Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: You Can't Judge a Person by Their Appearance Alone. (3)
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"Here we are."
"Oh ho..."
The archive room in the Adventurer's Guild that Branch Chief Tachi led me into was far smaller than I'd imagined.
It couldn't even compare to the massive library at the academy, which housed hundreds of thousands of books and centuries of historical records.
It felt like they'd just crammed all the relevant materials and records into a tiny closet.
"Well... adventurers rarely come looking for this kind of stuff, given their nature."
...Rarely is putting it mildly. There are none.
I could sense the branch chief's usual frustrations from the way he muttered that and let out a deep sigh.
Researching documents and records is an important process no matter the place, situation, or job.
As someone from a noble background who places great value on inherited bloodlines, secret techniques from the past, and leaving one's name for posterity, the branch chief surely knew this well.
But... given the rough and free-spirited nature of adventurers, they probably weren't on good terms with the written word.
Still, this is a bit much...
Even for the world's largest branch, this is too shabby.
I can only imagine what the other branches are like.
"It's fine. I just need a place to read this... and a pen and paper. Where can I get those?"
I'd have to organize it my way later, to make it easier to reference next time.
"Ah, I'll have a staff member bring them over. For a spot... there's an unused staff dorm room you can use."
"Ah, thank you."
Even just putting a table in this closet would have been fine, but lending me a staff dorm?
What a good guy...!
"Take a look around for now. I'll go arrange an empty dorm for you to stay in."
Branch Chief Tachi maintained his refined manners to the end as he left the archive room.
As I've said several times, I'll say it again.
Good guy...!
"Let's see. Where to start?"
The room was small, but the sheer volume of densely packed books and records wasn't insignificant.
It'd probably take quite a bit of time to find what I wanted...
Fortunately, though, the books and materials were sorted alphabetically,
and the records by year and date.
...If even that wasn't organized, it'd be a real problem.
My expectations had dropped quite a bit after seeing the state of this closet.
"Well... time to get started."
Sitting and reading books all day is my specialty anyway.
Easier than eating.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...Impressive."
Tachi Swail, branch chief of the Adventurer's Guild Carmen branch.
Lately, he'd picked up a new hobby.
Watching the daily routine of the man introduced as Kane.
Not in a weird way—it was just so astonishing and amazing that he couldn't help but observe.
'Already six hours straight. Aside from meals and bathroom breaks, it's like he's just reading books non-stop.'
Kane's schedule was actually very simple.
Excluding three meals a day, bathroom time, and three hours of sleep,
he devoted nearly all his time to reading the documents in the guild archive.
Of course, if it were just reading, Tachi wouldn't be so amazed.
There are oddballs like that among mages and alchemists.
'I peeked at the summaries he made of key knowledge and related books...'
There was no way to organize it more meticulously or accessibly.
On top of that, he was pulling in knowledge from books not even in the guild archive, adding his own annotations.
It was at a level impossible without knowing nearly all the knowledge in the world.
'Is he really human?'
When Scarlett first brought him in, honestly, Tachi hadn't trusted him much.
A completely ordinary man from whom he couldn't sense any strength.
Hearing he was a Hero Academy teacher had raised expectations that now felt foolish.
But looking back now,
"No wonder Miss Scarlett trusted him enough to introduce him."
He was honestly envious.
He wanted to bring him on as a direct subordinate.
No, even better would be those summaries he'd organized, complete with annotations.
Just those alone would drastically improve adventurers' survival rates.
'...Wait. Thinking about it, isn't this serious?'
Summaries that could exponentially boost survival rates across the continent's adventurers.
That kind of item could change the world's balance of power.
'...Direct subordinate? I can't handle someone like him.'
Tachi Swail chuckled inwardly as he returned to his desk.
He was a man who commanded one of the world's largest guild branches.
His capacity was incomparably greater than most.
Yet even he judged that Kane's thirst for knowledge, curiosity, and ability to apply it
could not be contained within his grasp.
Greed invites disaster.
Knowing this well, he decided against the overreach of claiming Kane for himself.
'I just... want to watch what kind of waves this man unleashed into the world will make.'
Tachi had a premonition that something fun was about to happen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the heart of the Carr Empire's capital, Carmen, stood a massive castle.
This Rexlon Palace, home to the emperor himself, was hosting a lavish party.
[Hero Party Appointment Ceremony]
It was the annual event where the top-performing graduates from the Hero Academy were gathered
and officially appointed as heroes, hero party members, or full-fledged heroes.
"Greetings, Duke Persen!"
"Hoho, good to see you."
With the hero appointments forming a major pillar of the empire's strength, the emperor and numerous influential nobles had all gathered.
Some provincial nobles were absent, of course, but since attendance wasn't mandatory, no one minded.
Typically, though, the families of the graduating appointees did attend.
"...Marquis Sain didn't come, huh."
"A shame. I hear he's coldly brilliant and smart—hard to believe he's a Harkur."
But Marquis Sain Harkur, the older brother of this ceremony's star, Jenny Harkur, was absent.
"Tsk tsk, isn't that too heartless? Skipping his little sister's appointment."
"Hoho, what can you do. A man with heavy duties might have no choice."
Normally, he'd be called heartless and cursed, but nobles and royals alike held Marquis Sain in high regard.
And for good reason.
Unlike Marquis Harkur, he was known for his strong noble-centric tendencies over favoritism toward commoners.
He had succeeded the time-bomb-like Marquis Harkur—who could have blown away half the empire if mishandled—with exceptional talent in politics and economics, a born high noble.
The threat was gone, and his noble-leaning views appealed to the royalty and nobles.
Thus, there was little ground for criticism, and talk of Sain didn't linger.
Their attention quickly returned to the ceremony.
"They say this graduating class is the best in history."
"Hoho, I heard. Fewer than 5% fatalities among current students."
"That's impressive, but I hear the average scores are the highest ever too."
The Carr Empire's prime minister and second-most powerful man after the emperor, Duke Persen,
was speaking to a middle-aged man beside him.
"The Hero Academy's standards have risen greatly. All thanks to His Majesty's grace."
"Hohoho, what are you saying? It's thanks to the teachers and students' efforts."
That middle-aged man was the master of the Carr Empire, Emperor Karr 17th,
who had maintained 30 years of peace.
"Still, this class is truly remarkable. Three deaths out of 84 students. Five top scorers from our empire alone... and the class valedictorian with the highest score ever?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor and the prime minister.
A conversation between the first and second in rank.
No one dared interject.
Yet someone did.
"Hehe, you're embarrassing me, Your Majesty."
"Oh? Principal Parus, isn't it?"
It was a man with neatly trimmed graying mustache: Principal Parus.
"Truth be told, this class's scores... are thanks to one student who led from the front."
"Oh ho, I see."
Principal Parus glanced at the red-haired ponytail girl standing front and center on the appointment stage,
and Emperor Karr 17th nodded in understanding.
"Jenny Harkur. A child of that Harkur."
The emperor looked up slightly at the sky, reminiscing.
"...Those were fun times. Harkur, you, and I. We were so young."
As if regretting that those days were gone forever,
he shook his head wistfully.
"Come to think of it, Your Majesty was the one who granted Marquis Harkur his title."
"Indeed. That man deserved it."
Duke Persen spoke with a slightly stiff expression, but the emperor ignored it, smiling as he looked down at Jenny.
She beamed proudly, her bright eyes sparkling, clearly thrilled to become a hero.
"A young daughter succeeding her father... What a fine picture."
The emperor's face looked as pleased as if he were gazing at his own daughter.
"......"
Duke Persen watched the scene with a displeased expression.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Teacher Kane... no, Big Brother now? Anyway, Big Brother Kane, Father. I've become a real hero!'
Jenny smiled proudly, pinning the Carr Empire hero badge—affixed by an active general—to her chest.
Whether her brother Sain was here or not didn't matter to her now.
Nor did she care what the emperor, Duke Persen, and Principal Parus were discussing.
She just wanted this moment—her official commissioning as a hero—
to be seen by Kane and her father.
Just those two.
But she knew well.
Her father had already passed away.
And Kane had left the academy right after her graduation.
She thought he was probably still somewhere in the capital, but he wouldn't come here.
'This place is full of bad people who bully Big Brother Kane.'
Students and teachers who looked down on Kane for being a commoner.
And the nobles.
Even her classmates right beside her, receiving hero party or hero badges, were the same.
It wasn't for lack of effort on Jenny's part to stop it.
To her, Kane was an absolute mentor.
She couldn't tolerate anyone insulting him.
But she was just one person. Even as student council president, she was still a student.
She couldn't block every insult and criticism aimed at Kane.
So she accepted it.
That he would leave the academy.
Thus, at the end,
during the valedictorian speech, she poured out her heartfelt gratitude to him.
'Still, it feels a bit lonely knowing I can't just meet him anytime...'
Not forever, but it was a little regrettable.
He wasn't at the academy or home anymore.
'No, I'm fine. I'm not some kid relying only on Big Brother Kane anymore!'
For herself, and for Kane.
She vowed to hero boldly and confidently.