Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Prelude to the Storm on the Floating Isle
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“It contains all the magic I've ever mastered. For a beginner, it's overflowing with knowledge.”
“Thank you! When can I receive the Training Room itself?!”
I grabbed his hand enthusiastically, but Blurt recoiled in disgust and pulled away.
I hate men too, old man.
“You seem quite pleased. Will that magic tool suffice as my apology?”
“More than enough!”
“Hmmm.”
Blurt looked thoroughly satisfied with my response.
Was apologizing that hard for him?
“Well, it is something I poured my heart into creating. It's only natural you'd be satisfied!”
“...?”
Poured his heart into creating it...?
This old geezer made it himself?
“Did you craft this item yourself?”
“I did.”
“That's impressive.”
I was genuinely awed.
At my words, old man Blurt blinked in surprise before bashfully looking away.
“Ahem. I didn't expect you'd say that...”
“Shouldn't you explain the usage time as well?”
The witch, Emily, who had been puffing on her pipe, spoke up.
“Mm. As I mentioned earlier, each person has a set usage time. It's due to the restrictions of the Mana Oath.”
“Mana Oath restrictions?”
“Imposing restrictions allows for the creation of even greater items.”
Emily answered again this time.
“Thus, each person can only use it for one day.”
“One day.”
Blurt looked a bit anxious.
He seemed to be gauging what I might say... But I just smiled brightly.
One day? That's plenty!
That means I can train for 100 days, right??
Awesome!!!
“So you're saying I can train for a full hundred days? That's incredible!”
“...Ahem, ahem. Yes, quite incredible!”
“Though you can't actually train since your mana flow is tangled— you can only absorb the magic knowledge.”
“Hey, why have you been picking on me since earlier?”
Blurt bristled at Emily, but she just shrugged as if to say, What did I do?
Either way, this was great news for me.
I'd been starting to feel my limits in terms of strength lately.
You might want to say, What limits? You just diced up an adult dragon a bit ago, but that was just a corpse.
If it had been a live dragon, I'd have been dead before I could swing.
My current attack power might be strong, but my defenses are way too fragile.
I have that cheat skill, Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy, but it's basically sealed right now. Worse than defenses, though, is mobility. My movement speed is a real problem.
My current speed isn't anything special.
On top of that, my stamina has its limits.
The magic knowledge is tempting, but my training goal this time will be building stamina and mobility.
And if possible, let's bulk up a bit.
I can still vividly recall the knights' six-packs from that hot spring trip to the capital with Gold and El.
Not to that level, but I don't want to be called a stick figure or a pig anymore.
To be brutally honest, it's embarrassing during sex with Repelt.
Even though she's a woman, when she bends at the waist, her defined abs and beautifully toned muscles peek out everywhere... while mine... well, it doesn't look hideous, but it's definitely not cool.
Honestly, who knows how many more women I'll end up sleeping with? This body would be kinda shameful.
Anyway, I've got workout experience from before.
When I lived with my dad, every day was training, and during that time, I went over a week without sleep while staying active.
I wasted it all after years holed up playing games, but I know how to build a body.
Even if this confidence is baseless, if I hit a wall with my methods, there are plenty of knights around—teen clan knights, no less. I can always ask them for pointers.
“Can I go see the Training Room right now?”
“Ehm. You're in a hurry, aren't you? I have some things to take care of myself to recover from the shock, so come to my lab. My assistants will hand it over.”
“No, it feels wrong to use it without the owner present. I'll visit another time.”
“I see...?”
Blurt seemed pleased with my words.
The grief over losing the dragon lingered, but it looked greatly eased.
Plan successful.
“By the way, that's impressive. Creating a space like that... Your mastery of magic must be profound.”
“.......Mm. You think so?”
“Yes. How else could you make something like that?”
Blurt seemed to brighten more with each compliment.
This is the skill of max-level social Yedre.
My praise was half-sincere, too.
“Don't overhype him, Yedre. The Head Professor excels at magic research and magic tool crafting, but space magic isn't his specialty. There will be some rough edges.”
“You... Did I do something wrong...?”
Emily ignored Blurt's hurt look.
“It does feel a bit nitpicky. What's up, Emily?”
“None of the principal's business.”
“...Hmmm~ It seems like it's only at certain moments, though...”
The principal muttered something with a mischievous smile, but Emily ignored him.
“Specialty... I heard all the academy instructors have one. What's yours, Professor Blurt?”
“Magic tool crafting and magic research.”
“Magic tool crafting!”
So that's how he made the tool!
“By the way, for reference before training: the space you'll use is about 30 square meters, and you'll need to bring your own food and water. If you emit too much mana, you risk being bounced out of the space itself...”
Good, good.
I'll keep that in mind and head there tomorrow to start training right away.
My heart's pounding already.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ While Blurt enthusiastically explained the magic tool, Yedre listened intently, Emily stared at him fixedly, and the principal was lost in thought—right in that moment.
Yapno slipped out secretly.
Those calm eyes of his were now filled with jealousy.
Prynar Academy had warp gates scattered everywhere.
Yapno naturally tried to use one, but...
[Apologies. The gate is currently unstable and cannot be used.] “Damn it! How long is this gonna last? It's already been a month, you brat?!”
Yapno vented his anger at the innocent bat-shaped familiar.
The familiar repeated its programmed apologies, but Yapno's expression didn't soften.
He did something he would never normally do—he leaped out through the window.
At that height, it would be suicide for an ordinary person, but for him, it was negligible.
Bam!!
Landing from over 30 meters up, Yapno dashed off somewhere.
To meet a certain man.
Not wanting anyone to see, he moved tirelessly, gliding through the air like a phantom, when suddenly he sensed two powerful auras below.
Both have dense mana, so mages...?
Looking down, it resembled a palace at a glance.
It was the residence of the faculty head and Prynar Academy's vice principal.
That old man. Last time he brought something weird that messed up the school systems, and now what...?
Yapno considered ignoring it but curiosity won out, and he descended.
Whoosh.
A sticky aura clung to his hands and feet like glue.
Yapno leaped, stuck to the ceiling, and moved while suppressing his presence.
Fortunately, the vice principal and the mysterious other were conversing not inside the building, but in the courtyard.
If it were indoors, that ghost-like old coot would notice immediately.
Like a spider skittering across the ceiling, Yapno hid behind a hanging ornament, peeking out to survey the courtyard.
The man he'd expected was there.
The one recently placed on house arrest after some “experiment” that wrecked the academy's warp and security systems.
A hunched old man leaning on a staff, his face inscrutable at first glance.
Prynar Academy's vice principal and the de facto highest rank in the mage hierarchy, Kizayer.
The journalist with two powerful titles was there.
Sheesh. All that pretending to be frail.
He might look like a feeble old mage struggling to walk, but Yapno, who could sense physical states via aura, knew better.
How robust and powerful the vice principal truly was.
It felt like a young man play-acting as an elder.
That thought suddenly brought Yedre to mind.
A guy with nothing special—no standout aura or physique among the countless idiot outsiders... How the hell did he slice up a dragon corpse like that?
Grrr. Emotions surged.
Yapno shook his head and reined them in.
...Gonna blow my stealth. Let's see... Who's the other one?
Calming his aura, Yapno looked at the vice principal's interlocutor and widened his eyes.
A robe blending white clerical and mage attire.
And that emblem connecting from the collar to the robe's chest.
The master of the White Tower. The White Tower Lord? Why's he here?
Yapno perked up his ears.
“As requested, by tomorrow, the disrupted magic vein should regain its power.”
“Much obliged. As expected of a master of healing magic.”
“No need. I did little. I merely cleaned up with permission from the culprit of this mess—the one you brought, Mr. Kizayer.”
That one?
At the intriguing word, he amplified his hearing with aura.
“Heh heh heh. Have you met? The main body is likely somewhere in the capital, so probably a familiar or puppet.”
“Your guess is correct.”
“What does he want?”
“I promised not to say.”
“I see. Hmmm.”
Kizayer let out a regretful groan.
Called the White Tower Lord to clean up his mess? Where does that old fox get connections like that...?
His skill was one thing, but his age and network were untouchable.
Not quite the principal, but the vice principal was a sly yokai-like figure who'd lived ages—what he was hiding was beyond guessing.
At that moment, Kizayer spoke.
“He must have asked you to bring Yedre-kun.”
“......”
The White Tower Lord didn't reply, but his ever-smiling face stiffened—Yapno figured it was spot on.
But who the heck did Kizayer bring that even wants Yedre?
“Even such a being shows obsession. Heh heh. Interesting. Most intriguing.”
“Your curiosity remains as sharp as ever.”
“Is that so? Heh heh heh... White Tower Lord.”
“Yes.”
“You've worked hard. As promised, I vow to cooperate with you.”
“Thank you.”
Promise? Cooperation?
This reeks of suspicion.
The White Tower Lord ruled one of the six great towers.
And the towers had always been at odds with Prynar Academy.
The academy housed mages rivaling the pinnacle of wizardry.
Yapno's shock at seeing the White Tower Lord stemmed not just from his stature, but their enmity.
Something more? Specific plans...?
As hoped, the White Tower Lord spoke.
“Then, as agreed, the outsider Yedre...”
“Let's discuss leisurely next time.”
“?”
At Kizayer's abrupt dismissal, the White Tower Lord looked puzzled for a moment but soon nodded.
“Time is short. I'd like to talk soon.”
“Understood.”
Flutter.
The White Tower Lord floated up and flew off somewhere, while Kizayer watched his back for a long time.
Might investigate who the vice principal met later. Unexpected harvest.
He was about to slip away as stealthily as he'd come.
“Yapno-kun.”
“...!!”
“Heh heh. Isn't it tiring hanging there forever?”
Sly old weasel.
Breaking out in cold sweat inwardly, Yapno dropped from the ceiling to the ground.
“That is...”
As he scrambled for an excuse for being there, Kizayer spoke.
“Do you know?”
“Pardon?”
“Jealousy is splendid fuel for growth.”
“......”
“But in some cases, it becomes deadly poison. Guess which?”
“Well...”
“Heh heh heh.”
That inscrutable laugh grated on Yapno like an abyss.
Kizayer continued.
“I know your situation, but bide your time.”
“......”
A brief silence passed.
Broken by Kizayer's jovial tone.
“Oh, right. Seems an Outsider Killer slipped onto the island. Heard about it?”
“Yes.”
“Good, good. I trust you, who doubles as instructor and security captain.”
“Yes. I won't let you down.”
“Ah, and... Kaiz-kun seems to be preparing something. Muttered about 'Murderer' or whatever...”
Yapno's eyes flickered for an instant.
“No idea what he meant. Could you look into it?”
“...Gladly.”
Yapno swallowed his fear and replied.
The being before him was not to be taken lightly.
“Sorry, this old man stole your time.”
“No, not at all.”
“Not much recompense, but anything you want to ask?”
“No...”
None.
It was simple to say, but Yapno's instincts screamed to ask.
“Earlier, who was the 'one' the White Tower Lord mentioned?”
“Hmm...”
Kizayer groaned as if troubled, then spoke.
“You know of the Dragon of Ruin?”
“...? From fairy tales, right? Supposedly exists somewhere, but hasn't been seen in thousands of years.”
Even its existence was dismissed as conspiracy theory nowadays.
“Is that so? Heh heh heh.”
“Why ask about that name?”
“Most think that way, don't they?”
Smiling, Kizayer hobbled away on his staff.
Once he was fully gone, Yapno muttered blankly.
“Teasing people, that old coot...”
And groaned.
Dangerous. Completely exposed.
And that dragon seems to know it too.
“Thought the Outsider Killer would draw eyes... Things are getting messy.”
Yapno began pondering whether to proceed or stay put.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “I've prepared the items you requested.”
The maid bowed politely and left. I let out the cheer I'd been holding.
“Yes! Perfect!”
Before me were all sorts of workout gear and provisions.
Essentials for holing up in the Training Room for a while.
They prepared it in just an hour after ordering—I'm touched.
Even better than I'd imagined.
I'd planned to check the shops myself tomorrow in case they didn't match my tastes, but no need now.
Has Gold not returned yet?
I want to ask how I did on today's exam.
Apparently, spectators vote after exams end, but I missed it going to see old man Blurt.
At that moment, the maid who'd just left returned.
“Young master has returned!!”
“Has he now.”
Gold's finally back.
But why so excited?
Even if he is a beloved employer.
“And a beautiful lady is with him!”
“A beautiful lady?”
“She came looking for Yedre-nim!”
A beautiful lady.
Several faces flashed in my mind.
Repelt, Emily, El, Mayal, Claire... no way, you lunatic.
Of them, Repelt belongs to this house, El likes me but has a lover so I'm suppressing feelings, and Mayal's just a friend.
...Maybe the queen?
That would explain the fuss.
“She's waiting in the reception room now.”
“Got it.”
Heart racing, I hurried to the reception room.
Opening the guest reception door revealed Gold and two others.
One was vaguely familiar, the other two very much so.
The beautiful lady the maid mentioned... was
Kaiz.
“......”
“You're here? Yedre.”
The youngest cardinal. Instead of answering Marie's question, I spat.
“What the fuck.”
“......”
The room's eyes fixed on my curse, but I ignored them and glared at Kaiz.
Yeah.
She is a beauty.