The Assistant?
The existence of races other than humans had been declared extinct long ago. It was a statement made by the hero who had defeated the beings that once threatened humanity, when he established a new nation.
Their existence has been denied by the records as well.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
And Yohan, after spending countless hours poring over records from various nations in his previous loops, trying not to miss even the slightest possibility, had eventually come to the same conclusion. They were extinct.
But now.
‘What is this?’
The situation unfolding before him was completely overturning all those conclusions.
Of course, in the face of the Giants, they would be incredibly powerful allies.
‘…Just what is this?’
How many times had this happened now?
Yohan felt the world before his eyes darken.
“First, let me confirm one thing. We can’t take Yohan with us, correct?”
Aria pointed at Yohan as she asked, and Kassian nodded calmly in agreement.
“It’s impossible. To be honest, I doubt they would be friendly toward him.”
Kassian looked at Yohan and continued.
“And I wouldn’t be able to protect him either.”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
Aria gazed at Yohan with a deeply troubled expression.
It was as if she were asking whether it was really okay to leave him behind like this.
“…Ahem.”
After a brief silence, Kassian cleared his throat.
“So, I’d like us to move quickly. Is that possible?”
“There’s no reason it couldn’t be. But from the way you’re talking, it sounds like we need to hurry.”
She could guess why, though.
Aria swallowed the rest of her words, but Yohan could easily predict what she would have said if she’d finished.
[What do you mean?]
‘…I suppose an explanation is in order.’
Zeno had no information about the academy. While Aria and Kassian remained silent for a moment, Yohan gave a brief explanation.
‘You can think of the board of directors as the entity that provides material support to the academy.’
The academy’s source of funding.
In simple terms, that was what they were.
‘Of course, that means they make quite a few demands on the academy as well.’
They wanted to entrust the academy with a certain kind of ‘treatment.’
[So that’s where the divide between nobles and commoners came from.]
Yohan gave a bitter smile.
It was an unavoidable reality.
For an academy that required enormous funds for all kinds of experiments and talent development, they couldn’t afford to give up their financial backers.
‘…Unlike the Magic Tower, which can create and sell magic tools to earn money.’
They had no choice but to accept the demands, and that was the harsh reality they had to turn a blind eye to.
[It was fortunate that you were expelled during the poisoning incident.]
Yohan nodded.
That had indeed been a stroke of luck.
Anyway.
‘Still, it seems the headmaster began keeping them in check after my incident.’
Looking back at previous loops, it was hard to say it had been effective.
After all, the events that had changed this time were far from few.
Preventing the Giants came first, though.
“I left my post today using the Magic Tower Lord’s letter as an excuse, but the longer and more frequent my absences become, the more the board will run wild.”
Kassian, who had already emptied his teacup, added that there wasn’t much time.
“How long will it take to go and return?”
“Assuming we check all the information gathered within the Nest, about five days.”
“Then let’s depart in two days. I’ll help keep the board in check.”
Both the Magic Tower and the academy required clear instructions whenever their representative figures left their posts.
While Kassian was away, they needed to ensure the board didn’t completely seize control of the academy’s internal affairs.
Of course, to Kassian, those words made his eyes widen in surprise.
“You’re going to help?”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you forget what I said before?”
Aria frowned.
“No, that’s… Never mind.”
Kassian quickly waved his hands and continued.
“By the way, what do you plan to do? Do you have a method in mind?”
“Well, let’s call it an exchange meeting and swap personnel.”
Aria smiled as she spoke.
Personnel to keep an eye on the academy’s internal affairs.
And from within the Magic Tower…
Aria, who had been explaining, suddenly stopped and looked at Yohan.
…Hm?
Yohan felt the strangeness as well.
[They’re both staring only at you.]
‘I see.’
What was going on?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Yohan, unable to endure the persistent gazes, asked.
Aria, who had been watching him, helped him to his feet and said,
“Go back and get some more sleep. Your eyes are closing.”
“It seems he still needs more time to recover.”
…Excuse me? Right now?
I still want to hear more…
Whoosh.
[You’ve been forcibly moved to the bedroom.]
…This is ridiculous.
Yohan had been teleported against his will.
After Yohan was forcibly sent to the bedroom, Aria and Kassian began a calm conversation in the office.
The atmosphere was markedly different from when Yohan had been present.
Words full of dignity poured out, as if there was no need to show consideration or respect for anyone.
And Aria had already erased the dissatisfaction she had shown earlier, adopting the dignified posture of the Magic Tower Lord.
Kassian looked at her and smiled faintly.
“What? Why are you suddenly laughing?”
Of course, that dignified posture didn’t last long…
Anyway.
Kassian smiled.
“Well, it reminded me of Leo.”
“Ah, you too?”
“…Hm? It seems we understood that differently?”
Blink.
The two stared at each other and blinked.
“I was talking about Yohan.”
“I was talking about you.”
“…Me? Why would I be compared to that guy?”
Aria pointed at herself and asked what he meant.
“Well, I just thought you’re finally starting to live a little according to your friends’ wishes.”
“…Tsk.”
At that answer, Aria clicked her tongue and frowned.
Even she couldn’t deny it, which showed on her face.
“Anyway, enough small talk. Let’s continue. Assuming the Magic Tower sends two high-ranking mages, who do you want to call from the academy?”
Kassian smiled faintly and added that anyone should be fine, and Aria lifted the corners of her mouth as she replied.
“The fact that I’m the Magic Tower Lord hasn’t been revealed yet, has it?”
Kassian nodded.
That was true.
It was a fact that had not yet been disclosed.
“Still, we’ll need one more person, won’t we?”
“There is a suitable candidate.”
Someone close to Aria who wouldn’t speak carelessly. And someone Aria could continuously monitor.
“You mean Assistant Serafina.”
“If anything happens, we can pull her into the Magic Tower.”
If the board’s pressure made life at the academy difficult, they could simply help her work at the Magic Tower instead.
Anyone who had worked at the Magic Tower was always evaluated as high-quality talent.
Aria shrugged as if to say it was a good idea.
Kassian looked at her and nodded.
“It’s a good idea for now.”
It was indeed a good idea for the time being.
“By the way, what will you do if she encounters Student Yohan? Won’t we need an explanation for why Yohan is here and about his physical condition? Is it even okay to let the two of them meet in the first place?”
“…Hm? Why wouldn’t it be? We can just let it happen.”
Aria looked at Kassian as if asking what the problem was and continued.
“I’m calling her here to stick with Yohan in the first place.”
“…”
For a moment, Kassian was at a loss for words.
‘It seems she doesn’t know about the situation between Student Yohan and Assistant Serafina.’
It was something not easily known, to be sure.
Still…
Hmm.
‘I feel sorry for Student Yohan, but it can’t be helped.’
There was no one else they could call to the Magic Tower besides Assistant Serafina.
‘I’m sorry, Student Yohan.’
Kassian apologized inwardly and nodded at Aria’s words.
And then.
‘…Hm?’
[What is it?]
‘No, my ears just feel itchy for some reason.’
For some unknown reason, Yohan’s ears were itching.
Time passed, and the day came for Aria and Kassian to depart for the Nest.
Before leaving, Aria told Yohan she had somewhere to stop by and asked him to wait, then disappeared.
Yohan sat on the sofa, waiting for Aria.
…Something feels off.
Yohan tapped his fingers restlessly against the sofa.
It was a gesture that couldn’t hide his anxiety.
As that behavior continued,
[Take a deep breath. At least we’re inside the Magic Tower, so nothing should happen.]
Zeno slowly calmed Yohan down.
‘…Hoo.’
Following Zeno’s words, Yohan let out a long sigh.
According to Professor Aria, there had been no unusual reactions from the Giants’ passage yet.
She had also said that preparations to respond if anything did happen were already complete.
That meant they still had quite a bit of time left.
Once Professor Aria returned from the Nest and finished his treatment, they could head to the Haven together to gather information.
[There is plenty of time to gather information.]
At some point, Yohan and Zeno’s goals had shifted to researching the received mana and collecting information on the other races.
They could begin the full-scale research once Professor Aria left her post.
…Hoo.
Yohan took another slow breath and leaned back against the sofa.
He resolved himself to handle whatever might happen from now on.
And then.
Knock, knock.
[It seems she’s here.]
At the sound of knocking, Yohan turned his head.
“Alright, Yohan, I’m heading out now. Have a good time, and if you need anything, just say the word and I’ll help right away.”
I’m off.
…Excuse me?
Bang.
Before Yohan could even react, Aria immediately left the room.
The sharp click of heels echoed through the quiet space.
‘Zeno, is someone there?’
Is it the assistant?
Yohan tilted his head.
And then.
The person took Yohan’s hand and spoke.
“Student Yohan, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon…”
A voice that was strangely, overwhelmingly familiar.
‘…Excuse me?’
Yohan recognized the person instantly from her voice alone.
‘Assistant?’