The Anonymous Sponsor
"Is it because of that man?"
"It's not because of that guy! And why are you calling him 'mister'? It sounds creepy."
"Because he's a mister..."
"Don't call him that in front of me. It's annoying."
Julia grumbled irritably, then shoveled food into her mouth as if to vent her stress. Charlotte watched her face for a moment, then tilted her head to one side. And then to the other.
Why is she only this prickly with him?
Of course, Julia being prickly wasn't anything new. She'd always had a habit of charging ahead without thinking, which led to frequent arguments with the other orphanage kids. Sometimes it even turned into physical fights. Once her insomnia started, it only got worse. That was how she earned the nickname "Mad Dog." It fit perfectly—raging at everything like a rabid stray.
But was this the same "Mad Dog" from back then? No. This was clearly different. The old Julia only got angry for Charlotte and Yuri. She rarely got angry for herself. Yet now she was flying into a rage over a simple clash with one person?
It was strange. Once Julia branded someone as worthless trash, she would completely ignore them and never get angry again. But here she was, calling Aslan the lowest of the low every single day while finding new complaints about him every day. A bizarre irony.
"What exactly don't you like about him? He's been treating us really well."
"Don't you feel any sense of wrongness? Do you really think he's just being nice because he's a good person?"
"...?"
Charlotte's eyes seemed to ask, If not that, then what? Julia grew frustrated and pounded her chest.
Good grief, what am I supposed to do with this innocent fool?
"He is a good person. The headmistress who barely fed us and made us sleep in freezing or sweltering rooms was a bad person. Compared to her, the mister who gives us delicious food and lets us sleep in a warm, cozy room is a good person."
"You're so naive! You're being tricked! Aslan is only pretending to be nice to deceive you!"
"Really?"
"Of course. Obviously. There's no way the infamous, vicious Belmont family would treat slaves this well without some hidden agenda."
"I... I don't know, Julia."
"What do you mean you don't know!?"
Even after explaining it so kindly, she still didn't get it? Charlotte might be slow, but she wasn't stupid. Julia had never found Charlotte this frustrating before.
"Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and say you're right—that Aslan has some evil scheme—I still like how things are now."
"What?"
"The headmistress used to say she loved us while making our lives miserable. I'd rather have the mister who speaks harshly but treats us well. Did you really prefer the orphanage?"
"That's... not exactly..."
Julia's voice trailed off. It was both true and not true. Life at the orphanage had definitely been more painful and difficult. But back then, the enemy had been clear. Here, it wasn't. She couldn't be sure whether Aslan was an enemy or not. Her heart insisted he was an obvious villain, but there was no proof. For Julia, who had spent her entire life hating someone and using that hatred as her support, this was the most mentally exhausting situation she'd ever faced. She wanted to hate him, but she couldn't. It was unbearably frustrating.
"I... I'm not wrong. My eyes can't be wrong. Aslan is a bad person. He has to be a bad person..."
"There, there. Don't cry, just talk."
"I'm not crying!"
When Julia's voice began to waver, Charlotte laughed and pulled her into a hug. Julia really was the type to worry too much. What did it matter if Aslan was good or bad? It was what it was. Charlotte cared more about the delicious food and sweet sleep right now than some uncertain future.
"I'll definitely catch him. I'll find proof that Aslan is a bad person...!"
"Sure, sure. I'll be waiting, Detective."
"Stop teasing me!!!"
"Hehe. Sorry."
"I miss Yuri..."
"Me too."
Julia set down her bowl and flopped forward, sniffling. Yuri had always been strong and reliable. If he were here, they wouldn't be having this dilemma. He would have told them what to do.
"I miss Yuri so much. I wonder how he's doing right now?"
"Hmm. It's Yuri, so I'm sure he's doing fine wherever he is."
"Yeah... I hope so..."
Julia's expression darkened rapidly. He probably thought they were being tortured as test subjects right now.
"I hope he doesn't push himself too hard for our sake..."
They were fine. At least, for now. If possible, they wanted to let Yuri know they were doing well.
The imperial capital. Cleanly dressed gentlemen and elegant ladies passed through the streets. A pair of dirty bare feet moved silently through an alleyway, completely out of place.
"Huh!? What the—? When did my bag disappear?"
"Coachman! What are you talking about!?"
"It was right here just a moment ago..."
"That bag had the brand-new suit I just had tailored!"
The barefoot child, now clutching a large bag, vanished down the alley with practiced ease. It wasn't familiar, but the skill was there. A pitch-black sense of guilt settled heavily in his chest, but when he opened the bag and checked its contents, those feelings quickly scattered and disappeared.
"This will do."
A well-tailored suit and a pair of shoes. Both were a little too big, but better than nothing. He couldn't exactly take the entrance exam for the Imperial Magic Academy looking like a beggar. Any formal attire would suffice.
"If it were up to me, I'd storm in right now, but I don't have the strength..."
Grind. His teeth clenched whenever he thought of Charlotte and Julia, left behind at Belmont Manor. They were probably counting the days until he came for them. He wanted to run and rescue them immediately. But the harsh reality was that with his current strength, he couldn't even get past the front gate of Belmont Manor, let alone save them. His ankles were bound by his own limitations.
When in a hurry, one must take the long way around. Thinking of Charlotte and Julia suffering was agonizing, but he had to use this anger as fuel to grow. He needed to learn magic. He needed to become strong.
"I have to learn magic and become strong enough... strong enough to defeat Aslan Belmont!"
The Combat Magic Department of the Imperial Magic Academy was essentially a military academy. It was a department for training future magic officers, and he'd heard the imperial family covered all tuition fees. If he got into the Combat Magic Department, he could learn magic for free. He just had to get in somehow.
Yuri stepped into the bustling Imperial Magic Academy with firm resolve.
"I've come to take the Combat Magic Department entrance exam."
"Understood. Please come this way. May I have your name?"
"Yuri..."
"Your family name?"
"Yuri Brussels."
"Understood. Examinee Yuri Brussels. Please submit your citizen identification."
"Citizen identification?"
"If you don't have citizen identification, a passport will do. All examinees for the Combat Magic Department must prove they are imperial citizens."
"...!"
Yuri's pupils shook at the thunderous revelation. He needed citizen identification? Well, it made sense—this was essentially an exam to select military officers. It would be strange if just anyone could take it.
"Ah..."
His inflated dreams turned to foam in an instant. He'd come all this way only to be blocked here. Blocked because he was a parentless orphan. Despair and inferiority mixed together and filled Yuri's chest. His footsteps dragged as he retraced his path.
Now I really have no choice but to join an underworld organization...
There was a backup plan. Joining an organization that operated in the shadows. The imperial capital's dazzling surface was matched by an equally deep darkness beneath. If he joined an organization that ruled the underworld, he could easily learn the magic needed for combat.
I don't like it, but...
There was no way an underworld organization would teach skills for free. They would definitely dirty his hands. They would definitely seize his weaknesses and make it impossible for him to leave. They would definitely turn him into a permanent member of the shadows. The future was painfully clear, but there was no other way. Saving Charlotte and Julia was far more important than any of that. He could fall apart as much as he wanted, but those girls couldn't...
Just as Yuri was chewing his lip with a bitter smile, a voice called out.
"Yuri?"
"Yes?"
"I knew it was you. Small build, a pretty face like a kisaeng boy. Exactly as I was told."
"...Who are you, and how do you know me?"
"I'm the headmaster of this academy. An anonymous sponsor specifically requested to sponsor you. They'll cover all your tuition and grant you special admission, so you can attend without worry."
"...!"
Yuri's eyes widened. An anonymous sponsor? What did that mean? Someone knew him and even wanted to pay his full tuition? The suddenness and sheer improbability left him stunned.
"Then, can I choose my department?"
"No. The sponsor has already specified it. You'll be enrolling in the Magic Arts Department."
"...Excuse me?"
What? That department that seemed so utterly harmless?