Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Short Banquet (2)
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Even hearing the name Felt didn't resolve my lingering doubts.
Naturally, since I didn't have any real friends at the Academy.
The mere fact that someone knew me was surprising enough.
Even if you gathered every student in the Imperial Academy, their numbers would be fewer than the conversations I've had with Professor Palrez.
...
Not something to brag about.
"Doesn't seem like you were close."
At those words, Felt laughed leisurely.
"Of course. But that's how these gatherings go. You weren't close to Oz either, but look at you two now, arms linked."
That was true.
But with Oz, there had been that recent incident—too hard to put into words.
Oz had cried and fussed up a storm, even hugged me.
Words I couldn't voice aloud.
Come to think of it, Felt's gaze was fixed squarely on where Oz and I had our arms hooked together.
His smiling face seemed subtly stiff, too.
Ah, maybe that's why—he stiffened because I didn't recognize him.
"Anyway, nice to meet you. Didn't expect to see you at a royal banquet."
"What are you getting at?"
It wasn't me who spoke. It was Oz.
"No, just curious. Heard you got incredibly lucky this time?"
After that, Felt kept rambling on, but his words barely registered.
Rude to Felt, sure, but spotting that blond hair dragged thoughts of Joat right back into my head, refusing to budge.
Blondes were everywhere here... this was trouble.
But there was nothing to do about it right now.
I'd basically shouted "Joat, come out!" in front of the Emperor, after all.
Of course, I wouldn't cause a scene at the banquet itself.
Still, I'd kicked the hornet's nest, so I had to think about the fallout.
Honestly, with the Emperor handing me an heirloom-grade artifact, I had zero reason to deal with Joat anymore.
Whatever he said, no need to listen.
Just "No, go home" again—like training a dog.
Even a Transcendent who saw me as less than an ant would lose their temper over that.
Since I'd essentially summoned him, though, I couldn't just shoo him off.
'Hope no sparks fly back at the Emperor.'
What Joat would say was obvious.
He seemed to desperately need that elf magic I'd learned from Anonymous (2).
That must be why he'd pressured even the Emperor to drag me in.
...
If he truly needed that magic, maybe there was a way to turn this to my advantage.
"Ivan... Ivan! You listening?"
"Huh?"
I snapped back to reality. Felt's smile had vanished completely.
Come to think of it, I hadn't heard a word. Just vaguely caught a phrase here and there.
"Uh... yeah, listening. But you're wrong. I'm not inheriting the family. Probably my brother or sister will."
"...Not you inheriting. Me."
"Aha... wow, impressive."
Come to think of it, noble kids my age were starting to take over their families around now.
My brother and sister needed to settle the succession soon, too.
...
Wait.
Then I'd have to leave home.
Whichever of them it was, they probably wouldn't outright tell me to go, but if I had any sense, I'd step aside gracefully.
"You... mocking me right now?"
"Felt."
Oz cut him off sharply.
"Don't get cocky."
"...W-what did you say?"
"Don't waste our time with nothing to say. If you're done, get lost."
As Felt stammered, Oz tugged my arm and pulled me away.
"Ignore what he said. Um... he does hold grudges, though."
"What'd he say?"
"You really weren't listening, huh?"
"Yeah, lost in thought for a sec."
Oz ducked her head and giggled.
From her crying face earlier to this laughing one—lately, I'd seen it all.
And through that mess with Felt, I'd realized something crystal clear.
I wasn't focused. My head was crammed full of other things.
I barely took a few more steps before someone else grabbed me.
Hadn't even reached the tables laden with fancy food yet.
Figured it'd be quick since I barely knew anyone. Wrong.
"Finally got to meet you."
The speaker was a grandfatherly figure with a long white beard.
If Parovian Eldis weren't of that family, he'd pass for a grizzled warrior—but this old man screamed "mage" to anyone who saw him.
"Ah, you might not recognize me. I'm Rozef, Tower Master of the Yellow Magic Tower."
More than the somewhat feminine name Rozef, what stuck was "Tower Master of the Yellow Magic Tower."
Yellow Magic Tower.
The one specialized in support magic—alchemy, talismans, healing, summoning—over raw attack spells.
And the richest of all the towers, by rumor.
They'd even sent me a letter back in grad school: come to the Yellow Tower after graduation.
And... the one who'd recommended me to Raistel? The Yellow Tower Master.
"Hello."
"Hoho... what an honor. Feels like meeting a mage I idolized as a kid."
"The honor's mine."
"First time laying eyes on you, but we just click, don't we?"
The Yellow Tower did suit me, in a way.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have written a grad student like me directly.
"Told Raistel about you on a whim, but never dreamed you'd pull off something this huge. I was floored when I heard."
"Thank you for your continued interest."
His demeanor was incredibly warm.
I'd even imagined us having a deep talk someday.
But... not now.
"If there's a chance, I'd love to chat sometime."
"Hm, looks like I've interrupted your time with your partner. Ah, now I see—she's the daughter of the so-called century's genius family, Eldis. My apologies. Eyes aren't what they used to be; missed the brightest gem."
"No, don't worry about me. Feel free to keep talking."
Oz had stepped back, as if urging us to converse freely.
Appreciated the consideration, but this was my chance.
"If you invite me, I'll drop by the Tower next time."
Rozef exchanged greetings with Oz as well, then flashed a leisurely smile.
"That's exactly why I came over—to snag that promise. Plenty we could discuss. Swing by when you have time. It'll pique your interest, I guarantee."
"Sure thing."
Once we slipped away from Rozef, a deep sigh escaped me unbidden.
These atmospheres just weren't my thing.
"Uncomfortable?"
"Huh? Nah. Who's next on the introduction list?"
"Save it for later?"
"Why?"
"Your head's obviously full of other stuff."
"..."
Come to think of it, Oz had this knack for reading my expressions.
So I decided against lying.
"Still, people are expecting the intros."
"It's fine. Professor Palrez is coming."
"Professor Palrez?"
"Yeah, I invited him."
I didn't ask why.
Since I'd said I'd help with my business alongside Palrez, the reason was obvious.
Just hadn't expected her to go this far out of her way.
Glancing over just then, I spotted Professor Palrez entering the venue, impeccably dressed.
His hair combed back more neatly than usual, in a flawless high-end coat. White hairs showing at his age, yet he still cut a dashing figure.
Like he'd turned back the clock.
Exuding effortless poise.
Back in the lab with me, he was usually a mess—hair sticking up, dark circles hanging down to his nose.
Palrez spotted us right away and waved with a broad grin.
"Ivan, how long's it been since I last saw your face?"
"We've been trading letters nonstop."
"...You heartless punk."
I shot Oz an apologetic look.
"Gonna head out first, then."
"Okay."
"What? Already?"
"Got business. Oz, sorry. I'll make it up to you later."
As I turned to go, a sudden thought made me pivot back.
"Oh, Professor. Mind if I borrow your lab?"
"Huh? Heading to the lab now...? Ditching this feast and top-shelf liquor...?"
I snatched the key from his bewildered hand and bolted from the venue.
.
.
.
"Same as ever, that infuriating brat. Can't I just boot him once? I wish I could..."
"Still, it's good he has something he's dead set on."
"..."
Palrez gazed at Oz with a fleeting look of pity.
"How'd you end up with a guy like that...?"
"W-what?"
"Nothing."
I hired a waiting coachman right after leaving the venue.
Not planning to head straight home.
Had to swing by Vinsen's prison soon anyway.
Trekking all the way south would take forever, so staying nearby made sense.
Palrez's lab it was.
Besides his Academy one, he'd set up a separate lab.
Close to the capital—perfect for handling meets via communication orb and pattern recognition gear.
I'd hollered for Joat to come find me, but a Transcendent ought to manage.
No blond head in sight, so Joat faded from my mind quick enough.
'Before setting up the lab's tools...'
First things first: bones. Human bones.
Not just one or two—enough for multiple experiments.
Parovian or Raistel could procure them easily, of course.
But I didn't want them knowing I was collecting bones at all.
What I was crafting was Philip Deran himself—identity a total unknown.
No traces, not even a hint.
'Gotta source 'em on the sly...'
Animal carcasses? Doable somehow. Humans? Headache.
A few options floated by, but cleanest was the underworld markets.
In the capital... just one step underground, and it'd be crawling with folks scraping by on gold crumbs.
And right now, what I could part with most freely? Gold coins.