't say anything more.
I slowly lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.
* * *
Erika stepped out of the room, taking a deep breath and stroking her trembling chest.
Thinking about it, hadn't they just been alone together in the same room? Her heart fluttered a little at the thought that if she'd mustered just a bit more courage, tonight's story might have veered in a different direction.
“Haa.”
But because he'd brought up the dissolution, Erika couldn't stay there.
For her, the dissolution papers were something that steadied her heart, but at the same time, something she wished would disappear.
Proof that her connection to Deus Verdi hadn't been severed yet.
But a promise that it would be soon.
That was the complex meaning held in those dissolution papers.
“I was originally going to ask about that student, Aria.”
She'd seen the two holding hands in the hallway. And Deus had been the one to take her hand. She'd wanted to ask, but now it didn't matter.
Because even a brief conversation with Deus had reminded her of the kind of person he was.
From a professor's standpoint, he was someone who would never date a student or develop a deep relationship with one.
He had an ironclad emotional detachment beyond mere discernment.
“…….”
In that sense, she herself, holding the dissolution papers, was in quite an advantageous position.
If Erika didn't let go, Deus couldn't end up dating or marrying anyone else either.
“Huh……?”
Thinking about it, that was true.
It felt like she was holding Deus's leash, making her body heat up a little.
Whether Princess Elenoa or Aria Rias. To those openly showing affection for Deus, her mere existence would be an obstacle.
“Ahem.”
Of course, she had no intention of telling anyone about such vulgar thoughts.
If Deus seriously fell in love with someone and requested dissolution, she would naturally bring the papers.
‘But if not.’
Yeah, if not.
Maybe she could let this relationship drag on a bit longer.
That was what Erika was thinking.